Written Answers of 25 February 2004

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

  Parliamentary Questions
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Leader of the House if he will take steps to ensure that the texts of ministerial letters sent to hon. Members in respect of written answers are printed in the Official Report. [156641]

  Mr. Hain
  I have recently written to the Speaker assuring him that, following representations from hon. Members, my office is actively engaged with the House authorities and departments in exploring how we can best reduce the number of "will write" answers and make any subsequent ministerial letters more accessible.

TRANSPORT

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [155932]

  Mr. McNulty
  In the Session 2002–03, the Department for Transport received 2,785 parliamentary questions for Ordinary Written Answer, of which 2,522 (91 per cent.) were answered on time. Records on average processing times for parliamentary questions are not collected and to compile such data would incur disproportionate cost. The greatest number of days taken to answer an Ordinary Written Question was 44 sitting days.

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the relative effectiveness of(a) inconspicuous speed cameras accompanied by high-profile advertising and road signs and (b) single brightly-coloured speed cameras. [153021]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 10 February 2004]: The objective of the safety camera programme is to reduce injuries and crashes by deterring excessive speed at places with a history of speed related accidents. Visible cameras, clearly signed, help achieve this. Drivers can also obtain information on the location of cameras from local safety camera partnerships' websites.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money raised in fines from speed cameras during the last year for which records are available was spent in(a) West Sussex and (b) the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency. [154400]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  Information on all the "Safety Camera Partnerships" expenditure for the financial year 2002–03 is being prepared and will be published shortly. This was the first year in which the West Sussex Safety Camera Partnership was operating.

  We do not hold statistical revenue information broken down by parliamentary constituency areas. The hon. Member may wish to contact the West Sussex safety camera partnership for more detailed information.

  Speed Limits
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes to(a) emission levels, (b) fuel consumption, (c) accident rates and (d) severity of accidents he estimates would result from an increase in the motorway speed limit to 80mph. [155498]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: Although no detailed estimates are available for such an increase, there is evidence to indicate that emission levels, fuel consumption, accident rates and severity of accidents would all rise.

  Road Resurfacing
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the trunk road network has been(a) re-surfaced and (b) re-surfaced with lower noise surfacing in each of the last three years. [155070]

  Mr. Darling
  Government policy is to encourage the implementation of technologies that reduce the noise arising from road traffic wherever these are cost effective and do not have adverse consequences on safety. 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. We announced these criteria on 17 October 2001; they are:

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

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

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

  4. that priority will be given to roads, opened since June 1988, 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 affected by excess noise.

  During 2000–01 4.3 per cent. of the Highways Agency's core network was resurfaced including 3.5 per cent. with quieter surfacing. During 2001–02 the figures were 4.2 per cent. and 3.8 per cent. respectively, and in 2002–03 5.5 per cent. and 5.0 per cent. respectively. In the current year, 2003–04, the Highways Agency estimate these figures will be 5.0 per cent. and 4.6 per cent. respectively.

  Vehicle Insurance/Taxation
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department is taking to reduce the number of motor vehicles on the roads(a) without insurance and (b) without road taxation. [155791]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department is determined to take effective action to tackle the problem of uninsured driving,. To that end, we commissioned last August an independent review of motor insurance with uninsured driving as a key consideration. The reviewer, Professor David Greenaway of Nottingham University, is expected to report in April. We shall take a keen interest in his recommendations, with a view to taking appropriate action as soon as practicable.

  We have considerably tightened the enforcement of Vehicle Excise Duty through the "continuous registration" package of measures. By introducing continuous registration and using modern technology, we are improving the accuracy of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's vehicle register to the benefit of law enforcement and the honest motorist. To deal with short term Vehicle Excise Duty evasion, we have introduced fines for those over a month overdue with relicensing their vehicle. We are tackling those vehicles already outside the system of registration and licensing with enhanced enforcement using wheel clamping and ANPR cameras. By enhancing the quality of the vehicle register these measures are intended to assist the police in the fight against crime, and to assist local authorities in tracking down and enforcing costs against those who abandon vehicles.

  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he plans to take to reduce the number of uninsured drivers. [155888]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department is determined to take effective action to tackle the problem of uninsured driving. To that end, we commissioned last August an independent review of motor insurance with uninsured driving as a key consideration. The reviewer, Professor David Greenaway of Nottingham University, is expected to report in April. We shall take a keen interest in his recommendations, with a view to taking appropriate action as soon as practicable.

WALES

  Structural Funding
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Treasury on matching the funds of Objective 1 payments. [155774]

  Mr. Hain
  I have regular discussions with the Treasury on a wide range of subjects.

  Crime
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the crime figures in North Wales. [155776]

  Mr. Touhig
  My right hon. Friend and I regularly discuss crime figures with various interested parties.
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  Recently, we have received correspondence from the Chief Constable of North Wales, clarifying the impact of important changes in the reporting of crime, and pointing out that the British Crime Survey's latest findings show that crime in England and Wales as a whole has gone down by 25 per cent. since 1997.

  NHS Funding
  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Government on the funding of the NHS in Wales. [155777]

  Mr. Touhig
  I regularly meet the Assembly Health Minister to discuss the NHS and health provision in Wales including funding.

  Renewable Energy
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to provide fiscal incentives to support the manufacture of renewable energy products in Wales. [155778]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government attaches great importance to the renewable energy industry and will continue to support the development of all forms of alternative energy producing technology as outlined in our Energy White Paper.

  Prisoners
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh residents are in English prisons. [155780]

  Mr. Touhig
  Information on a prisoner's place of residence prior to sentence or remand in custody is not held centrally.

  At 30 November 2003, there were 1,580 prisoners in English prisons who had been committed or sentenced by courts in Wales.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the transfer of toxic waste from Wales to England. [155781]

  Mr. Touhig
  I understand that the Assembly intends to consult later this year upon amendments to the existing legislation controlling the movement of hazardous wastes.

  Cockle Regulation
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary regarding the Dee Cockle Regulation Order. [155782]

  Mr. Touhig
  My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the First Secretary and I meet the Assembly Secretary for Environment, Planning and Countryside to discuss a variety of issues, including the Welsh cockle industry.

  Antisocial Behaviour
  Huw lrranca-Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Home Office on the use of legislation to tackle anti-social behaviour in Wales. [155779]

  Mr. Touhig
  My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues about matters affecting Wales.

  Last October, the Government published its "Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan", setting out priority areas for reducing anti-social behaviour over the next two or three years. Key areas for intervention include: nuisance neighbours, environmental crime and begging.

  Flooding
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on flooding in Wales. [155969]

  Mr. Hain
  I have regular discussions with Assembly Ministers about issues affecting Wales. It is for flood and coastal defence authorities to bring forward proposals to improve flood defences where required. The Assembly offers financial assistance towards the cost of these works via grant schemes On 6 February, I visited homes in Ynysmeudwy and Pontardawe which were affected by a flash flood and saw, at first hand, the effects of flooding on families.

  Recruitment Advertising
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [155519]

  Mr. Touhig
  None.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Prime Minister what(a) opinion polling and (b) market research projects have been carried out by the Government on the issue of military action against Iraq since 2001, broken down by financial year; what the (i) title and (ii) nature of these projects were; how much each of these projects cost; what the findings of each project were; where the findings have been published; and if he will make a statement.[153466]

  Mr. Caplin
  I have been asked to reply.

  No opinion polling or market research projects have been centrally commissioned by the Ministry of Defence specifically on the issue of military action against Iraq.
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  However, we commission surveys of public perceptions of the Ministry of Defence, the armed forces and their equipment. As part of this work we monitor the impact of recent operations.

  I am withholding information on the costs of these surveys under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (commercial confidences).

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what assessment he has made of whether Iraq could launch a chemical, biological or nuclear attack against the UK mainland before publication of the September 2002 dossier; and if he will make a statement; [155975]

  (2) what assessment he has made of whether Iraq had considered using chemical or biological agents in terrorist attacks before military action was taken against Iraq; and if he will make a statement; [155976]

  (3) what assessment he made before military action was taken against Iraq, of Iraq's ability to produce chemical and biological weapons while the UN inspection team was in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [155977]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Worthing West (Mr. Bottomley) in my statement on 24 September 2002,Official Report, column 23 and to my hon. Friend, the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), at Prime Minister's Questions on 4 June 2003, Official Report, columns 155–156 and in a written answer on 15 October 2003, Official Report, column 234W.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what assessment he made of whether Iraq(a) had provided chemical and biological weapons to al-Qaeda and (b) intended to conduct chemical and biological terrorist attacks before military action was taken against Iraq; and if he will make a statement; [156006]

  (2) what assessment he made of the effect of regime collapse in Iraq on the risk of transfer of chemical and biological weapons materials to terrorists; and if he will make a statement; [156007]

  (3) what assessment he made of the effect of military action against Iraq on the threat posed by al-Qaeda before taking such action; and if he will make a statement. [156008]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), on 15 October 2003,Official Report, column 234W.

DEFENCE

  Iraq
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British Service personnel(a) have committed suicide in Iraq or since returning to the UK from Iraq and (b) have been returned to the UK from Iraq early because of mental stress. [153691]
  425W
  Mr. Caplin
  [pursuant to his reply, 12 February 2004, Official Report, c.1636W]: Further information has come to my attention. The corrected answer to the question is:

  During the period 10 January 2003 to 20 December 2003 no member of British service personnel committed suicide in Iraq. Among Service personnel who have since returned to the United Kingdom from Iraq; two have since died and been recorded by a coroner with a suicide or open verdict. An additional five cases have been referred to a coroner for a verdict but the inquests have not yet been heard. There is no change to part (b).

  Operation Telic
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will investigate the concerns expressed by Justin Bowen, a Royal Army Medical Corps Private, and Vicky Bowen, a member of the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps, that their son, Scott, has suffered from Gulf War Syndrome symptoms after both parents served in Operation Telic in the Gulf. [153514]

  Mr. Caplin
  I am unable to comment on individual cases for reasons of medical confidentiality. However, the Ministry of Defence takes the health concerns of Service and former Service personnel very seriously. I therefore urge any personnel who served on Op TELIC who have concerns about health matters to consult their Service medical officer or general practitioner, who will investigate thoroughly. Service and ex-Service personnel are also entitled to be seen at the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP) on referral from their doctor. The GVMAP provides as full a diagnosis as possible to veterans, assesses patients and recommends treatment.

  The arrangements for dealing with individual health concerns are complemented by a comprehensive package of research into the health of those returning from Op TELIC, announced on 7 May 2003, Official Report, column 34WS. Scoping studies have been completed and, in March, a questionnaire will be issued to some 7,000 Op TELIC veterans to seek data on health status and exposures.

  Recruitment Advertising
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [155524]

  Mr. Caplin
  This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Service Medals
  Hugh Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reassess the eligibility criteria for the award of gallantry medals in relation to operations in Iraq. [144012]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]: The eligibility criteria for the award of gallantry medals are a matter for the Committee on the Grant of Honours,
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  Decorations and Medals. The Committee advises Her Majesty the Queen on all matters to do with honours and awards. The Committee has not been asked to consider any changes to the eligibility criteria.

TREASURY

  European Council of Finance Ministers
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 10 February; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [154893]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I attended ECOFIN on 10 February.

  ECOFIN discussed preparation for the Spring Council on 25–26 March. There was broad agreement that further action was needed to reduce the European regulatory burden, promote investment and innovation and improve European labour market flexibility. ECOFIN therefore mandated the Economic Policy Committee (EPC) and the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) to produce a key issues paper for the spring European Council for adoption at the 9 March ECOFIN.

  It was agreed that the next ECOFIN would start with a breakfast discussion of the four Presidencies regulatory reform initiative. I presented the Government's White Paper on the European Economic Reform1, stressing that while important reforms had been undertaken, a lot of work remained to be done. ECOFIN also adopted conclusions on the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines Implementation Report and endorsed the EPC report on structural reform.

  On the Savings Tax Directive, the Commission reported on the progress of its negotiations with Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino and Switzerland. ECOFIN unanimously supported the Commission's negotiating position and agreed not to accept any further counter-requests. The Council also unanimously agreed that the agreement negotiated with Switzerland should be concluded without further delay.

  No votes were taken at the meeting.

  1 HM Treasury, "Advancing long-term prosperity: Economic reform in enlarged Europe". Published February 2004.

  Financial Instruments
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on its use of derivatives and related financial instruments. [155560]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government uses derivatives to manage interest rate and foreign exchange risk associated with some of its activities. These instruments may include equity swaps, FRAs, exchange rate forwards, currency and interest rate swaps, as well as interest rate futures. the Government does not use these instruments to speculate in the financial markets.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people(a) have taken-up and (b) are entitled to tax credit in (i) the North West, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Chorley. [156130]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimated number of families receiving the Child and/or Working Tax Credits in (i) the North West, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Chorley at 5 January 2004 is shown in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics, Geographical analyses—January 2004", which is on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Abandoned Vehicles
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles have been recovered in South Yorkshire in each of the last three years. [155017]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested for the local authorities in South Yorkshire is given in the following table.

  Number of abandoned vehicles collected in the financial year

  Local authority

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Barnsley

  248

  549

  Metropolitan

  Borough Council

  Doncaster

  410

  1,313

  Metropolitan

  Borough Council

  Rotherham

  150

  410

  Metropolitan

  Borough Council

  Sheffield City Council

  100

  1,421

  Total

  908

  3,693

  Information on the number of vehicles abandoned was collected for the first time in the 2000–01 Municipal Waste Management Survey. 2001–02 is the most recent year for which data is available from the survey.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what aircraft pollution monitoring arrangements are in place in the vicinity of Heathrow airport; and who operates each site. [154472]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 11 February 2004]: The following three air quality monitoring stations in the vicinity of Heathrow airport ate part of Defra's Automatic Air Quality Urban and Rural Monitoring Network (AURN):
  London Hillingdon is owned by Defra and has operated since July 1996. It is in a suburban location (Grid Reference: TQ 069786) and monitors ozone, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter (PM10).
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  Brentford Roadside is owned by the London borough of Hounslow and has operated since June 2003. It is in an urban roadside location (Grid Reference: TQ 175781) and monitors oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide. (During the period 1997–02, this site operated a short distance from its present location and was named Hounslow Roadside.)
  Harlington is owned by BAA and has operated since April 2003. It is in an urban background location (Grid Reference: TQ 083778) and monitors ozone, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and PM10.

  These stations measure pollution arising from all sources not just aircraft and provide information on the overall pollutant concentrations to which residents in the area are exposed. Data from all three of these stations are quality assured to national standards.

  Further information on these stations, data summaries and hour-by-hour pollutant concentrations can be found at www.airquality.co.uk (the site at Harlington is in the process of being incorporated into this system).

  In addition, BAA and local authorities in the vicinity of Heathrow airport operate the following air quality monitoring stations at: Slough Town Hall; Slough, Colnbrook; Hillingdon, South Ruislip; Hillingdon Hospital; Hounslow, Cranford; Hounslow, Chiswick High Rd; and BAA Heathrow, LHR2 site close to northern airport runway.

  Information about air quality in the vicinity of Heathrow airport can also be found at www.heathrowairwatch.org.uk

  Asbestos Cement Pipes
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department offers on the use of asbestos cement pipes to carry drinking water. [155786]

  Mr. Morley
  Asbestos pipes have been used extensively by the water industry without giving rise to any quality problems. However, the Drinking Water Inspectorate issued an information letter on behalf of the Secretary of State, which reminded water companies of the Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No. 2373). These Regulations effectively precluded the use of new asbestos cement pipes to carry drinking water, because of health and safety issues associated with cutting the material, not because of any concerns about possible effects of asbestos pipes on drinking water quality.

  Aviation Emissions
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the Government's target figure of carbon dioxide emissions in 2050 she estimates will be taken up by aviation emissions. [151195]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government estimate that domestic and international aviation emissions could account for 20–25 per cent. of UK carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. This calculation assumes that the 60 per cent. goal specified in the Energy White Paper for the domestic economy is achieved. If international aviation were to be
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  included in the 60 per cent. goal emissions from other sectors would have to be around 15–20 per cent. below their Energy White Paper target to compensate.

  This calculation is based on an assumption of three new runways in the south east and does not reflect the impact of any economic instruments. It further assumes that emissions from all international departures from the UK are allocated to the UK inventory, as there is as yet no international agreement on ways of allocating international aviation emissions.

  The above figures do not include the radiative forcing effect which emissions from aviation have at altitude, which are 2–4 times greater than that from carbon dioxide alone.

  Carbon Sinks
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the environmental benefits accruing from the ability of(a) sugar beet and (b) other crops to act as carbon sinks. [155664]

  Mr. Morley
  Separate estimates for sugar beet are not available but research sponsored by the Department suggests that an upper limit of 0.14 million tonnes carbon per year (Mt C/year) is accumulating in crop biomass as a whole in the UK, mainly as a result of increases in crop yield. This is small compared with the amount of carbon that is sequestered by forests, which is currently around 3 Mt C/year.

  Agriculture and forestry sectors probably contribute most effectively to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the production of energy crops and wood fuel by displacing use of fossil fuels.

  Child Poverty
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of(a) ending child poverty by 2020, (b) halving it by 2010 and (c) reducing it by a quarter by 2004–05; and if she will make a statement. [154368]

  Alun Michael
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Pond) on 12 February 2004,Official Report, column 1590W.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Common Agricultural Policy reform and help provided to poorer farmers under the policy. [153439]

  Alun Michael
  The EU agreed on 26 June 2003 to a radical shift in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In future, the bulk of subsidies will no longer be linked to production, freeing farmers to produce the safe, high quality food which people want and bringing environmental improvements.

  On 12 February my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced how she proposed to implement key features of that groundbreaking reform in England. We will decouple fully in 2005 and move over an eight year
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  transition period towards a flat rate Single Farm Payment to farmers. England will be split into two regions—land in the severely disadvantaged areas (SDAs) of the less favoured areas (LFAs) and all other eligible land. Different rates will apply in these regions. This represents a decisive irreversible and forward-looking shift consistent with the direction that we have already set in the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy (SFFS) and in the June 2003 CAP reform negotiations.

