Written Answers of 21 January 2004

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will rule out amending to 15 per cent. the Government's 2010 target for reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. [148613]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: The Government today published for consultation its draft National Allocation Plan for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. In doing so, we reaffirmed our commitment to our domestic goal to move towards a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide of 20 per cent. on 1990 levels by 2010.

  The UK Climate Change Programme sets out the policy framework to ensure that we meet our Kyoto target and move towards the domestic goal. We are committed to reviewing the Programme this year, which will provide an opportunity to introduce new policies and measures, or to strengthen existing ones, if the conclusion is that more needs to be done to achieve the domestic goal.

  Montreal Protocol
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department is working to ensure that the UK fulfils its obligations under the Montreal Protocol. [148006]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: The UK signed and ratified the Montreal Protocol in 1987, and has since ratified the four other amendments, London (1990) Copenhagen (1992) Montreal (1997) and Beijing (1999). The Community has implemented its obligations under the Montreal Protocol through EC Regulation 2037/2000, which is directly applicable in UK law. This Regulation has put in place an accelerated phase-out programme on the supply and use of ozone depleting substances, as EU member states were keen to move faster than the Protocol. A statutory Instrument has been introduced which creates offences and sets penalties for any breaches of the ozone regulation.

  Nuclear Energy
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the audited amount of(a) plutonium and (b) uranium at each nuclear energy facility which was unaccounted for in each year since 1997. [148500]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I have been asked to reply.

  In accordance with international practice, the inventory difference that occurs when the result of a physical inventory of nuclear material is compared with
  1234W
  the book inventory is referred to as MUF ('material unaccounted for'). The difference may be negative (an apparent loss) or positive (an apparent gain). MUF is a recognised feature of accounting for nuclear material and is caused primarily by the uncertainties inherent in the techniques used to measure nuclear material. MUF figures at UKAEA, BNFL and Urenco sites are published annually by the industry. Copies of the figures published since 1997 have been placed in the Library of the House. There is no evidence to suggest that there have been any real losses or gains of nuclear material.

  Oral Statements
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason she has made no oral statement to the House on an environmental matter since July 2002. [148586]

  Margaret Beckett
  I take very seriously the importance of keeping the House properly informed across the whole range of my broad portfolio of responsibilities.

  Packaging Waste
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 were not published until 14 January; and if she will delay their entry into force. [148980]

  Mr. Morley
  The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 were not published until 14 January due to delays caused by the Christmas holiday period. However, the Regulations came into force on 1 January 2004, as intended.

  Protected Species
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the criteria are for designating a wild species of animal as protected. [148656]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Every five years the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) advises Government on which animals should be legally protected by listing on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. JNCC reported to Government with its recommendations in September 2002, which included full protection for this species. The next stage is for Government to conduct a public consultation based on these recommendations, which will occur in spring 2004. Following this consultation, the Secretary of State will decide on the changes to be made to the schedules and these will be implemented by Statutory Instrument.

  For a species to be recommended for scheduling one of the eligibility criteria in each of the Sections A to D below should be met:
  A. Generally, only native (including re-established) taxa are to be considered. Taxa introduced or thought to be introduced to Great Britain by man could be considered exceptionally, with the following provisos.

  1235W
  (i) the organism is endangered or extinct in its native range, and
  (ii) preferably, the natural range reaches the north west coast of Europe (i.e. continental distribution extends to the Atlantic coast of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany or Scandinavia; for marine taxa, the distribution includes the north west Atlantic area), and provided that
  (iii) information suggests that the organism is unlikely to have an adverse impact on important native species or ecosystems.
  B. The taxon must be either:
  (i) established in the wild in Great Britain; or
  (ii) occur as a vagrant in Great Britain and require international protection; or
  (iii) be believed extinct in Great Britain as a breeding species, but be in the process of re-establishment; or
  (iv) be believed extinct in Great Britain, but with the possibility that it could become re-established naturally.
  C. The taxonomic status of the organism must be well authenticated. Taxa below the species level could be considered, providing they are:
  (i) clearly recognisable (i.e. morphologically distinct), and
  (ii) geographically or ecologically distinct.
  D The taxon must be endangered in Great Britain, or likely to become so unless conservation measures are taken, and/or be subject to an international obligation for protection. One or more of the following may indicate that a taxon is or may become endangered:
  (i) it is included in a JNCC-approved British Red Data Book as Extinct, Endangered or Vulnerable (or, in Red Lists drawn up using the recently revised IUCN criteria, as Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable)]
  (ii) it has been well searched for but is known from only a single locality;
  (iii) it is confined to a particularly threatened habitat. The extent or quality of the habitat is being significantly reduced or is likely to become significantly reduced, thus threatening the survival of the organism;
  (iv) it is rapidly declining in population, number of localities occupied or range. Indicative would be at least 50 per cent. decline observed, estimated inferred or suspected in the last 20 years, or a decline of at least 50 per cent. projected, inferred or suspected to be likely in the near future. The decline must transcend normal fluctuations;
  (v) it is endangered, or likely to become endangered through being targeted for exploitation or killing for commercial reasons and/or through being particularly attractive to collectors.
  International obligations apply to a taxon which is:
  (vi) naturally resident and listed on Appendices I, II or III of the Bern Convention; Annexes II, IV or V of the EC Habitats and Species Directive; Appendix I of the Bonn Convention (unless derogations are in force); and/or endemic to Great Britain and included in a JNCC-approved British Red List.

TRANSPORT

  Drink-driving
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has undertaken of the impact on drink-related accidents of lowering the legal limit of alcohol for drivers from 80 mg to 50 mg; and for what reasons he has not introduced a lower alcohol in blood limit. [147927]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government considers that strengthened enforcement of existing controls, combined with publicity and education, is the appropriate basis for dealing with drink-drive accidents and casualties. The 1236W
  Government carried out an analysis of the possible savings in road traffic casualties from a reduction in the legal alcohol limit for the purposes of the 1998 consultation document "Combating Drink Driving: Next Steps", a copy of which is in the House Library. This estimated that a reduction in the limit to 50mg/100m1 could save around 50 fatalities per year, but was based on a number of assumptions about accident causation and individual driver compliance. We have also considered more recent published research into the potential impact of lowering the limit, the results of which appear to be inconclusive.

  Shipping
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) injuries and (b) fatalities of employees of shipping companies there were in each year since 1997, broken down by company. [148486]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), a separate branch within the DfT, records injuries and fatalities to crew of UK vessels.

  Regulation 9(1)(e) of The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1999 has the effect of preventing the disclosure, for any purpose other than the investigation, of any report of an accident provided to the MAIB, including the names of the ship owners. However, where an investigation has been ordered by the Chief Inspector, regulation 10 provides that a report is to be made publicly available. The following table therefore shows figures only for injuries and fatalities to crew of UK registered merchant vessels for which investigations have been concluded and a report published, as at 16 January 2004.

  Owner Name

  (a) Injuries

  (b) Fatalities

  1997

  Alderney Shipping Co Ltd.

  1

  J. R. Rix and Sons Ltd.

  1

  Lowline Ltd.

  6

  Orcargo

  1

  Princess Cruises Inc.

  1

  Vector Offshore Ltd.

  1

  Viking Standby Ltd.

  1

  Total

  9

  3

  1998

  P&O European Ferries

  2

  1

  P&O Stena Line Ltd.

  1

  Total

  2

  2

  1999

  RFA

  1

  Lowline Ltd.

  1

  Nomis Shipping Ltd.

  2

  Total

  2

  2

  2000

  P&O European Ferries

  2

  P&O Stena Line Ltd.

  1

  P&O Stena Line Shipmanagement Ltd.

  4

  Shetlands Islands Council

  1

  Total

  7

  1

  2001

  Eidesvik Shipping UK Ltd.

  1

  Princess Cruises

  1

  Turk Phoenix Ltd.

  1

  Total

  3

  1237W

  Owner Name

  (a) Injuries

  (b) Fatalities

  2002

  Cunard Line Ltd.

  1

  1

  P&O North Sea Ferries Ltd.

  1

  Total

  1

  1

  2003

  Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd.

  1

  Total

  1

  0

  Note:

  1. Accidents to shore based workers onboard ships in port/drydock are reported to HSE, not MAIB.

  2. There is no general requirement for foreign in UK waters, to report onboard accidents authorities.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) injuries and (b) fatalities to workers on ships there were in each year since 1997. [148487]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Figures for the number of crew killed and injured on UK registered merchant vessels, reported to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch of DfT by 15 January 2004, are as follows:

  Killed

  Injured

  1997

  5

  329

  1998

  2

  320

  1999

  4

  278

  2000

  3

  305

  2001

  3

  287

  2002

  5

  301

  2003

  2

  261

  Notes:

  1. Accidents to shore based workers on board ships in port/dry dock are reported to HSE, not MAIB.

  2. There is no general requirement for foreign flagged vessels, even in UK waters, to report on-board accidents to personnel to UK authorities.

  3. The number of UK flagged merchant vessels increased by more than 20 per cent. between 2001 and 2003.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions, in each year since 1990, powers to direct a ship to leave UK waters have been used, giving in each case the reason for the direction. [148848]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The powers to direct a ship to leave UK waters have only been used on one occasion. On 19 July 1999, a direction was issued to the MV Rainbow Warrior for the purpose of securing the safety of the ship and of other ships, persons on the ship and other ships, and other persons and property.

  Aviation
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further sanctions are available to his Department to recover fines where an airline has been banned from United Kingdom airspace due to non-payment of fines. [148960]

  Mr. McNulty
  The recovery of charges due under Carriers Liability legislation in respect of passengers arriving in the United Kingdom without the required documents is the responsibility of the Home Office. Such charges may be recoverable through the courts as a debt.1238W
  However, if a carrier was not operating to the United Kingdom, the enforceability of a court's judgment would be a relevant consideration in deciding whether to pursue this course.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reduce the charges levied on users of British airspace as a result of the transfer of responsibility for aviation safety regulation from the UK CAA to the European Aviation Safety Agency. [149596]

  Mr. McNulty
  Regulation (EC) No. 1592/2002, establishing the European Aviation Safety Agency, applies to the design, production, and airworthiness of aircraft and aircraft products, together with associated personnel and organisations. It has no bearing on the way British airspace is managed or the charges levied with respect to the use of British airspace.

  The Agency took up its safety regulatory duties on 28 September 2003, and for the time being, has authorised national aviation administrations, including the UK CAA, to carry out tasks on its behalf under national charging schemes. Until the Agency has established its own staff and processes, including a Regulation on fees and charges, we cannot estimate the precise effect on the work of the CAA. The CAA intends to review with UK industry the impact that EASA will have on the costs of its Safety Regulation Group and the associated charges to UK industry.

  Bus Travel
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his plans to work with the Office of Fair Trading to clarify the position on the ability of bus companies and local authorities to offer through ticketing arrangements permitting cross-boundary travel by encouraging reciprocal arrangements. [148277]

  Mr. McNulty
  These matters are regularly discussed between my right hon. Friend and the Chairman of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

  Car Insurance
  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of(a) the number of people driving on roads in England and Wales without adequate insurance cover in each of the last five years and (b) trends in driving without insurance in recent years. [148738]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Current estimates from the insurance industry are that there are about 1.25 million motorists driving while uninsured. No estimates are available for earlier years. Figures for convictions for uninsured driving show an average yearly increase of 1.2 per cent. since 1998.

  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the average cost to the insurance premium holder in each of the last five years of driving without insurance. [148740]
  1239W
  Mr. Jamieson
  For the year 2002 the cost to each motorist's insurance premium is estimated at between £15 and £30. However, no figures are available for previous years.

  Flight Paths
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department has issued to airlines in respect of flight paths that take commercial aircraft above 30,000 feet. [148589]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department has not issued any guidance. When designing air traffic services routes, airspace planners are bound by the provisions of guidance material contained in the ICAO Air Traffic Services Planning Manual—Doc. 9426. In addition, the operational approval and aircraft certification given by the Civil Aviation Authority to aircraft operators covers the operation of aircraft at all phases of flight at any level.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what environmental assessment has been made of the(a) benefits and (b) disbenefits of commercial aircraft flying at (i) 20,000, (ii) 25,000, (iii) 30,000 and (iv) 35,000 feet. [148590]

  Mr. McNulty
  No specific assessment has been made of the benefits and disbenefits of flight al these altitudes. However, research jointly undertaken by DLR (the German aerospace agency) and Manchester Metropolitan University within the European research project, TRADEOFF, looked at the hypothetical impact of reducing cruise altitudes on contrail coverage and its radiative forcing (a measure of the climate impact), as well as the effect of increased fuel consumption (and hence CO2 emissions). The research concluded that flying at lower cruise altitudes reduced contrail formation but increased fuel consumption.

  Any detailed assessment would have to explore these trade-offs further. The research was not intended to suggest changes in operating practices, which would need full international agreement.

  Kazahkstan (Air Transport)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to argue, in his discussions with the Government of Kazahkstan, that a charter service from Uralsk to Amsterdam cannot be considered as a replacement for a service from Uralsk to London; what recent discussions he has had on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [149485]

  Mr. McNulty
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 14 January 2004,Official Report, column 745W.

  We are pursuing this matter with the Kazakh Government. Our objective is to ensure that the services offered by airlines meet passenger demands and that no unreasonable obstacles are put in the way of those services.

  Lower Airspace Radar Service
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) why he has initiated a regulatory impact assessment on the funding of his Lower Airspace Radar Service; and if he will make a statement; [149597]
  1240W
  (2) what plans he has to charge general aviation users for the Lower Airspace Radar Service. [149598]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Secretary of State has not initiated a regulatory impact assessment on this matter as funding of the Lower Airspace Radar Service (LARS) is the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) through its Directorate of Airspace Policy.

  I understand that the CAA will shortly be issuing a consultation document setting out the options for the future funding of the service.

  Roads
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the proportion of congestion on roads in England and Wales which is caused by poorly planned and lengthy street works carried out(a) by utilities and (b) by or on behalf of highway authorities. [145530]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 5 January 2004]: The Department does not hold figures for the proportion of congestion cause by street works that are poorly planned or lengthy, whether carried out by utilities or highway authorities. However, Transport Research Laboratory figures indicate that all types of road and utility works cause around 10 per cent. of congestion on the Highways Agency's Trunk Road and Motorway system. The proportion of this carried out by Utility Companies is under 2 per cent.

  The Department does not hold equivalent figures for local roads. Relatively little utility apparatus is located under motorways and trunk roads. Therefore, congestion caused by utility works on local authority roads will be significantly higher than the equivalent figure for Highways Agency roads given above.

  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the Highways Agency's budget was spent on road maintenance projects in(a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [149147]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The proportion spent in 2002–03 and forecast to be spent in 2003–04 is about 46 per cent.

  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what major improvements are planned to the trunk road network. [148927]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI) to the trunk road and motorway network currently comprises 72 schemes each costing more than £5 million. These are:

  A1 (M) Ferrybridge—Hook Moor (under construction)

  A1(M) Wetherby—Walshford (under construction)

  A2—Cobham Phase 1 (under construction)

  A2 Bean—Cobham Phase 2

  A2/A282 Dartford Improvement

  A5 Weeford—Fazeley Improvement

  A10 Wadesmill Colliers End (under construction)

  A14 Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction

  A21 Lamberhurst Bypass (under construction)

  A34 Chieveley/M4 J13 Improvement (under construction)

  A63 Selby By-pass (under construction)

  1241W

  A120 Stansted—Braintree Improvement (under construction)

  A249 Iwade—Queenborough Improvement

  A303 Stonehenge

  A421 Great Barford By-pass

  A500 City Road and Stoke Junction Improvement

  M25 J12–15 Widening (under construction)

  M60 J5–8 Widening (under construction)

  A1 1 Attleborough By-pass

  All Fiveways—Thetford Improvement

  A47 Thorney By-pass

  M6 Carlisle to Guardsmill extension

  A63 Melton Grade Separated Junction

  A14 Haughley New St—Stowmarket Improvement

  A3 Hindhead Improvement

  A38 Dobwalls By-pass

  A595 Parton—Lillyhall Improvement

  A1 Peterborough—Blyth Grade Separated Junctions

  M62 Junction 6 Improvement

  A46 Newark—Widmerpool Improvement

  A30 Bodmin Indian Queens

  A483 Pant—Llanymynech Bypass

  A5117/A550 Deeside Park Junctions Improvement

  A419 Blunsdon

  A66 Temple Sowerby and Improvement at Winderwath

  AI Dishforth to Leeming

  A1 Bramham—Wetherby (Including Wetherby By-pass)

  A1 Leeming to Barton

  A64 Rillington By-pass

  M40/A404 Handy Cross Junction Improvement

  A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Dualling

  A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Improvement

  A66 Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner Improvement

  A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick Improvement

  A30/A3 82 Merrymeet Junction

  A66 Long Newton Junction

  A1 Stannington Junction (under construction)

  A69 Haydon Bridge By-pass

  A419 Commonhead Junction

  M4 Junction 18 Eastbound Diverge

  M5 Junctions 17–18 Northbound Climbing Lane

  M5 Junctions 19–20 Southbound Climbing Lane

  M5 Junctions 19–20 Northbound Climbing Lane

  M1 Junction 19

  A14 Ellington—Fen Ditton Improvement

  A57/A628 Mottram in Longdendale, Hollingworth and Tintwistle By-pass

  A45/A46 Tollbar End Improvement

  M1 Junction 6a to 10 Widening

  M1 Junction 10 to 13 Widening

  A1 Morpeth to Felton Dualling

  A1 Adderstone to Belford Dualling

  A1/A19/A106 8 Seaton Burn Junction Improvement

  A19/A184 Testos Grade Separated Junction

  A505 Dunstable Northern Bypass (A5 to M1 Link)

  A421 Bedford to M1 Junction 13

  A21 Tonbridge to Pembury

  M40 Junction 15 (Longbridge)

  A64 Colton Lane Grade Separated Junction

  1242W

  A590 High and Low Newton By-pass

  M20 Junction 10A

  A30 Garland Cross to Chiverton Cross

  A30 Temple to Higher Carblake Improvement

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how sums of money raised in fines from speed cameras in Essex which have exceeded the totals spent on purchasing and operating speed cameras in Essex have been spent in each of the five years prior to 2001–02; and whether these sums have been allocated to another Department. [149383]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 20 January 2004]: Prior to the start of the cost recovery system to fund safety camera activity in 2000–01 all revenue from speeding fines was passed to the Consolidated Fund at HM Treasury.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answers of 6 January 2004,Official Report, columns 215W and 216W, and his answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, columns 676–7W, how the £520,357, that was collected in fines from speed cameras that was not spent in purchasing and operating speed cameras in Essex in 2001–02, was spent; and whether this sum was allocated to another Department. [149384]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 20 January 2004]: Under the netting off scheme the amount returned to the safety camera partnership can only cover the cost of purchasing and operating safety cameras. The rest is passed to the Consolidated Fund at HM Treasury.

  London Underground
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has made representations to Transport for London regarding(a) reliability and (b) comfort, under each of the PPP contracts for the London Underground. [149014]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department for Transport has not made specific representations to Transport for London on either of these issues. I have regular meetings with the Mayor for London, London Underground and Transport for London. At these meetings a wide range of issues are discussed, including the operational performance of the Underground and the delivery of improvements to the network.

WALES

  Student Finance
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the devolution of higher education funding for students to the National Assembly for Wales. [148359]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas) today.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of the national minimum wage in Wales. [148360]

  Mr. Hain
  Around 60,000 people in Wales stood to benefit from the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in April 1999 and for the increases since.

  Prisoners (Police Cells)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with North Wales police authority about reducing the numbers held in police cells in north Wales. [148361]

  Mr. Touhig
  My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with representatives of the police forces in Wales.

  Cells are normally used only to accommodate people who need to be held in custody by the police. Occasionally, prison inmates are held overnight because they cannot reach their prison by a reasonable time, or to facilitate their return to court the next day.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the Barnett formula. [148362]

  Mr. Hain
  I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss funding arrangements for Wales. The Barnett formula is a means of calculating changes to the Welsh Block from its historic base.

  NHS Funding
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Government on the funding of the NHS in Wales. [148357]

  Mr. Hain
  I have met the First Minister and the Assembly Health Minister in recent weeks to discuss the NHS and health provision in Wales.

  Since 1997, funding for the NHS across the UK has increased; in Wales the 2004–05 budget for health will be almost 95 per cent. more than in 1996–97.

  In Wales, as in the rest of the UK, this has resulted in greater numbers of doctors and nurses, improved services and more patients being treated.

DEFENCE

  Airfield Support Service Project
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated aggregate costs incurred by the three bidding consortia for the Airfield Support Service Project are. [149057]

  Mr. Ingram
  Actual costs incurred by the three bidding consortia are not known to the Department and are a matter for the consortia themselves.

  A1 Yamamah
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the 1992 National Audit Office report about the A1 Yamamah programme. [149510]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 20 January 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 February 2003, Official Report, column 735W.

  Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he intends to make in relation to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and compensation to ensure that(a) a beneficiary is guaranteed five years' worth of payments notwithstanding earlier death and (b) lump sum payments to give effect to such guarantee are not taxed at a 35 per cent. rate. [149152]

  Mr. Caplin
  The decision of the new Armed Forces Pension Scheme includes a provision to allow a lump sum payment to a spouse or partner of up to five years' pension payments, less the lump sum received on retirement and pension payments up to the date of death, if a member dies after retirement but within five years of the pension coming into payment. The Government propose in "Simplifying the taxation of pensions: the Government's proposals", published on 10 December 2003, that such payments should be taxed at 35 per cent. The Ministry of Defence will be considering the benefit proposal further in the light of the taxation arrangements.

  Army
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget for army combat arms training was in each month since January 2001. [148870]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: Army combat arms training has been taken to encompass individual training for all personnel at Phase 1 (initial) training (which will include individuals who go on to serve in non-combat arms), and individual training at phase 2 (specialist) and phase 3 (career and development) training for personnel serving in the Royal Armoured Corps, the Royal Artillery, the Infantry, and the School of Army Aviation. LAND Command undertakes collective training for the whole Army but cannot identify specific costs associated with such training for combat arms. The sums shown include an element for HQ Admin costs etc., which cannot easily be separated out, but exclude all salary costs of trainees, which are accounted for separately. The figures are as follows:

  Month

  £ million

  April 2001

  27.599

  May 2001

  28.447

  June 2001

  31.833

  July 2001

  30.378

  August 2001

  26.729

  September 2001

  27.676

  October 2001

  28.505

  November 2001

  29.591

  December 2001

  29.585

  January 2002

  29.409

  February 2002

  28.914

  March 2002

  30.046

  1245W

  Month

  £million

  April 2002

  29.777

  May 2002

  31.053

  June 2002

  31.142

  July 2002

  31.429

  August 2002

  30.959

  September 2002

  30.589

  October 2002

  31.957

  November 2002

  31.251

  December 2002

  31.126

  January 2003

  33.256

  February 2003

  29.879

  March 2003

  31.905

  April 2003

  32.660

  May 2003

  32.836

  June 2003

  27.767

  July 2003

  32.421

  August 2003

  28.732

  September 2003

  29.089

  October 2003

  32.559

  November 2003

  32.034

  December 2003

  28.318

  January 2004

  31.626

  February 2004 (projected)

  31.573

  March 2004 (projected)

  31.225

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many army musicians were obliged to down-rank on transferring to the Guards regiments from other regiments; and what effect this down ranking will have on these soldiers' pensions. [148963]

  Mr. Caplin
  Transfer to bands of the Guards Division is voluntary. Seventeen army musicians who volunteered to transfer and are still serving accepted reversion to the rank of Musician as a condition of transfer. Reversion in rank has not been a condition of transfer since April 2003.

  Reversion in rank may affect an individual's pension award. Rank for the purpose of assessing pension entitlement is calculated by taking the highest paid rank held for an aggregate of two years or more during the last five years reckonable service.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial restrictions have been placed on army recruiting. [148869]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: None.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will provide a substantive reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes of 24 November 2003 about Mrs. Iris Griffiths of Kingsbridge and the Defence Export Services Organisation, which was acknowledged by his Department on 2 December 2003. [148721]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: My noble Friend Lord Bach wrote to the hon. Member on 15 January 2004.

  Departmental Posts (Gibraltar)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) civilian and (b) service posts in his Department in Gibraltar will be (i) transferred to the private sector and (ii) removed. [148458]
  1246W
  Mr. Ingram
  Headquarters British Forces Gibraltar is currently evaluating the most cost-effective method of delivering janitorial, catering and transportation services. Although under review, at this stage no decisions have been made to transfer posts to the private sector.

  Routine local resource management plans are to make a reduction of 23 civilian and one service posts, over the next four years. We envisage that this will be achieved by a combination of natural wastage and voluntary early retirement.

  Forces Personnel
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what statistical data his Department collates on the rate of marital break-up among forces personnel. [148150]

  Mr. Caplin
  Each service records, on individual pay and personnel documents, the marital status of its personnel using different marital categories. Analysis of marital break-ups and divorce rates is carried out on an ad hoc basis by analysing changes to the marital status of personnel.

  Iraq
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the application of standards in the UN Basic Principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials for law enforcement duties conducted by UK military personnel in Iraq. [141686]

  Mr. Ingram
  The practices adopted by United Kingdom military personnel in Iraq are consistent with the UN Basic Principles for the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials, despite the fact that we are operating in circumstances rather different from those in which it was intended to be applied.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms are in place to ensure the(a) impartiality and (b) independence of investigations into non-combatant deaths in Iraq. [141687]

  Mr. Ingram
  In exercising their constabulary powers the Royal Military Police (RMP) are independent of the Army's chain of command. At the conclusion of any RMP investigation, a report together with supporting evidence is submitted to the appropriate commanding officer and to the Army Legal Services—ALS. ALS will then advise the commanding officer whether there is a prima facie case for disciplinary action. In serious cases, ALS will advise the commanding officer on the procedure for referral to a higher authority and, if appropriate, on to the Army Prosecuting Authority—APA. The APA is statutorily independent of the chain of command. The independence of the APA was confirmed in the European Court of Human Rights in the Cooper Case last December.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the soldier's card issued to forces serving in Iraq. [147676]

  Mr. Ingram
  The soldier's card contains information about the Rules of Engagement. It is not our practice to comment on Rules of Engagement and I am
  1247W
  withholding information regarding their contents under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts let to private contractors for the supply and support of UK troops in Iraq, stating in each case the nature and value of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [148004]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information as it is commercial in confidence.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 8 January,Official Report, column 453W, on Iraq, when the Iraq Survey Group is to make its final recommendations. [148035]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 538W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Glenda Jackson).

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his strategy is for ensuring that children in Iraq do not come into contact with depleted uranium. [148055]

  Mr. Ingram
  British forces are taking the following actions to minimise the risk posed to civilians by Depleted Uranium (DU):DU fragments on the surface are being removed from the battlefield as they are discovered.
  Local people have been warned through signs and leaflets that they should not go near, or touch, any debris they find on the battlefield.
  Military vehicles known to have been hit by DU munitions within the southern sector of Iraq under British military control have been clearly marked.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in the Iraq Survey Group. [148064]

  Mr. Hoon
  On 16 January 2004, there were 1,272 people employed in the Iraq Survey Group.

  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the 9,100 ISO containers used for Operation TELIC are missing and unaccounted for by his Department. [148868]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: To date 9,595 ISO containers have been supplied in support of Operation TELIC. Of this number 5,793 currently remain in use on the operation.

  The balance of 3,802 have either been returned, re-tasked or are awaiting return to either the MOD or to the leasing companies as appropriate.

  At present we have 73 containers, 0.76 per cent. of the original amount, unaccounted for. It is expected that the next information update from theatre will identify the locations of the majority of these containers and that they will either be in transit or have been re-tasked.
  1248W
  It is stressed that it is unusual to lose a container totally. It is far more likely that it would have been re-tasked or returned and that a delay has occurred in getting the relevant information back to the Defence Container Management Service.

  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what number and percentage of Army Medical Service reserve personnel have left the service following Operation Telic. [149350]

  Mr. Caplin
  Although we do not hold figures for the number of people leaving the Army Medical Services Territorial Army (AMS TA) overall, I can confirm that 240 Professionally Qualified Officers, from Role 3 reserve medical units (field hospitals) have left the TA over the last 12 months. This represents approximately 13 per cent. of these units. Very few of these individuals gave Operation Telic, or the risk of mobilisation, as their primary reason for leaving. Over the same period, approximately 300 people joined the same units.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the other national contingents under the command of 3 (UK) Division; [143729]

  (2) if he will list the countries involved in the Multinational Division (South-East) (MND(SE) in the South Iraq provinces of Basra, Maysen, Dhi Qar and Al Muthanna. [143730]

  Mr. Ingram
  3 (UK) Division formally handed over headquarters duties to the Multinational Division (South East) on 28 December 2003.

  In addition to United Kingdom forces the following nations currently contribute a combined total of around 5,200 personnel to the Multinational Division: Italy; Denmark; Norway; Netherlands; Czech Republic; Portugal; Romania; New Zealand; Lithuania; Japan and Iceland.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the failure rate of the bomblets in the cluster munitions his Department purchased from BAe Systems in 2003; whether the use of these munitions in Iraq has contributed to the assessment; and if he will make a statement. [146431]

  Mr. Ingram
  No cluster artillery shells purchased from BAe Systems in 2003 were used in Iraq during Operation Telic. The ammunition used during Operation Telic was from a procurement made in 1996. No assessment of cluster artillery shells was carried out in Iraq.

