Written Answers of 14 January 2004

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Abandoned Vehicles
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles were collected in Huntingdon in 2002–03; what the average length of time was from notification to collection; and if she will make a statement. [146433]

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

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles were collected in Chorley in each of the last three years; and what the average length of time was from notification to collection. [146967]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested for Chorley borough council is given in the table.

  Financial year

  Number of Abandoned Vehicles Removed and Destroyed

  2000–01

  300

  2001–02

  274

  2001–02 is the most recent year for which data are available from the Municipal Waste Management Survey. Information on the length of time from notification to a local authority of an abandoned vehicle to its collection is not collected as part of the survey.

  American Ships (Decommissioning)
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with Able UK on how it proposes to dispose of the polychlorinated biphenyls in the US ghost ships. [143441]

  Mr. Morley
  None. Regulation of this matter is for the Environment Agency. Environmental legislation requires that all wastes arising from the vessels would need to be treated or disposed of at facilities duly authorised to accept and deal with them. This includes disposal of wastes containing non-liquid polychlorinated biphenyls, which is confined to electrical insulation, gaskets, seals and similar uses on the ships.

  Animal Medicines
  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received about the European Union's changes to the status of animal medicines to veterinary prescription only pharmaceuticals. [147157]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have received letters opposing the European Commission's proposal to require all veterinary medicines for food producing animals to be prescription only. This proposal does not apply to medicines for companion animals.

  During the review of the EU medicines legislation officials from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) have had regular discussions with interested parties on all aspects of the proposed changes to the veterinary medicines legislation. Particular account has been taken of the distribution of medicines for food producing animals. The Government's aim in the negotiations was to enable a flexible approach to such distribution that takes advantage of existing national practices so long as consumer protection and animal welfare can be demonstrably assured. This has been achieved.

  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of the cost of veterinary prescription only pharmaceuticals on(a) farmers' incomes and (b) farm animal health. [147158]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I have made no assessment of the effect of the cost of prescription only medicines on farmers incomes or farm animal health as the use of medicines relates directly to the husbandry methods and disease pattern on an individual farm. However, the Government have accepted Competition Commission recommendations in their Report on the supply within the United Kingdom of prescription only veterinary medicines that are designed to lead, over time, to an overall reduction in the cost of all veterinary medicines.

  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the United Kingdom Government will implement EU changes to the status of animal medicines to veterinary prescription only pharmaceuticals; and if she will make a statement. [147159]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The European Parliament adopted a compromise text of amendments under Review 2001 in the second reading stage on 17 December 2003. This is expected to be considered for adoption by the Council of Ministers as soon as the translated texts are available. Once this has been achieved, we will be starting a full review of the UK legislation taking into account the changes to EU legislation, the recommendations of the Competition Commission Report on the supply within the United Kingdom of prescription only veterinary medicines and those of the Independent Review of Dispensing (Marsh Report). This will involve discussion with interested parties and will lead to formal proposals being circulated for consultation in early 2005.

  We will implement the EU changes to the status of veterinary medicines for food producing animals. We will discuss proposals to amend national legislation to

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  introduce POM A, B and C categories as recommended in the Marsh Report. POM C comprise the current Pharmaceuticals and Merchants List products and these would continue to be distributed under the control of Specially Qualified Persons working for registered agricultural merchants.

  Animal Welfare Bill
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the implications of the public consultation held in 2002 on the Animal Welfare Bill on progress of the Bill. [144537]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The public consultation on an Animal Welfare Bill ended in April 2002 and attracted some 2,500 replies. The comments received in response to the consultation, together with the subsequent discussions we held with over 100 organisations representing a wide spectrum of views on animal welfare, have contributed greatly to the drafting of the Animal Welfare Bill. A further round of public consultation on a possible draft Bill is anticipated in spring 2004.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there is scope within the new Animal Welfare Bill to cull out contiguous pockets of m.bovis infection in species other than badgers. [144589]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No. The proposed Animal Welfare Bill will relate only to the welfare of captive and domestic animals. Wild animals in the wild are therefore outside the scope of the Bill.

  CFC Gases
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the guidance will be issued to licensed premises for the recovery of CFC gases from disused refrigeration equipment. [147101]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency (EA) and Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) published guidance in April 2002. A review of this guidance has taken place in conjunction with SEPA and the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS). This revised guidance was sent out for external consultation with Fridge Destruction Industry.

  Due to the recent amendment to the ODS Regulations, which now require member states to report on the amount of controlled substances recovered, recycled or destroyed every year, the Environment Agency is now reviewing the guidance, any additional changes will require further public consultation.

  Following this consultation the guidance will be issued.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether since the amendment made to EU Regulation 2037/2000 of 7 November 2003, the Government have collated the 730W
  figure for the tonnage of CFCs recovered from the de-manufacture of refrigeration equipment; and what figure was given to the EU Commission by the deadline of 31 December 2003. [147102]

  Mr. Morley
  Since the technical amendment was not published until 22 October 2003, and did not come into force until November the obligation on reporting only applies to the months of November and December. We are currently collecting this information.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average recovery level achieved by licensed UK plants in respect of CFC from refrigeration equipment was in the last year for which figures are available. [147103]

  Mr. Morley
  From the figures available for the fridge destruction plants, the average recovery rate of CFC from the R 11 Blowing Agent in England and Wales in 2003 was 186.13 g per unit.

  Denby Poultry
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) pursuant to the statement of the Under-Secretary of State for Health, of 10 December 2003,Official Report, column 1172, whether the Cabinet Committee on meat crime will consider issues of co-ordination between government departments and agencies arising from (a) the meat fraud conspiracy case at Denby Poultry and (b) previous meat fraud cases; [147092]

  (2) pursuant to the statement of the Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State for Health, of 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 1172, what the remit is of the Cabinet Committee on meat crime. [147093]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]Although there is no committee looking specifically at "meat crime", there is a Cabinet Committee on Illegal Imports:

  The Ministerial Committee on Illegal Imports (MISC 23), has the following Terms of Reference:

  "To co-ordinate policy on imports of animals, plants, fish and their products".

  Domestic Waste
  Dr. Whitehead
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish the results of her Department's investigation of the feasibility of variable charging for domestic waste collection. [145757]

  Mr. Morley
  In its response to the Strategy Unit report, "Waste Not, Want Not", the Government undertook to carry out further work before a decision is taken on whether to enable local authorities to implement direct or variable charging for waste. This work, which is looking at the practicalities of operating schemes, how potential disadvantages could be overcome and is analysing international experience of such schemes, is under way. The Government will consider the results of this work during 2004.

  Environmental Council
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Environmental Council on 22 December 2003; what the Government's stance was on the discussion on the EU Chemical Regulation; and if she will make a statement. [147229]

  Mr. Morley
  I attended the Environment Council on 22 December 2003, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

  The Council adopted a Regulation establishing a transitional points system applicable to heavy goods vehicles travelling through Austria for 2004 (known as `Ecopoints'), a matter previously dealt with by Transport ministers. Agreement had been reached between the Council and the European Parliament through the conciliation process, but there was a discussion in Council as Austria was unable to support the outcome. Council approved the result of the conciliation committee, with Austria voting against.

  We held a short discussion on the proposed revision of the Directive on the management of bathing water. A compromise text prepared by the Presidency was unacceptable to the Commission and to a number of member states, including Germany, Greece and Spain, who believed it would produce an insufficiently demanding new Directive. The Secretary of State made it clear that the UK would be unable to agree to the legally binding targets to be reached by 2015, on which the Commission wished to insist. It was evident that there was no realistic prospect of reaching political agreement at this meeting, and the Italian Presidency decided to leave further negotiations to the forthcoming Irish Presidency.

  We debated the Commission's proposals concerning the Kyoto Protocol's project mechanisms in relation to the EU scheme for greenhouse gas emissions trading. Ministers expressed their views on a number of questions posed by the Presidency. Most supported early linking to the Clean Development Mechanism, although views were divided on whether such linking could be made available prior to the Kyoto Protocol coming into force. There was also a range of views on the question of qualitative standards for projects, and on the use of sinks. The Secretary of State spoke in support of quantitative limits on the use of credits.

  We agreed three sets of Council Conclusions: supporting the preparation of an EU strategy to reduce atmospheric emissions from seagoing ships; agreeing the EU's position for the 7th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity, to be held in Kuala Lumpur in February; and noting the Commission's 2003 environment policy review.

  The Commission presented its recently-published proposal for a Regulation on the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals ('REACH'), urging the Council to make rapid progress and to maintain the integrity of the Commission's proposal. There were comments from several member states concerning the significance of this dossier, and the need for appropriate input from both the Environment and Competitiveness formations of the Council. Ireland
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  confirmed that this dossier would be a priority during their Presidency, and that they would continue to involve both industry and environment ministers. There was no UK intervention.

  There was an exchange of views on the Commission's proposal for a Regulation to extend the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE) until 2006. Portugal, Spam, Finland, France, Greece and Poland all expressed support for early agreement, and a wish to see LIFE continue beyond 2006. Germany and Sweden were also supportive but emphasised the need for the extension to take place within the existing financial perspective.

  The Commission spoke briefly to note that its report on the European Environment Agency was due to be published within days.

  There was no discussion of the remaining items under Other Business, which were all written items for information.

  Over lunch we discussed the outcome of the 9th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Climate Change, and heard from Borge Brende, the Norwegian environment minister, who is to chair the 12th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD12) in April. He informed the ministers present that he has asked the Secretary of State to chair the UNECE Regional Implementation Forum in Geneva on 15–16 January, which will help prepare for CSD12.

  Fisheries
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what type of trawl is used as standard for scientific fisheries research within the European Union. [146714]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The type of trawl used for survey work varies according to target species and area. In the fisheries of interest to UK fishermen, the main trawls used for surveying bottom living fish are the GOV and the beam trawl.

  The GOV is a general purpose bottom trawl with a high headline and is used for scientific surveys where the target species are the main commercially important whitefish including cod, haddock, whiting, pout and saithe. The net also samples some of the main shoaling or pelagic species including herring and mackerel. The design and operation of the GOV trawl is co-ordinated by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, and all countries involved in the International Bottom Trawl surveys in the North Sea use the GOV trawl with an internationally-agreed specification. In addition to the North Sea. the GOV is used in surveys in the west of Scotland and the eastern English Channel, and has recently been adopted as the main trawl for surveys in the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea.

  For flatfish species such as plaice and sole, the main gear used is the beam trawl. Scientific surveys in the North Sea, eastern and western English Channel, the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel are again co-ordinated through ICES. The survey trawls are based on the beam trawls used commercially but vary slightly in size and specification between areas.
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  Scientifically, it is desirable that survey trawls remain unchanged over a relatively long time period in order to ensure consistency in the survey catch rates from year to year.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government will pay transitional aid to fishing vessels in England adversely affected by effort controls resulting from the Cod Recovery Programme on the same basis as proposed for fishing vessels in Scotland and Northern Ireland. [147161]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have no plans to do so.

  Flood Defences (Edgware)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the flood defence works for the Silkstream, Edgware. [146617]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 8 January 2004]As you know Defra approved the Environment Agency's proposed Silk Stream flood defence scheme in March 2003, subject to satisfactory resolution of negotiations with landowners. I understand that design and land negotiations are proceeding largely to plan, although having to deal with a variety of estates departments has resulted in some delay.

  The Agency is undertaking a review of the relative priority of all capital schemes in the programme for Thames region, in the light of the available resources.

  Trends in types of hazardous waste produced 1998–99 to 2002

  Thousand tones

  EWC Code

  Broad Category

  1998–99

  2000

  2001

  2002

  01

  Wastes from Mining and Minerals

  13

  13

  7

  9

  02

  Waste from Agricultural and Food Production

  6

  9

  6

  4

  03

  Wastes from Wood and Paper Production

  3

  7

  5

  3

  04

  Wastes from Leather and Textile Production

  2

  3

  3

  4

  05

  Wastes from Petrol, Gas and Coal Refining/ Treatment

  259

  88

  126

  68

  06

  Wastes from Inorganic Chemical Processes

  366

  295

  225

  224

  07

  Wastes from Organic Chemical Processes

  573

  591

  613

  593

  08

  Wastes from Manufacture, Formulation, Supply and Use of Paints, Varnish, Adhesive and Inks

  145

  141

  132

  115

  09

  Wastes from the Photographic Industry

  13

  22

  42

  40

  10

  Wastes from Thermal Processes (inorganic)

  113

  176

  215

  191

  11

  Wastes from Metal Treatment and Coating Processes

  146

  120

  127

  115

  12

  Wastes from Shaping/Treatment of Metals and Plastics

  151

  96

  96

  94

  13

  Oil Wastes

  1,036

  1,098

  1,042

  1,008

  14

  Waste Solvents

  109

  139

  110

  63

  15

  Waste Packaging, Cloths, Filter Materials

  48

  65

  69

  52

  16

  Wastes Not Otherwise Specified

  484

  753

  584

  672

  17

  Construction and Demolition Wastes and Asbestos

  1,008

  1,064

  1,385

  1,243

  18

  Waste from Healthcare

  17

  17

  21

  20

  19

  Wastes from Waste/Water Treatment and Water Industry

  235

  306

  278

  346

  20

  Municipal arid Similar Commercial Wastes

  86

  129

  49

  98

  99

  Unclassified

  99

  64

  78

  95

  Total all classes

  4,910

  5,196

  5,213

  5,058

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the hazardous waste landfill sites identified by the Environment Agency that will remain as hazardous 734W
  Until that review is complete, the Agency is unable to provide an update of its planned timetable for the construction of the Silk Stream scheme.

  Horse Passport
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when it will become an offence not to have a passport for all equines. [147946]

  Alun Michael
  From 1 July 2004.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Hazardous Waste Regulations will be published. [142598]

  Mr. Morley
  Draft new Hazardous Waste Regulations will be published when Defra goes out to consultation on the Regulations in early 2004. After a 12 week consultation period, new Regulations should he laid before Parliament in spring 2004.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mass of hazardous waste was produced in the UK for each of the last five years, broken down by category of hazardous waste. [144919]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency has provided the following data for England and Wales to show types of hazardous waste produced each year broken down by European Waste Catalogue (EWC) category. The Environment Agency moved from financial year to calendar year reporting in 2000, and only data for complete years is shown.

  waste landfills following reclassification in July 2004; if she will identify for each site the types of hazardous waste that the site can dispose of; and whether each site is for private use. [144920]
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  Mr. Morley
  The information requested, as at 16 December 2003 is set out in a table which has been placed in the Library. Under the new regulations, former sites can continue to accept hazardous waste if it is contained within a separate disposal cell. This is likely to lead to additional sites as well as these dedicated sites.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of(a) the lead content in glass television screens and (b) lead glass in crystal for household use, with respect to the disposal of hazardous waste; and if she will make a statement. [146716]

  Mr. Morley
  A draft study currently being finalised for Defra shows that lead oxide accounts for approximately 9 per cent. by mass of the cathode ray tube in television sets with screens of 19 inches and over. Lead bound up within the glass of the cathode ray tube does not leach very readily. No formal assessment of lead glass in crystal for household use has been carried out as such material when discarded is not on the hazardous waste list.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the delay of the landfill allowance trading scheme until 2005. [146519]

  Mr. Morley
  The decision to delay the implementation of the landfill allowance trading scheme until 2005 which was announced by the Minister of State for Local and Regional Government on 19 November 2003, was made as part of Defra's contribution to helping to reduce spending pressures on local government in 2004–05. We expect local authorities to be able to save up to £10 million as a result. (On 6 January 2004 we announced that Defra will also provide a targeted grant of £20 million to local authorities in 2004–05 to help address the spending pressures arising from their statutory recycling targets).

  The decision reflects the views of local authorities which we received through our consultation on the implementation of the landfill allowance trading scheme, that they needed more time to prepare for this new scheme which is a significant departure from their normal operations. The delay in starting the scheme will mean that waste disposal authorities will have to make steeper annual reductions in the amount of biodegradable waste they landfill in order to meet the first target year of 2010 but they will have more time to plan how to do this.

  The Government will use the additional time to raise awareness of the scheme within local authorities and to educate and support those who will make use of its provisions.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of delaying the introduction of the landfill allowance trading scheme on achieving the UK's compliance with the landfill directive; and if she will make a statement. [146538]

  Mr. Morley
  Delaying the introduction of the landfill allowance trading scheme in England should not affect the achievement of landfill directive targets for the UK 736W
  in 2010, 2013 and 2020. The delay is intended to give local authorities more time to decide how, and over what time period, to invest in alternative waste management options to landfill.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether her Department has received requests from waste disposal authorities for the start of the landfill allowance trading scheme to be delayed; [143092]

  (2) whether her Department has received requests from waste disposal authorities for the start of the landfill allowance trading scheme to be delayed. [143091]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 9 December 2003.]Yes. During regional consultation meetings on the implementation of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme held in September 2003, local authorities commented that they would find it difficult to operate the scheme in 2004–05. This view has been reinforced by the written responses to the consultation that have been analysed to date. Local Authorities generally feel that they need more time to prepare for a trading scheme that is a completely new departure from their normal operations. It has already been announced that the start date will be delayed by one year.

  Puppy Farms
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in the European Union on the import into the UK of puppies from puppy farms; [147455]

  (2) what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in the Republic of Ireland concerning the importation of puppies from puppy farms in the Republic of Ireland; [147465]

  (3) how many puppies have been imported into the United Kingdom from puppy farms in the Republic of Ireland in each of the last five years; [147466]

  (4) what licensing arrangements are in place in respect of importers of puppies from puppy farms in (a) the Irish Republic and (b) elsewhere; [147467]

  (5) what recent representations she has received regarding the importation of puppies from puppy farms in (a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) elsewhere. [147468]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There are no centrally held statistics available for the number of dogs imported into the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland because there are no restrictions on trade of animals between the two countries. However, all movements of animals for commercial purposes within the EU must comply with the provisions of EU Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport, which in the UK is implemented by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997. There have been no discussions with my counterparts in the Republic of Ireland or the EU on the subject of importation of puppies from puppy farms into the UK.

  Sandhurst Explosion
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will hold a Public Inquiry into the explosion at Cleansing Services Group, Sandhurst, Gloucestershire, in October 2000; and if she will make a statement. [143925]

  Mr Morley
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]I have recently received a Final Report (prepared by the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive) into the incident at Cleansing Services Group, Sandhurst. When I have considered the implications of this report, I will make a statement.

  Tees Estuary
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what analysis has been made of the risk of the introduction of species of wildlife or plants from the James River estuary to the Tees estuary as a result of the arrival in Hartlepool of the US ships intended for decommissioning: [142332].

  (2) what measures were taken to reduce the risk to the Tees estuary from the importation of alien species in ballast water in the US ships intended for decommissioning by Able UK. [142333]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency considered the risk of transfer of species of wildlife or plants in ballast water and imposed a condition on the Able UK waste management licence. This requires that no removal or disposal of ballast water may take place from any of the US vessels, except in accordance with a detailed method statement submitted to and approved in writing by the Agency. These are more stringent conditions than apply to the many visiting ships to the UK.

  US Warships (Disposal)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the status of the ghost ships in Hartlepool. [145249]

  Mr. Morley
  Four decommissioned US government-owned vessels are currently being stored by Able UK at Hartlepool. The vessels have been surveyed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to assess the integrity of the vessels' structures and safety systems following their passage across the Atlantic, and were confirmed to be in satisfactory condition. The US authorities accept that the four ships will have to return to the US, unless environmentally suitable and legally acceptable methods for their disposal have been identified. The immediate return of the vessels is not practicable. In the meantime the Environment Agency has modified the conditions of Abie's waste management licence so that no dismantling, cutting or breaking of the vessels is permitted, pending the best environmental option for dealing with them.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in the Department have responsibility for waste management. [142591]
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  Mr. Morley
  As at 15 December 2003, there are 95 officials employed by Defra with responsibility for waste management. In addition to this, there are four secondees who are on temporary placement.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the polluter pays principle applies to management of the municipal waste stream; and if she will make a statement. [146517]

  Mr. Morley
  The Waste Framework Directive (75/442/EEC as amended by 91/156/EEC) sets out a range of measures on the management of waste—including its collection and disposal. These measures include Article 8 which requires that—any holder of waste has it handled by a private or public waste collector; and Article 15 which provides that "In accordance with the 'polluter pays' principle, the cost of disposing of waste must be borne by.… the holder who has it handled by a waste collector."

