Written Answers of 22 April 2004

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  New Opportunities Fund
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the New Opportunities Fund was allocated to Burnley in each year since 1997. [167901]

  Estelle Morris
  The New Opportunities Fund began making grants in 1999. The awards to Burnley are shown in the table.

  Financial year

  £

  1997–98

  —

  1998–99

  —

  1999–2000

  38,000

  2000–01

  286,877

  2001–02

  872,209

  2002–03

  1,466,891

  2004–03

  220,000

  Total

  2,883,977

  The information is derived from the Department's Lottery award database, which uses information provided by the Lottery distributors.

  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the New Opportunities Fund was allocated to Preston in each year since 1997. [168142]

  Estelle Morris
  The New Opportunities Fund began making grants in 1999. The awards to Preston are shown in the table.

  Financial year

  £

  1998–99

  —

  1999–2000

  4,378,682

  2000–01

  558,009

  2001–02

  3,068,323

  2002–03

  2,500,450

  2004–03

  1,730,044

  Total

  12,235,508

  The information is derived from the Department's Lottery award database, which uses information provided by the Lottery distributors.

  Smithfield General Market
  Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will spotlist the Smithfield General Market, the adjacent fish market and Red House. [165520]

  Mr. Caborn
  These buildings hive previously been turned down for listing in 1990, 1999 and 2003. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State 582W
  has asked English Heritage for further advice. She will take a decision on whether to list these buildings once this advice has been received.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Biofuels
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from farming groups regarding biofuels. [167024]

  Mr. Morley
  Representations have been received, both at meetings and in correspondence, from the National Farmers Union, the Country Land and Business Association, the British Association for Biofuels and Oils, British BioGen, plant breeders, agricultural suppliers, farming consultants and other agricultural businesses.

  Farm Subsidies
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessments her Department has made of the effects of her proposals for single farm payments with respect to(a) tenant farmers, (b) new entrants and (c) farmers in severely disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement. [167026]

  Alun Michael
  Defra will publish shortly an analysis of the economic impact on the English farming industry of the decoupling of CAP direct payment and the decision to allocate entitlement on the basis set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's Statements to the House on 12 February and earlier today.

  Aggregates Tax
  Mr. Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the environmental effects of the aggregates tax on Somerset. [167025]

  Mr. Morley
  The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund was set up using revenue from the aggregates levy to address the impacts associated with aggregates extraction. Somerset is one of the three counties which receive funding direct from Defra to support projects to reduce local impacts.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she plans to take to deal with the threat of bovine tuberculosis to cattle. [167018]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are currently consulting on a long-term strategy for dealing with bovine TB in Great Britain. In the short term our priority must be to prevent further spread of the disease and our consultation seeks views on various cattle-based measures designed to help us achieve this.

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her ministerial colleagues in the Netherlands on similarities between the approaches taken in the UK and in the Netherlands to(a) the protection of the coastline, (b) the use of soft defences in coastal protection, (c) managed retreat and (d) managed realignment; and if she will make a statement. [164249]

  Mr. Morley
  I have had informal discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Netherlands on matters relating to coastal defences. However, officials from the two countries meet on a regular basis. Recognising the benefits to be gained by shared experiences both in respect of policy and engineering solutions, officials from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and England agreed to meet on an annual basis more than five years ago and so formed the North Sea Coastal Managers Group. The English delegation is led by my Chief Engineer.

  Meetings of the group have proved an invaluable forum for the exchange of information on the subjects raised by the right hon. Member. However it is important to recognise that there are differences between the Netherlands and England both in terms of the geography of the coastline and the proportion of the economic wealth at risk of flooding.

  Employment Agencies
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the employment agencies which her Department and its predecessors have used to supply temporary staff in each financial year since 1996–97 to the most recent date for which figures are available. [163821]

  Alun Michael
  Defra was formed in June 2001. The information prior to this date cannot be provided, as it is not held centrally. For the financial years for which information is available centrally the main employment agencies which the core Department has used to supply temporary staff are as follows:

  2001–2002:

  Adecco UK Ltd.

  Kelly Services UK Ltd.

  Badenoch & Clark

  FSS International Ltd.

  Spherion UK Plc

  Stopgap Ltd.

  Brook Street (UK) Ltd.

  Indigo Selection

  Hays Accountancy Personnel

  Accountancy Additions Ltd.

  Michael Page International

  Chain Solutions Ltd.

  Riverside Recruitment

  Barclay Simpson

  Adept Recruitment

  Manpower plc

  Josephine Sammons Ltd.

  584W

  Recruit Media

  Griffiths Davies Recruitment

  Lawson Bishop

  2002–2003:

  Adecco UK Ltd.

  Kelly Services UK Ltd.

  Badenoch & Clark

  FSS International Ltd.

  Stopgap Ltd.

  Brook Street (UK) Ltd.

  Indigo Selection

  Hays Accountancy Personnel

  Accountancy Additions Ltd.

  Michael Page International

  Chain Solutions Ltd.

  Riverside Recruitment

  Barclay Simpson

  Adept Recruitment

  Manpower plc

  Josephine Sammons Ltd.

  Recruit Media

  Griffiths Davies Recruitment

  Lawson Bishop

  Swantame Ltd.

  Hays Montrose

  Parker Bridge

  Ivor Morrish Associates

  Russell Thomas Associates

  FSS Financial

  Atebion Recruitment Ltd.

  Martin Ward Anderson

  Drax Interim Executive

  Cameron Kennedy

  Marks Sattin

  Manpower UK Ltd.

  IMS Ltd.

  D G Farran Consultants Ltd.

  Contact Technical Services

  Staffline

  MSB International

  Reed Staffing Services

  TMP Worldwide ER

  Blue Arrow Personnel Services Ltd.

  Big Fish Little Fish

  Reed Personnel Services plc

  First Personnel Group plc

  Office Angels

  Cathedral Secretarial Agency

  Recruitment South West Ltd.

  Premiere Labourforce Ltd.

  Execulets

  Parker IT

  Randstad Employment Bureau Ltd.

  Kellys International Ltd.

  Michael Page Ltd.

  585W

  2003–2004 (April to December):

  Adecco UK Ltd.

  Kelly Services UK Ltd.

  Badenoch & Clark

  FSS International Ltd.

  Stopgap Ltd.

  Brook Street (UK) Ltd.

  Indigo Selection

  Hays Accountancy Personnel

  Accountancy Additions Ltd.

  Michael Page International

  Chain Solutions Ltd.

  Riverside Recruitment

  Barclay Simpson

  Adept Recruitment

  Manpower plc

  Josephine Sammons Ltd.

  Recruit Media

  Griffiths Davies Recruitment

  Lawson Bishop

  Swantame Ltd.

  Hays Montrose

  Parker Bridge

  Ivor Morrish Associates

  Russell Thomas Associates

  FSS Financial

  Atebion Recruitment Ltd.

  Martin Ward Anderson

  Drax Interim Executive

  Cameron Kennedy

  Marks Sattin

  Manpower UK Ltd.

  IMS Ltd.

  Hudson Global Resources Ltd.

  Crone Corkill

  Staffline

  Big Fish Little Fish

  Blue Arrow Personnel Services Ltd.

  Cathedral Secretarial Agency

  Recruitment South West Ltd.

  Aptus Personnel Ltd.

  FSS Financial

  Excel Recruitment Ltd.

  Travail Employment Group

  Stop Gap

  Office Angels

  Spherion UK Plc

  Other agencies may have been used by local managers when business needs have required resources which could not be provided from within the Department or a quick response. Data on these agencies is not held centrally.

  GM Crops
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make 586W
  a statement on the (a) sampling procedures used in the Chardon LL VCU trials and (b) statistical validity of the results obtained. [166345]

  Mr. Morley
  The sampling procedures used in the Chardon LL Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) trials were those specified in the trials protocol and used for all maize variety VCU trials. The procedures are designed to ensure that samples used in trials are as representative as possible of the variety in general. The results of the trials for Chardon LL were reviewed by maize trials experts on the Herbage VCU Group and members of the Interdepartmental Statisticians Group, who confirmed their statistical validity.

  Local Food Production
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's support for local food production. [167013]

  Alun Michael
  The Government recognise the benefits of local food and is keen to encourage a flourishing local food sector. In recognition of this, provision is available under the England rural development programme for supporting activities such as the establishment of farmers' markets, the development of regional and local branding of foodstuffs and the formation of collaborative groups to market quality products. For example, within the last year we awarded £100,256 to the National Association of Farmers' Markets to raise the profile of farmers' markets across England and to increase public awareness of them.

  Defra has also helped finance a number of local sourcing workshops organised by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) designed to bring together supermarkets and small local producers to explore how barriers to local sourcing can be overcome. Following on from this, we helped fund the Business in The Community (BiTC) and IGD guide for small businesses looking to work with large food retailers and food service companies—"Local Sourcing—Opening the Door for Small Business". In addition to this, our Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative is designed to encourage public sector bodies to procure their food in a manner that promotes sustainable development and to encourage more small and local businesses to compete to supply them with food.

  This work will be complemented at a regional level through the regional plans that each regional development agency (RDA) is drawing up to help deliver the Government Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food. Although the nature of this support will be determined according to regional priorities, issues to be addressed will include the production and supply of locally sourced food by encouraging food hubs and shared facilities and the linking of local producers with local retailers and tourist businesses.

  Methyl Bromide
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what position Her Majesty's Government is taking over current applications to the United Nations for exemptions from the international ban on methyl bromide. [166573]
  587W
  Mr. Morley
  Methyl bromide is an ozone depleting substance and its production and supply are controlled under the Montreal Protocol. Its production is due to be phased out in developed countries after 31 December 2004.

  However, in recognition that alternatives for all existing methyl bromide uses may not be a available by 2005 a provision was made under Decision IX/6 of the Montreal Protocol, where critical use exemptions can be requested when there are no technically and economically feasible alternatives. The UK's view is that methyl bromide is being phased out by the Protocol and should not be phased back in by excessive critical uses.

  Several Parties to the Protocol, including the UK, submitted applications for critical use exemptions and a package of exemptions was agreed at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol in Montreal (24–26 March 2004) Some further applications, including from the UK, will be due for decision by the Parties at a meeting of the Parties in November.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her best available estimate is of the cost of answering the questions on badgers and bovine TB asked by the hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr. Paterson) in session 2003–04. [157135]

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost has been of providing answers to parliamentary questions asked by the hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr. Paterson) on the subject of bovine TB and related matters since 2003. [164210]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The last estimate made of the average cost of answering a parliamentary question (April 2002) was £135.

  The hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr. Paterson) has tabled 450 questions on badgers and bovine tuberculosis during this parliamentary session. Thus the estimated total cost involved in answering these questions is £60,750.

  This cost has been met by the diversion of resources from the development of policy and from scientific research in relation to both wildlife and to bovine TB. It has resulted in delays in responding to public correspondence and has held up work on areas such as the review of badger licensing, consultation on deer management, the review of the TB website and updating the advice to farmers in the booklet "Dealing with TB in Your Herd".

  Temporary Staff/Consultants
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 March,Official Report, column 1391, on temporary staff, if she will list the amounts spent by her Department on (a) temporary staff and (b) consultants for each year; if she will publish the job descriptions of
  588W
  the consultants hired by her Department in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04; and if she will make a statement. [164714]

  Alun Michael
  I am sorry the answer I gave the hon. Member on 9 March,Official Report, column 1391W, incorrectly included reference to consultants and did not accurately record the expenditure on temporary staff.

  The correct figures from the Departmental accounts show payments to employment agencies for the supply of temporary staff for the three financial years as:

  2001–02: £18.01 million

  2002–03: £13.11 million, and

  2003–04: £9.62 million respectively.

  The figure for 2003–04 covers the period April to December 2004 only. Once financial year end reconciliations are complete, I can write to the hon. Member with the expenditure for the last three months of the financial year

  The job descriptions of the consultants hired by the Department in 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 are not held centrally and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  UK National Seed List
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her responsibilities relating to the inclusion of GM crops on the UK National Seed List as it applies in(a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland. [166523]

  Mr. Morley
  The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3510) deal with the acceptance of agricultural plant varieties onto the National Lists of varieties. These Regulations apply to both conventional and GM varieties. The National Lists are United Kingdom lists.

  The National Authorities have the joint responsibility to decide whether a plant variety has met the criteria in the Regulations in order that it can be added to the relevant National List. The 'National Authorities' are defined for the purpose of the Regulations as:

  in respect of England. the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;

  in respect of Scotland, the Scottish Ministers;

  in respect of Wales, the National Assembly for Wales; and

  in respect of Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

  Water Supply (Nitrate Pollution)
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the reasons for changes in the level of nitrate pollution in public water supplies; and what steps are being taken to reduce levels. [167020]

  Mr. Morley
  Unusual meteorological conditions caused an increase in nitrate levels in 2001. Results for 2002 show a significant improvement. We are supporting water company schemes for nitrate removal in the current periodic review of water price limits, provided there is sound evidence of the likelihood of future failures.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Al Tawhid
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the activities of Al Tawhid in the United Kingdom. [165904]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 19 April 2004]: Al Tawhid is a Sunni Palestinian organisation which appears to have close associations with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and al-Qaeda. Its stated aim is to overthrow the Jordanian monarchy and replace it with a fundamentalist Islamic regime. However, though it has some support here, it does not appear to be formally active in the UK.

  Al-Muhajiroun
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will proscribe al-Muhajiroun under the anti-terrorism legislation; [165905]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the activities of al-Muhajiroun. [165906]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 19 April 2004]: Al-Muhajiroun was established in 1996 and has members throughout Britain. It originated in Pakistan and has groups in a number of countries including the US. Its stated aim is the establishment of a worldwide Islamic way of life by openly attracting popular support amongst Islamic communities.

  The list of proscribed organisations is kept under constant and active review. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on whether a particular organisation is being considered for proscription or de-proscription. Such decisions are and will continue to be taken only after the most careful consideration and on the basis of the best possible security advice. That will remain the basis for all decisions in the future.

  Antisocial Behaviour
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to ensure courts give particular consideration to the impact of antisocial behaviour on victims, witnesses and the wider community. [165917]

  Ms Blears
  Section 16 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 requires courts to give particular consideration to the impact of antisocial behaviour on victims, witnesses and the wider community in all nuisance-related housing possession cases.

  The Magistrates' Association implemented new sentencing guidelines on 1 January 2004, including for the first time guidelines for the offence of breach of an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO). The guidelines reflect the seriousness of the offence and direct the magistrate to consider the impact on the victim.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many areas have been designated as an area of persistent antisocial behaviour by a senior Merseyside police officer since the inception of this power. [165919]
  590W
  Ms Blears
  Merseyside police tell me that three areas have been designated as areas where antisocial behaviour is a significant and persistent problem since these powers came into force.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the new antisocial behaviour prosecutor teams in the Crown Prosecution Service. [166682]

  The Solicitor-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Attorney General, together with the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Director of Public Prosecutions, will be announcing today that 12 specialist Anti-Social Behaviour Expert Prosecutors have now taken up their post in hot spot areas around the country.

  They will be dedicated to working closely with their local communities and colleagues in the Criminal Justice System, to combat antisocial behaviour, which, although at the lower end of the criminal scale of offences, are the cases which most affect law-abiding people, who remain trapped in their homes through fear of crime.

  The Home Office, Crown Prosecution Service and Department of Constitutional Affairs will be working closely together to ensure that the Anti-Social Behaviour Expert Prosecutors will achieve their objective of ensuring that the maximum benefit is derived from the new powers given to them by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 as well as spreading best practice and providing expert advice.

  Background Checks (EU)
  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts regarding requirements for checks on people coming to the UK from other EU countries before they can take up positions working with children or vulnerable people. [165832]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 19 April 2004]: On 18 March 2004 the Home Office held a seminar on collecting and sharing of information on child sex offenders across Europe. The seminar provided an opportunity for policy officials from across Europe to discuss how we can improve the collection and sharing of information on those who pose a risk of sexual harm. In particular the seminar examined how member states can ensure that people who pose a risk to children do not evade any requirements or disqualifications put on them in one country by moving to another.

  We are now considering the options that arose from discussions at the seminar on how we can take this area of child protection forward.

  Car Crime
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many car crimes there have been in each year since 1997; and how many resulted from the theft of car keys. [166836]
  591W
  Ms Blears
  The number of thefts of and thefts from vehicles (including cars, light vans, motorbikes and mopeds) since 1997 as measured by the British Crime Survey (BCS) are provided in the table.

  Numbers of thefts of and thefts from vehicles 1997 to 2002–03 BCS interviews

  Period

  Thefts of vehicles

  Thefts from vehicles

  1997

  370,000

  2,157,000

  1999

  328,000

  1,807,000

  2001–02 interviews

  315,000

  1,491,000

  2002–03 interviews

  278,000

  1,425,000

  The BCS also provides the proportion of thefts of or from cars or light vans where entry into the vehicle involved the use of car keys (unlike for the numbers of offences above, these proportions do not include motorbikes or mopeds). The percentages from 1997 to 2001–02 are provided in the table.

  Proportion of thefts of and thefts from cars/vans where the method of entry was with a key

  Percentage

  Period

  Thefts of vehicles

  Thefts from vehicles

  1997

  7

  4

  1999

  8

  1

  2001–02 interviews

  12

  2

  Chromatography Tests
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has evaluated on chromatography tests for traces of explosives in human hair. [166844]

  Mr. Blunkett
  A preliminary study into the recovery of explosive traces from the surface of human hair was carried out by the Forensic Explosives Laboratory, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory on behalf of the Home Office.

  Subsequent research into the analysis of explosive traces extracted from human hair was carried out and included evaluation by gas chromatographic techniques. This work was published by Sanders et al in Science and Justice vol. 42, No. 3 (2002) pp137–142. I will send a copy to my hon. Friend.

  Correctional Policy HQ Command
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the intended size of the Correctional Policy Headquarters Command is. [165881]

  Paul Goggins
  The size of the Home Office Correctional Policy, Prison Service and Probation Service Headquarters is being considered as part of the ongoing departmental reform exercise.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the Correctional Policy Headquarters' administrative requirements; and what estimate has been made of the costs. [165882]
  592W
  Paul Goggins
  The Home Office Correctional Policy, Prison Service and Probation Service Headquarters administration requirements are being considered as part of the ongoing departmental reform exercise. Headquarters costs in 2004-05 will be met from within existing provision. Funding for 2005–06 onwards will be agreed as part of the current spending review.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional powers the Criminal Records Bureau would require to carry out checks on all people coming from abroad before they were able to take of positions working with children or vulnerable people. [165831]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 19 April 2004]: Part 5 of the Police Act 1997, under which the Criminal Records Bureau operates, does not empower the Bureau to search databases outside the United Kingdom for conviction and other information shown on its Disclosures. Inquiries made about arrangements in force in other countries have shown both how varied they are and how complex it would be to introduce widespread arrange vents to link up with records in a range of other countries. The Bureau has taken the initiative by establishing its overseas information service for the benefit of employers who are considering recruiting staff from outside the UK. The service provides detailed information about the arrangements for checks in other countries, including where such information can be obtained, how to go about obtaining a check, the cost and the time taken. At present. this arrangement covers 16 countries, including nine in Europe, and work is in hand to extend the service to a further 15 countries, including 14 in Europe.

  Cuantanamo Bay
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he made of the consistency with international law of the interrogation methods deployed by the US at Guantanamo Bay before sanctioning the involvement of MI5 in that process. [162883]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 22 March 2004]: The Government have a duty to protect national security. This is the context it which Security Service conducted interviews at Guantanamo Bay. All Security Service interviews were carried out in accordance with United Kingdom law.

  Merseyside Police
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions a Merseyside police officer has taken a child home after 9 pm from a designated area since the inception of this power. [165921]

  Ms Blears
  Merseyside police tell me that they have taken home eight unsupervised children in three specific areas since these powers came into force.