  However, each batch of these munitions procured is subject to acceptance proof firing. This requires a statistically viable sample of each batch to be fired and monitored. The area is then searched by the manufacturer's Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel to identify and report any bomblet failures. All ammunition lots we have procured have met the requirements. Other testing involves a random sample of the Self Destruct Fuze being independently tested by the manufacturer prior to assembly. Again, all these fuzes have met the requirements.

  Procurement
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contractors' bid costs have been refunded in full, or in part, as a result of procurement competitions being terminated or substantially altered since 1997; in how many cases compensation has been paid; what the total value of such payments is; and if he will make a statement. [147957]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost (Exemption 9 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information).

  In the event that a procurement competition was terminated or substantially altered consideration would be given, on a case-by-case basis, to whether to reimburse bid costs.

  Reservists
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) full-time reservists with full commitment contracts, (b) full-time reservists with limited commitment contracts, (c) full-time reservists with home commitment contracts and (d) volunteer reservists have been called out on active duty in each year since 1997; and what the average active duty service time has been for each category. [148669]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) commitment was established in 1998.

  The numbers of FTRS personnel called out for permanent service by the Royal Navy (including Royal Marines) and Royal Air Force since 1998 are detailed in the following table. The Army does not keep a separate record of FTRS personnel called out for permanent service.

  FTRS full commitment

  FTRS limited commitment

  FTRS home commitment

  1998

  0

  0

  0

  1999

  0

  0

  0

  2000

  0

  0

  0

  2001

  2

  2

  0

  2002

  3

  2

  0

  2003

  18

  56

  0

  These figures do not include those personnel who, as part of their FTRS commitment, served on operations.

  We have been unable to distinguish between the forms of service that reservists were undertaking when mobilised. Therefore, the figures detailed as follows cover all reservists mobilised.

  Number of reservists mobilised

  1997

  980

  1998

  840

  1999

  1,400

  2000

  1,120

  2001

  920

  2002

  1,720

  2003

  9,550

  1250W
  A central record of the average period of mobilised service that each category has served since 1997 is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in 2003 for Operation TELIC reservists would have been mobilised for between seven and nine months (this includes pre-deployment training and post-deployment leave).

  Service Accommodation
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters(a) were released to Annington Homes in each year since 1996 and (b) are projected to be released in each of the next five years; what the location is in each case; and what factors influence decisions on releases. [146516]

  Mr. Caplin
  Within the Defence Housing Executive's (DHE) overall disposal programme, the following numbers of properties have been handed back to Annington Homes, following the sale of the bulk of the family estate in 1996:

  Properties

  1997

  8

  1998

  1,366

  1999

  1,188

  2000

  2,679

  2001

  2,640

  2002

  2,366

  2003

  1,513

  At the time of the overall sale and leaseback in 1996, 2,373 properties were released to Annington Homes. Subsequently, a total of 11,760 properties have been handed back at over 300 sites across England and Wales. A further 560 properties are due to be handed back by the end of March 2004.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army serving in(a) 2 Signals Brigade and (b) its subordinate units have been mobilised during Operation Telic. [149422]

  Mr. Caplin
  One hundred and sixty six members of the Territorial Army who serve in either 2 Signals Brigade, or its subordinate units, have been deployed on Operation TELIC.

  Timber
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, column 277W, how many and what percentage of contracts issued by his Department since August 2002 which involved the use of wood have not complied with the Defence Contract Condition (DEFCON) 691. [148847]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Ministry of Defence places in excess of 30,000 contracts per annum. MOD commercial staff are advised to include the Defence Contract Condition (DEFCON) 691 in all relevant contracts that may involve the supply or consumption of timber. However, if it is clear that performance of contracts does not involve the supply or consumption of timber, then
  1251W
  DEFCON 691 need not be called up. The MOD does not keep central records of the number of contracts, which contain DEFCON 691.

  University Places (Service Sponsorships)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he and his officials have had with the Department for Education and Skills on the impact of the introduction of top-up fees on service sponsorships for university places. [149042]

  Mr. Caplin
  None.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of top-up fees on the provision of service sponsorships for university places. [149043]

  Mr. Caplin
  No assessment has yet been made.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chechnya
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department's approach to the human rights issue in Chechnya includes representations to the Chechen Government. [149160]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK's representations over human rights in Chechnya have, to date, been made to representatives of the Russian Federal Government, rather than to local authorities.

  Hebron Rehabilitation Committee
  Sir Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial support the United Kingdom has given to the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee; and if he will make a statement. [149096]

  Mr. Straw
  The UK has not given any financial support to the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee. However, we are aware of their valuable work restoring the old city of Hebron, and have in the past lobbied the Government of Israel to ensure the Committee's work is not obstructed.

  Israel
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the welfare of animals denied access to Palestinian pasture lands since the construction of the security wall. [148902]

  Mr. Rammell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 19 November 2003,Official Report, column 1054W. As we made clear then, we have serious concerns about the impact of the fence on the daily life of those Palestinians directly affected. We are particularly concerned at the impact the establishment of a closed zone has had on access to basic services, including health and education in the area, and on the ability of Palestinian farmers to cultivate farmland and care for their livestock.

  Migrant Workers
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what correspondence he has received since 1 July 2003 on the coming into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; and what steps remain to be taken before UK ratification of the Treaty. [149249]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Government have received communication from a variety of sources seeking UK ratification. However, we have no plans to ratify the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. The scope of the Convention is wider than the UK's existing immigration laws. Incorporating it into UK law would imply fundamental changes to our legislation and would undermine the UK's system of frontier control.

  The Government consider they have already struck the right balance between the need for immigration control and the protection of the interests and rights of migrant workers.

  Rwanda and Burundi
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made to assist(a) Rwanda and (b) Burundi to bring those guilty of crimes against humanity to justice; and if he will make a statement. [148856]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are working with the Rwandan Government to develop and begin implementation of a strategy for legal and judicial reform; implement the "gacaca" process of local justice in all provinces: and work constructively with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. In Burundi, during 2003–04 we are contributing £5.7 million towards the cost of the African Union's peace-keeping force. We are also encouraging the UN to look at ways in which the international community can support post-conflict justice.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being provided to(a) Rwanda and (b) Burundi to fight terrorism; and if he will make a statement. [148857]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are not providing direct assistance to Burundi and Rwanda to fight terrorism, but we are helping Rwanda with security sector reform and looking at the possibility of doing so in Burundi. We currently assess the threat from international terrorism in Burundi and Rwanda as low, but this is kept under careful review.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support is being provided to efforts to initiate the peace process in Burundi; and if he will make a statement. [148859]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UK has increased its engagement in Burundi since the signing of the Arusha agreement in 2000, providing both political and financial support. We are working with the EU, UN and regional partners to consolidate the peace process to support peace-building activities, including the African Mission in Burundi, and long-term recovery and poverty reduction.
  1253W
  In 2003–04, the UK has made a total of £11.6 million available for Burundi, including £5.7 million to support the African Union-led peace-keeping force.

  Sunset Clauses
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on the use of sunset clauses in legislation; and which Acts containing such clauses relevant to his Department were passed in each year since 1997. [149331]

  Mr. Straw
  Whether a sunset clause is needed in legislation depends on the circumstance of each Bill. In the case of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), much of our legislation is to implement HMG's international obligations, so if those obligations do not have a specific time limit, a limit in our domestic legislation would not be appropriate. No Acts of Parliament since 1997 for which the FCO is responsible contained a sunset clause.

  United Nations
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the deadlines were for payment of regular budget contributions to the United Nations for each year since 1993; and when the United Kingdom made these payments in each year. [148667]

  Mr. Rammell
  The United Nations Secretariat issues invoices for contributions to the Regular Budget at the end of December each year, following the conclusion of General Assembly business in the fifth committee. Contributions are due within 30 days of receipt of invoice.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office pays 25 per cent. of its assessed contribution in January and the remaining 75 per cent. in April, in keeping with Treasury rules on expenditure which falls across financial years.

  Western Sahara
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with representatives of(a) the UN, (b) the Government of Morocco and (c) the Polisario concerning the future government of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [148299]

  Mr. Rammell
  We regularly discuss the situation in Western Sahara with our contacts at all levels in the United Nations, the Moroccan Government and the Polisario.

  Most recently, my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean discussed Western Sahara and other issues with the Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister, Fassi-Fihri, at his request when he was in London on 6 January.

  Zimbabwe
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his 1254W
  Department has received from Zimbabwean journalists on issues surrounding freedom of the press in that country. [149159]

  Mr. Mullin
  The British Embassy in Harare has regular contact with a wide range of journalists in Zimbabwe, including those from independent newspapers. I met a senior delegation from the Daily News during their November 2003 visit to the UK. We condemn the Government of Zimbabwe's attempts to block press freedoms in Zimbabwe, and the state-sponsored violence and human rights abuses which accompany their misguided policies. We will continue to do all we can to defend freedom of speech and of the press in Zimbabwe.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

  Directorships
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on the number of women holding directorships in FTSE 100 companies; and what this represents as a percentage of the total number of directors. [148398]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]: The number of female directorships has reached 101 in 2003, up by 20 per cent. on the previous year. Women now account for 9 per cent. of FTSE 100 board members and nearly 4 per cent. are in executive roles.

  The Higgs and Tyson reports, which the Government commissioned last year, looked at a number of aspects for improving the overall performance of company boards. The Higgs Review reported on how the quality, independence, and effectiveness of non-executive directors may be strengthened; and the Tyson Report subsequently considered how companies could pursue recruitment of directors from broader and more diverse backgrounds.

  The Government strongly support all efforts to improve the diversity and effectiveness of company boards. Since November, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Minister for Women and Equality and I have been meeting Chairs, Chief Executives and senior figures from business to raise awareness about the business case for greater diversity on UK boards and to gather examples of good practice already in place, which we plan to disseminate further to companies, professional bodies and executive recruitment firms.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Gambling Bill
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the expected timetable is for the draft Gambling Bill after the consultation period ends. [149482]

  Mr. Caborn
  After taking account of the recommendations of the Joint Committee, which is now scrutinising the draft Bill, and of the points made in our
  1255W
  wider public consultation on its provisions, we intend to amend its provisions as necessary and to introduce a Bill as soon as parliamentary time permits.

  Statutory Sick Pay
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [148631]

  Mr. Caborn
  This information is not held within the Department and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For civil servants generally, sick absence may be allowed on full pay for up to six months. Departments are responsible for paying Statutory Sick Pay to staff for up to 28 weeks as a proportion of their full pay.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  McClean Review
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners when he expects the publication of the first report of the McClean Review into clergy terms of service to the Archbishops' Council. [149477]

  Sir Stuart Bell
  The report of the McClean Group will be published and copies sent to members of the Church of England's General Synod on 23 January. A copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library and I will also ensure my hon. Friend receives one.

PRIME MINISTER

  11 September
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to President Bush about assistance for families of British victims of events on 11 September 2001 in pursuing inquiries into those events. [149500]

  The Prime Minister
  We have had extensive discussions with the US Government, at many levels, about circumstances surrounding the events of 11 September 2001. An independent commission of inquiry in the US into pre-11 September intelligence is also taking place.

  The Government remains ready to help UK relatives of 11 September victims in their dealings with the US Government in any way that we can.

  Iraq
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the United Kingdom has shared with the United States Administration and US intelligence services the information on alleged Iraqi attempts to procure uranium from Niger, to which he referred in his letters of 1 September 2003 and 28 October 2003 to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent. [149538]
  1256W
  The Prime Minister
  Exchanges between UK intelligence officials and their opposite numbers in the US are confidential and it would not be appropriate to provide any farther details beyond those we have already provided.

TREASURY

  Aggregates Levy
  David Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment has been made of the impact of the aggregates levy since its introduction on the quarrying industry in(a) the East Midlands and (b) the United Kingdom; [148961]

  (2) when the level of the aggregates levy was last reviewed; [148962]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the impact the aggregates levy has had since its introduction on (a) the extraction of virgin aggregates and (b) the use of secondary aggregates in (i) the East Midlands and (ii) the UK; [148972]

  (4) what plans there are to review the level of the aggregates levy; [148975]

  (5) what assessment has been made of the impact of the aggregates levy since its introduction in (a) the East Midlands and (b) the UK. [149143]

  John Healey
  An update on the Government's current assessment of the impact of the aggregates levy was in the pre-Budget report (Cm 6042). Monitoring of the aggregates levy takes the form of a rolling programme of research and analysis of data as it becomes available. It encompasses all regions of the UK and it takes account of data from specific research, such as the Government-commissioned Symonds Report on the levy's impact in Northern Ireland, as well as information from business organisations, individual companies, environment groups and site visits by officials.

  Emerging evidence suggests that overall primary aggregates extraction has fallen since the levy's introduction; for example, the total outputs from the Annual Minerals Raised Inquiry for Great Britain for 2002 show a decrease of 5.7 per cent. on the 2001 figures. While there are a number of factors affecting extraction levels, it is clear that the levy has played a significant part in encouraging that reduction.

  The rate of the aggregates levy is reviewed annually as part of the Budget process.

  Air Passenger Duty
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the(a) percentage rate and (b) actual tax revenue for air passenger duty was in each year since 1994. [149224]

  John Healey
  (a) Air passenger duty is not set as a percentage rate but as a monetary amount. Current air passenger duty rates are as follows.
  1257W

  £

  EEA Destinations

  Non-EEA Destinations

  Standard Rate

  10

  40

  Reduced Rate

  5

  20

  (b) Air passenger duty revenues for 2002–03 were £816 million and are published in HM Customs and Excise's Annual Report (HC52). Historic revenue figures can be found in table 2.1D of Financial Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics.

  Barnett Formula
  Adam Price
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amounts(a) the Welsh Block and (b) the Scottish Block has been changed as a consequence of change in public funding for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew through the operation of the Barnett formula for each of the last six years. [148309]

  Mr. Boateng
  Changes in the Welsh and Scottish Blocks are determined through the Barnett formula, details of which were published in the Statement of Funding Policy in July 2002. The Barnett formula provides the devolved Administrations with aggregate increases reflecting a population share of overall increases in UK Government Departments' provision.

  Charitable Donations (Developing Countries)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of charitable donations from the United Kingdom to developing countries in each of the last five years. [149156]

  John Healey
  The Government conduct a survey every year of non-Governmental organisations which provide assistance to developing countries. Aid flows from voluntary agencies are estimated from a statistical inquiry conducted annually by DfID in line with current survey control policy. The following table sets out the figures for the years 1998 to 2002.

  Expenditure by voluntary organisations in developing countries

  £ million

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Total expenditure

  397

  495

  534

  456

  482

  of which:

  Officially funded

  143

  175

  170

  207

  221

  Funded by other UK agencies

  1

  22

  9

  24

  26

  Privately funded

  253

  298

  354

  225

  235

  Source:

  Voluntary agencies surveys of 1999–2003. The private element is published in DfID's annual publication "Statistics on International Development".

  Civil Service (Disabled People)
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the number of employees in his Department who have a disability, broken down by disability type. [148995]

  Ruth Kelly
  5,247 of the 98,770 staff employed by the Treasury, Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise have declared a disability.
  1258W

  Number

  HM Treasury

  Capacity

  10

  Co-ordination

  7

  Hearing

  9

  Learning

  4

  Mentally ill

  1

  Mobility

  7

  Speech

  2

  Visual

  4

  Total number

  44

  HM Customs and Excise

  Hearing Impairment—and other

  20

  Hearing Impairment—alone

  110

  Learning difficulties—alone

  23

  Learning difficulties—and other

  7

  Mental illness—alone

  32

  Mobility impairment—and other

  48

  Mobility impairment—alone

  126

  Physical co-ordination—alone

  31

  Physical co-ordination—and other

  22

  Reduced phys. capacity—and other

  70

  Reduced phys. capacity—alone

  256

  Severe disfigurement—and other

  1

  Severe disfigurement—alone

  1

  Speech impairment—and other

  2

  Speech impairment—alone

  8

  Status unknown

  43

  Unknown disability

  106

  Visual impairment—and other

  16

  Visual impairment—alone

  61

  Total number

  983

  Inland Revenue

  Unknown disability

  1,126

  Reduced physical capacity

  729

  Visual impairment

  668

  Mobility impairment

  651

  Hearing impairment

  625

  Mental illness

  242

  Learning difficulties

  72

  Speech impairment

  46

  Physical co-ordination difficulties

  43

  Severe disfigurement

  11

  Obsolete descriptions

  8

  Total number

  4,220

  Grand total

  5,247

  Correspondence
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to reply to the letter dated 5 November 2003 from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding EU children's clothes VAT plans. [149781]

  John Healey
  I replied to the hon. Member on 14 January.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the effects of widening the VAT reduction to 5 per cent. on energy saving materials; [149099]

  (2) if he will take steps to allow a stamp duty rebate at time of purchase for homebuyers installing energy efficiency measures; [149098]

  (3) if he will introduce a new tax allowance for private landlords investing in energy efficiency. [149100]
  1259W
  John Healey
  The Government are committed to improving household energy efficiency, as part of their programme to meet Energy White Paper targets. The Government routinely evaluate the impact of policy initiatives, including environmental tax measures. The Government have a long-standing commitment to pursue EU changes to permit a reduced rate of VAT for the DIY installation of energy saving materials, and have already applied a reduced rate of VAT for the installation of materials in certain other circumstances. The Government consulted on further measures to improve household energy efficiency in 2003, including a tax allowance for private landlords investing in energy efficiency. The Government also invited views on other possible policy initiatives. Responses were published and are being taken into account in further policy development. In the pre-Budget report (Cm 6042) we confirmed that we believe that there is a case for the further use of economic instruments as part of a package of measures to promote energy efficiency. A further announcement will be made around Budget 2004.

  Excise Taxes
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on combating the evasion of excise taxes within the European Union. [148479]

  John Healey
  Treasury Ministers and officials from the Chancellor's Departments hold discussions with the European Commission and their counterparts from other EU member states on a wide range of issues, including the effective operation of the EU excise system.

  Fuel Tax
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Ex chequer what plans he has to increase the duty on liquefied petroleum gas; and if he will make a statement. [149417]

  John Healey
  In his Pre-Budget Report in December 2003 (Cm 6042), the Chancellor announced that the Government will gradually increase the duty rate for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) over the next three years, setting duty differentials on a path towards a level commensurate with the fuel's environmental benefits. Consistent with the Government's commitment to give three-year certainty on duty differentials for alternative fuels, the duty differentials for LPG for the next three years will be announced in Budget 2004.

  Inland Revenue Code of Practice 26
  John Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 will be made available to members of the public at local tax offices. [146331]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Code of Practice 26, "What happens when we have paid you too much tax credit?", is available to claimants via Inland Revenue Enquiry Centres. It is also available online at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/ leaflets/credit.htm.

  World Debt
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the terms and conditions relating to(a) loans made by the International Monetary Fund to third world countries and (b) debt cancellation. [149471]

  John Healey
  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lends to low-income countries through the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), a lending instrument offering softer terms than conventional IMF lending. Loans under the PRGF are based on a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which is prepared by the country in co-operation with civil society and other development partners, in particular the World Bank. The UK believes that IMF loan conditions should reflect only what is necessary for the success of a program, to ensure the protection of IMF funds, and to meet the core requirements of the Fund's mandate. Conditions should be appropriate for a particular country. This is upheld in new guidelines on conditionality introduced by the IMF in September 2002 and the UK will work to ensure these guidelines remain appropriate and that they are upheld in practice.

  The UK continues to be fully committed to the rapid and full implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative to ensure that it delivers a robust exit from unsustainable debt for the world's poorest countries. To change the underlying dynamics of those countries in which debt indicators are deteriorating, it is important that—in addition to receiving debt relief—countries implement the reforms necessary to allow them to grow faster, to increase poverty reduction expenditure and to enable them to diversify their export bases and better absorb macroeconomic shocks, such as a decline in specific commodity prices. So far 27 countries have started to receive debt relief under the initiative, worth over US $70 billion. To be eligible for the HIPC Initiative, countries must be eligible for highly concessional assistance from the World Bank and the IMF, face an unsustainable debt situation after the full application of traditional debt relief mechanisms (such as application of Naples terms under the Paris Club agreement), and must make a commitment to poverty reduction through the implementation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy.

  The HIPC Initiative has an important role to play in maximising the resources available for poverty reduction in developing countries. However, unless there is an increase in the volume of resources available from donors to poor countries, additional debt relief would simply reallocate resources from one form of financing to another, and from non-HIPC poor countries to HIPC countries, without adding to the overall financing available for poverty reduction. Furthermore, all HIPC countries would still need additional aid to meet the Millennium Development Goals even if all of their debt from the World Bank and IMF were cancelled. 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 which debt relief alone would not achieve and which could be disbursed by way of grants and additional debt relief.

  Places of Worship/Historic Buildings
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the implementation of existing VAT Directives relating to the care of listed places of worship; [149491]

  (2) what fiscal incentives his Department provides to support the maintenance of historic buildings; what plans he has to increase this support and if he will make a statement. [149490]

  John Healey
  In accordance with the rules laid down in the EC Sixth VAT Directive, the repair and maintenance of listed places of worship, and of all other buildings, is standard-rated for VAT purposes.

  We have been negotiating hard with our European Partners to extend the categories of permitted reduced VAT rates to include the repair and maintenance of listed places of worship. Although at this time the future of these negotiations is uncertain, it remains one of the Government's objectives to achieve such a reduced rate.

  In the meantime we continue to provide support through the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which provides an equivalent reduction in the cost of these repair projects. In his Pre-Budget Report the Chancellor announced that funding for the grant scheme is in place for a further two years, until the end of March 2006.

  As well as the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, the Government provides a range of fiscal incentives to support the maintenance of historic buildings, including exemption from inheritance tax for heritage maintenance funds. The Government keeps all taxes under review and any changes are considered by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer as part of the annual Budget process.

  Public Expenditure (Allocation within UK)
  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the figures listed in Table 8.6b and 8.13b of the Corrigendum to Chapter 8 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2003, what assessment he has made of the per capita cost of providing a parity of service provision in each region and nation of the United Kingdom with a view to determining which region/nation is receiving(a) more, (b) less and (c) the correct level of funding in each service programme. [149455]

  Mr. Boateng
  Spending by the devolved administrations is determined by the principles set out in the Statement of Funding Policy published by the Treasury in July 2002. Spending by region is determined by departments; there is no single allocation formula. Spending is determined according to the circumstances of the particular spending programme.

  Scottish Executive
  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he plans to make to determinants of the grant, other than the Barnett Formula, paid to the Scottish Executive in 2004. [149633]
  1262W
  Mr. Boateng
  The Government's spending plans for 2004–05 were published in the 2002 Spending Review White Paper (Cm 5570). The grant to the Scottish Consolidated Fund for 2004–05 will be published in the Scotland Office chapter of the Department for Constitutional Affairs 2004–05 Departmental Report.

  Sports Clubs
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many community and amateur sports clubs are registered for tax relief; [149366]

  (2) what steps he is taking to promote the package of tax concessions available to community and amateur sports clubs; [149367]

  (3) if he will estimate the number of community and amateur sports clubs eligible for tax concessions. [149368]

  John Healey
  It is estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 clubs might be eligible to apply for registration as a community amateur sports club (CASC). As at 16 January 2004, 587 CASCs had been registered. A list of registered clubs is published on the Inland Revenue website, and is updated on a monthly basis.

  In the Pre-Budget Report (Cm 6042) the Chancellor announced the Government's intention to double the Corporation Tax thresholds below which registered CASCs are exempt from tax. This will mean that clubs with a trading turnover of less than £30,000 and gross property income of less than £20,000 will pay no Corporation Tax. The measure will be introduced in the next Finance Bill.

  Clubs registered in England and Wales will also receive mandatory rates relief of 80 per cent. with effect from 1 April 2004. Local authorities can increase this relief to 100 per cent. at their own discretion. These measures will help clubs raise funds to improve facilities for participating in sport, by reducing the burden placed upon them.

  The Inland Revenue, in partnership with the Central Council of Physical Recreation; Bates, Wells & Braithwaite; Deloitte & Touche and others, held a series of regional seminars in 2003 to promote the CASC scheme. The Inland Revenue continues to work closely with representative bodies to encourage awareness of the scheme among their members.

  The Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport also wrote to all Members of Parliament, including my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed), in December, encouraging them to promote the scheme to amateur sports clubs in their constituencies.

  Telephone Charges
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was derived in 2002–03 by Government Departments and agencies from use of the 0870 telephone number which charges callers. [149599]
  1263W
  Mr. Boateng
  Information about the use of 0870 services by Government Departments and agencies is not held centrally.

  Thames Gateway Bridge
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Thames Gateway Bridge will be included in the comparator expenditure for the purposes of allocations under the Barnett Formula; and how much additional money will go to the devolved administrations as a result. [149643]

  Mr. Boateng
  Comparability factors for the purpose of allocations under the Barnett formula are published in Annex C of the Statement of Funding Policy. The latest version was published by the Treasury in July 2002. Comparability factors are updated in each Spending Review. Under the Barnett formula the devolved administrations receive a population share of comparable aggregate increases in departmental spending.

  Tourism (VAT)
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to amend the VAT rate on tourism services, with particular reference to tourist accommodation. [149225]
  1264W
  John Healey
  The Chancellor keeps all tax matters under constant review, and I refer the hon gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 12 June 2003,Official Report, column 823W.

  Trade Union Recognition Ballots
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what types of expenses accrued by a company campaigning against a trade union recognition ballot would be(a) tax deductible and (b) able to be offset against other tax liabilities; what the total amount of tax not paid in respect of such expenses has been in each of the last five years; and what plans he has to change the tax rules applying to such expenses. [149577]

  Dawn Primarolo
  (a) Expenses which are deductible in computing a company's trading profits are those revenue expenses which are incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the company's trade and which are not subject to a specific statutory prohibition.
  (b) Such expenses cannot be set against other tax liabilities as such, but a trading loss created or augmented by such expenses may be set against other liabilities as permitted by statute.

  We have no centrally available information on this matter.

  Tax policy is kept under continuous review and any changes are announced by the Chancellor, usually at the time of the Budget.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many induction centres for asylum seekers there are in the UK; and how many asylum seekers have been processed by induction centres since they opened. [147861]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are currently two induction centres open in the UK: Dover Induction Centre which opened in January 2002 and Yorkshire and Humberside which opened in June 2003. These two induction centres have processed about 26,700 asylum applicants collectively.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many induction centres for asylum seekers the Government plans to open; when they will open; and where. [147862]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Government plans to establish a network of induction centres in London and the regions during 2004. Negotiations with potential providers for further induction centres are ongoing so the exact locations and final number cannot be confirmed at this time. The final number will depend on the number of bedspaces each potential provider can deliver and capacity required will change to reflect changes in asylum intake. It is expected however that the network will consist of about eight induction centres.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers he expects will be processed by each induction centre; and what the expected cost is of each centre. [147863]

  Beverley Hughes
  When the national network of induction centres has been established it is expected that all asylum applicants will be processed through an induction centre, with the exception of detainees and those under Social Services care, for whom induction services will be tailored and delivered differently. Negotiations with potential providers are still ongoing and therefore information on the cost of each centre is not yet available. The number of asylum seekers processed by each centre depends on the number of bedspaces each centre can deliver and on asylum intake and dispersal rates.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of asylum seekers reached the UK in 2003(a) as a result of illegal people-smuggling operations conducted by criminal gangs and (b) because they held false documentation. [148042]

  Beverley Hughes
  The nature of illegal entry is such that it is impossible to quantify. Illegal entrants are detected in a wide range of circumstances and time frames, from discovery in the back of a lorry on, or shortly after, arrival, to discovery much later, when found working. Although many of those discovered will 1266W
  claim asylum, no figures are kept centrally to differentiate between asylum seekers who arrive illegally, asylum seekers who arrive illegally as a result of criminal action, and illegal entrants generally.

  The Government established the multi-agency Reflex strategy to tackle the criminality behind people smuggling, and will continue to support this strategy in tandem with increasingly effective border control measures, which saw a 52 per cent. reduction in the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK in the 12 months from October 2002.

  It is also not possible to quantify, except at disproportionate cost, the number of asylum seekers who reach the UK because they hold false documentation, although it is reasonable to conclude that many who do so arrive will claim asylum.

  In the 12 months ending 30 September 2003, 8,446 false documents were detected at UK ports of entry.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has collated of links between the change in the number of asylum seekers and people traffickers. [148043]

  Beverley Hughes
  Government action led to a 52 per cent. reduction in the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK in the 12 months from October 2002. Incidences of human trafficking to the UK remain low, although the vast majority of those entering the UK illegally do so with the assistance of people smugglers (or facilitators). Figures for the prosecutions of facilitators do not differentiate between asylum seekers who enter illegally, and other illegal entrants. There is no clear statistical trend in the number of facilitators prosecuted at the major ports of Dover and Heathrow.

  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications the UK received from citizens of Sri Lanka in(a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003. [148420]

  Beverley Hughes
  There were 6,395, 5,510 and 3,130 asylum applications (principal applicants) from nationals of Sri Lanka in 2000, 2001 and 2002 respectively and 630 asylum applications (principal applicants) from January to September 2003.

  Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication, including provisional data for October to December 2003 and totals for 2003, will be available on the 24 February 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications have been received from citizens of Sri Lanka since it was included in the list of designated countries on 17 July 2003; how many of these applications(a) have been accepted, (b) have been refused, (c) are still

  1267W
  pending, (d) have led to non-suspensive appeals, (e) have resulted in successful non-suspensive appeals and (f) have resulted in judicial review. [148421]

  Beverley Hughes
  Asylum applications are published for annual, quarterly, and monthly periods. The following table shows the number of asylum applications (principal applicants) from nationals of Sri Lanka from January to September 2003, the latest date for which figures are available.

  Asylum applications1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 2003 by month, nationals of Sri Lanka

  Applications

  January

  120

  February

  80

  March

  100

  April

  70

  May

  95

  June

  75

  Initial decisions on asylum applications1,2 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, nationals of Sri Lanka, 2003 by month

  Decisions

  Total decisions

  Grants of asylum

  Grants of exceptional leave to remain

  Grants of humanitarian protection

  Grants of discretionary leave

  Total refusals3,4

  January

  155

  5

  20

  n/a

  n/a

  130

  February

  180

  *

  20

  n/a

  n/a

  160

  March

  250

  5

  20

  n/a

  n/a

  225

  April

  185

  *

  n/a

  —

  10

  175

  May

  140

  —

  n/a

  —

  5

  135

  June

  155

  5

  n/a

  —

  10

  140

  July

  100

  *

  n/a

  —

  5

  95

  August

  60

  *

  n/a

  —

  5

  55

  September

  45

  5

  n/a

  —

  5

  40

  Total to date

  1,265

  20

  55

  —

  35

  1,155

  1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest five, with '*' = 1 or 2.

  2 Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

  3 Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.

  4 May include some refusals under non compliance grounds,

  n/a = not applicable

  The following table provides information on the outcomes ofappeals at the IAA relating to Sri Lankan nationals, in January to September 2003, the latest date for which figures are available. Not all refusals result in

  Outcome of Appeals1,2 determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants, nationals of Sri Lanka, 2003, by month

  Number of principal appellants

  Appeals determined by adjudicators2

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  Withdrawn

  Total

  Total

  As percentage of Determined

  Total

  As percentage of Determined

  Total

  As percentage of Determined

  January

  625

  55

  9

  560

  89

  10

  2

  February

  535

  45

  8

  475

  89

  15

  3

  March

  600

  65

  11

  525

  87

  10

  2

  April

  545

  80

  14

  455

  83

  15

  3

  May

  505

  85

  17

  405

  80

  20

  4

  June

  480

  75

  16

  395

  82

  10

  2

  July

  505

  70

  14

  420

  83

  15

  3

  August

  490

  50

  10

  435

  88

  10

  2

  September

  410

  55

  14

  350

  85

  5

  1

  Total to date

  4,710

  580

  12

  4,015

  85

  110

  2

  1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest five (except percentages), with '*' = 1 or 2. Figures may not add up due to independent rounding.

  2 Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant.

  1268W

  Application

  July

  30

  August

  30

  September

  30

  Total to date

  630

  1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest five

  Information on how many of these applications have been accepted, refused, are still pending, have led to non-suspensive appeals or have resulted in judicial review could be obtained only by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

  The following table provides information on the outcomes of initial decisions relating to Sri Lankan nationals, from January to September 2003, the latest date for which figures are available. Initial decisions made in any given month may relate to applications made in previous months.

  appeals and appeal determinations made in any given month may relate to initial decisions made in previous months.
  1269W
  Siobhain McDonagh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants who are citizens of Sri Lanka were given permission to stay in the UK in(a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003; and how many applications were refused in each of these years. [148422]

  Initial decisions on asylum applications1,2 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by year—nationals of Sri Lanka—principal applicants

  Decisions

  2000

  20013

  20024

  20034,5

  Total decisions

  9,050

  10,350

  4,285

  1,265

  Grants of asylum

  900

  1,440

  340

  20

  Grants of exceptional leave to remain

  285

  540

  275

  55

  Grants of humanitarian protection

  6—

  6—

  6—

  —

  Grants of discretionary leave

  6—

  6—

  6—

  35

  Total refusals7

  6,875

  8,370

  3,670

  1,155

  Grants of exceptional leave to remain under backlog criteria8,9

  895

  6—

  6—

  6—

  Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria8,10

  100

  6—

  6—

  6—

  1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5.

  2 Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

  3 Revised figures

  4 Provisional figures

  5 January to September

  6 Not applicable

  7 May include some refusals under non compliance grounds.

  8 Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum backlog.

  9 May include a small number of cases where asylum has been granted.

  10 May include a small number of cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.

  The following table shows the available data, for outcomes of appeals relating to refused asylum applications (principal applicants) for nationals of Sri Lanka in 2000, 2001, 2002 and from January to September 2003. Allowed appeals may result in grants of asylum, grants of humanitarian protection or grants of discretionary leave, or in appeals to the IAT by the Secretary of State, and do not necessarily result in permanent settlement.

  Outcome of appeals1,2 determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants—nationals of Sri Lanka—2001 to September 2003

  Number of principal appellants

  2001

  2002

  Total to September 2003

  Appeals determined by adjudicators

  Total

  290

  525

  4,710

  Allowed

  Total

  105

  145

  580

  As percentage of determined

  36

  28

  12

  Dismissed

  Total

  180

  370

  4,015

  As percentage of determined

  62

  70

  85

  Withdrawn

  Total

  5

  10

  110

  As percentage of determined

  2

  2

  2

  1 Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5 (except percentages). Figures may not add up due to independent rounding.

  2 Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant.

  1270W
  Beverley Hughes
  The following table shows the available data, for outcomes of initial decisions relating to asylum applications (principal applicants) for nationals of Sri Lanka in 2000, 2001, 2002 and from January to September 2003. Grants of exceptional leave to remain and of discretionary leave may be followed by review of individuals' cases and do not necessarily result in permanent settlement.

  Information on asylum applications and decisions is published quarterly. The next publication will be available on 24 February 2004 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http:// www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were held in prisons in England and Wales owing to no final decision having been reached on their right to remain in the United Kingdom as political or religious asylum seekers on 1 January 2003. [148608]

  Beverley Hughes
  Detention under the Immigration Acts may normally be appropriate while a person's identity and basis of claim is established, where there are reasonable grounds for believing that a person will fail to comply with the terms of temporary admission or release, or to effect removal. In addition, individuals whose asylum claims appear to be capable of being decided quickly may be detained as part of a fast-track asylum process. The majority of those detained for these reasons are held in Immigration Service removal centres. In a small number of individual cases it is necessary for reasons of security and control to hold detained persons in prison accommodation. The immigration or asylum cases of such individuals may be at various stages. Information on case status is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.

  As at 27 September 2003 (the latest date for which information is available) there were 100 persons detained in prisons in England and Wales solely under the Immigration Act, who had claimed asylum at some stage.
  1271W
  Information on the number of asylum applicants detained solely under the Immigration Act is published quarterly on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data for those detained at the end of December 2003 will be published on 24 February.

  Civic Renewal
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to encourage people to take part in community action for the purposes of civic renewal. [147239]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: The Home Office recognises that local communities are best placed to define and solve their own problems and that they should be able to work with the relevant authorities and organisations in a flexible way. This approach is termed civil renewal and can be applied across areas such as policing, criminal justice, and the work of drug action teams.

  In terms of policing and police reform, for example, in the last six months three police authority areas have been identified—Cheshire, Merseyside and Northumbria—to test out new ways to engage with communities. The lessons they learn will be fed through to the work of a Practitioner Panel which will identify and share good practice in citizen-focused policy and community engagement.

  Reform of the criminal justice system will continue to address the challenge of developing more effective community engagement, so that individuals and communities affected by crime can play an active part in solving the crime-related problems in their local areas, and can feel greater confidence in the criminal justice system.

  As another example of the civil renewal approach, the Home Office is monitoring what drug action teams across the country do to engage local communities. Progress is good, including a grants scheme for black and minority ethnic community groups to carry out research into the health needs of their communities and generate ideas for service improvements.

  The Home Office is currently consulting the community and voluntary sector about practical ways to build capacity in communities in order to achieve civil renewal. It has also recently launched the Active Citizenship Centre, which is the centre for research in best practice and case studies of civil renewal.

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham of 10 July 2003. [144158]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 16 December 2003]: The Home Office can find no trace of the original correspondence. After being provided with a copy, I replied to the hon. Member on 18 December 2003.
  1272W
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his normal practice is for the length of time taken to reply to correspondence. [145620]

  Caroline Flint
  The Home Office's published targets for responding to correspondence are as follows:

  Length of time taken to reply to correspondence

  Correspondence from Member of parliament relating to matters other than immigration, nationality and HM Prison Service

  115

  Correspondence from Members of Parliament relating to immigration, nationality and HM Prison Service

  120

  Correspondence, including emails, from members of the public

  120

  1Working days

  A great deal of effort has been put into improving performance over the past six months following the introduction of the new Correspondence Tracking System.

  The latest available figures show that 60 per cent. of letters from hon. Members are now replied to within the target. This is an increase on the figure of 36 per cent. achieved in May 2003. Although this indicates a considerable improvement, the department is committed to improving this further.

  Cyber-terrorism
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his assessment of the current risk to British security posed by cyber-terrorism. [148761]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: The National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) is continually monitoring the threat of electronic attack on the UK's Critical National Infrastructure. NISCC's assessment is that the overall threat from electronic attack is increasing but remains less attractive than a conventional attack. While the threat of the sort of attack that could disable a critical service is considered to remain low, less serious but damaging attacks that might deface a website or deny service from a website are assessed to be more likely.

  Uninsured Drivers
  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each police force area were charged by police with driving without insurance in each of the last five years. [148742]

  Ms Blears
  Information on the number of people charged is not collected centrally.

  However, the number of prosecutions for the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks is given in the table from 1997 to 2001 by police force area.

  Information for 2002 will be available in the spring.
  1273W

  Total proceedings at the magistrates courts for the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks1 total offences by persons2–England and Wales

  Number of offences

  Police force

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Avon and Somerset

  15,354

  16,891

  15,094

  14,609

  13,022

  Bedfordshire

  4,724

  4,449

  3,477

  3,594

  4,651

  Cambridgeshire

  3,438

  3,422

  3,056

  2,926

  2,507

  Cheshire

  4,836

  4,958

  5,458

  5,725

  4,973

  Cleveland

  3,925

  4,203

  4,330

  4,793

  4,789

  Cumbria

  4,215

  3,783

  3,596

  3,507

  3,594

  Derbyshire

  5,563

  5,135

  5,118

  5,314

  5,428

  Devon and Cornwall

  8,422

  7,231

  7,493

  9,233

  8,648

  Dorset

  5,271

  4,198

  4,776

  6,035

  5,262

  Durham

  3,989

  4,260

  5,898

  5,470

  5,394

  Essex

  7,151

  7,020

  7,333

  7,893

  7,705

  Gloucestershire

  3,574

  4,463

  4,442

  4,173

  4,681

  Greater Manchester

  30,636

  30,829

  33,203

  33,762

  37,068

  Hampshire

  11,764

  11,552

  11,545

  10,557

  10,347

  Hertfordshire

  4,575

  5,795

  4,744

  5,254

  5,815

  Humberside

  4,402

  4,278

  4,892

  5,021

  4,729

  Kent

  6,931

  6,955

  6,150

  9,032

  9,588

  Lancashire

  20,326

  18,787

  18,097

  18,348

  16,268

  Leicestershire

  9,696

  9,476

  11,053

  10,260

  10,467

  Lincolnshire

  4,589

  4,999

  5,345

  4,500

  4,083

  London, City of

  2,669

  3,127

  2,517

  1,738

  1,824

  Merseyside

  10,896

  9,741

  8,932

  10,054

  9,466

  Metropolitan Police

  42,266

  35,057

  31,269

  29,635

  32,015

  Norfolk

  3,928

  3,433

  3,467

  3,951

  4,744

  Northamptonshire

  4,997

  4,842

  5,560

  3,946

  2,027

  Northumbria

  12,469

  11,837

  13,296

  13,192

  12,503

  North Yorkshire

  3,925

  3,742

  4,001

  3,903

  3,541

  Nottinghamshire

  8,078

  8.725

  7,955

  7,748

  7,856

  South Yorkshire

  11,223

  11,551

  11,759

  12,689

  14,615

  Staffordshire

  8,175

  8,206

  8.018

  8,777

  6,023

  Suffolk

  3,254

  3,743

  4,188

  3,918

  4,119

  Surrey

  4,940

  3,908

  4,436

  4,939

  5,100

  Sussex

  9,333

  8,201

  7,413

  6,796

  6,814

  Thames Valley

  11,884

  11,945

  13,540

  12,811

  11,723

  Warwickshire

  4,315

  3,761

  3,522

  4,133

  4,204

  West Mercia

  7,075

  8,207

  7,446

  7,686

  7,784

  West Midlands

  29,862

  30,916

  27,400

  28,140

  27,000

  West Yorkshire

  23,978

  23,546

  25,769

  26,527

  27,616

  Wiltshire

  3,459

  4,818

  4,706

  4,901

  5,292

  Dyfed-Powys

  3,079

  2,852

  3,017

  3,071

  2,952

  Gwent

  4,094

  4,476

  4,451

  4,679

  4,757

  North Wales

  4,859

  4,452

  -4,101

  3,696

  3,370

  South Wales

  14,828

  16,186.

  15,403

  14,615

  13,803

  England and Wales

  396,967

  389,956

  387,266

  391,551

  388,167

  1 An offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s143(2)

  2 Excludes companies, local authorities etc. One person may be proceeded against more than once on the same occasion.

  Euro
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many speeches during 2003 he declared support for the Government's policy on the euro. [147298]

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

  Give as You Earn Scheme
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department. [143906]
  1274W
  Fiona Mactaggart
  Figures for staff in central Home Office and Immigration and Nationality Directorate contributing to the Give as You Earn (GAYE) scheme are outlined in the table. Figures are taken from the November 2003 payroll. Figures for other agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) are currently not available.

  Give as You Earn scheme

  Number of payees contributing

  770 out of 20,162

  Percentage of payees contributing

  3.82

  Monthly amount collected

  £8,877.48

  Home Office staff can find information on how to contribute to the GAYE scheme from their personnel unit; or electronically, via our Intranet. Promotion of the scheme has recently taken place in some small areas in London. The Human Resources Policy Section is currently working on a strategy to publicise the scheme across the whole Department. This work has been suspended because of the current pay dispute, but I would envisage that the strategy will be implemented in the spring.

  Illegal Entrants (Amnesties)
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amnesties in the form of permission to stay have been offered to people who entered the country illegally during the last 15 years; and when. [148148]

  Beverley Hughes
  There have been no "amnesties" targeted at people who entered illegally in the last 15 years.

  On three occasions during that time special exercises have been undertaken to grant leave to people meeting specified criteria. The administrative exercise in 1992–93 granted exceptional leave to remain to 60 per cent. of those refused asylum—possibly over 20,000. There was no announcement to Parliament.

  The exercise in 1998, announced to Parliament in 1998, granted leave to those whose claims had been subject to delay in processing.

  The focused exercise we announced last October is targeted at families who applied before reforms were made to the appeal system and who have children who are established within our communities.

  Immigration Surcharge
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason he is planning to levy a surcharge on those coming to the UK(a) for higher education and (b) to take up employment; what windfall gain this charge is intended to engender; and what his Department means by the term over-cost. [148161]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Asylum and Immigration Bill includes an enabling power to introduce an over-cost charge for non-asylum applications where there are existing powers to charge. We believe it is fair that people who want to come to the UK to study or take up employment should make a contribution in return for the benefits they receive. Final decisions about the level of any additional fees for different categories of applicant,
  1275W
  and regarding the timing of their introduction, will be taken only after wide consultation with key stakeholders and other Government Departments.

  The term over-cost refers to setting a fee at a rate that exceeds the administrative cost of determining or processing such an application.

  Imprisonable Offences
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many imprisonable offences have been created since 1997. [147354]

  Paul Goggins
  The Home Office is responsible for aspects of the criminal law, but records of all imprisonable offences enacted in any parliamentary session are not kept centrally. The following information therefore relates only to Home Office measures. 257 imprisonable offences have been created, modified or re-enacted since 1 May 1997.

  Islam
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will encourage leaders of the Islamic faith in the United Kingdom to support the reform of Islamic law which calls for the death penalty for apostates. [147425]

  Beverley Hughes
  While the Government does not generally intervene in matters of religious doctrine, I am aware that Islamic teaching places a strong injunction on Muslims to abide by the laws of the society in which they live and that the great majority of Muslims in the United Kingdom are peaceful and law-abiding members of society. The United Kingdom is fortunate in having a number of wise and responsible Muslim religious and community leaders who advocate a peaceful and constructive way of life. The Government has a continuing dialogue with these leaders, as with leaders of other faiths, and shares their aim of resisting and isolating all forms of extremism.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government is taking to protect members of the Islamic faith who convert to Christianity. [147426]

  Beverley Hughes
  There is already substantial legislation to protect people who are victimised or discriminated against because of their religion. For example, the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 already contains provisions which make it a criminal offence to incite or arouse fear of racial or religious hatred. The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 created new religiously aggravated offences in England and Wales, under which crimes such as assault and criminal damage attract a higher maximum penalty if they are committed because of the victim's religious belief or lack of belief. We would urge any person whose safety or property is threatened because of their religious beliefs or lack of beliefs to report the matter to the police. The Home Office has recently published a response to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Religious Offences, in which we have indicated our support in principle for a new offence of incitement to religious hatred in England and Wales.

  Passports
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a British passport with biometric data and bar coding will be available; and at what cost. [147553]

  Beverley Hughes
  The United Kingdom Passport Service and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are working on a joint programme to issue electronically enabled passports capable of supporting the applications of facial recognition software. The programme plans to start issuing this new form of passport in mid 2005 with a phased roll out through the remainder of that year. This will be a major technological change and it is important to introduce the new form of passports in a safe and controlled way. The possibility of a pilot using diplomatic passports is also being considered.

  All British passports are now issued with a machine readable zone (MRZ) in compliance with ICAO standards; some media reports have described this as a bar code.

  The cost of the new passport will depend on the method of embedding the contactless computer chip into the passport book. Four prototype methods have been developed and are subject to durability tests. Information on likely costs will be developed during the pilots.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how an applicant for a new British passport will be able to provide biometric information for the passport; and how system security will be guaranteed. [147554]

  Beverley Hughes
  The new British passport will support facial recognition and the biometric data will be provided by applicants in the form of a photograph. These photographs will need to comply with format standards and new guidance notes are being prepared.

  The current security accreditation of passport issuing systems will be maintained and the electronic information stored in the document will be secured by a digital signature at the time of issue.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the forms of biometric and bar code data that will be encompassed within the new British passport. [147596]

  Beverley Hughes
  The new British passport, which it is planned will be issued from mid 2005 onwards, will store electronically a portrait or image of the applicant of sufficient resolution to support the application of any form of facial recognition software. In addition, some of the information printed on the biodata page of the passport will also be stored electronically.

  This information will be stored on contactless computer chip and will be digitally signed when issued to prevent alteration and confirm authentication.

  All British passports already contain a machine readable zone (MRZ) which contains some of the same biodata; some media reports have described this as a bar code.

  Prisons
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to introduce an exit centre in HM Prison Leeds for people leaving prison, to link addiction, mental health, rehabilitation, education and training procedures inside prison with programmes available outside. [149034]

  Paul Goggins
  Funding has been secured for the development of a healthy living centre that will draw upon partnerships with the community to provide better opportunities for prisoners to make informed decisions about lifestyle and healthy living. Community partnerships have also been established to build upon housing and employment provision and to improve the opportunity and quality of education. I would be happy to meet my right hon. Friend to discuss how these projects can help achieve the objectives he outlines.

  Female remand population in custody

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Females on remand

  383

  395

  490

  491

  538

  599

  704

  748

  700

  775

  945

  Untried

  271

  285

  351

  344

  371

  396

  426

  434

  396

  430

  496

  Convicted unsentenced

  112

  110

  139

  147

  167

  203

  278

  313

  304

  345

  449

  Convicted unsentenced1

  29

  28

  28

  30

  31

  34

  39

  42

  43

  45

  47

  1 As a percentage of total female population.

  Note:

  The components do not always add to the totals because they have been rounded independently.

  The number of female convicted unsentenced prisoners as a percentage of the total female remand population has increased since 1992; showing a similar increase to the number of male convicted unsentenced prisoners as a percentage of the total male remand population. There are many reasons for this increase. For example, arrangements for plea before venue, as made possible by the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996 and the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997, were implemented on 1 October 1997. Plea before venue led to offenders pleading guilty earlier than previously and hence spending less time untried and spending proportionately more time convicted unsentenced.

  Sentencing
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that(a) magistrates and (b) judges have sufficient information to make the most effective use of prison and probation services. [147367]

  Paul Goggins
  Pre-sentence reports prepared by the probation service provide information to the sentencing court about the offender and the offence(s) committed to assist the court to decide on a suitable sentence. The report analyses the offence; includes an offender assessment covering accommodation and employment, details of any substance misuse, mental illness, etc.; looks at patterns of offending and the outcome of any earlier court interventions. Each report contains a
  1278W
  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were (i) serving a life sentence for murder and (ii) category A prisoners on 1 January. [148606]

  Paul Goggins
  At the end of November 2003, 3,546 males and 133 females were serving a life sentence for murder in prisons in England and Wales.

  At the end of November 2003, 951 males and seven females who were in prisons in England and Wales were classified as Category A prisoners.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the percentage of remand prisoners who are women convicted and awaiting sentence. [142889]

  Paul Goggins
  The number and percentage of remand prisoners who are women convicted and awaiting sentence is given in the following table.

  conclusion as to whether or not the offender is suitable for a community sentence and should make a clear and realistic proposal for sentence designed to protect the public and reduce re-offending, including for custody where that is necessary.

  The Sentencing Guidelines Council will introduce a robust and comprehensive set of sentencing guidelines to assist the courts in their task of ensuring consistent and just disposals in all cases.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of staff employed within his Department are over 55 years of age; and what(a) number and (b) percentage of staff recruited over the last 12 months are over 55 years of age. [145930]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The following table provides the percentage of staff over 55 in the Department, the numbers of staff recruited in the last 12 months who are over age 55 and what percentage of the overall recruitment is over age 55 in the last 12 months.

  Percentage staff over age 55

  Number of staff over 55 recruited in the last 12 months

  Percentage of staff over age 55 recruited in the last 12 months

  Non-Agency Home Office

  8.80

  149

  3.40

  Prison Service

  14.00

  372

  6

  Forensic Science Service

  6.23

  8

  3

  UK Passport Service

  10.40

  372

  5.40

  Terrorism
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to his answer of 13 January 2004,Official Report, column 669W, with which offences under the Terrorism Act 2001 the 94 individuals have been charged. [148923]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis informs me that this information is not currently held centrally and is being collated. I will write to my hon. and learned Friend when I have the information and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the proposed register of violent partners will be administered; and if he will make a statement. [147325]

  Paul Goggins
  We propose to create a register of domestic violence civil orders. This will give the police the information they need to be able to enforce orders properly and protect victims. It can be established through a non-legislative route, for example by using the Police National Computer.

  In terms of offenders, those who have been convicted of specific violent and sexual offences and have been given a custodial sentence of 12 months or more are already registered on the Violent and Sex Offenders' Register (ViSOR). ViSOR gives the police a way of risk-assessing and managing dangerous offenders, and covers the majority of domestic violence offenders who will be convicted of offences such as Actual Bodily Harm and Wounding with Intent.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Fuel Poverty (Lancashire)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many fuel poor households there are in(a) Lancashire and (b) each district in Lancashire; [146968]

  (2) how many (a) children and (b) elderly people are living in fuel poor households in each Lancashire district. [146969]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Fuel poverty is defined as a household having to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income on all energy use in order to maintain satisfactory heat in the home. The current published official estimates of fuel poverty are extrapolated from a sample survey of 17,500 dwellings carried out in 2001.

  Figures are not available at county level.

  National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money her Department has allocated to the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux(a) in each of the last three years and (b) for each of the next three years; and if she will make a statement. [148529]
  1280W
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Department of Trade and Industry has allocated the following grant in aid payments to Citizens Advice (formerly the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux—NACAB) during the past three financial years:

  £million

  2003–04

  21.24

  2002–03

  17.15

  2001–02

  16.8

  My officials are currently discussing future budgetary requirements and allocations with Citizens Advice and a final decision on allocations has not yet been made.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the head of the Insolvency Service last met the liquidators of BCCI. [149583]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service met one of the liquidators of BCCI on 4 March 2003.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations she has received from hon. Members about the liquidation of BCCI. [149585]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  In view of the period over which the liquidation of BCCI has continued, this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to receive the annual report of the liquidators of BCCI. [149586]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The next annual report on the liquidation of BCCI will cover the period 16 January 2003 to 15 January 2004.

  I would expect it to be submitted as soon as the accounting and other information can be compiled.

  Business Regulations
  Mr. Michael Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to restrict the implementation of new business regulations to two specific dates each year, 1 April and 1 September; and if she will make a statement. [148601]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  From 2004 the DTI is commencing domestic employment regulations on two dates each year. This will ensure that changes to employment policy are made in a more coordinated fashion and will provide businesses, employee representatives and individuals with grater clarity and awareness about when changes will be made.

  The common commencement dates are 6 April, the start of the tax year, and 1 October, the date when the minimum wage is revised. I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I made in the House of Commons on 14 January 2004, Official Report, columns 35–40WS, listing all the employment regulations and their commencement dates on which the DTI leads and which

  1281W
  are expected to commence in 2004. This statement, which will now be published annually, is also available on the Internet at www.dti.gov.uk/er/regs2004.htm

  The Action Plan "A Government Action Plan for Small Business" published by the Small Business Service on 8 January 2004 (available on the Internet at www.sbs.gov.uk) includes the proposal for the Government to consider introducing common commencement dates to other areas of domestic legislation.

  Consumer Codes of Practice
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Office of Fair Trading intends to encourage new code sponsors to apply for OFT approval. [148901]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  This is a matter for the Chairman of the OFT and I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend directly.

  Consumer Credit
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's work with the Office of Fair Trading on consumer credit law reform. [148899]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Department published its proposals for reform of the consumer credit regime in the recent Consumer Credit White Paper; "Fair, Clear and Competitive—The Consumer Credit Market in the 21st Century".

  The White Paper is the culmination of a major review of consumer credit law that was launched in July 2001. Our proposals have been drawn up through close consultation with all of the key stakeholders representing industry, consumer groups and enforcement agencies—including the Office of Fair Trading. We are continuing to work closely with the Office of Fair Trading on developing the detailed legislation and guidance needed to implement our proposals.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Office of Fair Trading intends to improve the fitness checking of consumer credit licence applicants through access to criminal records. [148900]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  New procedures for checking criminal records are due to be introduced by the OFT this year. The OFT is currently finalising arrangements for the introduction of these new measures which will be announced in Spring 2004.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the feasibility of capping annual percentage rates on credit cards but not on short-term loans; [149503]

  (2) when she expects the research which her Department have commissioned into the way interest ceilings work in other EU countries will be completed. [149504]
  1282W
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Government are not persuaded of the benefits of introducing interest rate ceilings for credit products of any type. A rate ceiling could actually encourage rates to gravitate towards the ceiling, causing detriment to consumers and competition. It might also encourage lenders to make the cost of credit more expensive to consumers in other ways (for example by introducing higher charges), or lead some lenders to exit the market, denying some consumers access to credit.

  However, the Government have commissioned research into the way these interest ceilings operate in other countries. It is anticipated the research will be published in the spring of this year.

  EU Tarrifs/Quotas
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantitative assessment she has made of the likely financial benefit to the least developed countries of the admission by Europe of non-armament imports free of tariffs and quotas. [149133]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  None. The loss of income for the EU budget arising from the special arrangements for Least Developed Countries of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (known as Everything-but-Arms, EBA) has been costed by the European Commission at €239 million in 2001, the first year of the scheme. The loss of income for the previous year, before the special arrangements came into effect, was €190 million.

  European Directives
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 7 January,Official Report, column 380W, on Posting of Workers Directive, what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the wages and conditions enjoyed by migrant workers in the UK under the Posting of Workers Directive compared to permanent British workers. [148036]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Government undertakes regular surveys into the wages and conditions of workers in the UK, although it does not explicitly make a distinction between migrant and non-migrant workers. In December 2002 a joint Home Office and Department for Work and Pensions report, "Migrants in the UK: their characteristics and labour market outcomes and impacts" found that migrants (defined as the foreign born) earn approximately 19 per cent. more than non-migrants.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research she has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on breaches of the Working Time Directive in the UK, with particular reference to (i) compulsory signing of opt-outs, (ii) pressure on staff to sign opt-outs, (iii) workplaces where the law is ignored, (iv) staff illegally asked to opt out of their rights to rest breaks and night work limits and (v) sending new staff opt-in and opt-out forms; and if she will make a statement. [148052]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The department has commissioned a range of research looking at the Working Time Directive in the UK. The evidence suggests that the
  1283W
  majority of UK workers are in workplaces complying with the Working Time Regulations. However, there are some areas of concern.