  The Government has put a range of measures in place under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 to comply with the Directive's requirements. These measures include the arrangements for the collection and disposal of household waste-by-waste collection and disposal authorities. The cost of collection and disposal under these arrangements is met through taxation and charges. Most commercial and industrial waste is collected and disposed of by the private sector under arrangements which comply with the Directive. The cost of collection and disposal under these arrangement is met through charges.

  Municipal waste includes household waste and any other wastes collected by a waste collection authority or its agents under Part II of the 1990 Act (Waste Strategy 2000 page 198 (Cm 4693–2)).

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she plans to extend the statutory duty on local authorities with regard to recycling and composting beyond 2005–06; and if she will make a statement. [146518]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government is committed to reviewing the national recycling targets this year, in light of the progress made by local authorities in meeting their 2003–04 Statutory Performance Standards for recycling and composting.

  The review will include consideration of whether to set further statutory recycling targets for local authorities for the years beyond 2005–06, to succeed the current Statutory Performance Standards.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of material have been recycled as a direct result of the Waste and Resources Action Programme's activity; what the average cost to public funds was per tonne of such recycled material; and if she will make a statement. [146540]
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  Mr. Morley
  WRAP'S market development programmes are delivering an extra 1,000,000 tonnes/year of additional recycling capacity in the UK, through projects that have been delivered or are close to completion.

  It is estimated that all of the capital grant and R&D projects initiated by WRAP, once fully realised, will generate at least four million extra tonnes of recycling per year in the UK. If the reasonable assumption is made that this recycling will continue to be delivered for at least 10 years, the cost to the public purse is estimated to be approximately £1/tonne.

  These estimates relate solely to WRAP'S R&D and capital interventions and not to WRAP'S advocacy and procurement work, which make essential contributions to the programme as a whole, but are not so easily related to tonnage figures.

  Water and sewerage undertakers

  Ultimate holding company and where headquarters is based

  Date of acquisition

  Thames Water Utilities Ltd.

  Thames Water Aqua Holdings GmbH (RWE AG) (Germany)

  November 2000

  Wessex Water Services Limired

  YTL Power Berhad (Malaysia)

  May 2002

  Water only undertakers

  Ultimate holding company and where headquarters is based

  Date of acquisition

  Cambridge Water plc.

  Union Electricia Fenosa SA (Spain)

  January 2004

  Folkestone and Dover Water Services Ltd.

  Veolia Environment (France)

  Februarv 2003

  Tendring Hundred Water Services Ltd.

  Veolia Environment (France)

  Owned since before 1989

  South East Water plc.

  Macquarie Bank Ltd. (Australia)

  October 2003

  Three Valleys Water Services plc.

  Veolia Environment (France)

  Owned since before 1989

NORTHERN IRELAND

  National Sports Stadium
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Sports Council about a new national sports stadium for Northern Ireland. [146810]

  Angela Smith
  Support remains in principle for a national stadium but this must be assessed on the grounds of need, sustainability and on the involvement of a number of sports. I am able to confirm that there are on-going discussions with the Sports Council of Northern Ireland about a new national sports stadium. The sports council is also in touch with the governing bodies of the main sports to assess their willingness to use a national stadium bearing in mind that these sports are at various stages in planning for their future facility needs.

  Infrastructure Investment
  Mr. Bailey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase investment in infrastructure in Northern Ireland. [146811]

  Mr. Pearson
  Yesterday I launched the Northern Ireland Priorities and Budget 2004–06, copies of which have been placed in the Library. This Document shows planned expenditure on capital investment will rise by 40 per cent. over the next two years.

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

  Mr. Morley
  The following table lists those water and sewerage and water undertakers that are owned by companies based outside the U.K., the country where the controlling company's head office is and the date of the acquisition. Information about the nationality of shareholders is not available.

  Internal Drainage Boards in England have been established in areas of special drainage needs. They are public statutory bodies.

  Educational Attainment
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to improve educational attainment in disadvantaged communities in Northern Ireland. [146812]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Government has instituted a wide range of measures to improve educational outcomes among children, young people and adults in disadvantaged areas. These include the School Support Programme, Group 1 schools, curriculum flexibility for work-related learning at Key Stage 4, and a number of Further Education initiatives.

  I have also recently announced the creation of Education Action Zones aimed at tackling the root causes of educational failure within communities. All these initiatives contribute to the overarching policy of Targeting Social Need.

  Skills Base
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Government action to develop essential skills in Northern Ireland. [146813]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Essential Skills for Living Strategy and Action Plan was launched in October 2002. Our aim is to support 25,000 adults in Northern Ireland to improve their literacy and numeracy skills by 2005. In the first year 6,500 learners were supported and we are on track to meet our target of supporting a further 8,000 learners by March 2004.

  Good Friday Agreement
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the review of the Good Friday Agreement will commence. [146814]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael).

  Older People (Security)
  John Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on measures to improve the security of older people in Northern Ireland. [146815]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Government is committed to improving security for older people in Northern Ireland. A community safety strategy for older people will be issued for consultation in February 2004 supplemented by practical action through the Stay safe Stay secure campaign launched October 2003 and work in other agencies including the police.

  Devolved Government
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made towards the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland. [146816]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael).

  Mr. Luke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress had been made since the November elections to create a working Northern Ireland Executive. [146817]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael).

  Peace Process
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of the peace process following the elections of the November 2003. [146818]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael).

  Broadband
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase investment in the broadband infrastructure in Northern Ireland. [146819]

  Mr. Pearson
  The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is actively pursuing 100 per cent. broadband coverage across Northern Ireland by December 2005 through the award of a major contract for the provision of broadband services.

  Tenders are at the final evaluation stage and an announcement on the award of the contract is planned for early this year.

  Drug Smuggling
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the success of measures to interdict the smuggling of drugs into Northern Ireland. [146820]

  Jane Kennedy
  The PSNI has had unprecedented success this year in preventing the importation of drugs into Northern Ireland. Drugs Squad officers have had their most successful year to date and I congratulate them for their work.

  Some of the recent successes include the seizure of some £1 million worth of cocaine in Northern Ireland in October that led directly to the seizure of over £7 million in ecstasy tablets in Amsterdam by Dutch police. £2 million of cannabis was seized in August—the largest ever seizure of the drug in Northern Ireland and in September police officers seized cannabis resin with an estimated street value of £250,000 in Belfast.

  This high level of seizures and arrests demonstrates the PSNI's and the Organised Crime Task Force's ongoing commitment and effectiveness in tackling this problem.

TRANSPORT

  Airports (Scotland)
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the timescale for the construction of rail links to(a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh airports. [147689]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department has held extensive discussions with the Scottish Executive on both proposals and has been kept informed of progress on the ongoing feasibility work.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received from environmental groups on the proposed expansion of Scottish airports. [147687]

  Mr. McNulty
  Environmental groups submitted 8 responses to the consultation document "The Future Development of Air Transport in the UK: Scotland". Since the consultation ended on 30 June 2003, we have received no further representations from such groups on the proposed expansion of Scottish airports.

  British Charter Airlines (Kazakhstan)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the reasons for the banning of British charter airlines from operating in Kazakhstan; what representations he has made on their behalf to the Kazakh Government; and if he will make a statement. [146828]

  Mr. McNulty
  Until December 2003, two UK registered airlines were operating one charter service per week to Atyrau and Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan on contract to oil and gas companies active in the region.
  743W
  In early December 2003 that permission was revoked. The Kazakh authorities subsequently explained that they will no longer grant permission for these services because the new Kazakh airline, Air Astana, has now started services from Uralsk and Atyrau to Western Europe.

  We are concerned that permission for these flights was terminated without due process and at very short notice, with great inconvenience to passengers and to the financial detriment of UK airlines. We are also concerned that UK airlines are being denied the opportunity to offer a competing service. We will pursue this issue further with the Kazakh authorities.

  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the Kazakhstan Government regarding the prevention of UK charter flights from landing in Uralsk and Atyrau. [147537]

  Mr. McNulty
  Until December 2003, two UK registered airlines were operating one charter service per week to Atyrau and Uralsk in Western Kazakhstan on contract to oil and gas companies active in the region.

  In early December 2003 that permission was revoked. The Kazakh authorities subsequently explained that they will no longer grant permission for these services because the new Kazakh airline, Air Astana, has now started services from Uralsk and Atyrau to Western Europe.

  We are concerned that permission for these flights was terminated without due process and at very short notice, with great inconvenience to passengers and to the financial detriment of UK airlines. We are also concerned that UK airlines are being denied the opportunity to offer a competing service. We will pursue this issue further with the Kazakh authorities.

  Deep Vein Thrombosis
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the United States Transport Security Administration Directive issued on 24 December 2003 on the Government's advice to air travellers on how to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis during long haul flights. [147723]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Directive aims to prevent people congregating on board flights to the United States for security reasons. The Directive has no impact on the Government's advice on deep vein thrombosis, which encourages passengers to move their feet around or, if possible, to get up and walk around at intervals.

  M60 (Flooding)
  Andrew Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on(a) the causes of flooding on the M60 between Denton and Hollinwood and (b) progress in addressing the causes. [146836]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Areas of water seepage at a number of locations on the M60 have been identified. These areas have been inspected and testing of the road material has 744W
  taken place. The Highways Agency are awaiting the results of spray and drainage investigations. These results together will be used to identify remedial works that may be necessary.

  In the meantime, warning signs have been placed on part of the Denton-Middleton section of the M60 motorway to alert drivers to the possibility of excess water on the carriageway.

  Railway Schemes
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the railway schemes being evaluated by his Department which involve(a) the laying of additional miles of track and (b) the reopening of disused rail routes; and if he will make a statement. [147173]

  Dr. Howells
  The evaluation of such schemes is a matter for the Strategic Rail Authority, who set out their project portfolio in their Strategic Plan. A copy of the latest edition, published last year, is in the Library of the House.

  Road Safety
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers local authorities have to erect 30 mph repeater signs on single carriageway roads with street lights. [147072]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Local authorities have no powers to erect 30 mph speed limit repeater signs on street lit roads as current legislation strictly prohibits it.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate how many deaths there have been because of(a) dangerous driving, (b) driving under the influence of illegal drugs and (c) driving under the influence of alcohol in (i) Cambridgeshire and (ii) Huntingdon in each year since 2000. [146440]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The information is not available.

  Rural Bus Services
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to prevent overcrowding on scheduled bus services taking pupils to school in rural areas; and if he will end the three for two rule. [146821]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Before a bus enters into service it is a requirement, under regulation 8 of the Public Service Vehicles (Carrying Capacity) Regulations 1984, that it has to be marked with the number of passengers, both standees and seated that it may safely carry. Both children and adults are considered as the same within these regulations. If these numbers are exceeded the vehicle would be deemed as operating illegally and then it becomes a matter for the enforcement agencies to pursue.

  Currently there are no plans to abolish the three for two rule.

  Street Works
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is of the cost to business of highway authority street works. [147098]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department does not hold figures of the costs to business of highway authority works. However, it is important to minimise the disruption caused by works in the street, regardless of whether they are carried out by utility companies or by highway authorities, and this is reflected in the range of measures included in the Traffic Management Bill.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes have been made to the enforcement of penalties for failure to display an up-to-date vehicle excise duty disc; and if he will make a statement. [146761]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]; There are no changes to the penalties for the offence of failure to display a valid vehicle licence. Failure to display is normally enforced by fixed penalty.

  A number of changes are being introduced to strengthen the enforcement of the requirement to license a vehicle (or to make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) if a vehicle is being kept off the road). The registered keeper of a vehicle for which a licence or SORN has not been renewed one month after expiry is

  Spot checks carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate in 2002–2003

  Prohibition Rate1(%)

  Vehicle Category

  Number of vehicles checked

  Immediate prohibitions2

  Delayed prohibitions3

  HGV Motor Vehicles4

  64,373

  9.2

  12.7

  HGV Trailers

  21,225

  9.4

  16.6

  HGV emissions checks

  7,748

  0.1

  0.7

  PSV vehicles4

  20,287

  6.9

  8.2

  PSV emissions checks

  5,447

  0.05

  0.45

  1 Only one prohibition notice is issued per vehicle although it may contain a list of defects/offences where more than one has been found. The most serious defect/offence determines whether an immediate or delayed prohibition is issued.

  2Immediate prohibition rate relates to all vehicles (including foreign vehicles).

  3Delayed prohibition rate excludes checks on foreign vehicles. The Foreign Vehicles Act does not provide for the issue of delayed prohibitions to foreign vehicles.

  4Excludes emissions only checks, but includes foreign vehicles.

  Results of light vehicle roadside roadworthiness checks

  Vehicle category

  Number examined

  Number prohibited

  Prohibition rate (%)

  Cars

  4,942

  2,223

  45

  Taxis and private hire cars

  6,478

  1.593

  24.6

  Non-testable vehicles1

  2,836

  1,666

  58.7

  Light Goods Vehicles

  16,498

  6,061

  36.7

  1Non-testable vehicles include mobile cranes, diggers and non-HGV trailers

  Results of light vehicle spot checks for emissions

  Prohibition rate (%)

  Vehicle category

  Number examined

  Petrol Engine

  Diesel Engine

  Cars

  58,044

  6.1

  3.1

  Taxis and private hire cars

  2,374

  5.1

  6.5

  Light Goods Vehicles

  10,089

  7.7

  3.7

  746W
  now liable for a penalty of £80 (reduced to £40 if paid within 28 days of receiving the penalty notice). To ensure that vehicle keepers have sufficient notice to check that their vehicles are properly licensed, extensive publicity is being given to the changes including information leaflets to all registered keepers during the final month of licence validity. The first penalty notices are likely to be issued in March, in respect of vehicles for which licences have not been renewed from 1 January 2004.

  In the most serious cases, vehicle keepers can also be prosecuted for the new offence of being the keeper of an unlicensed vehicle.

  Vehicles Inspectorate
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles have been stopped for roadside checks by the Vehicles Inspectorate in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many(a) were found to have vehicle faults and (b) were motor cars or other non-commercial vehicles. [147235]

  Dr. Howells
  The number of vehicles stopped at the roadside by the Vehicle Inspectorate (now the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) in 2002–03 and the percentage found to have roadworthiness faults are shown in the following tables. Further information and statistical analysis of the agency's work can be found in the Vehicle Inspectorate's Effectiveness Report 2002–03, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

WALES

  Departmental Advertising
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total expenditure on(a) information campaigns and (b) advertising was for his Department in each year since 1997. [145383]

  Mr. Hain
  My department has run no television, newspaper, radio advertising or any other kind of promotional campaign since its creation in July 1999. It has no agencies or departmental public bodies within its responsibilities. We are not responsible for campaigns that may be run by the National Assembly or other Government Departments in Wales.

  Give as You Earn Scheme
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. [143900]

  Mr. Touhig
  The Give as You Earn scheme is available to Wales Office staff and is regularly drawn to their attention. No staff currently contribute to charity through the scheme.

  This does not fully reflect the charitable activities of Wales Office staff.

  Security Passes
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many security passes have been reported(a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months. [147905]

  Mr. Hain
  None.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Guantanamo Bay
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the US Government since the state visit of President Bush in connection with the British detainees at Guantanamo Bay; and if he will make a statement. [146501]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 8 January 2004]Since the recent visit of President Bush to the UK, the position of the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay has continued to be the subject of discussions between the government and the US administration. We hope to resolve the situation soon.

  Israel
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his policy to seek to persuade Israel to divest itself of all its weapons of mass destruction. [147402]
  748W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The UK government has consistently urged Israel to clarify its nuclear status by acceding to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state, and signing a full-scope safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We urge Israel to ratify both the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. The UK has also consistently supported UN Resolutions calling for the establishment of a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction. That zone would include Israel.

  Pakistan
  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding the return of Pakistan to full membership of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. [147543]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The United Kingdom wants to see Pakistan readmitted to the Councils of the Commonwealth, including to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

  However, it is the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) that will make a decision whether to recommend to Commonwealth Heads of Government that Pakistan should be readmitted on the basis of its return to democracy. The UK is not a member of CMAG, but the UK Government believes that the recent agreement between the Pakistani Government and opposition over the country's constitution and role of parliament marks an important step in the country's transition to full democracy. We hope this will facilitate progress on joining the full Councils of the Commonwealth.

  Thailand
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the advice given to UK visitors to Thailand. [146481]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not advise against travel to Thailand. The vast majority of visits to Thailand are trouble-free. But due to a general threat to British and other Western targets from terrorism in South East Asia, including Thailand, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises that travellers should be particularly vigilant in public places, including tourist sites. It also advises travellers to watch out for crimes of opportunity and against the possession of even small quantities of drugs. The full Travel Advice for Thailand can be viewed on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Education (Hemsworth)
  Jon Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the percentage of the population of Hemsworth constituency who have NVQ levels(a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3. [147456]
  749W
  Alan Johnson
  The following table shows analysis of the qualification levels of the working age1 population in the parliamentary constituency of Hemsworth. This is presented alongside England average data for comparison. Data comes from the Local Labour Force Survey for 2001–02.

  1 Working age population refers to males aged 16–64 and females aged 16–59.

  Percentage

  Qualification level

  Hemsworth

  England

  NVQ 4 and above

  16.2

  23.5

  NVQ 3

  12.6

  14.8

  Trade

  9.3

  7.0

  Apprenticeships

  NVQ 2

  15.4

  18.1

  Below NVQ Level 2

  21.3

  20.5

  No qualifications

  25.3

  16.0

  Higher Education
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effect on equality of opportunity for students of competition between higher education institutions on price. [147240]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]In his statement to the House on student support in higher education on 8 January my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced a package of support the purpose of which is to ensure that no student from a poor background would be worse off as a result of proposals in the Higher Education Bill, whichever university they attend and whatever the fee charged for the course. Higher Education institutions wishing to charge higher fees will have to enter into an access agreement with the Office for Fair Access. These access agreements will set out the measures that institutions will take to ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are not deterred from higher education because of higher fees. My right hon. Friend also said that the Government would establish an independent review, working with the Office for Fair Access, to report to the House on the impact of variable fees, based upon the first three years of their operation.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time students are enrolled on courses at higher education institutions in the north-west. [143453]

  Alan Johnson
  The available information is given in the table.

  All higher education enrolments1,2 at, north-west higher education institutions, 2001–02

  Institution region

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  North West GOR3

  104,944

  45,037

  149.981

  Total England4

  1,003,229

  591,138

  1,594,367

  1 Snapshot as at 1 December.

  2 Includes students from both home and overseas domiciles and covers enrolments to all levels of higher education course.

  3 Government Office Region.

  4 Including higher education institutions in the north-west and the Open University.

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  Student Drop-out Rate
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the most recent figures are for the drop-out rate for English university students is in their(a) 1st year of study, (b) 2nd year of study, (c) 3rd year of study and (d) further years of study. [143250]

  Alan Johnson
  The available information on the non-continuation of students beyond the first year in each university, and the projected course non-completion rate in each university is contained in "Performance Indicators in Higher Education in the UK", published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, a copy of which is available from the House Library. The latest edition, published in December 2003, gives figures for students starting full-time degree courses in the United Kingdom in 2000/01. Table 3 shows that 9 per cent. of students did not continue beyond the first year, and that the projected non-completion rate over the whole course was 16 per cent.

  No data are held covering those students who drop out of their course after two or three years. Nationally, the non-completion rate has remained broadly the same since 1991/92, a period of considerable expansion of student numbers.

  Figures published in 2003 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that the UK has one of the lowest non-completion rates among OECD countries.

