Written Answers of 30 October 2003

TREASURY

  Administration Costs
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the administration costs budget of the Treasury in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [135302]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury's administration costs expenditure is set out in successive Departmental Reports (most recently for 2003, Cm 2922) and Resource Accounts (most recently for 2002–03, HC 999).

  Arms Embargo (Rwanda)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Customs and Excise has responded to the requests by the United Nations Security Council for information on violations of arms embargoes in Rwanda by UK companies discussed in the United Nations Security Council document, "Third Report of the International Commission of Inquiry (Rwanda)", (S/1997/1010). [135132]

  John Healey
  I am advised that Customs investigators had met with officials from the International Commission of Inquiry (Rwanda) on 10 January 1996 to discuss Customs investigations and had also responded to a request from the UN International Tribunal on 21 March 1996. The Third Report of the Commission was published on 1 November 1996.

  There had been some earlier confusion over letters from the Commission which were never received by Customs, but the Commission accepted that the requests in those two letters had been answered in the course of the above meeting.

  HM Customs and Excise responded on 14 November 1996 to the Commission's requests for information about Customs investigations into arms supplies to Rwanda and exiled Rwandans.

  I understand that Commission officials expressed complete satisfaction with the co-operation received from the UK Government of the day.

  Business Taxation
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the aggregate charge in taxation paid by UK business was from 1997 to 2002. [134867]

  Ruth Kelly
  Figures on receipts from individual taxes are available in tables 2.1A to 2.1E in Financial Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics, which is available in the Library of the House.
  316W
  It is not possible to apportion receipts between business taxpayers and others. This is due to a number of taxes (for example fuel duty) being paid by both business and individuals, and because markets adjust to shift the incidence of taxation throughout the economy.

  Council Tax
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much council tax was paid as a proportion of gross incomes for households in each income quintile group in London for the latest year for which data is available. [135162]

  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. Simon Hughes, dated 30 October 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how much council tax was paid as a proportion of gross incomes for households in each income quintile group in London for the latest year for which data is available. (135162)
  Estimates in the following table are produced from the Office for National Statistics analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income" produced by the ONS and published on the National Statistics website on October 21st 2003. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons library or from the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ taxesbenefits. It includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey.
  The table shows, for 2001–02, the average net council tax paid for all households in London and for each income quintile group where households are ranked by equivalised disposable income. Equivalisation is a standard methodology that takes into account the size and composition of households and adjusts their incomes to recognise differing demands on resources. The net council tax figures are gross council tax less reported council tax benefits and discounts. The table also shows the boundaries between equivalised disposable income quintiles, which have been calculated separately for London households. For example, the 1st quintile boundary is the income level below which one fifth of those households are estimated to lie. The results are subject to a degree of uncertainty due to increased sampling variability arising from small sample sizes.

  Net council tax paid by households within London by equivalised disposable income quintile, 2001–02

  London

  Quintile

  Income boundary1(£)

  Net council tax (£)

  Net council tax as percentage of gross income

  Bottom

  443

  4.6

  11,432

  2nd

  567

  3.1

  17,512

  3rd

  746

  2.2

  25,609

  4th

  790

  1.7

  37,913

  Top

  886

  1.0

  All households

  686

  1.7

  1 Boundary point between equivalised disposable income quintiles

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income', published on the ONS website.
  317W

  Correspondence
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will answer the letter to him of 20 June from the hon. Member for Taunton concerning Mr. Ken Coles of Chelston about national insurance contributions. [135878]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There is no record of the hon. Member's letter having been received in the Treasury. However, a copy has been requested and a reply will be sent as soon as possible.

  Debt Cancellation (Second World War)
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the cancellation of continuing debt incurred by the UK(a) during and (b) in the aftermath of the Second World War. [135255]

  Ruth Kelly
  No specific representations concerning the cancellation of the debt incurred by the UK as a result of the Second World War have been received in recent years. However successive Governments have undertaken to meet the obligations under the terms of the debt incurred by repaying the United States and Canadian Governments in full the amounts lent in 1945.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been paid to the United States in settlement of military equipment provision during World War II in each year since 1973. [134946]

  Ruth Kelly
  From 1973 to 2000, the UK made annual repayments of principal and interest of around US$153 million, made up of a US$138 million scheduled repayment of principal and interest plus US$15 million of interest on the six deferred payments, to the United States in respect of its Second World War Loans. In 2001 and 2002, the repayments were US$152 million and US$150 million respectively.

  Employment Disincentives
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 6 October,Official Report, column 1087W, on employment disincentives, if he will make such an assessment. [135110]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Existing survey data would not provide sufficient information to make an assessment of the disincentive for those on low incomes to change jobs because of short-term cash flow problems. The creation of a new survey, or extension of an existing one, to generate this information would entail disproportionate cost and therefore the Government have no plans to make this assessment.

  Euro
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 20 June,Official Report, column 458W, on the euro, if he will list the events attended by ministers to campaign for a pro-European consensus; which Government ministers were in attendance at these events; when each event took place; if he will list the events planned for ministers to campaign for a pro-European consensus; which Government ministers will be in attendance; and what were the dates of these events. [135349]
  318W
  Ruth Kelly
  The Chancellor and other Ministers have held a variety of meetings to discuss the euro in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition, Treasury officials have held more than 150 meetings with opinion formers in Britain and Europe since the Chancellor's statement on 9 June.

  Growth Rates
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the growth figures for (i) England and (ii) the north-west in each year since 1992, and (b) projected figures for future years. [134895]

  Ruth Kelly
  UK growth forecasts will be updated in the forthcoming Pre-Budget Report. The Government do not publish forecasts for England and the English regions. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not produce estimates of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for England and the nine English regions. However, the ONS does produce estimates of nominal Gross Value Added (GVA) for these regions, which can he found on its website (www.statistics.gov.uk).

  Income Tax Evasion
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate his Department has made of the level of income tax contributions lost to evasion. [135382]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There is no reliable measure of the total tax and other duties lost to evasion. In his report, published in March 2000, Lord Grabiner QC commented on the scale of the hidden economy and said:"By its nature, the size of the informal economy is hard to measure. Most estimates are based on analysing high-level economic aggregates, such as labour market statistics or income and expenditure surveys, and calculate the result as a percentage of GDP. However there is research which suggests that these estimates tend to be exaggerated."

  It would be impractical to arrive at a precise and meaningful figure as to the scale of the problem without a considerable investment of time and resources.

  Influenza
  David Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 65 years or over died of influenza in(a) the East Riding of Yorkshire, (b) Hull and (c) the UK in each year since 1997. [135280]

  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. David Davis, dated 3 October 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people aged 65 years or over have died of influenza in (a) East Riding of Yorkshire, (b) Hull, (c) the UK in each year since 1997. (135280)
  Figures for East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston-upon-Hull, (City of) unitary authorities and the United Kingdom are provided in the table. The most recent year for which data are available is 2001.
  319W

  Numbers of deaths from influenza1, 1997 to 20012 for East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston-upon-Hull, (City of) unitary authorities and the United Kingdom3

  Number of deaths

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  Kingston-upon-Hull, City of

  United Kingdom

  1997

  *

  *

  413

  1998

  *

  —

  129

  1999

  6

  —

  598

  2000

  *

  *

  630

  2001

  —

  —

  27

  — = zero deaths.

  * = Fewer than five 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.

  Iraq
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what costs the Government has(a) incurred since and (b) made provision for in relation to Iraq, broken down by Government department. [135767]

  Mr. Boateng
  In his 2003 Budget statement, the Chancellor confirmed that £3 billion has been set aside in a special reserve available to the Ministry of Defence, for the costs of the military campaign in Iraq,"so that our troops continue to be properly equipped and given the resources that they deserve and have a right to expect." [9 April 2003, Official Report, column 271.]

  It is too early to provide total costs of the military campaign in Iraq. However, up to the point military operations began, Ministry of Defence estimate costs at around £700 million.

  At the Donors' Conference on Iraq, in Madrid on 24 October, the UK made a total financial commitment towards Iraq's reconstruction of £544 million for the three years from April 2003, including funding we have provided so far and our share of proposed European Community spending in Iraq.

  £248 million is for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance already committed by DFID and other Government Departments, £9 million of which is our share of the EC commitment, and £296 million will be for the period up to March 2006, £29 million of which is our share of currently proposed EC spending.

  Note of Dissent (Directions)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the directions overriding a note of dissent by an accounting officer that his Department has been notified of since January 2003; if he will place details of such directions in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [134224]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Economic Secretary on 23 June 2003,Official Report, column 617W.
  320W
  The Treasury was informed of a direction by the Ministry of Defence on 30 July 2003 in respect of Hawk trainers.

  The procedures relating to ministerial directions are set out in the "Accounting Officer Memorandum" and require Departments to convey relevant papers to the C&AG, copied to the Treasury, once an Accounting Office has received a direction from a Minister. It is for the C&AG to decide what action should be taken and whether he wishes to investigate further. Such documents may contain sensitive or classified material and it is for the Minister of the Department concerned to decide whether to make such directions more widely available.

  Pay Statistics
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current average pay in the(a) private and (b) public sector is, (i) exclusive and (ii) inclusive of work benefits. [134873]

  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. Jonathan Djanogly, dated 30 October 2603:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on average pay in the public and private sector, both excluding and including work benefits. (134873)
  In April 2003, the average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees whose pay was not affected by absence, was £465.90 per week for those employed in the private sector and £480.80 per week for those in the public sector. The figures include overtime and bonuses, but do not include any non-monetary payments or benefits. This information is taken from the New Earnings Survey.
  None of the surveys of employers, households or individuals carried out by the Office for National Statistics collects details of non-monetary work benefits, such as company cars, private health insurance, employers' pension contributions, share schemes, etc. The Inland Revenue publish details of the value of a number of these benefits on their website at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/ stats/taxable_benefits/menu.htm.
  However, this data is; not produced for the public and private sectors separately.

  Scottish Housing Stock (Debt)
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for(a) Scottish Borders, (b) Dumfries and Galloway and (c) Glasgow local authorities (i) the amount of housing debt remaining after transfer of local authority housing stock, (ii) the portion of that residual debt which (A) has subsequently been redeemed and (B) continues to be serviced, (iii) the breakage costs associated with any redemption of residual debt and (iv) the estimated servicing costs of any residual debt in (X) 2003–04, (Y) 2004–05 and (Z) 2005–06 indicating in each case which costs are being met by (1) the Treasury and (2) the Scottish Executive. [135075]

  Ruth Kelly
  Housing stock transfers in Scotland are a devolved responsibility of the Scottish Executive, and therefore most of the information requested is a matter for the Executive. With regard to Treasury costs, the amount of grant provided by the Exchequer to the
  321W
  Scottish Executive in respect of repayment of debt was £59 million for Scottish Borders, £76 million for Dumfries and Galloway and £920 million for Glasgow.

  Tourism/Agriculture Spending
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total government spending or the(a) tourist and (b) agricultural industry was in 2002–03. [135839]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to Table 3.5 in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2003 (Cm 5901) a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  VAT
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy on the relative VAT rates applied to(a) energy saving equipment and (b) energy used in (i) new build and (ii) the repair and conversions of existing buildings. [135402]

  John Healey
  The installation of energy-saving materials in residential accommodation and certain charity buildings is liable to VAT at the reduced rate of 5 per cent. This helps to keep homes warm and contributes to achieving the energy saving targets we are committed to as a result of the Kyoto summit. The Government is currently negotiating hard for an amendment to the European Sixth VAT Directive which would permit the reduced VAT rating of the purchase of energy-saving materials for do-it-yourself installation.

  Fuel and power used in the construction, repair and conversion of buildings is standard-rated for VAT purposes. However, since 1997 domestic fuel and power subsequently used in those buildings has only been liable to VAT at 5 per cent.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Service
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate the Cabinet Office has made of the proportion of civil servants which the senior Civil Service represents; and if he will make a statement. [134135]

  Building

  Acquisition date

  Means of acquisition

  Use

  70 Whitehall1

  19962

  Departmental transfer

  Office space and operational facilities

  36 Whitehall

  19962

  Departmental transfer

  Office space

  53 Parliament Street

  19962

  Departmental transfer

  Office space

  Hepburn House, Marsham Street

  19962

  Departmental transfer

  Vacant space and transfer to another Department pending

  10 Downing Street1

  19962

  Departmental transfer

  Office space, residential accommodation, state rooms

  11 Downing Street1

  19962

  Departmental transfer

  Office space, residential accommodation, state rooms

  12 Downing Street

  19962

  Departmental transfer

  Office space

  Admiralty House1

  19962

  Departmental transfer

  Residential accommodation, state rooms

  11 Belgrave Road1

  19962

  Departmental transfer

  Office space, training and operational facilities

  Admiralty Arch

  1998

  Departmental transfer

  Office space

  22/26 Whitehall1

  1999

  Departmental transfer

  Office space

  35 Great Smith Street1

  2000

  New acquisition

  Office space

  Stockley House, 130 Wilton Road1

  2000

  Departmental transfer

  Office space

  9 Whitehall

  2001

  New acquisition

  Office space

  7 St. James's Square1

  2001

  Departmental transfer

  Office space

  10 Great George Street1

  2001

  New acquisition

  Office space and operational facilities

  2 Little Smith Street

  2001

  New acquisition

  Office space

  67 Tufton Street

  2001

  New acquisition

  Office space and operational facilities

  322W
  Mr. Alexander
  The most recent figures relating to the number of staff as at 1 April 2003 were published on 16 October 2003. These figures show that there were 542,770 permanent civil servants (Headcount basis), and of these 4,260 or 0.8 per cent. were at Senior Civil Service Level.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many non-departmental public bodies there were in England in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [134549]

  Mr. Alexander
  Information on non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) is provided annually in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". The latest available data are contained in "Public Bodies 2003", giving information as at 31 March 2003. Copies of these publications are held in the House Libraries.

  The number of NDPBs sponsored by UK Government Departments with responsibilities for England in each year was as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1997

  846

  1998

  837

  1999

  828

  2000

  822

  2001

  853

  2002

  773

  2003

  786

  Some of these NDPBs will have a remit which extends beyond England.

  Official Buildings
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the official buildings within a mile of Parliament for which the Cabinet Office has responsibility, giving in each case the date of acquisition; whether the acquisition in each case was(a) as a result of a departmental transfer and (b) a new acquisition by the Government; and what the buildings are used for. [134419]

  Mr. Alexander
  The buildings are as follows:
  323W
  1 The Cabinet Office does not occupy the whole of these buildings.

  2 All of the properties acquired by the Cabinet Office in 1996 were transferred when responsibility for buildings was delegated to Departments from the then Property Services Agency.

  Public Appointments
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of ministerial appointments to public bodies in each year since 1997 were of(a) men and (b) women; and what proportion of public appointments were held by women in each year since 1997. [134682]

  Mr. Alexander
  Information is provided annually in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". The latest available data is contained in "Public Bodies 2003", giving information as at 31 March 2003. Copies of these publications are held in the House Libraries.

  These show that the number and proportion of men and women holding ministerial appointments in public bodies were as follows:

  Men

  Women

  Year

  Number

  Per cent.

  Number

  Per cent.

  1997

  22,068

  67

  10,728

  33

  1998

  20,676

  66

  10,487

  34

  1999

  19,693

  65

  10,526

  35

  2000

  17,303

  66

  9,106

  34

  2001

  16,743

  66

  9,106

  34

  2001

  16,743

  65

  9,106

  35

  2002

  14,510

  66

  7,391

  34

  2003

  14,436

  64

  8,028

  36

  Data on non-ministerial appointments have not been collected since 2001.

PRIME MINISTER

  Correspondence
  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter from Sir Ian Wood and Mr. Paul Blakeley of 22 October regarding the impact of the draft EU constitution on investment in the exploitation of North Sea oil and gas reserves; and if he will place a copy of the reply in the Library. [R][135324]

  The Prime Minister
  The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has replied today on my behalf. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

  Drug Testing
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent guidance she has given to(a) the Football Premier League and (b) UK Sport on the deterrent use of maximum bans for breaches of drug testing regulations. [135312]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government have given no advice to the Football Premier League and UK Sport on doping sanctions.
  324W
  This is a matter for UK Sport and sport's governing bodies. The UK's national anti-doping policy is in line with the International Standard for Doping Control which requires the governing bodies to carry out a robust in-and-out of competition dope testing programme. Governing bodies are responsible for imposing sanctions where an athlete has been found to have committed a doping offence. Sanctions should be in line with the regulations set out by the governing body or international federation which will comply with the rules of the British Olympic Association or Commonwealth Games Associations.

