Written Answers of 21 October 2003

TRANSPORT

  Trains (Television Cameras)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of proposals by train operating companies to install television in railway carriages. [132973]

  Mr. McNulty
  Television may be installed in railway carriages for either onboard entertainment or security purposes. The first is a commercial matter for operators. CCTV for security purposes has already been installed by some operators and the Department is working with the Strategic Rail Authority to continue to improve security on trains.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Jonathan Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport was assessment he has made of the possibility of Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic service trains stopping in the Medway towns. [132974]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Strategic Rail Authority yesterday launched a further public consultation on Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic services, building on one carried out earlier this year. A particular issue for the consultation will be whether CTRL domestic services should run to the Medway Towns.

  Bus Industry
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps his Department has taken to disseminate best practice within the bus industry. [132975]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department will shortly be publishing two good practice guides, one drawing on experience with Rural Bus Grant and Rural Challenge, and one on tendering of bus subsidy contracts. The Bus Partnership Forum has produced a report on Understanding Customer Needs and a code of conduct on Service Stability. Guidance on Quality Bus Partnerships was published in 2001.

  School Transport
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with other Government Departments on the relationship between home to school transport and children's health. [132976]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department works closely with the Department of Health on all aspects of school travel policy. We are keen to encourage walking and cycling to school.
  476W

  Bus Deregulation
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has undertaken to assess the impact of bus deregulation in metropolitan areas. [132977]

  Mr. McNulty
  The impact of bus deregulation was studied in the years following 1986. No recent studies have been undertaken but we continue to publish statistical data on kilometres operated, the cost of services, passenger satisfaction etc. We are in constant touch with the Passenger Transport Executives and major bus operators about local developments. Later today I shall be meeting representatives from Greater Manchester about bus regulation issues.

  Transport Provision
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the relationship between transport provision and access to public services. [132978]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Social Exclusion Unit's February 2003 report "Making the Connections" showed that provision of good local transport and provision of public services in accessible places are both essential to enable people to access the services they need when they need them. The increased funding for local transport we have already provided, and inclusion of accessibility planning in local authorities' next transport plans, will help authorities deliver real improvements in accessibility for their communities.

  Air Travel (Compensation)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures the Government will put in place to ensure that the proposed regulation establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights is proportionate and workable; and if he will make a statement; [133568]

  (2) if he will publish a regulatory impact assessment in respect of the proposed EU regulation establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights. [133569]

  Mr. McNulty
  The UK is supportive of the basic aim of this regulation, which is to protect passengers who are denied boarding or are the victims of commercial cancellations. However, we also believe a balance should be struck between the rights of passengers and the additional costs to airlines, which may ultimately be passed through to the consumer. Accordingly, we have been working hard to improve the original text, to try to make it more balanced and workable. Once the regulation comes into force it will be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in member states, who will be required to designate a body responsible for it enforcement and ensure that sanctions laid down for infringements are effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
  477W
  When the text of the regulation has been finalised we will be in a position to complete cur Regulatory Impact Assessment, which will appear on the Department for Transport website in due course.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require drivers to be retested for their driving licence on a regular basis. [133540]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government do not consider that the regular retesting of all drivers would be a proportionate measure to deliver road safety benefits. Courts already have powers to require those drivers who offend to undergo a driving test. Where a driver is guilty of a serious offence, this involves an extended length driving test.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average waiting time was for a driver aged over 70 between applying for a licence renewal and the issue of the licence in each of the last three years. [133590]

  Dr. Howells
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to return licences 15 working days following receipt of a valid application (i.e. one complete in all respects). This can take longer where further inquiries are required into an individual's health or personal details. This is published in the DVLA's literature that supports application forms. Apart from a courtesy reminder system there are no separate arrangements specifically for processing applications from drivers aged over 70.

  Flight Paths (Walthamstow)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what altitude restrictions apply to aircraft on flight paths above Walthamstow; and how these have changed in the last five years. [131582]

  Mr. McNulty
  [pursuant to his answer, 14 October 2003, Official Report, c. 168–69W]: The airspace over all of Walthamstow above 2,500 ft has been classified as 'controlled' for many years. Over the southernmost quarter of the Walthamstow constituency the airspace has been controlled to ground level since the opening of London City Airport. Aircraft using Heathrow and City operate within this controlled airspace. Aircraft inbound to Heathrow will normally be above 5,000 ft.

  Over the remainder of my hon. Friend's constituency below 2,500 ft, helicopters and general aviation aircraft from smaller aerodromes can determine routes and altitudes according to their particular requirements Such flights are subject to the Rules of the Air Regulations, notably Rule 5, which means most will be above 1,500 ft.

  There have been no changes to the airspace over Walthamstow in the last five years.

  Grosvenor Square (Street Closure)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the costs to his Department were of the(a) closure of Grosvenor Square and (b) policing of the private event held there on 11 September. [131411]
  478W
  Mr. McNulty
  The event was organised by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and was policed by officers from the Home Department.

  The closure of Grosvenor Square incurred no costs to the Department for Transport. The cost of the ad hoc policing arrangements to Government was approximately £7,000.

  Light Rail Schemes
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the risk factors associated with light rail schemes(a) where there is a pre-existing light rail passenger base and (b) that rely on projections of passenger growth; and how this is reflected in his Department's costs and other assessments of such schemes; [131924]

  (2) what risk assessment his Department has made of the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway renewal proposals; [131925]

  (3) what account his Department took of the (a) extent and (b) costs of Disability Discrimination Act 1995 compliance in 2004 in its assessment of the costs and value for money of the minimal option of works to keep the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway operational; [131927]

  (4) whether his Department has included regeneration benefits from the upgrade of the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway in its assessment of its value for money and cost-benefit ratios; [131928]

  (5) what assessment his Department has made of the success of (a) light rail and (b) bus schemes in attracting users to public transport; [131963]

  (6) what his Department's policy is on the upgrade of existing light rail networks; [131964]

  (7) what research his Department has undertaken of the (a) benefits and (b) costs of (i) upgrading existing and (ii) building new light rail systems; [131965]

  (8) what (a) assessment his Department has made of the cost-benefit ratios and (b) value for money of the options for the renewal of the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway. [131966]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department is nearing completion of its assessment of the proposals by Blackpool borough council and Lancashire county council to upgrade the Blackpool Tramway. In common with all transport projects considered by the Department, it is being assessed using the New Approach To Appraisal (NATA) framework, which pays attention both to those impacts which can readily be monetarised (such as time savings) and to others of policy significance (such as environmental impacts) which can only be considered qualitatively.

  The NATA framework also requires the preparation of an Economic Impact Report on the possible regeneration impact of the scheme and a thorough quantified risk assessment, both of which the Council has provided. My right hon. Friend will take into account the findings of the appraisal in the light of all the other pressures on his programmes in deciding whether to fund the scheme.
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  Lower-cost alternatives to the full scheme have also been appraised, taking account of the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

  A crucial, and difficult, part of the assessment of any light rail project is the forecasting of patronage. The uncertainties are always considerable, though greater in the case of proposals for an entirely new system than for an upgrading of a long-established line. Different scenarios, including optimistic and pessimistic, are examined to help capture the inherent uncertainty in forecasting future demand.

  There has been no research on the relative costs and benefits of upgrading existing tram systems and of building new systems, since the circumstances and characteristics of individual schemes vary too greatly for such a comparison to be useful. For the same reason, the Department does not have any general policy as regards tram upgrades. Each proposed major local transport scheme is considered on its individual merits.

  Evaluation Studies have been completed for new light rail systems, such as Croydon Supertram and Manchester Metrolink, which suggest that around 15 per cent. to 20 per cent. of passenger journeys on these systems would otherwise have taken place by car. and that generated trips can increase demand by up to 15 per cent. in the off-peak. However, there is also evidence that investment in buses can be successful in increasing public transport use. There is as yet only very limited experience in this country of guided bus schemes, which are the nearest bus-based equivalent to tram systems, and assessments of their relative attractiveness are therefore uncertain.

  Light Rapid Transit Schemes (Hampshire)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress with light rapid transit schemes in South Hampshire. [132963]

  Mr. McNulty
  The South Hampshire Rapid Transit scheme was approved for funding in March 2001 Unfortunately the cost estimates now exceed the threshold figure agreed at the time and my right hon Friend is reviewing the options for its future.

  Mersey Tunnels
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed increase in tolls on the Mersey Tunnels. [133670]

  Dr. Howells
  The application by the Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority (Merseytravel) to increase the toll charges for the use of the Mersey Tunnels and representations against that application are currently being considered.

  Motor Insurers Bureau
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Motor Insurers Bureau receives Government funding. [133730]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) is a Company which was set up and is managed by the 480W
  insurance industry. It is funded entirely by a levy on the insurance industry and receives no Government funding.

  Motorway Resurfacing
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to take into account minimising noise disruption to schools as part of the criteria for resurfacing motorways; and if he will make a statement. [132567]

  Mr. McNulty
  Government policy is that lower noise surfaces should now be used. except for practical reasons. when any trunk road is resurfaced and it is currently anticipated that over 60 per cent. of the strategic road network will have been surfaced with lower noise materials by 2011. The phasing of resurfacing is usually based on the need to keep the road in optimum condition without causing excessive delays to traffic. Noise mitigation measures on roads built after 1988 take into consideration the need to reduce their impact on noise sensitive facilities such as schools, as well as residential properties.

  Railways
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been granted to(a) Railtrack in Administration and (b) to Network Rail (i) by way of grant and (ii) in loan guarantees since the appointment of the Administrator. [133667]

  Dr. Howells
  Network grants paid to Railtrack in Administration and Network Rail are as set out in the Rail Regulator's Periodic Review Final Conclusions of October 2000, as amended by agreements between Railtrack and the Department for Transport in April 2001 and between Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority in June 2002.

  Railtrack in Administration received network grants of £654 million. The Secretary of State guaranteed loans and other liabilities of Railtrack in Administration up to £4.5 billion. To date, Network Rail has received network grants of £1.8 billion. The SRA has made available standby credit facilities of up to £21 billion to support Network Rail's borrowing.

  Recorded Crime (Railways)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the recorded crime figures on the Great Eastern/Anglia railway for the past four years and if he will make a statement. [133658]

  Mr. McNulty
  The British Transport police have provided the following information on serious offences reported to the force:

  Total notifiable offences

  First Great Eastern

  Anglia Railways

  1999–2000

  1,425

  390

  2000–01

  1,584

  324

  2001–02

  1,841

  415

  2002–03

  1,696

  409

  Road Schemes
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received from the Royal Automobile Club about new road building projects. [133025]

  Dr. Howells
  The RAC Foundation have contributed to several of the Multi Modal Studies, including those involving new road building projects, on which the Secretary of State made announcements in December 2002 and July 2003. Since then my officials have had regular dialogue with the RAC Foundation.

  Salisbury Transportation Package
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will complete his review of the Salisbury Transportation Package. [132923]

  Mr. McNulty
  Department for Transport Officials are currently working with Wiltshire County Council and Salisbury District Council to complete a re-appraisal of the transport package following an increase in scheme costs since the initial bid in the 2000 Local Transport Plan.

  It is anticipated that this work will be completed in time for an announcement on future funding to be made in the Local Transport Plan settlement, which we expect to announce in December 2003.

  US Warship Disposal
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the planned route within UK waters is of the ships from the US Reserve Fleet intended for dismantling on Teesside which have set sail from the US; what control he has over this route; and if he will make a statement. [133362]

  Mr. McNulty
  The routing for the first four ships within the contract will be through the English Channel, observing mandatory IMO traffic separation schemes, and up the east coast of the UK. Generally, international rights of freedom of navigation apply, although upon entry into UK waters the tows could be directed by the Secretary of State's Representative to change routing or to leave UK waters if he believed it necessary for safety reasons or to prevent pollution or to conduct salvage operations.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent guidance he has issued to the Marine Coastguard Agency in respect of the proposal to bring ships from the US Reserve Fleet to Teesside for disposal; what policy the Marine Coastguard Agency has adopted on this matter; what discussions the Marine Coastguard Agency has had with the US Marine Administration; and if he will make a statement. [133363]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) must be satisfied that the ships can make the passage without undue risk to the marine environment or safety. The MCA has had a number of meetings with both the US Coast Guard and the US Maritime Administration. MCA marine surveyors have accompanied Coast Guard surveyors during inspections of the ships. The US authorities refused to allow the vessels to sail until the MCA confirmed it was satisfied with all arrangements. The MCA did so only when it 482W
  had completed a detailed scrutiny of all aspects of the company's proposals in relation to towing the first four ships within the contract; the remaining ships have yet to be considered or approved.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the EU Environment Commissioner in respect of the proposal to bring ships from the US Reserve Fleet to Teesside for disposal; and if he will make a statement. [133366]

  Mr. McNulty
  None.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is of the annual cost to the Exchequer of the evasion of vehicle excise duty; and if he will make a statement. [132901]

  Mr. McNulty
  In March 2003 the Department published the results of a roadside survey which estimated the level of revenue lost from vehicle excise duty in 2002–03 to be £193 million, equivalent to 4.5 per cent. of the total revenue that should be raised.

TREASURY

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people with registered disabilities are in full-time employment. [132642]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Nigel Waterson, dated October 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of registered disabled people who are in full-time employment. (132642)
  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) asks a series of questions which determine whether respondents are subject to the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. In the three month period ending August 2003, an estimated total of 1.88 million such people of working age were in full-time employment.
  Further information on the definition of disability used in the above Act is available from: http://www.disability.gov.uk/dda/

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have benefited from the national minimum wage since its introduction(a) in Leeds, West and (b) in total; and in each case how much was given to them. [132741]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
  483W
  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Battle, dated 21 October 2003:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of people in the Leeds West parliamentary constituency and in the UK who have benefited from the national minimum wage (NMW) since its introduction, and how much has been given to them. (132741)
  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) calculates estimates of the number of jobs paid less than NMW rates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions. A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles and data can be found on the National Statistics website at:
  http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vink = 5837&Pos = 1&ColRank = 1&Rank = 272
  Estimates for Parliamentary Constituencies are not available.
  No information is available on how much money has been given to people as a result of the National Minimum Wage.

  British Troops (Tax and National Insurance)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce reliefs on tax and National Insurance payments for British troops serving in Iraq. [133478]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) on 6 May 2003,Official Report, column 625W.

  Business Taxation
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the levels of taxation levied on the business sector; and if he will make a statement. [132654]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government keeps all taxes under review and any changes will be made as part of the normal Budget process. Since 1997 the Government has introduced a wide-ranging package of measures to make the UK an attractive place for business to locate and help small business, including cuts in corporation tax and the introduction of targeted measures such as the R&D tax credit, permanent 40 per cent. first year capital allowances and improvements to the capital gains tax regime.

  Correspondence
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter dated 9 September from the hon. Member for North Norfolk to the Paymaster General concerning the export of BAC Strikemaster aircraft. [132866]

  John Healey
  I have done so.

  Customs and Excise (Vehicle Seizure)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what powers Customs and Excise officers may seize private vehicles at ports of entry in connection with duty paid goods. [133585]

  John Healey
  Section 141(1)(a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (CEMA) gives Customs the power to seize vehicles used in the carriage handling, deposit or concealment of goods liable to forfeiture.
  484W
  Travellers may bring back to the UK as many duty-paid excise goods from another EU member state as they wish for their own use. But such goods which are not for their own use may not be brought back into the UK without payment of UK taxes, and are liable to forfeiture.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the economy's predicted level of growth for 2003–04. [132989]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's latest economic forecasts were published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2003 (HC 500) on 9 April. GDP growth was forecast to be 2 to 2.5 per cent. in 2003 and 3 to 3.5 per cent. in 2004. Updated growth forecasts will be published in the forthcoming pre-Budget report 2003.

  Energy Efficiency
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 25 June 2003,Official Report, column 760W, if he will set out the timetable for the detailed consultation on specific fiscal instruments to encourage household energy efficiency announced in the November 2002 pre-Budget statement. [132744]

  John Healey
  A consultation paper 'Economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency' was published on 1 August 2003, and the consultation will close on 24 October 2003. Responses will inform decisions made as part of the usual pre-Budget report and Budget process.

  European Court of Justice
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the(a) reference number, (b) date and (c) subject of the decisions of the European Court of Justice that have a bearing on UK taxation regimes; and what the effects of these decisions are. [132557]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The European Court of Justice ensures that Community Law is uniformly interpreted and effectively applied, including in relation to tax matters. All judgments of the European Court of Justice are set out in full in the Official Journal of the European Communities (C Series), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the impact on marginal tax rates would be of reducing the starting rate of income tax by each one per cent. between 10 per cent. and 0 per cent. assuming no change in entitlement to tax credits or benefits. [133176]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my right hon. Friend to table 2.1 on the Inland Revenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/it_t01_1.htm and table 1.6 on the Inland Revenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/g_t06_1.htm.

  Influenza
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 65 years or over have died of influenza in(a) South Tyneside, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. [133214]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Hepburn, dated 21 October 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people aged 65 years or over died of influenza in (a) South Tyneside, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. (133214)
  The information requested is given in the table below.

  Numbers of deaths from influenza for people aged 65 and over,1 1997 to 20012, for South Tyneside local authority, the former county of Tyne and Wear, North East Government Office Region and the United Kingdom3

  Number of deaths

  Year

  South Tyneside

  Tyne and Wear

  North East

  United Kingdom

  1997

  -

  *

  7

  413

  1998

  -

  -

  *

  129

  1999

  *

  17

  35

  598

  2000

  *

  8

  32

  630

  2001

  -

  -

  *

  27

  - Zero deaths

  * Fewer than 5 deaths

  1 Deaths with an underlying cause of influenza defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 487 for the years 1997 to 2000 and, for the year 2001, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes J10 and J11.

  2 Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year, except for data for Scotland and Northern Ireland included in the United Kingdom totals. These are deaths registered in each calendar year.

  3 Deaths of usual residents of these areas.

  Investment Trusts
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Treasury has made of the Financial Services Authority's ability to regulate split capital investment trusts. [132990]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury has full confidence in the way that the FSA is carrying out its regulatory responsibilities. Split-capital investment trusts are not currently directly regulated by the FSA—the Treasury has undertaken to consult on whether the FSA should regulate these companies.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Treasury has made of the security of investment in split capital trusts. [132991]

  Ruth Kelly
  Investments in split-capital investment trusts have many risks in common with other forms of equity investment. It is for individual investors to take appropriate financial advice before investing in the shares of these companies.

  The Treasury, however, welcomes the changes to the listing and conduct of business rules, as they apply to investment trust companies, recently announced by the
  486W
  Financial Services Authority. We believe that these will improve investor protection and effectively tackle the issues which have arisen at some split-capital investment trusts.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will bring investment trusts fully into the regulation regime of the Financial Services Authority; [132992]

  (2) if he will accept the recommendation of the Treasury Committee to bring investment trusts directly within the scope of investment product regulation by the Financial Services Authority. [132993]

  Ruth Kelly
  In its response to the Treasury Committee (published in the Committee's Fourth Special Report of Session 2002–03, HC651) the Treasury said:'The Treasury welcomes the proposals put forward by the FSA in CP164 and believe that, when implemented, these will effectively tackle the issues which arose directly from split capital investment trusts. However, we accept that there may be a case for bringing investment trusts fully within regulation by the FSA. There are a number of ways in which this could be done and it is by no means clear which, if any, might be the most appropriate. The Treasury will, therefore. in conjunction with the FSA consider the available options for doing so and will, in due course, consult fully on these.'

  This remains the Treasury's position.

  Lorry Road User Charging Project
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated revenues for the lorry road user charging project are for each year for which figures are available; and what proportion of the estimated revenues for the project are expected to come from Scotland. [132776]

  John Healey
  There will be reductions in fuel duty for those paying the charge so that there is no increase in the overall tax burden for that sector of the haulage industry that buys fuel in the UK.

  No assessment of revenues can be made until it is decided at what level the charge will be set, and what level of offsetting fuel duty reduction will be available to charge-payers. Decisions on fuel duties and other taxes are made on a Budget-by-Budget basis.

