Written Answers of 24 February 2004

HEALTH

  Health Facilities (Eastern England)
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for(a) new diagnostic and treatment centres and (b) new acute hospitals in the eastern region of England. [155731]

  Dr. Ladyman
  By 2005 there will he a further four new Treatment Centres in the eastern region of England providing services for NHS patients. In addition further investment is being made in expanding NHS hospital services at four main sites.

  National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made in preparing a national service framework for long-term conditions. [155732]

  Dr. Ladyman
  We are making good progress in developing the national service framework for longterm conditions which will focus on improving services for people with neurological conditions. We plan to publish the framework in December 2004 for implementation from 2005. Only yesterday, I met the Chairs of the External Reference Group to discuss progress, and I expect to receive final advice from the group in the spring.

  Children's Hospices
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to change the amount of NHS funding allocated to children's hospices. [155733]

  Dr. Ladyman
  National Health Service funding is available through negotiation between children's hospices and primary care trusts. which are responsible for funding health care for their resident population. There are no limits to the amount of funding which may be provided; this is for local decision.

  Benzodiazepines
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement regarding guidance issued to doctors concerning the prescribing of benzodiazepines. [155734]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Guidance on the prescribing of benzodiazepines is provided in i he British National Formulary, which is sent to all doctors within the National Health Service and on the Internet at Electronic Medicines Compendium. The guidance has been reiterated in the Chief Medical Officer's Update 342W
  dated January 2004 Which announced the Department's intention to introduce instalment dispensing of benzodiazepines to minimise access to extensive doses.

  Obesity
  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to combat obesity in school children. [155735]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government takes the issue of tackling obesity in children very seriously. Prevention is the best long-term approach, by improving diet and promoting physical activity. Strategies are being developed through the Food and Health Action Plan that promotes healthy diet and the Activity Co-ordination Team that promotes physical activity.

  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to tackle obesity through increasing physical activity. [155742]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Together with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport, I chair the cross-Government Activity Co-ordination Team, which is preparing a delivery plan on how the Government will increase physical activity in England. We aim to publish a consultation document on physical activity proposals in April as part of the Public Health White Paper consultation process.

  I have also commissioned 10 Local Exercise Action Pilots across England, which are currently under way. These will evaluate a range of different methods—and establish which are most effective—in driving up sustained physical activity rates across the population.

  Domiciliary Care
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on domiciliary care. [155736]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations 2002 and National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care came into force on 1 April 2003. People using domiciliary care services are protected for the first time by a regulatory framework.

  Progress on the target to increase by March 2006 the number of those supported to live intensively at home to 30 per cent. of all those being supported at home or in residential care, is encouraging. The percentage has risen by nearly two points from 27.2 per cent. to 29 per cent. in 2002–03.

  Tertiary Treatment Costs
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the cost of travel and accommodation for(a)patients undergoing tertiary treatment and (b) their relatives or carers. [155737]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Patients eligible under the NHS Low Income Scheme are entitled to full or partial reimbursement of their costs to hospital under the Hospital Travel Cost Scheme. The transport costs of an escort may also be reimbursed, but not the cost of accommodation, or any cost associated with relatives.
  343W

  General Practitioners
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of out-of-hours general practitioner services. [155738]

  Mr. Hutton
  Primary care trusts are working with general practitioners and other organisations to develop out-of-hours services that meet national quality standards and local needs. With more direct control over the way these services are commissioned and provided they will be able to ensure they are better integrated with other unscheduled care services.

  Trauma Consultants
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of trauma consultants needed by the NHS in 2010; and how many such consultants there were on the latest date for which figures are available. [155739]

  Mr. Hutton
  As at 30 June 2003, there were 1,396 consultants in trauma and orthopaedic surgery, an increase of 32 per cent. since September 1997. We are planning to increase trauma and orthopaedic consultant numbers by a further 9 per cent. between March 2004 and March 2006.

  The national health service will continue to plan, for three-year periods, its future workforce requirements and steps will be taken to address the identified need.

  Hospital Star Ratings
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the star rating system for hospitals. [155740]

  Mr. Hutton
  From April 2004, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection will take over the responsibility for performance rating the national health service. It will be up to CHAI to determine what form performance assessments will take in the future.

  Crohn's Disease
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of bone marrow treatment for those suffering from Crohn's disease. [155741]

  Dr. Ladyman
  While we welcome new developments that improve our understanding of distressing conditions like Crohn's disease, we would need to see a rigorous scientific and clinical analysis of this particular procedure, and its outcomes, before we could judge whether it was suitable for NHS patients with Crohn's disease.

  The assessment of new treatments is a gradual process. Evidence from clinical trials may suggest that a new treatment is effective. Further research is then undertaken to provide substantive evidence around issues like long-term safety, before moving to the implementation stage. We have to await evidence provided by the medical and research community before we implement new procedures and treatments.

  Ambulances
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provison is made for ambulance drivers to receive(a) initial and (b)refresher training; and if he will make a statement.[155462]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  National health service trusts are responsible for ensuring that their staff are suitably trained and qualified to perform their duties. Ambulance staff employed on emergency driving duties receive initial driving training, are required to satisfy proficiency standards and to receive periodic refresher training to maintain proficiency in accordance with a national syllabus and standards.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has published on the vision levels that ambulance drivers need to achieve and on how frequently they should receive eye checks. [155463]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Through its occupational health service each national health service trust is responsible for setting and monitoring staff health standards—including eyesight—and for ensuring that they conform to driver licensing requirements and relevant occupational health guidance.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what standards of driving test ambulance drivers are required to meet; and what the failure rate was in each year since 1997. [155464]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Ambulance drivers are required to hold the driving licence appropriate to the class of vehicle they drive and to undertake training and an assessment as part of their initial and refresher training. Information on success or failure rates is not held centrally.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the guidelines published by his Department on the disciplinary code for ambulance drivers. [155465]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Each national health service trust is responsible for developing, adopting and implementing an appropriate disciplinary code for its staff.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what disciplinary measures are taken against ambulance drivers who are involved in road accidents. [155466]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  It is the responsibility of each national health service trust to investigate any accidents, alleged failure or misconduct on the part of its staff and where necessary to instigate disciplinary action in accordance with its local procedures.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance drivers in the NHS have not received additional driver training; and if he will make a statement. [156002]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We are not aware of any specific instance of a national health service ambulance driver having failed to receive suitable driving training.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date specialist ambulance driver training became mandatory. [156003]
  345W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The mandatory requirement is that ambulance drivers are requited to hold the driving licence appropriate to the class of vehicle they drive. In addition, ambulance drivers engaged on emergency duties should undertake specialist driver training in an accredited driving school as part of the basic ambulance training course. This requirement has been in place since 1968, when the responsibility for ambulance services rested with local government.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accidents involving ambulances there were(a) in total and (b) involving fatalities, in each year since 1997 in (i) England and (ii) each ambulance trust; and if he will make a statement. [156001]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information on accidents involving ambulances is shown in the table. Figures for each individual ambulance trust are not collected centrally.

  Accidents involving ambulances, by : England, 1997–2002

  Severity

  1997

  1998

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Fatal

  4

  3

  7

  4

  3

  5

  Serious

  35

  38

  29

  37

  22

  33

  Slight

  232

  282

  246

  299

  278

  257

  All

  271

  323

  282

  340

  303

  295

  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets for ambulance 999 calls in rural areas have been set; and what the latest figures for performance against these targets are. [154906]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Current ambulance response targets are:category A calls—presenting conditions which may be immediately life-threatening and which should be responded to within eight minutes irrespective of location in 75 per cent. of cases;
  category B calls—presenting conditions which, though serious, are not immediately life-threatening and should be responded to within 14 minutes (urban) and 19 minutes (rural) in 95 per cent. of cases;
  category C calls—presenting conditions which are not immediately life-threatening or serious but should also be responded to within 14 minutes (urban) and 19 minutes (rural) in 95 per cent. of cases; and
  urgent cases—in addition to emergency 999 calls, ambulance services are required to take patients to hospital where the need is identified by a doctor as urgent and these patients should arrive at hospital within 15 minutes of the arrival time specified by the doctor in 95 per cent. of cases.

  Information about performance of ambulance trusts is published annually in a statistical bulletin. The latest data are in "Ambulance Services, England: 2002–03". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and on the Department's website at: www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0313.pdf

  Cataract Operations (Kent)
  Jonathan Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cataract operations will be carried out in Kent in financial year 2003–04. [155729]

  Dr. John Reid
  The Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority plan to provide a total of 11,084 cataract operations this year in Kent. As a result, the 346W
  maximum waiting time for cataract operations in Kent will be down to six months by 31 March 2004—a year-and-a-half ahead of the NHS Plan target.

  Child Social Work Team (Gatwick Airport)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of proposals to fund a joint unit at Gatwick Airport between immigration officials and members of West Sussex Social Services Child Protection Division. [144997]

  Beverley Hughes
  I have been asked to reply.

  We have not as yet received formal proposals from the local authority on the structure and function of a Children Social Work team at Gatwick. The amendment to section 110 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 allows us to provide funding for special projects of this nature, and we will give full and careful consideration to any proposals from West Sussex once we receive them.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION

  Electoral Pilots
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the cost of the Electoral Commission report on Electoral Pilots at the June 2004 elections was. [155119]

  Mr. Viggers
  I am advised by the Chairman of the Commission that the total cost to it of reporting on the most suitable European Parliamentary regions for electoral pilots at the June 2004 combined European Parliamentary and local elections, as directed by the Government under section 6(2) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, is estimated to have been approximately £32,000.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Animal By-Products Regulations
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place the Department's guidelines on the implementation of the EU Directive on Animal By-Products in the Library. [153469]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Guidance is available on the Defra website at hhtp://defraweb/animalh/by-prods/default.htm.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the proposed new EU regulation on animal transport. [155663]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government are seeking measures that result in improved conditions and better enforcement throughout the EU.
  347W
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether there is a central register of those convicted of cruelty to animals in the United Kingdom; [155570]

  (2) whether there is a central register of those banned from keeping animals in the United Kingdom. [155571]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There is no central register of people convicted of cruelty or who have been disqualified from keeping animals. However, the Department is considering, as part of the proposed Animal Welfare Bill, the introduction of an Animal Welfare Enforcement Database, which would assist in the enforcement of animal welfare legislation in England and Wales. It is proposed that the database would include details of those people who have been convicted and disqualified from keeping animals.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the natural predators of the badger are, other than man; and what effect they exert on the United Kingdom badger population. [153961]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Adult badgers have no natural predators, other than man in Britain. It is not unusual, however, for badger cubs to be killed by dogs, foxes and sometimes by adult badgers1.

  Table summary of badgers taken during trial operations to 12 January 2004

  May 1998 to January 1999

  May 1999 to January 2000

  May 2000 to January 2001

  May 2002 to January 2003

  May 2003 to January 2004

  Total

  Triplet Proactive (P) or Reactive (R)

  P

  R

  P

  R

  P

  R

  P

  R

  P

  R

  P

  R

  A

  55

  0

  0

  34

  149

  47

  52

  36

  256

  117

  B

  238

  0

  85

  73

  74

  34

  49

  84

  172

  110

  618

  301

  C

  246

  0

  111

  178

  126

  115

  132

  101

  615

  394

  D

  293

  0

  368

  122

  661

  122

  E

  1744

  0

  96

  62

  258

  126

  1,098

  188

  F

  451

  0

  248

  145

  103

  290

  802

  435

  G

  428

  0

  205

  172

  144

  84

  777

  256

  H

  162

  0

  231

  16

  71

  143

  464

  159

  I

  219

  0

  175

  94

  394

  94

  J

  441

  0

  187

  0

  628

  0

  Sub total

  238

  386

  73

  1,970

  246

  2,057

  641

  1,662

  1,106

  6,313

  2,066

  Total (P and R)

  238

  459

  2,216

  2,698

  2,768

  8,379

  1Combined total for initial and follow-up cull completed in the same culling year

  Note:

  No data for May 2001-January 2002 when trial suspended due to FMD

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs what targets have been set for the bovine TB testing of herds in the last five years for which figures are available; how many have been completed; and how long it will take to clear the backlog of required tests. [155082]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The State Veterinary Service has two targets relating to TB testing of cattle herds:

  95 per cent. of herds to be tested within one month of the due date, and

  100 per cent. of herds to be tested within three months of the due date.

  348W
  The impact of non-human induced mortality on the national badger population has not been quantified.

  1The Handbook of British Mammals (1991). Third Edition. Edited by G. B. Corbet and S. Harris. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many badgers have been culled in each of the(a) proactive and (b) inactive cull areas in each of the selected trial zones in each year since the trials commenced. [155081]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Randomised Badger Culling Trial compares 30 areas of 100 km2, grouped into 10 triplets. One of the following three "treatments" is allocated to each trial area:
  'Proactive' culling whet e badgers are trapped and culled at the outset of the trial and at intervals afterwards.
  'Reactive' culling where badgers are trapped and culled from social groups associated with farms which have a confirmed incident of bovine TB during the course of the trial.
  'Survey only' areas where no trapping or culling takes place. Setts are surveyed regularly to check for signs of unlawful removal of badgers. These areas act as a scientific control against which the impact of the two culling strategies can be measured.

  Culling in the reactive areas of the trial has been suspended.

  Details of the badgers culled in the proactive and reactive treatment areas are given in the following table:

  The following table details the performance figures for the years where figures are available.

  2001

  2002

  20031

  Number of herds due to be tested

  12,207

  19,877

  15,524

  Completed tests within one month of the due date (percentage)

  14.5

  47.4

  78.7

  Completed tests within three months of the due date (percentage)

  22.7

  65.0

  92.7

  1to end September

  The number of tests overdue at the end of December 2003 was 3,623 of which only 163 were more than 12 months overdue (provisional data). This is similar to the number of overdue TB tests recorded before the FMD epidemic.
  349W
  The number of overdue TB tests has remained more or less stable since April 2003, with no significant trend up or down. It is therefore considered that the clearance of the backlog of TB tests, which accumulated during the FMD epidemic, has been completed.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what budget was set by her Department for each year for all aspects of bovine TB research, testing, culling, compensation,

  Expenditure on bovine TB in Great Britain: 1998–99 to 2002–03

  Expenditure in £000

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Compensation1

  3,491

  5,303

  6,632

  9,243

  31,146

  TB testing

  7,247

  8,329

  8,675

  3,571

  12,398

  Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) and associated research

  2,988

  4,392

  6,630

  6,001

  6,479

  Other research (not including RBCT)

  2,541

  4,114

  5,266

  6,112

  6,824

  Other costs2

  8,617

  9,002

  8,996

  5,557

  17,055

  Total (rounded figures)

  24,883

  31,141

  36,199

  30,485

  73,902

  1Includes compensation paid for cattle and deer slaughtered as a result of TB control measures.

  2Includes State Veterinary Service staff costs and diagnosis carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

  Fieldwork costs are included in the expenditure shown for the RBCT and associated research.

  Beef Imports
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much beef was not allowed into the country on health grounds in the last year for which figures are available. [155349]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Centrally kept statistics do not provide information to answer the question in the form asked. I can say that in the year 2003, out of 15,294 consignments of imported meat and meat products, derived from cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses presented for veterinary checks at Border Inspection Posts in the UK, 215 were rejected for various reasons. It is not possible to say how many were rejected on health grounds as consignments rejected for other reasons—for example, because of incorrect certification or because they did not tally with the accompanying documentation, would not be further checked to see if there were also health problems.

  Fisheries
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the(a) operational and (b) safety impact of including steaming time in the days at sea allowance. [150324]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  For vessels using demersal trawls of over 100 mm mesh, the total allocation of days per month is 15, the same as last year, though the total last year included a separately identified element for steaming days. There need, therefore, be no differential impact this year. We do not, however, propose to require vessels to include time lost in life-threatening circumstances at sea (such as going to the aid of another vessel in distress) as part of their allocation.
  350W
  fieldwork and other costs for the last five years for which figures are available; and what the actual spending was in each year. [155083]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Historical information on the budgets originally set for various elements of the bovine TB programme is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a breakdown of the actual spend for the last five financial years is shown in the following table:

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the economic impact on the UK retail market of the UK fishing fleet producing a surplus of haddock in the absence of adequate cod supplies. [152368]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Because of the global nature of the markets for the main whitefish species, the impact of such changes is difficult to quantify, since there is no simple relationship between local catch levels and market prices.

  Flood Alleviation (Somerset)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure that the plans by South Somerset District Council for a Merriott flood alleviation scheme (phase 2) receive early approval from(a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency to enable it to qualify for funding available before 31 March; and if she will make a statement.[155107]

  Mr. Morley
  Following the significant flooding in autumn 2000, the Department agreed to consider special cases supported by the Environment Agency (EA) HQ for particularly deserving river defence schemes that did not achieve the priority score threshold for Defra funding. Such schemes still had to meet the other basic criteria for funding. For special case consideration, EA HQ identified criteria that were then not reflected fully in the priority scoring system. On that basis, they supported a number of special cases that the Department accepted in July 2001. Much of the special case criteria was incorporated into the revised priority scoring system that came into effect in April 2003. When notifying details of 2003–04 allocations to flood defence operating authorities in February 2003, officials indicated that, given special cases were identified as urgent following the autumn 2000 floods, the Department would not expect to extend special treatment beyond 2003–04.
  351W
  I understand that the South Somerset District Council is urgently seeking the necessary consents from the Environment Agency and English Nature and will then submit an application. The Department will consider the application as swiftly as possible.

  Game Licences
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the impact of game licences on(a) the sport of shooting, (b) the quarry species and (c) the environment; and if she will make a statement. [155180]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No assessment has been made of the impact of game licences on the sport of shooting game, the quarry species covered by these licences or the environment more generally.

  Poultry Imports
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2004,Official Report, column 1301W, which EU countries ban the import of chickens infected with salmonella; and for what reasons the United Kingdom does not ban salmonella infected chickens. [155184]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]There are no bans as such on imports into EU countries of live chickens or chicken meat because of salmonella. However, European Community legislation stipulates that live chickens intended for breeding or production imported from third countries have to be accompanied by certification confirming that they are from flocks which have been submitted to a disease surveillance programme for salmonella pullorum and salmonella gallinarum.