  National Offender Management Service
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which not-for-profit organisations have been invited to comment on the proposed National Offender Management Service. [165186]

  Paul Goggins
  Reducing Crime—Changing Lives, which invites comments on the proposed National Offender Management Service, was sent to an extensive list of stakeholders and is available on the Home Office website. The National Offender Management Service Implementation Team is also engaged in an ongoing consultation with key stakeholders.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish legislation to introduce a National Offender Management Service; and whether he plans for it to be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. [163105]

  Paul Goggins
  The National Offender Management Service will be introduced from 1 June 2004. Many of the changes needed to establish the service will not require legislation but where legislation is required this will be introduced as the legislative timetable allows.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which bodies his Department has consulted on the proposals for a National Offenders Management Service. [163107]

  Paul Goggins
  Copies of "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives", the Government's proposals for reform of the correctional services, were distributed to an extensive list of organisations, individuals and stakeholders and made available m the Home Office website. The National Offender Management Service implementation team is involved in ongoing consultation with key stakeholders.

  Police
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary measures have been taken against police officer; as a result of the breach of security on the parliamentary estate on 20 March. [165872]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 19 April 2004]: In the immediate aftermath of the incident on 20 March, the Metropolitan Police Service instigated an investigation into the incident, to ensure that they had delivered the appropriate and professional response. That investigation continues, and I would not want to prejudge the outcome of that investigation.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons were for the decision not to charge the officers who made racist comments while filmed by an undercover journalist for the BBC documentary "The Secret Policeman". [166072]

  Ms Blears
  The Crown Prosecution Service makes the determination in all cases where criminal charges are being considered. The Crown Prosecution Service informs us that matters in respect of two of the 10 officers are the subject of further investigation. Once this investigation has been completed a file will be slit mined for the Crown Prosecution Service's further consideration.
  594W
  The remaining eight officers were not prosecuted because the Crown Prosecution Service considered there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

  All 10 officers concerned were allowed to resign. Their police forces considered it in the public interest to end their relationship with the police service as quickly as possible rather than force them to remain to face police misconduct proceedings.

  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in police numbers in(a) the Avon and Somerset police authority and (b) Weston-super-Mare in each year since 1997. [167504]

  Ms Blears
  The increase in police numbers for the Avon and Somerset constabulary for each year since 1997 is set out in the table.

  Police officer strength

  Increase decrease

  Percentage change

  31 March 1997

  2,989

  —

  —

  31 March 1998

  2,976

  -13

  -0.43

  31 March 1999

  2,999

  +23

  +0.77

  31 March 2000

  2,934

  -65

  -2.17

  31 March 2001

  2,960

  + 26

  + 0.89

  31 March 2002

  3,096

  + 136

  +4.59

  31 March 2003

  3,149

  + 53

  +1.71

  31 December 2003

  3,371

  + 222

  + 7.05

  Overall increase

  —

  382

  +12.78

  Weston-super-Mare is part of the North Somerset Basic Command Unit (BCU). Information on strength at BCU level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002.

  Between March 2002 and March 2003 police strength for the North Somerset BCU increased by 4.9 per cent. (from 203 to 213). The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable (Stephen Pilkington QPM) and within the North Somerset BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in full-time police officers in Manchester Gorton has been since 1997. [167466]

  Ms Blears
  Manchester Gorton is part of the South Manchester Basic Command Unit (BCU). Information on strength at BCU level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002.

  Between March 2002 and March 2003 police strength for the South Manchester BCU increased by 0.8 per cent. (from 954 to 962). The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable (Michael Todd QPM) and within the South Manchester BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.

  The number of police officers in Greater Manchester Police has increased by 848 since March 1997 to 7,770 in December 2003.

  Probation
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the effect has been on probation areas in England and Wales of the 2 per cent. underspend imposed in December 2003; and how many areas have appealed against the decision. [160807]

  Paul Goggins
  The 2 per cent. underspend and compulsory carry forward requirement was introduced for the following reasons:The Probation Service was heading for a forecast overspend in 2003-04 and it was necessary to reduce spending to bring expenditure back into line with budget.
  The probation areas had an average 11 per cent. increase in resources for 2003–04 and the increase for 2004–05 is much lower at 3.5 per cent. It was therefore considered desirable to smooth the annual settlements by moving 2 per cent. from 2003–04 to 2004–05, therefore making the relative financial settlements 9 per cent. and 5.5 per cent.

  28 areas have managed to carry forward the full 2 per cent. or more into their budget for 2004–05. A further eight areas have managed partial carry forwards.

  The remaining six areas have appealed against the decision to have their budgets reduced by 2 per cent.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons were for the increase of £47.2 million for Probation Headquarters in the Spring Supplementary Estimates; and how this money will be spent. [165876]

  Paul Goggins
  A transfer of £30.5 million was made from the Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service to the National Probation Directorate primarily to fund Electronic Monitoring, the Standard Technical Environment for the Probation Service (STEPS) Information Technology roll-out and Probation Loan Charges.

  A further transfer of 16.7 million was made from the Criminal Justice Information Technology Group to fund the STEPS Information Technology rollout.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Afghanistan
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what new money he pledged to Afghanistan at the recent Donor Conference in Berlin. [166724]

  Hilary Benn
  At the Afghanistan donor conference in Berlin I announced an increase of the UK pledge to Afghanistan from £200 million over 5 years, to £500 million over the same period.

  When DFID made the pledge of £200 million over five years in Tokyo in January 2002, this only related to DFID funds for humanitarian and reconstruction work. Since then funding for Afghanistan has become available from other parts of Whitehall, with the Global Conflict Prevention Pool establishing a programme for Afghanistan (£55 million over three years), and the formulation of a counter narcotics strategy with specific
  596W
  funding (£70 million over three years). Inclusion of these figures in the pledge announced allows them to now be properly recognised by the Afghan Government.

  Since the pledge look effect in March of 2002, DFID has disbursed over £150 million. The new pledge takes our reconstruction funding for Afghanistan to £375 million, this represents £175 million in new money.

  EU Development Assistance
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to promote the human rights of the indigenous people of Chaco in Bolivia; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167079]

  (2) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to defend human rights in Colombia; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167080]

  (3) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to strengthen institutional support for human rights in Mexico; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167081]

  (4) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to provide a landmine expert to Sudan; and what assessment he has Trade of the project; [167082]

  (5) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled Participation Management of National Resources in Berau in Indonesia; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167083]

  (6) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, on rehabilitation and reconstruction in Afghanistan; and what assessment he I as made of the project; [167084]

  (7) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled Second Recovery Programme in Afghanistan; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167085]

  (8) what his Department"s involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Peru; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167086]

  (9) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to reinforce civil society in Guatemala; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167087]

  (10) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to reinforce democracy in Venezuela; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167088]

  (11) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to reinforce the judicial system in Colombia; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167089]
  597W
  (12) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to undertake a landmine technical survey in the Inhambane and Maputo provinces of Mozambique; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167093]

  (13) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to undertake a landmine impact survey; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167094]

  (14) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 effort, financed by EU Development Assistance, to deliver micro-projects in Malawi; und what assessment he has made of the project; [167095]

  (15) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to provide (a) reconstruction at Sona and (b) medical assistance in the Congo; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167096]

  (16) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project financed by EU development assistance to help displaced communities to return home to Djbouti; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167097]

  (17) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project financed by EU development assistance to reintegrate Ethiopians displaced from Eritrea; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167098]

  (18) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project financed by EU development assistance to clear mines in Eritrea; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167099]

  (19) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project financed by EU development assistance to support refugees and internally displaced people in Eritrea; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167100]

  (20) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project financed by EU development assistance to provide emergency demobilisation and reintegration support in Eritrea; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167101]

  (21) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project financed by EU development assistance to deliver micro projects in (a) the Central African Republic and (b) Angola; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167102]

  (22) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project financed by EU development assistance to deliver micro projects in Togo; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167103]

  (23) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project financed by EU development assistance on the reintegration of ex-combatants in rural areas of Guinea Bissau; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167104]

  (24) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project financed by EU development assistance to improve healthcare provision in the Congo; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167105]
  598W
  (25) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project financed by EU development assistance to deliver micro projects in the Congo; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167106]

  (26) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to provide complementary support to the rehabilitation programme in Burundi; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167107]

  (27) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to provide emergency support to the peace process in Angola; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167108]

  (28) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to support displaced people in (a) Eastern and Southern Africa and (b) the Indian Ocean; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167109]

  (29) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 projects, financed by EU development assistance, entitled Education-Environmental Capacity Development Programme in (a) Ghana, (b) Namibia, (c) South Africa, (d) Mozambique and (e) Angola; and what assessment he has made of the projects; [167110]

  (30) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to reduce rural poverty and manage forest sustainability through development of non-timber products arid community institutions in Ethiopia; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167111]

  (31) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to deliver community-based fisheries management and coral reef restoration in (a) the Caribbean and (b) the Pacific; and what assessment he has made of the projects; [167112]

  (32) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to deliver sustainable forest management in Kenya; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167113]

  (33) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to provide infrastructure technical assistance in Sempoa; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167114]

  (34) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to provide sanitation in St.Pierre; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167115]

  (35) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to deliver micro-projects at a cost of ¬7.0 million, linking relief, rehabilitation and development in the Dominican Republic; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167116]

  (36) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled Bugesera/Karenge drinking water supply in Rwanda; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167117]
  599W
  (37) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled Karasburg Sanitation in Namibia; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167118]

  (38) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to provide (a) community based natural resource management and (b) carbon management in Mozambique; and what assessment he has made of the projects; [167119]

  (39) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled Beira Sanitation in Mozambique; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167120]

  (40) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to undertake social forestry in Malawi; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167121]

  (41) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to provide water supply for six towns in Lesotho; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167122]

  (42) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 projects, financed by EU Development Assistance, to manage natural resources in semi-arid regions in (a) Kenya and (b) Somalia; and what assessment he has made of the projects; [167123]

  (43) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to use a new wildlife management method in Gabon; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167124]

  (44) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to manage protected forest areas through Government NGO and civil society partnerships in Cameroon; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167125]

  (45) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to improve rural water distribution in Burkina Faso; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167126]

  (46) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to deliver a solid waste programme in the Dominican Republic; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167127]

  (47) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to provide sustainable forest management in Tanzania; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167128]

  (48) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to deliver a water sector support programme in South Africa; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167129]

  (49) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, on education reform in El Salvador; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167136]
  600W
  (50) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 projects, financed by EU Development Assistance, on ecology in Brazil; and what assessment he has made of the projects; [167137]

  (51) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to strengthen the capacity of citizens in Colombia to exercise their rights and what assessment he has made of the project; [167138]

  (52) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, on human rights in Guatemala; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167139]

  (53) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, on re-unification in Peru; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167140]

  (54) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, on the defence and promotion of the rights of the indigenous people and those of African origin in Nicaragua; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167141]

  (55) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, finance' by EU Development Assistance, to counter discrimination on grounds of ethnicity in Guatemala; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167142]

  (56) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to strengthen organisational processes in 120 communities in Colombia; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167143]

  (57) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, finance d by EU Development Assistance, to counter racial discrimination in Paraguay; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167144]

  (58) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 projects, financed by EU Development Assistance, to rehabilitate victims of torture in (a) Argentina, (b) Chile and (c) Peru; and what assessment he has made of the projects; [167145]

  (59) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to prevent torture in Peru; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167146]

  (60) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to provide an electoral observation mission in Ecuador; and what assessment he h as made of the project; [167147]

  (61) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, to create a code of ethics and of education in Ecuador; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167148]

  (62) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, on public engagement in the electoral process in Columbia; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167149]
  601W
  (63) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 micro projects, financed by EU development assistance, at a cost of €1,300,000 in (a) Colombia, (b) Guatemala and (c) Mexico; and what assessment he has made of the projects; [167150]

  (64) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, on the reform and modernisation of public administration in Honduras; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167151]

  (65) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, on the modernisation of the administration of justice in Mexico; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167152]

  (66) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, on the development of commerce and promotion of investment in Bolivia; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167153]

  (67) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, on academic co-operation in Latin America; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167154]

  (68) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, on rural development in Nicaragua; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167155]

  (69) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU development assistance, on help for small rural producers in Panama; and what assessment he has made of the project; [167156]

  (70) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to (a) provide education in South Sudan on the banning of landmines, (b) train refugees in Tanzania in self-reliance and (c) secure demobilisation and reintegration in (i) the Great Lake, and (ii) Eritrea; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167157]

  (71) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to (a) support the Office of the Attorney General and (b) provide the rapid reaction mechanism to (i) Afghanistan, (ii) Indonesia, (iii) Nepal, (iv) Sri Lanka and (v) Cambodia; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167158]

  (72) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled (a) Asia-Urbs (increase), (b) ASEAN-IPR (increase), (c) Asia-Europe Foundation Phase II, (d) Asia Invest II and (e) II' and C for Asia (increase); and what assessment 1 e has made of each project; [167159]

  (73) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled (a) framework contract/studies for Asia, (b) medicinal plants in Bhutan and (c) APRIS institutional strengthening at a coot of £4 million; and what assessment he has made of etch project; [167160]
  602W
  (74) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, to (a) support the SME Development fund in Vietnam, (b) provide multilateral trade assistance to Cambodia and (c) provide support to the process of government reform in Pakistan; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167161]

  (75) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled (a) WTO II (support to China's integration) in China and (b) small project facility in (i) Indonesia and (ii) the Philippines; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167162]

  (76) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled (a) Vietnamese Government Interpreters Training Programme in Vietnam, (b) European TA programme for Vietnam (ETU2) and (c) labour market facility in Vietnam; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167163]

  (77) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, (a) to provide multilateral trade assistance to Laos, (b) on renewable energy in Nepal, (c) to develop rural towns in Bangladesh and (d) to provide support for community health services in Indonesia; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167164]

  (78) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled (a) SEDF-Enterprise development in Bangladesh, (b) Reproductive Health/UNFPA II in Asia and (c) Drugs-Reach Out II in Pakistan; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167165]

  (79) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, entitled (a) Northern Pakistan Education Programme, (b) Support for Basic Education in Laos and (c) SMILING (Support to NGOs in Bangladesh); and what assessment he has made of each project; [167166]

  (80) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, (a) to provide assistance for street children in Vietnam, (b) to support healthcare reform in Thailand and (c) to deliver an HIV/AIDS project within the UN joint plan of action in Burma; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167167]

  (81) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 project, financed by EU Development Assistance, (a) to provide support to the education sector in Cambodia and (b) to provide European studies in China; and what assessment he has made of each project; [167168]

  (82) what his Department's involvement was in the 2002 micro-projects, financed by EU Development Assistance, in (a) Zimbabwe and (b) Tanzania; and what assessment he has made of each project. [167169]

  Hilary Bean
  DFID has been involved in the projects, or programmes described in a number of ways. Firstly by contributing the UK's share of the European Commission budget allocated to the projects cited and secondly, wherever possible through in-country consultation with the EC office over project and
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  programme design. DFID also attend the relevant Management Committees that approved the EC strategies and programmes under which the projects were or are being implemented. Finally, in some cases, DFID has formed part of a multi-donor in-country programme management committee that oversaw or is overseeing project implementation.

  Some of the projects cited are ongoing and an assessment will only be possible once they have been completed. The EC, through its results-orientated management system and strengthened evaluation systems, is best placed to carry out such an assessment. DFID is however often involved in, or consulted on, such assessments. Assessments carried out to date have identified both significant success and areas for improvement. DFID continues to work with the European Commission to improve the quality and impact of its development assistance.

  I refer the Hon. Member for Buckingham to the information available in the '2003 Annual Report from the European Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the EC Development Policy and the Implementation of External Assistance 2002' and the European Commission's website http:// europa.eu.int for further details about individual programmes and projects. I will place copies of the report in the Libraries of the House.

  Uganda
  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the efficacy of his Department's contract with the World Food Programme to distribute food to Teso in North East Uganda. [166760]

  Hilary Benn
  The Department for International Development has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nation's World Food Programme in Uganda. The current MoU has been in place since December 2002. It clearly sets out the UK's expectations in relation to our bilateral financing, and gives the World Food Programme (WFP) obligations to fulfil.

  The WFP has the full capacity required to provide food relief in the North and East of Uganda effectively. WFP is the UN agency mandated to provide food aid in such a large-scale emergency, and the only agency on the ground equipped with the necessary staff, resources and experience necessary to respond adequately to the situation. DFID closely monitors the WFP's performance through the reports it submits directly to DFID, the monthly Humanitarian Updates it provides to the donor community as a whole, and regular discussions with WFP representatives in Kampala.

PRIME MINISTER

  Committee on Standards in Public Life
  Claire Ward
  To ask the Prime Minister when he will announce new appointments to the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and if he will make a statement. [168455]
  604W
  The Prime Minister
  I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Sir Alistair Graham as Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life in succession to Sir Nigel Wicks with effect from Monday 26 April. Sir Alistair has been a Member of the Committee since 1 October 2003.

  I have also appointed Lady Elizabeth Valiance as a Member of the Committee in succession to Sir Alistair following his appointment as Chairman.

  Both appointments have been made fully in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Cod of Practice.

  I am very grateful to Sir Nigel for his excellent leadership of the Committee, and for the significant contribution he has made to upholding and improving standards in public life.

  Food Imports
  Andrew George
  To ask the Prime Minister which Government Departments are responsible for ensuring that(a) EU member states' and (b)> EU accession states' food imports to the UK meet the appropriate EU (i) slaughter, (ii) production, (iii) processing, (iv) labelling, (v) hygiene, (vi) food safety and (vii) traceability standards. [167322]

  The Prime Minister
  It is the responsibility of the relevant authorities in each EU member state and accession state to ensure that all food is produced and exported in accordance with EU legislation. The European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office is responsible for ensuring that authorities comply with these responsibilities.

  Food coming to the UK from accession states before 1 May 2004 (and after this date for accession states not due to join the EU on 1 May) will be subject to the same import controls as food from other non-EU countries. Such food is subject to routine food safety and standards checks at UK ports by local authorities.

  The Food Standards Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies are responsible for food safety and food standards in the UK. Enforcement responsibilities are delegated to environmental health and trading standards departments in local authorities, who carry out checks on food to ensure compliance with food safety and food hygiene standards.

  Foreign Ministerial Visits
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is on the length of time it is appropriate for Cabinet Ministers to be out of the country. [167798]

  The Prime Minister
  Section 7 of the Ministerial Code provides guidance to Ministers making overseas visits.

  Jonathan Powell
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons Mr. Jonathan Powell has the power to direct civil servants. [167797]
  605W
  The Prime Minister
  Jonathan Powell has executive powers under article 3(3) of the Civil Service Order in Council. He has direct responsibility for leading and coordinating operations across Number 10 and reports to me.

  Mayor of London
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Prime Minister when he last met the Mayor of London.[168001]

  The Prime Minister
  I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals, including the Mayor of London. As with previous administrations, it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings, under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Michael Meacher
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons the hon. Member for Oldham West and Royton left his post as Environment Minister. [167773]

  The Prime Minister
  As has been the practice under successive administrations, all ministerial offices are at the disposal of the Prime Minister. Details of resigning Ministers have been announced on each occasion.

  Ministerial Cars
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to reduce the dependency of(a) himself and (b) his Ministers on ministerial cars. [167800]

  The Prime Minister
  Under the terms of the Ministerial Code, Ministers arc required to make efficient and cost-effective arrangements, taking account of security considerations.

  All ministerial travel on official business is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in "Travel by Ministers".

  Surveillance Commissioner
  Tom Levitt
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reappointment of the Surveillance Commissioner under Part III of the Police Act 1997. [168424]

  The Prime Minister
  In accordance with Section 91 of the Police Act 1997, I have agreed to re-appoint Sir Philip Otton as Surveillance Commissioner from 1 February 2004 to 31 January 2007. The remit of each Surveillance Commissioner covers the whole of the United Kingdom so that any Surveillance Commissioner can act in jurisdictions other than his own.

  The right hon. Sir Philip Otton has served as a Surveillance Commissioner since 2001. I am delighted that Sir Philip has accepted his re appointment and am grateful for his continuing work.