  Universities
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people domiciled in(a) Scotland, (b) the City of Edinburgh local authority area and (c) the Edinburgh West parliamentary constituency are attending a (i) English and (ii) Welsh university. [142620]

  Alan Johnson
  Data for students who enter HE are not collated centrally by constituency. The latest available data are shown in the following table.

  Domicile of student by location of institution 2001/02

  Domicile

  Location of higher education institution England

  Wales

  Scotland

  26,456

  672

  City of Edinburgh

  3,798

  90

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much income the university sector has earned from business in each year since 1997, broken down by university. [143135]

  Alan Johnson
  Details of the income of higher education institutions by source is published annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in "Resources of Higher Education Institutions", copies of which are available in the House Library. Table 3 shows separately for each higher education institution income from UK industry, commerce and public corporations, although this does not include income from intellectual property rights which are shown separately in Table 4.
  751W
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people from Cunninghame, South enrolled to study at a university in(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003; and how many failed to complete their course. [141929]

  Alan Johnson
  Enrolment figures at constituency level are not currently available. However, higher education enrolment figures from the county of North Ayrshire for the most recent three years are given in the table.

  HE enrolments from North Ayrshire

  Academic year

  Enrolments

  1999/00

  3,405

  2000/01

  3,366

  2001/02

  3,469

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  Non-completion rates are published annually by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in 'Performance Indicators in Higher Education' and cover home domiciled students starting full-time first degree courses. The latest figure covers students starting courses in 2000/01, shows that non-completion rates in the UK are 16 per cent. HEFCE do not publish non-completion rates by any geographical breakdown.

  University Tuition Fees
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of annual net income to(a) Russell Group and (b) other universities from the proposed tuition fees after all costs and concessions are taken into account. [147601]

  Alan Johnson
  Information on the costs and benefits associated with the proposal in the Higher Education Bill to allow universities to set their own tuition fees is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the Bill. The Regulatory Impact Assessment illustrates the income from additional fees in different scenarios. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the costs vary greatly according to the decisions that higher education institutions take, and they cannot be estimated precisely at this stage. The Regulatory Impact Assessment does not distinguish between individual universities. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House; it is also available on the Department for Education and Skills website.

PRIME MINISTER

  Social Behaviour
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what action the Government have taken to improve social behaviour; and if he will make a statement. [1474941

  The Prime Minister
  We have taken a number of measures to improve social behaviour. These include introducing citizenship education into primary schools in 2000 and making citizenship education a statutory part of the secondary school National Curriculum in 752W
  September 2002. We have also tackled the problem of anti-social behaviour through our introduction of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act.

  Appointments Commission
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister when he last met the Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission to discuss its work. [147959]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 16 May 2003,Official Report, column 439W.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2003,Official Report, column 1076W, on People's Peers, whether he is now in a position to invite the House of Lords Appointments Commission to recommend names for the second round of People's Peers. [147961]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum/Immigration
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been taken into care as a result of paragraph 1 of schedule 3 to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002; and whether the Home Department have ever referred the possible placing of a child into care to any local authority social services authority. [142325]

  Beverley Hughes
  No children have been taken into care as a result of the operation of paragraph 1 of Schedule 3; nor have the Home Office referred the possible placing of a child into care to any local authority Social Services authority in connection with this legislation.

  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers with children are facing removal from the United Kingdom. [143802]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]The information requested is unavailable, partly because it is not possible to determine the number of unsuccessful asylum seekers who leave the United Kingdom voluntarily without informing the Immigration Service of their departure.

  Information on asylum applications, decisions, appeals and removals is published regularly on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl. html.

  Mr. Matins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) asylum cases and (b) immigration cases were heard by (i) the Court of Appeal and (ii) the House of Lords in the latest year for which figures are available. [143845]
  753W
  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 15 December 2003]During the period from 1 October 2002 to 30 September 2003, nine immigration cases were heard by the Court of Appeal (five asylum cases and four non-asylum) and four cases were heard by the House of Lords (three asylum cases and one non-asylum).

  Information on these cases can be obtained from the website: http://www.lawreports.co.uk

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy concerning the best interests of children of asylum seekers with respect to(a) removal centres and (b) other circumstances for which he has jurisdiction. [142717]

  Beverley Hughes
  The best interests of children of asylum seekers will always be a key consideration in all dealings the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has with asylum-seeking families.

  With respect to removal centres, rule 11 (3) of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 requires removal centre operators to provide everything reasonably necessary for detained persons' protection, safety and well-being and for the maintenance and care of infants and children.

  Children who are accommodated in a removal centre as part of a family group are not separated from their parents or siblings and so are able to receive familial comfort and emotional support. Provision is made to ensure that they are safe; they are able to eat well; they are accommodated in quiet, warm bedrooms; they are

  Asylum Appeals: Further appeals to the Tribunal, decisions, and the outcome of Tribunal Hearings, excluding dependants, 1994 to 20021

  Number of principal appellants

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  20022

  Applications for leave to appeal to the Tribunal3

  Applications

  10,910

  8,635

  6,020

  15,540

  25,600

  Decisions

  4 10,315

  9,575

  5,490

  13,540

  22,825

  Appeals to the Tribunal3

  Received

  4 1,775

  2,135

  1,615

  3,860

  6,920

  Determined

  1,090

  1,790

  2,635

  3,190

  5,565

  Outcome of Tribunal Hearings3

  Allowed

  4—

  —

  815

  475

  620

  Dismissed

  —

  —

  1,385

  1,140

  2,015

  Withdrawn

  —

  —

  220

  150

  225

  Remitted to adjudicators for further consideration

  —

  —

  215

  1,430

  2,700

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest five. Numbers might not add up due to rounding.

  2 Provisional figures.

  3 Figures based on data supplied by the Lord Chancellor's Department. Decisions and determinations do not necessarily correspond to applications and appeals received in any given year.

  4 Revised figures.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made by his Department asking for leave to appeal to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and, of these, how many were granted leave. [142583]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 8 December 2003]The information requested is not available because data on the number of applications for leave to appeal to the 754W
  occupied during the day; they have access to the fresh air, outside play areas, and are able to undertake physical exercise; they also have access to an excellent healthcare facility.

  In the community, local authorities in the UK have duties towards all children in need, including the children of asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made asking for leave to appeal to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and of these, how many were granted leave. [142581]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 8 December 2003]Data on the number of appeals received and determined by the Immigration Appeals Tribunal, as well as the outcome from Tribunal hearings, in each of the last five years, are given in the following table. The latter data does not necessarily correspond to the number of applications for leave to appeal in any given year.

  Information on how many applications for leave to appeal to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal were granted is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Statistics on appeals to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal are published annually. The latest publication, "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2002", is available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov. uk/rds/immigrationl. html.

  Immigration Appeals Tribunal are not separately compiled in relation to whom the appeal is sought by and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The latest available data on total applications for leave to appeal to the Tribunal and the outcomes from hearings at the Tribunal in each of the last five years are given in the following table. The table shows the total number of applications and decisions for leave to appeal

  755W
  to the Tribunal, the number of appeals received and determined and the outcomes of Tribunal hearings broken down by appellant and Secretary of State. Decisions and determinations do not necessarily correspond to applications and appeals in any given year.

  Asylum Appeals: Further appeals to the Tribunal, decisions, and the outcome of Tribunal Hearings, excluding dependants, 1994 to 20021

  Number of principal appellants

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  20022

  Applications for leave to appeal to the Tribunal3

  Applications

  10,910

  8,635

  6,020

  15,540

  25,600

  Decisions

  4 10,315

  9,575

  5,490

  13,540

  22,825

  Appeals to the Tribunal3

  Received

  4 1,775

  2,135

  1,615

  3,860

  6,920

  Determined

  1,090

  1,790

  2,635

  3,190

  5,565

  Outcome of Tribunal Hearings3

  Allowed

  4—

  —

  815

  475

  620

  Dismissed

  —

  —

  1,385

  1,140

  2,015

  Withdrawn

  —

  —

  220

  150

  225

  Remitted to adjudicators for further consideration

  —

  —

  215

  1,430

  2,700

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest five. Numbers might not add up due to rounding.

  2 Provisional figures.

  3 Figures based on data supplied by the Lord Chancellor's Department. Decisions and determinations do not necessarily correspond to applications and appeals received in any given year.

  4 Revised figures.

  Outcome of Tribunal Hearings1

  Number of principal appellants

  Appellant Allowed

  Secretary of State Dismissed

  Withdrawn

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  Withdrawn

  1998

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1999

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2000

  650

  1,225

  185

  170

  165

  35

  2001

  315

  1,020

  125

  160

  120

  25

  20022

  410

  1,880

  210

  215

  130

  15

  1 Figures supplied by the Presenting Officers Unit. Figures for October-December 1999 are based on data for November-December.

  2 Provisional figures.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of families likely to be affected by Clause 7 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill. [143406]

  Beverley Hughes
  Clause 7 will only affect failed asylum seekers and their families who refuse to take advantage of voluntary return arrangements, or to put themselves in a position to do so, without good cause. The precise number who have support stopped will depend upon the decisions made by individual families.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason he has not yet replied to the letter sent to him dated 18 September 2003 by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Sattler. [140781]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I replied to the right lion. Member on 8 January 2004.
  756W
  Statistics on appeals to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal are published annually. The latest publication, "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2002", is available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration 1.html.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 4 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to K.Akhtar. [144643]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I replied to the right hon. Member on 12 January 2004.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 30 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs.J.Ferns. [144644]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I responded to the right hon. Member on 16 December 2003.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 4 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Jamie Sanderson. [144646]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I responded to the right hon. Member on 31 December 2003.
  757W
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 6 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Kwok Hung Lam. [145962]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I responded to the right hon. Member on 23 December 2003.

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of those convicted of drug misuse offences who had previously been in local authority care in each of the last five years. [147335]

  Caroline Flint
  No figures are available on the proportion of those convicted of drug misuse offences that have previously been in local authority care.

  Firearm Offences
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to reduce the number of firearm offences. [146268]

  Caroline Flint
  Our developing programme to tackle gun crime includes:tackling the links to drug supply and crime;
  reducing the supply and availability of firearms;
  effective police operations to drive down firearm offences;
  tough laws and effective enforcement; and
  engaging the worst affected communities to address the underlying gun culture.

  We are working closely with the police and other agencies to ensure that the lessons learned from their experience in tackling gun crime are built upon. A detailed action plan to keep action to tackle gun crime at the forefront of the police agenda has been developed and is being implemented.

  In addition, the National Firearms Forensic Intelligence Database, launched on 25 November 2003, will provide a central database of seized weapons and help trace guns used in crimes and improve detection.

  Asylum Appeals determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants1

  Number of principal appellants

  Appeals determined by adjudicators

  Allowed2

  Dismissed2

  Withdrawn2

  Appeals received by the Home Office 3,4

  Appeals received by the IAA 5

  Total determined 4

  Total

  As %of total determined

  Total

  As % of total determined

  Total

  As % of total determined

  2003

  01

  212,600

  18,090

  20,595

  3,480

  17

  16,445

  80

  670

  3

  Q2

  210,800

  17,835

  19,345

  4,060

  21

  14,875

  77

  415

  2

  Q3

  210,900

  18,330

  21,500

  4,270

  20

  16,805

  78

  420

  2

  Latest 12 months

  October

  4,965

  4,475

  5,980

  1,170

  20

  4,620

  77

  190

  3

  November

  3,740

  6,080

  5,585

  1,185

  21

  4,270

  76

  130

  2

  December

  3,575

  6,110

  5,050

  960

  19

  3,920

  78

  170

  3

  January

  23,400

  6,015

  7,210

  1,265

  18

  5,690

  79

  255

  4

  February

  24,000

  6,025

  6,545

  975

  15

  5,350

  82

  220

  3

  758W
  We are also engaging with communities to help steer young people away from gun crime and gun culture. We are:
  providing support for the Disarm Trust, which is providing direct support for community groups working to reduce gun crime, supporting victims of gun crime and providing help for witnesses;
  allocating £1.2 million of recovered assets receipts to help tackle gun crime; and
  running a major event on 19 to 20 January 2004, which will bring together community representatives, activists, voluntary groups and young people, leading to a sustained community-focused campaign against gun crime and gun culture.

  This action will be supported by the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which will see a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment for possession or distribution of prohibited weapons or ammunition, and by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, which will raise the age limit to 17 for owning air weapons, ban the possession of air weapons and imitations in public without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, and ban the possession, sale and import of self contained air cartridge weapons.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were heard by Immigration Appellate Authority adjudicators in the last 12 months; and in how many cases an appeal was taken to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal. [143269]

  Beverley Hughes
  The number of cases heard by Immigration Appellate Authority adjudicators, for the latest 12-month period for which data are available, are given in the following table. Information on the number of those cases that were taken to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal following successful applications for leave to appeal to the Tribunal are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case files.

  Statistics on the number of asylum appeals heard by the Immigration Appellate Authority are published quarterly. The most recent publication covering the third quarter of 2003 is now available from the Library of the House or on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration l.html.
  759W

  Asylum Appeals determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants1

  Number of principal appellants

  Appeals determined by adjudicators

  Allowed2

  Dismissed2

  Withdrawn2

  Appeals received by the Home Office 3,4

  Appeals received by the IAA 5

  Total determined 4

  Total

  As %of total determined

  Total

  As % of total determined

  Total

  As % of total determined

  March

  25,200

  6,045

  6,840

  1,235

  18

  5,405

  79

  200

  3

  April

  23,700

  5,825

  7,010

  1,445

  21

  5,455

  78

  110

  2

  May

  23,400

  6,025

  6,035

  1,265

  21

  4,655

  77

  115

  2

  June

  23,600

  5,985

  6,300

  1,345

  21

  4,765

  76

  190

  3

  July

  24,100

  6,005

  8,195

  1,655

  20

  6,375

  78

  165

  2

  August

  23,000

  6,080

  6,740

  1,320

  20

  5,275

  78

  145

  2

  September

  23,700

  6,240

  6,565

  1,295

  20

  5,155

  79

  110

  2

  Total

  246,485

  70,920

  78,050

  15,130

  19

  60,930

  78

  1,995

  3

  1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest five (other than percentages). Numbers might not add up due to rounding.

  2 Based on data supplied from the Presenting Officers Unit within the Home Office.

  3 Data are based on manual counts of data received in Appeals Support Section (ASS) of the Home Office. Some cases are received elsewhere in the Home Office before being forwarded to ASS and so may be counted in a later month than when they arrived in the Home Office.

  4 Estimate. Figures rounded to the nearest hundred, and subject to later revision.

  5 Based on information supplied by the Lord Chancellor's Department. Determinations do not necessarily relate to appeals received in the same period.

  Merseyside Crime Initiative Unit
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the findings were of the Diversity Monitoring Project established in October 2001 to examine Merseyside Crown Prosecution Service files for racial bias in decision-making. [146245]

  The Solicitor-General
  I have been asked to reply.

  The question has been transferred to me for reply as the Law Officers have responsibility for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

  The findings of the Diversity Monitoring Project, an independent study into racial or gender bias in the decision making processes of the CPS, were published in the executive summary report 'Race for Justice' on 21 October 2003. The full report will be available by the end of March 2004.

  12,913 CPS files were examined to establish if race or gender bias or discrimination occurred in the prosecution process. Merseyside was one of 10 CPS areas whose files were examined by the researchers. The files were taken randomly from a wide geographical spread of areas to ensure a representative sample. The report sets out the aggregated findings from the 10 area sample and does not set out findings for individual areas.

  The report outlines nine recommendations, applicable to the whole organisation, which have been accepted by CPS and which they have developed an action plan to implement.

  Prison Service
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Prison Service has to introduce a public interest immunity policy. [145090]

  Paul Goggins
  There are no plans to introduce a policy specific to the Prison Service. Public interest immunity is a rule of evidence and its application is no different for Prison Service business than for any other business of Government.
  760W
  The Secretary of State will continue to seek public interest immunity where he considers that material which is relevant in civil or criminal proceedings should not be disclosed because the harm to the public interest that would arise from its disclosure outweighs the harm to the interests of justice that might arise from not disclosing it in those proceedings. It is always for the court to decide whether the Secretary of State's claim to public interest immunity should be upheld.

  Wetherby Young Offenders Institution
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost per prisoner place at Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Wetherby was in(a) 1998–99 and (b) 2002–03; [145649]

  (2) what the actual cost per prisoner at Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Wetherby was in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 2002–03. [145650]

  Paul Goggins
  The cost per prison place and cost per prisoner at Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Wetherby for the years 1998–99 and 2002–03 are given in the table.

  Cost per prisoner place

  Cost per prisoner

  1998–99

  £18,745

  £20,827

  2002–03

  28,226

  29,661

  Note:

  The figures for 1998–99 are expressed in cash terms, while those for 2002–03 are expressed in resource terms. As such, they are not directly comparable given the change in the accounting basis, but an alternative figure for 2002–03 that is broadly comparable with the 1998–99 figures would be £26,705 for the cost per prisoner place and £28,029 for the cost per prisoner.

DEFENCE

  Atlantic Crusader
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department have chartered the Atlantic Crusader ship. [147411]
  761W
  Mr. Ingram
  The Atlantic Crusader is currently chartered to the Ministry of Defence and is conducting a Falkland Island re-supply voyage.

  Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the pathogens that the United Kingdom will not export as a signatory of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. [146965]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I have been asked to reply.

  A list of the pathogens controlled for export from the UK is contained in Council Regulation (EC) No 1334/2000, as amended (available from: http://www.dti.gov.uk/export.control/pdfs/1159_annexl.pdf). There is no embargo on the export of pathogens from the UK. All licence applications to export these pathogens from the UK to destinations outside the EU are considered on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

  Civil Contingency Reaction Force
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the reduction in training days will have on the readiness of the Civil Contingency Reaction Force; and if he will make a statement. 1146849]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial statement I gave on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 18WS. The reduction in training days will not affect readiness of the 14 Civil Contingency Reaction Forces.

  Demobilised Reservists
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support is available to recently demobilised reservists who suffer stress related illnesses related to the difficulty of readjusting to civilian life.[R] [147037]

  Mr. Caplin
  The MOD and Department of Health officials are working together to maximise the delivery of mental health services to all Veterans. Those reservists who deployed to Iraq during OP TEL1C can be seen at the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP) on referral by their doctor. Where appropriate, the Programme will refer them to a country-wide network of specialist psychiatrists and psychologists for expert assessment and diagnosis. The GVMAP pays for this, including the patient's travel costs.

  In addition, at the end of each deployment all personnel, including reservists, undergo a period of "normalisation" as a measure to minimise the possibility of stress related disorders. They also receive a presentation about post traumatic stress reactions and are given information leaflets, covering post traumatic stress reactions and the problems which may be encountered on returning home. Reservists will also be provided with details of service related charities such as Combat Stress, SSAFA and the RBL.

  Departmental Relocation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to establish procedures for 762W
  assessing the impact of possible relocation of staff in his Department to the regions; and if he will make a statement; [146930]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to relocate Government jobs on the Department's ability to meet (a) departmental policy objectives and (b) departmental public service agreements; [146885]

  (3) what assessment his Department has made of the effect of possible relocation of staff in his Department to North Staffordshire on (a) job creation, (b) sustainable development, (c) the local economy and (d) tackling regional economic disparities; and if he will make a statement; [146899]

  (4) what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of re-location of staff to North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement. [146869]

  Mr. Caplin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 516W, by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

  Eurofighter Typhoon
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been conducted to ascertain the change in unit cost of Eurofighter Typhoon should the third tranche of the original order not be purchased; what savings could he expected from the cancellation of the third tranche; and if he will make a statement. [146851]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 May 2003,Official Report, column 154W; the situation remains the same.

  Iraq
  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of British troops are engaged in security duties for American commercial and business interests in Iraq. [146573]

  Mr. Ingram
  None.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the anti-malarial treatment mefloquine hydrochloride has been issued to UK forces serving in Iraq. [148291]

  Mr. Caplin
  The anti-malarial treatment mefloquine hydrochloride was not issued to United Kingdom forces serving in Iraq. The stated malarial prophylaxis for Iraq is Chloroquine/Paludrine.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the roulement of UK forces in Iraq. [143735]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 18 November 2003,Official Report, column 755W, to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor).