  Live chickens traded between member states must come from flocks that are routinely monitored for salmonella pullorum and salmonella gallinarum. In addition, the chickens must be monitored for salmonella while the birds are in quarantine. Those birds intended for slaughter and destined for Finland or Sweden, must be subject to a microbiological test by sampling in the establishment of origin.

  Chicken meat imported from third countries and destined for Finland and Sweden must be subject to a microbiological test by sampling in the establishment of origin.

  The UK complies fully with European Community rules as outlined above.

  Water Supplies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the water supply and urban and rural drainage bodies in England which are companies where a holding company or majority of shareholdings are not of the 352W
  United Kingdom, stating in each case the country and name of the ultimate owner, together with date of acquisition. [145468]

  Mr. Morley
  [pursuant to his reply, 14 January 2004, Official Report, c. 742W]In my answer I referred to information on Cambridge Water and Folkestone and Dover. This was incorrect.

  The correct information for Cambridge Water and Folkestone and Dover is as follows:

  Water only undertakers

  Ultimate holding company and where headquarters is based

  Date of acquisition

  Cambridge Water plc

  Union Electricia Fenosa

  January 2000

  SA (Spain)

  Folkestone and Dover

  Veolia Environnement

  Owned since before

  Water Services Ltd.

  (France)

  1989

  The rest of the answer remains correct.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Amendments
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will ensure that amendments to Bills which appear on the Order Paper are available at the same time on the parliamentary website. [154571]

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  The timetable for electronic publication of House of Commons documents is based on the recommendation of the Information Committee: that they should be made available as soon as practicable after release to Members. However, it also takes into account the potential cost to the House of moving to earlier publication. Although times of publication have been advanced in instances where this can be achieved at little cost, simultaneous publication is not practicable.

  At the moment marshalled lists of amendments are made available electronically by 12 noon on the day of publication in printed form. Discussions with the House's contractor indicate that this time could be brought forward to 9.30 am without giving rise to substantial additional costs; and this option will be pursued

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Recruitment Advertising
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's expenditure on recruitment advertising was in each of the last three years, broken down by publication; and what proportion of such expenditure was(a) to advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other general recruitment advertising. [155520]

  Hilary Benn
  The proportion of our overall advertising expenditure spent to(a) advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other recruitment advertising, is shown in the following table.
  353W

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Total advertising expenditure (£)

  1,208,190.72

  914,571.19

  849,196.36

  Total spent on advertising vacant posts (£)

  836.848.13

  702,098.15

  746,712.70

  Percentage spent on advertising vacant posts

  69

  77

  88

  Total spent on other recruitment advertising (£)

  371,342.59

  212,473.04

  102,483.66

  Percentage spent on other recruitment advertising

  31

  23

  12

  It would involve disproportionate cost for DFID to break down our recruitment advertising expenditure by publication.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Child Murders (Drugs)
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Solicitor-General whether investigations into the criminal cases in which a parent has been convicted of murdering a child will include an assessment of whether(a) cisapride and (b) other drugs contributed to the deaths. [153753]

  The Solicitor-General
  Since the release of Angela Cannings by the Court of Appeal and its published judgment, the Attorney-General has instigated a number of measures. A total of 258 convictions over the last 10 years for the murder, manslaughter or infanticide of a child under two by its parent have been identified. Of those, a total of 72 relate to persons still serving a custodial sentence. These will be accorded the utmost priority. Currently, some 365 boxes of evidence relating to 52 high profile cases have been recovered from central storage and dispatched to CPS areas for them to conduct an initial review. The remaining high profile cases are being recovered from the areas themselves.

  With the help of the Interdepartmental Group a system of review has been established. Each individual case will first be subject to a preliminary review by the relevant CPS Area to identify its key characteristics. Each case will then be reviewed by a central review team to establish whether any features identified by the Court of Appeal in Angela Cannings' judgment make the conviction potentially unsafe. As the review proceeds, the issues in each case will become clearer and the review team will be alert for any factors, including drugs, which were held to have contributed towards the death of an infant.

CABINET OFFICE

  Internet
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is being done to raise levels of internet usage among those sectors of the population whose usage is under the national average, with particular reference to the(a) 55 to 64 and (b) 65 and over age groups. [155264]

  Mr. Alexander
  Opportunities to physically access the internet are now pervasive for all age-groups. Research by the Oxford Internet Institute has found that 96 per cent. of the population are aware of a place where they could get online.
  354W
  For those, like some older people, who may need additional support to get online there is a network of over 6,000 UK online centres which offer community-based internet access and training at low or no cost. Last year the 'Get Started' campaign aimed to drive up internet use among key groups such as the elderly, those with disabilities and the unemployed. Of those who responded, 37 per cent. were over 65 and 45 per cent. were retired.

  In addition on 15 December 2003 the Government announced a Digital Inclusion Panel which will advise Government and industry on how to ensure a digitally United Kingdom. Digital connectivity among older age-groups will be one
  area to be reviewed.

  Better Regulation
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list executive board members appointed to promote better regulation, broken down by department; and what their respective private sector experience is in each case. [155277]

  Mr. Alexander
  As of 1 February 2004, the network of departmental board level members for better regulation consisted of:

  Board member

  Margaret Aldred

  Home Office

  Alan Davey

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  Karen Dunnell

  Office for National Statistics

  Eddie Frizzell

  Scottish Executive

  Paul Gray

  Department for Work and Pensions

  Stephen Haddrill

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Mike Hanson

  HM Customs and Excise

  Dave Hartnett

  Board of Inland Revenue

  Donald Mcrae

  Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs

  Peter Makeham

  Department for Education and Skills

  Willy Rickett

  Department for Transport

  James Sassoon

  HM Treasury

  Jonathan Spencer

  Department of Constitutional Affairs

  Richard Stagg

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Pat Stewart

  Food Standards Agency

  Hugh Taylor

  Department of Health

  Peter Unwin

  Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

  Jane Willis

  Health and Safety Executive

  Baroness Young of Old Scone

  Environment Agency

  These senior departmental nominees draw on a wide range of experience in advising within their organisation on private sector, public sector and European regulatory issues.

TRANSPORT

  A35
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to upgrade the A35 between Dorchester and Honiton. [155299]
  355W
  Mr. Jamieson
  There are no current plans for significant upgrading of the A35 between Dorchester and Honiton.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve(a) traffic flow and (b) road safety at Raymond's Hill on the A35. [155300]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Highways Agency substantially completed a safety improvement scheme at Raymond's Hill last year, which includes new signs, red anti-skid surfacing and two traffic islands. It will prevent overtaking through the junction, help traffic entering or crossing the trunk road and assist pedestrians crossing the road. A reduction of the speed limit to 40 mph is also planned and this proposal has recently been advertised.

  The new scheme will have limited effect on traffic flow but should make a significant improvement to road safety. Its impact will be monitored to see if further measures are necessary.

  A404
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he will set a date for the resurfacing of the A404 Marlow by-pass; [155068]

  (2) whether the A404 Marlow by-pass meets the criteria for remedial action on environmental grounds to reduce noise pollution. [155069]

  Mr. Darling
  The A404 Marlow Bypass is currently in a satisfactory condition as far as safety is concerned and is not expected to require resurfacing within the next few years. As a result, no date has yet been set.

  However, I can confirm that the A404 Marlow Bypass meets the criteria announced on 22 March 1999 for consideration for remedial action on environmental grounds to reduce noise pollution.

  Aviation Security
  Jim Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with counterparts in the Transport Safety Authority of the US Administration concerning matters of aviation security. [155221]

  Mr. McNulty
  Departmental officials are in very regular contact with their opposite numbers in the US Transportation Security Administration, about a range of aviation security matters.

  Central Railway
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will investigate the disclosure to the Sunday Telegraph of the Strategic Rail Authority's latest study of the Central Railway proposal; and if he will make a statement. [155242]

  Mr. McNulty
  It is not the Department's practice to comment on such matters.

  Cycling
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list for each local authority the financial support given by the Department to support cycling proficiency tests in 2003–04; [155868]
  356W
  (2) how many cycling proficiency tests were completed last yeas; and what the pass rates were for those tests, broken down by local authority. [155870]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Local authorities fund cycle training from within their overall resources for transport. We do not hold data centrally on how many cycling proficiency tests are undertaken.

  The Government are supportive of cycle training and our research has shown that it is effective, with trained children found to be significantly safer than untrained children when knowledge and skills were tested two years after training. We want to see an increase in the level, and improvement in the quality, of cycle training for children.

  The Department has been working closely with a number of groups to develop cycle training. With our support 'Guidelines for the management and Operation of Practical Cyclist Training Schemes' were revised and published by RoSPA in June 2000. In July 2001 the Department for Transport and the Department of Health gave grant funding amounting to £76,000 to the Cyclist Touring Club to run a three-year project to develop a cycle training scheme for adults and teenagers. This led to the development of the publication, "Adult Cycle Training—A Guide for Instructors and Organisers", which was launched in May 2003 and sent to all road safety officers. We are also working with a group of cycle training experts to develop a new National Standard for child cyclist training. This will be piloted in schools from April, with a view to a launch later in the year.

  Eurotunnel
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who pays the minimum usage charge paid to Eurotunnel. [154910]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Minimum Usage Charge (MUC) is a top-up mechanism that assures Eurotunnel of a minimum income from Eurostar and rail freight services for the first 12 years of commercial operations. It is a contractual commitment to Eurotunnel by the French and UK railways currently operating through the Tunnel. For the UK, Eurostar UK Ltd. is responsible for all payments relating to passenger services, and the Strategic Rail Authority currently makes the payments for freight services. On the French side, the payments are made by SNCF.

  Infrastructure Improvement Schemes (Lancashire)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the infrastructure improvement schemes in(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley; and what their projected cost is. [153500]

  Dr. Howells
  The Chorley Transport Interchange opened in March 2003 at a cost of £2,500,000. Work is currently under way improving Chorley Railway Station at a cost of £309,000. Details of other local transport infrastructure schemes and projected costs are set out in the Local Transport Plans and Annual Progress Reports, published by Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Borough Council and Blackburn-with-Darwen Borough Council.
  357W
  Additionally, both Chorley and Lancashire will benefit from the £7.5 billion West Coast Mainline route modernisation programme that is currently under way.

  Details of infrastructure improvement schemes for the motorway and trunk road network in Lancashire, including projected costs during 2003–04, are set out in the following table.

  Highways Agency: Infrastructure Improvement Schemes

  Category/Scheme Description

  2003–04 Full Year Forecast (£000)

  Safely Improvements

  M6 Preston Signage and Road Markings, Junctions 30 to 32

  145

  M6 Road Markings

  31

  A585 Thornton Roundabout Improvements

  127

  A585 Thistleton Junction Improvements

  178

  Safety Improvements—Minor Schemes

  178

  Congestion Easing

  A585 Singleton Crossroads

  33

  Renewal of Roads

  M6 North of Junction 34 to 35, Carnforth

  3,632

  M55 Broughton Crash Barriers

  1,710

  M6 Junction 32 Broughton Electric Cabling for Road Signs

  219

  Minor Capital Maintenance

  670

  Renewal of Bridges and Structures

  M6 Three Pinned Concrete Footbridge

  298

  M6 Forton Service Area Piers

  26

  M6 Golden Fleece

  10

  M6 Carnforth

  800

  M6 Occupation Bridges Bailtons

  3

  M6 Occupation Bridge Mount Pleasant

  100

  Block Allocation for other Bridge Schemes

  455

  Accessibility Improvements

  Improvements for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Horse Riders

  35

  Tourism Signage

  M6 Strategic Tourism Signing

  300

  Total

  8,950

  Road Safety
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports from judges the Government have received in relation to concluded cases of failure to stop after a road crash. [154917]

  Mr. Leslie
  I have been asked to reply.

  Failing to stop after an accident is a summary offence and as such it would normally be dealt with at a magistrates' court. Judges would not therefore deal with such offences unless they were committed for sentence to the Crown Court together with an indictable or triable either-way offence. My Department does not hold data centrally relating to reports from Judges who sat on particular cases.

  Road Resurfacing
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the latest criteria for prioritisation of resurfacing of roads are. [155979]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The criteria for the prioritisation of resurfacing flexible trunk roads are related to the condition of the surface. The combined assessment of levels of rutting, surface crack intensity, unevenness,358W
  skid resistance, the general wear of the surface material and the frequency of accidents associated with the surface condition, is used to determine the programme for resurfacing. The aim is to maintain the trunk road network using the principle of minimising whole life costs, taking account of disruption to the road users and the need to keep the road in a safe and serviceable condition.

  On concrete roads, priorities for dealing with the most pressing cases of traffic noise have been established as set out in the Secretary of State's announcement to the House on 1 April 2003, and these will be progressed as funding allows.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the criteria for categorisation of sites for each level of noise reduction road resurfacing programmes; and what the effect of each categorisation is. [155983]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Categorisation of sites for low noise surfacing is primarily based on maintenance need. In addition, we have criteria for categorisation for noise reduction of roads with concrete surfaces. I announced these criteria on 17 October 2001; they are:

  that wherever possible the application of quieter surfaces will fit in with normal maintenance needs;

  that priority will be given to those sites where treatment would benefit the greatest number of people;

  that the works will be carried out in such a way as to minimise disruption to general public and users of the network;

  that priority will be given to roads, opened since June 1998, where actual noise levels have turned out to be significantly higher than predicted at the time of Public Inquiry.

  Priority is given to road surfaces that are deteriorating and to locations where road safety is an issue. Where the resurfacing is specifically for noise reduction purposes priority will be given to those cases in which the actual noise levels exceed those predicted by at least three decibels, or where more than 100 properties per kilometre are effected by excess noise.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there has been in estimated costs of resurfacing the M1 between junctions 20 and 21 since the initial announcement; and if he will make a statement. [155987]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Final cost details for resurfacing of the M1 between Junctions 20 and 21 will not be available until current investigations by the Highways Agency are completed. It was initially anticipated that part of this section of the M1 would be resurfaced in 2004 but Value Management assessments have shown that other areas of the network need to be given higher priority. The assessments demonstrated that better value for money would be obtained by undertaking more work than simply resurfacing, although this would result in increased capital cost.

  Rolling Stock
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what(a) actual and (b) percentage increase in power supply is required to operate an eight-car new third-rail train compared with its slam-door predecessor, assuming no change in average speed; and if he will make a statement. [155416]
  359W
  Mr. McNulty
  At lower speeds the new trains are more efficient. At higher speeds—up to 75mph—the traction draw is higher. The power draw for the new trains travelling at up to 75mph is capped at 1500 amps. For Mark I trains the draw is 750 amps. In percentage terms, a Siemens Class 450 Desiro train draws 39.6 per cent. more traction power than a Mark I train. A Bombardier Electrostar Class 375 draws 35 per cent. more traction power than a Mark I train.

  Shipping
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2004,Official Report, column 1235W, if he will introduce primary legislation to revise the eligibility criteria for the scheme; and what discussions his Department has had with representatives of seafarer trade unions concerning alterations to the Crew Relief Costs Scheme. [155511]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Primary legislation will be introduced when Parliamentary time is available. The proposed extension of the Crew Relief Costs Scheme was discussed with members of the Shipping Working Group, including seafarer trade unions, when the policy outlined in the White Paper "British Shipping: Charting a New Course" was being developed.

  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2004,Official Report, column 1242W, if he will make a statement on the progress made towards implementing the actions contained in "British Shipping: Charting a New Course"; whether it is his policy to implement all the actions in the paper; and when his Department will conclude the implementation of these actions. [155513]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government's shipping policy is stated in the White Paper "British Shipping: Charting a New Course". Some of the actions are on-going and so will not have a date by which they will be completed. It is therefore not possible to issue a timetable showing when the implementation will be concluded. An update of the current status of the 33 actions from "Charting" has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Snowfall Measures
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department issues for local authorities in respect of measures to deal with snowfall. [155798]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department for Transport strongly recommends that local highway authorities carry out winter maintenance in accordance with the Code of Practice for highway maintenance, "Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance", which was published in July 2001.

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding his Department has provided for each speed camera partnership in England and which partners are involved in each partnership. [155213]
  360W
  Mr. Jamieson
  Eight partnerships, six in England, trialled the safety camera cost recovery scheme from April 2000 to March 2002. A further seven (six in England) joined during 2002.

  Funding for the camera activities of the Safety Camera Partnerships in England, met from conditional fixed penalty fines for speeding and red light offences, for 2000–01 and 2001–02, is as follows:

  Number

  2000–01

  Cleveland

  771,901

  Essex

  1,846,480

  Lincolnshire

  512,721

  Nottingham

  622,371

  Northants

  1,702,404

  Thames Valley

  1,825,639

  Total

  7,281,516

  2001–02

  Cleveland

  486,891

  Essex

  3,003,763

  Lincolnshire

  516,818

  Nottingham

  778,536

  Northants

  2,247,838

  Thames Valley

  2,617,031

  Cambridgeshire

  113,760

  Derbyshire

  455,659

  Lancashire

  761,017

  Norfolk

  433,100

  Staffordshire

  629,246

  Warwickshire

  355,068

  Totals

  12,398,727

  Information on the Partnerships' expenditure for 2002–03 is being prepared and will be published shortly.

  Safety Camera Partnerships comprise representatives of the police force (or forces), local authorities and Magistrates' Courts Committees for the areas concerned. Some Partnerships also include representative of the Highways Agency and local Health Authorities.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his oral answer of 3 February 2004,Official Report, column 616, how many people were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in the three years prior to the establishment of camera sites in the Christchurch constituency, and how many have been (i) killed and (ii) seriously injured since, in respect of each of the camera sites. [155507]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]My Department does not hold statistical information broken down by Parliamentary constituency areas. The hon. Member may wish to contact the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership for more detailed information.

