Written Answers of 19 January 2004

DEFENCE

  Biological Weapons
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the United Kingdom Government's policy is on the export of(a) bacillus anthracis, (b) clostridium botulinum, (c) histoplasma capsulatum, (d) brucella, (e) melitensis and (f) clostridium perfringens by other countries. [146722]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  The export of these biological materials is controlled by States' obligations under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). They are, however, all materials that have a legitimate use in laboratories and facilities for the production of vaccines to protect against the diseases that may be caused by exposure to them. Their export, in small quantities consistent with legitimate medical and scientific research to established scientific institutions in states that are Party to the BTWC, is not banned under the Convention.

  The Government would expect all other countries to scrutinise any applications for such exports with the same rigour as we would for exports from the United Kingdom.

  Boards of Inquiry
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many boards of inquiry into deaths of military personnel have been established in each year since 1990. [142115]

  Mr. Ingram
  Not all military deaths are subject to boards of inquiry. However, details of military deaths investigated by boards of inquiry or other investigations are as follows:

  Royal Navy

  Army1

  RAF2

  1990

  8

  74

  15

  1991

  11

  104

  9

  1992

  4

  73

  9

  1993

  10

  61

  8

  1994

  4

  60

  11

  1995

  6

  66

  11

  1996

  6

  45

  8

  1997

  10

  35

  4

  1998

  6

  50

  7

  1999

  5

  45

  6

  2000

  5

  49

  3

  2001

  5

  42

  4

  2002

  8

  44

  3

  Total

  88

  748

  98

  1 Includes road accidents on duty and hostile action (not normally subject to Service investigation).

  2 Includes Army, USAF and Italian military personnel killed in RAF aircraft accidents.

  Communications
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training was made available for UK forces personnel on the Oscar communications system; and if he will make a statement. [147278]

  Mr. Ingram
  The three key elements of the Operations and Strategic Communications Architecture (OSCA) are Multiplexers, Exchanges and Military satellite terminals. Prior to deployment, personnel received training on all three of these elements. Training was conducted by a mixture of military and civilian courses, and was supplemented by having Subject Matter Expects (SMEs) available in theatre.

  Defence Spending
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2003,Official Report, column 943W, on defence spending, what the limits are on the UK's ability to conduct unilateral national operations in pursuance of security objectives; and if he will make a statement. [148530]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 3.3 and 3.5 of the Defence White Paper, Delivering Security in a Changing World (Cm 6041–1).

  Departmental Relocation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department work in(a) the West Midlands and (b) North Staffordshire. [146915]

  Mr. Caplin
  The number of civilian and Service personnel working in the West Midlands and Staffordshire are detailed as follows:

  West Midlands Government Office Region

  Staffordshire1

  Civilian Staff as at 1 November 20032

  4,790

  3800

  Service personnel as at 1 July 20024

  6,740

  1,080

  1 The Department does not hold information on staff based in the North Staffordshire area.

  2 Figures are for permanent industrial and non-industrial staff, excluding Royal Fleet Auxiliary, those on career breaks, long-term sick, secondments etc.

  3 The civilian figure for Staffordshire is an approximation as the Department does not routinely publish data below Government Office Region level.

  4 Figures are taken from Tri-Service Publication 10, last published in July 02.

  Flying Hours
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current funded flying hours are for(a) Hercules, (b) Nimrod, (c) Chinook, (d) Sea King, (e) Puma, (f) Lynx, (g) Tornado F3, (h) Tornado GR4, (i) Harrier GR7, (j) Sea Harrier and (k) Jaguar aircraft of each type; and what amount of funded flying hours these aircraft had in each of the preceding three years. [145646]

  Mr. Ingram
  The following table shows funded (that is planned) flying hours.
  915W

  Financial year

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Hercules

  36,709

  36,709

  37,458

  37,458

  Nimrod

  12,265

  12,432

  11,830

  12,495

  Chinook

  13,744

  13,776

  14,200

  15,504

  Sea King

  42,575

  41,413

  35,400

  33,870

  Puma

  13,550

  15,210

  14,400

  14,857

  Lynx

  49,150

  40,100

  36,500

  36,075

  Tornado F3

  26,136

  24,193

  23,022

  25,468

  Tornado GR4

  28,572

  26,366

  26,058

  27,733

  Harrier GR7

  15,379

  15,282

  14,809

  14,783

  Sea Harrier

  6,320

  6,565

  6,003

  6,850

  Jaguar

  12,215

  12,543

  12,996

  12,446

  Iraq
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the Iraqi civilians killed in incidents which have been investigated since the end of the conflict by the Special Investigation Branch. [141674]

  Mr. Ingram
  United Kingdom Military Authorities in Iraq have investigated or are investigating the deaths of the following Iraqi Civilians, all of which are thought to have occurred since 1 May 2003:

  Ali Salaam Aziz Mohammed

  Dyab Rehman Nasser

  Rhadi Nama

  Ahmed Jabber Kareem

  Nadhem Abdulha

  Abd Al Jubba Mousa Ali

  Hazma Abdul Hussein Al-Askary

  Said Shabram

  Wael Jabber Raheem

  Jasim Yassim Jabbar Al-Shimillwy

  Date Of Incident

  Date Investigation Started

  Name of Iraqi Civilian

  Stage of Investigation

  8 May 2003

  8 May 2003

  Radhi Natna

  Investigation complete

  8 May 2003

  11 May 2003

  Ahmad Jabber Kareem

  Investigation ongoing

  17 May 2003

  17 May 2003

  Abd Al Jubba Mousa All

  Investigation ongoing

  24 May 2003

  24 May 2003

  Said Shabram

  Investigation ongoing

  2 Aug 2003

  4 Aug 2003

  Hassan Abbad Said

  Investigation ongoing

  14 Sep 2003

  15 Sept 2003

  Baha Nasheem Mohammed

  Investigation ongoing

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims have been submitted to the UK under section 6 of the Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 17; how many of these claims(a) give rise to and (b) do not give rise to a legal liability to pay compensation under English law; how many (i) compensation payments and (ii) ex-gratia payments have been made; and what the (A) amount and (B) reason for the payments was in each case. [146848]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 14 January 2004]A total of 588 claims for compensation have been submitted to the United Kingdom Authorities under section 6 of CPA Order Number 17. Of these, 13 have been transferred to other contingents/organisations, 226 have been repudiated, 57 have received payment, and
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  Waleed Fiay Mezban

  Baha Nasheem Mohammed

  Hassan Abbad Saied

  Hussan Said Shaba Al-Bata.

  Eight of these investigations have been completed. In three cases, the deaths were found to be as a result of road traffic accidents; in three cases it was found that troops had behaved in accordance with their Rules of Engagement and that there was no case to answer; in one case it was found that death had resulted from natural causes; and one case has been referred to the Army Prosecuting Authority to determine whether charges will be brought. Six of these investigations are on-going.

  An investigation is also being conducted into the death of Ather Karen Al-Mowafakia, which occurred prior to 1 May 2003.

  In addition, investigations have been conducted into an incident in which a member of UK armed forces and an Iraqi civilian (who has yet to be identified) died, and into a fatal traffic accident in which a Kuwaiti civilian died, the name of whom has been withheld by Iraqi police. Both of these incidents occurred before 1 May 2003. The first investigation is on-going; the second has concluded and determined that the incident was an accident.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 4 December,Official Report, column 127W, on Iraq, if he will name the individuals whose deaths are being investigated; on what date each died; on what date each investigation began; and what stage each investigation has reached. [143058]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information requested is as follows:

  the remainder are still under investigation. The following table summarises the compensation payments made to date:

  Category

  Number of Cases

  Total Settlements(£)

  Fatalities

  3

  8,125

  Personal Injury

  20

  7,250

  Property Damage

  7

  34,243

  Road Traffic Accidents

  27

  22,606

  Total

  57

  72,224

  Ex-Gratia Payments are not covered by Section 6 of the Coalition Provisional Authority Number 17.
  917W
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what strategy he is pursuing to(a) recover and (b) dispose of weaponry contaminated by depleted uranium in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [148054]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 537W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith).

  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total volume is of depleted uranium tipped weapons used in Iraq between March and May 2003; and if he will make a statement. [148295]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are no depleted uranium tipped weapons in UK service. However, UK forces in Iraq used a depleted uranium (DU) round in anti-armour operations. The round comprises an outer casing or "sabot" that surrounds a long rod penetrator made of DU, plus charge and igniter components. 1.9 tonnes of DU were expended by British Challenger tanks during the recent conflict in Iraq.

  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the availability is of cluster bombs to United Kingdom forces in Iraq. [148297]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are no cluster bombs held by UK forces in Iraq.

  Manning Control
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to carry out manning control point reviews within the next 15–18 months. [147889]

  Mr. Caplin
  There are currently no plans to conduct any Manning Control Point reviews in the next 15–18 months.

  £million

  FinancialYear

  Pre-Feasability Programme

  TRRAP

  Longer Range Threat

  Capability Gap Work

  BMD Studies

  Missile Defence Centre

  Theatre BMD

  Total

  1994–95

  2.0

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  2.00

  1995–96

  2.5

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  2.5

  1996–97

  .3

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  .3

  1997–98

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  1998–99

  -

  2.2

  -

  -

  .5

  -

  -

  2.7

  1999–2000

  -

  4.5

  -

  -

  .5

  -

  -

  5.00

  2000–01

  -

  5.00

  -

  -

  .5

  -

  -

  5.5

  2001–02

  -

  0.8

  1.2

  .6

  .5

  -

  1.0

  4.1

  2002–03

  -

  -

  1.2

  .6

  .5

  -

  1.0

  3.3

  2003–04

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  4.00

  1.0

  5.00

  MOD Posts
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) service and (b) MOD civilian posts he estimates will be transferred to the private sector over the next three years from the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Army and (iii) Royal Air Force. [148051]

  Mr. Ingram
  Officials are collating the information requested. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Missile Defence Technology
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the amount spent by the Government on research into missile defence technology in each year since 1988; and if he will make a statement. [142196]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding reply 10 December 2003]: Expenditure by the United Kingdom Government on research specific to Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) technology began in 1994–96 when the Pre-feasibility Programme was undertaken. This examined options, costs and timescales of BMD for the UK and its deployed forces at a cost of £2 million in Financial Year 1994–95 and £2.5 million in Financial Year 1995–96. An extension was completed in Financial Year 1997–98 at a cost of £300,000.

  As part of the Corporate Research programme, the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme (TRRAP) began in July 1998 following an SDR recommendation, focussing on BMD defence of deployed forces. TRRAP cost £2.2 million, £4.5 million, £5 million and £0.8 million in the Financial Years 1998–99 to 2001–02 respectively and completed in July 2001.

  Alongside and following TRRAP, a programme of BMD studies ran from Financial Year 1998–99 to Financial Year 2002–03 at a cost of £0.5 million pa. In Financial Years 2001–02 and 2002–03 two further programmes examined the longer-range threat at a cost of £1.2 million per annum and assessed the significance of any capability gap at a cost of £0.6 million per annum.

  In Financial Year 2001–02 research into theatre BMD building on TRRAP began at a recurring cost of £1 million per annum. Additionally in Financial Year 2003–04, £4 million will be expended on research through the Missile Defence Centre.

  In summary, expenditure in the 10 successive Financial Years since 1994– 95 is set in the table below:

  Network-centric Capabilities
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2003,Official Report, columns 944–45W, on network-centric capabilities, what effect he expects the change of emphasis towards network-centric capabilities will have on the numbers of employees within the United Kingdom armed forces. [148686]
  919W
  Mr. Hoon
  At this stage, I have nothing further to add to the answer that I gave the hon. Member on 17 December 2003,Official Report, columns 944–45W.

  Northern Ireland
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons troops in Northern Ireland have been advised to avoid wearing(a) badges and (b) clothing which would indicate their support for the (i) Glasgow Rangers and(ii) Glasgow Celtic football clubs; and what representations have been made to him on this issue. [148442]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Army's role in Northern Ireland is in support of the PSNI, which has taken steps to remove contentious emblems under the Patten reforms.
  The MOD advises Service personnel in Northern Ireland that the wearing of emblems and clothing including contentious football tops, which could be misconstrued as offensive, should be avoided. This is good practice and complies with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland's Code of Practice which recommends that employers promote a good and harmonious working environment.

  I am not aware of any representations on this issue.

  Nuclear Submarines
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the number of Astute-class nuclear attack submarines available to the Royal Navy. [144690]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Astute-Class of nuclear submarines will progressively supersede the existing Swiftsure and Trafalgar Classes through a phased replacement programme. At present, the Ministry of Defence has a contract with BAE Systems for the design and build of the first three Astute-Class submarines. Decisions on the acquisition of further Astute submarines will be taken in due course. The MOD routinely considers changes to the future Defence programme to ensure that capability levels meet our anticipated requirements.

  Permanent Secretary (Engagements)
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what elates the Permanent Secretary discussed allegations concerning Robert Lee International and BAE Systems with the chairman of BAE Systems. [142411]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence spoke to the Chairman of BAE Systems in May and June 2001 about allegations raised at the time concerning Robert Lee International. He also spoke to the Chairman of BAE Systems in September 2003, at the request of the Serious Fraud Office, in the light of the renewal of the allegations in the Press.

  Procurement
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's procurement decisions have been the subject of judicial review since 1997. [147958]

  Mr. Ingram
  None.

  RAF Bicester
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it remains his policy to(a) close and (b) dispose of the airfield at RAF Bicester. [147963]

  Mr. Ingram
  As I announced in my letter to the hon. Member on 29 August 2003, the site is due to be vacated by military users later this year. The site will be disposed of on completion of the planning process that will ultimately determine its future use.

  Reinstatement Committees
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training members of employment tribunals receive to enable them to sit on reinstatement committees. [146179]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.

  The training of members of employment tribunals is a matter for the judiciary. The emphasis in training chairmen and lay members of employment tribunals is on the exercise of judicial skills—making findings of fact in accordance with the relevant legal principles and according parties a fair hearing. This applies whether dealing with the over 70 different jurisdictions covered by the employment tribunals or when constituted as a reinstatement committee.

PRIME MINISTER

  Chechnya
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Prime Minister what(a) representations he has received from and (b) discussions he has had with Chechen President Akhmad Kadryov. [148931]

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware, I have not received any representations from, or had any discussions with, President Akhmad Kadyrov.

  Fatalities (Government Obligations)
  Adam Price
  To ask the Prime Minister what obligations are recognised by the Government as arising in cases where a person has died from a heart attack as a result of duress or harsh treatment inflicted by an agent of the state. [148321]

  The Prime Minister
  Any such allegation would be investigated and appropriate action taken on the basis of that investigation.

  Government Performance Audit
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Prime Minister whether a copy of the audit report on the performance of his Government, to be published on 16 January, will be placed in the Library. [148808]

  The Prime Minister
  No. Information relating to internal advice and consultation is not disclosed under Exemption 2, Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Iraq
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Prime Minister when he was informed that the USA was intending to wage war on Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [149053]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham North (Mr. Allen) on 11 June 2003,Official Report, column 868W and on 23 June 2003, Official Report, column 616W.

  Rogue States
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Prime Minister how he defines rogue states. [148677]

  The Prime Minister
  The phrase "rogue state" is generally used to describe those believed to be engaged in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, or those which support terrorism and offer succour to those who commit terrorist acts.

  Thames Gateway
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had in connection with the Thames Gateway Communities plans regarding(a) the Crossrail Project and (b) a new Thames road crossing; [148200]

  (2) which Government Departments are involved in plans for the development of the Thames Gateway communities; and what commitments have been made. [148202]

  The Prime Minister
  The Thames Gateway involves a number of Government Departments who are all represented in the Cabinet Committee on the Thames Gateway (MISC 22). Full membership and terms of reference of all Ministerial Committees of the Cabinet are available in the Library of the House.
  The Government's policy was set out in 'Creating Sustainable Communities: Making It Happen in Thames Gateway' in July 2003, copies of which are available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. This set out a level of Government financial support, including £446 million of ODPM pump priming funding over three years, to enable the development of at least 120,000 new homes in the Gateway by 2016.

  The Department for Transport's recent announcements concerning the inclusion of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic services in the Integrated Kent franchise and PFI funding support for the Thames Gateway Bridge in East London demonstrate the Government's continuing support for investment in infrastructure in the Gateway.
  On Crossrail the Secretary of State for Transport has asked a review team to look at the proposals for Crossrail from Cross London Rail Links.

  I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects and will continue to do so. As with previous Administrations, it is not my practice to provide details
  922W
  of confidential discussions, under exemption 2 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Weapons of Mass Destruction
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Prime Minister what common factor makes it permissible for the US, the UK, France, Israel, India, Pakistan and Russia to hold weapons of mass destruction. [148676]

  The Prime Minister
  The UK is fully committed to the Treaties promoting the non-proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and supports their universalisation.

  The US, UK, France and Russia, together with China, are recognised by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as nuclear-weapon States, as defined in Article 9(3) of the Treaty. Under the terms of the treaty Israel, India and Pakistan cannot be recognised as nuclear weapons states. The UK regularly calls on these states to accede to the treaty as non-nuclear weapon states.

  The US, the UK, France, India, Pakistan and Russia are all States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). This Convention bans States Parties from producing, developing or stockpiling biological and toxin weapons. Israel has not acceded to the Convention, but is bound by the Geneva Protocol which prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons. The UK regularly calls on Israel to accede to the convention.

  The US, UK, France, India, Pakistan and Russia are all States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which bans the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and requires the destruction of existing stockpiles. US, India and Russia have begun destruction of their chemical weapon stocks as required by the convention subject to close scrutiny by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Israel has been a signatory of the CWC since 1993, but has yet to ratify it. The UK regularly calls on Israel to ratify the convention and supports calls by the EU and the OPCW to encourage it to do so.

WALES

  Wales-only Legislation
  Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what requests he has received from the Welsh Assembly Government for Wales only legislation to be included in(a) the current legislative programme and (b) the legislative programme for each of the last three years. [144399]

  Mr. Touhig
  The information is contained in the following table.

  Legislative programme

  2003–04

  Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Bill Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill Tourism Accommodation (Registration) (Wales) Bill Transport (Wales) Bill Smoking in Public Places

  923W

  Legislative Programme

  2002–03

  NHS (Wales) Bill Common Land (Wales) Bill Sunday Licensing (Wales) Bill St. David's Day Bill Land Use Planning Bill Education Bill Audit (Wales) Bill Housing Ombudsman (Wales) Bill Passenger Transport Bill

  2001–02

  Health and Well-Being (Wales) Bill Education (Wales) Bill St. David's Day Bill Census (Amendment) (Wales) Bill

  No formal bids were made for the 2000–01 session as they would have needed to be submitted at a time when the Assembly had only just been constituted. However, informal discussions resulted in a bid being made for a Bill to extend the functions of the Children's Commissioner for Wales.

  The Assembly Government also informed us of the Assembly's call for a Bill to ban smoking in public places.

  In most cases, the Government publishes Wales-only Bills in draft. The Assembly Government supports this and makes its bids in that context.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Small Arms Action Network
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds have been provided to the International Action Network on Small Arms in the past five years; and for what purpose. [147888]

  Hilary Benn
  The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) were awarded a grant for £1.1 million in October 2001 under the joint DFID/MOD/FCO Global Conflict Prevention Pool's (GCPP) Small Arms Strategy. To date they have received £997,059 and the full grant amount is due to be disbursed by April 2004.

  The purpose of the project is to develop regional NGO and civil society networks in order to increase political commitment, raise public awareness and coordinate global action to effect policy change in tackling small arms proliferation and misuse.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the security situation in Afghanistan and its effect on(a) the provision of humanitarian aid and (b) national reconstruction. [148100]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  Security in Afghanistan is one of the biggest challenges facing the Afghan Transitional Administration (ATA), especially in the South and East of the country where Taliban insurgents continue to encroach. The recent bombings in Kandahar, which claimed 15 lives, and assassination of a French UNHCR worker in Ghazni, are unfortunate evidence of this.

  Threats to the safety of Afghan and international staff have meant that some NGOs and international organisations are finding it increasingly difficult to operate in some parts of the country. So far difficulties
  924W
  exist only in specific areas and organisations are doing an excellent job in working around these to continue providing assistance wherever possible. However, the overall effect on the provision of humanitarian aid and reconstruction is very serious.

  The international community is heavily involved in helping the ATA deal with these problems, by helping reform its army and police force and through further deployment of joint civil-military Provincial Reconstruction Teams. The international coalition continues to counter Taliban fighters in Southern and Eastern Afghanistan and the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has recently been expanded to allow it to operate beyond Kabul. Subject to provision of troops by contributing nations this will enable it to support the UN-led programme to disarm and demobilise former combatants and facilitate other parts of the Bonn Process including elections.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how many of the international secondments to Afghanistan from his Department in each of the last two years have been of women; [148111]

  (2) how many international secondments of officials from his Department have been made to Afghanistan in each of the last two years; and if he will list their responsibilities. [148112]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  In 2002, DFID seconded two officials, both women, to international organisations in Afghanistan. One was seconded through UNDP to work in the ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development and the other was seconded to the office of the EU special representative in Afghanistan as his special Assistant. In addition we employed three UK staff in our Kabul office of which one was a women.

  In 2003, both female secondments remained in their posts for a period. A male official was seconded to the World Bank office in Kabul as a governance and institutional development specialist. In our Kabul office we employed five UK staff of which two were women.

  African Union
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial support his Department has provided to the African Union since the expiry of the agreement in August 2003. [147345]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID fully supports the vision of the African Union, particularly its key role in peace and security across the continent. Since February 1999 DFID has given £1,089,745 to the Conflict Management Centre of the OAU/AU. This is distributed in three tranches: February 1999 to September 2000 (£311,812); June 2001 to August 2003 (£677,933) and October 2003 to March 2004 (£100,000). The last tranche is via the United Nations Development Programme and will be spent shortly.

  We have also been supporting an AU peacekeeping mission in Burundi bilaterally with £3.9 million to Mozambique as one of the troop contributing countries and we are about to release £2 million through the AU itself for the same mission.

  Angola
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is giving to the Government of Angola for preparations for the general election in 2005; and if he will make a statement. [147776]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID's Country Engagement Paper (CEP) for Angola identifies the priorities for UK development assistance over the next three years. This includes support to the government and other stakeholders to prepare for the next general election. The date of the next general election in Angola has not yet been set however, with a possibility that it might be later than 2005.

  DFID are currently in discussion with the Angolan government and civil society as to the nature of that support. Possible areas include: reform of the constitution and electoral laws, voter and civic education, election-related conflict management and election monitoring. Another proposal is to fund Angolan parliamentarians to participate as observers in some of the elections that will take place in the SADC region during 2004 (Malawi, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia).

  Bilateral Aid
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to advance the target of an increase in the proportion of the Department's low-risk bilateral projects evaluated as successful. [148144]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID's 2003 Autumn Performance Report on progress against our Public Service Agreement, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House last month, reported that 80 per cent. of our low-risk projects are currently evaluated as completely or largely successful. Of the remaining 20 per cent., many of these are evaluated as achieving a number of their objectives. While this represents a high success rate, DFID is constantly seeking to improve the impact and value for money of all our interventions, including high, medium and low-risk projects.

  All projects are subject to an approval process in which their potential contribution to our corporate priorities is assessed. Once underway, projects are `scored' annually to review progress towards achieving their objectives. Fuller reviews are undertaken midway through their duration and once they are completed. We also conduct wider evaluations of our portfolio's success and of the lessons we have learned. The performance of our portfolio, and progress against this target, is monitored every three months by DFID's Management Board. These processes allow us to address slippage and make judgments about how our resources should best be used.

  Brazil
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his Answer of 16 January 2004.Official Report, column 237W, on the Indigenous People's Demonstration Project, by how much the expenditure on the Indigenous People's Demonstration Project in Brazil will be reduced over the next two years; and what representations he has received
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  on behalf of the Indigenous People's Demonstration Project in response to the reduction in United Kingdom funding. [147742]

  Hilary Benn
  We expect to spend £500,000 during 2004–05 and 2005–06 compared to £700,000 originally envisaged. As savings have been possible in the cost of expert advice (recruiting a Brazilian rather than an EU national) and German aid funds are able to meet the demand for demonstration funds, we will be able to deliver training and capacity building activities at a rate similar to that originally scheduled for these years.
  No representations have been made to either DFID's office in Brasilia or the British Embassy. DFID has, however, held discussions with the Brazil Cooperation Ministry to explain the reasons for the changes in expenditure. All project staff have been informed and are revising the project accordingly.

  Burma
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of cross-border humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people in Burma. [147348]

  Hilary Benn
  We know that some agencies provide cross-border assistance to internally displaced people in Burma, but we do not have reliable information on the total levels of this assistance. DFID does not fund cross-border assistance since we are unable to undertake monitoring and evaluation in these areas to ensure effective use of funds provided.

  We support the World Health Organisation's border health programme and the Burmese Border Consortium's effort to provide food aid to refugees along the border in Thailand, totalling £0.67 million in 2003–04. Internally displaced people are likely to be among the beneficiaries of DFID funding to tackle HIV/AIDS across Burma and basic health care programmes in two border states, towards which DFID is making a total contribution of £2.3 million in 2003–04.

  Burundi
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance has been offered to the government of Burundi for the improvement of medical facilities for the delivery of new malaria treatments. [147822]

  Hilary Benn
  There has been no assistance to the Government of Burundi for the improvement of medical facilities for the delivery of new malaria treatments. However we are providing assistance through international NGOs and UN agencies, as are other donors, to cover urgent humanitarian needs. This includes funding for Medecins Sans Frontieres who have helped introduce the new malaria protocol. This year we are also providing funding of £250,000 to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the implementation of the new protocol. WHO will be working closely with the Government of Burundi.

  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on cholera levels in Burundi. [147824]
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  Hilary Benn
  According to WHO, the last confirmed outbreak of cholera in Burundi was in 2002. Since then there have been no further reports of outbreaks.

  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made towards the rehousing of those left homeless by the storm in the Bubanza province of Burundi. [147825]

  Hilary Benn
  It is reported that on Sunday 4 January 500 people in Mpanda Commune in the northwestern province of Bubanza were made homeless by a storm which destroyed 102 houses and a primary school. DFID have not responded to this problem directly. We are however providing support to humanitarian work in Burundi amounting to £1.18 million so far this financial year.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to visit Burundi. [148110]

  Hilary Benn
  I have no plans to visit Burundi at the moment.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Burundi. [148116]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID closely monitors the humanitarian situation in Burundi through our office in Bujumbura, and through regular contact with NGOs and the UN. The UK takes a leading role in the donor support group in Burundi the objective of which is to improve assessment, co-ordination and response.

  We concur with the recent UN assessment that the current major problems faced by Burundi are insecurity, disease and malnutrition. Life expectancy plummeted from 53.8 years in 1992 to 40.9 in 2001; there is just one doctor for every 100,000 people; the infant mortality rate for under-fives has nearly doubled from 100 per 1,000 in 1993 to 190 per 1,000 in 2001; and 69 per cent. of the population is under-nourished.

  The UK participated in last week's Burundi Partners' Forum jointly hosted by UNDP and the Government of Belgium in Brussels. The meeting was successful in mobilising commitments of over $1 billion in donor support over the period 2004 to 2006, as well as making progress in establishing a simple co-ordinated framework to make more effective use of the donor funds being made available.

  Chad
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response his Department will make to the appeal of the World Food Programme for Sudanese refugees in Chad. [147773]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID is contributing to efforts to address the humanitarian needs of Sudanese refugees in Chad. We made a contribution of £1 million to the United Nations Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in December, towards the Emergency Needs budget of their Supplementary Appeal for Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in Eastern Chad.
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  We are continuing to monitor the situation and may make further contributions if the situation indicates this is necessary. This may involve a contribution to the WFP appeal if there is a need for additional food aid.

  The cause of the movement of refugees from Sudan into Chad is the fighting in Darfur, in western Sudan. We reiterate our deep concern at the continuing humanitarian crisis resulting from this conflict and call on all those involved to address the problems in Darfur through dialogue, to establish and maintain a ceasefire with independent monitoring and to allow unfettered humanitarian access to those in need. The UK has already contributed over £4 million to the relief effort (including to the UNHCR) and remains willing to use its good offices in any way possible to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

  Child Soldiers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the extent of the use of child soldiers in(a) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (b) Burundi, (c) Rwanda and (d) Uganda. [148163]

  Hilary Benn
  The UK condemns unequivocally the use of child soldiers. The fourth report of the UN Secretary-General on the use of children in armed conflict has recently been issued and will inform debate on this issue in the UN Security Council later this month.

  The UK discusses the issue with a range of UN bodies, particularly the Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, and works with the UN system to eradicate the use of child soldiers, including our support for a UNICEF programme of capacity building to strengthen its response in emergency situations. A key element of this programme is improving its advocacy on the situation of children affected by armed conflict at all levels.

  For DRC the UK is providing £750,000 to help establish child protection networks, and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) mechanisms in each province and at national level. Our support will help UNICEF in launching preparations and commencing activities for the demobilisation and reintegration of children associated with armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

  UNICEF reported in September 2003 that it was thought there were then about 1,000 child soldiers serving in Burundi's regular army, 1,500 in the pro-government youth militia and 500 in the rebel movements, though the exact number would only be available when the demobilisation programme was implemented.

  Burundi ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, though the optional protocol banning the use of children under 18 in armed conflict was not signed at that time—the text of this has recently been submitted to the National Assembly for approval.

  In Rwanda the UK is supporting research that is being undertaken by Save the Children to determine why more girl child soldiers from the ex-armed groups in the DRC are not presenting themselves for

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  demobilisation and repatriation to Rwanda. With respect to Uganda, one of the terrible features of the conflict there is that abducted children themselves become the combatants. We have raised our concerns about the safety of those abducted with President Museveni and senior Ministers. The UK has provided financial support to UNICEF and Save the Children to rehabilitate children who have escaped from the Lords Resistance Army. Also we have discussed with the Ugandan government reports of under-age soldiers being recruited by the government defence units in the North. The Government of Uganda has assured us that they are co-operating with UNICEF to identify and demobilise the recruits. Our High Commission in Kampala is monitoring the situation.

  Debt Relief
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many countries he expects to reach completion point for the purposes of debt relief by the end of 2004. [148142]

  Hilary Benn
  Of the 27 countries that have qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, nine have so far reached completion point and have received an irrevocable reduction in their stock of debt. A further 10 are expected to reach completion point by the end of 2004. Three of these (Nicaragua, Ethiopia and Niger) should reach completion point imminently.

  Nevertheless, it is difficult to predict exactly when countries will reach completion point, because, instead of a fixed completion point date, the enhanced HIPC Initiative system is based on a 'floating' completion point. But even where countries miss their predicted completion point date, there is no delay to the delivery of debt relief, as countries cease to make payments on their debt from decision point.

  Democratic Republic of the Congo
  Mr. John Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs about the effectiveness of humanitarian intervention in Ituri. [148076]

  Hilary Benn
  We have regular discussions with the UN's agencies including OCHA, and consider the humanitarian response to the crisis in Ituri to have been effective to date. The humanitarian situation there has improved as a result of services such as food aid, emergency medical assistance, provision of potable water and increased sanitation facilities delivered by the relief agencies, and the UN has been able to negotiate increased access in the area for relief work.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the most recent discussions he has had with the governments of(a) Rwanda and (b) Uganda concerning their involvement in the future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [148078]

  Hilary Benn
  The UK is seeking to help resolve conflict and establish conditions for genuine development in the whole of the Great Lakes region. We have maintained a close dialogue with the governments 930W
  of Rwanda and Uganda, and indeed with the former Government and now the Transitional National Government (TNG) in Kinshasa, on the need for good neighbourly relations as the basis for national and regional stability. We continue to do so. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will undoubtedly be discussed during the forthcoming visit to the UK of Presidents Kagame and Museveni.

  Both Rwanda and Uganda have taken positive steps recently to normalise their relations with the TNG in DRC, including mutual ministerial visits and the signing in New York on 25 September 2003 of a Good Neighbourly Pact, which included commitments that all support for armed groups should end and that there should be no illegal exploitation of natural resources of the DRC.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many monitors and overseers the United Kingdom will send to witness and report on whether the forthcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are(a) free and (b) fair. [148081]

  Hilary Benn
  The Transitional National Government (TNG) of the DRC has not set a specific date for elections, likely to be either in 2005 or 2006; nor has it invited partners to send election monitors. Should it do so, it is likely we will participate in wider EU or UN efforts.

  Helping the TNG and other stakeholders prepare for free and fair elections is an important part of our engagement in DRC. We are providing £400,000 for the Electoral Institute of South Africa (EISA), an NGO, to help enhance the capacity of stakeholders to participate in the process of designing the DRC's institutional, constitutional and legal frameworks, including for a democratic electoral system.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action he will(a) take unilaterally and (b) propose at multilateral level in response to the publication of the UN Commission report on the misuse of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [148082]

  Hilary Benn
  I refer the hon. Member for Buckingham to the Statement made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Chris Mullin) on 17 December 2003,Official Report, Column 142–4WS.

  We continue to urge the UN to provide the detailed information necessary to substantiate the allegations against British companies. We have urged NGOs to do the same.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with(a) his counterparts in EU member states and (b) representatives of the United Nations about the report of the UN Panel of Experts on illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [149186]
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  Hilary Benn
  None. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are the lead Department responsible for discussions on the UN Panel of Experts Report with counterparts in EU Member States and representatives of the United Nations.

  The issue of exploitation of the natural resources of the DRC is enormously important. We are already working with the new government in the Congo and with international and regional partners to help develop its institutions and to put in place effective management of the country's natural resources, including by playing a leading role in making the Anti-Corruption Commission effective and encouraging the Transitional National Government to engage in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

  The huge potential of the Congo's natural resources should be exploited legally and in a regulated way, for the benefit of all Congolese. We want to see trade in natural resources become a cohesive factor in regional stability and not a cause of conflict.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on Ethiopia's debt burden. [147339]

  Hilary Benn
  Ethiopia qualified for debt relief under the Enhanced HIPC Initiative in November 2001 when it reached decision point—the first stage of the HIPC process. This means Ethiopia no longer has to service around $1.9 billion of debt. These debts will be formally written off when Ethiopia reaches its completion point as expected in the first half of 2004.

  Ethiopia owes the UK £15.4 million but is already receiving full debt relief on this under the UK Government's bilateral policy. This provides 100 per cent. relief on debt service payments starting from decision point and formally writes off the entire debt after completion point.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the joint departmental scoping mission scheduled for April 2004 to consider reform of Ethiopia's security sector. [147340]

  Hilary Benn
  The joint departmental scoping mission for Security Sector Reform (SSR) comprising representatives of MOD, FCO and DFID visited Ethiopia in April 2003 in response to requests from the Government of Ethiopia. The mission recommended a phased engagement by HMG that would help make all parts of the security sector more accountable to the people of Ethiopia. Initial activities to strengthen bodies responsible for oversight and planning are about to begin.

  We welcome the Government's recognition that reform of the security sector will enhance its capacity to fulfil constitutional obligations in respect of human rights.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how financial support from his Department to Ethiopia has been tailored to tackle 932W
  the increase in global acute malnutrition that has occurred in some of the drought affected areas of Ethiopia. [147346]

  Hilary Benn
  Since the start of 2002 we have committed over £50 million of humanitarian aid to Ethiopia making us one of the largest donors of emergency assistance. This has been channelled through UN agencies, the Ethiopian Government and non-government organisations (NGOs).

  A mix of interventions successfully helped to address global acute malnutrition (GAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the drought-affected parts of the country. For example, we targeted localities suffering high levels of malnutrition with supplementary and therapeutic feeding through NGOs and UNICEF. This helped bring GAM levels in the most affected areas down to about 7 per cent. to 8 per cent. from over 20 per cent. at the peak of the crisis.

  Some pockets of malnutrition remain in 2004 largely as a consequence of poor targeting and delivery capacity. We are providing support to UNICEF for building capacity of the emergency system and will continue to play our part as and when further needs arise.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of ethnic violence in Ethiopia. [147392]

  Hilary Benn
  There is still a high level of ethnic violence in Ethiopia. Ethnicity is the basis of most of the major political parties, including the ruling party. Many ethnic groups are politically and economically excluded.

  Ethnic tension has led to fighting in Gambella (West Ethiopia) in December 2003. Up to 150 people may have died.

  New legislation passed in 2003 will allow Federal Government to intervene in cases of human rights violations at Regional level and below. This indicates a growing willingness by Federal Government to accept ultimate responsibility for human rights violations at Regional or local level.

  We take human rights very seriously and will continue to promote improvements through high level political dialogue, budget support indicators and support to security sector reform.

  EU Aid Target
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost will be to public funds of the UK achieving the agreed EU target of aid amounting to 0.39 per cent. of GNI. [148143]

  Hilary Benn
  Under current spending plans we expect official development assistance (oda) to exceed the EU target and hit 0.4 per cent. of GNI in 2005, a year earlier than the target date. The cost of achieving 0.4 per cent. in 2005, including that part of oda which is not financed through the DFID budget, is estimated to be £4.9 billion.

  Euro
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in how many speeches during 2003 he declared support for the Government's policy on the euro. [147293]

  Hilary Benn
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 517W.

  Global Interventions
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has made formal representations to the United Nations about his proposal for global intervention in countries whose Governments abuse their populations, made in his speech on 30 October 2003 at the UN High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development; and what criteria would be used for such global interventions. [147449]

  Hilary Benn
  No formal representations have been made to the United Nations concerning intervention in countries with humanitarian crises. The Department for International Development is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to contribute to the debate on UN reform. The High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Change appointed by Kofi Annan has an important opportunity to make proposals for a more effective UN response in this area. The UK supports reform that will ensure that the UN Security Council assumes its full responsibility to guarantee peace and security. We cannot allow a repeat of the mistakes made in Rwanda in 1994.

  Framing acceptable principles for intervention, so that people are protected effectively, and so that states are treated equally, is part of the challenge presently facing the United Nations. An important attempt to develop common ground on principles and criteria for intervention was made in the report of the Canadian-sponsored International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS). We welcomed the commission's report, The Responsibility to Protect, which was published in December 2001. It attempts to move the debate from an unproductive discussion of intervention towards a new focus on the responsibilities held by states to protect their own citizens from avoidable catastrophes from mass murder, rape and from starvation. When states are unwilling or unable to fulfil their responsibilities, it argues that the responsibility to protect should be borne by a broader community of states. It also stresses that the responsibility to prevent conflict is as important as the responsibility to react, and that any intervention is accompanied by a responsibility to rebuild.

  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the working paper from the International Monetary Fund on the effect of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative upon Africa's poorest nations. [148084]
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  Hilary Benn
  On 1 September 2003, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published a working paper entitled "Fiscal Sustainability in African HIPC Countries: A Policy Dilemma?" The paper focuses on the link between fiscal policy and debt sustainability. The authors concluded that, without more international assistance in the form of grants or private non-debt financing (such as foreign direct investment), Governments would need to raise taxes or scale down social spending programmes in order to maintain sustainable fiscal positions in the face of possible adverse shocks. The authors noted that the paper's conclusions were sensitive to assumptions on growth rate, interest rate, and exchange rate dynamics.

  This problem has already been recognised by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the UK is pressing for additional relief at HIPC Completion Point, where necessary, to ensure that countries have sustainable external debt levels. On longer-term debt sustainability, the UK welcomes the report being prepared by the World Bank and IMF on ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, including HIPCs, while enabling them to access sufficient finance for their poverty reduction strategies. We hope to reach agreement on the appropriate policy response at the spring meetings of the World Bank and IMF in April.

  We also recognise that, in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals, an additional US$50 billion a year until 2015 is required from the international community. That is why the UK's proposal for an International Finance Facility is so important. It could provide the much-needed substantial increase in resources that debt relief alone would not achieve.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support he is providing to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS in(a) India and (b) China. [147529]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID India is supporting the Government of India's National AIDS Control Programme through the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) with a commitment of £123 million over a period of five years. The main approach of the programme is to support innovative, targeted work with highly vulnerable sections of the community in the various slates of India. Our partners in this programme are World Bank and the US Agency for International Development. The programme includes support to UNAIDS for effective implementation of its HIV strategy in India and BBC-World Service Trust for media campaigns to raise awareness in the general public.

  The communities covered under the programme include sex workers, their clients, street children, men who have sex with men, industrial workers and injecting drug users. For example, in West Bengal one of DFID's focus states, our work to date have covered more than one hundred thousand people through 17 NGOs in 52 sites.
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  DFID China is working in partnership with the Government to tackle and combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. DFID currently supports a £20 million HIV/AIDS initiative, which pilots replicable models of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in Yunnan and Sichuan for high risk and vulnerable groups. This project aims to inform and develop national policy and good practice on HIV/AIDS. In addition, DFID will provide £5 million to assist the Government of China in developing its strategic capacity to deliver an effective and co-ordinated response to HIV/AIDS.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on progress in Africa towards a reduction in the proportion of 15 to 24-year-old pregnant women with HIV from 16 per cent. [148136]

  Hilary Benn
  UNAIDS will publish global HIV/AIDS figures this year, which will allow for a proper assessment of the progress towards this target. The Department for International Development will report on this in its next Departmental Report in 2004.

  Meanwhile, the latest "AIDS Epidemic Update", published by UNAIDS in December 2003, reports that HIV prevalence in pregnant women in selected urban areas seems to show the following trajectories in recent years (UNAIDS "AIDS Epidemic Update", December 2003):
  Increasing: Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique, Cameroon Stable: Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, DRC, Senegal Declining: Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda.

  The update concludes that we are not witnessing a decline in sub-Saharan Africa's epidemic. Significant challenges remain to arrest the epidemic and meet the target to reduce the proportion of pregnant women with HIV/AIDS.

  DFID has HIV/AIDS activities in most of our 16 focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Many of DFID's interventions support National AIDS Councils and help to integrate efforts to address HIV/AIDS into a range of other sectors. In addition to direct HIV/AIDS activities, in an increasing number of countries significant, indirect support for addressing HIV/AIDS is being provided through budget support.

  DFID has also invested £1.5 billion in supporting health systems since 1997. We are working with partners to improve maternal and child health and reduce the impact of HIV and other major communicable diseases.

  The recently published "UK Call for Action on HIV/AIDS" (copy enclosed), makes clear our own commitment to significantly increase our efforts to address HIV/AIDS and poverty.

  We will make reducing the vulnerability of poor people to HIV and to the impact of AIDS a priority for the extra resources the UK will be devoting to Africa by 2006. All DFID Africa country offices are currently considering what needs to be done, by those countries, to enhance their HIV/AIDS programmes, and how the UK and others can best help them, including through additional financial contributions.