  A Survey of Workers' Experiences of the Working Time Regulations commissioned by the department in 2001 shows that just under a quarter of 'long hours' workers who have not signed an opt-out perceived employer pressure to work long hours. A second piece of research published by DTI in 2003, the Business Context to Long Hours Working, suggests that in establishments which had sustained long hours working, around three-quarters had no employees sign the opt-out.

  The research commissioned does not specifically look at whether staff have been illegally asked to optout of their rights to rest breaks and night work limits. However, the Survey of Workers' Experiences of the Working Time Regulations found that approximately one in 10 workers 'without full rest breaks' thought they had experienced employer pressure to work without full rest breaks, and a similar proportion of 'night workers' felt pressured to work long hours at night.

  Other research published by DTI in 2003 looking at the Implementation of the Working Time Regulations: a follow up study, reported that one case study employer, an engineering company, had made the signing of an opt-out agreement a condition of employment for new starters who worked nights.

  I am ready to look at suggestions for improving the operation of working time law, including concerns over misuse of the opt-out to make sure it works properly. I recently wrote to the CBI and TUC inviting them to discuss what we may offer to do to meet the concerns identified in the European Commission Communication on working time.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the value to UK(a) employers and (b) employees of the UK allowing an opt-out to the Working Time Directive. [148053]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The opt-out from the weekly working time limits is valuable as it provides flexibility for employers and the choice for employees to work longer hours if they want to. Without the opt-out, employers would have to reduce the hours of some of their workers. This could cause problems for both employers and employees. A recent study The Business Context to Long Hours Working published by my department in 2003 shows that employers thought the most common barrier to reducing the hours of staff was the needs of the business and workload (55 per cent. of respondents cited this), second to this was the concern that existing staff may resist the reduction in hours as it could limit their choice to work these hours and a reduction in their overtime pay (22 per cent.)

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library a copy of the research document commissioned by her Department on The use and necessity of Article 18(b)(1) of the Working Time Directive in the United Kingdom. [149013]
  1284W
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The research document in question was not commissioned by my Department, but by the European Commission. They have not published it, but I understand they can provide copies of it on request.

  Home Security Systems
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to prevent companies selling alarm systems from gaining access to homes by claiming to be carrying out a security check. [149346]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Government are concerned about the practices adopted by some doorstep traders and have welcomed the Office of Fair Trading's investigation of the doorstep selling market. The investigation report is expected in the next couple of months. Recommendations resulting from the investigation will be considered very carefully.

  Insolvency Service
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the administrative costs were of the Insolvency Service in each year since 1997; and if she will break down these costs for 2003–04 by main budget head. [147802]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Expenditure of the Insolvency Service as reported in its Annual Report and Accounts since 1997 was.

  £000

  Year

  Expenditure

  1997–98

  78,538

  1998–99

  78,159

  1999–2000

  80,512

  2000–01

  80,314

  2001–02

  81,840

  2002–03

  90,332

  Forecast budgeted expenditure for 2003–04 based on Department of Trade and Industry main budget headings are:

  £000

  Budget

  Forecast

  Pay

  48,000

  Accommodation

  10,400

  GAE

  10,600

  Programme

  16,450

  Inter Department (non cash)

  6,500

  Capital

  2,925

  Non cash accounting adjustments

  5,000

  Total

  99,875

  Note:

  The Insolvency Service merged with The Redundancy Payments Service on 1 April 2003. Figures for 2003–04 therefore include the budgeted costs of The Redundancy Payments Service whereas those for prior years do not.

  Protectionism (Labelling)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence she has collated on the use of national and regional labelling schemes as a protectionist barrier to trade. [149073]
  1285W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There is no central body of information listing national and regional labelling schemes. However, we work closely with the European Commission to secure the removal or amelioration of labelling schemes that are unnecessarily trade restrictive.

  Research Funding
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the funding for(a) the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils and (b) the grant-in-aid funding allocated to the (i) Biotechnology and

  £000

  Allocation

  Actual

  2003–04

  2002–03

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1997–98

  CCLRC

  283,447

  15,607

  9,181

  4,075

  2,000

  1,462

  1,206

  BBSRC

  267,649

  241,510

  213,874

  211,991

  195,545

  185,739

  189,022

  ESRC

  94,584

  82,963

  73,647

  71,800

  70,872

  67,506

  65,227

  EPSRC

  463,224

  473,534

  444,023

  413,552

  404,796

  379,444

  386,276

  MRC

  387,993

  365,136

  356,248

  319,651

  304,538

  284,098

  292,721

  NERC

  286,359

  205,677

  187,671

  178,850

  176,715

  173,967

  166,150

  PPARC

  259,062

  235,540

  210,282

  205,774

  186,680

  209,052

  197,869

  1 figures shown in the Departmental Report 2003 are on a resource basis and are not directly comparable with those above. Figures are not available on a consistent resource basis for the whole of the period shown.

  2 figures also reflect changes to the structure and responsibilities of CCLRC following its Quinquennial Review, published in April 2002, including responsibility for UK subscriptions to the Institut Laue Langevin and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble.

  Steel Tariffs
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the United States on steel tariffs on United Kingdom steel exports. [148217]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  UK ministers held regular discussions with the United States on steel in the run-up to President Bush's decision on 4 December 2003 to remove the US steel safeguard tariffs. No ministerial level discussions have taken place since then.

  Strike Action
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many days have been lost to strike action in each month since January 1997. [148194]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Information is available in the following table.

  Working days lost due to labour disputes January 1997 to November 2003

  Month

  Working days lost (thousand)

  1997

  January

  25

  February

  14

  March

  36

  April

  48

  May

  36

  June

  13

  July

  11

  August

  6

  September

  1

  October

  19

  November

  14

  1286W
  Biological Sciences Research Council, (ii) Economic and Social Research Council, (iii) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (iv) Medical Research Council, (v) Natural Environment Research Council and (vi) Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council in 2003–04 as set out in her Departmental Report 2003; and what payments have been made to each council since 1997. [147796]

  Ms Hewitt
  The 2002 Spending Review resulted in the largest increases in the Science Budget for over a decade, with year-on-year growth of 10 per cent. in real terms from 2003–04. Cash1 Grant-in-Aid payments to each of the Research Councils for each financial year from April 1997 are set out in the table.

  Working days lost due to labour disputes January 1997 to November 2003

  Month

  Working days lost (thousand)

  December>

  12

  1998

  January

  16

  February

  19

  March

  33

  April

  14

  May

  7

  June

  69

  July

  59

  August

  24

  September

  6

  October

  7

  November

  18

  December

  11

  1999

  January

  9

  February

  27

  March

  35

  April

  4

  May

  50

  June

  16

  July

  8

  August

  10

  September

  22

  October

  19

  November

  22

  December

  20

  2000

  January

  11

  February

  6

  March

  18

  April

  11

  May

  14

  1287W

  Working days lost due to labour disputes January 1997 to November 2003

  Month

  Working days lost (thousand)

  June

  7

  July

  36

  August

  115

  September

  93

  October

  14

  November

  115

  December

  59

  2001

  January

  52

  February

  36

  March

  48

  April

  16

  May

  93

  June

  12

  July

  24

  August

  16

  September

  22

  October

  39

  November

  62

  December

  102

  2002

  January

  94

  February

  24

  March

  80

  April

  19

  May

  81

  June

  57

  July

  521

  August

  13

  September

  10

  October

  42

  November

  371

  December

  11

  2003

  January

  91

  February

  13

  March

  14

  April

  9

  May

  26

  June

  33

  July

  47

  August

  12

  September

  24

  October

  131

  November

  61

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

  Supermarkets and Suppliers
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to receive the report from the Office of Fair Trading into the code of practice between suppliers and supermarkets. [R][147768]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is expected to conclude its review of the Code of Practice governing supermarkets' relations with their suppliers shortly. The OFT will then send its results to DTI for formal consideration. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will wait for the results of that review before deciding if any action is necessary.

  Trade Policy
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her policy in trade 1288W
  negotiations to pursue a comprehensive approach across the board for all products and all sectors without a priori exceptions. [149148]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Yes, where appropriate.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her policy to seek bound reduction of high tariffs, particularly tariff plans, with a view to securing greater tariff harmonisation between countries. [149149]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Yes.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her policy to seek the binding of unbound tariffs at commercially acceptable levels. [149150]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Yes.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her policy to seek improved geographical coverage of(a) zero-duty sectoral agreements and (b) sectoral tariff harmonisation agreements. [149151]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government welcomes and encourages increased participation in such agreements.

  United Kingdom Trade
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the volume of United Kingdom trade with each of the full members of the G20 was in each of the last 10 years. [146597]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Information on the value of UK trade in goods, by partner country, is published by HM Customs and Excise in Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom. Each annual publication contains data for the latest two years. Business Monitors MA20 for 1994 and 1996 and OTSA for 1998, 2000 and 2002 contain the complete set of information required. These publications are available in the Library.

  Unsolicited Telephone Calls
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what actions she has taken to limit unsolicited telephone calls for the purpose of selling goods and services. [148822]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Individual subscribers are offered protection from unsolicited direct marketing calls under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

  The regulations state that direct marketing calls may not be made to individuals who have:
  (a) previously notified the caller that they do not want to receive such calls, or
  (b) been registered on the Telephone Preference Service for 28 days or longer.

  The Telephone Preference Service is an opt-out scheme run on Ofcom's behalf by the Direct Marketing Association.

  The Government have also committed to allowing corporate subscribers to register on the Telephone Preference Service from spring 2004.

  Working Hours
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of(a) total employees, (b) female employees and (c) male employees in the UK worked an average of more than 48 hours per week in the last year for which figures are available. [148174]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  According to the Spring 2003 Labour Force Survey 15 per cent. of employees usually worked over 48 hours per week. 6 per cent. of female employees and 23 per cent. of male employees usually worked over 48 hours per week.

  World Trade Organisation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Director General of the World Trade Organisation since 15 December 2003. [149070]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend last spoke to Dr. Supachai himself at the CBI Conference on 17 November 2003, but we are in regular contact with his officials in Geneva.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what general tariff reduction formula is supported by her Department. [149077]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To stimulate the expansion of trade and economic growth, the Government wants formulae that, consistent with the Doha Declaration, would substantially increase market access for all goods in all WTO member countries.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will identify technical barriers to trade which harm(a) the United Kingdom and (b) developing countries. [149078]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. A major element of Government policy is the creation of fair and open markets at home and aboard. Using the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade and the European Community's Technical Barriers Regulation, we therefore work closely with UK industry, the European Commission and others in seeking to ensure that individual technical regulations are not unnecessarily trade restrictive and, in particular, to secure the removal or amelioration of those that harm UK exports.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the EU's stance at the Geneva trade talks on(a) industrial market access and (b) special and differential treatment. [149135]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The UK fully supports the EU's objective of securing an ambitious and comprehensive agreement on non-agricultural market access delivering benefits to all Members and an overall result of the 1290W
  Doha Development Agenda which reflects the needs of different WTO Members through appropriate Special and Differential Treatment.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her policy to seek greater use of(a) mediation and (b) resolution of trade disputes prior to formal recourse to the World Trade Organisation dispute settlement understanding procedures. [149145]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government sees the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), with a binding mechanism for resolving disputes, as one of the key pillars of the WTO and one of the great achievements of the Uruguay Round. We obviously welcome it when parties resolve a dispute without formal recourse to the DSU. We support the Communication issued by the Director-General of the WTO to the WTO membership in 2001 outlining his views on how to make better use of his power to use Good Offices, Conciliation and Mediation. We welcome in particular the use of mediation to resolve a potential dispute between the EU on the one hand and Thailand and the Philippines on the other regarding imports of canned tuna.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she had with Commissioners Lamy and Fischer before the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Cancun about the advisability of introducing new issues for which the developing countries would be unprepared to the conference agenda. [149130]

  Hilary Benn
  I have been asked to reply. Ministers at the fourth WTO Ministerial Meeting in Doha agreed that negotiations on the four Singapore (i.e. New) Issues would take place after the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference at Cancun. However this was subject to the condition of a decision being taken, by explicit consensus, on the framework of these negotiations. Such a consensus was not reached by Ministers at the Cancun conference and so negotiations have not started on the Singapore Issues.

  Although I did not have any discussions directly with Commissioners Lamy or Fischler about this, since the Cancun ministerial predated my appointment as Secretary of State for International Development, UK Ministers repeatedly made clear that the New Issues were not development priorities. Therefore I welcome the fact that EU Trade Ministers agreed on 2 December that the European Community should "unbundle" the four issues and explore alternative, more flexible approaches, including the possibility of removing some, or all, of the New Issues from the Doha Round.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Civil Service (Disabled People)
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set out the number of employees in his Department who have a disability, broken down by disability type. [148983]
  1291W
  Mr. Pearson
  Of the 32,384, staff employed by the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Northern Ireland Office, 1,277 (3.9 per cent.) declared a disability. The breakdown by disability type is:

  Type of disability

  Number

  Hearing impairment

  189

  Visual impairment

  57

  Speech impairment

  43

  Mobility impairment

  157

  Physical co-ordination difficulties

  39

  Reduced physical capacity

  326

  Severe disfigurement

  17

  Learning difficulties

  20

  Mental illness

  96

  More than one disability

  326

  Type of disability not specified

  7

  Total

  1,277

  Demography
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the size of each minority group, including Travellers, in Northern Ireland. [149226]

  Mr. Pearson
  The table gives details of the 2001 Census question relating to ethnic group, including Irish Travellers.

  2001 Census population count of ethnic group, including Irish Travellers

  Ethnic group

  Count

  Population percentage

  White

  1,670,988

  99.15

  Irish Traveller

  1,710

  0.10

  Mixed

  3,319

  0.20

  Indian

  1,567

  0.09

  Pakistani

  666

  0.04

  Bangladeshi

  252

  0.01

  Other Asian

  194

  0.01

  Black Caribbean

  255

  0.02

  Black African

  1494

  0.03

  Other Black

  387

  0.02

  Chinese

  4,145

  0.25

  Other ethnic group

  1,290

  0.08

  Total

  1,685,267

  100.00

  Development Plan, Killyleath
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a decision will be made in relation to the proposed development plan for Gocean, Killyleagh; and if he will make a statement. [148815]

  Angela Smith
  I expect to make a decision on the proposal for Gocean, Killyleagh within the next month.

  Healthy Eating
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to promote healthy eating in schools in Northern Ireland. [148764]

  Mr. Pearson
  The following criteria will be applied:

  Vision for future agri-food provision;

  Stakeholder consultation—initial and on-going;

  1292W

  Selection/targeting of proposed courses and research;

  Capital and other set-up costs; and

  Promotion and marketing of relevant courses.

  A decision is expected in early April 2004.

  Heart Defibrillators
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the need for the provision of heart defibrillators in(a) leisure facilities, (b) entertainment complexes, (c) shopping centres, (d) other public places used by large numbers of individuals and (e) public places where large numbers of individuals are likely to congregate. [148826]

  Angela Smith
  The effectiveness of public access to defibrillators is currently being assessed through a research project commissioned by the Research and Development Office, on behalf of DHSSPS, entitled "A study of the Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Public Access Defibrillation in Urban and Rural Populations in Northern Ireland".

  This three-year project forms part of a programme of commissioned research to inform policy development for the "Investing for Health" strategy.

  International Tendering Fund
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland firms have been assisted by the International Tendering Fund; and what the effect has been on winning overseas contracts. [149211]

  Mr. Pearson
  Since the inception of Invest NI on 1 April 2002 the International Tendering Fund has assisted 15 companies. Although no tenders have been won to date, many of these projects are still ongoing. The process can take up to three years for an international tender contract to be awarded, and Invest NI continue to track the progress of all fund participants.

  Planning Applications
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what he recommends as a reasonable period of time before an applicant can expect to be informed whether his or her planning application is successful. [148814]

  Angela Smith
  Planning Service is committed to processing all valid planning applications as expeditiously as possible. This is reflected in the Agency's Corporate and Business Plans 2003–04 to 2005–06. But there will be cases which, due to their complexity and scale, take longer.

  Racist Incidents (Health Workers)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the number of racist incidents involving(a) nurses, (b) other hospital staff and (c) workers in health and social services in the past 12 months; and what measures are being taken by hospital management and health authorities to address this issue. [149241]
  1293W
  Angela Smith
  Information on incidents involving violence against staff employed in the HPSS is not currently held in the form which would identify attacks of a racist nature. Reports from HPSS employers indicate that the number of incidents which are perceived as racist in origin is negligible.

  The Department has issued guidance on racial harassment and violence against staff employed in the HPSS. The Department, in consultation with employing authorities, is also developing a mandatory recording and reporting system for incidents involving physical or verbal violence.

  The Department has also been involved with the Police Service of Northern Ireland in developing a joint protocol for police and HPSS employees for the reporting of incidents of verbal and physical abuse.

  Regional Cancer Centre
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress on the Northern Ireland regional CAncer Centre, with particular reference to staffing. [148846]

  Angela Smith
  The Cancer Centre construction programme is on schedule for completion by December 2005 with the opening planned for early 2006. So far, significant developments have included the opening of the new Oncology and Haematology Day Hospital on 12 May 2003 and the transfer of Oncology Day Services from Belvoir Park Hospital in June last year.

  The Department's Priorities for Action require Boards and trusts to agree a service development plan for the Cancer Centre, including staffing, drugs and equipment, by 31 March 2004. Significant resources have been received to assist with the staffing of the Cancer Centre, with further allocations of funds expected in 2004–05 and 2005–06.

  Road Gritting
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what the cost was of gritting roads during the winter of each year since 2000–01; [148947]

  (2) how and by whom decisions are taken regarding when roads in Northern Ireland are gritted; and what flexibility there is in terms of the number treated on any particular occasion. [148951]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Lady in response to these questions. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Sheep
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to improve the identification of sheep in Northern Ireland. [148767]

  Mr. Pearson
  Following on from decisions reached at the EU Farm Council on 17 December 2003, my officials will shortly be consulting the industry on proposals to improve the system for the identification and registration of sheep and goats.

  Waterways (Pollution)
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convictions there have been for pollution of waterways in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [148832]

  Angela Smith
  During the last 12 months, 82 convictions were secured for water pollution offences.

  Further information on enforcement and prosecution is available on the Environment and Heritage Service website at: http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/pubs/publications/ Water_Pollution_Incidents 2001.pdf

  The Water Pollution Incident and Prosecution Statistics Report for 2002 will be available shortly and will be placed in the Library.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Departmental Advertising
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much(a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department has spent on (i) advertising and (ii) information campaigns in each year from 1995–96 to 2003–04 (estimated); and if he will make a statement. [149621]

  Hilary Benn
  Our expenditure on publicity, which forms a part of our effort to raise development awareness and understanding of international development issues in the UK, has been as follows:

  £

  1995–96

  568,775

  1996–97

  579,916

  1999–99

  399,755

  1999–2000

  674,531

  2000–01

  1,484,281

  2001–02

  1,286,053

  2002–03

  11,300,000

  2003–04

  2850,000

  1Estimate

  2 Provisional forecast figure

  We do not hold a separate advertising budget. The majority of advertising relates to recruitment advertising in newspapers and journals. Figures for the four calendar years are as follows:

  2000: 751,972

  2001: 1,208,191

  2002: 914,571

  2003: 871,246

  Sudan
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to send an independent international commission of inquiry to Darfur. [148543]

  Hilary Benn
  At present limited access in Darfur means that the various humanitarian agencies are unable to fully assess the situation on the ground, or to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable.
  1295W
  So we are calling on all parties to re-establish a ceasefire to allow unfettered humanitarian access. We have offered our good offices to all parties to help them reach a peaceful solution, and have suggested that there may be a role for the international community in assisting in the implementation of a peace deal.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had on human rights abuses in Darfur with the Sudanese authorities. [148643]

  Hilary Benn
  I discussed the human rights situation in Sudan with the President during my visit to Khartoum on 10 December 2003.

  We continue to be concerned about the human rights situation in the whole of Sudan, regardless of religious or ethnic background. The promotion of human rights, through advocacy with the government and support for NGOs, remains one of our priorities.

  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of eligible heavily indebted poor countries committed to poverty reduction have received irrevocable debt relief. [149161]

  Hilary Benn
  Of the thirty-seven countries that could potentially qualify for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries' (HIPC) Initiative, twenty-seven have reached Decision Point and have therefore received interim relief on their debt service payments. This means that they no longer have to make any repayments on a substantial portion (around two-thirds) of their debts and are able to use these resources for increased social expenditure. Of these thirty-seven countries, nine have reached Completion Point and have received an irrevocable reduction in their stock of debt. A further ten are expected to reach Completion Point by the end of 2004.

  Middle East
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department are involved in in(a) Gaza and (b) the West Bank, aimed at improving public access to water for (i) consumption and (ii) agriculture. [148929]

  Hilary Benn
  We have had broad engagement with the Palestinian Water Authority for several years supporting the effective delivery of water services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Four projects that have improved access to potable water, sanitation and environmental health in some of the poorest communities have just been brought to a successful conclusion. We currently fund two projects.

  Our support for the Sustainable Management of the West Bank and Gaza Strip Aquifers project will enhance the Palestinian Water Authority's understanding of the western aquifer, which is an essential source of water in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The project includes consideration of the management and allocation of water resources between various uses—agriculture, industry and domestic—to allow the implications of alternative policies to be assessed. We also support a Water Access and Storage project to enable villages in the south
  1296W
  Hebron district of the West Bank that do not have access to the networked water supply to obtain more secure access to drinking water and sustainable improved sanitation.

  Global Health Fund
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact over the last 12 months of the Global Health Fund in tackling(a) HIV/AIDS, (b) tuberculosis and (c) malaria. [149074]

  Hilary Benn
  The Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) was founded in January 2002. We recognise that the GFATM is still a young partnership and that it has just started to finance programmes within countries. The impact of GFATM is difficult to measure at this early stage but its 2002–03 annual report provides very good evidence of progress made to date on each of these diseases. Disbursement is now accelerating we expect to see more evidence of the impact of the Global Fund.

  DFID has been working closely with the Board on effective ways to measure the GFATM's performance and evaluate its processes. We are working to ensure that the GFATM has a clear poverty focus, sound financial systems in place and alignment of its activities with national programmes and processes.

  Infant Mortality
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what the result has been of his Department's technical and financial contribution to the development and implementation of effective health programmes in the 16 African countries affected by his public service agreement target on mortality among children aged under five years; [148553]

  (2) what the result has been of his Department's engagement with health sector development in 10 of the 16 countries in Africa affected by his Public Service Agreement target to reduce mortality amongst people aged under five years. [148549]

  Hilary Benn
  Of the 16 PSA countries, six have experienced a rise in child mortality between 1990 and 2001. The other ten have made varying degrees of progress but are all generally some way below the level needed to reach the PSA target.

  Child mortality has multiple and complex causes. Economic decline and associated malnutrition is likely to have played a major role in constraining improvement in child health. Several African countries have also experienced conflict and civil unrest, which further undermine attempts to reduce child mortality. Other significant reasons for lack of progress include problems within the performance of the health sector itself and HIV/AIDS.

  However, in a number of the PSA countries some encouraging progress has been achieved against intermediate health indicators. For example, in Ghana there has been progress with immunisation rates and deployment of nurses. Tanzania has seen improved immunisation rates, significant Vitamin A and insecticide-treated mosquito net distribution, improved

  1297W
  malaria treatment and strengthened health planning and management at district level. In Uganda, use of outpatient services has increased and immunisation rates have risen. All of these improvements have the potential to improve child mortality rates.

  The Department for International Development's contribution to these improvements in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and other countries has been provided in a number of ways, including through support for the health sector, budget support, and technical assistance. It is also important to recognise that DFID is not working alone, and that changes are due to the combined efforts of the countries concerned and other donors as well as ourselves. We will continue to work with other donors to ensure that affordable and sustainable health outcomes are given due priority and support in national planning and budgeting processes.

  Iraq
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what studies have been made of cancer rates in Iraq(a) from 1991 to 2002 and (b) since the end of hostilities on 1 May 2003. [148270]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID is not aware of any studies of cancer rates carried out by the Iraqi Ministry of Health, Coalition Provisional Authority or other bodies. The ability accurately to measure localised increases in cancer rates—especially if there is cancer due to radiation, which can take years to develop—requires a well-developed national disease surveillance system, which Iraq does not currently have. The World Health Organisation plans to carry out a study to investigate the effects of the use of depleted uranium in ordnance used by military forces, which some individuals have claimed has caused an increase in cancer rates in Iraq, using that country as a key focus. This study will be subject to funding and to an improvement in the security situation.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on(a) secondments, (b) consultants and (c) security as part of its expenditure on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq. [149212]

  Hilary Benn
  We have spent(a) £2.1 million on secondments, (b) £6.3 million on consultants and (c) £11.4 million on security measures in Iraq to date. In addition, we have recently contributed £3.6 million to UNSECOORD for security measures for UN operations in Iraq.

  DFID Bilateral Programme: Percentage To Low Income Countries1

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Country Specific: All Recipient Countries

  Low Income Countries

  65

  73

  67

  76

  78

  80

  Country Specific: All Recipient Countries(excluding Humanitarian Assistance

  Low Income Countries

  67

  72

  75

  78

  78

  80

  Country Specific: Developing Countries only2

  Low Income Countries

  72

  78

  71

  79

  82

  84

  1 Countries are classified using 1998 GNI per capita estimates used by the DAC for aid flows up to 2002. This table covers only bilateral aid that can be attributed to individual countries. Low Income Countries are those with a GNI per capita in 1998 below $760.

  2 This includes all countries defined as developing by DAC, i.e. those on Part I of the DAC list of recipient countries.

  1298W
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what efforts his Department have made to employ Iraqis in development work in that country. [149162]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID's approach is to encourage the involvement and employment of Iraqis as much as possible in all the work we fund. For some projects, this has included direct employment of Iraqi staff and sub-contracting of Iraqi firms. By way of example, the vast majority of the construction work DFID has funded in southern Iraq has been sub-contracted to local firms. One of the criteria we have set for our £20 million Essential Infrastructure Programme has been to give priority to projects that create the most employment. We are also considering funding for direct employment generation schemes in southern Iraq.

  Jharkand
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department are involved in development work in the Indian state of Jharkand. [149164]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  We have agreed with the Union Government to working closely with four focus states committed to poverty reduction, including on their programmes of fiscal and public sector reform, increasing access to basic health, education, and urban services for the poor and empowerment of the marginalised. Although Jharkand is not one of DFID's focus states, through DFID India's National Programme we support the efforts of the Union Government and civil society nationwide. For example, Jharkand is covered by DFID support for basic education, maternal and child health and civil society; Jharkand is also a major beneficiary of DFID's Poorest Areas Civil Society Programme.

  Low-income Countries
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's bilateral programme has gone to low-income countries in each of the last six years. [149068]

  Hilary Benn
  The information requested is shown in the following table. Note that it can be measured in a number of ways and the figures corresponding to the target in DFID's Public Service Agreement are those in the middle category i.e. all country specific bilateral assistance excluding humanitarian assistance.
  1299W
  Further details can be found in Table 4 of our annual publication 'Statistics on International Development', a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Malaria
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the United Kingdom will give developing countries to enact the World Health Organisation's recommendation that artemisinin-based combination therapy should be used in malaria outbreaks to prevent the disease developing further resistance to treatment. [149219]

  Hilary Benn
  Artemisinin (or Artesunate) is a naturally occurring substance that has been used in China in the treatment of malaria for a long period of time. It can be used by itself, but is more useful when combined with other effective anti-malarials as it enhances their useful life by decreasing the possibility of drug resistance. The World Health Organisation and Roll Back Malaria recommend the use of combined therapies as the first option wherever possible.

  The Department for International Development has committed £48 million to Roll Back Malaria (RBM) over a four and a half year period (September 1999—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. Their advice covers the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies. As an active partner of RBM, my Department works to ensure that 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.

  DFID has also engaged more directly in partnerships with industry to transform research into drugs. We recently worked with GlaxoSmithKline, the WHO programme on Tropical Diseases Research and Liverpool University in the development of a cheap new drug called LAPDAP. In order to make the best use of LAPDAP, further research to combine it with artemisinin is being undertaken, managed under an umbrella organisation called the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), which DFID also supports. MMV has a portfolio of projects, which include the development of a number of artemisinin-based combination therapies using a variety of drugs. 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 of two new drugs in the next 10 years.

  Artemisinin-based therapies are, like many new treatments, relatively expensive. This highlights the need for the UK Government to work with others to reduce the cost of effective new drugs. The Prime Minister's high-level Working Group on Increasing Access to Essential Medicines in the Developing World recommended differential pricing of essential medicines for the developing world. My Department is working with other Government Departments to secure greater
  1300W
  international commitment to affordable pricing. The Government worked with G8 colleagues at last year's Evian summit to secure commitment to action on this issue in line with the Working Group's recommendations.

  Millennium Development Goals
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by each country in meeting the millennium development goal to halve the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day by 2015. [149062]

  Hilary Benn
  Comparable data needed to assess trends in the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day are available only at the regional level. The most recent data and estimates for 2015 are as follows.