  Olympic Games
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations the Government have made to the International Olympic Committee on an Olympic team from Burma taking part in the Athens games in 2004; and if she will make a statement. [134719]

  Tessa Jowell
  The Government have not made any representations to the International Olympic Committee regarding the participation of Myanmar in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. It remains the Government's view that the Olympic Games is a non-political event.

  The hon. Member for Portsmouth, South may be interested to note that the EU Common Position on Myanmar includes a visa ban on regime members. This would mean that senior regime members would not be able to attend the Games in Athens.

  Tote
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to introduce legislation to change the status of the Tote; and if she will make a statement. [134990]

  Mr. Caborn
  We intend to bring the necessary legislation forward when parliamentary time allows.

DEFENCE

  Armed Forces Pay and Conditions
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the pay and conditions offered to members of the reserve forces differs from those offered to members of the regular forces; and if he will make a statement. [134917]

  Mr. Caplin
  When called out for full-time service, reservists receive the same rates of pay and are generally entitled to the same allowances as their regular counterparts. However, unlike regular soldiers, reservists may also claim financial assistance if their civilian earnings are greater than their military pay. They are also entitled to a tax-free call-out gratuity of £420.
  325W
  When called-out, reservists are paid the full 13 per cent. X-factor (training pay only includes 5 per cent. X-factor). The X-factor takes account of the relative disadvantages of conditions of service experienced by members of the armed forces compared with those in civilian life.

  Armed Forces Pensions
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the armed forces' daily pay rate is deducted for the purpose of contributing to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. [134493]

  Mr. Caplin
  No deduction is made from the pay of Volunteer Reservists for the purpose of contributing to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what mechanisms(a) have existed since 1973 and (b) exist to ensure that all members of the armed forces are fully informed of their pension entitlements on leaving the services and if he will make a statement; [134918]

  (2) what incidences there are of members of the armed forces not being informed of their pension entitlements on leaving the services: and if he will make a statement. [134919]

  Mr. Caplin
  Mechanisms have been in existence since 1973, to inform, by letter, all members of the armed forces of their pension entitlements on leaving the Services. Computer generated printouts for each Service advise the pension divisions of the requirement to produce this letter.

  A problem has been identified affecting some former service personnel with less than two years service, who may not have received their entitlements to an Armed Forces Pension Scheme attributable gratuity, or pension. We expect the great majority of omissions to have been rectified by January 2004. Procedures have been tightened to prevent a reoccurrence.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what rights members of the armed forces(a) have and (b) have had to backdate their pensions if they were not informed of their pension entitlements on leaving the services; and if he will make a statement; [134920]

  (2) under what circumstances a former member of the armed forces who has not collected their pension from the first date at which there were entitled to it can receive backdated payments; and if he will make a statement. [134921]

  Mr. Caplin
  Members who have not claimed their pension entitlement on leaving the armed forces, or have not claimed when their entitlement becomes due, have a right to receive payments backdated to six years, in line with the Statute of Limitations Act 1980. However, Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury may authorise that payments be backdated further, depending on the merits of each case. Payments are usually backdated in full and are always so where non-payment was due to a mistake on the part of MOD.
  326W

  Cadet Forces
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) pay and (b) conditions are offered to those that assist in running cadet forces. [133751]

  Mr. Caplin
  Certain categories of helpers (of which there are many) with the Cadet forces can be paid for a certain number of days per year for training and to cover expenses such as travelling and subsistence.

  Conditions for the cadet services vary according to type of volunteer. Military status volunteers are subject to military Service Regulations while civilians are subject to the appropriate Civil Service regulations.

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 8 July 2003,Official Report, column 701 W, on depleted uranium, what conclusions and agreements have been reached with the United States following these discussions. [135038]

  Mr. Caplin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 6 October 2003,Official Report, column 1159W.

  Iraq
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in(a) securing and (b) protecting evidence of human rights abuses in Iraq during Saddam Hussein's regime; what evidence has been handed to the relevant prosecuting authorities; and what the relevant prosecuting authorities are. [133831]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) has been working with the Governing Council, the Iraqi Human Rights Ministry, and local and international organisations to put in place the necessary procedures for collecting and securing evidence. The CPA has so far investigated 128 of the 250 reported mass grave sites and seized thousands of potentially relevant documents. CPA efforts are also focused on building the capacity of Iraqis to investigate the crimes committed by the former regime for both historical and prosecution purposes.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to send(a) additional and (b) replacement troops to Iraq; which units are to be sent and when; and if he will make a statement. [135450]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to my Written Statement of 28 October 2003,Official Report, columns 7-8WS.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the reason no action was taken to take into account(a) factual errors and (b) suggested errors of interpretation brought to the attention of their seniors by concerned defence intelligence officers in respect of the draft dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction of September 2002, prior to its final publication; and when he was first informed of the misgivings of the defence intelligence staff officers relating to the draft. [131108]
  327W
  Mr. Hoon
  As indicated in my evidence to Lord Hutton's Inquiry on 27 August 2003, I was first informed in a minute dated 18 July 2003 that two officials in the Defence Intelligence Staff had expressed some concerns about certain language used in the dossier. I set out the action taken as a result of those concerns in my remarks in the House on 11 September 2003,Official Report, columns 491-95.

  Service Accommodation
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new build units in the married quarters estate are planned by his Department in each of the next three years; and how many houses this will replace from the existing married quarters estate. [133381]

  Mr. Caplin
  The numbers of new build Service family houses planned in mainland UK for the next three years, through both capital projects and PFI are as follows:

  Year

  2003

  391

  2004–05

  500

  2005–06

  315

  Total

  1,206

  Further to the answer given by the then Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend for Kirkcadly (Dr. Moonie) on 13 May Official Report, column 152-153W, the expected completion date for 24 properties has changed from 2003–04 to 2004–05.

  It is difficult to specify how many existing family houses these new builds will replace. New build is often at locations where the requirements for Service housing are new or increasing, and therefore the new houses are not intended as replacements, but they may indirectly replace housing at other locations where requirements are declining.

  Territorial Army (Northern Ireland)
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been recruited to the Territorial Army in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; what steps he is taking to increase these figures; and if he will make a statement. [134827]

  Mr. Caplin
  The number of people recruited into the Territorial Army (TA) in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years are shown in the following table.

  1 April to 31 March

  Officers

  Soldiers

  1998–99

  30

  297

  1999–2000

  45

  272

  2000–01

  33

  279

  2001–02

  42

  235

  2002–03

  39

  218

  2003–04 to date

  24

  153

  TA recruiting is a continual process throughout the year and is generally conducted geographically by local TA centres. A local TA recruiting campaign has recently been run, supplementing the national radio, television and internet recruiting campaigns. This involved open days in the TA Centres following advertisements placed
  328W
  in the local press and on the radio. Considerable interest was generated from potential recruits, which included approximately 100 inquiries emanating from the North Down Constituency.

  Weapons of Mass Destruction
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's latest estimate is of those states that are(a) known and (b) suspected of pursuing (i) nuclear, (ii) chemical and (iii) biological weapons programmes; and if he will list them. [133721]

  Mr. Hoon
  Under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, China and Russia are legally entitled to possess nuclear weapons. Additionally, India and Pakistan have tested nuclear devices. We continue to encourage Israel to resolve international concerns about its nuclear status by acceding to the nuclear nonproliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state.

  There are five states parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention that have declared possession of chemical weapons. They are currently in the process of destroying them in accordance with their obligations under the Convention.

  The Government have made clear in recent months that we continue to believe that Iraq had produced and had active programmes for production of WMD. We are also aware of, and very concerned by, persistent reports that Iran, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Libya and Syria are pursuing programmes to develop WMD and the means for their delivery.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much asylum seekers cost public funds in the last 12 months per head of tax paying population. [132337]

  Beverley Hughes
  The cost of supporting asylum seekers in the last financial year for which final data are available (2001–02) was £1,046 million.

  Drugs
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had about reclassifying amphetamines from a class B to class A drug. [135315]

  Caroline Flint
  Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, amphetamines are classified as a Class B drug.

  The Government keep the control of drugs under review but have had no recent discussions with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs nor any other party about moving amphetamines to class A.

  Gun Crime
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of gun crime. [134091]
  329W
  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]Although the incidence of firearms offences is low compared to recorded crime as a whole, too many people are still being killed and injured by firearms. This is unacceptable.

  We are taking forward a programme to tackle gun crime on a number of fronts. This includes:

  tackling the links to drug supply and crime;

  reducing the supply and availability of firearms;

  effective police operations to drive down firearm offences;

  tough laws and effective enforcement and engaging the worst affected communities to address the underlying gun culture.

  Passports
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average administrative cost was of issuing a passport in each of the last five years. [134364]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]: The administration costs of producing a passport over the past five years was as follows:

  Financial year

  Administrative expenditure (£)

  Passports issued

  Administrative cost per passport (£)

  1998–99

  15,783,000

  4,737,057

  3.33

  1999–2000

  20,596,000

  5,316,490

  4.03

  2000–01

  25,433,000

  5,543,994

  4.59

  2001–02

  35,866,000

  5,583,266

  6.42

  2002–03

  36,081,000

  5,354,348

  6.74

  Administration costs are classified in the Agency's accounts as all non-production costs including costs of the change programme, support staff and accommodation.

  The main reason for the increase over time has been to deliver a growing change programme.

  Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to ensure that councils are not financially disadvantaged by continuing the care of unaccompanied asylum seekers beyond the age of 16. [131494]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 14 October 2003]: The Home Office is responsible for paying grant to local authorities supporting Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASCs) until the age of 18. The grant allows for local authorities to claim the same level of grant for UASCs aged 16-18 as for under 16s—provided that they applied for asylum before reaching the age of 16.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Small Claims Court
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to compile annual reports on the work of the small claims court separately from the report on the Courts Service. [134938]
  330W
  Mr. Leslie
  The Court Service will shortly be publishing the first edition of the County Court Annual Report. It will cover the period 2002–03.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether those who adjudicate in the small claims court are given training to help them assist unrepresented parties to actions in the small claims court. [134294]

  Mr. Leslie
  Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB), an independent body chaired by Lord Justice Keene. The JSB provides written guidance to judges on the conduct of small claims cases in its Civil Bench Book and on the particular needs of litigants in person in its Equal Treatment Bench Book. Both publications are publicly available via the JSB's website (www.jsboard.co.uk). Judges who sit in the county court attend an Induction Course on first appointment and further training is provided at three-yearly intervals for all who exercise the civil jurisdiction. All such training includes sessions on the needs of litigants in person.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what mediation resources are made available to(a) claimants and (b) defendants involved in actions in the small claims court. [134297]

  Mr. Lammy
  There is no national provision of mediation services within the court system. A pilot scheme for mediating small claims cases is provided by the Devon and Exeter Law Society at Exeter, Barnstaple and Torquay County Courts. If it proves successful we will consider extending a similar service to other courts.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average cost has been to public funds of each action brought in the small claims court in the last three years. [134298]

  Mr. Lammy
  The only cost to public funds in pursuing a small claim through the county court is in relation to the exemption and remission of fees. Separate figures on exemption and remission are not collected on claims which fall in the monetary bands of the small claims track.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what legal advice and support is available to(a) claimants and (b) defendants involved in actions in the small claims court. [134300]

  Mr. Lammy
  Although there is no specific provision of legal advice at small claims courts themselves, Court Service staff do provide assistance to claimants and defendants on procedural matters regarding the hearings. Money Claims Online, launched in December 2001, also allows claimants and defendants in small claims proceedings to submit their claims and responses online, thereby reducing pressure on the courts themselves. In addition, all courts in England and Wales are Quality Marked Information Points for The Community Legal Service (CLS) and hold the CLS directory which contains information on service providers such as Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centres, independent advice agencies and solicitors. Through the CLS information and advice is available in
  331W
  a wide range of categories such as consumer claims, disputes between landlords and tenants about repairs, deposits and rent arrears.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how the effectiveness of the small claims court as a means for the public to recover small claims economically is monitored and assessed by the Department. [134303]

  Mr. Leslie
  There is no measure in place to monitor or assess the effectiveness of the county court as a means for the public to recover small claims economically. However, under the department's Public Service Agreements we have a number of business targets which have been identified to measure our performance in reducing unnecessary delay, reducing unnecessary cost and improving enforcement.

  Sutton Coldfield Courthouse
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the courthouse in Sutton Coldfield. [135806]

  Mr. Leslie
  I have decided that the appeal of Birmingham city council, against closure, should be allowed. Therefore the magistrates courthouse at Sutton Coldfield will remain open.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Benefits/MOT Testing
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom in relation to(a) the overlapping of social security benefits and (b) MOT testing; and if he will make a statement. [134829]

  Angela Smith
  The information is as follows:

  (a) There is a long-standing policy of parity in social security matters between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. NI social security legislation relating to overlapping benefits is therefore already in line with that in GB.

  (b) MOT testing in Northern Ireland is conducted to the same standards and within the same framework of EU requirements as elsewhere in the UK. However, an

  Number of additional specialist medical, nursing and other staff employed by Health and Social Services Trusts between 31 March 2001 and 30 September 2003 to improve cancer services in Northern Ireland

  Specialist medical staff

  Nursing staff

  Other staff

  HSS1 Trusts

  Headcount

  WTE2

  Headcount

  WTE

  Headcount

  WTE

  Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust

  8

  4.40

  21

  19.16

  14

  14.00

  Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  1

  1.00

  Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

  5

  5.00

  12

  12.00

  44

  41.24

  Causeway HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  5

  4.60

  0

  0.00

  Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust3

  0

  0.30

  15

  12.10

  7

  5.74

  Down Lisburn HSS Trust

  1

  0.50

  1

  1.00

  0

  0.00

  Foyle Community HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  8

  1.20

  2

  1.00

  Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  Homefirst Community HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

  1

  1.00

  1

  1.00

  0

  0.00

  332W
  earlier proposal to lower the age at which private cars in Northern Ireland must undergo an MOT test from four years to three years, in line with practice in the rest of the United Kingdom, was deferred pending the outcome of a review of three year testing in Great Britain.

  MOT tests, along with all other statutory vehicle tests, are carried out exclusively in Northern Ireland by the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA) of the Department of the Environment. There are no arrangements to al low private garages in Northern Ireland to carry out MOT tests on private cars, as is the practice in Great Britain, In light of the on-going difficulties with MOT test waiting times, there have been some calls for the GB arrangements to be introduced in Northern Ireland. However, following the recent programme to refurbish and re-equip DVTA's 15 test centres, under a £57 million private finance initiative contract, and on completion of the current project to introduce telephone, and subsequently internet, test booking, I expect the Agency to return to its previously high levels of performance and customer service. I believe these arrangements best suit the circumstances in Northern Ireland and I have no plans at present to review them.

  Human Organs
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the National CJD Unit in Edinburgh monitored all imports and exports of brains and brain material between Belfast and Dublin. [132411]

  Angela Smith
  Brain and brain tissue samples which have been sent between Belfast and Dublin relate only to Multiple Sclerosis and related demyelinating disorders of the brain and not to suspected cases of CJD. The National CJD Unit in Edinburgh therefore does not monitor the movement of these samples.