  Money Laundering Regulations
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a regulatory impact assessment in respect of the Money Laundering Regulations 2003. [133537]

  Ruth Kelly
  A full Regulatory Impact Assessment will be completed for the Money Laundering Regulations 2003. Copies will be deposited in the Library of the House and it will also be available on the Treasury website.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies (Expenditure)
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expenditure on non-departmental public bodies was(a) in the last year for which figures are available and (b) in 1996–97. [133662]
  487W
  Mr. Boateng
  Total spending by non-departmental public bodies for 1998–99 to 2002–03 is shown as follows. Data on a comparable basis is not readily available for earlier years. For each department, the total of their NDPB spending is contained within their Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL), so that any increase in spending on their NDPBs is offset elsewhere within their total DEL.

  NDPB spending (£ million)

  Outturn

  1998–99

  12,238

  1999–2000

  13,846

  2000–01

  14,670

  2001–02

  20,151

  Estimated outturn

  2002–03

  24,843

  Source:

  Supplementary Budgetary Information to the Central Government Supply Estimates 2003–04 (Cm 5797).

  Productivity Growth
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on average projected productivity growth for 2003–04. [132987]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's latest published forecasts for the UK economy were set out in this year's Financial Statement and Budget Report (HC500). A full update will be made in the forthcoming pre-Budget report.

  Professional Indemnity Insurance
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many financial advisers he estimates are operating without professional indemnity insurance; and if he will make a statement. [132880]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Financial Services Authority (FSA) tell me that as at 30 September 2003 of the 4,047 firms that are required to hold professional indemnity insurance (PII) cover, 749 have yet to notify the FSA that they have obtained cover. At that same date, 82 firms have been granted a waiver from the requirement to hold PII and are, in effect, self-insuring. Under current market conditions, there can be a time lag of three months or more for a firm to obtain suitable cover and notify FSA of that fact.
  488W
  The FSA published a consultation paper in July 2003 with new proposals on its PII policy and revised rules for firms. The new PII policy will give firms a more flexible framework within which they can choose how to combine PII and financial resources. This will help firms remain in business and will continue to protect consumers who may have claims against firms.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made in relocating(a) Civil Service Departments and (b) public bodies from London. [132957]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister asked Sir Michael Lyons, Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham, to conduct an independent study into the scope for relocating a substantial number of public sector activities from London and the South East of England to other parts of the United Kingdom.

  Sir Michael has now received responses from Government Departments to his review and is currently assessing these before preparing his final report.

  Registered Maternities
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many registered maternities to women resident in(a) Fareham, (b) Gosport, (c) Portsmouth and (d) Havant local authority areas took place in (i) Blackbrook Maternity Unit, (ii) the Mary Rose Unit, St. Mary's Hospital Portsmouth, (iii) other Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, (iv) other NHS hospitals, (v) at home and (vi) elsewhere in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [133578]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Mark Hoban, dated 21 October 2003:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your request for the number of registered maternities to women resident in (a) Fareham, (b) Gosport, (c) Portsmouth and (d) Havant local authority areas, which took place in (i) Blackbrook Maternity Unit, (ii) the Mary Rose Unit, St Mary's Hospital Portsmouth, (iii) other Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, (iv) other NHS hospitals, (v) at home and (vi) elsewhere in the each of the last three years for which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (133578)
  The attached table gives data for 2000, 2001 and 2002.

  Maternities to residents of Portsmouth UA, Fareham CD, Gosport CD and Havant CD by place of occurrence 2000–2002

  Mothers Local Authority of Residence

  Year and place of maternity

  Portsmouth

  Fareham

  Gosport

  Havant

  2000

  (i) Blackbrook Maternity Unit

  5

  51

  *

  —

  (ii) Mary Rose Unit, Portsmouth

  2,118

  703

  737

  1,087

  (iii) Other Portsmouth NHS trusts

  —

  27

  170

  —

  (iv) Other NHS hospitals

  38

  181

  16

  90

  (v) At Home

  39

  19

  22

  33

  (vi) Elsewhere

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Total

  2,202

  984

  953

  1,211

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  Maternities to residents of Portsmouth UA, Fareham CD, Gosport CD and Havant CD by place of occurrence 2000–2002

  Mothers Local Authority of Residence

  Year and place of maternity

  Portsmouth

  Fareham

  Gosport

  Havant

  2001

  (i) Blackbrook Maternity Unit

  *

  44

  *

  —

  (ii) Mary Rose Unit, Portsmouth

  2,052

  704

  613

  1,039

  (iii) Other Portsmouth NHS trusts

  *

  29

  177

  —

  (iv) Other NHS hospitals

  46

  259

  25

  96

  (v) At Home

  29

  22

  14

  35

  (vi) Elsewhere

  *

  *

  —

  *

  Total

  2,133

  1,061

  833

  1,174

  2002

  (i) Blackbrook Maternity Unit

  —

  79

  *

  —

  (ii) Mary Rose Unit, Portsmouth

  2,078

  583

  577

  960

  (iii) Other Portsmouth NHS trusts

  *

  19

  233

  —

  (iv) Other NHS hospitals

  46

  272

  32

  159

  (v) At Home

  31

  19

  21

  27

  (vi) Elsewhere

  *

  —

  *

  *

  Total

  2,161

  972

  868

  1,148

  — Zero maternities

  * Fewer than 5 maternities

  Regulatory Impact Assessments
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many regulatory impact assessments have been produced by his Department since August 2001; if he will list those(a) produced following initial consultation with affected parties about the most appropriate methodology for assessing costs and other impacts and (b) which set out full commercial impacts, including profitability, employment, consumer prices and competitiveness, as recommended in Good Policy Making; and if he will make a statement. [132883]

  Dawn Primarolo
  HM Treasury, HM Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue have produced 50 final Regulatory Impact Assessments since August 2001. These are listed below and are available from the House Libraries and departmental web sites.

  HM Treasury

  The Building Societies Act 1986 (Electronic Communications) Order 2003; The Credit Unions Act 1979 (Commencement No.3) Order 2003; The Regulatory Reform (Credit Unions) Order 2003; Implementation of the Insurers Reorganisation and Winding-up Directive; Extension of Financial Services Regulation to Mortgages; Statutory Instruments Needed under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) (Second Amending Directive); Regulating Insurance Mediation; Regulating Mortgages; Orders to be made in support of the transfer of Audit responsibility for the Special Health Service Health Authorities from the Audit Commission to the Comptroller and Auditor General; The Electronic Commerce Directive (Financial Service & Markets) Regulations 2002—July 2001; FSMA Regulated Activities (Amendment) (No 2) Order 2002—July 2001; Fourth Motor Insurance Directive Regulations 2002—October 2001; FSMA 2000 (Administration Orders relating to Insurers) Order 2002; Implementation of the Money Directive 2002; The Money Laundering Regulations 2001; The Protection of the Euro against Counterfeiting Regulations; The Insurance (Fees) regulation 2001; The Credit Unions (Increases in Limits on Deposits by persons too young to be members of
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  Periods for Repayments of Loans) Order 2001; FSMA 2000 (Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes) (Exemptions) Order 2001; The Open Ended Investment Companies Regulations 2001.

  Inland Revenue

  Mandatory Electronic Payment for Large Employers, Payroll Services; National Insurance Contributions—Offshore Manning Taxation of UK Branches of Foreign Companies; Payments by Employers towards the incidental costs of Home working; Simplification of Employee Share Schemes; Stamp Duty in Disadvantaged Areas Extension of the Relief to all Non-Residential Property; Corporation Tax Relief and Employee Share Schemes ISAS—Simplified Voiding for Investor Error; Tax Law Rewrite Project—Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Bill; The New Tax Credits; National Insurance Contributions Bill; Fuel Scale Charge; Reform of the Taxation of Intangible Assets; Construction Industry Scheme; Research and Development Tax Credits for Large Companies/ Vaccines Research Relief; Exemptions for Gains and Losses on Substantial Shareholdings; Reform of the Corporate Debt, Financial Instruments and Foreign Exchange; Gains and Losses Regimes; Community Amateur Sports Club; Appendix to Enterprise Management Incentive.

  Construction Industry Scheme: Issue of CIS5 (Partner) Certificates; Life Insurance Policies Etc.—Information Duties of Insurers.

  HM Customs and Excise

  Simplified Import VAT Accounting 2003; VAT Strategy: Joint and Several Liability 2003; VAT Strategy: Input Tax deduction without a valid VAT invoice 2003; Extension of the VAT Annual Accounting Scheme and the Flat Rate Scheme, and relaxations to the VAT Default Surcharge Scheme 2003; Oils Fraud Strategy 2002; VAT Flat Rate Scheme and changes to the Annual Accounting Scheme 2002; New VAT registration forms 2001; Proposal for a Council Directive Amending the Sixth VAT Directive to simplify, modernise and harmonise the conditions laid down for VAT invoicing 2001.
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  The costs associated to regulatory proposals are considered at the policy development stage. A Regulatory Impact Assessment is completed for regulatory proposals unless there are no or negligible costs.

  An RIA considers the consequences of proposals, improving the quality of advice to Ministers and encouraging informed public debate. An RIA sets out the impact, in terms of costs, benefits and risks of the proposed regulation that could affect businesses, charities or the voluntary sector.

  Research and Development Tax Credit
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was allocated to small firms using the research and development tax credit in financial years(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [132884]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is not possible to separately identify small firms from our data. However, it is possible to identify Small or Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Latest estimates of the total cost, on an accruals basis, of the research and development tax credit for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are available on the Inland Revenue's website at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/g_t05_1.htm. For 2002–03, the first year that large companies were eligible to claim R&D tax credits, the estimated cost of support for companies which are defined as SMEs for the purposes of the tax credit is £200 million.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the Government imposes vehicle excise duty on vehicle ownership; and if he will make a statement. [132902]

  John Healey
  Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) helps ensure that all motorists contribute to the costs of maintaining and policing the road network. The VED system is also important in helping the enforcement of vehicle insurance and registration rules, and it enables discounts to be offered to help disabled drivers. The graduation of VED from March 2001 in relation to the carbon dioxide emissions and the pollution of cars has been important in helping to strengthen the signals for environmentally responsible behaviour by motorists.

  Research Science
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in research science in each year since 1 January 1996. [132332]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Cheryl Gillan, dated 21 October 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about people employed in research science since 1996. (132332)
  The attached table shows the number of people employed in four occupational groups that comprise workers in research science. This data is derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS)
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  and is only available from Spring 2001, when the last major change to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC2000) was implemented.
  Estimates for previous years have not been given as they are not available on a consistent basis. This is because the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC)2000 classification was introduced to the LFS in spring (March to May) 2001 and is not comparable with the SOC90 classification used in earlier periods.

  People employed in research science occupations1 United Kingdom, March to May 2001, 2002, 2003 not seasonally adjusted

  Thousand

  2001

  2002

  2003

  All research science occupations

  837

  852

  833

  211 Science Professionals

  120

  117

  117

  212 Engineering Professionals

  427

  429

  443

  311 Science and Engineering Technicians

  273

  290

  258

  2321 Scientific researchers

  17

  16

  14

  1 People whose occupation in their main job is Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) 2000 codes 211, 212, 213, or 2321.

  These LFS estimates have not been adjusted to reflect the 2001 Census results

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey

  Vehicle/Fuel Taxation
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on emissions of carcinogens from road vehicles of(a) company car tax, (b) other vehicle taxation and (c) fuel tax;. [132836]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact on emissions of oxides of nitrogen from road vehicles of (a) company car tax, (b) other vehicle taxation and (c) fuel tax. [132840]

  John Healey
  The Government has incorporated tax differentials into the company car tax, vehicle excise duty and fuel duty regimes to facilitate the use of alternative fuels and cleaner technologies to improve air quality.

  Much of the reduction in pollution from road transport results from tougher emissions standards for new vehicles. The tax system provides some incentives for the earlier take-up of cleaner vehicles, as well as incentives for switching to less-polluting fuels and technologies.

  Transport taxation is also intended to encourage the use of more fuel-efficient cars with lower carbon dioxide emissions.

  Key air pollutants, including carcinogens, have reduced by around 50 per cent. over the last decade and are forecast to fall by a further 30 per cent. over the next decade. The specific information requested is not available; although further details of emissions of all pollutants from road transport are available from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (www.naei.org.uk).

  Written Consultation
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) consultation documents and (b) consultative drafts of legislation have been issued by his Department

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  since January 2001; what proportion of these have observed Criterion 5 of the Code of Practice on Written Consultation; and if he will make a statement. [132882]

  Ruth Kelly
  A list of consultation documents issued since January 2001 can be found on the HM Treasury website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consultations and legislation/. In 2001, a third of consultation documents met Criterion 5. In 2002 and to date in 2003, more than three-quarters have done so. Most of the consultations that did not meet Criterion 5 related to market-sensitive financial service areas. In those cases where the consultation period is due to be shorter than normal, the reasons for this are now routinely set out in the text of the document.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Foxes
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methods of controlling the fox population her Department will recommend if the Hunting Bill receives Royal Assent. [133476]

  Alun Michael
  The Department's advice on fox control will remain unchanged if the Hunting Bill receives Royal Assent (assuming that it does so in its current form).

  At present, shooting is the recommended method of fox control in rural areas. Snaring, which is also an effective technique when used by experienced personnel, may have advantages over shooting in certain situations.

  Lethal control is not generally recommended in urban areas. Killing or relocating foxes usually only provides transient relief from the problems foxes cause, as vacant territories are rapidly reoccupied once the control measures cease. In addition, shooting and snaring are unlikely to be appropriate control methods for reasons of safety, and in the case of shooting, public disturbance. Advice on alternative strategies for preventing problems is given in the Department's "Urban Fox" leaflet (code WMO8) which is available from the Defra website (www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates).

  High-risk Chemicals
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the development of comparative risk assessment for high-risk chemicals; what the timescale is for each of the steps envisaged; and if she will list the chemicals to which it is intended to apply this system. [132454]

  Alun Michael
  When putting in place measures to reduce the risks of high-risk substances we consider the availability of substitutes and their hazards to ensure that the best option is taken. This is done following guidance set out by the EU and we currently have no plans to further develop this. The full examination to reduce risks—which includes this comparison—is divided into a five-stage process and generally takes between six and nine months. This process is applied 494W
  to chemicals which have been demonstrated to be a high risk and examples of those completed include: short chain chlorinated paraffins, octa and penta bromodiphenyl ether, bis phenol A and nonyl phenol ethoxylate.

  Pesticides
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the costs of the safe disposal from farms of stocks of those pesticides which have been withdrawn from the market this year as a result of the review taking place under EU Agricultural Pesticides Directive 91/414; and if she will list the cost to(a) the Government, (b) farmers and (c) the pesticide industry arising from the review. [133108]

  Alun Michael
  Pesticides are regularly withdrawn from the market as a result of regulatory reviews or commercial decisions taken by crop protection companies. However, when there are not over-riding safety concerns a 'use up' period is provided. The purpose of this period is to allow the pesticide industry and farmers to use up existing stocks of the pesticide products concerned and thus avoid significant disposal costs. We believe that this is the best environmental option as well as minimising the costs for all parties.

  The withdrawals of products under the EC review programme has been taking place progressively since 1995 although the largest batch of withdrawals is taking place this year. In all cases a use-up period has been provided. In anticipation of this years withdrawals the department undertook special publicity campaigns, both this year and last, supported by the crop protection industry and farmers organisations. These were designed to ensure that those affected used their stocks by the end of this year thus minimising the need for disposals.

  Because of this costs would only arise at the end of this year for farmers or pesticide companies if they have failed to take advantage of the use up period and we do not envisage that there will be additional costs to Government.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the information contained on the Pesticides Safety Directorate website on the mixing of individual compounds after sale in relation to Regulation 4 of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 and Regulation 4 of the Plant Protection Regulations 1997. [133502]

  Alun Michael
  The information on the Pesticide Safety Directorate's website describing the mixing of individual pesticides after sale refers to the published 'Guidelines on the Provision of Pesticide Mixing Services and Sale of Twin Packs and Kits'. These guidelines confirm the requirement that only pesticides formulated in accordance with approved formulations may be sold or supplied. However once sale has taken place a pesticide may legally be mixed with another pesticide or with other substances without the need for a further product approval. This is provided that the mixing process is carried out by the user or on behalf of the user, and that specific conditions of use set for
  495W
  the individually approved pesticides concerned are complied with. Many users choose to employ mixing services provided at retailer or distributor premises, or by mobile mixing services that visit farms. The mixing service guidelines stipulate that these services must be provided only after sale has taken place, that mixing must be carried out only in accordance with any restrictions placed on the individual pesticides used, and that mixed product should be used promptly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Energy
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what level of public funds will be made available to British Energy in respect of the agreement announced in her written statement of 14 October 2003,Official Report, columns 10–12WS. [133310]

  Mr. Timms
  Government's underlying commitment is the same as it was last year. Up until restructuring, we have made the credit facility (currently £200 million) available to British Energy, which has been approved by the European Commission. That will be repaid by the company under the terms of the restructuring plan at no cost to the taxpayer. Post restructuring we will take financial responsibility for British Energy's historic spent fuel liabilities, with an average cost to Government of £150 to £200 million per annum for the next 10 years, falling thereafter. We will also underwrite British Energy's arrangements for funding decommissioning and uncontracted liabilities to the extent that British Energy's contributions are insufficient.

  Christmas Opening
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the response to her request that retailers not open on Christmas Day 2002; and what action she proposes to take in relation to Christmas Day 2003. [133154]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  A consultation of individual major retailers in summer 2002 indicated that the majority did not plan to open on Christmas Day in 2002 or in future years. However, it was apparent that opening by competitors or changes in customer demand would lead to plans being reviewed in some cases.

  A public consultation on legislation to prohibit opening by large stores on Christmas Day took place earlier this year. This showed the majority of respondents in favour of maintaining the special nature of the day. The Government may introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time permits.

  Civil Relationships Registration
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 15 September 2003,Official Report, column 539W, on the civil relationships registration scheme, which significant rights and responsibilities have not been addressed in the consultation paper on civil relationships. [133324]
  496W
  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]: The Government have so far not become aware of any significant rights and responsibilities that were omitted from the consultation paper on civil partnerships. We are still considering the many responses to the consultation paper and will publish a report in due course.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the control of fireworks. [132583]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Fireworks Act 2003, which received Royal Assent on 18 September 2003, will allow the Department to make regulations covering a range of firework issues which we are currently unable to regulate under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. These include restricting firework sales and use, licensing of retailers and controlling noise and nuisance.

  We hope to implement those parts of the Act dealing with anti-social issues before Christmas. This means that we will create a curfew for the use of fireworks, create an offence for possession of fireworks by those under 18 years of age, and prohibit the supply of air bombs.

  The Act's other principal provisions—setting a maximum noise limit for fireworks, licensing of suppliers, rules for public firework displays, importation of fireworks and training of display operators—require more detailed consultation with all the interested parties. We will start implementation of this part of the Act in the New Year.

  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when she expects to introduce regulations prohibiting the supply, purchase, possession and use of fireworks during anti-social hours; [132646]

  (2) when she expects to introduce regulations to prohibit the purchase, possession and use of fireworks by those under 18 years; [132647]

  (3) when she expects to introduce regulations to prohibit consumer sales for excessively noisy fireworks; [132648]

  (4) when she expects to introduce regulations to license fireworks retailers. [132649]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Department is committed to implementing and ensuring proper enforcement of the Fireworks Act 2003.

  We hope to implement those parts of the Act dealing with anti-social issues before Christmas. This means that we will create a curfew for the use of fireworks, create an offence for possession of fireworks by those under 18 years of age, and prohibit the supply of air bombs.

  The Act's other principal provisions—setting a maximum noise limit for fireworks, licensing of suppliers, rules for public firework displays, importation of fireworks and training of display operators—require more detailed consultation with all the interested parties. We will start implementation of this part of the Act in the New Year.

  Interest Charges
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to protect consumers from excessive levels of interest charged on(a) small loans, (b) credit cards and (c) store cards. [132861]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  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.

  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.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates she has made of the costs to employers of standardising the minimum wage rate for all employees aged 18 and above. [131356]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 14 October 2003]: When the Low Pay Commission recommended in their 4th report that the rate for 18 to 21-year-olds should be increased to £3.80 an hour from October 2003, they took into account the need to maximise employment opportunities for young people in work. A significantly higher rate rise for young adult workers could have an impact on employment levels and this would make the cost to employers uncertain.

  Newspapers
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to take action on monopoly power in the newspaper wholesale industry. [133613]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  None. The investigation of anti-competitive behaviour is a matter for the competition authorities.