  Use of Government Property
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is in respect of the use of Government property by individuals other than special advisers to carry out work for New Labour. [167795]
  606W
  The Prime Minister
  Guidance to Ministers on the use of Government property is set out in section 6 of the Ministerial Code.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Katharine Gun
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Solicitor General pursuant to her answer of 8 March 2004,Official Report, column 314W, on Katharine Gun, if the Attorney-General will place copies of the correspondence between Ministers and himself on the Katharine Gun case in the Library. [164241]

  The Solicitor-General
  The correspondence between the Attorney-General and Ministers relates to the "Shawcross" exercise undertaken by the Attorney-General. The Attorney wrote to ministerial colleagues asking for views and any issues which may impact upon his decision whether or not it was in the public interest to consent to the prosecution of Katharine Gun for an offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act. The correspondence falls within exemptions 1, 2 and 4 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The correspondence includes information whose disclosure would harm national security and was a consultation between Ministers where their advice and views were sought. The Attorney-General considers that to disclose this would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. He has concluded the harm likely to arise from disclosure of this material outweighs the public interest in making the information available. In addition the correspondence related to legal proceedings and therefore comes under exemption 4.

  Copies of correspondence between Ministers and the Attorney-General on the Katharine Gun case will not therefore be placed in the Library.

TRANSPORT

  Buses (Merseyside)
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incentives have been provided to upgrade buses used within the Merseyside transport system. [166979]

  Mr. McNulty
  Under the LTP process, Merseyside's five year Plan and 10 year Strategy include significant investment in the development and promotion of bus services. Merseytravel are working with local bus operators to improve standards through the Quality Corridors initiative in the LTP. Corridor Q, for example, was launched in St Helens in March 2003, involving a package of bus priorities, new bus stops, information systems and low floor buses. Merseytravel have also encouraged operators to fit particulate filters to 140 city buses through an Energy Saving Trust supported programme to encourage lower vehicle emissions.

  Congestion Charge
  Huw Irranca-Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met representatives of(a) Transport for London and (b) the Greater London Authority to discuss the congestion charge. [166907]

  Mr. McNulty
  The London congestion charging scheme is the responsibility of the Mayor, not the Government. However, Ministers have regular meetings with the Mayor at which a wide range of transport matters are discussed.

  Driving Test Waiting Times
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average wait for a driving test is(a) at Mill Hill test center, (b) in London and (c) in each of the other regions of the United Kingdom; what plans he has to improve delays in giving test dates; and if he will make a statement. [167091]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Driving Standards Agency has a national target for the average annual waiting time for a practical car driving test in England, Scotland and Wales of six weeks. The current national average waiting time for a test is 9.8 weeks. The current waiting time for a practical car driving test at the Mill Hill test center is 17 weeks. The average waiting time for a test in the London and South East area is 13.3 weeks. Waiting times for a practical car driving test vary in the other areas of Great Britain as follows:

  Area

  Average waiting time (weeks)

  Midlands and Eastern

  10.3

  Wales and Western

  7.2

  Northern

  9.7

  Scotland

  4.9

  In Northern Ireland, the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency has a target average waiting time for a practical car driving test of 23 days. The average waiting time across test centers in Northern Ireland is currently 27 days.

  In order to reduce the current high waiting times for tests in Great Britain to the six week waiting time target, the Driving Standards Agency recruited 283 new driving examiners in the last financial year and plans to recruit a further 330 in the coming year. An extra 7.30 am test slot is being added to weekday programmes in some test centers and tests are now offered on Sundays. The agency is deploying as many driving examiners as possible from Scotland to the London and South East area to tackle the problem of high waiting times there. In the context of its Business Plan for 2004–05, I have set the agency a target to bring national waiting times down to six weeks by January 2005.

  Electronic Vehicle Licensing System
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1571W, on Electronic Vehicle Licensing System, when the Electronic Vehicle Licensing System will be implemented for cars over 3-years-old; and what the completion date for the full scheme is. [166997]
  608W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The electronic system for vehicles over 3-years-old will require a link between DVLA and the new MOT computer system. This should be fully available by early 2006.

  Green Minister
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months in that capacity; [166063]

  (2) what meetings his Department's Green Minister has attend,;(1 in the last 12 months in that capacity; [166064]

  (3) if he will list the meetings at which his Department has been represente I on the delivery of sustainable development across Government as coordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers; [166065]

  (4) what steps he taking to promote the delivery of sustainable development within Government; [166066]

  (5) what progress has been made on his Department's sustainable developn ent strategy. [166067]

  Mr. McNulty
  Since becoming the Department's Green Minister, I have attended a number of meetings with Defra Ministers, including the Environment Minister, Elliot Morley, during which a range of sustainable development issues of concern to both our Departments were discussed.

  I am also a member of ENV(G). It has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  In my role as Green Minister, I have overseen the publication of the Department's Sustainable Development Policy Statement which was published on the DfT website in March of this year. This outlines how DfT is integrating the principles of sustainable development into decision-making. It complements the Department's existing 'Green Operations Policy Statement' (also or, the website), which sets out our objectives for improving the environmental performance of the estates of the Department and its Executive Agencies.

  Liverpool Airport
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to r view the role of Liverpool Airport within the national airport strategy. [166980]

  Mr. McNulty
  The White Paper The Future of Air Transport, published in December, recognised the benefits to the lock 1 economy resulting from the expansion of Liverpool Airport and supported its further growth to accommodate increased demand. It is now for the airport operator to bring forward specific development proposals. We will report progress on the policies and proposals set out in the White Paper in 2006.
  609W

  Traffic Calming
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from the emergency services since June 2001 on the removal of(a) speed humps and (b) pinch points on the road network. [165960]

  Dr. Howells
  The emergency services have made no requests for the removal of traffic calming measures. The London Ambulance Service has however requested that before any measures are introduced full consideration be given in order that the right balance is struck between effective traffic calming and allowing ambulances to continue with minimum hindrance.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what(a) factors and (b) statistics relating to road humps his Department is planning to monitor; and when monitoring will commence. [167226]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department has conducted a number of monitoring exercises into the effects of road humps in recent years. The results of this work have been published in Traffic Advisory Leaflets and technical reports. Details of these projects are contained in Traffic Advisory Leaflet 5/01 entitled Traffic Calming Bibliography. Copies are available from the House of Commons Library. There are no plans to conduct further monitoring exercises at thc present time.

  Transport Services (Birkenhead)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new cycle lanes have been provided using public funds in Birkenhead since 1997. [166497]

  Dr. Howells
  4.05 miles of new cycle lanes have been constructed in Birkenhead since 1997. This includes both on-road and off-road cycle provision, and the breakdown is as follows:

  Miles

  Millennium Route (part)

  2.80

  Beaufort Road cycle route

  0.69

  Beechwood cycle route

  0.56

  Total

  4.05

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of priority bus lanes have been created in Birkenhead since 1997. [166499]

  Dr. Howells
  0.60 miles of priori bus lanes have been created in Birkenhead since 1997. They are as follows:

  Miles

  Hamilton Square

  align="right">0.08

  Borough Road (West)

  0.25

  Borough Road (East)

  0.06

  Singleton Avenue

  0.03

  A41 near Bolton Road

  0.10

  Woodchurch Road (Prenton)

  0.08

  Total

  0.60

  610W

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

  Departmental Communications
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Leader of the House (1) how many staff are employed in the Office to work in the communications field, broken down by(a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others; [158159]

  (2) what the total expenditure on communications for his Office has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others. [158206]

  Mr. Hain
  The information requested is as follows:

  Expenditure in 2003–04

  £

  GICs

  0

  Press Officers

  10

  Special Advisers

  2—

  Others

  341,348

  1My Office does not employ any GICs staff or Press Officers directly. Press Office services are provided by the Cabinet Office at no charge.

  2 The Special Advisers' Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister. This includes communications activity. Details of the costs of Special Advisers are given on an annual basis. Information for the financial year 2003–04 will be published in due course.

  3 Cost of development and hosting of a new website. This work is contracted out by this Office.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EU (Recognition of Qualifications)
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the proposed European Directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, with particular reference to the impact on the free movement of healthcare professionals; and what assessment she has made of the report adopted by the European Parliament on the Directive. [166873]

  Jacqui Smith
  I welcome the simplification and rationalisation of existing rules relating to professional recognition, in particular new flexibilities proposed for temporary, cross-frontier provision of services. Simpler conditions for services provision will help improve labour mobility across the European Union and contribute to the creation of a real single market in services.

  The European Commission and Council have recognised the need for controls for health professionals and I agree that prior checks of qualifications are necessary in some sectors, where human health and safety are at risk. In the case of health professionals, the UK is seeking to maintain current provisions for temporary and automatic recognition applying to doctors, dentists, general care nurses, midwives and

  611W
  pharmacists, and is pressing for prior checks before temporary services provision in the cases of other health professionals.

  The European Parliament has proposed a large number of amendments to the text of the draft Directive, which have yet to be incorporated by the Commission into a revised text. A re-assessment of the draft Directive will be made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education when the revised text has been presented to the Council.

  Internet Fraud
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the Home Office about combating fraud committed over the internet. [166737]

  Mr. Timms
  The Home Office leads on e-crime and sets a comprehensive framework of action. DTI and HO officials are in regular contact to consider the whole range of cybercrime issues and how they impact on the interests of businesses and consumers. DTI officials are represented on the Internet Crime Forum which brings together Government, law enforcement agencies and internet industry to tackle crime and foster business and public confidence in the use of the internet. The Forum is actively considering future work on internet fraud. My officials are also in regular contact with the relevant law enforcement authorities to explore how best to convey crime prevention messages and how best users may manage their systems to enable the efficient detection and investigation of on-line crime.

  Miners' Compensation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list law companies who have not responded to the request to repay amounts overcharged to miners and their widows in respect of processing miners' compensation claims; and if she will make a statement. [166422]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 21 April 2004]: Following is a list of solicitors who have either stated they do not intend to repay claimants, or did not respond to my letter about refunding overpayments or who have requested that they be removed from the DTI list of approved solicitors.

  As you will be aware, my letters of December 2003 and February 2004 to all firms of solicitors handling these claims asked that those who had unfairly taken a proportion of miners' compensation to repay the money. I wrote to the Law Society asking them to take action to ensure that their members voluntarily refund any fees taken, rather than wait for miners to contact them. I also passed the names of all firms who did not reply, to the Law Society asking them to take urgent action to ensure that the firms comply with my request.

  After looking into the issue, the Law Society has concluded that such double charging is unlikely to be justified, and is 'likely to give rise to a finding of inadequate professional service'.
  612W
  List of all solicitors written to in December and/or February who have been removed from the website because they either failed to respond or asked to be removed

  Alan Curtis Solicitors

  Allan McDougall & Co. Solicitors

  Andrew P. Walker & Co. Solicitors

  Ashington Denton with Bingley Dyson & Furey

  Barber Cartain Solicitors

  Birchall Blackburn

  Bleasdale & Co.

  Brearleys Solicitors

  Brown & Lloyd Solicitors

  Bury & Walkers Solictors

  Carter Hodge Solicitors

  Castle Sanderson Solicitors

  Clarke & Ross W.S

  Clive Ashman Solicitors

  Coleman Solicitors

  Coley & Tilley

  Cunningham Turner

  D. W. Shaw Solicitors

  DA Milligan & Co. Solicitors

  Dave Johnson

  David Handy Solicitors

  DMH

  Easthams Solicitors

  Edgar Cule & Evans Solicitors

  Edwards Abrams Doherty Solicitors

  Elsbury-Priddin Solicitors

  Emsleys

  Emsleys Solicitors

  Endlars Solicitors

  Evans & Greaves

  Everatt & Co.

  Freed Kemp Rapport

  Freeman Johnson

  G. M. Wilson Solicitors

  Gabb & Co.

  Gabb & Co.

  Gartside Harding & Davies

  Grainger Appleyard & Fleming

  Granville-West Chivers & Morgan

  Granville-West Chivers & Morgan

  Grunhut Makepeace & Duffy

  Hamilton Joseph & Co. Solicitors

  Hardesty Elleanor Solicitors

  Harris & Cartwright Solicitors

  Harrison Bundey & Co.

  Harvey Ingram Solicitors

  Hattersleys Solicitors

  Heyman & Co.

  Hickmotts Solicitors

  Holmes & Moffitt Solicitors

  Howard & Co. Solicitors

  Inghams

  Ingrams Solicitors

  Ingrams Solicitors

  613W

  J. H. Powell & Co. Solicitors

  J. N. Bell B.A. Solicitor

  J. P. Hall Solicitors

  J. Peter Davies & Partners

  Jack Thornley & Partners Solicitors

  James Pearce & Co.

  Jamiesons

  John D. Williams Solicitors

  John E. Millar & Co.

  John Hogg & Co.

  John Howell & Co. Solicitors

  John O'Neill Solicitors

  Jones-Keppe

  Kate Patterson & Co. Solicitors

  Lester Morrill Solicitors

  Lofthouse & Co. Solicitors

  Lopian Wagner Solicitors

  Lucas & Co.

  Maclaren Britain

  Maidments Solicitors

  Maidments Solicitors

  Matthew 0. Byrne Law Office

  Miller Samuel & Company Solicitors

  Moseley Chapman & Kemp

  Murray, Hamilton & Chalmers

  Nimmo Thomson & McLean Solicitors

  Park Hutchison Solicitors & Notaries

  Payne Marsh & Stillwell

  Plancey & Co.

  Pollard Coutts & Co.

  Ralph & Co. Solicitors

  Richards & Lewis Solicitors

  Roger James, Clements & Partners

  Scanlan Westgarth Solicitors

  Schofields

  Sentley Wilson Bowen Solicitors

  Silverbeck Rymer Solicitors

  Silverman Livermore Solicitors

  Spicketts

  Stephensons Solicitors

  Stripes Solicitors

  Thomas & Co. Solicitors

  Thomas Eggar Church Adams.

  Regulatory Impact Assessments
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the British Chamber of Commerce on the subject of regulatory impact assessments. [166454]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I meet Mr. David Frost, the Director General of BCC regularly, most recently at the BCC Conference on 21 April where I took part in a panel discussion on RIAs. I understand the BCC welcomes the Government's work on RIAs.

  Renewable Energy
  Angela Watkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress her Department is making on promoting the environmental benefits of renewable energy. [167003]

  Mr. Timms
  I launched the "It's only natural" campaign in February. This will initially target key decision makers in the financial and planning sectors to ensure that they are equipped with the best information for making decisions regarding renewable energy. The campaign will continue to the end of March 2005 and there is a £2 million budget for the project.

  Royal Mail
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the operational efficiency of Royal Mail; what action she is taking to improve the standards of delivery of domestic mail; and if she will make a statement. [167199]

  Mr. Timms
  The assessment of the operational efficiency of Royal Mail and any action to be taken to improve the standards of delivery of domestic mail is a matter for the postal regulator, Postcomm.

  Small Businesses (Tynemouth)
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent action her Department has taken to support small businesses in Tynemouth constituency. [165362]

  Nigel Griffiths
  In his budget statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced a number of steps to help small businesses including an increase of capital allowances to 50 per cent. and raising VAT registration threshold to 58 per cent. all of which helps Small Businesses in Tynemouth.

  The Chancellor also announced that the Employer Training Pilot, which has been running in Tyne and Wear for the last year, would be rolled out and made available to businesses throughout the North East. This helps businesses to improve the skills of their workforce by providing training tailored to their needs. The programme not only offers free tailored advice on training but also the unique prospect of subsidised training and wage compensation to employers for the time workers are away from work—traditionally one of the biggest barriers to training in smaller companies.

  The core funding provided to Business Link Tyne and Wear, has provided a foundation on which the Business Link has sourced additional funding projected at £14.5 million for the benefit of businesses in Tyne and Wear, for the year 2004–05.

  Around £3.5 million of this is available, including a subsidy of up to 50 per cent. for management development training and upskilling the workforce to SME's across Tyne and Wear.

  Businesses can also benefit from a range of Workforce Development services to help SMEs achieve the Investors in People Standard and develop their workforce. One business based in Tynemouth, received 50 per cent. subsidy to help them towards paying their Investors in People assessment fees. SMEs with between

  615W
  5 and 49 employees are also eligible for additional funding towards helping them to reach the standard. In the past, financial subsidies towards consultancy costs were only available to businesses over 36 months old, and these were restricted to specific projects. Now, a subsidy of up to 45 per cent. can be accessed by businesses of any age or size towards the cost of any business related consultancy. Around £4 million is available for this purpose.

  Local SMEs can also benefit from up to 45 per cent. funding towards the cost of exhibition space and the design build and dressing of a stand. In conjunction with this, Business Link Tyne and Wear have held three `Meet the Buyer' events over the last two years as a means for local SMEs to meet buyers from both within and beyond the region, offering SME's the opportunity to become integral cogs in supply chains.

  Business Link Tyne and Wear has helped a number of businesses in the Tynemouth area to access financial assistance, one such SME received a 45 per cent. subsidy to help them to develop their website. They also went on to receive an additional 50 per cent. subsidy towards the cost of training, to enable staff to update the website once developed.

  In addition, a restaurant in Tynemouth, received 50 per cent. funding towards Management Development training, they also had consultancy assistance, to help them to develop a marketing strategy.

  Unsecured loans of up to £15,000 are also available to businesses in the North East that have had difficulty accessing finance elsewhere. Businesses must work with a mentor and repay the loan within five years.

  Over the past 15 months Business Link has received 660 inquiries from existing businesses and people looking to start their own business in North Tyneside. Of these, 43 existing, and 22 start up inquiries were from Tynemouth. 670 businesses have started in North Tyneside. They are offered an independent service of one-to-one 'counselling' and given intensive advice on business planning, marketing and finance.

  An adviser from Business Link and North Tyneside Council's advisers work side by side at North Tyneside Council's premises in North Shields to provide advice and support to businesses based in North Tyneside, including Tynemouth. In addition, an adviser is based in Tynemouth and North Tyneside Colleges two days a week to offer advice to anyone that is looking to start or already running a business.

  Tyne and Wear Small Business Fund, through the Regional Development Agency's Single Programme Funding, (Managed by Tyne and Wear Development Company and delivered by each local authority) is a 50 per cent. Capital Equipment Grant of between £500 and £2,500 available to pre-start and new businesses—up to 12 months old.

  The Regional Service for Clustering (RSC), also funded by the Dti, through the RDA, helps groups of SME's collaborate support across Tyne and Wear—this project is based in North Tyneside.

  North Tyneside Council also provides free business advice and guidance to all businesses setting up in North Tyneside.
  616W

  Steel
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the supply of steel in the UK for manufacturing industries. [167188]

  Jacqui Smith
  Global steel prices have risen sharply in recent months as a result of rising input costs and market demand. This is causing difficulties for certain steel using industries where they have limited scope for passing on the increased cost to customers. There have been reports of tightness in the steel supply market, with imports to the EU reduced, but I understand that all types of steel remain available, although prices are high. There is no shortage of supply from UK steel producers.

  Textiles
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed in the textile industry in 1997; and how many are employed in it now. [165383]

  Jacqui Smith
  The information requested is as follows:

  thousands

  Employee jobs in textile and clothing industries (SIC 17–18)

  June 1997

  347

  June 2003

  180

  December 2003

  171

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics Annual Business Inquiry and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Northern Ireland Quarterly Employment Survey.

  Employee jobs in local units of Standard Industrial Classification division 17 (textiles) and division 18 (clothing).

  Wind Energy
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost is per kilowatt hour of electricity generated by(a) offs bore wind and (b) onshore wind; and if she will make a statement. [167200]

  Mr. Timms
  Modelling carried out to support the recent Innovation Review puts the current estimated cost of onshore wind generation at 3.1–4 p/kWh expected to fall to? 2.5–3.2 p/kWh by 2020 and offshore wind genera ion at 6.0–7.6 p/kWh expected to fall to? 3.0–l4.6 p/kWh by 2020.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the environmental impact of wind farms. [167012]

  Mr. Timms
  The Energy White Paper published in February 2003 set out the Government's energy policy to tackle the crucial environmental challenge of climate change. The challenge we face is to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, one of the main causes of climate charge, which have risen by more than a third since the industrial revolution and are now rising faster than at any time in the past.

  The Government has set the target of obtaining 10 per cent. of our electricity from renewable sources by 2010, with the aspiration of doubling this by 2020.
  617W
  Renewable energy will make an important contribution to the Government's wider climate change programme. It is estimated that increased renewable energy generation, to meet the 2010 target, will deliver additional carbon savings of some 2.5 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2010, and that doubling this by 2020 would achieve further cuts of some 3 to 5 million tonnes of carbon per year above that by 2020. Wind power is expected to make the largest contribution of between 7 and 8 per cent. towards the 2010 renewable electricity generation target and the positive environmental impact that will make.