  The Government will also make HIV/AIDS—and Africa—a centrepiece of our presidencies of the G8 and the EU in 2005.

  Human Rights (Sudan/Burma)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with representatives of Amnesty International about the level and nature of human rights abuses in(a) Sudan and (b) Burma. [148126]

  Mr. Mullin
  I have been asked to reply.

  I discussed human rights in Sudan with the Director of Amnesty International UK on 11 December 2003. We are in regular contact with Amnesty International on human rights issues in Burma. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials last spoke to Amnesty International on 15 January about their recent visit to Burma.

  Infant Mortality Reduction
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further action he proposes to take to help to achieve the goal in Africa of a reduction in under-five mortality rates for girls and boys from 158 per 1,000 live births to 139. [148138]

  Hilary Benn
  While some African countries have successfully reduced child mortality since 1990, in others it has changed little, and some African countries have experienced a rise in child mortality since 1990. It is generally accepted that a significant change will be needed if the target to reduce under-five mortality rates by two thirds by 2015 is to be achieved. Challenges include: the HIV/AIDS epidemic; economic decline and persistent poverty; inequality; under-resourced and poorly functioning health systems; and lack of progress in reducing the number of deaths of newborn babies.

  DFID supports child health through wider work on strengthening health systems. We are actively supporting health sector development in 10 African countries, including working with partners to strengthen policy and action on child health. The UK will also continue to contribute to global initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and Roll Back Malaria, which have helped revitalise interest in childhood diseases and substantially increased the resources directed to child health. We shall continue to support implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Initiative with partners from the United Nations International Children's Fund, the World Health Organisation, the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development. This initiative is building the quality and quantity of child health care at country level throughout Africa. The UK is also part of the recently inaugurated High Level Forum on Health which plans to address systemic challenges to achieving the health related Millennium Development Goals.

  In a range of countries we also have specific investments in sectors that contribute to reducing child mortality, for example in water and sanitation and in education. The UK's broader development efforts to enhance economic growth and address inequity, conflict, civil unrest, child rights and food insecurity can also be expected to have a positive impact on child health outcomes.
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  At all levels of our engagement with African partners, we shall be increasingly explicit that affordable and sustainable child health outcomes need greater priority in poverty reduction strategies, especially in those countries with high child mortality.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of an increase in the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants from 39 per cent. to 57 per cent. in key countries in Asia, with particular reference to Bangladesh and Pakistan; [148132]

  (2) if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of a reduction in under five mortality rates for girls and boys from 92 per 1,000 live births to 68 per 1,000 in four key countries in Asia, with particular reference to India; [148133]

  (3) if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of an increase in the ratio of girls to boys enrolled in primary school from 87 per cent. to 94 per cent. in four key countries in Asia, with particular reference to (a) Pakistan and (b) India; [148134]

  (4) if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of an increase in gross primary school enrolment from 95 per cent. to 100 per cent. in four key countries in Asia; [148135]

  (5) if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of a sustainable reduction in the proportion of people living in poverty from 15 per cent. to 10 per cent. in East Asia and the Pacific; [148140]

  (6) if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of a sustainable reduction in the proportion of people living in poverty from 40 per cent. to 32 per cent. in South Asia. [148141]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  DFID's Autumn Performance Report (APR), which is available in the House of Commons Library, reports on progress towards all of Asia's Public Service Agreement (PSA) indicators. The APR also explains what action we are taking regarding off-track indicators. The following additional detail covers the country-specific issues.

  China and India have made progress in increasing the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants, but Bangladesh and Pakistan show little progress so far.
  In Bangladesh, DFID is currently supporting the Government's national plan for maternal mortality reduction. We are considering what else we can do to help Bangladesh to make speedier progress, which might include giving earmarked funding to accelerate maternal mortality reduction or an increased budgetary allocation for this purpose. In Pakistan, where progress has also been slow, DFID is developing proposals for substantial support for accelerated actions to improve maternal and neonatal health.

  There has been little improvement so far in reducing child mortality in India. To help respond to this challenge, DFID is supporting the design of the Government of India's Reproductive and Child Health Programme for 2004–08, which encompasses child mortality reduction. We intend to make a significant financial contribution in support of this programme.
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  The ratio of girls to boys enrolled in primary school has improved in Bangladesh and China but in Pakistan and India, considerable progress is still needed. The Pakistan Government, in their recent Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, expressed a commitment to provide education for all through improved access to primary education. We and the other major donors support this commitment. DFID's current education programme promotes progress towards universal primary education and we plan to expand this support over the coming year. In India, which has made some progress, we are continuing to support the District Primary Education Projects in our partner states of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa. An integral part of this programme is the promotion of girls' education through a range of special initiatives and incentives. Enrolment, retention and completion rates of girls continue to steadily improve. We are also supporting the Lok Jumbish education programme in Rajasthan, which places significant emphasis on girls education. Emphasis on girls' education is also central in the new national strategy for universal elementary education, which DFID is planning to support with the WB and EC.

  Iranian Earthquake
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many sniffer dogs in the United Kingdom were ineligible to accompany search and rescue teams to Iran on account of quarantine regulations. [147349]

  Hilary Benn
  There are 12 collapsed structure search and rescue dogs that are registered with the National Search and Rescue dog group. None were ineligible to accompany the rescue teams to Iran. However, seven had only recently completed quarantine following the earthquake response to Algeria last May and their owners felt it was not appropriate to subject them to another spell of quarantine so soon after that mission.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many sniffer dogs accompanied the search and rescue specialists who went from the United Kingdom to Iran on 27 December 2003. [147350]

  Hilary Benn
  Four dogs sent from the UK took part in the search and rescue operations in Iran.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what briefing he has received from the heads of the UK search and rescue teams in Iran since their return to this country. [147385]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID officials have been in regular contact with team leaders since their return from Iran. There will he a formal debrief meeting, as is standard practice on Wednesday 21 January.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of the people described in his written ministerial statement of 5 January 2004,Official Report, columns 1–4WS, as having been evacuated to receive tertiary care in Iran have now received that care. [147386]
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  Hilary Benn
  According to latest reports from the Head of the Disaster National taskforce an estimate of 12,500 people were evacuated by air from Barn to other centres in Iran. All casualties have been treated.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his latest estimate is of the number of city officials in Bam who were killed during the recent earthquake. [147387]

  Hilary Benn
  The latest official Iranian Government figures estimate that 30,000 people lost their lives of which a proportion were city officials. Specific details of city officials killed has not been released. Meanwhile the Iranian authorities and the Iranian Red Crescent Society tracing department are continuing their assessment of missing persons.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of unsolicited items provided by UK nationals to assist with shelter for people made homeless by the earthquake in Iran. [147388]

  Hilary Benn
  The Iranian embassy has expressed its gratitude for the tremendous response by the British public to the tragic situation in Iran. We cannot however, estimate the quantity of the unsolicited items they have been offered.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of the people who suffered injuries in the earthquake in Iran have been(a) hospitalised and (b) treated. [147389]

  Hilary Benn
  The latest official Iranian Government figures give an estimate of 30,000 casualties that suffered injuries. Some of 12,500 people sustained severe injuries and were evacuated to other centres in Iran for treatment. The Iranian Red Crescent set up an extensive mobilised medical field hospital with four additional field hospitals set up by the Ukraine, Russia, Germany, Azerbaijan and Japan.

  Iraq
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the humanitarian projects that the UK has(a) completed and (b) not yet completed in Iraq since 1 May 2003. [147166]

  Hilary Benn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for City of York (Hugh Bayley) on 6 January 2004,Official Report, column 238W.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's estimate is of the average(a) level of supply and (b) number of hours per day of supply of water to the population of (i) Baghdad and (ii) Basra (A) before the start of the recent conflict and (B) since the conclusion of the recent conflict. [147170]

  Hilary Benn
  Statistics in the precise form requested are not available.

  Until the 1991 Gulf War, safe water was available to over 95 per cent. of the urban and 75 per cent. of the rural populations of Iraq. By 2000, coverage had dropped to 92 per cent. and 46 per cent. respectively.
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  The deterioration of the system was disproportionately great in the south, including Basra, as a result of the discriminatory policies of the former regime.

  It is estimated that as a result of the 2003 conflict and subsequent looting, water supply deteriorated by up to 50 per cent. in some governorates. Estimates suggest that the water supply network as a whole is now operating at about 65 per cent. of pre-war levels. However, significant efforts are being made to improve this situation.

  In Baghdad, compact water treatment units and sewage pumping stations have been rehabilitated and additional units are being installed. Measures have also been taken to provide security at water treatment plants to prevent further looting. Hundreds of critical breaks in the water network have been repaired, increasing flow by 2 million litres per day. New construction is taking place at Baghdad's Sharkh Dijlah plant, which will add 40 per cent., or 2.25 million litres per day, to the water supply of eastern Baghdad by May 2004, benefiting 640,000 residents.

  In Basra, rehabilitation work has already restored the water supply to pre-conflict levels. By spring 2004, the volume of fully treated water supplied to the city is expected to surpass the pre-war level of partially treated water. By the summer of 2004, the rehabilitation of the Sweet Water Canal, which supplies water to Basra, will have been completed, further benefiting 1.75 million residents.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will arrange for discussions with the Iraqi Provisional Authority about the supply in that country of safe, legal abortion services; whether his Department is prepared to contribute funding specifically for this purpose; and if he will make a statement. [147909]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID's main support to the health sector in Iraq is provided through the World Health Organisation (WHO). As part of their programme of work, WHO are holding regular discussions with the Iraqi authorities about the provision of all health services in the country, including family planning services. DFID has no plans to provide direct bilateral support for assistance in this area.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of workers distributing aid funded by his Department in(a) Baghdad, (b) Basra and (c) elsewhere in Iraq, with particular reference to women aid workers. [148079]

  Hilary Benn
  The safety of UK personnel throughout Iraq is a top priority. Extensive measures are taken to protect DFID staff and consultants in their living and working quarters, as well as when they are travelling outside Coalition Provisional Authority compounds. These measures include the provision of personal safety and communications equipment, pre-posting security training and briefing and, where appropriate, armed protection. Security arrangements are kept under constant review. The same arrangements apply to men and women.
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  We are in close contact on security issues with the United Nations, which distributes a significant proportion of DFID's assistance to Iraq. We recently allocated £3 million to enhance UN security following the bombing of its Baghdad Headquarters in August and to replace equipment destroyed in that attack.

  DFID also maintains regular contact with UK non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Iraq, in which safety and security issues are discussed. Where necessary DFID provides additional funding to those NGOs which we are financing in order to enable them to enhance their own security measures. It is however for each NGO to determine for itself the level and type of security to put in place, according to the circumstances in which it is working.

  DFID contracts with commercial companies allow for them to put appropriate security provisions in place. We expect them to adopt equivalent levels of security for their own staff to those we provide for DFID personnel. Security information is shared with these companies on a regular basis.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the level was of the UK contribution to the UN Oil for Food programme in Iraq. [148086]

  Hilary Benn
  The United Nations Oil for Food Programme was financed entirely from the sale of Iraq's oil.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what measures are being taken by(a) the UK and (b) the UK with others to prevent food shortages in Iraq; [148087]

  (2) what recent assessment he has made of the level of food shortages in Iraq. [148098]

  Hilary Benn
  The Public Distribution System for food, managed by the Iraqi Ministry of Trade, provides a basic ration for the whole population. Since the end of the United Nations Oil for Food Programme in November 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) has become responsible for food procurement. Contracts already funded are expected to ensure that sufficient basic food will be available until mid-2004.

  Significant levels of chronic malnutrition nevertheless persist in Iraq, mainly as a result of long-term poverty and the inability of many people to supplement their basic rations with food containing sufficient minerals and vitamins. A number of programmes are being implemented by bodies such as the World Food Programme, UNICEF and NGOs to provide supplementary feeding to vulnerable groups. DFID is providing support for such programmes, and also for the work of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in reviving agricultural production in Iraq.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what recent assessment has been made of the availability of medical supplies in Iraq; [148094]

  (2) what recent assessment he has made of the levels of equipment at (a) the teaching hospital in Basra and (b) the Nuclear Medicines Hospital. [148096]
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  Hilary Benn
  Work is currently under way between the Iraqi Ministry of Health, Coalition Provisional Authority and World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop a complete overview of missing drugs, supplies and equipment. This is expected to be complete by March. A great deal has already been achieved to re-establish drug and equipment supply systems. The initial focus was, rightly, on securing adequate supplies of the most essential medicines and vaccines.

  Until new supply systems are fully operational, however, including comprehensive accounting and reporting processes to ensure that needs are identified before shortages arise, some problems will continue to occur. Even when these systems are in place, there may continue to be shortages of some highly specialised drugs and equipment.

  The most critical contribution the international community can make is to ensure that the Ministry of Health can call on the technical expertise to enable them to prioritise their needs among highly competing demands. This is the nature of some of the support which the WHO has been providing, with DFID funding. We are also looking at possibilities for longer-term technical assistance to this and other key service delivery Ministries to assist with the budget prioritisation process, and to help ensure that they are able to access both Iraqi government revenues and donor funding.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq. [148097]

  Hilary Benn
  Despite continuing terrorist attacks against the Iraqi people, the international community and Multinational Forces in Iraq, the security situation is improving throughout the country as a whole. The majority of insurgency attacks remain largely confined to a limited area to the north and north-west of Baghdad.

  Security problems are however still hampering humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, by way of sabotage of infrastructure and attacks on humanitarian workers and contractors. Several humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, have withdrawn expatriate personnel from Iraq for security reasons. Many of their programmes are however continuing under the management of well-qualified Iraqi staff. We are offering NGOs working on DFID-funded projects in Iraq financial support to meet additional security requirements; and we have allocated £3 million to the United Nations to strengthen its security in Iraq and to replace equipment lost in the bombing of its Baghdad headquarters in August.

  The safety of UK personnel throughout Iraq is a top priority. Extensive measures are taken to protect DFID staff and consultants in their living and working quarters, as well as when they are travelling outside Coalition Provisional Authority compounds.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment has been made of the supply of(a) clean water, (b) sanitation and (c) electricity in Iraq. [148105]
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  Hilary Benn
  The most comprehensive assessment of the water supply, sanitation and electricity systems in Iraq is included within the Joint Iraq Needs Assessment prepared by the United Nations/World bank and available on the World bank website: http://worldbank.org

  More recently the requirements of the various sectors have been assessed by the relevant Iraqi Ministries in conjunction with the CPA to develop the schedule of projects to be funded through the US Supplemental and managed by the Iraq Project Management Office and which are available at: www.rebuildinq-Iraq.net

  Other regular and on-going assessments of the various service sectors are prepared by a number of agencies including:

  Coalition Provisional Authority—www.cpa-iraq.org

  USAID—www.usaid.gov/iraq

  UNICEF—www.unicef.org

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with non-governmental organisations which have withdrawn from Iraq about the prospects of a safe return to the country to continue with humanitarian work. [148109]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID holds regular meetings with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Iraq, during which security issues are discussed. A number of NGOs have reduced their presence and profile in Iraq as a result of the high levels of insecurity in the country. DFID has offered additional financial support to those NGOs we are funding in Iraq for appropriate increased security provisions, if needed, and a number of NGOs have responded to this offer. Even where some NGOs have withdrawn their expatriate staff, most existing programmes are able to continue under the management of very capable Iraqi staff, albeit sometimes with additional security constraints.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the £60 million funding for his Department's expenditure in Iraq announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 9 April 2003 has been claimed. [148672]

  Hilary Benn
  The £60 million set aside by the Chancellor for Iraq is included in the UK's total Madrid pledge of £544 for the three years from April 2003. It is available to other Government Departments as well as DFID. £30.8 million has already been allocated, primarily towards meeting the costs of UK secondments to the Coalition Provisional Authority. The allocation of the remainder is under consideration.

  Liberia
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of(a) the supply of clean water, (b) sanitation and (c) electricity supply in Liberia. [148106]

  Hilary Benn
  Clean water supply remains a major challenge, although immediate needs are being met. In urban centres, DFID has supported efforts to chlorinate shallow wells and, in sites where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have collected, to provide safe water 944W
  from drilled bore-holes with tankers, storage bladders and distribution networks. In rural areas, a major programme to rehabilitate wells and hand pumps is under way, with DFID backing.

  Urgent sanitation needs are largely under control, since IDPs were moved from Monrovia to formal camps with established sanitation infrastructures.

  Electrical supply has been virtually non-existent throughout the country for the last 15 years. The population has largely adjusted to this, and urgent needs, for instance in hospitals, are covered by generators provided and run by the humanitarian community.

  Repairing and expanding the electrical grid system remains a significant mid-term rehabilitation requirement.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the security situation in Liberia and its impact on humanitarian relief. [148107]

  Hilary Benn
  The general security situation in Liberia remains stable, if fragile. However, while the number of UNMIL peacekeeping troops is insufficient to guarantee security across the country, the humanitarian agencies are understandably cautious in extending their activities beyond Monrovia; humanitarian operations remain restricted in scope, with only a few agencies implementing mostly small-scale activities in the more distant and insecure counties. In spite of this, the most urgent and acute humanitarian needs across Liberia are being met. Recent UNMIL deployments to Buchanan and Tubmanburg will, we hope, lead to the opening of UN sub-offices in these strategic towns, and a scaling up of humanitarian assistance. We understand that the UN is considering reducing the security alert level outside Monrovia from the current maximum level of Phase IV. This would also assist the spread of humanitarian programmes.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the levels of(a) food, (b) shelter and (c) medicine for the people of Liberia. [148108]

  Hilary Benn
  Given the extensive displacement of the population from their agricultural land, domestic food production in Liberia is inadequate, and will remain so in 2004. However, plans to feed almost 800,000 vulnerable people in 2004, which we propose to support, should provide sufficient food to avert extreme shortages.

  With the large majority of informal settlements in Monrovia having been closed, and their occupants resettled to more formal camps, shelter for IDPs is considered by the relief agencies to be adequate, although temporary. The reconstruction of permanent shelters in IDPs' places of origin remains a major challenge for 2004–05.

  With the reactivation of health services across the country, managed by international NGOs (with DFID support), medicines are in good supply in those areas where agencies are currently able to operate.
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  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals in Liberia. [148122]

  Hilary Benn
  Liberia is just beginning a planned period of recovery from long and widespread destruction and collapse of Government services caused by civil war, corruption, and incompetent Government unconcerned to provide public services. Consequently, there has been no progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.

  The National Transitional Government of Liberia, which has been in office only since October 2003, has agreed with the UN, World Bank and international agencies a comprehensive framework for post-conflict recovery over its two-year period of office. Its intention is to put in place, over this period, the basis for re-establishment of Government Administration and service provision that will subsequently enable progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.

  Malaria
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money has been given by his Department in each of the last six years(a) for medicines to fight malaria and (b) to research into affordable anti-malaria medicines. [148088]

  Hilary Benn
  The Department for International Development works closely with many partners to help developing countries accelerate progress towards achieving the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Goal VI is: by 2015, to have halted and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and the incidence of malaria and other major diseases. Goal IV contains a target to reduce by two thirds between 1990 and 2015 the under-five mortality ratio.
  The UK is committed to tackling malaria and contributing towards poverty reduction, in line with the MDGs and the associated Abuja Targets on malaria control. At the 1998 G8 summit in Birmingham the UK pledged £60 million in support of malaria activities, with £48 million allocated to Roll Back Malaria (RBM) over the period January 1999 to March 2004. RBM provides coordinated support for sustainable action against malaria. This includes providing technical support to Governments to ensure that their anti-malarial drug policies enable those suffering from malaria to get early treatment and to access affordable and appropriate medicines. As an active partner of RBM, DFID works to ensure RBM provides sound evidence-based support for the effective use of resources, including those available from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to which we have committed a total of US$280 million.

  Within our overall spend on communicable diseases, we estimate that the amount spent on named malaria projects, including country programme and research spend, has been:

  1997–98: £2,152,884

  1998–99: £5,651,063

  1999–2000: £13,882,671

  2000–01: £17,372,874

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  2001–02: £17,280,357

  2002–03: £18,892,095

  DFID funds a variety of projects and programmes which work towards malaria control, including on the development and supply of anti-malarial drugs. DFID makes direct investments in research that covers malaria in several ways. Every year we give £4 million to the MRC through a Concordat agreement, which prioritises the needs of developing countries. Within the overall MRC portfolio, the focus on basic clinical research that can be used to identify new drug candidates includes malaria.

  DFID also engage more directly in partnerships with industry to transform basic research, of the kind supported by the MRC, into drugs. We recently worked with GlaxoSmithKline, the WHO programme on Tropical Disease Research and Liverpool University in the development of a cheap new drug called LAPDAP(tm). In order to make the best use of this drug, further research to combine it with another drug to protect against early resistance is being undertaken, managed under an umbrella organisation called the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), which DFID also supports. MMV is an important and innovative organisation that brings together researchers from the public and private sectors, with donors and foundations. DFID is funding MMV with £1 million per year for five years. Since its inception in 1999 MMV has demonstrated significant progress towards reaching its objective to deliver two new drugs in the next 10 years.

  Effective health systems are equally important if medicines are to be delivered safely. Many poor countries still do not have the capacity to deliver treatments for malaria in a safe and effective way, regardless of their cost. This is why we have committed £1.5 billion since 1997 to help developing countries strengthen their health systems.

  Maternal Mortality
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what steps he is taking to meet the Millennium Development goals to reduce the level of maternal mortality among developing countries; [148083]

  (2) what further action he proposes to take to help to achieve an increase in the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants from 49 per cent. to 67 per cent. [148137]

  Hilary Benn
  I will answer questions 7107 and 7507 together.

  Globally well over half a million women die in childbirth each year. A further 1.5 million women are left with a disability as a result of complications in childbirth and two million children are orphaned. The 5th Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health has a target to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters between 1990 and 2015. One proxy indicator of progress against this target is the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants. This is reflected in DFID's Public Service Agreement Targets.
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  Improvement in the proportion of births assisted by skilled attendants has been a key feature in countries where the maternal mortality ratio has been reduced. Skilled attendance means the presence of a professional with midwifery skills, supported by the necessary supplies and systems. Also important is a functioning referral system, able to provide rapid access to life saving skills and procedures in the event of an emergency. The reality in many developing countries falls far short of this and most women deliver alone or with a family member or traditional birth attendant.

  DFID is committed to reducing the toll of maternal death and to promoting women's right to a safe pregnancy and childbirth. The Department's strategy includes advocacy in the international arena, support to countries to strengthen health systems and improve access to maternal and reproductive health services, and support for research and improved measurement tools. Since 1997 the Department has committed approximately £1.5 billion to help developing countries put in place effective health care systems which are vital if maternity services are to be improved. DFID has specific bilateral programmes to promote safe motherhood in Nepal, Malawi and Kenya, which include work to improve access to skilled attendants with the necessary accompanying improvements in access to emergency obstetric care. DFID also supports the maternal health work of international multilateral agencies, including WHO, and international NGOs.

  DFID is participating in a new international partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health and supports a number research programmes to improve the evidence base on effective interventions to reduce maternal mortality including the Initiative for Maternal Mortality Programme Assessment (IMMPACT) with the Gates Foundation, USAID and the EC.

  Middle East
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of(a) movement restrictions on Palestinians and (b) the construction of the separation wall on the access of children living in the town of Abu Dis and surrounding villages to schools and other educational facilities; [146552]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact of (a) movement restrictions on Palestinians and (b) the construction of the separation wall on the ability of people living in the town of Abu Dis and surrounding villages to visit hospital and other health facilities. [146551]

  Hilary Benn
  Abu Dis and its neighbouring villages on the eastern flank of Jerusalem are socially and economically integrated into Jerusalem. The construction of the separation wall, between the municipal boundary of Jerusalem and Abu Dis, will isolate Palestinians from their places of work, schools and health facilities.

  Abu Dis provides only basic health care services. Movement restrictions and the separation barrier, will deny many Palestinians access to the nearest hospitals in Jerusalem. Schooling will be severely disrupted too.
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  Currently many Jerusalemites send their children to schools in Abu Dis, and vice versa. The separation wall cuts through Al Quds University, which will lose one third of its land.

  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment he has made of the preliminary analysis of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs published on 15 December 2003 into the humanitarian consequences of the planned route of the Separation Wall outlined in the map released by the Israeli Government on 23 October 2003; [146553]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the preliminary analysis of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs published on 15 December 2003 into the humanitarian consequences of the planned route of the Separation Wall outlined in the map released by the Israeli Government on 23 October 2003 on the website www.seamzone.mod.gov.il. [146554]

  Hilary Benn
  I agree with the preliminary analysis on the humanitarian consequences of the separation wall in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report of 15 December 2003. The livelihoods of thousands of Palestinians have been drastically affected by the separation of villages from their agricultural land and water resources. The separation wall fragments communities and isolates people from vital social support networks.

  I have placed in the Libraries of both Houses copies of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs preliminary analysis on the humanitarian consequences of the planned route of the separation wall, published on 15 December 2003.

  Poverty Reduction
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further action he proposes to take to secure a sustainable reduction in the proportion of people living in poverty in Africa. [148139]

  Hilary Benn
  The UK is committed to helping secure a sustainable reduction in the proportion of people living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. The Prime Minister gave his commitment prior to the G8 summit in Canada in 2002 to significantly increase UK spending on bilateral programmes in Africa, and we are on course to increase the UK's budget for bilateral programmes in Africa, to £1 billion by 2005–06, (up from around £650 million a year in 2002).

  We shall concentrate our resources in countries strongly committed to poverty reduction and on helping to end and recover from conflict. We will work to improve the effectiveness of UK and others' aid, by supporting country government systems and priorities. We shall continue to promote better coordination and harmonisation between bilateral donors and multilateral organisations on the ground.

  The G8 will report progress on the Africa Action Plan during the UK Presidency in 2005. The Africa Action Plan expresses our political support for the New

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  Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). The Prime Minister's priorities in particular include conflict, HIV/AIDS, primary education and trade.

  Procurement Outsourcing
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his 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. [147593]

  Hilary Benn
  The present policy in DFID is to undertake our IT work in the most cost-effective and efficient way with a blend of "in-house teams" and outsourcing where appropriate. We have no specific policy about offshore outsourcing but keep the situation under regular review.

  The Department for International Development has no call centres. We have not outsourced any of our IT work to offshore companies nor do we have any specific budgets to do so in the next two years.

  We have over 60 overseas offices, some of which are co-located with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and we recruit local staff to assist with the maintenance of our IT systems as required.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Sierra Leone and its impact on the provision of humanitarian aid. [148089]

  Hilary Benn
  Security is well-established across Sierra Leone. The whole country is under Government control, with the support of UNAMSIL. The Government's security agencies are developing their capacity in preparation for the withdrawal of UNAMSIL at the end of the year. The UK is providing extensive support to this process. The Government are currently carrying out a security sector review to put in place measures to guard against threats in the future, both internal and external. We plan to review our support to the security sector when the report of the Government's review is available, and will make modifications to our support as necessary, to assist with the maintenance of security beyond the departure of UNAMSIL.

  There is no security restriction on humanitarian aid. Humanitarian agencies are able to operate in all parts of the country.

  Somalia
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the status of the drought affecting the north-western regions of Somalia; and what assessment he has made of the impact which the drought is having on levels of malnutrition in the region. [147826]
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  Hilary Benn
  A succession of failed rains over the past four years has resulted in large-scale food insecurity among pastoral populations in the Sool and Sanaag regions of northern Somalia. The UN Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) surveyed the Sool plateau between 27 November and 5 December 2003, with preliminary results showing a global acute malnutrition rate of 18.9 per cent. and a severe acute malnutrition rate of 3.8 per cent. amongst children. Malnutrition rates among adult women (15 to 49 years) were 17.3 per cent., suggesting all household members are affected by the current drought. There is evidence of deterioration in the nutritional status of the population, confirmed by reports of collapsing social support system and a worsening drought after the failure of Deyr rains. Malnutrition rates appeared significantly higher among children from pastoral households than those in major villages. With no rains expected before April, further losses to livestock and other assets are expected.

  Unfortunately the growing tension between Somaliland and Puntland, who both claim the drought-affected areas as their territory, could jeopardise assistance if the situation escalates into violent conflict.

  Street Children
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money is being provided by his Department to tackle the problem of street children in Russia in 2003–04. [148121]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  In 2003–04 DFID is spending £164,500 to tackle the problem of street children in Russia, of which £89,000 is committed under the project "Supporting Vulnerable Children in Ekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk Oblast". The project purpose is to improve the quality of life for vulnerable children by providing family-focused, rather than institutional, care. The remaining £75,000 is committed under a number of-small projects funded through the Health and Social Care Partnership Scheme. These projects include drug and alcohol awareness programmes for street children, activities to prevent homelessness and the development of foster care.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many street children there are in(a) Asia, (b) Africa, (c) Latin America, the Caribbean and the overseas territories and (d) the Middle East. [148129]

  Hilary Benn
  There are no internationally agreed definitions of street children and estimates of total numbers are unreliable and patchy. For all areas, numbers are therefore very difficult to assess.

  For Asia I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend for Harrow West on 15 January Official Report column 831W.

  In Africa street children form a proportion of the 300 million people that live in extreme poverty (on less than $1 per day, figure relates to 1999). Across Africa we know that some 50 million girls and boys are out of school (UNESCO). Some of these will be street children.
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  In Latin America street children again form a proportion of the 135 million people that live in poverty (on less than $2 per day). There are some 2 million children out of school at primary level and some of these will be street children.

  As far as DFID is aware there are no street children in the British Overseas Territories. There is no comprehensive date available for numbers of street children in the Caribbean.

  The numbers of street children in the Middle East region as a whole is difficult to assess although UNICEF estimate that there are in excess of 1 million street children in Cairo alone. Where children are particularly vulnerable, for instance Iraq, UNICEF is undertaking research that will assist the government and international donor community efforts to meet their needs.

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the breakdown between public sector finance and private sector finance towards the costs of delivering the millennium development goals in sub-Saharan Africa. [148113]

  Hilary Benn
  Several estimates of costs of reaching the millennium development goals (MDGs) have been made using differing methodologies and assumptions about developments over the next decade. Uncertainties include how rapidly the policies of African countries might improve, how rapidly countries which have been in conflict emerge from it, how severe the longer term impacts of HIV/AIDS will be, and what impact shocks such as droughts might have.

  Improved policies can make a big difference to the costs of achieving improvements in social indicators, but undoubtedly much more money is needed to achieve the MDGs. Both public and private finance has a role to play. Public expenditure is needed to help fund social services such as health and education, and the money for this can come from domestic taxes as well as from external aid. How much domestic revenue is generated depends on how fast the economy grows as well as on the tax system. Private investment, domestic and foreign, can help finance social services too, but also has the potential to accelerate economic growth.

  More analysis has been done on how much extra foreign aid will be needed for the MDGs in sub-Saharan Africa than on how much extra private sector money would be necessary. The aid estimates suggest that two or three times the current total annual inflows of $13 billion might be needed. The scale of this challenge suggests that we need to focus on four things. First, we should encourage African countries to develop sound policies for reducing poverty and the capacity to implement them, while continuing to follow prudent macroeconomic policies and to improve the environment they create for private investors. This will enhance their capacity to use aid effectively at the same time as raising their economic growth potential. Second, we should promote higher inflows of aid to countries with such policies. Third, we should seek to improve the quality of aid, in terms of its predictability and
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  flexibility, for instance by directly funding national budgets. Fourth, we should work to make international trade and finance systems more supportive of economic growth and poverty reduction in low income countries.

  Sudan
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of political stability in Sudan. [148091]

  Mr. Mullin
  I have been asked to reply.

  Good progress continues to be made at the peace talks in Naivasha, Kenya. Both parties have now described the peace process as irreversible and they are hoping to conclude a framework agreement very soon. Although problems persist in some areas, and we continue to be very concerned about the situation in Darfur, there is, at last, a real chance for peace and stability in Sudan.

  World Poverty
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of people in the world living on(a) less than one dollar a day, (b) between one and two dollars a day and (c) between two and five dollars a day. [148114]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID does not produce its own estimates of the number of people living in poverty. This is a complex and resource intensive task. We use estimates produced by the World Bank. The latest estimates are that in 2000 there were 1.1 billion people in the world living on less than a dollar a day and a further 1.6 billion people living on between one and two dollars a day. A figure is not given for the number living on between two and five dollars a day.

  More information on the analysis, including regional breakdowns, is in Chapter 1 of the World Bank's Global Economic Prospects 2004. This is available at: http://www.worldbank.org/prospects/gep2004/toc.htm

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he last met representatives of opposition parties in Zimbabwe; and when he next expects to meet representatives. [147344]

  Hilary Benn
  Since my appointment, I have not had any formal meetings with members of Zimbabwean opposition parties. Although I did have a brief conversation with the Secretary General of the MDC during his visit in November 2003. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and other FCO Ministers have had regular contacts with the Movement for Democratic Change, most recently during the visit to the UK of the Secretary General of the MDC. DFID officials also have occasional contact with representatives of Zimbabwean political parties.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with Amnesty International about(a) the level and (b) the nature of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. [148127]
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  Hilary Benn
  The British Embassy in Harare is in regular contact with a number of human rights organisations operating there who are monitoring the situation on the ground. Embassy officials in Harare and in London regularly receive reporting from Amnesty International about the level and nature of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, but have not met Amnesty recently to discuss Zimbabwe.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Art Acquisition
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department has spent on the acquisition of works of art in each year since 1997, broken down by amounts spent on(a) paintings and (b) sculpture; what the single most expensive piece of art purchased by his Department since 1997 has been; how much it cost; and what the total revenue raised by his Department through sales of works of art has been since 1997. [142361]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  My Department has not purchased nor sold any works of art during the period since 1997.

  Children's Rights
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by when the Government are due to report to the Committee on the Convention on the Rights of the Child on what the UK is doing to fulfil the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; whether the Government have submitted this report; when this report will be made publicly available; and if he will make a statement. [147445]

  Mr. Rammell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK has not yet ratified this Optional Protocol, so is not required to report on it. However, we do intend to ratify at the earliest opportunity. The UK will then be required to submit a report to the Committee within two years of the ratification coming into force, in accordance with article 12 of the Optional Protocol.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list information technology contracts in his Department and its predecessors with a value of above £20 million in each of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been. [146191]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  Neither the Department for Education and Skills nor its predecessors have let an information technology system contract in the last 10 years with a value above 20 million euros. A number of contracts for services have been let with a value above 20 million euros in that period and some of those contracts have included information technology elements as an integral part of the delivery arrangements. In no case has the implementation date 954W
  of those contracted services been delayed by information technology problems, and consequently no costs have been incurred as a result of system development or de-bugging over-runs.

  Jigsaw Research (Correspondence)
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department has spent on the recent research conducted by Jigsaw Research into what customers think of the quality of the Department's replies to letters. [147413]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  [holding answer 14 January 2004]The Department's Strategic Framework Delivering Results-A Strategy to 2006, sets out a commitment to deliver prompt, responsive and consistently excellent services to our customers. The Department receives over 200,000 phone calls, letters and emails from the public every year. The recent research conducted by Jigsaw Research cost £18,000 and is our way of measuring the service we provide and identifying areas for improvement in our responses to letters, telephone calls and emails.

  Office for Fair Access
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will propose an amendment to the Higher Education Bill to require the annual report produced by the Director of Fair Access to be accompanied by an annual debate on the floor of the House; and if he will make a statement. [148262]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]We have no plans to make such an amendment. Members of Parliament are always free to seek debates in the House. We have also said that we will establish an independent review, working with the Director for Fair Access to report to this House, based upon the first three years of variable fees, and I am sure there will be an opportunity to debate that report.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the Director for Fair Access will safeguard fair access to higher education if top-up fees are introduced; and if he will make a statement. [148263]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]From 2006, no institution will be able to charge higher fees without having an Access Plan approved by the Director of Fair Access. This will include details of the action they will take to safeguard access, including offering financial support (including bursaries) and running outreach activities. The Director of Fair Access will also have the responsibility for renewing and monitoring reports on the implementation of Access Plans.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information must be contained in the plan that a higher education institution must provide to the Director of Fair Access in order to increase fees above the basic rate; and if he will make a statement. [148264]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]An access plan must include the levels of fee the institution wishes to charge for its courses. We also intend, through
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  regulations, that an institution should include in its access plan details of the financial assistance (including bursaries) they will offer; how it will attract applications through outreach activities; how it will inform prospective students about financial assistance available to them; and set out its own objectives in widening participation. Institutions will also need to set out how they will monitor their compliance with the plan and progress against their objectives.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will break down the planned expenditure for the proposed Office for Fair Access by(a) salaries and staff, (b) office, (c) personal expenses and (d) other costs; and if he will make a statement. [148266]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer on 15 January 2004]We have said in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which we published alongside the Higher Education Bill that OFFA's costs will average around £500,000 per year. We will provide further detail in due course.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Office for Fair Access will continue the system of fining universities that do not meet their benchmarks for participation from under-represented social groups. [148569]

  Alan Johnson
  There is no current system of fining institutions because they do not meet their benchmarks and neither will OFFA do so.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) whether he intends to set a cap on the level of specified financial requirements that the Higher Education Funding Council for England can impose on universities breaking the terms of their access agreements; [148571]

  (2) what notice the Director of Fair Access must give to universities under the provisions of section 35 (1)(b) of the Higher Education Bill;[148572]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the average length of time that an access agreement between the Director of Fair Access and each individual university will last. [148570]

  Alan Johnson
  We intend to publish our draft regulations during the passage of the HE Bill which will provide information about access plans, and how the Director of Fair Access will operate.

  Sign Bilingualism
  Jon Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to secure universal access for deaf children to Sign Bilingualism; and if he will make a statement. [147450]

  Mr. Miliband
  Last March the Government issued a position statement recognising British Sign Language (BSL) as a language in its own right and announcing that it would make available £1 million for a discrete programme of initiatives to support the statement. A working group comprising key Government Departments and organisations for deaf people has been established to advise on priorities for allocating the funding. Tenders are currently being sought for work 956W
  which will contribute to establishing a Great Britain wide framework to support the recruitment, training and deployment of BSL tutors and for work which will promote access for BSL users through awareness-raising amongst employers, service providers and in the wider community. The working group will also be considering strategies and policies which overtime will further increase access to BSL and will be making recommendations to Ministers in the autumn.

  Parents of deaf pupils who have statements of special educational needs, are able to express a preference for the maintained school they would like their child to attend, and can also make representations for a place at an independent or non-maintained special schools. Before expressing a preference they are able to consider communication approaches offered by different schools—auditory-oral, total communication or sign bilingualism.

  Sixth-form Budgets
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget for the teaching of A-Levels and equivalent academic courses in sixth-form colleges was in each year since 1996–97; and what the budget is for 2005–06. [147414]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 14 January 2004]The Department allocates funds to the Learning and Skills Council for the provision of A-Levels and equivalent academic courses in the post-16 learning and skills sector. The Department does not provide a specific budget to the LSC for sixth-form colleges. It is for the Learning and Skills Council to determine for itself the right level of investment in sixth-form colleges from the funds allocated to it for learning participation. Mark Haysom the Council's Chief Executive will to write to the hon. Gentleman providing details of the funds allocated to sixth-form colleges from 1996–97 to 2003–04, and provisional allocations to sixth form colleges from 2004–05 to 2005–06. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Library.

  Student Complaints Office
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what estimates he has made of the cost of providing(a) maintenance loans and (b) fee loans in each of the next 10 years assuming (i) current student numbers and (ii) expected growth in student numbers; [148564]

  (2) how much annual Government spending on student loans will change in each of the next 10 years from the amount set out in the Higher Education Bill. [148566]

  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. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the costs vary greatly according to the decisions that both students and higher education institutions take, and they cannot be estimated precisely at this stage. Copies
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  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.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the size of the total student loan debt was in each year since 1999; what the size of the increases in(a) loans taken out and (b) repayments of principal were in each year; what the increases from interest additions were in each year; and what the Government contribution to the student loan scheme was in each year.[147417]

  £ million

  England and Wales

  Financial year

  1999–2000

  Change

  2000–01

  Change

  2001–2002

  Lent

  1,281.7

  618.1

  1,899.8

  217.9

  2,117.7

  Repaid1

  111.4

  47.1

  158.5

  80.6

  239.1

  Interest added

  69.4

  32.1

  101.5

  44.1

  145.6

  Amount outstanding at the end of the financial year

  3,413.8

  1,889.3

  5,303.1

  1,900.1

  7,203.2

  1Amounts repaid cannot be split between repayments of principal and interest.

  The resource accounting and budgeting (RAB) costs to the Treasury for loans to students domiciled in England and Wales are shown in the table:

  Full details of student loans movements for England and Wales are included in the DfES resource accounts.

  £million

  Resource Accounting and Budgeting costs Financial year

  Movement on Provisions

  1999–2000

  558.9

  2000–01

  794.6

  2001–02

  855.9

  Full details of student loans movemednts for England and Wales are included in the DfES resource accounts.

  No figures have yet been published for 2002–03. Information for that year will be contained in the 2002–03 resource accounts which will be published within the next month.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects universities to take on responsibility for the funding of the new student complaints office. [148565]

  Alan Johnson
  We anticipate that universities and other higher education sector institutions will be required, subject to parliamentary approval of the Higher Education Bill and designation of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA), to fund the OIA from March 2005.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many bursaries for primary teacher training posts are to be funded from the Sure Start programme in 2004–05; [148167]
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  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]The Secretary of State for Education and Skills has responsibilities for student loanspaid to higher education students domiciled in England and Wales, and this information is therefore provided on an England and Wales basis.

  The table shows the student loans issued, repaid, the interest added and the amount outstanding at the end of the year for financial years 1999–2000 to 2001–02, and the change between each financial year.

  (2) how many of the additional initial teacher training places for primary teaching in 2004–05 will be eligible to receive bursaries; [148168]

  (3) what plans he has to guarantee teaching posts to undergraduates who have received bursaries funded through the Sure Start programme. [148169]

  Mr. Miliband
  I announced last month that a minimum of 400 initial teacher training places would be made available in the 2004/05 academic year for trainees with an early years specialism. These are all places on Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses and will therefore in principle attract £6,000 training bursaries. An additional £2 million will be made available to the Teacher Training Agency to cover the costs of the additional places that will fall in the 2004–05 financial year. In view of the growing demand for trained teachers in early years settings, there is every reason to expect that suitable employment opportunities will be available for the trainees who are being recruited to fill these places.

  Top-up Fees
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the amount of funding that will be raised for higher education in(a) 2006 and (b) each year to 2020 under (i) the present arrangements and (ii) his proposals on top-up fees. [148709]

  Alan Johnson
  The latest available estimates for fee income under the existing arrangements are for 2003/04: the total income from the standard fee of £1,125 is estimated at £847 million. Information on the additional income from variables fees is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the HE Bill. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the extra income from fees will vary according to the decisions that higher education institutions take on the level of fee, both when variable
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  fees are introduced, and as universities' fee policies evolve in subsequent years. 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.