  Cancer Services
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many additional(a) specialist medical, (b) nursing and (c) other staff have been employed since March 2001 to improve cancer services in Northern Ireland. [133870]

  Angela Smith
  A table showing the number of additional specialist medical, nursing and other staff employed by Health and Social Services Trusts between 31 March 2001 and 30 September 2003 to improve cancer services in Northern Ireland is shown in the following table.
  333W

  Number of additional specialist medical, nursing and other staff employed by Health and Social Services Trusts between 31 March 2001 and 30 September 2003 to improve cancer services in Northern Ireland

  Specialist medical staff

  Nursing staff

  Other staff

  HSS1 Trusts

  Headcount

  WTE2

  Headcount

  WTE

  Headcount

  WTE

  Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  North and West Belfast HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  0

  0.00

  1

  0.50

  Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  11

  11.00

  1

  0.50

  South and East Belfast HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  1

  1.00

  0

  0.00

  Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust

  1

  1.00

  3

  3.00

  0

  0.00

  Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

  6

  5.50

  1

  0.50

  5

  2.75

  United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

  1

  1.00

  5

  4.60

  6

  6.00

  Total

  23

  18.70

  84

  71.16

  81

  72.73

  1 Health and Social Services

  2 Whole Time Equivalent

  3 Craigavon area hospital has increased the hours of an existing member of specialist medical staff to improve cancer services within the trust—that is why the headcount is 0 but whole time equivalent is 0.30

  Illegal Arms/Explosives
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the amounts of illegal arms and explosives held by the(a) Provisional IRA, (b) Real IRA, (c) Continuity IRA, (d) UVF, (e) UDA, (f) LVF and (g) INLA. [135443]

  Jane Kennedy
  This information is only available from intelligence sources and it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment The Government and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning will resolutely continue to pursue complete decommissioning by all paramilitary organisations to ensure that there is a permanent end to paramilitary activity in all its forms.

  Northern Ireland Fire Authority
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the Northern Ireland Fire Authority is complying with section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 in relation to equality of opportunity. [134247]

  Angela Smith
  We are satisfied with the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland's commitment to the requirements of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Authority submits annual reports to the Equality Commission setting out its compliance with section 75.

  PSNI (Facilities)
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the accessibility of Police Service of Northern Ireland sporting and social facilities and premises to former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. [135444]

  Jane Kennedy
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Strangford (Mrs. Robinson) on 16 September 2003,Official Report, column 727W, in respect of access to PSNI sporting facilities. This is a matter for the Chief Constable.

  With regard to access to PSNI social facilities, this is a matter for the Council of the RUC Athletic Association, however I am advised that under rule 5 of the Association, retired RUC officers are full members along with serving officers of the PSNI.

  Regeneration Funding (Belfast)
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has in relation to allocation of Belfast Regeneration Office Action Plan resources for Belfast. [134615]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Belfast Regeneration Office Action Plan is currently under consideration by Government.

  Salmon
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many salmon fish farms have been operating, and how many fish were produced, in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [135446]

  Mr. Pearson
  The information is as follows:

  Number of licensed salmon fish farms

  1998

  1

  1999

  1

  2000

  1

  2001

  1

  2002

  1

  Due to the fact that there has been only one salmon fish farm operating in Northern Ireland for the past five years, the production figures for each of the last five years is not in the public domain as it would be too easy to identify the company involved.

  Waiting Times
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are waiting for(a) hip and (b) knee replacement operations; how many of these have been waiting (i) less than 12 months, (ii) between 12 and 18 months, (iii) between 18 and 24 months and (iv) longer than 24 months; what steps he is taking to reduce these figures; and if he will make a statement. [134830]

  Angela Smith
  Information on people waiting for treatment is collected on the basis of specialty rather than the type of operation. The number of patients in Northern Ireland awaiting admission to hospital, as either an inpatient or day case, in the trauma and
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  orthopaedic specialty is detailed in the following table. Figures are representative of the position at the end of June 2003 (the latest information available).

  Specialty—trauma and orthopaedics

  Time waiting (months)

  Number

  0-11

  4,132

  12-17

  721

  18-23

  325

  24+

  611

  Total waiters

  5,789

  Source:

  CHI

  I am aware that there are significant waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery at present. This reflects a general increase in demand over recent years for orthopaedic services and waiting lists have grown as a result.

  A number of measures are being taken to deal with this increase in demand including increasing the number of orthopaedic surgeons in training and the recent building of two modular theatres, costing £3.8 million, on the Musgrave Park Hospital site. The provision of these new theatres will increase theatre capacity, increase capacity for fracture services, stabilise and reduce waiting lists, and facilitate the mix of elective, trauma and out-patient work of consultant orthopaedic surgeons.

TRANSPORT

  A14
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on(a) consulting on, (b) designing and (c) advertising the Highways Agency's proposal for grade-separated junctions along the A 14 between Brampton and Thrapston; who decided to stop the proposal; what evaluation of project was originally undertaken; how that changed before the decision was taken to stop the proposals; what the alternative schemes are; how the value for money of the alternative schemes has been evaluated; for what reason the alternative schemes were not produced when the original proposal was withdrawn; what low cost safety improvements are planned; and when they will be made. [134862]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have asked the acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Stephen Hickey, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Stephen Hickey to Mr. Jonathan Djanogly, dated 30 October 2003:
  I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the A14 Thrapston to Brampton Grade Separation Scheme and the decision to suspend further work on the project following a recent re-evaluation of scheme benefits under the continuous value management process.
  I know that you have been in correspondence with the Agency's Bedford office on this matter and that a meeting with officials has been arranged for Friday 31 October 2003 The information you seek will be made available at that meeting.
  336W
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 21 October,Official Report, column 472W, on air travel (compensation) when his Department will produce an updated Regulatory Impact Assessment reflecting changes made during negotiation; and if he will place it in the Library. [135368]

  Mr. McNulty
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 October 2003,Official Report, columns 257-58W.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received sufficient information on possible new runway sites at(a) Birmingham (alternative runway proposal), (b) Gatwick (alternative runway proposals by BAA), (c) Redhill, (d) the Marinair site, (e) Severnside, (f) Sheppey and (g) Thames Reach, to enable consideration to be given to them in the forthcoming White Paper on Air Transport. [135191]

  Dr. Howells
  As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport. has made clear on many occasions, we will consider carefully all serious, worked-up proposals submitted as responses to the consultation.

  The Department held discussions with several promoters of proposals for new airport capacity that are alternatives to, or variants of, options set out in the Government's consultation document. The aim has been to provide guidance on the methodology used to appraise options in the SERAS study and on the information that will be needed by the Department in order to appraise alternative ideas submitted as part of the consultation.

  Aviation Industry (Tax Subsidy)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what subsidy from public funds he estimates the aviation industry receives in terms of favourable taxation policy; and if he will make a statement. [135024]

  John Healey
  I have been asked to reply.

  The aviation industry receives no direct subsidy from public funds.

  The Government recently completed a consultation process on the use of economic instruments in the aviation sector, which included examining incentives to encourage better environmental performance.

  The Government's views will be set out in the Air Transport White Paper due to be published later this year.

  Dealing with Disadvantage Project
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action local highway authorities can take to apply for the Dealing with Disadvantage funding which has not yet been allocated. [134740]

  Mr. Jamieson
  £16 million of the money identified for Dealing with Disadvantage is available for grants to local authorities. £11.7 million has been allocated to Greater Manchester and Lancashire. Four further authorities have been invited to submit bids for grant
  337W
  funding. These are Bradford, Liverpool, Nottingham and Sandwell, which are the next four non-Greater Manchester and Lancashire authorities on the ranked list of places for road safety problems associated with disadvantage. Invitations to bid have been made on the basis of need.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are funded out of the Dealing with Disadvantage grant; and what cost benefit analysis has been carried out in relation to the expenditure. [134741]

  Mr. Jamieson
  No specific numbers of staff have been identified for the Grants that are the subject of the Special Grant Report. The Neighbourhood Road Safety Team, which is being hosted by Greater Manchester Police, will have eight members of staff.

  All grant allocations have been scrutinised for relevance to the identified problems and the likelihood of success. Because some of the work is generic, such as road safety education, it is not possible to attribute directly what savings may arise, so cost-benefit analysis is not appropriate in this case.

  The Government wish to learn from the experience of this initiative and so a monitoring and evaluation contract is presently out to tender and this will provide lessons for future policy development and delivery.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which highway authorities have received a share of the funds allocated for highway improvements under the Dealing with Disadvantage programme; and how much was paid to each one. [134742]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The 10 authorities that received allocations for improvements to the highway are:

  £

  Blackburn with Darwen

  120,000

  Blackpool

  1,256,000

  Bolton

  425,000

  Bury

  250,000

  Manchester

  838,000

  Oldham

  195,000

  Rochdale

  230,000

  Salford

  300,000

  Tameside

  780,000

  Wigan

  563,000

  In addition, £500,000 was allocated to Tameside to develop and deploy their "Watchman" anti-speeding initiative across all 10 authorities.

  £1,000,000 remains unallocated for further developments.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the most recent road safety record in respect of each a the local highway authorities to be allocated a Dealing with Disadvantage grant; and what specific improvements he expects to result from the award of such grants. [134743]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The 2002 casualty figures in the 10 authorities are as follows.
  338W

  Local authority (District)

  Fatal

  Serious

  KSI

  Slight

  Total

  All casualties 2002

  Blackburn with Darwen

  3

  80

  83

  701

  784

  Blackpool

  10

  94

  104

  762

  866

  Bolton

  12

  85

  97

  1,461

  1558

  Bury

  8

  53

  61

  968

  1,029

  Manchester

  15

  252

  267

  3,493

  3,760

  Oldham

  4

  57

  61

  959

  1,020

  Rochdale

  11

  84

  95

  1,180

  1,275

  Salford

  7

  80

  87

  1,169

  1,256

  Tameside

  4

  85

  89

  864

  953

  Wigan

  9

  123

  132

  1,595

  1,727

  Child pedestrian casualties—2002

  Blackburn with Darwen

  0

  11

  11

  74

  85

  Blackpool

  0

  19

  19

  64

  83

  Bolton

  1

  9

  10

  133

  143

  Bury

  0

  13

  13

  70

  83

  Manchester

  1

  39

  40

  170

  210

  Oldham

  0

  16

  16

  104

  120

  Rochdale

  0

  15

  15

  89

  104

  Salford

  1

  13

  14

  60

  74

  Tameside

  0

  17

  17

  88

  105

  Wigan

  0

  25

  25

  127

  152

  Our objective is to narrow the gap between disadvantaged areas and the rest of the country by reducing casualties in deprived areas at a faster rate than for the country as a whole.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate of the unit cost of staff he has used in determining grants for support staff to individual local authorities for delivering Dealing with Disadvantage projects. [134744]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The allocation for staff is a nominal sum in recognition of the additional administrative burden being placed on the authorities. In partnering agreements, the authorities will have to demonstrate how the staff costs have been incurred in furtherance of the Dealing with Disadvantage work.

  Gatwick Airport
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of non-transfer air passengers at Gatwick use public transport to or from the airport. [135189]

  Dr. Howells
  In 2002 the mode of travel to Gatwick broke down as follows (numbers rounded):

  Percentage

  Private car

  53

  Hire car

  2

  Taxi/minicab

  15

  Bus/coach

  8

  Rail

  22

  Other

  less than 1

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people around Gatwick airport fell within the 54 leq and 57 leq contours for aircraft noise in 2002; and how many he estimates would fall within these contours in 2030 if a new wide spaced runway were built, assuming no change to aircraft noise standards other than those recently agreed in the International Civil Aviation Organisation. [135190]
  339W
  Dr. Howells
  The populations within the 54 and 57 dBA daytime leq contours in 2002 were around 8,400 and 3,500 respectively. The Stage Three SERAS report gave figures for Gatwick with an additional wide spaced runway. In 2030, the populations in the 54 and 57 dBA contours were projected to be 39,800 and 20,900 respectively. The noise projections assume no changes to ICAO noise standards beyond those recently agreed, but do not rely solely on the minimum standards required by ICAO. They incorporate realistic assumptions about replacement of older, noisier aircraft by more modern and less noisy types.

  Air Travel
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of cars used by air passengers which would travel to Gatwick airport on average each day if a new wide spaced runway were built and used to full capacity, assuming that flights operated for 16 hours each day, the proportion of passengers using public transport was the same as currently and that of the remaining passengers half parked at the airport, and half were delivered and collected. [135188]

  Dr. Howells
  The information is not available in the form requested. The SERAS Stage 3 report included an assessment of the demands for surface access to the airport in 2030 with the addition of a wide-spaced runway in 2024 (i.e. after expiry of the planning agreement between BAA plc and West Sussex county council). Table 2.10 of the report shows that with passenger demand of 76 million passengers per annum in 2030 (and assuming enhanced rail infrastructure and services), the share of air passenger trips by car would be about 51 per cent. (about 30 million road trips per annum).

  M1 (Widening)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work will start on the widening of the M1 motorway; and if he will make a statement. [135334]

  Dr. Howells
  Various Multi-Modal and Road Based Studies have recommended widening the majority of the heavily congested sections of the Ml motorway between M25 (Junction 6A) and M62 (Junction 42).

  Widening of sections of the motorway in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire (Junctions 6A-13), and improvements to the M6/M1 junction, have been accepted into the Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI). The Highways Agency is currently reviewing procurement and programme options for these schemes, but construction work is planned to commence within the timescale of the Ten Year Transport Plan announced in 2000, subject to completion of statutory procedures.

  The Secretary of State has announced previously that he is minded to add further schemes for widening other sections of the Ml motorway between Junction 21 (M69) and Junction 42 (M62) to the TPI. Preparation work continues on these sections of the motorway to identify widening options/costs. The Secretary of State intends to make further announcements in due course.

  Road Widths
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he collates on mean average road widths in cities in England; and what guidance he gives to the relevant authorities on minimum road widths. [134833]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The available information relates to urban major roads, i.e. those that are within urban areas with a population of 10 thousand or more. The latest estimate of mean road width for A roads in urban areas is 11.2 metres.

  Information on minor roads is less comprehensive. In 2001, estimates were made for minor roads with speed limits of 40mph or below. The mean road widths for such B, C and unclassified roads were 7.5 metres, 6.9 metres and 6.2 metres respectively.

  Government guidance on road widths for residential roads is provided in Design Bulletin 32 Residential Roads and Footpaths Layout considerations and its companion guide Places, Streets & Movement.

  Definitive guidance and standards for motorways and other trunk roads is contained within the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. Whilst this manual sets a standard of good practice principally for trunk roads, it may also be applicable in part to other roads with similar characteristics. Where it is used for local roads, it is for the highway authority to decide on the extent to which the documents in the manual are appropriate in any particular situation.

  Transplant Vehicles
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 1 July 2003,Official Report, column 194W, on transplant vehicles, whether he has reached conclusions on whether an amendment to legislation is necessary to allow transplant vehicles to be covered by the speed limit exemption for ambulances. [134267]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The current speed limit exemption legislation grants an exemption for vehicles used for ambulance purposes, but it does not provide a definition of ambulance purposes. It is therefore for the courts to decide whether, in any particular case, a vehicle used for carrying human tissue is being used for an ambulance purpose.

  The Government acknowledge that there may be a requirement to amend speed limit exemption legislation in order to clarify the status of such vehicles. However any exemption to speed limits needs to be considered with the utmost ca re in order to safeguard the interests of all road users. W e are currently considering the wider impacts of such an amendment before reaching a conclusion on whether any amendment would be both necessary and justified.

  Primary legislation would be required in order to effect such a change, should we conclude an amendment is necessary.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Coastal Erosion
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact of offshore dredging on coastal erosion. [134761]

  Keith Hill
  There is no evidence that licensed marine minerals dredging has an impact on the rate of coastal erosion but, as a precaution, each environmental statement that accompanies an application to dredge must include a coastal impact assessment. This is subjected to close scrutiny to ensure that the results are satisfactory before a licence can be given. Most licences are subject to monitoring conditions and no licence has been terminated because of adverse impacts on the coast.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what studies he has commissioned into the impact of offshore dredging on coastal erosion. [134762]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not commissioned studies into the impact of offshore dredging on coastal erosion. Every marine minerals dredging proposal is subjected to environmental impact assessment. Every dredging licence application is therefore accompanied by an environmental statement that includes a specific coastal impact study. This is subject to wide consultation and publicity. It is carefully scrutinised by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences on behalf of Defra to determine whether the proposal is environmentally acceptable. Only if the proposal is acceptable is a licence for dredging issued. The licence is normally subject to conditions requiring environmental monitoring and is time limited so that account could be taken of unforeseen environmental impacts if any were to occur.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the sites of dredging activity offshore; and if he will place a map of sites in the Library. [134763]

  Keith Hill
  Dredging activity offshore is statutorily controlled by a number of bodies including the Crown Estate, coast protection authorities, the Department of Transport, harbour and port authorities, local planning authorities and some private owners of seabed.