  Post Office Card Accounts
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of Post Office card accounts. [133171]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]: 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 and that the Government now expect the total number of card accounts to exceed the three million operating assumption. It is too early to make a firm prediction of the ultimate number of Post Office card accounts because it will depend on the pattern of customer choices.

  Precious Metals Directive
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what voting method will be used by the European Union to decide whether to implement the Precious Metals Directive. [133063]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]: Qualified Majority Voting will be used.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect the Precious Metals Directive would have upon UK hallmarking of gold and silver. [133064]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]: Third party testing and marking would no longer be mandatory in the UK, and manufacturers would be able to choose whether to mark their own goods or send them to an assay office for marking. A full Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) will be done if the draft Directive is agreed.

  Road Haulage
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are in place to regulate the activities of franchise operators in the road haulage industry. [132200]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is not aware of any measures that are in place to specifically regulate the activities of franchise operators in the road haulage industry.

  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will conduct an inquiry into the activities of franchises, franchisors and recruitment agencies operating in the road haulage industry. [132202]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has discretionary powers under the Companies Acts to make inquiries into companies when there appears to be sufficient grounds to do so, for instance, in cases of fraud or other serious misconduct.

  The Department's Companies Investigation Branch is always ready to receive for consideration any information with regard to companies whose activities give cause for concern.

  Employment agencies and employment businesses, including those supplying drivers for the road haulage industry, are required to meet minimum standards of conduct established under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and associated regulations.

  The Department's Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Act and would encourage anyone who has reason to believe an agency is not complying with these provisions to call the Employment Agency Standards helpline on 0845 955 5105.

  TUPE Regulations
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the
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  implementation of TUPE regulations with respect to (a) final salary pension schemes and (b) other pension rights. [132864]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  An announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions was made on 11 June 2003 to the effect that a degree of protection will in future be provided for occupational pension rights on transfer. My right hon. Friend intends to take forward these proposals through primary legislation when parliamentary time allows. I do not propose therefore to implement them through the forthcoming revision of TUPE regulations, on which I expect to consult publicly around the turn of the year.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies her Department has made comparing the regulations to implement the working time directive in the United Kingdom with those in other EU member states, with particular reference to France; what plans she has to(a) improve the clarity and (b) reduce the length of the United Kingdom regulations; and if she will make a statement. [132852]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  My officials are in regular contact with their counterparts from other member states, and share ideas for the implementation of the working time directive. They have followed developments in France with particular interest. However, direct comparison of the legislation is difficult because of the legal codes on which they are based.

  I am fully committed to the Better Regulation principles of clarity in regulation. The Commission are currently reviewing elements of the working time directive and we will need to look at the UK regulations again in the light of that work. In consultation with the stakeholders we will look to see if there is scope to simplify and reduce the length of the regulations, but would need to balance any reduction in length against the corresponding potential reduction in clarity.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Teacher Salaries
  Mr. Michael Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he made of(a) teacher salaries in each local authority and (b) teacher salary costs as a percentage of overall education spending share, for each local authority when setting the Revenue Support Grant for 2003–04. [131685]

  Mr. Miliband
  The Department does not collect information on the distribution of teaching salaries by local education authority.

  The calculation of Revenue Support Grant takes account of differing wage pressures across England and Wales through the area cost adjustment using data from the New Earnings Survey (NES). This contains information on the occupation and workplace of participants. Teaching professionals1 is one of the minor occupational classifications into which all NES participants are placed. The occupation of each
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  individual in the NES at the minor level makes up 81 of the variables we examine in calculating the area cost adjustment. Full details of the ACA calculation are available on the ODPM website at http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/0304/acatechs.pdf

  Academies
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his policy is in respect of applications by individuals and organisations to establish and maintain academies solely intended for gifted and talented pupils. [131227]

  Mr. Miliband
  Academies are a key element of the Government's drive to raise standards and increase the diversity of education provision in disadvantaged and challenging areas. All academy proposals that have been approved to date have been for all ability schools. Any future proposal to establish an academy solely intended for gifted and talented pupils would be treated on its merits, subject to the Government's commitment that there may be no increase in(a) grammar schools, and (b) selection at 11 (depending on best definition of policy).

  Euro
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [131603]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  I refer the hon. Member to the written reply to the same question given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 142W.

  Further Education
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many further education colleges have had their three-year development plans returned by their local learning and skills council with(a) an upward financial revision, (b) a downward financial revision and (c) no change; and if he will make a statement. [132856]

  Alan Johnson
  Discussions between local learning and skills councils and further education colleges and other providers about three-year development plans are on-going. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) expect this process to be completed by the end of October. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the LSC to write to the hon. Member as soon as the planning dialogue is complete, providing the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the House Library.

  The introduction of three-year development plans allows colleges and other providers to plan on a more secure and predictable basis. Colleges and providers will set out their plans for improving the customer focus of their provision; raising standards of teaching and learning; and improving the capability of the workforce.

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  Resources will be allocated by the LSC based on a provider's success in meeting its targets. This provides clear incentives for colleges to improve their performance.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what specific funding his Department has provided to the Learning and Skills Council for further education colleges to meet targets set in relation to(a) the attainment of Level 3 qualifications and (b) meeting employers' needs; and if he will make a statement. [132857]

  Alan Johnson
  It is for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to determine for itself the right level of investment in the programmes and initiatives that it delivers. The Department does not provide specific funding to the LSC for further education colleges to meet targets set in relation to(a) the attainment of Level 3 qualifications, or (b) meeting employers' needs. The Department expects the LSC to use the funds allocated to it for learning participation and capital to allocate funds to colleges to help them meet these and other targets. Assumed learning participation funding for further education allocated to the Learning and Skills Council is £4,278 million in 2003–04; £4,625 million in 2004–05; and £4,987 million in 2005–06. Capital funding allocated by the Department to the LSC will rise by over 60 per cent. in real terms to over £400 million by 2005–06. compared with 2002–03. This will help providers to develop new, and enhance existing, vocational provision that is focused on meeting the skills needs of employers.

  GCSEs
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 1 September 2003,Official Report, column 733W, and to his answer of 11 September 2003, Official Report, column 409W, when he will place the data requested in the Library. [132284]

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

  Learning and Skills Council
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed budget for the next three years of the Learning and Skills Council, on(a) the number of people employed and (b) the level of service provided in (i) England and (ii) Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement. [129791]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The budget for the Learning and Skills Council in 2003–04 is £8.1 billion, rising to £9.2 billion in 2005–06. This substantial increase will allow the LSC to improve the range and quality of learning opportunities available to young people and adults in all parts of England. Within the LSC's budget I have allocated £218 million in each year for the LSC's administration costs and I have asked the LSC to find administrative economies so that it can manage with a flat cash administrative budget. The LSC is also undertaking a reshaping exercise which will build on its strengths, resulting in fewer staff but an enhanced 502W
  capacity to improve services and deliver against targets. This is a matter for the LSC and Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with more information about the reshaping exercise and place a copy of his reply in the Library.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Wycombe of 21 July when he plans to lay a draft order in relation to complaints of maladministration against local learning and skills councils. [133599]

  Alan Johnson
  The Learning and Skills Council will be brought within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (The Ombudsman) shortly. Officials in my Department have been in contact with the relevant officials in the Cabinet Office to ensure that this happens as quickly as possible. I will write to the hon. Member when this happens.

  Minister for Children
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the(a) areas of responsibility, (b) targets and (c) priorities of the Minister for Children are. [122339]

  Margaret Hodge
  I have responsibility within the Department for Education and Skills for policy on children, young people and families. The creation of the post of Minister for Children in June 2003 brought together within the DfES a number of key responsibilities including some from other Government Departments in order to improve the co-ordination of policy on children, young people and families. From September 2003, the title of this post was changed to Minister for Children, Young People and Families.

  The accountability arrangements for PSA and supporting targets affected by this change are:

  the transfer from the Department of Health of the PSA target on improving the life chances for children in care together with work on the adoption of looked after children;

  joint ownership of the PSA target on reducing the under-18 conception rate by 50 per cent. by 2010; and

  the Department of Health will retain the PSA target on improving life outcomes for adults and children with mental health problems with DfES having an important role in ensuring input from social care and other services.

  I will also retain responsibilities for the Sure Start targets which aim to ensure that accessible and high quality child care, early education and other services are available for all young children and families.

  My priorities are set out in the Green Paper, published in September 2003. We need to ensure we properly protect children at risk within a framework of universal services which support every child to develop their full potential and which aim to protect negative outcomes.

  I will be reviewing all targets and structures are now being established within the Department to ensure that our policy ambitions are delivered in the most cost effective manner.

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his targets are for the number
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  of modern apprenticeships to be provided; and how many have been achieved for each year since they were introduced. [133250]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]: The Public Service Agreement (PSA) for Modern Apprenticeships states that:
  "By 2004, at least 28 per cent. of young people to start a Modern Apprenticeship by age 22".

  The technical note for this target clarifies this to mean first-time entrants to Foundation or Advanced Modern Apprenticeships by those aged 16 to 21. The outturn will be starts, defined above, during the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) academic year 2004/05, expressed as a proportion of the most recent population estimate for that cohort from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

  While Modern Apprenticeships have a longer history, fit for purpose data for the PSA target have been compiled only since 2001/02:

  Modern Apprenticeship starts

  Number

  Percentage

  2001/02

  137,000

  122.8

  2002/03

  2144,900

  123.9

  1 Proportion calculated using ONS population estimates DME50 Table 4.

  2 Data for 2002/03 outturn are provisional; due to be finalised by the LSC in January 2004.

  Physical Assaults
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers have been attacked by(a) pupils and (b) parents in each education authority, in each academic year since 1997. [133700]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  In my answer to a similar question from the hon. Member on 8 September 2003,Official Report, column 148W, I stated that the number of serious injuries to primary and secondary school teachers in Great Britain caused by physical violence reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was as follows:

  1996–97—83

  1997–98—119

  1998–99—124

  1999–2000—135

  2000–01—135

  2001–02—110.

  The injuries reported to the HSE are major injuries and those resulting in more than three days' absence from work as a result of assault. Information about who caused the injury is not available and the figures cannot be broken down by education authority.

  School Funding
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will make a statement on school funding for the next financial year. [133602]

  Mr. Miliband
  In his statement to the House on 17 July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State outlined initial steps in responding to the practical 504W
  concerns raised about the present system of funding schools, and promised a further report in the autumn. He expects to make that report shortly.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has received in respect of the funding of schools in Essex; and if he will make a statement. [133710]

  Mr. Miliband
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about school funding issues in Essex. He made a statement to the House on 17 July about changes we propose to make to restore stability to school funding in 2004–05 and 2005–06. We are currently working with national partners on the detail of his proposals and the Secretary of State will be announcing the outcome as soon as this work is complete.

  School Places
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children failed to gain a place at the school of their choice in(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools, (c) special schools and (d) all schools in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority. [133674]

  Mr. Miliband
  The Department does not keep statistics on how many children fail to gain a place at the school of their choice at primary, secondary and special schools. Individual local education authorities may have information. Collecting reliable data is difficult, because many parents apply for places at more than one school and it may not be clear which is their first preference. Research published by the Department in June 2001 suggested that, nationally, 96 per cent. of parents receive an offer of a place at one, at least, of the schools for which they express a preference.

  School Transport
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his policy is towards the funding of free school transport for pupils attending faith schools. [132810]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Education Act 1996 sets out the local education authorities (LEAs) responsibilities in providing free transport to school for pupils of compulsory school age. Section 509(1) requires LEAs to make arrangements for the provision of transport as they consider necessary, so that pupils can attend school. This transport must be free. Section 509(3) enables authorities to pay the whole of part of a pupil's travelling expenses.

  LEAs must provide free transport to denominational schools, where pupils live beyond the statutory walking distances, where they are the nearest suitable school that pupils can attend. Where pupils live closer to a non-denominational school, LEAs will provide free transport to a denominational school of their choice if they consider that transport is necessary, and they may otherwise provide assistance with travel costs. This is an area where LEAs exercise local discretion, taking into account the religious beliefs of parents and local circumstances.
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  Our recent document, "Travelling to School: an Action Plan", set out our plans for boosting walking, cycling and bus use on the journey to school. We are planning to put legislation in place as soon as possible which will allow LEAs to trial new approaches to school transport.

  We hope that one or more exemplar scheme will examine fresh approaches to denominational transport.

  Sector Skills Councils
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which sector skills councils are accredited; when they were accredited; and when the remainder will be operational. [1324981]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We are making good progress in setting up the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). I expect the network of around 25 SSCs will be in place by summer 2004, as outlined in the recently published White Paper, "21st Century Skills. Realising Our Potential". Between April and October this year, four SSCs have been awarded full five-year licences to operate. They cover IT, Telecommunications and Contact Centres; Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies; Construction and Active Leisure and Learning. Plans are well advanced for the development of proposals for a further 17 SSCs, including the live trailblazer SSCs. In addition, the SSDA continues to work with a number of other sectors to ensure the right coverage.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the Department for Trade and Industry about joint funding streams for(a) sector skills councils and (b) related training opportunities; and if he will make a statement with specific reference to the ceramics industry. [132496]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Skills Strategy White Paper, "21st Century Skills, Realising our Potential", set out our intention that the DTI should jointly sponsor, with DfES, the Skills for Business Network.

  Discussions are taking place at official level regarding the details of this arrangement, including funding. The Secretaries of State for Education and Skills and Trade and Industry will receive proposals for their consideration at the end of this year.

  Although the ceramics industry does not meet the criteria for establishing a dedicated Sector Skills Council (SSC), the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) is working with the Association of Ceramic Training and Development to put in place effective arrangements for bringing the ceramics industry fully within the Skills for Business Network.

  Teacher Vacancies
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the, Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies in each subject there were in(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools, (c) special schools and (d) all schools in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority; and if he will express the numbers as a percentage of all teachers. [133676]
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  Mr. Miliband
  The tables showing the number of teacher vacancies in maintained secondary schools in England have been placed in the Libraries. Vacancies by subject are available only for secondary schools. The most recent data available at local education authority level are for January 2003. Vacancy rates are not available because data for the denominator (teacher numbers by subject, by local education authority) are not collected.

  Teacher vacancies are defined as advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term's duration). This includes vacancies being filled on a temporary basis unless filled by someone with a fixed term contract of one term or more.

  Truancy
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many prosecutions of parents per thousand pupils for truancy at school there were in descending order by local authority, in the latest year for which figures are available. [133048]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Information about the number of prosecutions for truancy is not collected centrally.

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received from vice-chancellors in Wales about proposals to introduce differential tuition fees for university students. [129408]

  Alan Johnson
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from various stakeholders in Wales about variable fees for university students.

  University Medical Schools
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 6 October 2003,Official Report, column 1150W, on university medical schools (funding), which universities have received funding from the improving retention pot as a result of admitting full-time students under 21 with an A-level points score of less than 3 C grades to study medicine; how many such students each university has admitted; and how much of such funding each school has attracted. [133325]

  Alan Johnson
  The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) allocated funds for the first time in 2003–04 to institutions to improve retention based on the profile of their students and an assessment of the risks of students failing to complete their studies. The HEFCE does not publish sensitive student or financial data at course level for individual institutions, but the institutions set out below received part of their funding from this exercise as a result of the profile of their medical students. Across these institutions, some 480 full-time medical students attracted a total of £126,092 in additional funding from the improving
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  retention pot because they were under 21 years of age and their points score was less than the equivalent of 3 Cs at A level.

  University of Bath

  University of Birmingham

  University of Bristol

  University of Cambridge

  University of Durham

  University of Leeds

  University of Leicester

  University of Liverpool

  Imperial College

  Queen Mary, University of London

  University College, London

  University of Newcastle

  University of Oxford

  University of Southampton

  King's College London

  St George's Hospital Medical School

  University of Manchester

  University of Nottingham

  University of Sheffield

  University of Warwick.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  House Tours
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the ticket revenue was in each of the years that the House has been opened to members of the public for guided tours; and what the staffing cost was in each year of(a) the tour guides, (b) ticket booth staff and (c) other staff costs. [132438]

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  Revenue and costs for the four years that the House has been open during the summer to members of the public for guided tours are given as follows:

  £

  2000 (trial)

  2001 (trial)

  2002

  2003 (Estimated)

  Net ticket revenue

  80,357

  185,568

  440,000

  482,900

  Tour guide costs

  93,497

  171,928

  185,000

  230,000

  Ticket booth staff

  Costs of ticket booth staff not differentiated from 'other staff costs' until 2003

  29,989

  Other staff costs

  65,948

  77.235

  85,000

  Figures not yet available

  Medical Services
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what services are available to hon. Members in accessing(a) a nurse, (b) a general practitioner and (c) a mental health professional within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster. [132302]

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  The Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service (OHSWS) in the Department of Finance and Administration is an 508W
  advisory service provided to both Houses of Parliament. The OHSWS assesses the effects work has on health and offers specialist advice on all aspects of health and safety in the workplace.

  A walk-in treatment and advisory service is located in Lower Waiting Hall and is available to hon. Members and Peers during parliamentary sessions between 9am and 5pm on Mondays to Thursdays and between 9am and 4pm on Fridays.

  A medical screening service is also offered on a three yearly rolling programme and an earlier appointment can be requested if required. This service is located in 7 Millbank and has been provided without interruption for more than ten years.

  The OHSWS currently has two doctors: a consultant occupational physician working one day a week and a medical adviser who works three days a week. There are three qualified nurses (one full-time, two part-time). In addition, the Occupational Health Manager is a qualified nurse, and is full-time. The House does not employ any mental health professionals, but the doctors maintain close links with consultant psychiatrists at St Thomas's Hospital from whom advice can be sought.

  The House does not provide general practitioner services, but the OHSWS is in discussion with a local practice about the possibility of providing an emergency GP service for Members and Peers. hon Members will be informed should such a service become available.

  September Sittings
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will estimate the additional expense to public funds of the two week September sitting of the House; and if he will make a statement. [131860]

  Norman Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what extra costs have been incurred as a result of the sitting of the House in September, broken down by(a) staff costs, (b) costs relating to building works and (c) other costs; and if he will make a statement. [131867]

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  The sitting of the House in September has not increased the total number of sitting days. The main costs of accommodation and staff were not affected appreciably by the two week return. The building work was planned, as far as was practicable, on the basis of the revised arrangements in order to cause minimum disruption. It is impossible to determine with any accuracy what the actual costs of alternative contracts might have been, but it is estimated that some £90,000 of additional House of Commons works-related expenditure was incurred directly by the change to the recess period, out of a total forecast spend of around £24 million. In addition, it is estimated that the income from public tours was about £40,000 less as the result of moving them to later in September.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Parliamentary Questions
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Solicitor-General when she will reply to question 128333 of 15 September from the hon. Member for Vale of York. [133596]

  The Solicitor-General
  The question was answered on 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 155W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Bosnia
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many(a) casualties and (b) injuries have been recorded each month in Bosnia (i) during the mandate of the International Peacekeeping Force and (ii) since the establishment of the Stabilisation Force; and if he will make a statement. [131792]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  We do not hold this information. In regard to UK military personnel, there have been a total of 29 deaths since December 1995.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many de-mining programmes have been in operation in Bosnia per annum since 1997; how much aid his Department has contributed to each programme per annum(a) directly, (b) through the EU and (c) through the UN; and if he will make a statement. [131891]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The UK bilateral contribution to demining in Bosnia since 1997 is £1 million which was paid in 2000–01 into the International Trust Fund (ITF) for demining. The ITF is an international body of which the UN is a partner. These funds were used to support demining operations in the Kupres region of the country with priority being given to agricultural areas and areas being used for refugee return.

  The following table shows the contribution from the EU to demining operations in Bosnia from 1998–2001 (figures obtained from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) website).

  EU contribution to demining in Bosnia US$

  Total UK share of EU funding (%)

  1998

  2,583,000

  19.1

  1999

  5,640,000

  17.75

  2000

  3,330,806

  19.66

  2001

  5,293,412

  18.9

  DFID will make a further contribution to demining in Bosnia this year of £150,000 which will be paid via the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This is our first direct contribution to the UN for demining in Bosnia. These funds will be used to support capacity building of the National Mine Action Authority, improving national survey mechanisms, database co-ordination, development of transparent priority-setting processes, and improving senior and middle management skills through UNDP-sponsored training courses.
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  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what de-mining programmes were(a) initiated and (b) directly run in Bosnia since 1997. [131892]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  Since 1997 National and International NGOs, the UN, the International Trust Fund for Demining (supported by various donors) working through the Bosnian mine action authorities have run programmes covering the following activities in Bosnia; advocacy and prevention, co-ordination, information, integrated mine action, mine awareness, mine clearance, research and development and victim assistance.