  Medical Supplies Agency
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place to ensure that suitably
  763W
  qualified personnel are used by military units in the ordering, delivery, storage and use of materials, equipment, drugs and other medical items; and if he will make a statement. [145350]

  Mr. Caplin
  Training is provided prior to taking up post and through continuous personal development to ensure that all personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence in medical supply and storage are suitably qualified. Medical personnel who control the use of medical materiel and equipment are also appropriately trained.

  MOD Police Pensions
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons in receipt of a pension for the MOD police were previously employed in the armed forces without any break in employment service. [147684]

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

  Scottish Regiments
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the(a) Black Watch, (b) King's Own Scottish Borderers and (c) Royal Scots regiments. [147680]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are currently no plans regarding the future of any of these Regiments. The Defence White Paper published last month provides the policy context for shaping the structure of our armed forces. Subsequently, the details of individual systems and units within that structure will need to be developed, but presently no decisions have been taken.

  Service Children's Education
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place between his Department, the Department for Education and Skills and the Treasury regarding the funding of local education authority schools which have a significant number of pupils from service families. [147137]

  Mr. Caplin
  Funding of local education authority schools is a matter for the Department for Education and Skills and the relevant departments in the devolved Administrations. We have frequent contact with the Department for Education and Skills to discuss the issues faced by schools with children from the Service population and ensure that the provision meets their educational requirements.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the number of children from service families being educated in local education authority-maintained schools. [147142]

  Mr. Caplin
  We do not hold statistics on the type of school attended by dependent children from service families. However, we estimate that there are between 80,000 and 100,000 attending state schools in the UK.

  Service Pensions
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he expects work on illustrative models for the proposed armed forces pensions early departure scheme to be completed; and when he will publish the models. [147131]

  Mr. Caplin
  Work on the detailed design of the new Early Departure Payment (EDP) payments model is now close to being finalised. I will provide further information on our plans shortly.

  Type-45 Destroyers
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the in-service dates are for each of the Type 45 Destroyers. [146852]

  Mr. Ingram
  Six Type 45 Destroyers are currently on order. The currently approved in service date for the First of Class, HMS Daring, is November 2007, although this date is currently under review. The remaining ships are planned to enter service at intervals up to the end of 2011.

CABINET OFFICE

  Departmental Relocation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to relocate Government jobs on his Office's ability to meet its policy objectives. [146874]

  Mr. Alexander
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury gave her on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 516W.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff in his Office work in(a) the West Midlands and (b) North Staffordshire. [146913]

  Mr. Alexander
  As at 2 January 2004. there were 20 staff working in the West Midlands and no staff working (full-time equivalents) in the North Staffordshire area.

  Duchy of Lancaster
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total value is of Duchy grants that have been disbursed to the north west in the last year. [147780]

  Mr. Alexander
  I am not a Trustee of the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund. However, the Secretary of the Fund has provided the following information:Grants made from the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund during the financial year ending 31 March 2003 amounted to £231,277.

  Government Information and Communication Service
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answer of 6 January 2004,Official Report, column 221W, on Government Information and Communication Service, if he will break down the total sum quoted by budget head; and what the figures were for each year from 1996. [147398]
  765W
  Mr. Alexander
  Financial allocations to the GICS centre in 2003–04 consist of:

  £000

  Head of Profession (including secretariat)

  262

  Development centre (recruitment and career & professional development for members)

  808

  Operations Unit (cross-cutting emergency communications)

  1,388

  Total

  2,458

  Allocations to the GICS and its predecessors (the Information Officer Management Unit and the Government Information Service) were:

  Total (£000)

  1996–97

  607

  1997–98

  575

  1998–99

  680

  1999–2000

  815

  2000–01

  962

  2001–02

  1,888

  2002–03

  4,079

  2003–04

  2,458

  The role and responsibilities of the GICS in the Cabinet Office have evolved and developed since 1996.

  The GICS covered Emergency Communications Coordination from 2001–02 and HM Queen's Jubilee Media facilities in 2002–03.

  The GICS also funded a full-time Head of Profession from 1998 to December 2003.

  The Media Monitoring Unit also became part of GICS centre finances in April 1999 and the Government News Network in April 2002. Both charge other Government Departments for their services and so require no budget allocation.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Antisocial Behaviour Orders
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many hours, and what budgets were allocated, for(a) training of magistrates and (b) training of magistrates clerks on antisocial behaviour orders in each magistrate authority, listed in descending order according to average amount spent on training for magistrates clerks since the introduction of antisocial behaviour orders. [144832]

  Mr. Leslie
  The specific information requested is not collected or held centrally and could be researched and provided in the format requested only at disproportionate cost. Statutory responsibility for the training of magistrates currently rests with the 42 independent Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs).

  For magistrates, MCCs generally incorporated Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) training into Bench meetings, new magistrate training days and other meetings or training events. The JSB produced training
  766W
  materials on ASBOs from within existing budgets, and the majority of MCCs report having used these along with their own written guidance notes, which they issued to all magistrates.

  Training for magistrates clerks was similarly delivered by most MCCs through regular meetings. Where MCCs provided information about time spent on ASBO issues, between one-and-a-half to two hours had been allocated at meetings, not including preparation and private study by individual clerks and legal advisers.

  Boundary Changes
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Government plan to implement the boundary changes recommended by the Boundary Commission when it reports its findings. [147691]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Boundary Commission for England is required to submit its final report by 12 April 2007 and the Boundary Commission for Wales, by 16 December 2006. It is a matter for the Commissions when, within that timescale, they do so. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is required by the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 to lay the reports before Parliament, together with draft Orders in Council giving them effect, with or without modifications, as soon as may be thereafter.

  Justice System (Costs)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Government are taking to cut(a) costs and (b) waste in the justice system. [146676]

  Mr. Leslie
  The question covers a wide range of initiatives being undertaken by Government Departments and agencies involved in the justice system and could be answered fully only at disproportionate cost.

  In this Department the principal measures to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system include: the creation of the unified courts administration in April 2005, combining the present Court Service with the magistrates' courts; the Tribunal for Users Programme that will create a single new agency responsible for the majority of tribunal; and savings of £210 million in legal aid to be made over the three years to March 2006 from very high cost criminal cases and asylum, civil and criminal legal aid generally.

  Magistrates Courts
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what effect combining magistrates courts with criminal jurisdictions and magistrates courts with civil and family jurisdictions has had, particularly with reference to shared waiting room facilities. [147665]

  Mr. Leslie
  When magistrates courts combine courts with criminal jurisdictions with courts with civil and family jurisdictions, they will routinely offer separate
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  waiting facilities where practicable. However, there may be local and unavoidable circumstances when those waiting for criminal and civil and family hearings are required to share facilities.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Departmental Policies
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the impact of her Department's policies on the constituency of Regent's Park and Kensington, North since 1997. [145419]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport seeks to improve the quality of life for everyone through improved access to the best in cultural and sporting activities. The Department also champions the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The Department's policies have had a significant impact on the constituency of Regent's Park and Kensington, North since 1 May 1997. For example, Arts Council England funds a diverse range of arts organisations and projects in the constituency. In 2005–06, regularly funded arts organisations in Regent's Park and Kensington North will receive a total of £813,278—an increase of 12 per cent. from 2003–04. These include:The Union Dance Company and Trust, which will receive an Arts Council award of £250,065 in 2005–06—an increase of 22.1 per cent. from 2003–04;
  The London Print Studio (LPS), which will receive an Arts Council award of £181,800 in 2005–06—an increase of 5.1 per cent. since 2003–04;
  Paddington Arts, which will receive an Arts Council award of £50,000 in 2005–06—an increase of 5.9 per cent. since 2003–05.

  The Regent's Park, one of the eight Royal Parks, lies within this constituency. The park provides a wide range of amenities, including sports pitches for cricket, hockey, softball, football and rounders, tennis courts, golf practice facilities, boating and a running track. The Royal Parks Agency, an executive agency of DCMS, has obtained grants of £780,000 from the Football Foundation and £500,000 from Sport England to reinstate the sports pitches and to build a new pavilion. Work is underway on reinstating the pitches and is expected to be completed by October 2004. This funding also provides for a Sports Development Officer to work with local authorities to involve children from deprived backgrounds from all over London in sporting activities.

  The Royal Parks Agency also provides free entertainment every summer between June and September in The Regent's Park. This includes brass bands, music from the Caribbean and North Africa, opera, open air art and photography exhibitions.

  In addition to Government spending, the constituency of Regent's Park and Kensington, North has received 398 National Lottery awards since 1 May 1997, with a total value of £39.865 million. The awards include:
  A Sport England award of £8,778,720 to the North Kensington Amenity Trust for the extension of facilities at Westway Sports Centre (November 1999);
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  A Sport England award of £1,536,069 to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for a new sports hall and the upgrading of changing and ancillary facilities (May 2000).

  The residents of Regent's Park and Kensington, North also have ready access to a wealth of national cultural institutions in London, including the English National Opera, the National Gallery and the British Museum.

  Departmental Relocation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment her Department has made of the benefits of re-location of staff to north Staffordshire; and if she will make a statement; [146872]

  (2) what assessment she has made of the effect of proposals to relocate Government jobs on the Department's ability to meet (a) departmental policy objectives and (b) departmental public service agreements; [146888]

  (3) what assessment her Department has made of the effect of possible relocation of staff in her Department to north Staffordshire on (a) job creation, (b) sustainable development, (c) the local economy and (d) tackling regional economic disparities; and if she will make a statement; [146903]

  (4) what plans she has to establish procedures for assessing the impact of possible relocation of staff in her Department to the regions; and if she will make a statement. [146933]

  Mr. Caborn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 516W.

  Euro
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in how many speeches during 2003 she declared support for the Government's policy on the euro. [147292]

  Mr. Caborn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 516–17W.

  Historic Wrecks
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what proportion of those on the Advisory Committee for Historic Wreck Sites are(a) vocational divers and (b) archaeologists; [145776]

  (2) who the members of the Advisory Committee for Historic Wreck Sites are; and what practical experience each member has in diving for historic wrecks. [145818]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites includes members and observers drawn from a wide constituency of interests related to historic shipwrecks.

  Jonathan Adams a diver and archaeologist has been carrying out archaeological investigations on historic wrecks since 1979, including the Mary Rose, the Grace Dieu and the Amsterdam.
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  Dr. Lucy Blue an archaeologist and diver has been working on submerged sites for 15 years.

  Stuart Bryan is the Sub-Aqua Association's Nautical Archaeology Co-ordinator, and has widespread experience of vocationally diving on submerged archaeological sites.

  Dr. Alexzandra Hildred a diver and archaeologist has been carrying out archaeological investigations on historic wrecks since 1979, including the Mary Rose.

  Jonathan Parlour is a vocational diving member of a licensed team carrying out archaeological surveys of the Coronation sites off Plymouth, which are both designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.

  Dr. Mark Redknap is an archaeologist and the diving curator of the National Museum of Wales, and has extensive experience of diving on historic wrecks including leading a team of volunteers to carry out excavations on the Cattewater wreck. He also led an expedition to the Smalls Reef, and has dived on the Mary Rose and Stirling Castle wrecks.

  Robin Daniels is an archaeologist arid is the non-diving licensee of a designated wreck site. As this is in the intertidal zone, diving is not necessary.

  Margaret Deacon is a non-diving representative of the oceanographic research community.

  Patrick Griggs is a non-diving marine law specialist.

  Wendy Robinson is a non-diving expert in the first-aid conservation of finds from the marine environment.

  The Department intends to appoint an additional recreational diving representative on the Committee in early 2004.

  Microsoft (Licensing Fees)
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether a decision has been taken as to whether her Department intends to continue paying Microsoft for licensing fees in future years; and if she will make a statement. [147550]

  Mr. Caborn
  No decision has been taken yet on Microsoft licensing.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport why the amount paid by her Department to Microsoft in licensing fees rose from £9,500 in 2001–02 to £234,000 in 2002–03. [147551]

  Mr. Caborn
  The license fee increased because the Department moved to MS Office, implemented Microsoft's Content Management Server software as part of the redevelopment of the Department's website and took out upgrade protection on Microsoft products under the OGC agreement with the aim of reducing any costs that might accrue from Microsoft's new charging arrangements commonly known as Licensing 6.0.

  Procurement (Outsourcing)
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether her Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to 770W
  offshore companies; to which countries her Department has outsourced these jobs; how much her Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years. [147581]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport follows central guidance from OGC on procurement policy. No IT jobs are outsourced to offshore companies and this Department does not operate any call centres. The Department spent £1.2 million on outsourcing in 2001–02, £1.3 million in 2002–03 and the budget for the next two years is in line with previous years.

  Scottish Television
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to help introduce more viewing of Scottish television in Northern Ireland. [147043]

  Estelle Morris
  The BBC Scotland television service and ITV Scottish, Grampian and Border services are already available to those consumers in Northern Ireland with digital satellite receiving equipment. The extension of Scottish region television services to other areas in the UK is not possible on terrestrial television because of technical and licensing constraints.

  Tourism
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the merger between the British Tourism Authority and the English Tourist Council. [147249]

  Mr. Caborn
  On 31 October 2002, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a radical reform of tourism support in Britain aimed at building stronger, more effective and more coherent arrangements through the creation of a single lead body focusing on marketing. Functions of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourism Council were merged on 1 April 2003 to form VisitBritain, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State appointed Sir Michael Lickiss as Chairman.

  VisitBritain restructured its overseas operations during 2003. In addition to promoting Britain overseas as a tourist destination, VisitBritain is taking forward its new role as lead body for the domestic marketing of England. The England Marketing Advisory Board (EMAB), chaired by Hugh Taylor, was established on 1 April 2003 to advise the Board of VisitBritain on domestic marketing, and its domestic marketing strategy was published in November 2003. With EMAB's support, VisitBritain has launched a series of domestic 'Enjoy England' campaigns.

  The merger enables VisitBritain to use in the domestic market its expertise in marketing Britain internationally, developing more effective partnerships with private investors to support tourism across Britain and building on the success of the Million Visitor Campaign. It brings economies in terms of overheads and central services and it creates opportunities for private industry and the regions to take a stronger leadership role in setting the marketing agenda.
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  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the tourism satellite accounts will be of assistance to the tourism industry. [147254]

  Mr. Caborn
  Tourism satellite accounts will deliver both improved and more extensive information on the economic value of the tourism sector. Tourism satellite accounts will facilitate the production of much improved estimates of quantities such as value added and employment in the tourism industry, and its linkages with the wider economy.

  The tourism industry will benefit directly from this enhanced source of information to assist their business planning and decision-making, and indirectly from decisions taken by public bodies that are informed by this new substantial information source.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which bodies will be consulted on the implementation of the tourism satellite accounts. [147255]

  Mr. Caborn
  The management group of the UK Tourism Satellite Account First Steps Project are currently considering a draft consultation plan.

  This proposes a list of consultees which includes the Office for National Statistics as well as the following groups of organisations: devolved administrations, international organisations, regional development agencies, tourist boards, and the tourism industry through trade associations.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the estimated cost of implementing the tourism satellite accounts is; [147256]

  (2) when she expects the tourism satellite accounts to be completed; and if she will make a statement. [147257]

  Mr. Caborn
  The cost of the UK Tourism Satellite Account First Steps project, which has just begun, will be £75,000.

  As well as providing provisional figures for the main parts of a tourism satellite account, the project will deliver a report describing further work and data collection that would be required to subsequently develop a full tourism satellite account. This will also give an estimate of the costs that this would incur and the expected time-scale. This phase of the work will be completed by early autumn 2004.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

  Prisons
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Minister for Women what efforts are being made to prevent suicides among the female prison population. [147104]

  Ms Hewitt
  Reducing the number of self-inflicted deaths and instances of self-harm in prison establishments is a ministerial and Prison Service priority. A proactive three-year programme to develop policies and practices to reduce prisoner suicide and manage self-harm in prisons commenced in April 2001. The main principles of the strategy apply across all types 772W
  of prisons and prisoners whether male or female. An investment of over £21 million through the three-year programme is allowing physical improvements (now 75 per cent. complete) to be made at six 'Safer Local' pilot sites, one of which is the women's prison and Y01 Eastwood Park.

  The learning resulting from this programme will benefit all prisoners; meanwhile, women prisoners are to benefit from a specifically targeted and separate suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy being developed for them. This builds upon a number of interventions including: internal improvements in handling population pressures; individual crisis counselling for women prisoners who self-harm; the continued development and evaluation of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, which is currently being trialled at Durham, Millwood Hall and Holloway prisons; investment and planning to ensure progress on the detoxification strategy in the Women's Estate; the development (in collaboration with the University of Newcastle) of a new, three-stage screening process to more effectively detect mental health problems; and the introduction of a new training pack for all staff working with women in custody, which includes a module on the health and well being of women prisoners. £1 million from the Department of Health has been allocated to the Women's Estate to be spent on the recruitment of psychiatric nurses, and 11 out of the 17 prisons for women now have mental health in-reach facilities.

  Brockhill, Eastwood Park, Holloway, New Hall and Styal prisons were among the first establishments to have full-time, dedicated Suicide Prevention Coordinators (SPCs); and now all women's prisons have a designated full or part-time SPC. All women's establishments also deliver suicide awareness training to staff and it is an inherent part of all employees' jobs to observe and report behaviour that may indicate a tendency to self-harm.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Brighton and Hove Albion
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 8 December,Official Report, column 342W, on Brighton and Hove Albion, if he will list the hon. Members with whom (a) he and (b) other ministers have discussed this issue. [143943]

  Yvette Cooper
  Neither the Deputy Prime Minister, nor any other Minister in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, has discussed the proposals for a football stadium at Palmer, East Sussex with other hon. Members.

  Departmental Relocation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff in his Department work in(a) the West Midlands and (b) North Staffordshire. [146912]

  Yvette Cooper
  The number of permanent and casual staff employed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in(a) West Midlands is 140 and (b) Staffordshire as a whole is 41
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  Joan Walley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what plans he has to establish procedures for assessing the impact of possible re-location of staff in his Department to the regions; and if he will make a statement; [146927]

  (2) what assessment his Department have made of the effect of possible relocation of staff in his Department to north Staffordshire on (a) job creation, (b) sustainable development, (c) the local economy and (d) tackling regional economic disparities; and if he will make a statement; [146896]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to relocate Government jobs on the Department's ability to meet (a) departmental policy objectives and (b) departmental public service agreements; [146883]

  (4) what assessment his Department have made of the benefits of re-location of staff to north Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement. [146867]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) on 12 January 2004.

  Education Funding
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Cabinet Office's strategy and delivery units on changes in the way money is allocated to schools and the impact this would have on the system of local government financial support. [147149]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 554W.

  Fire Service (Radio System)
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the Government will ensure that usable spectrum is available to bidders competing to provide a service wide radio replacement scheme for the fire service. [147807]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In their response to the Invitation to Submit Proposals documentation suppliers have indicated that spectrum is available which is sufficient to meet the needs of their proposed solutions.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the national competition for a service-wide radio replacement scheme for the fire service. [147808]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The competition for a national radio system for the Fire and Rescue Services is progressing to plan, with competition scheduled for December 2007.

  Housing
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements the Government have put in place to ensure that the special needs of disabled people are provided for within its affordable housing policy. [144096]
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  Yvette Cooper
  All new build affordable housing schemes funded by the Government through the Housing Corporation must meet the requirements of "Part M" of the building regulations, which the Government revised in 1999 to improve the accessibility and convenience of new housing. The revised regulations include requirements to ensure that entrances, lifts, corridors, doorways and WCs are accessible, including to wheelchair users. In addition, all newly built affordable housing schemes funded through the Housing Corporation must comply with the Corporation's scheme development standards, which adopt criteria for accessibility and internal environments that help to make homes even more adaptable to long-term needs.