  There is no central record of all types of offshore dredging. However, most marine minerals dredging is licensed by the Crown Estate and I have asked it to provide a schedule and maps of all currently licensed dredging areas. I will forward these to the hon. Member as soon as I receive them and will arrange for copies to be available in the Library of the House.

  Information about offshore dredging licences issued by the Crown Estate is also available on the Crown Estate's website: www.crownestate.co.uk which is regularly updated.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many licences have been granted in each of the last five years for dredging off the coast of Norfolk. [134764]

  Keith Hill
  Nearly all marine minerals dredging is licensed by the Crown Estate which informs that no new or extended licences were issued in 1998, 2000, 2001 or 2002 off the coast of Norfolk. In 1999, revised licences 342W
  were issued for Areas 436 and 202 so that the tonnage to be dredged was not increased. In 2003 an existing licence for Area 254 was extended for a further 15 years.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what income has been received by Crown Estates in each of the last five years for dredging licences in respect of sites off the Norfolk coast. [134822]

  Keith Hill
  The Crown Estate inform me that its Royalty Income from off the Norfolk Coast was:

  £million

  1998

  4.44

  1999

  4.77

  2000

  6.16

  2001

  5.36

  2002

  5.29

  Council Housing
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements he has made for the transfer of housing revenue account surpluses and deficits between councils who manage their homes(a) directly and (b) through an arm's length management organisation. [135197]

  Keith Hill
  The arrangements are the same irrespective of whether authorities manage their own homes directly or through an arms length management organisation. Authorities' entitlement to housing revenue account subsidy for 2004–05 will be calculated in accordance with Determinations to be made after consultation. Each local authority will be required subsequently to submit subsidy claims, calculated in accordance with the Determinations and using a new internet-based system currently undergoing trials with a number of authorities. Where the claim shows that the authority is in deficit and an amount is due to it, subsidy will be paid on-account in 10 monthly instalments starting in May 2004. The amount claimed on account will be subject to audit and, if necessary, adjusted after the end of the year. Where the claim shows that an authority is in surplus, it will be required to make payments to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister at the same intervals.

  Disability Discrimination Act
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department is taking to ensure the compliance of local authorities with Part Three of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [135401]

  Phil Hope
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not responsible for ensuring compliance of local authorities with the Disability Discrimination Act; responsibility for ensuring compliance rests with the Disability Rights Commission. However, we recognise we have a part to play in encouraging and sharing good practice—in partnership with the Local Government Association, the Audit Commission and others.

  Best Value guidance to local authorities published in March this year stated that the way in which services impact on all sections of the community must be addressed explicitly in order to secure best value. This

  343W
  message is reinforced by Best Value Performance Indicators covering impact and needs assessments, equality action planning processes and accessibility of local authority public buildings.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also has responsibility for Building Regulations. A revision to Part M of the Building Regulations was issued on 27 October 2002. The new Part M and Approved Document M aim not to make buildings accessible to, and usable by, "disabled people" narrowly defined, but aim to make buildings accessible to, and usable by, everyone—including people with disabilities.

  Planning Inquiries
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many recommendations from planning inquiry inspectors he has(a) accepted and (b) rejected in each year since 1999. [134606]

  Keith Hill
  Detailed in the table is the requested information about the decisions taken by the my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister in relation to called in applications and recovered appeals since 1999. These cases were dealt with through inquiry, hearing and written representations.

  Inspector's recommendation accepted

  Inspector's recommendation rejected

  1999–2000

  171

  13

  2000–01

  167

  22

  2001–02

  167

  13

  2002–03

  221

  34

  2003–041

  149

  21

  1 First six months

  South West Regional Assembly
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many full-time equivalent employees were employed by the South West Regional Assembly(a) when it was first established and (b) on 1 October; [135425]

  (2) how many research projects the South West Regional Assembly (a) planned to commission and (b) commissioned in 2002–03; and what the purpose of each project was; [135426]

  (3) how many publications have been issued by the South West Regional Assembly in each year since its establishment; and what the cost was of (a) preparation and (b) publication in each case. [135427]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The South West Regional Assembly is a voluntary body. The details of its employees, activities and expenditure are a matter for the Assembly.

  SSSIs
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the sites of special scientific interest in the ownership of his Department or its agencies. [129344]
  344W
  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies own no sites of special scientific interest.

  Starter Homes
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on the Starter Home Initiative, broken down by local authority area. [134814]

  Keith Hill
  As at 30 September 2003, £115,079,497 has been spent on the Starter Home Initiative. The breakdown by region is set out as follows. In addition a table with the breakdown of key workers helped by local authority area is available in the Library of the House. A complete breakdown of spend by individual local authority areas is not readily available.

  Region

  Total spend (£)

  London

  66,126,899

  South East

  37,930,397

  South West

  3,725,318

  Eastern

  7,160,383

  West Midlands

  136,500

  Total

  115,079,497

  Thames Gateway Funds
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what restrictions his Department has placed on the use of the Thames Gateway funds for Canvey Island. [135463]

  Keith Hill
  As part of the Thames Gateway and Growth Areas announcement of 30 July 2003, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) was provisionally allocated £6 million to support the regeneration and development of South West Canvey Island.

  The provisional allocation is based upon a project proposal presented to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by The Canvey Is land Steering Group, through the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership. As with all Thames Gateway projects, formal grant approval is wholly contingent upon the preparation of a fully costed and appraised project package, which has clear and sustainable outputs that meet the Strategic Objectives of the Thames Gateway Growth Area.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the UK arms industry complies with Clause II.7 of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. [131153]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I am informed that the UK is complying with the UN Panel of Government Experts.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her Answer of 6 October, Official Report, column 1068W, when the United Kingdom will ratify the UN Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Arms. [135100]
  345W
  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  Following its signature of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts, Components and Ammunition on 6 May 2002, the UK is now considering with the European Commission and Member States possible amendments to the European Weapons Directive. This is a necessary first step to bring the Directive in line with the UN Firearms Protocol before ratification by Member States.

  Broadband (South West)
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many telephone exchanges in the South West are broadband enabled; and what percentage of district council wards are broadband enabled in each county in the South West region. [134552]

  Mr. Timms
  I understand from BT that they have enabled 147 exchanges in the South West region to date and a further 64 exchanges are 'in build' and so should be enabled early in the new year.

  Data at the district council ward level are not available.

  Defence Export Licences
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many defence export licences were revoked in(a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002. [134599]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Details of export licences that have been revoked are published in the Government's annual reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which are available from the Libraries of the House.

  I have asked the Director of the Export Control Organisation to forward these figures to the hon. Member and place them separately in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedures are in place to ensure that where a defence export licence is revoked and a defence export licence subsequently granted to allow the export of the same items to an alternate destination, the items are not re-exported or re-directed to the original destination. [134601]

  Nigel Griffiths
  When a licence is revoked any subsequent application is required to comply with our national arms export licensing criteria and the consolidated EU criteria. The risk of diversion is a valid ground for refusing a licence and steps are taken to assess this risk.

  Departmental Employees (Taunton)
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are employed by her Department in(a) the Taunton constituency and (b) Somerset. [121978]

  Ms Hewitt
  DTI employs staff in more than 60 locations in Britain. The Government Office for the South West, based in Bristol, includes DTI staff and covers Somerset.

  Electricity Supply
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contingency plans are in place to deal with a sudden reduction in electricity supply; and whether priority areas to be supplied have been designated. [134818]

  Mr. Timms
  Sudden reductions in electricity are handled by National Grid and the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) using the procedures set out in Operating Conditions 6 of the Grid Code (www.nationalgrid.com/ukindinfo_code/).

  Generally, demand reductions of up to about 10 per cent. will be handled by voltage reductions. Most consumers would be unaffected—lights may flicker or dim for the period necessary. Some sensitive industrial equipment, such as alarms, may be affected.

  If immediate demand reductions above that figure are needed, it is likely that customers would be cut off. The speed with which action has to be taken, and the loads involved, means that isolations are made in local areas at primary sub-station level. This action reduces the likelihood of incidents such as cascade tripping, which were seen recently in the US and Italy. However, discrimination between customers in those areas cannot he implemented.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to avoid electricity power cuts to(a) domestic and (b) commercial users. [134872]

  Mr. Timms
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 118W.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the benefits of generating electricity closer to the source of demand. [134128]

  Mr. Timms
  Through the New and Renewable Energy Programme, the DTI has funded a number of assessments of the benefits of distributed generation, i.e. smaller generation, which is connected to the distribution networks. Some of the most recent include a study of the impact of distributed generation on network security by UMIST and an investigation of the benefits of "islanded" generation operation by PB Power. Both these studies were undertaken in 2002. Currently, the DTI is funding work through the Distributed Generation Coordinating Group to produce guidance on the potential contribution of distributed generation to the security of the distribution networks, to be used in the design and operation of those networks.

  Many of the projects relating to distributed generation initiated by the New and Renewable Energy Programme can be accessed via the DTI's website and a complete list of completed and on-going projects can be provided on request. Details of projects commissioned through the Distributed Generation Coordinating Group can be viewed on the Group's website at: distributed-generation.gov.uk

  Energy Policy (Research and Development)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public money was spent in each year since 1997 on(a) research into and (b) development of the (i) fuel cell principle and (ii) geothermal principle of producing energy; and if she will make a statement. [134326]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]: Since 1997, the DTI Fuel Cells Programme has spent the following amounts on industrial development and research up to the end of Financial Year 2002–03, rounded to the nearest thousand:

  £

  1997–98

  900,000

  1998–99

  1,197,000

  1999–2000

  1,168,000

  2000–01

  1,410,000

  2001–02

  1,249,000

  2002–03

  1,200,000

  Total

  7,124,000

  Scientific research funding is also given through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

  Fuel cell technologies are multi-disciplinary and receive funding through a number of EPSRC programmes and mechanisms. Much research effort is focused on the material and electrochemical aspects of the systems, but there is also a significant proportion of 'underpinning' research into fuels (including reformation and hydrogen) and integration issues.

  EPSRC funding

  £000

  Fuel cell technologies

  Hydrogen fuels

  Geothermal

  1998–99

  1,016

  136

  0

  1999–2000

  703

  59

  0

  2000–01

  899

  83

  0

  2001–02

  1,145

  319

  7

  2002–03

  1,487

  536

  4

  Notes:

  1. Above figures are expenditure on grants in the financial years shown.

  2. During 2004, EPSRC will be funding a major new consortium of fuel cell research, worth approximately £2 million over four years through the SUPERGEN initiative.

  3. Hydrogen figures do not include SUPERGEN hydrogen consortium grant, worth £3.4 million from Q4 02/03.

  There has been no funding for geo-thermal research and development since the decision in 1993 to cease the HDR programme (Hot Dry Rock). This followed a review in 1990 which concluded that the technical difficulties and economics of exploiting the resource made the prospects for this technology insufficient to continue research. However, through the Clear Skies initiative, the DTI is currently funding Ground Source Heat Pump installations in households and communities, with a total value of £308,462 to date.

  Iraq
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the reconstruction work being carried out in Iraq has been allocated to British businesses. [133407]

  Ms Hewitt
  We have no precise figures for the value of contracts awarded to British companies in Iraq. We are aware of a number of UK companies, which have been successful in winning business, but we have no means of calculating what proportion of the total work this represents.

  Although there is no overall figure available, UK companies have won a number of contacts including:

  De la Rue

  Crown Agents

  Standard Chartered

  Halcrow

  European Land Solutions

  Olive Security

  This list is not definitive, but shows that British firms are active in a variety of sectors in Iraq's reconstruction.

  Motor Transport Fuel
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what system for the measurement of motor transport fuel delivered by oil suppliers to retailers she has approved; and if she will make a statement. [134562]

  Mr. Timms
  The Weights and Measures (Liquid Fuel carried by Road Tanker) Order 1985 regulates the delivery of motor fuel by oil suppliers to retailers. There are no systems specifically prescribed for these measurement purposes in the UK. The suppliers' fuel distribution terminal meters, often known as 'gantry meters', are controlled by HM Customs and Excise. These are not subject to type examination or individual verification. They do however, remain subject to the general provisions of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 which requires under Section 17 all instruments to be fair and just, and so in principle could be subject to inspection and enforcement by local authority trading standards departments.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recommendations of the International Organisation of Legal Metrology since 2001 relating to liquid motor fuels have(a) been and (b) not been implemented. [134564]

  Mr. Timms
  No OIML Recommendations relating to liquid motor fuels have been published since 2001.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how liquefied petroleum gas dispensers are controlled to ensure accurate measuring of the quantity of fuel delivered by suppliers to motor fuel retailers. [134565]

  Mr. Timms
  Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dispensers are not specifically prescribed for trade purposes in the UK. These instruments are therefore not currently subject to type examination or individual verification. They are however, subject to the general provisions of the Weights and Measures Act 1985 which requires under Sect ion 17 all instruments to be fair and
  349W
  just, and as such could be subject to inspection and enforcement by local-authority trading standards departments.

  A review of regulatory provisions covering measuring instruments under the Act takes place on a regular basis, normally every three years, and with the ever increasing commercial use of LPG dispensers these will be an important issue for discussion and debate in the next review.

  The National Weights and Measures Laboratory has the regulatory responsibility on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and operates under a three year work programme. One of the proposed projects in the next programme (2005–08) will be the regulatory review.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies she has carried out since 2001 into the number of retail petrol sites required in the UK to ensure the maintenance of adequate supplies of fuels to(a) urban and (b) rural areas; and if she will make a statement. [134566]

  Mr. Timms
  Since 2001 my Department has not carried out any specific studies of the number of petrol sites required to maintain adequate supplies of transport fuels. However the Downstream Oil Industry Forum (DOIF), which consists of all sectors of the oil industry and relevant Government Department, is currently considering a related issue of the service to motorists in rural areas.

  As part of this work the Countryside Agency is carrying out a mapping exercise of rural petrol sites using different thresholds for volumes of annual fuel throughput. This exercise will help inform the discussions of the Forum.

  The Department also continues to work in close collaboration with the industry and other Government Departments to ensure that robust and effective emergency plans are in place in the event of any possible disruption to supplies of oil.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the national suppliers of motor transport fuels in the UK in(a) 1997 and (b) 2003. [134567]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department does not maintain records of national suppliers of bulk motor transport fuels. However, the Department is aware of the following suppliers both in 1997 and 2003.

  1997

  Refiners:

  BP

  Conoco

  Elf

  Esso

  Fina

  Murco

  Phillips

  Shell

  Texaco

  Total

  350W
  Importers:

  Futura

  Mabanaft

  Greenergy

  2003

  Refiners:

  BP

  Chevron Texaco

  Conoco Phillips

  Esso

  Murco

  Petroplus

  Shell

  Total

  Importers:

  Futura

  Emir8

  Mabanaft

  Greenergy

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what road tanker meter measuring systems are required for the delivery of motor transport fuels to retailers. [134568]

  Mr. Timms
  There is no requirement in place for road tanker meters to measure fuel deliveries to retailers. The measurement takes place during the tanker filling operation. These instruments are not subject to type examination and verification but are under the control of HM Customs and Excise.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been received since June 2002 of oil companies delivering fuel to retailers at high temperatures. [134569]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department has received no complaints since June 2002. However, we are aware of oil industry concerns on the issue, and my officials held a meeting in March with all sectors of the industry to discuss these.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what work has been carried out recently by the National Weights and Measures Laboratory and other government bodies into the delivery by oil supply companies of fuels to retailers at high temperatures. [134571]

  Mr. Timms
  NWML commissioned a report by NEL (National Engineering Laboratory) on 'Temperature Compensation of Liquid Fuels' in 1999. In response to the report NWML included five separate projects in its current work programme (2000–05). These projects comprise an investigation into possible legislative changes based on standard temperature accounting, the inclusion of sight gauges on road tankers, accuracy of service station stock records, sources and quantities of delivery losses including vapour recovery, and accuracy and legal tolerances of the meters in the supply chain.