  University Bursaries
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average bursary that universities charging the full £3,000 will pass on to students from poorer backgrounds; and how many students he estimates will receive this bursary. [148567]

  Alan Johnson
  As a minimum, the Government want to ensure that no student who qualifies for the maximum state support (around 30 per cent. of students) has to take out additional debt as a result of higher fees. For a student on a £3,000 course, this means a minimum bursary/financial support of at least £300. But, as we have made clear the Director will expect more than the minimum from those institutions that do not have a strong record in access. For example, Cambridge University have announced that they will offer bursaries of £4,000 a year for the poorest students. Therefore we expect the average bursary will be more than £300 and more than 30 per cent. of students will benefit.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what powers the Office of Fair Access will have in the setting of bursary amounts in respect of universities that do not have strong records in recruiting students from poorer backgrounds. [148568]

  Alan Johnson
  From 2006, no institution will be able to charge higher fees without having an access plan which will include details of the action they will take to safeguard access, including offering financial support (including bursaries) and running outreach activities. The Director of Fair Access will scrutinise the access plans and refuse to approve any which are not satisfactory.

  University Fees
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what total revenue he expects to be raised assuming(a) 10 per cent., (b) 20 per cent., (c) 30 per cent., (d) 40 per cent., (e) 50 per cent., (f) 60 per cent., (g) 70 per cent., (h) 80 per cent., (i) 90 per cent. and (j) 100 per cent. of universities charge the full £3,000 fee, with the remainder of universities charging the standard fee of £1,200; [148573]

  (2) what total revenue he expects to be raised assuming (a) 10 per cent., (b) 20 per cent., (c) 30 per cent., (d) 40 per cent., (e) 50 per cent., (f) 60 per cent., (g) 70 per cent., (h) 80 per cent., (i) 90 per cent. and (j) 100 per cent. of universities charge the full £3,000 fee, with the remainder of universities charging the standard fee of £1,200 less the total amount spent on bursaries. [148574]

  Alan Johnson
  Information on the additional income from fees in different scenarios is contained in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published on 8 January alongside the HE Bill. Because of the nature of a variable scheme, the extra income from fees will vary according to the decisions that higher education 960W
  institutions take on the level of fee. Figures for extra fee income, with and without the amount spent on bursaries, cannot therefore be estimated precisely at this stage. 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.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Bush Administration regarding the role of the United Nations in Iraq. [148099]

  Mr. Rammell
  We are in regular contact with the US Administration on all aspects of the situation in Iraq, including the role of the United Nations. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Bush have repeatedly affirmed, we support the UN's vital role in Iraq, in accordance with the mandate set out in relevant Security Council resolutions. The future role of the UN will be discussed at a meeting between the UN Secretary-General, the Iraqi Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority today.

  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British companies have won contracts to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq, broken down by type of service or project provided. [146960]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We wish to see UK companies play a substantial role in the reconstruction process in Iraq. Several UK companies have won contracts to assist in that process but have asked us not to publicise their success because of commercial confidentiality. Furthermore, UK companies are not required to report such details to the Government. Therefore, we are unable to provide the information requested. However, UK firms are active in the power, water, banking, ports, construction, telecoms, security, legal services and consultancy services.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British technical experts are deployed(a) with the Iraqi Survey Group and (b) for the disarmament of Libya's weapons of mass destruction; and what the cost to date has been in conducting each mission. [147026]

  Mr. MacShane
  There are currently 55 British personnel (both civilian and military) deployed with the Iraq Survey Group. The costs to the United Kingdom of their mission are not recorded separately in a readily accessible form and cannot, therefore, be differentiated from the total cost of personnel deployed to the Gulf region as a whole. We do not have figures relating to costs incurred on support for the Iraq Survey Group by other Coalition Partners.

  There are no British personnel currently deployed to Libya to assist with the disarmament of Libya's weapons of mass destruction.

  Poland
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of people expected to travel from Poland to reside and work in the United Kingdom following Poland's accession to the European Union on 1 May. [147703]

  Mr. MacShane
  Research conducted for the Home Office by University College London (published in June 2003) estimates that the numbers of people who will migrate to the UK from the new Member States in the years following enlargement will not be significant. The University College London report is available on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr2503.pdf. The research was not broken down by country.

  Visas
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was in each of the last five years of the visa sections of(a) embassies and (b) high commissions and consuls, including the cost of entry clearance officers. [147787]

  Mr. Mullin
  Total global costs of running UK visas operations for the years 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 are published in the annual Foreign and Commonwealth Office Department Report, available in the Library of the House and on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk. The latest published figure is £81.386 million for 2001–02. To break down the information further as requested by my hon. Friend could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Angola
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of human rights abuses in the Cabinda province of Angola; and if he will make a statement. [147792]

  Mr. Mullin
  We remain concerned about reports of human rights violations in Cabinda. We hope that a speedy and negotiated settlement to the Cabinda question can be found. Our embassy in Luanda is monitoring the situation closely in consultation with EU partners.

  Bilateral Treaties (United States)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many bilateral treaties have been signed since I May 1997 between the UK and the United States, giving in each case(a) the date of signature, (b) the title and (c) information on whether the treaty is available for public inspection. [148867]

  Mr. Straw
  14 bilateral treaties have been signed with the Government of the United States of America since 1 May 1997. Of these, 11 have so far been published, with the remaining three expected in due course. International treaties to which the UK is a party are published as Command Papers as soon as possible after they are concluded, and are widely available through 962W
  The Stationery Office (TSO). All Treaty Command Papers published since March 2002, and their accompanying Explanatory Memoranda, have also been placed on the internet and may be accessed via: www.fco.gov.uk/treaty

  The relevant bilateral treaties are:

  (1) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the establishment on Ascension Island of an Additional Facility to be operated on Behalf of the United States Air Force.

  Signed 15 July 1997 and 22 July 1997.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 049/1997: Cm 3739.

  (2) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning Maritime and Aerial Operations to Suppress Illicit Trafficking by Sea in Waters of the Caribbean and Bermuda with Exchange of Notes.

  Signed 13 July 1998.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 002/2001: Cm 5031.

  (3) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Government of the United States of America relating to investment incentives.

  Signed on 20 April 1999.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 041/1999: Cm 4395.

  (4) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the construction of a Monitoring Facility on Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory (British Indian Ocean Territory 1999).

  Signed on 18 June 1999 and 21 July 1999.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 001/2000: Cm 4582.

  (5) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America amending the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters done at Washington on 6 January 1994.

  Signed on 30 April 2001 and 1 May 2001.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 008/2002: Cm 5375.

  (6) Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Gains.

  Signed on 24 July 2001.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 023/2003: Cm 5880.

  (7) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including the Government of the Cayman Islands, and the Government of the United States of America for the Exchange of Information relating to Taxes.

  Signed on 27 November 2001.

  Not yet published.

  (8) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including the

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  Government of the British Virgin Islands, and the Government of the United States of America for the Exchange of Information relating to Taxes.

  Signed on 3 April 2002.

  Not yet published.

  (9) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America amending the Agreement done at London on 27 March 1941, and related lease and other arrangements regarding the establishment, use, operation and defence of the United States bases on Bermuda.

  Signed on 18 June 2002.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 049/2002: Cm 5683.

  (10) Protocol amending the Convention between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America for the avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and capital Gains, signed at London on 24 July 2001.

  Signed on 19 July 2002.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 023/2003: Cm 5880.

  (11) Extradition Treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America.

  Signed on 31 March 2003.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Country Series as United States No. 001/2003: Cm 5821.

  (12) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America regarding the sharing of Forfeited or Confiscated Assets or their Equivalent Funds.

  Signed on 31 March 2003.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 034/2003: Cm 5946.

  (13) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America to extend the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters signed at Washington on 6 January 1994 to the Isle of Man.

  Signed on 2 June 2003 and 5 June 2003.

  Not yet published.

  (14) Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the use of Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island by Civil Aircraft not engaged in Scheduled International Air Services.

  Signed on 1 October 2003.

  Published as a Command Paper in the Treaty Series as No. 051/2003: Cm 6087.

  Brazil
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Brazil about nuclear proliferation issues. [148466]

  Mr. Rammell
  We maintain a substantive and ongoing dialogue with Brazil on the full range of nuclear proliferation issues at official level in London, Brasilia and at relevant international organisations and international fora. There has been no recent discussion at ministerial level on these themes.

  Chechnya
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence his Department has of links between Chechens and(a) al-Qaeda, (b) Iraqi insurgents and (c) other practitioners of terrorism. [146686]

  Mr. MacShane
  Chechen extremists had close and long-established links to terrorists based in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Some foreign terrorists who trained in Afghanistan, and had ties with al-Qaeda, went on to fight in Chechnya. Some Chechens fought with the Taliban and al-Qaeda against the Northern Alliance, and subsequently against the Coalition. Chechen groups even set up an "Embassy" in Kabul in early 2001. Those involved are subject to UN sanctions under UN Security Council Resolution 1267. Under the same resolution, the leading Chechen rebel field commander Shamil Basayev was made subject to UN sanctions on 12 August 2003.We have no strong evidence of Chechen terrorists being in Iraq. Some networks that support Chechen terrorism, however, may also support extremists in Iraq. Chechen extremists have developed links with a wide range of other extremists, including some in Europe, in order to fund and support their campaign. Some extremists see the conflict in Chechnya as a 'jihad' which they have a duty to support.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent progress towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.[R] [148259]

  Mr. MacShane
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]The formation of a new "government" under the leadership of the pro-settlement politician Mehmet Ali Talat in northern Cyprus is an encouraging development. So too was the statement last week by Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan. I was impressed during my visit to Ankara last week at the new positive line from the Turkish Government in support of the Annan Plan. I stressed in talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Gul the need for Turkey to support and work for the speedy acceptance of the Annan Plan with a view to finding a settlement that would allow a united Cyprus to enter the EU on 1 May this year. It is in the interest of all with a stake in Cyprus to work for a settlement by 1 May.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he plans to make to(a) the new government in northern Cyprus and (b) Turkey over the need for a census to be conducted in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.[R] [148260]

  Mr. MacShane
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]We believe that the UNSG's proposals (the Annan Plan) satisfactorily take into account the issues underlying calls for a census. It is difficult to see the useful purpose that a census at the present time would serve, nor how the necessary delay in organising it would advance matters. I was impressed in talks with the Turkish
  965W
  Government in Ankara last week at the new positive approach to finding a solution based on the Annan proposals.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcome of the elections in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [R] [148261]

  Mr. MacShane
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]I welcome the fact that a coalition "government" has now formed in northern Cyprus and that the coalition's stated aim is to work for a settlement to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan Plan by 1 May. That is what the majority of the Turkish Cypriot population voted for on 14 December 2003. We continue to believe that the UN Secretary General's proposals offer the only realistic basis for a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement. All sides must now commit to resume substantive settlement negotiations on the basis of these proposals as soon as possible, in line with the requirements set down by the UN Secretary General in his report of 1 April 2003.

  Euro
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in how many speeches during 2003 he declared support for the Government's policy on the euro. [147301]

  Mr. MacShane
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear the Government's position on EMU on many occasions in 2003. These included a speech on 23 October 2003 to the Chester/Ellesmere/North Wales Chamber of Commerce, which I am sending to my hon. Friend. In addition to published texts, the Foreign Secretary frequently answers questions on this issue during the course of all kinds of public discussions.

  Germany
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason extra security has been put in place around the British Embassy in Berlin; when it was put in place; what the total cost of these measures has been since they were implemented; and who is meeting the cost of this extra security. [147682]

  Mr. Rammell
  Immediately after the attack on the British Consulate-General in Istanbul, all diplomatic missions were instructed to review their security urgently and, where appropriate, implement security enhancements. In addition, those missions with a high level of threat or vulnerability sought additional protection from the host government.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) cannot disclose, under Exemption 1 (a) and 4 (e) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information the specific security measures in place at the British Embassy in Berlin but such costs would normally be met from FCO budgets.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Hong Kong. [148229]
  966W
  Mr. Rammell
  We continue to follow developments in Hong Kong closely, in line with our responsibilities as a co-signatory to the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary continues to report regularly to Parliament on the implementation of the Joint Declaration. The last such report (Cmnd 5864) was issued in July 2003 and is available in the Library of the House. We continue to assess that, generally, the "One Country, Two Systems" policy enshrined in the Joint Declaration is working well in practice.

  The main political issue in Hong Kong is currently constitutional reform. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) contains provisions on constitutional development, with the ultimate aims being the selection of the Chief Executive and election of all members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage. On 1 January up to 100,000 people participated in a march to call for greater democracy in Hong Kong.

  On 7 January the Chief Executive announced the setting up of a Task Force, headed by the Chief Secretary for Administration, to examine the Basic Law's provisions on constitutional reform and to consult the Chinese Central People's Government on these issues. On 14 January the Chief Secretary issued a paper setting out the Work Plan of the Task Force. This makes clear that the Task Force will be carrying forward discussions with the Hong Kong people while consulting the Central People's Government on issues pertaining to the Basic Law.

  When I was in Hong Kong in December I reiterated our position on this issue, that we hope to see early progress towards the Basic Law's ultimate aim of universal suffrage, at a pace in step with the wishes of the people of Hong Kong.

  Imad Hage
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received during the last 12 months from Mr. Imad Hage. [145209]

  Mr. MacShane
  We have no record of any official representations from Mr. Imad Hage to the Foreign Secretary during the last 12 months.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings(a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department have held during 2003 with Mr. Imad Hage. [145215]

  Mr. MacShane
  We have no record of any official meetings between officials or Ministers of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Mr. Imad Hage.

  Israel
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli authorities in advance of the court hearing scheduled for 7 January, concerning the proposed demolition of the peace centre called Beit Arabiya in the West Bank village of Anata. [146561]

  Mr. MacShane
  None.
  967W
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of(a) settlement buildings, (b) movement restrictions on Palestinians, (c) planning regulations, (d) rules of residence and (e) construction of the separation wall on the extent to which Israel is fulfilling its responsibilities towards the character and status of Jerusalem under UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 267, 476 and 478; and what representations he is making on the issue. [146566]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government have repeatedly said that neither side should take unilateral action that could prejudge the status of Jersualem. We regard the status of Jerusalem as still to be determined in permanent status negotiations between the parties. Pending agreement, we recognise de facto Israeli authority over West Jerusalem but consider East Jerusalem to be occupied territory. We recognise no sovereignty over the city.

  We consider the building of settlements on occupied land to be unlawful. We have regularly called on Israel to fulfil its roadmap commitment to freeze all settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements) and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001. We have also urged Israel to improve the humanitarian situation by lifting curfews and easing restrictions on movement of persons and goods.

  We understand Israel's need to take steps, within international law, to protect itself from terrorist attack. But we have made clear that we regard the route of the wall that Israel is building on occupied Palestinian land as unlawful. The decision to declare the land between the fence and the Green Line a "closed zone" and require those Palestinians who live on or farm it to apply for a permit to access their land is a matter of particular concern.

  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have raised these issues with the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on a number of occasions. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean has also raised these issues with the Israeli Government in Tel Aviv and with the Israeli Ambassador in London. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also made representations to the Israeli Ambassador, most recently on 10 December 2003.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to his Department of using management consultants has been in each of the last five years. [148023]

  Mr. Rammell
  Expenditure on external consultants in general is reported annually in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Departmental Report, available in the Library of the House and on the FCO's website: www.fco.gov.uk. Expenditure specifically on management consultants is not categorised separately and could be established only at disproportionate cost.
  968W
  Expenditure on external consultants for the last five years has been:

  £ million

  1997–98

  15.8

  1998–99

  14.5

  1999–2000

  14

  2000–01

  17.9

  2001–02

  20.1

  Expenditure for 2002–03 is not yet available, but will be included in the next Departmental Report due to be published in spring 2004.

  The vast majority of our expenditure on external consultants is associated with our major Information Communications Technology (ICT) and Estate Construction programmes. Consultants also advise on legal, financial and personnel issues and provide support in areas where we have skills shortages. Increasing expenditure over recent years is largely associated with the growth of our ICT programme which is being used to support change in the organisation.

  Procurement Outsourcing
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his 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. [147585]

  Mr. Rammell
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) purchasing policy follows the Government's Public Purchasing Consolidated Guidelines which require the procurement of goods and services to be based on value for money and that they should be acquired by competition unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary.

  In the UK the FCO has not agreed any contracts for the provision of IT or call centre services operated outside this country, nor are there any plans to do so.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has received from Saudi Arabian officials concerning plans to attack British Airways flights(a) over Saudi Arabia and (b) with light aircraft registered in that country; and if he will make a statement. [148433]

  Mr. Straw
  We liaise closely with the Saudi Government on security issues, including those relating to aviation security. Information received in confidence from the Saudi Government is exempt from disclosure under Exemption 1(c) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. We do not disclose the details of exchanges on security issues, as it is the longstanding practice of successive Governments not to comment on intelligence and security matters.

  969W
  The security and intelligence agencies are outside the scope of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Paragraph 6, Part 1).

  Sudan
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence has been collated by his Department on whether the Eritrean authorities are arming Sudanese rebels in the Darfur region; and if he will make a statement. [147774]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are aware of accusations made by the Government of Sudan of Eritrean involvement in the conflict in Darfur, and are in contact with both governments on this matter.

  We hope that peace in Sudan will help bring stability and prosperity to the entire Greater Horn region, and are encouraging both sides to work to improve relations.

  Sunset Clauses
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on the need for sunset clauses on legislative proposals brought forward by the European Commission. [147918]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government believe that review clauses and sunsetting should be included in European legislation where appropriate. The Cabinet Office Guide to Regulatory Impact Assessment asks those officials negotiating a Directive to consider getting a commitment to review in the text of the Directive itself, if it is not feasible or appropriate to have sunsetting. The Cabinet Office Guide to Regulatory Impact Assessment is available on the Cabinet Office website: www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/scrutiny/ria-guidance.

  Taiwan
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. [147526]

  Mr. Rammell
  The United Kingdom monitors cross-Straits relations closely.

  We attach great importance to the avoidance of conflict. We take every appropriate opportunity to convey to the Chinese Government and, through informal channels, to the Taiwanese Authorities our strong opposition to the use of force or to any action that raises cross-straits tensions.

  United Nations
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions since 1975 when the vote cast by the United Kingdom has been diametrically opposed to that of the United States in the UN Security Council; and what percentage of votes this represents. [147399]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK has made a positive vote in the Security Council when the US has voted negatively on the following 28 occasions since 1975:

  11 August 1975: Application for membership for Republic of South Vietnam

  970W

  11 August 1975: Application for membership for Democratic Republic of Vietnam

  30 Sept 1975: Application for membership for Republic of South Vietnam

  30 Sept 1975: Application for membership for Democratic Republic of Vietnam

  8 Dec 1975: Situation in the Middle East

  25 March 1976: Situation in occupied Arab territories

  23 June 1976: Application for membership for Angola

  15 Nov 1976: Application for membership for Socialist Republic of Vietnam

  2 April 1982: Situation in occupied Arab territories

  20 April 1982: Situation in occupied Arab territories

  8 June 1982: Israeli invasion of Lebanon

  26 June 1982: Israeli invasion of Lebanon

  2 August 1983: Situation in occupied Arab territories

  6 Sept 1984: Israeli occupation of Lebanon

  30 Jan1986: Provocative acts in relation to Al Aqsa Mosque

  1 Feb 1988: Situation in the occupied territories

  15 April 1988: Situation in the occupied territories

  10 May 1988: Israeli invasion of Southern Lebanon

  14 Dec 1988: Israeli raid on Lebanon

  17 Feb 1989: Situation in the occupied Arab territories

  9 June 1989: Situation in the occupied Arab territories

  7 Nov 1989: Situation in the occupied Arab territories

  31 May 1990: Situation in the occupied Arab territories

  17 May 1995: Situation in the occupied Arab territories

  7 March 1997: Situation in the occupied Arab territories

  21 March 1997: Situation in the occupied Arab territories

  30 June 2002: Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

  20 Dec 2002: Situation in the Middle East

  There have been no occasions since 1975 when the US has voted positively on a resolution which the UK has voted against. The 28 votes listed above represent around 2.3 per cent. of the 1,238 votes on substantive resolutions which have either been adopted or vetoed since 1975. In the same period, there were 23 occasions in which the UK voted positively and the US abstained, and 21 occasions when the UK abstained and the US voted against. There have been no occasions since 1975 when the UK abstained and the US voted positively, or the UK voted against and the US abstained. Exact figures for the total number of votes (including those, for example, on procedural issues) which have taken place in the Security Council are not readily available.

  USA (Visas)
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Administration about the introduction of visa charges for British citizens who visit the United States of America. [148154]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There have been no recent changes to charges for US visas for British citizens. However, we are in close consultation with the US on the introduction of biometric travel documents, and how this will affect entry in to the United States for British passport holders after 26 October 2004.

  Western Sudan
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what measures the Government are taking to re-establish and support the Chadian-led peace negotiations following the breakdown of peace talks on Darfur, Western Sudan; [148015]

  (2) what steps the Government are taking to encourage the Government of Sudan to agree to (a) the presence of international observers at peace talks on the conflict in Darfur, Western Sudan and (b) the inclusion of the Justice Equality Movement and militias at the negotiations. [148016]

  Mr. Mullin
  We remain extremely concerned at the humanitarian situation in Darfur. We are in contact with all parties, including the Government of Sudan at senior level, to press for the re-establishment of a ceasefire, preferably with international monitoring, which would permit humanitarian access to those in need and lead to talks about how the problems of Darfur can best be addressed.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa regarding the political situation in Zimbabwe. [147338]

  Mr. Mullin
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Zimbabwe with President Mbeki at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja from 5 to 7 December 2003. We and our High Commissioner in South Africa are in regular dialogue with the South African Government on the issue.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Cannabis (Recategorisation)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effects of the forthcoming recategorisation of cannabis in(a) London and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [148341]

  Caroline Flint
  Cannabis is a harmful drug and it will remain illegal to produce, supply or possess it following reclassification as a Class C drug on 29 January. The presumption against using the power of arrest for simple cannabis possession offences committed by those aged 18 or over, following reclassification, will save police time and provide them with an opportunity to focus greater resources on priority areas like tackling Class A drug supply offences.

  Fireworks Regulations (Enforcement)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to police forces in respect of enforcement of new regulations to control fireworks. [148342]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The Department for Trade and Industry regulations prohibiting the possession of fireworks, in public places, by those under the age of 18 972W
  and the possession of category 4 fireworks (professional display fireworks) by the general public have now come into force.

  The Home Office will be writing to Chief Police Officers shortly with details of these new powers.

  Anti-Social Behaviour Act
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 on(a) graffiti and (b) fly-posting will be introduced. [148343]

  Ms Blears
  On 20 January we will be publishing a Guide to the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 which will give the dates when these measures will be commenced. The powers on graffiti will be commenced on 31 March 2004, those on fly posting on 20 January 2004.

  Local Authority Finance (Police)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on increases in police precept by local authorities in 2004–05. [148344]

  Ms Blears
  Police authority precepts are a matter for each police authority. We expect all police authorities to assess their local needs carefully, taking into account local views on service and budget levels. We also expect authorities to exercise restraint in setting budgets and precepts as the current trend in council tax increases is unsustainable.

  Police Budgets (East Anglia)
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet chief constables from East Anglia to discuss policing budgets for 2004–05. [148345]

  Ms Blears
  I have no current plans to meet chief constables from East Anglia. I have received written representations on the provisional grant funding settlement from Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. These will be fully taken into account in decisions on the final settlement.

  The setting of budgets and precepts are matters for police authorities. We expect police authorities to ensure that their decisions will not place excessive burdens on the local council tax payer.

  Child Trafficking
  Mrs. Ann Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will introduce legislation to combat the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children within the UK; and if he will make a statement. [148346]

  Paul Goggins
  The Sexual Offences Act 2003 includes offences which criminalise trafficking into, within and out of the country for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The offences carry a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. The Act also introduces a wider range of offences covering the sexual exploitation of children. The Asylum and Immigration Bill includes a new offence of trafficking for purposes other than sexual exploitation.

  "Reducing Crime, Changing Lives"
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the plans contained in the report "Reducing Crime, Changing Lives" will be the subject of parliamentary scrutiny. [148347]

  Ms Blears
  The chief executive of the National Offender Management Service will be accountable to Ministers for reducing re-offending and delivering other agreed outcomes from the new service. Ministers will of course remain accountable to parliament for the service. Some of the reforms proposed in Reducing Crime—Changing Lives are likely to require legislation to be passed by parliament.

  Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested through powers exercised under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; how long the detention lasted in each case; and if he will make a statement. [145076]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Individuals who are detained under Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (ATCS) are not arrested. They are detained under Immigration powers pursuant to a certificate issued under Part 4 of the ATCS Act 2001, pending their removal from the United Kingdom.

  In terms of numbers, I refer the hon. Member to my Written Ministerial Statement of 18 November 2003, Official Report, column 27WS. No further certifications or detentions made since then.

  Under the other 12 Parts of the ATCS Act, Home Office records show that there have been 24 convictions under Part 5 (Racial and Religious Hatred) of the Act. Arrest figures for Part 5 of the Act and figures for the length of time each individual is detained are not held centrally. In addition, six people have been arrested

  Removals and voluntary1 departures of principal asylum applicants (excluding dependants): January 1997 to June 20032,3,4

  Nationality

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  January to June 2003

  Democratic Republic of Congo

  60

  20

  n/a

  n/a

  20

  35

  10

  1 Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.

  2 Figures rounded to the nearest five with * = 1 or 2.

  3 Data have been estimated due to data quality issues

  4 Provisional figures

  n/a not available

  Information on the destination of removals is not available.

  Current advice from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate is that it is not safe to return nationals to the Democratic Republic of Congo other than to Kinshasa.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many and what proportion of asylum seekers in each country of the United Kingdom had achieved, prior to their entry into the
  974W
  under Part 13 of the Act (Miscellaneous provisions including noxious substances; hoaxes involving noxious substances; failure to disclose information about acts of terrorism and terrorist training).

  Asylum Appeals
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to give a substantive reply to the question, reference 143845, concerning asylum and immigration cases heard in the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords, tabled by the hon. Member for Woking on 9 December 2003. [146843]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]I replied to the hon. Member on 14 January 2004,Official Report, column 754.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many failed asylum seekers were returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement; [144712]

  (2) how many failed asylum seekers were returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement; [144742]

  (3) how many applicants for asylum there were from the Democratic Republic of Congo in each of the last six years; and how many and what percentage of applications were accepted. [145401]

  Beverley Hughes
  Estimates of the number of nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo who had sought asylum at some stage and who were removed between January 1997 and June 2003 are shown in the table. These figures include persons departing `voluntarily' after the initiation of enforcement action against them, and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration.

  UK, professional qualifications or their equivalent in (a) nursing, (b) medicine, (c) dentistry and (d) teaching in each year since 1997; [144818]

  (2) how many and what proportion of asylum seekers in each country of the United Kingdom had gained prior to their entry into the UK (a) higher education qualifications or their equivalent, (b) professional qualifications or their equivalent and (c) secondary level qualifications or their equivalent in each year since 1997. [144817]
  975W
  Beverley Hughes
  Data on the qualifications which asylum seekers had obtained prior to entry are not recorded and collated centrally, and could therefore only be obtained from individual case files at disproportionate cost.

  Information on asylum statistics is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on detaining asylum seekers with children whose application for asylum has been denied. [145677]

  Beverley Hughes
  After an application for asylum has been refused a family with children may be detained if there is a considered risk of non-compliance with the conditions of temporary admission or release, or to effect removal.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will provide a substantive response to the question relating to funding due to Kent county council in respect of asylum seekers, ref 144468, tabled by the hon. Member for North Thanet on 12 December and transferred to his Department by the Treasury for named day answer on 16 December 2003. [146557]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 8 January 2004]I replied to the hon. Member on 15 January 2004.

  Cleveland Local Criminal Justice Board Website
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date the Cleveland local criminal justice board website will contain some information. [146767]

  Paul Goggins
  The Cleveland Local Criminal Justice Boards website is currently under construction and will be populated with information by 23 January 2004.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes of 5 November 2003 about the Totnes European School, acknowledged by his Department on 19 November 2003 (ref: M7244/3). [147070]

  CPS
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Crown Prosecution Service's Racially Aggravated and Religiously Aggravated Crime Policy. [146246]

  The Solicitor-General
  The question has been passed to me for reply as the Law Officers are responsible for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

  The CPS policy on racist and religious crime was launched on 14 July 2003 and was developed with criminal justice partners and in consultation with over 120 local and national groups, including representatives of faith and black and minority ethnic communities.

  The policy clearly sets out the CPS stance on prosecuting racist and religious crime and emphasises the need to prosecute cases firmly, fairly and robustly.
  976W
  The aim is to contribute to improving public confidence in the criminal justice system and, it is hoped, to bring more offenders to justice.

  In delivering training to underpin the policy, the CPS has involved members of the community and the police to assist prosecutors in understanding the issues and underline the impact on communities of such crime.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Crown Prosecution Service Merseyside Community Engagement Programme. [146247]

  The Solicitor-General
  The question has been passed to me for reply as the Law Officers are responsible for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

  CPS Merseyside is heavily involved in a range of community engagement initiatives. These include talks to schools and colleges, mentoring students from the black and minority ethnic communities, and contributing to conferences arranged to obtain the views of a variety of community groups. Two conferences are scheduled in January. The Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Merseyside also arranges for representatives of relevant communities to address his staff during training courses so that they can describe the effects of crime on their lives and explain how the criminal justice agencies can better meet their needs.

  The area is currently updating its community engagement strategy to draw together the initiatives in which it is involved.

  Dangerous Offenders
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of sentences that(a) are poorly targeted and (b) do not bear down sufficiently on dangerous offenders. [147365]

  Paul Goggins
  Decisions on the targeting of sentences are for the courts, based on the full facts of individual cases. However, the Government is determined to ensure that sentences delivered are appropriate to offences committed. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 introduces a range of new sentences so that courts have a full range of options at their disposal in order to deal with offences and offenders appropriately.

  These include the new Generic Community Sentence, which will allow judges and magistrates to choose specific elements (such as drug rehabilitation, unpaid work, curfew) that best suit the profiles of individual offenders and crimes.

  The Act also enhances protection for the public from dangerous offenders. It introduces new indeterminate sentences for use where an offender is considered to pose a significant risk to the public. These sentences will ensure that an offender may be kept in custody for as long as he or she is considered to pose a threat to the public. If the risk posed decreases over time, the offender will become eligible for release once the period specified by the court as the minimum necessary for punitive purposes has been served.
  977W
  In addition, to promote consistency in sentencing between courts, the Act set up the Sentencing Guidelines Council, an independent body chaired by the Lord Chief Justice. The Council's role is to produce guidelines for the courts on the most appropriate and best-targeted sentence for different types of offence.

  Human Trafficking
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of human trafficking were detected in 2002. [144611]

  Beverley Hughes
  Forming an accurate estimate of the levels of trafficking in people is problematic because of the secretive and hidden nature of the act. There are currently no accurate, reliable data in existence within the UK or the European Union. A Home Office research study "Stopping Traffic" (Police Research Series 125, published in 2000), indicated that there was intelligence to suggest that some women and children are trafficked into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation. This was estimated at between 140 and 1,400 per year but it was not possible to say how accurate this estimate is. The report concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that this was on a large scale in the UK compared with other European countries.

  However, due to the very serious nature of the crime, in 2000, the Government set up a multi-agency taskforce called Reflex to co-ordinate the operational response to tackling organised crime groups involved in human trafficking and the smuggling of people into the UK. Since April 2003, there have been 14 significant disruptions (26 in total) and from these 37 convictions for related offences.

  The Government have also introduced specific criminal sanctions covering traffickers. We have acted quickly to deal with the worst forms of exploitation by creating an offence of trafficking for the purposes of controlling someone in prostitution within the Nationality, Immigration, and Asylum Act 2002. More comprehensive offences concerning trafficking into, out of and within the UK for all forms of sexual exploitation are included in the Sexual Offences Act which received Royal Assent in November 2003. A new offence covering trafficking for forced labour and removal of organs is included in the Asylum and Immigration Bill, currently before Parliament. All of these offences carry a maximum penalty of 14 years.

  Immigrant Surcharge
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his plans to introduce a £500 surcharge on immigrants to the UK includes those entering to study at English language schools; and if he will make a statement. [145139]

  Beverley Hughes
  No decisions have yet been made about the level of the fees. The Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is required to provide a range of fees for indicative purposes only. The upper limit of that range, £500, does not signify that the Government intends, as some newspapers suggested, to set fees at that level.
  978W
  The enabling power is the first stage of a two stage process. The second part of the process is to undertake a full Regulatory Impact Assessment and wider consultation with key stakeholders. Following this consultation, decisions regarding fee levels, scope and timing of introduction can then be made taking these views fully into account.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of immigration and asylum appeals before adjudicators his Department was(a) represented by Home Office Presenting Officers, (b) represented by Counsel and (c) not represented in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [143360]

  Beverley Hughes
  For the 12 month period to August 2003 the level of representation for Presenting Officers and Counsel when taken together was 72 per cent. This relatively low level of representation was caused, in large part, by difficulties in recruiting Presenting Officers, particularly in the London area. The level of representation will increase early in 2004 as up to 65 newly recruited Presenting Officers complete their training and take up their posts.

  Immigration Control (Vehicle Checks)
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of(a) lorries and (b) other vehicles passing through Dover from France were not checked in Dover for purposes of seeking to discover illegal immigrants in the last 12 months.[142167]

  Beverley Hughes
  Approximately 2,500 lorries arrive at Dover every day on board cross channel ferries. Port authorities and operators in both Calais and Dunkerque check all lorries entering their port and again using UK supplied New Detection Technology (NDT) before lorries board ferries for the UK.

  As it is clearly more effective to have searched lorries before they embark on ferries to the UK than on arrival at Dover lorries are selected for search by Immigration Service search teams only on an intelligence-led basis employing known profiles of vehicles used in people smuggling. Other vehicles such as private cars and vans are systematically checked in France by agents acting for the ferry operator.

  Again, targeted checks by Immigration Officers are carried out on arrival at Dover.

  Muslim Converts to Christianity
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded cases of(a) assault and (b) murder have occurred in the UK over the past five years of members of the Islamic faith who have converted to Christianity. [147424]

  Ms Blears
  The requested information is not available centrally.

  Police Arms Recoveries
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) legal guns, (b) illegal guns and (c) knives have been recovered by the police investigating crimes in the last year. [146832]

  Ms Blears
  This information is not available in the form requested. The National Firearms Forensic Intelligence Database launched in November 2003 will provide a central database of seized firearms and help trace guns used in crimes and improve detection.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost was of holding prisoners in police cells in 2002; [141643]

  (2) how many prisoners have been held in police cells so far in 2003. [141644]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 3 December 2003]Prisoners are not routinely held in police cells as a result of overcrowding. When population pressures result in police cells being used, it is under an arrangement between the Prison Service and the police called "Operation Safeguard". Operation Safeguard has not been used since 2002 (between 11 July and 20 December 2002).

  The average daily cost of holding a prisoner in a police cell during 2002 was £363 per person per night. The total cost of holding prisoners in police cells in 2002 was £10.4 million.

  There are occasions where prisoners have to be accommodated in police cells because the escort contractor cannot deliver them to the receiving prison before its reception closes. There is an on-going arrangement with many police forces, known as "Lock-outs". These are entirely separate arrangements from Operation Safeguard. This arrangement is sometimes used to facilitate the return of prisoners to court the next day or when a court hearing extends into the evening. The average daily cost of holding a prisoner on Lock-out is currently £120 per person per night. The total cost for Lock-outs in 2002 was £1.356 million.

  The total cost of holding prisoners in police cells under both Operation Safeguard and Lock-outs in 2002 was £11.756 million.

  No prisoners were held under Operation Safeguard in 2003. There were a total of 982 prisoners held in police cells as Lock-outs in 2003. In addition, eight prisoners were held in police cells in the Greater Manchester area on the weekend of 7–8 June 2003, as an emergency measure, following a disturbance at HMP Whealstun, which resulted in a temporary loss of accommodation at the establishment. These prisoners were not held under arrangements for Operation Safeguard or as Lock-outs.

  Police Time
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of a police officer's980W
  time on average was spent on (a) patrol and (b) dealing with paperwork in the last year for which figures are available. [146834]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Figures collected by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary show that, in 2002–03 the number of officers allocated to patrol duties was 63,426. However, we know that there is significant variation between forces in the amount of time officers spend on front line duties, including patrol. We are, as part of the Police Performance Assessment Framework, collecting data from forces so that we can publish a baseline estimate of front line policing for all forces. This will be a valuable tool to drive up the amount of time spent on front line duties.

  We remain committed to tackling administrative burdens and inefficient practices in the police service. Sir David O'Dowd's Taskforce was commissioned to give the Government a police service view of what could be done to tackle the administrative burdens and inefficient practices which keep police officers off the streets. The Taskforce report, published in September 2002, highlighted ways of freeing up significant amounts of officers' time. Among the achievements to date, more than 4,600 forms in 21 forces are now obsolete and all 43 forces now have the capacity to undertake video identity parades. The national roll out of the fixed penalty notice scheme is scheduled for completion by April 2004. Other initiatives are contributing to the reducing burden on police officers. In addition, there is a major Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Thematic inspection on Civilianisation/The use of non-sworn staff due to report April/May 2004. £8 million has been set aside this financial year for workforce modernisation projects, the criteria for which include the release of officers for front line duties.

  Prisons
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total prison capacity has been in each year since 1997. [147356]

  Paul Goggins
  The annual average usable operational capacity for prisons in England and Wales from 1997 to 2003 is given in the following table.

  Useable operational capability

  1997

  61,900

  1998

  67,800

  1999

  68,100

  2000

  69,000

  2001

  69,400

  2002

  71,500

  2003

  74,300

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners in prisons in each of the next 10 years. [147358]

  Paul Goggins
  The most recent projections of the prison population are presented in the Home Office Prison Population Brief, England and Wales, April 2003
  981W
  (issued September 2003). These present the four scenarios A, B, C, D for the short-term projection (up to March 2005) and the two central scenarios B and C for the long-term projection (up to 2009). There are no higher (A) and lower (D) scenarios for these long-term projections.

  The projections are as follows:

  Long Term (as at end of June)

  2003

  2004

  2005

  2006

  2007

  2008

  2009

  Scenario B

  73,900

  77,000

  2,900

  88,000

  89,500

  91,100

  92,400

  Scenario C

  73,700

  76,200

  81,500

  87,200

  88,700

  90,300

  91,600

  Future prison population projections will take into consideration the impact of the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and proposals included in the "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" report.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the new remand unit at Winchester will he ready to receive the first prisoners. [147372]

  Paul Goggins
  The construction of the new remand unit at HMP Winchester is complete, and it is expected to receive its first prisoners in April 2004. This is subject to the installation of ancillary provisions such as new fences, reception, and gate entry systems.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders have been sent to Holloway prison in each year since 1997. [147373]

  Paul Goggins
  The number of young people held in Holloway prison at the end of June of each year from 1997 to 2003 is given in the table below. Young people are defined as those aged under 21, but may include some 21 year olds who were under 21 at conviction but have not been reclassified as part of the adult population.

  Year

  1997

  67

  1998

  57

  1999

  82

  2000

  85

  2001

  51

  2002

  70

  2003

  59

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget has been allocated to Holloway prison for young offenders in each year since 1997. [147374]

  Officer numbers by establishment and gender 31 March 1998 to 31 December 2003

  31-03-98

  30-11-98

  31-12-99

  31-12-2000

  Establishment

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Acklington

  203

  9

  178

  3

  211

  9

  205

  9

  Aldington

  42

  3

  39

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Albany

  156

  7

  161

  7

  150

  6

  144

  4

  Ashwell

  103

  15

  101

  10

  101

  16

  96

  14

  Askham Grange

  7

  23

  80

  20

  8

  21

  8

  21

  982W

  Short term

  End of March 2004

  End of March 2005

  Scenario A

  75,900

  82,300

  Scenario B

  75,600

  81,700

  Scenario C

  74,700

  81,100

  Scenario D

  74,500

  80,600

  Paul Goggins
  There are no specific budget allocations made by the Prison Service to cover young offenders (aged 18-21) held at establishments including Holloway prison. The total budget issued to each prison covers all inmates and makes no distinction between adults and young offenders. The juvenile estate (prisoners aged under 18) receives separately identified and monitored budgets from the Youth Justice Board.

  However, it is acknowledged that there are additional funding requirements relating to young offenders because of physical security considerations and educational needs. It is the responsibility of the Governor of each establishment and the Area Manager to determine how these requirements are met out of the total budget available.

  The Prison Service's Annual Report and Accounts for 2002/03, printed on 15 July 2003, contains details of the costs of all prison establishments including those holding young offenders.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers were serving at each(a) prison and (b) remand centre, disaggregated by sex, in each year since 1997. [147375]

  Paul Goggins
  The information available is contained in the following tables. The figures include prison officers, senior officers and principal officers. Information on officer numbers broken down by gender and location is not available prior to March 1998.