  The Government also provides resources for adaptations to existing homes to meet the needs of people with physical disabilities. Local housing authorities have a statutory duty to offer means tested Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) to eligible applicants in both the private and social rented sectors who require adaptations to help them live independently in their own homes. The Government meets 60 per cent. of local authority expenditure incurred on DFGs, with the remaining 40 per cent. being met from the authority's own resources. We have increased funding for this grant to £99 million in 2003–04, compared with £88 million in 2002–03 and £56 million in 1997–98.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what complaints he has received on the balloting arrangements of local authorities consulting tenants on plans to transfer their housing stocks. [146630]

  Keith Hill
  None.

  Housing Bill
  Jon Trickett
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of measures in the Housing Bill on promoting safety of the student population. [147457]

  Keith Hill
  No formal assessment has been made as to how the proposals in the Housing Bill will impact on the safety of students. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believes proposals will bring real benefits to students.

  The Bill includes measures to license Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), including shared student houses. Local authorities are required to licence HMOs of three or more storeys which are occupied by five or more persons. In addition they will have discretionary powers to license other categories HMOs where there are problems for which licensing is appropriate. The exercise of those powers will be subject to effective local consultation and to approval by the appropriate minister.

  Jon Trickett
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of houses in multiple occupation which are likely to be licensed under measures in the Housing Bill. [147459]

  Keith Hill
  The Government are proposing to introduce mandatory licensing for highest risk Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects this to cover properties
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  of three storeys or more and five people or more. It is estimated that about 120,000 houses in multiple occupation are expected to be licensed under this proposal. This estimate, however, does not include properties that could be required to be licensed where a local authority seeks to use in its area the discretionary power that the Bill provides to extend the scope of HMO licensing to HMOs not subject to the national mandatory licensing.

  Local Government Finance
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from Leicester city council concerning the proposed local government settlement for Leicester in 2004–05. [148206]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Since the start of consultation on 19 November, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received two representations from Leicester city council, on the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2004–05. Consultation closed on 9 January. I have recently written to the Leader of Leicester city council to express concern about media reports of potentially large council tax increase in Leicester.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much additional money Leicester city council has received from his Department in each year since 1997. [148207]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Grant issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its predecessor departments for Leicester city council since 1997 is as tabled:

  £ million

  1997–98

  215.6

  1998–99

  223.4

  1999–00

  227.8

  2000–01

  236.5

  2001–02

  242.1

  2002–03

  252.0

  2003–041

  273.3

  1Budgeted figures. Includes Revenue Support Grant, Redistributed Non-Domestic Rates, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (from 2001–02 onwards).

  Source:

  RS forms 1997–98 to 2002–03, RG forms 2001–02 to 2002–03, RA 2003–04 form and RA(SG) 2003–04 form.

  Parish Clerks
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of parish clerks are paid less than the minimum wage; and if he will make a statement. [147430]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the proportion of rough sleepers who had previously been in local authority care in each of the last five years. [147337]

  Yvette Cooper
  This information is not held centrally, and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

  Scalding Accidents
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people(a) over and (b) under 12 have been seriously scalded in baths or showers in each of the last five years. [147206]

  Phil Hope
  The total number of injuries due to scalding in baths or showers over the five most recent years for which records are held is in the table.

  Year

  Under 12

  Over 12

  1998

  2,700

  918

  1999

  2,560

  823

  2000

  1,863

  976

  2001

  2,000

  1,107

  2002

  1,743

  1,148

  Data on the severity of these injuries is not held centrally, and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many children under 12 who were seriously scalded in showers or baths in each of the past five years were unaccompanied by an adult. [147207]

  Phil Hope
  Accident records collected in hospital casualty departments do not record whether children were accompanied or supervised by an adult when bathing.

  Social Housing (Plymouth)
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social houses for rent have been built by(a) housing associations and (b) Plymouth city council in Plymouth in each of the last three financial years. [147164]

  Keith Hill
  The figures reported by Plymouth city council and the National House Building Council in returns to the Office of the Prime Minister show:

  (a)

  (b)

  2000–01

  38

  0

  2001–02

  24

  0

  2002–03

  4

  0

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Malawi
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has given to Malawi in 2003–04 to deal with food shortages; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of its use. [147347]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  DFID has committed 1 3 million to assist Malawi with food security in financial year 2003–04. This aid will pay for improved seeds and fertilizers for over 2 million poor households, pay-for-work schemes for rural poor, feeding programmes for the most vulnerable groups and strengthening management in Malawi's safety net
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  programmes and food crisis early warning systems. DFID also works closely in this area with the World Bank and the European Commission which plans to spend £14 million on food security this year.

  Thorough evaluations of the largest schemes are made on a regular basis. DFID's seed and fertilizer scheme shows very high returns. The pay-for-work scheme needs some changes to improve targeting and sustainability. The food crisis early warning system is steadily improving and should meet the information needs identified in the 2001–02 food crisis.

  World Trade Round
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions he had discussions with Mr. Pascal Lamy between 10 and 14 September 2003. [146595]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK delegation was in close contact with the European Commission, at all levels, throughout the duration of the WTO ministerial in Cancun.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he was consulted about the drafting of the Derbez text at the World Trade Organisation ministerial in Cancun. [146603]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Ministerial Declaration, circulated by the Mexican Foreign Minister, Derbez, was produced following extensive consultations with WTO Members and the European Commission. The UK and other EU member states made their views known to the Commission formally, through meetings of the Article 133 Committee and the European Council, and informally.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his latest assessment is of the number of people facing food shortages in Zimbabwe. [147341]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee's survey in April last year estimated that approximately 4.4 million people in rural areas and 1.1 million people in urban areas would require food aid during the pre-harvest months of January, February and March 2004. However, it is now clear that this figure is an underestimate and is being revised upwards to 5.1 million people in rural areas. Results of a comprehensive urban vulnerability assessment are yet to be released, but are also expected to show a significant increase in people requiring humanitarian assistance.

  This increase in beneficiary numbers is partly due to spiralling inflation (now over 600 per cent.), which has affected food prices in shops. There is also emerging evidence of up to several hundred thousand people facing crisis in the former commercial farming areas, most of whom are former farm workers displaced by the Government's disastrous land reform programme.
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  Additionally, the state-controlled Grain Marketing Board has proved erratic and unreliable in contributing to food supply and distribution in the country. Donors are monitoring the situation closely, in close consultation with the World Food Programme.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa on food imports to Zimbabwe. [147342]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  Apart from being a major exporter of food to Zimbabwe, South Africa is also a donor in the on-going humanitarian relief effort. The South African Government donated approximately 58,000 metric tonnes of maize to the previous WFP emergency operation for 2002–03, and may make a further contribution to the current operation. Accordingly, representatives of the South African Government participate regularly in co-ordination meetings concerning the humanitarian programme in Zimbabwe, where issues such as food imports are discussed.

  Outside Zimbabwe, representatives from UK Government regularly discuss the Zimbabwe crisis with the Government of South Africa, though discussions usually focus on broad political and humanitarian issues, rather than food imports.

  The UK Government, together with the other major donors (EU and USAID), continue to promote the liberalisation of food imports to Zimbabwe and the role of the private sector.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Arms Exports (Israel)
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether approvals have been given for the export to Israel of categories of equipment covering(a) mortars, (b) rocket launchers, (c) antitank weapons, (d) military explosives, (e) infrared and radar sensors and (f) chemical and biological agents. [146989]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Since May 1997, the Government have published an Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls containing details of all goods authorised for export from the UK and to which destinations. Copies of the Annual Report are available from the Libraries of the House.

  British Energy
  Anne Picking
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her written statement of 5 January,Official Report, column 1WS, on British Energy, what the current outstanding drawdown on the Government's credit facility by British Energy is. [147777]

  Mr. Timms
  Nil. As the company stated on 23 December 2003 the proceeds from the sale of Amergen were used to pay down all outstanding drawings on the credit facility.

  Business Support Schemes
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent on business support schemes in the UK in each year since 1997, broken down by region. [146145]

  Ms Hewitt
  Regional analysis of the Department's net spend on Promotion of Enterprise, Innovation and Increased Productivity (including Regional Development Agency expenditure) for the years 1998–99 to 2001–02 is as follows:

  £ million

  Financial year

  Region

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  North East

  23.6

  32.0

  45.8

  71.0

  North West

  67.3

  71.5

  93.8

  120.4

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  49.9

  52.8

  57.7

  72.7

  East Midlands

  43.4

  37.7

  49.1

  56.5

  West Midlands

  53.7

  62.4

  82.2

  79.0

  South West

  49.8

  44.4

  49.5

  66.5

  Eastern

  68.4

  54.9

  61.8

  73.5

  London

  103.1

  86.0

  106.0

  116.5

  South East

  102.4

  84.9

  103.5

  110.0

  Total

  561.6

  526.6

  649.4

  766.1

  Similar data are not readily available for 1997–98 and the full analysis has not yet been completed for 2002–03.

  Cancun Summit
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it was her policy to support the decision of the European Union at the World Trade Organisation ministerial in Cancun to pursue negotiations on the Singapore issues. [146601]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government remain convinced that it is important for developed and developing countries alike to reduce bureaucracy on cross border trade (trade facilitation), to encourage a climate which facilitates foreign direct investment, to promote economic growth through fair competition and to encourage transparency in the procurement of public goods and services to help reduce corruption and increase good governance.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she was consulted about the drafting of the Derbez text at the World Trade Organisation ministerial in Cancun. [146602]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The draft Ministerial Declaration, circulated by the Mexican Foreign Minister Derbez, was produced following extensive consultations with WTO members and the European Commission. The UK and other EU member states made their views known to the commission formally, through meetings of the Article 133 Committee and the European Council, and informally.

  Miners Compensation
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total amount of full and final 780W
  settlements and interim payments paid to former miners and their families to date is in South Yorkshire. [147405]

  Nigel Griffiths
  To date £127 million has been paid in respect of respiratory disease and £163 million in respect vibration white finger to claimants in South Yorkshire.

  Credit Registers
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were placed on a bad creditor register as a result of incorrect information in each of the last 10 years; and what right of appeal those wrongly placed on such registers have. [147699]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  There is no register of bad creditors as such. Credit reference agencies hold details of credit accounts and payment histories. In some cases these may show late payments or defaults. Lenders use this information to make decisions regarding the suitability of lending to a particular consumer. These decisions may vary depending on individual lenders commercial decisions.

  If individuals believe a particular lender has registered incorrect information about their account with a credit reference agency, they can contact either the lender or the agency to seek correction. Checks should then be made on the accuracy of the information, and corrections made where appropriate. Where individuals can show that the information on their credit file is inaccurate and the lender has refused to amend it, the matter can be referred to the Information Commissioner. Alternatively, individuals have the right to seek redress through the courts.

  There are no centrally collated results to show the number of applications for corrections on credit reference files, nor the number of corrections made as a result of those applications.

  Departmental Advertising
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total expenditure on information campaigns and advertising was for her Department in 1997–98. [145329]

  Ms Hewitt
  My Department's expenditure on advertising through the Central Office of Information in 1997–98 amounted to £2,504,885 excluding VAT and subsequent COI rebates. Records of expenditure on other information campaigns are not held centrally.

  Departmental Grants
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding her Department has provided to the Industry Forum Adaptation scheme since its inception; and what time scale applies to this funding. [145487]

  Ms Hewitt
  My Department undertook to support an initial two-year Industry Forum Adaptation (IFA) programme comprising a number of separate sectorally-focused projects. An initial tranche of £15 million funding was agreed in July 1999. This allocation was fully committed by March 2002. Following a high degree of demand from sectors, I announced a further
  781W
  £20 million (£11 million devoted to IFA) at the Manufacturing Summit in December 2001. Funding support the majority of IFA projects is over three to five years on a tapering basis. Contractual spending commitments under IFA extend to financial year 2007–08.

  Dumping
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her policy to seek an end to dumping of agricultural produce by developed countries on developing countries as part of a development treaty agreement with the World Trade Organisation. [146640]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The ultimate goal in WTO agriculture negotiations is to create freer and fairer world markets in agriculture. The Doha mandate commits all WTO members to substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support and reductions, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidy. If agreed, this will make a significant contribution to reducing dumping of subsidised produce on developing country markets.

  Electricity Grid
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department is taking to ensure that the national electricity grid is able to cope in the winter months. [148268]

  Mr. Timms
  We expect the national electricity grid to be robust over the winter months. However, there are always some exceptional circumstances capable of leading to supply problems. We are not complacent and will continue to monitor the situation with National Grid and Ofgem.

  Employment Directive
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the volunteering sector will be covered by the Employment Directive. [146425]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: The European Employment Directive applies to employment and vocational training. While it does not cover unpaid volunteers, therefore, people employed in the voluntary sector enjoy the same rights under it as those employed in the private and public sectors.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it will be possible to claim discrimination on more than one ground under the Employment Directive. [146426]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: Yes. The grounds covered by this Directive are not mutually exclusive. As with other employment discrimination legislation, parties covered by the Employment Directive will be able to claim discrimination on any of the grounds on which they believe they have been discriminated.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how her Department will define the legitimate aims an employer may use to justify age discrimination. [146428]
  782W
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: The consultation on proposals for age discrimination legislation ended on 20 October 2003. It sought views on the legitimate aims that employers might use to justify age discrimination. We will decide what kind of approach to take in the light of our analysis of the responses to the consultation. We will consult on the draft regulations this Spring.

  Employment Tribunals
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how long it took on average in each year since 1999 for employment tribunals to issue a decision after a hearing has finished. [147004]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: In the last four financial years, based on the information currently held in the Employment Tribunal Service's statistical database, the average length of time taken to issue a decision was as follows:

  Days

  1999–2000

  20

  2000–01

  22

  2001–02

  22

  2002–03

  20

  Source:

  Employment Tribunals Service.

  Energy Policy
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meteorological studies her Department has(a) conducted and (b) commissioned on average percentage levels of availability at different points during the year of (i) onshore wind farms, (ii) offshore wind farms and (iii) wave power installations. [R] [147516]

  Mr. Timms
  Last year my Department commissioned a study in order to assist in determining the priority areas for future commercial exploitation of renewable energy.

  The study 'Atlas of UK Marine Renewables' will among other things provide a spatial quantification of offshore wind and wave resources and will also consider the temporal variation of the energy parameters. The first results from the study are expected shortly.

  Other supported projects which have included meteorological studies include; 'Predicting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER),1 project which developed a novel wind resource assessment methodology which can produce long-term and spatially detailed estimates of the wind conditions at offshore sites and the 'Forecasting Short-Term Wind Farm Production"2 project which developed a method that applies a model to provide site specific forecasts of wind speed and power from one to 36 hour horizons.

  Additionally, the Department of Trade and Industry's Wind Speed Database contains estimates of the annual mean wind speed throughout the UK. The database uses the Ordnance Survey grid system each

  783W
  value stored in the database is the estimated average for a lkm square at 10m, 25m or 45m above ground level.

  Full reports of both mentioned projects together with the Wind Speed Database can be seen on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk
  1Predicting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER)—ETSU W/35/00536/00/REP URN 02/1436
  2Forecasting Short-Term Wind Farm Production—FES W/45/00572/00/00 URN 03/892

  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department has taken in the last six months to ensure that the nuclear energy option remains open. [R] [147519]

  Mr. Timms
  Skills and Research and Development are key areas for maintaining nuclear power as an option for the future.

  The Government have been assisting in the establishment of a Sector Skills Council to represent the needs of the nuclear industry. Cogent Sector Skills Council is undergoing the development process for licensing early this year. It will aim to ensure that the education and training base meet the nuclear employers current and future needs.

  New opportunities for fission research, with funding up to £5 million over four years, were recently announced as part of the Research Council's "Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy" (TSEC) initiative. This funding comes from the £28 million allocated to the Research Councils for sustainable energy research under the 2002 Spending review.

  We have also been looking closely at energy research needs across the board in the light of the Energy White Paper, including nuclear fission. DTI funding is being considered as part of the 2004 Spending Review, which covers the period 2005–08.

  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the report, "An Essential Programme to Underpin Government Policy on Nuclear Power", published by the Nuclear Task Force in July 2003. [R] [147520]

  Mr. Timms
  The report's recommendations are being considered in the wider context of UK energy research requirements as part of the 2004 Spending Review, covering Government expenditure for the period 2005–08.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Renewable Energy Capital Modernisation Fund was allocated in 2003–04, as referred to in her Departmental Report 2003; and what amounts were allocated through non-nuclear expenditure directly related to the creation of open markets in each year since 1997. [147797]

  Mr. Timms
  The Renewable Energy Capital Modernisation Fund is providing £60 million of the additional £100 million for renewable energy announced by the Prime Minister in March 2001. The allocation of this £100 million to different activities in the renewable energy sector was announced in November 2001 and is set out as follows.
  784W

  £ million

  Capital grants for offshore wind

  25

  Biomass capital grants:

  30

  Energy crops infrastructure (DEFRA)

  3.5

  Innovative photovoltaic (PV) projects

  10

  Community and household schemes

  10

  Planning facilitation

  2.5

  Metering, storage and control technologies

  4

  Wave and tidal demonstrations

  5

  Support for "blue skies" research (OST)

  10

  Inclusive of the Prime Minister's £100 million, the Government are allocating £348 million over four years in direct support for renewable energy. This is over and above the incentive to renewable energy provided by the Renewables Obligation. All this support will contribute to opening up market opportunities for renewable energy.

  Engineering Construction Industry
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to ensure that the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry is made mandatory. [145490]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Government believe that voluntary collective agreements should not be legally enforceable unless all the parties covered by such agreements want it. To do otherwise would undermine the voluntarist nature of collective bargaining in this country and dissuade parties from entering voluntary agreements.

  Industrial Disease
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the ratio is of live to posthumous claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and how many new claims were received in each of the last 10 weeks, broken down by area. [147266]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The ratio of claims is 47 per cent. live and 53 per cent. deceased.

  The number of claims received is:

  W/E

  Scotland

  England

  Wales

  Total

  2003

  2 November

  638

  6,762

  625

  8,025

  9 November

  419

  7,039

  302

  7,760

  16 November

  471

  6,021

  977

  7,469

  23 November

  535

  7,189

  1,322

  9,046

  30 November

  373

  5,833

  1,506

  7,712

  7 December

  694

  6,395

  1,715

  8,804

  14 December

  602

  5,136

  3,509

  9,247

  21 December

  542

  5,122

  1,495

  7,159

  28 December

  71

  1,097

  68

  1,236

  2004

  4 January

  60

  1,890

  64

  2,014

  Investment Rules
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the development of non-discriminatory multilateral rules for investment. [146588]
  785W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government remain convinced that there are potential economic and social benefits to be gained from a multilateral rules on investment for both developed and developing countries. However, we must take account of the views of developing countries, many of whom have expressed their strong opposition to taking forward negotiations particularly in the areas of investment and competition.

  I, therefore, welcome the fact that EU Trade Ministers agreed on 2 December that the European Community should "unbundle" the four issues and explore alternative, more flexible approaches, including the possibility of removing some, or all, of the Singapore issues from the Doha Round.

  Iraq (Contracts)
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the opportunities for(a) United Kingdom and (b) Iraqi companies to win contracts and subcontracts from the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq; and if she will make a statement. [147528]

  Ms Hewitt
  We wish to see UK companies play a substantial role in the reconstruction process in Iraq. The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) maintains an open system for the tendering process and several UK companies have already won contracts to assist in the reconstruction in Iraq. A further request for proposals has recently been released by the CPA Project Management Office which provides additional opportunities for UK companies to bid for contracts and sub-contracts.

  Iraqi companies are eligible to bid for both the prime contracts and sub-contracts.