  Oil and Gas Industry
  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact
  351W
  of the draft EU constitution on her Department's powers to regulate the exploitation of oil and gas reserves from the UK continental shelf. [R] [135323]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the draft Constitution on the Department's powers to regulate recovery of hydrocarbons from the UK continental shelf. This assessment notes that Article III-157 of the draft EU Constitutional Treaty would give the EU competence in energy matters related to the establishment of the internal market, including natural resources, with voting by qualified majority. Also, that Article III-130(2)(c) provides for unanimity on:
  "measures significantly affecting a Member State's choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply".

  Post Office
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her definition is of urban for the purpose of the Post Office's network reinvention scheme. [135406]

  Mr. Timms
  The decision to classify a post office branch as urban or rural is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. The company classifies as rural any post office within a community of less than 10,000 inhabitants. Above that the post office is classified as urban. I understand that the company has a geographical mapping model that enables it to adopt a consistent approach to classification across the country.

  Printer Cartridge Recycling
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sites there are in(a) the UK and (b) Wales where printer cartridges are recycled. [134714]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department does not hold this information, however, the UK Cartridge Remanufacturers Association report that there are over 100 remanufacturers in the UK. The Cartridge World refilling franchise has 174 branches in the UK, four of which are in Wales.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of whether Article 4 of the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment Directive(a) applies to the manufacturing of anti-reuse devices such as printer cartridges with clever chip technology and (b) will encourage manufacturers to design reusable cartridges. [134715]

  Mr. Timms
  The WEEE Directive applies to whole electrical and electronic products, not to individual components, sub-assemblies or consumables. Printer cartridges fall into this latter category.

  The Government are currently planning UK implementation of the WEEE Directive, with the aim of publishing detailed proposals later this autumn for consultation. This will include consideration of reuse issues.

  Redundant Workers (Re-employment)
  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many redundant workers over 41 years 352W
  found employment within (a) one week, (b) one month, (c) three months and (d) six months after being made redundant in each of the last five years. [134934]

  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 Lea Cook to Michael Wills, dated 30 October 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on people aged over 41 years who have been made redundant.
  The attached table gives estimates, from the Labour Force Survey, of the number. of people aged over 41 years who were made redundant in the twelve month period ending August of each year from 1999 to 2003. The LFS does not collect information about the length of time it takes for people to become re-employed after being made redundant. However, the table also shows the proportion of people, made redundant in the three months prior to their LFS interview, who were in employment again at the time of interview.

  People aged over 41 who have been made redundant United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted

  September to August

  People made redundant (thousands)

  Re-employment rate (percentage)1

  1998–99

  321

  38.7

  1999–2000

  287

  36.3

  2000–01

  275

  41.8

  2001–02

  333

  40.6

  2002–03

  286

  40.3

  1 The proportion of people, made redundant in the three months prior to their Labour Force Survey interview, who were in employment again at the time of interview.

  Note:

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

  Source:

  ONS Labour Farce Survey

  Solar Industry
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much income she estimates the delays in introducing new criteria to the clear skies grants has cost the UK solar industry; and if she will make a statement. [134542]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department needed to balance the early availability of grants against the need to adhere to European regulations. We endeavoured to keep stakeholders informed of any delays. It is not possible to put a financial estimate on this delay but preliminary evaluation of the scheme has shown that many people who were considering installation before they were aware of the grant availability still continued with their installation.

  No such estimate has been made. Efforts were made to keep stakeholders informed of delays, which reflected the need to take account of European regulations.

  Sub-post Offices
  Diana Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices closed in England and Wales in(a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001, (e) 2002 and (f) 2003 to date. [134203]
  353W
  Mr. Timms
  I am advised by Post Office Ltd. that details of net post office closures in the United Kingdom broken down by region/country are available only from March 2000 and were as follows:

  Number

  England

  2000–01

  395

  2001–02

  204

  2002–031

  295

  Wales

  2000–01

  68

  2001–02

  26

  2002–032

  18

  1 Including 85 closures under the urban reinvention programme.

  2 Including nine closures under the urban reinvention programme.

  Before March 2000, Post Office Ltd. maintained records of net closures on a nationwide basis only and were as follows:

  Number

  1997–98

  243

  1998–99

  233

  1999–2000

  382

  I understand that Post Office Ltd. produces information on post office closures on a quarterly basis. There were 248 net closures of post offices in England and 26 net closures in Wales to the end of June 2003, the latest quarter for which figures are currently available, of which 206 in England and 15 in Wales were under the urban reinvention programme.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to maintain sub-postmasters' incomes at and above the rate of inflation; and if she will list the average increase in sub-postmasters' incomes in each of the last five years. [134852]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 28 October 2003]: The income of sub-postmasters is derived firstly from payments made to them by Post Office Ltd. for carrying out work on its behalf, and secondly, from the sales made by any private retail business, which they run alongside the post office.

  Payments from Post Office Ltd. are typically split into two parts: a fixed payment irrespective of volumes of work handled, and product payments which are directly driven by volume of work in their branch.

  The income a sub-postmaster receives therefore will be dependent not simply on rate increases, but also on volumes of Post Office Ltd. work handled and by the turnover of any private business.

  The future ability of Post Office Ltd. to improve the payments it makes to sub-postmasters is dependent on the success of its current plan to turnaround the financial fortunes of the company. The steps the Government are taking to support this process include investment of some £480 million in banking technology to expand the capability of Post Office Ltd. and £450 million funding to support the rural network until 2006.
  354W
  I understand from the company that over the last five years, Post Office Ltd. has made awards to increase the rates at which the fixed payments are made as follows:

  Percentage

  1999–2000

  12.1

  2000–01

  2.2

  2001–02

  2.3

  2002–03

  2.3

  2003–04

  3.0

  1 Lump sum payment.

  In addition to this, there have also been a series of increases to individual product payment rates as well as the payment of various unconsolidated lump sums.

HEALTH

  Ambulance Services
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of deaths where the lateness of an ambulance was a factor in each year since 1997. [134665]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]This information requested is not collected centrally.

  The latest information about ambulance performance is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 2002–03".

  Copies of the bulletin have been placed in the Library and are also available at www.doh.gov.uk/public/ sb0313.htm

  Ashford (Middlesex) Hospital
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 212W, on Ashford (Middlesex) Hospital, if he will estimate how many of the 8,555 patients would have been treated over the five year period covered by the contract with Mercury Health Ltd. if the private sector treatment centre did not exist. [134057]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 23 October 2003]The treatment centre at Ashford plans to provide 8,555 procedures over the five years of the contract. Of this, it is estimated that 2,775 procedures are additional and 5,780 procedures will be transferred from the national health service to the new treatment centre. This transfer of patients to the new treatment centre will allow the trust to treat more patients and reduce waiting times in accident and emergency at St. Peter's Hospital (Surrey) by freeing up capacity in the hospital.

  In addition, treatment centres are dedicated surgery units that are able to offer patients scheduled procedures at pre-booked times, protected from the pressures of emergency and seasonal demands.

  Atkins Diet
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he is giving to hospital trusts regarding patients' requests to follow the Atkins diet while in hospital. [133933]
  355W
  Mr. Hutton
  Decisions relating to specific dietary needs for patients are made by hospital dieticians in consultation with the patient and, where appropriate, nursing and medical staff.

  Government advice on nutrition is that people should eat a healthy, balanced diet. They have no plans to issue any guidance relating to the provision of the Atkin's diet in hospitals.

  Clinical Trials Directive
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what items the EU Clinical Trials Directive will require trials to be carried out; and if he will make a statement. [135002]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 28 October 2003]The European Directive on the conduct of clinical trials was adopted in February 2001. The main aim of the Directive is to simplify and harmonise procedures across the Community while ensuring the protection of trial subjects and providing a safe environment for the development of new medicines. Member states are required to implement fully the Directive by 1 May 2004.

  The scope of the Directive is wide and the UK Regulations will apply to all clinical trials on medicinal products for human use conducted in the UK, including academic and healthy volunteer studies, with the exception of non-interventional trials.

  The former Health Minister my noble Friend the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath invited the Medical Research Council (M RC) and the Academy of Medical Sciences to co-ordinate a report on the impact of the Directive on academic studies. The impact assessment, prepared by the MRC with the active support of others including Cancer Research UK, the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment and a number of academic experts formed the basis for a response to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MH RA) consultation on the draft regulations to implement the Directive into UK law earlier this year.

  In responding to concerns, and to provide an environment in which patients are protected but high quality research is not inhibited, the Government have taken steps to attempt to influence the Commission in its consideration of a Commission Directive on Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and also in reviewing guidance that the Commission published earlier this year.

  In another initiative, the Department and the MRC have announced a joint project to work with experts to find practical solutions to the issues identified in the impact assessment. Details of the project can be found on www.ncchta.org/eudirective/index.asp.

  With our careful exploration of the impact on publicly funded research and organisations that support it and delays in the Commission finalising the GCP Directive and other guidance, the United Kingdom's implementing regulations are not expected to be made until early in 2004.
  356W
  Further information on the scope of the Directive and the proposed UK implementing regulations is available on the MHRA's website www.mhra.gov.uk on the Clinical Trials Directive pages.

  Epsom and St Helier Hospitals
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 217W, on Epsom and St. Helier hospitals, which minister has responsibility for the South West London Strategic Health Authority. [135278]

  Mr. Hutton
  I have regional responsibility for London which includes, the South West London Strategic Health Authority.

  Foundation Hospitals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from whom the Government received the original idea of foundation hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [134607]

  Mr. Hutton
  The development of national health service foundation trusts came out of the system of earned autonomy which was developed in conjunction with three-star NHS trusts who were asked to identify the barriers staff and management face and to list the freedoms that would allow staff to deliver improvements to patients more quickly.

  General Practitioners
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent practice-based general practitioners there have been in London in each of the past five years. [133723]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of full-time equivalent practice-based general practitioners in London in the last five years is shown in the table.

  General medical practitioners: in London Strategic Health Authorities; October 1997 to June 2003

  All GPs (excluding GP retainers) 1

  September 1997

  4,225

  September 1998

  4,212

  September 1999

  4,198

  September 2000

  4,217

  September 2001

  4,212

  September 2002

  4,288

  June 2003

  4,399

  1 Practitioners (excluding GP Retainers) include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried
  GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA) and PMS Other.

  Whole-time equivalents are estimated based on results from the 1992–93 GMP Workload Survey

  Full time = wte, Half time = 0.6 wte, Job share = 0.65 wte and three-quarter time = 0.69 wte. 1997 to 1999 data is as at 1 October each year.

  Source:

  Department of Health General & Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered general practitioners will be involved in out-of-hours services in London after the implementation of the GP contract; and how many were involved under the old arrangements. [133735]
  357W
  Mr. Hutton
  Under the current national general medical services (GM S) contract, all general practitioners are responsible for the care of their registered patients for 24 hours each day of the week. Regulations now allow GPs to transfer this responsibility during the out-of-hours period to accredited providers or to delegate it to other GPs. Under the new GMS contract, which is to be introduced from April 2004, GPs will be able to opt out completely from responsibility for care during the out-of-hours period. Primary care trusts are currently working with their local GPs to establish how many intend to exercise this option.

  Integrated Care
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the interoperability standards for the new integrated care record services. [133920]

  Mr. Hutton
  The interoperability standards for the integrated care records service (JCRS) are part of an evolutionary process that began publicly with the output based specification (OBS), available at www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/programme/index. htm.

  The OBS requires conformance to various standards, for example, Health Language 7 (H L7) Version 3 for interoperability and SNOM ED for clinical terminology. In addition, specific interchange standards, for example, those required to enable an out-patient appointment to be booked electronically, are being developed in conjunction with HL7 (www.hl7.org.uk) and the United Kingdom information technology trade representative body, Intellect (www.intellectuk.org).

  JCRS is also taking account of the interoperability standards published in the electronic Government interoperability framework (www.egif.gov.uk) by the Office of the e-Envoy.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the results have been of the Gateway reviews of the NHS Integrated Care System. [134282]

  Mr. Hutton
  New and large-scale procurement projects in central Government are subject to gateway reviews. The process examines a project at critical stages to provide assurance that it can progress successfully to the next stage. The review provides project teams with advice and guidance from fellow practitioners and in order to maintain the integrity of the advice, this is held to be completely confidential by both parties. The gateway review process is not an audit.

  Recommendations are made to the senior responsible officer on good practice in key areas such as programme management, risk management and involving key stakeholders. The national programme is implementing any recommendations which arise from each stage in the gateway review.

  The national information technology programme is fully committed to external reviews being undertaken on a timely basis.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of maintenance of the Integrated Care Records database in(a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05. [134283]
  358W
  Mr. Hutton
  The integrated care records service (ICRS) is one element of the National Programme for Information Technology in the national health service. Central funding for the National Programme for IT in the NHS is to be made available from the Spending Review 2002 as follows £370 million in 2003–04, £730 million in 2004–05 and £1.2 billion in 2005–06.

  The costs for the ICRS are being calculated as part of the on-going procurement and financial management processes within the Spending Review 2002 envelope.

  Maintenance costs are subject to current procurement negotiations.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing the database for Integrated Care Records System; and how long he expects the inputting of the records to take. [134284]

  Mr. Hutton
  The integrated care records service (ICRS) is one element of the national programme for information technology in the national health service. Central funding for the national programme for IT in the NHS is to be made available from the Spending Review 2002 as follows—£370 million in 2003–04, £730 million in 2004–05 and £1.2 billion in 2005–06.

  The costs for the ICRS are being calculated as part of the on-going procurement and financial management processes within the SR 02 envelope.

  Exact costs are subject to current procurement negotiations. Due to commercial confidentiality and sensitivity, it would not be in the public interest to reveal the details of the negotiations and the potential costs.

  The content of the ICRS databases will be generated initially from information already held within NHS systems. This process will be undertaken by local service providers as part of the initial implementation phase during 2004.

  The ICRS is not about entering historical data but about improving the capture, use and quality of current data and future support to patient care.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the definition of the requirements for potential vendors of the NHS Integrated Care System. [134285]

  Mr. Hutton
  The initial output based specification for the integrated care record service was published in May 2003 and a revised and updated version providing refinements to the specification was published in August 2003.

  These had been previously issued to short-listed suppliers to enable them to submit proposals in the national information technology programme procurement process and made available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/programme/index.htm.

  Copies of both documents will be placed in the Library, but it must be noted that this document is a dynamic set of requirements and specifications that is subject to on-going review and updating.
  359W
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether patients will be required to contribute to the cost of creating their electronic patient records on the NHS Integrated Care System. [134286]

  Mr. Hutton
  Patients will not be required to contribute towards the costs of their records on the integrated care records service.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he had with outside bodies(a) in the UK and (b) abroad about the introduction of an integrated care records system. [134357]

  Mr. Hutton
  Discussions have taken place with numerous stakeholders across Government Departments and the national health service through Royal Colleges, the NHS Confederation and other professional and representative bodies.

  The recent meetings of the national clinical advisory board and the patient advisory board are major steps to improving the direct engagement and involvement of key clinical stakeholders and patient and carer representatives.

  The national clinical advisory board is chaired by Professor Peter Hutton, Chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. It consists of representatives from some 30 branches of the health service, including general practices, consultants, nurses, dentists, health visitors, midwives and pharmacists. It will meet every three months but will carry out work in between in sub-committees, providing the national programme with structured input from health care professionals.

  The public advisory board is chaired by Marlene Winfield OBE, Head of Public Engagement for the national programme for information technology. The membership is made up of individuals drawn from groups such as the Patients Association, the Long-term Medical Conditions Alliance, Help the Aged, Mencap, Islington Health and Race Forum, Carers UK, the National Consumer Council and the Consumer's Association. It will initially meet every two months and will help to give detailed and structured input into the national programme.

  Discussions are on-going with the health departments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Finally we have held discussions with other jurisdictions including but not limited to the United States of America and several European countries.