  If farmers seize the market opportunities offered by these reforms, it is estimated that UK farm incomes could increase by around 5 per cent. relative to the 2003 Total Income from Farming, and farmers will be freed from some of the bureaucracy associated with the old subsidy schemes. For some of the poorer farms this change in support represents a chance to get off the treadmill of small scale and unprofitable commodity production.

  There are also Defra led initiatives already available to help poorer farmers. These include the Farm Business Advice Service to help farmers adjust and respond to the difficult trading conditions of recent years and a number of benchmarking initiatives to help struggling farmers see how they can bring their performance up to the level of more successful businesses.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Spelthorne of 6 January 2004 regarding Mr. M. Gillard of Staines. [154345]

  Alun Michael
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responded on 16 February 2004.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to her reply to the hon. Member for Pendle of 6 November 2003 on the dedication of land tinder section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, how she followed up correspondence to Government Departments; what has been the response; what further steps will be taken to promote dedication to public and private landowners; and whether incentives will be made available. [155557]

  Alun Michael
  I was pleased to issue non-statutory guidance to accompany the regulations on dedication in January this year. The Forestry Commission is currently in the process of using the guidance to make the first few dedications across its freehold estate.

  I will be writing to a number of other large landowners in the public and private sectors soon to ask them to confirm their plans for dedicating land and am optimistic that this will lead to further successes. My officials are also considering ways to encourage dedications more widely.

  Endangered Species
  Mr. Jim. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will
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  make a statement on the Government's policy on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [154617]

  Mr. Morley
  We will maintain the UK's position as a leading supporter of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in co-operation with EU member states and other contracting parties. CITES aims to ensure that where trade is carried out, it is done in a sustainable way that ensures the long-term survival of all species. It has been very successful in this respect and is widely respected for its ability to produce effective regulatory measures that are based on sound science. We will, therefore, continue to support CITES both practically and financially.

  English Meat
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to promote English(a) beef and (b) lamb. [153441]

  Alun Michael
  The promotion of English beef and lamb is a matter for the industry. The Meat and Livestock Commission's English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) is considering whether to introduce an English brand for beef and lamb produced in England, but any promotion of this would need to be in accordance with the EU's rules on state aids.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the spend of her Department is on the promotion of English(a) beef and (b) lamb in the current financial year. [153890]

  Alun Michael
  EU co-funding is available for promotion and information campaigns carried out by industry bodies such as the Meat and Livestock Commission. We work closely with such bodies and the EU Commission with a view to maximising the benefit to the UK industry. We also encourage the marketing and branding of local and regional produce. A processing and marketing grant is also available within the England Rural Development Programme. Our approach, in keeping with the Treaty of Rome and our policy to help create a sustainable future for farming and food, is about helping the farming industry to move away from dependency on subsidies. This also fits well with our policy for reforming the Common Agricultural Policy.

  Equine Passports
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposal that veterinary surgeons complete silhouettes for equine passports on the practice of commoning in the New Forest; and if she will make a statement; [155267]

  (2) which organisations were consulted on proposals that veterinary surgeons complete silhouettes for equine passports; and for what reasons the New Forest Commoners Defence Association was not included in the consultation. [155268]
  432W
  Alun Michael
  We have never said that only veterinary surgeons can complete and sign the silhouette in horse passports. The passport must be signed either by a vet or the competent authority—which is the passport-issuing organisation—in accordance with European rules.

  When concerns were expressed to Defra that in some cases the person completing some silhouettes on behalf of the competent authority had no proven competency and that there was no independent verification of the details, I agreed to provide further guidance to all passport-issuing organisations. I explained this to a meting of all passport issuing organisations on 4 November 2003. The New Forest Verderers have informed Defra officials how they intend to meet the requirements in respect of silhouettes for animals in the New Forest, and officials have confirmed that these are within the guidelines issued.

  Farming
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on farm diversification of pre-1983 agricultural tenancy conditions which refer to earnings from agriculture. [150885]

  Alun Michael
  Ministers have become increasingly concerned that agricultural tenancy legislation, together with the terms contained in agricultural tenancy agreements, combine to prevent some tenant farmers from participating in diversification and agri-environment activities. Income from diversified activities might also affect succession rights under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986. In view of these concerns, we reconvened the Tenancy Reform Industry Group in November 2002. The Group was asked to make recommendations to improve the health of the tenancy sector, and in particular, to encourage greater participation in farm diversification among tenant farmers.

  The Tenancy Reform Industry Group presented its report to Government in June 2003. The report, which has the support of all Group members, made a number of wide ranging recommendations for increasing flexibility within agricultural tenancies. These include updating the statutory succession provisions in the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 to allow income derived from farm diversification projects undertaken with the consent of the landlord to be taken into account in assessing eligibility for succession to an agricultural tenancy. The Group also recommended a code of practice on diversification within agricultural tenancies, backed up by an independent adjudication scheme to which disputes can be referred when they cannot be settled between parties.

  The Government responded to the Report of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group shortly before Christmas. The Government accepted all of the Group's recommendations for amendments to the existing tenancy legislation and the proposed code of practice. It is anticipated that changes to the legislation will be effected by means of an Order under the Regulatory Reform Act. It is hoped that a formal consultation document on the Regulatory Reform Order will be issued later in the year.
  433W
  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the total amount of Common Agricultural Policy subsidy paid to English farms in 2003, broken down by county; and what the(a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average individual payment in each county were. [151352]

  Alun Michael
  The following table shows the total amount and average individual payments made for each county1 in England. However, we are unable to supply

  County

  Total amount (£)

  Number of claims

  Average payment (£)

  Tees Valley and Durham

  33,823,029.86

  1,763

  19,184.92

  Northumberland and Tyne & Wear

  66,327,723.89

  1,872

  35,431.48

  Cumbria

  72,822,877.45

  4,852

  15,008.84

  Cheshire

  16,210,308.85

  2,110

  7,682.61

  Greater Manchester

  4,320,959.33

  560

  7,715.99

  Lancashire

  23,156,928.16

  2,639

  8,774.89

  Merseyside

  2,762,820.68

  188

  14,695.85

  East Riding and North Lincolnshire

  56,488,361.31

  2,166

  26,079.58

  North Yorkshire

  111,619,984.91

  6,108

  18,274.39

  South Yorkshire

  14,762,236.39

  809

  18,247.51

  West Yorkshire

  14,179,485.69

  1,469

  9,652.47

  Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

  55,531,457.94

  3,596

  15,442.56

  Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire

  78,391,446.46

  3,232

  24,254.78

  Lincolnshire

  98,095,650.80

  3,432

  28,285.65

  Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire

  74,282,940.97

  5,158

  14,401.50

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  78,969,277.49

  6,222

  12,691.94

  West Midlands

  2,380,209.55

  210

  11,334.33

  East Anglia

  186,325,648.48

  8,097

  23,011.69

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  35,191,734.37

  1,243

  28,311.93

  Essex

  51,179,181.00

  1,746

  29,312.25

  Inner London

  1,482,857.45

  100

  14,828.57

  Outer London

  1,964,304.69

  145

  13,546.93

  Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

  77,024,191.94

  2,987

  25,786.47

  Surrey, East and West Sussex

  48,432,661.98

  2,615

  18,521.09

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  38,625,646.00

  1,747

  22,109.70

  Kent

  38,054,781.42

  1,808

  21,047.99

  Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and North Somerset

  88,933,774.97

  5,315

  16,732.60

  Dorset and Somerset

  65,335,288.74

  5,570

  11,729.85

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  45,469,578.91

  3,892

  11,682.83

  Devon

  91,593,508.63

  7,613

  12,031.20

  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Common Agricultural Policy payments were made to farmers in each English county in 2003; and what the total area was that the subsidy related to, broken down by county. [151353]

  Alun Michael
  The number of Common Agriculture Policy payments made to farmers in each English county and the areas the subsidy related to are set out in the following tables. The county split for the number of claims paid is in line with NUTS 2 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) regional analysis.

  County

  Claims paid

  Tees Valley and Durham

  1,763

  Northumberland and Tyne and Wear

  1,872

  Cumbria

  4,852

  Cheshire

  2,110

  Greater Manchester

  560

  Lancashire

  2,639

  Merseyside

  188

  East Riding and North Lincolnshire

  2,166

  434W
  information on individual payments under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 unless such details are allowed by any of the exemptions to the Act. If such exemptions can be identified then further consideration can be given to the request.

  Financial figures represent the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund 2003 accounting year which runs from 16 October 2002 to 15 October 2003.
  1 The county split is in line with NUTS 2 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) regional analysis.

  County

  Claims paid

  North Yorkshire

  6,108

  South Yorkshire

  809

  West Yorkshire

  1,469

  Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

  3,596

  Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire

  3,232

  Lincolnshire

  3,432

  Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire

  5,158

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  6,222

  West Midlands

  210

  East Anglia

  8,097

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  1,243

  Essex

  1,746

  Inner London

  100

  Outer London

  145

  Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

  2,987

  Surrey, East and West Sussex

  2,615

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  1,747

  Kent

  1,808

  Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and North Somerset

  5,315

  Dorset and Somerset

  5,570

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  3,892

  Devon

  7,613

  435W

  County

  Area (ha)

  Bedfordshire

  73,816

  Berkshire

  43,578

  Buckinghamshire

  100,562

  Cleveland

  23,101

  Cambridgeshire

  216,721

  Cheshire

  108,343

  Cornwall

  218,073

  Cumbria

  415,450

  Derbyshire

  164,544

  Devon

  417,851

  Dorset

  148,170

  Durham

  140,407

  Essex

  215,356

  Gloucestershire

  165,425

  Hampshire

  163,909

  Isle of Wight

  18,562

  Hereford and Worcester

  225,024

  Hertford

  80,630

  Kent

  162,236

  Lancashire

  172,266

  Leicestershire

  170,573

  Lincolnshire

  398,284

  Merseyside

  13,153

  Greater London (ER)

  3,223

  Middlesex

  3,177

  Norfolk

  280,035

  Northamptonshire

  164,961

  Tyne and Wear

  13,370

  Northumberland

  339,728

  Nottingham

  118,970

  Oxfordshire

  177,769

  Avon

  62,751

  Shropshire

  226,462

  Somerset

  211,011

  Staffordshire

  157,099

  Suffolk

  225,151

  Isles of Scilly

  49

  Surrey

  35,421

  East Sussex

  71,501

  West Sussex

  79,980

  Warwickshire

  120,579

  Greater Manchester

  24,769

  Wiltshire

  214,649

  West Midlands

  11,518

  South Yorkshire

  70,288

  North Yorkshire

  483,462

  Beverly

  76,166

  North Yorkshire

  46,076

  Humberside

  230,332

  Total

  7,352,423

  Fisheries
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reliability of catch landing figures obtained by her Department is in determining fish stocks in British fishing waters; what her estimate is of the margin of error in estimations based on this information; what other information her Department uses to determine fish stocks; and what the estimated margins of error are using this information. [150305]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Fish stock assessments are undertaken by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and are linked to the sea areas in which individual fish stocks are mainly found. They will often embrace the waters of more than one country as well as the high seas. Account is taken of data contributed by all of the main countries exploiting each stock and 436W
  comprises officially recorded information on landings and fishing effort, plus scientific data on size and age structure, growth rate, maturity, and discard rates (when available). Most assessments also use the year to year trend in relative abundance estimated as catch per effort from independent national and international research vessel surveys. The absolute accuracy of assessments is difficult to estimate at the present time but judgments on the robustness of the underlying data will be reflected in the scientific advice provided regarding future levels of stock exploitation.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the effect is of the removal of large cod from a fishery on the overall levels of recruitment to a fishery. [150480]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Removing adult cod is expected to have relatively little effect on the survival or growth rates of juvenile cod, but could significantly affect the production of eggs.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU(a) Necessity and (b) Recovery research programme on selective gear is scheduled to start; what the cost of each project is; and what the United Kingdom contribution to each project is. [152170]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Necessity project begins on 1 March 2004 and is budgeted to cost Euro 2,806,946. The UK contribution is Euro 443, 420. The Recovery project began on 1 November 2002 and was budgeted to cost Euro 7,725,285. The UK contribution is Euro 378,325.

  Flooding
  Mr. Michael Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate how many properties have benefited from flood defence funding since 1997 broken down by constituency. [155087]

  Mr. Morley
  Defra grant aids capital projects and related studies that meet specified economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve the threshold priority score for the year in which they start. Decisions regarding which flood and coastal defence projects to promote, their timing and appropriate solutions are matters for the operating authorities—the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and (in areas with special drainage needs) internal drainage boards.

  The Department estimates that 290,000 houses have benefited from flood defence projects (excluding those for flood warning or primarily to protect against coastal erosion) approved between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 2003. The programme is a rolling one and other houses will have benefited from projects approved prior to 1997 which will have been funded in the period. There is likely to be an element of double-counting in these figures where different projects (for example for annual beach recharge) have benefited the same houses. Such double-counting could not be removed, and neither could the total be broken down by constituency, without incurring disproportionate cost. The Department has agreed Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) Target 27 with HM Treasury to reduce flood risk to a further 80,000 houses (with no double—counting) during the

  437W
  Spending Review 2002 period—2003–04 to 2005–06.Because of the measurement method used for the SDA target (counting houses at project completion rather than approval) this figure will include some of the houses included in the 290,000 figure above.

  Mr. Michael Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what flood defences were funded by her Department, broken down by constituency, since 1997. [155089]

  Mr. Morley
  Defra grant aids capital projects and related studies that meet specified economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve the threshold priority score for the year in which they start. Decisions regarding which flood and coastal defence projects to promote. their timing and appropriate solutions are matters for the operating authorities—the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and (in areas with special drainage needs) internal drainage boards.

  The list which has been placed in the Libraries of the House, shows capital flood defence works projects (excluding those for flood warning or primarily to protect against coastal erosion) approved for grant since 1 April 1997. Of course the programme as a whole is a rolling one and some projects approved prior to 1997 will also have received funding in the period. I regret that I am unable to break the list down by constituency without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to protect houses that have been built on flood plains. [150380]

  Mr. Morley
  We recognise that there are around 1.9 million properties in England in flood risk areas that are at some risk of flooding.

  Defra provides grant aid to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities to support their capital schemes to reduce flood risk, including through the improvement of flood warnings. These projects must meet specified criteria and an appropriate priority score to attract Defra funding but decisions regarding which projects to promote and their timing rest with these authorities. The principal operating authority for flood risk is the Environment Agency (EA) but local authorities (LAs) and, in areas with special drainage needs, internal drainage boards (IDBs) also carry out works on a much smaller scale overall.

  The effective management of flood and coastal erosion risk is a priority for Government. This is demonstrated by the substantial increase in funding in recent years and for the SR2002 period. For example, total Government expenditure on flood and coastal defence was £310 million in 1996–97, £439 million estimated in 2003–04 and is planned to be £564 million in 2005–06.

  Defra has two relevant SDA targets under SR 2002. One relates to the delivery of the enhanced flood and coastal defence capital programme over the SR2002 period, reducing the risk to life, to major infrastructure, environment assets and to some 80,000 houses. The other is to implement the outcomes of the flood and coastal defence funding review, including funding the Environment Agency's flood defence service through a
  438W
  single stream of Defra grant in aid and transferring to the Agency responsibility for all rivers creating the greatest flood risk.

  In addition, Defra has initiated work on a major new Government strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management, including consideration of possible new funding streams.

  Fuel Poverty
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recommendations of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group in its second annual report to increase resources for energy efficiency programmes by 50 per cent. [155873]

  Mr. Morley
  I am grateful to the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group for their report.

  We are considering their report as we prepare our Fuel Poverty Implementation Plan and will respond to their recommendations in the Government's annual progress report on fuel poverty. We plan to publish both documents after the Easter recess.

  Gangmasters
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage employees to be proactive in preventing illegal working, as stated in paragraph 24 of her Department's response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee's Fourteenth Report of Session 2002–03, HC 691, on gangmasters; and what data protection requirements inhibit her response to requests for assistance. [154662]

  Alun Michael
  Paragraph 24 of the Government's reply to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee's report on gangmasters actually refers to the role of employers, not employees. My reply assumes that this is the meaning intended in your question.

  The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs is unlikely to be in a position to provide direct assistance to employers seeking advice on illegal working. However, My hon. Friend, the Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Counter Terrorism, chairs the Illegal Working Steering Group which comprises representatives of the commercial sectors where illegal work is most prevalent. The steering group has examined ways in which employers can be encouraged and supported in carrying out checks under section 8 of the Asylum and immigration Act 1996. Following discussions with the steering group the Government have consulted on measures to strengthen the document checks of prospective employees that employers must make under section 8. The Government are now planning to bring forward revised measures.

  The Government are not aware of any circumstances where the Data Protection Act would inhibit the disclosure of data held by a Government Department or employers necessary for the prevention of illegal working or the apprehension of offenders.

  GM Crops
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations the Devolved Administrations in(a) Wales and (b) Scotland have made to her Department regarding the growing of Chardon LL maize in the UK. [154705]

  Mr. Morley
  The transformation event T25, contained in Chardon LL, already has a Part C marketing consent under Directive 2001/18/EC. Ministers are currently considering the advice of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment on the commercial cultivation of T25 maize in light of the results of the Farm Scale Evaluations. The UK's position will be decided in consultation with the Devolved Administrations. Discussions with the Administrations in Wales and Scotland are on—going on this matter.

  The question of the possible addition of Chardon LL to the UK National Seed List is a matter for joint decision with the Devolved Administrations.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the acceptable threshold under EU law is for the contamination of non—GM crops planted in the UK with GM traits. [154706]

  Mr. Morley
  The EU has agreed a general threshold of 0.9 per cent. for tracing and labelling the adventitious presence of approved GM traits in non—GM crops and food. The European Commission's guidance to member states is that co—existence arrangements should not go beyond what is necessary to ensure that adventitious traces of GMOs stay below the tolerance thresholds set out in Community legislation.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to refuse permission for the planting of GM crops before bringing laws into effect on(a) co-existence and (b) liability. [154707]

  Mr. Morley
  We are currently considering our policy on co-existence and liability in the light of the report on these issues by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission. We will set out our response in due course.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she will make in the Council of Ministers regarding the European Commission's decision to support a proposal to permit BT11 GM maize to be imported as food into Europe; and if she will make a statement. [152773]

  Mr. Morley
  This application has already been referred to our advisory body who have raised no objection on food and safety grounds. It will be discussed in Council in the normal way.