DEFENCE

  Armed Forces Retirement Age
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are in place to determine the(a) minimum and (b) maximum armed forces retirement age; and if he will make a statement. [154960]
  361W
  Mr. Caplin
  The question of retirement procedures is a complex one as each of the Services have their individual regulations and, indeed, within each Service retirement criteria can vary considerably depending on factors such as length of service, rank and professional specialty. In addition, the introduction of the Three Tier Commission (short, medium and full) in April 1999 and such initiatives as the Common Terms of Service for medical officers mean that the already complex situation is exacerbated as the legacy rights of personnel serving before the introduction of these schemes have to be taken into consideration. However, in order to offer some indication of the minimum and maximum retirement ages the following can be used as a generic guide. Further more detailed information can be provided on specific cases if required.

  There is no standard minimum retirement age as personnel can leave at various points after enlistment. However, in general terms, to receive an immediately payable pension officers would have to serve a minimum of 16 years from the age of 21 (37), whilst non-commissioned officers would have to serve a minimum of 22 years from the age of 18 (40). Personnel who leave too early to receive the immediately payable pension may be entitled to a preserved pension, based on their length of service, which is payable at the age of 60.

  The normal maximum retirement age is 55 but again this can vary depending on factors such as seniority and professional specialty. For example, a Medical Officer in a senior position could stay in post until the age of 65. It should also be noted that any individual may have their service extended beyond their normal retirement age if to do so would be of mutual benefit to the Service and the individual.

  Consultation Documents
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the individuals and organisations to whom(a) his Department, (b) its executive agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible sent a copy of the consultation document, "The Future of the Defence Diversification Agency". [153852]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Consultation Document "The Future of The Defence Diversification Agency" was published on 8 February 2001. I have placed a list of the individuals and organisations which were sent a copy of the document in the Library of the House.

  Defence Estates Core Sites
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Defence Estates Core Sites Report of March 2003 will be published. [155558]

  Mr. Caplin
  It is not our intention to publish the list, which is a working document and subject to constant detailed revision as the department undertakes further work to clarify where estate rationalisation may be possible. Any specific proposals arising from these studies will be subject to proper announcement to the House and full consultation.
  362W

  Iraq
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures United Kingdom forces have taken in the area of Southern Iraq under British control to ensure no weapons of mass destruction, their components, relevant explosives or contaminants are smuggled out of Iraq. [152318]

  Mr. Hoon
  Specific searches for WMD are the responsibility of the Iraq Survey Group, although UK forces routinely conduct a range of anti-smuggling operations as a part of continuing security operations in the UK area of responsibility in Southern Iraq. UK forces are also involved in training Iraqi border officials.

  Missile Defence Technology
  Sir Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2004, to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch),Official Report, column 920W, if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the research projects funded by his Department, the Longer Range Threat, BMD studies and the Capability Gap Work; and if he will place reports relating to these projects in the Library. [155656]

  Mr. Hoon
  We keep the threat posed by ballistic missiles to the United Kingdom and its deployed forces—and the best means of countering this threat—under constant review. An unclassified summary of the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme referred to in my answer of 19 January to the hon. Member for Hereford Official Report, column 920W has already been placed in the Library. However, much of our work in this area must remain classified. The Longer Range Threat and the Capability Gap Work programmes, together with the Ballistic Missile Defence studies, form part of our new Ballistic Missile Defence programme, and no unclassified summary of this work is available.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated costs of plans to upgrade nuclear weapons design and production facilities at Aldermaston are; how much has been allocated for this upgrade; and what the timetable is for its completion. [154079]

  Mr. Hoon
  The refurbishment and replacement of older facilities, and the decommissioning of those no longer required, is a continuing programme of work at AWE to meet safety, regulatory and operational requirements. We made clear in paragraph 3.11 of the Defence White Paper published in December (CM 6041—1) that we will take appropriate steps to ensure that the range of options for maintaining a nuclear deterrent capability is kept open until we need to take decisions on whether to replace Trident.

  The costs of the continuing programme are included in the overall incentivised price of the 25-year AWE Management and Operation contract. The precise timing, scope and cost of all the investments required over the 25 year period have yet to be finalised with the

  363W
  AWE contractor. The total cost of operating AWE for the current financial year is expected to be of the order of £310 million.

SCOTLAND

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff in his Department have been(a) suspended, (b) dismissed, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved were in each of the cases listed. [154543]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. Since that date no disciplinary action or prosecutions have taken place against staff for involvement in benefit fraud.

  Census Records
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in which years each of the 1851 to 1901 decennial censuses of population for Scotland were released for public inspection; and if he will make a statement on the timetable for release of the 1911 census records for Scotland. [153936]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The General Register Office for Scotland (GRO(S)), an associated department of the Scottish Executive, is responsible for carrying out periodic censuses of Scotland's population.

  The Scottish Census returns for 1841–71 were opened to public inspection in 1923. The returns for 1881 and 1891 were opened to public inspection, though with some restrictions on copying, in 1955. The records for 1901 were opened to public inspection at the end of 2001.

  I understand the returns for 1911 will not be opened to public inspection until 2011.

  Civil Servants
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much space, expressed in square metres, the Office occupies for the offices of civil servants in(a) central London and (b) Greater London. [150278]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Scotland Office occupies 1,857 sq m of Dover House in central London. The remaining space in the building is shared between a number of other Departments; the Scottish Executive: 320 sq m, Scottish Development International: 57 sq m and other parts of the Department for Constitutional Affairs: 111 sq m.

  Ministerial Travel
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties. [155169]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Secretary of State regularly travels by all modes of public transport. My right hon. Friend last travelled by train in connection with his ministerial duties on 2 February.
  364W
  All ministerial travel on official business is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in "Travel by Ministers".

  Security Passes
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many security passes have been reported(a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months. [147981]

  Mrs. McGuire
  Staff of the Scotland Office have reported one security pass as stolen and four as lost in the last 12 months.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Gift Aid
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations her Department has received from(a) the museum and (b) the heritage sectors in relation to introducing Gift Aid tax relief (i) in writing, (ii) in meetings and (iii) in any forms since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [156009]

  Mr. Caborn
  Such information as is available about the representations this Department has received from the museums and heritage sectors since 1997 in relation to Gift Aid tax relief is provided below. These relate to the changes to the Gift Aid Scheme announced in the Pre-Budget Report (Cm 6042).

  Written representations have been received from The Charleston Trust, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Bronte Society and Dulwich Picture Gallery, Mr. G. Lovewell Blake and R. P. Heyworth.

  In addition representatives from the following representative bodies and associations and DCMS sponsored bodies attended a recent meeting arranged by the Department with Inland Revenue officials to discuss the implementation of the proposed changes: Association of Independent Museums, Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions Ltd, Chatham Historic Dockyards Trust, ECSITE-UK, English Heritage, Historic Royal Palaces, Millennium Commission, Museums Association, National Maritime Museum, North of England Zoological Society, Visitor Attractions Forum, Zoological Society London.

  The Government are consulting closely with charities that might be affected by changes to the Gift Aid legislation announced in the Pre-Budget Report, through their associations and representative bodies, on the detail of how the change may be best achieved.

  Ministerial Visits
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the ministerial visits(a) she and (b) her Ministers have made in the last 12 months. [145600]

  Mr. Caborn
  I am arranging for a list of visits made by DCMS Ministers in the past 12 months to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
  365W

  Railway Carriages
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she received concerning the campaign to retain Wagon-Lits railway carriage 2757 in the UK prior to its purchase by Dutch interests; and when, and how, the matter was first raised with her Department. [155992]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]My right hon Friend the Secretary of State did not receive any representations concerning the campaign to retain the Wagon-Lits railway carriage 2757 in the UK prior to its purchase by Dutch interests in November 2003. The first representation received by the Secretary of State was a letter from the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth), on behalf of a constituent.

  Recruitment Advertising
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's expenditure on recruitment advertising was in each of the last three years, broken down by publication; and what proportion of such expenditure was(a) to advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other general recruitment advertising. [155518]
  366W
  Mr. Caborn
  The department's expenditure on recruitment advertising in 2002–03 and 2003–04 to date is shown as follows. Equivalent information for 2001–02 is no longer available.

  2002–03: £59,922
  2003–04: £51,349.

  All expenditure is linked to the advertising of vacant posts. A breakdown of expenditure by publication is not recorded. However the Department will typically advertise senior posts in the Guardian and/or Times, and, where appropriate, in specialist publications (e.g Accountancy Age, Museums Journal). More junior posts are advertised in the local press.

  Tobacco Advertising
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received from motorsport interests in connection with the cessation of tobacco advertising. [153036]

  Tessa Jowell
  I have received one representation from the motorsport industry relating to the ban, seeking clarification of the EU Directive. It is not a matter for DCMS and I have referred the query to the Department of Health.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum/Immigration
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is Home Office policy to resist applications for adjournments of asylum cases where applicants prima facie fall within the amnesty. [152464]

  Beverley Hughes
  Home Office policy, generally, is not to oppose applications for adjournments of asylum appeals when asked for a view by Adjudicators in cases where applicants may fall for consideration under the indefinite leave to remain exercise announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 24 October 2003.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to make provision for children who are not offered temporary residence but whose parents are; [144614]

  (2) what factors underlay the decision to grant non-British citizens longer stays in the UK than their children. [144613]

  Beverley Hughes
  It is our usual policy to grant dependent children leave to enter or remain in line with that of other parents or carers. As all applications are considered on their individual merits, there may from time to time be cases where a different period of leave is granted. There is no category of temporary residence under the Immigration Rules and there are no plans to introduce one.

  Mr. Tom Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were resident in Glasgow in the last year for which figures are available. [153730]

  Beverley Hughes
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. Asylum seekers currently in the UK are either in receipt of support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) or from local authorities, or are supporting themselves. Statistics regarding the location of asylum seekers not in receipt of NASS support are unavailable.

  The table gives quarterly data on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in Glasgow.
  368W

  In NASS accommodation

  In receipt of subsistence only support from NASS

  December 2002

  5,665

  140

  March 2003

  6,070

  140

  June 2003

  5,885

  140

  September 2003

  5,730

  125

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

  Jonathan Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to track the outcomes of unaccompanied children returned under the new pilots to ensure that the return is in the best interests of the child; and what he will do if the assessment of the child's circumstances suggests that removal places him or her at risk. [155401]

  Beverley Hughes
  The returns programme is still in the early stages of development. The programme will include a monitoring and evaluation strategy. A child/young person will only be returned under the programme after an individual assessment has been made on their suitability for return. This assessment will be made in partnership with local authority Social Service Departments and will include a judgment as to whether a return is in the child's best interests and whether the child/young person faces any risk on return.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the current backlog of cases is at each directorate of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [142926]

  Beverley Hughes
  At the end of December 2003, the latest date for which published data are available, the number of asylum cases awaiting an initial decision had continued to fall, to 24,500, the lowest level for a decade, and 40 per cent. lower than at the end of December 2002 (41,300). The number of initial decisions continues to exceed the level of applications. The speed of decision making is at record levels with initial decisions made and served within two months on 80 per cent. of applications1 received in April to September 2003.

  In October 2001 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced a package of measures to improve the asylum process. Part of this package was to reduce the number of outstanding asylum cases to a steady state of work in progress. In order to do this the immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) expanded their capacity to process asylum appeals from 4,000 to 6,000 asylum appeals a month by November 2002. These increases, added to other successes in reducing the asylum intake, have meant that the number of outstanding asylum appeals is now reducing down to frictional levels.

  A record 81,725 appeals were determined by adjudicators in 2003, more than a quarter (27 per cent.) higher than in 2002 (64,405). The number of appeals determined by adjudicators in Q4 2003 was 22 per cent. higher than Q4 2002 (from 16,615 to 20,285). As a result, the number of asylum appeals lodged with the Home Office which had not been sent to 12,000, 60 per cent. lower than at the end of December 2002 (30,000). A proportion of asylum appeals lodged do not result in appeal bundles being sent to the IAA.
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  The available information on the number of cases dealt within is given in the Home Office Annual Report 2002–03, copies of which are available from the Library.

  Information on the number of asylum cases awaiting an initial decision and on the number that had not been sent to the IAA is published quarterly on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration 1.html.

  1excluding withdrawals and third country cases.

  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports in the care of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate for the processing of applications have been(a) lost and (b) stolen in each of the last five years. [148498]

  Beverley Hughes
  Information dating back to 1998 for each of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's (IND's) buildings is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For the period 1 April 2003 to 31 January 2004, IND processed 451,974 applications. For the same period, 694 Loss of Passport Letters were issued. This represents 0.15 per cent. of applications received.

  A range of measures including the setting up of secure handling areas and the early return of sponsors' passports have been put in place to improve IND's ability to find and return documents at the time of requests.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the maximum length of time is that a child has been detained in(a) Dungavel, (b) Tinsley House and (c) Oakington. [151865]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 29 January 2004]Information on the maximum length of stay of people resident in Immigration Service Removal Centres is not available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.

  Information on the number of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers at 27 December 2003 is due to be published on 24 February in the Asylum Statistics: 4th Quarter 2003 publication on the Home Office website: www homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was imposed in fines on(a) airlines and (b) other carriers for transporting illegal immigrants in the last year for which figures are available. [155958]

  Beverley Hughes
  Separate records are not kept of charges relating to air carriers only.

  During 2003 the total demanded of all carriers under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 and under Section 40 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 was £7.55 million. These charges relate to persons arriving in the United Kingdom without the required documents. Such charges may arise where persons arrive with genuine passports but do not have the required visa, where they arrive with forged documents or impersonate the rightful holder of a document or where they arrive with no document. In the majority
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  of cases the persons concerned are classified as inadequately documented passengers. rather than illegal entrants.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the benchmark street price for cannabis used when calculating the value of seizures by his Department was in each of the last five years; what changes have been made to this figure in the last six months; and what the reasons for those changes were. [155559]

  Caroline Flint
  According to data collected by the National Criminal Intelligence Service the UK average street price for cannabis has been as follows over the last five years.

  £ per ounce

  As at December

  Herbal Cannabis

  Cannabis Resin

  1999

  89

  100

  2000

  82

  85

  2001

  80

  77

  2002

  83

  81

  2003

  72

  66

  In August 2003 the figures were £74 and £66. We are not aware of any other changes in recent months.

  Correspondence
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Manchester, Central dated(a) 16 September 2003 re: Mrs. MG, references P014031/3 and G 1057225/2 and (b) 29 October 2003 re: Mrs. FA, references 0/988549 and A544430. [154487]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 12 February 2004]The information is as follows:

  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 12 February 2004.

  The Immigration and National Directorate (IND) wrote to my hon. Friend on 19 February.

  Crime (Havering and Romford)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to reduce levels of youth crime in the London Borough of Havering. [154854]

  Ms Blears
  The Government are supporting a wide programme to tackle youth crime in all areas to prevent children being drawn into crime in the first place, with more targeted initiatives focusing on those young people most at risk, supported by effective youth justice interventions to reduce reoffending.

  The programme in Havering sees a number of agencies, including the Youth Offending Team, the police, education, health, housing, community safety, and the youth service working together to reduce youth crime in the borough, by supporting a range of preventative and diversionary schemes. Specific programmes include the Positive Activities for Young People programme targeting young people during the school holidays; the London Connexions Truck which visits venues on a two-week basis to provide intensive

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  outreach work with young people at risk; the introduction of a Youth Inclusion and Support Panel to target those eight to 13-year-olds most at risk of both offending and anti-social behaviour; a dedicated outreach worker to provide drugs awareness and education information to young people; and the local "U" Project. working with year 11 school leavers who are not in education, training or employment.

  There is also a clear focus on reducing reoffending by young people, including through the expansion of the Intensive Supervisions and Surveillance Programme which is targeted at the more persistent young offenders in order to tackle their offending behaviour.

  Crime and Disorder Partnerships
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the crime and disorder steering groups that include hon. Members; and if he will make a statement on the involvement of hon. Members on crime and disorder groups. 154314]

  Ms Blears
  We recognise that hon. and right hon. Members are in a unique position to reflect community concerns as a result of their dealings with their local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.

  At a national level, there are two key groups that engage Ministers, who are Members of this House and another place, and drive forward the Government's crime reduction agenda. These groups are CJS(CR) and my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister's regular stocktakes.

  The Ministerial Committee on the Criminal Justice System Sub-Committee on Crime Reduction (CJS(CR)) oversees the Government's programme to reduce crime. In addition, the Prime Minister has regular stocktakes with Ministers, officials and stakeholders to consider the pressing issues relating to crime reduction.

  Criminal Intelligence
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his Department has issued to police forces on the use of(a) criminal pattern analysis and (b) comparative case analysis. [1546351

  Ms Blears
  No formal guidelines have been issued although research studies have been published relevant to this area.

  The Department has supported the roll out of the National Intelligence Model and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has produced a set of minimum standards for the model. These were circulated to forces in 2003. The National Policing Plan expects forces to adopt the model to these minimum standards by April 2004. The standards include the creation of four intelligence products that inform the setting of local and force priorities and the making of tactical resourcing decisions. The four intelligence products are informed by nine analytical techniques, one of which is Crime Pattern Analysis (analysis of the criminal would form the basis of one of the model's intelligence products). The techniques are used by trained intelligence analysts operating at both Basic Commend Unit and force level.
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  Crime Pattern Analysis informs Comparative Case Analysis. Comparative Case Analysis is a standard analytical technique of the Serious Crime Analysis Section (SCAS) of the National Crime and Operations Faculty at CENTREX. The technique is predominantly utilised for, and suited to, serious crime and a code of practice on Serious Crime Analysis Compliance is nearing completion.

  Criminal Records
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many volunteers working in athletics have(a) applied for and (b) been approved by Criminal Records Bureau checks in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [154129]

  Ms Blears
  I am unable to answer the hon. Member's question about the number of applications submitted by volunteers working in athletics to the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) in each year since 1997 because the Bureau does not hold information in that format. Nor can I provide details of the number of applications from volunteers working in athletics that have been approved by the Criminal Records Bureau. It is outside of the remit of the Bureau to do so.