  Under the normal planning regime and for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 or the Transport and Works Act 1992 wind farm developers are required to consider all environmental aspects of wind energy projects and produce an Environmental Impact Assessment. These assessments are available to the public.

  Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the IT industry about the recommendations of the industry forum for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access; and if she will make a statement. [166883]

  Mr. Timms
  Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, commonly referred to as Wi-Max, is a North American based industry initiative to promote open interoperability between products designed for broadband wireless access. We welcome efforts to improve standards of interoperability between vendor products through industry initiatives. The Department participates in several fora where these standards are generated and used. My officials have discussed the initiative in regular meetings with companies concerned in this sector. Use of wireless relies on availability of essential spectrum, which in the UK is now the responsibility of the new independent regulator for communications—Ofcom. Accordingly, my officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to respond to my hon. Friend. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of tire House.

HEALTH

  Allergies
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the extent of Government research and development programmes on allergies. [165062]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Details of research projects relating to allergies funded by, or of interest to, the national health service are recorded on the National Research Register (NRR) at www.update-software.com/national. The NRR currently contains details c f over 100 on-going projects in this area, as well as a larger number of completed projects. Much of this work is funded through allocations made annually to NHS providers for research and development o meet the priorities and needs of the NHS and to meet the costs to the NHS of hosting research supported by external funders. The total amount allocated to NHS providers in 2003–04 618W
  for research and development was?442 million. In addition, the Department is funding research on air pollution and asthma under its policy research programme.

  In 2001–02, expenditure by the Medical Research Council on its respiratory disorders portfolio was an estimated £11.9 million, which included work on allergies and asthma.

  The Food Standards Agency funds research on food allergy and intolerance, with particular emphasis on severe allergies, how they occur and what causes them. A large programme of research on food intolerance and allergy, costing around £1 million a year is ongoing.

  Consultants
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital consultants retired in the last quarter of(a) 2002c03 and (b) 2003–04. [165886]

  Mr. Hutton
  Retirement data in the format requested and figures for 2003–04 are not available. The number of consultants in England and Wales, who received a pension from the National Health Service Pension Scheme in the year to 31 March 2003, is shown as follows:1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003
  Consultant Pension Awards: 451

  Pension scheme records are continually, and retrospectively, being updated to reflect further membership activity and revised data. This data extract therefore represents a snapshot in time as at August 2003.

  Dementia
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what data collection systems are in place to record the(a) number and (b) costs of drugs for dementia supplied to acute and mental health trusts; [166549]

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that accurate out-turn figures are available for the (a) number and (b) costs of drugs for dementia supplied to acute and mental health trusts; [166550]

  (3) if he will discuss with acute and mental health trusts the provision of systems to ensure accurate out-turn figures for the (a) number and (b) costs of drugs for dementia supplied to acute and mental health trusts. [166551]

  Dr. Ladyman
  In 2002–03 national health service trusts in England spent £1,942.8 million on the purchase of medicines, including medical gases. Detail of the break down of this figure into different therapeutic classes of medicines is not available.

  The national programme for information technology is charged with delivering the IT strategy for the NHS. Details were set out in "Delivering 21st Century IT Support for the NHS". The implementation of this national IT strategy will enable the collection and analysis of more detailed information on the use of medicines by the NHS.

  Foundation Trusts
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics will be available centrally from his Department on NHS foundation trusts. [166438]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department will continue to publish statistics on the performance of the national health service as a whole. This will include information on services commissioned by primary care trusts and provided by NHS trusts, NHS foundation trusts, diagnosis and treatment centers and independent sector providers.

  All General Medical Practitioners1 (excluding Gp Retainers) per 100,000 of the population by Strategic Health Authority; 1997-2003, England

  Number (headcount)

  1997

  1998

  1999

  All practitioners (excl. Ret)

  All practitioners (excl. Ret) per 100,000 population

  All practitioners (excl. Ret)

  All practitioners (excl. Ret) per 100,000 population

  All practitioners (excl. Ret)

  All practitioners (excl. Ret) per 100,000 population

  England total

  29,389

  60

  29,697

  61

  29,987

  61

  North East total

  1,485

  58

  1,506

  59

  1,520

  60

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  649

  57

  650

  57

  656

  58

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  836

  59

  856

  61

  864

  62

  North West total

  4,040

  59

  4,044

  60

  4,124

  61

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  1,421

  60

  1,413

  60

  1,456

  62

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  1,134

  60

  1,147

  60

  1,158

  61

  Greater Manchester

  1,485

  59

  1,484

  59

  1,510

  60

  Yorkshire and the Humber total

  3,021

  61

  3,028

  61

  3,092

  63

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  999

  62

  991

  62

  1.011

  63

  South Yorkshire

  758

  59

  758

  59

  772

  61

  West Yorkshire

  1,264

  61

  1,279

  62

  1,309

  63

  East Midlands total

  2,338

  57

  2,361

  58

  2,369

  58

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  908

  60

  902

  59

  898

  58

  Trent

  1,430

  56

  1,459

  57

  1,471

  57

  West Midlands total

  3,026

  58

  3,057

  58

  3,093

  59

  Birmingham and The Black Country

  1,327

  58

  1,343

  59

  1,357

  60

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  792

  54

  813

  55

  830

  56

  West Midlands South

  907

  60

  901

  60

  906

  60

  East of England total

  3,080

  58

  3,141

  59

  3,156

  59

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  915

  59

  944

  60

  948

  60

  Essex

  849

  54

  862

  54

  860

  54

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  1,316

  62

  1,335

  62

  1,348

  62

  London total

  4,532

  65

  4,515

  65

  4,496

  64

  North Central London

  788

  69

  802

  70

  786

  68

  North East London

  888

  62

  896

  62

  894

  61

  North West London

  1,209

  73

  1,188

  71

  1.134

  67

  South East London

  868

  60

  862

  59

  901

  61

  South West London

  779

  62

  767

  61

  781

  62

  South East total

  4,682

  60

  4,788

  61

  4,830

  61

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  1,060

  61

  1,070

  61

  1,089

  62

  Kent and Medway

  904

  58

  916

  59

  918

  59

  Surrey and Sussex

  1,486

  59

  1,518

  60

  1,522

  60

  Thames Valley

  1,232

  60

  1,284

  62

  1,301

  63

  South West total

  3,185

  66

  3,257

  67

  3,307

  68

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  1,325

  63

  1,374

  65

  1,404

  65

  Somerset and Dorset

  794

  68

  820

  70

  843

  72

  South West Peninsula

  1,066

  69

  1,063

  69

  1,060

  68

  620W

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there were per head of population in(a) England and (b) ach strategic health authority in each year since 1997. [166653]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of general practitioners (excluding retainers) per 100,000 population in England and in each strategic health authority (SHA) since 1997 is shown in the table.

  The Office for National Statistics has not yet published 2003 population data by SHA. Therefore, information for 2003 has only been provided on a national level.
  621W

  Number (headcount)

  2000

  2001

  All practitioners (excl. Ret)

  All practitioners (excl. Ret) per 100,000 population

  All practitioners (excl. Ret)

  All practitioners (excl. Ret) per 100,000 population

  England total

  30,252

  62

  30,685

  62

  North East total

  1,536

  61

  1,603

  64

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  661

  58

  696

  61

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  875

  63

  907

  65

  North West total

  4,134

  61

  4,174

  62

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  1,459

  62

  1,481

  63

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  1,152

  61

  1,174

  62

  Greater Manchester

  1,523

  60

  1,519

  60

  Yorkshire and the Humber total

  3,123

  63

  3,192

  64

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  1,021

  63

  1,039

  64

  South Yorkshire

  778

  61

  794

  63

  West Yorkshire

  1,324

  64

  1.359

  65

  East Midlands total

  2,384

  58

  2,437

  58

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  877

  57

  894

  57

  Trent

  1,507

  58

  1,543

  59

  West Midlands total

  3,142

  60

  3,157

  60

  Birmingham and The Black Country

  1,380

  61

  1,391

  61

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  838

  56

  825

  55

  West Midlands South

  924

  61

  941

  62

  East of England total

  3,183

  59

  3,204

  59

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  955

  60

  965

  60

  Essex

  857

  53

  851

  53

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  1,371

  63

  1,388

  64

  London total

  4,548

  64

  4,545

  62

  North Central London

  819

  70

  804

  67

  North East London

  925

  62

  899

  59

  North West London

  1,125

  66

  1,150

  65

  South East London

  886

  60

  904

  60

  South West London

  793

  62

  788

  61

  South East total

  4,839

  61

  4,943

  62

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  1,099

  62

  1,122

  63

  Kent and Medway

  901

  57

  915

  58

  Surrey and Sussex

  1,531

  60

  1,571

  61

  Thames Valley

  1,308

  63

  1,335

  64

  South West total

  3,363

  69

  3,430

  69

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  1,424

  66

  1,442

  67

  Somerset and Dorset

  846

  71

  867

  73

  South West Peninsula

  1,093

  70

  1,121

  71

  Number (headcount)

  2002

  2003

  All practitioners (excl. Ret)

  All practitioners (excl. Ret) per 100,000 population

  All practitioners (excl. Ret)

  All practitioners (excl. Ret) per 100,000 population

  England total

  31,182

  63

  32,593

  66

  North East total

  1,645

  65

  n/a

  n/a

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  701

  62

  n/a

  n/a

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  944

  68

  n/a

  n/a

  North West total

  4,247

  63

  n/a

  n/a

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  1,536

  65

  n/a

  n/a

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  1,200

  63

  n/a

  n/a

  Greater Manchester

  1,511

  60

  n/a

  n/a

  622W 623W

  Number (headcount)

  2002

  2003

  All practitioners (excl. Ret)

  All practitioners (excl. Ret) per 100,000 population

  All practitioners (excl. Ret)

  All practitioners (excl. Ret) per 100,000 population

  Yorkshire and the Number total

  3,253

  65

  n/a

  n/a

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  1,065

  65

  n/a

  n/a

  South Yorkshire

  808

  64

  n/a

  n/a

  West Yorkshire

  1,380

  66

  n/a

  n/a

  East Midlands total

  2,466

  58

  n/a

  n/a

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  910

  58

  n/a

  n/a

  Trent

  1,556

  59

  n/a

  n/a

  West Midlands total

  3,255

  51

  n/a

  n/a

  Birmingham and The Black Country

  1,428

  i3

  n/a

  n/a

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  861

  58

  n/a

  n/a

  West Midlands South

  966

  63

  n/a

  n/a

  East of England total

  3,223

  59

  n/a

  n/a

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  976

  51

  n/a

  n/a

  Essex

  846

  52

  n/a

  n/a

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  1,401

  A

  n/a

  n/a

  London total

  4,609

  i3

  n/a

  n/a

  North Central London

  806

  66

  n/a

  n/a

  North East London

  945

  61

  n/a

  n/a

  North West London

  1,139

  64

  n/a

  n/a

  South East London

  902

  60

  n/a

  n/a

  South West London

  817

  63

  n/a

  n/a

  South East total

  5,017

  62

  n/a

  n/a

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  1,112

  62

  n/a

  n/a

  Kent and Medway

  911

  57

  n/a

  n/a

  Surrey and Sussex

  1,587

  62

  n/a

  n/a

  Thames Valley

  1,407

  67

  n/a

  n/a

  South West total

  3,467

  70

  n/a

  n/a

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  1,460

  67

  n/a

  n/a

  Somerset and Dorset

  895

  75

  n/a

  n/a

  South West Peninsula

  1,1 12

  70

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a = Not available

  1All Practitioners (excluding GP Retainers) includes GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS Other, Flexible Career Schemes and GP Returners.

  SHA population figures are derived from the 1992-2000 first revised sub national population estimates published by ONS 27 February 2003 and so are not consistent with the interim revised national population estimates for 1992 !002 published by ONS 23 October 2003. Data have been converted to match Strategic Health Authority structures for 2002.

  Data as at 1 October 1997–99,30 September 2000–03.

  Sources:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

  2001 ONS Population Census.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole time equivalent general practitioners there were in(a) England and (b) each strategic health authority in each year from September 1997 to September 2003. [166654]

  All practitioners (excluding GP retainers)1 by strategic health authority boundaries: 1997 to 2003

  estimated whole time equivalents

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  March 2002

  2002

  March 2003

  2003

  England

  27,660

  27,848

  28,033

  28,154

  28,439

  28,540

  28,740

  29,180

  29,777

  North East

  1,402

  1,418

  1,426

  1,434

  1,488

  1,494

  1,523

  1,542

  1,602

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  782

  802

  807

  812

  836

  852

  866

  855

  890

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  620

  617

  619

  622

  652

  642

  657

  688

  712

  North West

  3,834

  3,822

  3,880

  3,874

  3,903

  3,923

  3.943

  4,002

  4,058

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  1,079

  1,083

  1,090

  1,079

  1,093

  1,107

  1,103

  1,116

  1,128

  Greater Manchester

  1,409

  1,404

  1,420

  1,424

  1,422

  1,422

  1,409

  1,444

  1,459

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  1,346

  1,335

  1,370

  1,371

  1,388

  1,395

  1,430

  1,442

  1,471

  624W
  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of whole time equivalent (Wte) general practitioners (GPs) (excluding retainers) in England and in each strategic health authority in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
  625W

  All practitioners (excluding GP retainers)1 by strategic health authority boundaries: 1997 to 2003

  estimated whole time equivalents

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  March 2002

  2002

  March 2003

  2003

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  2,848

  2,843

  2,892

  2,911

  2,950

  2,979

  2,988

  3,037

  3,131

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  944

  934

  951

  959

  968

  985

  989

  998

  1,037

  West Yorkshire

  1,188

  1,198

  1,221

  1,227

  1.248

  1,266

  1,257

  1,298

  1,327

  South Yorkshire

  716

  711

  720

  725

  734

  728

  742

  741

  767

  East Midlands

  2,220

  2,233

  2,227

  2,225

  2,261

  2,236

  2,275

  2,311

  2,357

  Trent

  1,363

  1,382

  1,386

  1,408

  1,434

  1,405

  1,439

  1,462

  1,472

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  857

  851

  841

  817

  827

  831

  836

  849

  886

  West Midlands

  2,877

  2,901

  2,920

  2,959

  2,962

  3,001

  3,034

  3,051

  3,122

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  757

  776

  787

  792

  779

  781

  806

  818

  833

  Birmingham and The Black Country

  1,261

  1,272

  1,279

  1,299

  1,305

  1,317

  1,330

  1,323

  1,371

  West Midlands South

  859

  853

  853

  869

  878

  903

  898

  910

  918

  East of England

  2,901

  2,955

  2,963

  2,979

  2,987

  2,997

  2,991

  3,040

  3,134

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  1,227

  1,243

  1,250

  1,268

  1,276

  1,276

  1,277

  1,297

  1,346

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  869

  892

  894

  897

  906

  906

  914

  918

  938

  Essex

  805

  819

  819

  814

  805

  814

  800

  826

  849

  London

  4,225

  4,212

  4,198

  4,217

  4,212

  4,229

  4,288

  4,398

  4,490

  North West London

  1,107

  1,097

  1,055

  1,044

  1,064

  1,043

  1,056

  1,085

  1,087

  North Central London

  738

  741

  727

  748

  746

  755

  759

  760

  797

  North East London

  835

  845

  844

  866

  841

  859

  888

  919

  913

  South East London

  814

  810

  840

  825

  833

  820

  830

  872

  893

  South West London

  731

  720

  732

  735

  727

  752

  755

  762

  799

  South East

  4,410

  4,482

  4,512

  4.507

  4,579

  4,602

  4,608

  4,670

  4,711

  Thames Valley

  1,145

  1,186

  1,198

  1,202

  1,218

  1,236

  1,268

  1,273

  1,279

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  996

  999

  1,014

  1,017

  1,037

  1,041

  1,022

  1,047

  1,080

  Kent and Medway

  860

  867

  868

  853

  860

  855

  854

  863

  868

  Surrey and Sussex

  1,410

  1,430

  1,432

  1,435

  1,464

  1,469

  1,464

  1,487

  1,485

  South West

  2,942

  2,981

  3,014

  3,048

  3,097

  3,079

  3,091

  3,128

  3,172

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  1,225

  1,257

  1,281

  1,289

  1,301

  1,300

  1,302

  1,316

  1,338

  South West Peninsula

  990

  981

  972

  1,000

  1,025

  1,012

  1,006

  1,039

  1.040

  Somerset and Dorset

  727

  744

  761

  759

  771

  768

  783

  773

  794

  1All practitioners (excluding GP retainers) includes GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.

  Notes:

  1. Data as at 1 October 1997–99, 30 Sep ember 2000–03, 31 March 2002–03.

  2. WTE data has been estimated using the results from the 1992–93 GMP Workload Survey; Full time—1.00 wte; three quarter time—0.69 wte; job share—0.65 wte; half time—0.60 wte.

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of(a) medical and dental staff and (b) administration and estates staff was in each year from 1997–98 to 2002–03 (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a proportion of total NHS expenditure. [166656]

  Mr. Hutton
  Table 1 shows expenditure on medical and dental staff in cash terms in England, for financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03.

  Table 2 shows expenditure on administrative and estates staff in cash terms in England, for financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03.

  Table 3 shows expenditure on medical and dental staff as a proportion of total na ional health service expenditure, for financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03.

  Table 4 shows expenditure on administrative and estates staff as a proportion of total NHS expenditure, for financial years 1997–98 to 2002–3.
  626W

  Table 1: Hospital and community health services expenditure on medical and dental staff in England 1997–98 to 2002–03>

  £

  Total expenditure

  1997–98

  3,021,917,492

  1998–99

  3,300,976,457

  1999–2000

  3,664,710,847

  2000–01

  4"138,320,465

  2001–02

  4.790,866,706

  2002–03

  5,445,120,598

  Table 2: Hospital and community health services expenditure on administration and estates staff in England 1997–98 to 2002–03

  £

  Total expenditure

  1997–98

  2,962,032,067

  1998–99

  3,122,153,228

  1999–2000

  3,368,608,095

  2000–01

  3,705,851,155

  2001–02

  4,175,084,314

  2002–03

  4,710,704,403

  627W

  Table 3: Hospital and community health services expenditure on medical and dental staff in England 1997–98 to 2002–03 as a proportion of total net NHS expenditure (England)

  Percentage of total expenditure

  1997–98

  8.72

  1998–99

  9.02

  1999–2000

  9.19

  2000–01

  9.42

  2001–02

  9.72

  2002–03

  10.02

  Table 4: Hospital and community health services expenditure on administration and estates staff in England 1997–98 to 2002–03 as a proportion of total net NHS expenditure (England)

  Percentage of total expenditure

  1997–98

  8.54

  1998–99

  8.53

  1999–2000

  8.45

  2000–01

  8.43

  2001–02

  8.47

  2002–03

  8.67

  Sources:

  Expenditure on administration and estates staff:

  Annual financial returns of NHS trusts 1997–98 to 2002–03

  Annual financial returns of health authorities 1997–98 to 2001–02

  Annual financial returns of strategic health authorities 2002–03

  Annual financial returns of primary care trusts 2000–01 to 2002–03

  Total expenditure:

  From 1997–98 to 1999–2000—Departmental Report 2001 (Cm 5103)

  From 2000–01 to 2002–03—Departmental Report 2003 (Cm 5904).

  Nursing
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reason his Department ceased in October 2001 to collect data on the proportion of student nurses who successfully complete courses in(a) general nursing, (b) paediatric nursing, (c) midwifery and (d) psychiatric nursing; [166353]

  (2) what targets his Department has for reducing the attrition rate among student nurses; [166354]

  (3) what targets his Department set in March 2001 for reducing the attrition rate among student nurses. [166355]

  Mr. Hutton
  The English National Board for Nursing (ENB) collected information on the attrition rate from nursing and midwifery courses until its abolition in March 2002 with the creation of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). A new attrition data collection system administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has been put in place, from which the information will be available in due course. A single and consistent definition of attrition has also been agreed with higher education institutions.