  Medical Staff
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) medical and clinical staff and (b) other types of staff were employed in the NHS in London in the most recently available survey of staffing. [133740]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of medical and clinical and other types of staff employed in the national health service in London at the latest available date is shown in the table.
  360W

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine, Community Health Services (HCHS) and General and Personal Medical Services: Medical and professionally qualified clinical staff and all other types of staff in the London1 area

  England at 30 September 2002

  Number (headcount)

  All London staff 1

  186,755

  All Doctors 2

  19,990

  Other Professionally qualified clinical staff

  82,093

  Other staff

  84,672

  1 Figures for London based on the North West London, North Central London, North East London, South East London, and South West London Strategic Health Authority areas and the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

  2 Excludes medical Hospital Practitioners and medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals.

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  Medicines (Printed Information)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that patients are provided with printed information on medicines dispensed to them. [132492]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There is a legal obligation on dispensing doctors and pharmacists to supply appropriate information to patients when dispensing medicines in the form of patient information leaflets or information included on the packaging itself. Since 1 January 1999, all licensed medicines in the United Kingdom have approved leaflets and labels and there has been a range of developments in recent years which have helped to ensure patients receive appropriate information. These include guidance for hospitals on dispensing medicines in original packs at the outset of a patient's stay that will be sufficient for discharge.

  Also, in August 2002, the Medicines Control Agency, which was the predecessor to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, and the Department issued joint guidance on how compliance with the requirement to include appropriate written information to patients may be achieved.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish an update of the information supplied to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam by the Sheffield University School of Health Related Research concerning the implementation of the risk sharing scheme for MS sufferers. [134065]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]Latest returns show that around 6,300 patients are currently receiving treatment with a disease modifying treatment for their multiple sclerosis. Around 300 patients each month are starting treatment.

  NHS Treatment (Non-UK Nationals)
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of non-UK nationals treated by the NHS in London each year since 1997; [133736]

  (2) what estimates he has made of the cost to the NHS in London of health tourism in 2002–03.
  361W
  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989, as amended, places a duty on national health service trusts to establish whether a patient is eligible for free NHS hospital treatment and if not to levy a charge for any treatment provided. Trusts are not required to submit data on the numbers of overseas visitors treated or the costs of doing so, not least because overseas visitors, as defined by the charging regulations, are not automatically "health tourists".

  Northwick Park Hospital
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the 2003–04 budget is for Northwick Park Hospital, Kenton; what the level of staffing is at the intensive therapy unit at the hospital; how many respiratory consultants there are at the hospital; how many patients have died in the ITU at Northwick Park hospital since 1 January; and what plans there are to move the high dependency unit closer to the ITU at Northwick Park Hospital. [133483]

  Mr. Hutton
  Northwick Park is one of the hospital units that form North West London Hospitals National Health Service Trust. The Trust's baseline budget for 2003–04 is £239 million.

  Information on the level of staffing at the intensive therapy unit at Northwick Park Hospital is not collected centrally. Information from North West London Hospitals NHS Trust is that the intensive treatment unit (ITU) at Northwick park has nine nurses, one outreach nurse, an ITU junior doctor on call at all times (six on full shift rota, comprising four clinical fellows), one anaesthetic senior house officer, one anaesthetic specialist registrar. One additional anaesthetic resident registrar covers obstetrics, theatres and intensive care unit. One anaesthetic consultant is dedicated to intensive care unit cover.

  In addition, physiotherapists are on call at all times. A daily dietetics ward round is carried out and speech and language therapists are available if necessary.

  Information on medical staff within respiratory medicine is collected by NHS trust rather than by individual hospital unit and is shown in the table.

  Hospital medical staff within the respiratory medicine specialty at North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

  Numbers (headcount)

  September 2002

  June 2003

  All staff

  20

  1—

  of which

  Consultant

  6

  7

  1 denotes not applicable. June 2003 data is taken from the mini census which collected consultants only.

  Note:

  Data as at 30 September or 30 June.

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  Information from North West London Hospitals NHS Trust is that there have been 73 deaths in the ITU since January 2003. There are no current plans to move the high dependency unit closer to the ITU at Northwick Park.

  Post-operative Deaths
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out into comparative post-operative death rates between England and other OECD countries. [129651]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 19 September 2003]Although full international comparisons of health status and health outcomes are well developed in many areas, such as cancer and coronary heart disease mortality, there has been almost nothing equivalent on the subject of post-operative mortality. There are occasionally specific studies comparing individual hospitals, but the Department of Health is not aware of any systematic studies comparing post-operative mortality rates between countries.

  Riversdale Hospital
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Commission for Health Improvement will visit Riversdale Hospital in High Wycombe; when the Commission will report on its findings; and if he will make a statement. [135033]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 28 October 2003]Riversdale Hospital is part of Buckinghamshire Mental Health National Health Service Trust. The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) is currently conducting a clinical governance review of the trust.

  CHI is scheduled to publish its report by the end of the year.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Humanities Teaching
  Mr. Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the teaching of humanities in schools. [135247]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  In schools, humanities are normally taught through the separate subjects of geography and history. These are compulsory for all pupils aged 5 to 14. After the age of 14 they are optional but we are introducing a statutory entitlement at KS4 (ages 14 to 16) for all pupils to study a course in the humanities.

  Drugs Education
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent guidance his Department has issued to schools on drugs education. [135248]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  The Department is currently updating its guidance to schools on all matters relating to drugs with a view to issuing new guidance in February 2004. This document will revise and consolidate existing guidance from the Department, specifically "Circular 4/95: Drug Prevention and Schools" and "Protecting Young People: Good practice in drug education in schools and the youth service" which was published in 1998.

  Tuition Fees
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on proposals to introduce top-up fees for university courses. [135249]

  Alan Johnson
  From 2006/07, we are proposing to allow higher education institutions to charge variable fees of between £0 and £3,000 per year per course, subject to their having an Access Agreement approved by the Office for Fair Access. We intend to abolish upfront fees in 2006: instead students can defer paying their fees until after they graduate. Graduates will only start making repayments on their student loan once they are earning over £15,000, and then at a rate linked to their income.

  We will continue to provide a means-tested grant to cover the standard tuition fee (£1,125 in 2003/04), and propose to introduce from 2004 a new additional grant of up to £1.000, as part of a package of measures to ensure that more young people continue to take up higher education opportunities. Access Agreements will focus on what institutions are doing to encourage more people from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply: they will be required to say how they will recycle a proportion of their additional fee income into bursaries and other financial support to students from poorer families.

  Vocational Training
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on vocational training for school children aged between 14 and 16. [135250]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Government are committed to a far-reaching agenda for change in the curriculum for 14 to 16-year-olds.

  We have already introduced new GCSEs in vocational subjects and more are intended to follow. We are using our 14 to 19 Pathfinders to test new ways to

  Company

  Type of GMO

  Site of release

  Ordnance survey grid reference

  Consent reference

  Acambis Research Ltd.

  GM bacterium

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London

  TQ 346 816

  02/R35/1

  Acambis Research Ltd.

  GM bacterium

  Chiltern Clinical Research Unit, Slough, Berkshire

  SU 983 793

  03/R35/2

  Acambis Research Ltd.

  GM bacterium

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London

  TQ 346 816

  03/R35/3

  MicroScience Ltd.

  GM bacterium

  St. George's Hospital Medical School, London

  TQ 269 712

  02/R37/01

  MicroScience Ltd.

  GM bacterium

  BIBRA International Ltd, Carshalton, Surrey

  TQ 275 621

  02/R37/02

  Graduate Employment
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the percentage of graduates who are employed in jobs requiring a graduate qualification three years after graduation. [134340]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Survey evidence suggests that, three years after graduation 65 per cent. of employed graduates are in jobs for which their academic qualifications are a prerequisite. A further 14 per cent. of graduates undertake jobs which do not necessarily
  364W
  deliver progression for pupils post-16. One of the key issues my right hon. Friend has asked Mike Tomlinson's 14 to 19 Working Group to consider is a stronger and more coherent vocational offer across the whole 14 to 19 phase. The group's recommendations are due in summer 2004.

  GCSE (Specialist Schools)
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the performance of specialist schools in achieving 5 A* to C grades at GCSE compared to the national average; and if he will make a statement. [135244]

  Mr. Miliband
  Based on provisional data, in 2003, specialist schools averaged 56.1 per cent. of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C, compared to the national average of 48.7 per cent'. This is one of the reasons why we want every school that is ready to take on the challenge of specialist status.

  1 Specialist schools cover the 979 maintained, mainstream schools which were operational specialists as at September 2002, with 2003 GCSE/GNVQ results.

  Source:

  SFR 29/2003, 8 October 2003: GCSE/GNVQ Examination Results for Young People in England, 2002/2003 (Provisional), Tables 1 and 2. http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/ s000419/index. shtml

  GMOs
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the trial sites where GMOs are being released into the environment, including in each case the six-figure grid reference. [133406]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are currently five active consents allowing companies to undertake clinical trials of GM bacteria for the development of vaccines in England. The sites of each release are set out in the table. There are currently no field trials of genetically modified crops taking place in the UK.

  require a degree but nevertheless make use of their graduate level knowledge or skills. Therefore, around 80 per cent. of employed graduates utilise their undergraduate degrees to a greater or lesser extent three years after graduation1.

  Although around 20 per cent. of graduates are employed in non-graduate jobs at this point, research following earlier cohorts of graduates up to seven years after they have graduated' suggests that the proportion falls to around 10 per cent. for men and 15 per cent. for women, as graduates settle further into the labour market. Furthermore, the rate at which graduates move

  365W
  out of non-graduate occupations in the early years following their graduation was similar for 1995 graduates and for those graduating 15 years earlier (1979/1980).

  1 Elias, P. and Purcell, K. (1999) 'Moving On: Graduate Careers Three Years After Graduation'DfEE research report.
  2 Elias, P. and Purcell, K. (forthcoming) 'Researching Graduate Careers Seven Years On. Research Report No. 1' DfES research report.

  Graduate Employment Premium
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the graduate employment premium for lifetime earnings in comparison with(a) those with two Level 3 qualifications who do not enter university and (b) the overall cohort of school-leavers. [134123]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information is not available in the exact form requested. Previous analyses of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimate that first degree graduates earn on average around 120,000 more—in present value terms—over their working lives than those with two or more A-levels1

  An equivalent estimate comparing the lifetime earnings of graduates with the population as a whole is not available. However, separate analyses of the LFS show that individuals with first or sub degree qualifications earn on average around 50 per cent. more than non-graduates2. The 50 per cent. premium is measured in a different way from the £120,000 lifetime earnings differential. In particular the comparator groups and methodologies used differ. However, both estimates provide evidence that individuals with Higher Education qualifications earn considerably more than those without.

  1DfES analysis of Spring 2002 Labour Force Survey data. The analysis involved constructing a lifetime earnings stream for first degree graduates and comparing it against the lifetime earnings of A-level holders. Both earnings streams were discounted, adjusted for real earnings growth and other factors affecting earnings, other than the qualification itself. The difference between the two earnings streams summed to £120,000.
  2DfES analysis of Summer 2001-Spring 2002 Labour Force Survey data. The analysis involved taking the ratio of average earnings of all first and sub degree holders to the average earnings of all non-graduates, which equalled 50 per cent.

  Grammar Schools
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the future of grammar schools. [134093]

  Mr. Miliband
  Our position on selection by academic ability at 11 is clear—we do not wish to see it extended. Where grammar schools currently exist, we continue to support local decision making.

  This can take place either through the process of a parental petition and ballot, or the publication by the school's governing body of statutory proposals to end selection. We have made clear that local authorities have a responsibility to look at standards in their area, and they may also publish statutory proposals to alter the pattern of school places.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of higher education students are drawn from the lowest third of families measured by household income. [135243]

  Alan Johnson
  The requested data are not available.

  The data we currently collect for student support purposes is not based on household income since current arrangements assess the income of natural parents only. From 2004 we are moving to a new assessment based on household income.

  Physics Teachers
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were in training specialising in physics in each of the last five years for which information is available. [135459]

  Mr. Miliband
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer that I gave on 27 October 2003,Official Report, columns 69-70W.

  Post-compulsory Learning
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on progress on the development of a national credit framework for qualifications in post-compulsory learning. [134984]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Following the commitment given in "21st Century Skills Realising Our Potential" to developing a credit framework for adults, we have written to both the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) on 9 September 2003. The QCA will continue to deliver the reform programme on unitisation of all qualifications within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and then work with awarding bodies to assign credit values to the full range of units in the NQF. The LSC has been asked to review the credit systems currently operating outside the NQF and to identify how the application of credit to this other provision might drive quality and flexibility in further education and how such credit might be developed to provide progression into the NQF and higher education.

  Special Educational Needs Tribunal
  Jonathan Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what reasons were given by the President of the Tribunal for allowing the Special Educational Needs Tribunal hearing to be heard in public on the last six occasions. [135314]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Regulations provide for SENDIST hearings to be in private unless:

  (a) both parties request a public hearing, in which case the tribunal has no discretion;

  (b) the President orders that the hearing should be in public.

  The President of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal has never exercised his discretion to order that a hearing should be in public.

  Teacher Vacancies
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacant head teacher posts existed in(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools, (c) special schools and (d) all schools, expressed as percentage of the total number of head teachers, in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority. [133679]

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

  Work Placement
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many fatalities there have been among trainees on work placement since the learning and skills councils took over responsibilities, broken down by learning and skills council in the North West. [134278]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  There has been one fatality among trainees on work placement in the North West since the Learning and Skills Council took responsibility for work based learning in April 2001. This took place in the area covered by Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council. The Department takes the health and safety of learners very seriously and is working with the Learning and Skills Council to ensure that robust arrangements are in place. Any fatality is a matter of serious concern and we are considering what lessons can be learned to ensure that learners in the learning and skills sector are safe learners.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Afghanistan
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in northern Afghanistan. [133761]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), returned from a visit to Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan where he saw evidence that steady progress is being made towards stabilising the security situation there. In general there have been fewer security problems in the north of Afghanistan than in the south. But there have been long-standing tensions between various factions, most notably between the leaders of the two biggest factions. The Afghan Government moved quickly to defuse the most recent flare-up between them earlier this month, supported by the UN and the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) based in Mazar-e Sharif. The Afghan Interior Minister then brokered a comprehensive peace agreement covering five northern provinces. Implementation of this is being monitored by the UN and the UK PRT. The Afghan Government have now reached agreement with the two commanders on merging their factional forces under neutral and central government command. A number of senior personnel in local civilian and police posts have been replaced by new appointees, which will contribute further to weakening local power bases.
  368W

  Algiers Agreement
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to ensure that(a) Ethiopia and (b) Eritrea comply with their commitments under the Algiers Agreement. [134586]

  Mr. Mullin
  In my meetings with the Ethiopian ambassador on 16 October and the Eritrean ambassador on 1l September, I stressed the need for both parties to comply with their commitments under the Algiers Agreement. I also made clear to both parties that the Boundary Commission decision is legally binding and that they should engage in dialogue to address the issues between them.

  EU Constitution
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms he plans to establish to allow for the UK to withdraw from its obligations under the EU Constitution Treaty. [134009]

  Mr. MacShane
  None. The UK will honour its international treaty obligations until such time as Parliament decides to repeal the Acts that give effect to them.

  Hong Kong
  Diana Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the development of democracy in Hong Kong. [134201]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) contains provisions regarding the methods of selecting the Chief Executive of the SAR and the formation of the Legislative Council. The Basic Law (Annexes I and II) provides for possible changes to these methods from 2007 with the "ultimate aim" being the election of the Chief Executive and all members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage.

  The SAR Government have recently announced that they will start consulting the public about constitutional reform in early 2004. We welcome this. We have made it clear that we hope that the SAR Government will make early progress towards the Basic Law's ultimate aims of universal suffrage, at a pace in line with the wishes of the Hong Kong people.

  Iran
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Syria about the arrest and deportation to Iran of(a) Mr. Ebrahim Khodabandeh and (b) Mr. Jamil Bassam. [134674]

  Mr. MacShane
  Jamil Bassam and Ebrahim Khodabandeh are not British nationals, so the UK has no legal right of consular access. After the two men were detained in Syria, our embassy in Damascus repeatedly asked the Syrian authorities for information, but the Syrian authorities did not respond to any of the embassy's four formal notes.
  369W
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to(a) visit and (b) secure the return to Britain of (i) Mr. Ebrahim Khodabandeh and (ii) Mr. Jamil Bassam, both held in prison in Tehran; and what representations he has made to the Iranian Government about their treatment and rights. [134675]

  Mr. MacShane
  Jamil Bassam and Ebrahim Khodabandeh are not British nationals, so the UK has no legal right of consular access. Our Embassy in Tehran has made it clear to the Iranian Government that we are taking a keen interest in the human rights of these two men. On 5 August Iranian authorities told our Embassy that Mr. Bassam and Mr. Khodabandeh were well, that they continued to be held during investigations and that the Iranian judicial authorities had noted our call for due process. We have urged the Iranian Government on a number of occasions to allow a visit by the International Committee of the Red Cross. We are not aware that one has taken place.