  In those establishments which hold both remand and convicted prisoners, it is not possible to disaggregate the staffing numbers attached to each. The data represents a snapshot staffing level on the date of data capture. It does not take account of new staff who were in the recruitment process at that time. Staffing levels in prison establishments can be affected by a number of factors, including, for example, prisoner numbers, the opening of new accommodation, the temporary closure of accommodation for refurbishment, change to role and function, and changes to working practices.
  983W

  Officer numbers by establishment and gender 31 March 1998 to 31 December 2003

  31-03-98

  30-11-98

  31-12-99

  31-12-2000

  Establishment

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Aylesbury

  174

  18

  148

  14

  160

  22

  144

  28

  Bedford

  158

  14

  162

  8

  145

  18

  147

  17

  Belmarsh

  475

  77

  464

  66

  456

  86

  433

  94

  Birmingham

  310

  28

  319

  28

  318

  33

  300

  29

  Blakenhurst

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Blantyre House

  30

  3

  31

  3

  33

  2

  30

  3

  Blundeston

  156

  8

  157

  7

  151

  8

  156

  8

  Brinsford

  154

  37

  160

  37

  171

  41

  178

  39

  Bristol

  298

  27

  298

  24

  281

  28

  270

  33

  Brixton

  288

  50

  281

  37

  272

  54

  253

  50

  Brockhill

  54

  32

  58

  25

  52

  40

  50

  43

  Buckley Hall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  72

  40

  Bullingdon

  199

  53

  205

  41

  205

  48

  200

  55

  Bullwood Hall

  24

  53

  22

  48

  27

  54

  25

  52

  Camp Hill

  146

  8

  146

  8

  148

  10

  139

  11

  Canterbury

  127

  5

  129

  4

  122

  6

  118

  4

  Cardiff

  241

  8

  234

  8

  232

  9

  226

  9

  Castington

  155

  10

  127

  3

  177

  21

  190

  23

  Channings Wood

  141

  14

  141

  14

  134

  17

  137

  19

  Chelmsford

  171

  15

  170

  15

  171

  19

  171

  29

  Coldingley

  90

  7

  89

  10

  89

  9

  84

  9

  Cookham Wood

  16

  39

  15

  39

  13

  41

  12

  43

  Dartmoor

  246

  12

  242

  10

  237

  12

  227

  13

  Deerbolt

  153

  9

  145

  6

  151

  10

  144

  11

  Dorchester

  79

  9

  79

  9

  77

  10

  78

  9

  Dover1

  105

  6

  108

  4

  111

  5

  107

  8

  Downview

  101

  21

  103

  19

  101

  24

  100

  24

  Drake Hall

  14

  49

  14

  48

  16

  47

  20

  45

  Durham

  357

  77

  361

  59

  350

  76

  359

  77

  East Sutton Park

  8

  16

  7

  15

  6

  18

  4

  19

  Eastwood Park

  36

  63

  36

  56

  42

  80

  36

  75

  Edmunds Hill

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Elmley

  229

  47

  224

  40

  230

  49

  230

  55

  Erlestoke

  91

  4

  89

  4

  95

  4

  95

  7

  Everthorpe

  121

  10

  120

  9

  125

  11

  122

  9

  Exeter

  183

  7

  182

  6

  175

  10

  167

  12

  Featherstone

  143

  13

  143

  13

  145

  14

  140

  12

  Feltham

  290

  50

  297

  42

  282

  59

  324

  63

  Ford

  60

  3

  61

  1

  60

  4

  58

  5

  Foston Hall

  17

  43

  18

  37

  21

  47

  26

  59

  Frankland

  435

  57

  411

  50

  458

  58

  445

  53

  Full Sutton

  447

  55

  442

  48

  451

  50

  448

  60

  Garth

  222

  32

  222

  32

  222

  34

  216

  37

  Gartree

  136

  18

  140

  14

  138

  16

  137

  17

  Glen Parva

  256

  16

  278

  18

  259

  26

  253

  24

  Gloucester

  122

  11

  122

  11

  120

  11

  122

  11

  Grendon

  158

  38

  127

  35

  132

  38

  133

  42

  Guys Marsh

  112

  14

  109

  12

  113

  18

  113

  18

  Haslar1

  47

  3

  46

  2

  47

  3

  45

  4

  Hatfield

  47

  2

  52

  1

  44

  2

  42

  3

  Haverigg

  126

  22

  126

  18

  115

  20

  113

  23

  Hewell Grange

  26

  1

  27

  1

  25

  2

  26

  2

  High Down

  330

  68

  254

  53

  238

  55

  240

  61

  Highpoint

  169

  1

  162

  56

  178

  59

  176

  67

  Hindley

  193

  21

  195

  18

  196

  21

  192

  22

  Hollesley Bay

  139

  4

  147

  4

  129

  5

  143

  13

  Holloway

  82

  219

  84

  215

  71

  225

  72

  213

  Holme House

  278

  35

  280

  32

  276

  32

  277

  32

  Hull

  243

  14

  243

  11

  228

  20

  224

  16

  Huntercombe

  120

  18

  100

  16

  121

  24

  123

  35

  Kingston

  72

  2

  73

  2

  72

  5

  69

  5

  Kirkham

  77

  7

  79

  8

  79

  7

  80

  6

  Kirklevington Grange

  42

  2

  40

  2

  38

  2

  36

  1

  Lancaster

  83

  5

  84

  4

  84

  6

  84

  6

  Lancaster Farms

  164

  21

  164

  18

  172

  26

  178

  27

  Latchmere House

  32

  6

  29

  8

  34

  7

  32

  5

  Leeds

  399

  47

  400

  43

  396

  52

  389

  50

  Leicester

  164

  15

  171

  12

  148

  12

  143

  15

  Lewes

  193

  14

  196

  14

  194

  12

  184

  12

  Leyhill

  63

  7

  66

  5

  60

  11

  57

  11

  984W 985W

  Officer numbers by establishment and gender 31 March 1998 to 31 December 2003

  31-03-98

  30-11-98

  31-12-99

  31-12-2000

  Establishment

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Lincoln

  225

  9

  230

  8

  220

  13

  216

  11

  Lindholme

  170

  8

  170

  8

  168

  10

  177

  16

  Littlehey

  148

  16

  150

  12

  143

  22

  137

  23

  Liverpool

  537

  48

  545

  43

  545

  53

  519

  51

  Long Lartin

  355

  51

  322

  32

  349

  58

  344

  64

  Low Newton

  86

  45

  98

  22

  63

  60

  60

  61

  Maidstone

  172

  22

  178

  23

  173

  20

  169

  21

  Manchester

  504

  75

  510

  69

  486

  75

  457

  70

  Moorland

  240

  32

  239

  31

  238

  34

  232

  37

  Morton Hall

  32

  —

  30

  1

  30

  —

  31

  25

  New Hall

  49

  86

  45

  82

  45

  86

  44

  97

  North Sea Camp

  29

  3

  31

  2

  28

  4

  29

  4

  Northallerton

  77

  10

  80

  12

  75

  9

  77

  11

  Norwich

  220

  25

  218

  24

  213

  30

  216

  27

  Nottingham

  166

  12

  157

  9

  165

  13

  164

  14

  Onley

  187

  21

  179

  21

  197

  36

  197

  40

  Parkhurst

  189

  15

  193

  14

  186

  13

  189

  16

  Pentonville

  335

  52

  336

  50

  323

  45

  319

  59

  Portland

  157

  5

  155

  5

  154

  12

  165

  14

  Preston

  271

  15

  278

  16

  269

  16

  255

  16

  Ranby

  189

  17

  151

  13

  188

  20

  189

  19

  Reading

  116

  15

  112

  9

  112

  16

  115

  14

  Risley

  240

  79

  261

  100

  227

  70

  221

  71

  Rochester

  143

  14

  151

  14

  154

  18

  151

  18

  Send

  22

  47

  51

  7

  24

  41

  30

  43

  Shepton Mallet

  66

  5

  68

  4

  70

  4

  68

  4

  Shrewsbury

  114

  9

  112

  9

  111

  9

  109

  11

  Stafford

  188

  14

  191

  13

  175

  16

  173

  16

  Standford Hill

  81

  4

  66

  4

  79

  4

  73

  6

  Stocken

  127

  13

  115

  9

  128

  16

  128

  13

  Stoke Heath

  153

  25

  157

  28

  173

  33

  184

  35

  Styal

  62

  111

  38

  78

  72

  114

  69

  107

  Sudbury

  64

  3

  64

  3

  65

  3

  63

  3

  Swaleside

  168

  42

  186

  34

  187

  52

  191

  51

  Swansea

  127

  4

  127

  4

  126

  6

  122

  7

  Swinfen Hall

  116

  12

  111

  11

  120

  15

  116

  14

  The Mount

  117

  22

  115

  21

  133

  27

  130

  32

  The Verne

  123

  5

  124

  5

  125

  6

  117

  6

  Thorn Cross

  92

  13

  93

  13

  98

  15

  100

  16

  Usk/Prescoed

  80

  3

  81

  4

  83

  2

  84

  3

  Wakefield

  374

  17

  386

  16

  361

  21

  352

  24

  Wandsworth

  368

  67

  343

  43

  365

  66

  354

  69

  Warren Hill

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wayland

  138

  12

  136

  12

  139

  18

  130

  19

  Wealstun

  131

  16

  135

  15

  132

  18

  129

  19

  Weare

  109

  15

  110

  15

  112

  13

  113

  14

  Wellingborough

  98

  15

  93

  17

  128

  34

  120

  33

  Werrington

  75

  8

  67

  5

  73

  10

  69

  11

  Wetherby

  126

  21

  124

  23

  130

  25

  128

  24

  Whatton

  71

  5

  70

  5

  73

  6

  65

  6

  Whitemoor

  416

  70

  421

  59

  389

  62

  409

  69

  Winchester

  194

  23

  218

  31

  188

  25

  186

  25

  Woodhill

  351

  81

  349

  74

  342

  85

  345

  100

  Wormwood Scrubs

  335

  54

  347

  53

  300

  50

  300

  56

  Wymott

  190

  28

  202

  27

  188

  30

  181

  32

  Establishments total

  20,641

  3,276

  20,460

  2,885

  20,329

  3,516

  20,128

  3,747

  31-12-01

  31-12-02

  31-12-03

  Establishment

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Acklington

  196

  10

  185

  12

  205

  22

  Aldington

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Albany

  141

  4

  134

  6

  139

  9

  Ashwell

  89

  12

  86

  15

  92

  19

  Askham Grange

  8

  20

  5

  24

  6

  26

  Aylesbury

  136

  30

  139

  29

  126

  33

  Bedford

  128

  16

  113

  16

  115

  19

  Belmarsh

  422

  98

  418

  94

  424

  97

  Birmingham

  268

  23

  285

  30

  424

  70

  Blakenhurst

  139

  33

  124

  38

  133

  45

  986W 987W

  31-12-01

  31-12-02

  31-12-03

  Establishment

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Blantyre House

  31

  3

  32

  3

  30

  4

  Blundeston

  149

  8

  141

  9

  137

  12

  Brinsford

  186

  42

  188

  45

  181

  50

  Bristol

  261

  31

  251

  31

  233

  31

  Brixton

  221

  47

  201

  42

  194

  36

  Brockhill

  47

  44

  46

  50

  47

  52

  Buckley Hall

  67

  36

  61

  46

  52

  53

  Bullingdon

  187

  55

  165

  61

  163

  56

  Bullwood Hall

  21

  52

  21

  55

  24

  58

  Camp Hill

  139

  11

  135

  12

  135

  14

  Canterbury

  115

  6

  111

  8

  102

  8

  Cardiff

  216

  9

  219

  12

  223

  16

  Castington

  190

  23

  183

  23

  177

  24

  Channings Wood

  134

  19

  141

  20

  144

  23

  Chelmsford

  163

  30

  164

  32

  152

  28

  Coldingley

  83

  10

  80

  14

  81

  13

  Cookham Wood

  11

  39

  11

  40

  13

  48

  Dartmoor

  211

  12

  188

  9

  161

  9

  Deerbolt

  134

  9

  144

  14

  159

  16

  Dorchester

  74

  9

  74

  8

  82

  5

  Dover1

  101

  8

  105

  5

  105

  5

  Downview

  69

  31

  38

  60

  47

  59

  Drake Hall

  20

  54

  21

  67

  23

  69

  Durham

  340

  77

  341

  77

  331

  84

  East Sutton Park

  4

  20

  6

  18

  4

  21

  Eastwood Park

  39

  77

  36

  79

  46

  81

  Edmunds Hill

  36

  50

  34

  49

  39

  85

  Elmley

  214

  55

  218

  58

  197

  52

  Erlestoke

  86

  7

  87

  12

  97

  20

  Everthorpe

  110

  9

  104

  11

  113

  13

  Exeter

  163

  12

  161

  13

  169

  22

  Featherstone

  126

  11

  132

  11

  125

  14

  Feltham

  296

  52

  308

  66

  348

  91

  Ford

  56

  5

  56

  6

  55

  8

  Foston Hall

  23

  57

  25

  64

  20

  81

  Frankland

  429

  50

  427

  50

  456

  56

  Full Sutton

  427

  58

  439

  61

  428

  64

  Garth

  197

  37

  191

  39

  186

  40

  Gartree

  128

  16

  120

  19

  123

  26

  Glen Parva

  243

  22

  238

  25

  232

  27

  Gloucester

  110

  12

  105

  19

  97

  24

  Grendon

  126

  37

  107

  41

  119

  43

  Guys Marsh

  113

  19

  111

  32

  113

  29

  Haslar1

  41

  4

  38

  8

  43

  8

  Hatfield

  35

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Haverigg

  106

  24

  101

  25

  103

  28

  Hewell Grange

  24

  4

  24

  4

  25

  5

  High Down

  225

  54

  211

  52

  166

  53

  Highpoint

  131

  14

  138

  22

  165

  13

  Hindley

  219

  29

  233

  33

  222

  34

  Hollesley Bay

  147

  14

  159

  20

  42

  3

  Holloway

  69

  195

  79

  169

  100

  195

  Holme House

  275

  30

  279

  31

  269

  36

  Hull

  223

  19

  297

  41

  300

  44

  Huntercombe

  112

  35

  129

  43

  116

  34

  Kingston

  63

  8

  63

  10

  62

  11

  Kirkham

  77

  8

  78

  8

  81

  13

  Kirklevington Grange

  36

  1

  39

  3

  42

  4

  Lancaster

  80

  6

  77

  6

  71

  13

  Lancaster Farms

  167

  27

  172

  30

  185

  39

  Latchmere House

  34

  5

  32

  4

  34

  4

  Leeds

  356

  49

  366

  61

  359

  67

  Leicester

  126

  13

  110

  13

  118

  19

  Lewes

  163

  12

  159

  14

  159

  13

  Leyhill

  53

  11

  55

  9

  57

  11

  Lincoln

  206

  11

  205

  10

  201

  13

  Lindholme

  160

  15

  175

  19

  177

  20

  Littlehey

  130

  23

  124

  21

  128

  25

  Liverpool

  481

  47

  469

  43

  431

  32

  988W 989W

  31-12-01

  31-12-02

  31-12-03

  Establishment

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Long Lartin

  321

  63

  307

  62

  301

  65

  Low Newton

  57

  62

  55

  71

  58

  88

  Maidstone

  163

  22

  166

  28

  134

  25

  Manchester

  360

  60

  355

  60

  352

  71

  Moorland

  243

  38

  290

  49

  290

  47

  Morton Hall

  26

  44

  34

  76

  37

  80

  New Hall

  51

  103

  64

  112

  70

  110

  North Sea Camp

  30

  5

  36

  5

  34

  7

  Northallerton

  61

  8

  58

  9

  55

  9

  Norwich

  207

  23

  206

  26

  200

  27

  Nottingham

  161

  15

  157

  14

  164

  19

  Onley

  191

  33

  182

  39

  184

  42

  Parkhurst

  182

  16

  174

  17

  173

  20

  Pentonville

  301

  59

  303

  73

  311

  78

  Portland

  165

  12

  153

  10

  153

  18

  Preston

  233

  17

  227

  18

  221

  22

  Ranby

  194

  21

  202

  24

  201

  29

  Reading

  115

  11

  97

  13

  95

  15

  Risley

  209

  65

  218

  65

  223

  72

  Rochester

  139

  17

  118

  23

  109

  24

  Send

  29

  40

  25

  36

  26

  43

  Shepton Mallet

  58

  4

  59

  6

  58

  7

  Shrewsbury

  101

  11

  96

  9

  96

  13

  Stafford

  163

  14

  156

  14

  150

  18

  Standford Hill

  72

  7

  69

  11

  76

  17

  Stocken

  127

  12

  127

  14

  136

  18

  Stoke Heath

  193

  35

  190

  37

  198

  34

  Styal

  67

  109

  57

  108

  58

  121

  Sudbury

  61

  1

  62

  1

  63

  6

  Swaleside

  187

  50

  192

  44

  190

  48

  Swansea

  119

  7

  118

  7

  122

  10

  Swinfen Hall

  114

  12

  104

  16

  99

  19

  The Mount

  120

  32

  112

  38

  110

  38

  The Verne

  115

  8

  110

  8

  106

  6

  Thorn Cross

  98

  19

  86

  19

  88

  17

  Usk/Prescoed

  85

  3

  83

  5

  85

  5

  Wakefield

  341

  21

  348

  27

  340

  35

  Wandsworth

  323

  61

  315

  67

  309

  67

  Warren Hill

  —

  —

  —

  —

  121

  21

  Wayland

  124

  19

  132

  20

  125

  26

  Wealstun

  128

  15

  134

  19

  140

  21

  Weare

  106

  17

  101

  17

  99

  20

  Wellingborough

  124

  33

  108

  35

  108

  33

  Werrington

  66

  12

  69

  10

  68

  13

  Wetherby

  128

  22

  130

  30

  136

  28

  Whatton

  64

  7

  81

  8

  80

  9

  Whitemoor

  417

  66

  407

  63

  412

  70

  Winchester

  178

  32

  176

  32

  172

  42

  Woodhill

  322

  91

  317

  96

  345

  92

  Wormwood Scrubs

  278

  49

  252

  45

  247

  58

  Wymott

  175

  29

  172

  28

  187

  38

  Establishments total

  19,254

  3,713

  19,057

  4,043

  19,198

  4,508

  1Immigration detention centre.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of service at any one prison is of current prison governors. [147419]

  Paul Goggins
  Since January 1999 the average length of tenure across the Service of a Governor in charge of a public sector prison establishment has been 1.9 years. Decisions on the appointment of Governors in HM Prison Service are taken by senior operational managers in the light of operational need.

  Shoplifting
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of shoplifting were recorded in each criminal justice area in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available. [144580]
  990W
  Paul Goggins
  There were 309,397 recorded offences of thefts from shops in England and Wales in the year ending March 2003.

  Victim/Witness Support
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department gives to(a) victim support and (b) witness support in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Gloucestershire. [144018]

  Paul Goggins
  Between 1996–97 and 2002–03 the Home Office's funding of the organisation Victim Support, which provides support to both victims and witnesses, more than doubled, from £11.7 million to £29.3 million. This year our grant in aid to Victim
  991W
  Support has been increased to £30 million, which represents an increase of 2.4 per cent. Of this, over £26 million will be passed on to local Victim Support schemes, with the balance being used by the Victim Support National Office to provide, amongst other things, a range of central services to its member groups.

  The Victim Support Area of Gloucestershire has been allocated a total of £265,498 by Victim Support National Office under their new Funding Formula for the year 2003–04. As well as providing funding to Victim
  992W
  Support, the Home Office also provides £572,000 to other organisations supporting victims and witnesses of crime.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions members of Independent Monitoring Boards have refused to sign off a child being held in a segregation unit in each young offender institution.[144365]

  Paul Goggins
  This information is not held centrally.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Assembly Elections
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of levels of voter turnout at the recent Assembly elections; what research he intends to commission to study the reasons for this; and what measures he is considering adopting to improve turnout. [147532]

  Mr. Spellar
  The turnout for the 2003 Assembly election was 63.1 per cent., which compares to a figure of 68.8 per cent. for the previous Assembly election in 1998.

  The Electoral Commission, which has responsibility for promoting public awareness of electoral matters, held a one-day seminar on the 7 January to hear views from stakeholders about the administration of the Assembly election. The public have also been invited to contact the Commission with their views on the election.

  I understand that the Commission intends to publish a report on the election before the end of April 2004. The report will cover all aspects of the recent election including voter turnout. The Government will study the report carefully when it is received.

  Criminal Justice Act
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the minimum sentence for the murder of(a) a prison officer and (b) a police officer on duty in Northern Ireland is; and if he will make a statement on the relevant provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. [147574]

  Mr. Spellar
  The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment. Under the provisions of the Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001, the determination of the appropriate minimum period or tariff, which any life sentence prisoner in Northern Ireland must serve in custody before consideration can be given to release, is a matter for judicial discretion. The sentencing judge can set a tariff for a fixed period of years or determine that a whole life tariff would he more appropriate in individual cases.

  The Criminal Justice Act 2003 introduced in England and Wales a new statutory framework providing for four different starting-points for the judicial determination of minimum terms in mandatory life sentence cases. That framework provides for an initial starting point of 30 years for a person convicted of the murder of a police or prison officer in the course of their duty in England and Wales. Those statutory starting-points may be adjusted upwards or downwards by the sentencing judge, having regard to any relevant
  994W
  aggravating or mitigating factors in the case, to arrive at the minimum term which must be served by the prisoner. On 8 January, I published a consultation paper seeking views on the appropriateness of adopting a similar framework for mandatory life sentences in Northern Ireland. The consultation period extends to 31 March, after which responses will be carefully evaluated and the outcome of the consultation published.

  Decommissioning
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports he has received regarding the treatment of General John de Chastelain during the decommissioning act in Northern Ireland on 20 October 2003; and if he will make a statement. [148469]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has received no reports regarding the treatment of General de Chastelain during the decommissioning act in October 2003.

  Dementia Services
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his plans to review dementia services in Northern Ireland. [148775]

  Angela Smith
  My Department recognises the need to review the policy in relation to people with dementia. Dementia services will therefore be included in the ongoing review of mental health and learning disability. Inclusion in the review will mean that dementia will be covered in a comprehensive evaluation of policy and services spanning issues such as health promotion, prevention and early detection of dementia, effectiveness of interventions and broader issues such as human rights and social inclusion.

  An Expert Working Committee on Issues in Old Age has been established and dementia will also be included in its remit, although it is of course recognised that some younger people also have dementia. The working committee has been asked to ensure that it reflects a broad representation of views. The review of mental health and learning disability is not expected to complete its work until mid-2005 but work is in hand to consider how the review recommendations might be phased as sections of the review work are completed.

  High Hedges
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what plans he has to extend Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 to Northern Ireland; [148673]

  (2) what action the Government are taking to deal with the problem of high hedges in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [148719]

  Angela Smith
  The Government have no plans for high hedges legislation in Northern Ireland at present.

  Hospital Trolley Waits
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 7 January 2004,Official Report, column 406W, on hospital trolley waits, whether the December statistics represent (a) an estimate for the full month and (b) a total number collected on weekdays only. [148860]

  Angela Smith
  The December trolley wait statistics represent the number of trolley waits recorded in Accident and Emergency departments in Northern Ireland at 9.00am on weekday mornings. These figures show the total number of trolley waits reported by Accident & Emergency Departments at a point in time (9.00am) on week days during December.

  Leak Inquiries
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inquiries his Department has conducted into alleged leaks from members of staff since 1997; and on what occasions 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. [147009]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Since 1997, my Department has investigated three 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.

  This reply relates only to inquiries specifically within the Northern Ireland Office and does not cover the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

  Nurosurgery Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients were awaiting neurosurgery(a) inpatient admission and (b) outpatient assessment in Northern Ireland on the most recent date for which figures are available. [148845]

  Angela Smith
  The latest available waiting list figures show the position at 30 September 2003, when:

  there were 659 patients awaiting admission to hospital in the neurosurgery specialty;

  there were 354 patients awaiting a first outpatient appointment in the neurosurgery specialty.

  This information is published in the "Northern Ireland Waiting List Quarterly Information Release" on the first Thursday in March, July, September and December. A copy of this publication is placed in the House of Commons Library or can be obtained from the DHSSPS website, internet address: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/publications/index.html.

  Procurement Outsourcing
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department 996W
  has outsourced these jobs; how much his 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. [147589]

  Mr. Pearson
  Procurement Policy in Northern Ireland is based on achieving best value for money while complying with European Community and other international obligations. The 11 Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have not outsourced call centre or IT work to offshore companies in the last two years and have no plans to do so.

  Rural White Paper
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce a Rural White Paper for Northern Ireland. [147834]

  Mr. Pearson
  The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in consultation with the Rural Stakeholder Forum, has begun a review of rural development policy. A decision on whether or not to produce a Rural White Paper will be considered after that review has been completed.

  Water/Sewerage Services
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress being made with the reform of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland. [148674]

  Mr. Spellar
  Detailed reform proposals are currently being developed, taking into account the substantial feedback received during last year's public consultation on water reform. The proposals will address the basis on which household water charges will be determined, the most effective public ownership model for water and sewerage services, and the most appropriate consumer representation and economic and consumer regulation arrangements. These proposals will be subject to a full range of impact assessments, including an equality impact assessment, which I plan to publish for consultation in the spring.

  In tandem with this work, a vigorous reform programme is being developed within water service to deliver efficiencies of up to £45 million per annum by 2010. Implementation of an interim efficiency action plan will result in savings of over £11 million during 2004–05.

  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many responses he received to his Department's "The Reform of Water and Sewerage Services in Northern Ireland" consultation document; and how many of these responses were(a) in favour and (b) against the introduction of water charging. [148720]

  Mr. Spellar
  A total of 784 written responses were received to the consultation document "The Reform of Water and Sewerage Services in Northern Ireland" published on 11 March 2003.

  The consultation document invited comment on a range of options regarding the basis on which domestic charges should be set. As the consultation document did not seek views on whether water charges should be

  997W
  introduced or not, it is not possible to identify the number of responses (a) in favour or (b) against the introduction of water charging.

  However, approximately 14,500 expressions of general opposition to Water Reform were received by petition, postcard etc.

SCOTLAND

  Procurement Outsourcing
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies: to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his 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. [147579]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Scotland Office has not outsourced any of its IT functions to offshore companies and has no plans to do so.

  Universal Bank
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to the Scottish clearing banks about their participation in the Post Office Universal Bank. [148751]

  Mrs. McGuire
  I have regular contact with ministerial colleagues and representatives from the industry.

  As a result of discussions with the Government, all of the UK's major banks, including the Scottish clearing banks, are participating in the Universal Banking project by giving access to basic bank accounts at post offices.

  The Government would urge all banks to provide their customers with access to their accounts through post offices. However, the decision to do so rests with individual institutions.

  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage Scottish banks to make their services available through the Post Office branch network. [148957]

  Mrs. McGuire
  I have regular contact with ministerial colleagues and representatives from the industry.

  All of the major Scottish banks currently allow access to their basic bank accounts through the Post Office branch network. Post Office Ltd. also provides access to a range of other bank accounts and is seeking to expand these in conjunction with all the major institutions.

  The Government would urge all banks to provide their customers with access to their accounts through post offices. However, the decision to do so rests with individual institutions.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Departmental Christmas Expenditure
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by her Department on(a) Christmas cards and (b) Christmas parties (i) in the last year and (ii) since 1997. [145595]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Expenditure on Christmas cards is detailed in the following table:

  Costs(£)

  1997

  No record

  1998

  No record

  1999

  1,971.00

  2000

  3,500.92

  2001

  2,211.39

  2002

  1,985

  2003

  1,587.50

  (b) Expenditure on Christmas parties is detailed in the following table:

  Christmas party costs (£)

  1997

  No record

  1998

  No record

  19991

  n/a

  20002

  n/a

  2001

  4,452.23

  2002

  6,963.73

  2003

  6,941.85

  1 No Christmas party held this year. However, there was a new year's drinks reception on 18 January 2000. The cost was £4,386.03.

  2 No Christmas party held this year. However, there was a new year's drinks reception on 22 February 2001. The cost was £2,248.38.

  Gambling
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the size of fund the proposed Gambling Industry Charitable Trust will need to address problems of gambling addiction over the next 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [148470]

  Mr. Caborn
  We have accepted the advice of the Gambling Review Body that the gambling industry should in the first place be asked to provide £3 million a year to fund the Trust's work. The size of this contribution will need to be kept under review in the light of experience and the Trust's own views; and if it proves necessary to ask the industry to consider a larger contribution then we will do so.

  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Government will bring forward legislation to introduce a levy on the gambling industry if the sector fails to agree voluntary funding of the Gambling Industry Charitable Trust. [148471]

  Mr. Caborn
  Yes. Clause 96 of the draft Gambling Bill (Cm 6014) which is now being considered by a Scrutiny Committee on both Houses makes provision to this effect.

  Honours
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many honours nominations her Department has received for people involved in rugby league football in each of the last five years; how many have been awarded in each of those years; and if she will make a statement. [148743]

  Mr. Caborn
  We cannot provide the number of nominations for people involved in rugby league football as we do not keep records in this form. Three awards have been made to people involved in rugby league football since New Year 1999.

  We receive nominations for people from a broad spectrum of sports and there is always stiff competition for the limited number of awards available in each Honours List. Individual nominations are considered strictly on merit: the discipline in which the individual has achieved success is not a factor in the decision-making process. We are always interested in receiving nominations from the public and sports bodies and the Rugby Football League is one of many of sports organisations invited on a regular basis to make nominations.

  National Lottery
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Lottery grants were given to(a) the hundred richest and (b) the hundred poorest wards in Wales, using the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation published by the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 (i) from the inception of the Lottery to 1 May 1997 and (ii) from 2 May 1997 to date. [148491]

  Estelle Morris
  I am arranging for copies of this information to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Rugby World Cup
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total departmental cost was of visits to Australia for the Rugby World Cup. [145601]

  Tessa Jowell
  The total cost to the Department for the visits of two Ministers and officials to Australia for the Rugby World Cup was £44,161.

  Security Passes
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many security passes have been reported(a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in (i) her Department and (ii) departmental agencies in the last 12 months. [147984]

  Mr. Caborn
  In the 12 months since December 2002 three security passes, none of which identify the Department nor the buildings to which they allow access, have been reported as lost. There have been no reports of stolen passes. The Royal Parks Agency do not differentiate between lost and stolen cards and three have been reported lost/stolen in the relevant period. In all cases the cards are electronic and are de-activated as soon as a report is received.

  Tourism
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the balance of payments deficit in tourism was in each year since 1995. [149223]

  Mr. Caborn
  The balance of payments in tourism for the UK in each year since 1995 are shown in the following table.

  Tourism balance of payments

  £ million

  Overseas residents'spending in the UK

  UK residents'spending abroad

  Balance of payments

  1995

  11,763

  15,386

  -3,623

  1996

  12,290

  16,223

  -3,933

  1997

  12,244

  16,931

  -4,687

  1998

  12,671

  19.489

  -6,818

  1999

  12,498

  22,020

  -9,522

  2000

  12,805

  24,251

  -11,446

  2001

  11,306

  25,332

  -14,026

  2002

  11,737

  26,962

  -15,225

  Source:

  International Passenger Survey, National Statistics

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Ministers (Legal Fees)
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Solicitor-General if she will publish a list of the ministers who, since May 1997, have benefited from the Government paying their legal fees. [142541]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 11 December 2003]: The question of whether a Minister's legal fees should be paid by Government, i.e. out of public funds, is primarily a matter for the relevant departmental accounting officer, normally the Permanent Secretary for the Minister's Department. Whether or not a Minister's legal fees, for example in relation to some private litigation, are being paid out of public funds is not information which is held by the Treasury Solicitor's Department or by any other of the legal teams in the Government Legal Service. The source from which to obtain this information will be each of the Departments.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Solicitor-General what recent assessment she has made of the work of the Serious Fraud Office; and if she will make a statement. [146163]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Attorney-General and I meet the SFO Director on a regular (almost monthly) basis and on other occasions as required. These meetings are wide ranging and include casework, management and financial issues.

  As well as our on-going contact the Director of the SFO is required to present the SFO's Annual Report to Parliament. The report details progress and performance of the SFO's operational activities. In addition the audited accounts of the SFO are laid before Parliament annually.
  1001W
  The SFO continues to provide an effective response to the most serious and complex frauds. Since its inception the SFO has convicted 71 per cent. of defendants who were charged.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many(a) offences of fraud and (b) serious frauds, involving breaches of trust by professionals, were reported to the Serious Fraud Office in each of the last three years; how many prosecutions were initiated; what the outcome was in each case; and if she will make a statement. [146164]

  The Solicitor General
  The SFO does not routinely record the professions of individuals reported to them. The specific information requested could be produced only at disproportionate costs. It is however the case that the SFO has in the past and will continue to prosecute, where appropriate, professionals such as lawyers and accountants for fraud offences which meet the Department's criteria for acceptance of a case.

  An ad hoc inspection of files reveals that since 1 January 2001 the SFO has commenced at least 10 investigations where one or more of the suspects is a qualified accountant or lawyer. In the cases identified there are total of 14 accountants or lawyers who are suspects. Prosecutions have commenced in some of these cases but they are yet to reach the trial stage.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Solicitor-General what plans she has to set up branches of the Serious Fraud Office in the regions. [146165]

  The Solicitor-General
  I have no current plans to set up regional offices; staff are employed and based in the regions from time to time in accordance with individual case demands. However, with nearly 50 per cent. of cases based in London and the South East and a current total permanent staff of some 240, it has so far proved not to be necessary or economic to establish a regional base. As the Serious Fraud Office expands this is something that will be kept under review.

TRANSPORT

  Disabled Drivers
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has undertaken into the provision of a temporary disability scheme for car drivers to supplement the Orange Disk scheme. [148271]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Blue (formerly Orange) Badge Scheme provides a national arrangement of on-street parking concessions for disabled people with severe walking difficulties or the most severe upper limb disabilities and those who are registered blind. The Scheme was introduced in 1971 since when it has been the subject of several reviews.

  The latest review was completed in December 2002. Ministers accepted the majority of the 47 recommendations made by our statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, to improve the Scheme. We are taking these forward through changes to primary and secondary legislation, research and in new guidance to local authorities on the
  1002W
  Scheme. The recommendations and the Government's response to them were placed in the House Libraries on 18 December 2002.

  On the research side we are pursuing three projects arising from the review: one to look at the feasibility of setting up a database of blue badge holders to assist with enforcement; a second to examine the current exemption from the Scheme for the four Central London Boroughs; and a third to look at the case for extending eligibility to other groups of disabled people.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents were caused by drink driving in Lancashire in each of the last five years. [148364]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Whether an accident was caused by drink-driving is not recorded as part of the Department's personal injury accident database. However the following table shows the number and severity of accidents in Lancashire where at least one of the drivers involved provided a positive breath test or refused to provide a breath test.

  Accidents involving positive breath tests in Lancashire

  Severity

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Fatal

  0

  2

  0

  1

  1

  Serious

  39

  39

  47

  35

  35

  Slight

  84

  114

  79

  110

  126

  Total

  123

  155

  126

  146

  162

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic speed cameras there are in the area covered by the Lancashire Constabulary; and what the estimated revenue from them is in the current financial year. [147536]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Currently there are 210 fixed speed camera sites and 60 mobile sites within the Lancashire Safety Camera Partnership area. Estimated revenue from fixed penalties for speeding offences detailed in the partnerships operational case for 2003–04 is £7,200,000, although this amount will depend on the number of motorists that exceed the speed limit. The portion returned to the partnership is that needed to cover the cost of their camera activity.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the criteria for the installation of speed cameras, with particular reference to the cameras sited at(a) Highlands Road, Fareham and (b) Gosport Road, Fareham. [147155]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Speed cameras within the Safety Camera Programme are sited in accordance with the Handbook of Rules to the scheme which is available in the Library of the House. The two camera sites referred to fully meet both the casualty criteria and conspicuity and visibility criteria.

  Airlines (Safety Standards)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether safety standards that have to be
  1003W
  met by an airline for a permit to be granted to operate in the airspace of each of the other EU and EEA member states are identical to those which have to be met before his Department will grant a British permit to operate in UK airspace; [149031]

  (2) whether a permit issued to an airline by another member state of the EU or EEA to operate in its airspace is sufficient authorisation to operate in UK airspace. [149032]

  Mr. McNulty
  All airlines operating international services are required to have certificates showing that they meet the safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. As Contracting States to the Chicago Convention, EEA (including EU) Member States are required to recognise the certificates issued by other Contracting States to their airlines unless they have reason to believe that they have not been issued in accordance with the ICAO standards.

  If another Member State has issued an operating permit to an airline we would expect that airline to meet the necessary international safety standards. However, the fact that another Member State had issued a permit would not itself provide authorisation for that airline to operate to the UK. The UK reserves the right to make its own decisions on whether or not to issue a permit. Permits may also be refused, suspended or revoked for safety or other reason, as illustrated in my answer to the hon. Member of 8 January 2004, Official Report, columns 429–30W. Other Member States may also take permit action for reasons other than safety.

  Airports (Scotland)
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses were received to the Future of Air Transport—Scotland consultation document; and of these(a) how many expressed a view in favour of a second runway at Edinburgh airport, (b) how many expressed a view against a second runway at Edinburgh airport and (c) how many did not express a preference. [147832]

  Mr. McNulty
  A total of 325 written responses and 965 questionnaire responses were received to the Scottish Consultation Document. The results of the consultation are summarised on the Department's Airport White Paper website.

  The stakeholder consultation response and the NOP questionnaire response both indicate that of those who expressed a view, there were significantly more consultees in favour of a new runway than against it. In the case of the public response the numbers were more evenly matched.

  CCTV
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to fund the extension of CCTV cameras in London's tube and train stations. [148438]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department has no plans to fund additional CCTV cameras in London at either Tube or train stations. This is an operational matter for London 1004W
  Underground, Network Rail and the train operating companies to decide, in accordance with their own needs and their responsibilities for safety and security.

  Central Railway Project
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the Central Railway project. [148146]

  Mr. McNulty
  We are considering carefully Central Railway's proposals and will respond to Central Railway in due course.

  Cheltenham/Gloucester Parkway Station
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on the construction of a Cheltenham/Gloucester Parkway railway station near Gloucester airport; [148533]

  (2) if he will assess the advantages and the disadvantages of constructing a Cheltenham/Gloucester Parkway railway station near Gloucester airport. [148534]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Strategic Rail Authority is carrying out a pre-feasibility study into the potential for a new parkway station near Gloucester. This work is to assess the business case for and operational implications of a new station. Several locations are being assessed including some in the vicinity of the airport. The study is due to be completed in February.

  Driving Licences
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has received from the EC Committee on Driving Licence working groups on the procedures employed to(a) assess and (b) minimise the road safety risks associated with epilepsy. [148552]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The appropriate working group of the EC Committee on Driving Licences has not yet met, therefore I have received no such information. I expect the epilepsy Working Group to meet three or four times during 2004, and to report back on its conclusions in about 18 months time.

  Edinburgh Airport
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) households and (b) electors live within the possible new Edinburgh airport boundary as outlined in the Aviation White Paper. [147900]

  Mr. McNulty
  There are 33 residential properties within the possible new Edinburgh airport boundary outlined in the Aviation White Paper. We do not have information on the number of electors at these properties.

  Environmental Audit Committee Report
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the research referred to in paragraph 4 of the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's Report (CM6063). [149023]
  1005W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The finding that congestion costs are over three-quarters of the full external costs of road transport can be found in Table B on page v of "Surface Transport Costs and Charges: Great Britain 1998", Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, July 2001. The research was commissioned by the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Hazardous Incidents
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have made reports to the Confidential Hazardous Incident Reporting Programme, in each year since it was introduced. [148485]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Since the CHIRP was introduced on 1 December 1982 there have been a total 4,488 reported incidents for the aviation and maritime programmes.

  The number of reports for the last four years for the aviation CHIRP is as follows:

  Number

  2000

  330

  2001

  379

  2002

  345

  2003

  373

  The Maritime CHIRP was introduced in July 2003 and has so far received 38 reports.

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the(a) date and (b) nature of each incident involving ships in British waters assisting other vessels attempting to bring illegal immigrants to Britain since 1997; and what the names of the vessels were in each case. [148502]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency co-ordinates the search and rescue of persons in distress at sea and responded to over 13,000 incidents in the last year. The Agency collects data about the nature of incidents, including the types of vessels involved in terms of whether they are commercial ships, fishing vessels or pleasure craft. However, the Agency does not collect data relating to illegal immigration.

  The UK Immigration Service also does not collate the information in the format requested. However, the Service does work closely with European counterparts to identify vessels concerned with smuggling potential illegal immigrants to the UK. In addition, as part of REFLEX, the government's multi-agency task force to combat organised immigration crime, the Immigration Service co-operates with other government departments to exchange information on those suspected of involvement in maritime smuggling.

  Leak Inquiries
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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 1006W
  of leaking information from his Department have been made public (a) by the Government and (b) by way of another source. [147192]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002 and since then it has not instigated any inquiries into alleged leaks from members of its staff.

  Liquid Natural Gas
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what tax advantages are available for liquid natural gas vehicles. [147940]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Due to its environmental benefits, liquid natural gas (LNG) enjoys a lower rate of duty compared to conventional fuels, equivalent to 6p per litre compared to some 47p per litre for petrol and diesel. In the pre-Budget report the Chancellor announced that this differential will be held constant for a further three years.

  Alternatively fuelled vehicles are also eligible for lower rates of vehicle excise duty depending on their CO2 emissions.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles using liquid natural gas benefited from tax advantages in the last year for which figures are available; and how many were(a) cars and (b) vans. [147941]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Figures published by the Natural Gas Vehicle Association for August estimate that there are 875 natural gas vehicles in the UK which will have benefited from the duty differential for natural gas. Of these 20 are estimated to be cars: there is no estimate for vans. Details of the split between vehicles using liquid natural gas and compressed natural gas were not published.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Government grants are available to convert petrol cars to liquid natural gas; what the take-up has been in the current financial year; and how much is available for the remainder of the financial year. [147942]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Limited grants are available under the TransportEnergy programmes to offset the additional costs of purchasing clean fuelled vehicles including those powered by liquid natural gas (LNG). Grant offers have been made for 45 LNG vehicles in this financial year, which will be honoured once the conversions are completed under the terms of the grant offer letters.

  The Energy Saving Trust, who administer the grant programmes for the Government, will not be issuing any new grant offer letters this financial year as they have now received applications to cover the full TransportEnergy programme budget of nearly £30 million. This is a considerable increase from the £18 million spend in 2001–02, and the Trust forecast they will provide grants for around 8,000 vehicles this year, compared with 5,000 last year. The grant programmes will resume in April 2004.

  M6 Tolls
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the impact of the M6 Toll on traffic flows in the West Midlands. [148649]

  Mr. Jamieson
  At present it is too early to say with certainty what impact the M6 Toll has had on traffic flows in the West Midlands. The Highways Agency is monitoring traffic flows on the M6 Toll and adjacent road network and a full report will be prepared in April 2004, once traffic patterns have stabilised. A more detailed study report will follow when the toll road has been open for 12 months.

  Moving Vehicles (Smoking Ban)
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to outlaw smoking while in control of a moving vehicle. [148823]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There are no plans to prohibit smoking when driving. However, drivers who fail to have proper control of their vehicle for any reason risk prosecution.

  North Berwick-Edinburgh Line
  Anne Picking
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Strategic Rail Authority is taking with regard to the withdrawal of rolling stock from the North Berwick-Edinburgh commuter line when the current refurbished units are returned to WAGN at the end of March. [147992]

  Mr. McNulty
  North Berwick services are operated by trains hired from WAGN under a lease which expires in March. The Strategic Rail Authority, Scotrail and the Scottish Executive have therefore been considering options for replacing them. Trials of alternative rolling stock have taken place on the line and Scotrail announced on 14 January that the replacement trains would be formed of locomotive-hauled carriages.