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the status of the food shortage in Ethiopia; and what provisions are being made to prevent it recurring in the longer term. [133563]

  Hilary Benn
  The August 2003 update of the Ethiopian Government/UN Emergency Assistance Requirements and Implementation Options stated that for the period August-December unmet requirements were 37,458 metric tonnes of pulses and vegetable oil, while cereal food needs were covered.

  Our Country Assistance Plan for Ethiopia, which was published in March, outlines the various methods that we are using to take forward our longer-term food strategy. We are working with the Ethiopian Government and Ireland Aid to pilot new approaches to improving roads and transport in rural areas. We are also working at federal and regional level in Ethiopia to learn policy-relevant lessons about key food security issues; for example we have also supported a study of destitution and the policy options available to address this.

  The Ethiopian Government has itself established a task force to address the issue of food insecurity.

  Foreign Aid
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which poor countries are considered to be committed to reform and therefore received or are due to receive increased allocations of direct budget support. [132098]

  Hilary Benn
  The UK will provide Direct Budget Support to a country where that country's government demonstrates a credible commitment to poverty reduction and where the developmental benefits of providing direct budget support outweigh the fiduciary risks, as outlined in the DFID guidelines "Managing Fiduciary Risk When Providing Direct Budget Support".

  Countries where, subject to these criteria being met, allocations of direct budget support have increased or are expected to increase are India, Afghanistan (where we make contributions to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund), Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. Funding agreements in some countries are still being negotiated.

  Fossil Fuels
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the provision of loans and loan guarantees by multi-national banks to fossil fuel projects overseas; and what plans he has to amend his policy. [133632]

  Hilary Benn
  The UK is a shareholder in a number of multilateral Development Banks which provide loans and loan guarantees for fossil fuel projects. The Government's policy is to ensure that these institutions comply with their own policies and procedures in all projects for which they provide finance. In considering whether to provide loans or loan guarantees this should include an assessment of the possible social and environmental impacts. In addition, our policy is to fully understand the developmental implications of fossil fuel projects. We are particularly concerned that the management of revenues from such projects occurs transparently and with a positive developmental impact. We hope that initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative will help to achieve this.

  Overseas Development Aid
  Chris McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects the United Kingdom Government will reach the target of 0.7 per cent. of gross national product spent on overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the percentage allocated to reproductive health programmes. [132310]

  Hilary Benn
  The Government remain firmly committed to the 0.7 per cent. target. Although there is no timetable for reaching the target, the trend in the ratio of official development assistance (oda) to Gross National Income (GNI) has been upward since 1997, when it was 0.26 per cent. By 2005–06 the ratio will be 0.4 per cent. the highest since 1981.

  DFID spent over £270 million on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS programmes in the financial year 2002–03. We regard reproductive health as an essential and inseparable element of good health. We believe that the best way to deliver this is for people to be given the right, freedom and support necessary to enable them to take full individual and personal control of their own fertility and reproductive health. Reproductive health continues to be a priority for DFID and we remain firmly committed to the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) target of achieving access to reproductive health for all by 2015.

  The allocation of funds under the UK international development programme is decided on the basis of country programmes, agreed following discussions with partner governments, and also depends on the existence of effective partners in the country, either government, international or civil society organisations, to ensure that the funding is well spent and achieves its objectives.

  DFID support for reproductive health is wide ranging. It covers HIV/AIDS programmes, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and maternal and adolescent health. Reproductive health
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  also encompasses the services for family planning, contraception and childbearing that make an important contribution to increasing women's choice and opportunity and to preventing unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. Family planning services also provide an important opportunity to improve sexual health and in particular to increase women's access to methods that help prevent HIV infection. DFID's total expenditure cannot therefore be apportioned between HIV/AIDS and Family Planning, as many reproductive health programmes and projects contribute to both objectives (for example through the provision of information on family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention or the provision of condoms).

  Refugee Camps
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 14 October, reference 131643, how many refugee camps are(a) directly run and (b) indirectly aided by UNHCR; and if he will make a statement. [132907]

  Hilary Benn
  UNHCR estimates there are nearly 116,000 Liberian refugees in the south of Guinea, including some 67,000 assisted in four camps managed by them. The rest are spontaneously settled in urban centres. UNHCR is registering newly arrived refugees in border areas and arranging for them to be transferred to the camps. They are coordinating with other agencies to provide food, water and sanitation to newly arriving refugees.

  My reply of 14 October to the hon. Member should have made it clear that, while our support to refugees is through UNHCR and other agencies, and in that sense is not direct, £600,000 of our support to UNHCR this year was specifically allocated for Liberian and Ivorian refugees in Guinea. I apologise for my misunderstanding.

  Reproductive Health
  Chris McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the availability of reproductive health supplies globally; and what steps the Government is taking to increase availability. [132311]

  Hilary Benn
  Estimates suggest that 350 million couples worldwide lack access to modern family planning methods, and as many as 150 million women want to prevent or delay pregnancy but are not using any method of family planning.

  The aim of family planning programmes is to enable couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to do so.

  The Department for International Development (DFID) is one of the leading bilateral providers of condoms and other forms of contraceptives to developing countries. We are also supporting a number of male and female condom social marketing programmes. We are helping the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to provide the widest achievable range of safe and effective family planning and contraceptive methods, including condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS. In January 2001, we provided

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  UNFPA with a grant of £25 million to help meet immediate needs for reproductive health commodities, including condoms, in a range of countries facing immediate shortages. We have increased our core annual funding to UNFPA from £15 million to £18 million.

  The Government have committed £16 million (over five years) to the Medical Research Council's Microbicide development programme. New technologies such as the female condom and microbicides will be an important step forward. They will give women the power to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

  The Government champions reproductive health issues at a country level, including through support for UNFPA. DFID works through Sector Wide Approaches (SWAPS) and Direct Budget Support as ways of supporting countries' Poverty Reduction Strategies. Within these processes it is important to ensure that sufficient attention is given to reproductive health issues, for example the assured supply and availability of reproductive health commodities. In many circumstances DFID is also continuing to ring-fence its support for reproductive health and HIV/AIDS work, including for example social marketing programmes. DFID spent £31 million in 2002–03 on activities within SWAPS that had support for reproductive health services as one of their objectives.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 74W, on reproductive health, what the structure of the Open Health Institute in Russia is; and if he will make a statement. [133200]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The Open Health Institute is a Russian non-governmental organisation which works to resolve the most pressing health problems facing the Russian population. It was established in January 2003 as an independent NGO and previously was part of the Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation) in Russia. It continues to have a close affiliation with the Open Society Institute, from which it currently receives core funding. DFID is providing £4.2 million to OSI/OHI for three years from September 2001 for a project which aims to reduce the transmission of HIV among injecting drug users and commercial sex workers in a network of over 40 harm reduction sites in Russia. The project was most recently reviewed in September 2003 and its outcomes are expected to be largely achieved by the project's end in August 2004.

  DFID's collaboration with the Open Health Institute is a valuable part of the Department's HIV prevention programme in Russia. The purpose of the programme is to influence the Russian Government and society to make a timely and effective response to HIV/AIDS by targeting vulnerable groups. There are over 250,000 officially-registered HIV cases in Russia, but the real number may be significantly higher. This is one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world.

  Southern African Development Community
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 13 October. reference 131644, how much of the 514W
  £7.65 million committed to the Southern African Development Community's work on HIV/AIDS has already been provided; what the per annum break-up for the provisioning of the committed amount is; when the commitment amount was last reviewed; when a new commitment will be made; and if he will make a statement. [132909]

  Hilary Benn
  Of the £7.65 million committed to SADC, £2.79 million has already been provided. The indicative per annum budget breakdown in the Programme Memorandum was as follows—year 1, £1.09 million; year 2, £1.295 million; year 3, £2.045 million; year 4, £2.065 million and year 5, £1.155 million. But actual disbursement is flexible, based on the needs of the programme.

  The commitment amount was last reviewed in late 2002 and will be considered again during a review of the programme in the first half of 2004. As the current commitment runs until 2006, no further commitment to this particular programme is planned at this time.

  Sudan
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the recent peace talks in Sudan. [133560]

  Hilary Benn
  We are optimistic about the prospects for peace. There is a good chance of agreement this year. There are outstanding problems which need to be resolved, on power and wealth sharing, the three conflict areas (of Southern Blue Nile, the Nuba Mountains and Abyei) and ceasefire and security issues. But discussion of these issues has now begun. On 25 September, the parties signed a Framework Agreement on Security Arrangements during the Interim Period. We will continue to offer the parties and mediators our full support and advice and remain actively involved in helping them reach a comprehensive peace agreement. Sudan will remain a priority for our diplomacy.

  We have committed to over £220 million (including UK's share of EC food aid) to Sudan since 1991, predominantly for humanitarian purposes. Since the start of the peace process, we have broadened our assistance to Sudan to include direct support for this process and for rehabilitation work where possible. Funds for Sudan in 2002–03 total £20 million, including £5 million from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool.

  With others in the international community, we are now planning for recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction when there is peace. We are considering what support we can provide in Sudan immediately following a peace agreement, to ensure that the Sudanese people see early benefits of peace. We are also considering how we might support Sudan in the longer term. For example, re-integration of displaced persons, refugees, and armed forces; support for improvements to governance in Sudan; and relief of Sudan's huge debt arrears.

  We recognise that a sustained international effort will be needed to help Sudan after a peace agreement and remain determined to play a full part in it.

  Tanzania
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of food shortages in(a) Tanzania and (b) the Singida region. [133556]

  Hilary Benn
  The Government of Tanzania carried out an initial crop assessment in May followed by further assessment in July. DFID has accepted the findings of the latter which identified 1.9 million people in 16 areas, including 135,000 in Singida region, as being particularly vulnerable to food shortage following the failure of the June harvest. DFID continues to await the formal appeal for assistance being coordinated by the WFP on behalf of the Government of Tanzania.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department has given and is giving to meet the food shortages in(a) Tanzania and (b) the Singida region. [133557]

  Hilary Benn
  During the current year DFID has made £60 million available through direct budget support to the Government of Tanzania to support its Poverty Reduction Strategy, which includes provision for food security. In response to recent shortages, the Government of Tanzania has begun to distribute food from its strategic grain reserve in 16 areas (including Singida) identified as being particularly vulnerable. DFID continues to await the formal appeal for assistance being coordinated by the WFP on behalf of the Government of Tanzania.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Disability Bill
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to publish the Disability Bill. [133083]

  Maria Eagle
  We will publish a draft Disability Bill later this year with the intention that it will undergo pre-legislative scrutiny. The draft Bill would amend the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to make fundamental improvements to disabled people's rights in areas like the public sector, premises, transport, private clubs and the definition of disability.

  This is the next step toward meeting our 2001 Manifesto commitment to extend basic rights and opportunities for disabled people. It builds on other legislation we have already introduced, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003, which were approved by Parliament on 1 July. Those regulations make significant and far-reaching changes to the DDA which will, among other things, bring within scope of its employment provisions a further 1 million small employers, 7 million jobs and 600,000 disabled people already working in those jobs. The final step toward meeting our Manifesto commitment will be when a Disability Bill is passed in this Parliament.

  By the end of this Parliament, we will have taken forward the most significant package of changes to civil rights for disabled people ever seen.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to ensure that people with learning disabilities are not deprived of housing benefit as a result of their accommodation being registered under the Care Standards Act 2000. [133166]

  Mr. Pond
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]Housing benefit is generally withdrawn when accommodation becomes registered under the Care Standards Act 2000. The Department of Health is responsible for providing appropriate funding, through local authority social services, for places in accommodation registered under the Act.

  However entitlement to Housing Benefit may be retained in certain cases where the accommodation would not have been required to be registered under the previous Registered Homes Act 1984.

  Middlesbrough Pathfinder Project
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in relation to the Middlesbrough Pathfinder Project; and if he will make a statement. [133707]

  Mr. Pond
  As a result of their commitment to restructure the regional housing market through the Tees Valley Market Renewal Project, Middlesbrough Council have reconsidered their decision to take part in testing the Local Housing Allowance.

  They recognise the benefits of the Local Housing Allowance and would have continued their involvement had it not been for this commitment. We are disappointed with this outcome, given the amount of work that has been put in by both the council and ourselves, but we respect what was a difficult decision for Middlesbrough and the reasons behind it. Their withdrawal in no way alters our commitment to proceed with the remaining nine Pathfinders.

  Pension
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what powers his Department has to reclaim duplicate payments of retirement pension paid because of official error. [133565]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Social Security legislation does not provide for recovery of such duplicate overpayments arising as a result of official error. Although these duplicate payments are not recoverable under Social Security legislation, repayment can be sought under common law in exceptional circumstances.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many cases order books including payment of pension credit have been issued where the previous order book for retirement pension had not been cancelled; what the value of duplicate payments was in such cases; how many such duplicate payments have been made to those receiving direct payments into an account and of what value; and if he will make a statement. [133566]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We are aware that a number of duplicate order books were issued in the South West Region in June 2003. Although it is not possible to say
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  precisely how many cases were involved, corrective action was taken to prevent any further cases and we are satisfied that the number was small. Payment arrangements have been corrected where cases have been identified. Pension Credit has been payable only from 6 October and information on duplicate payments is not yet available.

SCOTLAND

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contracts for consultancy and work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997, stating in each case(a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [133019]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. Since that date no consultancy or other work has been carried out by Bechtel for the Office.

CABINET OFFICE

  Government Websites
  Miss Begg
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the design of government websites is focused on the needs of the general public. [132955]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Cabinet Office publishes "Guidelines for UK Government Websites", a best practice guide for the design and management of websites.

  The guidelines were last updated in December 2002 to reflect advancements in technology and to clarify and extend the range of advice.

  Public Appointments
  Rob Marris
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what age restrictions there are on public appointments. [132956]

  Mr. Alexander
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friends the Members for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) and South Ribble (Mr. Borrow).

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will revise the list of ministerial responsibilities published by his office in July so that the Ministries are set out in the same alphabetical order as in previous editions of the same publication. [133535]

  Mr. Alexander
  The List of Ministerial Responsibilities (LMR) is now available in both electronic and paper form. LMR now lists Departments in alphabetical order consistent with the style adopted in previous editions. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and the Vote Office. A copy is also being sent direct to the hon. Member.

DEFENCE

  AWE Aldermaston
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the purposes are of the refurbishment of buildings and other infrastructure at AWE Aldermaston; and what estimate he has made of the final cost. [132439]

  Mr. Ingram
  The refurbishment and replacement of older facilities and the decommissioning of those no longer required at AWE is an on-going programme of work to meet safety, regulatory and operational requirements. This work also offers potential environmental and efficiency benefits.

  The costs of this work are included in the overall incentivised price of the 25-year AWE Management and Operation contract. It will be for AWE to determine the scope and level of investment necessary to maintain the infrastructure that will underpin the ability both to deliver the requisite contract outputs and to generate the efficiencies that we expect the incentivised arrangements will produce.

  Challenger 2 Tank
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what future plans there are for the digitalisation of the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank fleet; what the predicted cost of digitising the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank fleet is; and when the digitisation of the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank fleet is due to start. [133708]

  Mr. Ingram
  The digitisation of Challenger 2 will be achieved through the installation and integration of Bowman radios, Platform Battlefield Information Systems Application (P BIS A) and the Commander's Crew Station Screen with the current fire control and sighting systems within the tank. This work will be completed by the Design Authority Alvis Vickers Ltd. The approved cost for the Bowman project is £2.073 billion (resource cost, VAT inclusive, for the Demonstration and Manufacture phases) and the approved cost for the Combat Infrastructure and Platform BISA (CIP) project is £410 million (P BISA is an integral part of the CIP project). Both projects involve digitisation of a number of platforms over-and-above Challenger 2, it is therefore not possible to determine the elements attributable to a specific platform. The programme to digitise the Challenger 2 fleet is due to start in January 2004.

  Colchester Garrison
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether(a) the Ministry of Defence and (b) Her Majesty's Treasury will receive a payment from Annington Homes as a result of the sale of former Ministry of Defence dwellings and land at the Colchester Garrison; and if he will make a statement. [132816]

  Mr. Caplin
  Under the terms of the 1996 Sale Agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Annington Homes, the Exchequer benefits from a Profit Share arrangement when properties that have become surplus are returned to the owners (Annington) and sold. This arrangement applies for the first 15 years
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  following the 1996 sale and is based on a sliding percentage scale of the profit made by the Company after allowable overheads have been deducted.

  Compensation Claims
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much compensation has been paid by his Department in each year since 1990. [132736]

  Mr. Caplin
  Records going back to 1990 on how much compensation has been paid by the Ministry of Defence are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the information sought in relation to compensation paid, which includes legal costs, since financial year 1997–98 is shown in the following table.

  Compensation paid (£ million)

  1997–98

  70

  1998–99

  76

  1999–2000

  83

  2000–01

  88.5

  2001–02

  91.5

  2002–03

  104

  The increase in the value of settlements in recent years is mainly attributable to changes in the level of general damages recommended to the courts by the Judicial Studies Board and a change in the multiplier used to calculate future losses as directed by the Lord Chancellor. For a breakdown of the figures, as well as further details regarding compensation issues associated with the Ministry of Defence, I refer my hon. Friend to the Department's Claims Annual Report, a copy of which is placed in the Library of the House each year.

  Postal Services
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to continue with free postal and parcel services for armed forces personnel on detached duties abroad. [133157]

  Mr. Ingram
  A scheme to allow only those personnel deployed on Operation Telic to be sent small packets up to 2 kg in weight free of charge commenced on 17 April 2003. The service is kept under review.

  Ministry of Defence Police
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accountability of the Ministry of Defence Police. [132445]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) are accountable to the Secretary of State, and therefore to Parliament for their actions. The role of the MOD Police Committee is now comparable to that of a police authority, mirroring best practice where appropriate. The committee focuses on strategic advice and governance, and holds MDP to account on a wide range of issues including complaints and discipline and the use of the extended jurisdiction granted to the MDP under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. A number of independent members sit on the committee.
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  The Chief Constable's Annual Report and Accounts as well as his annual Key Targets are in the public domain. The Chief Constable now also provides an annual Operational Report. When this is available a copy will be placed in the Library of the House. The Chief Constable can be called before Select Committees if required and constituents of Members of Parliament may raise questions with the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief Constable on the force and its activities.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department expects to publish the second stage of the Quinquennial Review of the Ministry of Defence Police; and if he will make a statement. [132446]

  Mr. Caplin
  We have no plans to publish material relating to the second stage of the Ministry of Defence Police Quinquennial Review, as most of the issues relate to internal Ministry of Defence Police matters. This concerned governance and accountability, with particular reference to the MOD Police Committee.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for implementing provisions of the Police Reform Act 2002 concerning the Ministry of Defence Police; and if he will make a statement. [132447]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Police Reform Act 2002 includes four sections that are specific to the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). Three sections of the Police Reform Act 2002 have been implemented already. These allow for MDP officers to serve with other police forces under the direction of the chief officer of the force with which they are serving; place inspections by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary on a statutory basis; and allow potential recruits to the MDP to use firearms without a certificate for the purpose of assessment.

  The final section concerns disciplinary procedures for the MDP, and the process to change these procedures is nearly complete. I expect the new procedures to be laid before Parliament early next year.

  Pilot Training
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the time interval is between pilots completing fast jet training and beginning operational conversion unit training in respect of the(a) Tornado GR4, (b) Tornado F3, (c) Harrier and (d) Jaguar. [132551]

  Mr. Ingram
  Following completion of fast jet training, all pilots from the RN and the RAF are selected to join a specific Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). The length of time pilots wait to join their allotted OCU depends on the availability of spaces at the OCU.

  During these periods, trainees are attached to units to enhance their general service knowledge. Refresher training is normally undertaken at RAF Valley in the event of time intervals exceeding 20 weeks between the completion of flying training and the formal start of the OCU.

  Recruitment
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the involvement of a recruitment company in the enlisting into Her Majesty's armed forces people from Fiji. [132807]

  Mr. Caplin
  I am not aware of any involvement of a recruiting company currently connected with the enlistment of Fijian citizens into the United Kingdom armed forces.