  Hen Harriers
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the 440W
  population of hen harriers in the UK was (a) at the latest date for which figures are available and (b) in each of the previous 10 years; [154710]

  (2) how many breeding pairs of hen harriers (a) established nests and (b) successfully bred in the UK in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; [154711]

  (3) what analysis she has undertaken of the impact of agricultural changes on the breeding success of hen harriers; [154712]

  (4) what steps she is taking to encourage the reintroduction of breeding pairs of hen harriers to lowland England. [154713]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The most recent estimate of the hen harrier population is based on the results of the 1998 survey of hen harriers in the UK. A total of between 450—591 territorial pairs were found in the UK with a best estimate of 521 pairs. The full results were published in the journal Bird Study 48:341–353 in 2001. There are no directly comparable data for any of the previous 10 years but there is thought not to have been any overall change in the size of the population since the last estimate was published in 1993, for the period 1988–1989 (Bird Study 40: 1–11).

  The information regarding breeding pairs of hen harriers is not available for the whole of the UK. However, there were 17 known breeding attempts by hen harriers in England in 2003. Just eight of these were successful. A further five attempts failed before it could be established whether eggs had been laid.

  There are currently no steps being taken to encourage the reintroduction of breeding hen harriers to lowland England. The conservation effort for hen harriers in England is focused in upland moorland areas in northern England where hen harriers have nested regularly in recent decades. We believe that a cessation of illegal persecution in England, and elsewhere in the UK, would allow the population to recover naturally, obviating the need for any reintroduction programme. Furthermore, we believe that, in contrast to the Red Kite programme, the reintroduction would not be in accordance with IUCN guidelines, insofar as we cannot be certain that the factors which brought about their loss from the English lowlands (almost certainly habitat loss and persecution) no longer pertain.

  The Government have not specifically conducted an analysis of the impact of agricultural changes on the breeding success of hen harriers. However, agricultural change and persecution are widely held to have been responsible for the historical decline, to currently low levels, of the UK population. Currently, illegal persecution appears to be the main factor limiting hen harrier population size and breeding success over much of its range.

  This contrasts with Orkney, where the population has declined dramatically since the end of the 1970s. The decline here is thought to relate to declining prey availability, resulting from changes in agriculture, particularly a decrease in the area of rough grazing and an increase in sheep densities. Full details were published in Biological Conservation 111: 377–384 in 2003
  441W
  It should be noted that in the absence of illegal persecution, hen harrier numbers might be expected to increase, if moorland burning regimes for both agricultural and grouse management purposes are altered. This would allow the development of taller heather swards and thus an increase in the area of suitable nesting habitat available to hen harriers. English Nature's Hen Harrier Recovery Project has shown that the inappropriate burning of moorland is a serious problem for the small number of hen harriers nesting in England. This results in the loss of nesting habitat and, in some cases, the destruction of active nests.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she last met(a) English Nature and (b) the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to discuss hen harriers; [154719]

  (2) what representations she has received from (a) English Nature and (b) the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on hen harriers; [154720]

  (3) when she last met the (a) British Association of Shooting and Conservation, (b) the Countryside Alliance, (c) the Game Conservancy Trust and (d) the Moorland Association to discuss hen harriers. [154721]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  With Regards to English Nature there has been no formal meeting to discuss, or specific representations received, on the position of hen harriers in England. However, we have received representations on habitats, including upland heathland, which support hen harrier populations, in relation to the condition of sites of special scientific interest. English Nature has also provided briefing on the establishment and progress of their Hen Harrier Recovery Project.

  The RSPB met with my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Environment, (Mr. Morley), in late 2002 to discuss Hen Harriers. Ministers met with the Game Conservancy Trust in May 2000, after the publication of the Raptor Working Group final report. Discussions focussed on the issues and recommendations surrounding this report. A further meeting is in the process of being arranged, for which the agenda has not yet been determined.

  I met with BASC in November last year, though we did not discuss hen harriers. I have been invited to meet with the Countryside Alliance. However, due to other pressing diary commitments I have had to decline. This meeting was not to specifically discuss the issue surrounding Hen Harriers. Ministers have not met with the Moorland Association regarding the position of hen harriers in England.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on(a) hen harriers and (b) Operation Artemis; [154722]

  (2) what involvement she had in planning Operation Artemis; [154723]
  442W
  (3) whether she intends Operation Artemis to be a long-term solution to the position of the hen harrier in England. [154726]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has had no direct discussions with JNCC concerning Operation Artemis, nor the position of hen harriers in England.

  Operation Artemis is a police-led initiative aimed at combating the illegal persecution of hen harriers in the United Kingdom. Defra officials have had no direct involvement planning the Operation but outline proposals were presented at the Police and Customs Wildlife Enforcement Conference at Exeter in October 2003. This annual event is organised by Defra as part of its support for the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW).

  Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom (North Wales Police and co-chair of PAW) is due to launch Operation Artemis at the forthcoming PAW Open Seminar to be held in London on 24 February 2004. In the absence of full details of the range of activities planned by the Police Service and other partners, it is too early to assess whether or not this initiative is likely to offer a long—term solution to the issue of illegal persecution of hen harriers in England.

  Ivory Trade
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the proposed sales of ivory stockpiles do not conceal illegal trade. [154618]

  Mr. Morley
  The decision to allow this one-off sale of ivory stockpiles was taken at the Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Chile in November 2002. One of several very strict pre-conditions which must be met before any sales can take place is that the CITES Secretariat must be satisfied that the importing countries are able to effectively regulate their domestic ivory trade to prevent any illegal ivory from entering into these markets. We will therefore be working in co-operation with the EU member states and other CITES parties to make sure that this, and all the other strict conditions, are met in full before any sales are allowed to go ahead.

  Large Combustion Plant Directive
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she will implement the Large Combustion Plant Directive; and if she will make a statement. [155005]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 25 February 2004]: We have received a range of comments on the Regulatory Impact Assessment that was published in June 2003 with other consultation documents regarding the implementation of the Directive. We are continuing to assess the potential economic impact on UK industry of the introduction of the Directive, using both internal

  443W
  analyses and independent research. We are also in detailed dialogue with industry to help us to understand their views as expressed in response to consultation.

  We expect to make an announcement about our plans for implementation of the Directive as soon as possible after the further analysis has been completed and evaluated.

  Meat Imports
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much(a) beef and (b) lamb was imported into the United Kingdom from countries outside the EU in each of the last three years. [155096]

  Alun Michael
  The following table shows the level of(a) beef and (b) lamb/sheep meat and meat products imported into the United Kingdom from countries outside the EU in each of the last three years for which 12 months data is available.

  UK imports of beef and lamb/sheep meat from non-EU countries,2000–02

  Commodity type/country

  2000

  2001

  2002

  t'0001

  £ million

  t'0001

  £ million

  t'0001

  £ million

  Beef

  Brazil

  66

  95

  74

  106

  72

  98

  Argentina

  10

  19

  6

  11

  24

  39

  Uruguay

  9

  19

  9

  14

  15

  27

  Botswana

  6

  17

  11

  31

  6

  18

  Namibia

  6

  20

  9

  29

  7

  25

  Others

  14

  38

  12

  29

  8

  20

  Beef total

  111

  208

  121

  220

  131

  227

  Lamb/sheep

  New Zealand

  85

  163

  71

  155

  77

  179

  Australia

  12

  20

  10

  20

  13

  29

  Others

  2

  3

  1

  3

  2

  5

  Lamb/sheep total

  99

  186

  82

  177

  91

  213

  1 Product weight.

  Source:

  HM Customs and Excise.

  Migrant Workers (Cockle Industry)
  Angela Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to tackle the illegal exploitation of

  UK imports of milk, 2002–02

  Country

  2000

  2001

  2002

  t'0001

  Percentage of total new UK supply

  t'0001

  Percentage of total new UK supply

  t'0001

  Percentage of total new UK supply

  Irish Republic

  62

  0.4

  56

  0.4

  27

  0.2

  France

  9

  0.1

  10

  0.1

  11

  0.1

  Germany

  20

  0.1

  12

  0.1

  6

  0.0

  Denmark

  26

  0.2

  10

  0.1

  1

  0.0

  Belgium

  7

  0.1

  4

  0.0

  2

  0.0

  Netherlands

  0

  0.0

  1

  0.0

  2

  0.0

  Others

  2

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Total

  126

  0.9

  93

  0.6

  49

  0.3

  1 Product weight.

  Source:

  HM Customs and Excise/Defra.

  444W
  migrant workers in the cockle industry, with particular reference to improving co-ordination with the Home Office. [154634]

  Alun Michael
  The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is one of the departments which participates in Operation Gang master. This multi agency initiative which also includes the Home Office Immigration Service, is designed to collate intelligence and to sponsor joint operations against those gang masters who break the law while operating in the informal economy. This includes the provision of labour to the cockle industry.

  Government Departments also undertake individual compliance activity against illegal working. In this context the Immigration Service has conducted three operations with other agencies since June 2003 targeted at illegal working in the cockle industry in the Morecambe Bay area.

  The Government are currently considering the details of the Gang master (Licensing) Bill presented by the hon. Member for West Renfrewshire (Jim Sheridan) as a private members bill. This provides for a licensing scheme which would, if introduced, regulate the activities of gang labour providers in the agriculture and related sectors.

  Milk
  Albert Owen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of milk imports to the UK came from Poland in the latest period for which figures are available; and what percentage of UK consumption this represents. [154892]

  Alun Michael
  Trade information up to November 2003 has been received by Defra from Customs and Excise. From January 2001 to 30 November 2003, there are no recorded imports of liquid milk from Poland.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much milk was imported in the last three years. broken down by country of origin; and what percentage of the total milk processed in the UK this was in each case. [155332]

  Alun Michael
  The following table shows(a) UK imports of milk and (b) percentage of total new UK supply, split down by country of despatch for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002.

  Ministerial Visit
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last visited a grouse moor in an official capacity. [154724]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Within the last year I have visited three grouse moors; Ilkley Moor, in August, Brendon Hills in September and the Chilterns in December. I have also accepted an invitation to visit another moorland estate later this year.

  Organic Farms
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many organic farms there were in(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in each of the last three years. [151204]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  As of March 2003, there were 44 organic farms in Lancashire, of which two were located in Chorley. It is not possible to comment on the number of organic farms in each of these areas prior to this date since the Department has only just started to collate this information.

  The following table does however show the number of organic farms who were benefiting from aid under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) in each of the years 2001, 2002 and 2003:

  Organic farming scheme

  Lancashire

  Chorley

  2001

  29

  2

  2002

  29

  2

  2003

  28

  2

  The OFS is an entirely voluntary agri-environment scheme which provides financial help during the conversion period to help farmers make the move from conventional to organic farming methods. From 30 May 2003, the OFS was re-launched with an optional option i.e. a maintenance option, which offers payments to all existing organic farmers to encourage the continued management of the land in an environmentally beneficial way.

  Public Bodies
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the members of the(a) Joint Nature Conservation Committee and (b) Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and whether they are remunerated. [151803]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Joint Nature Conservation Committee

  Name

  Term of Office

  Remuneration (£)

  Acting chair

  Professor David Ingram

  1 April 2002 to 31 March 2005

  34,765

  Members

  Professor Peter Doyle

  1 April 2003 to 31 March 2006

  8,536

  Professor Richard Pentreath

  1 April 2003 to 31 March 2006

  8,536

  446W
  (b) Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee

  The appointments of the members of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee expired on 31 December 2003 and an announcement will be made shortly regarding the future of the committee.

  Raptors
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of(a) the impact of the UK Raptor Working Group and (b) the health of the raptor population; and what plans she has to reconvene the working group. [155177]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Ministers welcomed the final report of the Raptor Working Group, in 2000, as providing Government a consensus view from organisations representing statutory and non-governmental conservation, game-management and racing pigeon interests as to desirable actions to reduce conflicts with birds of prey. The statutory nature conservation agencies and others, co-ordinated through various fora, are taking the detailed recommendations of the Working Group forward. Monitoring of raptor populations provides feedback as to the status of different populations. To this end, the extent and scale of illegal persecution of birds of prey continues to give cause for concern, as does, in particular, the population status of the hen harrier in the UK.

  There are no immediate plans to reconvene the Working Group.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what means of control are available to a landowner where biodiversity on his land is endangered by an excess population of raptors. [154715]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Birds of prey are an important part of the natural biodiversity of the UK and the health of their populations is widely recognised as a key measure of ecosystem health. While we recognise that some specific conflicts occasionally arise with human interests, notably on grouse moors, with racing pigeons, and with lowland gamebirds, we are not aware of any land in the UK where biodiversity more generally is endangered by raptors. The legal means of control for raptors are limited. Government established a Raptor Working Group in 1995, involving a wide range of stakeholder interests, to advise, interests, "on statutory and other mechanism for the resolution of problems". The UK Raptor Working Group's report, published in 2000, recommends "enhanced enforcement of existing legislation to seek to eliminate illegal killing of birds of prey". A copy of their final report is in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current estimated population is of(a) buzzards, (b) peregrine falcons, (c) hobbies, (d) merlins, (e) ospreys, (f) goshawks and (g) marsh harriers; and what the population of each was in each of the previous 10 years. [154716]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Annual population statistics do not exist for buzzard, peregrine or merlin. The most recent UK population estimates are set out as follows. The
  447W
  estimate for buzzard is known to be a significant under-estimate, but there has been no formal survey of its current UK population size.

  Species

  Year of most recent UK survey

  Population estimate

  Buzzard

  1983 (Northern Ireland) and 1988–91 (Great Britain)

  12,000–17,000 pairs

  Peregrine

  2002 (UK and Isle of Man)

  1,402 pairs

  Merlin

  1993 and 1994

  1,300±200 pairs

  Annual UK population estimates are available for the following species, based on the collation of best available information by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. Collated national totals are not yet available for the 2002 or 2003 breeding seasons.

  Hobby (confirmed and possible breeding pairs)

  Osprey (occupied territories)

  Goshawk (confirmed and possible breeding pairs)

  Marsh harrier (breeding females)

  1991

  469

  73

  229

  91

  1992

  582

  76

  243

  107

  1993

  493

  88

  299

  110

  1994

  500

  95

  225

  129

  1995

  430

  99

  319

  156

  1996

  454

  104

  213

  136

  1997

  624

  111

  347

  132

  1998

  675

  131

  249

  138

  1999

  553

  136

  293

  145

  2000

  711

  151

  322

  206

  2001

  697

  158

  255

  195

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what systems her Department has for monitoring the(a) numbers and (b) impact of raptors in the U K; [154717]

  (2) what analysis she has made of the impact of raptors on (a) the brown hare population, (b) game birds and (c) new born lambs. [154718]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Raptor populations in the UK are monitored through a number of schemes. Information on these schemes is comprehensively summarised in table 2.4 of the final report of the UK Raptor Working Group, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. There is no national provision for monitoring the impact of raptors in the UK.

  There have been no studies conducted on the impacts of raptors on the brown hare population. But the impact of raptors on game birds was studied and reviewed in the report of the UK Raptor Study Group.

  With regards to lambs the Scottish Executive and Scottish Natural Heritage, commissioned a study of the interaction between white-tailed eagles and lambs on Mull, in 1999 and 2000.

  The results showed that the diet of 11 pairs of white—tailed eagles during the breeding season was species-diverse but included lambs. While most pairs took few lambs, one pair took twice as many lambs as any other pair under study. A lack of alternative prey (rabbits) and the proximity of the nest to a lambing area in 1999 may have been responsible for higher lamb predation then. There was no information as to whether lambs killed by eagles would otherwise have survived.
  448W
  The study found that the number of lambs was small compared with overall lamb mortality, but sufficient to be an important loss to an individual farmer if eagle predation of lambs was additive and concentrated on one farm. There is no information to suggest that raptors take significant numbers of lambs elsewhere in the UK. Further information on this study is available in: Birds of Prey in a Changing Environment, pp47l–479, published in 2003 by The Stationery Office.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the(a) cost and (b) efficacy of English Nature's raptor programmes. [154725]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Raptor conservation projects form a small element of English Nature's conservation work. The two significant projects currently ongoing are the Red Kite Reintroduction Programme and the Hen Harrier Recovery Project, with costs to English Nature in 2003–04 of approximately £10,000 and £90, 000 respectively.

  The Red Kite Reintroduction Programme is a partnership between English Nature, RSPB and a wide range of other organisations and funding bodies. The majority of funding for this programme comes from external sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund and sponsorship from private companies. The Red Kite re-establishment programme in England, together with a similar programme in Scotland and effective conservation measures for the species in Wales, has increased Red Kite numbers to a level where they constitute a small but significant proportion of the European total. As was intended at the outset, the project has helped enhance the international status of Red Kite, a species whose global distribution is restricted to Europe.

  English Nature's Hen Harrier Recovery Project is now entering its third year. It is staffed by a project coordinator and three seasonal fieldworkers. It has so far been successful in improving our understanding of the status of the hen harrier in England and of the factors affecting breeding numbers and success.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the red kite reintroduction programme in England. [154714]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The on-going red kite reintroduction programme is widely recognised as one of the most successful projects of its kind. It has already resulted in the re-establishment of self-sustaining red kite populations in three areas of England, with estimates of about 200 breeding pairs in the Chilterns, 30 in the Midlands and 16 in Yorkshire in 2003. Despite the success of the programme, less than 5 per cent. of the bird's potential British range has been recolonised. Further releases are anticipated, and from spring 2004, birds will be released in north-east England in order to encourage recolonisation of this part of the bird's former range.

  The red kite programme has also been instrumental in raising public awareness of conservation by focusing interest on a flagship species such as the red kite. It has

  449W
  also highlighted issues that still adversely affect birds of prey more generally in Britain. This includes the use of illegal poison baits in the open countryside and accidental secondary poisoning by modern, highly toxic rodenticides. The high profile of the red kite project has been utilised to help promote effective measures to tackle these issues, which will benefit a wide range of wildlife in addition to the red kite.

  Single Farm Payments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the first Single Farm Payments to be made. [155098]

  Alun Michael
  The Single Payment Scheme will be introduced in 2005; the earliest date provided for in the June 2003 CAP reform agreement. The payment window for 2005 payments will open at the start of December 2005 and run to the end of June 2006. We will endeavour to commence payments as soon as possible within that period.