  Procurement Outsourcing
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his 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. [147590]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department complies with Government procurement policy, which is that all procurement is based on value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity. The Department must comply with the requirements of the EU Treaty, including the principles of non-discrimination, the EC procurement directives and the UK's international obligations. The Department has not outsourced any IT or call centre jobs to offshore companies and currently has no plans to do so.

  Railways
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to reduce the costs of(a) administration and (b) consultants within the railway industry. [147329]

  Mr. McNulty
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport said today in his statement to the House, the Department for Transport is undertaking a review of the rail industry. This will consider all of the industry's costs and how better value for passengers can be obtained from the Government's funding.

  Road Junctions (Christchurch)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason representations in respect of the proposed compulsory purchase order at Barrack Road/Stour Road junction in Christchurch are being considered by the Government Office of the North East. [149025]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Secretary of State for Transport's quasi-judicial role for considering all Local Highway Authority Schemes and Orders for his confirmation, such as the case for the proposed Compulsory Purchase Order at Barrack Road/Stour Road junction in Christchurch, is undertaken as a national function and is based (since 1989) in Government Office for the North East.

  Robin Hood Country
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what historical basis road signs on the M1 motorway describe Nottinghamshire as Robin Hood country. [148744]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The signs were requested by Nottinghamshire county council, whose area has been historically connected with the legend of Robin Hood.

  Ships (Near Misses)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many near misses between ships there were in each year since 1997 while in British waters; and what steps he is taking to reduce the number of such incidents. [148503]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The number of hazardous incidents in UK waters involving more than one vessel, where at least one was a 'ship', since 1997 were:

  Number of incidents

  1997

  55

  1998

  35

  1999

  36

  2000

  49

  2001

  46

  2002

  46

  2003

  67

  Note:

  These figures are for incidents reported to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) by 15 January 2004.

  Mariners are encouraged to report any such incidents and these reports are considered with the alleged offending vessel invited to comment. Actions arising

  1009W
  from this include reminding the alleged offending vessel of the importance of maintaining good seamanship at all time and referring them to the appropriate literature or, where necessary, inspection or prosecution. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is also actively involving the mariner in how to promote awareness on avoiding these situations through its website and promotional literature.

  Speed Limits (Roads)
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce minimum speed limits on(a) motorways and (b) dual carriageways. [148821]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government has no plans to introduce minimum speed limits on motorways or dual carriageways.

  Speeding (Penalty Points)
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals not to penalise motorists guilty of speeding with penalty points on their driving licences when it is a first offence. [146991]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Speeding is a serious threat to road safety which can result in death and serious injury. We see no reason to distinguish between first and subsequent offences.

  Strategic Rail Authority
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority on publication of its annual strategic plan; [149037]

  (2) how many drafts of the Strategic Rail Authority's strategic plan for 2004 have been (a) received and (b) commented on by his Department; [149038]

  (3) what powers he has to determine the date of publications issued by the Strategic Rail Authority; [149039]

  (4) under what authority he is able to determine the date of publication by the Strategic Rail Authority of its strategic plan; [149040]

  (5) when (a) he and (b) his officials first received a draft of the Strategic Rail Authority's strategic plan for 2004. [149041]

  Mr. Darling
  The Government and the Strategic Rail Authority have agreed that it is not appropriate to publish a Strategic Plan in advance of the review now taking place of Government expenditure. I have the power to determine the date of any publication by the Strategic Rail Authority by issuing a direction, as prescribed under sections 206(3), 207(5) and 209(5) of the Transport Act 2000. My officials saw one draft of the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan, which they received on 16 December 2003, but made no comment on its content. No ministers saw the draft, nor was its existence drawn to their attention.

  Street Works
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to develop an England-wide system for the notification of street works owned by utilities and road departments similar to the Susie Phone system in Scotland. [147096]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Local authorities in England already have systems for the notification of street works. We believe that the large number of authorities involved makes a single system covering the whole of England unrealistic. However, the Department has undertaken a study to consider how future systems could he developed in a way that ensured consistency and compatibility between them while remaining locally based.

  Traffic Management Bill
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the basis used in the regulatory impact assessment of the Traffic Management Bill for calculating the extent of delay imposed by incidents on the trunk road network. [145546]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Highways Agency has calculated total motorway congestion from Department for Transport figures for estimated time lost compared with free flow speed (per kilometre travelled for different vehicle types) together with figures for total motorway traffic taken from the Transport Statistics Bulletin.

  The Highways Agency used a variety of data to estimate incident related congestion. This included research from the Transport Research Laboratory which estimated that 25 per cent. of congestion was due to incidents. The Highways Agency Traffic Control Centre Project estimated a figure of 30 per cent.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that the powers contained in section 74 of the Traffic Management Bill are universally adopted by local authorities. [147094]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Clause 74 of the Traffic Management Bill enables the Lord Chancellor to make regulations specifying how a penalty charge notice may be served and its content, such as the alleged contravention, the amount of the penalty charge, by when it has to be paid, how and where it can be paid, discount available for early payment, right to make representations and so on. The clause specifically excludes the power to stop vehicles for the purposes of issuing a penalty charge notice.

  All local authorities receiving civil enforcement powers as a result of this Bill will be required to abide by the terms of these regulations.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sources were used to produce the figures for the costs to business of utility streetworks in the Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Traffic Management Bill. [147097]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Traffic Management Bill (page 5) discusses the total economic costs of utility street works rather than the costs to business alone.
  1011W
  There are two estimates. The first of £35 million in 1983 prices is taken from the 1985 'Review of the Public Utilities Street Works Act 1950' (HMSO—ISBN 0 11 550729 9, page 119). The second of £2.4 billion is taken from a 1992 report of the Transport Research Laboratory. Unfortunately, this latter figure was quoted in error and refers to the total value of utility construction work. However a 2001 report by the Laboratory 'Mitigating the Disruption caused by Utility Street Works' (TRL report 516—ISSN 0968–4107, page 9) estimated the annual traffic delay costs of utility street works at some £2 billion. My department has commissioned Halcrow to update this work.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what economic model the Government has used in working out the figures for the Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Traffic Management Bill; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [147099]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Figures presented in the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Traffic Management Bill have been calculated using software packages models Transport User Benefit Analysis (TUBA), Cost Benefit Analysis (COBA), and Queues and Delays at Roadworks (QUADRO).

  TUBA and COBA were used to calculate figures relating to the Highways Agency's Traffic Officer Service. The model used to calculate the financial cost of disruption caused by utilities' street works is called QUADRO.

  Manuals and guidance for using these packages are available via the DfT website as detailed below.

  The COBA User Manual is available at:
  http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft index.hcst?n=7912&1=4
  The TUBA User Manual is available at:
  http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft transstrat/documents/page/dft transstrat 50799Q.hcsp
  The TUBA Guidance is available at:
  hitp://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft transstrat/documents/page/dft transstrat 507975.pdf
  The QUADRO user manual is available at:
  http://www.dft. gov. uk/stcllent/groups/dft control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft index. hcst?n=7914&1=4

  US Ships (Decommissioning)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 5 January 2004,Official Report, column 56W on US Ships (Decommissioning), who carried out the routing plans and initial risk assessment for the return of the US ships under tow; what the earliest date the risk assessment determined the ships could safely make a return journey was; and if he will place the (a) risk assessment and (b) routing plans in the Library. [148618]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The UK took the view that it could be unsafe to return the ships to the US immediately, given the likely winter weather in the Atlantic and the need for a high degree of confidence of fair weather for the duration of the tow. It concluded that a return passage could not be contemplated before the spring. Passages both to the north and south of the United Kingdom have been considered in relation to notional routes which respect 1012W
  mandatory maritime traffic schemes and advising guidance. As weather windows become available in the spring, routing options will be subject to more detailed assessment, once application is made, and copies of such assessments will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  International Trade
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 9 December,Official Report, column 449W, on international trade, if she will make a statement on the impact of the Commons Agricultural Policy on the competitiveness of products from developing countries. [144808]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) supports farmers' incomes via a number of methods—direct payments, export subsidies, intervention buying and tariffs—which ensure that EU farmers receive higher prices for their goods. These measures increase the level of production and therefore result in lower imports and / or higher exports than would otherwise he the case. This can have the effect of depressing world prices for certain commodities. Developing country producers who would otherwise be competitive on world markets may find themselves unable to compete. This could distort the allocation of resources in a particular country away from those in which it has a comparative advantage towards less competitive sectors.

  The CAP reforms agreed in June 2003 will help to break the link between income support and production in the EU and will reconnect farmers to their markets. Production occurring as a result of loss-making activities should cease as farmers decisions are increasingly determined by market forces rather than subsidies. This production response will reduce EU production and net exports and, where this results in a higher world price, it should have a beneficial impact on developing country producers.

  Further reform of the domestic support regime is necessary and the Commission have recently produced proposals for reform covering the cotton, tobacco, olive oil and hops sectors and proposals for reform of the sugar regime are expected next year.

  Beef Imports
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what restrictions she has placed on imports of beef into the UK from the USA following the recent BSE case there; and what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on achieving a common approach to policy. [148306]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]Animal and public health in the UK are protected from BSE from third countries by existing EU import rules. These rules require any third country exporting meat or live animals into the Community to have in place controls equivalent to those in the EU. These controls are supported by a requirement for veterinary certification in relation to individual meat consignments.
  1013W
  Imports of beef and beef products are permitted only if EU rules requiring the removal of specified risk material (SRM—eg skull, tonsils, spinal cord, intestine) and methods of slaughter are met.

  A recent meeting of the EU's Chief Veterinary Officers was informed that the European Commission were following up the implications of the recent BSE case with the US authorities. The Chief Veterinary Officers supported the Commission in taking this approach. An EU technical visit to the US is being arranged to evaluate the position.

  Dairy Farming
  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy farms were in operation in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available. [148695]

  Alun Michael
  The following figures show holdings in England where dairy is the predominant activity.

  Dairy holdings

  1983

  30,361

  1984

  29,912

  1985

  28,300

  1986

  27,583

  1987

  26,138

  1988

  24,767

  1989

  23,849

  1990

  22,793

  1991

  22,701

  1992

  21,712

  1993

  18,771

  1994

  20,579

  1995

  19,632

  1996

  18,904

  1997

  18,007

  1998

  17,014

  1999

  16,313

  2000

  15,219

  2001

  14,106

  2002

  14,342

  Note:

  Figures prior to 2000 show main holdings only. From 2000 onwards minor holdings are included.

  Source:

  June Agricultural Census

  Departmental Lawyers
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many lawyers her Department employs. [148921]

  Alun Michael
  Defra currently employs 89 lawyers, plus 2 legal trainees.

  EU Regulations (Fruit)
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Department initiated proceedings against the Asda company in respect of the EU horticultural regulations relating to the size and shape of items of fruit; and what the costs involved were. [147012]

  Alun Michael
  [holding answer 13 January 2004]: The Department instituted proceedings against Asda at South Hampshire Magistrates Court in respect of 14
  1014W
  breaches of EU marketing standards identified during an inspection at the company's Fareham store on 1 November 2000. None of the alleged breaches relate to the size or shape of produce. The allegations relate to the retail of poor quality produce and failure to label with the correct quality class or country of origin.

  The defendant argued in the courts that the offences with which it was charged were not known to law because the UK legislation establishing them was defective. These arguments were rejected by the House of Lords, which awarded Defra the costs of its appeals in the Divisional Court and the House of Lords. The quantum of these costs has not yet been determined.

  The matters have been remitted to the magistrates court for trial. The costs of the case in the magistrates court will be decided at its conclusion as is usual practice.

  Fisheries
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the decisions of the December 2003 EU Fisheries Council on(a) fishing in the Irish Sea, (b) fish landings in Whitehaven and (c) policy on designated ports; and if she will make a statement. [147448]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]: We agreed a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Irish Sea cod of 2,150 tonnes (a 10 per cent. increase on the 2003 TAC that in fact represents a reduction in fishing effort). We agreed 20 per cent. cuts in the associated plaice and sole TACs, as opposed to the 47 per cent. and 34 per cent. cuts proposed by the Commission. A threefold increase in the haddock TAC will help to balance cuts, and a minimal cut in the nephrops TAC allows current catch levels to be maintained.

  Landings in Whitehaven, mainly demersal species and shellfish from both UK and Irish vessels, are likely to reflect the above TAC changes.

  The designated port arrangements for the United Kingdom will not be affected except that landings of North Sea haddock taken under the special conditions set out in Annex IV of Council Regulation 2287/2003 will be restricted to designated ports in Scotland and on the east coast of England.

  Food Exporters
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the announcement by the Rural Payments Agency that it is to end export refunds immediately to exporters of processed foods to the new EU entrant states. [147050]

  Alun Michael
  The Rural Payments Agency recently issued advice to traders on the transitional arrangements for the payment of refunds on goods exported to the new European Union (EU) entrant states.

  From I May 2004, when the ten acceding states become full members of the EU, refund payments will cease. Among the accessionary arrangements designed to minimise the impact of these changes, some entrant states and the EU entered into a number of 'double

  1015W
  benefit' agreements. Under these arrangements, export refunds are not paid in return for a reciprocal waiving of import duty in the importing country for certain exports of agricultural products. A number of these arrangements affect processed foods exports. In addition the Commission has identified possible problems in relation to speculation in the sugar sector and potential stock piling of community exports in acceding member states. To counter this sugar export refunds have been withdrawn with effect from 28 November 2003.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many firms are in dispute with her Department over payments for work carried out during the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease; what the total outstanding sum in dispute is; and for what reasons each payment is being withheld. [148646]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Brian Cotter), on 6 January 2004,Official Report, columns 259–62W.

  Livestock Farming
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recovery of livestock farming in(a) Copeland and (b) Cumbria since January 2002; and if she will make a statement. [146503]

  Alun Michael
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: Other than the June annual Agricultural Census, which amongst other things records the number of animals present on holdings on the designated census day, no specific assessment has been made of the recovery of

  UK raw milk production and utilisation

  Million litres

  Calendar years

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Supply and Use (a)

  Production

  14,317

  14,549

  14,259

  14,256

  14,420

  14,218

  14,587

  14,078

  14,291

  14,449

  Imports

  1—

  1—

  181

  111

  128

  129

  111

  105

  64

  72

  Exports

  89

  129

  185

  173

  290

  373

  465

  445

  414

  421

  Total new supply

  14.228

  14,420

  14,255

  14,194

  14,258

  13,973

  14,233

  13,738

  13,941

  14,100

  of which:

  For liquid consumption

  6,806 (48%)

  6,765 (47%)

  6,922 (49%)

  6,838 (48%)

  6,748 (47%)

  6,739 (48%)

  6,853 (48%)

  6,768 (49%)

  6,761 (48%)

  6,756 (48%)

  For manufacture

  7,061

  7,298

  6,918

  6,934

  7,059

  6,821

  6,988

  6,550

  6,714

  6,939

  of which:

  Butter (b)

  284 (2%)

  292 (2%)

  273 (2%)

  266 (2%)

  284 (2%)

  281 (2%)

  290 (2%)

  270 (2%)

  259 (2%)

  279 (2%)

  Cheese

  3,267 (23%)

  3,248 (23%)

  3,182 (22%)

  3,348 (24%)

  3,371 (24%)

  3,257 (23%)

  3,297 (23%)

  3,032 (22%)

  3,568 (26%)

  3,449 (24%)

  Cream (b)

  262 (2%)

  277 (2%)

  279 (2%)

  276 (2%)

  263 (2%)

  263 (2%)

  271 (2%)

  266 (2%)

  259 (2%)

  260 (2%)

  Condensed milk (c)

  731 (5%)

  751 (5%)

  661 (5%)

  719 (5%)

  692 (5%)

  643 (5%)

  603 (4%)

  522 (4%)

  536 (4%)

  491 (3%)

  Milk powder—full cream

  458 (3%)

  531 (4%)

  623 (4%)

  558 (4%)

  822 (6%)

  809 (6%)

  853 (6%)

  932 (7%)

  781 (6%)

  825 (6%)

  Milk powder—skimmed

  1,437 (10%)

  1,567 (11%)

  1,422 (70%)

  1,322 (9%)

  1,146 (8%)

  1,101 (8%)

  1,123 (8%)

  889 (6%)

  663 (5%)

  973 (7%)

  Other

  623 (4%)

  632 (4%)

  480 (3%)

  445 (3%)

  482 (3%)

  467 (3%)

  549 (4%)

  640 (5%)

  649 (5%)

  663 (5%)

  Dairy wastage and stock change

  1—

  1—

  113 (1%)

  86 (1%)

  112 (1%)

  80 (1%)

  56 (-)

  91 (1%)

  132 (1%)

  98 (1%)

  Other uses (d)

  1—

  1—

  301 (2%)

  336 (2%)

  338 (2%)

  333 (2%)

  338 (2%)

  329 (2%)

  334 (2%)

  307 (2%)

  1Equals less than 0.5 per cent.

  Note:

  Aggregated data from surveys run by Defra, SEERAD and DAR DNI on the utilisation of milk by dairies.

  Includes the utilisation of the residual fat of low fat liquid milk production.

  Includes condensed milk used in the production of chocolate crumb and in the production of machine skimmed milk.

  Includes farmhouse consumption, milk fed to stock and on farm waste. Excludes suckled milk.
  1016W
  livestock farming in Copeland and Cumbria since January 2002. However, data from the Agricultural Census of June 20021 shows that in Cumbria there has been an increase in livestock numbers compared with June 2001, while in Copeland the position remained broadly similar. The details are as follows:

  Recovery of livestock farming in Copeland and Cumbria since January 2002

  Copeland

  Cumbria

  Cattle and Calves

  2000

  42,217

  510,446

  2001

  40,502

  281,490

  2002

  39,938

  426,484

  Sheep and Lambs

  2000

  251,408

  2,633,973

  2001

  221,293

  1,499,064

  2002

  219,897

  1,801,789

  Pigs

  2000

  —

  54,441

  2001

  —

  10,119

  2002

  —

  23,555

  Note:

  Pig data in Copeland have been omitted to prevent the disclosure of information relating to individual holdings.

  1June 2003 data is expected to be published in March.

  Milk
  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the UK's raw milk production was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and how this raw milk is processed, broken down by percentage. [148690]

  Alun Michael
  The following table provides information on the UK raw milk production and supply, and how this supply is then utilised for liquid consumption and the manufacture of products.

  Procurement Outsourcing
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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 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. [147582]

  Alun Michael
  Consistent with the need to ensure fair and transparent procurement processes in line with legal obligations, the Department's procurement policy is to obtain value for money and protect the public purse. In evaluating any procurement decision containing any offshoring proposals, the Department will have regard to the net cost to the Exchequer.

  Defra is currently conducting a procurement according to EU requirements to outsource its IT provision, and award of contract is expected in June 2004. The contract will be evaluated in line with the above policy and will also follow the latest Government guidance on tax planning and tax avoidance. It is expected that around 300 staff will transfer to the new supplier under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) 1981) arrangements.

  There was no spend on off shore IT or off shore call centre outsourcing in 2002–03 and in the current year is nil to date. No sum has been budgeted for off shore outsourcing for the years 2004–05 and 2005–06.

  Sheep Dips
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the latest advice is that she has offered to those who use organophosphates for sheep dipping. [148305]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]: Since 1995 the sale and supply of OP sheep dips has been restricted to those holding a Certificate of Competence in the Use of Sheep Dips awarded by the National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC). The training course run by the NPTC covers the use and handling of sheep dips before, during and after dipping.

  In addition the Health and Safety Executive has issued to all sheep farmers an advisory leaflet on sheep dipping. This includes specific advice on the handling and use of OP sheep dips. This leaflet was last revised in 1998.

  In November 1999 the VMD also distributed to all holders of the NPTC Certificate of Competence in Sheep Dipping an A4 laminated sheet highlighting the risks of exposure to OP concentrate. Agricultural merchants are required to supply copies of this advisory sheet to all purchasers of sheep dips, together with protective gloves.

  Advice on the safe use and handling of each specific OP sheep dip product is also included on the product label. These were last revised when OP sheep dips were returned to the market in containers with fully enclosed delivery systems in 2001–02.

  Sugar Beet
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the annual sugar consumption in the United Kingdom she estimates is met by domestic sugar beet production. [148611]

  Alun Michael
  It is not possible to give an estimate of the percentage of the annual sugar consumption in the UK which is met by domestic sugar beet production. This is due to several reasons. Firstly, it is not possible to distinguish between exports of sugar produced from imported sugar cane and exports of sugar produced from domestic sugar beet. Secondly, not all sugar is consumed directly, it is also manufactured into many processed products. Although those processed products may be produced in the UK, they may not be consumed here.

  However, the Department produces data on the annual total production of sugar (on a refined basis) from domestic sugar beet and supplies for the UK market. These figures are published annually in "Agriculture in the United Kingdom". Copies are available in the House Library or on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/esg. The latest figures available are for 2002 and are provisional. A total of 1,390,000 tonnes of sugar were produced from sugar beet in 2002. The UK imported 1,309,000 tonnes of sugar and exported 487,000 tonnes of sugar. Thus, the total new supply of sugar available for use in the UK in 2002 was 2,212,000 tonnes (see Table 1 as follows). UK production as a percentage of new supply, which is the commonly used measure of self sufficiency, was 63 per cent. in 2002.

  Table 1. Sugar production in the UK in 20021

  Calendar year 2002 (provisional)

  Sugar(thousand tonnes refined basis)

  Production2

  1,390

  Imports from:

  the EU

  186

  the rest of the world

  1,123

  Exports to:

  the EU

  104

  the rest of the world

  383

  Total new supply

  2,212

  Production as percentage of total new supply for use in the UK

  63

  1Extracted from "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2002"

  2Sugar coming out of the factory in the early part of the new year is regarded as being of the previous calendar year's production.

TREASURY

  Air Passenger Duty
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the case for changes in the basis of air passenger duty from payment per passenger to payment per flight, and for relating it to the
  1019W
  amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants produced during the flight; and if he will make a statement. [147831]

  John Healey
  The use of economic instruments to encourage the aviation industry to take account of and, where appropriate, reduce its contribution to global warming, local air pollution and noise pollution was considered in the Air Transport White Paper, published in December 2003. The White Paper supported widened use of airport charges linked to the level of local noise and air pollutant emissions. In addition, we announced that, as part of the Government's commitment to using economic instruments to help tackle greenhouse gas emissions, the UK will push hard at international level to secure agreement on including aviation in the EU's emissions trading scheme.

  Levels of all taxes, including air passenger duty, are reviewed Budget-by-Budget, taking account of a range of social, economic and environmental considerations.

  Financial Products (Risk Warnings)
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the need for a risk warning to be attached to(a) all financial products and (b) documentation about pensions. [148381]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Financial Services Authority requires regulated financial products to be promoted in a manner that is clear, fair and not misleading.

  In particular, for investment products it requires firms to adequately describe the risks involved. In the case of personal and stakeholder pensions, it specifically requires firms to explain those risks to the consumer before the product is bought.

  The Department of Trade and Industry is currently consulting on the provision of risk warnings for consumers as part of its ongoing review of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (I) what plans he has to develop a substitute eligibility test for working tax credit fast-track; [148388]

  (2) what plans he has to conduct a reappraisal of the fast-track eligibility rules for claiming working tax credit. [148389]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are no plans to change the eligibility rules. As with other issues, we continue to keep the policy under review.

  Unemployment (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in the level of unemployment in the Warrington North constituency has been since 1997. [148248]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
  1020W
  Leter from Colin Mowl to Helen Jones dated 19 January 2004:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Warrington North constituency. I am replying in his absence. (148248)

  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Warrington North constituency.

  ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The annual average number of JSA claimants in the Warrington North constituency decreased by 763 from 2,041 in 1997 to 1,278 in 2003.

  Armed Forces (Departure Payments)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposed early departure payments for members of the Armed Forces which will replace pension payments will attract national insurance contributions. [147575]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The early departure payments will not attract national insurance contributions, since they will be made under a statutory scheme and would not be considered as earnings derived from employment.

  Banking Regulation
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which banks have a licence to operate in the UK; and when each received its licence. [149498]

  Ruth Kelly
  Under the Financial Services and Markets Act (2000), banks, building societies and credit unions are authorised by the Financial Services Authority to accept deposits in the UK.

  Details of the banks and other institutions which are authorised with permission to accept deposits in the UK and the date when they received authorisation can be found on the Financial Services Authority's website (www.fsa.qov.uk).

  Child Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer per year of increasing by 100 per cent. the rate of child tax credit in respect of children under five. [148619]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The annual cost would be approximately £3 billion per year.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Buckingham constituency(a) have applied for, (b) are eligible for and (c) received the child tax credit in 2003–04. [149191]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The estimated number of families receiving tax credits in the Buckingham constituency at 3 July 2003 is shown in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses—July 2003", which is on the Inland Revenue website at: www. inland reven ue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.
  1021W
  htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty. Estimates for January 2004 will be published on 30 January 2004.

  No estimates are available at the constituency level of the number of people who have claimed tax credits or who are eligible for them.

  Citizen Information Project
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what dates he has met Scottish Ministers to discuss the Citizen Information Project and its implications for Scotland; [147920]

  (2) how many members of staff have been seconded from the Register Office for Scotland to work on the Office of National Statistics' Citizen Information Project; [147921]

  (3) whether the Office for National Statistics' Citizen Information Project will cover information held by offices and agencies responsible to the Scottish Executive; [147922]

  (4) which parts of the Citizen Information Project's current work programme includes matters of responsibility for the Scottish Executive; and what reporting procedures have been put in place for this work. [147923]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Ms Annabelle Ewing, dated 19 January 2004.

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions on the Citizen Information Project. I am replying in his absence. (147920, 147921, 147922, 147923).

  The work announced by the Chief Secretary on 6 January is about the development of a UK population register. The aim is to cover the UK because a number of the public sector organisations (such as UK Passport Service, Inland Revenue) that might supply basic data to construct the register, and that are among the potential users of the register, cover the whole of the UK. The current work is on project definition, to explore more fully the potential scope of a register and to develop a more detailed proposal.

  The Chancellor has not met Scottish Ministers to discuss this work, but the project team has been in close touch with the Registrar General for Scotland and Scottish Executive officials, who have kept Scottish Executive Ministers informed of developments. The Chief Secretary has corresponded with his Cabinet colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Scotland, on several occasions. The issue of how the register might be used and taken forward in Scotland will be considered during this next stage of the project. Should legislation be required, it would be for the Scottish Parliament to decide whether any register should be used to support the administration of devolved services.

  The project team will continue to work closely with the devolved administrations, other government departments, agencies and local authorities. The Scottish Executive was represented, by the Head of its 21 s' Century Government Unit, on the Steering Group for the project's feasibility study. The Scottish Executive and the General Register Office for Scotland will be similarly involved in the governance of the current stage of the project.

  No secondments of staff to the CEP team from any organisation have yet been arranged for the current stage of the project.

  I am copying this letter to the Registrar General for Scotland.

  Consumer Education
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cross-government spending is on education for consumers on(a) financial services and (b) consumer credit, broken down by Department. [149449]

  Ruth Kelly
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  We are, however, seeking to inform the work of the Financial Capability Steering Group, which informs policy development work by the Financial Services Authority, with a survey of the financial education, information and generic advice work of the principal Departments involved.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on council tax increases for 2004–05 of the £406 million announced in the Pre-Budget statement for local authorities in Great Britain. [147714]

  Mr. Boateng
  The additional £406 million announced by the Chancellor includes £340 million for local authorities in England. This means that, including the additional resources announced at the time of the provisional local government finance settlement, the Government is making an additional £760 million in grant available for local authorities in England, over and above what the last spending review originally allocated. Total Government support next year will total £54.5 billion—up from £50.8 billion for 2003/04 on a like for like basis. That represents an increase, in real terms, of 30 per cent. in central government support since 1997 and is the second year in succession that all authorities have received an above inflation increase in government grant.

  Taken together with the further £750 million reduction in ring fencing that we announced in November, the additional support being provided underlines the Government's commitment to ensuring that local authorities can provide decent local services without making excessive demands on local taxpayers.

  The Government believes that next year local authorities can and should deliver council tax increases in low single figures. However, decisions on council tax levels are a matter for local authorities, in consultation with their local residents, not for the Government.

  Decisions on local government funding in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the allocation of the additional resources provided by the Chancellor, are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive, reflecting their own priorities and circumstances in the normal way.

  Death Statistics
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of suicides in the UK in 2003. [148837]
  1023W
  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

  Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mrs. Iris Robinson dated 19 January 2004:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what estimate has been made of the number of suicides in the UK in 2003. I am replying in his absence. (148837)

  The most recently available information is for deaths in 2002. There were 5,736 deaths1 with a verdict of suicide or undetermined intent2 in the United Kingdom in 2002.

  1Data for England and Wales are for deaths occurring in the calendar year. Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are for deaths registered in the calendar year.

  2Causes of death were defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-IO) codes X60-X84 and YIO-Y34 for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and X60-X84 and YIO-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending for England and Wales.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many drownings there were in the UK in 2003. [148839]

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

  Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mrs. Iris Robinson dated 19 January 2004:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many drownings there were in the UK in 2003.1 am replying in his absence. (148839)

  The most recently available information is for deaths in 2002. There were 646 deaths1 from drowning2 in the United Kingdom in 2002.

  1Data for England and Wales are for deaths occurring in the calendar year. Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are for deaths registered in the calendar year.

  2Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (1CD-10) code 775.7.

  Economically Inactive Young People
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many economically inactive persons aged 18 to 24 there are; and what the number was in April 1997. [148851]

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

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. George Osborne, dated 19 January 2004:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about economically inactive people aged 18 to 24. I am replying in his absence. (148851)

  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) gives information about economic inactivity for each three month period, but not for individual months. The latest available estimate, for the three month period ending November 2003, is that there were 1.32 million economically inactive people aged 18 to 24 resident in the United Kingdom during this period. The estimate for the three month period ending April 1997 is 1.13 million. These estimates are seasonally adjusted.

  As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.

  European Council of Finance Ministers
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Ecofin meeting on 16 December 2003, including the Government's positions on the different issues discussed. [148614]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Ecofin meeting scheduled for 16 December 2003 was cancelled by the Italian Presidency.

  Financial Services
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what research has been commissioned on the impact of recent developments in the life assurance and pension industry on the capital structure of organisations offering such services; and if he will make a statement; [148759]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the impact of changes in the reporting of the financial position of insurance companies on those that have a mutual structure; and if he will make a statement. [148855]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Financial Services Authority has developed a 'twin peaks' approach to the requirements for capital to support with-profits liabilities. This compares the capital required on a prudent regulatory basis with that needed on a realistic basis to meet payments made to policyholders, including terminal bonuses. The regulator will consider the impact on individual firms, including those that have a mutual structure, and on the industry as part of further development of its reserving proposals.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact that the Basel II accords on capital adequacy will have on mutual financial organisations; and if he will make a statement. [148760]

  Ruth Kelly
  The new Basel Accord will be an international agreement on prudential capital, applying mainly to internationally active banks. Implementation of the new Basel Accord in Europe will be through a new Capital Adequacy Directive, which is expected to have a broader scope covering credit institutions and investment firms (as was the case for the implementation of the existing Basel Accord). That broader scope will encompass some mutual organisations, for example building societies, although the detailed boundaries are yet to be determined. The Treasury will assess the European Commissions formal proposals in the usual way once they are issued.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact he estimates recent changes in the regulatory regime for insurance companies will have on(a) projections of future returns of policy holders and (b) the anticipated benefits of their mutual structure; and if he will make a statement. [148871]

  Ruth Kelly
  The rules governing projections for policyholders are set out in the Financial Services Authority Handbook under Conduct of Business. It is for individual companies to ensure that their projections are fair and not misleading. Recent changes to introduce
  1025W
  a new realistic reporting regime are intended to provide the regulator with a better picture of the underlying financial strength of the industry, including mutuals.

  Income Tax
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the additional revenue which would be raised from a 1p increase in(a) the standard rate of income tax and (b) the higher rate of income tax; [148711]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the additional revenue which a higher rate of income tax of 50 per cent. would produce. [148712]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the publication "Tax ready reckoner and tax reliefs December 2003" on the Treasury website: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media//AAB247pbr03_trr.pdf. The figures exclude any estimate of behavioural response to the tax change.

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of Inland Revenue inquiry offices have textphone or similar communication aids. [148382]

  Dawn Primarolo
  All Inland Revenue inquiry offices are registered with the BT Typetalk service.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many home visits were conducted by Inland Revenue employees in each of the last five years to provide advice to those incapable of reaching an office. [148383]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue does not keep a central record of the total number of such visits going back over the last five years. The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to establish a disabilities helpline in the Inland Revenue for(a) tax payers and (b) voluntary sector intermediaries who need access to information on disability issues. [148384]

  Dawn Primarolo
  At present the Inland Revenue has no plans to establish a disabilities helpline. Advisers in our telephone contact centres are trained to deal with telephone calls from the full range of taxpayers. We believe that this provides a cost effective approach to meeting taxpayer needs and the flexibility to respond to the differing requirements of our taxpayer base.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of public Inland Revenue offices are equipped with equipment to aid those with hearing impediments. [148386]

  Dawn Primarolo
  When last audited in early 2002, out of a total of 323 of Inland Revenue inquiry offices providing a face to face service, 86 per cent. had portable loop systems and 27 per cent. of them had fixed induction loop systems. We are in the process of carrying out another audit.
  1026W
  In spring 2003 Inland Revenue introduced a set of national standards for their inquiry offices specifying that they be equipped with a fixed and portable induction loop system, and a crystal listening device. They are progressing to all of their inquiry centres meeting this standard.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of Inland Revenue frontline staff have received training on disability issues. [148387]

  Ruth Kelly
  All new members of staff receive disability awareness material as part of the Revenue's induction process. In addition during the last three years 22,752 staff (over 32 per cent. of total staff) have attended a training course specifically covering disability issues.

  During the same period over 90 per cent. of staff have received diversity awareness training which included disability related issues.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue office in Chorley is equipped with equipment to aid those with hearing impediments. [149168]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Chorley Inland Revenue Enquiry Office is equipped with portable induction loop equipment.

  Insurance Cover (Terrorism)
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce an insurance scheme to cover domestic risks during times of terrorist attack. [147886]

  Ruth Kelly
  We do not currently have plans to introduce a Government insurance scheme to provide terrorism insurance for risks to domestic property.

  IT Projects
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies, including the(a) start date, (b) the planned completion date, (c) the current expected completion date, (d) the planned cost and (e) the current estimated cost; and if he will make a statement. [147654]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 13 January 2004]A table containing the information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Leak Inquiries
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [147194]

  Ruth Kelly
  While the Treasury has not itself instigated any formal leak enquiries since 1997, it does co-operate in cross-government preliminary enquiries at the request of other Government Departments attempting to trace the sources of leaked information.
  1027W
  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 enquiries in order to safeguard security and investigative arrangements.

  New Deal
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have benefited from the New Deal(a) broken down by region and (b) in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East (i) since 1997 and (ii) since 2001. [148403]

  Mr. Boateng
  Since its introduction the New Deal has helped over 970,000 individuals into work. The following tables show the regional breakdown of jobs found through New Deal programmes. The first table shows data from the programmes introduction from June 1998 onwards, and the second table since April 2001. Both tables include the jobs gained from New Deal programmes for the constituency Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East.

  Individuals into jobs since beginning of programmes

  Jobs

  NDYP

  ND25plus

  NDLP

  ND50+

  Jobcentre Plus region

  Scotland

  54,630

  18,970

  25,000

  12,180

  North East

  36,920

  11,780

  14,760

  6,360

  North West

  68,060

  20,960

  34,180

  12,710

  Yorkshire and Humber

  53,060

  18,440

  24,720

  10,660

  Wales

  31,870

  9,180

  16,260

  7,290

  West Midlands

  46,860

  15,450

  19,830

  9,940

  East Midlands

  29,330

  10,250

  14,230

  7,290

  East of England

  25,550

  10,590

  14,930

  6,880

  South East

  28,840

  12,710

  22,110

  7,740

  London

  57,420

  27,820

  22,360

  7,750

  South West

  30,210

  10,970

  20,860

  9,180

  Parliamentary constituency

  Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East

  1,450

  310

  560

  240

  Individuals into jobs since April 2001

  Jobs

  NDYP

  ND25plus

  NDLP

  ND50+

  Jobcentre Plus region

  Scotland

  23,450

  11,740

  15,500

  8,060

  North East

  15,770

  6,540

  8,650

  4,390

  North West

  27,500

  10,990

  19,300

  8,660

  Yorkshire and Humber

  20,860

  9,860

  14,520

  6,990

  Wales

  13,480

  4,570

  10,250

  4,820

  West Midlands

  20,020

  9,140

  11,500

  6,780

  East Midlands

  12,060

  5,570

  8,330

  4,940

  East of England

  9,150

  5,100

  8,590

  4,380

  South East

  10,180

  5,650

  12,280

  5,040

  London

  21,770

  12,840

  12,660

  5,140

  South West

  11,520

  5,890

  12,830

  5,770

  Parliamentary constituency

  Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East

  680

  100

  340

  170

  The New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) had helped over 20,000 disabled people into work since its introduction. New Deal for Partners has helped over 1,700 people into work, but due to the size of the
  1028W
  programmes there is currently no regional or constituency breakdown available for either NDDP or NDP.

  Research and Development Tax Credits
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firms in(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley (i) are benefiting and (ii) have benefited from research and development tax credits. [148704]

  Dawn Primarolo
  This information is not available. Claims for research and development tax credits do not disclose where in the UK research and development was performed.

  Stamp Duty Land Tax
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in stamp duty land tax revenues in 2004–05 from(a) residential property, (b) commercial property, (c) anti tax avoidance measures and (d) securities-related transactions. [146424]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 8 January 2004]: Forecast revenues from stamp taxes on Land and Property transactions and transactions in Shares are given in the table below. The forecast yields are consistent with the published PBR forecast. The yield from anti-avoidance measures was published in Table A2.1 of the Budget 2003 report.

  £ million

  2003–04

  2004–

  Stamp Duty

  4,800

  6,000

  Stamp Duty Land Tax

  2,700

  3,300

  The increase in duty on land transactions is in due to the introduction of Stamp Duty Land Tax on 1 December 2003. In particular this will:
  (A) prevent the avoidance of stamp duty that was formerly common in commercial transactions, and
  (B) charge duty on the grant of a new lease in a way that better reflects the economic and commercial reality'

  Separate forecasts of yield for residential and commercial property are not available.

  Unemployment (Chorley)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in the level of unemployment in the Chorley constituency has been since 1997. [148494]

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

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle dated 19 January 2004:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Chorley constituency. I am replying in his absence. (148494)

  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Chorley constituency.
  1029W
  ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The annual average number of JSA claimants in the Chorley constituency decreased by 764 from 1,679 in 1997 to 915 in 2003.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on levels of unemployment in Chorley; and what the numbers were in(a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 2000 and (d) 2003. [149166]

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

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr Lindsay Hoyle, dated 19 January 2004:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Chorley constituency. I am replying in his absence. (149166)

  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available for the twelve month period ending February of each year from 1997 to 2002. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Chorley constituency.

  ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The table below shows the annual average claimant level in the Chorley constituency for the requested periods. Because of boundary changes the figures for 1990 and 1995 are not directly comparable with the later data.

  People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the Chorley constituency

  Year

  Level

  Annual average 1990

  12,159

  Annual average 1995

  12,605

  Annual average 2000

  1,217

  Annual average 2003

  915

  1 Figures based on the 1981 census wards.

  Unemployment (Middlesbrough)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about levels of unemployment in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and what the rates were in(a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001. [148402]

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

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Ashok Kumar dated 19 January 2004:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency. I am replying in his absence. (148402)

  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions. For Parliamentary constituencies, information about unemployment rates, but not levels, is available. The unemployment rate in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency for the 12 month period ending February 2002 was 8.1 per cent. The LFS sample size is too small to give comparable information for 1997. LFS estimates are not available at Parliamentary constituency level for 1992. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
  1030W
  ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (ISA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies. The table following shows the average total level of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants and the percentage of the working age population in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Constituency for 1997 and 2001. Comparable figures for 1992 are not available as the constituency did not exist in its current form at that time.

  People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency

  Number

  1Rate

  Annual average 1997

  3,462

  6.1

  Annual average 2001

  2,427

  4.3

  1 People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance as a percentage of the 2001 Census working age population adjusted to 2001 mid-year population estimates for local authorities.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Trade Agreements
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the revision of the generalised system of preferences. [148517]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme has traditionally operated for a series of 10-year periods. While we are currently in the cycle for 1995–2004, revisions of the current scheme were agreed at the end of 2003. Details of these revisions can be found in Official Journal of the EU of 19 December 2003 and 31 December 2003 (Council Regulations No. 2211/2003 and 2331/2003 respectively). The main change was a one-year rollover, with amendments to the graduation criteria. This revised GSP scheme is therefore due to end on 31 December 2005. Proposals for a new GSP scheme will need to be agreed by 31 December 2004, thus providing EU importers with 12 months' notice to plan for changes to duty rates.

  The Commission has indicated its intention to begin the renegotiation process of the EU GSP scheme early this year through regular working party meetings once initial proposals have been published. Officials from my Department will lead on the consultation across Whitehall and industry and, together with colleagues from the UK's Permanent Representation to the EU, make representations on behalf of the UK at these working party meetings. The proposals will be cleared through Parliament by Explanatory Memoranda in the usual way.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific States which are party to the Cotonou Agreement. [148518]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  As outlined in my answer to the hon. Member's question published on 13 January 2004,Official Report, column 696W, no Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has yet been agreed between the EU and an ACP region. Phase I of the negotiations began in September 2002. But the EU only announced the launch of the first EPA negotiations with the Western and Central African regions—CEMAC

  1031W
  (Central African Economic and Monetary Community) and ECOWAS (Economic Community of Western African States) in October 2003. Launches of negotiations between the EU and other ACP regions are expected to take place later this year and to continue over several years. EPAs are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2008.

  Aerospace Funding
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the funding of the Aerospace Launch Investment; and if she will break down the costs incurred by main budget head. [147805]

  Jacqui Smith
  Through Launch Investment partnerships the Government supports the design and development of civil aerospace projects in the UK. The information in the DTI's Departmental Report (CM 5916 published in May 2003) on the funding of the Aerospace—Launch Investment (page 85) indicates a working provision for 2002–03 of Payments of £258.2 million, Receipts (excluding Consolidated Fund Extra Receipt (CFER)) of £66.9 million and Total Receipts of £98.5 million. The actual outturn for 2002–03 was Payments of £258.2 million, Receipts (excluding CFER) of £80.7 million and Total Receipts of £109.5 million.