  The Criminal Records Bureau will process an application that has been submitted for a preemployment check on an individual and issue a Disclosure that may or may not contain details of criminal convictions or other information that might be pertinent to the position sought. The information is presented to an employer, who will make a decision on the applicant's suitability.

  Hen Harriers
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for persecution of hen harriers in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years. [1547281]

  Ms Blears
  Information collected centrally by the Home Office on court proceedings under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 does not enable the type of bird involved to be identified.

  Identity Cards
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will ensure that(a) human rights and (b) civil liberties will not be violated under the proposed identity card scheme. [155340]

  Beverley Hughes
  A s set out in "Identity Cards: The Next Steps" (Cm 6020), data held on the National Identity Register will be basic identity information. Only Parliament would be able to change the statutory purposes of the scheme or the information that could be held by the scheme. Organisations using the National Identity Register to verify identity will not be able to get to other personal information, for instance health or tax records via the register.

  Police and other organisations will not have routine access to data stored on the National Identity Register. Access would only be authorised in specific circumstances. Such access would be subject to legal and

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  procedural safeguards and independent oversight. There will be no new power for the police to stop someone and demand to see their card.

  Research suggests that a majority of people in minority ethnic communities overwhelmingly support the idea of a national identity card scheme and do not feel that the proposals would be discriminatory; however, we will continue to work with organisations like the Commission for Racial Equality to ensure this in practice.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will ensure that the central register used in the identity card scheme will be more(a) accurate and (b) transparent than existing databases. [155342]

  Beverley Hughes
  The central register, the National Identity Register, will be built from scratch using information provided by individuals as they are issued with identity cards and will not rely on other sources of data that may have historical or other errors. However, before an entry is confirmed, it will be checked against other databases such as passports, driving licences and immigration records to establish a person's historical footprint. The register will also link each individual's record to biometric information that is unique to that person. This will help prevent multiple registrations and people's identities being stolen. The National Identity Register will therefore be a single, highly reliable record of a person's identity. By establishing in statute the National Identity Register, there will be transparency in the purposes of and in the data held by the scheme, which could only be changed by a decision of Parliament.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the effect of the initiative to deactivate stolen phones upon mobile phone theft. [154855]

  Ms Blears
  Home Office research ("Mobile Phone Theft", December 2001) found that mobile phone theft was fuelling the rise in street robbery. The Government have worked in partnership with the mobile phone industry and the police to address the issue through the Street Crime Initiative.

  As part of this work, from 1 November 2002, all six UK network operators have snared a database on mobile phones so that lost and stolen handsets can be blocked from use across all UK networks. A publicity campaign has informed people of this. There are now over 1.1 million handsets on the UK database, making them less attractive as objects of theft. Street robbery went down 17 per cent. in 2002–03 compared with 2001–02 across the 10 street crime police force areas as a result of the implementation of this and other measures.

  Police
  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are undergoing firearms training; and what the figure was five years ago. [154686]
  374W
  Ms Blears
  The requested information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving police officers are qualified in the use of firearms; and what the figure was five years ago. [154687]

  Ms Blears
  The number of authorised firearms officers (AFOs) in police forces in England and Wales for years 1998–2003 is shown in the table.

  Number of authorised firearms officers (AFOs)

  1997–98

  6,585

  1998–99

  6,308

  1999–2000

  6,262

  2000–01

  6,064

  2001–02

  5,776

  2002–03

  5,763

  Tom Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what offences arrests can be carried out by a police officer only in uniform; and what the reason is for this condition. [154003]

  Ms Blears
  The full information requested is not readily available and further research is required to provide a comprehensive reply. I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police cells are in use in Lancashire. [153505]

  Ms Blears
  The Chief Constable of Lancashire informs me that there are 176 cells in use within the police area.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police cells are available per head of population in each police force area. [153507]

  Ms Blears
  Information on the number of cells is not held centrally.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cells were used for housing prisoners in each police force area on the latest date for which figures are available. [153508]

  Ms Blears
  This information is not held centrally. This is an operational matter that falls within the remit of the individual Chief Constables.

  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis he has calculated the provisional increase in direct Home Office grant to police authorities for 2004–05. [151873]

  Ms Blears
  We decided, exceptionally, on an increase of 3.25 per cent. in general grant to meet general inflationary pressures and allow all police authorities to set budgets that do not place excessive burdens on local taxpayers.
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  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has put in place to ensure that police authorities receive sufficient funding to meet their commitments under their statutory Police Plans. [151877]

  Ms Blears
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's key priorities for policing over the next three years were set out in the National Policing Plan 2004–07. This national plan provides the framework within which local policing plans are prepared. Local policing plans and the funding of commitments contained in them are matters for individual police authorities.

  All police authorities in England and Wales will receive a 3.25 per cent. increase in general grants next year. This exceeds projections of general inflation of around 2.6 per cent. On top of this, funding for a range of targeted programmes and capital provision will be made available.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been provided to each police authority from Airwave grant in 2003–04; and what the planned provision is from Airwave grant for each police authority for 2004–05. [150630]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 26 January 2004]The distribution of money from the Airwave grant to police authorities in 2003–04 is as shown in the following annex 'A'.

  In 2004–05, the Airwave grant payable to police authorities is to be absorbed within the general Home Office grant to the police.

  This funding is to be distributed as shown in the following annex 'B'.

  Annex A: Allocation of Airwave grant 2003–04

  £000

  Revenue

  Capital

  Total

  Avon and Somerset

  505

  —

  505

  Bedfordshire

  233

  —

  233

  Cambridgeshire

  338

  —

  338

  Cheshire

  246

  4,193

  4,439

  City of London

  119

  —

  119

  Cleveland

  432

  —

  432

  Cumbria

  0

  —

  0

  Derbyshire

  307

  —

  307

  Devon and Cornwall

  0

  —

  0

  Dorset

  157

  —

  157

  Durham

  184

  —

  184

  Dyfed Powys

  0

  577

  577

  Essex

  443

  1,884

  2,327

  Gloucestershire

  154

  —

  154

  GMP

  1,128

  —

  1,128

  Gwent

  155

  —

  155

  Hampshire

  593

  7,597

  8,190

  Hertfordshire

  293

  —

  293

  Humberside

  341

  —

  341

  Kent

  0

  7,153

  7,153

  Lancashire

  541

  —

  541

  Leicestershire

  307

  —

  307

  Lincolnshire

  429

  —

  429

  Merseyside

  1,236

  2,631

  3,867

  Met

  3,355

  11,663

  15,018

  Norfolk

  0

  3,232

  3,232

  North Wales

  0

  843

  843

  North Yorkshire

  232

  —

  232

  Northamptonshire

  99

  2,532

  2,631

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  Annex A: Allocation of Airwave grant 2003–04

  £000

  Revenue

  Capital

  Total

  Northumbria

  635

  —

  635

  Nottinghamshire

  943

  —

  943

  South Wales

  548

  —

  548

  South Yorkshire

  903

  4,695

  5,598

  Staffordshire

  0

  4,357

  4,357

  Suffolk

  207

  —

  207

  Surrey

  531

  2.762

  3,293

  Sussex

  0

  1,873

  1,873

  Thames Valley

  674

  —

  674

  Warwickshire

  40

  2,023

  2,063

  West Mercia

  340

  —

  340

  West Midlands

  860

  14,687

  15,547

  West Yorkshire

  866

  3,227

  4,093

  Wiltshire

  195

  —

  195

  Totals

  18,569

  75,929

  94,498

  Allocation of Airwave grant to general grant 2004–05

  £000

  Allocation

  Avon and Somerset

  840

  Bedfordshire

  320

  Cambridgeshire

  380

  Cheshire

  560

  City of London

  240

  Cleveland

  450

  Cumbria

  310

  Derbyshire

  530

  Devon and Cornwall

  870

  Dorset

  330

  Durham

  440

  Dyfed Powys

  260

  Essex

  840

  Gloucestershire

  310

  GMP

  2,040

  Gwent

  370

  Hampshire

  990

  Hertfordshire

  540

  Humberside

  600

  Kent

  950

  Lancashire

  950

  Leicestershire

  530

  Lincolnshire

  310

  Merseyside

  1,290

  Met

  9,460

  Norfolk

  430

  North Wales

  390

  North Yorkshire

  380

  Northamptonshire

  330

  Northumbria

  1,150

  Nottinghamshire

  660

  South Wales

  870

  South Yorkshire

  920

  Staffordshire

  570

  Suffolk

  340

  Surrey

  460

  Sussex

  820

  Thames Valley

  1,110

  Warwickshire

  260

  West Mercia

  560

  West Midlands

  2,080

  West Yorkshire

  1,550

  Wiltshire

  310

  Totals

  37,920

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the
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  Government's policy for the funding for 2004–05 and future financial years of police authority expenditure now financed by the Airwave grant. [150631]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 26 January 2004]The Government's policy is to give the police authorities maximum possible flexibility and discretion in the use of the grants provided to them by the Home Office. £38 million previously intended to be provided to police authorities as a grant specifically for Airwave in 2004–05 will now be provided to police authorities as part of the general Home Office giant to the police.

  Funding for future years is the subject of discussion as part of the 2004 settlement.

  President Bush (Visit)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimate of the cost of security for the recent visit of President Bush to the UK is; and whether he expects that figure to change.[154850]

  Ms Blears
  The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis informs me the total cost to the Metropolitan Police Service relating to the state visit of the President of the United States between 18 and 21 November 2003 was £3,924,680. This includes additional costs of £1.45 million, of which £0.8 million was incurred in overtime payments. These figurer are not expected to change as all claims have been processed.

  The Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary tells me that the total cost to Durham Constabulary regarding the President's visit to Sedgefield on 21 November was £985,000. This figure may change.

  Ministerial Travel
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties. [154696]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I regularly use trains in the course of my ministerial duties.

  All ministerial travel on official business is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

  Unaccompanied Children
  Jonathan Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the piloting of removals of unaccompanied children will involve their detention. [155444]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are no plans to detain unaccompanied children who will be removed under the returns programme. Unaccompanied children are only ever detained in the most exceptional circumstances and then normally only overnight while alternative care arrangements are made. Arrangements for return will be planned in partnership with Local Authorities; this will include an assessment of the child/young person's suitability for return and whether return is in their best interests.
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  Jonathan Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision he intends to make to ensure that appropriate reception arrangements are in place for unaccompanied children who are removed under the new pilots. [155445]

  Beverley Hughes
  The returns programme for unaccompanied asylum seeking children who have been refused asylum is still in the early stages of development. We are currently exploring the kinds of reception arrangements that could be put in place. Before any child or young person was returned under the programme we would need to be confident that the arrangements put in place were of an acceptable standard and that the person's return was not in breach of our international obligations.

  Work Permits
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were awarded to health workers to work(a) in the UK National Health Service and (b) the non-NHS sector for each of the last 10 years. [154602]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 12 February 2004]Due to the structure of the Work Permits (UK) database a breakdown of the number of work permits awarded to health workers by employer type i.e. in NHS or non-NHS employment, can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Devolution
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to public funds of setting up devolved government in Northern Ireland was. [154398]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  It is not possible to determine the cost of setting up devolved government in Northern Ireland. However, any costs incurred by the Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration have been absorbed within the Northern Ireland block, which was not increased specifically as a result of devolution.

  Agreed Behaviour Contracts
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many agreed behaviour contracts (ABCs) have been issued in Northern Ireland since their introduction; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of ABCs in tackling anti-social behaviour. [153853]

  Mr. Spellar
  Acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) have not been introduced in Northern Ireland. They form part of the current consultation on measures to tackle anti-social behaviour. In considering proposals for consultation I have been informed by Home Office Research in England and Wales, which found that ABCs were effective in reducing anti-social behaviour by those young people subject to them.

  Batteries
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the dangers to the environment from batteries containing mercury and other toxic metals, being dumped in local waste dumps in Northern Ireland. [155506]

  Angela Smith
  The potential adverse environmental impacts from mercury are universally accepted. However, the EC Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment recognises that there is no methodology to assess the long-term risks of leachate from landfills.

  Industry voluntary measures introduced in 1985 and EC legislation since 1991 have gradually reduced the amount of mercury in batteries, resulting in a reduction in landfilled mercury across the UK from an estimated 4.4t in 1994 to 0.028t in 2000; over time this amount will effectively fall to zero.

  Other current EC legislation will increase the collection and recycling of spent batteries and ban the co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste at landfill sites.

  Cross-Border Bodies
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of cross-border bodies. [154842]

  Mr. Pearson
  I have no such plans at present.

  Dental Health
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the standard of dental health of the Province's population. [154591]

  Angela Smith
  There has been a gradual improvement in the standard of oral health in adults in Northern Ireland over the last 10 years. However, the general level of oral health here is still considerably worse than in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, particularly among children.

  The Chief Dental Officer has recently established a Steering Group to develop a new Oral Health Strategy, which will set the oral health agenda for the next 10 years. This new Strategy will identify the oral health needs of the population here, determine desired outcomes and identify areas where oral health can link into the wider health agenda.

  EU Regulations
  Mr. Nigel Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many European Union regulations relating specifically to Northern Ireland have been published in each year since 1997. [155579]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  EU regulations have general application. They are binding in their entirety and are directly applicable in all member states.

  Based on the records in the Official Journal of the European Union (copies available in the House Library) we assess that the number of EC, ECSC and Euratom regulations made was as follows.
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  Number

  1997

  2,339

  1998

  2,852

  1999

  2,802

  2000

  2,882

  2001

  2,600

  2002

  2,125

  2003

  2,176

  European Year of Disabled People
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action was taken in Northern Ireland to support the United Kingdom theme for the European Year of Disabled People to promote rights and participation. [154156]

  Mr. Spellar
  A Northern Ireland Regional Steering Group, representing a wide range of interests, was established to promote and develop a successful programme of activities within Northern Ireland consistent with the UK theme for the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 of promoting rights and participation. It organised a range of events which also included Ministers.

  A NI Grant Scheme resulted in 22 organisations in Northern Ireland collectively receiving £100,000 for projects which promote rights and participation. This adds to the £222,000 awarded to 12 other Northern Ireland projects from the UK fund for the year. A new award scheme was also launched by the Employers' Forum on Disability aimed at acknowledging best practice among employers who do most in Northern Ireland to promote employment of people with disabilities in the workforce. An awareness raising media campaign entitled "Think for a Change: It's Time for Change", highlighted disadvantage experienced by people with disabilities in terms of lower income, education and employment.

  A two-day Conference entitled "Breaking the Barriers" recently took place aimed at exploring how services can be improved to take account of the needs and rights of people with disabilities. The European Year of People with Disabilities has since been extended to 31 March 2004 in Northern Ireland.

  Orthopaedic Surgeons
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of consultant orthopaedic surgeons in Northern Ireland. [154592]

  Angela Smith
  The number of consultant orthopaedic surgeons increased to 41 by December 2003, representing a 37 per cent. increase in five years. In recognition that there is a need to further increase the number of consultants, the number of specialist trainees has also been increased to the current level of 23, an increase of over 50 per cent. in five years.

  Pension Books
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average length of time taken
  381W
  to replace pension books when they expired was in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available. [154411]

  Mr. Spellar
  Unfortunately the information requested is not available.

  Renewal pension books are issued automatically three weeks in advance of the date of the first order in the new book.

  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pension books were issued in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [154412]

  Mr. Spellar
  The number of pension books issued in each of the last five years is shown in the table.

  Number of pension books

  1999

  196,000

  2000

  194,000

  2001

  191,000

  2002

  189,000

  2003

  166,000

  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of automated credit transfer for payment of pensions in Northern Ireland. [154413]

  Mr. Spellar
  At December 2003, just over 34 per cent. of Pensions customers were paid by Direct Payment. Between April 2003 and January 2004, the Social Security Agency has contacted 159,000 pensioner customers asking them to convert to Direct Payment. Seventy nine thousand customers have provided account details and these will be activated as the current order book expires. A further 23,000 customers have responded positively to Agency correspondence.

  A customer satisfaction survey was carried out in September 2003 for customers who had converted to Direct Payment and the results were very positive. A further survey is to be carried out in April 2004.

  Planning
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the determination of the application for planning permission, reference number P/2000/2176 was; when it was made; and when it was communicated to the applicant. [153626]

  Angela Smith
  Planning Service determined that the application should be approved. A Decision Notice was issued to the applicant's agent on 2 February 2004.

  Police
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will revoke the decision to disband the full-time police reserve in the light of on-going activity of terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland. [154836]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Government accepted, subject to the security situation, the recommendation in the Patten report that "the future police service should not include a Full Time Reserve". In October 2002 the Chief Constable put to the Policing Board a human resource 382W
  strategy to meet the staffing needs of the Police Service over the next 8 to 10 years which the Policing board endorsed. This included a phased run-down of the Full-Time Reserve over an 18 month period from April 2005, subject to no further deterioration of the security situation and the continued success of the recruitment campaign for the Police Service.

  Later this year the Chief Constable will put forward advice to the Board and the Secretary of State on these matters. The Government recognises the major contribution that members of the Reserve have made to the maintenance of law and order in Northern Ireland and the high price that they and many of their families have had to pay in doing so.

  Prisons
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of maintaining the prison population in Northern Ireland was in the past three years; and what the average cost per prisoner was in each of those years. [153845]

  Jane Kennedy
  The cost of maintaining the prison population in Northern Ireland in the past three years and the average cost per prisoner place in each of those years was as follows:

  £

  Cost

  Cost per prisoner place

  2000–01

  93,230,000

  74,580

  2001–02

  87,486,000

  71,475

  2002–03

  95,564,000

  68,999

  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reinstate the Braille Unit at HMP Maghaberry; and if he will make a statement. [153529]

  Jane Kennedy
  The implementation of the Steele recommendations has seriously impacted on the Governor's ability to maintain and sustain the regime and at present only a restricted range of services can be provided. It is hoped that with full implementation of Steele, the prison can quickly restore a fully resourced Integrated Regime including braille transcription and related services. It is intended that work will commence at the beginning of April 2004 to re-locate the Braille Unit to a much larger facility within the prison workshop area and to expand the range of services provided.