  The latest complete information on attrition from nurse training courses relates to the 1997–98 cohort and averaged 20 per cent. across all branches. The human resources performance framework, published in October 2000, set a target of 13 per cent. attrition for students entering nurse training in 2000–01. Workforce
  628W
  development confederations and strategic health authorities are working with higher education institutions to meet this target locally.

  Postcode Prescribing
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to tackle the large local variations in the availability of chemotherapy and other systemic therapies across England identified by the National Audit Office in its report on cancer services. [R] [164684]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr Gibson) on 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 173W.

  Primary Care Trusts
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will undertake a review of the funding allocation for the Buckinghamshire primary care trusts before 2006. [166817]

  Mr. Hutton
  Work on the next round of funding allocations, covering, the period up to 2007–08, has already commenced. The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation will oversee issues relating to the next round of funding allocations. The development of the allocations policy will involve consideration of funding for all primary care trusts.

  Social Services Departments
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social services departments do not have an intervenor service for deafblind children. [166854]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 21 April 2004]: Guidance published by the Department in 2001 required local authorities to ensure the provision of specifically trained one-to-one support workers for deafblind people assessed as needing one. The 2001 guidance refers to intervenor services as one form of support. Sense, the charity for deafblind people, recently estimated that 19 per cent. of social services departments are providing intervenors for at least one person.

  Supporting People Scheme
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Treasury on the overspend on the Supporting People budget. [167855]

  Dr. Ladyman
  I met my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Yvette Cooper) on 13 January. I attended an inter-ministerial meeting c n this subject on 14 January.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to local Supporting People teams on the implications of the budget overspend. [167856]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Advice to local Supporting People teams is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Apprenticeships (Manchester)
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many residents of Manchester, Gorton have undertaken apprenticeships in each of the last five years. [167437]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The information requested is not available at parliamentary constituency level. Nor is the information available on a consistent geographical basis over the last five years. However, the following table shows the number of starts on modern apprenticeships in the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area between April 2001 and the end of July 2003, as well as the number of starts from April 1996 to March 2001 in the six Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) that amalgamated into Greater Manchester LSC—Bolton and Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and High Peak and Wigan.

  Number of starts on modern apprenticeships in the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council (LSC) plus number of starts in the six Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs)

  TEC/LSC

  Advanced MAs

  Foundation MAs

  April 1998 to March 19991

  Bolton and Bury CCTE

  800

  600

  Manchester

  2,400

  700

  Oldham CCTE

  400

  300

  Rochdale CCTE

  500

  100

  Stockport and High Peak2

  800

  100

  Wigan CCTE

  700

  300

  April 1999 to March 20001

  Bolton and Bury CCTE

  900

  1000

  Manchester

  2,800

  1,800

  Oldham CCTE

  500

  500

  First Degree Graduates1 from UK HE institutions by subject

  1997/98

  1998/99

  1999/2000

  Subject group

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Medicine and dentistry

  5,900

  2

  5,842

  2

  5,966

  2

  Subjects allied to medicine

  16,284

  6

  17,593

  7

  17,789

  7

  Biological sciences

  16,885

  7

  17,359

  7

  18,449

  7

  Veterinary science

  494

  0

  528

  0

  558

  0

  Agriculture and related subjects

  2,266

  1

  2,329

  1

  2,342

  1

  Physical sciences

  13,296

  5

  13,056

  5

  13,184

  5

  Mathematical sciences

  3,939

  2

  4,250

  2

  4,094

  2

  Computer science/IT

  9,991

  4

  10,380

  4

  11,211

  4

  Engineering and technology

  22,574

  9

  22,012

  8

  20,551

  8

  Architecture, building and planning

  7,273

  3

  7,223

  3

  6,587

  2

  Social, economic and political studies

  20,736

  8

  21,574

  8

  22,715

  9

  Law

  9,889

  4

  9,982

  4

  10,210

  4

  Business and administrative studies

  29,401

  11

  30,937

  12

  31,905

  12

  Librarianship and information science

  3,468

  1

  3,803

  1

  4,597

  2

  Languages

  16,388

  6

  15,965

  616,619

  6

  Humanities

  10,391

  4

  10,411

  4

  10,362

  4

  Creative arts and design

  19,390

  7

  20,300

  8

  21,263

  8

  Education

  13,788

  5

  13,520

  5

  11,935

  4

  Combined

  36,400

  14

  36,607

  14

  34,930

  13

  Total

  258,753

  100

  263,671

  100

  265,267

  100

  630W

  Number of starts on modern apprenticeships in the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council (LSC) plus number of starts in the six Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs)

  TEC/LSC

  Advanced MAs

  Foundation MAs

  Rochdale CCTE

  500

  600

  Stockport and High Peak2

  700

  700

  Wigan CCTE

  700

  600

  April 2000 to March 20011

  Bolton and Bury CCTE

  700

  1,200

  Manchester

  3,200

  2,600

  Oldham CCTE

  500

  700

  Rochdale CCTE

  400

  700

  Stockport and High Peak2

  800

  1,000

  Wigan CCTE

  900

  800

  April 2001 to July 20021

  Greater Manchester LSC

  4,800

  9,800

  March 2001 to July 20021

  Greater Manchester LSC

  2,900

  6,800

  1Time period.

  2 TEC also became part of Derbyshire LSC

  Source:

  TEC management information

  LSC Individualised Learner Record

  Degree Courses
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of students graduated from (a) skills-based and (b) academic degree courses in each year between 1997 and 2003; and if he will make a statement. [153536]

  Alan Johnson
  The available information on first degree graduates is taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record and is given in the table. Figures are given on a subject of study basis.
  631W

  2000/01

  2001/02

  2002/032,3

  Subject group

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Medicine and dentistry

  5,964

  2

  6,079

  2

  6,114

  2

  Subjects allied to medicine

  19,474

  7

  20,934

  8

  22,252

  8

  Biological sciences

  18,550

  7

  18,185

  7

  23,168

  8

  Veterinary science

  581

  0

  622

  0

  561

  0

  Agriculture and related subjects

  2,297

  1

  2,315

  1

  2,109

  1

  Physical sciences

  13,021

  5

  12,187

  5

  12,096

  4

  Mathematical sciences

  4,220

  2

  4,066

  2

  4,993

  2

  Computer science/IT

  12,504

  5

  13,857

  5

  17,385

  6

  Engineering and technology

  19,802

  7

  19,760

  7

  18,742

  7

  Architecture, building and planning

  6,246

  2

  6,180

  2

  6,267

  2

  Social, economic and political studies

  21,982

  8

  21,757

  8

  24,435

  9

  Law

  10,034

  4

  9,866

  4

  11,405

  4

  Business and administrative studies

  32,635

  12

  32,628

  12

  38,677

  14

  Librarianship and information science

  4,547

  2

  5,245

  2

  7,146

  3

  Languages

  16,550

  6

  15,488

  6

  19,670

  7

  Humanities

  9,855

  4

  9,816

  4

  13,071

  5

  Creative arts and design

  22,207

  8

  23,026

  9

  26,054

  10

  Education

  11,784

  4

  12,474

  5

  9,301

  3

  Combined

  33,093

  12

  32,569

  12

  9,343

  3

  Total

  265,346

  100

  267,054

  100

  272,788

  100

  1Figures include both home and overseas students.

  2 Figures for 2002/03 are provisional.

  3 The Joint Academic Coding of Subjects (JACS) coding frame was introduced in 2002/03 and replaces HESA's HESACODE classification which was used for years up to and including 2001/02. The main effect of this is to reduce the number of students in the Combined course category and increase those who are allocated to specific subject groups.

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many and what proportion of students enrolled on(a) skills-based and (b) academic degree courses in each year between 1997 and 2003; and if he will make a statement; [153538]

  (2) how many and what proportion of students he estimates will enrol on (a) skills-based and (b) academic degree courses in each year between 2004 and 2010; and if he will make a statement. [153537]

  First Degree Enrolments1 at UK HE institutions by subject

  1997/98

  1998/99

  1999/2000

  Subject group

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Medicine and dentistry

  28,508

  3

  29,032

  3

  29,202

  3

  Subjects allied to medicine

  67,474

  7

  72,288

  7

  75,517

  8

  Biological sciences

  65,932

  7

  66,550

  7

  67,624

  7

  Veterinary science

  2,547

  0

  2,689

  0

  2,846

  0

  Agriculture and related subjects

  7,766

  1

  8,045

  1

  7,518

  1

  Physical sciences

  50,723

  5

  50,222

  5

  49,113

  5

  Mathematical sciences

  15,990

  2

  15,677

  2

  15,633

  2

  Computer science/IT

  47,797

  5

  52,008

  5

  55,973

  6

  Engineering and technology

  87,079

  9

  84,783

  8

  81,372

  8

  Architecture, building and planning

  28,394

  3

  27,372

  3

  26,561

  3

  Social, economic and political studies

  77,561

  8

  79,856

  8

  81,601

  8

  Law

  40,528

  4

  40,535

  4

  39,457

  4

  Business and administrative studies

  112,727

  11

  116,658

  12

  117,408

  12

  Librarianship and information science

  13,789

  1

  14,584

  1

  17,121

  2

  Languages

  63,119

  6

  61,487

  6

  61,699

  6

  Humanities

  36,186

  4

  35,127

  4

  34,589

  3

  Creative arts and design

  73,628

  7

  76,576

  8

  78,819

  8

  Education

  51,896

  5

  49,702

  5

  47,138

  5

  Combined

  117,466

  12

  118,576

  12

  111,020

  11

  Total

  989,110

  100

  1,001,767

  100

  1,000,211

  100

  632W
  Alan Johnson
  The available information on first degree enrolments is taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record and is given in the table. Figures are given on a subject of study basis.

  Projections of student numbers on a subject basis are not available centrally.
  633W

  2000/01

  2001/02

  2002/032,3

  Subject group

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Medicine and dentistry

  30,008

  3

  31,324

  3

  33,063

  3

  Subjects allied to medicine

  77,795

  8

  84,131

  8

  88,535

  8

  Biological sciences

  68,108

  7

  68,913

  7

  93,373

  9

  Veterinary science

  3,015

  0

  3,251

  0

  3,043

  0

  Agriculture and related subjects

  7,418

  1

  7,418

  1

  7,171

  1

  Physical sciences

  46,838

  5

  44,575

  4

  48,111

  4

  Mathematical sciences

  15,869

  2

  15,974

  2

  19,426

  2

  Computer science/IT

  62,245

  6

  68,709

  7

  80,672

  8

  Engineering and technology

  79,665

  8

  79,777

  8

  78,774

  7

  Architecture, building and planning

  25,657

  3

  25,221

  2

  25,543

  2

  Social, economic and political studies

  81,517

  8

  82,248

  8

  96,528

  9

  Law

  39,887

  4

  41,599

  4

  49,936

  5

  Business and administrative studies

  118,336

  12

  121,012

  12

  144,712

  13

  Librarianship and information science

  18,608

  2

  21,252

  2

  29,376

  3

  Languages

  59,575

  6

  58,275

  6

  76,804

  7

  Humanities

  34,972

  3

  36,042

  3

  50,632

  5

  Creative arts and design

  82,221

  8

  86,515

  8

  99,855

  9

  Education

  47,704

  5

  49,908

  5

  38,104

  4

  Combined

  104,474

  10

  106,184

  10

  9,131

  1

  Total

  1,003,912

  100

  1,032,328

  100

  1,072,789

  100

  1 Figures include both home and overseas students.

  2 Figures for 2002/03 are provisional.

  3 The Joint Academic Coding of Subjects (JACS) coding frame was introduced in 2002/03 and replaces HESA's HESACODE classification which was used for years up to and including 2001/02. The main effect of this is to reduce the number of students in the combined course category and increase those who are allocated to specific subject groups.

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency.

  Early Years Development
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many playgroup places were available in each year since 1997. [163141]

  Number of registered childcare places1 by type of provider England 1997–2003—Position at 31 March each year

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  22002

  32003

  Day nurseries4

  193,800

  223,000

  247,700

  264,200

  285,100

  n/a

  n/a

  Full day care5

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  383,200

  Playgroups and pre-schools4

  383,700

  383,600

  347,200

  353,100

  330,200

  n/a

  n/a

  Sessional day care5

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  279,700

  Childminders

  365,200

  370,700

  336,600

  320,400

  304,600

  n/a

  317,200

  Out of school clubs4

  78,700

  92,300

  113,800

  141,100

  152,800

  n/a

  n/a

  Holiday schemes4,5

  20S,000

  256,500

  435,300

  6490,400

  550,400

  n/a

  n/a

  Out of school day care7

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  322,200

  Creche day care7

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  37,200

  n/a = Not available

  1 Figures have been rounded

  2 2002 was a transitional year when Ofsted established its databases and validated the actual number of individuals and organisations that were providing childcare

  3 The number of childcare places and providers are not directly comparable because they were collected differently

  4Data Source: Children's Day Care Facilities

  5 From 1999, places at holiday schemes were counted once for each school holiday during the year. Prior to 1999, places were counted once only

  6 Includes those schemes exempt from registration

  7Data Source: Ofsted

  With the introduction of the National Day Care Standards and the transfer of responsibilities for registration and inspection to Ofsted, childcare places are classified according to whether they are full day care, sessional day care, childminder, out of school day care or crèche day care places. Previously, childcare places were classified according to whether they were provided by day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, childminders, out of school clubs or holiday schemes. Figures for 2003 are not directly comparable with
  634W
  Margaret Hodge
  The information is not available in the form requested. The available information is shown in the table.

  figures for earlier years because they are collected on a different basis. Some playgroups and pre-schools provide full day care and some former playgroups and pre-schools have converted to day nurseries.

  Statistics on the number of childcare places registered in England were published on 19 February 2004 in a report by Ofsted "Registered Childcare Providers and Places in England, 31 December 2003'. The report is available on the Ofsted website www.ofsted.gov.uk/ publications.
  635W

  University Attendance (Greater London)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people attended university from Greater London in each year since 1996, broken down by local education authority. [163069]

  Home domiciled applicants accepted for entry to HE through UCAS

  Year of entry

  LEA

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Barking

  292

  481

  497

  517

  517

  592

  714

  Barnet

  2,325

  2,653

  2,643

  2,643

  2,727

  2,809

  2,870

  Bexley

  801

  897

  926

  817

  961

  990

  1,032

  Brent

  2,027

  2,288

  2,176

  2,387

  2,444

  2,415

  2,479

  Bromley

  1,446

  1,696

  1,688

  1,638

  1.714

  1,807

  1,849

  Camden

  1,383

  1,296

  1,167

  1,139

  1,252

  1,266

  1,218

  City of London

  44

  25

  38

  72

  59

  104

  128

  Croydon

  1,869

  1,969

  1,903

  2,011

  2,224

  2,200

  2,194

  Ealing

  1,823

  2,161

  2,130

  2,337

  2,378

  2,476

  2,600

  Enfield

  1,605

  1,805

  1,687

  1,780

  1,768

  1,884

  1,981

  Greenwich

  945

  1.019

  989

  1,021

  1,049

  1,233

  1,129

  Hackney

  867

  1,249

  1,174

  1,229

  1,246

  1,386

  1,374

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  870

  963

  849

  876

  886

  967

  970

  Haringey

  1,300

  1,565

  1,550

  1,535

  1,541

  1,546

  1,549

  Harrow

  1,709

  1,875

  1,841

  1,999

  2,025

  2,131

  2,173

  Havering

  747

  836

  796

  844

  859

  914

  832

  Hillingdon

  1,049

  1.192

  1,231

  1,219

  1,315

  1,389

  1,538

  Hounslow

  1,291

  1,415

  1,429

  1,424

  1,635

  1,560

  1,610

  Islington

  662

  976

  961

  973

  1,063

  1,053

  1,028

  Kensington and Chelsea

  922

  1,041

  925

  960

  958

  980

  983

  Kingston Upon Thames

  876

  938

  948

  945

  996

  1,113

  1,191

  Lambeth

  1,387

  1,577

  1,511

  1,591

  1,628

  1,794

  1,836

  Lewisham

  1,096

  1,370

  1,291

  1,295

  1,428

  1,511

  1,545

  Merton

  1.158

  1,144

  1,048

  1,157

  1,149

  1,201

  1,241

  Newham

  1,235

  1,625

  1,689

  1,948

  1,938

  2,191

  2,127

  Redbridge

  1,581

  1,708

  1,705

  1,731

  1,931

  2,061

  2,187

  Richmond Upon Thames

  1,035

  1,237

  1,306

  1,216

  1,170

  1,278

  1,207

  Southwark

  1,165

  1,375

  1,394

  1,501

  1,476

  1,607

  1,758

  Sutton

  855

  935

  914

  907

  957

  1,024

  1,096

  Tower Hamlets

  768

  810

  865

  949

  1,085

  1,158

  1,199

  Waltham Forest

  1,031

  1,322

  1,295

  1,322

  1,379

  1,473

  1,527

  Wandsworth

  988

  1,550

  1,484

  1,509

  1,474

  1,559

  1,544

  Westminster

  783

  1,110

  1,082

  1,029

  1.033

  1,082

  1,157

  Total Greater London1

  37,935

  44,103

  43,132

  44,521

  46,265

  48,754

  49,866

  1 Figures exclude those domiciles of unknown LEA.

  Source:

  UCAS

  Further Education
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have applied to take(a) foundation degrees and (b) Higher National Diplomas in each of the past three years. [152648]

  Alan Johnson
  The available information covers those applying through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to full-time foundation degrees and HMDs. Figures are given in the table. There is no central record of applicants to part-time courses.

  Number of applicants1 through UCAS to foundation degree and HND courses

  Year of entry

  Foundation degrees

  HMDs

  2001

  1,330

  52,584

  2002

  5,383

  45,417

  2003

  10,956

  38,046

  1Applicants applying to both foundation degree and HND courses will be counted in both columns.

  Source:

  Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

  636W
  Alan Johnson
  The available information is taken from the Universities and Colleges Admissions service (UCAS) and covers all applicants accepted through UCAS to full time first degree and HND courses. Figures are given in the table.

  Higher Education
  Huw Irranca-Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skill what assessment he has made of whether the proposed reforms to the funding of higher education will affect the choice of place of study of(a) students residing in England and (b) students residing in Wales (i) during the period of this term of the Welsh Assembly Government when an opt-out applies in Wales and (ii) in a future term of the Welsh Assembly Government should it adopt comparable higher education reforms in Wales. [165424]

  Alan Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and I are in regular contact with the National Assembly on these issues. Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency shows that the percentage of Welsh-domiciled full-time undergraduate students studying in Wales rose from 57 per cent. in 1997–8 to 62 per cent. in 2002–03: the proportion of English-domiciled full-time undergraduates studying in Wales has remained at 3 per cent. over the same period. All the evidence we have on sensitivity of demand to
  637W
  raising and deferring a fee of up to £3,000 suggests the impact of higher fees on these trends is unlikely to be significant. If the Higher Education Bill currently before Parliament proceeds to Royal Assent, future decisions on tuition fees will be for the National Assembly. The Assembly has already committed to providing Welsh students who study in England with a package of financial support that is similar to that available to English students, including fee deferral and a grant worth up to £2,700 for low income students.

  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students from England attended higher education institutions in Scotland in each academic year since 2000–01. [164892]

  Alan Johnson
  Figures for the number of English domiciled, full time, undergraduates enrolled at Scottish HE institutions are given in the table.

  English domiciled full time undergraduates at Scottish HE institutions

  Academic Year

  Enrolments

  2000–01

  14,723

  2001–02

  14,841

  2002–03

  14,291

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency

  Table 3.8 Fundingl per Student2 in Higher Education, 1996–97 to 2005–06

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05

  2005–06

  actual

  actual

  actual

  actual

  actual

  provisional

  plans

  plans

  plans

  Funding per student' Real terms (£) Real terms index4

  5,050

  5,050

  5,040

  4,980

  5,020

  5,020

  5,150

  5,190

  5,340

  100

  100

  100

  99

  99

  99

  102

  103

  106

  1 Publicly planned funding on higher education institutions in England includes block grants from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Teacher Training Agency, and public and private contributions towards the costs of tuition.

  2 Full-time equivalent students

  3 The maximum student contribution to fees in 2002–3 is "£1,100. This forms part of the funding above and represents between 20 and 25 per cent. of the average costs of a course.