  Iraq
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what forums will be used to prosecute crimes against humanity that occurred in Iraq under Saddam Hussein's regime. [134217]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Governing Council is developing the idea of a Special Iraqi Tribunal to prosecute those suspected of serious human rights abuses under the former regime. No final decision has yet been reached.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on investment in Basra International airport; and who is responsible for its(a) fabric and (b) reconstruction. [134863]

  Mr. MacShane
  UK military forces are currently responsible for operations at Basra airport, including maintenance of essential facilities. The Iraqi Ministry of Transport and the Coalition Provisional Authority are considering reconstruction and investment.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when it was originally intended to open Basra International airport to non-governmental commercial and passenger flights; why it has remained closed to such flights; and when it is now expected to open for them. [134864]

  Mr. MacShane
  It has always been our intention that Basra airport should be opened to commercial aviation as soon as possible, once the relevant security and other requirements have been met.

  Israel
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations he has undertaken to establish whether(a) components manufactured in the UK have and (b) equipment manufactured in the UK has been used by the Israeli authorities in (i) their military strike in Syria, (ii) incursions into refugee camps in Gaza and (iii) other activities in the Palestinian areas since the resignation of Abu Mazen. [134657]
  370W
  Mr. MacShane
  We have not carried out specific investigations following these incidents but we routinely tour the Occupied Territories, often in difficult and dangerous conditions, to assess the situation on the ground and the activities of the Israel Defence Forces, including the equipment they use.

  However, when considering licence applications for the export of controlled goods we make risk assessments at the licensing stage, including assessments about the proposed end-users and potential end-use of the proposed export. We would not issue a licence unless we were fully satisfied that the equipment would not be misused. Many UK exports have been components for pieces of technology embedded in other systems and are therefore not very visible. The UK has not sold main equipment such as tanks, aircraft, warships or artillery to Israel since May 1997.

  Since the outbreak of the violence in the Occupied Territories in September 2000, we have taken account of Israeli military tactics in our licensing decisions. The Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria clearly sets out our commitment to take account of the risk that exports might be used for either internal repression, prolonging an armed conflict or affecting regional stability.

  Malaysia
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Malaysian high commissioner concerning the remarks of the Malaysian Prime Minister on 18 October; and if he will make a statement. [134508]

  Mr. Mullin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) on 28 October 2003,Official Report, columns 186-87W.

  Dr. Mahathir's comments about Jews in his speech to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Summit on 16 October were totally unacceptable. My hon. Friend summoned the Malaysian high commissioner on 17 October, and made our position clear. I said it was particularly regrettable that some welcome messages in Dr. Mahathir's speech—such as negotiation as the right path to peace, and the futility of terrorism—had been overshadowed by these comments.

  Nicaragua
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the closure of the British embassy in Managua. [135017]

  Mr. Rammell
  The British embassy in Managua will close by the end of March 2004. This decision was as a result of budgetary constraints which led us to review how we could maintain our diplomatic presence in Central America in a more cost-effective way. The Government remain committed to maintaining a substantive relationship with Nicaragua. I confirmed this to the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister when he visited London on 23 October. We are seeking agreement for the British ambassador to San Jose as non-resident
  371W
  ambassador to Nicaragua. DFID will retain its presence in Nicaragua and the intention is that their Senior Representative will assume the role of Chargéd'Affaires.

  Somalia
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the progress of the Somali Peace Conference in Kenya; what assistance his Department has(a) offered and (b) given to the conference; and if he will make a statement. [134720]

  Mr. Mullin
  Despite a number of difficulties, there have been some positive outcomes to the Somalia reconciliation talks, including a ceasefire agreement and significant dialogue among the parties. The United Kingdom, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, has provided support to the conference running costs, to the African Union ceasefire monitoring process, to satellite broadcasting of the proceedings, and to other facilitation activities. We expect to give further support to enable Somalis to take forward any satisfactory outcome of the conference.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions(a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the United Kingdom Government have had since August with representatives of the governments participating
  in the Somali Peace Conference; what problems have been highlighted (i) to him and (ii) by him; and if he will make a statement. [134721]

  Mr. Mullin
  I discussed the progress of the reconciliation talks with Foreign Minister Musyoka of Kenya earlier this month. An official from our High Commission in Nairobi contributes by acting as an observer to the conference, undertaking regular discussions with other members of the international community, Somali leaders and representatives of the facilitating "frontline states". The principal recent concern of all international observers has been the need to ensure inclusiveness in the conference. We have been pressing all parties to address this issue.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Djibouti regarding its decision of 19 October to withdraw from the Somali Peace Conference in Kenya; what issues were raised by the Government of Djibouti; and if he will make a statement. [134722]

  Mr. Mullin
  Our First Secretary at the British High Commission in Nairobi responsible for Somali affairs has discussed Djibouti's withdrawal with their envoy to the talks. Their principal concerns about the management of the conference and the lack of inclusiveness of Somali representation there were addressed in Kampala last week during the summit of IGAD, the regional intergovernmental body for the Horn of Africa. I understand that, as a result, Djibouti is reconsidering its position.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of(a) the security situation,
  372W
  (b) the political situation and (c) social stability in (i) Somaliland and (ii) the rest of Somalia since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [134717]

  Mr. Mullin
  Somaliland organised successful local and Presidential elections, in 2002 and 2003 respectively, which have consolidated security and stability in the area. However, in recent weeks there have been three murders of Western expatriates in Somaliland, including most recently on 20 October the murder of two British schoolteachers in the town of Sheikh. We continue to monitor the security situation in Somaliland closely. At present we advise against travel to the Sool and Sanaag regions of Somaliland, and against all travel to other parts of Somalia.

  Elsewhere in Somalia the situation remains unsettled without any form of effective Government or prospect of early elections. The area is principally run by armed factions and there is little stability or security.

  Turkey
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 16 October 2003,Official Report, column 336W, on Turkey, if he will make a statement on Turkey's plans for the reconstruction of Iraq presented to him on 25 September; what plans had been presented earlier; and how the latest plan differed to the earlier ones. [134426]

  Mr. MacShane
  Since 25 September, the Turkish Government have agreed in principle to deploy troops to Iraq for a period of one year as a contribution to stability during reconstruction in that country. No final decision on deployment has been made.

  UN Arms Embargoes
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) pursuant to his answer of 6 October 2003,Official Report, column 1117W, on UN arms embargoes, whether dialogue still continues on the Berlin-Bonn process; [135108]

  (2) on UN arms embargoes, whether the Government have plans to call on Security Council members to restart discussions on the Berlin-Bonn process. [135109]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government are committed to the use of sanctions, when necessary, that are appropriately targeted and effectively implemented and enforced. The UK regularly discusses how to improve sanctions measures with other UN member states. We do not, however, plan to call for the Bonn-Berlin process to be re-started as that initiative has concluded and its findings were published in 2001. This document serves as a valuable point of reference, which the Government use when considering the use of arms embargoes and travel and aviation related sanctions.

  UN Sanctions
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 6 October 2003,Official Report, column 1118W, on UN sanctions, what discussions the UK has had with other Governments about restarting this initiative. [135112]
  373W
  Mr. MacShane
  The UK has had no discussion with other Governments about restarting this initiative.

  West Bank/Gaza Strip
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of(a) the extent of demolition and destruction of infrastructure in (i) the West Bank and (ii) the Gaza Strip in 2003 and (b) the cost of repair to housing and infrastructure due to damage associated with actions by the Israeli Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement. [134429]

  Mr. MacShane
  Various agencies, including the World bank and United Nations, do maintain audits of destruction and damage to Palestinian infrastructure resulting from Israel Defence Forces (IDF) action. The Office of the Special Co-ordinator in the Occupied Territories (UNSCO) estimates that 2,986 Palestinian homes have been destroyed, and 29,197 homes partially destroyed or damaged, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip between October 2000 and August 2003. These figures do not take into account the demolition or destruction of other civil and private Palestinian property, or infrastructure, including water supplies, roads and cultivated land. Reliable figures for this year are not yet available. It is also difficult to give an accurate figure for the total cost of repair to Palestinian infrastructure.

  Reports by these agencies and other NGOs indicate widespread damage and destruction to Palestinian infrastructure throughout the Occupied Territories. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 October 2003, Official Report, column 282W. We have raised our serious concerns with the Government of Israel and will continue to do so.

  £000

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Organic farming

  411

  573

  833

  867

  931

  1,116

  908

  1,481

  2,039

  2,087

  2,127

  1,809

  Conventional agriculture1

  80,368

  86,714

  84,819

  83,963

  84,863

  83,644

  84,641

  86,032

  80,265

  81,004

  82,947

  82,546

  GM risk assessment (ex-DETR)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  316

  263

  296

  427

  1,681

  1,885

  2,578

  GM risk assessment (ex-MAFF)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  }

  1,769

  1,876

  2,718

  439

  471

  525

  625

  GM foods/-non-food products

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2,602

  3,246

  3,223

  2,842

  1 Agriculture figures include R&D expenditure on arable crops, livestock, plant and animal health, horticulture, environmental protection

  Abandoned Vehicles
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles were collected in Leeds in 2002–03; what the average length of time was from notification to collection; and if she will make a statement. [132740]

  Mr. Morley
  1,707 abandoned vehicles were removed and destroyed in Leeds in 2001–02, the most recent year for which data are available from the Municipal Waste Management Survey. Information on the length of time from notification to a local authority of an abandoned vehicle to its collection is not collected as part of the survey.

  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of SI2002/746 on the

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British High Commission in Zimbabwe last visited final recipients of food aid delivered through the UK's bilateral aid programme; and if he will make a statement. [135208]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Department for International Development (DFID) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the food aid which is part of the UK's bilateral aid programme for Zimbabwe. DFID staff are in very close contact with United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and receive regular reports from those who are responsible for delivering food aid. DFID and High Commission staff also make regular field visits as part of this process. A senior London-based DFID official visited a feeding scheme between 20 and 23 October 2003, and High Commission staff and a senior visiting FCO official plan to visit another scheme later this month.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Agriculture Research
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the level of government funding was for research into(a) organic agriculture, (b) conventional agriculture and (c) GM agriculture in each year since 1990. [133851]

  Mr. Morley
  The table shows spending on research by Defra against the categories requested from 200102 and, where data for earlier years are available, from MAFF and DETR.

  London Borough of Havering's ability to deal with abandoned vehicles. [133266]

  Mr. Morley
  Local authorities' performance in dealing with abandoned vehicles is assessed annually through the Municipal Waste Management Survey, which since 2000–01 has recorded the number of abandoned vehicles reported by each local authority.

  The first data covering the period following the introduction of SI2002/746 will be available in summer 2004, when the Municipal Waste Management Survey 2002–03 is published.

  Bathing Water Directive
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of proposals to establish a national water
  375W
  bill collection system to pay to meet the costs of the coastal and bathing water clean-up under the EU Bathing Water Directive. [135143]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government have no plans for national water charges. The costs of water services in each area reflects the regional or local costs of providing those services in a sustainable way. Any national system of bills to pay for some or all of water companies' obligations would involve cross-subsidy of some companies by the customers of others. This would reduce the incentives and responsibility on companies to deliver services efficiently.

  In taking decisions on environmental programmes, we will continue to take into account the individual circumstances and levels of charges in each company area.

  Committee on Radioactive Waste Management
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she will announce the membership of the new Committee on Radioactive Waste Management; [134262]

  (2) when she will announce her decision on the future of the radioactive waste management Committee. [134263]

  Mr. Morley
  An announcement will be made shortly.

  Communal Composting
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has taken to ensure the continuation of communal composting schemes. [132655]

  Mr. Morley
  The UK has made use of its discretion under Article 11(1)(b) of the Waste Framework Directive (75/442/EEC as amended by 91/156/EEC) to provide an exemption from the licensing requirements of Article 10 for composting operations. Licence exemptions are a less onerous form of control than licences and are provided to encourage the recycling of waste.

  The current composting exemption restricts the location of composting operations either to the place where the waste is produced or where the final composted material is to be used. We have recently carried out a consultation exercise on the revision of this exemption. The proposed revision would allow waste to be collected from numerous sources and, after composting, to be distributed. We also propose to widen the current exemption to include screening, chipping, shredding, cutting, pulverising or storage of the waste as part of a composting operation. One of the aims of the review is to encourage the recycling of waste by composting by ensuring that the regulatory controls are applied to communal and other composting operations in a way which is proportionate to the risk to the environment and human health.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her European counterparts on the introduction of licensing requirements for communal composting schemes; and if she will make a statement. [132656]
  376W
  Mr. Morley
  The lists of waste disposal and recovery operations that currently require a licence are set out in Articles 9 and 10 of and Annexes IIA and IIB to the Waste Framework Directive (75/442/EEC as amended by 91/156/EEC). Composting is included in Annex IIB. The European Commission is currently conducting a consultation exercise on a Communication entitled "Towards a thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste". In the light of a study being undertaken on behalf of the Commission, the Communication proposes a review of the Annex IIA and IIB lists. The UK attended a workshop held by the Commission in July 2003 to discuss its study; and UK intends to submit a response to the Commission's Thematic Strategy consultation which ends on 30 November 2003.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of communal composting schemes in the UK; and what estimates she has made of the number of schemes likely to pay for an exemption from licensing. [132657]

  Mr. Morley
  The. Department has recently carried out a consultation exercise in England and Wales on the revision of the current licensing exemption for composting. A regulatory impact assessment (RIA) was published as part of this consultation exercise and is available on the Department's website. The RIA records that the proposed revision will principally affect about 90 sites operated by members of the Community Composting Network (CCN); other establishments or undertakings which are not part of CNN may be affected but it has not been possible to estimate their number; and that 30 of the 90 CNN sites will not pay exemption charges because they compost less than 10 tonnes of waste a year.

  Deposit Schemes
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress she has made in her investigation of deposit schemes operating in other European countries, with particular reference to Denmark. [134503]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]: As a first step, we have commissioned consultants to review existing deposit and return or recycle schemes in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We expect this study to be completed in the new year.

  EU Directives
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what EU directives have an impact on(a) energy efficiency, (b) waste minimisation, (c) marine pollution, (d) air quality, (e) climate change, (f) renewable energy, (g) fly-tipping, (h) packaging, (i) end of life vehicles, (j) the disposal of hazardous waste, (k) incineration, (l) recycling, (m) water quality, (n) coastal erosion, (o) fuel poverty, (p) flood defence, (q) wind power use, (r) domestic waste management, (s) industrial waste management, (t) landfill, (u) greenhouse gas emissions and (v) timber procurement. [133259]
  377W
  Mr. Morley
  A great many EC Directives apply in the field of the environment and will consequently have an impact on the areas(a) to (v) listed. Some of these will be specific to those areas while others will be of horizontal application and will impact on many of those areas, such as the Directives on environmental impact, assessment or conservation of natural habitats. All may be found by running appropriate textual searches on the EC's legislation website (www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/search/ index.html).

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government are negotiating on draft EU directives with regard to(a) energy efficiency, (b) waste minimisation, (c) marine pollution, (d) air quality, (e) climate change, (f) renewable energy, (g) fly-tipping, (h) packaging, (i) end of life vehicles, (j) the disposal of hazardous waste, (k) incineration, (l) recycling, (m) water quality, (n) coastal erosion, (o) fuel poverty, (p) flood defence, (q) wind power use, (r) domestic waste management, (s) industrial waste management, (t) landfill, (u) greenhouse gas emissions and (v) timber procurement. [133260]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government are currently negotiating on the following draft EU Directives and other legislation.