  Student Finance
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of variable top-up fees on university students in Northern Ireland. [152576]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Higher Education Bill, which includes proposals for the introduction of variable deferred tuition fees, does not, in the main, apply to Northern Ireland. It has, however, significant implications in view of the strong links between the higher education sectors and the level of student flows between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
  383W
  I have been giving careful considerations to the implications, taking into account discussions with local stakeholders and advice from the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council (NIHEC). It is my intention to bring forward proposals soon for the way forward in Northern Ireland.

  Work Force Statistics
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland hat the composition of the monitored full-time what the composition of the monitored full-time work force was, broken down by religious designation, in(a) 1992 and (b) 2002. [155002]

  Mr. Spellar
  Information regarding the composition of the monitored full-time workforce, broken down by religious designation, can be found in the Fair Employment Commission Monitoring Report (No. 3), which summarises the 1992 monitoring returns and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland Monitoring Report (No. 13), which summarises the 2002 monitoring returns. Copies of both reports are available for reference from the Library of the House.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Advisers' Discretionary Fund
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on the Advisers' Discretionary Fund in each year since it was set up; what figures his Department collects on the breakdown of spending via the Advisers' Discretionary Fund; and if he will make a statement. [153460]

  Mr. Browne
  The total spend per year on the Advisers' Discretionary Fund, introduced in July 2001, is shown in the table.

  Advisers' Discretionary Fund

  £

  Spend

  July 2001 to March 2002

  6,191,945

  April 2002 to March 2003

  15,975,996

  April 2003 to December 2003

  23,765,210

  Total

  45,933,151

  The figures on breakdown of spending are not centrally collated.

  Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 957W, on pensions, if he will estimate the net Exchequer effects of the pension reforms set out in the answer, based on the additional assumption that all age-related income tax personal allowances are abolished as part of each reform package. [155568]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  384W

  £ billion

  2004–05

  2005–06

  2006–07

  2007–08

  2008–09

  Over 65

  8.0

  8.2

  8.7

  9.4

  10.1

  Over 70

  5.6

  5.8

  6.2

  6.7

  7.2

  Over 75

  3.6

  3.8

  4.1

  4.4

  4.7

  Notes:
  1. Figures are in 2003–04 price terms rounded to the nearest £100 million. It is assumed the change comes into effect from April 2004 on the same basis as the previous answer.
  2. The costing assumes that aged and super aged personal allowances are reduced to the personal allowance level.
  3. Gross costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with Budget 2003 assumptions. Estimates are all based on the new (2002) population projection and allow for recent revisions.
  4. The costs take into account income related benefit offsets, which are calculated using the DWP policy simulation model and April 2004 benefit rates.
  5. Additional income tax revenue is estimated by the Inland Revenue using 2004 tax rates.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the(a) operational and (b) advertising costs of the National Benefit Fraud Hotline in each of the last six years. [151017]

  Mr. Pond
  The available information is in the table:

  National benefit fraud hotline

  £

  Operational costs

  Advertising costs

  1997–98

  1—

  225,000

  1998–99

  1—

  290,247

  1999–2000

  1—

  337,672

  2000–01

  627,804

  425,178

  2001–02

  1,086,000

  2—

  2002–03

  959,277

  2—

  1Not available.

  2Not separately assessed.

  Notes:
  1. Operational costs for the National Benefit Fraud Hotline are only available for the last three years. Operational cost figures are not available prior to 2000–01.
  2. The National Benefit Fraud Hotline (NBFH) number was advertised separately up until 2000–2001. Since the Targeting Fraud (now Targeting Benefit Fraud) advertising campaign started in 2001, the NBFH number has been included in the campaign advertising and has not been the subject of any advertising on its own.
  3. Operational costs include staffing costs and goods and services costs.
  4. The operational costs of administering the National Benefit Fraud Hotline include the costs of administering report-a-cheat-online. These costs cannot be separated.
  Source:
  Operational costs—National Benefit Fraud Hotline.
  Advertising costs—DWP Communications Directorate.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2004,Official Report, column 731W, how many people have been found to have committed benefit fraud against his Department on (a) one. (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, (e) five, (f) six, (g) seven, (h) eight, (i) nine, (j) 10 and (k) more than 10 occasions since the powers to sanction benefits introduced by the Social Security Act 2001 took effect. [156023]

  Mr. Pond
  The information requested is not available.
  385W
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2004,Official Report, column 731W, how many people have been (a) investigated and (b) prosecuted for committing benefit fraud against his Department on two or more occasions since the powers to sanction benefits introduced by the Social Security Act 2001 took effect. [156025]

  Mr. Pond
  The information on investigations is not available.

  On prosecutions, our latest information is that 30 people have been convicted of benefit fraud on at least two occasions since the powers to sanction benefits introduced by the Social Security Act 2001 took effect. However, data is incomplete and subject to change due to late notification.

  Economic Inactivity
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are in place to address the causes and effects of economic inactivity; and if he will make a statement. [152938]

  Mr. Browne
  Nearly three quarters of people of working age are in work—not just in one year but year-on-year. High levels of employment are not enough. Active labour market policies ensure people can take advantage of the many job opportunities coming up all the time. This is especially true for those most disadvantaged including the long-term unemployed, lone parents, people with disabilities and older workers.

  There are a number of measures in place to tackle the causes of inactivity. For example, where people lose, or risk losing, their jobs due to illness, injury or disability, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working to help employers, in partnership with their employees, to prevent long term sickness from turning into unemployment.

  There are a number of programmes and initiatives aimed at helping people find and remain in work. The New Deal Programmes aim to help different groups of people who have been out of work to move into work or improve their prospects of doing so, through for example job search and skills training. The national minimum wage, tax credits and various other financial incentives ensure that people who do take up opportunities and find work are better off in work.

  For example the New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) available to all lone parents who are not working or working less than 16 hours per week offers lone parents advice with job seeking, training, in-work benefits and child care.

  For people on incapacity benefit we are piloting reforms to support a return to work. More information is available in 'Pathways to Work: Helping people in employment; CM 5690'. This sets out the strategy for encouraging and assisting people with health problems and disabilities to return to work, and enable them to become and remain independent and enjoy the personal, social and financial benefits that having a job brings.

  More help is also being provided for those who face the greatest barriers to work, for example former drug mis-users, the long-term unemployed and people from
  386W
  minority ethnic communities. In particular areas of labour market disadvantage Action Teams provide individually tailored, innovative ways to help jobless people overcome the barriers to work they may face. This might include, for example, debt counselling or help with work clothes and child care costs.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place an obligation on companies to publish, within their annual report, a statement containing(a) their health and safety policy and (b) initiatives that have been taken to implement these policies. [155820]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government have no plans to place an obligation on companies to publish within their annual report a statement containing their health and safety policy.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to lift Crown immunity with regards to health and safety legislation. [155821]

  Mr. Browne
  The requirements of health and safety legislation apply to Crown bodies, but they are immune from statutory health and safety enforcement.

  The Government will seek a legislative opportunity, when parliamentary time allows, to remove this immunity.

  In the meantime the Health and Safety Executive uses non-statutory arrangements to enforce health and safety requirements in Crown bodies', including censuring Crown bodies in circumstances, where but for Crown immunity, prosecution would have been justified.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the budget was in(a) cash and (b) real terms of the Health and Safety Executive for each year since 1997; and what the forecast budgets for the next three years are. [155822]

  Mr. Browne
  The annual budgets allocated to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) from 1997–98 to 2005–06 are set out in the table.

  HSE's annual budgets

  £ million

  Budget1

  1997–08

  174.1

  1998–09

  175.7

  1999–2000

  180.6

  2000–01

  181.3

  2001–02

  199.4

  2002–03

  210.4

  2003–04

  225.5

  2004–05

  225.5

  2005–06

  223.5

  1 The budget for HSE in 2006–07 will be confirmed by autumn this year as part of the 2004 spending review exercise.

  Notes:
  Budget figures are the total amount voted by Parliament to HSE. HSE's budgets up to and including 2000–01 were based on the Grant in Aid (cash) voted to the organisation. From 2001–02, Government replaced 'cash' allocations with Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) arrangements. Under RAB, HSE bids for resources and produces accounts on an accruals

  387W
  basis, which include costs for depreciation, the cost of capital and provisions for liabilities. The 'cash' and 'RAB' figures are not directly comparable.
  Rounded to the nearest £100k.
  Following the Cullen Inquiry additional ring-fenced funding was allocated to HSE to spend across years 2002–03 to 2004–05 to improve rail safety. This is not shown in the annual budget figures.

  Post Office Card Accounts
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government has to promote the use of Post Office card accounts in Scotland. [155473]

  Mr. Pond
  Our nationwide direct payment information campaign has an important role to play in the way we take customers through the associated changes.

  When it is their turn to change customers are being provided with all the information they need on all of their "account options". This information lists all the accounts, which can be accessed at post office branches and sets out how to apply for a Post Office card account. It will be for customers themselves to decide which

  Wine

  Excise duty rate

  Spirits £/Litre of alcohol

  Beer £/h/1 per cent. alcohol.

  Still

  Sparkling

  ABV

  £/hl

  ABV

  £/hl

  UK

  19.60

  12.22

  > 2 per cent. < 4 per cent.

  48.91

  > 5.5 per cent. < 8.5 per cent.

  166.70

  >4 per cent. > 5.5 per cent.

  67.25

  > 5.5 per cent. < 15 per cent.

  158.69

  > 8.5 per cent. < 15 per cent.

  220.54

  15 per cent. to 22 per cent.

  211.58

  Spain

  5.20

  1.43

  0.00

  0.00

  France

  10.20

  1.83

  2.39

  5.90

  The second table shows the cost in excise duty and VAT revenue forgone if the UK were to apply the excise duty rates applicable in France in December 2003. These figures are derived from the HM Treasury alcohol demand model published in May 20031, which is used to estimate associated effects on demand. This shows that the total cost of equalising excise duty rates for beer, wine and spirits with those in France would be more than £6 billion, equivalent to a 1.5 per cent. increase in the standard rate of VAT or around 2p extra on the basic rate of income tax.

  Revenue Forgone

  £ billion

  Spirits

  0.80

  Beer

  3.44

  Wine

  1.88

  Total

  6.12

  1Further technical details relating to this econometric model can be found in Government Economic Service Working Paper No. 140.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days on average his Department took in Session 2002–03 to give a substantive answer to a388W
  account will best meet their needs and circumstances. Any benefit or pension customer who wishes to open a Post Office card account will be able to do so.

TREASURY

  Alcohol Duty
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the level of duty is in(a) the UK, (b) France and (c) Spain on (i) beer, (ii) wine and (iii) spirits; [155234]

  (2) if he will estimate the effect on United Kingdom duty revenues of equalising UK duty on (a) wine, (b) beer and (c) spirits with levels in France. [155239]

  John Healey
  Alcohol duty rates in European Union member states are published in the European Commission's 'Excise Duty Tables—Alcoholic Beverages'. The table gives figures for the UK, Spain and France from the tables published in December 2003, converted to pounds sterling from euros using the average exchange rate for December 2003 as published by the Office for National Statistics in Table 7.1A of "Financial Statistics", and converted to pounds per hectolitre per cent. of alcohol (where necessary) using an approximation of 12.5° Plato to 5 per cent. alcohol by volume (ABV).

  parliamentary question for ordinary written answer; and what the greatest number of days taken to answer such a question was. [155915]

  John Healey
  In the 2002–03 Session, Treasury Ministers answered ordinary written questions substantively in an average of just under six working days. 2,548 of 3,343 questions concerned (76.2 per cent.) were answered within a week of tabling.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  EU Funding
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2004.Official Report, column 157W, whether the difference in the figures between already allocated EU funds and the total funding of €440 million for the North West, €136 million for the North East and €466 million for Yorkshire and Humber has yet to be allocated for the remaining period in 2000–06. [155045]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The figures tabled in the answer of 26 January related only to the European Regional Development Fund and did not include the European Social Fund (ESF), the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) or the
  389W
  Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). Allocations, in euros, for all European structural funds in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber Government Office areas for Objective 1 and 2

  Allocation(000)

  Programme

  ERDF

  ESF

  EAGGF

  FIFG

  Total

  North East Objective 2

  581,330

  135,670

  0

  0

  717,000

  North West Objective 1

  893,048

  434,300

  5,500

  0.400

  1,332,848.4

  North West Objective 2

  808,330

  0

  0

  0

  808,330

  Yorkshire and Humber Objective 1

  785,558

  363,842

  23,050

  0

  1,172,450

  Yorkshire and Humber Objective 2

  448,360

  69,480

  0

  0

  517,840

  Government Grants
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister from which financial year the(a) £780 million Government grant for the North West, (b) £350 million grant for the North East and (c)£570 million grant for Yorkshire and the Humber referred to in the "Your Say" booklets is calculated. [155013]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The figures referred to in the "Your Say" leaflets for the North West. the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber were calculated on the basis of the 2002–03 financial year.

  Local Government
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many responses have been received to date in response to the consultation on the future configuration of local government in the North West Region from residents of(a) Cheshire, (b) Lancashire, (c) Cumbria, (d) Greater Manchester, (e) Merseyside and (f) the North West Region what the cost has been of the consultations; what costs have been incurred by (i) Vale Royal Borough Council, (ii) Chester City Council, (iii) Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council and (iv) Cheshire County Council in relation to this issue and the consultation exercise; and what rights of recovery of these costs councils have in the event of a no vote in a referendum on an elected North West regional government. [155627]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Boundary Committee's consultation on its draft recommendations is a matter for that independent Committee.

  Councils that respond to the Boundary Committee's consultation exercise do so on their own initiative and have no right to recover any costs they incur.

  Public Funding
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what sources of public funding are available to local authorities other than Council Tax and central Government grant. [154920]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In addition to various forms of central Government grant, which includes National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR), local authorities are able to access other forms of grant such as European funding and lottery funding.

  Regional Assemblies
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the size of central government 390W
  programmes are tabled as follows. All the funds have been allocated to programmes but some of the funds have still to be awarded to actual projects.

  grant to an elected regional assembly in (a) the North East, (b) the North West and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber in its first financial year. [155129]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Based on figures for 2002–03, and including European programmes, an elected regional assembly in the North East would be responsible for around £350 million a year, in the North West for £780 million and in Yorkshire and the Humber for £570 million. In addition each assembly will receive grant in respect of its Fire and Rescue responsibilities.

  "Supporting People"
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the funding of "Supporting People" in Lancashire. [153719]

  Yvette Cooper
  The final "Supporting People" grant awarded to Lancashire in 2003–04 was £30,781,847. This was the full verified amount submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by the Lancashire team. The Lancashire "Supporting People" team also received £767,000 to help with the administration of the programme.

  Thurrock Urban Development Corporation
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons greenfield green belt land has been included within the boundary of the area of the Thurrock Urban Development Corporation. [153857]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) boundaries are coterminous with the boundaries for Thurrock Council's administrative area. This provides the UDC with the flexibility to consider development opportunities across the borough, to create new settlements and to improve the sustainability of existing communities. It also enables the UDC to undertake a detailed appraisal of current land-use within the borough and to develop strategic proposals for regeneration, housing and economic development, which will ensure balanced and sustainable growth across the borough.

  Travellers
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what(a) estimate and (b) provision he has made for expenditure by local authorities on opening sites for temporary accommondation by Travellers in the coming financial year. 155549]
  391W
  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made £8 million available for 2004–05 via the Gypsy Sites Refurbishment Grant. Bids for 2004–05 are currently being evaluated.

  It is for local authorities to determine, based on an assessment of need, whether they will bid for funding from this grant, or make provision from their own resources.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Expert Witnesses
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, for the Home Department what proportion of criminal cases involved evidence from expert witnesses in each of the last five years; and what proportion of these witnesses were registered with the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners. [147187]

  Mr. Leslie
  The information is not collected centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Court Fees
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) how the existence of the judicial power to waive or remit fees in the small claims track is publicised; [155377]

  (2) how the power in Article Six of the County Court Rules to waive fees for exceptional circumstances involving exceptional financial hardship is publicised. [155379]

  Mr. Leslie
  There is no judicial power to waive or remit court fees. Court Service staff administer fees remissions on behalf of the Lord Chancellor. The provision for remission of court fees is publicised by way of posters displayed on public notice boards in court offices and also by cross-referencing in relevant forms and leaflets.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Connexions
  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Connexions Partnerships have established their working arrangements with voluntary youth services by way of a partnership agreement. [155646]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]Information on the number of working agreements between Connexions Partnerships and voluntary youth services is not collected centrally.

  All Connexions Partnerships are encouraged to work with their local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) partners to meet the needs of young people and there is strong evidence of such working relationships across the country.

  From 1 April 2004 each Connexion Partnership must develop a clear and systematic local strategy for the involvement of the VCS in service design, planning, delivery and evaluation.
  392W

  Contingency Planning
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what terrorist contingency planning advice is available to schools and headteachers via the recently updated Teachernet website; [155677]

  (2)how much funding was provided for (a) the recent updates to the Teachernet website and (b) educating schools and head teachers on contingency planning for terrorist attacks; [155678]

  (3) what terrorist contingency planning advice is available for schools. [155679]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Specific detailed Government advice on terrorism is provided by the Home Office. The Teachernet website provides a link to their site. I refer my hon. Friend to Official Report, 5 February 2004, column 1033W for the cost of producing the emergency planning website on Teachernet. The purpose of the site was always to provide advice to schools, in one place, about drawing up an emergency plan for all types of emergencies and primarily on how to cope with the sudden death of a pupil. In an emergency, head teachers know that they should dial 999 and the emergency services will then take control of the situation. Local authorities have responsibility for emergency planning at local level and that includes schools.