  Royal Naval Personnel (Family Contact)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often(a) submariners and (b) other Royal Naval personnel are able to contact their families when on operations; and under what circumstances contact is restricted. [128118]

  Mr. Caplin
  All personnel deployed outside UK waters or Northern Europe on a Permanent Joint Headquarters "named" operation for seven days, or a Fleet operation or exercise for two months, are eligible to the benefits of the Operational Welfare Package, free of charge. This comprises 20 minutes of telephone time per week; one e-mail per week (which may be increased if operational circumstances permit); and unlimited postal aerogrammes.

  Telephone calls and e-mails are sent using satellite communications, which may be restricted from time to time at the discretion of the local commander for reasons of operational security. Also, satellite communications cannot be used by submerged submarines, so use of these facilities is restricted to time on the surface or in port. Aerogrammes can only be delivered or sent when the ship or submarine receives a mail delivery/collection.

  In the case of Vanguard Class ballistic missile submarines, which spend the whole of their deployed time submerged, none of the above methods can be used, but personnel on board are able to receive "familygrams" sent via Flotilla HQ at Faslane. These are restricted to 40 words per week at the moment, although we are currently considering increasing this limit.

  Iraq
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 1 September 2003,Official Report, column 910W, whether his Department has had discussions with the (a) World Food Programme and (b) International Committee of the Red Cross about security at the Ministry of Trade warehouse in Basra. [129802]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Department for International Development is responsible for liaison at departmental level with non-governmental organisations operating within Iraq. It is usual procedure for local commanders to discuss matters such as these with representatives of NGOs. Because representatives of the World Food Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross have now withdrawn from Iraq and due to the roulement of UK armed forces personnel, I cannot confirm when security arrangements at the Ministry of Trade warehouse in Basra were discussed.
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  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many atropine Combopens each soldier had in his possession at 202 Field Hospital at the start of the conflict in Iraq. [133709]

  Mr. Ingram
  At the start of the conflict atropine Combopens were not issued to individual personnel of 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer) (202 Fd Hosp (V)), but 420 were distributed across several locations in the Hospital complex. By the end of March a further 1,200 were issued to 202 Fd Hosp and each member of the unit was personally issued with 2 Combopens.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work his Department is doing to locate, identify and repatriate Kuwaitis who remain in Iraq from Iraq's invasion in 1990. [117032]

  Mr. Ingram
  None. However, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is making significant efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1483 which calls for continuing efforts to locate, identify and repatriate all Kuwaiti and Third-State Nationals. Mass grave sites continue to be found across Iraq which may contain human remains from a number of groups of Iraqi society as well as foreign nationals. United Kingdom forensic experts have visited mass grave sites and a strategy is being drawn up which will enable the CPA to protect sites and secure evidence. There are a number of UK CPA secondees working to support the collection of witness statements and testimonies and train Iraqi organisations in the relevant skills.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Maze Prison
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will support the transformation of Maze Prison in County Antrim into a tourist attraction or a site that could be used by European countries as an outreaching post for the US tourism market. [128572]

  Mr. Pearson
  The Government appointed a Consultation Panel in March this year to consider and bring forward proposals for the regeneration of the Maze Prison and adjacent Ministry of Defence site. The Panel will be trawling widely for ideas and proposals to regenerate these very valuable sites. Having considered and taken advice on the proposals received, the Panel will make recommendations to Government both on how the sites can be used to promote social and economic regeneration and on the appropriate regeneration vehicle for taking the work forward.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on tackling age discrimination in Northern Ireland. [131856]

  Mr. Spellar
  We plan shortly to issue for consultation, proposals for legislation which will tackle age discrimination in employment and training. These proposals will be in line with the requirements of the EU Employment Framework Directive.
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  Policy development is continuing within the context of the single Equality Bill on extending protection against age discrimination to the provision of goods, facilities and services. A consultation on the single Equality Bill is planned for the end of 2003.

  The Promoting Social Inclusion working group on Older People is also planning to issue their 'Strategy for Older People in Northern Ireland' for consultation before the end of the year.

  Ambulance Service
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to improve ambulance response times in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [133183]

  Angela Smith
  One of my Priorities for Action in 2003–04 is that the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service should by 31 March 2004 have an Accident and Emergency ambulance at the scene of 50 per cent. of 999 calls in 8 minutes, and at the scene of 95 per cent. of 999 calls in 18 minutes in the Eastern Board area, 21 minutes in the Northern, Southern and Western Board areas.

  I have already made capital funding available to the Ambulance Service to replace and add to its vehicle fleet, and revenue funding to recruit and train the necessary additional staff, to enable these targets to be met.

  In addition in February this year it was announced that some 29 million would be available over the next five years from the Strategic Investment Programme to continue to take forward the development of a modern ambulance service which can respond quickly to emergency situations and provide vital clinical care to patients.

  Belfast City Airport
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his plans for the future policing of the Belfast City Airport. [133300]

  Jane Kennedy
  The policing arrangements at Belfast City Airport are being enhanced following a recommendation from the Chief Constable of the PSNI. This move is seen as a necessary and prudent measure to ensure the airport has the appropriate level of security. As is the case at other important economic facilities in Northern Ireland, levels of security at BCA are kept under continual review.

  Carpets International (UK) Ltd.
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to assist Carpets International (UK) Ltd. since it went into receivership; and if he will make a statement. [133188]

  Mr. Pearson
  Since Carpets International (UK) Ltd. went into receivership on 20 August 2003, officials from Invest NI, the Department of Employment and Learning and the Social Security Agency have maintained close links with all relevant parties associated with this case.
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  Invest NI received a project plan from a management buy out (MBO) team on 17 October 2003. This plan is currently being appraised. As regards the employees made redundant by the company, links have been made available to them to local job agencies, job clinics and the Social Security Agency. I am also aware that local employers have offered positions to suitable applicants from the Carpet International plants at Killinchy and Donaghadee.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the likelihood of a successful outcome for a management buy-out at Carpets International; and if he will make a statement. [133235]

  Mr. Pearson
  Officials from Invest NI met the management buy out (MBO) team from Carpets International, Donaghadee and their advisers on Friday 17 October 2003 having been in touch with them on a number of previous occasions. At that meeting Invest NI was presented with the MBO team's business plan. The business plan is being appraised by Invest NI and it would be inappropriate to make an assessment at this early stage.

  Elderly Mentally Infirm Unit Places
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of elderly mentally infirm unit places in Northern Ireland. [132470]

  Angela Smith
  It is a matter for each Health and Social Services Board to determine the need for any service in their area and to commission that service within the resources available to it.

  The Northern HSS Board is currently undertaking a review of services for older people with mental health problems, and will use the findings to determine level of need in their area. A report is due in March 2004.

  The Eastern HSS Board has no plans to increase number of elderly mentally infirm places at present.

  The Southern HSS Board has plans to support an additional 40 elderly mentally infirm people using a supported living model.

  The Western HSS Board has recently sponsored the development of 20 nursing placements, and is currently planning for the provision of a further 30 places in a Housing with Care Unit. It has also identified further need for additional EMI places within a supported living model, and is planning a review of provision to quantify this.

  Although it is not possible to provide an exact Northern Ireland total, it was estimated in 2002 that there are 2,500–3,000 permanent places available for, or occupied by, persons with dementia (equivalent to elderly mentally infirm persons) regardless of the source of funding. At the moment there is no evidence that there is a need to increase the number of elderly mentally infirm unit places in Northern Ireland.

  Equality Commission
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to assess the Northern Ireland
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  Equality Commission's (a) ability to carry out its activities and (b) value to the public purse following the report of the Northern Ireland Auditor General; and if he will make a statement. [128296]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is responsible for approving the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland's three year Corporate Plan and annual Business Plan. The Department monitors and assesses the Commission's progress against these agreed targets and objectives and ensures that action is taken on recommendations arising from the annual audit of accounts by the Northern Ireland Audit Office. The Equality Commission publishes an Annual Report detailing performance against its agreed objectives which is laid before Parliament.

  EU Constitution
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the implications for Northern Ireland of the proposed European Union constitution. [131858]

  Mr. Pearson
  Treaty changes to bring the institutions and policies of the European Union up to date, in particular in view of the enlargement of the EU next year, will be negotiated by member state governments at the Inter-Governmental Conference, which begins on 4 October in Rome.

  In terms of the likely implications of changes for Northern Ireland, the situation will continue to be kept under review through the normal channels operating between Northern Ireland and the relevant Whitehall Departments.

  Fair Employment and Treatment Order
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to review exemptions for certain employees from the provisions of the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998. [131862]

  Mr. Spellar
  The exceptions in the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 for employment for the purposes of a private household and for charities as employers will be removed and the exception for the employment of schoolteachers will be restricted to teacher recruitment with effect from 2 December 2003 in order to comply with the EU Employment Framework Directive.

  The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is currently undertaking an investigation with a view to putting forward recommendations on action necessary to further equality of opportunity in the employment of teachers in schools. These recommendations will be considered in the context of the single Equality Bill.

  On 22 September, the Government announced a review of the effectiveness of the temporary provisions of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 which provide for 50:50 recruitment and lateral entry to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. These temporary provisions, which are due to expire in March 2004 unless they are renewed, include an exception to the Fair Employment and Treatment Order. Government will
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  carry out a wide-ranging consultation on this issue which is due to come to a close on 19 December this year.

  Farming
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pedigree and commercial producers have attended(a) training programmes and (b) cattle management programmes in each of the last three years, broken down by parliamentary constituency. [133346]

  Mr. Pearson
  The information requested is as follows:

  Training Programmes

  The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise provides a wide range of training programmes for all farmers in a number of subject areas. In general courses can be classified into five main areas:

  Practical skills courses,

  Legislative courses,

  Technical courses,

  Environmental training courses,

  Business management training courses.

  Training programmes are available to farmers, farm family members and farm workers. The number of pedigree and commercial producers attending these programmes is not recorded by CAFRE. The total number of people attending training programmes across Northern Ireland in the last three years is:

  2000–01—6,153 participants

  2001–02—6,046 participants

  002–03—9,281 participants

  Information on participants is not available by parliamentary constituencies.

  Cattle Management Programmes

  The number of pedigree and commercial producers, by County, who have attended Breed Cattle Improvement learning programmes since delivery commenced in October 2002 is illustrated in the following tables:

  2002–03

  Numbers of producers

  Pedigree

  Commercial

  Antrim

  56

  130

  Armagh

  17

  89

  Down

  36

  116

  Fermanagh

  52

  80

  Londonderry

  34

  142

  Tyrone

  52

  234

  Total

  247

  791

  2003–04

  Numbers of producers

  Pedigree

  Commercial

  Antrim

  0

  13

  Armagh

  0

  24

  Down

  0

  19

  Fermanagh

  0

  26

  Londonderry

  0

  25

  Tyrone

  0

  68

  Total

  0

  175

  Currently there are 60 pedigree producers and 111 commercial producers participating in learning

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  programmes. A further 101 commercial producers have been invited to commence training before the end of October.

  Delivery of the Cattle Health Management learning programmes commenced in May 03. The number of producers who have attended learning programmes is illustrated in the following table. Participants on this learning programme are not recorded by their commercial or pedigree status.

  Numbers of producers

  Completed training

  Currently in training

  Antrim

  16

  0

  Armagh

  14

  0

  Down

  25

  26

  Fermanagh

  0

  15

  Londonderry

  12

  17

  Tyrone

  27

  35

  Total

  94

  93

  A further 111 producers have been invited to commence training before the end of October.

  Invest Northern Ireland
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total value was of funding allocated by Invest Northern Ireland in(a) grants and (b) equity, in each of the last three years. [133341]

  Mr. Pearson
  During 2002–03 Invest NI offered assistance through letters of offer totalling £125.6 million, of which £8.2 million was in the form of equity. For 2001–02 Invest NI's legacy agencies issued £80 million through offers, of which £3.7 million was equity based. For 2000–01 a total of £107.7 million was offered, £2.8 million in the form of equity.

  Fish Farms
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the value was of funding allocated to assist Northern Ireland's inland fish farms to improve their international competitiveness in each of the last three years. [133342]

  Mr. Pearson
  The information available is set out in the following table.

  EU funding (£ million)

  2001

  0.208

  2002

  0.313

  2003

  0.208

  Total

  0.729

  Organ Retention
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the proposed new informed consent document will be available for public comment. [132475]

  Angela Smith
  New consent forms and information on post mortem examinations have been drafted and will form the basis of a 13-week consultation process, which will commence in January 2004. The Department will promulgate these documents together with other new guidance and information to a wide range of key 528W
  stakeholders, including relatives, and invite their views and comments, which will be analysed following the completion of the consultation process. The documents will also be made available on the Department's website.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what form of informed consent documentation is being used in Northern Ireland pending the revision of the Human Tissue Act 1961. [132476]

  Angela Smith
  Trusts were issued with interim guidance on post mortem examination by the Chief Medical Officer in March 2000. This was updated in May 2003. The guidance states that consent should be obtained through the use of a form, normally signed off by the next of kin, which provides clear written information about:

  what the examination entails.

  which organs and tissues may be retained and why.

  how this might impact on the funeral arrangements.

  whether archiving for research or legal reasons is required.

  Copies of the consent form should then become an integral part of the post mortem record, placed in the deceased patient's notes and given to the relative who signed it.

  Broadly similar forms are used by all Trusts. New forms have been drafted and will form part of a consultation exercise beginning in January 2004.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress with the revision of the(a) Human Tissue Act 1961 and (b) the Anatomy Act 1984. [132478]

  Angela Smith
  In 2001–02 England and Wales undertook a fundamental and broad review of the law on human organs and tissues taken from adults or children (including foetuses and stillborn children), either during surgery or after death. This review encompassed the two pieces of legislation mentioned by the hon. Member, for which the Northern Ireland equivalents are the Human Tissue Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 and the Anatomy (Northern Ireland) Order 1992.

  A public consultation document, "Human Bodies, Human Choices", was launched in July 2002 and copied to key stakeholders in Northern Ireland. This work not only achieved broad consensus on the way forward but also demonstrated that the system of regulation being proposed, under a Human Tissue Authority, could apply equally to Northern Ireland as to England and Wales, in very much the same way as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority operates at present.

  Work is well advanced on preparing new legislation covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland issued a summary of these proposals for information on Friday 17 October. It can be viewed at the Department's website: www.dhsspni.gov.uk.

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the take-up rate of modern apprenticeships
  529W
  in Northern Ireland was in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) industrial sector, (b) gender and (c) parliamentary constituency. [132794]

  Modern apprenticeships

  Industrial sector

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Total

  Administration, Clerical & IT

  127

  135

  286

  255

  218

  1021

  Creative, Educational, Recreational

  34

  20

  45

  43

  43

  185

  Health Community &Personal Services

  115

  98

  224

  340

  357

  1,134

  Selling & Storage

  12

  103

  302

  168

  128

  713

  Hotel & Catering, Food Preparation

  16

  59

  175

  299

  532

  1,081

  Agricultural & Related

  39

  21

  44

  48

  37

  189

  Construction & Civil Engineering

  377

  95

  823

  973

  729

  2,997

  Motor Vehicle Repairs & Maintenance

  159

  75

  251

  263

  260

  1,008

  Printing

  1

  26

  28

  9

  21

  85

  Processing

  12

  5

  28

  32

  27

  104

  Engineering

  274

  505

  893

  894

  734

  3,300

  Total

  1,166

  1,142

  3,099

  3,324

  3,086

  11,817

  Note:

  It is not possible to provide the data by parliamentary constituency

  Gender

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Total

  Male

  913

  817

  2.340

  2,492

  2,181

  8,743

  Female

  253

  325

  759

  832

  905

  3,074

  Total

  1,166

  1,142

  3,099

  3,324

  3,086

  11,817

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend(a) beta interferon and (b) glatiramer therapy for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers in Northern Ireland before the end of 2003. [132473]

  Angela Smith
  Extra staff have now been recruited specifically to enhance the delivery of services for Multiple Sclerosis patients. It is expected that a considerable number of the patients on the current waiting list will be started on treatment by the end of the current financial year. The suitability of a specific therapy for an individual patient is a matter for the clinicians concerned, in consultation with the patient.

  Electoral Identity Cards
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many electors had obtained photo identity cards by(a) 1 May, (b) 29 May and (c) 1 September. [133288]

  Mr. Spellar
  The number of Electoral Identity Cards issued by each of the dates specified is as follows:

  (a) 1 May—55,024

  (b) 29 May—66,605

  (c) 1 September—79,762

  Policing of Airports (Belfast City) Order
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which bodies were consulted prior to the laying of the draft Policing of Airports (Belfast City) Order 2003 on 10 July 2003; and which bodies were consulted prior to its withdrawal during the summer recess. [133298]

  Jane Kennedy
  Prior to laying the draft Policing of Airports (Belfast City) Order 2003, consultation took place with the Chief Constable of the Police Service
  530W
  Jane Kennedy
  The information requested is in the following tables.

  of Northern Ireland, the Policing Board and the authorities at Belfast City Airport. The draft Order was withdrawn following consultation with the Chief Constable and the airport authorities.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the draft Policing of Airports (Belfast City) Order 2003 was withdrawn. [133299]

  Jane Kennedy
  I agreed to withdraw this Order once I had been assured that the Belfast City Airport Authority would make provision for an armed policing presence in accordance with the Chief Constable's recommendation.

  Post-mortem Information
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of the post mortem information leaflet intended for supply to all households in Northern Ireland. [132477]

  Angela Smith
  Over 600,000 of the leaflets have now been issued. A further 2,952 leaflets will be sent out over the period 17–22 November. The Royal Mail has advised that the distribution of a leaflet to every household in Northern Ireland will be competed by 23 November 2003.

  Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have commenced(a) Remicade and (b) Enbrel treatment during the current year in Northern Ireland. [132464]

  Angela Smith
  This year to date, six rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have commenced treatment with Remicade and a further six have commenced treatment with Enbrel.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend(a) remicade and (b) enbrel therapy for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in Northern Ireland before the end of 2003. [132474]
  531W
  Angela Smith
  Extra recurrent funding has been provided, which has enabled the first phase of a three-phase project to commence, allowing a significant expansion in these therapies to suitable patients by the end of this year. The decision on the appropriate therapy for an individual patient is a matter for the clinician concerned, in consultation with the patient.

  Social housing: Starts and completions for past five years

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  District Council

  Houses started

  Houses completed

  Houses started

  Houses completed

  Houses started

  Houses completed

  Antrim

  0

  13

  4

  4

  16

  0

  Ards

  30

  36

  49

  7

  14

  15

  Armagh

  98

  25

  4

  102

  15

  10

  Ballymena

  69

  80

  2

  11

  46

  60

  Ballymoney

  0

  11

  12

  0

  0

  12

  Banbridge

  32

  37

  10

  0

  0

  10

  Belfast

  691

  542

  649

  542

  367

  483

  Carrick

  81

  33

  39

  31

  0

  52

  Castlereagh

  84

  0

  20

  0

  0

  84

  Coleraine

  43

  16

  0

  62

  10

  27

  Cookstown

  12

  21

  0

  12

  7

  0

  Craigavon

  108

  71

  16

  53

  11

  58

  Derry

  236

  242

  420

  188

  305

  135

  Down

  145

  97

  75

  69

  7

  116

  Dungannon

  18

  20

  4

  44

  27

  3

  Fermanagh

  50

  42

  15

  67

  27

  35

  Larne

  0

  49

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Limavady

  42

  0

  23

  53

  37

  42

  Lisburn

  152

  72

  231

  137

  90

  132

  Magherafelt

  16

  13

  8

  24

  9

  6

  Moyle

  40

  37

  0

  28

  0

  0

  Newry & Mourne

  31

  91

  95

  46

  25

  80

  Newtownabbey

  86

  34

  27

  20

  12

  32

  North Down

  50

  9

  18

  97

  0

  4

  Omagh

  124

  31

  22

  116

  30

  37

  Strabane

  59

  66

  77

  25

  72

  75

  Total

  2,297

  1,688

  1,820

  1,738

  1.127

  1,508

  2001–02

  2002–03

  District Council

  Houses started

  Houses completed

  Houses started

  Houses completed

  Antrim

  9

  31

  2

  9

  Ards

  18

  84

  0

  0

  Armagh

  4

  19

  0

  0

  Ballymena

  0

  27

  20

  33

  Ballymoney

  6

  0

  2

  4

  Banbridge

  0

  32

  1

  1

  Belfast

  611

  681

  447

  392

  Carrick

  15

  27

  30

  15

  Castlereagh

  0

  20

  0

  6

  Coleraine

  7

  10

  45

  0

  Cookstown

  0

  7

  0

  0

  Craigavon

  0

  13

  18

  0

  Derry

  103

  336

  45

  334

  Down

  63

  37

  7

  51

  Dungannon

  2

  12

  4

  14

  Fermanagh

  6

  38

  55

  5

  Larne

  15

  15

  0

  0

  Limavady

  0

  22

  11

  31

  Lisburn

  9

  172

  113

  86

  Magherafelt

  5

  2

  6

  5

  Moyle

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Newry & Mourne

  36

  25

  33

  38

  Newtownabbey

  18

  27

  0

  12

  North Down

  100

  56

  31

  44

  Omagh

  1

  25

  22

  5

  Strabane

  2

  62

  8

  50

  Total

  1,030

  1,780

  900

  1,135

  Note:

  Figures include properties purchased or rehabilitated.