  Regional breakdown of poverty estimates in developing countries

  1990

  2000

  2015

  East Asia and Pacific

  29.4

  14.5

  2.3

  Europe and Central Asia

  1.4

  4.2

  1.3

  Latin America and the Caribbean

  11.0

  10.8

  7.6

  Middle East and North Africa

  2.1

  2.8

  1.2

  South Asia

  41.5

  31.9

  16.4

  Sub-Saharan Africa

  47.4

  49.0

  42.3

  Total

  28.3

  21.6

  12.5

  Source:

  World Bank, Global Economic Prospects 2004

  It is clear from these figures that while the global picture of income poverty improved over the 1990s and we are likely to reach the target overall, progress across regions varies. The following table sets out the latest available information on the proportion of the population below $1 a day by country1.

  Year>

  Country

  Percentage of population below $1 a day2

  1995

  Algeria

  <2

  1998

  Armenia

  12.8

  2001

  Azerbaijan

  3.7

  2000

  Bangladesh

  36.0

  2000

  Belarus

  <2

  1999

  Bolivia

  14.4

  1998

  Brazil

  9.9

  2001

  Bulgaria

  4.7

  1998

  Burundi

  58.4

  1996

  Cameroon

  33.4

  1998

  Chile

  <2

  2000

  China

  16.1

  1998

  Colombia

  14.4

  1998

  Costa Rica

  6.9

  1995

  Cote d'lvoire

  12.3

  2000

  Croatia

  <2

  1996

  Czech Republic

  <2

  1998

  Dominican Republic

  <2

  1995

  Ecuador

  20.2

  2000

  Egypt

  3.1

  1997

  El Salvador

  21.4

  1998

  Estonia

  <2

  1999–2000

  Ethiopia

  81.9

  1998

  Gambia

  59.3

  1998

  Georgia

  <2

  1999

  Ghana

  44.8

  2000

  Guatemala

  16.0

  1998

  Guyana

  <2

  1998

  Honduras

  23.8

  1301W

  Year>

  Country

  Percentage of population below $1 a day2

  1998

  Hungary

  <2

  1999–2000

  India

  34.7

  2000

  Indonesia

  7.2

  1998

  Iran

  <2

  2000

  Jamaica

  <2

  1997

  Jordan

  <2

  1996

  Kazakhstan

  1.5

  1997

  Kenya

  23

  1998

  Korea, Rep (South)

  <2

  2000

  Kyrgyzstan

  2.0

  1997–98

  Laos

  26.3

  1998

  Latvia

  <2

  2000

  Lithuania

  <2

  1998

  Macedonia (FYR of)

  <2

  1999

  Madagascar

  49.1

  1997–98

  Malawi

  41.7

  1997

  Malaysia

  <2

  1995

  Mauritania

  28.6

  1998

  Mexico

  8.0

  2001

  Moldova

  22.0

  1995

  Mongolia

  13.9

  1999

  Morocco

  <2

  1996

  Mozambique

  37.9

  1995

  Nepal

  37.7

  1998

  Nicaragua

  82.3

  1995

  Niger

  61.4

  1997

  Nigeria

  70.2

  1998

  Pakistan

  13.4

  1998

  Panama

  7.6

  1998

  Paraguay

  19.5

  1996

  Peru

  15.5

  2000

  Philippines

  14.6

  1998

  Poland

  <2

  2000

  Romania

  2.1

  2000

  Russian Federation

  6.1

  1995

  Senegal

  26.3

  1996

  Slovak Republic

  <2

  1998

  Slovenia

  <2

  1995

  South Africa

  <2

  1995–96

  Sri Lanka

  6.6

  1998

  Tajikistan

  10.3

  2000

  Thailand

  <2

  1995

  Tunisia

  <2

  2000

  Turkey

  <2

  1998

  Turkmenistan

  12.1

  1996

  Uganda

  82.2

  1999

  Ukraine

  2.9

  1998

  Uruguay

  <2

  1998

  Uzbekistan

  19.1

  1998

  Venezuela

  15

  1998

  Vietnam

  17.7

  1998

  Yemen

  15.7

  1998

  Zambia

  63.7

  1 Countries without any internationally comparable data have been excluded from the table.

  2 The percentage of the population living below the commonly used international $1 a day standard, measured in 1993 international prices and adjusted for local currency using purchasing power parities.

  Source:

  World Bank "2003 World Development Indicators"

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the percentage change between 1990 and 2003 was in the numbers of people below the minimum level of dietary energy consumption in each country covered by the millennium development goals. [149063]
  1302W
  Hilary Benn
  The information we have ready access to relates to the percentage of people below minimum levels of dietary energy consumption not absolute numbers and is not available for all countries1. The most recent information relates to the period 1998–2000. The available information and the change over the period is given in the following table.

  1 Countries without any internationally comparable data have been excluded from the table.

  Country

  1990–92

  1998–2000

  Change over period (percentage points)

  Afghanistan

  63

  70

  -7

  Algeria

  5

  6

  -1

  Angola

  61

  50

  II

  Bangladesh

  35

  35

  0

  Benin

  19

  13

  6

  Bolivia

  26

  23

  3

  Botswana

  17

  25

  -8

  Brazil

  13

  10

  3

  Burkina Faso

  23

  23

  0

  Burma

  10

  6

  4

  Burundi

  49

  69

  -20

  Cambodia

  43

  36

  7

  Cameroon

  32

  25

  7

  Central African Republic

  49

  44

  5

  Chad

  58

  32

  26

  Chile

  8

  4

  4

  China

  16

  9

  7

  Colombia

  17

  13

  4

  Congo (Dem Rep)

  32

  73

  -41

  Congo

  37

  32

  5

  Costa Rica

  6

  5

  1

  Cote d'Ivoire

  18

  15

  3

  Cuba

  5

  13

  -8

  Dominican Republic

  27

  26

  1

  Ecuador

  8

  5

  3

  Egypt

  5

  4

  1

  E1 Salvador

  12

  14

  -2

  Eritrea

  2

  58

  Ethiopia

  2

  44

  Gabon

  11

  8

  3

  Gambia

  21

  21

  0

  Ghana

  35

  12

  23

  Guatemala

  14

  25

  -11

  Guinea

  40

  32

  8

  Haiti

  64

  50

  14

  Honduras

  23

  21

  2

  India

  25

  24

  1

  Indonesia

  2—

  6

  Iran

  4

  5

  -1

  Iraq

  7

  27

  -20

  Jamaica

  14

  9

  5

  Jordan

  4

  6

  -2

  Kenya

  47

  44

  3

  Korea Dem Rep (North)

  18

  34

  -16

  Kuwait

  22

  4

  18

  Laos

  29

  24

  5

  Lebanon

  2—

  3

  Lesotho

  27

  26

  1

  Liberia

  33

  39

  -6

  Madagascar

  35

  40

  -5

  Malawi

  49

  33

  16

  Malaysia

  3

  2—

  Mali

  25

  20

  5

  Mauritania

  14

  12

  2

  Mauritius

  6

  5

  1

  Mexico

  5

  5

  0

  Mongolia

  34

  42

  -8

  Morocco

  6

  7

  -1

  Mozambique

  69

  55

  14

  Namibia

  15

  9

  6

  Nepal

  19

  19

  0

  Nicaragua

  30

  29

  1

  Niger

  42

  36

  6

  1303W

  Country

  1990–92

  1998–2000

  Change over period (percentage points)

  Nigeria

  13

  7

  6

  Pakistan

  25

  19

  6

  Panama

  19

  18

  1

  Papua New Guinea

  25

  27

  -2

  Paraguay

  18

  14

  4

  Peru

  40

  11

  29

  Philippines

  26

  23

  3

  Rwanda

  34

  40

  -6

  Saudi Arabia

  4

  3

  1

  Senegal

  23

  25

  -2

  Sierra Leone

  46

  47

  -1

  Somalia

  67

  71

  -4

  Sri Lanka

  29

  23

  6

  Sudan

  31

  21

  10

  Swaziland

  10

  12

  -2

  Syria

  5

  3

  2

  Tanzania

  36

  47

  -11

  Thailand

  28

  18

  10

  Togo

  28

  23

  5

  Trinidad & Tobago

  13

  12

  1

  Uganda

  23

  21

  2

  United Arab Emirates

  3

  2—

  Uruguay

  6

  3

  3

  Venezuela

  11

  21

  -10

  Vietnam

  27

  18

  9

  Yemen

  36

  33

  3

  Zambia

  45

  50

  -5

  Zimbabwe

  43

  38

  5

  2 not available

  Source:

  World Development Indicators 2003

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by each country in meeting the millennium development goals to halve between 1990 and 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. [149064]

  Hilary Benn
  Progress towards the hunger target varies between countries. According to the UN Human Development Report 2003 in 21 countries a larger proportion of people are going hungry than in 1990. Elsewhere progress is being made, such as in the three Sub-Saharan Africa countries with the highest proportions of people suffering from hunger in 1990 (Mozambique, Angola and Chad) where estimates of hunger have dropped considerably.

  I refer the hon. Member to my other answer [UIN 149063] for the most recent trend data of the percentage of people below minimum levels of dietary energy consumption.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the change was between 1990 and 2003 in the share of the poorest quintile in national consumption in each country covered by the millennium development goals. [149066]

  Hilary Benn
  Quintile shares are calculated from income and consumption surveys. Developing countries carry out such surveys relatively infrequently and the information available does not allow us to examine changes between 1990 and 2003. The following table gives the latest statistics available by country and the year to which it refers1.

  1 Countries without any internationally comparable data have been excluded from the table.
  1304W

  Latest statistics available

  Country

  Shares of income or consumption of poorest quintile

  Year

  Algeria

  7

  1995

  Armenia

  7

  1998

  Azerbaijan

  7

  2001

  Bangladesh

  9

  2000

  Belarus

  8

  2000

  Bolivia

  4

  1999

  Brazil

  2

  1998

  Bulgaria

  7

  2001

  Burkina Faso

  4

  1998

  Burundi

  5

  1998

  Cambodia

  7

  1997

  Cameroon

  5

  1996

  Chile

  3

  1998

  China

  6

  1998

  Colombia

  3

  1996

  Costa Rica

  4

  1997

  Cote d'lvoire

  7

  1995

  Croatia

  8

  2001

  Czech Republic

  10

  1996

  Dominican Republic

  5

  1998

  Ecuador

  5

  1995

  Egypt

  9

  1999

  E1 Salvador

  3

  1998

  Estonia

  7

  1998

  Ethiopia

  2

  2000

  Gambia

  4

  1998

  Georgia

  6

  2000

  Ghana

  6

  1999

  Guatemala

  4

  1998

  Guyana

  4

  1999

  Honduras

  2

  1996

  Hong Kong

  5

  1996

  Hungary

  10

  1998

  India

  8

  1997

  Indonesia

  8

  2000

  Iran

  5

  1998

  Israel

  7

  1997

  Jamaica

  7

  2000

  Jordan

  8

  1997

  Kazakhstan

  8

  2001

  Kenya

  6

  1997

  Korea, Rep (South)

  8

  1998

  Kyrgyzstan

  9

  2001

  Laos

  8

  1997

  Latvia

  8

  1998

  Lesotho

  1

  1995

  Lithuania

  8

  2000

  Macedonia (FYR of)

  8

  1998

  Madagascar

  6

  1999

  Malawi

  5

  1997

  Malaysia

  4

  1997

  Mauritania

  6

  1995

  Mexico

  3

  1998

  Moldova

  7

  2001

  Mongolia

  6

  1998

  Morocco

  7

  1999

  Mozambique

  6

  1997

  Nepal

  8

  1996

  Nicaragua

  2

  1998

  Niger

  3

  1995

  Nigeria

  4

  1997

  Pakistan

  9

  1999

  Panama

  4

  1997

  Papua New Guinea

  5

  1996

  Paraguay

  2

  1998

  Peru

  4

  1996

  Philippines

  5

  2000

  Poland

  8

  1998

  Romania

  8

  2000

  Russian Federation

  5

  2000

  Senegal

  6

  1995

  1305W

  Latest statistics available

  Country

  Shares of income or consumption of poorest quintile

  Year

  Singapore

  5

  1998

  Slovak Republic

  9

  1996

  Slovenia

  9

  1998

  South Africa

  2

  1995

  Sri Lanka

  8

  1995

  St Lucia

  5

  1995

  Tajikistan

  8

  1998

  Thailand

  6

  2000

  Tunisia

  6

  1995

  Turkey

  6

  2000

  Turkmenistan

  6

  1998

  Uganda

  7

  1996

  Ukraine

  9

  1999

  Uruguay

  4

  1998

  Uzbekistan

  9

  2000

  Venezuela

  3

  1998

  Vietnam

  8

  1998

  Yemen

  7

  1998

  Zambia

  3

  1998

  Zimbabwe

  5

  1995

  Source:

  World Development Indicators 2003

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress each country has made in meeting the millennium development goal that, by 2015, all children will be able to commence a full course of primary schooling. [149067]

  Hilary Benn
  Generally, progress towards the 2015 target has been good but huge challenges still remain. The Education For All Global Monitoring Report identifies 36 countries at serious risk of not achieving the goal, of which 22 are in sub-Saharan Africa. There is increased evidence since the World Education Forum in April 2000, that many countries now have better education sector policies for making progress. Increased international support, including our own commitment of £1 billion over the period 2002–07, is helping African Governments to improve primary school enrolment.

  A comprehensive table listing the primary net enrolment ratio for each country where comparable data is available can be found in Table 5 in the statistical annex of the recent Education For All Global Monitoring Report (www.efareport.unesco.org).

  Trade Liberalisation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what input his Department has made into the(a) design and (b) implementation of the initiative by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to help developing countries to overcome problems in adjusting to a more liberal trading environment. [149102]

  Hilary Benn
  One of the more positive outcomes of the WTO ministerial in Cancun was the joint announcement by the World Bank and the IMF of a new trade-related initiative. Its overall aim is to assist poor countries with the adjustment costs of transition to trade liberalisation and help them capitalise on the potential benefits. DFID, in collaboration with others, has for some time been actively encouraging the World Bank and IMF to address more systematically the 1306W
  adjustment costs of trade liberalisation and the need for trade-related technical assistance. The collapse of negotiations in Cancun allows more time for the initiative to be developed and to encourage the Bank and Fund to work together more closely in designing mechanisms.

  Overseas Aid
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries receive(a) bilateral and (b) multilateral aid from the UK Government; and how much each received from his Department in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [149158]

  Hilary Benn
  Information on expenditure by the UK Government on development assistance is given in our annual publication "Statistics on International Development', a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Tables 7.1–7.5 (pages 115–152) contain the information requested for bilateral assistance in 2002–03. The column headed "Total DFID Programme" hows how much each country received from DFID while that headed "Total Gross Public Expenditure" gives total Government spend. Figures for 2003–04 are not yet available.

  Table 8 shows contributions to multilateral organisations from both DFID and the Government as a whole for 2002–03. By definition, this expenditure cannot be broken down by country as the UK contribution is pooled with those of other donors. Figures for 2003–04 are not yet available.

  UN Microcredit Year
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what preparations his Department are making for the UN Microcredit Year in 2005. [149428]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID strongly supports the underlying principles of the UN's Year of Microcredit 2005, which seeks to increase international efforts to spread microfinance to more low income clients worldwide. Donors, including DFID, have supported policies and institutions to extend the outreach of sustainable microcredit and other financial services to the poor for many years. DFID has held several discussions with the UN organisers and has been instrumental in linking them with The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), which promotes best practice in the microfinance industry. We intend to support specific events in the UK and will announce these this autumn.

  Background

  UN Year of Microcredit 2005

  The UN General Assembly, through resolution 53/197 in December 1998, proclaimed 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit. Following consultations with Member States in the second half of 2003, a Programme of Action for the Year has been agreed. The UN Capital Development Fund and the UN Secretariat's Department of Economic and Social Affairs will jointly coordinate the preparation activities of the UN system for the Year.
  1307W
  The UK and others supported wording in the Programme of Action resolution that emphasised the wider contribution of microfinance, and financial sector development, beyond a concentration on microcredit itself. Hence the Programme of Action often refers to microfinance, in addition to microcredit, and refers to savings, asset creation, and economic security.

  The UN Programme proposes that the Year will be launched in November 2004, that Member States will establish National Committees, and that 2004 should be a year of preparation. DFID officials have met initially with UNCDF Secretariat staff, and also with Citigroup, one of the private sector sponsors. UNCDF have noted that donor funding will not be needed at the international level.

  The key to the success of the Year will be UN countries adopting the General Assembly Resolution, and signing up to active steps to enable expansion of access to microfinance at local level. Whilst UN "Years" are vulnerable to a charge of more talk and less action, the Year of Microcredit is already attracting attention from private and public sectors including Citigroup, Bank of International Settlements and others.

  The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Microfinance is very likely to take an interest in the International Year of Microcredit. The Secretary of State met with them on 21 October. DFID officials are also checking whether other Departments will have an interest in the Year (Treasury, DTI). Following further meetings, DFID will recommend a programme of action for the Year to the Secretary of State.

  DFID Support to Extend Access to Microfinance

  Current DFID-supported initiatives also include:

  The £18 million Financial Deepening Challenge Fund, using innovative mechanisms to encourage banks and other financial service providers to extend financial services for the poor (www.challengefunds.org).

  AfriCap (www.africapfund.com), specialist equity fund investing in emerging microfinance institutions in Africa.

  MicroSave-Africa (www.MicroSave-Africa.com) a programme that tests new pro-poor savings, insurance, and loan products and promotes market-led microfinance.

  In addition, country-led programmes to develop the microfinance industry are under way in Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, India and Bangladesh.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the United States since the breakdown of the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Cancun about the likely impact of the United States Farm Bill on the(a) economies of and (b) living standards in, developing countries. [149118]

  Hilary Benn
  The Government conducted intensive discussion with the United States officials and ministers when the US Farm Bill was first introduced in 2002. Since Cancun there has been continuing contact between UK and US officials about all aspects of the WTO Round, including on the question of US domestic subsidies and their potential impact on the livelihoods of producers in developing countries.
  1308W
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people made up the delegations of the developing countries at the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Cancún. [149126]

  Hilary Benn
  According to the official list of delegates provided by the WTO Secretariat, there were over 1700 accredited delegates from Developing countries at the WTO ministerial conference in Cancun.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Government of Zimbabwe have reduced their arrears to the World Bank since December 2002. [147390]

  Hilary Benn
  The Government of Zimbabwe have not reduced their arrears to the World Bank since December 2002. At the end of October 2003, Zimbabwe's arrears were approximately £150 million.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of(a) the level and (b) the geographical distribution of food shortages in Zimbabwe. [148092]

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

  DFID works in close collaboration with UN agencies and other development partners to monitor the levels and geographical distribution of food shortages throughout Zimbabwe. Relevant factors include employment levels, commodity prices, income levels, agricultural activity and rainfall levels, HIV prevalence rates and alternative coping mechanisms.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the extent of political abuse by the Zimbabwe Government of food aid provided by his Department. [148093]

  Hilary Benn
  The World Food Programme and others distributing international food aid all have clear procedures and monitoring systems in place to ensure that humanitarian aid is distributed according to need. These systems are working well and there have been no significant cases of political interference with international aid, including that provided by the UK, in recent months. Along with the UN, EU and other donors, we continue to make it clear to the Zimbabwe Government that we will not tolerate political interference in the distribution of food aid.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of how much food aid is reaching the people of Zimbabwe. [148128]
  1309W
  Hilary Benn
  In December 2003, the WFP and other agencies distributed general rations to 3.5 million beneficiaries, while many other vulnerable people received food through targeted programmes. As well as being a major contributor to WFP, DFID's separate NGO programme is reaching over a million beneficiaries a month through home-based care, school and therapeutic feeding schemes.

  The level of food aid reaching the people of Zimbabwe is a credit to the logistical capabilities of the WFP and the dedication of the implementing NGOs. Incidents of political interference remain few and isolated. DFID continues to work in close collaboration with the WFP and other partners to ensure that food aid is distributed in an apolitical manner and that those in most need receive assistance.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Professor Sir Roy Meadow
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Solicitor-General in how many cases in which parents were charged with causing the death of a child, was expert evidence given by Professor Sir Roy Meadow. [145032]

  The Solicitor-General
  The recently published judgment in Angela Cannings has raised concerns over the safety of a number of convictions and as such will have serious and far-reaching implications. The Court of Appeal said that in relation to unexplained infant deaths when the outcome of the trial depended exclusively or almost exclusively on a serious disagreement between distinguished and reputable experts it will often be unsafe to proceed.

  As soon as the Court gave its judgement that Angela Cannings' conviction was unsafe, the Attorney and I requested that all cases which potentially involve sudden infant death syndrome be identified as quickly as possible. By the time the Court published its written judgement some 258 convictions involving the murder, manslaughter or infanticide of an infant under two by its parent had been identified.

  Those convictions will now be reviewed as a matter of urgency to establish how many were convictions that the Court of Appeal judgement in Angela Cannings indicated may be unsafe. Priority will be accorded to those persons who are still serving a sentence of imprisonment. While I cannot give any figures at present for the number of cases in which parents were charged with causing the death of a child and in which expert evidence was given, the identification and review of the 258 convictions may enable further and more detailed information to be given in due course.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many(a) women and (b) men are serving jail sentences as a result of court cases in which expert evidence was given by Professor Sir Roy Meadow. [145033]

  The Solicitor-General
  The recently published judgment in Angela Cannings has raised concerns over the safety of a number of convictions and as such will have serious and far-reaching implications. The Court of Appeal said that in relation to unexplained infant deaths when the outcome of the trial depended exclusively or 1310W
  almost exclusively on a serious disagreement between distinguished and reputable experts it will often be unsafe to proceed.

  As soon as the Court gave its judgement that Angela Cannings' conviction was unsafe, the Attorney and I requested that all cases which potentially involve sudden infant death syndrome be identified as quickly as possible. By the time the Court published its written judgement some 258 convictions involving the murder, manslaughter or infanticide of an infant under two by its parent had been identified.

  Those convictions will now be reviewed as a matter of urgency to establish how many were convictions that the Court of Appeal judgment in Angela Cannings indicated may be unsafe. Priority will be accorded to those persons who are still serving a sentence of imprisonment. While I cannot give any figures at present for those men and women who are serving jail sentences in which Professor Meadow gave evidence, the process of identifying and reviewing the convictions I have mentioned above may enable further and more detailed information to be given in due course.

  Security Passes
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many security passes have been reported(a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in (i) the Department and (ii) departmental agencies in the last 12 months. [147986]

  The Solicitor-General
  Headquarters was notified that 81 identity cards/access cards had been lost and five had been stolen.

  Twenty eight security passes were reported as lost in the Treasury Solicitor's Department within the last one to two months. All 28 passes were reported as lost rather than stolen.

  Five security passes were reported as lost in the Serious Fraud Office within the last 12 months. All 5 were reported as lost rather than stolen.

  Six security passes were reported as lost in HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate within the last 12 months. All six were reported as lost rather than stolen.

  No security passes were reported as either stolen or lost by my own department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, over that period.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Adult Learning Grant
  Ann Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people in the Brentford and Isleworth constituency who will benefit from the pilot of the Adult Learning Grant. [146321]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Adult Learning Grant is being piloted in one further education college in Brentwood and Isleworth. We estimate that about 20 adults studying full-time at this college for First Level 2 or First Level 3 qualifications will benefit from the grant this academic year.

  Basic Skills
  Jon Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information his Department collects on the level of basic skills. [147451]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) collates adult basic skills data at several levels. First through evaluation, research and economic analysis; second through a continuous programme of research led by the National Research and Development Council (NRDC); third through our marketing and communication strategy; and finally through the collection of factual data and information on all learners participating in programmes.

  "The Skills for Life Survey: A National Needs and Impact Survey of Literacy, Numeracy and ICT skills" (DfES, October 2003) provides an up-to-date assessment of the level of basic skills need against the National Standards for literacy, numeracy and ICT among adults aged 16 to 65 in England. A copy of this survey has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  The National Research and Development Centre lead a continuous programme of research to ensure that implementation and future development are based firmly on evidence.

  The Learning and Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus, the Prison Service and other key partners report regularly on delivery, learner participation and delivery. They provide an invaluable source of information on the people taking part and the direct impact the strategy is having.

  The DfES also collects regular information on the number of basic skills qualifications that are achieved and count towards the Skills for Life PSA targets. We are confident that we have achieved the July 2003 target of 470,000 learner achievements.

  Behaviour Improvement Programmes
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Answer of 8 January (145433), if he will list the 60 Behaviour Improvement Programme local education authorities and the precise sum each will receive in the current financial year. [147690]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The following table provides the information required.

  Local education authorities—2003–04

  Total amount (£)

  Phase 1

  Bradford

  1,442,000

  Brent

  1,442,000

  Camden

  1,442,000

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,442,000

  Lewisham

  1,442,000

  Sheffield

  1,442,000

  Islington

  1.442,000

  Waltham Forest

  1,442,000

  Rochdale

  1,442,000

  Birmingham

  1,442,000

  Salford

  1,442,000

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,400,335

  Oldham

  1,442,000

  Wolverhampton

  1,442,000

  1312W

  Local education authorities—2003–04

  Total amount (£)

  Manchester

  1,442,000

  Hackney

  1,400,335

  Knowsley

  1,442,000

  Greenwich

  1,400,335

  Enfield

  1,442,000

  Lambeth

  1,400,335

  Nottingham

  1,400,335

  Southwark

  1,442,000

  Newham

  1,442,000

  Haringey

  1,442,000

  Bristol

  1,400,335

  Tower Hamlets

  1,400,335

  Leeds

  1,442,000

  Westminster

  1,442,000

  Bolton

  1,442,000

  Liverpool

  1,442,000

  Hounslow

  1,400,335

  Reading

  1,442,000

  Slough

  1,442,000

  K&C

  1,400,335

  Phase 2

  Barnsley

  1,400,000

  Blackburn and Darwen

  1,400,000

  Blackpool

  1,400,000

  Doncaster

  1,400,000

  Ealing

  1,400,000

  Gateshead

  1,400,000

  Halton

  1,400,000

  Hartlepool

  1,400,000

  Hull

  1,400,000

  Leicester

  1,400,000

  Luton

  1,400,000

  Middlesbrough

  1,400,000

  Newcastle

  1,400,000

  North Tyneside

  1,400,000

  Redcar and Cleveland

  1,400,000

  Rotherham

  1,400,000

  Sandwell

  1,400,000

  Sefton

  1,400,000

  Solihull

  1,400,000

  South Tyneside

  1,400,000

  St. Helens

  1,400,000

  Stockton

  1,400,000

  Stoke

  1,400,000

  Sunderland

  1,400,000

  Wandsworth

  1,400,000

  Wirral

  1,400,000

  The minor variations between Phase 1 LEAs reflect successful bids for additional measures.

  Biodefence Research
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of whether universities satisfactorily ensure physical, personnel and information security in the performance of biodefence research; what assessment he has made of the case for moving such research from university laboratories to secure national laboratories; and if he will make a statement. [147541]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I have been asked to reply.

  We do not comment on detailed security matters such as these but the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 provides controls on both physical and personnel security measures for premises holding dangerous substances.
  1313W
  It has conferred new powers on the police under Part 7 and Schedule 5 and was implemented 31 May 2002. These include:
  Notification Process—"the occupier of any premises" where a Schedule 5 substance is "kept or used" is required to notify the Home Office.
  Confers powers on the police to inspect such premises and give directions on protective security advice.
  Confers powers on the police to seek information and obliges laboratories to provide information to them.

  Bullying
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many incidents of bullying have taken place in schools in(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in each of the last three years. [148372]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Data on bullying are not collected centrally and there is no reliable basis for an estimate of prevalence. However, any level of bullying is too high and we are determined to help schools to tackle the problem. Our guidance pack "Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence" and the anti-bullying website: www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying offer detailed advice on preventing and addressing bullying. I have also recently launched our anti-bullying Charter, which I hope schools will sign and use. It is accompanied by a summary of effective practice to help schools review and enhance their anti-bullying policies. We are also currently running a series of England-wide regional anti-bullying conferences for schools and other partners to share good practice.

  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what research his Department has commissioned on bullying in schools; [148102]

  (2) what data his Department collates on bullying in schools. [148103]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  In March 2003 I launched a DfES-funded report summarising recent research on children and young people's views on bullying. This is available on the Department's website at www.dfes.gov.uk/ research. Rather than collecting data from schools, which would add to their workload, we are concentrating on helping schools to reduce bullying. Disseminating good practice is crucial to this. So we have made our anti-bullying guidance pack "Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence" and the anti-bullying Charter which I launched in November available to every school in England. And we are currently running a series of England-wide regional conferences for schools and other partners to share good practice. This is in addition to staff training materials on bullying which we are making available to all secondary schools through our Key Stage 3 strategy.

  Career Guidance
  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the place of career guidance within the provision by the Connexions Service. [149511]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 20 January 2004]: Career guidance is a key part of the work of Connexions. All 13–19 year olds in England have access to support on making learning and career choices from Connexions. The level of support each individual
  1314W
  receives is differentiated according to need. Support is provided in a range of ways, including through: one to one and group sessions with a Connexions Personal Adviser; Connexions Direct—a telephone helpline, e-mail and web-chat facility, open from 8am to 2am, 365 days a year; and the careers information materials available in Connexions Resource centres in schools, colleges and Connexions one-stop shops.