  Education Funding
  Shona Mclsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in(a) North Lincolnshire and (b) North East Lincolnshire which ran a deficit budget in 2001–02; and how much each deficit is. [155575]

  Mr. Milliband
  The information requested is contained within the following tables:

  North Lincolnshire schools which ran a deficit budget1 in 2001–02

  School name

  Deficit1 (£)

  Frederick Gough School

  54,910

  Brumby School

  18,756

  St. Bernadette's Catholic Primary School

  9,457

  St. Mary's Catholic Primary School

  9,124

  Huntcliff School

  7,787

  Baysgarth School

  3,571

  Priory Lane Infant School

  621

  1 Deficit budget is taken from table 2 column 12—Balance Carried Forward.

  Notes:
  1. The balance to be carried forward represent total resources available to the school less school expenditure and unspent allocations.
  2. The data are as reported by North Lincolnshire LEA within their 2001–02 Section 52 Out turn Statement (table 2) submitted to the DfES.

  North East Lincolnshire schools which ran a deficit budget1 in 2001–02

  School name

  Deficit1 (£)

  The Lindsey School and Community Arts College

  81,554

  Welholme Infants' School

  35,105

  St. Joseph's RC Primary School

  6,005

  Healing Comprehensive School

  5,841

  1 Deficit budget is taken from table 2 column 12—Balance Carried Forward.

  393W
  Note:
  1. The balance to be carried forward represent total resources available to the school less school expenditure and unspent allocations.
  2. The data are as reported by North East Lincolnshire LEA within their 2001–02 Section 52 Outturn Statement (table 2) submitted to the DfES.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total education budget is in Gloucestershire in 2003–04; what percentage of that budget is spent in schools; and if he will make a statement. [153403]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 6 February 2004]The information requested is given in the following table.

  Gloucestershire education budget and percentage spent in schools for 2003–04

  £

  Percentage

  Individual schools budget

  221,544,390

  77

  Central elements within the schools budget

  35,695,453

  12

  Total schools budget

  257,239,843

  90

  Total LEA budget

  29,357,448

  10

  Total education revenue expenditure

  286,597,291

  100

  Notes:
  1. The data are as reported by Gloucestershire LEA within their section 52 Budget Statement (table 1) for 2003–04 submitted to the DfES at 9 February 2004. It is still subject to basic validation and could change
  2. Percentages may not sum due to rounding.
  3. Taken from line 1.0.1—Individual schools budget (ISB). This is the amount available for delegation to schools after provision has been made for retained items.
  4. The central element within the schools budget is the total schools budget minus the ISB. This money is spent on schools rather than in schools. The data is not collected in such a way that we can say precisely how much of this central element is spent in schools.
  5. Taken from line 1.7.1—Total schools budget.
  6. Taken from line 2.8.1—Total LEA budget.

  Faith Schools
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria need to be met for a new faith school to open within the state sector. [153270]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 6 February 2004]School Organisation Committees or Schools Adjudicators decide proposals for new schools on individual merit and in the light of local circumstances. They must have regard to statutory guidance which specifies the factors that have to be considered for all new schools including the effect on standards, need for places, costs, impact on community cohesion, views of interested parties etc. The guidance is available on the Department's website at www.dfes.gov.uk/schoolorg. Where a competition has been held for an additional secondary school, proposals are decided by the Secretary of State, taking into account comments by the SOC. While there are no factors that relate specifically to faith schools whether or not they are being considered as part of a competition or otherwise, the decision maker will take account of the level of parental demand for the type of school proposed.

  Free School Meals
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children were entitled to free school meals in each school in a principal seaside town on the latest date for which figures are available, listed in descending order; and if he will make a statement. [154947]

  Mr. Miliband
  It is the Department's policy not to publish figures about individual schools unless the schools concerned have had the opportunity to check or confirm that information. Therefore, aggregate data for the principal seaside towns in England is shown in the table.

  The definition of a seaside town has been taken from a report published by Sheffield Hallam University, entitled, "The Seaside Economy".

  Maintained primary schools1: number and percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals2 January 2003: Principal seaside towns in England3

  All pupils4

  Primary Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals

  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals

  Blackpool

  11,180

  2,890

  25.8

  Bridlington

  3,100

  670

  21.4

  Southend-on-Sea

  7,470

  1,590

  21.2

  Clacton-on-Sea

  5,450

  1,150

  21.0

  Morecambe and Heysham

  4,680

  980

  21.0

  Hastings/Bexhill

  6,010

  1,220

  20.2

  Great Yarmouth

  9,490

  1,780

  18.7

  Scarborough

  6,000

  1,110

  18.5

  Isle of Wight

  7,270

  1,310

  18.1

  Lowestoft

  5,100

  920

  18.0

  Torbay

  10,330

  1,850

  17.9

  Brighton

  14,730

  2,580

  17.5

  Eastbourne

  7,210

  1,200

  16.7

  Penzance

  3,130

  500

  15.9

  Weston-super-Mare

  6,800

  1,060

  15.6

  llfracombe

  1,300

  190

  14.7

  St. Ives

  760

  110

  14.5

  Dawlish/Teignmouth

  2,010

  290

  14.2

  Minehead

  870

  120

  13.6

  Whitby

  1,840

  240

  13.1

  Exmouth

  2,720

  360

  13.0

  Deal

  2,700

  350

  12.8

  Falmouth

  2,170

  280

  12.8

  Skegness

  2,320

  290

  12.6

  Whitstable/Herne Bay

  5,260

  620

  11.7

  Southport

  7,340

  850

  11.5

  Folkstone/Hythe

  1,290

  150

  11.3

  Bournemouth

  11,490

  1,170

  10.2

  Newquay

  2,110

  200

  9.7

  Burnham-on-Sea

  1,040

  100

  9.5

  Bognor Regis

  4,510

  430

  9.4

  Sidmouth

  880

  80

  8.6

  Whitley Bay

  3,420

  270

  8.0

  Weymouth

  4,720

  370

  7.7

  Worthing

  8,910

  650

  7.3

  Swanage

  560

  20

  3.6

  1Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

  3Based upon postal town of schools with the exception of Isle of Wight and Torbay for which the respective local education authorities have been used.

  4Includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils.

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  395W

  Maintained secondary schools1: Number and percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals2 January 2003: Principal seaside towns in England3

  All pupils4

  secondary Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals

  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals

  Blackpool

  8,670

  1,840

  21.2

  Clacton-on-Sea

  3,520

  680

  19.3

  Lowestoft

  6,790

  1,290

  19.0

  Morecambe and Heysham

  2,760

  500

  18.2

  Brighton

  7.080

  1,250

  17.6

  Folkstone/Hythe

  1,270

  210

  16.9

  Isle of Wight

  12,060

  1,930

  16.0

  Great Yarmouth

  4,550

  710

  15.7

  Penzance

  2,220

  340

  15.4

  Falmouth

  1,270

  190

  15.1

  Southend-on-Sea

  4,460

  670

  15.0

  Bridlington

  2,540

  370

  14.7

  Scarborough

  4,290

  600

  14.1

  Eastbourne

  5,570

  780

  14.0

  Torbay

  9,020

  1,250

  13.9

  Weston-super-Mare

  4,240

  580

  13.7

  Hastings/Bexhill

  4,670

  640

  13.6

  Whitstable/Herne Bay

  2,340

  310

  13.3

  Minehead

  1,860

  250

  13.3

  Skegness

  1,860

  250

  13.3

  Deal

  1,370

  160

  11.7

  Southport

  4,930

  570

  11.5

  Whitby

  1,810

  200

  11.1

  St. Ives

  720

  80

  10.5

  Dawlish/Teignmouth

  1,880

  200

  10.4

  Weymouth

  3,660

  380

  10.3

  Bournemouth

  9,960

  1,000

  10.0

  Newquay

  2,640

  260

  9.9

  Maintained primary and secondary schools1 number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals2 As at January 2003. By Local Education Authority area

  All pupils3

  Number on roll

  Primary Schools Number of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals

  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals

  Number on roll

  Secondary Schools Number of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals

  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals

  England

  4,309,780

  727,630

  16.9

  3,308,490

  478,920

  14.5

  North East

  226,230

  50,420

  22.3

  180,390

  32,670

  18.1

  841 Darlington

  9,050

  1,670

  18.5

  6,310

  1,030

  16.2

  840 Durham

  44,250

  8,770

  19.8

  32,580

  5,610

  17.2

  390 Gateshead

  17,230

  3,980

  23.1

  11,880

  2,310

  19.5

  805 Hartlepool

  9,720

  2,280

  23.5

  6,720

  1,490

  22.2

  806 Middlesbrough

  14,820

  4,300

  29.0

  7,030

  2,270

  32.3

  391 Newcastle upon Tyne

  20,030

  6,450

  32.2

  17,810

  4,210

  23.7

  392 North Tyneside

  17,190

  3,380

  19.7

  13,640

  2,100

  15.1

  929 Northumberland

  20,420

  2,810

  13.7

  30,680

  3,460

  11.3

  807 Redcar and Cleveland

  14,450

  3,270

  22.6

  10,380

  2,180

  21.0

  393 South Tyneside

  14,040

  3,930

  28.0

  10,410

  2,340

  22.5

  808 Stockton-on-Tees

  18,520

  3.590

  19.4

  12,790

  2,300

  18.0

  394 Sunderland

  26,510

  6,000

  22.6

  19,970

  3,380

  16.9

  North West

  629,440

  130,710

  20.8

  470,930

  88,610

  18.8

  889 Blackburn with Darwen

  15.060

  3,760

  25.0

  9,560

  2,420

  25.3

  890 Blackpool

  12,270

  2,980

  24.3

  8,670

  1,840

  21.2

  350 Bolton

  26,120

  4,480

  17.2

  19,770

  2,990

  15.1

  351 Bury

  16,830

  2,300

  13.6

  11,940

  1,690

  14.2

  875 Cheshire

  58,090

  6,740

  11.6

  47,290

  4,480

  9.5

  909 Cumbria

  42,360

  5,810

  13.7

  34,610

  3,940

  11.4

  876 Halton

  11,090

  2,890

  26.1

  8,350

  1,860

  22.3

  340 Knowsley

  17,110

  5,780

  33.8

  10,280

  4,010

  39.0

  888 Lancashire

  98,780

  15,580

  15.8

  76,410

  10,750

  14.1

  341 Liverpool

  41,300

  14,450

  35.0

  33,750

  10,720

  31.8

  352 Manchester

  41,690

  18,180

  43.6

  24,070

  10,090

  41.9

  353 Oldham

  23,660

  5,480

  23.1

  16,780

  3,610

  21.5

  354 Rochdale

  21,040

  4,980

  23.6

  14,450

  3,560

  24.6

  355 Salford

  21,150

  6,050

  28.6

  12,700

  3,150

  24.8

  343 Sefton

  25,120

  4,650

  18.5

  21,280

  3,770

  17.7

  342 St. Helens

  16,660

  3,250

  19.5

  12,180

  2,180

  17.9

  396W

  Maintained secondary schools1: Number and percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals2 January 2003: Principal seaside towns in England2

  All pupils4

  Secondary Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals

  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals

  Whitley Bay

  5,010

  490

  9.8

  llfracombe

  1,290

  120

  9.6

  Worthing

  4,860

  420

  8.7

  Exmouth

  2,290

  170

  7.5

  Bognor Regis

  3,860

  280

  7.1

  Sidmouth

  850

  60

  6.6

  Swanage

  460

  20

  4.8

  Burnham-on-Sea

  5—

  5—

  5—

  1Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

  3Based upon postal town of schools with the exception of Isle of Wight and Torbay for which the respective local education authorities have been used.

  4Includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils.

  5Not applicable, no schools of this type

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils were eligible for free school meals in 2002–03, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement. [155457]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]The information requested is shown in the following table.
  397W

  Maintained primary and secondary schools1 number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals2 As at January 2003.By Local Education Authority area

  All pupils3

  Number on roll

  Primary Schools Number of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals

  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals

  Number on roll

  Secondary Schools Number of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals

  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals

  356 Stockport

  25,130

  3,030

  12.0

  17.010

  2,180

  12.8

  357 Tameside

  21,600

  3,830

  17.7

  15,830

  2,890

  18.2

  358 Trafford

  19,890

  2,340

  11.8

  16,080

  1,910

  11.9

  877 Warrington

  18,270

  1,850

  10.1

  14.060

  1,260

  9.0

  359 Wigan

  27,900

  4,510

  16.2

  21,140

  2,970

  14.1

  344 Wirral

  28,330

  7,810

  27.6

  24.730

  6,350

  25.7

  Yorkshire and The Humber

  466,730

  81,680

  17.5

  347,630

  55,580

  16.0

  370 Barnsley

  21,470

  3,990

  18.6

  13,490

  2,930

  21.7

  380 Bradford

  51,270

  11,480

  22.4

  34,510

  9,150

  26.5

  381 Calderdale

  19,700

  3,260

  16.5

  15,330

  2,160

  14.1

  371 Doncaster

  29,110

  5,490

  18.9

  21,720

  3,480

  16.0

  811 East Riding of Yorkshire

  27,200

  2,630

  9.7

  23,350

  1,790

  7.6

  810 Kingston Upon Hull, City of

  24,430

  6,160

  25.2

  16,310

  3,960

  24.3

  382 Kirklees

  36,810

  6,490

  17.6

  26,790

  4,570

  17.1

  383 Leeds

  65,360

  12,210

  18.7

  47,780

  8,080

  16.9

  812 North East Lincolnshire

  15,350

  3,330

  21.7

  11,830

  2,220

  18.8

  813 North Lincolnshire

  14,380

  2,030

  14.1

  10,820

  1,340

  12.3

  815 North Yorkshire

  47.120

  3,910

  8.3

  41,640

  2,390

  5.7

  372 Rotherham

  25,260

  4,650

  18.4

  20,160

  3,110

  15.4

  373 Sheffield

  44,740

  9,110

  20.4

  31,360

  6,080

  19.4

  384 Wakefield

  30,680

  5,600

  18.3

  22,210

  3,560

  16.0

  816 York

  13,860

  1,340

  9.6

  10,370

  780

  7.6

  East Midlands

  372,890

  47,700

  12.8

  297,460

  33,420

  11.2

  831 Derby

  22,350

  4,400

  19.7

  15,260

  2,750

  18.0

  830 Derbyshire

  66,290

  8,130

  12.3

  49,650

  4,940

  9.9

  856 Leicester

  29,150

  7,150

  24.5

  18,250

  4,100

  22.5

  855 Leicestershire

  50,300

  3,650

  7.3

  46,370

  2,680

  5.8

  925 Lincolnshire

  54,880

  3,370

  6.1

  46,260

  3,430

  7.4

  928 Northamptonshire

  53,990

  4,960

  9.2

  50,700

  4,950

  9.8

  892 Nottingham

  25,540

  7,740

  30.3

  13,910

  4,540

  32.7

  891 Nottinghamshire

  67,760

  8,160

  12.0

  54,760

  5,940

  10.8

  857 Rutland

  2,640

  130

  4.8

  2,300

  80

  3.4

  West Midlands

  487,700

  90,150

  18.5

  378,640

  60,320

  15.9

  330 Birmingham

  103,580

  33,410

  32.3

  70,620

  22,320

  31.6

  331 Coventry

  27,980

  5,650

  20.2

  21,460

  3,670

  17.1

  332 Dudley

  29,950

  4,280

  14.3

  20,710

  2,910

  14.0

  884 Herefordshire

  13,930

  1.200

  8.6

  10,330

  850

  8.2

  333 Sandwell

  31,410

  7,110

  22.6

  19,780

  4,490

  22.7

  893 Shropshire

  22,220

  2,050

  9.2

  18,260

  1,400

  7.7

  334 Solihull

  21,090

  2,320

  11.0

  15,780

  1,640

  10.4

  860 Staffordshire

  67,430

  7,530

  11.2

  62,290

  5,420

  8.7

  861 Stoke-on-Trent

  21,850

  6,040

  27.7

  15,200

  3,210

  21.1

  894 Telford and Wrekin

  16,030

  3,350

  20.9

  10,500

  2,000

  19.1

  335 Walsall

  27,020

  4,750

  17.6

  21,820

  3,370

  15.4

  937 Warwickshire

  41,920

  4,050

  9.7

  33,920

  2,400

  7.1

  336 Wolverhampton

  24,230

  5,020

  20.7

  16,870

  3,310

  19.6

  885 Worcestershire

  39,040

  3,410

  8.7

  41,110

  3,340

  8.1

  East of England

  454,950

  53,690

  11.8

  383,910

  36,720

  9.6

  820 Bedfordshire

  25,340

  2,740

  10.8

  37,650

  3,650

  9.7

  873 Cambridgeshire

  44,650

  3,840

  8.6

  32,140

  2,470

  7.7

  881 Essex

  111,150

  12,390

  11.1

  89,500

  7,990

  8.9

  919 Hertfordshire

  95,910

  8,390

  8.7

  78,350

  5,120

  6.5

  821 Luton

  18,910

  4,360

  23.0

  12,450

  3,090

  24.8

  926 Norfolk

  67,370

  8,990

  13.3

  46,120

  4,410

  9.6

  874 Peterborough

  15,560

  3,100

  19.9

  12,970

  2,030

  15.6

  882 Southend-on-Sea

  14,730

  2,610

  17.7

  12,020

  1,350

  11.2

  935 Suffolk

  47,250

  5,170

  11.0

  54,220

  5,440

  10.0

  London

  632,950

  163,370

  25.8

  417,940

  100,470

  24.0

  Inner London

  231,730

  86,920

  37.5

  127,690

  50,370

  39.4

  202 Camden

  11,430

  4,880

  42.7

  9,600

  2,860

  29.8

  201 City of London

  220

  70

  30.6

  4–

  4–

  4–

  204 Hackney

  18,090

  7,430

  41.1

  7,910

  3,300

  41.7

  205 Hammersmith and Fulham

  9,690

  4,200

  43.4

  7,300

  2,390

  32.8

  309 Haringey

  22,030

  7,450

  33.8

  10,890

  4,090

  37.6

  206 Islington

  15,100

  6,090

  40.3

  7,780

  3,340

  42.9

  207 Kensington and Chelsea

  7,020

  2,660

  37.9

  3,540

  1,000

  28.2

  208 Lambeth

  19,990

  7,470

  37.4

  7,400

  2,710

  36.7

  398W 399W

  Maintained primary and secondary schools1 number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals2 As at January 2003. By Local Education Authority area