  4 Real terms index has been based with 1 197-98 set as 100 and using the April 2003 gross domestic product deflators.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the individual public sector budgets from which grants have been made to higher education institutions in the past two financial years. [166688]

  Alan Johnson
  In the last two years, higher education institutions in England have received public funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Teacher Training Agency; the Learning Skills Council; the Student Loans Company; local authorities; the Office of Science and Technology; the Research Councils; the Arts and Humanities Research Board; other Government departments, which commission research or buy services from HEIs, (including the Department of Health, Department for Education and Skills and the Ministry of Defence), and from the European Union, for example from European Social Funds.
  638W
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students from Scotland attended higher education institutions in England in each academic year since 2000–01. [164893]

  Alan Johnson
  Figures for the number of Scottish domiciled, full time, undergraduates enrolled at English HE institutions are given in the table.

  Scottish domiciled full time undergraduates at English HE institutions

  Academic year

  Enrolments

  2000–01

  5,802

  2001–02

  5,891

  2002–03

  5,950

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the level of public spending per student in higher education will be in the current financial year and each of the two subsequent financial years. [166687]

  Alan Johnson
  The table as follows, published in our 2003 Departmental Report, shows publicly planned funding per student to 2005–06. Spending on higher education in 2005–06 will be reconfirmed, and the budgets for 2006–07 and 2007–07 will be set, once the spending review settlement announced on 17 March has been allocated within the Department.

  Medical Students
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the attrition rates for medical school undergraduates were in each year of training since 1997. [162096]

  Alan Johnson
  Information on non-completion rates for higher education students broken down by subject is not held centrally. For full-time first degree students who began their studies in 2000/01, the overall non-completion rate for the UK was estimated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to be 16 per cent., one of the lowest in the OECD.

  Part-time Undergraduates
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the age profile is of part-time undergraduate students in the UK. [152684]

  Alan Johnson
  The available information is given in the table.
  639W

  Part time undergraduate enrolments11 at UK institutions 2002/03

  Age band

  Number

  Under 18 years

  2,285

  18 to 24 years

  73,926

  25 to 34 years

  138,599

  35 to 44 years

  141,947

  45 to 54 years

  77,916

  55 to 64 years

  33,839

  65 years and over

  21,446

  Unknown

  9,935

  Total

  499,893

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency(HESA).

  School Location
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils in Greater London live more than three miles from the school they attend, broken down by local education authority. [165838]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 19 April 2004]: The information requested is shown in the table.

  Numbers of pupils living more than three miles11 from the maintained primary and secondary schools2 that they attend— January 2003

  Primary

  Secondary

  Number of pupils

  Percentage of pupils

  Number of pupils

  Percentage of pupils

  Barking and Dagenham

  269

  1.4

  662

  5.7

  Barnet

  847

  3.3

  5,571

  26.4

  Bexley

  450

  2.1

  2,230

  12.6

  Brent

  1,034

  4.5

  2,291

  14.1

  Bromley

  748

  3.1

  4,113

  18.8

  Camden

  226

  2.0

  1,253

  13.0

  City of London

  30

  13.5

  n/a

  —

  City of Westminister

  487

  4.6

  1,841

  22.1

  Croydon

  844

  2.7

  2,889

  15.6

  Ealing

  459

  1.7

  1,550

  9.9

  Enfield

  725

  2.7

  2,982

  14.1

  Greenwich

  359

  1.7

  1,786

  12.2

  Hackney

  270

  1.5

  312

  3.9

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  218

  2.2

  1,940

  26.5

  Haringey

  364

  1.7

  671

  6.2

  Harrow

  576

  2.9

  889

  9.9

  Havering

  734

  3.6

  2,712

  16.6

  Hillingdon

  625

  2.5

  2,159

  12.4

  Hounslow

  450

  2.3

  2,774

  16.8

  Islington

  250

  1.7

  699

  9.0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  292

  4.2

  736

  20.7

  Kingston upon Thames

  204

  1.7

  1,615

  17.8

  Lambeth

  460

  2.3

  1,224

  16.5

  Lewisham

  348

  1.5

  1,191

  10.2

  Merton

  229

  1.6

  1,264

  14.8

  Newham

  237

  0.8

  612

  3.4

  Redbridge

  580

  2.4

  2.194

  11.1

  Richmond upon Thames

  227

  1.8

  1,016

  13.7

  Southwark

  324

  1.4

  1,016

  9.4

  Sutton

  215

  1.4

  2.322

  15.1

  Tower Hamlets

  388

  1.8

  682

  4.7

  Waltham Forest

  346

  1.6

  582

  4.2

  Wandsworth

  562

  3.2

  1,568

  15.5

  Greater London total

  14,379

  2.3

  55,346

  13.2

  1 Distances calculated are straight line

  2 includes middle schools as deemed

  Source: Pupil Level Annual Schools' Census

  Speech Therapists
  Angela Watkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many colleges in London offer speech therapy courses; and how many places are available on each course. [164162]
  640W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The latest available information from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website (www.ucas.ac.uk). shows that two institutions in London, University College London and City University offer courses in Speech Therapy or Speech Science. The number of students on these courses is not held centrally.

  Angela Watkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many students started speech therapy courses at colleges in London in each year from 1997 to 2004; [164163]

  (2) how many students dropped out of speech therapy courses at London colleges in each year since 1997; [164172]

  (3) how many students (a) qualified as speech therapists from London colleges and (b) entered the profession in each year since 1997. [164173]

  Alan Johnson
  Information on the number of students entering and qualifying from speech therapy courses is not held centrally. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HECFE) publish non-completion rates of students on all full-time undergraduate courses but these are not calculated for individual subjects or courses.

  Student Drop-out Rate
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the drop out rate was for each(a) higher education and (b) further education institution in the latest year for which figures are available. [157565]

  Alan Johnson
  For higher education institutions, the available information on non continuation rates is contained in "Performance Indicators in Higher Education", published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The figures cover full-time first degree courses only, and show, for each individual HE institution in the UK, the numbers and proportion of entrants who failed to complete their course. Copies of the HEFCE publication are available for students starting courses in 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, and are available from the House Library; data for 2000–01 is available from the HEFCE website at http://www.hefce,ac,uk/learning/ perfind/2003/

  In Further Education, figures are routinely presented in terms of the percentage of learners who are retained. In-year retention rates for Further Education Institutions in England can be found in the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) publication "Summary Statistics for Further Education Institutions: England 2000/2001", available at http://www.lscdata.gov.uk/ summary statistics/. A printed version of the relevant table showing in-year retention rates for each institution, along with summary information will be placed in the Commons Library.
  641W

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Servants
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants aro employed in each constituency listed in descending order. [166676]

  Mr. Alexander
  Data on numbers of Civil Servants employed in each constituency is not collected centrally. A breakdown of the number employed in each Government Office Region is published annually in the Civil Service Statistics. Copies of Civil Service Statistics are available in the Library and at www.civil-service. gov.uk/statistics.

  New Deal
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office How many New Deal 50 plus clients were employed in each of the last three years by(a) his Department and (b) all other central Government Departments. [167193]

  Mr. Alexander
  Data on the number of people starting employment under the New Deal 50 plus scheme has been collected on a quarterly basis by the Cabinet Office since July 2002. The available information is shown in the following table.

  Annual

  Number of New Deal 50 plus—Cabinet Office

  Number of New Deal 50 plus— central Government Departments1

  2 January 2003–1 January 2004

  0

  40

  2 July 2002–1 January 20032

  1

  8

  Number of people starting employment under the New Deal 50 plus scheme in all central Government Departments and agencies excluding Cabinet Office.

  Information is not available prior July 2002 when collection began.

  Source:

  Cabinet Office—New Deal Data Collection.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Local Government Finance
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the 10(a) least and (b) most indebted local authorities are. [167063]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) The 10 English local authorities that had the least net debt as at 31 March 2003 are:

  City of London

  Barking and Dagenham

  Basingstoke and Deane

  Bromley

  South Oxfordshire

  St. Edmundsbury

  Dorset

  642W

  Crawley

  East Hertfordshire

  Huntingdonshire

  (b) The 10 English local authorities that had the most net debt as at 31 March 2003 are:

  Newham

  Islington

  Southwark

  Kent

  Lambeth

  Liverpool

  Sheffield

  Leeds

  Birmingham

  Manchester.

  Source:

  ODPM monthly and quarterly borrowing returns.

  It should be noted that authorities with high levels of debt are generally those which have undertaken capital investment. Long-term borrowing to finance capital expenditure was regulated through the issue of credit approvals up until 31 March 2004 and, as from 1 April 2004, is subject to the Prudential System.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the Government intends to change the formula for distribution between authorities of housing revenue account and management and maintenance allowances; and what the sums involved are. [166891]

  Keith Hill
  Following wide consultation with local authorities and others last year, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced changes to the distribution of management and maintenance allowances within HRA subsidy to take effect from April 2004. Full details of each authority's allocation and the new methodology were published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website on 18 December 2003, as part of the General Determination of Housing Revenue Account Subsidy for 2004–05. We are considering some minor, technical improvements to the new formulae for 2005–06 and will of course consult before introducing any further change.

  The changes are purely about distribution and have not made any difference to the total resources available for management and maintenance allowances. Transitional arrangements mean that all authorities will receive at least inflationary increases in their allowances in both 2004–05 and 2005–06, with most receiving more.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the latest allocation of Planning Delivery Grant to each local authority and region. [166899]

  Keith Hill
  The latest allocations of Planning Delivery Grant for 2004–05 has been made available in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he intends to cap the council tax rise imposed by Herefordshire council; and if he will make a statement. [167293]

  Mr. Raynsford
  When the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced the council tax increases for 2004–05 on 25 March, we confirmed that we were ready
  643W
  to use our targeted capping powers if necessary and that we aimed to notify any authorities which might be in line for capping by the end of April. I cannot say in advance which authorities these may be.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to reply to the(a) letters from the Chairman of South Cambridgeshire District Council of 30 January and 2 April and the (b) letter from the hon. Member for South East Cambridgeshire of 30 March, on the Smithy Fen travellers' site at Cottenham and requests for a meeting. [167174]

  Yvette Cooper
  I replied to these letters on 21 April 2004.

  Development Planning
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his latest timetable is for implementing(a) regional spatial strategies and (b) local development documents. [166943]

  Keith Hill
  On commencement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill, the majority of existing Regional Planning Guidance documents will become Regional Spatial Strategies and should be implemented in accordance with the implementation proposals set out in those documents over the 15 to 20 year periods they relate to.

  Commencement of the Bill will also enable LPAs to prepare and adopt Local Development Documents in accordance with the programmes outlined in their Local Development Schemes. The Local Development Schemes will have to be in place by the end of this year and will set out a three-year programme for the preparation of Local Development Documents.

  Drugs Litter
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether powers exist to permit officers of a local authority to enter private property to retrieve drugs litter. [166793]

  Phil Hope
  Any tenant or owner-occupier has the right to enjoy their premises without disturbance. Local authority officers cannot enter private property without permission unless they have been given a specific power to do so. There are no specific powers that we are aware of, which relate to retrieval of drugs litter.

  Fire Safety/Construction Products
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to consult(a) the Association of Fire Consultants, (b) the Passive Fire Protection Confederation and (c) the Active Fire Industry Confederation about European Commission proposals to amend the law on fire safety and construction products. [167223]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The European Commission has not yet published its proposals for amending the construction products directive. When it does, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consult relevant UK 644W
  industry bodies in the usual way. We will ensure that the organisations referred to by the hon. Member are included in any such consultation.

  Mr. Lidington
  to ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on European Commission proposals to make the use of a CE mark mandatory for construction products. [167224]

  Keith Hill
  The European Commission has not yet published any proposals concerning the mandatory or voluntary nature of CE marking. when they do, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consult UK industry in the usual way before deciding on the Government's policy on this matter.

  Fires
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of fires caused by cigarettes in each of the last five years; and how many deaths there were in such fires. [166841]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is in the following table:

  Fires and fatal casualties in fires attended by United Kingdom Fire and Rescue Services that were started by cigarettes and other tobacco products, UK, 1998–2002

  Fires1

  Fatal casualties

  1998

  8,134

  160

  1999

  7,919

  130

  2000

  6,660

  143

  2001

  6,839

  146

  20022

  6,192

  123

  1Estimate based on sampled data.

  2 Excluding a period of 10 days of industrial action in November 2002

  Green Belt
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Government's strategy on building on the Green Belt is. [166945]

  Keith Hill
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member on 15 December 2003 Official Report, Hansard (column 748W).

  Houses in Multiple Occupation
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultations he has had with landlords and landlords' representatives regarding the method by which licensing of houses of multiple occupation will be introduced. [166290]

  Keith Hill
  Landlords and their representatives were consulted on the draft Housing Bill and were subsequently invited to present evidence to the Select Committee that scrutinised the Bill. Ministers and officials have had a number of meetings with landlords' representatives on the licensing provisions in the Bill and how they might be implemented. The Government are committed to continue consultation with stakeholders, including landlords on the implementation of the licensing provisions.
  645W
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce a pilot scheme for licensing of houses of multiple occupation in England and Wales. [166291]

  Keith Hill
  The Government have no plans to introduce a pilot scheme for licensing of houses in multiple occupation in England and Wales.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultations he has had with land lords and landlords' representatives regarding the manner in which central Government will monitor licensing of houses of multiple occupation; and what the results were. [166292]

  Keith Hill
  The Government has not yet consulted landlords or their representatives, on the manner in which it will monitor licensing of houses in multiple occupation. It has undertaken to review licensing within three years of its implementation and it will consult stakeholders (including landlords' representatives) on the terms of reference for that review once plans have been worked up.

  Housing
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of how the Starter Homes Initiative has affected the residents of Burnley. [168313]

  Keith Hill
  Between September 2001 and 31 March 2004, the Starter Home Initiative helped key workers into home ownership in areas where the high cost of housing was undermining recruitment and retention of skilled staff in our key public services. The programme was not available to key workers in Burnley.

  The new Key Worker Living programme which started on 1 April 2004 superseding the Starter Home Initiative is helping key workers in London, the South East and the Eastern regions.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homes have been made available within Liverpool, Walton under(a) the Starter Homes Initiative and (b) the Abandoned Homes Initiative. [166947]

  Keith Hill
  Between September 2001 and 31 March 2004, the Starter Home Initiative (SHI) helped key workers into home ownership in areas where the high cost of housing serves to undermine recruitment and retention of skilled staff in our key public services. The SHI was available in London and the South East region and in some housing hotspots in the East, South West and West Midlands regions. It was not available to key workers in the North West region.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of an Abandoned Homes Initiative. However, our Market Renewal Pathfinders is a comprehensive programme to tackle low demand and abandonment in nine English areas, including Merseyside. The boundaries of the Merseyside scheme were drawn up following an analysis of local housing markets to identify those areas most acutely affected by low demand and abandonment. The integrated approach to spatial and economic issues being adopted by the pathfinders should bring substantial benefits to the wider sub-region.
  646W
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of the Starter Homes Initiative on the residents of Manchester, Gorton. [167464]

  Keith Hill
  Between September 2001 and 31 March 2004, the Starter Home Initiative helped key workers into home ownership in areas where the high cost of housing was undermining recruitment and retention of skilled staff in our key public services. The programme was not available to key workers in Manchester.

  The new Key Worker Living programme which started on 1 April 2004 superseding the Starter Home Initiative is helping key workers in London, the South East and the Eastern regions.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what evaluation he has undertaken of the link between the current level of housing construction and the time it takes to obtain full planning permission. [166900]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises that good performance on planning including having up to date plans in place and an efficient and effective development control service are important to achieving agreed housing numbers although, as the Barker review concluded, they are not the only factors. That is why we are seeking to reform the planning system and increase its resourcing to drive improved performance in these areas.

  Housing Act 1986
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what measures are in place to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the Housing Act 1986; and what their findings are; [166314]

  (2) what measures are in place to assess the impact of the Housing Act 1986 on the housing market; and what their findings are. [166315]

  Keith Hill
  The effectiveness and impact of the provisions within the Housing and Planning Act 1986 have been assessed as part of the development of different aspects of housing policy which led to the bringing forward of subsequent housing legislation. This has led to many of the provisions in the 1986 Act being amended or repealed by:

  the Housing Act 1988;

  the Local Government and Housing Act 1989;

  the Housing Act 1996;

  and other legislation on housing.

  Housing and Planning
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the names and functions are of the organisations and agencies within his Office that relate to housing and planning; what budget is allocated to each; how the efficiency of the different organisations and agencies within his Office that relate to housing and planning is evaluated; and what the efficiency rating is of each such organisation and agency; [166339]
  647W
  (2) what mergers of organisations and agencies there have been since 1997 within his Office that relate to housing and planning; what evaluation has been made of the effectiveness of such mergers; and what the results were; [166340]

  (3) how many staff were employed in 1997 in organisations and agencies relate to housing and planning; and how many staff are employed now in organisations and agencies within his Office that relate to housing and planning. [166341]

  Keith Hill
  An organisational chart showing the current structure and complements of the directorates dealing with housing, planning and related issues in the Sustainable Communities Delivery Unit within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been made available in the Library of the House.

  The allocation for the Housing Directorate's administration expenditure for 2001–05 is £7.216 million. The allocation for Planning is £6.774 million.

  There have been separate housing and planning directorates throughout the period since 1997, although the directorates work very closely together within the Sustainable Communities Delivery Unit.

  The efficiency of these directorates is measured by the progress made against the public service agreement targets for which they are chiefly responsible. This is reported in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's annual report.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002. Information prior to this date is not available. On 1 April 2004, there were 281.14 full time equivalent staff working in the housing and planning directorates.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many PFI projects have been undertaken within the remit of the housing and planning section of his Office since private finance initiative projects were introduced. [166342]

  Keith Hill
  Since the introduction of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects, the Office of the Deputy prime Minister has undertaken 28 Housing PFI projects of which nine are signed, and a further 19 are in procurement.

  Under the Planning section, the Office has not undertaken any PFI projects to date.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what functions the EU requires his Office to undertake with regard to housing and planning. [166343]

  Keith Hill
  Housing and planning are not areas for which the EU has competence. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Planning Directorate has policy responsibility for the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive.

  Housing Bill
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Government estimates the implementation of the 648W
  provisions of the Housing Bill will cost; and what funds the Government have committed to the implementation of the provisions of the Housing Bill. [166287]

  Keith Hill
  The Housing Bill was introduced in the House in December 2003. At that time, the Government made available the Regulatory Impact Assessments for each of the Parts of the Bill. These set out our initial estimates of the costs of implementing the Housing Bill provisions. These included start-up costs for the introduction of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and licensing provisions. They also included start up costs and some additional enforcement costs for the introduction of home information packs.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently in discussion with the Local Government Association about these estimated costs. Final decisions on the commitment of funds are subject to the outcome of the Government's spending review.

  Local Development Frameworks
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made by local authorities in meeting their Public Service Agreement 6 Target to complete all their Local Development Frameworks by 2006; how many authorities he expects to meet the target and how many he expects will not; and what plans he has to use his powers to intervene directly to enable local authorities to meet this target. [166887]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Me Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects the t all local planning authorities will meet the target by having up to date planning policies consisting of policies in saved development plans and new policies in Local Development Documents. At present, there are n o plans to intervene directly with local authorities, but we will keep this under review in the light of the authorities' first Local Development Schemes.

  Local Government Finance (Liverpool)
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much grant has been paid to Liverpool City Council each year since 1997 [166946]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Total grant paid to Liverpool City Council since 1997 I, tabled as follows:

  Total Grant

  £ million

  1997–98

  384.4

  1998–99

  411.7

  1999–2000

  431.4

  2000–01

  469.4

  2001–02

  514.4

  2002–03

  558.7

  2003–042

  583.7

  1 Includes Revenue Support Grant, Redistributed Non-Domestic Rates and Specificand Special Grants inside AEF.

  2 Budgeted figures

  Source:

  1997–98 to 2002–03 Revenue Summary Returns and 2003–04 Budget Estimate Return.