  Trophy Hunting
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on trophy-hunting. [155256]

  Mr. Morley
  Many of the species that are hunted for trophies are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which is implemented in the EU under Council Regulation 338/97. Under these Regulations, the import of hunting trophies is allowed only where it has been established that this will not be detrimental to the populations concerned. We shall not hesitate to use the powers that are available to refuse the import of hunting trophies where there is evidence that these have been taken illegally, or that such hunting is itself unsustainable.

  Warm Front
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to improve the effectiveness of the Warm Front programme following the recommendations of the Fifth Report of the Public Accounts Committee of Session 2003–04. [155117]

  Mr. Morley
  We are currently considering options for the future format of Warm Front. We expect to publish our conclusions as part of the Fuel Poverty Implementation Plan which we plan to publish after the Easter Recess.

  Wind Turbines
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she plans to commission into the effects on health of low frequency noise from wind turbines. [154765]

  Alun Michael
  Defra is not currently researching the effects of low frequency noise from wind turbines on health. However, as part of Defra's research programme 450W
  on noise and nuisance issues, research has been let to better understand the assessment, management and effects of low frequency noise as a whole.

  World Environment Day
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to mark World Environment Day on 5 June; and if she will make a statement. [153743]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department is currently considering a number of options regarding Environment Day but no firm or detailed decisions have yet been made.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Departmental Minutes
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her Department's policy to make notes of(a) meetings and (b) telephone conversations involving Ministers; and under what circumstances no notes would be taken. [149531]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 20 January 2004]: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport follows the central "Guidance on the Management of Private Office Papers" which makes clear that good record management procedures are necessary not least to ensure accountability and provide an audit trail. Among the records covered by the guidance are Ministers' meetings and telephone conversations.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many days on average her 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. [155918]

  Mr. Caborn
  Ministerial colleagues and officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport attach great importance to answering parliamentary questions accurately and to time. We aim to ensure that all Members receive a substantive response to an ordinary written question within a working week of it being tabled.

  It is not possible to provide information in the format requested without incurring disproportionate cost. However, during the Session 2002–03, 1,224 ordinary written questions were tabled to DCMS, excluding those withdrawn or transferred to another Department. 642 (52.5 per cent.) were answered within the target date. Of those questions remaining, 63.9 per cent. (372 questions) were answered within the next one to five working days.

  The greatest number of days taken to answer an ordinary written question was 132 working days.

  Tobacco Task Force
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects the Tobacco Task Force to(a) report next and (b) be wound up. [155803]
  451W
  Mr. Caborn
  The Tobacco Task Force is not scheduled to deliver any further reports. Any outstanding business of the Tobacco Task Force is expected to be concluded by August 2005 at which time the ban on tobacco sponsorship will cover 'global sports'.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Work Permits (Health Workers)
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued to health workers for each of the top 10 medical specialties in each of the last 10 years. [155984]

  Beverley Hughes
  The total number of work permits approved by the top 10 medical specialties from 2000 to the third quarter of 2003, the period for which information is available, is as follows:

  Number of work permits approved

  2000

  Hospital consultants (undefined)

  1,917

  Pharmacist

  415

  Dentist

  302

  Psychiatrist

  121

  Radiographer

  99

  Occupational Therapist

  90

  Optician

  58

  Speech Therapist

  42

  Anaesthetist

  35

  Psychologist

  34

  Total

  3,113

  2001

  Hospital consultants (undefined)

  2,141

  Pharmacist

  474

  Dentist

  319

  Physiotherapist

  261

  Psychiatrist

  240

  Radiographer

  155

  Occupational Therapist

  135

  Optician

  97

  Speech Therapist

  63

  Anaesthetist

  43

  Total

  3,928

  2002

  Hospital consultants (undefined)

  5,900

  Pharmacist

  443

  Radiographer

  390

  Physiotherapist

  378

  Dentist

  357

  Psychiatrist

  352

  Occupational Therapist

  238

  Anaesthetist

  213

  Optician

  194

  Biomedical Scientist

  181

  Total

  8,646

  2003 (Figures for the first three quarters only)

  Hospital consultants (undefined)

  6,970

  Radiographer

  364

  Pharmacist

  315

  Physiotherapist

  311

  Dentist

  293

  Psychiatrist

  262

  Occupational Therapist

  163

  Anaesthetist

  156

  Speech Therapist

  155

  Biomedical Scientist

  130

  Total

  9,119

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make a decision on the asylum application ref: R333201 of the Saudi Arabian constituent of the hon. Member for Putney. [154603]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 12 February 2004]: As you are aware, this is a complex case, which is still being actively considered. I am unable at this time to say when a decision on the asylum claim will be made. I have written to my hon. Friend on 25 February with further details.

  Car Crime
  Mr. Michael Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) car thefts and (b) thefts from cars were reported in Worcester in each year since 1997. [155037]

  Ms Blears
  The table shows the recorded crime figures for the Worcester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). Figures for 2002–03 will have been altered by the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (April 2002). Figures were not collected for any previous financial years.

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  Theft from a motor vehicle

  2002–03

  417

  1,388

  2001–02

  353

  912

  2000–01

  402

  753

  1999–2000

  457

  906

  Crime (Havering and Romford)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons under the age of 18 were convicted of criminal offences last year in(a) Romford and (b) the London Borough of Havering. [154853]

  Paul Goggins
  The available information relates to 2002 and shows that 338 persons aged under 18 years were convicted in the Havering Petty Sessional Area, the magistrates court which sits at Romford. The figure includes eight persons convicted at the Crown court, having been committed for trial from Havering PSA.

  Statistics for 2003 will be available in the autumn.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2003,Official Report, column 440W, regarding the Criminal Records Bureau, if he will place a copy of the survey in the Library. [155052]

  Ms Blears
  Once the report has been finalised, a copy will be made available and placed in the Library.

  I will write to you again to confirm when this has been done
  453W
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to enable the Criminal Records Bureau to access information from Customs and Excise and Immigration authorities. [155667]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: From the outset, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has been able to access conviction data in relation to cases brought by non-"Home Office" police forces and other agencies such as Customs and Excise, through the Police National Computer. Similarly, the CRB would have access to relevant local intelligence held by the police arising from a joint operation involving the police and an agency such as Customs and Excise. We are committed to bringing forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows to enable the CRB to access intelligence information held by non-"Home Office" police forces and other law enforcement agencies such as Customs and Excise and, in due course, the Serious Organised Crime Agency. It is currently open to bodies such as Customs and Excise, if they have information that, for example, connects a school employee to the smuggling of child pornography, to notify the relevant authorities of such information.

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission research to assess the effectiveness of the Criminal Records Bureau in protecting children. [155978]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: We shall build on research conducted in early 2003 which showed that employers found information supplied by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) useful in making recruitment decisions, and that some one in five had decided not to appoint someone on the basis of information supplied by the CRB.

  Female Prisoners
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls aged(a) 15, (b) 16 and (c) 17 years were held in prisons in England and Wales in each of the last five years; in which establishments they were held; and whether there are girls of these ages in prison now. [154217]

  Paul Goggins
  The number of girls aged(a) 15, (b) 16 and (c) 17 held in prisons in each of the last five years and on 30 November 2003, by establishment, is given in the table.

  The Youth Justice Board issued a commitment to remove all 16-year-old girls from Prison Service custody by 31 December 2003. This commitment was achieved. However, in. exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to detain a 16-year-old girl in a Young Offenders Institution in the future.

  Number of girls aged 15,16 and 17 in prisons by age

  15

  16

  17

  June 1999

  Brockhill

  0

  1

  3

  Bullwood Hall

  4

  4

  9

  Drake Hall

  0

  0

  1

  Eastwood Park

  0

  1

  8

  Foston Hall

  0

  0

  1

  Holloway

  1

  3

  7

  454W

  Number of girls aged 15,16 and 17 in prisons by age

  15

  16

  17

  New Hall

  1

  7

  21

  Styal

  1

  6

  7

  June 2000

  Brockhill

  0

  2

  7

  Bullwood Hall

  1

  4

  5

  Drake Hall

  0

  0

  1

  Eastwood Park

  1

  4

  5

  Holloway

  1

  3

  12

  Low Newton

  0

  1

  3

  New Hall

  0

  6

  7

  Styal

  0

  8

  18

  June 2001

  Brockhill

  1

  0

  6

  Bullwood Hall

  2

  2

  21

  Eastwood Park

  0

  2

  9

  Holloway

  1

  1

  8

  Low Newton

  0

  0

  3

  New Hall

  3

  7

  22

  Styal

  0

  0

  2

  June 2002

  Brockhill

  0

  4

  9

  Bullwood Hall

  2

  2

  25

  Eastwood Park

  1

  3

  4

  Holloway

  0

  3

  10

  Low Newton

  0

  0

  1

  New Hall

  6

  15

  27

  Styal

  0

  0

  5

  June 2003

  Brockhill

  0

  2

  7

  Bullwood Hall

  0

  3

  11

  Eastwood Park

  0

  0

  6

  Holloway

  0

  0

  11

  Low Newton

  0

  0

  1

  New Hall

  0

  1

  34

  November 2003

  Brockhill

  0

  1

  12

  Bullwood Hall

  0

  0

  15

  Eastwood Park

  0

  0

  9

  Holloway

  0

  0

  4

  New Hall

  0

  1

  23

  Fixed Penalty Notices
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices have been issued by community support officers; and for what offences. [155055]

  Ms Blears
  Information on how many fixed penalty notices have been issued by Community Support Officers (CSOs) in individual forces is not collected centrally.

  CSOs may be given powers to issue penalty notices for a variety of offences. Designating CSOs with these powers, and determining the appropriate recording procedure, is a matter for the Chief Officer in each force which has CSOs. The following fixed penalty notice powers may be given to CSOs:
  penalty notice for riding a bicycle on the footpath;
  penalty notice for litter;
  penalty notice for dog fouling;
  penalty notice for disorder offences; and

  455W
  those CSOs who are also appointed as Traffic Wardens, may issue traffic penalty notices available for that role.

  The following are available to CSOs under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and have not yet been commenced.

  penalty notice to parents for truancy—due to commence 27 February;
  penalty notice for graffiti—due to commence 31 March; and
  penalty notice for fly posting—due to commence 31 March.

  Forensic Science Service
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Oral Answer of 19 January 2004,Official Report, column 1073, on the Forensic Science Service, what extra resources the Forensic Science Service requires in (a) one-off capital investment and (b) additional annual revenue. [155935]

  Ms Blears
  The independent McFarland Review found the Forensic Science Service (FSS) to be significantly under-capitalised, a situation compounded by the constraints of Trading Fund status. The actions we are taking to develop the FSS as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) will ensure it has the commercial freedoms necessary to develop and build on its proven ability as a world leader.

  The future financial requirements of the FSS are currently being addressed in work under way to produce an outline business case that will look in greater detail at how best to optimise its performance and economic prospects.

  Identity Theft
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the individuals arrested in operations against identity theft of British passports have been(a) charged and (b) convicted; what the sentence was in each case; and how many passports were recovered. [144252]

  Beverley Hughes
  It is not possible for me to provide the hon. Member with the details sought within this question. This information is not routinely collected and could be retrieved only at disproportionate cost.

  Leyhill Prison
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the events which led to the escape of Mr. Roddy Maclean from Leyhill Prison. [154968]

  Paul Goggins
  I received the final investigation report into the abscond of Roderick McLean on 10 February. I am studying the report and will write to the hon. Member.

  New Prisons
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is carrying out the survey to identify suitable sites for new, large prisons; and what the terms and conditions of the survey are. [153985]

  Paul Goggins
  The Prison Service is actively seeking urban sites that are suitable for the development of prison establishments. The size and function of new 456W
  prison establishments is determined by the size and mix of the projected population. The details of individual sites cannot be disclosed at this stage for commercial reasons.

  Police
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many plain-clothes officers are deployed by police forces in England and Wales. [155048]

  Ms Blears
  The requested information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is made for police drivers to receive(a) initial and (b) refresher training; and if he will make a statement. [155056]

  Ms Blears
  Police driver training is a matter for individual forces.

  A national driver training package was produced in 2000 which was endorsed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and recommended to forces. It consists of three core courses:
  Basic—assessment to ensure driving competence;
  Standard—training which may include emergency response driving; and
  Advanced—further training to perform roles which require a high level of driving skill.

  It is recommended that periodic formal assessments should take place every three to five years, accompanied by refresher training, if required.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has published on(a) the vision levels that police drivers need to achieve and (b) how frequently they should receive eye checks. [155058]

  Ms Blears
  The Home Office has not issued guidance on eyesight standards specific to drivers in the Police Service.

  The Association of Police Officers Joint Working Group on Health, Safety and Welfare Medical Sub Group produced guidance on visual driving standards in 1994. This was set as a minimum visual acuity of 6/18.

  The guidance also states that advanced drivers should undertake a medical assessment, including eyesight test, every three years until aged 45 and then annually.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what standards of driving test police drivers are required to meet; and what the failure rate was in each year since 1997. [155059]

  Ms Blears
  Police driving standards, ranging from basic to pursuit, are published on the Association of Chief Police Officers website: www.acpo.police.uk/policies/index.html

  There is no central collection of data on failure rates.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are published by his Department on the disciplinary code for police drivers. [155060]
  457W
  Ms Blears
  The Code of Conduct set out in the Police (Conduct) Regulations 1999 sets out the principles which guide police officers' conduct and applies to officers working in all areas and of all ranks.

  There is no specific code or principle that relates to police drivers. The Association of Chief Police Officers issues Police Driving Guidelines, which all police forces follow.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary measures are taken against police drivers who are involved in road accidents. [155061]

  Ms Blears
  Discipline measures are taken against those police officers who are found to have breached the Code of Conduct.

  Police drivers who are involved in road traffic accidents are not automatically assumed to have breached the Code of Conduct. However, if an allegation or report of a breach is made a disciplinary investigation will be undertaken and this can result in a hearing. If the case is proved against the officer the disciplinary hearing will determine the appropriate sanction, which, if serious can be dismissal from the force.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Government criteria there are for(a) siting of police cells, (b) the number of police cells and (c) conditions of police cells. [153771]

  Ms Blears
  The number and siting of police cells is a local operational matter for the Chief Constable and the Police Authority.

  The conditions of police cells are subject to National and European legislation such as the Health `nd Safety Act, the Disability Discrimination Act and the Human Rights Act.

  The Home Office has issued the Police Design Buildings guidance and intends producing a Design Quality Guide. Police Authorities and forces are also advised on building projects by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the displacement of crime from areas subject to intensive policing initiatives to neighbouring areas. [155874]

  Ms Blears
  Research in London has found very little evidence of geographic or functional displacement as a consequence of the Street Crime Initiative (SCI). While there was some evidence of local shifts within the boroughs, this was not considered significant.

  Under the Crime Reduction Programme there were a number of evaluations which included some estimation of whether activity had led either to a displacement of crime, or conversely to what is termed a diffusion of
  458W
  benefits (reductions in crime across a larger area, or across a wider range of crime types, than were being targeted).

  For instance a report detailing the impact of 63 evaluated Reducing Burglary Initiative (RBI) projects is soon to be published, and this report will include estimates of displacement and diffusion of benefits. Under the RBI, a methodological report was also produced by one of the evaluation teams that examined the complex issue of how one measures crime displacement, and proposed a new statistical technique for doing so.

  However, it has lo be acknowledged that there remains no agreed methodology for assessing whether policing initiatives result in a displacement of crime or a diffusion of benefits. Nevertheless, past research evidence from outside the Home Office indicates that displacement of crime resulting from police or related crime reduction activities is by no means inevitable, and indeed crime reduction gains usually outweigh any possible displacement of crime.

  Prisons
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the prison health care centre in Liverpool has entered into a commercial cleaning contract. [155248]

  Paul Goggins
  There is no commercial contract for cleaning in the health care centre at Liverpool prison.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many suicides there have been in safe cells in each of the last two years; [151687]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the average costs of a suicide in prison; [151688]

  (3) what plans he has to change the design of safe cell units; [151689]

  (4) what consultatons his Department has had with suppliers of safe cell units. [151691]

  Paul Goggins
  Safer cells have several design features which can assist staff in the task of managing those at risk from suicide, such as specially designed furniture and fixtures which are manufactured and installed to make the attachment of ligatures very difficult, and access to window bars prevented via non-opening windows with integral ventilation grills. Realistically, no cell can be considered totally 'safe' and the Prison Service's preferred terminology is 'safer cell.' Safer cells can complement (but not replace) a regime providing care for at risk prisoners.

  The Prison Service employs the term 'self-inflicted death' rather than 'suicide.' This includes all those deaths where it appears the person may have acted specifically to take his/her own life. In 2002, of the 95 self-inflicted deaths in prisons, four occurred in safer cells. In 2003, of the 94 self-inflicted deaths in prisons, three occurred in safer cells. In 2004 to date (28 January), of the 10 self-inflicted deaths in prison, one has occurred in a safer cell.
  459W
  An independent evaluation of safer cells, carried out by the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science in 2003, including interviews with prisoners and staff, revealed that the ventilation design in safer cells may require revision. Otherwise, the Institute concluded that the safer cells programme has much to commend it, and recommended that the programme continue. Three prisoners stated to evaluators that being in a safer cell had prevented them from killing themselves.

  The Prison Service is already looking into alternative safer ventilator designs to meet the report's finding. In those cases where ligature points have been identified in particular types of safer cells, remedial action has been taken and guidance issued to prisons. Also, funding has been agreed to progress the design and production of second generation safer cell furniture, building on the original safer cell furniture design, and by using mass production techniques reducing costs and enhancing robustness.