  My Department is working closely with the industry in implementing the recommendations from the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (AelGT), which reported on 11 June 2003. The Government will continue to consider applications for Launch Investment in conjunction with exploring with Industry ways to attract more private sector finance. Further information on the AelGT can be found on the website of the Society of British Aerospace Companies at http://www.sbac.co.uk/aeigt/.

  BNFL Strategic Review
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her written statement of 11 December 2003,Official Report, column 93WS, on the BNFL Strategy Review, what estimate she has made of the potential cost to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which will result from that body taking responsibiilty for the clean-up of the Springfields site. [148531]

  Mr. Timms
  The White Paper "Managing the Nuclear Legacy", published in July 2002 indicated that the costs associated with clean up of civil nuclear liabilities at the Springfields site would be around £300 million. More detailed work to quantify the precise nature and extent of legacy liabilities at the site is under way to inform the future strategy for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

  Broadband
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with BT on reducing the trigger numbers required to roll out broadband in smaller market towns. [147914]
  1032W
  Mr. Timms
  My colleagues and I maintain regular contact with BT across a wide range of issues as we do with other broadband providers. On 17 November 2003, BT announced trigger levels for 2,300 exchanges across the country. BT has also, on more than one occasion, reduced trigger levels which it had previously set. Decisions about which exchanges should be upgraded for ADSL or what trigger levels should be, are for telecommunication companies, such as BT, to make on commercial grounds.

  Lowering of trigger levels may well be one of he benefits of public sector broadband demand aggregation, which is commencing region-by-region in the coming weeks.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will state the percentage coverage of broadband in(a) Lancashire and (b) each Lancashire district. [148416]

  Mr. Timms
  These data are not available within Government.

  Cheese Industry
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with representatives of the cheese industry about the impact of the weakening dollar on the exports of UK-produced cheese; and if she will make a statement. [148175]

  Alun Michael
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Secretary of State has had no formal meetings with representatives of the cheese industry about the impact of the weakening dollar on exports of UK produced cheese. However, Ministers and officials frequently meet representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the current difficulties facing UK exporters of cheese and other dairy products. Officials raised this issue with the European Commission at the Milk and Milk Products Management Committee on 15 January.

  Coal Health
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been paid to date by the Department to solicitors for handling coal health claims, broken down by region. [147203]

  Nigel Griffiths
  To date the figures are as below.

  £ million

  COPD solicitors costs

  VWF solicitors costs

  England

  158.2

  64.1

  Scotland

  14.1

  4.6

  Wales

  54.8

  10.2

  Total

  227.1

  78.9

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the funding for(a) coal liabilities and (b) coal health liabilities was allocated

  1033W
  in 2003–04; and what amounts were allocated in each year since 1997. [147799]

  £ million

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–4

  Coal Liabilities

  226

  131.6

  116.8

  209.6

  179

  131.1

  93.3

  Coal Health1

  Inc. in above

  123.2

  228.2

  648

  829.5

  850

  850

  1 These figures are provisional allocations. There is no cap to the allocation of funding for coal health liabilities, as the Treasury would make available to the Department whatever it takes to fund coal health claims.

  Company Annual Reports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to bring forward legislation requiring companies to publish in their annual reports(a) a table showing the annual (i) pre-tax profits and (ii) tax paid in each country and (b) transfer prices for intergroup transactions. [146535]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Companies Act 1985 already requires companies to disclose their pre-tax profits and their tax charge split between UK and non-UK. There are no plans to change these requirements, or to introduce company reporting requirements on transfer pricing. Transfer pricing is taken account of in tax legislation.

  Departmental Relocation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment her Department has made of the benefits of relocation of staff to North Staffordshire; and if she will make a statement; [146861]

  (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; [146877]

  (3) what assessment her Department has made of the effect of possible relocation of staff in the 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; [146890]

  (4) what plans she has to establish procedures for assessing the impact of possible re-location of staff in her Department to the regions; and if she will make a statement. [146920]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 516W.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed by her Department in each year since 1992, broken down by Department. [148171]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Cabinet Office publishes statistics on Civil Service numbers showing staff in post figures going back to April 1990. These are available on their website: http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/archivesip.htm
  1034W
  Nigel Griffiths
  The allocations, as set out in the Government's Expenditure Plans are:

  Employment Tribunals
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employment tribunal cases in each year since 1999 took(a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months and (d) 12 months to issue a decision. [147005]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]For each of the last four financial years, based on the information currently held in the Employment Tribunals Service's statistical database, the number of Employment Tribunal decisions recorded as having been issued three months or more after the hearing date were:

  (a) Three to six months

  (b) Six to nine months

  (c) Nine to 12 months

  (d) 12+ months

  1999–2000

  94

  17

  6

  17

  2000–01

  142

  21

  20

  14

  2001–02

  150

  32

  4

  6

  2002–03

  144

  20

  4

  7

  Source:

  Employment Tribunals Service

  The Employment Tribunals Service (ETS) has a target to issue 85 per cent. of decisions within four weeks of the final hearing. In each of the last four financial years, ETS achieved the following percentages of decisions issued within that time:

  Percentage

  1999–2000

  84

  2000–01

  86

  2001–02

  83

  2002–03

  86

  Source:

  Employment Tribunals Service.

  Engagements
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she was in the United Kingdom for the whole of 13 January. [148722]

  Ms Hewitt
  Yes.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list her engagements for 13 January. [148723]

  Ms Hewitt
  I had a full programme of departmental and private appointments.

  European Structural Funds
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the additionality requirements under the European Structural Funds regulations have been met by the UK Objective 1 programmes at their mid-term stage. [148434]

  Jacqui Smith
  There are no specific additionality requirements that have to be met under the European Structural Funds regulations at the mid-term point. The purpose of the mid-term verification exercise is to determine whether a member state's economic position has changed to the extent that some adjustment is required to its programmes.

  As stated in my reply to the hon. Member's earlier question on 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 701W, data supplied to the Commission in December for the UK Objective 1 programmes demonstrated that for each programme the average annual expenditure for the period 2000–02 was equal to or better than that forecast in the 2000–06 ex-ante tables published in the original Single Programming Documents for each Objective 1 area. As a result, there will be no need for adjustment of any of the Objective 1 programmes.

  Fuel Poverty (Cambridgeshire)
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many fuel poor households there are in each district council area in Cambridgeshire; and what her estimate is of how many(a) children and (b) elderly people are living in fuel poor households. [146443]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The available information from the English House Condition Survey indicates that, in 2001, there were 139,000 fuel poor households in the Eastern Region. This is based on fuel poverty defined as occurring when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income on all fuels in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime.

  More detailed breakdowns within the Eastern Region are not available from this survey as the sample size is not large enough to enable reliable detailed estimates of fuel poverty at a more local level to be produced.

  Gas Quality
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the written statement of 8 January 2004,Official Report, columns 13–14WS, on gas quality, what assessment she has made of the number of domestic appliances that would require (a) replacement and (b) modification as a consequence of change to the upper Wobbe Index limit for domestic gas supplies; and what assessment has been made of the cost of (i) processing and (ii) blending. [149222]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department is considering these important issues, working together with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Office for Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), and other interested parties, with a view to preparing the public consultation document referred to in my written parliamentary statement of 8 January 2004,Official Report, columns 13–14WS.

  Industrial Disease
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average full and final settlement paid to former miners and their families is for(a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and how many settlements were less than (i) £1,000, (ii) £500 and (iii) £200. [147264]

  Nigel Griffiths
  To date the figures are:

  Settlement value

  COPD

  VWF

  Less than £1,000

  21,418

  2,647

  Less than £500

  9,475

  193

  Settlements less than £200

  3,413

  8

  Average settlement value1

  £7,729

  £8,168

  1 Excludes denials.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the full and final settlements for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were reduced because of a smoking history; what percentage of the total number of such settlements this represents; and what the average value was of the reductions made. [147265]

  Nigel Griffiths
  As of mid January 2004 the number of full and final settlements reduced because of a smoking history is 59,993. This represents 64 per cent of total settlements.

  Manufacturing Jobs
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many manufacturing jobs have been created in(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in each of the last three years. [148219]

  Jacqui Smith
  Although it is possible to give net change figures for manufacturing jobs in Lancashire and Chorley (see table) information about the number of jobs created is not kept in an easily accessible form. It is not therefore possible to answer this question accurately.

  Total numbers of manufacturing jobs by year

  Chorley

  Lancashire

  2000

  4,300

  129,100

  2001

  3,800

  117,600

  2002

  3,400

  115,700

  Miners' Compensation
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to ensure the fastest possible completion of compensation payments to former miners for(a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) vibration white finger. [146116]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The DTI is working closely with the medical assessment organisation, IRISC, (The Department's claims handlers), solicitors and other representatives of miners and their families to process and settle claims as quickly as possible. So far almost £2 billion has been paid to over 300,000 such miners, their widows and families.
  1037W
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many solicitors firms are known to have charged additional fees, above agreed Government fees, for miners' compensation. [147762]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 13 January 2004]On 18 December 2003 I wrote to all 515 firms of solicitors dealing with coal health claims, seeking clarification of whether they charged additional fees and asking those solicitors who had taken a proportion of miners' compensation to repay the money to claimants and their families. I have asked that they provide a response by the 23 January 2004.

  To date I have received 160 replies, who all but one have confirmed that they do not double charge. We believe that certainly three other firms have been charging some additional fees, one of which has agreed to repay them.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the terms of the arrangements agreed are between her Department and the Union of Democratic Mineworkers with regard to the union's subsidiary company established to process claims under the miners' compensation scheme. [148287]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The term of the Claim Handling Agreement for all miners' compensation schemes are available in the Libraries of the House or on web.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department has made representations to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers about the union's policy on charging legal fees for processing miners' compensation claims. [148288]

  Mr. Timms
  No, nor has the hon. Member ever asked me to.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to which organisations her Department wrote in December 2003 in relation to legal fees in the Miners' Compensation Scheme; and if she will publish the texts of the letters. [148289]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I have placed a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Mobile Phone Companies
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met the chief executives of(a) O2 and (b) Orange. [148159]

  Mr. Timms
  I last met with John Allwood CE Orange UK on 17 December 2003 and Dave McGlade CEO O2 on 18 November 2003. Officials meet regularly with both companies.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not met on a one-to-one basis with either Chief Executive.

  Nanotechnology
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the patenting of carbon molecules as part of nanotechnology development. [147226]
  1038W
  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]The policy relating to the patenting of carbon molecules in the field of nanotechnology is that the usual patentability criteria, including novelty, inventive step and industrial application, must be satisfied.

  National Grid
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the maintenance work that needs to be carried out on the National Grid; and if she will hold meetings with National Grid Transco to discuss the matter. [148318]

  Mr. Timms
  National Grid's maintenance regime is being considered as part of the DTI's Engineering Inspectorate investigation into the major power failures in London on 28 August 2003 and in Birmingham on 5 September 2003. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry expects to meet with representatives from National Grid Transco shortly.

  North West Regional Development Agency
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley have been helped by the North West Regional Development Agency. [148702]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been advised by the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) Chief Executive that the NWDA does not monitor its outputs by sub region or town.

  The NWDA are working with all Sub Regional Partnerships on a sub regional agenda to deliver the Regional Economic Strategy (RES).

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money from the North West Regional Development Agency has been spent in(a) Cumbria, (b) Lancashire, (c) Greater Manchester, (d) Merseyside and (e) Cheshire in each of the last three years. [148703]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been advised by the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) Chief Executive that the NWDA does not allocate its funding on a sub-region basis. NWDA's total expenditure for the last three financial years was:

  millions

  Financial Year

  Expenditure

  2003–04

  1345

  2002–03

  306

  2001–02

  292

  1 Budget

  Olympic Bid
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the Royal Mail donating money to London's Olympic bid. [147709]

  Mr. Timms
  The decision by Royal Mail to donate money to London's Olympic bid is an operational matter for the board of the company.

  Parliamentary Debates
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the reasons for her decision not to respond to the debate on the future of the Post Office in Her Majesty's Official Opposition time initiated by the Shadow Secretary of State for Industry, the hon. Member for Eddisbury. [148724]

  Ms Hewitt
  Even though the debate was on an opposition motion, no Shadow Cabinet Minister was present on the opposition Front Bench, and there was therefore no automatic need for a Secretary of State to be present. On behalf of the Government, my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services made an excellent speech.

  Personal Computers
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the £500 annual exemption from the taxable benefit on loaned personal computers introduced in the Finance Act 1999; and what steps are being taken to promote awareness of the exemption. [146140]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information on which to make an estimate is not available. But on 19 January my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry launched a major campaign, the Home Computing Initiative, to encourage employers to take advantage of this exemption and lend computers to their employees.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the proportion of private sector employees who received computers as a result of employer-provided home computing initiatives in each year since 1997. [146141]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is not available.

  Post Office
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what talks she has had with trade unions over the future of the Post Office. [148417]

  Mr. Timms
  DTI Ministers and officials meet with union representatives on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on(a) job losses in the Post Office and (b) the future of the Post Office. [148418]

  Mr. Timms
  Job losses in Royal Mail are an operational matter for the Board of Royal Mail in consultation with the unions. They are regrettable, but the Government accepts that cuts are necessary to stem company losses. The company is committed to achieving this through natural wastage, voluntary redundancy and redeployment of surplus staff within other parts of the business, under an agreement reached with the unions.
  1040W
  The company is now in year two of its three-year renewal programme to secure the future of the company. Progress is encouraging so far, but there is still some way to go. The Government is looking to the Royal Mail Board to drive through the renewal programme and return the company to profitability.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future post office network in Chorley. [148645]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government remain fully committed to maintaining a nationwide network of post offices and have invested very substantial sums in supporting the modernisation of the network. I understand that Post Office Ltd. expects to put forward for public consultation its area plan proposals under the urban reinvention programme for Chorley constituency in February or March.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer given on 8 January 2004,Official Report, column 445W, on post offices, what changes there have been to (a) the number of post offices in each constituency and (b) the number which transact more than 40 per cent. of their work volumes on behalf of the Benefits Agency since 9 January 2003. [148782]

  Mr. Timms
  Post Office Ltd. updates annually its list by parliamentary constituency of post offices, classified as urban or rural. The most recent list available shows the position as at end April 2003 and a copy is available in the Libraries of the House.

  A special exercise was undertaken by the Post Office in 1999 to determine the numbers of post offices in each parliamentary constituency and how many of them derive more than 40 per cent. of their income from benefits work. That information is set out in the reply given to the then hon. Member for Birmingham on 29 November 1999, Official Report, column 22W, and remains the latest information available in that form.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which post office branches in the 20 per cent. most deprived wards in England have(a) been the subject of a closure consultation, (b) had their proposal (i) modified and (ii) withdrawn after public consultation and (c) closed as a result of the Urban Reinvention Programme. [149179]

  Mr. Timms
  Decisions on post office closure proposals under the urban reinvention programme following public consultation are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which sub-postmasters of branches in the 20 per cent. most deprived wards in England have(a) applied for compensation to close their business and (b) been successful in their application; and how much has been paid to them to date. [149180]
  1041W
  Mr. Timms
  Decisions on compensation to sub-postmasters are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what definition of contiguous population is used by the Post Office for classification of post offices as urban for the purposes of closure; and if she will make a statement. [149213]

  Mr. Timms
  The classification of a post office branch as urban or rural is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Mapped contiguous built up areas with a population exceeding 10,000 are classified by the company as urban. The company uses a geographical mapping model that enables it to adopt a consistent approach to classification across the country.

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when sub-post offices in Taunton will learn whether they will be considered for closure under the network re-invention programme. [148506]

  Mr. Timms
  I understand from Post Office Ltd. that urban reinvention area plan proposals for Taunton are scheduled for June 2004.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made to the Scottish clearing banks about their participation in the Post Office Universal Bank. [148750]

  Mr. Timms
  As a result of the Secretary of State's discussions with the clearing banks to set up universal banking at the Post Office, the major financial institutions, including the Scottish clearing banks, agreed to provide access at post offices to their basic bank accounts. Those services were launched on schedule on 1 April 2003.

  Access to other current accounts at post offices is a commercial matter between the Post Office and individual banks. It is Post Office Ltd. strategy to increase access to banking services. The Government would urge all banks to provide their customers with access to their accounts through post offices. But the decision to do so rests with the individual institutions.

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many rural sub-post offices closed in(a) England and (b) Somerset in each quarter in each of the last three years. [148505]

  Mr. Timms
  Post Office Ltd. maintain net quarterly closure figures by region/country, not by county and local authority. Decisions on post office closures are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanisms are in place for evaluating the performance of projects undertaken by regional development agencies. [146152]

  Jacqui Smith
  All RDA projects have to be appraised within the rules of Government Accounting and Treasury's "Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government" Guide (The Green Book).
  1042W
  To supplement this higher level guidance, the Department has worked closely with RDAs, other Departments and the Office of Project Appraisal Training to produce the "Single Programme Appraisal Guidance". The guidance covers project appraisal and evaluation of completed projects. The appraisal itself must contain an evaluation plan specific to the project, and after the project is completed, the RDA to carry out a formal evaluation and report the results. In addition, DTI has reserved the right to call in any project for post appraisal and implementation monitoring. Now that RDAs have been in operation for four years, significant numbers of projects are entering their evaluation stages.

  To ensure compliance with the guidance, each RDA has a project performance and evaluation team of senior officers who are tasked with determining the success of the project, to identify lessons to be incorporated into other projects and to improve processes.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are used to measure the(a) success and (b) effectiveness of regional development agencies. [148192]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Regional Development Agencies; funding is tied to a framework of targets relating to their functions, and responsibility for the monitoring and evaluation of progress towards achievement of these targets sits with the Government Office in each region. Their reports provide Ministers with the information required to measure the success and effectiveness of RDAs by assessing their progress towards achievement of targets and delivery of their Regional Economic Strategies and Corporate Plans.

  Research and Development Tax Credits
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what new(a) products, (b) services and (c) processes have been developed by firms benefiting from the introduction of research and development tax credits in each year since their introduction. [148183]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is not available. Companies are not required to agree specific products or processes in advance with the Inland Revenue in order to claim research and development tax credits. So far there have been 8,000 claims and over 6,000 companies have benefited from research and development tax credits.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent on research and development tax credits in each quarter since their introduction. [148184]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  The available data on the cost of the research and development tax credits provided to SMEs, by quarter, are set out as follows. The costs are on a receipts basis, showing when the cost has been incurred by the Inland Revenue, we expect costs in the latest quarters to increase as further claims are received. Information on claims from large companies is not yet available.
  1043W

  £

  2000

  Q2

  6,297

  Q3

  747

  Q4

  align="right"73,685

  2001

  Q1

  913,963

  Q2

  5,087,103

  Q3

  12,857,568

  Q4

  23,443,820

  2002

  Q1

  29,210,686

  Q2

  44,627,755

  Q3

  47,382,286

  Q4

  66,392,398

  2003

  Q1

  75,042,704

  Q2

  69,326,644

  Q3

  67,097,095

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have benefited from research and development tax credits in each quarter since their introduction. [148185]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  We do not have figures for the number of companies that have claimed the research and development tax credit by quarter, although we had over 8,000 individual claims and over 6,000 individual companies have benefited since the tax credits were introduced. The available figures for the number of claims received from SME's so far for research and development tax credits, by quarter, are set out as follows. Information on claims from large companies is not yet available. Claims are made by companies retrospectively and therefore we expect the number of claims in later quarters to increase further as more claims as received.

  Number

  2000

  Q2

  185

  Q3

  271

  Q4

  644

  2001

  Q1

  668

  Q2

  530

  Q3

  589

  Q4

  1,219

  2002

  Q1

  936

  Q2

  767

  Q3

  766

  Q4

  1,195

  2003

  Q1

  434

  Q2

  143

  Q3

  27

  Post Offices
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of(a) the network reinvention programme and (b) the rural subsidy for sub-post offices. [146486]

  Mr. Timms
  Post Office Ltd. (POL) reports on the urban reinvention programme on a quarterly basis. As at the end of December 2003:694 offices had closed under the programme (with payments to sub-postmasters totalling £38,111,410);
  46 proposals had been withdrawn or delayed for reworking during the advance notification process agreed with the consumer body Postwatch;
  a further 66 proposals had been withdrawn or amended as a result of the public consultation. POL had approved 388 applications totalling £1.3 million for investment grants to modernise remaining post offices.

  Regarding the rural subsidy, which I announced on 2 December 2003, this is in place and is being drawn down by Post Office Ltd. to underpin its obligation to maintain the rural network and prevent avoidable closures. £450 million has been made available over three years (2003–04, 2004–05 and 2006). This funding is having the desired impact with rural closures much reduced; the lowest number since 1994–95. There were 115 net closures in the financial year 2002–03

  Call Centres
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government support is available for the setting up of call centres, with particular reference to rural areas. [146487]

  Mr. Timms
  There is no specific Government support for the setting up of call centres in rural areas. However there is a range of business support available in certain circumstances including regional selective assistance (RSA). RSA is available to support investment and the creation or safeguarding of jobs in the assisted areas for viable projects that benefit regional and national economies and which without RSA would not go ahead.

  The DTI invests £1 billion a year in support of business and of that sum £400–500 million is spent on business support schemes. RSA with an annual budget of £110 million is one of the largest business support schemes. Our aim is to use this money in a way that ensures the best possible return on investment for the UK and makes a real difference to business performance.

  Small Business
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down how funding allocated as other support for small business has been awarded in 2003–04; and what amounts were allocated in each year since 1997. [147794]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I refer the hon. Member to Chapter 8 of the DTI Departmental Report 2003(Cm 5916) which
  1045W
  sets out expenditure on small business programmes as a whole; and in particular to figure 8.5 on page 104 of that report (reproduced below). The figures in the table

  Figure 8.5 Expenditure on small business and enterprise Main estimates 2003–04 RfRl Functions A, M and V (promotion of enterprise, innovation and productivity)

  £ million

  2001–02 Outturn

  2002–03 Working Provision

  2003–04 Plans

  2004–05 Plans

  2005–06 Plans

  Small Business Service (and corresponding earlier activity)

  274.8

  423.4

  404.8

  367.0

  387.0

  Of which: Local Network1

  141.2

  143.4

  144.0

  144.0

  144.0

  Farm Business Advice Service (gross)

  4.8

  7.5

  2.3

  0

  0

  Business Link call handling and website

  9.2

  21.4

  12.0

  12.0

  12.0

  Business Gov

  0

  6.3

  7.7

  15.0

  35.0

  Phoenix Fund

  12.9

  35.0

  30.0

  25.0

  25.0

  DTI spend on TCS and STEP

  13.7

  17.2

  18.5

  18.5

  18.5

  Enterprise Fund (including SFLGS net)

  39.2

  93.9

  87.5

  87.5

  87.5

  Smart

  23.7

  27.0

  27.0

  27.0

  27.0

  Enterprise Grants

  0

  17.0

  24.0

  24.0

  24.0

  Business Incubation Fund

  0

  20.0

  25.0

  0

  0

  Other Support

  30.1

  34.7

  26.8

  14.0

  14.0

  1 The Local Network includes Start-ups; Core Services funding; and Local Network Development.

  Similar information on expenditure on small business and enterprise is contained within corresponding reports for earlier years (Cm 5416; Cm 5112; Cm 4611; Cm 4211), although direct comparisons may be inappropriate due to departmental reorganisation. The outturn for those years was as follows:

  £ million

  1997–98 Outturn

  1998–99 Outturn

  1999–00 Outturn

  2000–01 Outturn

  171.3

  152.0

  194.1

  277.2

  Spectrum Efficiency Scheme
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down how funding for the Spectrum Efficiency Scheme has been allocated since the scheme's inception; and what amounts have been allocated in each year since 1997. [147793]

  Mr. Timms
  Arrangements for the Spectrum Efficiency Scheme were agreed between DTI and Treasury in 2002. Only one year of funding for 2003–04 was agreed at the time owing to the transfer of the Radiocommunications Agency's functions into Ofcom.

  The Spectrum Efficiency Scheme had an annual budget of £5 million in 2003–04 as agreed in the 2000 Spending Review. There are two components to this budget; (1) compensation payments for spectrum replanning and (2) research.

  No compensation payments were made during 2003–04 but research contracts were let to the value of £2,866,000.

  Details of the contracts awarded in 2003–04 are available on the Ofcom website(http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/rahome.hto

  A call for expressions of interest in the research element of the 2004–05 Spectrum Efficiency Scheme has just been announced by Ofcom. The budget of £5 million is expected to be shared between compensation payments for spectrum replanning, and research.
  1046W
  below incorporate those in Annex Bl on page 207 of the Report, including funding allocated as Other Support for Small Business.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people employed in her Department have claimed statutory sick pay for(a) less than one week, (b) one to three weeks, (c) four to six weeks, (d) seven to 12 weeks, (e) 13 to 20 weeks and (f) 21 to 28 weeks in each year since 1997. [148633]

  Ms Hewitt
  The work involved for my Department to gather the requested information would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.

  The recent AON Limited report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service, 2002" is a useful source of reference for some sickness absence data.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the volume of United Kingdom trade has been with(a) Singapore, (b) Thailand, (c) Malaysia, (d) Vietnam, (e) Cambodia and (f) Laos in each of the last five years. [148218]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information is in the following table.

  UK trade in goods with Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos January to October

  £ million

  Country

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  UK exports

  Singapore

  1,615

  1,604

  1,627

  1,604

  1,459

  1,288

  Thailand

  391

  466

  581

  596

  532

  469

  Malaysia

  683

  940

  910

  1,033

  882

  892

  Vietnam

  68

  79

  93

  90

  80

  88

  Cambodia

  6

  4

  4

  3

  4

  3

  Laos

  2

  5

  4

  2

  2

  3

  UK imports

  Singapore

  2,463

  2,451

  2,485

  2,146

  2,031

  2,306

  Thailand

  1,329

  1,347

  1,661

  1,669

  1,608

  1,395

  1047W

  UK trade in goods with Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos January to October

  £ million

  Country

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Malaysia

  1,991

  2,040

  2,374

  2,012

  1,796

  1,586

  Vietnam

  244

  306

  385

  428

  488

  501

  Cambodia

  24

  43

  55

  85

  89

  81

  Laos

  5

  9

  5

  7

  10

  7

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, HM Customs and Excise.

  Vehicle Exports
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with representatives of the car industry on exports of UK built(a) cars, (b) vans and (c) trucks. [148419]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have frequent discussions with individual automotive manufacturers and with the SMMT, covering a broad range of issues touching on the competitiveness of the automotive industry, including those which impact on exports. It has been pleasing to see that manufacturers in the UK have in general been very successful in improving their export performance over recent years, often in markets which have been particularly tough.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the number of new UK built(a) cars, (b) vans and (c) trucks exported in each of the last three years. [148473]

  Jacqui Smith
  A breakdown of UK vehicle production for export is attached. The light commercial vehicle figure comprises vans, and also van-derived minibuses. Full figures for 2003 are yet to be published, but the table includes an estimate based on published data to end-November.

  Cars

  Light CVs

  Heavy CVs

  Buses

  2000

  1,062,990

  71,667

  4,220

  294

  2001

  894,204

  91,127

  4,776

  321

  2002

  1,047,668

  109,308

  4,702

  225

  2003 estimate

  1,137,000

  96,700

  4.200

  200

  World Trade Organisation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the members of the World Trade Organisation, broken down by the size of their(a) gross domestic product and (b) per capita income. [146643]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government do not produce their own data on these categorisations, but instead draw on publicly available information produced by international organisations such as the IMF and the World Bank. I will write to the hon. Member enclosing this information and will place a copy of the letter in both Libraries of the House.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Fines
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what his estimate is of the revenue cost as a result of(a) unpaid and (b) uncollected fines in the last five years; [147966]

  (2) what proportion of fines were not (a) paid and (b) collected in the last five years. [147967]

  Mr. Leslie
  Information on fines imposed and collected is provided by the 42 Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) in England and Wales. A new data collection procedure was implemented in 1999–2000. Comparable figures are therefore only available from that period, and are set out in the table.

  In addition, last year, I agreed to a revision of the enforcement payment rate target so that it focuses clearly on fines.

  The April to November row of the table sets out year-to-date performance on the basis of the new formula which excludes other financial penalties such as confiscation orders.

  England and Wales

  Period

  Total imposed

  Total paid

  Payment rate (%)1

  Total arrears outstanding2

  1999–2000

  431,111,249

  267,326,873

  62

  227,361,076

  2000–01

  384,958,059

  242,455,701

  63

  225,908,941

  2001–02

  387,020,885

  228,122,287

  59

  246,481,521

  2002–03

  425,863,782

  236,320,110

  55

  276,870,306

  April-November 2003

  247.135,001

  139,353,460

  72

  3—

  1 Payment rate percentage for periods 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, and 2002–03 was based on amount paid divided by new amount owed. For the period April-November 2003 as a result of the Minister's statement on 25 June 2003 the payment rate has changed to: amount paid divided by new amount owed less amount judicially cancelled. Therefore a direct comparison can not be made between the payment rate for April-November 2003 and previous years.

  2 Total arrears outstanding includes arrears outstanding from previous years

  3 Total arrears outstanding for the Year to Date ending November 2003 is not currently available

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of fines levied by the courts were collected in full in the last year for which figures are available. [148335]

  Mr. Leslie
  Information on fines imposed and collected is provided by the 42 Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) in England and Wales. Figures for the financial year 2002–03 are set out in the table.

  In addition, last year, I agreed to a revision of the enforcement payment rate target so that it focuses clearly on fines.

  The April to November row of the table sets out year-to-date performance on the basis of the new formula which excludes other financial penalties such as confiscation orders.
  1049W

  England and Wales

  Period

  Total imposed

  Total paid

  Payment rate %1

  Total arrears outstanding2

  2002–03

  425,863,782

  236,320,110

  55

  276,870,306

  April-November 2003

  247,135,001

  139,353,460

  72

  3—

  1 Payment rate percentage for 2002–03 is based on amount paid divided by new amount owed. For the period April-November 2003 as a result of the Minister's statement on 25 June 2003 the payment rate has changed to: amount paid divided by new amount owed less amount judicial cancelled. Therefore a direct comparison can not be made between the payment rate for April-November 2003 and previous years.

  2 Total arrears outstanding includes arrears outstanding from previous years

  3 Total arrears outstanding for the Year to Date ending November 2003 is not currently available

  Immigration Appellate System
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost was in each of the last five years of the administration of the Immigration Appellate System. [147783]

  Mr. Lammy
  The costs of the administration of the Immigration Appellate system in each of the last five years are as follows:

  £ million

  1998–99

  167.3

  1999–2000

  177.5

  2000–01

  116.8

  2001–02

  181.1

  2002–03

  269.8

  1 The costs of administration of the Immigration Appellate System for these years are estimates. Detailed financial reporting information was not available to capture the full cost of administering the process.

  These figures include the cost of administering the Immigration Appellate Authority, the Legal Services Commission, provision of legal aid and the Department for Constitutional Affairs Asylum Policy and Programme Division.

  The rising costs reflect a significantly increased caseload (reflecting the clearance of the backlog of cases) and the Government priority that has been given to fast and effective processing of asylum claims—in order to ensure the end to end system is as cost effective as possible.

  Access to Justice
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures are being taken to increase access to justice for the disadvantaged. [146667]

  Mr. Lammy
  Since the introduction of the Community Legal Service (CLS) in 2000, it has improved access for those who are financially eligible to good quality civil legal and advice services. In many areas local CLS providers have linked up with other government programmes jointly to help people climb out of social exclusion.
  1050W
  Spending on the CLS in 2002–03 totalled £814 million and is expected to rise to £913 million for 2003–04. The eligibility criteria for assistance and the identification of priority unmet need within CLS Partnership Strategic Plans ensure that help is given to those most in need.

  For the Criminal Defence Service (CDS), the Legal Services Commission manages contracts with solicitors' offices which provide a comprehensive national network of quality assured legal services. It has established a Public Defender Service in eight offices. Outside the major urban areas, and particularly in rural areas, the Commission continues to provide CDS arrangements which support and encourage supply in ways which recognise the need for access to quality services. Spending on the CDS in 2002–03 totalled £1,095.7 million and is expected to rise to £1,202.9 million for 2003–04.

  My Department and the Commission, with the help of independent consultants, is carrying out a major review of the CLS, including an examination of the extent to which the CLS ensures access to justice, and a review of supply, demand and purchasing arrangements for both the CLS and the CDS. We hope to publish the findings on the reviews soon.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Department is taking to ensure access to justice. [146675]

  Mr. Lammy
  My Department, together with the Legal Services Commission, continues to develop the Community Legal Service (CLS). The CLS ensures that publicly funded legal services are targeted more effectively at areas of priority need as identified at a local level by Community Legal Service Partnerships. Since the launch of the CLS in April 2000 more than 200 Community Legal Service Partnerships have been set up, covering more than 99 per cent. of the population of England and Wales. Spending on the CLS in 2002–03 totalled £814 million and is expected to reach £913 million in 2003–04.

  For the Criminal Defence Service the Legal Services Commission manages contracts with solicitors' offices which provide a comprehensive national network of quality assured legal services. It has established a Public Defender Service in eight offices. Outside the major urban areas, and particularly in rural areas, the Commission continues to provide CDS arrangements which support and encourage supply in ways which recognise the need for access to quality services. Spending on the CDS in 2002–03 totalled £1,095.7 million and is expected to rise to £1,202.9 million for 2003–04.

  My Department and the Commission, with the help of independent consultants, is carrying out a major reviews of CLS, including an examination of the extent to which the CLS ensures access to justice and of supply, demand and purchasing arrangements for both the CLS and the CDS. We hope to be able to publish the findings on the reviews in due course.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the funding allocation for video equipment in courts was for each of the last seven years; and by what percentage it changed in each of those years relative to the proceeding year. [147675]
  1051W
  Mr. Leslie
  Prior to 2000, funding for video equipment was provided from local budgets and there is no central record of overall expenditure.

  My Department spending on video equipment for prison links vulnerable and intimidated witness cases, electronic presentation of evidence cases and playback of police interviews is shown in the following table.

  Amount (£)

  Percentage change

  2000–01

  1,350,000

  —

  2001–02

  5,170,000

  + 282

  2002–03

  2,950,000

  -42

  2003–04

  5,700,000

  + 93

  Courts Service
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what system is in place within the Department to ensure that concerns about practical issues impacting negatively on the business of courts from those judges responsible for modernisation in the courts are brought to the attention of the relevant Minister and responded to accordingly. [147667]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Secretary of State and Ministers meet senior members of the judiciary periodically, and modernisation issues are among those discussed.

  In addition, we have agreed and put in place detailed consultation arrangements with the judiciary to ensure their views are reflected fully in the modernisation programme. I am briefed by officials on issues arising from these consultations.

  Departmental Relocation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what assessment the Department has made of the benefits of relocation of staff to North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement; [146859]

  (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; [146875]

  (3) what assessment the Department has made of the effect of possible relocation of staff in the 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; [146889]

  (4) what plans he has to establish procedures for assessing the impact of possible re-location of staff in the Department to the regions; and if he will make a statement. [146919]

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

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many staff in the Department work in(a) the West Midlands and (b) North Staffordshire. [146904]
  1052W
  Mr. Leslie
  The Department and its agencies (the Court Service and the Public Guardianship Office) employs:

  (a) 689 staff in West Midlands, of which 49 are casual employees and

  (b) 159 staff in Staffordshire of which eight are casual employees.

  Electoral Fraud
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many applications for entry on the electoral register have been found to be fraudulent since 1997. [148725]

  Mr. Leslie
  This information is not collected centrally. In its report on the electoral registration process, published in May 2003, the independent Electoral Commission commented that the number of electoral fraud prosecutions in Great Britain is small.

  Euro
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many speeches during 2003(a) he and (b) the Secretary of State declared support for the Government's policy on the euro. [147300]

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

  Gender Recognition
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent steps the Department has taken to promote gender recognition. [146668]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Department for Constitutional Affairs is responsible for Government policy on transsexual people and for the Gender Recognition Bill. The Bill, which was introduced in the House of Lords on 27 November, will see the advancement of the rights of transsexual people by giving them legal recognition in their acquired gender. From the inception in 1999 of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People the Government have been careful to take into account the views of all those with an interest in transsexual issues, supporters and opponents. Transsexual people are a small minority group in our society and the issues around the recognition of an acquired gender are often unfamiliar to those not directly affected. Accordingly, the Government have worked closely with individual transsexual people and their representative organisations to better understand the issues and to ensure that the Bill strikes a sensible balance between their rights and the rights of others. The Department's promotion of gender recognition issues has been limited to correspondence and meetings with the transsexual community and those who have
  1053W
  expressed views on Transsexual policy and the Bill. My Department will continue to ensure that it regularly updates its website on transsexual issues, including the Gender Recognition Bill.

  Immigration Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Bacon
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement about the Government's proposals for the judicial review of the decisions of immigration appeal tribunals. [148336]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Government has introduced measures in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants Etc) Bill to establish a new single Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. This will merge the two current tiers of appeal in asylum and immigration cases. The judicial determinations and decisions made by the new Tribunal will be final and can only be challenged in the higher courts on the grounds that a Tribunal Member has acted in bad faith.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether a case remitted by the Immigration Appeals Tribunal may be returned to the original adjudicator. [147852]

  Mr. Lammy
  Pursuant to Rule 22 of the Immigration and Asylum Appeals (Procedure) Rules 2003, the Immigration Appeal Tribunal may direct a remitted appeal to be returned to the original adjudicator to determine in accordance with any directions given by the tribunal.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of appeals remitted back from the Immigration Appeals Tribunal to the adjudicators in 2002–03 were subsequently upheld by adjudicators. [147853]

  Mr. Lammy
  Statistical assessment of cases remitted by the tribunal to the adjudicators indicates that in approximately 25 per cent. of remitted asylum cases this leads to the initial adjudicator decision being changed. Between 1 October 2002 to 30 September 2003 (the last full year for which information is available) this equates to 1.6 per cent. of all adjudicator asylum decisions having a different outcome following remittal and rehearing.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the possible outcomes of the remittal process are, with respect to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal. [147854]

  Mr. Lammy
  Once an appeal has been remitted from the Immigration Appeal Tribunal to the adjudicator tier of the Immigration Appellate Authority the appeal is most commonly heard by a different adjudicator, or more rarely, by the original adjudicator. The possible outcomes from the remittal process are for the appeal to be allowed, to be dismissed or withdrawn by the appellant. Following a fresh adjudicator determination, parties again have rights to seek permission to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in what circumstances appeals are remitted back from the Immigration Appeals Tribunal to the adjudicators;1054W
  what guidance is given to the tribunal on remittals; and what training tribunal members have had on remittals. [147865]

  Mr. Lammy
  Appeals are remitted from the Immigration Appeal Tribunal when a defect in the original adjudicator determination is revealed which the Tribunal cannot correct itself. The President of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal has not issued a formal Practice Direction relating to the remittal of appeals, but Tribunal members will take the decision to remit a case where there is no practicable alternative. Decisions are taken in the light of the overriding objective in rule 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Appeals (Procedure) Rules 2003: "to secure the just, timely and effective disposal of appeals and applications in the interests of the parties to the proceedings and in the wider public interest". Training for Tribunal judiciary includes reference to the application of procedural rules and guidance.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of appeals which are(a) successful, (b) dismissed, (c) withdrawn and (d) remitted back to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal are (i) appeals by asylum claimants and (ii) appeals by immigration authorities. [148017]

  Mr. Lammy
  At the adjudicator asylum appeal, the two parties are the asylum seeker and the Home Secretary (as the initial decision-maker). Either party can apply for permission to appeal to the Tribunal and, if permission is granted, the appeal will be substantively determined. As either party can appeal, "allowed" and "dismissed" at the Tribunal do not equate to the grant or refusal of asylum.

  In 2002, the Immigration Appeals Tribunal substantively determined 5,565 asylum appeals. The information requested is contained in the table below and is taken from the published Home Office asylum statistics. These figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest five. Certain elements of information relating to remitted appeals are not available and this is indicated where appropriate:

  Appeals

  Tribunal outcome

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  Withdrawn

  Remitted

  Total

  620

  2,015

  225

  2,700

  Proportion by asylum claimant

  410

  1,880

  210

  1—

  Proportion by Home Office

  215

  130

  15

  1—

  1Not available.

  Late Fine Payments
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what plans he has to impose automatic sentences on those who are overdue in paying fines by a set period; [147839]

  (2) what plans he has to impose automatic sentences on those who persistently fail to pay fines imposed by magistrates courts. [147840]
  1055W
  Mr. Leslie
  There are no automatic "sentences" for fines. However the Courts Act, 2003 provides a number of new arrangements to facilitate the enforcement of fines, including mandatory automatic attachment of earnings orders if the defendant is in employment, or deductions from social security benefits if they are not working which will be applied upon first default. The Act introduces "fines officers" (who will have delegated powers), an automatic increase (to a maximum 50 per cent. of the fine) for continued non-payment of the fine, and a range of new sanctions as further steps for non-payment. These include clamping the defaulter's car and registration of the fine in a new combined register of judgments and fines. There will also be new offences for not providing means information or for providing false information to the court or fines officer. The increase and new sanctions will be piloted in six local pilot areas in a phased rollout from 23 February 2004. The new mandatory application of the Attachment of Earnings Orders and Deductions from Benefits will be piloted nationwide, together with the rollout of the new offences for non-provision of means information from 5 April 2004. Where the court is satisfied that an offender is genuinely unable to pay a fine, schedule 6 of the Courts Act introduces the alternative new sentence of fines payment work, where an offender can work off the value of the fine through unpaid work. This new provision will also be piloted in selected local pilot areas from 5 April 2004.

  Persistent offenders fined in the new fines collection scheme provided by schedule 5 of the Courts Act, 2003 will be deemed "existing defaulters" (defined in paragraph 3 of schedule 5) if they have already defaulted on previous fines payments. They will be subject to automatic mandatory attachment of earnings orders (if they are employed) or deductions from benefits (if they are in receipt of benefits) upon conviction. If they default on the current fine as well, they will be subject to an increase (up to a maximum of 50 per cent.) of the fine which will only be disapplied if they stick to the required payment terms for the life of the fine. These defaulters will then be subject to the same range of further steps as the new defaulters in question (1) above, with the ultimate threat of imprisonment for wilful non-payment of the fine.

  Procurement Outsourcing
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether the Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries the Department has outsourced these jobs; how much the 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. [147594]

  Mr. Leslie
  My Department has a number of contracts for the provision of outsourced IT and call centre services, none of which is based or supported offshore.
  1056W
  No money has been spent in the last two years on outsourcing IT systems to offshore companies, and no money has been budgeted for this purpose in the next two years.

  My Department will keep the position under review, in the light of any emerging Government policy, as part of its overall aim to ensure that its procurement activities are based on obtaining best value for money.