  Marine pollution

  A proposal for a Directive on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of sanctions. including criminal sanctions, for pollution offences;

  Air quality

  A proposal for a Directive relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air;

  Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions

  A proposal for a Decision for a monitoring mechanism of the Community greenhouse gas emissions and the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol;

  A proposal for a Directive amending the Directive establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community, in respect of the Kyoto Protocol's project mechanisms;

  A proposal for a regulation on certain fluorinated gases;

  Packaging

  A proposal for a Directive amending Directive 94/62/ EC on packaging and packaging waste;

  Water quality

  A proposal for a Directive on the quality of bathing water;

  A proposal for a Directive on the protection of groundwater against pollution;

  At this time, there are no current negotiations on the other categories raised in the question.

  European Emissions Trading Scheme
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the implementation of the European Emissions Trading Scheme. [133256]
  378W
  Mr. Morley
  The EU Emissions Trading Scheme is due to start on 1 January 2005 and is one of the policies being introduced across Europe to tackle emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in order to combat the serious threat of climate change.

  The Directive requires members states to implement the Scheme by 31 December 2003. We have consulted publicly on the UK's draft Implementing Regulations and will be continuing work on these in the coming months.

  All member states are also required by the Directive to let the Commission have their National Allocation Plan by 31 March 2004. In order to meet this deadline we are intending to publish the first draft of our plan for consultation in early December 2003. The Plan will set out the overall cap on emissions for installations within the traded sector and the way that we propose to allocate this cap between industry sectors.

  The UK are likely to be among the first to publish a draft National Allocation Plan. Defra are working hard with others and are confident that we will meet the deadlines involved. I believe that this provides a clear signal that the Government are committed to achieving its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2010.

  Fuel Poverty
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fuel poverty households there are in each London authority area; and what her estimate is of the number of children living in fuel poverty households. [135164]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.

  The available information from the English House Condition Survey indicates that in 2001, there were 148,000 fuel poor households in London. This is based on fuel poverty defined as occurring when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income (including housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) on all fuels in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime.

  More detailed breakdowns for the London area are not available as the sample size for the survey is not large enough to enable reliable detailed regional estimates of fuel poverty to be produced.

  In England in 2001 there were 1.7 million households in fuel poverty. Of these, 210,000 contained children.

  These figures are available at: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/ consumers/fuel_poverty/index. shtml

  Gas Boilers
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for implementing the inspection of gas boilers below 100kW to limit their(a) carbon dioxide emissions and (b) energy consumption. [133584]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Article 8 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires:
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  (a) the regular inspection of boilers of an effective rated output of 20 kW to 100 kW. This requirement applies to boilers fired by non-renewable liquid or solid fuels, but leaves it to member states to decide whether to apply the requirement to boilers using other fuels, such as gas. A one-off inspection of heating installations older than 15 years with a rated output of over 20 kW is also required; or

  (b) the provision of advice to users on the replacement of boilers. We are currently considering which of the above options to adopt, and if we choose to proceed with option (a) whether to include boilers fired by the other fuels such as gas in the regular inspection arrangements. We will be seeking views from the heating industry and other interested parties on this.

  GM Crops
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 23 October 2003, if she will list the scientific studies published on(a) horizontal gene transfer, (b) the effect of growth promoters on gene suppression and gene hot spotting and (c) allergenicity; and where these studies have been peer reviewed. [135074]

  Mr. Morley
  The GM Science Review (at http:// www.gmsciencedebate.org.uk/report/default.htm) published in July 2003 reports the current state of knowledge on horizontal gene transfer, allergenicity and the potential for generating recombination hot spots, and lists relevant publications and scientific studies. The Science Review does not cover in depth the effect of growth promoters on gene suppression as this issue is not relevant to the GM crops currently under consideration for approval. We do not maintain a list of such publications.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) time limits there are and (b) timetable is in place for her Department's decision-taking relating to the (i) process of licensing GM crops and (ii) releases of genetically modified seeds into the environment. [135138]

  Mr. Morley
  Case-by-case decisions on applications to release GM crops for commercial cultivation are governed by EC Directive 2001/18. This sets out clear timescales for each stage of the decision-making process. Before a GM crop can be granted consent for commercial importation or cultivation, its release is subjected to an assessment by all EU member states to ensure that it poses no significant risk to human health or the environment. If the UK is the lead competent authority, then it has 90 days to assess the application for compliance with the requirements of the Directive. If the UK is not the lead competent authority, then it has 60 days to forward any comments on applications where another member state has forwarded a favourable opinion to the Commission. As decisions are subject to collective EU agreement, it is not possible to say when a decision on a specific application might be taken, but we do not expect any final decisions before early 2004.

  For releases into the environment (i.e. for purposes other than placing on the market), the Directive requires the relevant competent authority to assess applications and respond to the applicant within 90 days. The 90-day
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  clock, however, is stopped for any periods of time during which the competent authority is awaiting further information. There are currently no field trials of genetically modified crops taking place in the UK nor any application being assessed by the Department.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) discussions she has had with and (b) advice she has received from the insurance industry in respect of liability for GM contamination of non-GM farmland. [135140]

  Mr. Morley
  We have not had any discussions with, or received advice from, the insurance industry on this subject. We will consider it when we have received the report due from the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission on co-existence and liability.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has set a timetable for public consultation on the reports from(a) the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, (b) the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission and (c) other commissioned bodies which have either reported or are yet to report on work intended to inform her Department about the use of GM crops. [135145]

  Mr. Morley
  With regard to(a), ACRE'S advice on the results of the Farm Scale Evaluations will inform our assessment of the relevant crops as each application for consent is considered. To assist its deliberations, ACRE will be holding two open meetings to take evidence from other experts and stakeholders. The first of these will be in London on 25 November 2003 and the second in Edinburgh on 4 December 2003. Details are on the Defra website. There is separate provision in Directive 2001/18/EC for the public to be consulted on applications for the marketing of GM crops.

  With regard to (b), we will consider how to proceed once we have received the AEBC's report on coexistence and liability

  With regard to (c), we do not envisage any further public consultation exercises at this stage to inform our policy on GM crops. We will decide our policy in the light of all the available information, including the report of the GM public debate.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) earliest and (b) latest possible date is for the publication of the Government response to the report on the public consultation on GM science, GM Nation. [135146]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government are committed to responding to the GM public debate. No decision has yet been taken on timing, but we anticipate publishing our response in early 2004.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what decisions relevant to future assessments as to the appropriateness of licensing GM crops she plans to make before her Department has responded to the GM Nation report. [135148]
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  Mr. Morley
  As decisions are subject to collective EU agreement under Directive 2001/18, it is not possible to say when decisions might be taken. There are currently 21 Part C marketing applications being processed across the EU, 12 of which include cultivation. The UK is not the lead member state for any of the applications for cultivation and nor are we presently considering any such applications on which other member states lead. 10 of the 12 applications are still at the initial stage of being assessed by the lead member state. Positive assessments were forwarded on the other two applications earlier this year and the UK submitted reasoned objections. The UK will be required to respond to any favourable assessments provided by other member states as they are received. We do not expect any final EU decisions on any application before early 2004.

  Hunting/Fishing
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for changes to the regulatory framework for(a) fishing and (b) shooting other than those resulting from the Hunting Bill, if enacted. [133516]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  This Government have no plans to change the regulatory framework for fishing or shooting.

  When contemplating changes to other legislation the Government consider carefully how best to achieve their aim while protecting other sports from damage that may result from any legal precedent set. However, there may be relatively minor changes that occur indirectly following amendments to certain related legislation. For example, the Environmental Protection (Restriction on the Use of Lead Shot) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003, introduces minor changes to the list of sites in Schedule 1 to The Environmental Protection (Restriction on the Use of lead Shot)(England) Regulation 1999. Specifically the New Forest, Avon Valley (Hereford) and River Derwent and Tributaries (Cumbria) and Stanford Training Area, are removed from the list of sites as not being important to waterfowl; the Tweed Estuary is reinstated to the list because it has significant importance for these species. These changes come into force on the 31 October 2003. From this date it will be legal to use lead shot in the New Forest providing people are not shooting species listed on Schedule 2 of the 1999 Regulations, such as ducks and geese.

  Persistent Chemicals
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment her Department has made of the need to tighten controls on persistent chemicals. [134190]

  Alun Michael
  The UK Government have been working with the European Commission and stakeholders to develop proposals for a new regulatory regime to tighten controls on substances that are very persistent and very bioaccumulative, as well as those that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. The need for a more precautionary approach to managing the risks from these chemicals is set out in the UK 382W
  Chemicals Strategy, published in 1999. This can be found on Defra's website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/chemicals/ukpolicy.htm

  It will be some time before the new EU regulatory system is up and running. In the meantime, we intend to press ahead with encouraging voluntary action in the UK as envisaged in the UK Chemicals Strategy. The Chemical Stakeholder Forum was set up under the Strategy to advise on action to address people's concerns about chemicals. The Forum's criteria for identifying chemicals of concern includes those that are very persistent and very bioaccumulative, as well as those that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. Details of the Forum's activities can also be found at the above website address.

  Further information about the forthcoming EU regulatory proposals and the Government's position on these can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/ environment/chemicals/eufuture. htm

  Pollution (Landfill)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the number of incidences of pollution from landfill sites in each of the last five years; and how many(a) fines and (b) prosecutions have resulted. [131905]

  Mr. Morley
  Information on the number of incidences of pollution from landfill sites is available only from 2000 onwards.

  The details are as follows:

  In 2000 there were 1,157 incidents;

  In 2001 there were 2,018 incidents;

  In 2002 there were 994 incidents; and

  To date in 2003 there have been 448 incidents recorded.

  Those incidents have resulted in fines totalling £239,500 from 23 successful prosecutions. It should be noted that each prosecution could be for more than one offence.

  Power Stations (Waste)
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the definition of coal fired power station ash as waste. [133254]

  Mr. Morley
  The definition of waste in force in the United Kingdom is the definition in Article 1(a) of the Waste Framework Directive (as amended). It provides that waste means,
  "…any substance or object…which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard."

  Whether or not a substance such as power station ash is discarded as waste is a matter which must be determined on the facts of the case and the interpretation of the law is a matter for the Courts. The European Court of Justice has issued several judgments on the interpretation of the definition of waste and the meaning of "discard".
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  It rests, in the first place, with the producer or holder of a substance to decide whether it is being discarded as waste. The Environment Agency is designated as a "competent authority" for the purposes of the Directive and is responsible for the application of its controls to substances discarded as waste. Power station ash discarded as waste is discussed in the Government's "Waste Strategy 2000" (paragraphs 8.139-8.143) (Cm 4693-2).

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will announce her decision on the Environment Agency's proposal on the future regulation of disposals of radioactive waste from British Nuclear Fuels plc Sellafield. [134264]

  Mr. Morley
  The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Health—the responsible Ministers under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993—are currently considering the Environment Agency's proposed decision following its review of the radioactive discharges from the Sellafield site. They will make an announcement about the decision they reach on the Agency's proposal as soon as possible once the full assessment has been completed.

  Waste Incineration Directive
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on the Waste Incineration Directive 2000/76/EC. [134367]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]The Department has received 45 responses to the consultation on Guidance on Directive 2000/76/EC which requested responses by 16 May 2003. Four Parliamentary Questions and two items of Ministerial Correspondence have been received since that date.

  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation is taking place in relation to the implementation of Waste Incineration Directive 2000/ 76/EC; and when this consultation began. [134368]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]: "Guidance on Directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste" was published for consultation by my Department and the Welsh Assembly Government on 7 February 2003 following the entry into force on 28 December of The Waste Incineration (England and Wales) Regulations 2002. Responses were requested by 16 May and the Department is considering the draft guidance in the light of the 45 responses received.

  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government's policy is on the size of incineration systems affected by Waste Incineration Directive 2000/ 76/EC; and if she will make a statement. [134381]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]: The Waste Incineration Directive applies to incineration plant that fits the description of the terms "technical unit" or "plant" which are used in the Directive. Draft
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  guidance on the meaning of these terms is given in "Guidance on Directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste" which the Department and the Welsh Assembly Government published for consultation on 7 February 2003.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the impact of(a) licensing requirements and (b) notification fees on government targets on waste management. [132658]

  Mr. Morley
  The waste recovery operations that require a licence are set out in Article 10 of and Annex IIB to the Waste Framework Directive (75/442/EEC as amended by 91/156/EEC) and have been in force in the UK since May 1994. Composting is included in Annex IIB to the Directive.

  Member states have discretion under Article 11(1)(b) of the Directive to adopt "general rules" providing exemptions from the licensing requirements of Article 10. The Department has recently carried out a consultation exercise in England and Wales on the revision of the current licensing exemption for composting. A regulatory impact assessment was published as part of this consultation exercise and is available on the Department's website. Licence exemptions are a less onerous form of control than licences and they are provided to encourage the recycling of waste and the attainment of recycling targets.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on(a) the incineration of hazardous waste in cement kilns and (b) the importation of such waste for that purpose. [133106]

  Mr. Morley
  Cement kilns and other co-incineration plants can play a significant role in the treatment of hazardous waste. Evidence given to the House of Commons EFRA Select Committee inquiry on hazardous waste last year suggests that cement kilns have capacity to deal with significantly more hazardous waste than at present. I am keen to ensure that all treatment options for hazardous waste are considered, and that there should be a diversity of management options available. The UK Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste sets out Government policy in relation to the export and import of hazardous waste, including for the incineration of waste in cement kilns. The plan is currently under review in the light of recent European case law, and the on-going review of the Council Regulation (EEC) No. 259/93 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to encourage waste collection authorities to segregate waste paper from organic material in the waste stream. [133116]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government have set challenging targets (Statutory Performance Standards) for recycling and composting for all local authorities in England and Wales. It is up to each authority to decide which
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  materials to collect, and in what manner, in order to meet those targets, based on local conditions. Their decision will be informed by the strength of the market for each material in the local area, and any quality requirements imposed by processors.

  We are committed to reviewing the recycling and composting targets in 2004, in light of the progress made by local authorities in meeting their 2003–04 Statutory Performance Standards.

  Water Efficiency
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage water efficiency in the(a) home and (b) commercial sector. [135470]

  Mr. Morley
  The Water Bill, currently before Parliament, contains a range of measures to advance water conservation. I have also asked Ofwat and the Environment Agency to review jointly the current and potential contribution that water efficiency can make to balancing the supply and demand for water. In addition to this more strategic work, Government are already engaged in a number of activities to encourage water efficiency in different sectors. Envirowise provides advice and guidance to businesses to promote water minimisation, and the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme has recently been extended to include sustainable water use technologies. I am also considering the feasibility of introducing a product labelling scheme to help domestic consumers identify water efficient fittings and appliances. This will complement the existing duty on water undertakers to promote the efficient use of water by their customers.

  Water Sewers
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the causes of misconnections to surface water sewers. [135129]
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  Mr. Morley
  Under section 106 of the Water Industry Act 1991, anyone wishing to make a connection to a public sewer must notify the relevant sewerage undertaker. If a sewerage undertaker is not informed of a proposal to connect, and a connection is subsequently made, the undertaker can, under section 109 of the Water Industry Act 1991, close the communication and recover any reasonable costs incurred.

  Assessments of the causes of unlawful connections to public sewers are a matter for sewerage undertakers, on a case by case basis.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the number of misconnections to surface water sewers and the environmental impact this has had in the last five years. [135130]

  Mr. Morley
  Under section 106 of the Water Industry Act 1991, anyone wishing to make a connection to a public sewer must notify the relevant sewerage undertaker. If a sewerage undertaker is not informed of a proposal to connect, and a connection is subsequently made, the undertaker can, under section 109 of the Water Industry Act 1991, close the connection and recover any reasonable costs incurred.

  Assessments of the numbers of unlawful connections to public sewers are a matter for sewerage undertakers.

  The Environment Agency's role is to grant consents for discharges from sewers and to monitor pollution incidents. Where pollution from sewers is detected, the Agency can take action either against the sewerage undertaker or in co-operation with the undertaker against an illegal discharger to the sewer as appropriate. Normally the Agency would expect the sewerage undertaker to take appropriate enforcement action using its powers under the Water Industry Act 1991. The environmental impacts of unlawful connections to public sewers are a matter for the Agency.

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