  Social Housing
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new build social houses were commenced and completed in each of the last five years, broken down by location. [120153]

  Mr. Spellar
  The following table details the number of new build starts and completions by District Council Area for the five years 1998–99 to 2002–03.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Analogue Transmission
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the timetable for the ending of the analogue system of television transmission. [132798]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Digital TV Action Plan sets out a series of actions to ensure that the criteria set for switchover are met so the Government can, if we choose, take the decision to proceed to full switchover by ordering the switching off by 2010 of analogue terrestrial transmissions. Details of the switchover criteria are contained in the Action Plan, which can be found on the website: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk

  Brewster Sessions
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture. Media and Sport how many licences will be considered by Brewster Sessions in 2004, broken down by percentage represented by(a) hotels, (b) restaurants, (c) pubs and (d) others; what proportion of applications were refused by the Brewster Sessions in each of the last five years; and what the cost to industry of applications to the Brewster Sessions was in the last year for which figures are available. [133149]
  533W
  Mr. Caborn
  We estimate that the costs to applicants for renewal of their licences at the last triennial Brewster Sessions was about £11 million, including fees and legal support costs, of which £4.65 million was paid in fees.

  The Brewster Sessions at which justices' licences are renewed is a triennial event which last took place in 2001. There have therefore been only two such sessions in the last five years. At these sessions, licensing committees consider objections made by the police, local authorities and local residents to the continuation of licences for a further three years.

  The percentage of on-licensed premises which are residential or residential/restaurant licences (hotels) is 7.5 per cent. of restaurants, 18 5 per cent. of public houses, 71 per cent. and of other licences, 3.5 per cent. The total number of on-licensed premises was 110,000 at the end of June 2001, these being the last available figures. In addition, there are some 45,000 off licensed premises.

  There are no figures collected centrally of the proportion of applications for renewal refused by the licensing justices sitting at the Brewster Sessions.

  Images of England Project
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are being included in the Images of England project at the National Monuments Record of English Heritage. [132276]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Images of England project is creating a 'point in time' photographic record of England's 370,000 listed buildings. A wide range of buildings and other structures, from houses and barns to telephone boxes, churches, gravestones and cinemas, are included in the statutory lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

  The project is not seeking to photograph people associated with the listed buildings and English Heritage does not generally hold (or seek) information about how many individuals inhabit those that are private dwellings.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have applied requesting exemption from the Images of England project at the National Monuments Record of English Heritage. [132277]

  Mr. Caborn
  As of the end of September 2003, English Heritage has received 4,508 applications for exemption relating to less than 1.5 per cent of the 370,000 listed buildings.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the annual cost is of the Images of England project at the National Monuments Record of English Heritage. [132278]

  Mr. Caborn
  The average annual cost of the Images of England project (taken until the end of the 2002–03 financial year and excluding the pilot project) is £897,000, 75 per cent. of which is provided through a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The average annual cost to English Heritage over the same period is therefore £224,000.

  Maritime Archaeology
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on developments in maritime archaeology since responsibility was transferred from her Department to English Heritage; and what further developments are planned. [132599]

  Mr. Caborn
  Since being given responsibilities for maritime archaeology, English Heritage now provides the Secretariat to the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites, and has re-tendered the contract for archaeological diving services.

  English Heritage is also currently reviewing the priorities for its wider responsibilities for maritime archaeology in England, and advances have been made in understanding the issues relating to the protection, enhancement and preservation of two of those wrecks in England designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, in the form of Desk Based Assessments. Further such assessments are planned in the future.

  In addition, English Heritage has been able, in partnership with other Government Departments and agencies, to raise the awareness of industry and regulators about the need to take the submerged historic environment into account when planning developments.

  Tourism (North-East)
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures the Department is taking to encourage tourism in the north-east. [133217]

  Mr. Caborn
  This Department has allocated £50 million to VisitBritain in 2003–04 for the promotion of Britain overseas and to promote England to the domestic market. Although the north-east benefits from this activity, funding for VisitBritain is not allocated for individual regions, but promotes the country as a whole in a way which maximises the impact of its campaigns in individual markets.

  Additionally, DCMS is providing funding to One North East of £330,000 for 2003–04 for tourism development in line with its regional tourism strategy and within the national framework.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Child Soldiers
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are in place(a) to stop the exploitation of children as soldiers and (b) to bring those responsible to justice. [133559]

  Mr. Rammell
  We are working with other UK Government Departments, other governments, the non-governmental community and the multi-lateral system (including UN and regional mechanisms) to prevent, reduce and resolve armed conflicts. We consider this to be the most effective way of stopping the exploitation of children as soldiers.
  535W
  Work is on-going to integrate child-specific issues into post-conflict truth and justice mechanisms to that end, examples being in Sierra Leone and Rwanda. Furthermore, the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court recognises the enlistment or use of children under the age of 15 years to be a war crime, and the ICC provides a means by which to prosecute such offences.

  In June 2003, the UK ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. The Protocol, ratified by 64 countries worldwide, increases the protection afforded to children by prohibiting their participation in armed conflict.

  Democratic Republic of the Congo
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are in place to end human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [133558]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UK strongly condemns all abuses of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the climate of impunity which exists there. We have worked hard, with international partners, for an end to the regional conflicts which perpetuated the appalling human rights situation. Instruments available to tackle human rights abuses include:

  continued diplomatic dialogue with the DRC authorities;

  the presence of the United Nations Organisation Mission in Congo (MONUC—who have specialist human rights staff);

  the democracy support institutions set up alongside the Transitional National Government in Kinshasa (including the National Human Rights Observatory and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission). The UK is actively considering ways in which it can support the work of these institutions;

  the valuable work of the many human rights NGOs operating in the DRC.

  The Government also note the announcement in July 2003 by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court that he intends to follow closely the situation in the DRC.

  Uganda
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect on(a) security and (b) the humanitarian situation in Uganda of the fighting between government forces and the Lord's Resistance Army. [133564]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are deeply concerned that the security and humanitarian situation in the North and North-Eastern regions of Uganda continues to deteriorate as a result of the recent escalation of violence by the Lord's Resistance Army.

  We understand the Ugandan Government's need to take military action to restore security but have repeatedly urged the Ugandan Government to ensure the humanitarian implications of their military campaign are given the highest priority. We continue to encourage the government to explore complementary methods of bringing the conflict to an end. The United
  536W
  Kingdom gave £2.5 million last financial year for humanitarian assistance to Uganda and is currently allocating a further £3 million.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions the Government have held with the England and Wales Cricket Board regarding the planned tour of Zimbabwe by England in 2004; [132569]

  (2) what representations the Government has made to the International Cricket Council (ICC) concerning future tours to Zimbabwe by the England cricket team; what advice was received from the ICC; and when; [1325701

  (3) which of his Ministers have held discussions with the England and Welsh Cricket Board concerning the planned tour by the England cricket team to Zimbabwe in 2004; and when the meetings were held; [132571]

  (4) what the Government's policy is on the decision by the English Cricket Board to tour Zimbabwe in 2004; and what advice his Department is planning to give English supporters about travelling to Zimbabwe; [132575]

  (5) what advice the England and Wales Cricket Board sought from his Department regarding the planned tour of Zimbabwe by England in 2004; and what advice he has given them. [132576]

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made concerning next year's proposed England cricket tour to Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [132582]

  Mr. Straw
  The England cricket team's tour of Zimbabwe scheduled for late 2004 is a matter for the UK cricket authorities.

  FCO Ministers have had no contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) or International Cricket Council (ICC) about next year's tour.

  FCO officials have spoken with ECB officials and stand ready to further brief the ECB, as and when required, on the political situation inside Zimbabwe and on safety and security issues.

  English supporters, like all travellers to Zimbabwe, are advised to refer to our regularly up-dated travel advice.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the level of employment of child soldiers in Zimbabwe. [133562]

  Mr. Mullin
  The official minimum age for entry into the Zimbabwean armed forces is 18 years. We are not aware of the Zimbabwean armed forces systematically recruiting below this age.

  The Zimbabwean "National Youth Service" was established in 2000. Nominally a voluntary training scheme for vocational skills, disaster management, patriotism and moral education, it is widely understood to operate as a youth militia for the ruling party. By the end of 2002 an estimated 9,000 young people had

  537W
  undergone formal training in this scheme in five main camps and up to 20,000 were trained less formally elsewhere. This allegedly included weapons training. In July 2003, the Zimbabwe Defence Minister announced plans to formally integrate weapons training in the scheme's programme. The stated catchment age for the National Youth Service is 12–30 years.

  The "National Youth Service" is now one of the most commonly reported violators of human rights in Zimbabwe. There are also numerous credible reports of young people in training camps being abused.

  We deplore the political violence which is prevalent in Zimbabwe and will continue to work with our international partners to bring about a return to good governance and a respect for human rights, including the rights of the child, there.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the current economic and political situation in Zimbabwe. [132245]

  Mr. Mullin
  The situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate. Last month saw the closure of the only independent daily newspaper, and last week saw the arrest of up to 200 trade unionists for peacefully demonstrating. As this year's meagre crop runs out, half the population will depend on food aid. The Zimbabwean people continue to struggle with hyperinflation, mass unemployment, and shortages of cash, food and fuel. The source of the problem is clear: bad governance and bad policies. We will continue to support all those working for peaceful change in Zimbabwe and a return to democracy, accountable government and respect for human rights.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that journalists from the United Kingdom have access to Zimbabwe. [132785]

  Mr. Mullin
  We deplore Zimbabwe's draconian media legislation. We have made it clear that the expulsion of foreign journalists only serves to further damage Zimbabwe's reputation. We have also underlined that free speech and a free press are among the essential prerequisites for the restoration of Zimbabwe's relations with the international community.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure an end to the harassment of the political opposition within Zimbabwe. [132786]

  Mr. Mullin
  We have consistently condemned the Mugabe government's harassment of the opposition, independent media and civil society. With our strong support, the EU has imposed sanctions on the ZANU (PF) leadership. The Commonwealth has suspended Zimbabwe from its Councils. We have encouraged Zimbabwe's neighbours to press ZANU (PF) to stop its violence towards the opposition. We will continue to support all those working peacefully for a return to a democratically elected government which respects human fights and the rule of law.

  Arjan Erkel
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Russian Government on efforts to secure the release of Arjan Erkel, from Medicins Sans Frontieres, in Dagestan. [132915]

  Mr. Rammell
  Officials take all appropriate bilateral opportunities to raise this with the Russian authorities. Officials last raised the case of Mr. Erkel in Moscow on 6 October. We and other EU partners fully support the efforts of the Government of the Netherlands to ensure the safe release of Mr. Erkel.

  Burma
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Burma regarding(a) Aung San Suu Kyi and (b) human rights in Burma. [133574]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have had numerous discussions with the Burmese authorities about the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and wider human rights abuses in Burma, most recently on 1 September when I met the Burmese Ambassador. This has been supplemented by representations by the British Embassy in Rangoon.

  European Treaties
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions since 1973 the UK has asserted its national law as against its obligations under European treaties. [132935]

  Mr. MacShane
  The jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice since the case of Costa v. ENEL (case 6/64) has clearly established the principle that no provision of national law may be invoked to override Community law. In Costa v. ENEL the Court ruled that:
  "the law stemming from the Treaty…[cannot] be overidden by domestic legal provisions…The transfer by the states from their domestic legal systems to the Community legal system of the rights and obligations arising under the Treaty carries with it a permanent limitation of their sovereign rights against which a subsequent unilateral act incompatible with the concept of the Community cannot prevail."

  Iraq
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future UN role in the reconstruction of Iraq. [133159]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Government remain committed to a vital role for the UN in Iraq, as provided for by Security Council Resolutions 1483 and 1511.

  Security Council Resolution 1511, passed unanimously on 16 October 2003, encourages further participation by the UN and the international community in assisting Iraq, including in the political processes leading to the formation of a representative government.
  539W
  Following the terrorist attack on the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August, the UN's efforts in Iraq have inevitably been scaled back. We are in discussion with the UN on the security measures needed to ensure that the UN is able to strengthen its vital role in Iraq.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current position in the Loizidou case. [132579]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government supports the implementation of the relevant judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and the efforts currently under way in Strasbourg to achieve this.

  An outcome which would satisfy the Committee of Ministers that the judgments of the Court had been properly respected is within our grasp. We urge all concerned to spare no effort to achieve this within the next few days, for the good of the plaintiff, of Turkey's good name in the Council of Europe, of Cyprus and of the region as a whole. Such an outcome would be fully in the spirit of the proposals for a comprehensive settlement put forward by the UN Secretary General. Agreement on the basis of the Annan Plan would provide the shortest route to compensation for Greek and Turkish Cypriots who, like Ms Loizidou, have been deprived of the use of their property and other rights.

  North Korea
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the discussions he and members of his Department have had since 1997, with representatives of the Governments of(a) the US, (b) Australia, (c) South Korea, (d) Japan, (e) China, (f) Russia and (g) India on the issue of missile testing in North Korea; where each discussion took place; what concerns were raised by (i) him, (ii) members of his Department and (iii) their respective counterpart(s); and if he will make a statement. [132543]

  Mr. Rammell
  We regularly discuss North Korea's nuclear programmes and missile proliferation with Australia, South Korea, Japan, China and Russia, both at ministerial and official level. We shall continue to work with international partners towards a peaceful settlement on the Korean peninsula, and to urge North Korea to return to compliance with its international obligations.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the peace process in Sri Lanka. [133060]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]We support the Sri Lankan peace process both politically and practically, and welcome the remarkable progress that has been made since February 2002 when the current ceasefire came into effect. Although the peace talks are currently suspended, the ceasefire is holding. Proposals for an interim administration in the North and East have been put forward by the Government of Sri Lanka, and we hope that the 540W
  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will shortly table a counter-proposal that will enable all parties to return to the negotiating table.

  Tibet
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last raised human rights in Tibet with his Chinese counterparts. [132855]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised Tibet, and the human rights situation in China, when he met Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on 25 June. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also raised Tibet with the Chinese leadership during his visit to China on 20–22 July.

  Turkey
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to help restore the ceasefire between the Kurds and the Turkish Government. [132239]

  Mr. MacShane
  We welcome the Turkish "Reintegration Law", passed on 29 July, which enables those associated with a terrorist group, including PKK/KADEK, to renounce the organisation and return home, and introduces lighter sentences for those accused of PKK/KADEK associated crimes. It is encouraging that this is beginning to be implemented.

  Properly implemented, this will complement Turkey's efforts to ensure that the human rights of all groups within Turkey, including the Kurds, are protected.

  Visas
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total visa income was in August. [131884]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is unable to disaggregate UKVisas income as between July and August. UKVisas income for the two months combined was £22,887,111.

  Uzbekistan
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Uzbekistan on imprisonment, torture and executions of religious and political opponents of the Government; and if he will make a statement. [132553]

  Mr. Rammell
  We are deeply concerned by reports of imprisonment, torture and executions of religious and political opponents of the Uzbek Government. We take every opportunity to raise human rights issues bilaterally with the Uzbek authorities, including raising individual cases of religious and political persecution. For instance, I raised human rights issues with the Uzbek Ambassador on 8 October.

  We frequently work with EU Partners and within the OSCE to raise our concerns by way of EU statements in Brussels and Vienna and demarches by EU Heads of Mission. The UK supported the EU statement at the OSCE Permanent Council on 17 July condemning the recent executions of individuals whose cases were under

  541W
  consideration by the UN Human Rights Committee and calling on Uzbekistan to use OSCE expertise in implementing the UN Special Rapporteur's recommendations. Our Embassy in Tashkent is actively involved in human rights issues and is currently working with human rights organisations, the OSCE, UNDP and other Embassies to push Uzbekistan to develop and implement a National Action Plan to Combat Torture.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on(a) the standard of human rights and (b) the democratic process in Uzbekistan. [132554]

  Mr. Rammell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 20 June 2003,Official Report, column 437W.

  Since then, I raised human rights issues with the Uzbek Ambassador on 8 October, urging the Uzbek authorities to implement the UN Special Rapporteur for Torture's recommendations immediately. Bilaterally, and through the EU and the OSCE, we shall continue to press Uzbekistan to take greater steps towards democratisation and respect for human rights. We stand ready to assist Uzbekistan develop and implement its action plan to combat torture. While we welcome the Uzbek government's verbal and written commitments on human rights issues, we shall continue to press for tangible improvements and evidence of institutional reform.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reasons are for the recall of the British Ambassador to Uzbekistan; what representations he has received on the early return of the Ambassador; when the Ambassador will return to Tashkent; and if he will make a statement. [132555]

  Mr. Rammell
  Her Majesty's Ambassador to Uzbekistan is currently in the UK where he has been receiving medical treatment. It would not be right for me to make further public comment on the private circumstances of an individual member of staff.

HEALTH

  Age-related Macular Degeneration
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Government have made of the number of people whose sight will be affected following the Government's decision to delay implementation of NICE's guidelines to make photo-dynamic therapy available to those suffering from age-related macular degeneration. [132691]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]: We are not delaying implementation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on photo-dynamic therapy (PDT). Patients are already receiving PDT treatment on the national health service and will do so in increasing numbers in the coming months.
  542W
  In reviewing the final appraisal determination, the NICE Guidance Executive also considered whether there were grounds for advising the Department to vary the three-month direction. They considered there were grounds to do so on this occasion.

  It was the Department's assessment, informed by evidence submitted to NICE, that the NHS would be unable to implement the guidance in full within the usual three-month period. We have previously varied the direction on five occasions when it was required to implement effectively the guidance to provide the service to patients.

  The guidance issued to primary care trusts on PDT asks that PCTs should make funds available within nine months. We expect implementation to have been fully achieved within this time frame with all eligible patients having access to available treatment. PCTs may complete implementation earlier should their service planning enable them to do so.

  Within the nine months allowed for full implementation, commissioners are expected to expand the service in a planned way to ensure there is sufficient capacity which is appropriately located to meet patient need, a fully trained workforce and access to expert diagnostic services. This will include the creation of new, and the expansion of existing, PDT centres and expert reading centres.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of community health councils will be fully operational on 1 November; and if he will list those that will no longer be operational on that date. [132692]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]: 98 per cent. of community health councils (CHCs) will still be operational on 1 November.

  Three CHCs (Bassetlaw, Southern Derbyshire and Hounslow) will be closed. In these cases, arrangements have been made for members of the public to access information and advice from neighbouring CHCs.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staffing level of community health councils was on(a) 1 January, (b) 1 April and (c) 1 July. [132693]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]: The staffing level of community health councils (CHCs) was 732 on 1 January, 680 on 1 April and 572 on 1 July.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 17 September 2003,Official Report, column 843W, on community health councils, what the staffing levels on 1 November will be as a proportion of the full-time staffing strength before the decision to abolish the councils was taken. [132760]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]: It is expected that about 54 per cent. of the full staff complement will be working in community health councils on 1 November.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which mental health trusts are unable(a) to offer a

  543W
  crisis resolution service and (b) to provide funded accommodation for service users taken into care under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. [131024]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information is not available in the requested format. Information on the distribution of crisis resolution teams in operation on 31 March 2003 according to strategic health authority boundaries is provided in the table.