  The competition for the framework agreement for the supply and installation of safer cell furniture was procured under European Union rules. A notice was issued in the Official Journal of the European Community in June 2001. Nine companies responded to the Notice, and five were subsequently short-listed to receive the tender documentation. Tenderers' responses were evaluated, both commercially and technically to see which offered overall best value for money, three companies being awarded the framework agreement. Those companies were: MT Hogjaard, Premier Custodial Group Ltd. and Newcastle Joinery Ltd. Premier Custodial Group Ltd. have subsequently withdrawn from the framework. The framework agreement was for a period of twelve months commencing on 23 January 2003. The framework

  Table 2: Details of escapes

  Establishment

  Security Category of Prisoner

  Date of Escape

  Date of Recapture

  Guys Marsh

  C

  5 May 1998

  5 May 1998

  Guys Marsh

  C

  5 May 1998

  5 May 1998

  Altcourse

  Unclassified

  21 May 1998

  21 May 1998

  Werrington

  YO closed

  25 May 1998

  29 May 1998

  Werrington

  YO closed

  25 May 1998

  25 May 1998

  Werrington

  YO closed

  25 May 1998

  25 May 1998

  Werrington

  YO closed

  25 May 1998

  25 May 1998

  Werrington

  YO closed

  25 May 1998

  30 May 1998

  Aldington

  C

  14 June 1998

  21 August 1998

  Featherstone

  C

  19 July 1998

  20 July 1998

  Lindholme

  C

  2 September 1998

  7 September 1998

  Eastwood Park

  Female closed

  23 September 1998

  23 September 1998

  Everthorpe

  C

  26 September 1998

  1 October 1998

  Deerbolt

  YO closed

  26 October 1998

  30 October 1998

  Deerbolt

  YO closed

  26 October 1998

  26 November 1998

  Glen Parva

  YO closed

  5 November 1998

  27 November 1998

  Glen Parva

  YO closed

  5 November 1998

  12 November 1998

  Pentonville

  C

  26 November 1998

  26 November 1998

  Castington

  YO closed

  20 December 1998

  21 December 1998

  Castington

  YO closed

  20 December 1998

  21 December 1998

  Littlehey

  C

  30 December 1998

  30 December 1998

  Wormwood Scrubs

  Unclassified

  31 January 1999

  Not recaptured

  Featherstone

  C

  7 February 1999

  13 November 1999

  Featherstone

  C

  7 February 1999

  30 April 1999

  Featherstone

  C

  7 February 1999

  27 October 1999

  Feltham

  YO closed

  27 February 1999

  17 March 1999

  Lincoln

  C

  10 March 1999

  19 March 1999

  460W
  agreement has been extended for six months and is now due to expire 23 July 2004. The Authority does have the right under the Agreement to extend the framework for a further two periods of three months each.

  The total cost of a self-inflicted death in prison is £132,660.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from prisons in each of the past six years, broken down by(a) date, (b) category of offender and (c) prison; and on what date each was recaptured. [154121]

  Paul Goggins
  The following tables list the information requested for the past five financial years, and so far in the current year. Escapes where the prisoner was recaptured within 15 minutes are not included. The security categories are A, B, C or D for adult male prisoners; A, closed or open for female prisoners and Restricted Status, closed or open for young offenders.

  Unsentenced prisoners are not security categorised and are termed Unclassified. Escapes can take place only from closed establishments; an escape from an open prison is counted as an abscond. There have been no category A or YO restricted status escapes since 1995.

  Tables 1: Number of escapes

  Year

  Number of escapes from prisons

  1998–99

  28

  1999–2000

  30

  2000–01

  10

  2001–02

  15

  2002–03

  5

  2003–04

  10

  461W

  Tables 2: Details of escapes

  Establishment

  Security Category of Prisoner

  Date of Escape

  Date of Recapture

  Dover

  YO closed

  25 March 1999

  13 April 1999

  Featherstone

  C

  1 April 1999

  12 April 1999

  Thorn Cross

  YO closed

  23 May 1999

  23 May 1999

  Huntercombe

  YO closed

  24 May 1999

  24 May 1999

  Risley

  C

  29 May 1999

  29 May 1999

  Pare

  Unclassified

  23 June 1999

  23 June 1999

  The Mount

  C

  26 June 1999

  24 December 1999

  Rochester

  YO closed

  19 July 1999

  20 July 1999

  Rochester

  YO closed

  19 July 1999

  20 July 1999

  Rochester

  YO closed

  19 July 1999

  3 August 1999

  Lindholme

  C

  7 August 1999

  13 August 1999

  Lindholme

  C

  7 August 1999

  15 March 2000

  Lindholme

  C

  7 August 1999

  4 September 1999

  Styal

  Female closed

  8 August 1999

  8 September 1999

  Styal

  Female closed

  8 August 1999

  12 August 1999

  Styal

  Female closed

  8 August 1999

  15 August 1999

  Styal

  Female closed

  8 August 1999

  14 August 1999

  Liverpool

  Unclassified

  8 August 1999

  9 September 1999

  Lindholme

  C

  23 September 1999

  23 June 2000

  Lindholme

  C

  7 October 1999

  12 October 1999

  Lindholme

  C

  7 October 1999

  14 October 1999

  Lindholme

  C

  7 October 1999

  14 October 1999

  Lindholme

  C

  7 October 1999

  14 October 1999

  Haverigg

  C

  21 November 1999

  21 November 1999

  Stocken

  C

  12 November 1999

  29 November 1999

  Littlehey

  C

  26 November 1999

  Not recaptured

  Hollesley Bay

  YO closed

  1 March 2000

  1 March 2000

  Hollesley Bay

  YO closed

  1 March 2000

  1 March 2000

  Hollesley Bay

  YO closed

  1 March 2000

  1 March 2000

  Deerbolt

  YO closed

  12 March 2000

  12 March 2000

  Deerbolt

  YO closed

  12 March 2000

  12 March 2000

  Guys Marsh

  C

  22 June 2000

  19 September 2000

  Erlestoke

  C

  23 July 2000

  23 July 2000

  Blantyre House

  C

  30 August 2000

  22 August 2002

  Portland

  YO closed

  1 October 2000

  1 October 2000

  Risley

  C

  16 November 2000

  6 February 2001

  Brinsford

  YO closed

  29 December 2000

  7 August 2001

  Downview

  D

  5 January 2001

  19 January 2001

  Kirklevington

  C

  10 January 2001

  7 February 2001

  Lancaster Castle

  C

  14 January 2001

  14 January 2001

  Lancaster Castle

  C

  14 January 2.001

  14 January 2001

  Guys Marsh

  C

  3 July 2.001

  24 July 2001

  Guys Marsh

  C

  3 July 2.001

  9 July 2001

  Guys Marsh

  C

  3 July 2001

  24 July 2001

  Feltham

  YO closed

  29 July 2.001

  14 September 2001

  Wealstun

  C

  14 August 2.001

  11 October 2001

  Grendon

  B

  30 September 2001

  30 September 2001

  Grendon

  B

  30 September 2001

  1 October 2001

  Grendon

  C

  30 September 2001

  1 October 2001

  Doncaster

  Unclassified

  8 November 2.001

  9 January 2001

  Winchester

  B

  10 December 2001

  15 December 2001

  Erlestoke

  C

  30 January 2002

  2 February 2002

  The Verne

  C

  7 February 2002

  14 March 2002

  Norwich

  Unclassified

  14 February 2002

  16 February 2002

  Rye Hill

  B

  18 March 2002

  19 March 2002

  Rye Hill

  B

  18 March 2002

  26 March 2002

  Brixton

  Unclassified

  30 June 2002

  Not recaptured

  Norwich

  C

  18 July 2002

  31 July 2002

  Cardiff

  Unclassified

  10 November 2002

  12 December 2002

  Littlehey

  C

  13 November 2002

  20 November 2002

  Weare

  C

  9 February 2003

  19 February 2003

  Brinsford

  YO closed

  26 May 2003

  28 May 2003

  Brinsford

  YO closed

  26 May 2003

  26 May 2003

  Brinsford

  YO closed

  26 May 2003

  26 May 2003

  Brinsford

  YO closed

  26 May 2003

  26 May 2003

  Dartmoor

  C

  16 June 2003

  22 June 2003

  Dartmoor

  C

  16 June 2003

  9 July 2003

  Lindholme

  C

  23 July 2003

  27 July 2003

  Bullingdon

  C

  8 August 2003

  26 August 2003

  Pare

  Unclassified

  10 October 2003

  Not recaptured

  Leicester

  Unclassified

  8 December 2003

  9 December 2003

  462W 463W
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by prison the number of out-of-cell hours that prisoners are permitted. [152709]

  Paul Goggins
  The average number of daily hours that prisoners have spent out of their cells on weekdays and weekends during the financial year to the end of December is given in the table.

  Establishment

  Weekdays

  Weekends

  Acklington

  10.4

  9.2

  Albany

  10.0

  7.4

  Altcourse

  13.0

  13.0

  Ashfield

  10.0

  9.3

  Ashwell

  15.5

  15.5

  Askham Grange

  16.0

  16.0

  Aylesbury

  8.7

  6.2

  Bedford

  7.9

  5.7

  Belmarsh

  8.6

  4.4

  Birmingham

  7.6

  6.9

  Blakenhurst

  7.9

  7.5

  Blantyre House

  15.3

  15.3

  Blundeston

  10.1

  7.4

  Brinsford

  8.7

  6.3

  Bristol

  8.0

  6.0

  Brixton

  4.5

  3.6

  Brockhill

  8.7

  7.1

  Buckley Hall

  13.4

  13.1

  Bullingdon

  10.2

  .6.4

  Bullwood Hall

  11.1

  7.3

  Camp Hill

  10.7

  8.5

  Canterbury

  7.5

  7.1

  Cardiff

  9.1

  5.9

  Castington

  7.7

  5.3

  Channings Wood

  9.8

  6.9

  Chelmsford

  9.7

  7.3

  Coldingley

  12.5

  10.0

  Cookham Wood

  7.7

  7.5

  Dartmoor

  9.3

  7.0

  Deerbolt

  9.1

  5.4

  Doncaster

  11.3

  11.3

  Dorchester

  11.6

  10.6

  Dovegate

  12.6

  11.2

  Dover

  12.0

  11.9

  Down view

  10.6

  9.3

  Drake Hall

  16.0

  16.0

  Durham

  9.8

  4.7

  East Sutton Park

  15.1

  17.0

  Eastwood Park

  10.7

  8.3

  Edmunds Hill

  9.5

  9.5

  Elmley

  8.6

  7.7

  Erlestoke

  11.0

  10.0

  Everthorpe

  11.1

  8.8

  Exeter

  8.5

  7.5

  Featherstone

  8.2

  10.1

  Feltham

  6.9

  9.5

  Ford

  13.3

  13.3

  Forest Bank

  12.4

  7.7

  Foston Hall

  10.5

  9.1

  Frankland

  9.3

  7.0

  Full Sutton

  9.5

  7.5

  Garth

  10.0

  7.5

  Gartree

  10.0

  7.3

  Glen Parva

  7.0

  3.5

  Gloucester

  6.8

  5.0

  Grendon

  14.0

  11.7

  Guys Marsh

  8.2

  7.4

  Haslar

  11.2

  10.4

  Haverigg

  11.9

  11.9

  Hewell Grange

  24.0

  24.0

  High Down

  6.2

  4.4

  Highpoint

  10.0

  7.5

  Hindley

  io.q

  8.9

  Hollesley Bay

  15.5

  15.5

  464W

  Establishment

  Weekdays

  Weekends

  Holloway

  7.1

  6.4

  Holme House

  5.4

  4.9

  Hull

  5.6

  5.2

  Huntercombe

  9.9

  8.6

  Kingston

  12.1

  7.7

  Kirkham

  13.5

  13.0

  Kirklevington

  19.0

  19.0

  Lancaster

  10.0

  7.5

  Lancaster Farms

  9.9

  8.6

  Latchmere House

  19.0

  19.0

  Leeds

  8.7

  8.0

  Leicester

  9.3

  6.5

  Lewes

  7.5

  6.5

  Leyhill

  16.01

  16.0

  Lincoln

  6.2

  1.3

  Lindholme

  11.0

  7.8

  Littlehey

  9.1

  8.6

  Liverpool

  7.1

  5.4

  Long Lartin

  0.2

  9.2

  Low Newton

  10.5

  8.4

  Lowdham Grange

  12.8

  12.8

  Maidstone

  8.8

  6.6

  Manchester

  10.8

  8.5

  Moorland

  11.4

  5.1

  Morton Hall

  15.0

  15.0

  Mount

  8.4

  6.7

  New Hall

  11.0

  9.3

  North Sea Camp

  21.6

  21.6

  Northallerton

  8.3

  6.4

  Norwich

  8.4

  6.6

  Nottingham

  7.8

  5.0

  Onley

  8.3

  7.6

  Pare

  9.8

  10.0

  Parkhurst

  8.9

  6.8

  Pentonville

  7.6

  7.0

  Portland

  8.2

  5.6

  Preston

  8.2

  6.5

  Ranby

  9.9

  9.1

  Reading

  7.9

  6.6

  Risley

  10.5

  10.1

  Rochester

  6.7

  6.5

  Rye Hill

  11.7

  11.6

  Send

  12.9

  12.9

  Shepton Mallet

  10.5

  9.1

  Shrewsbury

  9.4

  17.1

  Stafford

  9.6

  4.8

  Standford Hill

  12.0

  12.0

  Stocken

  10.8

  6.2

  Stoke Heath

  10.3

  10.1

  Styal

  11.6

  11.4

  Sudbury

  20.7

  20.7

  Swaleside

  9.8

  7.3

  Swansea.

  8.9

  8.6

  Swinfen Hall

  10.4

  6.8

  Thorn Cross

  12.5

  15.3

  UskPrescoed

  14.5

  13.4

  Verne

  16.0

  16.0

  Wakefield

  9.0

  6.5

  Wandsworth

  6.0

  3.9

  Warren Hill

  10.3

  9.0

  Wayland

  10.3

  8.8

  Wealstun

  12.0

  12.0

  Weare

  9.7

  8.9

  Wellingborough

  9.8

  8.0

  Werrington

  11.0

  9.7

  Wetherby

  9.8

  6.1

  Whatton

  12.0

  9.2

  Whitemoor

  9.7

  7.5

  Winchester

  8.8

  6.5

  Wolds

  12.6

  10.4

  Woodhill

  8.9

  7.5

  Wormwood Scrubs

  7.1

  5.4

  Wymott

  10.7

  10.1

  Sentences
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 9 February 2004,Official Report, column 1290W, on sentences, whether the extension of penalty fines to 10 to 16-year-olds outlined in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 will be introduced before the publication of the evaluation of the operation of the scheme for 16 to 17-year-olds. [155451]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 24 February 2004]: We will be evaluating the operation of the scheme for 16 to 17-year-olds, on an interim basis after six months and again after 12 months. We expect to pilot penalty notices for disorder in some areas for 10 to 15-year-olds later this year, taking account of early experience with 16 and 17-year-olds.

  Serious Organised Crime Agency
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the proposed total headcount is for(a) agents, (b) management and (c) administrators for the Serious Organised Crime Agency; and what the headcount is for the agencies that it will replace. [155115]

  Females by custody type and drugs offence type and nationality

  Unlawful import/export

  Unlawful supply

  Possession with intent to supply

  Possession

  Other drugs offences

  UK nationals

  Sentenced

  278

  33

  143

  276

  9

  Untried

  18

  4

  11

  33

  0

  Convicted unsentenced

  9

  7

  6

  27

  0

  Fine defaulters

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Non-criminals

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Foreign nationals

  Sentenced

  508

  4

  20

  41

  4

  Untried

  26

  1

  4

  11

  0

  Convicted unsentenced

  12

  0

  0

  4

  0

  Fine defaulters

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Nationality not known

  Sentenced

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Females by drug offences and nationality Percentage

  Unlawful import/ export

  Unlawful supply

  Possession with intent to supply

  Possession

  Other drugs offences

  United Kingdom

  36

  86

  87

  88

  64

  Nationality Missing Belgium

  1

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Brazil

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Colombia

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  France

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Germany

  1

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Ghana

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  India

  0

  0

  0

  0

  14

  Irish Republic

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Jamaica

  38

  11

  10

  6

  14

  Netherlands

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Nigeria

  3

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Portugal

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Africa

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Spain

  2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Trinidad and Tobago

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  466W
  Ms Blears
  It is expected that the new agency will have approaching 5,000 staff but it is too early to provide a breakdown of that number into agents, management and administrators. As precise details of all the numbers to be transferred have yet to be determined, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive indication of the headcount for the agencies that it will replace.

  Women Prisoners (Drug Offences)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are in prison for(a) drug offences, (b) drug trafficking offences and (c) supply offences; and of these groups of women, what percentage (i) have dependent children, (ii) are UK nationals and (iii) are non-UK nationals, giving countries of nationality in each case. [143408]

  Paul Goggins
  Information as at the end of June 2003 on the number of women in prison in England and Wales for drug offences, drug trafficking offences and supply offences, and the percentage of these who are UK nationals and non UK nationals are given in the following tables.

  Information on the number of women in prison for drugs offences who have dependent children is not available.
  467W

  Females by drug offences and nationality

  Percentage

  Unlawful import/export

  Unlawful supply

  Possession with intent to supply

  Possession

  Other drugs offences

  United States

  2

  0

  0

  0

  7

  Venezuela

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Other

  4

  0

  3

  0

  1

  Total

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Note:

  Figures are rounded and therefore may not add to 100.

  Young Offenders Institution
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether resources available for young offenders institutions will be increased during 2004. [155254]

  Paul Goggins
  At this time baselines for individual establishments have been finalised for 2004–05. The position will be clearer when the distribution of budgets within the Prison Service has been actioned during March.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Child Trafficking
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what resources are available under the Children Act 1989 for local authorities to care for child victims of trafficking; and if he will make a statement. [152341]

  Margaret Hodge
  It is for local councils to decide the level of resources they allocate to services for children in their area, including the child victims of trafficking.

  Overall the local government settlement has increased resources for Children's Social Services from almost £3.7 billion in 2003–04 to just over £4.0 billion in 2004–05. This provides for an increase in total resources of some 8.7 per cent, overall.

  Children's Fund
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what reductions he intends to make in the allocation of funding to the Children's Fund; what consultation has taken place with the key stakeholders; what estimate has been made of the impact of funding reductions on individual programmes; and if he will make a statement. [154880]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 12 February 2004]: Allocations to Children's Fund partnerships were originally planned to reduce by £24.6 million in 2004–05, from £164.6 million to £140 million. However, following representations from affected projects I have been able to identify additional resources outside the programme which means that a total of £160 million plus a contingency amount of £6 million will be available to partnerships in 2004–05.