  Leak Inquiries
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list occasions on which her Department have conducted an inquiry into alleged leaks from members of staff since 1997; and if she will list the occasions on which the names of those persons accused of leaking information from heir Department have been made public(a) by the Government and (b) by way of another source. [147193]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:1997
  The DTI conducted nine leak inquiries and assisted other Government Departments in a further four inquiries.
  1998
  The DTI conducted four leak inquiries and assisted other Government Departments in a further three inquiries.
  1999
  The DTI conducted one leak inquiry and assisted other Government Departments in a further four inquiries.
  2000
  The DTI conducted one leak inquiry and assisted other Government Departments in a further three inquiries.
  2001
  The DTI conducted no leak inquiries and was not asked to assist in any leak inquiry conducted by another Government Department.
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  2002
  The DTI conducted one leak inquiry and assisted another Government Department in one further inquiry.
  2003
  The DTI conducted one leak inquiry and assisted other Government Departments in a further two inquiries.

  On no occasion has the name of any person accused of leaking information been made public.

  World Trade Round
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions she had discussions with Pascal Lamy between 10 and 14 September 2003. [146594]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend, and I. had various discussions with Pascal Lamy between 10 and 14 September 2003. The UK delegation was in close contact with the European Commission, at all levels, throughout the duration of the WTO ministerial in Cancun.

  Nuclear Energy
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the basis is for the value of British Energy's spent fuel stockpile under paragraph 10.2, page 27 of the Historic Liabilities Funding Agreement between the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, British Energy Generation (UK) Limited, British Energy Generation Ltd, Newco 1 and Newco2, dated 1 October 2003. [147622]

  Mr. Timms
  British Energy's spent fuel represents a significant liability, provisions for which are set out in the Company's published accounts. Under the terms agreed for the restructuring of British Energy, the Government will take financial responsibility for the company's historic spent fuel liabilities, but British Energy will retain title to the fuel. In order to give the Government maximum flexibility in dealing with this fuel, for which it will be financially responsible, the Historic Liabilities Funding Agreement contains the option for the Government or another body nominated by the Government to take title to the fuel from British Energy for the nominal sum of £1.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the implications for security of nuclear materials at Sellafield of the report released on 18 December 2003 of nuclear material unaccounted for at UKAEA, BNFL and URENCO nuclear sites. [147624]

  Mr. Timms
  There are no security implications associated with the published "materials unaccounted for" (MUF) figures. The MUF values for any accountancy period need to be read in the context of the processing of materials that occurred over that period, and the published figures relating to Sellafield are within acceptable limits. There is no evidence to suggest that there have been any real losses or gains of nuclear material.

  Patents
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer to question
  787W
  reference 145352 of 7 January, if she will list the 13 animals to which patents have been granted; and in each case, to which part of the animal the patent applies. [147738]

  Ms Hewitt
  The animals are nematode worms (four patents), salmon (one patent), trout, (one patent), Zebrafish (one patent), mice (one patent), and nonhuman mammals in general (five patents). In each case, the patent relates to the whole organism.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) new jobs were created and (b) jobs were safeguarded following allocation of Regional Selective Assistance applications in each of the last five years, broken down by region. [147163]

  Jacqui Smith
  This information can be found in the Industrial Development Act Annual Report published by the Stationery Office and placed in the Library of the House.

  Singapore Issues
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the stance of her Department was on the Singapore issues at meetings of European trade ministers and officials before 15 December 2003. [146634]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government remain convinced that there are potential economic and social benefits to be gained from the Singapore issues for both developed and developing countries. However, we must take account of the views of developing countries, many of whom have expressed their strong opposition to taking forward negotiations, particularly in the areas of investment and competition.

  I, therefore, welcome the fact that EU Trade Ministers agreed on 2 December that the European Community should "unbundle" the four issues and explore alternative, more flexible approaches, including the possibility of removing some, or all, of the Singapore issues from the Doha Round.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the Singapore issue of trade facilitation. [146591]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government fully support the EU objective of securing an, ideally multilateral, agreement within the WTO on trade facilitation. Research by the World Bank and the OECD, together with the European Commission's own analysis, show the potential for savings and welfare gains. Proportionately developing countries, in particular, stand to gain most.

  Single Market
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on(a) European Community draft legislation to create a single market in service; and (b) on the effect the proposals will have. [140533]
  788W
  Jacqui Smith
  The proposals, which were expected to be published in the form of a European Framework Directive in mid-December, are the commission's response to a request by leaders at the Lisbon European Council in 2000 that the internal market be made to work for services.

  The aim is to remove those barriers to cross-border trade that affect all service sectors and all stages of the business process—establishment, use of inputs, promotion, distribution, sales, after-sales. Since the proposals have not yet been formally published, the Government cannot make any detailed comments at this point on their effect.

  The UK has already expressed support for the aim of making the single market a reality for services believing that this will bring advantages to the UK economy, its businesses and consumers. Market services have been increasing in importance to the UK economy over many years and now account for the bulk of UK economic growth.

  Greater competition and openness have the potential of providing to recipients more choice of better quality services at cheaper prices and reducing the cost of manufactured goods, thereby creating further gains for consumers. The implications for UK businesses would extend from traditional service companies, such as retailers and accountants, to manufacturers, who use and provide services.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms in Leeds, West have benefited from the small firms loan guarantee; and in which sectors. [147218]

  Nigel Griffiths
  In the financial year 2002–03, 10 firms in Leeds, West benefited from a loan under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee; eight in the service sector and two in manufacturing.

  In the current financial year to 31 December 2003, 14 firms have received loans; seven in the service sector and seven in manufacturing.

  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses have(a) opened and (b) closed in disadvantaged areas in each year since 1997. [147607]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of start-ups and closures. These cover businesses of all sizes.

  The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has defined 88 local authorities in England as being deprived for the purposes of targeting the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

  The number of businesses registering and de-registering for VAT in each calendar year from 1997 to 2002 in deprived areas in England is as follows:
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  VAT registrations and de-registrations in English deprived areas1

  VAT registrations

  VAT de-registrations

  1997

  58,835

  48,045

  1998

  60,490

  48,890

  1999

  59,450

  50,490

  2000

  60,045

  52,470

  2001

  56,530

  52,830

  2002

  56,255

  55,530

  1Deprived areas are defined by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit. See http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk for further details

  Tariffs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantitive assessment she has made of the effect of(a) tariff rates and (b) tariff escalation on the economies and living standards of developing countries. [146641]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The best source of information on this topic are the large number of studies which have already been undertaken by international organisations such as the World Bank, IMF, UNCTAD and the OECD, and by charitable organisations such as Oxfam. The work of these organisations demonstrates the need to look at all barriers to trade and the need for fundamental trade policy reform.

  It remains, however, very difficult to make an accurate quantitative economic assessment of the overall impact of tariffs and tariff escalation on developing country markets. The World Bank have, however, estimated that the comprehensive reform of all aspects of agricultural policies in developed countries could boost the income of developing countries by as much as £100 billion.

  Trade Support
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of an agreement at the World Trade Organisation with the G20 on subsidies, tariffs and the Singapore issue on(a) the G20, (b) the United Kingdom, (c) the European Union and (d) the United States. [146474]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The potential effect of agreements on any WTO member would depend on the specific provisions and the level of commitments undertaken by that country.

  An ambitious conclusion to the current round of WTO negotiations, aimed at reducing trade distorting subsidies, tariffs and non tariff barriers to international trade and investment, would improve the prospects of increased prosperity for all WTO members.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had since 17 September 2003 with her counterpart in the United States about(a) the desirability of and (b) the timetable for eliminating US subsidies to cotton producers. [146586]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There is ongoing contact between UK and US officials about all aspects of the WTO Round, including on the question of support for cotton production. In view of the importance of this issue, the UK has provided €50,000 in technical assistance to help 790W
  the four West African producer countries, all of which are LDCs, promote their case in the WTO. All WTO members are committed to substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support and we must work together to achieve that objective including on cotton subsidies.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether developing countries have produced a list of proposed products to be covered by the proposal in the Derbez text to remove export subsidies for products of particular interest to developing countries. [146721]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No, there is not a list as far as we are aware.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what comes into the category of green box support. [146605]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  For domestic support measures to qualify as 'green box' under WTO rules, they must have no, or at most minimal, trade-distorting effects on production. A full list of the support categories that can qualify as 'green box' is set out in Annex 2 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture 1994.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what comes into the category of amber box support. [146606]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Under WTO rules, amber box support covers all trade-distorting domestic support measures paid to agricultural producers. This means all support to producers other than that:

  which is exempted as 'blue box' or 'green box' compatible (for a definition of payments falling under the blue box and green box see answers to PQs 146607 and 146605); or

  which is an integral part of a development programme in developing countries, for instance to assist low-income or resource poor producers; or

  which encourages producers in developing countries to diversify away from illicitly growing narcotic crops.

  Members do not have to declare payments to producers below a "de minimis" threshold of 5 per cent. of their total value of agricultural production.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on what constitutes blue box domestic support. [146607]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  WTO rules classify 'blue box' support separately to 'amber box' support as it is less trade-distorting in impact. This is because blue box must take the form of a direct payment under a production-limiting programme and be:

  based on fixed areas and yields; or

  made on 85 per cent. or less of the base level of production; or

  (where applied to livestock) made on a fixed number of head.

  Working Time Directive
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the Working Time Directive's opt-out clause on industrial relations in the UK. [143828]
  791W
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The opt-out from the weekly working time limits provides workers with the choice to work longer hours if they want to and flexibility for employers. A recent study, "The Business Context to Long Hours Working" published by my department shows that employers thought the most common barrier to reducing the hours of staff was the needs of the business and workload (55 per cent. of respondents cited this), second to this was the concern that existing staff may resist the reduction in hours as it could limit their choice to work these hours and a reduction in their overtime pay (22 per cent.)

  World Trade Organisation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had since 14 September 2003 with the Director General of the World Trade Organisation about the status of papers produced by chairmen and facilitators of working groups, and the role of the World Trade Organisation Secretariat, at World Trade Organisation Ministerials. [146596]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend has discussed various issues with Dr. Supachai, since 14 September, including the organisation of WTO Ministerial conferences.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what immediate reforms she has proposed to the conduct of World Trade Organisation Ministerials. [146615]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government have discussed a number of proposals for the reform of the WTO with our EU partners and the European Commission. These proposals are reflected in the commission's strategy paper, "Reviving the DDA Negotiations—the EU perspective", which was endorsed by the European Council of Ministers on 8 December last year.

  However, it is vital that reform of the WTO should not distract members from pursuing the Doha Development Agenda.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what submission her Department has made to the Sutherland Commission on longer-term reforms of World Trade Organisation Ministerials. [146635]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government have discussed a number of proposals for the reform of the WTO with our EU partners and the European Commission. These proposals are reflected in the Commission's strategy paper, "Reviving the DDA Negotiations—the EU perspective", which was endorsed by the European Council of Ministers on 8 December last year.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Infant Death
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Solicitor General (1) if she will make a statement on the implications of the Angela Cannings case for the Crown Prosecution Service; [144510]
  792W
  (2) what guidance she has issued to Chief Crown prosecutors about cases involving mothers accused of killing their infant children; and whether she expects to issue new guidance; [144511]

  (3) how many mothers were charged with infanticide in each of the last 20 years; and how many mothers were charged with murder of their own children in each of the last 20 years; [144512]

  (4) if the Crown Prosecution Service will review family court cases in which evidence was given by Professor Meadow; [144516]

  (5) when the inter-departmental group she established to consider the implications of the Sally Clarke case will decide whether to review cases involving Professor Meadow; [144517]

  (6) in how many family court cases evidence was given by Professor Meadow; [144518]

  (7) when she expects the Crown Prosecution Service to conclude its review of the cases in which Dr. Alan Williams conducted a post mortem; [144519]

  (8) what the total cost to public funds of the prosecution of Sally Clarke, Angela Cannings and Trupti Patel has been. [144524]

  The Solicitor-General
  We are awaiting the full written judgment of the Court of Appeal in the Angela Cannings case and therefore it is not possible to make a detailed statement on the implications at this stage.

  At the Court of Appeal hearing, Lord Justice Judge expressed concern about the difficulties for the trial jury in resolving issues regarding complex scientific evidence in relation to infant death when the present state of scientific knowledge is evolving.

  He went on to state that the appeal had raised a number of issues of general public interest in relation to infant deaths and the Court of Appeal would therefore need time to reflect on the terms of its judgment.

  The Crown Prosecution Service has taken note of these comments and will study the full judgment carefully when it is released.

  Since the written reasons of the Court of Appeal in the case of Sally Clark were made available, and following the acquittal of Trupti Patel, the Crown Prosecution Service has undertaken a number of actions. Interim guidance was sent to all Chief Crown Prosecutors on 17 June 2003 requesting that all cases be identified in which either Doctor Williams or Professor Meadow are witnesses and requiring them to serve a copy of the judgement in the Sally Clark case on the defence and to draw attention to sections of the judgement touching on their evidence.

  Following the appeal of Sally Clark, the Attorney General established a Group comprising representatives of the police, Crown Prosecution Service, Home Office and other relevant agencies to consider whether any cases in which Doctor Williams has given important evidence require a more in depth review.

  On 28 July, the Group held its first meeting. Progress was made in two areas. Firstly, on how previous cases in which Doctor Alan Williams conducted a post mortem

  793W
  were to be identified and, secondly, what factors would be used to select the cases on which the Group should concentrate.

  Following that meeting, work commenced immediately on the identification of relevant cases. The Group met a deadline of mid-September for the conclusion of that process. By that date, approximately 50 previous cases had been identified, which dated back between five-seven years. These cases all involved charges of murder, manslaughter or infanticide where Doctor Williams had been instructed by the police to conduct the post mortem and which had resulted in a conviction. The cases themselves are now being individually reviewed. An experienced Metropolitan police officer and a Crown Prosecutor are conducting the review. This work is continuing.

  When the full written judgement in Angela Cannings is published, the same group will consider whether to extend the review to include cases involving Professor Meadow.

  The total cost incurred by the Crown Prosecution Service in the case of Sally Clark will eventually be approximately £320,000. That figure comprises counsels' fees, expert witness costs and approximately £50,000 is estimated as being attributable to Crown Prosecution Service staff costs.

  The costs of the Trupti Patel case are approximately £183,716.63. We cannot provide an estimate of CPS costs for this case at this stage, however, I will write to the hon. Member with those details once known.

  The costs of the Angela Cannings case have not yet been settled. However, it is estimated that prosecution costs arising from the original trial and the subsequent appeal will be in the region of £220,000.

  Owing to the way CPS records arc kept, figures on the number of mothers charged with infanticide and mothers charged with the murder of their own children cannot be produced without incurring disproportionate costs.

  The Crown Prosecution Service was set up by the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 to take over the conduct of criminal cases instituted by the police (other than some minor cases). It has no statutory power to initiate a review of family court cases in which evidence was given by Professor Meadow.

  Information on the number of cases in the Family Court in which Professor Meadow has given evidence is not held centrally. The Crown is not usually party to Family Court cases.

  No guidance to Crown. Prosecutors relating specifically to mothers accused of killing their infant children has been issued.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Benefits
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the Department will reinstate in its 794W
  website's section on benefit expenditure tables, tables 1 and 2, showing detailed benefit spending from 1993–94 onwards. [147014]

  Mr. Pond
  The information requested has been posted on the Department's website, updated to include pre-Budget report 2003 expenditure forecasts.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people drew their benefits at(a) Belgrave branch post office, (b) Dosthill branch post office, (c) Kerria road branch post office, (d) Hockley branch post office, (e) Kettlebrook branch post office, (f) Silver Link branch post office, (g) Two Gates branch post office and (h) Wilnecote branch post office in Tamworth in the last (i) week, (ii) month and (iii) year for which figures are available. [147035]

  Mr. Pond
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  Statistics are not held on payment data on an individual Post Office basis.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the reasons for differences between the figures in table 5 of his Department's Benefit Expenditure Tables and the estimates for social security benefit expenditure provided in table B13 of the pre-Budget report. [147415]

  Mr. Pond
  Table 5 of the DWP Benefit Expenditure Tables and the estimates for social security benefit expenditure provided in table B13 of the pre-Budget report do not have the same coverage of Government Spending. DWP Benefit Expenditure Tables cover those benefits for which DWP has policy responsibility, only covering Great Britain (except for Over 75 TV Licences). The pre-Budget report figures represent a broader measure of social security benefit expenditure, covering all of the United Kingdom.

  Further details of the differences can be found in the notes accompanying the expenditure tables on the Department's website.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mike Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what percentage of people eligible for Winter Fuel Payments for 2003 received their payments by(a) 1 December 2003 and (b) 1 January; and if he will make a statement; [147476]

  (2) what percentage of people eligible for Winter Fuel Payments for 2003 have received their payments; and if he will make a statement. [147477]

  Malcolm Wicks
  To date a total of 11,570,389 Winter Fuel Payments have been made in Great Britain for winter 2003–04. Of these 11,543,117 were issued by
  795W
  1 December 2003. A further 27,272 payments were processed and issued by 1 January 2004.

  We cannot provide an estimate of the percentage of eligible people in receipt of a Winter Fuel Payment using DWP administrative data because we do not have complete information on household circumstances and payments are based on household composition.

  Mike Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps have been taken to ensure that all people eligible for Winter Fuel Payments for 2003 have received their payments; and if he will make a statement. [147478]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Most payments are made automatically, without the need to claim. Each year, we are able to identify most people likely to become newly eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment using current departmental records and they are sent claim forms automatically with an invitation to make a claim. This year they have until 30 March 2004 to make their claim.

  From June each year a publicity campaign is launched which continues through to the cut off date for applications in March. The campaign includes advertisements in national and regional press and leaflets and posters. There is also a Winter Fuel Payment helpline which is open all year round and information on the internet which is updated each year with specific details for that year's payment.

HEALTH

  Abortion
  Jim Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each of the maternal deaths associated with termination of pregnancy for the period 1991–1999,(a) under what section of the Abortion Act 1967 the termination of pregnancy was being performed; (b) at what stage of gestation the pregnancy was and (c) what the age of the mother was. [146478]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The following information, on the eight maternal deaths associated with termination of pregnancy for the period 1991–1999, has been taken from the relevant triennial Report on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom. This is the only information available as after preparation of the Report, and before publication, all the maternal deaths report forms and related documents and files are destroyed.

  Grounds for the abortion were stated only in the reports for one case, which said "foetal abnormalities incompatible with life."

  The available information for gestation is shown in the table.

  Gestation

  Number of cases

  Weeks

  Under 10

  2

  10 to 12

  1

  13 to 19

  3

  20 plus

  0

  "early pregnancy"

  1

  "mid trimester"

  1

  796W
  For age, there were three references to "young woman", two for women in their "twenties" and one for a woman in her "thirties". In the other two cases, age was not stated.

  Birth Defects
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects on the incidence of birth defects of living close to landfill sites; and if he will make a statement. [143794]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  A number of scientific studies have investigated whether there are higher than usual levels of congenital anomalies (birth defects) in populations living near to landfill sites, but no clear picture has emerged.

  The Government commissioned the Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU) at Imperial College to carry out a national study (Elliott et al, BMJ 2001; 323: 363–8, available at http://www.bmj.com. A full report is at http://www.doh.gov.uk/pdfs/report_aug13.pdf). SAHSU found a small increase in congenital anomalies in populations living close to landfill sites. The study has not shown, or indeed could show, a causal link between landfill sites and birth defects. The independent expert Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) noted that the findings for birth outcomes were not consistent, and that the study provided no evidence that the rates of anomalies increased after sites had opened. COT advised that it is inappropriate to draw firm conclusions from the results. The opinion of COT is at http:// www.doh.gov.uk/cotnonfood/landfill.htm. SAHSU also specifically analysed the data on birth outcomes in populations living near "special waste" landfill sites in Scotland, and found no evidence to suggest an excess risk of congenital anomalies (Morris et al, Scottish Medical Journal 2003; 48: 105–107, www.smj.org.uk).