  All pupils3

  Number on roll

  Primary Schools Number of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals

  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals

  Number on roll

  Secondary Schools Number of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals

  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals

  209 Lewisham

  22,620

  6,420

  28.4

  11,620

  3,440

  29.6

  316 Newham

  31,530

  10,760

  34.1

  18,110

  7,810

  43.1

  210 Southwark

  23,820

  8,610

  36.1

  10,820

  5,080

  46.9

  211 Tower Hamlets

  22,060

  11,780

  53.4

  14,340

  8,890

  62.0

  212 Wandsworth

  17,440

  4,950

  28.4

  10,090

  2,590

  25.7

  213 Westminster

  10,700

  4,170

  38.9

  8,300

  2,880

  34.6

  Outer London

  401,210

  76,450

  19.1

  290,250

  50,100

  17.3

  301 Barking and Dagenham

  18,640

  4,300

  23.1

  11,670

  2,820

  24.2

  302 Barnet

  25,950

  4,700

  18.1

  21,050

  3,150

  14.9

  303 Bexley

  21,680

  2,870

  13.2

  17,700

  1,710

  9.7

  304 Brent

  22,850

  6,210

  27.2

  16,280

  3,750

  23.0

  305 Bromlev

  24,470

  3,280

  13.4

  21,840

  2,380

  10.9

  306 Croydon

  30,720

  6,610

  21.5

  18,400

  3,450

  18.8

  307 Ealing

  26,320

  6,420

  24.4

  15,590

  4,580

  29.4

  308 Enfield

  27,030

  6,310

  23.4

  21,120

  4,070

  19.3

  203 Greenwich

  20,680

  7,320

  35.4

  13,550

  3,950

  29.1

  310 Harrow

  19,550

  2,840

  14.5

  8,980

  1,590

  17.7

  311 Havering

  20,480

  2,350

  11.5

  16,340

  1,630

  10.0

  312 Hillingdon

  24,530

  3,700

  15.1

  17,420

  2,640

  15.1

  313 Hounslow

  19,150

  4,190

  21.9

  16,500

  3,120

  18.9

  314 Kingston upon Thames

  11,710

  860

  7.4

  9,090

  800

  8.8

  315 Merton

  14,490

  1,980

  13.6

  8,560

  1,380

  16.2

  317Redbridge

  23,820

  3,810

  16.0

  19,710

  2,850

  14.5

  318 Richmond upon Thames

  12,430

  1,210

  9.7

  7,390

  1,200

  16.2

  319 Sutton

  15,400

  1,920

  12.5

  15,400

  1,230

  8.0

  320 Waltham Forest

  21,330

  5,580

  26.1

  13,690

  3,820

  27.9

  South East

  645,590

  65,790

  10.2

  507,310

  42,410

  8.4

  867 Bracknell Forest

  8,990

  580

  6.5

  5,990

  330

  5.5

  846 Brighton and Hove

  17,580

  3,090

  17.6

  12,470

  2,000

  16.1

  825 Buckinghamshire

  40.490

  2,200

  5.4

  34,220

  2,150

  6.3

  845 East Sussex

  37,760

  5,140

  13.6

  28,610

  3,210

  11.2

  850 Hampshire

  100,760

  8,650

  8.6

  72,610

  4,550

  6.3

  921 Isle of Wight

  7,270

  1,310

  18.1

  12,060

  1,930

  16.0

  886 Kent

  113,760

  14,010

  12.3

  96,740

  8,380

  8.7

  887 Medway

  23,960

  2,910

  12.2

  20,490

  1,950

  9.5

  826 Milton Keynes

  22,520

  2,680

  11.9

  12,480

  1,330

  10.7

  931 Oxfordshire

  45,250

  3,990

  8.8

  38,600

  3,310

  8.6

  851 Portsmouth

  15,100

  2,560

  16.9

  10,200

  1,520

  14.9

  870 Reading

  10,260

  1,620

  15.8

  6,290

  750

  12.0

  871 Slough

  11,350

  1,840

  16.2

  8,160

  1,190

  14.5

  852 Southampton

  17,140

  3,730

  21.7

  12,150

  2,020

  16.6

  936 Surrey

  79,700

  5,930

  7.4

  58,520

  3,390

  5.8

  869 West Berkshire

  12,240

  830

  6.8

  11,940

  520

  4.3

  938 West Sussex

  60,470

  3,680

  6.1

  44,500

  2,830

  6.4

  868 Windsor and Maidenhead

  8,410

  580

  6.9

  10,360

  520

  5.0

  872 Wokingham

  12,620

  480

  3.8

  10,930

  520

  4.8

  South West

  393,320

  44,130

  11.2

  324.290

  28,720

  8.9

  800 Bath and North East Somerset

  12,670

  1,210

  9.5

  12,360

  820

  6.7

  837 Bournemouth

  11,150

  1,150

  10.4

  9,960

  1,000

  10.0

  801 Bristol, City of

  30,690

  7,130

  23.2

  17,830

  3,490

  19.6

  908 Cornwall

  40,860

  4,650

  11.4

  32,760

  3,540

  10.8

  878 Devon

  55,680

  6,220

  11.2

  41,700

  3,590

  8.6

  835 Dorset

  25,090

  1,380

  5.5

  50,240

  2,010

  6.6

  916 Gloucestershire

  45,320

  4,370

  9.6

  39,870

  2,670

  6.7

  420 Isles of Stilly

  270

  0

  0.0

  4–

  4–

  4–

  802 North Somerset

  14,920

  1,580

  10.6

  12,780

  980

  7.7

  879 Plymouth

  20,430

  3,770

  18.5

  19,010

  2,280

  12.0

  836 Poole

  10,900

  600

  5.5

  8,560

  480

  5.5

  933 Somerset

  38,390

  3,630

  9.4

  32,740

  2,710

  8.3

  803 South Gloucestershire

  23,330

  1,770

  7.6

  16,870

  1,160

  6.9

  866 Swindon

  17,350

  2,070

  11.9

  11,590

  1,050

  9.1

  880 Torbay

  10,330

  1,850

  17.9

  9,020

  1,250

  13.9

  865 Wiltshire

  35,960

  2,770

  7.7

  28,990

  1,710

  5.9

  1Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between the sum of constituent items and totals as shown.

  3Includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils.

  4Not applicable, no schools of this type

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  400W 401W

  Homeless Young People
  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements are made for the continuation of social services support for a young person who has been refused a home by his or her family and has not been made ward of court, once he or she becomes 16 years old. [155640]

  Margaret Hodge
  Local authority social service departments have a range of powers and duties under the Children Act 1989 to provide services for children in need in their area.

  A general duty is placed on local authorities by section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their area who are in need by providing a range of services appropriate to those needs. The definition of a child in need is set out in section 17(10) of the Act, which applies to all children, regardless of whether or not they reside with their family.

  There is also a duty under section 20 of the Children Act to provided accommodation for children in need if necessary.

  Jenny Gray
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2004,Official Report, columns 579—80W, under which section of the Code of Practice on Access to Information he declined to provide the information requested; and whether Jenny Gray is a full-time employee of his Department. [153588]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 6 February 2004]I refer the hon. Member to exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. In line with this exemption, it is not our policy to disclose information on individual civil servants that may constitute or could facilitate an invasion of privacy.

  Learning and Skills Councils
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what instruction he gives learning and skills councils on the extent of their written communications with hon. Members. [155240]

  Alan Johnson
  As an executive Non Departmental Public Body, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) comes within the remit of "The Code of Practice on / Access to Government Information". This includes a requirement to answer requests for information, and to provide full facts and analysis of major policy proposals.

  As part of the Management Statement agreed with my Department, the LSC required to answer correspondence and questions of an operational nature
  402W
  from hon. Members. We are also keen for the LSC to engage with hon. Members on major issues affecting post-16 learning within their constituencies.

  Medical Students
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to provide additional places for UK students wishing to train as a medical practitioner; and if he will make a statement. [155882]

  Alan Johnson
  The Higher Education Funding Council for England allocated, between 1999 and 2001, a total of 2,145 additional medical school places to higher education institutions. Eligible medical students have their fees paid by the NHS for the fifth and, where there is one, sixth years of their courses and receive a means-tested NHS Bursary of up to £2703 (in London) in those years. In addition, they may receive a maintenance loan under the student support regulations.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many days on average his Department took in Session 2002–03 to give a substantive answer to a Parliamentary Question for ordinary written answer; and what the greatest number of days taken to answer such a question was. [155929]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  At present, our records system does not allow us to retrieve the information requested without incurring disproportionate cost.

  School Capital Investment
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on new capital investments in each school in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne including private finance initiative projects in each year since 1997–98; and what type of project it was in each case. [154616]

  Mr. Miliband
  The majority of capital support is allocated to schools and local education authorities (LEAs) by formula, and they decide how to invest it in line with their asset management plans. The Department does not, therefore, have complete information about all the capital investments in each school; this should be held locally. The following table sets out the capital support made by this Government to Newcastle upon Tyne LEA since 1997–98, in total and by programme, including devolved formula capital grants to each school.

  We have also allocated indicative funding for future years worth approximately £70 million in 2004–05 (this includes £60 million of PFI credits) and £5 million in 2005–06. Additionally we have just announced that Newcastle LEA will be part of the first wave of Building Schools for the Future commencing in 2005–06. We will be working with the LEA over the coming months to confirm details and funding of their plans.
  403W

  Capital allocations for Newcastle upon Tyne LEA

  £000

  Newcastle upon Tyne LEA capital allocations

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Assistance with Asset Management Plans

  —

  —

  33

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Formulaic funding for VA schools

  —

  —

  —

  —

  45

  262

  340

  Basic Need

  407

  451

  896

  644

  241

  79

  181

  City Learning Centres

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1200

  —

  —

  Class Size initiative

  —

  367

  70

  80

  342

  —

  —

  Condition

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1955

  3058

  3907

  Devolved Formula

  —

  —

  —

  1787

  1434

  2173

  3351

  Energy

  —

  70

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Modernisation

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1346

  2533

  New Deal for Schools (NDS) 1

  487

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  NDS2

  —

  4612

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  NDS 3

  —

  —

  6318

  —

  —

  —

  —

  NDS 4

  —

  —

  —

  3300

  —

  —

  —

  Nursery Provision

  —

  —

  —

  65

  —

  —

  —

  Private Finance Initiative

  —

  —

  —

  —

  47100

  —

  —

  School Labs

  —

  —

  —

  170

  170

  —

  —

  School Security

  68

  84

  85

  84

  57

  49

  —

  Schools Access Initiative

  30

  70

  100

  139

  220

  355

  519

  Seed Challenge

  —

  —

  —

  172

  193

  321

  318

  Specialist Schools

  —

  —

  —

  300

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Workspace

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  68

  135

  Supplementary Credit Approvals

  1185

  1394

  605

  —

  353

  —

  —

  Targeted Capital Funding

  —

  —

  —

  —

  430

  —

  —

  Targeted Capital Funding—VA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4996

  Voluntary Aided School Grant

  837

  702

  237

  328

  1216

  653

  —

  Total

  3014

  7750

  8344

  7069

  54956

  8364

  16280

  Specialist Schools
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in which year each(a) language college and (b) specialist school achieved specialist status; how many and what percentage of pupils at each obtained five A*-C GCSEs in each year since two years before it achieved specialist status; and how many language (i) GCSEs at A*-C grade and (ii) A-levels were obtained at each in each year since two years before it achieved specialist status. [155270]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  The list below shows the year in which each specialist school, including Language Colleges (a specialism which has existed since 1995), achieved specialist status. The list also shows how many and what percentage of pupils at each school obtained five A*-C grades at GCSE in each year from two years before it achieved specialist status.

  Number of specialist school designations, de-designations and re-designations1 by year

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Specialism

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Arts

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Business and enterprise

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Engineering

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Language

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  Mathematics and computing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Science

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sport

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Technology

  49

  —

  —

  52

  —

  —

  Combined

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  404W
  The information requested regarding language GCSEs and A-Levels is not published at school level. To collate this information would involve disproportionate costs.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in which year since 1992 each specialist school was established as such; in which year each of those schools which ceased to have specialist status did so; and what the value is of(a) capital grants and (b) revenue funding to each school consequent upon its specialist status since its establishment. [155276]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]The following table shows the number of schools designated, re-designated, or de-designated as specialist schools, by specialism, for each of the years since the programme began in 1994. Funding information is not readily available at school level for each of these years. However, the table shows the overall level of capital grants and recurrent funding for each year.

  Designated specialist schools receive a one-off £100,000 capital grant and £126 per pupil per annum for four years. At current rates, a typical specialist school of 1,000 pupils would receive £100,000 capital funding and £504,000 revenue funding over a four-year phase.
  405W

  Number of specialist school designations, de-designations and re-designations1 by year

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Specialism

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Totals

  49

  0

  0

  58

  0

  0

  Year total

  49

  58

  Cumulative

  49

  107

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Specialism

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Arts

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  Business and enterprise

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Engineering

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Language

  25

  —

  —

  19

  —

  —

  Mathematics and computing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Science

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sport

  —

  —

  —

  11

  —

  —

  Technology

  50

  —

  —

  41

  2

  —

  Combined

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  75

  0

  0

  77

  2

  0

  Year total

  75

  75

  Cumulative

  182

  257

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Specialism

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Arts

  11

  —

  —

  12

  —

  —

  Business and enterprise

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Engineering

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Language

  11

  —

  —

  15

  1

  —

  Mathematics and computing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Science

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sport

  15

  —

  —

  11

  —

  —

  Technology

  46

  13

  —

  42

  4

  1

  Combined

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  83

  13

  0

  80

  5

  1

  Year total

  70

  76

  Cumulative

  327

  403

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Specialism

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Arts

  28

  —

  —

  34

  —

  —

  Business and enterprise

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Engineering

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Language

  28

  —

  —

  27

  —

  —

  Mathematics and computing

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Science

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sport

  30

  —

  —

  34

  —

  —

  Technology

  51

  5

  2

  56

  4

  2

  Combined

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  137

  5

  2

  151

  4

  2

  Year total

  134

  149

  Cumulative

  537

  686

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Specialism

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Arts

  82

  —

  —

  57

  3

  —

  233

  Business and enterprise

  18

  —

  —

  64

  —

  —

  82

  Engineering

  4

  —

  —

  10

  —

  —

  14

  Language

  31

  —

  —

  32

  1

  —

  196

  Mathematics and computing

  12

  —

  —

  64

  —

  —

  76

  Science

  24

  —

  —

  97

  —

  —

  121

  Sport

  60

  —

  —

  68

  1

  —

  230

  Technology

  78

  2

  1

  59

  4

  —

  564

  406W 407W

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Specialism

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Designated

  De-designated

  Re-designated

  Combined

  —

  —

  —

  10

  —

  —

  10

  Totals

  309

  2

  1

  461

  9

  0

  1,526

  Year total

  308

  452

  1,446

  Cumulative

  994

  1,446

  1The term re-designation is used here to indicate a school which was de-designated but subsequently regained specialist status.

  Note:

  The first specialist schools became operational in September 1994 under the technology specialism. Further specialisms have since been added with the first language colleges becoming operational in September 1995 followed by sports and arts colleges in September 1997.

  The first business and enterprise, science, maths and computing and engineering colleges became operational in September 2002. The first music and humanities colleges were designated in January 2004 but do not become operational until September 2004.

  Funding (calculated by financial year)

  £ million

  Capital

  Revenue

  Total

  1994–95

  5.0

  3.0

  8.0

  1995–96

  7.0

  9.0

  16.0

  1996–97

  7.0

  16.0

  23.0

  1997–98

  7.5

  25.6

  33.1

  1998–99

  8.0

  32.8

  40.8

  1999–2000

  7.6

  42.2

  49.8

  2000–01

  13.2

  58.7

  71.9

  2001–02

  15.4

  78.6

  94.0

  2002–03

  30.8

  114.4

  145.2

  2003–04

  56.0

  193.0

  249.0

  Total

  158

  573

  731

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people employed in his Department have claimed statutory sick pay for(a) less than one week, (b) one to three weeks, (c) four to six weeks, (d) seven to 12 weeks, (e) 13 to 20 weeks and (f) 21 to 28 weeks in each year since 1997. [148625]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The numbers of staff in my Department who have claimed statutory sick pay during the years 2000 to 2003 are as follows. The numbers include DfES staff working in the Government office regions. No records are held for the years prior to this.

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Less than one week

  598

  667

  692

  694

  One to three weeks

  448

  424

  458

  481

  Four to six weeks

  100

  128

  156

  139

  Seven to 12 weeks

  93

  121

  131

  120

  13 to 20 weeks

  65

  82

  111

  98

  21 to 28 weeks

  41

  64

  84

  53

  Total

  1,345

  1,486

  1,632

  1,585

  Student Finance
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of graduates in receipt of income contingent student loans who will take career breaks to bring up children; and what assumptions about the consequent subsidy costs have been included in the Government's overall estimates for student loan subsidy provisions. [155374]

  Alan Johnson
  Our estimates of the cost of subsidising both maintenance and fee loans in 2006–07 terms were published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment 408W
  associated with the HE Bill. The economic cost of providing student loans is made up of the interest rate subsidy on loans together with the cost of any loans that are never repaid (e.g. due to death, permanent disability or loans being written off after 25 years). Modelling this cost requires taking into account a great number of factors. Important factors include:

  The number of students in Higher Education;

  The parental income of those students (or their own income if independent);

  The proportions of students studying in London, at home or elsewhere;

  The propensity of students to take out each loan;

  The distribution of fees actually charged by Higher Education institutions from 2006–7;

  The distribution of lengths of courses (based on internal modelling):

  The pattern of withdrawals from HE courses (based on internal modelling);

  The earnings profiles of graduates; and

  Macroeconomic conditions.