  I have consulted key stakeholders through the Children's Fund Advisory Forum which is made up of the main voluntary sector organisations involved in the Fund, the LGA and the ADSS. The Department is
  468W
  assessing the impact of its decisions directly with partnerships through both the Advisory Forum and its regional teams. Final decisions on 2005–06 will not be taken until I know the outcome of the 2004 Spending Review.

  Civil Servants
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many civil servants, broken down by grade, there are in the Department and the agencies for which the Department is responsible; and what the figures were in January 1997. [150271]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 10 February 2004,Official Report, column 1294W.

  The number of staff in the former Department for Education and Employment as at 1 January 1997 was 37,598. This comprised 4,999 in the core Department (including the Government Offices) and 32,599 in the former Employment Service Agency. A grade breakdown could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Education Funding
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent from central government funds per pupil on(a) primary and (b) secondary education in (i) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (ii) the UK in each of the last five years. [155329]

  Mr. Miliband
  My right hon. Friend is responsible for education in England only, so the following table gives a comparison between the East Riding of Yorkshire and the England average.

  Per pupil funding from 1999–2000 to 2003–04

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  England average

  SSA/EFS

  Grants

  Total

  SSA/EFS

  Grants

  Total

  Primary (aged 3–10)

  1999–2000

  2,210

  150

  2,350

  2,410

  150

  2,560

  2000–01

  2,270

  310

  2,580

  2,470

  310

  2,780

  2001–02

  2,330

  390

  2,730

  2,520

  420

  2,940

  2002–03

  2,320

  430

  2,750

  2,570

  450

  3,010

  2003–04

  2,620

  300

  2,930

  2,850

  350

  3,200

  Secondary (aged 11–15)

  1999–2000

  3,000

  80

  3,080

  3,250

  100

  3,360

  2000–01

  3,110

  230

  3,340

  3,370

  270

  3,630

  2001–02

  3,150

  320

  3,470

  3,420

  400

  3,820

  2002–03

  3,200

  340

  3,530

  3,480

  420

  3,900

  2003–04

  3,140

  370

  3,520

  3,460

  500

  3,960

  469W
  Notes:

  1. Figures reflect education SSA/EFS settlement (all sub—blocks). Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to EPS pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15.

  2. Figures exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level and the pensions transfer to EPS and LSC for 2003–04.

  3. The pupil numbers used are those underlying the EPS/EPS settlement calculations plus PLASC three-year-old maintained pupils and estimated three to four-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.

  4. 2003–04 and 2002–03 figures are provisional estimates as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited. Data are as reported by LEAs.

  5. Real terms figures are based on GDP deflators as at 6 January 2004 (2002–03 prices).

  6. Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £10 so may not sum.

  Employer Training Pilot
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the roll-out of the Employer Training Pilot. [155808]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: Employer Training Pilots (ETP) were introduced in six local Learning and Skills Council areas in September 2002 to test new measures to improve access to training. ETPs offer a package of support to help low-skilled people in work gain their first level 2 or basic skills qualification. The pilots were subsequently extended for a further year (to August 2004) and doubled in number to cover a total of 12 LSC areas.

  An independent evaluation of the first year of the pilots, published in December 2003, showed that ETPs are proving successful at engaging employers and their low-skilled employees in training. Building on this success, the Pre-Budget Report in December announced that ETPs are being extended for a third year and that a further six pilots will be launched in September 2004. This will mean that the pilots cover over a third of England and will enable the Government to explore further the impact of the pilots on the demand for training.

  My officials are currently consulting with the Learning and Skills Council's Regional Directors over the locations for the new pilots and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Foundation Degrees
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have started Foundation Degrees since they were introduced; and what proportion have completed the courses. [142032]

  Alan Johnson
  The latest data from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), showing the number of students starting Foundation Degrees, is given in the table. Completion rates are not calculated by the Department, but figures published in January by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that in 2002/03,1,100 students successfully completed Foundation Degrees.

  We welcome the increase in numbers. We now need to build on this as we look to make Foundation Degrees the standard two year qualification at this level.
  470W

  Students starting Foundation Degrees HE and FE institutions in England

  Academic year

  Full-time

  Part-time

  2001/02

  2,331

  1,922

  2002/03

  4,805

  4,170

  2003/04

  8,274

  6,966

  Source:

  Higher Education Funding Council for England.

  Millennium Volunteers
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Department will announce which organisations will deliver the Millennium Volunteers programme. [155980]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: Local projects should now know their funding allocations for the period to March 2006. We hope to notify national projects about their allocations in the near future.

  Specialist Schools
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for
  Education and Skills how many(a) specialist schools and (b) non-specialist schools are designated under section 102 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998; and how many and what percentage of pupils they have selected in each year since their designation. [155624]

  Mr. Miliband
  The Department does not collect data on the number of schools which have partial selection by aptitude as part of their admission arrangements; or how many individual pupils are selected as a result of such tests. However, we do know that of the 685 specialist schools operational in September 2001, 6 per cent, reported that they were selecting a percentage of their pupils on aptitude in a chosen specialist subject.

  Student Finances
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2004,Official Report, column 1030W, by the Minister for Education (Lifelong Learning and Higher Education), to the hon. Member for Hertsmere, on student finance, if he will break down the financial assistance available to students by each £1,000 band of family income between £15,000 and £35,000 under (a) the present arrangements and (b) his proposed arrangements for higher education funding from 2006–07. [154768]

  Alan Johnson
  The following table summarises the financial assistance available to students by each £1,000 of income between £15,000 and £35,000 under the present arrangements

  Present arrangements—2003/04

  £

  Residual income

  Fee remission

  Maintenance loan

  £15,000

  1,125

  4,000

  £16,000

  1,125

  4,000

  £17,000

  1,125

  4,000

  £18,000

  1,125

  4,000

  471W

  Present arrangements—2003/04

  £

  Residual income

  Fee remission

  Maintenance loan

  £19,000

  1,125

  4,000

  £20,000

  1,125

  4,000

  £21,000

  1,077

  4,000

  £22,000

  972

  4,000

  £23,000

  866

  4,000

  £24,000

  761

  4,000

  £25,000

  656

  4,000

  £26,000

  551

  4,000

  £27,000

  445

  4,000

  £28,000

  340

  4,000

  £29,000

  235

  4,000

  £30,000

  129

  4,000

  £31,000

  24

  4,000

  £32,000

  0

  3,919

  £33,000

  0

  3,814

  £34,000

  0

  3,708

  £35,000

  0

  3,603

  Note:

  Maintenance loan rates given are for students living away from home and studying outside London (and not in the final year of their course).

  I refer my hon. Friend to my response to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) on 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1398W, that indicates the size of loan available under the arrangements outlined in the Government's discussion paper "Moving toward a single combined grant for higher education".

  More detailed information will be available in due course as details such as tapers for the single combined grant are finalised.

  UK Students Overseas
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many UK students studied abroad on full-time courses in(a) the EU, (b) the USA and (c) the Commonwealth in the most recent year for which figures are available. [140898]

  Alan Johnson
  The latest available information is tabulated as follows. The figures are from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and show the number of students studying overseas. Mode of study is not available.

  Students from the UK in tertiary education abroad: 2001

  Country of study

  Student numbers

  European Union: (reporting)

  Austria

  214

  Belgium

  231

  Denmark

  388

  Finland

  147

  France

  2,721

  Germany

  2,397

  Ireland

  1,939

  Italy

  145

  Netherlands

  648

  Spain

  2,363

  Sweden

  791

  Total

  11,984

  USA

  Total

  7,059

  472W

  Students from the UK in tertiary education abroad: 2001

  Country of study

  Student numbers

  Commonwealth Countries (reporting)

  Australia

  4,529

  Malaysia

  66

  New Zealand

  149

  Total

  4,744

  Source:

  "Education at a glance 2003" published by OECD

  Universities
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for
  Education and Skills what the age profile is of first degree entrants to UK universities(a) in 2003–04, (b) five years ago and (c) 10 years ago, broken down by those aged (i) 20–30, (ii) 31–40, (iii) 41–50, (iv) 51–60and (v) 60 years and over. [142600]

  Alan Johnson
  The latest available data are shown in the table. Comparable data for earlier years is not held centrally.

  Full-time First Degree Entrants to UK HE Institutions1

  Age

  1994/95

  1997/98

  2002/03

  Under 20 years

  181,630

  212,270

  235,141

  20–30 years

  97,465

  96,444

  96,661

  31–40 years

  16,301

  16,090

  14,523

  41–50 years

  5,330

  4,985

  5,011

  51–60 years

  846

  984

  987

  61 years or over

  249

  346

  257

  Unknown

  474

  954

  210

  Total

  302,295

  332,073

  352,790

  1Figures cover all domiciles and are based on a census count as at 1 December.

  Note:

  Figures for 2002/03 are provisional.

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Cyprus Travel Advice
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign
  and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he provided to tourists inquiring about the safety of travel to Cyprus in mid to late March 2003. [155515]

  Mr. MacShane
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: Our advice to British holidaymakers and other visitors with effect from 19 March 2003 was:
  "Terrorism: There have been a number of car bombs in the Limassol area and Nicosia over the past few years. Although the perpetrators have not been identified, these activities are restricted for the most part to in-fighting among the criminal fraternity."
  "But UK nationals should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, in all countries of the world, against civilian targets in public places, including tourist sites."
  "Cyprus is not directly affected by the situation in Iraq. We therefore see no reason for holiday plans to be changed. Please monitor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for updates to the travel advice for Cyprus, or contact Consular Section at the British High Commission in Nicosia."

  European Union (Criminal Injuries Compensation)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what schemes are available for UK citizens injured in(a) an EU member state and (b) an EU accession state to have access to criminal injuries compensation. [155804]

  Mr. MacShane
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 9 February 2004,Official Report, column 1254W.

  Historical information about the amount of compensation paid and the number of applications received during one year under the state compensation schemes in each EU member state was given at paragraph 3.8 of the European Commission's Green Paper, 'Compensation to crime victims' (reference COM(2001)536) issued on 28 September 2001. The paper can be accessed via the Internet at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/off/green/index_en.htm.

  Chechnya
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of human rights abuses by Russian forces in Chechnya. [146684]

  Mr. Rammell
  We continue to be concerned over the human rights situation in Chechnya and consistent reports of human rights abuses. We are especially concerned over reports of rising numbers of disappearances and abductions. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 524W, for our most recent representations in this area.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Japan on the current human rights situation in(a) North Korea and (b) China. [155573]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are concerned about reports of serious human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China. We have regular human rights dialogues with the Japanese Government both in Japan and the UK. The most recent round of talks took place on 30 January 2004. Human rights issues in both DPRK and China were raised in these talks. We are consulting closely with the Japanese on how to handle the question of North Korea at the forthcoming Commission on Human Rights, given the DPRK's failure to respond to the resolution passed there at the Commission's 2003 session.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [155917]
  474W
  Hilary Benn
  In Session 2002–03, DFID was asked a total of nearly 2,500 parliamentary questions, the information requested is not held centrally and we are unable to provide it without incurring disproportionate cost.

  The effective handling of parliamentary questions is an issue to which my ministerial colleague and I attach great importance. We try to respond to parliamentary questions within the parliamentary deadlines whenever possible.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  House Prices (Seaside Towns)
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average house price was in each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales in the latest month for which figures are available, with figures for Welsh Seaside Town clusters disaggregated. [154933]

  Mr. Lammy
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. My hon. Friend might be interested in viewing the property price data on the Land Registry's website. This provides average sale prices for properties in England and Wales down to postcode sector level for each county or unitary authority.

  Outstanding Debt (Preston Courts)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much outstanding debt is held in the Preston courts. [155403]

  Mr. Leslie
  Preston county court issued 4,472 claims for money in 2002 and 4,215 in 2003. All civil county courts have a computerised record system. The system, however, is unable to collate a figure to show how much debt claims have been issued for. As the debtor has to make the payment direct to the creditor there is no access to information of the value of debt outstanding to creditors within the court. The only way to access up to date information would be to extract the court files from Preston county court and to contact each creditor individually to ask how much debt is outstanding. This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  At the end of 2003, the total outstanding debt at Preston magistrates court for financial penalties was £1,631,433.00. This figure includes the Crown court fines, costs, Crown Prosecution Service costs, Legal Aid and compensation that is collected by the magistrates court. The figure does not include civil financial orders (maintenance, forfeiture of recognisance etc.) as no data is collected on civil matters.

  Postal Voting
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs on what evidence he based his decision that(a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) the North West region was suitable to pilot all-postal voting in the June elections. [155139]
  475W
  Mr. Leslie
  The European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill, currently in Parliament, will allow pilots of innovative voting methods at this year's European and combined local elections. The Government asked the Electoral Commission to recommend where pilots should take place and the Commission published its recommendations on 8 December 2003.

  The Commission identified the North East and East Midlands regions as 'highly suitable' and 'suitable'. The Commission also identified four regions that 'could potentially be suitable', These were, in descending order of suitability, Scotland, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West and the West Midlands. It regarded the remaining regions as 'not suitable'.

  The Government accepted the recommendations regarding the North East and East Midlands on 16 December. Other options were then carefully considered. An approach of holding discussions with electoral administrators in the potentially suitable regions was decided upon, to establish what their concerns were and whether or not these could be addressed.

  Scottish Returning Officers had written to the Commission expressing various concerns. While Government viewed these as being about the same practical issues that affect the other regions, and despite efforts to allay their concerns, the Returning Officers remained concerned about their capacity to ensure an effective election. As a consequence of these concerns about operational capability, the Government decided not to impose a pilot in Scotland.

  There has already been positive experience of all-postal pilots in local elections in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West. Discussions with these regions showed that they were confident that successful pilots could be arranged for June and the North West in

  Years1

  1908–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05

  2005–06

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Outturn

  Working provision

  Plans

  Plans

  Plans

  Science3

  Real (£ million) 2

  1 764.7

  1,798.6

  1,894.7

  1,944.9

  2,222.0

  2,349.0

  2,566.5

  2,810.8

  Percentage of total

  53

  38

  27

  29

  28

  40

  57

  53

  Innovation4

  Real (£ million)

  298.2

  287.5

  307.4

  303.2

  322.3

  333.0

  339.5

  354.3

  Percentage of total

  9

  6

  4

  4

  4

  6

  7

  7

  Enterprise5

  Real (£ million)

  166.8

  208.4

  293.8

  283.8

  423.4

  394.0

  348.7

  358.6

  Percentage of total

  5

  4

  4

  4

  5

  7

  7

  7

  Competition6

  Real (£ million)

  6.5

  8.7

  9.2

  10.5

  25.9

  26.5

  28.9

  29.5

  Percentage of total

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1Figures are shown from 1998–99 (the first year for which resource information was produced) to 2005–06 (the final year of the current Spending Review period).

  2Figures are shown in real terms at 2002–03 prices (using GDP deflators from the HM Treasury website) and as a proportion of total DTI expenditure (resource and capital), as listed on pages 190 and 194 of "Central Government Supply Estimates 2003–04 Supplementary Budgetary Information" (Cm 5797, May 2003), where a breakdown is available.

  3The figures from the Departmental Reports have been revised to ensure a consistent (resource) basis because prior to 2002–03 reporting of the Research Councils' expenditure was on a cash (grant in aid) basis.

  4Outturn not available for 2001–02 due to a change in the budget structure, so a 'working provision' is provided. Excludes "Office of Science and Technology" expenditure on space (except for 2003–04 plans, which include BNSC budgets transferring to the Science budget from 2003–04).
  476W
  particular had commenced work to prepare for a possible pilot. It was, therefore, decided that both of these regions should hold pilots, in addition to the two regions already announced.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Business Support
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding has been allocated by her Department to supporting(a) science, (b) innovation, (c) enterprise and (d) competition for each year between 1997 and 2007 in (i) real terms and (ii) as a proportion of the overall departmental budget; and if she will make a statement. [153534]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have invested heavily in the science and engineering base. 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.

  Successive departmental reports have provided breakdowns and explanations of my Department's expenditure. However, figures can be provided only on a consistent (resource) basis from 1998–99; further, spending plans for 2006–07 have not yet been agreed, so figures are shown up to 2005–06 only.

  The following table is based on information published in the 1999 to 2003 Departmental Reports, where more details and explanations can be found:
  477W
  5Covers expenditure on Small Businesses and Enterprise (Small Business Service).

  6Expenditure shown for the Competition Commission and (from 2003–04) the Competition Service.

  Source:

  1999–2003 Departmental Reports (Cm 4211, March 1999; Cm 4611, April 2000; Cm 5112, March 2001; Cm 5416, June 2002; and Cm 5916, May 2003).

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2004,Official Report, columns 642–43W, to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) if she will break down the staff in each grade by (a) regional and (b) national locations; and what percentage of the staff in each grade each represents. [154649]

  Ms Hewitt
  This information is not held centrally and therefore this information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

  EU Structural Funds
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what(a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure was provided through (i) EU structural funds and (ii) by regional development agencies in each of the past seven years for each principal town in England and Wales, with figures for Welsh Seaside Town clusters disaggregated; and if she will make a statement. [155003]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: The information requested is not held either centrally or regionally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  EU Trade
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made to European commissioners on the strengthening of multilateral trading systems; and if she will make a statement. [155151]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have spoken on several occasions to Commissioner Lamy on the need to strengthen the multilateral trading system, particularly in favour of the world's poorest countries.

  Since the WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancun last September, I have met Mr. Lamy in London and in Brussels and I have also spoken to him on the telephone on a number of occasions. The strengthening of the multilateral trading system is always high on our agenda.

  My officials remain in regular contact with the Commission, on issues relating to the WTO and the strengthening of the WTO multilateral trading system.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department has been approached for political risk insurance claims by(a) ANZ Bank, (b) Standard Chartered Bank and (c) ABN Amro in relation to the Dabhol Power Company in India. [155011]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Yes.
  478W
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether(a) Kier International and (b) Whessoe have approached the Export Credits Guarantee Department for a claim in relation to the Dabhol Power Project in India. [155012]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No. We can find no record of such an approach.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Export Credits Guarantee Department will next produce a report on the comparison of export credit agencies; and if she will make a statement. [155655]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 24 February 2004]: ECGD is currently updating its research on the comparison of export credit agencies and hopes to be able to make its findings public in April.