  The Government have in place a research programme on the impacts on health of landfill sites. The report of one project, which reviewed the potential for chemicals which may be released from landfill sites to affect the unborn child, is at http://www.doh.gov.uk/landfillrep.pdf. The programme also includes reviews of the known causes and the geographical variation of congenital anomalies. Another project, funded by the Environment Agency, is undertaking detailed monitoring of emissions from landfill sites in order to assess the exposure of people living and working nearby. SAHSU is examining the geographical variation of congenital anomalies and is conducting an epidemiological study of Down's syndrome in relation to landfill sites in England and Wales.

  Cardiologists
  Dr. Richard Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cardiologists in the West Midlands specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of complex disorders of heart rhythm requiring ablation of parts of the conducting system; and how long the waiting list is for this treatment. [147679]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The table shows the number of cardiologists working within each of the West Midlands strategic health authority areas as of June 2003.
  797W

  Strategic health authority

  Number of cardiologists

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  38

  West Midlands South

  15

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  15

  Source:

  Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.

  The Department does not hold information centrally on the particular specialism of each clinician. Waiting times for this procedure are not collected separately from other cardiological procedures, but the maximum waiting time for all in-patient procedures is currently 12 months and will be nine months by the end of March 2005.

  Castle Point and Rochford PCT
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many requests for an independent review against Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust's decisions relating to Health Care Funding have been received in the last 12 months; and how many were upheld. [147597]

  Dr. Ladyman
  1 am advised by Essex strategic health authority (SHA) that the continuing care panel has heard one case in relation to Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust (PCT) and has one case pending.

  Table 1: Number of general dental service dentists in England by region and strategic health authority for September 1999 to 2003

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Principal Dentists

  Region

  England

  16,089

  16,276

  16,396

  16,445

  16,649

  Northern and Yorkshire

  1,912

  1,927

  1,986

  —

  —

  Trent

  1,428

  1,441

  1,450

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  1,498

  1,524

  1,516

  —

  —

  North West

  2,091

  2,096

  2,103

  —

  —

  Eastern

  1,664

  1,672

  1,708

  —

  —

  London

  2,744

  2,790

  2,815

  —

  —

  South East

  3,005

  3,039

  3,090

  —

  —

  South and West

  1.747

  1,787

  1,783

  —

  —

  Strategic Health Authority

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  802

  796

  796

  787

  679

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  584

  583

  599

  588

  563

  Birmingham and The Black Country

  630

  630

  631

  648

  890

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  756

  763

  764

  762

  764

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  319

  323

  334

  345

  489

  Coventry, Warks, Herefordshire and Worcs.

  471

  477

  477

  489

  493

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  591

  586

  598

  595

  658

  Dorset and Somerset

  400

  419

  413

  416

  498

  Essex

  465

  480

  494

  474

  477

  Greater Manchester

  909

  916

  911

  844

  678

  Hampshire and Isle Of Wight

  557

  565

  568

  565

  431

  Kent and Medway

  521

  509

  508

  505

  680

  Leics, Northants and Rutland

  411

  405

  411

  416

  588

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  615

  609

  615

  624

  807

  North and East Yorkshire and N. Lincs

  472

  483

  501

  503

  473

  North Central London

  527

  537

  541

  552

  368

  North East London

  420

  431

  442

  417

  532

  North West London

  786

  800

  792

  771

  675

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  439

  442

  448

  458

  407

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  397

  417

  408

  415

  492

  South East London

  482

  505

  503

  492

  504

  South West London

  529

  517

  537

  541

  169

  South West Peninsula

  545

  572

  574

  557

  511

  South Yorkshire

  314

  327

  333

  408

  400

  798W
  I am further advised that in the case that was heard, the panel was of the view that the PCT's decision was correct and that the SHA was advised accordingly.

  The latest published figures for national health service written complaints for 2002–03 are available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/nhscomplaints.

  Dentists
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) principal and (b) assistant dentists there were in (i) England, (ii) each NHS region and (iii) each strategic health authority who (A) offered NHS treatment and (B) had vacancies for NHS patients, in each of the last five years. [146218]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The number of dentists providing general dental services dentistry in September in each of the years 1999 to 2003 is shown in table 1, separately for principal dentists and for dental assistants. The figures given prior to 2002 are derived from the old health authority areas.

  Information on dentists taking on new national health service patients is available on the www.nhs.uk/web-site. The number of dentists accepting new NHS patients on 4 December 2003 is shown in table 2 for three main patient categories. This information is not available separately for principals and assistants. Earlier information is not available.
  799W

  Table 1: Number of general dental service dentists in England by region and strategic health authority for September 1999 to 2003

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Surrey and Sussex

  1,025

  1,050

  1,081

  1,080

  1,009

  Thames Valley

  749

  768

  782

  783

  829

  Trent

  716

  717

  716

  725

  859

  West Yorkshire

  657

  649

  674

  685

  726

  Assistant Dentists

  Region

  England

  1,042

  1,151

  1,274

  1,366

  1,312

  Northern and Yorkshire

  54

  59

  68

  —

  —

  Trent

  61

  66

  88

  —

  —

  West Midlands

  69

  57

  88

  —

  —

  North West

  95

  76

  98

  —

  —

  Eastern

  178

  290

  253

  —

  —

  London

  272

  269

  295

  —

  —

  South East

  211

  223

  273

  —

  —

  South and West

  102

  111

  133

  —

  —

  Strategic health authority

  Avon. Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  52

  68

  67

  65

  67

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  44

  105

  84

  92

  43

  Birmingham and The Black Country

  27

  29

  41

  43

  67

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  42

  30

  43

  41

  52

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  10

  7

  12

  10

  16

  Coventry, Warks, Herefordshire and Worcs.

  18

  14

  24

  22

  44

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  28

  24

  29

  30

  44

  Dorset and Somerset

  22

  18

  30

  37

  39

  Essex

  53

  57

  52

  58

  56

  Greater Manchester

  27

  25

  31

  34

  41

  Hampshire and Isle Of Wight

  66

  44

  64

  71

  38

  Kent and Medway

  35

  50

  53

  66

  76

  Leics, Northants and Rutland

  14

  17

  19

  19

  52

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  81

  128

  117

  125

  107

  North and East Yorkshire and N. Lincs

  18

  20

  15

  15

  29

  North Central London

  46

  69

  51

  53

  19

  North East London

  82

  52

  60

  61

  60

  North West London

  67

  64

  83

  77

  52

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  10

  8

  8

  14

  21

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  24

  14

  23

  16

  22

  South East London

  43

  38

  45

  40

  47

  South West London

  34

  46

  56

  54

  10

  South West Peninsula

  28

  25

  36

  43

  37

  South Yorkshire

  14

  12

  16

  19

  31

  Surrey and Sussex

  50

  64

  79

  82

  74

  Thames Valley

  51

  53

  69

  79

  56

  Trent

  38

  45

  53

  74

  67

  West Yorkshire

  18

  25

  36

  26

  45

  Note:

  Assistant dentist numbers do not include VDP's (vocational dental practitioners).

  Table 2: Number of general dental service dentists recorded on NHS. UK as accepting new NHS patients by strategic health authority on 4 December 2003.

  Strategic Health Authority

  Charge paying adults

  Charge exempt adults

  Children

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  71

  103

  146

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  455

  537

  650

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  469

  506

  552

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  571

  616

  756

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  375

  384

  412

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcesters ire

  197

  200

  270

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  102

  212

  102

  Dorset and Somerset

  61

  60

  81

  Essex

  325

  325

  436

  Greater Manchester

  450

  430

  574

  Hampshire and Isle Of Wight

  69

  103

  184

  Kent and Medway

  173

  233

  313

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  167

  164

  184

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  413

  437

  543

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  127

  156

  191

  North Central London

  390

  392

  486

  North East London

  267

  294

  252

  800W 801W

  Table 2: Number of general dental service dentists recorded on NHS. UK as accepting new NHS patients by strategic health authority on 4 December 2003.

  Strategic Health Authority

  Charge paying adults

  Charge exempt adults

  Children

  North West London

  369

  465

  568

  Northumberland, Tyne And Wear

  468

  456

  479

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  67

  85

  159

  South East London

  406

  529

  586

  South West London

  260

  323

  382

  South West Peninsula

  84

  41

  130

  South Yorkshire

  250

  202

  288

  Surrey and Sussex

  362

  455

  689

  Thames Valley

  246

  302

  449

  Trent

  435

  461

  526

  West Yorkshire

  294

  359

  390

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged(a) 17 years or under and (b) 18 years or over were registered with an NHS dentist in (i) England, (ii) each NHS region and (iii) each strategic health authority in each of the last five years; and what proportion each represents of the relevant age group. [146219]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information showing the number of people and the percentage of the population registered with a general dental service dentist by national health service region and strategic health authority at 30 September for each of the last five years, has been placed in the Library. The figures given prior to 2002 are derived from the old health authority areas. Following reorganisation, figures for NHS regions are not available from September 2002 onwards.

  Registrations lapse if patients do not return to their dentist within 15 months and so the registration figures exclude patients who have not been to their dentist within the past 15 months. The figures also exclude patients who receive dental treatment from other NHS dental services including dental access centres and those patients who choose not to register and who seek treatment on an occasional basis.

  Domiciliary Care
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date applications for registration with the National Care Standards Commission are required to be determined. [147310]

  Dr. Ladyman
  There is no time limit for applications for registration with the National Care Standards Commission to be determined.

  Drugs Treatment
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which constituencies in the UK do not have a needle exchange. [147763]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 13 January 2004]: We do not measure needle exchange coverage by parliamentary consituency. However, we do record it on a primary care trust (PCT) basis. Every PCT in England has access to a needle exchange service, distributing approximately 27 million needles annually.

  Influenza Vaccination
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has given to local primary care trusts on the provision of influenza jabs to carers. [146453]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Guidance has been issued on the immunisation of health and social care staffs who are recommended to receive flu vaccine. Carers are not routinely offered flu vaccination but general practitioners retain the discretion to give the vaccine to their patients based on an individual assessment of need.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged 65 years and over have received the influenza vaccine(a) in England and (b) broken down by (i) primary care trust and (ii) strategic health authority in each year since 2001. [147183]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The total number of people aged 65 and over who received flu immunisation in England in 2001 was 5,113,036 and in 2002 was 5,487,645. The data for 2003 is not yet available.

  Information on the number of people aged 65 and over receiving flu immunisation by primary care trust and strategic health authority since 2001 has been placed in the Library.

  Leak Inquiries
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list occasions on which his Department has conducted an inquiry into alleged leaks from members of staff since 1997; and if he will list the occasions on which the names of those persons accused of leaking information from his Department have been made public(a) by the Government and (b) by way of another source. [146942]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: Since 1997 the department has investigated 37 suspected leaks. In line with exemptions 1(a) and 7(b) set out in Part II of the "Code of Practice" on access to "Government Information", it has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on the outcome of such inquiries in order to safeguard security and investigative arrangements. Other than cases where legal action has been taken we are not aware of any cases where names have been made public.

  Ministerial Visits
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many visits have been made by his Department's officials or ministers to look at drugs treatment in(a) Sweden, (b) France, (c) Australia, (d) the Netherlands and (e) USA in the last six years. [147764]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 13 January 2004]: Departmental officials have had occasion to visit Sweden, Australia and the Netherlands to look at their drug treatment systems within the last six years Most regular contact is maintained through the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in Lisbon, Portugal, where Departmental officials meet with colleagues from other countries two to three times a year.

  Myoclonie Epilepsy
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the funding of equipment and clothing for children with myoclonic epilepsy and cerebal palsy; and if he will make a statement. [147244]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The needs of individual disabled children are assessed by councils with social s responsibilities, principally under provisions Children Act 1989. Councils then have a respon to provide appropriate services.

  Prevalence of obesity among women by survey year and social class—aged 16 and over with a valid height and weight measurement— 1991–2002

  Percentage

  Social class of head of household1

  I

  II

  IIIN

  IIIM

  IV

  V

  Total

  Women

  1991–922

  11

  11

  15

  20

  21

  21

  16

  1993

  11

  13

  13

  20

  22

  24

  16

  1994

  12

  14

  15

  20

  22

  22

  17

  1995

  12

  14

  14

  20

  24

  22

  17

  1996

  13

  15

  16

  21

  22

  27

  18

  1997

  10

  15

  20

  23

  26

  24

  20

  1998

  15

  18

  19

  24

  25

  28

  21

  1999

  21

  18

  21

  21

  24

  31

  21

  2000

  19

  17

  19

  26

  26

  32

  21

  2001

  14

  20

  21

  27

  31

  28

  23

  2002

  16

  18

  22

  25

  29

  35

  23

  Bases

  1991–922

  1,219

  493

  912

  681

  3,430

  1993

  579

  2,210

  2,239

  2,149

  1,106

  440

  8,037

  1994

  433

  2,000

  1,184

  2,016

  1,168

  458

  7,884

  1995

  465

  2,112

  1,147

  1,979

  1,056

  453

  7,729

  1996

  461

  2,255

  1,230

  2,043

  1,135

  424

  8,064

  19973

  261

  1,160

  671

  1,100

  655

  230

  4,254

  1998

  471

  2,231

  1,193

  1,983

  1,201

  429

  7,730

  19993

  248

  1,049

  585

  1,000

  557

  157

  3,699

  20003

  198

  1,193

  654

  806

  496

  189

  3,703

  2001

  412

  2,278

  1,304

  1,710

  1,078

  386

  7,414

  20023

  244

  1,077

  614

  775

  516

  178

  3,509

  1I—Professional, II—Managerial technical, IIIN—Skilled non-manual, IIIM—Skilled manual, IV—Semi-skilled manual, V—Unskilled manual.

  2The sample sizes in 1991 and 1992 were smaller than in subsequent years and for reporting purposes the estimates from both years were combined. In addition, the figures for social classes I and II, and IV and V were combined.

  3In these years the focus was on special groups such as children, ethnic minorities and older people. The sample for the special groups was boosted and the sample for the general population correspondingly halved to about 8,000 adults. The figures above are based on the general population sample.

  Source:

  Health Survey for England, Department of Health

  NHS Charges
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the responses he received to proposed amendments to the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989: A Consultation. [146353]

  Mr. Hutton
  124 specific responses to the consultation exercise were received. Two of the respondents have exercised their right to have their responses kept confidential. The remaining 122 are available in the Library.

  Obesity
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of women were classed as obese in each year since 1990 in(a) England and (b) each region, broken down by social/economic status. [146332]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information is not available in exactly the form requested. Figures available from the Health Survey for England are shown in the tables. The tables give, for England, the percentage of women who are obese (with a body mass index over 30) from 1991, when the Health Survey began, to 2002 by social class and for the period 1998 to 2002 by Government Office Region. Figures prior to 1998 are not available by Government Office Region. The samples sizes available in the Health Survey do not allow robust estimates to be calculated for each region broken down by social/economic status.
  805W

  Prevalence of obesity among women by Government Office Region—aged 16 and over with both valid height and weight measurements—1998–2002

  Percentage

  Government Office Regions1

  BMI (kg/m2)

  North East

  North West

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  Women

  1998

  22.9

  21.3

  21.7

  22.1

  25.8

  1999

  17.3

  21.3

  20.0

  27.7

  22.0

  2000

  22.0

  22.7

  19.7

  24.8

  26.3

  2001

  24.9

  21.0

  25.4

  24.9

  27.6

  2002

  19.8

  24.6

  24.0

  27.6

  25.4

  Bases

  1998

  484

  1.082

  819

  763

  671

  1999

  225

  530

  401

  401

  381

  2000

  245

  519

  437

  416

  327

  2001

  494

  1,001

  800

  703

  800

  2002

  222

  505

  387

  344

  355

  Government Office Regions1

  BMI (kg/m2)

  East of England

  London

  South East

  South West

  England

  Women

  1998

  21.6

  19.5

  19.3

  19.4

  21.2

  1999

  20.1

  20.3

  17.8

  23.1

  21.1

  2000

  19.3

  21.8

  19.4

  17.4

  21.4

  2001

  23.8

  19.9

  21.8

  24.1

  23.5

  2002

  22.1

  25.5

  19.3

  16.6

  22.8

  Bases

  1998

  862

  960

  1,216

  526

  7,730

  1999

  433

  395

  551

  381

  3,699

  2000

  414

  440

  536

  368

  3,703

  2001

  865

  800

  1,132

  814

  7,414

  2002

  390

  411

  564

  331

  3,509

  1Figures prior to 1998 not available by Government Office Region.

  Source:

  Health Survey for England, Department of Health

  Salt Depletion
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research has been conducted by his Department on salt depletion in the human body during hot weather. [146680]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department has not conducted any research on salt depletion in the human body during hot weather. There is insufficient evidence to suggest that people should modify their normal salt consumption during hot weather conditions. It is, however, important to maintain an adequate fluid intake.

  Thyroid Cancer
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what clinical trials have been conducted to establish the effectiveness of potassium iodate tablets in minimising the effects resulting from inhalation of airborne radioactive iodine, with particular reference to prevention of thyroid cancer; and if he will make a statement. [147205]

  Dr. John Reid
  Stable iodine (of which potassium iodate is only one form) has been used clinically since the 1940s to protect the thyroid glands of patients (both 806W
  children and adults) being treated with radio-pharmaceuticals which contain radioactive iodine. Potassium iodate is still routinely used in this way to this day. Its efficacy at protecting against the radiation induced thyroid cancer has been known, therefore, for over 60 years. The largest population administration occurred in Poland following the Chernobyl accident where over 9 million doses were administered. No adverse effects were reported and no increase in the rate of thyroid cancer was subsequently seen, unlike in Belorus and Ukraine were stable iodine was not administered to protect the local population.

  Daily Winter Reporting System
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions his daily winter reporting system has indicated that NHS trusts are experiencing winter pressures; and in how many of those instances he has authorised escalation procedures to respond. [147033]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The first full month of daily winter reporting was December. In December, there were an average of 20 National Health Service trusts (out of a total of 155 trusts with accident and emergency
  807W
  departments) per working day reporting operational problems. Such operational problems include the cancellation of elective operations.

  All strategic health authorities (SHAs) have developed robust winter plans, which set out escalation procedures to cope with increased seasonal demand for health services. The decision on whether a trust should put these escalation procedures into operation is not made by ministers or the Department of Health. Instead, the locally agreed escalation procedures are activated by the trusts themselves, in agreement with local primary care trusts and the SHA. Such an approach allows the local NHS to be timely in dealing with pressures and is in line with the Government policy of Shifting the Balance of Power to the local NHS. If required, the Department of Health will support a SHA in its local management of winter.