  Strategic health authority

  Number of crisis resolution teams

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  7

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  2

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  12

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  2

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  5

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  4

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  2

  Essex

  1

  Greater Manchester

  3

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  2

  Kent and Medway

  1

  Leicestershire. Northamptonshire and Rutland

  0

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  3

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  2

  North Central London

  4

  North East London

  1

  North West London

  3

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  4

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  3

  Somerset and Dorset

  0

  South East London

  7

  South West London

  4

  South West Peninsula

  6

  South Yorkshire

  4

  Surrey and Sussex

  5

  Thames Valley

  6

  Trent

  4

  West Yorkshire

  4

  England

  101

  Fabry's Disease
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many primary care trusts pay for the prescribing of Fabrazyme; and which do not pay for it; [133575]

  (2) what guidance has been issued on the treatment of Fabry Disease; [133576]

  (3) what guidance has been issued to (a) primary care trusts and (b) NHS acute hospitals trusts on prescribing Fabrazyme. [133577]

  Dr. Ladyman
  No central guidance on the treatment of Fabry's Disease or on the prescribing of Fabrazyme has been issued to primary care trusts or acute hospitals.

  The Prescription Pricing Authority only collects prescription information on drugs dispensed in the primary care setting. We have no record of Fabrazyme being dispensed in the community in England. Information is not collected centrally on drugs dispensed in secondary care so we would be unable to say if it had been prescribed in a hospital setting.

  Although the forthcoming national service framework for long term conditions will not deal directly with Fabry's Disease it is expected to set standards that will improve support and care for people with long term conditions and disabilities.

  Neurological Conditions
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people in(a) Chesham and Amersham, (b) Buckinghamshire and (c) England suffer from neurological conditions; [132329]

  (2) what plans he has to monitor the number of people with neurological conditions in (a) Chesham and Amersham, (b) Buckinghamshire and (c) England. [132330]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information requested is not collected centrally. We do not ask the national health service to collect data on the incidence of individual conditions such as neurology because of the enormous range of conditions and diseases that exist.

  I have no plans to monitor the number of people with neurological conditions. The administrative burden of developing and maintaining a diseases and conditions database would be expensive and would divert resources away from the main function of the NHS, which is the treatment of patients.

  NHS Dentistry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much, and what percentage, of the NHS budget was spent on NHS dentistry in(a) 1992, (b)1997 and (c) the latest 12 months for which figures are available. [121993]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The gross national health service spend on the general dental service (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS)1 and the proportion this represents of total gross NHS expenditure for 1992–93, 1997–98 and 2001–02 are shown in the following table.

  NHS dental services: Gross2 expenditure on NHS dental services, 1992–93, 1997–98 and 2001–02—England

  Gross NHS dental service expenditure3(£ million)

  Gross NHS dental service expenditure3as percentage of total gross NHS expenditure

  1992–93

  1,306

  4.4

  1997–98

  1,348

  3.6

  2001–024

  1,674

  3.2

  1All years give GDS expenditure. 2001–02 also includes PDS expenditure. PDS pilots began in 1998 and a proportion of GDS expenditure was moved into a separate budget to reflect this. Spend on PDS pilots has been included in the 2001–02 figures. This includes spending on Trust-led pilots as well as PDS/GDS.

  2Gross expenditure is tae total expenditure on the service before the deduction of patient charge income.

  3All years give GDS expenditure. 2001–02 also includes PDS expenditure. Expenditure on community and hospital dental services has not been included in this table; information on the total funding for these services is not collected centrally.

  4Figures for 2001–02 are on a resource basis. This change in accounting practice had the effect of increasing the levels of expenditure attributed to that year. As a result the NHS expenditure total increased by about £200 million compared with the cash system used for previous years.

  The amount of money drawn down through the GDS funding arrangements is determined by the amount of work dentists carry out on NHS patients. The rate of increase of spend has been moderated by an increase in the number of dentists treating patients privately. The proportionate spend on dentistry has also been affected

  545W
  by the major additional investment across the NHS in recent years; total NHS expenditure has increased at a faster rate than expenditure on dentistry.

  The gross NHS GDS expenditure shown above for 2001–02 does not include the £35 million Modernisation Fund and £6 million Dentistry Action Plan Payments.

  The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill currently before the House proposes the introduction of local commissioning for NHS dental services. Funding currently held and administered centrally would then become part of primary care trusts' general allocations. Unlike the current arrangements, resources would remain with the PCT should a dental practice reduce its level of commitment to the NHS. In the longer term, allocations will need to take oral health inequalities into account.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  British Summer Time
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make British Summer Time permanent throughout the year. [132808]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no current plans to change the way British Summer Time operates.

  The start and end dates of summer time are harmonised across EC member states through a European Directive. The Directive provides for summer time to be one hour ahead of winter time but does not determine what these times are.

  Brickworks Development (Upchurch)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish(a) the Lawful Development Certificate and (b) the Appeal file for the site at Fourbun Field, Otterham, Quay Lane, Upchurch. [133600]

  Keith Hill
  An Inspector issued a lawful development certificate on 8 May 2001 for the use of land at Four Gun Field, Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch, Kent for the purposes of a brickworks including ancillary open storage. A copy of the appeal decision and certificate will be available in the library of the House. The appeal file was destroyed 12 months after the appeal decision was issued in line with normal procedures.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the total revenue which would be raised by local authorities from charging(a) 100 per cent. council tax rate and (b) 100 per cent. business rate on second homes. [132449]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Approximately £160 million per year would be raised by English local authorities if 100 per cent. council tax were charged and collected on all second homes. This represents an additional £80 million because there is currently a 50 per cent. discount on council tax for second homes. However, because owners of second homes would have no reason to provide this information if discounts were to be 546W
  entirely ended, the yield in future years would be increasingly difficult to estimate. This would, of course, affect the scope for individual local authorities to benefit directly from the reduction of discounts on second homes.

  In addition, some second homes let as self-catering holiday homes are subject to business rates because it is intended that they are let as holiday accommodation for more than 140 days in a year. Business rates are usually charged at 100% for such properties, although figures the revenue raised from them are not available.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have sufficiently detailed records to be able to calculate what would he raised if all second homes were subject to non-domestic rates rather than council tax.

  Microsoft (Licensing Fees)
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was paid to Microsoft in licensing fees by his 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. [130667]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. The following table summarises Microsoft licensing fees incurred by the Office since its creation, and those incurred by Agencies for the period requested:

  Agency

  Spend 2000–01

  Spend 2001–02

  Spend 2002–03

  ODPM Central

  n/a

  n/a

  346,800

  Fire Service College

  Prior to 2002, licenses supplied from the Home Office

  6,940

  The Rent Service

  0

  0

  0

  QEII Conference Centre

  6,200

  11,900

  7,200

  Planning Inspectorate

  13,000

  185,000

  67,000

  Budgets for spend in 2003/04 and in future years are withheld on grounds of commercial confidentiality.

  Milton Keynes/South Midlands Study
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which organisations are represented on the Infrastructure Delivery Board convened by the Minister responsible for the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area; when the Board will first meet; and at what frequency he expects the Board to meet thereafter. [132173]

  Yvette Cooper
  Building on the work of the existing Milton Keynes and South Midlands Steering Group, the proposed Milton Keynes and South Midlands Inter Regional Board will seek long-term commitment to delivery through high level executive membership from relevant agencies. The board, to be chaired by my right hon. Friend the Lord Rooker, would include representatives of areas of infrastructure delivery including: environment, industry, housing, water, transport, education, health, Regional Development Agencies and Regional Planning Bodies, relevant local authorities and delivery vehicles. Some other organisations will also be invited on specific topics. The board is expected to meet two to three times a year and, for the first time in its new role by the end of 2003.
  547W
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Infrastructure Delivery Board for Milton Keynes and South Midlands will consider both capital and revenue implications of planned growth. [132174]

  Yvette Cooper
  The role of the proposed Milton Keynes and South Midlands Inter Regional Board will be to influence the investment of others, which will include both capital and revenue implications of planned growth.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Communications Masts
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the possible biological effects of terrestrial trunked/radio pulsing rates emanating from(a) handsets and (b) masts; what scientific research he collated to make this assessment; and how his Department's code of best practice applies the findings in respect of siting masts close to schools. [131942]

  Ms Blears
  In 2001, the National Radiological Protection's Board independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) published a report on "Possible health effects from Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA)". The report concluded that it was unlikely that the specific features of TETRA handsets and repeaters could pose a risk to health.

  The AGNIR report also concluded that signals from TETRA masts are not pulsed and confirmed that TETRA masts are similar to other mobile phone masts in terms of health and safety. There are no plans to issue specific guidance on the siting of TETRA masts close to schools.

  The AGNIR experts' recommendations for further research were taken forward by the Home Office. Recent results from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory show that signals from TETRA handsets have no effect on calcium exchanges in cells—the main concern about TETRA technology. Further information on TETRA health and safety issues is available at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/tetra.html

  National Alcohol Strategy
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the national alcohol strategy. [131936]

  Ms Blears
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister commissioned the Strategy Unit (SU) to undertake a project to develop an alcohol harm reduction strategy for England. I am the Sponsor Minister for the project.
  548W
  The SU published its interim analysis on 19 September and it is available on the unit's website www.strategy.gov.uk. The final report, which will set out the cross-governmental alcohol harm reduction strategy for England, is due for publication later in the year. Implementation of the strategy will begin according to timetable in 2004.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) failed asylum seekers and (b) non-asylum seekers have been deported in each quarter of each of the last three years; to which countries they have been returned; and if he will make a statement. [131979]

  Beverley Hughes
  Deportations are a specific subset of removals alongside persons subject to administrative removal, removal due to Illegal entry action or those refused entry at port and subsequently removed. Information on the destination of enforced removals is not available. Table 1 shows the number of principal asylum seekers who were removed from the United Kingdom between 2001 and the first quarter of 2003—the latest available data—by nationality. This information is not available for removals made in 2000.

  Information on the removal of persons other than asylum seekers is not available by nationality or by quarter. 37,665 non-asylum cases were removed from the UK in 2000, 39,850 in 2001 and 54,720 in 2002. These figures include those persons who departed 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them.

  Information on the removal of asylum applicants is published quarterly, and on the removals of other immigration cases is published annually. The next quarterly publication will be available from the end of November 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html Information on the removal of persons other than asylum seekers is not available by nationality or by quarter. 37,665 non-asylum cases were removed from the UK in 2000, 39,850 in 2001 and 54,720 in 2002. These figures include those persons who departed 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them.

  Information on the removal of asylum applicants is published quarterly, and on the removals of other immigration cases is published annually. The next quarterly publication will be available from the end of November 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

  Table 1 Removals and voluntary departures1of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, by nationality, 2001 to Q1 20032

  Number of principal applicants

  Nationality

  Q1 20013, 4(E)

  Q2 20013, 4(E)

  Q3 20013, 4(E)

  Q4 20013, 4(E)

  Q1 20023, 4(E) (P)

  Q2 20023, 4(E) (P)

  Q3 30023, 4(E) (P)

  Q4 20023, 4(E) (P)

  Q1 20033, 4(E) (P)

  Albania

  125

  150

  135

  120

  110

  150

  140

  115

  105

  Bulgaria

  5

  15

  25

  20

  20

  20

  10

  15

  10

  Cyprus

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  5

  5

  5

  *

  Czech Republic

  185

  230

  195

  185

  170

  110

  190

  320

  270

  Slovakia

  25

  10

  10

  10

  15

  20

  20

  25

  20

  Hungary

  *

  5

  5

  -

  *

  5

  *

  5

  *

  549W

  Table 1 Removals and voluntary departures1of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, by nationality, 2001 to Q1 20032

  Number of principal applicants

  Nationality

  Q1 20013,4(E)

  Q2 20013,4(E)

  Q3 20013,4(E)

  Q4 20013,4(E)

  Q1 20023,4(E) (P)

  Q2 20023,4(E) (P)

  Q3 30023,4(E) (P)

  Q4 20023,4(E) (P)

  Q1 20033,4(E) (P)

  Poland

  150

  150

  145

  160

  140

  135

  135

  225

  260

  Romania

  105

  130

  100

  115

  115

  150

  160

  135

  130

  Turkey

  35

  50

  35

  50

  60

  100

  110

  90

  45

  Russia

  30

  15

  35

  30

  20

  25

  20

  20

  20

  Ukraine

  45

  60

  70

  75

  65

  60

  65

  45

  35

  FRY

  240

  455

  445

  560

  505

  605

  625

  510

  475

  Other Former USSR

  175

  175

  200

  165

  155

  160

  185

  230

  180

  Other Former Yugoslavia

  20

  15

  10

  25

  35

  25

  40

  20

  30

  Europe Other

  10

  20

  20

  5

  5

  10

  5

  5

  10

  Europe Total

  1,155

  1.480

  1,430

  1,535

  1,415

  1,565

  1,715

  1,755

  1,590

  Brazil

  20

  5

  10

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Colombia

  50

  40

  35

  50

  25

  20

  20

  50

  25

  Ecuador

  20

  35

  20

  15

  25

  20

  35

  35

  30

  Jamaica

  65

  35

  35

  45

  40

  50

  55

  75

  55

  Peru

  -

  -

  -

  -

  *

  -

  -

  *

  *

  United States of America

  -

  5

  5

  5

  *

  *

  *

  -

  *

  Americas Other

  10

  5

  10

  5

  5

  15

  25

  5

  5

  Americas Total

  165

  125

  110

  125

  100

  115

  150

  175

  120

  Algeria

  25

  20

  45

  35

  35

  40

  25

  30

  45

  Angola

  5

  5

  5

  5

  15

  15

  10

  15

  15

  Dem. Rep. Congo

  5

  5

  10

  5

  15

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Egypt

  -

  5

  5

  *

  .

  5

  5

  5

  *

  Ethiopia

  *

  5

  *

  *

  5

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Gambia

  10

  10

  5

  5

  5

  10

  5

  5

  *

  Ghana

  30

  25

  35

  20

  25

  45

  30

  40

  15

  Ivory Coast

  *

  5

  5

  10

  10

  20

  5

  10

  5

  Kenya

  20

  25

  20

  25

  30

  15

  20

  30

  35

  Liberia

  -

  *

  -

  -

  -

  5

  *

  -

  -

  Libya

  *

  *

  *

  5

  -

  5

  *

  *

  5

  Mauritius

  5

  *

  -

  5

  *

  *

  -

  -

  *

  Morocco

  5

  5

  5

  -

  *

  -

  5

  5

  Niger

  *

  -

  -

  *

  *

  *

  *

  -

  Nigeria

  55

  55

  55

  70

  70

  60

  75

  85

  50

  Seychelles

  -

  -

  -

  -

  *

  -

  5

  Sierra Leone

  5

  5

  10

  10

  15

  20

  15

  15

  20

  Somalia

  15

  5

  5

  5

  15

  15

  10

  10

  10

  South Africa

  5

  5

  10

  5

  15

  5

  10

  10

  10

  Sudan

  *

  *

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  10

  Tanzania

  20

  10

  5

  10

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  Uganda

  10

  10

  10

  15

  20

  15

  30

  35

  30

  Zimbabwe

  50

  35

  65

  65

  25

  30

  25

  25

  15

  Africa Other

  25

  20

  20

  30

  35

  35

  35

  30

  65

  Africa Total

  290

  250

  320

  330

  355

  365

  320

  365

  350

  Iran

  20

  70

  35

  45

  50

  40

  50

  35

  40

  Iraq

  40

  25

  15

  15

  35

  40

  60

  55

  90

  Lebanon

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  10

  10

  10

  Middle East Other

  20

  15

  5

  10

  10

  15

  15

  15

  10

  Middle East Total

  85

  115

  65

  70

  105

  100

  135

  110

  150

  Afghanistan

  15

  10

  35

  65

  95

  135

  110

  55

  65

  Bangladesh

  40

  25

  30

  50

  30

  35

  45

  35

  25

  China

  20

  15

  20

  30

  20

  10

  15

  10

  10

  India

  100

  85

  110

  135

  95

  90

  75

  85

  55

  Pakistan

  140

  135

  135

  85

  110

  125

  90

  95

  90

  Sri Lanka

  35

  40

  40

  40

  60

  85

  115

  120

  115

  Asia Other

  25

  15

  20

  25

  40

  35

  35

  15

  35

  Asia Total

  370

  325

  390

  435

  450

  505

  480

  415

  395

  Nat. not known3

  40

  25

  30

  30

  20

  5

  5

  10

  10

  Grand Total

  2,100

  2,325

  2,340

  2,520

  2.445

  2.660

  2,805

  2.830

  2,620

  1Includes persons departing voluntarily 1 after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the international Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds

  2 Figures rounded to the nearest five, with *= 1 or 2, and may not sum due to rounding.

  3Figures may include a small number of dependants leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes.

  4Figures exclude dependants of asylum seekers removed. Data on dependants removed have only been collected since April 2001.

  (E) Data have been estimated due to data quality issues.

  (P) Provisional figures

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average rate of response is by relevant embassies in replacing lost or damaged documentation of asylum seekers in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [132387]
  550W
  Beverley Hughes
  The exact information requested is not available and could only be gathered at disproportionate cost by detailed examination of individual casefiles. This is because applications for documentation by the Immigration Service are not
  551W
  broken down to reflect those which arise as a result of lost or damaged documents.

  The documentation of those persons who fail to be removed from the United Kingdom is an important issue and the Immigration Service Documentation Unit (ISDU) was established in order to facilitate and organise the provision of documentation in such cases. ISDU liaises closely with foreign Embassies and High Commissions in order to secure the issue of travel documents and to reach agreement on the associated processes.

  Every country has its own procedures, criteria, and requirements which must be met in order to establish identity and nationality and these procedures, and the timescales associated with them, vary from nationality to nationality.

  Given the wide differences between individual countries any averaged figure would be misleading and therefore unhelpful.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers in(a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales are awaiting deportation as a result of vandalised documentation. [132388]

  Beverley Hughes
  The information requested is not available and could only be obtained by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent the destruction of travel documents by asylum seekers who aim to delay their deportation. [132389]

  Beverley Hughes
  On the 28 August 2003 my righ hon. Friend the Home Secretary made a statement that he would be considering new legislation to tackle asylum seekers who destroy their travel documents in order to delay their removal from the United Kingdom. That legislation is still under consideration, and it is expected that we will be making a further statement about this matter in due course.

  Brinsford Young Offenders Institution
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children in Brinsford Young Offenders Institution have been placed in the segregation unit since January; and for how long. [130239]

  Paul Goggins
  Provisional data on the number of children held in segregation at Brinsford young offender institution from January to August 2003 is shown in the following table. This has been split to show the number of times the segregation unit was used for(a) less than seven days, (b) for longer than seven days and (c) for longer than 28 days during this period. The length of stay is dependent on the reason and will vary from no more than a few hours to a carefully prescribed number of days.
  552W

  The number of children held in segregation at Brinsford Young Offender Institution from January to August 2003

  Month

  Number of Juveniles held for less than 7 days

  Number of Juveniles held for longer than 7 days

  Number of Juveniles held for longer than 28 days

  January

  5

  0

  0

  February

  5

  6

  0

  March

  5

  4

  0

  April

  3

  2

  0

  May

  6

  3

  2

  June

  10

  3

  0

  July

  9

  7

  1

  August

  14

  5

  0

  Correspondence
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter and email dated 16 April and 23 April from Andrew H. Coveney of CP Pharmaceuticals, Wrexham. [120955]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The issues raised in the letter and emails of 16 and 23 April were confirmed as being resolved on 30 June 2003.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter dated 14 August 2003 from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent, Mr. S. Chemlakh of Fraserburgh. [132552]

  Beverley Hughes
  I replied to the hon. Member on 14 October 2003.

  Crime Statistics
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the decision was taken to alter the basis for measuring performance against his Department's targets for the reduction of(a) burglary and (b) vehicle crime from recorded crime statistics to the British Crime Survey; which bodies and individuals were consulted before he authorised this change; and what form the announcement of this change took. [131804]

  Ms Blears
  The decision was taken by Home Office Ministers during the process of establishing Home Office Public Service Agreement targets for the period 2003–04 to 2005–06; announced by way of written ministerial statement on 25 March 2003,Official Report, column 8WS.