  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is his policy to ensure that(a) access to and (b) provision of careers guidance and advice is equal between young people (i) in education and (ii) not in employment and training. [149514]

  Margaret Hodge
  All young people can access Connexions services on an equal basis through their schools and colleges, one-stop shops and Connexions Direct. Provision of careers advice and guidance—as with all the services provided by Connexions—is differentiated according to need. This applies to all young people, irrespective of whether or not they are currently in education, employment or training.

  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what qualifications are required of Connexions personal advisers who are expected to provide careers guidance and advice. [149515]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 20 January 2004]: The Secretary of State recognises three specific qualifications for Connexions Personal Advisers who give in depth career guidance to young people in the statutory client group; these are the Qualification in Careers Guidance (QCG), NVQ Level 4 in Advice and Guidance (including specified units) and the Diploma in Careers Guidance (DCG). DfES provides funding to support the initial training of careers guidance professionals to help encourage people from a wide range of backgrounds to move into the role of specialist career guidance practitioner.

  Children Bill
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions have been held with local government representatives about the forthcoming Children Bill. [148783]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 20 January 2004]: I have worked closely with the Inter Agency Group, which brings together local government, health and voluntary sector representative bodies, to ensure that we understand their views fully in developing the Children Bill, as well as the other work the Government are taking forward following the publication of "Every Child Matters". Officials have also regularly met representatives of local government to discuss policy development. Our work has also been informed by the extensive consultation we undertook on "Every Child Matters". All areas of local government were fully represented at the nine regional consultation events and we are pleased to have received a huge response to the written consultation, including many submissions from local government representative groups and local authorities. I have also met individual local authority representatives in a number of meetings and on a range of visits.

  Connexions Service
  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Connexions Service clients there were in each year since its establishment, broken down(a) by Connexions service area and (b) by (i) young people not in education, employment or training and (ii) others. [149512]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 20 January 2004]: The following tables show the number of Connexions

  Table 1: Number of clients/young people who have completed compulsory Education known to connexions

  Not in Education, Employment or Training

  Other

  Total

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  ENGLAND

  44,740

  142.328

  122,742

  506,313

  1,521,504

  1,939,517

  551,053

  1,663,832

  2,062,259

  Bedfordshire and Luton

  2,333

  1,605

  24,425

  24,393

  26,758

  25,998

  Berkshire

  1,884

  1,780

  29,792

  30,660

  31,676

  32,440

  Birmingham and Solihull

  3,672

  4,000

  53,283

  50,775

  56,955

  54,775

  Black Country

  6,337

  6.914

  4,489

  39,085

  44,611

  47,387

  45,422

  51,525

  51,876

  Bournemouth Dorset and Poole

  2,019

  1,022

  24,862

  26,123

  26,881

  27,145

  Cambs and Peterborough

  2,423

  1,851

  25,784

  26,190

  28,206

  28,041

  Central London

  5,998

  3,733

  37,757

  41,588

  43,754

  45,321

  Cheshire and Warrington

  2,694

  2,978

  2,196

  33,726

  37,064

  37,318

  36,420

  40,042

  39,514

  Cornwall and Devon

  3,522

  3,798

  2,921

  60,277

  60,757

  61,690

  63,799

  64,555

  64,611

  County Durham

  2,774

  2,053

  15,652

  16,860

  18,426

  18,913

  Coventry and Warwick

  2,688

  2,854

  2,253

  26,052

  32,540

  32,880

  28,740

  35,394

  35,133

  Cumbria

  1,935

  1,789

  1,199

  18,498

  19,678

  19,867

  20,433

  21,467

  21,066

  Derbyshire

  4,407

  2,784

  38,195

  37,371

  42,602

  40,155

  East London

  8,281

  6,973

  82,871

  87,465

  91,152

  94,438

  Essex Southend and Thurrock

  5,449

  2,816

  65,974

  65,928

  71,422

  68,744

  Gloucestershire

  852

  856

  16,716

  23,687

  17,569

  24,543

  Greater Manchester

  11,073

  7,961

  109,572

  110,988

  120,646

  118,949

  Greater Merseyside

  8,918

  8,431

  6,659

  62,252

  61,931

  65,154

  71,170

  70,362

  71,813

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,684

  1,218

  26,626

  26,966

  28,311

  28,183

  Hertfordshire

  1,835

  1,521

  43,967

  38,799

  45,801

  40,320

  Humber

  3,486

  3,982

  4,049

  36,635

  33,156

  35,457

  40,121

  37,139

  39,506

  Kent

  3,788

  4,014

  76,761

  66,520

  80,548

  70,534

  Lancashire

  5,769

  4,315

  57,385

  57,348

  63,155

  61,663

  Leicestershire

  3,755

  1,753

  37,541

  36,461

  41,295

  38,214

  Lincolnshire and Rutland

  1,167

  1,487

  1,332

  23,540

  27,110

  27,033

  24,707

  28,597

  28,366

  Milton Keynes Ox and Bucks

  1,625

  2,820

  2,590

  48,647

  50,046

  50,184

  50,272

  52,867

  52,774

  Norfolk

  1,523

  920

  27,222

  26,694

  28,745

  27,614

  North London

  2,971

  4,071

  2,317

  35,750

  40,711

  43,659

  38,721

  44,782

  45,976

  Northamptonshire

  1,489

  1,725

  24,325

  22,925

  25,814

  24,649

  Northumberland

  654

  12,053

  12,707

  Nottinghamshire

  2,951

  1,937

  40,886

  43,823

  43,837

  45,760

  Shropshire Telford and Wrekin

  1,122

  1,086

  736

  18,169

  17,946

  18,112

  19,291

  19,031

  18,849

  Somerset

  837

  463

  16,477

  17,758

  17,314

  18,221

  South Central

  3,065

  2,883

  83,429

  71,470

  86,494

  74,352

  South London

  4,498

  4,282

  2,107

  47,023

  47,418

  49,040

  51,521

  51,700

  51,147

  South Yorkshire

  5,604

  6,661

  4,061

  46,399

  48,121

  50,781

  52,003

  54,783

  54,841

  Staffordshire

  5,551

  3,538

  41,258

  42,724

  46,809

  46,262

  Suffolk

  2,204

  2,754

  1,332

  30,508

  27,866

  25,591

  32,712

  30,620

  26,924

  Surrey

  1,010

  1,254

  44,580

  37,174

  45,591

  38,428

  Sussex

  3,087

  1,608

  60,234

  54,453

  63,321

  56,061

  Tees Valley

  4,305

  2,374

  29,573

  29,710

  33,879

  32,084

  Tyne and Wear

  8,385

  4,481

  41,462

  43,943

  49,847

  48,423

  West London

  5,347

  3,232

  50,608

  49,118

  55,954

  52,350

  West of England

  2,057

  2,447

  2,251

  33,667

  30,921

  35,957

  35,724

  33,367

  38,208

  West Yorkshire

  9,357

  6,154

  86,292

  86,413

  95,649

  92,567

  Wiltshire and Swindon

  1,284

  937

  21,647

  23,256

  22,931

  24,192

  York and North Yorkshire

  2,310

  917

  32,497

  30,155

  34,807

  31,072

  Notes:

  1. The information compiled represents averages of monthly data provided by Connexions Partnerships from their own management information and tracking systems.

  2. The first 15 Connexions Partnerships commenced in April and September 2001. The second and third phases of Connexions Partnerships started from April 2002.

  Table 2: Number of clients/young people of compulsory education age known to connexions

  Note: This data was not collected in 2001

  2002–03

  2003–04

  ENGLAND

  1,590,390

  2,075,363

  Bedfordshire and Luton

  26,123

  26,911

  Berkshire

  26,241

  28,576

  Birmingham and Solihull

  62,480

  62,255

  Black Country

  54,111

  53,216

  Bournemouth Dorset and Poole

  24,894

  26,113

  Cambs and Peterborough

  32,435

  36,771

  1316W
  Service clients (young people aged 13 to 19 known to Connexions) for the period 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04.

  Table 1 shows those clients known not to be in education, employment and training, and other young people who have completed compulsory education.

  Table 2 shows the number of clients of compulsory education age for the operational years of 2002–3 and 2003–4. This information was not collected in 2001–2.

  Table 2: Number of clients/young people of compulsory education age known to connexions

  Note: This data was not collected in 2001

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Central London

  25,483

  34,764

  Cheshire and Warrington

  42,575

  40,953

  Cornwall and Devon

  61,797

  63,356

  County Durham

  24,065

  24,982

  Coventry and Warwick

  35,752

  38,878

  Cumbria

  25,139

  22,668

  Derbyshire

  32,739

  41,328

  1317W

  Table 2: Number of clients/young people of compulsory education age known to connexions

  Note: This data was not collected in 2001

  East London

  87,214

  90,610

  Essex Southend and Thurrock

  80,224

  81,980

  Gloucestershire

  24,131

  24,426

  Greater Manchester

  132,465

  128,915

  Greater Merseyside

  70,652

  54,292

  Hereford and Worcester

  33,774

  34,309

  Hertfordshire

  38,005

  39,812

  Humber

  40,781

  46,996

  Kent

  49,959

  62,486

  Lancashire

  56,010

  72,163

  Leicestershire

  34,106

  40,584

  Lincolnshire and Rutland

  26,179

  27,985

  Milton Keynes Ox and Bucks

  51,109

  57,699

  Norfolk

  37,171

  36,928

  North London

  30,237

  40,399

  Northamptonshire

  29,769

  26,853

  Northumberland1

  11,722

  Nottinghamshire

  48,028

  45,433

  Shropshire Telford and Wrekin

  13,756

  12,959

  Somerset

  16,794

  15,653

  South Central

  59,204

  55,012

  South London

  42,835

  39,762

  South Yorkshire

  62,325

  64,015

  Staffordshire

  43,324

  35,941

  Suffolk

  31,995

  32,387

  Surrey

  22,015

  30,913

  Sussex

  41,237

  52,233

  Tees Valley

  40,033

  36,911

  Tyne and Wear

  49,471

  45,569

  West London

  38,436

  42,161

  West of England

  34,266

  36,953

  West Yorkshire

  101,715

  105,622

  Wiltshire and Swindon

  21,278

  22,955

  York and North Yorkshire

  30,284

  29,490

  1 Northumberland Connexions Partnership commenced in April 2003.

  Notes:

  The information complied represents averages of monthly data provided by Connexions partnerships from their own management information and tracking systems.

  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is the policy of the Connexions Service to give special attention to young people not in education, employment or training. [149513]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 20 January 2004]: It is the policy of the Connexions Service to reduce the numbers of young people not in education, employment or training. It does so through preventive work with young people who are in education employment and training and targeted, individual work with those who are not.

  E-registration
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the procedures are for monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the funding by the Department of schools' e-registration systems. [148745]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Before schools can be awarded Capital Modernisation funding for electronic registration they must submit plans to the Department showing how they would spend it. Departmental officials only authorise local education authorities to release funding to a school when they are satisfied that its plans comply with stringent conditions set by the 1318W
  project. Local education authorities are then expected to work with schools to ensure the efficiency of systems installed.

  We have also commissioned the University of Warwick to conduct an independent evaluation of the project. A summary of interim findings is available on the school attendance website, http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ schoolattendance/. A final report is expected in February 2006.

  Gap Years
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received from(a) schools, (b) parents and (c) pupils about the intentions of year 12 or lower 6th students expecting to complete A-levels in summer 2005 and considering whether to take a gap year in 2005–06. [148504]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  At December 2003 the Department for Education and Skills had received the following representations about young people's gap year intentions for 2005/06: nine from schools, three from parents and three from pupils.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he intends to have with charitable organisations in respect of the impact of his proposals for higher education funding on gap year activities in 2005–06. [149026]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 19 January 2003]: There are no plans for discussions with charitable organisations on the impact of the proposals for higher education funding on gap year activities in 2005–06.

  The Higher Education White Paper "The Future of Higher Education" was published on 22 January 2003 and there was an extensive consultation exercise associated with it.

  In addition, the impact of higher education funding on gap year intentions is a matter regularly discussed by officials and Gap Year Providers and representative groups at meetings of DfES' informal Gap Year Consultation Group.

  School Exclusions (Lancashire)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) short-term, (b) long-term and (c) permanent (i) high schools and (ii) primary schools exclusions there were in Lancashire in each of the last three years. [148373]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Information on non-permanent (fixed term) exclusions is not yet available centrally.

  The Department has recently started to collect information from local education authorities on both fixed term and permanent exclusions on a termly basis. The first term's data are not yet available.

  The information requested on the numbers of permanent exclusions is given in the table.
  1319W

  Lancashire LEA maintained primary and secondary schools: number of permanent exclusions, 1999/2000 to 2001/02

  1999–2000

  2000–011

  2001–021

  Number

  Percentage of school population22

  Number

  Percentage of school population22

  Number

  Percentage of school population22

  Primary3

  19

  0.02

  34

  0.03

  39

  0.04

  Secondary3

  144

  0.19

  207

  0.28

  240

  0.32

  Total

  167

  0.09

  250

  0.14

  299

  0.17

  1 The 2000/01 and 2001/02 figures shown in the table are based upon the Annual Schools census returns together with LEA level amendments reported by LEAs as part of the data checking process.

  2 Number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of school population.

  3 Includes middle schools as deemed.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupil exclusions took place in each of the last three years in(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley. [146975]

  Maintained primary, secondary and all special schools: number of permanent exclusions, 1999/2000 to 2001/02

  1999/2000

  2000/011

  2001/021

  Number

  Percentage2

  Number

  Percentage2

  Number

  Percentage2

  Lancashire LEA

  Primary3

  19

  0.02

  34

  0.03

  39

  0.04

  Secondary3

  144

  0.19

  207

  0.28

  240

  0.32

  Special4

  4

  0.17

  9

  0.39

  20

  0.88

  Total

  167

  0.09

  250

  0.14

  299

  0.17

  1999/2000

  2000/01

  2001/02

  Number

  Percentage2

  Number

  Percentage2

  Number

  Percentage2

  Chorley constituency

  Primary3

  1

  0.01

  0

  0.00

  7

  0.08

  Secondary3

  8

  0.11

  13

  0.18

  17

  0.23

  Special4

  0

  0.00

  1

  0.51

  2

  0.01

  Total

  9

  0.05

  14

  0.08

  26

  0.16

  1 The 2000/01 and 2001/02 figures shown in the table are based upon the Annual Schools census returns together with LEA level amendments reported by LEAs as part of the data checking process.

  2 Number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of school population.

  3 Includes middle schools as deemed.

  4 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps have been taken to introduce a replacement scheme for individual learning accounts; when the replacement scheme will commence; and if he will make a statement. [149565]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  In July 2003, we published the White Paper "21st Century Skills, Realising Our Potential" which sets out how we will meet the skills challenge. The reforms in that strategy provide the essential elements we previously sought to develop through Individual Learning Accounts (ILA). As the White Paper says at paragraph 4.31, we have decided not to introduce another stand-alone ILA scheme, separate from the mainstream support for adult learning.

  The White Paper goes on to say:
  "4.32 Instead, we have integrated those ILA elements that proved successful within the broader strategy, particularly through our proposals for a new entitlement to free learning at level 2 for those with few or no qualifications; improvements in learner support; broadening the range of training providers, so that we can bring within the scope of public funding those privateproviders who have something distinctive to offer and can
  1320W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The information available for the three most recent years is shown in the table:

  meet the necessary quality standards; strengthening the range of first step and return to learn opportunities; improving information, advice and guidance for adults; and developing a Unique Learner Number."

  Microsoft Licences
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new licences for Microsoft products were purchased by schools in(a) 1999, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002; and what the cost was in each year of these purchases. [146854]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on the number of, and cost of, new licences for Microsoft products purchased by schools in 1999, 2001 and 2002 is not available because of the devolved nature of the purchasing of Microsoft products under IMS arrangements.

  Information has been made available to Becta by Microsoft in respect of Microsoft's licensing sales to schools during the 2002/03 Microsoft financial year. This information is the subject of legally binding non-disclosure arrangements.
  1321W
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether, under the terms of the memorandum between Microsoft and the British Educational Communications and Training Agency, schools will continue to get licences at 20 per cent. to 37 per cent. discounts if the total aggregate number of Microsoft licences held by schools in the United Kingdom falls. [146855]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The discount levels in the memorandum between Microsoft and the British Educational Communications and Training Agency are based on thresholds derived from the estimated number of licenses purchased annually by schools in England rather than on the total number of licenses held. The discount levels are calculated annually in arrears and therefore the discount levels which apply in Year 1 of the agreement relate to purchases already made, are at the maximum level, and are therefore absolutely guaranteed. The discount applicable in Year 2 will relate to the number of licenses actually purchased in Year 1. The discount in Year 3 relates to the actual purchases in Year 2.

  The number of licences across the UK required to qualify for the maximum discount in Year 2 and Year 3 are also based on the same numerical threshold as Year 1. Therefore, no growth in the number of Microsoft licences purchased annually by schools is required to achieve the maximum discount levels.

  As Becta has a UK wide remit, it has ensured that licence volumes from the Devolved Administrations, although not taken into account in deriving the threshold, can be taken into account in meeting it, thus providing a cost advantage to schools in the Devolved Administrations, and the increased possibility that schools in England will benefit from the highest discount levels.

  In the event that the number of licenses purchased by schools across the UK does not fall below 96 per cent. of the number of licenses purchased by schools in England in the year prior to the introduction of the MOU, the maximum level of discount will continue to apply. If the total number of licences sold to schools in the UK in any year of the agreement (the annual sales) falls below 96 per cent. of the number of licences purchased in the year immediately preceding the agreement by schools in England (the base year), the 20 per cent. minimum discount will be reduced as follows:
  if the annual sales fell to 75 per cent. of the base year sales, the minimum discount of 20 per cent. would be reduced to 75 per cent. of its previous value i.e. it would fall from 20 per cent. to 15 per cent; and
  if the annual sales fell to 50 per cent. of the base year sales, the minimum discount would be reduced to 50 per cent. of its previous value i.e. it would drop from 20 per cent. to 10 per cent.

  These two 'pro rata' minimum discount points at 15 per cent. and 10 per cent. were introduced to minimise the impact of any reductions in the purchasing by schools of Microsoft products.

  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many licences for Microsoft products are held by state schools; and what the total cost of such licences to the schools is. [146856]
  1322W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Microsoft has been supplying licences to schools for more than 20 years. Data on the number of licences held by state schools or their total cost are not available because of the devolved nature of purchasing under LMS arrangements.

  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of new licences purchased in each of the last five years by schools are OEM type licences that come outside the agreement between the British Educational Communications and Training Agency and Microsoft. [146857]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information on the percentage of new licences purchased in each of the last five years by schools that are Original Equipment (OEM) type licences, is not available because of devolved nature of the purchasing of Microsoft products under Local Management of Schools arrangements

  Microsoft has made information available to Becta in respect of Microsoft's (non-OEM) licensing sales to schools during the 2002–03 Microsoft financial year. This information is the subject of legally binding non-disclosure arrangements.

  The Department's ICT in Schools survey provides information which can be used to estimate the year on year growth in the number of computers in schools. It is anticipated that the vast majority of these additional machines will require an OEM licence in respect of Microsoft Windows.

  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the savings on software licences following the recent agreement between the British Educational Communications and Training Agency and Microsoft; and what percentage of school expenditure on Microsoft licences this represents in each of the next three years for schools. [146858]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Through aggregating demand for Microsoft Licensing, Becta has been able to identify estimated savings over the next three years of up to £46 million for schools in England. These potential savings apply to all schools in the maintained and independent sectors. Additional savings will accrue to schools in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Compared to April 2003 pricing, the reduction/savings in schools' spending attributable to this deal will be between 20 per cent. and 37 per cent. depending on the actual products purchased.

  The estimate of savings for each of the next three years is:

  Year 1—£13 million;

  Year 2—£15 million; and

  Year 3—£18 million.

  Taking account of the likely mix of products purchased and the licensing programmes used, the overall percentage reduction in school spend on Microsoft licensing compared with spending levels as at April 2003 is estimated to be between 30 per cent. to 33 per cent.

  The calculation of these savings was made possible as a result of information made available to Becta by Microsoft in respect of Microsoft's most recent financial year and under legally binding non-disclosure

  1323W
  arrangements. Procedures to monitor the actual level of savings achieved have been agreed by Becta and Microsoft.

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people under 22 are enrolled in or started modern apprenticeships in(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04. [147436]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  In the academic year 2002/03, there were 146,000 starts on modern apprenticeships by learners aged under 22, and at the end of this year, there were a total of 194,100 learners aged under 22 on modern apprenticeships. Figures for 2003/04 are not yet available. Figures for numbers of starts and numbers in learning as at the end of October 2003 will be published by the Learning and Skills Council in March.

  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the total population are qualified to apprentice in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France and (c) Germany. [147437]

  Mr. Miliband
  The percentage of the population qualified to apprentice in the UK is 13.6 per cent. Comparable figures from France and Germany are not available.

  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people were enrolled on apprenticeships in the United Kingdom in each year since 1995. [147440]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The numbers of learners in England enrolled on government supported Advanced Modern Apprenticeship (AMA) and Foundation Modern Apprenticeship (FMA) programmes at the end of July in each year since 1995 are shown in the table.

  Thousand

  Year

  AMA

  FMA

  Total MA1

  1995

  2.1

  n/a

  2.1

  1996

  25.1

  n/a

  25.1

  1997

  87.5

  n/a

  87.5

  1998

  109.6

  8.8

  118.4

  1999

  123.8

  41.4

  165.2

  2000

  127.3

  77.7

  205.0

  2001

  115.0

  87.0

  202.0

  2002

  102.7

  106.1

  208.8

  2003

  99.5

  119.1

  218.5

  1 Totals may not equal sum of AMA and FMA due to rounding.

  Note:

  Comparable figures covering other types of apprenticeships are not available. The figures given cover England only. Modern apprenticeships in the other countries of the UK are a matter for the relevant devolved authorities.

  Source:

  1995 to 2000—TEC management information

  2001 to 2003—LSC Individualised Learner Record

  Modern Languages
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans his Department have to train specialist primary modern language teachers. [148376]
  1324W
  Mr. Miliband
  In the current academic year, 406 people have been recruited to courses of initial teacher training for primary modern languages specialists provided by institutions in England. So far this year, there have been a further 34 recruits in primary modern languages to the Graduate Teacher Programme. In 2004–05, 580 college-based training places and 50 employment-based places will be available for primary modern languages.

  School Exclusions
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many exclusions from English primary schools there were in the last three years; [148045]

  (2) how many (a) short-term, (b) long-term and (c) permanent exclusions there were from English secondary schools for the last three years. [148104]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Information on fixed term exclusions is not yet available centrally. The Department has recently started to collect information from local education authorities on both fixed term and permanent exclusions on a termly basis. The first term's data are not yet available.

  Information on the number of permanent exclusions in maintained primary and secondary schools is shown in the table.

  Maintained primary and secondary schools1 number of permanent exclusions

  Academic years 1999/2000 to 2001/02

  England

  Maintained Primary

  Maintained Secondary

  Number of permanent exclusions

  Percentage of the school population32

  Number of permanent exclusions

  Percentage of the school population32

  1999/2000

  1,226

  0.03

  6,713

  0.21

  2000/012

  1,436

  0.03

  7,305

  0.23

  2001/02

  1,451

  0.03

  7,741

  0.24

  1 Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2 Permanent exclusions for 2000/01 are estimated as a number of local education authorities have not confirmed the data for their schools.

  3 The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils in primary and secondary schools.

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were excluded from school in each local education authority in each year since 1997. [148431]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: The Information requested for permanent exclusions has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Information on fixed term exclusions is not yet available centrally. The Department has recently started

  1325W
  to collect information from local education authorities on both fixed term and permanent exclusions on a termly basis. The first term's data are not yet available.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children aged(a) between four and 11, (b) between 12 and 16 and (c) between 16 and

  Maintained primary and secondary schools1 and special schools2: Number of permanent exclusions by age group Academic years 1995/96 to 2001/02 London Local Education Authorities

  1995/96

  1996/97

  Pupils aged3

  4–11

  12–15

  16–18

  4–11

  12–15

  16–18

  London

  413

  1,781

  56

  463

  1,683

  47

  Inner London

  174

  622

  15

  199

  559

  13

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  11

  39

  1

  20

  49

  2

  Hackney

  14

  23

  1

  15

  26

  0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  15

  47

  2

  23

  49

  0

  Haringey

  8

  39

  2

  5

  42

  2

  Islington

  16

  59

  0

  13

  31

  2

  Kensington and Chelsea

  8

  20

  1

  8

  16

  0

  Lambeth

  14

  52

  0

  13

  48

  2

  Lewisham

  26

  53

  0

  18

  40

  2

  Newham

  10

  33

  0

  9

  31

  0

  Southwark

  22

  66

  1

  26

  67

  0

  Tower Hamlets

  10

  44

  0

  12

  51

  1

  Wandsworth

  11

  86

  6

  27

  64

  0

  Westminster

  9

  61

  1

  10

  45

  2

  Outer London

  239

  1,159

  41

  264

  1,124

  34

  Barking and Dagenham

  18

  46

  3

  21

  66

  2

  Barnet

  15

  58

  4

  14

  76

  1

  Bexley

  10

  49

  2

  21

  42

  0

  Brent

  12

  101

  1

  13

  80

  6

  Bromley

  19

  84

  8

  15

  80

  4

  Croydon

  20

  98

  1

  30

  108

  0

  Ealing

  20

  69

  7

  17

  71

  3

  Enfield

  8

  81

  3

  7

  87

  8

  Greenwich

  22

  68

  0

  19

  58

  2

  Harrow

  5

  60

  0

  5

  54

  0

  Havering

  10

  61

  1

  14

  42

  0

  Hillingdon

  12

  55

  4

  13

  55

  0

  Hounslow

  17

  66

  5

  24

  69

  4

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  6

  30

  2

  7

  28

  0

  Merton

  7

  42

  0

  5

  16

  1

  Redbridge

  4

  28

  0

  4

  28

  2

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  7

  45

  0

  8

  51

  0

  Sutton

  9

  23

  0

  6

  30

  0

  Waltham Forest

  18

  95

  0

  21

  83

  1

  1997/98

  1998/99

  Pupils aged3

  4–11

  12–15

  16–18

  4–11

  12–15

  16–18

  London

  422

  1,553

  52

  348

  1.402

  32

  Inner London

  201

  539

  16

  144

  487

  8

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  16

  32

  2

  3

  29

  0

  Hackney

  22

  24

  0

  15

  21

  0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  17

  35

  0

  4

  41

  3

  Haringey

  10

  36

  0

  13

  30

  0

  Islington

  14

  33

  0

  11

  24

  1

  Kensington and Chelsea

  7

  31

  0

  8

  21

  0

  Lambeth

  17

  45

  0

  13

  27

  0

  Lewisham

  28

  47

  2

  18

  46

  1

  Newham

  15

  38

  1

  15

  39

  0

  Southwark

  27

  69

  0

  21

  87

  0

  Tower Hamlets

  6

  43

  0

  2

  30

  0

  Wandsworth

  15

  61

  0

  17

  58

  1

  Westminster

  7

  45

  11

  4

  34

  2

  1326W
  18 have been excluded from school in each London borough in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [148440]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 15 January 2004]: The available information, shown in the table, relates to permanent exclusions from 1995/96 onward.
  1327W

  1997/98

  1998/99

  Pupils aged3

  4–11

  12–15

  16–18

  4–11

  12–15

  16–18

  Outer London

  221

  1,014

  36

  204

  915

  24

  Barking and Dagenham

  11

  35

  1

  15

  23

  1

  Barnet

  10

  56

  11

  7

  31

  4

  Bexley

  16

  54

  2

  20

  40

  1

  Brent

  11

  80

  6

  9

  68

  0

  Bromley

  16

  76

  1

  13

  73

  1

  Croydon

  29

  79

  0

  25

  106

  0

  Ealing

  26

  54

  2

  10

  63

  I

  Enfield

  16

  66

  5

  8

  61

  7

  Greenwich

  13

  47

  1

  20

  57

  2

  Harrow

  7

  53

  0

  9

  33

  0

  Havering

  7

  63

  0

  7

  34

  0

  Hillingdon

  5

  53

  0

  10

  56

  0

  Hounslow

  13

  54

  4

  9

  54

  4

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  2

  25

  2

  2

  23

  0

  Merton

  7

  29

  0

  5

  19

  0

  Redbridge

  5

  30

  0

  8

  33

  1

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  2

  52

  0

  7

  38

  0

  Sutton

  8

  37

  0

  9

  28

  2

  Waltham Forest

  17

  71

  1

  11

  75

  0

  1999/2000

  2000/014

  Pupils aged3

  4–11

  12–15

  16–18

  4–11

  12–15

  16–18

  London

  251

  1,021

  17

  298

  1,145

  5

  Inner London

  127

  385

  4

  121

  417

  1

  City of London

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  7

  15

  0

  11

  23

  0

  Hackney

  9

  22

  0

  11

  23

  0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  4

  17

  0

  9

  31

  0

  Haringey

  10

  15

  0

  1

  29

  0

  Islington

  4

  15

  1

  1

  18

  0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  7

  17

  0

  5

  12

  0

  Lambeth

  12

  19

  0

  13

  28

  0

  Lewisham

  26

  47

  2

  20

  63

  0

  Newham

  10

  23

  0

  10

  26

  0

  Southwark

  10

  58

  1

  19

  44

  0

  Tower Hamlets

  2

  29

  0

  6

  40

  0

  Wandsworth

  20

  74

  0

  11

  54

  1

  Westminster

  5

  34

  0

  4

  25

  0

  Outer London

  124

  636

  13

  177

  729

  4

  Barking and Dagenham

  8

  23

  0

  9

  10

  0

  Barnet

  9

  48

  0

  7

  48

  0

  Bexley

  8

  24

  1

  21

  58

  0

  Brent

  12

  45

  0

  12

  37

  0

  Bromley

  4

  21

  3

  10

  50

  1

  Croydon

  13

  74

  0

  28

  89

  1

  Ealing

  3

  22

  2

  5

  28

  0

  Enfield

  9

  64

  0

  14

  58

  0

  Greenwich

  8

  35

  0

  13

  26

  0

  Harrow

  5

  34

  0

  11

  57

  0

  Havering

  2

  32

  0

  4

  28

  0

  Hillingdon

  5

  40

  2

  15

  50

  0

  Hounslow

  9

  43

  0

  8

  40

  1

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  1

  14

  1

  1

  7

  0

  Merton

  6

  17

  0

  3

  29

  0

  Redbridge

  5

  20

  4

  6

  21

  1

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  2

  23

  0

  4

  27

  0

  Sutton

  0

  19

  0

  2

  22

  0

  Waltham Forest

  15

  38

  0

  6

  43

  0

  1328W

  1329W

  2001/023

  Pupils aged3

  4–11

  12–15

  16–18

  London

  291

  1,154

  11

  Inner London

  115

  372

  2

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  5

  23

  0

  Hackney

  15

  18

  0

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  4

  32

  Haringey

  4

  28

  0

  Islington

  2

  10

  0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  4

  9

  0

  Lambeth

  11

  27

  0

  Lewisham

  21

  45

  0

  Newham

  13

  37

  0

  Southwark

  13

  37

  0

  Tower Hamlets

  2

  36

  0

  Wandsworth

  18

  45

  Westminster

  3

  24

  0

  Outer London

  176

  782

  8

  Barking and Dagenham

  10

  14

  0

  Barnet

  4

  49

  1

  Bexley

  11

  49

  0

  Brent

  6

  32

  0

  Bromley

  9

  74

  2

  Croydon

  29

  116

  0

  Ealing

  13

  51

  0

  Enfield

  8

  64

  0

  Greenwich

  23

  28

  0

  Harrow

  6

  62

  0

  Havering

  3

  37

  5

  Hillingdon

  12

  31

  0

  Hounslow

  15

  44

  0

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  2

  2

  0

  Merton

  3

  20

  0

  Redbridge

  7

  25

  0

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  6

  25

  0

  Sutton

  5

  30

  0

  Waltham Forest

  3

  32

  0

  1 Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.