  In relation to factor (vii), the modelling of the cost of providing student loans uses Labour Force Survey (LFS) data to inform the probability of borrowers being in employment, unemployment, or economically inactive. We have used the LFS data to take account of those people who take career breaks-to raise children or for other reasons. The impact of those who take career breaks to raise children is thus reflected in the modelling but it is not possible to estimate how many borrowers will take career breaks for this reason—or to estimate the cost associated with this factor—in isolation.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial assumptions were made in calculating the provision of £25 million to cover the cost of writing off outstanding student loans after 25 years. [155375]

  Alan Johnson
  Our estimates of the cost of subsidising both maintenance and fee loans in 2006–07 terms were published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment associated with the HE Bill. The economic cost of providing student loans is made up of the interest rate subsidy on loans together with the cost of any loans that are never repaid (e.g. due to death, permanent disability or loans being written-off after 25 years). Modelling this cost requires taking into account a great number of factors. Important factors include:

  The number of students in Higher Education;

  409W

  The parental income of those students (or their own income if independent);

  The proportions of students studying in London, at home or elsewhere;

  The propensity of students to take out each loan;

  The distribution of fees actually charged by Higher Education institutions from 2006–7;

  The distribution of lengths of courses (based on internal modelling);

  The pattern of withdrawals from HE courses (based on internal modelling);

  The earnings profiles of graduates; and

  Macroeconomic conditions.

  The Regulatory Impact Assessment estimated the cost of writing-off loans at 25 years at £30 million. This is the extra economic cost of not collecting any repayments that would have been made on loans older than 25 years.

  Temporary Mobile Classrooms
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in each London borough make use of temporary mobile classroom accommodation; and what the timetable for replacement of this accommodation is in each borough. [155091]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]The following table shows the number of schools with temporary classrooms in each London borough. It is based on data provided to the Department in May 2002, by local education authorities as part of the asset management planning process.

  The bulk of schools' capital is now allocated by formula to authorities and schools so that they can address their local priorities, including the replacement of temporary accommodation in poor condition. Prioritisation of need is through asset management planning and on an open and rigorous consultative process, based on the needs of all schools. The Department does not collect detailed information on investment plans or timetables of authorities.

  Numbers of schools in London boroughs with temporary building

  LEA

  Number of schools with temporary buildings

  Barking and Dagenham

  7

  Barnet

  —

  Bexley

  56

  Brent

  36

  Bromley

  16

  Camden

  0

  City of London

  —

  Croydon

  60

  Ealing

  54

  Enfield

  —

  Greenwich

  —

  Hackney

  10

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  0

  Haringey

  21

  Harrow

  58

  Havering

  1

  Hillingdon

  44

  Hounslow

  40

  Islington

  9

  Kensington and Chelsea

  3

  Kingston upon Thames

  0

  Lambeth

  28

  410W

  Numbers of schools in London boroughs with temporary building

  LEA

  Number of schools with temporary buildings

  Lewisham

  22

  Merton

  3

  Newham

  46

  Redbridge

  0

  Richmond upon Thames

  12

  Southwark

  8

  Sutton

  44

  Tower Hamlets

  9

  Waltham Forest

  11

  Wandsworth

  9

  Westminster

  0

  Where no figures are shown, either no data have been supplied by LEAs, or there are clearly significant data anomalies.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Bankruptcies
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many individuals in the East Riding of Yorkshire were declared bankrupt in each of the past five years. [154563]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Bankruptcy figures are only available on the basis of the Official Receivers Office dealing with the cases, therefore it is not possible to separate bankruptcies pertaining to the East Riding of Yorkshire exactly. The following table gives annual figures for the number of individual bankruptcies dealt with by the Official Receivers Office in Hull, which covers the county courts of Beverley, Great Grimsby, Grimsby, Hull, Kingston-upon-Hull, Malton, Scarborough, Scunthorpe, Whitby and York. The Hull Office covers the majority of the East Riding of Yorkshire but also includes a number of county courts from neighbouring counties/unitary authorities. A small part of the East Riding of Yorkshire (the county court of Goole) is administered by the Official Receivers Office at Sheffield.

  Individual Bankruptcies Registered at the Official Receivers Office in Hull 1999–2003

  Number

  1999

  690

  2000

  796

  2001

  907

  2002

  926

  2003

  906

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) personal and (b) corporate bankruptcies there were in East Devon in each of the past seven years. [155297]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Insolvency figures are only available on the basis of the Official Receivers Office dealing with the cases, therefore it is not possible to identify precisely
  411W
  insolvencies in East Devon. Company insolvencies are made up of Company Compulsory Liquidations and Creditors Voluntary Liquidations of which only Company Compulsory Liquidations are available on an Official Receivers Office basis. The following table gives

  Individual bankruptcies and company compulsory liquidations registered at the Official Receivers Office in Exeter

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Individual insolvencies

  494

  628

  761

  566

  795

  919

  902

  Company compulsory liquidations

  46

  51

  56

  43

  38

  64

  33

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) personal and (b) company bankruptcies in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough there were in each of the last three years for which figures are available; what assessment she has made of recent trends; and if she will make a statement. [155275]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]Insolvency figures are only available on the basis of the Official Receivers Office dealing with the cases, therefore it is not possible to identify precisely insolvencies in Greater London or in individual boroughs. Company insolvencies are made up of Company Compulsory Liquidations and Creditors Voluntary Liquidations of which only Company Compulsory Liquidations are available on an Official Receivers Office basis. The following table gives annual figures for the number of individual Bankruptcies and Company Compulsory Liquidations dealt with by the Official Receivers Office in London, which covers the county courts of Barnet, Bloomsbury and Marylebone, Bow, Brentford, Chingford, Clerkenwell, Edmonton, Lambeth, Marylebone, Bloomsbury, Mayor's and City of London, Shoreditch, Wandsworth, West London, Westminster and Willesden.

  Individual Bankruptcies and Company Compulsory Liquidations Registered at the Official Receivers Office in London

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Individual Bankruptcies

  1,427

  1,457

  1,933

  Company Compulsory Liquidations

  911

  1,147

  864

  Broadband
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in London have access to(a) broadband internet via satellite service and (b) average variable cost broadband; and if she will make a statement. [155272]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]Broadband internet access via satellite is available to the vast majority of households across the UK, including in London. Terrestrial broadband internet access services, such as ADSL and cable modem, which are generally available at less than £30 per month, are available to 85 per cent. of households in the UK including the vast majority of households in the London area.

  Business Link
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 2 February 2004,Official Report, column 642W, on
  412W
  annual figures for the number of individual bankruptcies and company compulsory liquidations dealt with by the Official Receivers Office in Exeter, which covers the county courts of Barnstaple, Exeter, Newton Abbott, Shaftsbury, Torquay and Yeovil.

  Business Link, when her Department will publish the gross value-added measure for Business Link operators. [155356]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  Initial Gross Value Added (GVA) data, covering the period April to June 2004, will be available from July 2004.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 2 February 2004,Official Report, column 642W, on Business Link, how many studies have been commissioned; what their titles are; and when they were published. [155359]

  Mr. Timms
  Since the introduction of Business Link there have been 17 studies which are available from the Small Business Service Analytical Unit (0114-279-4442):KPMG Evaluation of Business Links: Final Report (1994)
  MORE Business Links: the business advice market among small and medium sized enterprises (1994)
  MORI Business Links (Wave 2): the business advice market among small and medium sized enterprises (March 1995)
  MORI Business Links (Wave 3): Business advice among SME and the 'Business Link' campaign. (Sept, 1995)
  MORI Business Links (Wave 4): Business advice among SME and the 'Business Link' campaign (April, 1996)
  MORI Business Links (Wave 4): Business advice among SME and the 'Business Link' campaign (Sept, 1997)
  Business Planning and Research International Mystery Enquirer Programme 1995–96. (1997)
  Ernst and Young Evaluation of Business Links (1996)
  Ernst and Young Business Link Follow-up study (1997)
  Kingston Business School The Business Link Tracker Study, Published at 24th ISBA
  Small Firms Policy and Research Conference proceedings (ISBN 9000862 45X)
  Public and Corporate Economic Consultants Business Link—Value for Money Evaluation (1999)
  ECOTEC Evaluation of Innovative Business Support Projects (1999) York Consulting Ltd Early Assessment of Centres of Expertise (2000)
  CEEDR/Data Build Evaluation of High Growth Start up Programme (2002), Published at 25th ISBA Small Finns Policy and Research Conference proceedings (ISBN 1 901177 03 3) (2002)
  Business Support Needs Study (June 2001)
  Mystery Enquirer study of Business Link National Contact Centre (April 2002)
  Mystery Enquirer study of Business Link Website (April 2002)

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letter from the hon.
  413W
  Member for Totnes of 9 December 2003 concerning Mr. Trevor Sams of Totnes and business practices on the Internet. [155099]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]My Department has no record of receiving your letter of 9 December. We now have a copy, and I will ensure you receive a response in due course.

  Departmental Functions (Beer)
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's policy is on the serving of beer at official functions. [155784]

  Ms Hewitt
  The decision whether to serve beer at official functions is made on an event by event basis depending upon the purpose, nature and format of the function.

  EU (High Level Group)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list outstanding European Union issues due to come to the High Level Group under the International Accountancy Standards Board; what the United Kingdom position on each issue is; and what the membership of the High Level Group is. [154558]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The high level European consultative group set up to advise the International Accounting Standards Board will be made up of senior officials from European banking, securities and insurance regulators and from the accounting, banking and insurance industries. The European Commission will be an observer on the group. The group will focus specifically on certain basic issues related to the application of accounting standards to financial institutions. Copies of the press notice announcing the group have been deposited and are available for reference in the Libraries of the House.

  The Government take no position on the individual technical issues but do believe that it is important for a complete package of accounting standards to be available to companies as soon as possible in view of the move to International Accounting Standards from 2005.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many illegal fireworks were seized in(a) 2003 and (b) the past five years. [154887]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]The question is taken to refer to three areas where fireworks could be illegal, those are:(a) fireworks seized that do not comply with the British Standards (BS 7114); (b)those seized at port by Customs and Excise; and, (c) those found to be illegally stored (in unregistered premises).

  With regard to (a), such information is not centrally available from Trading Standards Departments.

  With regard to (b), Customs and Excise have seized the amounts set out in the following table. The Figures provided are for a three year period—as information prior to April 2000 is not available.
  414W

  Individual fireworks

  Boxes of fireworks

  April 2000 to March 2001

  2,681

  8

  April 2001 to March 2002

  142

  5

  April 2002 to March 2003

  702

  27

  March 2003 to December 2003

  17,872

  24

  The large number of fireworks seized last year can be put down to a single seizure of approx 3.5 tons (17.4000 individual fireworks) which were detected upon entry into the UK.

  The figures compiled by Customs and Excise also include flares.

  Finally, with regard to (c), I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 10 November 2003, Official Report, column 146W.

  Grocery Market
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Office of Fair Trading has made of the potential impact of encroachment by multiple stores into the convenience sector of the grocery market on(a) sustainability of the industry and (b) the independent retailers and small groups within it. [155241]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  These are matters for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) as an independent competition authority. I have asked the OFT to respond to you directly on the points raised.

  Ministerial Speeches
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many speeches she made between 9 June 2003 and 1 February 2004; and where a copy of each speech can be obtained. [156155]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have spoken, in my Ministerial capacity, at a number of events during this period and my keynote speeches are available on the DTI website.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has commissioned since 1998–99 to assess the impact of the National Minimum Wage on 16 to 17-year-olds participating in Government-supported training; and if she will make a statement. [155438]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 23 February 2004 ]Work on the position of 16 to 17-year-old workers, including those on Government-supported training, is taking place in two strands. First, the Government asked the independent Low Pay Commission in spring 2003 to consider the case for introducing a minimum wage rate for 16 to 17-year-old workers. I understand that the Commission have commissioned research and consulted widely on this issue. A copy of the Government's evidence to the Commission can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/er/nmw. We expect to receive the Commission's report by the end of this month and then to publish it, with the Government's response, around the middle of March.
  415W
  The Government have also been conducting a wider review which is looking at the financial incentives for young people to participate in education and training and the system of financial support for young people. We expect this review to report in the spring.

  Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements are in place to enforce the provisions of the EU Social Chapter throughout the supply chain in construction projects for Britain's offshore oil and gas industries; and what the relationship is between these obligations and her Department's licensing regime. [154269]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The statutory employment rights provided by the Directives which the Government have implemented under the Social Chapter since 1997 extend to all those working in the United Kingdom in these industries.

  Implementation of Directives under the EU Social Chapter does not impact the administration of the licensing regime under the Petroleum Act 1998.

  Qualifications
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the balance between the supply of(a) high, (b) intermediate and (c) lower level qualifications in the workforce and employers' requirements for qualifications across the UK. [155288]

  Ms Hewitt
  The evidence gathered to inform the National Skills Strategy highlighted the fact that 56.9 per cent, of the UK workforce have lower level qualifications, 27.7 per cent, intermediate and 15.4 per cent, higher level.

  Understanding employers demand for skills and qualifications and encouraging effective deployment of skills in the workplace are key to my Department's agenda. I will continue to work with the Sectors Skills Development Agency and the Skills for Business Network to ensure that employers have the skills they require both now and in the future.

  Scientists (Productivity)
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on levels of productivity amongst scientists in the UK. [155258]

  Ms Hewitt
  A recent international benchmarking study commissioned by my Department confirmed that in addition to the high quality of UK science and UK scientists are highly productive. On widely accepted measures of scientific productivity UK leads the G8 in terms of both papers published and citations acquired per researcher in international scientific journals.

  Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small and medium-sized enterprises she estimates have started business in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [155585]
  416W
  Mr. Timms
  Value added tax (VAT) registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business start-ups. These cover businesses of all sizes. Large changes in the level of the VAT threshold mean that data before 1994 is unavailable on a consistent basis with the current series.

  The number of businesses registering for VAT in each calendar year from 1994 to 2002 in the UK is as follows:

  VAT registrations in the UK

  1994

  170,000

  1995

  165,810

  1996

  171,005

  1997

  187,690

  1998

  187,515

  1999

  181,370

  2000

  184,035

  2001

  174,620

  2002

  175,800

  Source:

  Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service

  While the number of new VAT registrations peaked in 1997 there were still more registrations in each year from 1997 to 2002 than in any of the three years proceeding this period. The reason why VAT registrations have fallen since 1997 is not clear. Many factors influence the number of new VAT registrations. These include global economic conditions and attractiveness of salaried employment compared with self-employment. A stable economy with low interest rates, coupled with a range of government initiatives to help start-ups, has assisted the net growth of business in the UK—at the start of 2003 there were 117,000 more VAT registered businesses than at the start of 1997

  University Science Funding
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on(a) current and (b) future funding levels for university scientists in the UK. [155261]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government has invested heavily in the science and engineering base, of which the research conducted in universities forms the larger part. In the current spending review period the science budget is growing at 10 per cent, year-on-year in real terms, building on the average 7 per cent, growth over the previous spending review period, and reaching just short of £3 billion by 2005–06. The recent announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of his intention to develop a 10-year investment framework for science and investment, to be announced at the time of the next spending review settlement, signals the Government's continuing long-term commitment to science.

  Further details of current and future funding levels by Government Departments and Research Councils are set out in 'The Forward Look 2003 Government funded science, engineering and technology', copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the
  417W
  potential cost of prohibiting employees from working longer than an average 48 hours per week to (a) small businesses and (b) the UK economy as a whole. [153916]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Employers are likely to respond in a variety of ways if legislation were passed to prevent employees from working longer than 48 hours on average. Firstly employers may absorb the curtailment in working hours either through reducing output or realising productivity gains through changed work arrangements. Alternatively, employers may replace in whole or part the lost hours by recruiting more staff or asking existing staff to work longer hours (while remaining below 48 on average).
  418W
  The extent to which employers do not compensate employees for lost hours and reductions in overtime pay would partly offset employers' costs in replacing lost long hours worked. This makes any precise estimate of the cost of prohibiting employees working longer hours difficult.

  However, DTI estimate that if one quarter of the hours worked over 48 per week were replaced by employers at extra cost then the value of those hours would be around £3 billion per annum. If three-quarters of long hours worked were replaced at extra cost then the value of these hours is estimated at around £9 billion per annum.

  Estimates for small businesses are not available.

  Belfast Education and Library Board
  Belfast Education and Library Board
  Northern Ireland: Pre-Employment Consultancy Service
  Northern Ireland: Pre-Employment Consultancy Service
  Democratic Republic of Congo
  Democratic Republic of Congo
  Belfast: Waterways
  Belfast: Waterways
  Northern Ireland: Public House Licences
  Northern Ireland: Public House Licences
  Northern Ireland: Teachers
  Northern Ireland: Teachers
  House of Lords: Government Documents
  House of Lords: Government Documents
  Northern Ireland: Railways
  Northern Ireland: Railways
  House of Lords: Declarations of Interests
  House of Lords: Declarations of Interests
  Asylum Appeals
  Asylum Appeals
  British-Irish Council: Minority Languages
  British-Irish Council: Minority Languages
  Traffic Courts
  Traffic Courts
  Adoption
  Adoption
  Pensioners
  Pensioners
  Pension Credit
  Pension Credit
  Pesticides
  Pesticides
  Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
  Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
  Licensed Premises
  Licensed Premises
  Camelids: Tuberculosis
  Camelids: Tuberculosis
  Customs and Excise: Veterinary Personnel
  Customs and Excise: Veterinary Personnel
  Wild Boar
  Wild Boar
  Wild Birds: Border Inspections
  Wild Birds: Border Inspections
  Biofuels
  Biofuels
  Illegal Meat Imports
  Illegal Meat Imports
  Railways
  Railways
  Computer Monitors: Excise Duties
  Computer Monitors: Excise Duties
  Ambulances
  Ambulances
  Statutory Instruments
  Statutory Instruments