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the case ordering and priority ranking that is used by the CCRC in determining which cases to review. [128849]

  Paul Goggins
  In case ordering and priority ranking, a distinction is drawn between applications for a case review for those in custody and those who are at liberty or dead. Cases are generally reviewed in date order of receipt, with in-custody cases generally being assigned one year of priority over at-liberty cases. In-custody applicants requesting reviews of their sentences will generally be assigned priority over those applying for reviews of their convictions. Factors such as age and ill
  553W
  health of applicants and witnesses, and the possibility of deterioration of evidence, are also taken into account. Priority is also assigned to cases that the Commission believes to be of particular significance to the criminal justice system.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the average time has been for processing a check by the Criminal Records Bureau, broken down by category of worker; [129842]

  (2) what the average time is which it is expected the Criminal Records Bureau will take to check on new staff seeking to work in the long-term care sector. [129843]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 15 September 2003]: I am unable to provide data to the hon. Member on the average time taken to process Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks, broken down by category of worker because there are no IT procedures at present to extract these data from the CRB database.

  However, I can confirm that the average turnaround times for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures across all business sectors is 24 days. Service turnaround times for Standard and Enhanced continue to exceed the CRB target of 90 per cent. of Standard Disclosures within two weeks and 90 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosures within four weeks. The CRB expects to process the checks for new care home workers within this service standard. In July 2003, the average turnaround was 93.1 per cent. for Standard Disclosures and 93.5 per cent. for Enhanced Disclosures. Over the last four weeks, output has exceeded intake: 142,932 applications have been received and 145,117 have been issued. Since 11 March 2002, the CRB has issued over 2,364,312 Disclosures.

  Deaf Prisoners
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to improve the support and welfare of deaf prisoners. [129921]

  Paul Goggins
  The Prison Service has policies in place to try to ensure that deaf, and indeed all, disabled prisoners are able to participate fully in prison life and that their needs in terms of rehabilitation, maintaining family ties, and support generally, are met. Ensuring staff awareness of the needs of deaf prisoners remains a high priority for the Prison Service: disability and deaf awareness and communication skills for staff are included within diversity training across the Service.

  Prisons are encouraged to employ British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters where necessary, for example, in adjudication hearings and in parole interviews. Although it is recognised that not all deaf and hard of hearing people use BSL, more staff in prisons are being trained in basic BSL skills and a small number of staff are more highly qualified and experienced signers.

  Staff and managers in prisons are also becoming more aware of the need to ensure that deaf prisoners are able to access offending behaviour programmes, and are starting to explore alternative ways of delivering these programmes.
  554W
  Great importance is placed on the maintenance of family ties for all prisoners; it is recognised that for deaf prisoners, this requires adjustments such as provision of textphones, and quiet areas and induction loops in visits halls to enhance the quality of visits. Wherever possible, prisons develop links with community groups, some of which support and visit deaf prisoners.

  Dr. Ali Dizaei
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on ministerial involvement in, and reports received by, Ministers during the stages of(a) investigation and (b) prosecution of Dr. Ali Dizaei. [131662]

  Ms Blears
  The only ministerial involvement in this case has been as a result of responding to parliamentary questions or correspondence from Members of Parliament or briefings on progress. Specific requests are then made to the MPS Secretariat for factual information to support Ministers' replies. This routine procedure—which allows Ministers to answer MPs' inquiries—was followed in response to all PQs and correspondence submitted in this case.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the warrants issued on police applications listed allegations that were charges leading to the prosecution of Dr. Ali Dizaei. [131663]

  Ms Blears
  The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis informs me that none of the allegations, in respect of which warrants were issued, resulted in charges leading to prosecution of Dr. Ali Dizaei.

  Dungavel
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of children resident at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre has been during the last 12 months. [131556]

  Beverley Hughes
  Information on the average number of children resident in Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre during the last 12 months and the average length of time for which detainees were held is not yet available in the form requested and could be obtained only by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.

  Minors are detained only in two limited circumstances: first, as part of a family group whose detention is considered appropriate; second, when unaccompanied, while alternative care arrangements are made and normally just overnight. While the detention of families with children is very regrettable, it nevertheless remains necessary in appropriate cases in order to maintain an effective immigration control and to tackle abuses of the asylum system.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses he has received to his consultation exercises on identity cards; and if he will make a statement. [131681]
  555W
  Beverley Hughes
  The consultation period on entitlement cards and identity fraud formally ended on 31 January 2003. We received a total of 4,942 individual responses from companies/organisations and from individual members of the public.

  A further 5,031 responses from individual members of the public were sent in via the STAND website.

  We have been carefully analysing all the responses received and are in the process of preparing a detailed summary of the responses, which we will be publishing. It is right that we take time to consider these thoroughly before making an announcement.

  Illegal Immigration
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet the French authorities to discuss(a) illegal immigration from France and (b) trafficking of illegal immigrants across Europe. [131980]

  Beverley Hughes
  There is extensive co-operation between the two Governments and Ministers meet regularly to discuss issues of mutual concern. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary met the French Minister of the Interior on 19–20 October.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of(a) the use of freight searching equipment, and (b) steps taken by the French authorities to return failed asylum seekers to the Balkans. [131981]

  Beverley Hughes
  The effectiveness of using UK freight searching equipment in France has been clear for some time. There has been during 2003, the capacity to search 100 per cent. of freight vehicles passing through Calais and the number of clandestines encountered by Immigration Officers in the South East District (SED) has fallen drastically as a result. Locally collated management information (which may be subject to revision and correction) indicates a fall of 72 per cent. in monthly detections by SED, from 975 in September 2002 to 270 in June 2003.

  New detection technology has also now been deployed in Belgium at Zeebrugge and Ostend and will be rolled out to other ports in Northern France. The deployment of UK detection technology in continental Europe has been a key measure in reducing asylum applications from 8,770 in October 2002 to 3,610 in June 2003.

  The French are continuing to operate an efficient system for dealing with asylum applications and failed asylum seekers are being removed to their countries of origin, including the Balkans. The French are currently bringing in new legislation to tighten up their immigration rules.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the(a) issuing and (b) loaning of high-technology UK freight searching equipment to port-cities in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) Europe; what equipment is in place; and if he will make a statement. [131983]
  556W
  Beverley Hughes
  There are no current plans to issue or loan freight-searching technology to port operators in the United Kingdom. Freight searching to detect clandestine arrivals is carried out in the United Kingdom by the UK Immigration Service.

  As part of the measures to reduce the number of unfounded asylum applications in the United Kingdom, a programme is under way to loan and deploy UK-owned detection technology to port operators and carriers overseas.

  We have deployed people detection technology at the ports of Calais and Coquelles. At Calais there is the capability to screen 100 per cent. of embarking freight vehicles. Following the tightening of security at Calais, we are taking steps to deploy at other continental ports including in France, Belgium and Holland, vulnerable to the displacement of clandestine activity.

  Additionally, a UK owned scanner is currently on loan to the Belgian authorities and is deployed by the Belgian Federal Maritime Police. In line with the UK commitment to work with European partners to combat illegal immigration, UK owned technology is also currently on loan to the Irish and German authorities.

  Immigration and Asylum
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors underlay decisions about the number of United Kingdom immigration officers employed in ports in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Europe; what the role is of UK officers in non-United Kingdom ports; and if he will make a statement. [131982]

  Beverley Hughes
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Port staffing levels in the United Kingdom are determined by a number of factors;

  Current and projected numbers of passenger arrivals;

  For seaports the number of freight vehicles that will require searching

  An assessment of the casework generated from the arriving passenger traffic

  Projected numbers of asylum seekers that will require interview on arrival

  (b) Officers are currently deployed to the following European ports to operate juxtaposed immigration controls:

  Gare du Nord, Paris;

  Gare du Midi, Lille;

  Frethun, Calais;

  Coquelles (Eurotunnel)

  Officers will be deployed to Calais ferryport, Calais Hoverport, Dunkerque, and Boulogne following the conclusion of the Anglo-French treaty for the implementation of frontier controls at the seaports of both countries on the Channel and North Sea. This will take place towards the end of November 2003.

  Save in respect of asylum claims and suspensive rights of appeal all these controls operate on the same basis as immigration controls operated at UK ports.
  557W
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about judicial involvement in the immigration and asylum system. [132235]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Government are committed to providing a firm, fast and fair asylum and immigration system. The reforms we introduced through the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum (NIA) Act 2002 have helped to deliver a significantly faster and more efficient system, which benefits both the taxpayer and those seeking legal entry or asylum in the United Kingdom. However, the Government believe that there are still too many examples of asylum applicants lodging groundless appeals to frustrate the asylum process and delay removal. Therefore, as my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary stated on 22 May 2003, we are drawing up further legislative measures to limit the scope for making unfounded appeals, including the possibility of moving to a single tier of appeal.

  Kent Police
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) police constables, (b) sergeants and (c) inspectors were transferred from the Kent Police Force to the Metropolitan Police Force in each of the last five years; [131701]

  (2) what the vacancy rate was for (a) police constables, (b) sergeants and (c) inspectors in each of the last five years for the Kent Police Force area; [131702]

  (3)how many police officers have retired from Kent Police Force in each of the last five years; and what the average age of retirement was. [131759]

  Ms Blears
  There have been no compulsory transfers of officers between the two forces. Information about the officers who have chosen to transfer from Kent County Constabulary to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) between 1998–99 to 2002–03 is in Table 1. This information has been provided by the Acting Chief Constable (Mr. R. Ayling QPM). I am also told that during the last five years a total of 37 officers transferred from the MPS to Kent. At the end of August Kent County Constabulary had 3,520 officers, a record number and 260 more than in March 1997.

  No information is collected centrally about the age of retiring police officers. Table 2 sets out the number of retirements as a whole for each year from 1998–99 to 2002–03 and, separately, shows the number of medical and ordinary retirements, from the Kent County Constabulary.

  Details of vacancy levels in police forces for the last five years are not available centrally.

  Table 1: Transfers from Kent County Constabulary to Metropolitan Police

  Constable

  Sergeant

  Inspector

  Other

  Total

  1998–99

  —

  2

  —

  1

  3

  1999–2000

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2000–01

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2001–02

  4

  1

  —

  —

  5

  2002–03

  13

  6

  4

  1

  24

  558W

  Table 2: Retirements from Kent County Constabulary between 1998–99 and 2002–03

  All ranks

  Medical retirements

  Ordinary retirements

  Total retirements

  1998–99

  16

  80

  96

  1999–2000

  18

  84

  102

  2000–01

  29

  74

  103

  2001–02

  38

  101

  139

  2002–03

  21

  85

  106

  Migrants
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the numbers of migrant participants in the new Sector Based Schemes covering food processing and hospitality. [130500]

  Beverley Hughes
  The figures for the number of Sectors Based Scheme (SBS) work permits that have been approved from the launch on 30 May 2003 to 31 June 2003 covering food processing and hospitality are given in the table:

  SBS permits issued

  Number

  Total

  1,269

  Food manufacturing sector

  1,214

  Hospitality sector

  55

  Work Permits (UK) is currently discussing with key stakeholders how effectively the scheme is operating, and these discussions will inform the way forward from the end of January 2004 onward (when the current quota is due to expire).

  Military Deaths
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the result was of the police investigation into the death of Private Alison Croft at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, on 28 September 2002. [132188]

  Ms Blears
  I understand that Thames Valley Police have submitted a file to the Coroner on this case. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment further.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the result was of the police investigation into the death of Private Tesoni Vakacakaudrove at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield, on 6 October 2002. [132189]

  Ms Blears
  I understand that following a major investigation by Humberside Police into the death of Private Vakacakaudrove the Coroner inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.

  Police Community Support Officers
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police community support officers are now in post(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in West Yorkshire; [132340]
  559W
  (2) how many police community support officers will be in post by 21 December. [132341]

  Ms Blears
  As of 1 October 2003 there were 1,934 Community Support Officers (CSOs) in England and Wales. Of these 96 CSOs had been recruited by West Yorkshire Police. I have also been informed by West Yorkshire Police that currently Huddersfield have 10 CSOs and will have 18 by the end of March 2004.

  We estimate there will be 2,200 Community Support Officers in post in England and Wales by 21 December 2003, rising to over 2,500 by 1 April 2004. We are on track to reach the National Policing Plan target of 4,000 CSOs by the end of 2005.

  Police Investigations
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is standard practice for police authorities to keep the report of investigations into their own officers confidential; and under what circumstances a police authority would publish such a report. [132222]

  Ms Blears
  Generally, in investigations into criminal allegations involving either a member of the police or a member of the public, it is standard to keep investigation reports confidential. The same applies to investigations into complaints against police officers.

  It is for police authorities to decide whether to publish reports of investigations: they might choose to do so if they considered that the public interest in disclosing a report's contents outweighed the public interest in preserving its confidentiality.

  Police Targets
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will review the target setting framework within which the police services work. [132342]

  Ms Blears
  The National Policing Plan, due for publication in November, will confirm the levels of improvement in performance required, by individual police forces and authorities, to deliver the existing Public Service Agreement targets (which cover the period April 2003—March 2006; published in Cm 5571). It will be for individual police forces and authorities to ensure that these requirements are reflected in their local strategic and annual policing plans.

  Prisons
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to release on temporary licence have been made this year and in each of the last five years in(a) all prisons in England and Wales and (b) each individual prison in England and Wales. [130534]

  Paul Goggins
  The Prison Service does not collect the numbers of applications for release on temporary licence. However, the numbers of releases on temporary licence listed by type of establishment and by type of licence are published in Prison statistics England and Wales 2001 (Cm 5743), which is held in the Library.
  560W
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the prisons that have prison visiting facilities which are(a) permanent and (b) temporary; [131208]

  (2) which of the prisons that have prison visiting facilities include facilities which cater for (a) people with disabilities and (b) children; [131209]

  (3) which prison visiting facilities have been (a) refurbished, (b) built and (c) relocated within the last five years; and what the cost was of the work undertaken; [131210]

  (4) which prison visiting facilities are included in an improvement programme; what the nature of the improvements planned is in each case; and what the cost is of work to be undertaken. [131211]

  Paul Goggins
  The Prison Service has a statutory obligation to encourage and assist prisoners to maintain outside contacts. In recognition of the important role that visits can play in achieving this, as well as the benefits for prisoners' successful resettlement, all prisons have permanent visiting areas. Over 90 establishments provide additional facilities such as visitors' centres.

  Prison Governors are required to comply with the duty under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to provide adequate facilities for people with disabilities and to make 'reasonable adjustments' to existing facilities. In particular, visitors to prison must be able to access all visits facilities. All establishments are currently assessing their facilities, but there is no central record of work conducted. Over 80 prisons provide play areas for children and an increasing number also offer extended day visits. Our policy is to encourage establishments to provide such facilities wherever possible, subject to individual operational and resource considerations.

  Individual governors initiate refurbishments to prisons costing less than £50,000 and the expenditure is incurred from their local budgets. Information on where such refurbishments have taken place and the costs involved are not held centrally. All newly built and contracted-out prisons are required to have a visitors' centre, distinct from visits halls, under the terms of their contract and the costs of building these range from around £25,000 to £200,000.

  Prison Service policy is to provide adequate facilities and these are under constant review. However, as most improvements are not centrally resourced, there is no comprehensive record of work carried out, or of the associated costs.

  Probation Service
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pilot projects were conducted in the Probation Service in each of the last 10 years. [124959]

  Paul Goggins
  Central records go back until 1999. The table sets out for each year since 1999 the number of pilots which were commenced in that year. A number of pilots will have run for more than a year, but are shown only against the year in which they started.
  561W

  Number of pilots

  1999

  31

  2000

  14

  2001

  10

  2002

  43

  2003

  46

  Quad Bikes
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints were made to Merseyside Police about illegal quad bikes in the last 12 months; and how many prosecutions resulted. [131962]

  Ms Blears
  Detailed figures for the whole of last year are not available. I understand, however, from Merseyside Police that they estimate there were, over the summer months, around 1,000 complaints relating to the misuse of quad bikes in the force area. These resulted in about 100 prosecutions and cautions.

  Over the summer months Merseyside Police undertook a specific operation against quad bike riders causing a nuisance. This operation specifically led to 17 prosecutions and 16 vehicles being seized under the provisions of section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002.

  Richard Thomas
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of the report of the inquiry into the conduct of ex-acting chief constable Richard Thomas of Gwent Police in the Library. [132221]

  Ms Blears
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department does not hold a copy of the report of the inquiry into the conduct of Richard Thomas, ex-acting chief constable of Gwent Police. The report is the property of Gwent Police and I am informed that they have no plans to publish it in any form.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Euro
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much has been spent in each year by his Department in preparing for UK entry to the euro; how much his 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 he has made of the total costs to his Department of changeover to the European Single Currency. [131595]

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

  Voter Registration
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many(a) adults and (b) adults registered to vote there
  562W
  were in each parliamentary constituency in descending order according to the disparity between the two figures. [133049]

  Ruth Kelly
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Chris Ruane, dated 21 October 2003:
  As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question, asking how many (a) adults and (b) adults registered to vote there were in each parliamentary constituency in descending order according to the disparity between the two figures. (133049)
  I am placing in the House of Commons Library a table which shows the count of adults (that is persons aged 18 and over) in each Parliamentary Constituency in England and Wales, taken from the published 2001 Census Report for Parliamentary Constituencies, compared with electoral register data from February 2001. It has been sorted in descending order, according to the disparity between the two. There are a number of reasons, which I have outlined below, why these counts can vary so greatly and why some constituencies have more registered voters than the Census counted resident adults. Therefore. the data has been sorted, with the constituency showing the greatest number of adults not on the electoral register at the top, and the constituency showing the greatest number of adults registered to vote but not resident in that constituency according to the Census at the bottom.
  The Census and electoral register data are not directly comparable for a number of reasons. These include definitional differences in the way the sources are compiled, differences in the timing of the data for each source being collected, and the delay in people being removed from the electoral register in a constituency after they move away from the area. In addition to this, it is possible for people to be on the electoral register in more than one constituency or none at all.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary. Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the local authority registration departments that are(a) adopting and (b) not adopting the best practice electoral registration procedures outlined in the Electoral Commission report of 2002, "Making an Impact". [133055]

  Mr. Leslie
  This information is not collected by my Department. The independent Electoral Commission is planning to undertake and complete early next year research building upon reports it has published in the past year, including "Making an Impact", in order to promote best practice guidance on tackling under-registration. The Government will consider carefully this research which we understand is intended to lead to the establishment of a national framework for the continued monitoring of electoral registration rates. The Electoral Commission is responsible for offering advice and guidance to electoral registration officers on these and other matters and will continue to encourage registration through various promotional activities.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research on registration rates he has commissioned in the past three years; and what future research he intends to commission on this subject. [133056]

  Mr. Leslie
  Research on registration rates has not been carried out by this Department or those responsible for electoral matters during the past three
  563W
  years. The independent Electoral Commission, set up in 2000 with a remit to keep under review electoral law and practice, has carried out such research since then publishing reports examining the local promotion of electoral registration and voter engagement among black and minority ethnic communities. Arising from its more recent report, "the Electoral Registration Process" the Commission is planning to undertake and complete early next year a further research project to identify the extent and nature of under-registration in particular communities in Britain as well as reviewing the operation and impact of rolling registration. The Government welcomes this proposal and will give due consideration to any further recommendations the Commission may make as it does to all of the Commission's recommendations concerning electoral registration arrangements.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the authorities that have initiated proceedings against individuals who fail to register to vote. [133057]

  Mr. Leslie
  This information is not collected centrally. The Representation of the People Act 1983 requires electoral registration officers (EROs), appointed by local authorities for the purpose, to compile the electoral register. Regulation 23 of the Representation of the People Regulations 2001 permits an ERO to 564W
  require any person to give information required for the purposes of that officer's duties in maintaining registers of parliamentary and local government electors. It is an offence punishable upon conviction by a fine not exceeding £1,000 for a person to fail to comply with a request for information from an ERO, or to give false information to an ERO. Prosecutions for non-compliance are initiated at local discretion.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will set out the Department's assessment of the main reasons for substantial falls in electoral registration rates in the UK over the past six years. [133058]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Government are concerned at the apparent drop in electoral registration in recent years. We are aware of a number of possible contributing factors, but do not wish to prejudge the conclusions of the independent Electoral Commission which is planning to undertake and complete next year research on this subject, building on reports it has published in the past year. The Government welcome this proposal and will give due consideration to any further recommendations the Commission may make as it does to all of the Commission's recommendations concerning electoral registration arrangements.

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