  3 Age as at 31 August at start of reference year.

  4 Estimates have been made for 2000/01 and 2001/02 because the exclusion data are known to be incomplete.

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what records the Government keeps on the causes for school exclusions; and whether it lists them by category. [148095]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  My Department started to collect data on the reasons for exclusions from summer term 2003. The first term's data are not yet available.

  Pupil/Teacher Ratios
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the pupil/teacher ratio was for each local education authority for(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year since 1997. [148429]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  School Admissions
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils entered primary and secondary schools in each local education authority 1330W
  for the most recent year for which information is available; how many appeals against admissions there were; and what proportion of appeals were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful. [149183]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: The latest available information has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  School Funding
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the Cabinet Office's strategy and delivery units on changes to the way funding may be allocated to schools; what work he has undertaken to review the basis of distributing funds directly to schools; and if he will place copies of the papers in the Library. [147146]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 12 January 2004]: On 29 October the Secretary of State announced the arrangements for school funding in 2004–05 and 2005–06. Every school is guaranteed a minimum increase in funding—4 per cent. in 2004–05and every LEA will receive at least a 5 per cent. funding increase that year. We expect LEAs to pass on funding increases to schools. We will continue to provide some direct grants from the Government to schools, in particular the Standards Fund, and allow schools to spend these funds more flexibly to meet their needs. These measures are designed to deliver stability and certainty for schools; this is our priority.

  The Government continues to keep funding arrangements under review in consultation with other departments.

  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local education authorities have made representations to ministers in his Department about school funding since October 2003. [148048]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We have received a wide range of representations from local education authorities and I, my ministerial colleagues and my officials have had discussions with many authorities both individually and collectively. The position on school funding was set out to the House on 29 October.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills at what level Government funding per pupil will be in each of the next 10 years. [148561]

  Mr. Miliband
  Funding per pupil is set to rise by £1,000 in real terms, from £2,810 in 1997 to £3,600 in 2003–04 to £3,850 in 2006.

  The level for 2006–07 and beyond will be determined by the outcome of future Spending Reviews.

  School Trips
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 8 January,Official Report, column 473W, on school trips, if he will assess the average annual costs to schools of covering the costs for pupils whose parents are unable to contribute to the costs of school trips; and if he will reimburse such costs to schools whose pupil profile has an above average number of children from families in receipt of state benefit. [149429]
  1331W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  There are no plans to assess either the average annual costs to schools of covering the cost of school trips for parents unable to make a contribution, or for the Department to reimburse these costs.

  School-leavers (Qualifications)
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the total population left school without basic school leaving qualifications in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France and (c) Germany. [147438]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The exact information requested is not available. The proportion of the population in each country that had failed to achieve qualifications at the level defined by the OECD as "upper secondary" by the ages shown is, however, as follows:

  Age Group

  25–64

  25–34

  35–44

  45–54

  55–64

  France

  36

  22

  33

  42

  54

  Germany

  17

  15

  14

  17

  24

  UK

  37

  32

  35

  39

  45

  Source:

  Education at a Glance, 2003, OECD (derived from Table A1.2, page 41)

  "Upper secondary" is defined in the UK context as attaining five GCSEs at grades A*-C or an equivalent vocational qualification (for example, a GNVQ at foundation or intermediate level).

  Schools Voluntary Assistance Scheme
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made with his plans to encourage retired professionals to assist in schools on a voluntary basis; and what programmes are in place in the North East. [148319]

  Mr. Miliband
  Working through some of our national partners and contractors, such as the NCSL, TTA and Capita, we have encouraged the increased use of retired professionals, including teachers, with our plans for remodelling the school workforce and promoting 'Keeping in Touch' and 'Return to Teach' programmes. It is however up to local authorities and schools to determine their local needs for voluntary support staff. The Department does not collect centrally information about any such local programmes.

  More specifically, for those teachers who retired on ill-health grounds from the Teachers' Pension Scheme, regulations came into effect on 1 January 2004 (The Education Health Standards England Regulations 2003) which will enable such former teachers to be re-employed, or work on a voluntary basis, in the education sector in a non-teaching capacity.

  Departmental Circulars
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the circular documents that were sent by his Department to(a) primary and (b) secondary schools between (i) 1 September 2002 and
  1332W
  31 August 2003 and (ii) 1 January and 31 December 2003; how many were on teacher workload; and how many pages each document contained. [148559]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following pages show the documents that were sent in the period 1 September 2002 and 31 August 2003 to(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools. In total 37 documents were sent to all primary schools and 41 documents were sent to all secondary schools. On teacher workload one document was sent to all primary schools and all secondary schools in the period 1 September 2002 and 31 August 2003. This document contained 32 pages.

  The following pages also show the documents that were sent in the period 1 September 2003 and 31 December 2003 to (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools. In total 14 documents were sent to all primary schools and 20 documents were sent to all secondary schools. On teacher workload two documents were sent to all primary schools and secondary schools in this period. The total number of pages contained in these documents were three.

  Where a document has been sent to all primary and all secondary schools it will appear in the totals for both primary and secondary above. Details of each document and how many pages each contained have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many circular e-mails were sent by his Department to(a) primary and (b) secondary schools between (i) 1 September 2002 and 31 August 2003 and (ii) 1 January and 31 December 2003. [148560]

  Mr. Miliband
  During the period 1 September 2002 to 31 August 2003, three emails were sent to all primary schools and one to all secondary schools. During the period 1 September 2003 to 31 December 2003, five emails were sent to all primary schools and three to all secondary schools.

  Skills Shortages
  Jon Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the resources required to address skills shortages in former coalfield areas. [147479]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  This Department recognises the disparity between levels of necessary skills in particularly disadvantaged areas such as former coalfield areas and more affluent areas. It is addressing these issues through policies and targeted measures that focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning, tackling social exclusion and providing support to families and learners.

  "The Skills Strategy", published in July 2003, announced new resources for:
  creating a new entitlement to free learning for anyone without a good foundation of employability skills to get the training they need to achieve such a qualification (Level 2);
  providing targeted support for higher level skills at technician, higher craft or associate professional level. This support will be focused on those who are developing their skills and qualifications to Level 3, in priority areas to meet sectoral and regional skill needs. The support will be provided through the new regional skills partnerships, and planned and funded by the local Learning and Skills Councils;

  1333W
  piloting the delivery of a new learning grant for adults in further education. This will be modelled on the existing education maintenance allowance for 16 to 19-year-olds. It will be aimed at adults studying full-time for their first full Level 2 qualification, and young adults studying full-time for their first full Level 3 qualification. One of the areas it is being piloted in, from September, is South Yorkshire;
  safeguarding the provision in each local area of a wide range of learning for adults, for culture, leisure, community and personal fulfilment purposes. While giving priority to better work-related skills training, each local Learning and Skills Council will have funds to work with others to support that range of learning, including learning for pensioners;
  providing better information, advice and guidance on skills, training and qualifications, so that people know what is available, what the benefits are, and where to go. To achieve this, we will combine the network of local advice partnerships with the national advice helpline provided by Ufi/learndirect; and
  Learning Communities to tackle low adult aspiration and skills and intergenerational deprivation by making a specific but strong connection between the development of a communities skills base and the contribution that it can make to meeting the regional skills needs and priorities expressed by the FRESA. The goal is not just social improvement, vital though this is. Learning Communities will add value by raising regional prosperity and productivity through raising skills because this, in itself, is a powerful way of addressing social disadvantage.

  This Department also recognises the importance of coordinating its policies effectively to make an impact in deprived areas and is working with the LSC, RDA, local authorities and Coalfields organisations such as the Coalfield Communities Campaign (CCC) to achieve effective targeting and cohesion.

  We work with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), both nationally and with each of its 47 local offices, to ensure that education, skills and employment policies all come together sensibly in communities. We have ensured that local LSCs have the flexibility to allocate their resources where they are most needed so that they can make maximum impact in disadvantaged communities, and can draw on funding from elsewhere e.g. European Social Funding (ESF).

  The nine Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) help ensure, for example, that their Regeneration and Skills Development Funds are targeted to impact on Neighbourhood Renewal areas and can set aside specific funds to address basic skills needs in their regions.

  Sure Start
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Sure Start schemes are operating in England; and how many of these are community-led schemes. [145467]

  Margaret Hodge
  All 524 planned Sure Start local programmes are now operating, serving many of the most disadvantaged communities in England. All Sure Start programmes are 'community-led' through a partnership (made up of parents, community groups, and local representatives of voluntary and statutory organisations providing services to the families in the area) that designs the programme after consultation with families and workers in the area so that services reflect the needs of the community. These partnerships, in the main, have no legal status and are not 1334W
  incorporated bodies. One of the partner organisations must act as the 'accountable body' and take the legal responsibility for receiving the grant on behalf of the partnership. 86 programmes (16 per cent.) have non-statutory organisations as their accountable body, and of these, 16 (3 per cent.) are community groups or partnerships who have taken legal status for the purpose of running the programme.

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of GCSE-equivalent qualifications were vocational in each year since 1997. [147439]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The percentage of pupils that achieved 5+ grades A*-C at GCSE/GNVQ with the help of vocational (GNVQ) qualifications since 1997 are shown in the table.

  Academic year

  Percentage of pupils who achieved 5 + A*-C at GCSE/GNVQ with the help of vocational qualifications

  1996/97

  0.2

  1997/98

  0.4

  1998/99

  0.6

  1999/2000

  0.8

  2000/01

  1.2

  2001/02

  2.7

  2002/03

  5.6

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Benefits
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reduce delays in processing council tax benefit claims. [148233]

  Mr. Pond
  Local authorities generally process council tax benefit claims alongside claims for housing benefit. We have already put in place a comprehensive programme of reforms to the administration of both these benefits; our immediate priority is to reduce delays in processing times and we are making good progress.

  As part of the 2002 Spending Review, the Department invested £200 million over three years in a standards fund to help local authorities fund improvements in the service. The priority for the first year of funding was improvement in the speed and accuracy of claims processing and the prevention and recovery of overpayments.

  The need for pensioners to make renewal claims for council tax benefit was abolished in October 2003 and renewal claims for working age claimants will be abolished from April 2004. Previously claims for council tax benefit were made for a set period of up to 60 weeks.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to relax restrictions on council tax benefit eligibility for pensioners who have modest savings; and if he will make a statement. [148239]
  1335W
  Mr. Pond
  With the introduction of pension credit on 6 October 2003, the upper capital limit of £16,000 has been abolished for those pensioners who receive the pension credit guarantee. The more generous income and savings rules in pension credit also apply to both housing benefit and council tax benefit. The rate at which money is deducted from benefit in respect of capital over £6,000 has also been halved, from £1 in every £250 to £1 in every £500. Around 1.9 million households stand to get more help, or help for the first time, with their council tax as a result of the introduction of pension credit.

  Additionally, we are abolishing the council tax benefit restriction from 1 April 2004; this currently restricts the maximum amount of council tax benefit for people living in properties in council tax bands F, G or H to the maximum amount payable for a band E property. Pensioners will, of course, be among those people who benefit from this change.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to give the pension service overall responsibility for raising the take-up of council tax benefit in partnership with organisations working directly with pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [148240]

  Mr. Pond
  Promoting the take-up of council tax benefit is the statutory duty of local authorities. However we are keen to ensure that all pensioners entitled to help with their council tax bills are claiming this. In particular, we want to ensure that the 1.9 million pensioners who gain, or gain more, council tax benefit on the introduction of pension credit get the extra help to which they are entitled.

  We are therefore actively pursuing ways of supporting local authorities in their duty to promote awareness of council tax benefit. Many authorities already have well developed take up strategies and we want to support these, and other authorities, to ensure that more pensioners on low income are receiving the help to which they are entitled.

  The pension service are inviting claims for council tax benefit when an application for pension credit is made, and we recently introduced a shortened claim form for pensioners applying for the benefit to make their claim easier. Everyone who calls the pension credit application line and wishes to apply for housing/council tax benefit is issued with a form.

  The local service is also working with partner organisations, including local authorities, to help reach the most vulnerable pensioners. During visits to pensioners in the local community or their homes advice on entitlement is provided and help offered to complete application forms.

  The Third Age Programme is also joining up existing service providers to offer a "whole person" service to pensioners. Joint teams (consisting of both local authority and pension service staff) are already up and running in nine local authority areas in the southwest and plan to roll these teams out nationally over the next two years.
  1336W
  The Third Age Programme are also working with the voluntary sector to help reinforce messages about take-up and funding has been provided to support innovative pilots to increase the take-up of benefits including council tax benefit.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to what extent, and for what reason he has agreed to delegate decisions over the level of housing benefit or council tax benefit to the Scottish Executive. [149645]

  Mr. Pond
  Although housing policy and local government finance are areas of devolved responsibility that interact closely with housing benefit and council tax benefit, responsibility for decisions over the level of housing benefit and council tax benefit remains with the UK Government at Westminster.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff responsible for detection of benefit fraud have been employed by his Department in each year since 1997, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement. [147817]

  Mr. Pond
  The overall aim of the Department's anti-fraud strategy is to have a benefit system that is secure from first claim to final payment. The implementation of this strategy means than an anti-fraud focus is integral to the work of all staff in the Department, as is dealing with the wider agenda of error and incorrectness in benefit payments.

  The information currently available suggests that around 5,000 staff are employed nationally at any one time by the Department and its agencies in work to investigate suspicions of fraud.

  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to produce United Kingdom estimates of housing benefit fraud and error for 2002–03. [147827]

  Mr. Pond
  For Great Britain, we published "Fraud and Error in Housing Benefit, April 2002 to March 2003" on 11 December 2003; a copy will be placed in the Library. Social security matters in Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been convicted of benefit fraud twice within three years since 1997; how many of these have had their benefit(a) reduced and (b) withdrawn; and if he will make a statement. [148242]

  Mr. Pond
  Records of second convictions before 'Two Strikes' legislation came into effect on 1 April 2002 are not available. This provision cannot be applied retrospectively and applies only to people who have committed, and then been convicted of, two separate benefit offences after that date.

  To date, 23 people have been convicted of benefit fraud against the Department on two or more occasions. Sanctions have been applied to 11 of these cases, five of which have had their benefit reduced, and a further six have had their benefit withdrawn. A further 10 individuals are not currently in receipt of benefit. Additionally, a further two individuals are due to have their benefits withdrawn after the appeal period allowed has lapsed.
  1337W
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners were in receipt of(a) full and (b) partial council tax benefit in Huntingdon in each of the last three financial years. [146446]

  Mr. Pond
  The information is not available. At August 2003, there were 3,700 people aged 60 or over receiving Council Tax Benefit in Huntingdonshire, of which 2,100 people were also in receipt of Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (income-based).

  Notes:

  Data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

  Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

  Totals exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.

  Information is available for August 2003 only.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit quarterly 100 per cent. count.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the uptake of council tax benefit in Wirral South. [147841]

  Mr. Pond
  At August 2003, there were 33,900 people receiving council tax benefit (CTB) in the area covered by Wirral local authority.

  Estimates of CTB take-up in Wirral South are not available. Statistics on the take-up of income-related benefits are available on a national basis only, and are published in the DWP report entitled "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up"; copies of the publication series can be found in the Library.

  I announced a campaign to further support local authorities in their statutory duty to promote take-up of council tax benefit on 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 25WS.

  Notes:

  The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

  The figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.

  Council tax benefit totals exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.

  Source:

  Housing benefit and council tax benefit management information system, quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count.

  Care Direct
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the Care Direct pilots. [149789]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The six Care Direct pilots taking place in the south west will conclude at the end of March 2004. We are in the early stages of evaluating these pilots. This research is being done by the Personal Social Services Research Unit (University of Kent) and their report will inform a Lessons Learned document to be produced in April 2004.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed disability living allowance for the financial years(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03, broken down by disability living allowance band. [147333]
  1338W
  Maria Eagle
  People claim for disability living allowance as a whole rather than for any particular part of it. Figures for the total number of claims and the number of awards, broken down by particular components, are shown in the following table.

  Number of new disability living allowance claims and awards each year

  Thousand

  2002–03

  2001–02

  Number of claims1

  407.8

  433.3

  All awards2

  252.8

  264.8

  Higher Rate Care and Higher Mobility

  36.7

  38.0

  Higher Rate Care Lower Rate Mobility

  14.4

  15.8

  Higher Rate Care only

  11.9

  12.4

  Middle Rate Care and Higher Rate Mobility

  24.7

  26.8

  Middle Rate Care and Lower Rate Mobility

  26.8

  28.9

  Middle Rate Care only

  20.6

  20.4

  Lower Rate Care and Higher Rate Mobility

  29.9

  29.1

  Lower Rate Care and Lower Rate Mobility

  14.6

  15.0

  Lower Rate Care only

  34.5

  37.6

  Higher Rate Mobility

  29.1

  31.0

  Lower Rate Mobility

  9.6

  9.8

  Notes:

  The figures for the number of claims and the number of awards for each year are drawn from different sources and are not comparable.

  Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.

  A small number of people have more than one award in the year. These people a re counted more than once as the table shows awards.

  Source:

  100 per cent. MIS data. Figures are for financial years

  IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample. The figures are for the number of awards at May and are closest to the financial years.

  John Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the complexity of the application process for disability living allowance. [148493]

  Maria Eagle
  The Disability and Carers Service acknowledges that the claiming process for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) needs to be simplified and has been running a number of initiatives designed to improve the service to customers.

  A shorter DLA postal claim form based around the revised Attendance Allowance (AA) claim form introduced nationally on 6 October 2003 is being tested. The new DLA postal form has 23 pages and is considerably shorter than the existing claim form. The results from the first three full months of testing are currently being collated and a revised claim form is expected to be produced later this year.

  Internet based claim forms for DLA and AA are also under development following the E claim form for Carers Allowance that was launched in December 2003. These should also be available later this year.

  Since November 2002, a new interactive claiming process has been trialled in Glasgow Disability Benefits Centre. Customers who request a claim form by telephone are directed to a customer claim advisor who asks some preliminary questions to establish the broad basis of the claim. A tailored claim form is then produced by the computer system that supports the process and forwarded to the customer for completion.

  1339W
  The form generated is a maximum of 18 pages, considerably shorter than the existing 47 page form. The results of this trial and the clerical claim form tests will inform the further modernisation of the processing of Disability Benefits.

  Incapacity Benefit Appeals
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many incapacity benefit appeal cases processed by the social security office in Dundee in the last year it has taken more than two months to reach a decision on whether to challenge appeal tribunal decisions; and what percentage of the total cases dealt with in that period this represents. [148747]

  Maria Eagle
  During 2003 there were three cases dealt with by Dundee incapacity benefit section that took more than two months to decide whether to challenge the appeal tribunal decision. This represents 0.45 per cent. of the total cases dealt with by the section in 2003.

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to re-consider the upper limit on the Independent Living Fund; and what implications this has for clients in need of highly complex care packages. [148273]

  Maria Eagle
  Following the recommendations of the Quinquennial Review of the Independent Living Funds in December 2001 it was agreed that the upper limit should be reviewed by the trustees of the fund every two years. In April 2002 the limit was raised from £625 to £665 per week and the trustees are currently again reviewing the limit.

  Local authorities have primary responsibility for community care provision and the Independent Living Funds supplement that role. Irrespective of the amount of the upper limit of Independent Living Funds assistance, local authorities can fund care for disabled people with high cost support packages.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the dismissal of 350 temporary staff by Jobcentre Plus London Region in February and March, with particular reference to the number who were re-employed by Jobcentre Plus within 13 weeks of their dismissal on(a) temporary contracts and (b) permanent contracts; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for their dismissal. [145351]

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

  Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 21 January 2004:
  As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning re-employment of temporary staff within 13 weeks in London whose contracts of employment ended in February and March 2003. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  1340W
  Of the 350 staff on temporary contracts who left employment with Jobcentre Plus during February and March 2003, two people were re-employed within 13 weeks of the end of their temporary contract, one on a permanent contract and one on a new temporary contract.
  Jobcentre Plus employs temporary staff specifically to fill short-term needs. This may be for a variety of reasons, for example to help manage peaks of work or to facilitate the release of staff for training during the rollout of the integrated Jobcentre Plus service. Any temporary employees ending their employment in February/ March 03 were released as their contracts had ended and the services/roles for which they were engaged had also finished.
  While there will be an on-going need to employ a small percentage of temporary staff for the reasons I have set out above, it remains the intention in London to reduce reliance on temporary employees and to recruit and maintain a stable permanent workforce.
  I hope this is helpful and clarifies matters.

  Low-income Families
  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the equivalent thresholds to the absolute low income threshold of £210 per week for a couple with one child under 16 published in Measuring Child Poverty, of December 2003 are for(a) a couple with two children, (b) a couple with three children, (c) a couple with four children, (d) a lone parent with two children, (e) a lone parent with three children and (f) a lone parent with four children. [147423]

  Mr. Pond
  To measure whether the poorest families are seeing their incomes rise in real terms, we will monitor the number of children living in families with incomes below a particular threshold, which is adjusted for inflation. The level for a couple with one child under 14 published in Measuring Child Poverty is fixed as equal to our absolute low income threshold for the baseline year of 1998–99 expressed in today's prices.

  Equivalent information for different family types is in the table.

  Number of children under 14

  £ per week

  Lone parents

  1

  153

  2

  188

  3

  223

  4

  259

  Couples

  1

  212

  2

  247

  3

  282

  4

  317

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1.

  2. The £210 figure published in "Measuring child poverty" was rounded to the nearest £10. The amount for a couple with one child is presented here as £212, is rounded to the nearest £1 to allow clearer comparison to other family types.

  3. Figures were arrived at using the current prices (mid year 2003–04) cash equivalent for these family types of the 1998–99 60 per cent. median income level, before housing costs and using the OECD Modified equalisation scale.

  New Deal
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people have gained sustained, unsubsidised employment on(a) their first time, (b) their second time and (c) their third or more

  1341W
  time on the New Deal for Young People programme; what these figures represent as a proportion of the total number gaining sustained unsubsidised employment on the programme; and if he will make a statement; [148243]

  (2) how many people have gained sustained unsubsidised employment on (a) their first time, (b) their second time and (c) their third or more time on the New Deal 25plus programme; what these figures represent as a proportion of the total number gaining sustained unsubsidised employment on the programme; and if he will make a statement. [148244]

  Mr. Browne
  The information is in the table.

  People into sustained1, unsubsidised employment

  Number of times on the programme

  Number

  Percentage

  New Deal for Young People

  Once

  298,550

  80.5

  Twice

  60,450

  16.3

  Three or more times

  12,090

  3.3

  New Deal 25 plus

  Once

  87,110

  81.6

  Twice

  15,370

  14.4

  Three or more times

  4,340

  4.l

  Note:

  1. Employment is classed as sustained if no claim for Jobseeker's Allowance is made within 13 weeks.

  2. Figures are to the end of September 2003.

  3. Percentages do not sum to exactly 100 per cent due to rounding.

  Source:

  DWP Information and Analysis Directorate

  The New Deals have been successful in helping nearly one million people into work including more than 460,000 people thorough New Deal for Young People and nearly 165,000 people through New Deal 25 Plus.

  In a dynamic labour market, it is inevitable that some people will re-experience unemployment after leaving New Deal, however, the skills and experience they acquire after finding work through the programme will make it easier for them to find employment in the future.

  We have also introduced other measures to help people facing additional barriers to work, for example the StepUP pilots, which build on the New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus by providing transitional jobs for those who have not secured sustained employment through New Deal.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have benefited from the New Deal in Chorley since 1998. [149167]

  Mr. Browne
  The New Deals have been successful in helping nearly 1 million people into work, including 1,410 people in the Chorley constituency. Information on numbers helped into work by each New Deal programme is in the table.

  Programme1

  People gaining a job

  New Deal for Young People

  540

  New Deal 25 plus

  180

  New Deal for Lone Parents

  480

  New Deal 50 plus2

  210

  Note:

  1. All figures are up to the end of September 2003 apart from New Deal 50 plus which is up to the end of March 2003.
  1342W
  2. People in receipt of the New Deal 50 plus Employment Credit.

  3. Information on the other New Deals is not available broken down by constituency.

  Source:

  DWP Information and Analysis Directorate

  Occupational Pension Schemes
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implications of recent and proposed EU Directives on funding levels in occupational pension schemes for pension provision in the United Kingdom. [149172]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The impact of all Directives relevant to occupational pensions are assessed with regard to the impact on business including any costs they may impose, although additional costs may not directly impact on the funding of a scheme. Such assessments are set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessments that are published with the legislative measures which implement the requirements of these Directives.

  The Directive on the Activities and Supervision of Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provisions contains Articles which directly relate to funding and we have recently consulted on its implementation in the UK. We are currently considering those consultation responses but believe our proposed reforms of funding arrangements, as set out in 'Action on occupational pensions' (Cm5835) are broadly compatible with the requirements of the Directive.

  Direct Payment
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Angus constituency have changed their method of receiving payment of their retirement pension from pension book to direct payment into bank account in each of the last six months. [147462]

  Mr. Pond
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, information available is supplied in the table. The table shows the breakdown of pensioners (women aged 60 and over, men aged 65 and over) in the Angus constituency that have changed their state pension method of payment from pension book to direct payment into a bank account in the last six months broken down into periods available.

  More pensioners in the Angus constituency are now paid directly into an account than by Order Book.

  Number of pensioners changing their state pension method of payment from pension book to direct payment into an account

  Number

  14 June-26 July 2003

  73

  26 July-6 September 2003

  151

  6 September-25 October 2003

  177

  25 October-29 November 2003

  250

  Total

  651

  Note:

  An account includes bank, building society or Post Office card account

  Source:

  DWP Information Centre, Information & Analysis Directorate (100 per cent. sample).
  1343W
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Angus constituency received their retirement pension by means of(a) pension book and (b) direct payment into a bank account as at 1 January. [147463]

  Mr. Pond
  The information is not available for the date requested.

  However, the table shows the breakdown of pensioners (women aged 60 and over, men aged 65 and over) in the Angus constituency that received their state pension by means of pension book and direct payment into a bank account, at 29 November 2003, which is most recent data available:

  More pensioners in the Angus constituency are now paid directly into an account than by order book.