  Management and Maintenance Allowance
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average management and maintenance allowance per dwelling in England was for each year from 1990–91; and what the planned figure is for 2005–06. [166587]

  Keith Hill
  The following tablo shows the average management and maintenance allowances per dwelling in England from 1990–91 to 2004–05. Allowances for 2005–06 will not be announced until December 2004. However they are expected to increase by around 10.5 per cent.

  Average management and maintenance allowances per dwelling in England

  £

  1990–91

  742.57

  1991–92

  772.85

  1992–93

  837.60

  1993–94

  874.86

  1994–95

  906.83

  1995–96

  945.09

  1996–97

  959.99

  1997–98

  960.52

  1998–99

  960.03

  1999–00

  977.84

  2000–01

  1,006.45

  2001–02

  1,035.65

  2002–03

  1,112.70

  2003041

  1,188.33

  1Based on advanced claims for HRA subsidy. Other years from final audited claims.

  Oxfordshire (Barker Report)
  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the implications of the Barker Report for Oxfordshire. [166762]

  Keith Hill
  It is too early to take; any view about the implications of the Barker report for any particular area. Kate Barker's report sets out a challenging agenda for change which will help to carry forward the objectives of our Communities Plan. The Government agrees that, in order to deliver long term stability in housing markets where demand is highest, a substantial increase in housing supply is needed.

  This needs to be delivered as pat t of a package which includes planning reform, a more responsive house building industry and more investment in affordable housing and infrastructure. At the same time, the economic case for increased development needs to be balanced against its social and environmental implications.

  The Barker report looked at the national picture. Any plans to implement its recommendations will also have to take account of the widely differing housing market conditions across the country and our consideration will include the regional and sub-regional dimension. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to establish a long term market affordability goal, linked to housing supply, and consult on its implications at national and regional level within the next 18 months.

  Planning Officers
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many qualified planning officers are 650W
  employed by local government in England; and how many will be required to implement the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill. [166897]

  Keith Hill
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost—However, it is believed that just over 6,100 chartered Town Planners are in post. It is for individual local authorities to determine how many qualified planners they require to fulfil their functions, but the Government have provided Planning Delivery Grant worth £350 million during 2003–06 to help implement planning reforms and improve performance.

  Regional Assemblies
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he proposes that the proposed temporary borrowing powers for cash management purposes for possible regional assemblies will be guaranteed by central Government. [167341]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister proposes to give elected regional assemblies temporary borrowing powers for cash management purposes. It would be unnecessary for central Government to guarantee such borrowing.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for the years 1997 and 2003(a) how many houses were sold under (i) the right-to-buy scheme and (ii) the right-to-acquire scheme, (b) how many council houses were built and (c) how many registered social landlord houses were built. [166898]

  Keith Hill
  The figures are available for financial years 1996–97 and 2002–03 and are tabled as follows:

  1996–97

  2002–03

  Right-to-buy sales—LA tenants

  33,206

  63,394

  Right-to-buy sales—RSL tenants

  2,300

  10,473

  Right-to-acquire sales

  0

  228

  RSL new build completions

  24,630

  13,330

  Council new build completions

  451

  271

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is regarding the percentage of social housing that should be built on land released for residential use by the Ministry of Defence and the additional infrastructure that will be required; and what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on this subject. [166915]

  Keith Hill
  Government policy on the proportion of affordable housing to be provided in new developments is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: "Housing" (2000). This states that local planning authorities should identify suitable areas and sites on which affordable housing is to be provided and the amount of provision which will be sought. Additional infrastructure required by new developments varies from site to site and is a matter for agreement between the parties. Former Ministry of Defence sites are treated in the same way by the planning system as any other development site.
  651W
  There is regular contact between Ministry of Defence and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, including at ministerial level. English Partnerships has been given the role under the Sustainable Communities Plan (February 2003) to find and assemble land, especially brownfield and publicly owned land, for sustainable development.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to amend planning guidance in relation to telecommunications masts. [166941]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to amend planning guidance in relation to telecommunications developments at present.

  Travellers
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he has received on the impact on appeals by travellers against planning enforcement where it can be proven that the appellants own property elsewhere in the EU. [167175]

  Yvette Cooper
  Decisions on planning applications and appeals, including enforcement appeals, are based on the land-use merits of each proposal. Under our `plan-led' system of development control, applications and appeals—including enforcement appeals—have to be decided on their individual merits in accordance with the local planning authority's development plan for the area with reference to other material considerations.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effects of the Human Rights Act 1998 on planning decisions relating to travellers' sites. [167176]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no overall assessment of the effects of the Human Rights Act 1998 on planning decisions, whether they relate to traveller sites or other types of development.

TREASURY

  Special Purpose Vehicles
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special purpose vehicles have been set up since October 2002. [166213]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Information on signed private finance initiative projects is submitted to the Treasury by Departments. This information, which includes the capital value and nature of each project, is available from the HM Treasury website: http://www.hmtreasury.gov.ukidocuments/public_private_partnerships/ ppp_pfi_stats.cfm

  Child Tax Credit (Manchester)
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Manchester, Gorton have received child tax credit. [167473]
  652W
  Dawn Primarolo
  l refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) on 15 March 2004,Official Report, column 98W.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the impact on revenue of the European Court of Justice ruling concerning corporation tax for(a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06, (c) 2006–07 and (d)M 2007–08. [166661]

  Dawn Primarolo
  If refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 5 January 2004,Official Report, column 163W.

  To date, a total of £212 million has now been paid as a consequence of the judgment of the European Court of Justice in the Hoechst case. Around £110 million of this may be recoverable depending on the outcome of a related court case. Current claims in which repayments have not yet been made are estimated to be in the region of £220 million, of which around £150 million depends on the court case. Any further repayments are subject to the other court decisions and a reliable estimate of the tax potentially repayable is not possible at the present time. But because ACT was abolished in 1999 these cases will not reduce corporation tax receipts for future years.

  The Government will also continue the wider-ranging dialogue on international issues that was begun during the August 2003 consultation, with a view to maintaining the competitiveness and fairness of the UK corporation tax regime and ensuring that it remains robust.

  Tax Credits (Overpayments)
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account is taken of claimants' weekly entitlement before tax credit overpayments are recovered. [165411]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Tax credits awards are based on annual entitlement. The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26, "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?", sets out the rules that the Inland Revenue follows when adjusting an award to recover an overpayment.

  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what limits there are on the recovery of overpayments for tax credits. [165415]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for South Down (Mr. McGrady) on 3 February 2004,Official Report, column 828W.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Child Maintenance
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what powers exist to retrieve child maintenance from British citizens who leave the country and go to live in another EU member state. [166727]
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  Mr. Lammy
  A number of international conventions and agreements exist that either provide for an existing maintenance order to be registered and enforced in the country which a parent has moved, or for an order for child support to be made and enforced in that country. These are the United Nations Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance 20 June 1956, the Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Relating to Maintenance Obligations 2 October 1973, the Brussels &s Lugano Conventions 1968 and 1988 (now Council Regulation (EC) 1348/2000 of 29 May 2000—Service of Judicial and Extra-Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters) and the Republic of Ireland Agreement. These reciprocal arrangements apply where the EU country and the United Kingdom are signatories to the treaties. The primary legislation governing these international arrangements are the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 Parts 1 & II, the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (Hague Convention Countries) Order 1993, the Civil jurisdiction and Judgements Act 1982 and the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (Republic of Ireland) Order 1993.

  Debt Recovery
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many county court judgments enforcement agents have been used to recover debts where the ium of money to be recovered is(a) £125 or less and (b) more than £125 in each year since 1997. [166806]

  Mr. Leslie
  My Department is responsible for county court bailiffs only.

  Statistical data by value of the debt enforcement process that county court bailiffs have dealt with, is not collected. The number of county court warrants of execution issued since 1997 is as follows:

  Number

  1998

  543,848

  1999

  538,337

  2000

  470,270

  2001

  394,611

  2002

  372,505

  2003

  355,476

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the proceeds of sales of goods by enforcement agents employed by the county courts was for the payment of(a) council tax and (b) all other debts in each year since 1997. [166807]

  Mr. Leslie
  My Department is responsible for county court bailiffs only. Unpaid council tax is not recoverable through the county courts. It is pursued through the magistrates courts. Certificated Bailiffs are authorised under the Distress for Rent Rules 1988 to enforce nonpayment of council tax on instruct ion from the relevant magistrates court.

  In the county court the most common method of enforcement, where payment of the court order is in arrears, is a warrant of execution. County court bailiffs
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  may remove a debtor's goods for sale to satisfy the amount of the warrant, if payment otherwise is not forthcoming.

  Statistical data is not collected to show the amount recovered from the proceeds of sale of goods for debt.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many county court judgments letters were prepared and sent advising clients that a warrant for the recovery of a debt was with a court-employed enforcement agent in each year since 1997. [166811]

  Mr. Leslie
  If the defendant in a debt case defaults under the terms of the court order, it will be for the creditor to instruct the court to enforce the judgment. The most common form of enforcement for debt is a warrant of execution.

  As soon as the bailiff receives the warrant the defendant will be notified, in writing, that enforcement action has been instigated. The notice tells the defendant, among other things, when the amount of money should be paid to prevent any further action by the bailiff.

  The number of warrants of execution issued since 1997 is as follows:

  Number

  1998

  543,848

  1999

  538,337

  2000

  470,270

  2001

  394,611

  2002

  372,505

  2003

  355,476

  Land Registry
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of all house sales in England the Land Registry completes electronically; and what the target date is for 100 per cent. electronic conveyancing. [166889]

  Mr. Lammy
  Land Registry completes the registration of all house sales in England and Wales electronically. In addition, just over 50 per cent. of pre-contract I inquiries (mainly official copies of the register and official searches) received by the Registry are processed electronically.

  Land Registry continues to extend its range of electronic services and is introducing progressively its electronic conveyancing programme. It aims to launch a pilot of a re-engineered conveyancing system in 2006. In consultation with stakeholders and other interested parties, the programme will be refined and developed and it is expected that by 2010 a large majority of house sales in England and Wales will be conducted electronically.

  Legal Aid (NHS Cases)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what assessment his Department has made of the
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  adequacy of current legal aid arrangements for (a) patients and (b) patients' families in dispute with NHS trusts; [166690]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the case for extending the provision of free legal advice for (a) patients and (b) patients' families involved in formal complaints against NHS trusts. [166691]

  Mr. Lammy
  Legal aid is available for clinical negligence claims, provided that the means and merits tests are passed. We are currently reviewing the present arrangements, and we will be making an announcement on the way forward shortly.

  NHS Negligence Claims
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the likely levels of compensation for deaths where the deceased has no dependants or access to conditional fee agreements by families pursuing negligence claims against NHS trusts. [166694]

  Mr. Lammy
  Where a person dies as a result of another' s negligence the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 primarily provides for compensation for the pecuniary losses of persons who were dependent on the deceased. The Act also enables the recovery of two other heads of damages, namely bereavement damages and reasonable funeral expenses. Bereavement damages are currently set at £10,000, and are available to the deceased's spouse, or if the deceased was under 18 and had never been married, to his or her parents. Access to a conditional fee agreement would have no bearing on the level of compensation awarded.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Hamas
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the activities of Hamas in the United Kingdom. [164889]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 29 March 2004]: I have been asked to reply.

  The military wing of Hamas, Hamas-lzz al-Din al-Qassem Brigades (HIDQ) was proscribed in 2001 under the terms of the Terrorism Act 2000. However, Hamas also engages in social activities, providing welfare, medical and educational services in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. The group is not formally represented in the United Kingdom, but supporters are involved in fundraising and political activity on its behalf. Any allegations of illegal activity are and will be investigated by the appropriate authorities.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the High Commission in Islamabad and UK Visas sent to the Home Office all papers relating to the appeal of Mr. S. M., husband of Mrs. S. K. of Aylesbury(decision 656W
  maker's reference 643686; Gerrys/Fedex case number 90083389; appeal reference 90063159: GV100/86120); and if he will make a statement. [167246]

  Mr. Mullin
  On 5 April UK visas replied to the hon. Member's letter of 19 February advising when the appeal papers for this case were sent to the Home Office. However, I will shortly write to the hon. Member to advise further.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Nigerian Government regarding the violence against Christians in the state of Plateau. [166918]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are concerned about the violence which has affected all communities in Plateau State. We remain in close touch with the Nigerian authorities. Officials from the British High Commission in Abuja recently visited Plateau State and met Christian and Muslim leaders and victims. We have emphasised to the parties and the State Government our conviction that dialogue between Christians and Muslims is the best way to create understanding and mutual tolerance. Coventry Cathedral's center for Peace and Reconciliation is active in Plateau State. We support and have helped fund their work.

  Sudan
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts regarding the EU-led peacekeeping force for Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [167183]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations is planning for a UN peace support operation once a comprehensive peace agreement is in place in Sudan. We are in close contact with the UN on this matter. There are no plans for this peace support operation to be EU-led.

NORTHERN HERN IRELAND

  Energy Costs
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if lie will make a statement on how he plans to implement his policy of using public expenditure to reduce the costs of electricity to business. [166016]

  Mr. Gardiner
  Thy; proposed intervention is part of the continuing drive by Government to reduce the higher electricity costs paid by Northern Ireland businesses in order to improve their competitiveness. The objective is to bring about an average reduction in electricity prices across the business sector of 10 per cent. below the levels they would otherwise have been.

  The proposal is designed to address an element of the legacy costs which followed the 1992 privatisation of the Northern Ireland electricity supply industry. In particular, the intention is to remove the ongoing financial obligation on Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE) arising from the restructuring of the original

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  Ballylumford power station generation contract. The cost of meeting this obligation is currently passed on to the electricity consumers as a Public Service Obligation (PSO) charge.

  Subject to the necessary State aid clearance, the proposed Government intervention would be provided to NIE to offset the equivalent cost to the company of meeting this obligation. The full benefit of the intervention would, in turn, be passed on by suppliers to business customers through a reduction in their electricity bills.

  Gas Prices
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will meet with the Centrica Company to discuss the effects that the proposed rise in retail gas prices will have on. Northern Ireland's consumers; and if he will make a statement. [165165]

  Mr. Gardiner
  Following my meeting with Phoenix Natural Gas on 8 April 2004, the company agreed to suspend its proposed gas price increase. I also met with Centrica on 19 April 2004 when I emphasised the importance of the natural gas industry to Northern Ireland and asked that all parties work together to resolve the various issues and thus secure the long-term future of the industry.

  Gas Supply Industry
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to ensure that a long-term agreement is reached between the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation and the Phoenix gas company to ensure long-term stability in the gas market; and if he will make a statement. [165946]

  Mr. Gardiner
  Phoenix Natural Gas and the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation have been engaged in lengthy and detailed discussions about possible licence amendments aimed at achieving longterm stability in charges and rates of return on assets. While my Department has no formal role in this process, I have made clear to both parties Me importance which I attach to an early resolution of these negotiations in the interests of consumers and the future of the NI gas industry.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce competition into the natural gas industry in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a state merit. [165947]

  Mr. Gardiner
  Under the terms of the regulated Phoenix Natural Gas licence, industrial and commercial gas consumers taking more than 75,000 therms a year already have the opportunity to seek alternative sources of supply. Such open competition arrangements will apply to all other consumers from 1 January 2005.

  Listed Buildings
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether ecclesiastical exemption applies to listed buildings in Northern Ireland. [168011]
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  Angela Smith
  Yes, an ecclesiastical building is exempt from the controls over the demolition, alteration or extension of listed buildings, unless it is used or available for use by a minister of religion wholly or mainly as a residence from which to perform the duties of his office.

DEFENCE

  Aerospace Employment
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to sustain employment in BAE Air Systems divisions. [167316]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence currently has two major programmes with BAE Systems Air Systems, for Typhoon and the Nimrod MRA4, which are supporting many thousands of jobs. Other jobs in the company are likely to be sustained by work for the Department on the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer and the Joint Strike Fighter.

  Boscombe Down
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of Boscombe Down; and what the cost of the establishment has been in each year since 1997. [162147]

  Mr. Ingram
  Boscombe Down is included in the Long Term Partnering Agreement that has been negotiated with QinetiQ for the delivery of a long-term test and evaluation capability to the Ministry of Defence. The financial information requested is commercially sensitive and I am therefore withholding this under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Bradford University School of Peace Studies
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether other universities were invited to tender for the contract awarded to the Bradford University School of Peace Studies by the Ministry of Defence; [167314]

  (2) if he will place in the Library the draft syllabus presented by the Bradford University School of Peace Studies to the Ministry of Defence before the training contract was signed; [167313]

  (3) what inquiries were made into the practical military and peacekeeping experience of Bradford University School of Peace Studies staff before the awarding of a Ministry of Defence contract; and what the results were; [167312]

  (4) what reason Bradford University's School of Peace Studies has been selected to teach UK soldiers about conflict resolution; whether this decision was taken at ministerial level; and what the overall cost will be. [167311]

  Mr. Ingram
  Bradford University is one of nine Universities recently awarded contracts to deliver the Armed Forces' University Short Course Programme to Service personnel. Contract advertisements were placed in major bulletins, such as the Ministry of Defence's
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  Contracts Bulletin and other appropriate media, and fourteen Universities tendered for elements of the programme, which delivers a range of 44 different courses.

  Bradford University's Department of Peace Studies successfully tendered for four courses from the programme. All bids for courses were subjected to detailed technical evaluation against key criteria, including the academic experience of the relevant institution. Contracts were awarded on the basis of fair and open competition to the best overall bidder.

  The contract award did not require a ministerial decision since these are replacement contracts for existing arrangements. The decision was taken by the three Service sponsors, Training Group Defence Agency for the RAF, Army Training and Recruitment Agency and Naval Recruitment and Training Agency.

  The overall cost of the Conflict Resolution course will depend on the actual uptake of the course across the five year period, but will not exceed £125K.

  The MOD's prospectus for the University Short Course Programme 2004–05 is currently being prepared and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House once it has been published. This is likely to be in the Summer.

  Civilian Deaths
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government will pay compensation to the dependants of civilians killed by UK military action in(a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq. [143596]

  Mr. Ingram
  In Iraq, payments are made in accordance with Section 6 of Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 17. This requires claims to be dealt with by the Parent State of the person whose activities are alleged to have caused the loss, in accordance with the national laws of that Parent State. Hence, each claim is treated on its merit according to English Law.

  In Afghanistan, no formal compensation payments have been made.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to reply in full to the letters of 10 March and 6 April of the hon. Member for Woking concerning Warrant Officer 2 Grieves reference D/US of S/IC 0928/04/L. [167170]

  Mr. Caplin
  I replied to the hon. Gentleman on 20 April.

  Defence Medical center (Birmingham)
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total planned cost of the Defence Medical center at Birmingham is; and what savings have been identified from its establishment. [166110]

  Mr. Caplin
  We are currently exploring, in consultation with industry, a number of options for the development of domestic accommodation and the move of all remaining medical training and other functions to 660W
  Birmingham. Planned costs and potential savings remain subject to evaluation of, and final decisions on, the various options.

  Equipment Purchases
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of table 2 from the National Audit Office report Operation Telic—United Kingdom Operations in Iraq, annotated to show the management group by which the equipment was acquired. [161119]

  Mr. Hoon
  A cop, of table 2 from the National Audit Office report Operation Telic—United Kingdom Operations in Iraq. annotated with the relevant Integrated Project Teams, has been placed in the Library today.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of hip Department's management groups purchased equipment under the urgent operational requirements procedure in financial year 2002–03; and what the value was of(a) that equipment and (b) equipment subsequently disposed of. [161120]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Integrated Project Teams that procured equipment under urg ent operational requirement (UOR) arrangements in financial year 2002–03 are shown in the following list. The costs of UORs in 2002–03 totalled some £290 million (of which the capital investment element amounted to around £220 million). Decisions on which UORs will be retained in service are being taken as part of this year's, and subsequent, planning rounds. Data on the value of disposals does not distinguish between equipment purchased routinely and equipment purchased under UOR arrangements.