  Video Equipment
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) how many complaints have been received from(a) judges, (b) barristers and (c) parties to a case about the quality of video equipment and its impact on the quality of evidence in a case; [147666]

  (2) what action is taken in the event that a judge raises concerns that the quality of video equipment is impacting on the balance of relative quality of evidence on a recurring basis within courtrooms; [147668]

  (3) what evidence the Department has received that poor video links are affecting the quality of prosecution evidence. [147674]

  Mr. Leslie
  My Department does not specifically monitor or record complaints about video playback or video link equipment. My Department has received no formal complaints to date about the quality of the equipment. Maintenance contracts are in place with the suppliers to provide after installation support should any difficulties with the equipment be encountered. Any complaints or difficulties over the quality of the equipment will be referred by the court to the suppliers.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what system of monitoring is in place for parties in a case to report concerns about the quality of video equipment provided to courts. [147670]

  Mr. Leslie
  A Judicial Advisory Group, comprising judiciary from the Crown court, magistrates courts, county courts and tribunals, has been established to review and provide feedback on courtroom technology. This group meets on a regular basis and represents the views of the judiciary on matters such as video equipment.

  The legal profession and members of the public can also use the complaints and customer service procedures, which are publicised at each court.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs on what quality criteria video equipment is chosen for use in cases which involve vulnerable and intimidated witnesses. [147671]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Judicial Advisory Group has been consulted about the specification for video equipment installed in Crown court centres. The Department is working with other Criminal Justice organisations to develop a standard for visual recording and playback across the Criminal Justice system. The standard is due to be published at the end of January 2004.
  1057W
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how the video equipment selected for pre-trial hearings differs from that selected for criminal trials; and what criteria are used for this selection. [147672]

  Mr. Leslie
  The video equipment installed in 30 Crown court sites during 2003 can be used for pre-trial hearings and during criminal trials.

  Voter Registration
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps are taken to ensure that only bona fide constituents are registered on the electoral roll. [148735]

  Mr. Leslie
  Applications for registration are made to individual Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), appointed by local authorities, who are responsible for compiling the electoral register as accurately as possible. The annual canvass form which is sent to all households provides information about who is eligible to register. An ERO may require a person applying to register to give additional information if they are in doubt as to whether that person is eligible to be registered. It is an offence under the Representation of the People Act 1983 to fail to comply with a request for information from an ERO, or to provide false or inaccurate information to a registration officer. The electoral register is available for public inspection which enables checks to be made that only eligible electors are on the register.

HEALTH

  Acute Hospital Trusts
  Dr. Richard Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute hospital trusts suspend outpatient waiting lists at less than 21 weeks. [147188]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not available.

  Ambulance Service (Radio Network)
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the competition for a new national radio network for the ambulance service. [147806]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  An Official Journal of the European Commission Notice, issued in June 2002, invited suppliers to express an interest to provide a new digital radio network and associated hardware. This was separated into four "lots", which together would provide the complete new service for the ambulance service.

  18 expressions of interest were received. Following a short evaluation, eight were invited to respond to an output based specification. Following this exercise, four responses were received, one of which dropped out soon after. From the remaining three, only one supplier was able to provide Lot 1 (digital infrastructure), while all three were able to provide Lot 2 (Fixed and Hand Portable Radios), Lot 3 (Control Room Dispatcher Equipment) and Lot 4 (Total Integration of all Lots at Ambulance Trusts).
  1058W
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Government will ensure that usable spectrum is available to bidders competing to provide a new national radio network for the ambulance service. [147811]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Radio communications Agency (RA), as the spectrum manager for public safety spectrum, has been working hard to meet ever increasing demands placed on the finite spectrum resource.

  The radio spectrum available to the emergency services was a matter for the Public Safety Spectrum Policy Group (PSSPG).

  The PSSPG published guidance in order to assist interested parties in identifying available public safety spectrum and advising as to other issues that should be taken into account. This was the case with the Ambulance Service procurement exercise. It is recognised that only the 380–385 MHz and 390–395 MHz spectrum is in the harmonised format for digital technologies and all of this is required in spectrum 'hot spots' to meet the existing airwave requirement. While spectrum in this band is available on a carefully co-ordinated regional basis, it was considered that the capacity to meet a second national network that can be planned and protected to meet the exacting requirements of public safety did not exist.

  Antibiotics
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what English acute NHS hospitals do not have antibiotic pharmacists in post. [147508]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Autism
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the incidence of autism in children who were vaccinated with the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine(a) before attaining the age of three and (b) after attaining the age of three. [145185]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 5 January 2004]In the last few years a number of epidemiological studies have examined the postulated link between MMR and autism and have found no association. Some of these studies (Taylor et al, 1999; Farrington et al, 2001; Madsen et al, 2003, Jick & Kaye, 2003) have specifically looked at rates of autism in populations who have had MMR and populations who have not had MMR. These studies did not find an increased reported rate of autism in MMR immunised children when compared with children who had not had MMR. Moreover, the recent study by Farrington et al, 2001 showed no temporal association between MMR and onset of autism at any time following MMR.

  References:
  Jick H. & Kaye JA. Special Article: Epidemiology and Possible Causes of Autism. Pharmacotherapy 2003; 23:1524–1530.
  Taylor B, Miller, et al. Autism and measles, mumps and rubella: no epidemiotogical evidence for a causal association. The Lancet 1999; 353:2026–9.
  Farrington CP, Miller E, Taylor B. MMR and autism: further evidence against a causal association. Vaccine 2001: 9:3632–65.

  1059W
  Madsen KM, Hivid A, et al. A population-based study of measles, mumps and rubella vaccination and autism. New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 347:1477–1482.

  Caesarean Births
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of births were by caesarean section in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the percentage was(a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years ago. [148776]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The percentage of deliveries by caesarean section in the latest period for which figures are available and percentages for five, 10 and 15 years ago may be found in Table 3 of NHS Maternity Statistics, England: 2001–02 which can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0309.htm. A copy of the bulletin is also available in the Library.

  Care Fees
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to monitor the fee levels offered by local authorities to finance care. [148013]

  Dr. Ladyman: Central Government do not themselves routinely monitor the fee levels offered by councils. It is for local councils to develop an understanding of their local market and set fees accordingly. An annual analysis of fee levels is conducted by Laing and Buisson, independent consultants working in the care sector.

  Chest Pain Clinics
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times for patients to be seen for the first diagnosis at chest pain clinics after referral by a general practitioner were in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [147268]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Roll out of rapid access chest pain clinics started in 2000 and national coverage was achieved in 2003. Monitoring of performance began in March 2001, when 75 per cent. of patients were seen within 14 days of referral. The most recent data, for August 2003, showed 86 per cent. of patients seen within 14 days.

  Terminal Illnesses (Children)
  Ann Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to ensure that there are sufficient(a) palliative care and (b) hospice beds available for children with life-shortening illnesses. [146319]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Funding for these services is available from primary care trusts, which are responsible for ensuring the level of health care provision required by their local population. Local authorities also fund

  UK dental schools—intake and number obtaining first qualification

  Academic year

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Intake

  898

  868

  883

  920

  922

  Number obtaining first qualification

  768

  782

  808

  815

  800

  Source:

  Higher Education funding Council for England, Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

  1060W
  services for disabled children. In addition, the New Opportunities Fund has provided £48 million over three years to over 130 projects in support of children with life-shortening illness and their families, and to develop more options for care. The national service framework for children, which is to be published later this year, will also address services for children with severe disability and illness.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the correspondence to his Department containing the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Trust's Legacy Project study. [144455]

  Dr. Ladyman
  A reply was sent to Mr. Colin Parry on 14 January 2004.

  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the NHS Pensions Agency will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Wrexham of 7 October 2003 relating to Mrs. Margaret Bryden (ref SD 40/080674/ 9387). [147088]

  Mr. Hutton
  I understand that the NHS Pensions Agency replied to the hon. Member's letter on 9 January.

  Dentistry
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average starting salary of a dentist leaving training and going into(a) an NHS practice and (b) private practice was in 2003; [147595]

  (2) what proportion of dentists, after training, went into (a) an NHS practice and (b) private practice in 2003. [147599]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Newly qualified dentists who wish to work in the national health service general dental services are first required to undergo one year's vocational training. The Department does not collect information on the proportion of dentists who go into NHS or private practice after training. There are relatively few dentists who do all of their dental work privately. The Office of Fair Trading's report, "The Private Dentistry Market in the U.K." stated that about 210 dental practises are totally private, out of 11,000 dental practises. Currently the starting salary for a vocational trainee dentist is £25,776 per annum.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists left training in England in each of the last five years. [147598]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The available information, for the numbers of undergraduates in the United Kingdom admitted to dental schools and of those obtaining their first qualification, for the period 1997–98 to 2001–02, is shown in the table.

  Departmental Staff Absence
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days have been lost to sickness absence, expressed as days per year per full-time employee, in the Department of Health in each of the last three years. [147031]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information is shown in the table.

  1 January to 31 December

  Total number of days lost to sickness absence

  2000

  7,041

  2001

  6,939

  2002

  7,856

  Source:

  Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service (Year 2000 chart 4.1, Year 2001, chart 9 and Year 2002, chart 9).

  Domiciliary Care
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) people and (b) households received domiciliary care in each year since 1997; [147309]

  (2) what proportion of elderly households received (a) home care and (b) home help services in each year since 1993; and if he will make a statement. [147315]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information on the number and percentage of households in England receiving home help or home care from 1993 to 2002 is shown in the table.

  Number and percentage of households receiving home help or home care from 1993–2002

  England Survey week in September

  Rounded numbers and percentages

  65 and over2 Including double counting3

  Total all ages Including double counting3

  Excluding double counting3

  Number of households

  1993

  463,200

  514,600

  1—

  1994

  453.100

  538,900

  1—

  1995

  451,300

  513,600

  1—

  1996

  427,000

  491,100

  1—

  1997

  410,400

  479,100

  1—

  1998

  368,500

  447,200

  1—

  1999

  1—

  421,000

  1—

  2000

  1—

  415,800

  398,100

  2001

  1—

  399,900

  381,700

  2002

  384,000

  366,800

  Percentage4 of households (percentage)

  1993

  9.1

  2.7

  1—

  1994

  8.9

  2.9

  1—

  1995

  8.9

  2.7

  1—

  1996

  8.4

  2.6

  1—

  Region

  March

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  Total

  East Midlands

  61

  98

  15

  8

  4

  3

  6

  16

  23

  234

  Eastern

  124

  99

  13

  5

  4

  10

  10

  9

  10

  284

  London

  176

  206

  28

  26

  21

  16

  140

  9

  24

  516

  North east

  115

  27

  13

  8

  8

  8

  7

  5

  5

  196

  North west

  123

  263

  38

  29

  46

  7

  12

  13

  16

  547

  South east

  237

  134

  21

  12

  47

  23

  10

  6

  10

  500

  South west

  104

  213

  13

  10

  13

  8

  17

  7

  10

  395

  West Midlands

  134

  198

  17

  12

  12

  23

  8

  9

  3

  416

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  130

  64

  11

  12

  8

  12

  9

  8

  6

  260

  Total

  1,204

  1,302

  169

  122

  163

  110

  89

  82

  107

  3,348

  1062W

  Number and percentage of household receiving home help or home care from 1993–2002

  England Survey week in September

  Rounded numbers and percentages

  65 and over2 Including double counting3

  Total all ages Including double counting3

  Excluding double counting3

  1997

  8.1

  2.6

  1—

  1998

  7.2

  2.4

  1—

  1999

  1—

  2.2

  1—

  2000

  1—

  2.2

  2.1

  2001

  1—

  2.0

  1.9

  2002

  1—

  1.9

  1.8

  1Data not available

  2 Based on the age of the oldest client in the household.

  3 Double counting occurs when a household receives home care directly from the council and through an independent provider.

  4 For 1993 to 2000, the total number of households is based on the 1991 census; the 2001 census is the basis for 2001 and 2002.

  Source:

  HH1, Census 1991–2001

  The number of contact hours has grown 67 per cent. between 1993 and 2002 at the same time as the number of households receiving home help or home care has fallen. This reflects a trend towards greater intensity and specialist skills in the services provided by home care. At the same time, broader community based services, which help older people and other adults to live independently in their own homes were provided for 1.4 million people in 2002–03; compared with 1.33 million people in 2000–01. Community based services include day care, meals, respite care, direct payments, professional support, transport and equipment, as well as home care.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications made by domiciliary care providers for registration with the National Care Standards Commission have been(a) rejected and (b) provided with action plans. [147311]

  Dr. Ladyman
  As at the end of November 2003, the latest date for which information is available, no applications made by domiciliary care providers had been rejected and two applications had been registered with conditions.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many domiciliary care providers applied for registration with the National Care Standards Commission in each month since March 2003, broken down by region. [147312]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Environmental Radiation Report
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment; and if he will make a statement. [148576]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) is currently preparing several reports on different topics. COMARE has already published seven reports. Its eighth report is expected to be published in early March of this year.

  Gatwick Airport
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many asylum seekers have arrived at Gatwick airport in each of the last three years claiming to be minors and without identity documents. [144998]

  Beverley Hughes
  I have been asked to reply.

  Data on the number of asylum seekers without documentation claiming to be minors that arrive at specific ports of entry are not recorded and collated centrally. This information could therefore be obtained only from individual case files at disproportionate cost.

  Information on asylum statistics is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.

  GP Referrals
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of cases seen in NHS walk-in centres resulted in referral to the general practitioner with whom the patient is registered in the last year for which figures are available. [147512]

  Mr. Hutton
  These data are not routinely collected or held centrally. The evaluation of national health service walk-in centres published by the University of Bristol in July 2002, and available at www.epi.bris.ac.uk/wic, suggested that some 13 per cent., of consultations resulted in a referral to a general practitioner. In part to address this, a growing number of NHS walk-in centres now offer access to a general practitioner, as well as the established service offered by nurses.

  Infectious Diseases
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) consultants and (b) trainees in infectious diseases there were in the NHS in England in each year since 1990. [147498]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  1064W

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Consultants and doctors in training with a specialty in infectious diseases; September 1990-June 2003

  England1

  Number (headcount)

  Consultant

  Registrar Group

  Senior House Officer

  House Officer

  2003 (June)

  107

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2002

  95

  42

  58

  21

  2001

  88

  58

  61

  6

  2000

  88

  53

  44

  8

  1999

  69

  45

  43

  6

  1998

  73

  35

  41

  9

  1997

  73

  37

  61

  8

  1996

  65

  32

  40

  10

  1995

  69

  35

  38

  6

  1994

  55

  31

  31

  7

  1993

  48

  29

  36

  3

  1992

  39

  21

  40

  2

  1991

  31

  28

  35

  2

  1990

  38

  20

  28

  1

  1 All data as at 30 September except for 2003, where data as at 30 June.

  2 Data not available.

  Note:

  Trainees are referred to as doctors in training.

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  Consultant numbers have increased by 182 per cent. between September 1990 and June 2003.

  Information Campaigns and Advertising
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure on information campaigns and advertising was for his Department in each year since 1997. [145371]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The table shows the expenditure on major information campaigns and advertising commissioned by the Department's communications directorate for the financial years 1996–97 to 2002–03. The figures include the costs of publishing, television, radio, poster, newspaper and magazine advertising, and campaigns on subjects such as sexual health, immunisation, staff recruitment, TB awareness, mental health and blood donation.

  million

  Financial year

  Total campaign expenditure

  Advertising expenditure

  1996–97

  15.13

  2.50

  1997–98

  6.63

  2.04

  1998–99

  22.96

  8.53

  1999–2000

  35.97

  15.17

  2000–01

  25.32

  20.80

  2001–021

  37.23

  20.41

  2002–031

  34.85

  23.13

  1 These figures include Health Promotion England publicity and advertising when it became part of the Department.

  Key Worker Housing
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on key worker housing and the land required to provide health services for key workers. [146413]
  1065W
  Mr. Hutton
  Discussions are currently taking place with officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the requirements of the national health service in respect of affordable housing and the NHS contribution to the provision of key worker accommodation. The Department of Health and NHS Estates have a major programme in place to support key workers. The NHS Plan target of 2,000 extra rental units has been exceeded. By March 2004, around 5,000 NHS staff will have had the opportunity to gain a foothold on the property ladder by way of assistance under the Government's Starter Home Initiative Scheme.

  Long-term Care
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has reviewed his policy in the light of the Health Service Ombudsman's report on long-term care. [147962]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Department is satisfied with the existing policy on national health service fully funded continuing care, but wants to ensure that policy is correctly implemented. As a result, all strategic health authorities (SHAs) have reviewed their eligibility criteria and an independent survey has been commissioned to examine SHAs' progress on all aspects of continuing care provision. Forthcoming Directions will introduce a legal framework for assessment for NHS fully funded continuing care.

  Management Consultants
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to his Department of using management consultants has been in each of the last five years. [148020]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The cost to the Department of using management consultants in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:

  Cost (£ million)

  1998–99

  7.3

  1990–2000

  8.1

  2000–01

  6.5

  2001–02

  6.8

  2002–03

  7.2

  Maternity Services
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of mothers have access to a midwifery-led maternity unit. [148933]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Memory Clinics
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a first appointment at a memory clinic from the time of recommendation by a consultant was in(a) England and (b) Dorset in each of the last two years for which figures are available. [148461]
  1066W
  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mental Incapacity Bill
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a patient's wishes in the form of an advance directive will be included on the health space of an electronic patient record following legislation in the Mental Incapacity Bill. [144594]

  Mr. Hutton
  The national health service care records service (CRS) includes functionality for recording patient preferences, such as advanced directives. The specification included the requirement to ensure that the existence of patient preferences (including advance directives, for example, a "living will" or a religious requirement that blood transfusions are not to be given) shall be recorded and displayed, and the contractor shall ensure that clinicians are:alerted to the existence of a patient preference;
  advised to ask the patient to confirm its validity; and
  advised to record the patient's confirmation of its validity.

  Patient preferences can therefore be captured at the point of care on the relevant system. The patient will be prompted at the point of care to confirm that the advanced directive is still to be enforced—this is to avoid an out-dated statement of patient preferences being enforced (for example, if a patient changes his or her mind).

  The existence of the NHS CRS in no way prejudices a patient's rights under existing or proposed legislation.

  Microbiology
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many consultant microbiologist vacancies there were in the NHS in England on the last date for which figures are available, broken down by region; [147495]

  (2) how many new posts in medical microbiology have been created in the NHS in the past 10 years, broken down by region; [147496]

  (3) how many medical microbiology training posts there were in the NHS in England in each year since 1990. [147497]

  Mr. Hutton
  Vacancy data is collected by the Department of Health as three-month vacancies as at 31 March each year. These are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which have lasted for three months or more.

  Information showing the number of three-month microbiology and virology consultant vacancies as at 31 March 2003 in England, by strategic health authority has been placed in the Library.

  The Department does not collect data on the number of new posts in microbiology and virology. Workforce data are collected through the annual Department of Health medical workforce census. The census is a snapshot of data as at 30 September in the appropriate year. The information in the table shows the net increase in the number of staff in microbiology and virology since 1992.
  1067W
  Due to the variation in regional boundaries over the stated time period, between 1992 and 1997, a breakdown by national health service regional office has also been placed in the Library. Between 1998 and 2002, data is shown by government office regions.

  Between 1997 and 2002, staff increased by 22 per cent.

  The table shows the number of medical microbiology and virology training posts in England since 1990.

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Doctors in training with a specialty in medical microbiology and virology; 1990–2002—England, as at 30 September

  Number (headcount)

  All training grades of which:

  Registrar

  Senior House Officer

  House Officer

  2002

  179

  162

  17

  —

  2001

  156

  143

  13

  —

  2000

  141

  121

  20

  —

  1999

  142

  131

  11

  —

  1998

  136

  125

  11

  —

  1997

  139

  125

  14

  —

  1996

  134

  124

  10

  —

  1995

  159

  145

  14

  —

  1994

  189

  176

  13

  —

  1993

  182

  163

  18

  1

  1992

  173

  159

  14

  —

  1991

  191

  175

  16

  —

  1990

  163

  146

  17

  —

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  NHS Estates
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what revaluations of the sites involved in the NHS Estates surplus property disposals have been carried out in the last six months; and when. [147754]

  Mr. Hutton
  A due diligence exercise, using its own independent valuers, has been undertaken by the preferred partner.

  NHS Trusts (Mergers)
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) hospital trusts, (b) primary care trusts, (c) mental health trusts and (d) ambulance trusts have merged in each of the last six years. [145355]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of trusts involved in mergers with similar trusts to form the same type of trust is shown in the table. The distinction between 'hospital trusts' and 'mental health trusts' is not straightforward owing to a number of trusts providing a range of services.

  Ambulance NHS trusts

  Other NHS trusts

  Primary care trusts

  1997–98

  0

  8

  n/a

  1998–99

  0

  39

  n/a

  1999–2000

  8

  40

  n/a

  2000–01

  0

  22

  n/a

  2001–02

  0

  40

  0

  2002–03

  0

  36

  2

  North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken following the Griffiths report into the research framework at North Staffordshire hospital NHS Trust. [147507]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Department takes very seriously the points made in the report about the importance of public safety, and of protecting children. The Department of Health, Home Office, Department for Education and Skills and the Welsh Assembly Government published "Safeguarding Children in Whom Illness is Fabricated or Induced" in August 2002. Paragraphs 6.46—6.51 provide guidance on the use of covert video surveillance and references the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act of 2000.

  This document was in response to the recommendation made within the Griffiths report to develop guidelines to assist the identification of children who have had illnesses feigned or induced by a carer within the framework of "Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999)", the Government's inter-agency guidance on child protection. It was the subject of public consultation prior to being published in 2002.

  We have also taken a number of steps to strengthen research and clinical governance systems, not necessarily as a direct result of the findings of the Griffiths report. For example:

  We have established the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) to focus our efforts to improve patient safety in the national health service and to run a new national reporting and learning system for patient safety incidents. The reporting system will be implemented across the NHS during 2004.

  NHS staff will be able to report adverse incidents and "near misses" affecting NHS patient care to the NPSA, so that patterns and trends can be identified and lessons learnt in one part of the NHS can be properly shared with the whole of the health service.

  The NHS Plan set out a review of consent procedures to ensure that good practice in seeking consent for both treatment and research is in place throughout the NHS. In November 2001, "The Good Practice in Consent Implementation Guide: Consent to Examination or Treatment", was published, containing a model consent policy and consent forms.

  In the summer of 2000, the Department set up the Central Office for Research Ethics Committees to improve the support provided for multi centre research ethics and local research ethics committees.

  The Department published the Research Governance Framework in March 2001, aimed at continuous improvements and the reduction of unacceptable variations in research practice across health and social care. The Department has been monitoring NHS trusts' compliance with the framework since its publication.

  In its 2002–03 annual research and development report, North Staffordshire hospitals reported satisfactorily on compliance with the research governance framework targets for March 2003 and that it was either already compliant or on target with the research governance

  1069W
  framework targets for March 2004. Actual compliance with the March 2004 targets will be assessed in the 2003–04 annual research and development report.

  The Department has commissioned a substantial audit of the use of continuous negative extrathoracic pressure at the University hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust (formerly North Staffordshire hospital NHS Trust). This is still on-going. The results will be published when the audit is completed.

  Nurses
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) district nurses, (b) community nurses and (c) midwives there were in (i) St. Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the North West and (iv) England in each year since 1992. [147171]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified community nursing by each specified group in England, the North West regional office area, Cheshire and Merseyside and the St. Helens and Knowsley Health Authority area as at 30 September each specified year

  Headcount

  England

  North West1

  Cheshire and Merseyside2

  St. Helens and Knowsley HA3

  1992

  Community nursing

  32,797

  4—

  4—

  229

  District nurses

  11,013

  4—

  4—

  54

  Midwives

  29,553

  4—

  4—

  163

  1993

  Community nursing

  33,384

  4—

  4—

  234

  District nurses

  10,888

  4—

  4—

  52

  Midwives

  29,439

  4—

  4—

  151

  1994

  Community nursing

  33,866

  4—

  4—

  216

  District nurses

  10,015

  4—

  4—

  50

  Midwives

  28,638

  4—

  4—

  144

  1995

  Community nursing

  40,566

  4—

  4—

  339

  District nurses

  13,793

  4—

  4—

  78

  Midwives

  22,022

  4—

  4—

  120

  1996

  Community nursing

  43,137

  6,116

  2,126

  331

  District nurses

  14,248

  2,248

  752

  78

  Midwives

  22,595

  3,782

  1,221

  113

  1997

  Community nursing

  44,710

  6,227

  2,212

  350

  District nurses

  14,150

  2,263

  740

  63

  Midwives

  2,385

  3,703

  1,173

  102

  1998

  Community nursing

  46,953

  6,608

  2,308

  356

  District nurses

  14,260

  2,254

  764

  57

  Midwives

  22,841

  3,613

  1,161

  91

  Community nursing

  48,828

  7,043

  2,270

  328

  1999

  Community nursing

  48,828

  7,043

  2,270

  328

  District nurses

  14,258

  2,175

  701

  51

  Midwives

  22,799

  3,633

  1,289

  118

  2000

  Community nursing

  50,877

  7,308

  2,483

  337

  District nurses

  14,452

  2,150

  696

  51

  Midwives

  22,572

  3,553

  1,309

  119

  2001

  Community nursing

  55,275

  8,180

  2,878

  380

  1070W

  NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified community nursing by each specified group in England, the North West regional office area, Cheshire and Merseyside and the St. Helens and Knowsley Health Authority area as at 30 September each specified year

  Headcount

  England

  North West1

  Cheshire and Merseyside2

  St. Helens and Knowsley HA3

  District nurses

  13,510

  1,963

  673

  49

  Midwives

  23,075

  3,674

  1,265

  121

  2002

  Community nursing

  57,975

  9,161

  3,181

  350

  District nurses

  12,184

  2,126

  727

  62

  Midwives

  23,249

  3,833

  1,276

  118

  1 1995–2001 data are based on Government Office Region areas, 2002 data is based on staffing figures for Q13 Greater Manchester SHA, Q14 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA, Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA

  2 1995–2001 figures are based on QDC Wirral HA:, QC7 Sefton HA, QC2 Liverpool HA, QC5 St. Helens and Knowsley HA, QCW South Cheshire, HA and QCV North Cheshire HA and for 2002 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA.

  3 Figures for St. Helens and Knowsley HA for 2002 are based on RBN St. Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust, 5J3 St. Helens PCT and 5J4 Knowsley PCT.

  4 Accurate comparable information is not available.

  Notes:

  1. A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995. Information based on this classification is not directly comparable with earlier years.

  2. Community nursing includes nurses employed in community learning disabilities, community psychiatry and community services excluding district nurses.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census

  Procurement Outsourcing
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his 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. [147584]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department's procurement policy is based on value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity and the requirements of the European Union Treaty, including the principle of non-discrimination, the European Community procurement directives and the United Kingdom's international obligations.

  The Department has not outsourced any information technology or call centre services to offshore companies and there are no current plans to do so.

  Smoking
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ban smoking in public places. [148551]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) on Monday 5 January 2004,Official Report, column 209W.

  Sperm Counts
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on recent research from the Aberdeen Fertility Centre on sperm counts since 1989; what assessment he has made of links between harmful man-made chemicals in the environment and reduced sperm counts; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. [147231]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The research from the Aberdeen Fertility Centre has not been peer-reviewed or published, and has not been assessed by the Department. The Global assessment of the state-of-the-science of endocrine disrupters, by the World Health Organization (WHO) International Programme on Chemical Safety concluded in August 2002 that,"although an extensive review of the published data suggest that there could be temporal and geographical variation in human sperm production, it is not possible to conclude that the phenomenon is real and, if so, to what extent reductions in sperm count may affect fertility. The data should he interpreted with caution."
  The WHO assessment also concluded that,
  "Analysis of the human data by itself, while generating concerns, has so far failed to provide firm evidence of direct causal associations between low-level (i.e., levels measured in the general population) exposure to chemicals and adverse health outcomes".

  The Government research programme on trends in male reproductive health and the possible influences of occupational or environmental (or other) exposure to chemicals includes two studies on sperm counts. One is a study of Scottish male reproductive health (Medical Research Council Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh). The other (which is co-funded with the European Chemical Industries Council) is a United Kingdom multi-centre study of occupational and environmental exposure to chemicals and male fertility (Universities of Manchester and Sheffield). The results will be published in due course.

  The Government's chemical strategy was published in December 1999 and is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/chemicals/ukstrategy.htm. Its main goals are to: phase out chemicals posing an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment as soon as possible; reduce as far as possible the risks posed by chemicals that are essential in our everyday lives, thus finding a balance between protecting health and the environment and retaining the socio-economic benefits that many chemicals provide; and make full information publicly available about the environmental and health risks of chemicals.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to monitor progress made by(a) strategic health authorities and (b) primary care trusts in reducing waiting times for diagnostic testing. [147270]

  Mr. Hutton
  Waits for diagnostic services are not recorded nationally.

  The Government is committed to improving access to diagnostic services and the Department is working in partnership with strategic health authorities (SHAs)
  1072W
  and other stakeholders to secure a more responsive service. Each SHA is responsible for developing and implementing local improvement programmes for diagnostic services and to monitor progress against any locally agreed objectives.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by the Changing Workforce Programme in redesigning the roles of diagnostic staff to reduce waiting times. [147271]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Changing Workforce Programme is supporting the development of a number of roles designed to help the National Health Service provide speedier access to high quality services.

  In particular, the roles of assistant practitioner and advanced practitioner will help reduce waiting times for radiography services. An accelerated development programme is supporting the implementation of these roles across a network of hospital trusts. To date, 81 assistant practitioners in radiography are in training or scheduled to receive training in 2004, while 79 trainees are working towards advanced practitioner status.

  It is anticipated that the majority of plain film imaging will be performed by assistant practitioners under the supervision of qualified radiographers. This will release radiographers' time and allow them to focus on more complex issues, thus increasing service capacity. Once the assistant practitioners are fully trained, further data will be collected to evaluate the impact on waiting times and access to services.

  The appointment of advanced practitioners in diagnostic areas such as computer tomography imaging, trauma imaging and gastro-intestinal imaging, has already contributed to a reduction in waiting times. For example, at one site, the waiting time for a barium enema has been reduced from 30 weeks to one week since advanced practitioners have been performing this procedure.

  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average wait was for patients to be seen by their own general practitioner in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion were seen within 48 hours. [147511]

  Mr. Hutton
  Data are collected on availability of access to primary medical services rather than actual waiting times. Information for November 2003 shows that 94 per cent. of the population was able to be offered an appointment to see a general practitioner within two working days.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Benefit Fraud
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the programme protection strategy used by the Pension Service to prevent pension credit fraud since October 2003. [147828]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The programme protection strategy used to prevent loss in minimum income guarantee was reviewed to ensure its continued effectiveness once pension credit was introduced in October 2003.
  1073W
  The review concluded that the strategy would continue to address those areas where fraud could occur in pension credit.

  The strategy and introduction of pension credit presents opportunities for improved protection at the gateway during the teleapplication process and for making use of all our contacts with customers to help them get their applications correct from the outset. The use of intelligent questioning, targeted visits and contacts with customers based on established risk, and effective internal and external data matching, all support the prevention of pension credit fraud.

  Positive efforts made in driving down the loss and the legislative changes introduced for pension credit have contributed towards the achievement of the Service Delivery Agreement target to reduce fraud and error overpayments to pensioners by 20 per cent. by March 2006.

  Measurement of fraud and error in pension credit commenced in October 2003 and we expect to publish results for the first full year's data in July 2005. In the interim we will be undertaking an early examination of cases found to be incorrect so that we can refine the programme protection strategy as necessary.

  Casual Appointments
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees have been employed on 13-week casual appointments in his Department in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [147816]

  Maria Eagle
  The Department generally only employs people on casual appointments in order to fulfil a short term need. The information required is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Children Leaving Care
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of children who had been in local authority care were unemployed in the September after leaving school in each of the last five years. [147332]

  Mr. Browne
  The information requested is not available.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of the new council tax benefit in the first full year of operation; and how it compares to the cost of the old council tax benefit, using the same methodology for the calculations. [146689]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Council tax benefit expenditure for 2003–04 is forecast to be £3.4 billion, and for 2004–05 to be £3.8 billion. However, on 15 December 2003, we announced reforms of council tax benefit, which included the abolition of restrictions for people living in band F, G and H properties. This is anticipated to take place from April 2004, with an expected additional cost of £6.5 million per annum benefiting 21,000 claimants.

  Departmental Relocation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department work in(a) the West Midlands and (b) north Staffordshire. [146914]

  Maria Eagle
  The number of staff working in the West Midlands and north Staffordshire is shown in the following table.

  DWP Staff

  West Midlands

  11,844

  North Staffordshire

  726

  Notes:

  1. Figures show headcount and are consistent with Cabinet Office definitions other than for the inclusion of staff on paid maternity leave.

  2. Figures include temporary staff.

  Euro
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many speeches during 2003 he declared support for the Government's policy on the euro. [147296]

  Mr. Pond
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Financial Secretary gave him on 12 January 2004,Official Report, columns 516–17W.

  Former Soviet Citizens
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether former Soviet citizens resident in this country qualify for the UK state pension; and if he will make a statement. [148718]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The UK State Pension is payable generally to people who have paid or who are deemed to have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions while working and residing in this country.

  Therefore, former Soviet citizens can only start to acquire entitlement to a UK State Pension from the time they become resident in the UK.

  Income Support Claimants
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will provide individuals claiming income support which is paid into their bank account with documentary proof of their receipt of benefit so that they can apply for discounts and reduced rates for leisure and other services. [148866]

  Mr. Pond
  People receiving benefit that is paid into a bank account can use their initial award notifications as documentary proof of entitlement. Alternatively, customers can obtain evidence confirming their entitlement from the Department; for example, Jobcentre Plus provide customers with locally produced forms.

  Local Housing Allowance
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the local housing allowance will be extended from the nine Pathfinder authorities to all local authorities. [R][146690]
  1075W
  Malcolm Wicks
  There will be a comprehensive evaluation of local housing allowance Pathfinders including interviews with claimants, landlords, local authority staff and stakeholder organisations, as well as an analysis of administrative data. This is already underway.

  The findings of the evaluation will inform decisions on the national extension of the allowance. It is envisaged that local housing allowance will be extended to all local authorities in 2006.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons the local housing allowance applies only to the de-regulated private sector. [R][146691]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We hope to implement a flat rate housing benefit system in the social sector, similar to that anticipated in the private rented sector to enable people in that sector to benefit from the choice and flexibility that the reforms can provide. We aim to extend our reforms to the social rented sector as soon as rent restructuring and increased choice have created an improved market.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how the rent of those tenants whose rent is higher than the local housing allowance will be paid; [R][146692]

  (2) whether there will be a hardship payment to prevent the eviction of those tenants whose rent is higher than the new local housing allowance. [R][146693]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Tenants whose rent is higher than their local housing allowance will be expected to make good the difference with their landlord. This is no different to what happens under existing rules. During the Pathfinder stage, no claimant will be worse off financially at the point of change as they will be covered by a form of transitional protection.

  There will not be a hardship payment to tenants whose rent is higher than their local housing allowance. Tenants will have the choice to shop around and look for a cheaper property in such circumstances.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the nine Pathfinder local authorities for local housing allowance will fully implement the new system. [R][146694]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The nine Pathfinder authorities will implement the new housing allowance using one of two different approaches—a "big bang", or a "phased". Under both approaches, all new claims made after the start date will go directly on to local housing allowance.

  Under the "big bang" approach, all existing claims will be converted to housing allowance on the authority's start date. However, the local authority can delay the change on payments to tenants for up to six months.

  Under the "phased" approach, exiting cases will be converted gradually over a 12 month period. Conversion will be triggered either by a change in the tenant's circumstances, or when a referral to the rent officer would have become due under the housing benefit system.
  1076W
  The table shows the start date for each of the pilot authorities together with the approach they have chosen to adopt.

  Local Authority

  Start date

  Approach

  Blackpool

  17 November 2003

  Phased

  Lewisham

  1 December 2003

  Phased

  Coventry

  12 January 2004

  Phased

  Teignbridge

  12 January 2004

  Phased

  Brighton

  2 February 2004

  Big Bang

  Edinburgh

  9 February 2004

  Big Bang

  NE Lincolnshire

  9 February 2004

  Big Bang

  Conwy

  9 February 2004

  Phased

  Leeds

  9 February 2004

  Phased

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will make a statement on the criteria used to set the local housing allowance in each area; [R][146695]

  (2) how often local housing allowance will be reviewed; and what methodology will be used to calculate the new level. [R][146696]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Rent Officers in each Pathfinder area will look at a range of properties and rents in that area. Excluding exceptionally high and exceptionally low rents to avoid distortion, Rent Officers will identify the lowest and highest rents for a property type, add them together and divide by two. This will give the local housing allowance for that property type in that area.

  Rent Officers will review the local housing allowance levels on a monthly basis to ensure they remain accurate reflections of average rents in an area. However, an individual claimant's entitlement will only be reviewed annually or where there is a change of circumstances.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost is of local housing allowance in the first full year of operation; and what the equivalent cost of housing benefit would have been using the same methodology for the calculation. [R][146697]

  Malcolm Wicks
  It is estimated that the Local Housing Allowance Pathfinders will cost an additional £20 million in their first year of full operation. Information on the forecasted equivalent cost of housing benefit is not available.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of local housing allowance on rent restructuring in the de-regulated private rental sector. [R][146698]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The programme of rent restructuring applies only to the social housing sector and not to the de-regulated private sector.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how local housing allowance will be adjusted to take into account improvements that are carried out to an individual property. [R][146699]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Local housing allowance will not depend on the individual rent or the type of property occupied by a claimant. It will be based on a standard amount for similarly suitable properties in that area for the size of the claimant's household.
  1077W
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the landlord will be able to apply to have local housing allowance paid directly to him in circumstances when the tenant is likely to abscond with the allowance. [R][146700]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Landlords can make representations to receive direct payment if they believe that a tenant will not use their housing allowance to pay their rent. Landlords have the right of appeal if the authority decides to continue to make payment directly to tenants. Each of the Pathfinder authorities has held meetings with local landlords to explain how the housing allowance will work.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of(a) the change in the number of homes available to rent to those in receipt of local housing allowance and (b) the change in the number of empty homes as a result of the introduction of local housing allowance. [R][146701]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We do not expect there to be any significant change in the number of homes made available to rent to those in receipt of local housing allowance, or an increase or decrease in the number of empty homes as a result of the introduction of the local housing allowance. However, both will be monitored as part of the comprehensive evaluation of the Pathfinders.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are being made in each of the Pathfinder local authority areas to house tenants who have to move from the private to the public sector because of the introduction of local housing allowance. [R][146702]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The local housing allowance was launched in Blackpool on 17 November and Lewisham on 1 December 2003. Coventry and Teignbridge both introduced the housing allowance on 12 January this year. The remaining five authorities will be going live during February this year. So far there has been no evidence of tenants having to move from the private to public sector. However, we will monitor this as part of the comprehensive evaluation of local housing allowance Pathfinders, which will include interviews with claimants, landlords, local authority staff and stakeholder organisations, as well as an analysis of administrative data; the evaluation is already under way.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice the Department is offering those tenants who get into financial difficulties following the introduction of local housing allowance; and what the estimated cost is of the provision of that advice. [R][146703]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Pathfinder authorities are being given an additional £540,000 towards the cost of providing financial management advice to claimants. Pathfinders are working directly or in co-operation with voluntary agencies, such as the Citizen's Advice Bureau, to provide advice on financial management. This is in addition to existing support mechanisms offered by welfare organisations, and loans and advice available from Jobcentre Plus.
  1078W
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how local housing allowance will be paid; and what arrangements will be made for those tenants who do not have a bank account; [146704]

  (2) whether the tenant will be reimbursed for any overdraft fee paid as a result of late payment of local housing allowance into a bank account. [146705]

  Malcolm Wicks
  As for tenants who currently receive direct payment of housing benefit, payments of the local housing allowance will be made by cheque or a bank transfer. Pathfinder authorities will assist tenants with advice on how to obtain bank accounts.

  It is entirely a matter for local authorities to decide whether to reimburse for any overdraft fee incurred as a result of late payment of local housing allowance into a bank account. Local authorities will be able to process local housing allowance claims more quickly than current housing benefit claims, and our aim will be to prevent late payments.

  New Deal
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of young people in(a) West Cumbria and (b) Copeland who have benefited from the New Deal; and if he will make a statement. [148010]

  Mr. Browne
  The New Deal for Young People has been successful in helping over 460,000 young people into work, including 1,160 people in the Copeland constituency. Figures for West Cumbria are not available; however, 4,910 young people in the Jobcentre Plus Cumbria district have been helped into work by New Deal for Young People.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have entered the employer option under the New Deal for Young People in each year since 1997, broken down by ethnicity; how many people have entered the full-time education and training option under the New Deal for Young People in each year since 1997, broken down by ethnicity; and if he will make a statement. [147815]

  Mr. Browne
  The information is in the tables.

  New Deal for Young People: Starts to employment option, broken down by ethnicity

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  20031

  White

  12,580

  16,650

  13,950

  10,650

  10,130

  5,190

  Black-Caribbean

  220

  330

  250

  160

  180

  70

  Black-African

  90

  110

  100

  80

  80

  50

  Black-Other

  100

  140

  100

  90

  60

  30

  Indian

  130

  230

  170

  150

  120

  60

  Pakistani

  260

  390

  300

  240

  210

  100

  Bangladeshi

  80

  120

  90

  100

  80

  30

  Chinese

  10

  20

  20

  10

  10

  10

  Other

  170

  230

  200

  170

  180

  120

  Prefer not to say

  330

  630

  520

  360

  290

  190

  Missing2

  570

  300

  70

  20

  10

  0

  1079W

  New Deal for Young People: Starts to full-time education and training option broken down by ethnicity

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  20031

  White

  24,300

  32,480

  24,600

  14,320

  16,800

  14,600

  Black-Caribbean

  840

  1,440

  1,000

  750

  880

  740

  Black-African

  690

  1,070

  680

  710

  1,040

  930

  Black-Other

  420

  610

  430

  330

  360

  290

  Indian

  410

  590

  360

  250

  300

  220

  Pakistani

  890

  1,200

  1,000

  800

  880

  720

  Bangladeshi

  260

  380

  230

  190

  240

  210

  Chinese

  70

  90

  80

  50

  60

  50

  Other

  700

  1,230

  1,110

  1,090

  1,840

  2,190

  Prefer not to say

  810

  1,730

  1,250

  820

  750

  730

  Missing2

  90

  60

  20

  10

  0

  0

  1 To September.

  2 It, has only been compulsory to record ethnicity on the Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System (LMS) since the spring of 2002, and some ethnicity codes were not recorded before then.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants on New Deal for Young People in the Chesterfield constituency have been placed on training courses for(a) up to one year and (b) over one year in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [147819]

  Mr. Browne
  In the 12 months to September 2003,70 people started on the New Deal for Young People (NDYP) Full-Time Education and Training Option in Chesterfield.