  Gas Network System
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to work with industry to extend the gas network system; [155893]

  (2) if she will make a statement on the use made of European structural funds in the extension of the gas network across the UK. [155894]

  Mr. Timms
  In May 2003, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced the establishment of a new Design and Demonstration Unit of private sector secondees to support the Sustainable Energy Policy Network. Among the activities being undertaken by the Unit, which is based in the Department of Trade and Industry, are pathfinder projects to extend the gas network to non-gas areas. The first of these, in Llay in North Wales, began in October 2003, and is now completed. Three other projects are currently in the process of being developed. In addition, during 2003, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets reviewed the charging arrangements for connections to independent gas transporters' (IGTs) networks. It is expected that, by allowing those providing connections to the existing network (known as "infill" projects) to charge a premium over Transco transportation charges, more IGTs will be encouraged to enter the infill market. Detailed information on the use of structural funds for individual projects is not held centrally by DTI. However, if my hon. Friend wishes to have information about a particular project, he should write to me, and I shall endeavour to obtain the relevant information. The Design and Demonstration Unit will be exploring whether the funds can provide support for the pathfinder projects that it is developing.

  Near Earth Objects
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's contribution to the funding of the Minor Planet Centre. [155361]
  479W
  Ms Hewitt
  The Government are not contributing to the funding of the US based Minor Planet Centre (MPC).

  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to establish a British centre for near earth objects; and if she will make a statement. [155367]

  Ms Hewitt
  The British National Space Centre has provided funding for the UK Near Earth Objects Information Centre (NEO IC) in Leicester (see www.nearearthobiects.co.uk). There are no current plans to extend the scope of the Centre.

  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress in seeking partners to build in the southern hemisphere an advanced new three metre-class survey telescope for surveying substantially smaller objects than those now systematically observed by other telescopes. [155369]

  Ms Hewitt
  There are no plans to build a new 3m class telescope for this activity. This conclusion is reached in the light of the many opportunities that are now available for the use of existing facilities that are or will soon become available.

  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress in dedicating the one metre Johannes Kapteyn Telescope on La Palma to follow-up observations of near earth objects. [155371]

  Ms Hewitt
  It has not been possible to fund dedicated use of the Johannes Kapteyn Telescope. However, telescopes on La Palma have been used to observe Near Earth Objects and 20 per cent. of these were studied spectroscopically.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in(a) London and (b) England applied for regional selective assistance in each year since it came into existence. [155514]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: The number of value of applications for Regional Selective Assistance made in London and England since 1972 are published in the Industrial Development Act 1982 Annual Reports, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

  Sakhalin
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account she will take of the potential impact on endangered grey whales in considering requests for export credit guarantees in connection with oil and gas extraction in the Sakhalin Island area; and if she will make a statement. [154967]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: The Government are aware of the potential impacts that the Sakhalin II project may have on the Western Gray Whales. I have written to Sakhalin
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  Energy making clear the importance that we attach to ensuring that these are properly minimised and that the best scientific advice is being followed. In determining this, ECGD officials will be taking advice from recognised independent whale experts and will take into account the views of interested NGOs.

  I expect that details of the whale protection measures agreed with Sakhalin Energy will be published and that compliance with them would be a contractual obligation on the company. Qualified consultants would monitor compliance with these obligations on behalf of ECGD and the other lenders, should support be eventually agreed.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Fenestration Self-assessment Scheme
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 5 January 2004,Official Report, column 142W, on the Fenestration Self-assessment Scheme, whether the scheme requires its members to install lintels above windows. [156090]

  Phil Hope
  The Fenestration Self-assessment Scheme requires that all work carried out by its members should comply fully with the Building Regulations. Where the installation of lintels is necessary for such compliance then FENSA members should install them.

  Retail Stores (Extensions)
  Matthew Green
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when his Department will complete its research into the extent to which retailers are using internal extensions to expand their stores without planning permission; and if he will place a copy of the results in the Library. [154998]

  Keith Hill
  A survey of a sample of local planning authorities has been commissioned through the Government Offices to assess the extent of the issue and the possible consequences. While advanced, this work is not yet complete in a format which would enable it to be published, but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes to be in a position to make the findings public in due course.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Incapacity Benefit
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the population of England and Wales was claiming Incapacity Benefit on the latest date for which figures are available;(a) how many people in and (b) what percentage of the population of each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales receive Incapacity Benefit, listed in descending order, with figures for Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated; and if he will make statement. [154958]

  Maria Eagle
  There were 2,378,900 people claiming Incapacity Benefit (including Severe Disablement
  481W
  Allowance) in England and Wales as of 31 August 2003. This accounts for 5.7 per cent. of the population over 16-years-old.

  The available information has been placed in the Library.

  Source:

  DWP Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. Hancock
  ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost is of running two systems side by side during the Jobcentre Plus rollout in(a)Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and (b) the South East region.[151536]

  Mr. Pond
  The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Hancock, dated 25 February 2004:

  As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning the cost implications of running two systems side by side during the rollout of Jobcentre Plus, in the South East. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

  The development of Jobcentre Plus is building on the high quality service already provided by social security offices and Jobcentres by delivering a single, integrated service to all people of working age, with a clear focus on work. It is a huge undertaking involving some 1,500 offices across the country. We have to make sure that our customers can continue to receive advice on work and benefits. Therefore we need to stagger the roll-out of the new service over a number of years. Throughout the period of national roll-out social security offices and Jobcentres will be working together to ensure that customers will still benefit from the excellent service we offer.

  Our plans for the roll out aim to ensure that the old services are replaced by the new services and that therefore there is no need to operate them side by side in any location. In fact as the roll out progresses we are looking to rationalise our estate and realise savings through a "merger dividend".

  This is one of the largest change programmes ever and given its size, we are bringing in changes across the four-year period 2002–06. This means, of course, within the South East region and the other regions/countries, we will have to run new services alongside old style services for this transitional period.

  Full details of the financial allocation for the roll out of Jobcentre Plus are available in the Departmental report (CM5921) a copy of which is in the library.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Medical Assessments
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many doctors have had approval to carry out assessments on behalf of the Department revoked in each of the last five years, broken down by location. [156058]

  Maria Eagle
  The information requested has been recorded only since 2002, following enhancements to Medical Services' Medical Skills Database and the introduction of a new database in the Chief Medical Adviser's office. The available information is in the table.
  482W

  Numbers of doctors who have had approval to carry out assessments on behalf of DWP revoked

  Medical Services Unita

  2002

  2003

  Birmingham

  0

  1

  Bootle

  10

  0

  Bristol

  1

  0

  Cardiff

  5

  1

  Edinburgh

  0

  0

  Glasgow

  2

  19

  Leeds

  7

  4

  Manchester

  0

  0

  Newcastle

  0

  1

  Nottingham

  0

  0

  Sutton

  0

  0

  Wembley

  0

  14

  Total

  25

  40

  Source:

  DWP data.

  Pensioner Benefits
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the proportion of the value of means-tested benefits unclaimed by pensioners. [155468]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Precise information requested is not available. The DWP report, "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up", contains estimates of the additional amount of income support/minimum income guarantee, housing benefit and council tax benefit payable, if every pensioner took up their entitlement. For financial year 2000–01, the latest year for which information is available, it is estimated between £1.03 billion and £1.8 billion of these benefits were left unclaimed by the eligible GB pensioner population in private households. This compares with £7.70 billion claimed by this population; and represents between 81 per cent. and 88 per cent. of the total of amounts claimed and amounts unclaimed.

  The next edition of the report, covering 2001–02 will be published on 26 February; copies will be held in the Library.

  Note:
  Estimates of the amount of income-related benefits unclaimed are presented as ranges in which the true value is judged to lie. The ranges take account of various imperfections in the underlying data sources.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to his Department of payments to employers in respect of statutory sick pay was in each of the last five years. [154882]

  Maria Eagle
  The Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) scheme is administered by employers as part of the National Insurance scheme. While employers meet most of the costs of SSP, they can, in certain circumstances, reclaim some of their costs from the Department.

  The available information is in the table.
  483W

  Estimated cost to the Department of payments to employers in respect of Statutory Sick Pay in the last five years

  Financial year

  Expenditure on SSP for DWP (£ million)

  1998–99

  30

  1999–2000

  32

  2000–01

  31

  2001–02

  33

  2002–03

  32

  Notes:

  Information is in real terms, 2003–04 prices and rounded to the nearest £1 million.

  Data for recoveries on SSP are currently under review and all published figures are therefore subject to revision.

  Source:

  DWP reports and accounts.

HEALTH

  Allergies
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking with respect to those suffering from allergies; and if he will make a statement. [155848]

  Dr. Ladyman
  It is the role of primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders to decide what services to provide for their populations, including those with allergies. They are best placed to understand local health care needs and commission services to meet them.

  The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) published their report, "Allergy—the unmet need: a blueprint for better patient care", on 25 June 2003. We welcome the RCP report and believes it is a useful contribution to the debate on how to improve national health service allergy services.

  The Food Standards Agency funds research on food allergy and intolerance, with particular emphasis on severe allergies, how they occur and what causes them. A large programme of research on food intolerance and allergy, costing around £1 million a year is on-going. King's College London is leading a £2.1 million European Community funded prospective study of the incidence and prognosis of allergy, allergic disease and low lung function in adults living in Europe. Also, the University of Manchester is leading a £1.2 million EC-funded investigation of the prevalence, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of sun allergy across Europe. Sun-provoked skin reactions are one of the commonest forms of allergy.

  Brachytherapy Treatment
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer, 16 December 2003,Official Report, column 877W, to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope), on brachytherapy treatment, by what date the Department will have decided whether the treatment referred to is a suitable topic for referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as a technology appraisal. [154938]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  It is not yet possible to say when the Department will be in a position to consider brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer as a potential topic for referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a technology appraisal.
  484W
  More evidence on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer will be needed for the Department to be able to consider its referral to NICE. It is not yet known when current studies are likely to produce such evidence.

  Carbonated Drinks
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the dangers to young people's health of regularly drinking carbonated soft drinks. [155440]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: Carbonated soft drinks are a major source of added sugars in children's and young people's diets. It is recommended that they should be consumed sparingly, as part of a healthy balanced diet, to minimise the effect of dental caries and to achieve calorie intake compatible with maintenance of healthy weight.

  The Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health are in discussion with the vending industry and are taking forward projects to consider approaches in schools to achieve this recommendation.

  Child Health Surveillance Programme
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of(a) 8-year-olds, (b) 9-year-olds, (c) 10-year-olds, (d) 11-year-olds, (e) 5-year-olds, (f) 6-year-olds and (g) 7-year-olds were subject to height and weight monitoring in schools last year as part of the Child Health Surveillance programme; [155039]

  (2) which primary care trusts undertake weight and height monitoring of primary school age children at least every other year. [155040]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Height and weight measurements in early childhood form a part of the child health surveillance programme. The programme covers pre-school age children. Intervals between checks are determined by the primary health care team in the light of professional judgment. Height and weight monitoring after school entry is undertaken on a selective basis when there is concern about a child's health or growth. Information on the number and timing of these checks is not collected centrally.

  Child Poverty
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of(a) ending child poverty by 2020, (b) halving it by 2010 and (c) reducing it by a quarter by 2004–05; and if he will make a statement. [154367]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Pond) on 12 February 2004,Official Report, columns 1590–91W.

  Chiropody
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in what ways eligibility criteria for chiropody waiting
  485W
  lists have changed in the last two years; and how many patients have been removed from waiting lists as a result of changes in eligibility criteria; [155869]

  (2) how many patients who were previously on chiropody waiting lists have been removed from these lists as a result of a change in the eligibility criteria for the waiting lists; [155449]

  (3) how the eligibility criteria for chiropody waiting lists have changed in the last two years. [155450]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answers 23 and 24 February 2004]: Primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, have the responsibility for improving the health of the community, securing the provision of high quality services, and integrating health and social care locally. They have the resources to commission services and to identify the number of professional staff that they need to deliver those services. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including setting eligibility criteria for chiropody/podiatry services. Information on waiting lists for these services is not collected centrally.

  Coronary Care
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many coronary angioplasties were undertaken by each NHS hospital trust in each of the last three years; and how many of these were(a) second and (b) third interventions. [154993]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information on the number of coronary angioplasties that were undertaken by each national health service hospital trust in each of the last three years has been placed in the Library.

  The figures are sourced from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health. Information on second and third interventions is not available.

  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many coronary artery bypass graphs were undertaken by each NHS hospital trust in each of the last three years. [154994]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information on the number of coronary artery bypass graphs that were undertaken by each national health service hospital trust in each of the last three years has been placed in the Library.

  The figures are sourced from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Haemophilia
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients with haemophilia there are in(a) England and (b) the South West; and if he will make a statement. [154578]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information provided by the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation shows that there are 5,019 haemophilia patients in England and 297 patients in the South West. These figures include patients affected by severe and mild haemophilia.

  Hepatitis C
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rationale was for the decision to disallow compensation from the Hepatitis C ex gratia scheme for the dependants of those who died of the disease prior to 29 August 2003. [155536]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The underlying principle behind the Hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme is to target available resources to help alleviate the suffering of people living with the virus. The payments are not designed to compensate for bereavement. The scheme's eligibility criteria reflect this, but were considered in the context of other demands on the health care budget.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2004,Official Report, column 1110W, on long-term care, whether the methodology used to arrive at this figure is the same as that used to cost the Government's own policies; and if he will place in the library a copy of the terms of reference given to the civil servants costing the policy. [155461]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The estimate of £1.5 billion is an updated estimate of the cost of free personal care for England. The methodology used to produce this updated estimate was identical to that used by the Royal Commission, except for two differences. The first difference is that the Royal Commission did not include an explicit allowance for costs of publicly funded care home residents. These costs are now estimated at £100 million and are included in the updated estimate. The second difference is that the updated estimate takes into account changes to the funding arrangements made by the Government since the Royal Commission produced its estimate. Had no account been taken, the updated estimate would have been higher. The main change is the implementation of free nursing care. Ministers gave no instructions or terms of references to civil servants concerning how the calculation of the updated estimate was to be made.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2004,Official Report, column 559W, on long-term care, which specific benefits are referred to in point seven of the explanatory note; how the savings of under £200 million were calculated; and whether any of the 58,000 privately funded residents of residential care homes mentioned in the explanatory note were in homes with dual registration, and therefore entitled to free nursing care. [155966]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The social security benefits referred to in point seven of the note are attendance allowance and disability living allowance care component. These benefits cease to be paid after four weeks of local authority support. Disability living allowance mobility component does not cease to be paid and is not included.

  Estimates of the proportions of older privately funded admissions to care homes receiving these benefits were derived from tables 4.13 and 4.14 of the Personal Social Services Research Unit report, Self-Funded Admissions to Care Homes (available at www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rrep159.asp). These proportions

  487W
  were applied to the estimate numbers of privately funded care home residents to produce an estimate of the numbers of privately funded residents receiving these benefits. The estimated numbers were multiplied by the benefit rates to produce an estimated annual saving of under £200 million.

  The approach assumed estimates of 42,000 privately funded residents in nursing beds in nursing homes or dual-registered homes and 58,000 privately funded residents in residential beds in residential care homes or dual-registered homes. Reference to dual-registered beds was omitted from the note for simplicity. This means that none of the estimated 58,000 were assumed to be entitled to free nursing care. This assumption does not, however, affect the estimated saving on disability benefits since receipt of free nursing care does not trigger cessation of disability benefits.

  Masts
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines, other than International Commission Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection emission levels, are used by(a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) OFCOM for the practical implementation of a precautionary approach to mast installations around sensitive sites [155872]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines is concerned with exposure to electromagnetic fields. The mobile phone industry has voluntarily agreed, as a precautionary measure, to comply with ICNIRP guidelines. The Government have also agreed that mobile telecommunications equipment should meet the ICNIRP guidelines as expressed in the European Union Council Recommendation on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields
  (OHz300-Ghz) of 12 July 1999. No Government body uses any other more restrictive exposure guidelines.

  Medical Research (Animals)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2004,Official Report, column 1129W, on medical research (animals), how much the Government contributed to the 2002 MORI poll. [155550]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Home Office each contributed £28,502 towards the cost of the research.

  Mental Health
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on recommended procedures for control and restraint of mental health patients. [155630]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The anticipated publication date for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's (NICE) clinical guideline on the short-term management of disturbed (violent) behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings is November 2004. NICE provisionally plans to consult on the first draft of the 488W
  guidance in April 2004. Full details of the provisional schedule for this guideline can be found on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk.

  MMR
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged between five and 15 years developed(a) measles, (b) mumps and (c) rubella in each of the last 10 years. [152558]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Data on comparable confirmed cases of measles, mumps and rubella are only available from 1995. The number of confirmed cases of measles, mumps and rubella between 1995 and 2003 are shown in the table. The information provided relates to the number of confirmed cases of measles, mumps and rubella in children aged between five and 14 years. Data on cases in children aged between 5 and 14 years is being provided, as this is the standard age grouping used in all surveillance reports.

  Number of cases aged 5–14 years

  Measles

  Mumps

  Rubella

  1995

  5

  14

  29

  1996

  14

  56

  31

  1997

  91

  100

  2

  1998

  12

  34

  5

  1999

  20

  229

  5

  2000

  23

  472

  4

  2001

  15

  419

  1

  2002

  88

  130

  5

  20031

  164

  248

  0

  1Provisional.

  Sources:

  1996–2002 Health Protection Agency website:

  http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/measles/data_reg_age.htm http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/mumps/data_reg_age.htm
  http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/rubella/data_reg_age.htm

  Obesity-related Deaths
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methodology his Department used to estimate the number of deaths from obesity-related diseases; and if he will make a statement. [155157]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department uses estimates presented in the National Audit Office report on obesity: "Tackling Obesity in England"—report by the Comptroller and Auditor General. HC220 Session 2000–01: 15 February 2001.

  Podiatry
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will collect a sample of the discharge rates, whether complete or not, of NHS podiatry services, to enable the Government to estimate how many patients could reasonably be accepted into NHS foot care services. [155985]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: National health service foot care services are provided on the basis of assessed clinical need. Primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, have the responsibility for improving the health of the community, securing the provision of high quality services, and integrating health and social care locally. They have the resources to

  489W
  commission services, and to identify the number of professional staff that they need to deliver those services. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of chiropody/podiatry services.