  Integrated Project Teams that procured UOR equipment in Financial Year 2002–03:

  Air Launched Munitions

  Airfield Operations Systems

  Air Support

  Avionics

  Above Water Warfare Systems

  Battlefield Infrastructure

  C-17 Aircraft

  Close Armour

  Communication and Support Measures

  Chinook

  Communications Messaging

  Combat Supply Equipment

  Command Support Information Systems

  Command Support Vehicles (Heavy)

  Command Support Vehicles (Light)

  Defence Clothing

  Dismounted Close Combat

  Defence Fixed Networks

  Defence General Munitions

  Defence Information structures

  Engineer System Support

  Engineer Vehicles and Plants

  Field Artillery System Support

  Future Artillery Weapon Systems

  Gazelle Helicopter

  661W

  Harrier

  Helicopter Engines

  Hercules

  Information and Communication Systems Support

  Infra-Red Countermeasures

  Logistic Applications

  Land Electronic Warfare

  Light Armoured Support Systems

  Landing Platform Dock

  Lynx

  Military Airborne Communications and Homing System

  Mine Countermeasures Equipment

  Mine Countermeasures Vessels

  Marine Electrical Systems

  Mobility

  Medical Supply Agency

  Nuclear Biological Chemical

  Naval Electronic Warfare

  Nimrod

  Royal Fleet Auxiliary support

  Sensor Avionics and Navigation Systems

  SATCOM Acquisition Team

  Sea King Helicopter

  Sentry

  Successor Identification Friend or Foe

  Strategic Terrestrial Radio Systems

  Tactical Data Links

  Theatre and Formation Communication Systems

  Tank Systems Support

  Tornado

  Technical Services

  Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicles

  Workshop Support Services

  Eurofighter Typhoon
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to conclude his discussions with BAE Systems about the price and quantity of Eurofighter Typhoons that will form Tranche II of the Project. [167315]

  Mr. Ingram
  Discussions with BAE Systems regarding the order for Tranche II Typhoons are ongoing. The quantity that will form Tranche II of the project remains 236, of which 89 will be for the Royal Air Force; this is not under discussion.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what issues prevent him from ordering Tranche II of the Eurofighter Typhoon Contract. [167317]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 February 2004, (Official Report, column 1634W), to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice). The negotiations are still ongoing and must be concluded before Tranche II can be ordered.

  Ferries
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many roll-on roll-off ferries his Department has commissioned since 1997; and how many are in service. [166855]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 21 April 2004]: The Ministry of Defence has commissioned six Roll-On/ Roll-Off vessels since 1997 and all these vessels are currently in service.

  Harrier GR7
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how much longer he expects to retain the Harrier GR7 in service. [167181]

  Mr. Ingram
  The GR7 Harrier is being upgraded to GR9 standard over the next five years. Current assumptions are that the Harrier GR9 will remain in operational service with the Royal Air Force until the middle of the next decade.

  Jaguar
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the RAF Jaguar Aircraft. [167184]

  Mr. Ingram
  Based on current plans the Jaguar fleet will be withdrawn from Royal Air Force service by 2009.

  Land Releases (Hampshire)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's current programme for land releases in Hampshire. [166916]

  Mr. Caplin
  Sites currently scheduled for release in Hampshire include:

  DM Dean Hill Main Site and adjacent land

  Site A Monxton Road, Andover

  Daedalus Conservation Area in Broom Way

  Property at frontage of DM Gosport in Fareham Road

  Aldershot—Burger King Site

  Aldershot—Ski slope site

  Farnborough—Queensgate site

  Farnborough—Former Officers Mess

  Farnborough—Civil enclave

  Farnborough—Garages at Lancaster Way

  Farnborough—Woodland at Norris Bridge

  Farham—Woodland at Old Park Lane

  In addition, as I announced on 23 March 2004, the Ministry of Defence is undertaking further work to examine where estate rationalisation might be possible, with the aim of consolidating defence activity at a smaller number of more densely utilised locations in order to achieve the optimum use of land and facilities. This on-going work covers the whole of our estate in Great Britain, and takes into account existing relocation studies that have already been announced.
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  The Department is currently at an early stage of this wider review and each proposal that emerges from this work will be subject to full consultation in the normal way. No decisions have yet been reached on any further sites in Hampshire.

  Qinetiq
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions were included in the transfer of Defence Evaluation and Research Agency assets to QinetiQ for clawback in respect of development land sales; and what sums are expected to be clawed back in respect of the sale by QinetiQ of the former MoD Longcross site at Chertsey. [165869]

  Mr. Caplin
  All of the freehold sites transferred to QinetiQ at Vesting of the Company were subject to a clawback agreement.

  The total receipts from the disposal of the Chertsey site, of which the Longcross test track site forms a part, are unlikely to be fully realised for several years and it is therefore difficult to anticipate what sums, if any, will accrue to MOD from the clawback provisions.

  Approximately the first £50 million of receipts from this site secures a loan made by MOD to QinetiQ, and this sum will therefore be paid back to MOD as QinetiQ receives the sums from the purchaser.

  RAF Bases
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of(a) RAF Coltishall and (b) RAF Wittering. [167182]

  Mr. Ingram
  On current plans the Royal Air Force will have no continuing requirement for RAF Coltishall once the Jaguar aircraft goes out of service.

  RAF Wittering is one of the stations under consideration as part of the review into the future basing of Air Combat Service Support Units and minor units. I will be making a written statement on this review shortly.

  Suez Medal
  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long on average it has taken from a claim to an award of the Canal Zone Medal. [165484]

  Mr. Caplin
  It is not possible to calculate the average time taken from a claim to an award of a Canal Zone Medal. However, as at 16 April the four single Service medal offices had received 37,512 applications. Many arrived following the Prime Minister's announcement on 11 June 2003 that a medal would be instituted and a large backlog had built up by 23 October 2003 when I announced that medals would now be available. 6,700 medals and/or clasps have been despatched to veterans or their families. The medal offices are currently assessing applications received on the following dates.

  Service Medal Office

  Applications received

  Royal Navy

  8 July 2003

  Royal Marines

  6 February 2004

  Army

  31 August 2003

  RAF

  4 November 2003

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many objections were made by his Department against pre-applications to build onshore wind farms in each of the last five years; and how many pre-applications for onshore wind farms were made in each of these years. [159735]

  Mr. Caplin
  In the period 1999 to 2003 the Ministry of Defence objected to a total of 796 pre-planning applications for onshore wind power projects.

  Proposals

  Objections

  19991

  65

  39

  20001

  158

  51

  2001

  333

  141

  2000

  985

  398

  2001

  685

  2167

  1There was no formal wind farm safeguarding team within the Department prior to August 2000, and statistics for 1999 and part of 2000 are, therefore, b iced on the best data currently available.

  2260 awaiting resolution.

  Many pre-applications are made by developers purely speculatively, and there is no data currently available to show how many pre-applications to which the Department does not state an objection are actually followed through. A here the Department does raise an objection MOD officials are always willing to work with the developer in order to determine whether a mutually acceptable solution can be found to enable a development to go ahead.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Disabled Workers
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the measures introduced to improve the working conditions of disabled worker. in Crosby over the last seven years. [160526]

  Maria Eagle
  We have a number of measures in place nationally to help improve conditions for disabled people at work, as well as measures to improve their access to services generally. None of these are specific to Crosby, but all are available to disabled people who live and work there.

  From 1996, the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act required most employers of 20 or more staff not to discriminate against, and to make reasonable adjustments for, disabled job applicants or employ;,es; in December 1998, we reduced this threshold to 15 employees. From October this year, the small employer exemption will be removed and most currently excluded occupations, such as police officers, fire-fighters, and partners in business partnerships will be brought within the scope of the Disability Discrimination Act employment provisions.

  Jobcenter Plus runs a number of specialist programmes providing help for disabled people, including New Deal for Disabled People, Workstep, Access to Work, th Job Introduction Scheme, and Work Preparation. All these programmes provide

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  practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers to help overcome work related obstacles resulting from disability. Since 1997–98 there have been year on year increases in both numbers helped and programme spend.

  To help people access appropriate help, Jobcenter Plus has established a network of Disability Service Teams. The teams are made up of Disability Employment Advisors, Access to Work Advisers and Occupational Psychologists; their services are accessed through local Jobcenters.

  Since April 2003, disabled people in work have been receiving financial support through the Working Tax Credit. This is available if a person is working an average of at least 16 hours per week (self-employed or for an employer); and have a disability which puts them at a disadvantage in getting a job. 70,000 families

  Current D W P Modernisation Projects employing External Consultants

  Project name

  Brief description of the project

  Child Support Reform

  This project will implement the Child Support Reforms, involving the transformation of the existing CSA business processes and structures, through the introduction of a new IT system that supports new rules, legislation and operating model.

  Customer Management System

  This system is an information gathering business process for working age IS/JSA/IB benefit claims. It will allow information supplied by the customer to be gathered electronically by staff, improving efficiency and customer service. Staff will be able to check information supplied against that already held. The system will also support the arrangement of work-focused interviews.

  Debt Management

  The Debt Programme introduces a new organisational structure based on 10 Debt centers and a Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) package to provide new Management Information systems, combined with increased focus on the management and ultimately reduction of debt stock.

  Digital Office Infrastructure (formally Early Office Infrastructure)

  DOI aims to implement a modern IT infrastructure platform across the Department allowing access to the intranet and intranet and modern business software.

  New Tax Credits

  This project supports the implementation of new tax credits by Inland Revenue by putting a tax credits service in place for DWP customers (principally through Jobcenter Plus) and ensuring that necessary amendments are made to DWP benefits.

  Payment Modernisation Programme

  The Payment Modernisation Programme aims to establish direct payment into a bank, building society or post office card account as the normal, convenient method of payment for all customers. This includes those who wish to collect their money from the Post Office. (The national banking infrastructure was successfully implemented in April 2003 through the Universal Bank project).

  Pension Credit

  This project successfully introduced pension credit in October 2003 and aims to increase the take-up of pension credit. It will deliver new IT functionality to existing DWP systems, and associated business products (e.g. training, staff guidance, customer notifications).

  Pensions Transformation Programme

  This Programme will transform the Pension Service bringing together business and IT change in ways that improve customer and staff satisfaction and deliver efficiencies.

  Resource Management System

  This programme will provide modernised HR, financial and procurement functions for DWP staff. These systems will introduce significant business process change, enabling Departmental resources to be managed more effectively.

  Pensions Forecasting

  We have introduced a modernised IT system to support the growing numbers of combined forecasts we are producing.

  ISCS/JSAPS Modernisation

  The key objectives are to improve interfaces with other DWP systems to reduce fraud and error; reduce costly clerical interventions by improving work management systems; improve customer service by enabling staff to view on-line system generated letters; provide a modern user interface for ISCS and JSAPS.

  `Focus' Human Resources Modernisation Programme

  The Human Resources Modernisation Programme includes:

  HR Service center Modernisation to restructure the existing HR Service centers and consolidating Jobcenter Plus HR administration;

  design and delivery of a range of technologies required for the modernisation of learning and development over three-year period;

  a strategy to ensure delivery of effective leadership development and education to senior managers and those identified as potential leaders;

  review of the current payroll system to ensure it is capable of delivering changes to the DWP reward strategy.

  666W
  (including over 32,000 adults without children) are benefiting from the disability element within the Working Tax Credit, compared to 38,000 who benefited from the old Disabled Person's Tax Credit.

  External Consultants
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a list of the projects on which his Department employed external consultants in each of the last six years. [152844]

  Maria Eagle
  The information requested for each of the last six years for all projects is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The following table provides a list of current modernisation projects that have employed external consultants. It should be noted that project details may alter as they pass through the project lifecycle.
  667W

  Current DWP Modernisation Projects employing External Consultants

  Project name

  Brief description of the project

  Customer Information System

  The Project will deliver a database of key customer information to be shared across DWP. The database will complement information currently available in the Department's key customer information systems, i.e. Personal Details Computer System and Departmental Central Index, and become their replacement. The Project will use cost-eflective modern technology with minimum impact on the existing systems.

  Managing Core Systems Estate

  The objective of this project is to undertake, and where appropriate plan the activities necessary to maximise the effectiveness of the legacy systems in future.

  Working Age IS/IT Strategy Programme (formally IT Development Programme)

  This programme made up of a series of individual protects, three of which are:

  Better Off Calculator—This project will support the Government's focus on getting people back into work by illustrating how they would be better off working. It will be available to Jobcenter Plus staff, other DWP users and to citizens as a self-service package.

  Assessment Engine—The Assessment Engine will automate (as fully as possible) the assessment of income support and other benefits.

  Entitlement Management—This will increase the level of automation of the entitlement management processes reducing or eliminating the need for clerical intervention.

  Disability and Carers Service Change Programme

  This is an over-arching change programme that brings together a range of infrastructure projects, covering process, IT and telephony changes, into a single coherent programme. The programme will design and deliver changes to business, processes and Information Technology (IT) and support ongoing changes to the business organisation and telephony to reflect the emerging DCS Business Model.

  Note:

  This list is based on the best possible match between information from our systems to monitor DWP Modernisation projects and separate systems to monitor all use of consultancy across DWP. The list is not complete because a list of all projects is not available and differences in recording the names of projects in the different systems makes matching between them difficult.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many(a) men and (b) women receiving incapacity benefit payments made on mental health grounds in relation to (i) depression, (ii) stress, (iii) anxiety and (iv) behavioural problems received these payments for longer than five years in each year since 1997; and if he will break these payments down by region; [164718]

  (2) how many (a) men and (b) women receiving incapacity benefit payments made on mental health grounds in relation to (i) anxiety and (ii) behavioural problems received these payments for longer than

  Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance commencements each year since 1997 by diagnosis, and whether they previously received JSA

  Year to November

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Men

  All IB/SDA commencements with a diagnosis of depression of which the following were:

  56.2

  51.7

  55.3

  58.6

  59.7

  59.7

  61.9

  Previously receiving JSA (income based)

  23.1

  18.7

  20.5

  20.9

  21.8

  22.3

  22.6

  Previously receiving JSA (contributory)

  3.5

  3.5

  4.1

  3.8

  3.8

  4.2

  4.6

  Previously receiving JSA (IB and C)1

  1.0

  0.8

  1.2

  1.0

  0.9

  1.4

  1.3

  All IB/SDA commencements with a diagnosis of stress/anxiety of which the following were:

  39.1

  35.0

  35.4

  36.3

  36.5

  35.5

  33.9

  Previously receiving JSA (income based)

  15.2

  12.1

  12.8

  13.7

  13.2

  11.6

  11.8

  Previously receiving JSA (contributory)

  2.3

  2.1

  2.2

  1.7

  1.9

  2.1

  2.3

  Previously receiving JSA (IB and C)1

  0.6

  0.6

  0.6

  20.4

  0.6

  0.6

  0.6

  All IB/SDA commencements with a diagnosis of behavioural issues of which the following were:

  20.1

  —

  —

  20.1

  —

  —

  —

  Previously receiving JSA (income based)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Previously receiving JSA (contributory)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Previously receiving JSA (IB and C)1 of which the following were:

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  668W
  (A) one month, (B) six months, (C) a year, (D) two years and (E) five years in each year since 1997; and if he will break these payment down by region. [164719]

  Maria Eagle
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) men and (b) women receiving incapacity benefit made on mental health grounds in each year since 1997 in relation to (i) stress, (ii) behavioural issues, (iii) anxiety and (iv) depression previously received (A) income-based and (B) contribution-based jobseeker's allowance. [164720]

  Maria Eagle
  The information is in the table.
  669W

  Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance commencements each year since 1997 by diagnosis, and whether they previously received JSA

  Year to November

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Women

  All IB/SDA commencements with a diagnosis of depression of which the following were:

  51.7

  51.4

  51.1

  54.3

  57.2

  59.3

  56.5

  Previously receiving JSA (income based)

  11.6

  10.3

  11.2

  12.1

  12.2

  12.0

  12.4

  Previously receiving JSA (contributory)

  2.7

  2.3

  2.2

  2.4

  2.4

  2.9

  2.9

  Previously receiving JSA (IB and C)1

  0.5

  20.3

  20.2

  20.3

  20.2

  20.2

  20.3

  All IB/SDA commencements with a diagnosis of stress/anxiety of which the following were:

  33.8

  30.8

  30.8

  32.7

  32.2

  31.6

  30.2

  Previously receiving JSA (income based))

  7.4

  5.8

  6.7

  6.2

  6.3

  6.0

  5.8

  Previously receiving JSA (contributory)

  2.0

  1.8

  1.5

  1.8

  1.4

  1.6

  1.7

  Previously receiving JSA (IB and C1

  20.2

  20.1

  20.2

  20.1

  20.2

  20.1

  20.1

  All IB/SDA commencements with a diagnosis of behavioural issues of which the following were:

  2.9

  3.0

  2.7

  2.4

  2.4

  2.6

  2.2

  Previously receiving JSA (income based)

  20.3

  20.3

  20.3

  20.2

  20.2

  20.1

  20.3

  Previously receiving JSA(contributory)

  20.2

  20.1

  20.2

  20.2

  20.2

  20.1

  20.1

  Previously receiving JSA (IB and C)1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Analysis considers whether or not an individual has received JSA in the year prior to commencement of their receipt of IB/SDA. Some individuals have received both JSA(IB) And JSA(C) in the year previous to their receipt of IB/SDA.

  2 Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are shown in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. These figures have been updated to include late notified commencements. All figures back to 1995 have been revised, and may be subject to further change: figures prior to 2002 are subject to minor changes; figures for 2002 include fewer late notifications than previous quarters and will be subject to greater change in future; figures for the latest quarter do not include any late notifications and are subject to major changes in future quarters. For illustration purposes, total commencements for November 2002 increased by 15 per cent. in the year following their initial release.

  3. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  4. It is not possible to separate out the stress and anxiety categories.

  5. All diagnoses are coded using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, published by the World Health Organisation.

  Source:

  DWP-IAD Information center, 5 per cent. samples.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the expansion of the specialist personal adviser service to support longer-term incapacity benefit recipients announced in the Budget will be available(a) for the Jobcenter Plus pathways to work pilots and (b) to all New Deal for Disabled People programmes. [167241]

  Maria Eagle
  In his recent Budget statement, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced new measures to be piloted in the seven Jobcentre Plus Pathways to Work areas.

  We will provide three additional mandatory work-focused interviews (WFIs) for those incapacity benefits claimants who started a claim in the two years before the pilots started, excluding the most severely incapacitated cases. These interviews will be designed to identify those who retain an interest in getting back to work and to provide effective support to enable them to do that. In addition, we will offer a new job preparation premium of £20 per week, payable for a maximum of 26 weeks to encourage participation in relevant activity that supports a return to work. These measures will be brought in from early next year and will be fully evaluated.

  Existing IB recipients attending WFIs will be offered access to New Deal for Disabled People as part of the range of provision currently available in Pathways to Work areas.
  670W

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the categories of pension credit recipient who are entitled to a level of guarantee credit in excess of the standard level. [167319]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The guarantee credit provides, or contributes towards, a guaranteed minimum level of income of £105.45 a week for single people aged 60 and over (£160.95 for couples). These standard amounts may be more for people who have caring responsibilities, are severely disabled or have certain housing costs.

  For some people who were getting transitional protection in their income support or jobseeker's allowance before they started to get pension credit a transitional extra amount may be included.

  State Second Pension
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from what date entitlement to the State Second Pension will accrue on a flat-rate basis; and if he will make a statement. [167318]

  Malcolm Wicks
  No decision has been taken as yet regarding the date from which State Second Pension may begin to accrue on a flat-rate basis.

  Southern Africa: Food Aid
  Southern Africa: Food Aid
  Afghanistan: DfID Assistance
  Afghanistan: DfID Assistance
  Southern Health and Social Services Board Pharmacy Practices Committee
  Southern Health and Social Services Board Pharmacy Practices Committee
  Irish Language Agency
  Irish Language Agency
  Cross-Border Implementation Bodies
  Cross-Border Implementation Bodies
  Northern Ireland Civil Service: Remuneration
  Northern Ireland Civil Service: Remuneration
  Northern Ireland: Targeting Social Need
  Northern Ireland: Targeting Social Need
  Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
  Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
  Defence Information Systems
  Defence Information Systems
  War Widows
  War Widows
  Disabled Children: Truancy
  Disabled Children: Truancy
  Pensions Bill
  Pensions Bill
  Azinphos-methyl: Inveresk Study
  Azinphos-methyl: Inveresk Study
  DrugScope
  DrugScope
  Orchards
  Orchards