TREASURY

  Birth Certificates
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many babies were born to unmarried mothers for whom no name of the father was entered on the birth certificate in each of the last 30 years, or in those years for which figures are available; what the(a) social class and (b) age of the mother at the birth of her first child was in each case; and how many subsequent births, when the name of the father was not entered on the birth certificate of the child, each mother had. [147176]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

  Table 1 Live births outside marriage registered by mother alone (sole registrations), by mother's age 1973–2002. England and Wales

  Age of mother

  All ages

  £20

  20–24

  25–29

  30–34

  35–39

  40+

  Mean age

  Percentage1

  1973

  31,168

  14,408

  9,774

  3,972

  1,825

  887

  302

  22.0

  4.6

  1974

  29,398

  13,986

  9,144

  3,709

  1,506

  808

  245

  21.8

  4.6

  1975

  27,986

  13,480

  8,503

  3,503

  1,499

  750

  251

  21.8

  4.6

  1976

  26,359

  12,631

  7,981

  3,406

  1,416

  705

  220

  21.9

  4.5

  1977

  26,064

  12,201

  8,066

  3,335

  1,557

  684

  221

  22.0

  4.6

  1978

  27,835

  12,778

  8,849

  3,558

  1.717

  718

  215

  22.0

  4.7

  1979

  31,118

  13,712

  10,127

  4,175

  2,026

  824

  254

  22.2

  4.9

  1980

  33,204

  14,032

  11,340

  4,516

  2,176

  869

  271

  22.3

  5.1

  1981

  33,758

  14,047

  11,589

  4,700

  2,290

  878

  254

  22.4

  5.3

  1982

  36,453

  14,453

  12,991

  5,383

  2,298

  1,086

  242

  22.5

  5.8

  1983

  38,417

  14,351

  14,093

  5,819

  2,651

  1,225

  278

  22.7

  6.1

  1984

  40,593

  14,928

  14,876

  6,383

  2,824

  1,269

  313

  22.8

  6.4

  1985

  44,458

  15.872

  16,440

  7,358

  3.146

  1,364

  278

  22.9

  6.8

  1986

  47,822

  16,379

  17,922

  8,246

  3,479

  1,479

  317

  23.0

  7.2

  1987

  50,474

  16,787

  18,944

  8,909

  3,875

  1,609

  350

  23.1

  7.4

  1988

  53,944

  17,098

  20,350

  10,185

  4,320

  1,642

  349

  23.3

  7.8

  1989

  53,537

  16.142

  20,179

  10,399

  4.600

  1,781

  436

  23.5

  7.8

  1990

  54,831

  16,191

  20,135

  11,140

  5,006

  1,933

  426

  23.7

  7.8

  1991

  54,131

  15,249

  19.671

  11,396

  5,398

  1,973

  444

  23.9

  7.7

  1992

  51,472

  13,457

  18,370

  11,421

  5.642

  2,133

  449

  24.2

  7.5

  1993

  50,242

  12,535

  17,476

  11,418

  5,967

  2,336

  510

  24.5

  7.5

  1994

  49,030

  12,007

  16,408

  11,390

  6,204

  2,501

  520

  24.7

  7.4

  1995

  47,916

  11,880

  15,626

  10,864

  6,485

  2,529

  532

  24.8

  7.4

  1996

  51,016

  12,946

  16,245

  11,350

  6,978

  2,891

  606

  24.8

  7.9

  1997

  50,582

  13,223

  15,590

  11,015

  6.997

  3,050

  707

  24.8

  7.9

  1998

  49,960

  13,830

  14,838

  10,672

  6,768

  3.151

  701

  24.8

  7.9

  808W
  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Frank Field, dated 14 January 2004:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your request for information on previous and subsequent births of mothers who had a birth registered without a father's name on the birth certificate (a sole registration) in each of the last 30 years. In particular you asked for information on (a) the social class and (b) the mother's age at her first live birth, and for information on how many of subsequent sole registered births the mother had. I am replying in the National Statistician's absence. (147176)
  Information is readily available, from birth registration records, on sole registration births by age of mother. However under the Population (statistics) Acts 1938 and 1960, information on birth order (that is whether a birth is a first birth, second birth etc.) is not collected at birth registration for women who are not married to the father of the child. Table 1, attached, provides information on the number of sole registrations by age of mother in each of the last 30 years (1973–2002).
  Similarly only limited information is readily available by social class from birth registration records. Social class of mother and father first became available separately from 1986. Only 10 per cent. of births are coded for social class and for around two thirds of sole registrations there is insufficient occupation data to assign a social class. Table 2 provides a summary of the readily available information on social class for sole registered births, 1986 to 2001. In 2001 the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification was introduced, replacing social class, and from 2002 data are not available by social class.
  To provide information on age at first live birth and on any subsequent sole registration requires successive birth records to be linked together. This can only be done using the ONS Longitudinal Study, a one per cent. sample of the population in which, since 1971, census records and vital events have been linked together. Extracting this information cannot be done in the time available to answer this Parliamentary Question. I will write to you again in two weeks to let you know whether the information available from this study is of sufficient quality to answer your question. You should note that, as there is currently only 30 years of birth registration records in the study, only a small proportion of women in the sample have a complete birth history that allows identification of sole registrations. It is therefore very unlikely that the last part of your question (on the number of subsequent sole registered births) can yet be answered reliably.
  809W

  1999

  48,203

  13,194

  14,477

  9,936

  6,615

  3,221

  760

  24.9

  7.8

  2000

  45,773

  12,459

  13,919

  9,213

  6,116

  3,309

  757

  24.9

  7.6

  2001

  43,744

  11,669

  13,583

  8,582

  5,875

  3,213

  822

  25.0

  7.4

  2002

  43,129

  11,229

  13,599

  8,133

  5,949

  3,373

  846

  25.1

  7.2

  1All sole registrations as a percentage of all births.

  Table 2 Live births outside marriage registered by mother alone, by mother's social class 1986–2001. England and Wales

  Numbers (thousands) and percentage of all births

  Social class of mother1

  Non manual

  Manual

  I

  II

  IIIN

  IIIM

  IV

  V

  Others2

  Total

  Number

  1986

  0.1

  1.9

  5.4

  1.7

  4.3

  0.3

  34.0

  47.8

  1987

  0.1

  2.2

  5.7

  1.9

  4.8

  0.4

  35.3

  50.5

  1988

  0.1

  2.5

  6.1

  2.3

  5.5

  0.5

  37.0

  53.9

  1989

  0.1

  2.8

  6.5

  2.5

  5.7

  0.5

  35.5

  53.5

  1990

  0.2

  2.8

  6.8

  2.6

  5.6

  0.5

  36.4

  54.8

  1991

  0.1

  3.1

  6.6

  2.4

  4.7

  0.9

  36.4

  54.1

  1992

  0.1

  3.1

  6.0

  2.3

  4.3

  0.7

  35.0

  51.5

  1993

  0.1

  2.8

  6.1

  2.2

  4.0

  0.8

  34.2

  50.2

  1994

  0.1

  3.1

  5.1

  2.3

  4.3

  0.6

  33.6

  49.0

  1995

  0.2

  2.7

  6.1

  2.3

  4.6

  0.7

  31.4

  47.9

  1996

  0.2

  3.2

  6.1

  2.3

  4.8

  0.9

  33.7

  51.0

  1997

  0.2

  3.4

  6.1

  2.4

  5.2

  0.9

  32.4

  50.6

  1998

  0.2

  3.4

  6.1

  2.6

  5.5

  0.8

  31.4

  50.0

  1999

  0.2

  3.5

  5.8

  2.2

  5.2

  0.8

  30.5

  48.2

  2000

  0.2

  3.5

  5.5

  2.0

  4.3

  0.6

  29.7

  45.8

  2001

  0.2

  3.2

  5.4

  1.8

  4.6

  0.5

  28.0

  43.7

  Percentage of all livebirths

  1986

  1.4

  3.0

  6.3

  9.2

  15.0

  11.1

  7.4

  7.2

  1987

  1.3

  2.8

  5.5

  8.8

  13.8

  12.0

  8.3

  7.4

  1988

  1.0

  2.9

  5.0

  8.6

  13.4

  12.0

  9.1

  7.8

  1989

  1.2

  2.9

  5.2

  8.9

  13.2

  11.9

  9.6

  7.8

  1990

  1.5

  2.6

  4.9

  8.3

  12.0

  11.0

  9.9

  7.8

  1991

  1.0

  2.8

  4.7

  7.5

  10.6

  13.1

  10.5

  7.7

  1992

  1.0

  2.7

  4.2

  6.9

  9.6

  9.7

  10.2

  7.5

  1993

  1.0

  2.4

  4.4

  7.1

  8.9

  9.8

  10.5

  7.5

  1994

  0.7

  2.6

  3.6

  7.6

  9.3

  7.9

  11.0

  7.4

  1995

  1.6

  2.3

  4.1

  7.1

  9.2

  8.9

  11.5

  7.4

  1996

  1.0

  2.5

  4.1

  7.0

  8.8

  11.3

  12.5

  7.9

  1997

  1.4

  2.7

  4.4

  7.8

  9.6

  12.2

  13.1

  7.9

  1998

  0.9

  2.5

  4.5

  8.0

  10.5

  10.8

  12.7

  7.9

  1999

  1.1

  2.6

  4.3

  7.0

  10.0

  11.9

  12.8

  7.8

  2000

  0.9

  2.6

  4.4

  6.2

  8.9

  9.8

  12.7

  7.6

  2001

  1.1

  2.3

  4.2

  6.2

  9.6

  9.1

  12.1

  7.4

  1Social class classifications are: non-manual; I professional; II managerial and technical; IIIN skilled occupations (non-manual); manual; IIIM skilled occupations (manual); IV partly skilled occupations; V unskilled occupations; other.

  2Includes unemployed, armed forces, students and inadequately described occupations.

  Note:

  Mothers occupation was not recorded before 1986.

  Based on a 10 per cent. sample of births.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes of 9 December 2003 regarding the overpayment and underpayment of tax credits to constituents in Totnes and Brixham. [147782]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue replied on behalf of the Paymaster General on 13 January 2004.

  Departmental Advertising
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on recruitment advertisements in the press, broken down by publication, by(a) his Department, (b) quangos under the Department and (c) non-departmental Government bodies under the Department (i) in the last year and (ii) since 1997. [145809]

  Ruth Kelly
  Available information concerning recruitment advertising costs is given in the tables. HM Customs and Excise, the Inland Revenue and the Office
  811W
  for National Statistics delegate much of their recruitment to their various business elements. In consequence, only limited information is available.

  A breakdown of all publications used could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The departments and agencies responsible to the Chancellor of the Exchequer use a wide variety of different publications for recruitment advertising, tailored according to the nature of the vacancy to be filled. This includes the use of professional journals and magazines, national and local newspapers, and websites.

  HM Treasury

  Information for the financial years 1997–2002 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Recruitment advertising costs for the most recent financial years are as follows:

  Financial year

  Cost (£)1

  2002–03

  2126,238

  2003–04 to date

  3173,279

  1excluding VAT

  2This does not include the advertising costs for two posts for which figures were unavailable.

  3 This includes advertisements for two 'bulk' recruitment campaigns which were used to fill a number of posts, and advertisements for three roles at a senior level.

  HM Customs and Excise

  Customs and Excise delegate much of their recruitment to their various business areas. Information held centrally is limited, and therefore data could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Debt Management Office

  Financial year

  Cost (£)1

  1998–992

  23,950.03

  1999–2000

  62,895.42

  2000–01

  101,731.50

  2001–02

  31,840.15

  2002–03

  20,790.45

  2003–04 to date

  65,445.74

  1including VAT

  2 The DMO was only established on 1 April 1998 and therefore no data exists prior to this date.

  The Government Actuary's Department

  Information for 1997 to 2001 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information for the financial years since 2001 is as follows:

  Financial year

  Cost(£)1

  2001-–02

  27,083.75

  2002–03

  16,614.50

  2003–04 to date

  22,993.58

  1including VAT

  Inland Revenue

  The amount spent on press advertising by the Inland Revenue from April 1997 to March 2003 (the last full financial year for which figures are available) was £4.2 million. The figure for the last full year (2002–03) was £1.3 million. A breakdown of all costs since 1997 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the vast majority of Inland Revenue recruitment advertising appears in local or regional newspapers
  812W
  National Savings and Investments

  Since January 2003, National Savings and Investments has spent £92,874 on recruitment advertising exclusive of VAT. Costs for previous financial years are as follows:

  Financial year

  Cost(£)1

  1997–98

  5,345

  1998–99

  32,711

  1999–2000

  166,731

  2000–01

  153,243

  2001–02

  205,878

  2002–03

  116,778

  1excluding VAT

  Office of Government Commerce

  The following costs cover the period from April 2000 when OGC was first established to December 2003. Due to the merger of three ledger systems it has not been possible to disaggregate the April 2000 to March 2001 figures.

  Spend on recruitment advertising since formation of OGC in April 2000.

  Financial year

  Cost(£)1

  From April 2000–1

  2191,566.13

  2002–03

  351,576.74

  2003–04 to date

  280,009.06

  1including VAT

  2OGC was only established in April 2000 and therefore no data exists prior to this date.

  OGC Buying Solutions

  Financial year

  Cost(£)1

  From April 2000–1

  273,231

  2002–03

  82,670

  2003–04 to date

  60,933

  1including VAT

  2OGC was only established in April 2000 and therefore no data exists prior to this date.

  Office for National Statistics

  Recruitment is carried out across several sites, and therefore information held centrally is limited. The data could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Royal Mint

  Advertising expenditure 1997–2003

  1997–98

  39,070.60

  1998–99

  53,355.87

  1999–2000

  64.292.58

  2000–01

  61,255.66

  2001–02

  15,375.30

  2002–03

  17,620.21

  2003–04 to date

  32,805.44

  1excluding VAT

  Valuation Office Agency

  Advertising expenditure 1997–2003

  Financial year

  Cost(£)

  1997–98

  113,308.71

  1998–

  120,637.36

  1999–2000

  130,089.83

  2000–01

  136,181.67

  813W

  2001–02

  147,372.60

  2002–03

  2,3120,649.41

  2003 to date

  2154,814.20

  1excluding VAT

  2including VAT

  3VOA accounting practices were changed to include VAT with effect from financial year 2002–03 onwards.

  Departmental Relocation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department work in(a) the West Midlands and (b) North Staffordshire. [146911]

  Mr. Boateng
  There are no Treasury staff working in North Staffordshire or the West Midlands.

  End of Year Returns
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses employing(a) less than 50 staff and (b) between 50 and 249 staff have filed their employer's end of year returns electronically for each year since 2000. [147602]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue does not have this information.

  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's plan to bring forward regulations for the introduction of mandatory electronic filing of employers' end of year returns. [147608]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Following consultation two Statutory Instruments (SI 2003/2494 and SI 2003/2495) were laid on 29 September 2003 and came into force on 20 October. The first of these requires the e-filing of an employer's end of year PAYE return from May 2005 where the employer has 250 or more employees, and from May 2006 where the employer has between 50 and 249 employees. The second makes e-filing incentives available to employers with fewer than 50 employees over the five years from the 2004–05 tax year. In accordance with these regulations, the Inland Revenue has sent a letter to every employer on their database setting out the employer size band for 2004–05 and giving guidance about e-filing options.

  Family Tax Credits
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many outstanding family tax credit cases were awaiting processing on 31 December 2003. [146842]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: There are currently around 20,000 claims (60 per cent. of which have been received in the past four weeks) which are waiting further information or being verified.

  Financial Services
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact outsourcing of financial services operations to foreign countries will have on the UK economy and its skilled labour market [147640]
  814W
  Ruth Kelly
  Despite fears of outsourcing abroad having an adverse effect on UK employment, the performance of the UK labour market over recent years has been strong by both international and historical standards. The UK has the highest employment rate and the lowest unemployment rate among the G7 economies.

  Moreover most jobs outsourced tend to be at low to intermediate skill levels. The Government's policies aim to ensure that those whose jobs are directly affected can acquire new skills and move quickly into alternative employment.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the Financial Services Sector Skills Council will duplicate the work of existing examining bodies in the financial services sector. [147641]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Financial Services Sector Skills Council (FSSSC) will not duplicate the work of existing examining bodies in the financial services sector.

  The FSSSC will work closely with a range of industry bodies, including the Financial Services Authority and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to ensure the qualifications that employers want. This will include reviewing the suitability of existing training programmes and qualifications to meet sector needs and, where there are gaps, working with awarding bodies in the sector to develop new qualifications. The QCA will retain responsibility for maintaining the rigour and fitness for purpose of the national qualifications framework, ensuring qualifications are robust and reliable measures of achievement.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Financial Services Authority has levied in fines since its foundation; and how much of this has been rebated to regulated firms by way of reduced fees. [147756]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been able to levy fines on regulated bodies since 1 December 2001, and has levied £18,544,000 to date. The FSA reduces the amount charged to all fee-payers in any one financial year by the amount of financial penalties received in the preceding financial year. To date, £9,269,000 the FSA has been rebated by way of reduced fees.

  Public Sector Pensions
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the level of pension liabilities in the public sector due to final salary pension schemes. [147766]

  Ruth Kelly
  The level of unfunded pension liabilities are published in the Resource Accounts of the separate schemes. The latest aggregate estimate, based on the 2001–02 accounts, is of accrued liabilities of £380 billion as at 31 March 2002. The figure will be updated when the 2002–03 Resource Accounts are published shortly.

  It does not include the liabilities of the funded Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). The latest estimate of their liabilities were set out on 17 March

  815W
  2003, Official Report, column 614W. It also does not include the funded liabilities of schemes in the wider public sector run by statutory corporations. Information on these schemes are not held centrally and the responsibility for them rests with the relevant sponsoring Departments.

  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to reduce the public sector pensions liabilities caused by final salary pension schemes. [147767]

  Mr. Boateng
  Public service pension schemes are reviewed regularly to ensure that the benefits represent value for money and continue to contribute to the overall aim of the remuneration package to recruit, retain and motivate staff. As part of this process the Government recently announced its decision to raise the normal pension age of public servants from 60 to 65 in the Green Paper "Action on Occupational Pensions" Cm 5835, June 2003. Schemes are consulting on how this might be achieved.

  The pension liabilities arising from rights accrued to date cannot be adjusted: the private sector is protected by section 67 of the Pensions Scheme Act 1995 and the public services by the Superannuation Act 1972.

  Small Incorporated Businesses
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what studies he has undertaken to determine whether small incorporated businesses are paying the wrong amounts of tax on profits extracted from their companies; [147055]

  (2) what proposals he has to ensure that small scale enterprises are fully aware of the tax distinctions between their being (a) incorporated and (b) unincorporated; [147085]

  (3) if he will make a statement on his proposals to ensure that the right amount of tax is paid by owner managers of small incorporated businesses on the profits extracted from their companies; [147056]

  (4) if he will define (a) profit extraction and (b) acceptable profit extraction for small incorporated businesses; [147057]

  (5) if he will consult small owner managed incorporated businesses on his proposals to ensure that their tax contributions are correct in the light of the contents of paragraph 5.91 of Command Paper 6042; [147082]

  (6) whether it is his Department's policy to encourage sole traders or partnerships to become small limited companies; [147083]

  (7) whether his proposals in paragraph 5.91 of Command Paper 6042 will include measures to help small incorporated businesses to unincorporated; [147084]

  (8) whether the right amount of tax referred to in paragraph 5.91 of Command Paper 6042 includes National Insurance. [147086]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have introduced a number of measures to support unincorporated businesses, including cutting the basic rate of incometax, the introduction of the lop starting rate of income 816W
  tax, permanent 40 per cent. first year capital allowances and the introduction of the VAT flat rate scheme.

  Paragraph 5.91 of the 2003 Pre-Budget Report (Command Paper 6042) announced that the Government would bring forward proposals, to ensure that the right amount of tax is paid by owner managers of small incorporated businesses on the profits received from their company, protecting the benefits of low tax rates for the majority of small businesses.

  The appropriate details and definitions will be set out in the Budget Report.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many owner managed small incorporated businesses pay tax. [147058]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There is currently no precise definition within current tax legislation of 'owner manager'. This issue is among those being considered by the Government in the context of its announcement in paragraph 5.91 of the 2003 Pre-Budget Report.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child and working tax credit recipients have reported changes in circumstances since being informed of their initial award. [146763]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: Information is not available in the form requested.

  UK Company Profitability
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the profitability of UK companies with a turnover of(a) less than "1 million, (b) £1–20 million, (c) £20–50 million, (d) £50–100 million and (e) more than £100 million has been in each quarter since 1997; [148180]

  (2) what the profitability of UK companies with (a) 1–49 employees, (b) 50–99 employees, (c) 100–249 employees, (d) 250–499 employees, (e) 500–999 employees and (f) more than 1,000 employees has been in each quarter since 1997. [148181]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

  Letter. front Mr. Colin Mowl to Mr. Stephen O'Brien, dated 14 January 2004:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions on profitability of UK companies by turnover and also by number of employees. I am replying in his absence. (148180, 148181)
  Unfortunately the Office for National Statistics (ONS) do not produce statistics on profitability of UK companies by turnover or by number of employees. The ONS does produce a quarterly First Release called the Profitability of UK Companies, which is available on the ONS website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/profit0104.pdf
  The Release shows the profitability of all UK companies and also for United Kingdom continental shelf companies, manufacturing companies and service companies. The profits data used in calculating these estimates comes from a relatively small sample inquiry of companies. The sample is too small to enable us to produce estimates in the detail requested.

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  Olympic Games 2012: London Bid
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  Scrapie
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  Phytophthora Ramorum
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