  It is the policy of New Deal for Young People that nobody should be placed on an NDYP Full-Time Education and Training course for longer than a year.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants have joined the New Deal for Young People(a) once, (b) twice, (c) three times and (d) more than three times, broken down by ethnicity; and if he will make a statement. [147820]

  Mr. Browne
  The information is in the following table:

  New Deal for Young People: Number of times people have joined the programme broken down by ethnicity

  Ethnic group

  Once

  Twice

  Three times

  More than three

  White

  485,660

  119,620

  28,400

  5,000

  Black-Caribbean

  13,380

  5,060

  1,470

  260

  Black-African

  12,270

  2,980

  690

  130

  Black-Other

  6,340

  1,990

  490

  70

  Indian

  11,970

  2,190

  450

  60

  Pakistani

  20,670

  5,080

  1,180

  190

  Bangladeshi

  7,440

  1,610

  330

  50

  Chinese

  1,420

  230

  40

  10

  Other

  25,120

  4,440

  990

  170

  Prefer not to say

  27,730

  5,390

  1,050

  190

  Missing

  6,590

  70

  10

  0

  Total

  618,620

  148,640

  35,080

  6,110

  Note:

  Figures are to the end of September 2003.

  Source:

  DWP Information and Analysis Directorate.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North East on 16 December 2003, reference 145191, which was transferred to his Department by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. [148472]
  1080W
  Mr. Pond
  I replied to the hon. Member's question on 13 January.

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of expenditure on the(a) guarantee credit and (b) savings credit in (i) 2003–04, (ii) 2004–05 and (iii) 2005–06. [145981]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the table.

  £ million

  2003–04

  2004–05

  2005–06

  Guarantee credit

  4,730

  4,710

  5,160

  Savings credit

  350

  1,020

  1,000

  Total

  5,080

  5,720

  6,160

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on latest published forecasts, published in the pre-Budget report on 10 December 2003.

  2. Figures for 2003–04 include expenditure on the minimum income guarantee, prior to the introduction of pension credit. Minimum income guarantee expenditure is treated as guarantee credit. The 2003–04 guarantee credit figure also includes child elements of the minimum income guarantee totalling £50 million. These payments were replaced by child tax credits at the same time as the introduction of pension credit.

  3. Note that until October 2004, new claimants will be able to claim payment for entitlement dating back to October 2003.

  4. Figures are rounded to nearest £10 million.

  5. Due to rounding, figures may not sum exactly to totals.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many telephone inquiries on pension credit have been received in each of the last 12 months. [147692]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The table shows numbers of telephone calls received by the pension credit application line in each month since it became operational in April 2003. The application line primarily handles calls from customers about applying for pension credit, but also deals with other inquiry calls.

  Calls to pension credit application line—April to December 2003

  2003

  Calls received

  April

  20,810

  May

  32,750

  June

  60,240

  July

  118,220

  August

  181,860

  September

  427,900

  October

  482,780

  November

  318,280

  December

  193,900

  Total

  1,836,740

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the advertising budget is for the pension credit. [147693]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The marketing campaign for pension credit has been designed to be flexible and the level of expenditure may change according to need. However, it is currently estimated that media costs, including direct mailing, television and press advertising, will be in the region of £12 to £17 million, excluding VAT, to October 2004.
  1081W
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in(a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland are receiving pension credit; what percentage this represents of those entitled to pension credit in each case; and if he will make a statement. [148009]

  Malcolm Wicks
  At 31 December 2003 there were(a) 15,950 pensioner households (18,710 individuals) in Cumbria and (b) 2,300 pensioner households (2,739 individuals) in the Copeland constituency receiving pension credit. Information on numbers of households eligible for pension credit is not available at county or constituency level. However, the number of eligible households in the North West region is estimated to be 500,000. At 31 December 2003 there were 289,000 pensioner households (344,000 individuals) in the North West region receiving pension credit.

  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how often his Department revises the standard interest rate used to calculate the mortgage element included in the pension credit. [148863]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The standard interest rate is based on the weighted average of the basic rates charged by the top building societies. A change is triggered whenever the average rate which is published monthly by the Office for National Statistics increases/decreases by 0.25 per cent. or more.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many whole-time equivalent staff were employed by the pension credit helpline in the most recent month for which figures are available. [148969]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Pension Credit application line is resourced in line with forecast levels of activity. At 5 January the application line had approximately 1,300 whole-time equivalent staff handling customer contacts. This is expected to rise to approximately 1,400 whole-time equivalent staff by late March.

  Pension Credit Helpline
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls were received by the pension credit helpline in the most recent month for which figures are available. [148971]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Pension Credit application line received approximately 193,900 calls in December 2003.

  Pensions (Order Book Payments)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements were made for pensioners with order books whose pension fell due on Christmas Day 2003; and when they were able to receive that payment. [148970]

  Mr. Pond
  The arrangements agreed with the Post Office for Christmas Day 2003, gave pensioners (women aged 60 and over, men aged 65 and over) the option of encashing the order book payments dated 25 December,1082W
  up to a week early, (i.e., on or after 18 December). Post Office were open for normal business hours, up to and including 12.30 p.m. on 24 December.

  Pensions (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Warrington North have(a) applied for and (b) been awarded the pension credit; and what the average increase in income is per pensioner. [148250]

  Malcolm Wicks
  At 31 December 2003 there were 3,426 pensioner households (4,151 individuals) in the Warrington North constituency receiving pension credit. Information on the number of pension credit applications in individual constituencies is not available. The average weekly rate of pension credit awards in Warrington North is £41.19. Information on the average amount gained by pensioners in individual constituencies, since the introduction of pension credit, will become available following publication of the November 2003 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry on 17 March 2004.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on advertising the availability of Winter Fuel Payments. [147771]

  Malcolm Wicks
  In the region of £625,000 was spent on national and regional press and consumer magazine advertising throughout the 2003–04 Winter Fuel Payments campaign.

  A wide variety of publicity in other forums was also undertaken to support this advertising.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what studies his Department undertook to find the most effective way of informing people about their eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments. [147772]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Department uses a wide range of research on how to reach older people when formulating its communication strategies.

  We develop communications in partnership with representative groups such as Age Concern, National Pensioners Convention and Citizens Advice. We have built on our experiences from past years of paying Winter Fuel Payments using communication channels appropriate to our customers.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Scotland are(a) eligible for the £300 winter fuel payment for the over eighties and (b) have received it this winter. [148753]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Analysis of payments made this winter is not yet available and therefore it is not possible to say how many payments were made to households including someone aged 80 or over. Nor have we data to establish how many households include someone who is aged 80 or over and would be eligible for a winter fuel payment of £300.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Thames Gateway
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress since the announcement of the Thames Gateway Communities plan; how much public money has been spent; how much private sector capital has been committed; how much land has been acquired; how much land will be acquired; and over what timescale. [148199]

  Yvette Cooper
  I am pleased to be able to report substantial progress in the Thames Gateway even since my right hon. Friend the Member for Streatham announcement in July.

  Delivery is the key to the Thames Gateway. The new UDC for Thurrock is now established and Chair and Board appointed, consultation on the London UDC will end on 6 February and new partnership bodies for the other growth areas in the Gateway are now in place. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects the new Gateway Office to be operational shortly.

  The Thames Gateway expenditure programme provides £446 million over the three years commencing 2003–4. Projects worth £330 million have been accepted in principle for funding, and some £50 million worth of projects have been formally approved. These range from land acquisitions in London's Lower Lea valley, to affordable housing schemes with the Housing Corporation, a new lifelong learning centre for Barking, University campus expansions at Southend and Medway, and environmental Green Grid initiatives across South Essex and North Kent. In addition to this, the Regional Development Agencies, English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation and Highways Agency are also undertaking projects which make a major contribution to the Gateway, including Barking Reach, Chatham Maritime, A 13 improvements and anew Swale Crossing.

  Outline planning applications have been submitted for the key private sector developments at Stratford City and Ebbsfleet. These schemes alone represent private sector investment approaching £7 billion.

  The Strategic Rail Authority confirmed shortly before Christmas that it will be proceeding with plans for domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail link as part of the new Integrated Kent Franchise, and more recently, my right hon. Friend Member for Edinburgh Central, has announced that he is offering financial support for the Thames Gateway Bridge, the proposed new river crossing in East London. Both are strategic projects which will strengthen the platform for new development, and will help to consolidate private sector confidence and involvement.

  There are no targets for land acquisition in the Gateway; the need for land assembly by the public sector will be determined by market strength and interest. To date, funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister budget for land acquisitions is being pursued for projects in the Lower Lea for new mixed-use development, and in Sheppy, to promote new housing.
  1084W
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses have been built under plans for the development of the Thames Gateway communities; how many are social housing; how many houses are planned to be built; and how many will be social housing. [148201]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government's policy for the development of sustainable communities in Thames Gateway and the Growth Areas was set out in "Creating Sustainable Communities: Making It Happen" in July 2003. The most recent annual house building figures for local authority areas contained within the Thames Gateway are for the 2002–03 financial year. Local authorities and the national house building council report a total new build of 7,865 houses for this period, of which 1,077 are social housing. It should be noted that these figures are totals for local authorities in Thames Gateway, but that some local authority areas fall only partially within the designated Thames Gateway region.

  "Creating Sustainable Communities: Making It Happen" set a target for the Thames Gateway of the development of 120,000 new homes over the period to 2016, which is 40,000 above current planning targets. Projects worth £300 million were approved in July as part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's new Sustainable Communities funding package. These include funding for new affordable housing.

  The Government do not set annual targets centrally for local authorities on either affordable or social housing. Planning policies for affordable housing are set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 3, "Housing", and in Circular 6/98, "Planning for Affordable Housing". They advise that where local planning authorities are able to demonstrate a lack of affordable housing to meet local needs, based on up-to-date surveys and other data, they should indicate in their local plan how many affordable homes need to be provided throughout the plan area, and set indicative targets for specific suitable sites (expressed either as numbers of homes or a percentage of the homes on the site). Local planning authorities should be monitoring their performance against their local plan policies and targets, but this information is not collected centrally.

  Arms Length Management Organisations
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been set aside for the funding of newly constituted arms length management organisations for(a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05. [148730]

  Yvette Cooper
  Allocations for Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) are made in two-year tranches. £300 million has been allocated to eight local authorities setting up ALMOs under Round 1 of the programme for 2002–04, £383 million to 12 local authorities under Round 2 for 2003–05, and £360 million to 13 authorities under Round 3 for 2004–06. Allocations for Round 1 ALMOs for 2004–05 and later have yet to be decided.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the results of the arms length management organisation ballots in those local authorities where votes have taken place this year. [148731]
  1085W
  Yvette Cooper
  The results of ballots on Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) proposals held to date by local authorities awarded places on Round 3 of the ALMO programme in 2003, or applying for places on Round 4 in 2004, are tabled as follows. The results of ballots held under Rounds 1 and 2 were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Colchester on 15 September 2003,Official Report, column 602W.

  Percentage

  Local authority

  Turnout

  In favour

  Not in favour

  ALMO Round 3

  Camden

  30

  23

  77

  High Peak

  60

  98

  2

  Islington

  27

  85

  15

  Sheffield: Brightside and Shiregreen

  42

  78

  22

  Sheffield: Central Area

  47

  87

  13

  South Lakeland

  65

  88

  12

  ALMO Round 4

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  40

  81

  19

  Birmingham Urban Development Plan
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether Pedimore, Sutton Coldfield, has been removed as a major investment site for the West Midlands region in accordance with the independent Inspector's report into the Birmingham Urban Development Plan. [148011]

  Yvette Cooper
  Peddimore is identified as a Major Investment Site in my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's Proposed Changes to Draft Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) for the West Midlands. The Proposed Changes were subject to a public consultation period, which closed on 12 December 2003.

  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is now considering responses to the Proposed Changes. He is aware of the Inspector's report on the Birmingham Unitary Development Plan, and this will form part of his consideration. I cannot comment further on the Proposed Changes at this stage.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether Bassetts Pole, Sutton Coldfield, has been removed as a major investment site for the West Midlands region in accordance with the Inspector's report into the Birmingham Urban Development Plan. [148012]

  Yvette Cooper
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's Proposed Changes to Draft Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) for the West Midlands were prepared before the UDP Inspector's report was published, and state:"the principle of a premium employment site at Bassetts Pole is contained in the adopted Birmingham Unitary Development Plan, the alterations to the UDP have identified a specific site".

  The Proposed Changes were subject to a public consultation period, which closed on 12 December 2003.

  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is now considering responses to the Proposed Changes. I cannot comment further on them at this stage.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will raise the single person discount on council tax for single pensioners from 25 per cent.; and if he will make a statement. [148231]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to change the single persons discount for pensioners. Not all pensioners are on a low income and council tax benefit exists to help those that are. Steps are being taken to ensure that those who are eligible, including many pensioners, do take up their entitlement. We are also removing the current restriction on council tax benefit for those living in band F, G and H homes from next April.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to reduce the number of older people receiving court summonses for non-payment of council tax, with particular reference to cases where they were entitled to full council tax benefit and the only reason for the arrears was the delay in processing their claim. [148232]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This is a matter for each individual billing authority, but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would expect authorities to take account of whether there was a likely entitlement to benefit in considering enforcement action.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of properties there are in each council tax band in each local authority area. [148733]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is available in the Library of the House.

  Council Tax Disabled Bands
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of changes to the disabled band council tax reduction on current recipients; and if he will make a statement. [147972]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government has made no changes to the disabled band reduction. It is for each individual billing authority to decide whether a property qualifies for Disabled Band Reduction when deciding entitlement, taking into account case law. An appeal against a decision can be made to the Valuation Tribunal.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many properties are in receipt of council tax disabled band reductions. [147973]

  Mr. Raynsford
  As at 3 November 2003 local authorities have reported that about 121,000 properties in England were subject to a reduction in their council tax band under the Council Tax (Reductions for Disabilities) Regulations 1992.

  Dwellings (Conservation Areas)
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the recently announced proposals to free up land for development relate purely to councils blocking applications for housing schemes in conservation areas;
  1087W
  and whether they apply to single dwelling developments in the curtilage of other single dwellings in conservation areas. [147887]

  Yvette Cooper
  The recent reports suggesting that my right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, was proposing to remove the planning powers of local councils to prevent new building in the countryside are untrue. My right hon. Friend has made no such announcement, and has no such plans.

  This press speculation appears to have been based on the draft of a new Planning Policy Statement (PPS7), "Sustainable Development in Rural Areas". The draft was published for public consultation in September 2003 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. It sets out proposed national planning policies to deliver sustainable rural communities by focussing most new development on towns and villages, and through strict control over new development in the open countryside. Draft PPS7 proposes that local planning authorities should adopt criteria-based policies in development plans for the location and design of rural development, rather than rely on locally designated landscape protection areas. It would remain for local planning authorities in the first instance to determine planning applications, having regard to these and other relevant policies.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is now considering the responses to the consultation draft. The views expressed will help inform the final version of PPS7.

  Finance (Lancashire)
  Mr. Lindsay Hoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what additional money(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley have received from his Department in each of the last three years, expressed in (i) monetary and (ii) percentage terms, using 2000–01 as a baseline. [148426]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Grant issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its predecessor departments for Lancashire and Chorley in the last four years is tabled. Monetary and percentage increases using 2000–01 as a baseline are also shown:

  £ million

  Increase from 2000–01 (£ million)1

  Percentage increase from 2002–01 (£ million)1

  Lancashire

  2000–01

  628.2

  2001–02

  644.5

  16.3

  2.6

  2002–03

  650.6

  22.4

  3.6

  2003–04 (a)

  712.4

  84.2

  13.4

  Chorley

  2000–01

  5.7

  2001–02

  5.9

  0.2

  3.7

  2002–03

  6.1

  0.4

  7.6

  2003–04 (a)

  6.7

  1.0

  17.9

  1 The figures have not been adjusted.

  Note:

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

  Source:

  RS forms 2000–01 to 2002–03, RG forms 2001–02 to 2002–03, RA 2003–04 form and RA(SG) 2003–04 form.

  Budgeted figures.

  Fire Sprinklers
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what measures he has taken to improve fire safety using fire sprinklers; [148864]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the merits of compulsory installation of fire sprinklers in (a) commercial properties and (b) leisure facilities. [148865]

  Phil Hope
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is keen to improve fire safety by all reasonable means and sprinklers are part of a package of measures that can be used in buildings.

  Since 1992, guidance supporting the fire safety aspects of the Building Regulations, which apply to most building work forming new and altered premises in England and Wales, has suggested the provision of sprinkler systems is necessary in commercial and leisure properties over certain area or height thresholds.

  This was expanded in 2000 when the guidance was revised to set a limit of 2000m2 for the size of any fire compartment in a single storey retail building, beyond which a suitable sprinkler system should be provided. This applies to new and extended retail buildings.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also nearing the completion of a detailed study into the effectiveness of sprinkler systems in tackling fires in residential properties. The results of this work are being fed into the further development of national standards by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and are forming part of our considerations of the current review of the fire safety aspects of the Building Regulations. The results of that work will shortly be publicly available enabling those involved with fire safety in buildings to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the benefits of residential sprinkler systems. During this review of the Building Regulations we will also be considering the role that sprinklers can play in all buildings and deciding whether the current thresholds in the guidance should be amended or indeed new ones introduced.

  In the meantime, our Community Fire Safety programme continues to inform people of the risks associated with fire and the measures which can mitigate against its occurrence and subsequent effect, such as the use of fire detection and alarms and sprinkler systems. This programme has already been effective in reducing fire deaths and injuries from accidental fires.

  Housing
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what quantity of land in the Thames Gateway needs to be re-allocated from employment uses to housing or mixed use to meet the Government's aspirations for delivering 120,000 additional houses by 2016. [149185]

  Yvette Cooper
  The figure of 120,000 is drawn from discussions on development capacity with local planning partners during the preparation of the Gateway initiative, and reflects both existing planning allocations for development and local perspectives on further capacity. Work is now under way with Regional
  1089W
  Planning Bodies to agree the detailed distribution of this growth, and prepare for its incorporation into Regional Strategic Statements.

  Development in the Gateway focuses on its substantial reservoir of redundant and brownfield land, most of which will have originally been used historically for industrial and employment use. However, economic renewal is a parallel priority for the Gateway in order both to provide a stronger economic base for existing communities, and meet the employment needs of new residents. The area remains an important industrial and commercial location in the South East, and collectively the Gateway ports are the largest in the country. Retention and renewal of appropriate and good quality employment land to meet the needs of the local economy therefore remains important. The planning exercise now under way will therefore also be taking into account the appropriate future balance of housing and employment land.

  Housing (Chorley)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning applications for housing in Chorley have been approved in each of the last five years. [148223]

  Yvette Cooper
  The number of planning applications for housing in the borough of Chorley approved in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Applications approved

  1999

  91

  2000

  58

  2001

  71

  2002

  69

  2003

  67

  Total (January 1999 to December 2003)

  356

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much land has been allocated for the next 10 years for new housing in Chorley. [148224]

  Yvette Cooper
  The adopted Chorley borough Local Plan Review allocates 100 hectares of land for housing for the period up to 2006. This figure excludes the former Royal Ordnance Factory site at Euxton, which is also expected to contribute 500 dwellings during the plan period, on the part of the site lying within Chorley borough.

  Upon commencement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill, Chorley borough council will be required to prepare a Local Development Framework to replace the Local Plan Review. In doing so the council should have regard to the annualised rates of average housing provision set out in Regional Planning Guidance for the North West, as applied by the emerging Lancashire Structure Plan. That currently proposes an annual rate of housing provision for Chorley in the period 2006–16 of 210 dwellings per year, net of clearance.

  Housing (North Yorkshire)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received on affordable housing in North Yorkshire. [147208]
  1090W
  Yvette Cooper
  In 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received correspondence from the hon. Member and from Mr. Peter Annison, Chair of the Richmondshire Local Strategic Partnership, about affordable housing in North Yorkshire. Affordable housing in North Yorkshire featured in comments on the draft regional housing strategy in Spring last year, and is an issue identified in the sub-region's local authorities' housing strategies. The subject also features in Government Office discussions with North Yorkshire housing authorities, and the Government Office has received representations about funding for a project developed by Esk Moors Action for the Elderly. The North Yorkshire Housing Forum has submitted to the Regional Housing Board three proposals for different types of affordable housing for funding through the Board's 'transformational proposals' commissioning strand, for schemes to start in 2005–06.

  Housing Strategies
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on how older people are involved in planning for housing strategies; and if he will make a statement. [148237]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not commissioned any research on the involvement of older people in planning for housing strategies. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will, however, be supporting the work of the Housing for Older People Development Group (HOPDev), which will be examining older people's involvement in housing strategies as part of its programme of work for the coming year.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he intends to take to ensure that council tenants are given information on the case for and against the large scale voluntary transfer of council housing proposed by North East Lincolnshire council. [148067]

  Yvette Cooper
  Tenants should be involved from the outset in the consideration of stock options and have a central role in deciding which option is pursued. To assist tenants in this the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects them to have access to good independent advice from the start.

  Where housing transfer is the chosen option, the local authority should ensure that the information provided to tenants during the consultation process gives a full, fair and balanced picture of the implications of the proposed transfer as compared with staying with the council, so they can demonstrate that tenants have been properly consulted and informed.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he intends to ensure that his undertaking to London council tenants on 27 November 2003 regarding the information to be given to tenants about the implications of stock transfer or the creation of arm's length management organisations is implemented in the light of the decision by Mr. Justice Munby in case CO/6212/2003. [148068]
  1091W
  Yvette Cooper
  The Communities Plan published in February 2003 made clear that council tenants must be fully informed and consulted at all stages in the process of appraising, choosing and implementing options for the future management and improvement of their homes. Tenants will have the support of Independent Tenant Advisers in this process. Effective tenant engagement is a key test for signing off the results of option appraisals and for giving approval for councils to implement these results. The information made available for tenants by their council and others at each stage should be sufficient to enable tenants to express an informed opinion.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council houses were sold in each year since 1980; and how many houses were left in local authority ownership each year. [148279]

  Yvette Cooper
  The figures available for England are tabled as follows:

  Thousand

  Council house sales

  Right-to-Buy

  LSVT

  Other sales

  LA rented stock estimates1

  1979–80

  n/a

  n/a

  54

  4,764

  1980–81

  2

  n/a

  66

  4,798

  1981–82

  105

  n/a

  23

  4,819

  1982–83

  167

  n/a

  14

  4,660

  1983–84

  106

  n/a

  16

  4,561

  1984–85

  78

  n/a

  13

  4,511

  1985–86

  72

  n/a

  10

  4,439

  1986–87

  77

  n/a

  9

  4,366

  1987–88

  94

  n/a

  19

  4,277

  1988–89

  136

  11

  9

  4,134

  1989–90

  134

  14

  9

  3,991

  1990–91

  76

  45

  6

  3,899

  1991–92

  48

  11

  6

  3,844

  1992–93

  38

  26

  5

  3,760

  1993–94

  45

  30

  7

  3,666

  1994–95

  43

  40

  4

  3,565

  1995–96

  32

  45

  2

  3,470

  1996–97

  33

  21

  4

  3,401

  1997–98

  41

  33

  4

  3,309

  1998–99

  40

  74

  4

  3,178

  1999–2000

  54

  95

  3

  3,012

  2000–01

  52

  132

  1

  2,812

  2001–02

  52

  35

  1

  2,708

  2002–03

  63

  166

  1

  2,457

  1 Up to 1988–89 stock data at 31 December, thereafter at 31 March.

  Local Government (Employment)
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the change has been in the number of local government employees since 1997. [148443]

  Phil Hope
  Figures for Great Britain, which are available in an article published in 'Economic Trends' (September 2003), show that between 1997 and 2002 there was an increase of 148,000 in the total general local government employment category.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Michael Foster
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the report by Professors Blanchflower and Oswald on Calculating an Appropriate Regional Funding Adjustment for Worcestershire, commissioned by Worcestershire county council; and if he will make a statement. [148037]
  1092W
  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government will carefully consider the points made in Worcestershire county council's response to the consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement, alongside all others, as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister takes the final decisions on the settlement.

  Local Government Planning
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government will press local authorities reviewing the potential for re-allocating excess employment land to consider the option of withdrawing sites from their development plans, with particular reference to those which are identified as low priority for development according to the sequential approach set out in PPG3. [149190]

  Yvette Cooper
  Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: "Housing" (PPG3), requires local planning authorities to review all their non-housing allocations, including those for employment, and consider whether some of this land might better be used for housing or mixed use developments.

  In July 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a consultation document, "Supporting the Delivery of New Housing". This proposes to add new policy to PPG3 requiring local planning authorities to consider applications for housing development favourably on allocated industrial and employment sites. It highlighted the need to review employment sites and to identify those which no longer need to be retained for employment uses. Such sites would then be de-allocated at the next review of the plan, and consideration given to whether the sites should be allocated for other uses. Whether such sites are suitable for housing will depend on how they perform against PPG3 policies, including the sequential approach.

  The consultation closed on 31 October 2003 and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering the responses received. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will publish the final policy, alongside practice guidance to help local planning authorities in reviewing employment land allocations, in due course.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the quantity of previously developed land that is(a) available for redevelopment and (b) likely to become available for redevelopment up to 2016. [149194]

  Yvette Cooper
  From the 2002 National Land Use Database of Previously Developed Land, an estimated 66,000 hectares of previously developed land are available for development in England. This includes both vacant and derelict land and land currently in use with known potential for redevelopment. New sites amounted to 14 per cent. of the 2001 stock of previously developed land. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not made any forecasts of future flows of land likely to become available for redevelopment.

  Mobile Phone Masts
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Stewart report on mobile phone masts in relation to
  1093W
  PPG8, with particular reference to the recommendations of the report on main beam transmissions next to sensitive sites. [149182]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Stewart report recommended that all telecommunications development be subject to the planning process in order to improve local consultation. On 22 August 2001, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister strengthened public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below and for masts on buildings and structures so that they are exactly the same as applications for planning permission. The changes to the planning arrangements also underlined that school governors must be consulted on all proposals for new masts on or near a school or college.

  The Stewart Report also recommended that an independent random, on-going, audit of base stations be carried out to ensure that exposure guidelines are not exceeded. Ofcom (formerly the Radiocommunications Agency) is undertaking the audit, which has been running since December 2000 and has focused on school sites. The results have shown emissions ranging between several hundred to many thousand times below the public exposure guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

  Planning
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many, and what percentage of recommendations from inspectors called in dealing with(a) planning appeals and (b) applications he overturned in each year since 1997. [148484]

  Yvette Cooper
  This information is only available for decisions taken since 1 April 2002 by the new Planning Central Casework Division (PCCD) established in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on that date to take over work previously done predominantly by Government Offices, Information on decisions administered by PCCD since April 2002 is tabled:

  Year

  Total appeal decisions

  Inspector's recommendation overturned

  Total call in decisions

  Inspector's recommendation overturned

  2002–2003

  124

  5 (4%)

  59

  12 (20%)

  2003–20041

  179

  16 (9%)

  72

  8 (11%)

  1 First three quarters

  In relation to decisions made before the setting up of PCCD, the available information (which does not distinguish between called in applications and appeals) is tabled:

  Year

  Secretary of State decisions

  Inspector's Recommendation overturned

  1999–2000

  184

  13 (7%)

  2000–01

  189

  22 (12%)

  2001–02

  180

  13 (7%)

  2002–031

  64

  17 (26%)

  2003–041

  5

  2 (40%)

  1 First three quarters

  Comprehensive information is not held centrally for the period April 1997 to March 1999, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
  1094W
  1 These decisions are in respect of inquiries which closed before 1 April 2002.

  Planning Guidance
  John Mann
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account planning authorities in England are required to take of(a) written departmental guidelines circulated to them and (b) ministerial speeches in Parliament. [147970]

  Yvette Cooper
  Written Departmental Guidance and Ministerial speeches in Parliament are capable of being material considerations which local planning authorities must take into account when exercising their planning powers (for both forward planning and development control purposes). Central Government policy may be communicated to local planning authorities in various ways (for example by written guidance or oral statements) and may be taken into account by a local planning authority, irrespective of the way in which it is communicated. The weight to be attached to it may vary, however, depending on how formally it is expressed.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he has provided to local authorities on the incorporation of estimates for climate change into the definition of floodplain for planning purposes. [148281]

  Yvette Cooper
  The flood zones in the risk-based sequential test in Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 25 "Development and flood risk", which was published in July 2001, are based on Environment Agency mapping of the risks at the time of map preparation. This does not include any allowance for climate change. However, local planning authorities and developers are advised to take account of climate change in assessing the risks from flooding. PPG 25 recommends a minimum standard of flood defence that takes account of the allowances for climate change contained in the "Project appraisal guidance for flood and coastal defence", published by the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1999.

  Climate change allowances have been re-examined by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) following publication of new climate change scenarios in 2002. Further guidance was published by DEFRA in 2003, which does not differ in its essentials from that already cited in PPG 25.

  Property Revaluations
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has commissioned on the impact upon pensioners of the revaluation of properties in England in 2007; and if he will make a statement. [148235]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government acknowledged the criticisms of council tax in the 2001 White Paper, "Strong Local Leadership, Quality Public Services". Consequently the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has established the Balance of Funding review to consider possible reforms to the current arrangements. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has commissioned various research studies to inform the review including analysis of the potential impact of
  1095W
  revaluation on different regions and groups of council tax payers. The review will be considering proposals for change in the course of the next few months.

  Registered Social Landlords
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the registered social landlords under investigation by the Housing Corporation; and if he will make a statement. [148728]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Housing Corporation is responsible for some 2,000 registered social landlords in England. To comply with the Corporation's Regulatory Code, all registered social landlords provide the Corporation with financial and regulatory information. The Corporation conducts a range of regulatory reviews as part of its routine regulatory exchanges. The Corporation has statutory powers to direct an inquiry into the affairs of a registered social landlord. There is currently only one such inquiry under way, into Solon Wandsworth Housing Association Ltd.

  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from registered social landlords on allowing them to exceed the cap in relation to the rent increases set down in the Government's rent restructuring policy; and if he will make a statement. [148729]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created in May 2002. Since this time, we have received four written representations from registered social landlords (RSLs) seeking a revision to the cap on rents of properties with the highest capital values which is incorporated into our rent restructuring policy. The current cap in 2003–04 ranges from £87.30 for a bedsit to £102.70 for a property with four or more bedrooms. For the small number of properties affected by this safeguard, the maximum increase in future years is set at Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 1 per cent. a year.

  As set out in our initial policy, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently conducting a three-year review of the policy, with the aim of completing this in the spring.

  Relationship Managers
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 5 January 2004,Official Report, column 149W, on relationship managers, which authorities rated as weak in 2002 are involved in the on-going discussions with his Department over arrangements to accept assistance from his Department on a voluntary basis. [148072]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are discussing with Wolverhampton, Northamptonshire, Havering, Merton, Enfield, Milton Keynes and Nottingham, whether those councils would wish to develop their relationship with Government through a named official.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 5 January 2004,Official Report, column 149W, on relationship managers, what assessment was made of Trafford Metropolitan borough council's corporate capacity to improve; and what the outcome was of that assessment. [148073]
  1096W
  Mr. Raynsford
  The Audit Commission carried out a corporate assessment of Trafford Metropolitan borough council published as part of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) of the authority in December 2002.

  The Audit Commission's corporate assessment team gave a rating for the council's overall ability to improve as two out of a possible four and their overall performance was assessed as 'weak'.

  Following the CPA assessment, the Audit Commission orchestrated an improvement planning process with the council, involving relevant representatives from government departments and inspectorates. This process established the priorities for improvement and agreed a co-ordinated and focused programme of follow up inspections based on the findings of the CPA assessment. Trafford Metropolitan borough council's priorities for improvement are set out in their Best Value Performance Plan, published in June 2003.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 5 January 2004,Official Report, column 149W, on relationship managers, what discussions have taken place with Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council following the comprehensive performance assessment; and whether he will appoint a relationship manager to improve Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council services. [148074]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Since taking up his post in September 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Director of Local Government Practice in the North-West has met with the Chief Executive of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council on several occasions, as part of his broader brief. In particular, he has provided the council with advice on the availability of funding through the capacity building programme run jointly by the Government and the Local Government Association.

  Trafford have not requested that a Lead Official should be appointed.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 5 January 2004,Official Report, column 149W, on relationship managers, what criteria he used to distinguish between councils rated as weak in 2002 when considering the appointment of lead officials to work with councils. [148075]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Following the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Performance Assessment announcements in December 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister appointed lead officials to engage directly to secure recovery in those authorities classified as 'poor' and those categorised as 'weak' with a corporate capacity score of one, indicating little scope for managing recovery.

  In addition, other councils classified as 'weak' can volunteer to develop their relationship with Government through a named official.

  Sandwell MBC v. Perks
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many properties he estimates will be affected by the judgment in the High Court Case R (Sandwell MBC)
  1097W
  v. Perks and the West Midlands (West) Valuation Tribunal (2003) EWH 1749 Admin; and if he will make a statement. [147974]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Entitlement to disabled band reduction is a matter for individual billing authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister therefore has not estimated how many properties might be affected by this decision.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make available supplementary funding to local authorities which incur expenditure as a consequence of the judgement in the High Court Case R (Sandwell MBC) v Perks and the West Midlands (West) Valuation Tribunal (2003) EWH 1749 Admin. [147975]

  Mr. Raynsford
  No.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of new build is required to be social housing for(a) rent and (b) shared ownership. [148424]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not set annual targets centrally for local authorities on social housing.

  Planning policies for affordable housing are set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 3, "Housing", and in Circular 6/98, "Planning for Affordable Housing". They advise that where local planning authorities are able to demonstrate a lack of affordable housing to meet local needs, based on up-to-date surveys and other data of local need, they should indicate in their local plan how many affordable homes need to be provided throughout the plan area, and set indicative targets for specific suitable sites (expressed either as numbers of homes or a percentage of the homes on the site).

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council houses were sold in Chorley in the last five years; and how many properties remained in local authority ownership in each of those years. [148425]

  Yvette Cooper
  The figures reported by Chorley to the Office of Deputy Prime Minister and its predecessor departments are tabled as follows:

  Council house sales

  LA rented stock estimates at end of year

  1998–99

  35

  3,477

  1999–2000

  44

  3,437

  2000–01

  41

  3,393

  2001–02

  52

  3,367

  2002–03

  95

  3,271

  Sustainable Communities
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress since the announcement of the(a) Milton Keynes, (b) Ashford and (c) Stansted Corridor Sustainable Communities; how much public money has been spent; how much private sector capital has been committed; how much land has been acquired; how much land will be acquired; and over what timescale. [148203]
  1098W
  Yvette Cooper
  There has been considerable progress in the growth areas since the announcement in July 2002—"Creating Sustainable Communities: Making it Happen: Thames Gateway and the Growth Areas".

  Partners are well advanced in developing the £88 million worth of projects approved in July as part of the Government's Sustainable Communities funding package and we are on target to meet the £21.5 million allocated in this year's programme. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's further announcement of 14 January 2004 allocated an additional £63 million to a further 27 projects. £11.5 million has been allocated to schemes which will deliver new and improved strategic green spaces in the growth areas, including a new regional park in the Nene Valley, and a significant expansion of the Forest of Marston Vale in Bedfordshire. Over £50 million has been awarded to 18 other projects to provide key transport and economic infrastructure including new bridges and roads to access sites for 6,850 homes that would otherwise be blocked.

  The vast majority of development within the housing growth areas will be undertaken by the private sector but detailed information on each investment is not collected. In addition there will be major investment programmes on commercial sites—such as the £800 million programme for Central Milton Keynes, involving English Partnerships, Milton Keynes Council and a number of private investors. Many schemes funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are, however, designed to enable local partners to lever in specific private sector commitments to infrastructure by unblocking barriers to investment. In most cases negotiations are ongoing, but examples of match funding already committed include the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's commitment of £10.6 million for road access to the Wellingborough East development site, which is matched pound for pound by Bovis Homes.

  There are no targets for land acquisition in the growth areas; the need for land assembly by the public sector will be determined on a case by case basis. Several of the projects for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is already providing funding will facilitate the assembly of parcels of land for public benefit, such as the provision of affordable housing and community facilities (for example in Harlow), or high quality green spaces within or around the growth areas, as in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. The funding will also facilitate the remediation of heavily contaminated land and the preparation of sites for release to the private sector for development.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Government Departments are involved in plans for the development of the(a) Milton Keynes, (b) Ashford and (c) Stansted Corridor Sustainable Communities; and what commitments they have made. [148205]

  Yvette Cooper
  The July Statement—"Sustainable Communities: Making it Happen: Thames Gateway and the Growth Areas"—set out how growth area projects
  1099W
  would be taken forward across Government, with schemes including transport, health, education, sports and green spaces. For example, transport commitments include the £1.6 billion announced by Alistair Darling in July, and most recently the Department for Transport's Local Transport Programme announcement of December 2003, which included schemes worth £221 million across the three growth areas.

  A wide range of public agencies are involved. Bringing more agencies together with local partners to look at strategic infrastructure issues is the purpose of the Inter Regional Board being established for the Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area, which will hold its first meeting on 11 February 2004.

  Unfit Housing
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assistance is available for repairing structurally unfit houses owned by the(a) elderly and (b) disabled; and if he will make a statement. [148236]

  Yvette Cooper
  Local authorities have wide ranging powers under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2004 to provide assistance for the repair, improvement or adaptation of any living accommodation in their area. Such assistance, which can be made available at the discretion of the authority, may be in any form, for example by way of a grant, loan or loan guarantee, and can be provided either directly by the council or through a third party. The Order provides that before using these powers the local authority must publish a policy setting out the range of assistance that they will make available.

  Funding for this assistance is available from an authority's single capital housing pot and in 2002–03 total local authority expenditure in England on housing renewal grants (excluding disabled facilities grant) was £259 million.

  Water Supply
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what additional water supply infrastructure is likely to be required for the additional homes proposed for the Thames Gateway up to 2016. [149184]

  Yvette Cooper
  Each water supply company produces a water resources plan that looks forward 25 years. The companies update their plans annually, which are then reviewed by the Environment Agency for consistency with its national and regional water resources strategies. The companies serving the Thames Gateway need firm estimates of growth to enable them to identify new water supply and disposal infrastructure requirements and factor these in to their business plans. Companies are therefore working in close liaison with local and regional planners and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to establish both infrastructure requirements and the scope for achieving water efficiency savings in the new homes through sustainable development. A summary of their final investment plans will be available in late April, but these will cover investment required to meet the totality of demand forecast in their areas not just that which is within the Thames Gateway.

  West Midlands Regional Planning
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to publish the final version of the West Midlands Regional Planning Guidance. [148014]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently considering responses to the public consultation on my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's Proposed Changes to Draft Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) for the West Midlands. We hope to publish the final RPG in the spring this year.

  Wychavon District Council
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what account he took, in setting the revenue support grant for Wychavon District Council for 2004–05, of cost pressures on the council flowing from(a) administering the new local plan, (b) implementing the law on high hedges, (c) administering the Supporting People programme, (d) deregulation of building control services, (e) ending of Market Towns Initiative funding, (f) ending of Local Government On-Line funding and (g) compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000; [146549]

  (2) what account he took in setting the revenue support grant for Wychavon District Council for 2004–05, of cost pressures on the council flowing from (a) implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 on council property, (b) compliance with new legislation on homelessness, (c) provision for migrant workers, (d) changes to insurance premiums, (e) audit and inspection fees, (f) implementation of new licensing arrangements, (g) provision of recycling and waste services and (h) increases in employer contributions to pension funds; [146550]

  (3) what account he took, in setting the revenue support grant for Wychavon District Council for 2004–05, of cost pressures on the council flowing from (a) the requirement for more consultation with the community to improve local accountability and community leadership, (b) the administration of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, (c) further requirements for dealing with stray dogs, (d) administration of the standards regime for regulation of district and parish councils, (e) the need to have the financial capacity to improve following Comprehensive Performance Assessment inspection and (f) the requirement to develop a cultural strategy. [146555]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's proposals for the funding of local authority revenue spending in 2004–05 take into account the cost pressures and new burdens on local government identified with the Local Government Association in the context of the Spending Review 2002, which set the spending plans up to 2005–06. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has added to those totals to reflect additional pressures and new burdens since the announcement of Spending Review 2002. Additionally, Wychavon District Council has received specific grants for certain items identified by the hon. Member, for example from the Waste Recycling Challenge Fund.
  1101W
  The Government's proposals for 2004–05 provide for an increase in total general grant of £2.4 billion or 5.5 per cent. Wychavon District Council would receive an increase of £5.6 million or 4.2 per cent. on a like-for-like basis compared with 2003–04.
  1102W
  Most Government funding to local authorities is paid through general grant and is for councils to allocate in line with their statutory duties, their priorities and the wishes of their electorate.

  House of Lords: Post Received
  House of Lords: Post Received
  Police Service of Northern Ireland
  Police Service of Northern Ireland
  North/South Language Implementation Body: Budget 2004
  North/South Language Implementation Body: Budget 2004
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman: Budget 2002–03
  Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman: Budget 2002–03
  Waterways Ireland
  Waterways Ireland
  Northern Ireland: Civil Servants and Smoking
  Northern Ireland: Civil Servants and Smoking
  Northern Ireland Assembly: November 2003 Elections
  Northern Ireland Assembly: November 2003 Elections
  International Financial Institutions
  International Financial Institutions
  Africa: Primary Education
  Africa: Primary Education
  Employment Tribunals: Exceptional Funding
  Employment Tribunals: Exceptional Funding
  Indonesia: Human Rights in Aceh
  Indonesia: Human Rights in Aceh
  Gypsy/Traveller Pupils: Key Stage 4 Participation
  Gypsy/Traveller Pupils: Key Stage 4 Participation
  Higher Education: Recruitment of Director of Fair Access
  Higher Education: Recruitment of Director of Fair Access
  Hutton Inquiry and Open Government
  Hutton Inquiry and Open Government
  Gender Recognition
  Gender Recognition
  Health Cash Plan Providers: Tax Treatment of Surpluses
  Health Cash Plan Providers: Tax Treatment of Surpluses
  Construction Industry: Raw Materials
  Construction Industry: Raw Materials