  We are committed to reducing bureaucracy in the NHS and commissioning such a study would not be cost effective.

  Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for
  Health what the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases was in the areas covered by(a) the Greater Peterborough Primary Care Trust and (b) the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) HIV, (ii) Chlamydia, (iii) gonorrhoea, (iv) syphilis and (v) genital herpes; how many cases of each disease there were in the (A) under 19, (B) 20 to 25, (C) 25 to 35 and (D) 35 plus age group, broken down by gender; and what the percentage change was in each case in each of the previous five years. [154459]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected centrally. However the available information from the Health Protection Agency has been placed in the Library.

  The data contained within these tables does not represent the prevalence of disease within this individual strategic health authority.

  Soft Drinks (Schools)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has made to the United Kingdom soft drinks industry about distribution of soft drinks in schools. [155811]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 23 February 2004]: No direct representations to the United Kingdom soft drinks industry about distribution of soft drinks in schools have been made.

  The Department of Health-led strand of the "Food in Schools" programme comprises eight pilot projects, which aim to ensure children have access to healthy food choices and drinks throughout the school day. In particular, the work on water provision aims to increase overall consumption of water by pupils in schools by making it more accessible. The healthier vending machines pilot challenges schools and the vending industry to make healthy options available in school vending machines, which includes the provision of healthier drink products.

  The results of all eight pilot projects will be brought together in a 'whole school approach' and made available to schools across England from the beginning of 2005 to assist them in providing a wider range of healthier foods and drinks for pupils.

  The Food Standards Agency has undertaken a pilot in schools on healthier drink vending, which will feed into the "Food in Schools" programme.

  SPIRIT Trial
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) by what date the National Cancer Research Network expects to have all 300 patients recruited for the SPIRIT trial; [154935]

  (2) what the status is of the SPIRIT trial into a cure for prostate cancer; [154936]

  (3) how many centres have been approved to enter patients in the SPIRIT trial; and when they will be receiving patients. [154937]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The SPIRIT trial received multi-centre research ethics committee approval in November 2003. Local research ethics committee approval is currently being applied for at the various centres that plan to participate. The trial is led by the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG). Any centre that wishes to participate must obtain United States federal-wide assurance, and investigators and research nurses must obtain membership of the ACOSOG. The trial team anticipates that six to eight centres in the United Kingdom will be approved by summer 2004, and that these centres will immediately start entering patients into the trial. The team is confident that 300 UK patients will be recruited before May 2007, which is the US target for completing accrual.

  Tendring Primary Care Trust
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on plans to close general practitioner surgeries in(a) Holland-on-Sea and (b) Great Clacton in Tendring Primary Care Trust. [155120]

  Dr. Ladyman
  It is this Government's policy, within the framework set out in the NHS Plan and the Shifting the Balance of Power initiative, to devolve funding decisions to the front line. It is now for primary care trusts (PCTs), in partnership with health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services, based on the specialised knowledge they have of the local community.

  The Colchester and Tendring Local Improvement Finance Trust project board is committed to significantly improve services and facilities in the area. Tendring PCTs plan is to develop one purpose-built health centre that will incorporate four local surgeries on one site in the local areas. Therefore, the surgeries are not being closed but re-sited.

  The proposal is to centralise services on the Kennedy Way site with two satellite surgeries; one in Holland-On-Sea and the other in Great Clacton. The distance from the existing practices to the proposed new centre is approximately one mile. The satellite facilities will provide services to those patients who are unable to travel.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation has been undertaken by Tendring Primary Care Trust regarding the proposed closure of general practitioner surgeries in Holland-On-Sea. [155121]
  491W
  Dr. Ladyman
  I am advised that Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) extended its original consultation period so that it ran from mid January 2003 to mid March 2003 in order for option appraisals to be undertaken. Public consultation meetings were held, consultation documents were circulated, an appraisal workshop was also held and the PCT corresponded with the public and local councillors.

  The PCT held an option appraisal day, which was attended by member of the public, resident associations, the Community Health Council and health professionals. The outcome of the option appraisal day was unanimous support for developing the Kennedy Way site.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what sites were considered by Tendring Primary Care Trust for its new headquarters; [155122]

  (2) what sites were considered by Tendring Primary Care Trust to replace general practitioner surgeries due to be closed in (a) Holland-on-Sea and (b) Great Clacton. [155123]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Tendring Primary Care Trust, in partnership with Tendring District Council and local estate agents, undertook an exhaustive search for a site best befitting the necessary criteria for a new health centre. The key criteria were:The site needs to be large enough for the proposed health centre, which means it has to be 1.25 acres.
  The site needs to be central within the Holland-on-Sea/Great Clacton area.

  Clacton and Holland-on-Sea

  Service cluster

  Includes:

  Central Clinical Services

  Security

  Essential Clinical Services

  General Practitioner services

  Nurse Practitioner services

  Nurse Led Services

  Chronic disease management

  Health promotion (expand family planning and sexual heath, diagnostics-visiting GP)

  Special provision for teenagers

  Vaccinations and immunisations

  Contraception

  Child Health

  Cervical Cytology

  Chronic Disease Management

  Diabetic services (more multidisciplinary team)

  Chiropody

  Eye

  Dietetics

  Podiatry

  COPD/Asthma

  Chromic management eye Diseases

  Optometry (multidisciplinary)

  Coronary Heart Disease

  Hypertension

  Diabetes

  Diabetic Retinopathy Screening

  Heart Failure Assessment

  Diagnostics

  Warfarin & DVT Monitoring

  One stop near patient testing

  Visiting echo

  Ultrasound

  Osteoporosis assessment

  Blood tests/phlebotomy

  ECG

  Future possibility of X-ray and Ultrasound

  (PACS)

  Health Promotion

  Prevention has close links with rehabilitation

  Smoking Cessation

  Teenage Advisory Clinic

  Information Zone

  492W
  The site needs to be available for immediate purchase.
  The site needs to be allocated for development within the local plan.

  Kennedy Way was chosen as the preferred option.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost is of the new surgery general practitioners centre in Kennedy Way, Clacton-on-Sea; and what proportion of the site will be occupied by primary care trust administration. [155124]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) is currently consulting staff, local councillors and residents' representatives on the range of services to be provided from the centre.

  The PCT's current estimated figure is £7 million for the health centre and PCT headquarters which it is currently estimated to be split as, £5 million for the health centre and £2 million for the PCT headquarters (these figures are subject to change according to the final service model adopted). The premises will then be leased through the Local Improvement Finance Trust over a 20 year period.

  In addition to general practice, additional services will be available from the new site. These are shown in the table. However, until the range of services to be offered is agreed and costed, the PCT is at present unable to define what proportion of the accommodation will be given over to PCT administration. However, the PCT estimates that the large majority of accommodation will be for healthcare provision.
  493W

  Clacton and Holland-on-Sea

  Service cluster

  Includes:

  Rehabilitation Services

  Post discharge stroke

  Musculo-skeletal assessment Falls Prevention

  Cardiac rehabilitation

  Heart Failure rehabilitation

  Musculo-skeletal clinic

  District Nursing Service

  Leg ulcer clinics (dermatology, vascular, district nurses)

  Community paramedics

  District Nurse Base

  Leg Ulcer Clinic

  Continence Clinic

  Equipment Store

  Health Visiting Service

  Health Visitor base

  Mental Health Services

  Substance misuse

  Community Psychiatric Services

  Child and Family Consultation Service

  CMHT

  Memory clinic

  Counselling

  Social Services

  Vulnerable adults

  Child Protection

  Social Worker Base

  Voluntary Sector

  Care Advisor service

  Shared resources

  Advisory Clinics

  Outpatient Service

  Ophthalmology

  Explore paediatric outreach

  Dermatology

  Neurology Outpatients

  Dermatology outpatients

  Care of the Elderly Outpatients

  Urology

  Community Dental Services

  Community Dental Services

  Audiology

  Hearing Tests

  Hearing Aid Clinic

  Podiatry/chiropody

  Podiatry/chiropody

  Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

  Base for PALs service

  Dispensary/pharmacy

  Integration

  Cafeé

  Café

  Children's Services

  Paediatric child health

  Occupational Therapy

  Physiotherapy

  Speech and language

  School nursing

  Disability nursing

  Children's outreach

  Children's continence services

  Nursery services

  Child protection

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the recommendation of Tendring Community Health Council was in the consultation on(a) moving the Primary Care Trust headquarters and (b) closing (i) Frinton Road Medical Centre and (ii) the Grove Lodge general practitioner surgery. [155125]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to close further general practitioner surgeries in the Tendring Primary Care Trust area after the proposed closure of Frinton Road Medical Centre and the Grove Lodge general practitioner surgery. [155126]

  Dr. Ladyman
  We have no plans to close general practitioner surgeries in the Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) area.
  494W
  However, we are advised that Tendring PCT states that these practices are not closing but relocating to a new purpose-built facility with a wider range of services being offered under the national health service Local Improvement Finance Trust.

  The local NHS has no plans to close practices in Tendring; and 75 per cent. of practices have been expanded with additional doctors and nurses, using personal medical services growth money.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds are being provided by Tendring Primary Care Trust to transport residents of Holland-On-Sea to the new Kennedy Way general practitioner surgery in Clacton-on-Sea; and for what period this funding is assured. [155127]

  Dr. Ladyman
  I am advised by Tendring Primary Care Trust that funding for transporting residents is currently under review.

  UK Medicines (Name Changes)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for implementing the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency awareness campaign for nurses about the recent name changes to UK medicines; and if he will make a statement. [154587]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The names of some medicinal substances are changing in the United Kingdom so that British approved names reflect recommended International non-proprietary names, where these currently differ. This action is being taken on the advice of the Medicines Commission and with the support of a wide range of interest groups. It will reduce the risk of confusion on the part of both healthcare professionals and patients arising from the availability on the market of some medicines using two different names.

  The name changes were published in the 2003 edition of the British Pharmacopoeia and became effective on 1 December 2003. From this date, licence holders for medicinal products using the old names were given 12 months to apply to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to update their licences to use the new names.

  We are committed to ensuring that all those who are responsible for prescribing, dispensing and administering medicines receive full information about the name changes and expect shortly to be in a position to issue detailed guidance and advice to healthcare professionals, including nurses.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Saville Inquiry
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern
  Ireland (1) what the latest estimate is of the cost of the Saville Inquiry; [155314]£

  £

  Period covered

  Payments made

  From

  To

  Note

  Counsel for the Inquiry

  Christopher Clarke

  3,721,971

  February 1998

  January 2004

  Jacob Grierson

  394,879

  July 1998

  December 2000

  Left the case in December 2000

  Cathryn McGahey

  1,078,130

  June 2000

  January 2004

  Bilal Rawat

  842,701

  June 2000

  January 2004

  Alan Roxburgh

  1,518,831

  May 1998

  January 2004

  Solicitors employed for the taking of witness statements

  Eversheds

  12,609,388

  June 1998

  August 2003

  Senior Counsel representing the families1

  Lord Gifford

  618,544

  October 1998

  September 2003

  Arthur Harvey

  767,362

  July 1998

  January 2003

  Michael Lavery

  549,880

  November 2000

  June 2003

  B J MacDonald

  507,683

  September 1998

  December 2002

  Left the case (as a junior) in September 2000 and rejoined the case (as a senior) in July 2001.

  P T MacDonald

  65,800

  April 1998

  June 1999

  Left the case June 1999

  Michael Mansfield

  561,711

  March 1999

  July 2003

  Eilish McDermott

  105,309

  March 2000

  June 2001

  Seamus Treacy

  701,073

  March 1998

  April 2003

  Having started as a junior in March 1998, became a senior counsel in September 2000

  Eoin McGonigal

  82,446

  October 2000

  June 2002

  Kevin Finnegan

  235,000

  July 1998

  May 2001

  Left the case in May 2001

  Senior Counsel representing NICRA

  Sir Louis Blom-Cooper

  419,389

  December 2000

  July 2003

  496W
  (2) which Departments will meet the costs of the Saville Inquiry; and in what proportion. [155315]

  Mr. Spellar
  The latest figure available to the end of December 2003 for the cost of the Inquiry is a total of £129.9 million. £103.7 million (80 per cent. of the total) of this falls to the Northern Ireland Office and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence advises me that his Department to the end of December 2003 has spent £26.2 million (20 per cent. of the total).

  The Departments which have incurred directs costs in connection with the Bloody Sunday Inquiry are the Northern Ireland Office and the Ministry of Defence. The small amount of expenditure by a number of other Departments is de minimis.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many lawyers have been employed during the course of the Saville Inquiry; and what the latest estimate of the costs of employing lawyers during the inquiry is. [155316]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Londonderry (Mr. Campbell) on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 544W and the follow-up letter I wrote on 11 February, the text of which is set out as follows.

  Letter from John Spellar to Mr. Gregory Campbell on 11 February 2004:

  Further to the part reply I gave to your recent written parliamentary question on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 544W, I am now able to provide the detailed information you requested about payments made to each of the legal firms involved in the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. These payments include VAT and other disbursements where appropriate and so do not necessarily represent the amounts received by individuals.

  The following table provides the latest details of payments made by the Northern Ireland Office.
  497W

  £

  Period covered

  Payments made

  From

  To

  Note

  Junior Counsel representing the families

  John Coyle

  314,422

  September 1999

  February 2003

  Fiona Doherty

  164,273

  October 2000

  October 2002

  Ciaran Harvey

  472,145

  December 2000

  June 2003

  Richard Harvey

  445,270

  October 2000

  July 2003

  Brian Kennedy

  557,522

  July 1999

  March 2003

  Philip Magee

  83,175

  June 1998

  September 2000

  left the case in September 2000

  Kieran Mallon B1

  626,791

  March 1999

  May 2003

  Brian McCartney

  723,685

  October 1998

  November 2003

  Karen Quinlivan

  290,193

  March 1999

  July 2003

  Patricia Smyth

  328,719

  October 1998

  June 2002

  left the case in June 2002.

  Michael Topolski

  139,940

  November 2000

  June-2001

  Left the case in June 2001

  Mary McHugh

  219,877

  February 2002

  April 2003

  Junior counsel representing NICRA

  Paddy O'Hanlon

  230,151

  November 2000

  October 2002

  Solicitors representing the families2

  Barr and Co

  535,231

  February 1999

  September 2003

  Brendan Kearney and Co

  787,027

  July 1999

  July 2003

  Desmond Doherty and Co

  1,023,977

  November 1998

  November 2003

  Figure does not include fees for September 2003

  MacDermott and McGurk

  988,782

  November 1998

  November 2003

  Madden and Finucane

  6,707,182

  January 1998

  October 2003

  McCann and McCann

  573,912

  October 1998

  November 2003

  Figure does not include fees for July 2003

  McCartney and Casey

  1,001,358

  November 1998

  November 2003

  Solicitors representing NICRA

  Francis Keenan

  208,739

  May 2000

  June 2001

  Legal representatives for other witnesses

  Various solicitors and counsel

  2,539,645

  April 1998

  April 2003

  Figure includes payments made to more than 60 other solicitors and counsel

  1 In addition the following senior counsel have represented/are representing some of the families but have yet to submit fee claims: Declan Morgan and Reg Weir.

  2 Includes payments made in respect of witness statement-taking work

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has advised me that the following payments have been made to counsel and solicitors in respect of work for the Bloody Sunday Inquiry by his Department. £

  £

  Payments made

  Senior Counsel representing HM armed forces

  Edmund Lawson

  694,303

  Edwin Glasgow

  3,333,954

  Peter Clarke

  884,991

  Sydney Kentridge

  52,875

  Anna Worrall

  100,457

  Gerard Elias

  1,454,476

  Allan Green

  1,280,323

  Rosamund Horwood Smart

  343,589

  David Lloyd Jones

  900,734

  Lan Burnett

  218,431

  Philip Havers

  7,138

  Junior counsel representing MoD

  William Hoskins

  8,621

  Junior counsel representing HM armed forces

  Michael Hick

  253,895

  Gaby Bonham Carter

  186,395

  498W

  £

  Payments made

  Kristian Mills

  56,929

  Sam Grodzinski

  1,877

  Alan May

  299,009

  Andrew Hurst

  457,469

  David Bradly

  1,066,560

  Michael Bools

  768,525

  Nicholas Griffin

  1,043,690

  Thomas Quinton

  328,121

  Huw Davies

  279,496

  Nicholas Moss

  779,350

  Ian Leist

  779,202

  Alexander Milne

  259,934

  Stephen Requena

  88,161

  Bridget Petherbridge

  25,953

  Pamela Morrison

  76,199

  Solicitors representing HM armed forces

  Devonshires

  1,571,840

  Kingsley Napley

  1,227,718

  Payne Hicks Beach

  2,490,332

  Jacqueline Duff

  149,593

  Treasury Solicitor

  2,228,402

  A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library.

  Ministerial Travel
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties. [155168]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Within the UK, the method of transport used in the course of my official duties is determined by security advice from the police. Details are not disclosed for security reasons.

  Obesity
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there is a Northern Ireland-based strategy to address childhood and adult obesity; and if he will make a statement. [156116]

  Angela Smith
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 23 February 2004,Official Report, column 166W.

  Police Service of Northern Ireland: Relevant Non-conviction Information
  Police Service of Northern Ireland: Relevant Non-conviction Information
  Poultry Imports
  Poultry Imports
  Government Information Technology Projects
  Government Information Technology Projects
  Railway Rolling Stock
  Railway Rolling Stock
  Museums: Funding
  Museums: Funding
  Constitutional Reform
  Constitutional Reform
  Fire and Rescue Authorities: Risk Management Plans
  Fire and Rescue Authorities: Risk Management Plans
  Computer Hackers: Sentencing
  Computer Hackers: Sentencing
  Terrorist Offences: Arrests
  Terrorist Offences: Arrests
  Afghan Hijackers: Immigration Status
  Afghan Hijackers: Immigration Status
  Midwifery Students
  Midwifery Students
  Cockle Fishing
  Cockle Fishing
  Access Rights: Local Signage
  Access Rights: Local Signage
  Defra: Budget
  Defra: Budget
  Wild Boar
  Wild Boar
  Animal Imports: Live Wild Caged Birds
  Animal Imports: Live Wild Caged Birds