  Method of payment

  Number of pensioners

  Pension book

  5,751

  Direct payment into an account

  8,315

  Total

  14,066

  Note:

  An account includes bank, building society or Post Office card account

  Source:

  Benefit

  Accounts paid by Direct Payment into a bank or building society account

  Accounts paid by Direct Payment into a Card Account at the Post Office

  Accounts paid by order book

  Accounts paid by other methods

  Working age benefits

  Jobseeker's allowance (JSA)

  373,931

  17,891

  0

  377,609

  Income support (IS)

  648,895

  39,515

  1,454,416

  37,222

  Incapacity benefit (IB)

  583,742

  15,931

  674,821

  11,743

  Severe disablement allowance (SDA)

  43,045

  1,035

  70,296

  5,432

  Industrial injuries (II)

  152,837

  9,073

  277,035

  0

  Widow's benefit (WB)

  86,549

  1,137

  77,591

  270

  Bereavement benefit (BB)

  32,807

  91

  11,116

  13

  Working age benefits total

  1,921,806

  84,673

  2,565,276

  432,289

  Disability and Carer Benefits Directorate

  Disability living allowance (DLA)

  1,052,318

  14,992

  1,029,434

  87

  Attendance allowance (AA)

  356,014

  1,780

  169,633

  107

  Carer's allowance (CA)

  111,001

  405

  298,086

  0

  Disability and carer benefits directorate total

  1,519,333

  17,177

  1,497,153

  194

  Pensioners

  State pension

  5,048,649

  68,665

  4,025,027

  45,527

  Pension credit

  562,249

  4,754

  1,478,766

  10,242

  Pensioners total

  5,610,898

  73,419

  5,503,793

  55,769

  Grand total

  9,052,037

  175,269

  9,566,221

  488,252

  Notes:

  1. Figures refer to a snapshot of live accounts in payment on the following dates:

  Income support—28 November 2003

  Jobseeker's allowance—28 November 2003

  Industrial injuries—21 November 2003

  Pensions (state pension, incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance, widow's benefit, bereavement benefit)—29 November 2003

  Attendance allowance—15 November 2003

  Disability living allowance—15 November 2003

  Carer's allowance—30 June 2003

  Pension credit—14 November 2003 (rated to end November)

  Carer's allowance—30 June 2003

  Pension credit—14 November 2003 (rated to end November)

  2. Please note this is payload and not caseload therefore if a claimant is receiving more than one benefit e.g. pension credit (PC) and state pension (SP) but only receives one combined payment through the PC system they will only be shown as having a pension credit account and not a SP account.

  3. Figures quoted are for GB only.
  1344W
  DWP Information Centre, Information & Analysis Directorate (100 per cent. sample).

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to how many pension and benefit claimants his Department will write to invite them to move to direct payment. [149181]

  Mr. Pond
  We are in the process of issuing approximately 14.25 million invitations for pension and benefit customers to move to direct payment. We are making good progress and have so far issued almost 60 per cent. of these invitations.

  Key figures on the progress of conversion to direct payment are available in the Library updated every four weeks.

  Mr. Alan Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) working age benefits, (b) disability and carers' benefit, (c) retirement pension, (d) child benefit and (e) war pensions claimants are paid by (i) direct payment into a bank or building society account, (ii) direct payment into a post office card account, (iii) order book and (iv) other methods. [145975]

  Mr. Pond
  [holding answer 6 January 2004]: The figures in the table have been compiled from data available on 29 November 2003.
  1345W
  4. The Post Office Card Account has only been available since 1 April 2003. The numbers of customers being paid into a Post Office card account are expected to increase in the coming months as 20 week order books begin to expire and customers begin to receive payment direct into their card accounts.

  5. Many bank and Building Society accounts allow access to cash at Post Offices, for benefits and pension customers who wish to collect their payment this way.

  Source:

  DWP Information Centre, Information & Analysis Directorate (100 per cent. sample).

  War pensions and child benefit accounts are not included in the reply because they are now the responsibility of Ministry of Defence and Inland Revenue respectively.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pension and benefit claimants who were sent letters inviting them to move to direct payment have indicated that they cannot open or operate a bank account or Post Office card account; and what assessment his Department has made of the number of people who will use the exceptions service method of payment. [146746]

  Mr. Pond
  Research has shown that 87 per cent. of all our customers and 90 per cent. of pensioners already have an account suitable for Direct Payment.

  Almost three and a half million customers have provided their bank account details, and around two million have requested a Post Office card account. However information on the number of customers replying that they could not specifically open or operate a bank or Post Office card account is not available in this format.

  We will be further contacting all customers who continue to be paid by order book. Any customers, who cannot open or operate a bank account before order books are no longer available in 2005, will be paid by another method. In the meantime they will continue to receive their payments by order book.

  We have always recognised that there will be a small number of people who we cannot pay directly into an account. Our plan is to design an exceptions method of payment to properly meet the needs of these customers. Detailed arrangements for this method of payment are not finalised yet, but it is likely that it will be a cheque-based solution. Payment outlets will include Post Office branches.

  The move to Direct Payment is progressing well. Key figures on the progress of conversion to Direct Payment are available in the Library updated every four weeks.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice he is offering to local authority social services departments on direct payments with a view to encouraging each authority to adopt a clear strategy on take-up. [148272]

  Mr. Pond
  We have discussed the move to direct payment widely with customer representative groups including Local Government Association representatives.

  The Department's primary objective continues to be to pay benefit and pensions direct into the chosen account of every customer who is able to manage their own affairs, or into a third party account nominated by the customer.
  1346W
  Customers are supplied directly with information that clearly sets out their account options and enables them to decide which account is right for them.

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls to the Pension Credit Helpline since April were completed with a successful claim of the Pension Credit. [146040]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Between 7 April and 31 December 2003 the Pension Credit application line received approximately 1.84 million calls. By 31 December approximately 590,000 application forms had been returned to Pension Centres since the start of the campaign and approximately 377,000 had already been successful. Not all applications for Pension Credit originate from a call to the application line. Customers can obtain paper application forms in a number of ways, for example by returning a tear-off slip or through one of the external organisations with whom we are working at local level.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Buckingham constituency(a) have applied for, (b) are eligible for and (c) have received the pension credit in 2003. [149189]

  Malcolm Wicks
  At 31 December 2003 there were 1,666 pensioner households (2,007 individuals) in the Buckingham constituency receiving pension credit. Information on the number of people who have applied for or are eligible for pension credit is not available in respect of individual constituencies. However, we estimate that approximately 350,000 pensioner households in the South East region are eligible for pension credit.

  Pensioners (Hemsworth)
  Jon Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Hemsworth constituency receive benefits at the Post Office. [145918]

  Mr. Pond
  The number of Pensioners in the Hemsworth constituency receiving at least one benefit which can be collected at the Post Office is 10,911. This information has been compiled from data available on 29 November 2003.

  War Pensions accounts are not included in this reply as they are now the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence.

  Poverty
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on poverty levels in(a) Scotland and (b) the UK in the last five years. [145682]

  Mr. Pond
  Poverty and social exclusion are complex and multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of peoples' lives—including their living standards, health, housing, the quality of their environment and not just low
  1347W
  income. The fifth annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 5956) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the many different indicators used to measure progress against this strategy.

  The Scottish Executive also publish their own annual report on poverty and social exclusion. The latest of which, 'Social Justice…a Scotland where everyone matters' sets out their long term strategy for tackling poverty in Scotland.

  Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in 'Households Below Average Income 1994–95—2001–02'.

  All publications listed are available in the Library.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications were made by lone parents to the Social Fund in England in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what proportion of those applications were successful. [144485]

  Mr. Pond
  The available information is in the table.

  Number of decisions made on Social Fund applications from lone parents in England for December 2002 to November 2003

  Application type

  Decisions

  Proportion of decisions which were successful (per cent.)

  Community Care Grant

  117,900

  43.7

  Budgeting Loan

  572,100

  79.8

  Crisis Loan

  185,400

  79.3

  Sure Start Maternity Grant

  63,600

  89.3

  Funeral Payment

  4,200

  Not available

  Notes:

  1. Data are not available on the total number of applications made by lone parents.

  2. Data refer to initial decisions only and do not include review decisions or awards made after review.

  3. The numbers of decisions have been rounded to the nearest 100 and the proportions of decisions which were successful to the nearest 0.1 per cent.

  Source:

  Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what additional expenditure resulting from large scale voluntary transfers and the formation of arm's length management organisations for council housing has been incurred on housing benefit previously paid out of housing revenue accounts on a cumulative basis in each year since 1997. [147224]

  Mr. Pond
  The information is not available. To determine such a figure would require detailed assumptions about the rents each authority might theoretically have charged had it retained the stock.1348W
  However, the potential impact on housing benefit where stock is transferred to registered social landlords is considered as part of the overall value-for-money assessment of transfers.

  Stock managed by an arms length management organisation (ALMO) remains owned by the council and subject to national rent restructuring policy. The formation of an ALMO does not therefore affect rent levels or housing benefit entitlement.

  Third Age Service
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the progress his Department have made in respect of the Third Age Service. [149788]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Department for Work and Pensions is in the early stages of developing a Third Age Service which is seen as a network of service providers providing improved access to a range of more integrated services. In this respect, we are working with partners, in particular the Partnerships Against Poverty Group and the Third Age Working Group which DWP chair and which include representatives from Age Concern, Help the Aged, Better Government for Older people and other key stakeholders.

  We have already made progress in developing the main aspects of a third age service e.g. Joint Financial Assessment & Benefit Teams with local authorities. Experience and research evidence indicate that this is the right approach to integrated services. Already, nine joint teams are operational and plans are in place to roll out nationally over the next two years.

  This, together with the work we are doing to enable partner organisations to take benefit claims and verify evidence (on which guidance has been issued), and the work on the Partnership Fund (which will be published in spring this year) shows that we are already delivering on the Government's Manifesto commitment which was 'to build on Care Direct to provide integration of health, housing, benefits and social care for older people'. We await the Lessons Learned report on Care Direct pilots (April 2004) before developing further building blocks.

  Winter Fuel Payment
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend the winter fuel payment to severely disabled people under 60. [149097]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Help is already available through disability benefits and the disability premium in Income Support in recognition of the extra costs, including heating, which disabled people may have. There are no plans to extend the winter fuel payment scheme to disabled people under age 60.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Building Regulations
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information he has collated on the ways in which other EU governments intend to implement Article 7.3 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. [149365]
  1349W
  Phil Hope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 13 January 2004,Official Report, column 723W.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to report on the review of Part M of the Building Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [149611]

  Phil Hope
  The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2692), which amend the non-domestic elements of Part M of the Building Regulations, were laid before Parliament on 27 October 2003 and come into force on 1 May 2004. The revised Approved Document M (2004 Edition), which gives guidance on the application of the amended Regulations, was published on 5 November 2004 and announced in a press release from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2003/0229).

  Fire Services
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans there are to replace green goddesses with more up-to-date firefighting equipment. [149060]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently considering alternatives to the green goddess (reserve) fleet. Drawing down the lessons from recent experiences, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to have in place appropriate and effective emergency firefighting capabilities.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the newly-appointed Chief Executive of Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh, will be in post. [149055]

  Phil Hope
  An open competition to appoint a new chief executive will be announced shortly. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to make a permanent appointment by early summer.

  Government Office for London
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much Government money was distributed by the Government Office for London in each year since 1999–2000; and what is forecast to be distributed in 2003–04. [149601]

  Yvette Cooper
  Government Office for London (GOL) Programme expenditure is as follows:

  £ million

  Programme expenditure

  1999–2000

  2,202

  2000–01

  1,605

  2001–02

  2,094

  2002–03

  2,530

  2003–04

  2,689

  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the running costs of the Government Office for London were in each year since 1999–2000; and what the forecast is for 2003–04. [149602]

  Yvette Cooper
  Government Office for London (GOL) running cost expenditure is as follows:
  1350W

  £ million

  1999–2000

  16.0

  2000–01

  13.2

  2001–02

  13.2

  2002–03

  14.1

  2003–04

  16.6

  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff were employed by the Government Office for London in each year since 1999–2000; and how many are forecast to be employed in 2003–04. [149603]

  Yvette Cooper
  Approximate full time equivalent posts from April 2000 are as follows:

  Number

  April 2000

  370

  April 2001

  240

  April 2002

  260

  April 2003

  288

  The forecast for 2003–04 is 310.

  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the projects managed by the Government Office for London in 2003–04. [149604]

  Yvette Cooper
  Programmes managed by Government Office for London (GOL) in 2003–04:

  Community Chest

  Community Empowerment Fund

  Community Learning Chest

  Public Order and Community Cohesion

  Disabled Facilities Grant

  Estate Action

  Greater London Authority General Grant

  Greater London Authority Preparation Costs

  Housing Action Trusts

  Housing Investment Programme (HIP)

  Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

  Neighbourhood Renewal—Skills and Knowledge

  New Deal for Communities

  Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders

  Neighbourhood Wardens

  Street Wardens

  Street Crime Wardens

  European Regional Development Fund (Objective 2)

  Greater London Authority Transport Grant

  Sustainable Development Publicity Budget

  Community Champions

  Community Champions Pathfinders

  Connexions Grant Funding

  Connexions (Drugs Education)

  Positive Action for Young People

  Transforming Youth Work (Development Funding)

  Special Educational Needs/Disability Act

  Vocational and Work Related Learning

  Learning Partnership Networking

  London Development Agency Grants

  New and Renewable Sources of Energy

  European Structural Fund (ESF) Objective 2

  1351W

  European Structural Fund (ESF) Objective 3

  Anti Social Behaviour Fund

  Basic Command Unit Fund

  Building Safer Communities Fund

  Communication Funding

  Gun Crime

  Home Office Directors' Allocation Fund

  Neighbourhood Renewal Capacity Building Fund

  Drugs Team Strategic Grant

  Recovered Assets Fund

  Time Limited Development Fund

  Small Retailers in Deprived Areas

  Vehicle Crime

  Violence Against Women

  Housing (Yorkshire and Humberside)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the difference is between the housing capital allocation for local authorities in(a) Yorkshire and (b) Humberside for 2005–06 and 2004–05; what the basis is of the new allocations; what account they take of (i) the state of the stock, (ii) decent housing targets and (iii) repair backlogs; and how any money still to be allocated is to be made available. [149220]

  Yvette Cooper
  £76.110 million is being allocated to Yorkshire and the Humber local authorities for 2004–05 from the Single Regional Housing Pot, and £81.059 million for 2005–06. Resources for 2004–05 are fully allocated. £22.555 million remains to be allocated for 2005–06. Allocations made to date to authorities in(a) Yorkshire and (b) Humberside are as follows:

  £ million

  2004–05

  2005–06

  Yorkshire

  63.413

  48.896

  Humberside

  12.697

  9.608

  Allocations for both years comprise a formulaic element (fully allocated) plus the outcome of Regional Housing Board (RHB) commissioning of proposals for private sector renewal, low demand (in specified areas), and 'transformational proposals' (2005–06 only). Proposals for the remaining resources have been commissioned, and will be considered by the Board at meetings up to September 2004.

  Stock condition is an element in the indicator used for the formulaic element. Additionally, decent homes were taken into account through a Government Office survey of expenditure commitments.

  I will write to my hon. Friend with additional information.

  Liveability Fund
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the local authorities which have been successful in bidding for the Government's Liveability Fund; and what criteria were used to determine which authorities were successful. [148727]

  Yvette Cooper
  The 27 Liveability Fund pilots will be announced early next month.
  1352W
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's key selection criteria sought to secure a good regional balance (i.e. three pilots per region) and a cross-section of local authorities in terms of:
  urban, rural, suburban and coastal location; and
  levels of achievement in the Comprehensive Performance Assessments (where appropriate).

  It also sought to ensure a range of areas with very different levels of deprivation, but with a greater number of local authorities in deprived areas, reflecting the higher incidence of poor quality spaces there.

  Registered Social Landlords
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many tenants of registered social landlords there are(a) in England. (b) in each housing authority area and (c) in each region. [148732]

  Yvette Cooper
  As at 31 March 2003:

  (a) The estimated number of RSL tenancies in England was 1,684,500.

  (b) The estimated number of tenancies by Government Office Region were as shown in the following table:

  Government Office Region

  Total occupied RSL stock

  North East

  98,500

  North West

  294,300

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  116,000

  East Midlands

  94,900

  West Midlands

  213,700

  East

  154,300

  London

  303,300

  South East

  253,300

  South West

  156,200

  England

  1,684,500

  Note:

  Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.

  Source:

  Primarily the Housing Corporation's Regulatory and Statistical Return for 2003 but with minor adjustments to reflect two late transfers of stock within the local authority areas of North Hertfordshire and Forest of Dean.

  (c) The numbers for local authorities (housing authority areas) are available in the Library of the House.

HEALTH

  Operation Global Mercury
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what lessons have been learned from Operation Global Mercury; whether identified failings have been addressed; and if he will make a statement. [147539]

  Mr. Hutton
  The evaluation report and a summary are available on the Department of Health website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/exerciseglobalmercury/ index.htm, and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  Work is underway to implement all of the recommendations identified in the report.

  Ambulance Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the vacancy(a) rates and (b) numbers for NHS ambulance staff, broken down by grade, in (i) England and (ii) each ambulance service in each of the last six years; [147934]

  (2) how many ambulance staff have been employed in the NHS in (a) England and (b) each ambulance service for each of the last six years, broken down by grade. [147935]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number and rate of vacancies lasting three months or more in each year since 1999, the first year the data was collected centrally, and the number of ambulance staff employed in the national health service since 1996 has been placed in the Library.

  Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the guidelines given to NHS trusts in reporting cancelled operations, with particular reference to guidelines on the use of stand-by lists of patients who may be operated on that day if capacity allows; [146338]

  (2) what proportion of hours per week operating theatres were used on average in (a) England, (b) each strategic health authority and (c) each NHS trust, in the latest week for which figures are available; [146341]

  (3) what research his Department has commissioned on links between ward bed availability and cancellation of scheduled operation lists. [146342]

  Mr. Hutton
  Guidance on reporting last minute cancelled operations is made available to the national health service through the Department of Health NHS web. A copy has been placed in the Library. No national guidance exists on the use of stand-by lists. The operation of stand-by lists is a matter for individual NHS trusts in consultation with their commissioners.

  In addition, the Modernisation Agency's operating theatre and pre-operative assessment programme is supporting NHS trusts to implement good practice guidance on tackling cancelled operations and effective utilisation of operating theatres.

  The programme has published good practice such as the "Step Guide to Improving Operating Theatre Performance" published in June 2002 which sets out four key steps, or stages, to improving operating theatre performance and reducing cancelled operations. It contains diagnostic tools and common sense, practical solutions for trusts to increase theatre utilisation and improve patient care.

  Information on the usage of operating theatres is not collected centrally by the Department.

  As part of a larger project, the Department of Health commissioned York University to carry out some modelling of bed occupancy. Findings from the study were published in the BMJ: "Dynamics of bed use in accommodating emergency admissions: stochastic simulation model"—Adrian Bagust et at BMJ vol. 319, 17 July 1999, pages 155–158, a copy of which has also been placed in the Library.
  1354W
  Dr. Richard Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the rules relating to the time of cancellation for acute hospital trusts to record operations as cancelled for non-clinical reasons. [147189]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department of Health collects data on the number of operations cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons (i) at the last minute (that is, on the day patients are due to arrive, or after arrival in hospital, or on the day of their operation), and (ii) the number of patients not admitted within 28 days of a 'last minute' cancellation as part of the NHS Plan cancelled operations guarantee.

  The NHS Plan cancelled operations guarantee introduced in April 2002, states if a patient's operation is cancelled by the hospital on the day of surgery for non-clinical reasons, the hospital will have to offer another binding date within a maximum of the next 28 days, or fund the patient's treatment at the time and hospital of the patient's choice.

  Care Homes
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the proportion of elderly patients in care and residential homes who are(a) malnourished and (b) assessed as being at risk of becoming malnourished; [147313]

  (2) if he will introduce mandatory screening for malnutrition for people in care homes; and if he will make a statement. [147314]

  Dr. Ladyman
  According to the "National Diet and Nutrition Survey: people aged 65 years and over", published in 1998, 16 per cent. of men and 15 per cent. of women living in care homes were classified as underweight. The more recent Health Survey for England 2000 gave figures of 8 per cent. for men and 11 per cent. for women. In both cases, underweight was defined as a person with a body mass index of less than 20. We do not have figures estimating people at risk of becoming malnourished.

  We have no plans to introduce mandatory screening for malnutrition for people in care homes. A number of measures and strategies are in place to manage, monitor and screen people for under nutrition in care homes. Before going into a home every resident should have a detailed needs assessment. This includes nutrition and screening for malnutrition. The assessment should be revised at regular intervals. The home should draw up a care plan for each resident based on his or her needs assessment. The care plan should be reviewed at least once a month to monitor changes in the resident's needs.

  The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) regulates care homes in accordance with statutory regulations and national minimum standards to ensure they provide for the needs of their residents. The Care Homes Regulations require homes to provide adequate quantities of suitable, wholesome and nutritious food for service users; and to maintain records of the food provided for service users in sufficient detail to enable inspectors to determine whether the diet is satisfactory, in relation to nutrition and otherwise. Standard 19 of the national standards for care homes for older people sets out what care homes are expected to do to ensure

  1355W
  residents are properly fed. This includes giving people assistance with eating where necessary. The NCSC will take swift action where it has concerns about the welfare of residents.

  Dentistry
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change in full-time equivalents in post in the dental workforce as a result of early retirement was in each year since 1990. [147501]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The available information shown in the table from the NHS Pensions Agency is for the number of pensions awarded where a national health service pension has been claimed prior to the scheme's normal retirement age. These will include pensions paid on the grounds of ill health, premature retirements following redundancy and voluntary early retirement before age 60 (introduced from 6 March 1995). Since 1997, the number of dentists working in the NHS general dental service (GDS) in England has increased from 16,728 to 18,500, but dentists can vary the amount of dental work they do and the proportion carried out in the GDS.

  Early retirement of dentists

  Total dentist pension awards

  1997

  197

  1998

  179

  1999

  161

  2000

  152

  2001

  191

  2002

  173

  2003

  170

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS employees were expelled in each of the last five years. [148945]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Diagnostic and Treatment Centres
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which inspectorate (1)(a) has responsibility and (b) will have responsibility after 1 April for (i) registering and (ii) inspecting independent diagnostic and treatment centres; [148681]

  (2) how clinical governance in independent diagnostic and treatment centres will be (a) inspected and (b) audited. [148683]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: Currently, the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) has responsibility, under the Care Standards Act 2000, for registering and inspecting independent treatment centres in England against the National Minimum Standards and Regulations issued by the Secretary of State in February 2002.

  The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) also has powers, under the NHS Reform and Healthcare Professions Act 2002, to inspect the clinical governance arrangements of treatment centres providing healthcare for national health service bodies.
  1356W
  From 1 April 2004, responsibility for these functions will transfer from the NCSC and CHI to the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI, under the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003. CHAI will also publish an annual report to Parliament on the state of healthcare, which will include a section on what it has found as the registration authority of independent health care providers.

  E-auction
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what further plans he has for the use of e-auction as a method of purchasing clinically prescribed equipment in the NHS [R]; [149051]

  (2) what plans he has to regulate the use of e-auction by NHS bodies.[R] [149052]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: E-auctions have been used extensively in the private sector and have resulted in significant savings.

  The national health service Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) is conducting pilot e-auctions to establish if they will provide best value for money for the NHS and in which areas they are most effective.

  Five e-auctions had been carried out up to the end of December 2003, which had resulted in savings to the NHS of £16 million pounds. PASA will fully evaluate the results of these pilot exercises from March 2004, and make recommendations on the future use of e-auctions in the NHS.

  Hospital Beds (Lincolnshire)
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change in the number of beds available for NHS treatment in Pilgrim Hospital, Boston there has been in each year since 1995. [148476]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information on the average daily number of beds is collected annually from each national health service trust. Information is not collected for individual hospital sites.

  The number of available beds from 1995–96 to 1999–2000 for Pilgrim Health NHS Trust is shown in table 1. In April 2000, Pilgrim Health merged with two other NHS trusts to form United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Information on available beds for this trust is shown in table 2.

  Table 1: average daily number of available beds in wards open overnight, Pilgrim Health NHS Trust, 1995–96 to 1999–2000

  Year

  Total beds

  Change from previous year

  1995–96

  576

  —

  1996–97

  575

  -1

  1997–98

  587

  12

  1998–99

  564

  -23

  1999–2000

  586

  22

  Source:

  Department of Health form KH03.
  1357W

  Table 2: average daily number of available beds in wards open overnight. United Lincolnshire NHS Trust, 2000–01 to 2002–03

  Year

  Total beds

  Change from previous year

  2000–01

  1,560

  —

  2001–02

  1,575

  15

  2002–03

  1,556

  -19

  Source:

  Department of Health form KH03.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of the computer contract signed between his Department and BT; what the contract covers; what time period is covered by the contract; whether this technology will be available to help the roll-out of broadband in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [147917]

  Mr. Hutton
  Two separate contracts have been awarded to BT under the national programme for information technology in the national health service in England:1. to set up and run a core database or "spine" for the national care record service (NCRS), worth a total of £620 million. This will provide access to key summary information on a patient and their condition/treatment for healthcare professionals who are authorised and have a need to use it; and
  to provide local systems and services to integrate, access and use the NCRS in London. This includes providing IT support at a local level, delivering essential infrastructure and connection/ compatibility to existing systems in the NHS in the London cluster. This contract is worth a total of £996 million.

  Depending on the proof of solution, successful rollout and ongoing performance, both contracts will run until 2013.

  Qualified nursing staff and practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and Equivalents (UPEs)1 per 1,000 of the population—England

  Number (headcount)

  19922,4

  19932,4

  1994

  19953

  19963

  England

  Population

  47,996,067

  48,100,501

  48,222,889

  48,364,999

  48,496,224

  Practice nurses

  16,635

  17,517

  16,500

  18,243

  17,898

  Practice nurses per 1,000 of population

  0.35

  0.36

  0.34

  0.38

  0.37

  Qualified nursing staff5

  301,253

  293,379

  289,284

  298,650

  297,351

  Qualified nursing per 1,000 of population

  6.20

  6.10

  6.00

  6.17

  6.21

  of which:

  North West Government Office Region

  Population

  6,866,001

  6,867,220

  6,854,423

  6,840,280

  6,818,344

  Practice nurses

  2,175

  2,110

  1,862

  2,166

  2,226

  Practice nurses per 1,000 of population

  0.32

  0.31

  0.27

  0.32

  0.33

  Qualified nursing staff5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  46,895

  Qualified nursing per 1,000 of population

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6.88

  of which:

  Cheshire and Merseyside SHA

  Population

  2,394,912

  2,393,143

  2,387,016

  2,380,168

  2,372,525

  Practice nurses

  805

  713

  576

  713

  726

  Practice nurses per 1,000 of population

  0.34

  0.30

  0.24

  0.30

  0.31

  Qualified nursing staff5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15,166

  Qualified nursing per 1,000 of population

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6.39

  of which:

  St. Helens's and Knowsley HA

  Population

  333,706

  332,623

  331,630

  330,392

  329,915

  Practice nurses

  100

  95

  97

  104

  106

  Practice nurses per 1,000 of population

  0.30

  0.29

  0.29

  0.31

  0.32

  Qualified nursing staff5

  1,594

  1,578

  1,530

  1,561

  1,642

  Qualified nursing per 1,000 of population

  4.78

  4.72

  4.61

  4.72

  4.98

  1358W
  The contracts do not cover the provision of new national networking services and broadband capacity for the NHS. This is the subject of a separate procurement exercise and is expected to be concluded in the first quarter of 2004. The delivery of new systems across the NHS will be dependent upon network provision.

  Kidderminster Diagnostic and Treatment Centre
  Dr. Richard Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for the delay in opening the Kidderminster diagnostic and treatment centre; and whether the contractors are subject to penalty payments. [148698]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Kidderminster Treatment Centre has changed significantly from the project as it was originally envisaged. There has been extra investment in services and facilities, including an additional operating theatre.

  The contract was agreed on a fixed price basis, which has both protected the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals national health service trust from unexpected financial pressures, and removed the need to impose penalty payments on the contractors.

  Nurses
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the proportion of nurses per head of population was in(a) St. Helens, (b) Merseyside, (c) the North West and (d) England in each year since 1992. [147169]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  1359W

  1997

  19984

  19994

  2000

  2001

  2002

  England

  Population

  48,635,908

  48,789,240

  48,986,999

  49,166,627

  49,389,736

  49,558.821

  Practice nurses

  18,389

  18,894

  19,495

  19,200

  19,846

  20,983

  Practice nurses per 1,000 of population

  0.38

  0.39

  0.40

  0.39

  0.40

  0.42

  Qualified nursing staff5

  300,467

  304,563

  310,142

  316,752

  330,535

  346,537

  Qualified nursing per 1,000 of population

  6.18

  6.24

  6.33

  6.44

  6.69

  6.99

  of which:

  North West Government Office Region

  Population

  6,800,318

  6,793,833

  6,770,152

  6,769,483

  6,767,217

  6,770,981

  Practice nurses

  2,261

  2,335

  2,566

  2.411

  2,602

  2,616

  Practice nurses per 1,000 of population

  0.33

  0.34

  0.38

  0.36

  0.38

  0.39

  Qualified nursing staff5

  46,213

  46,901

  47,672

  48,395

  48,821

  53.373

  Qualified nursing per 1,000 of population

  6.80

  6.90

  7.04

  7.15

  7.21

  7.88

  of which:

  Cheshire and Merseyside SHA

  Population

  2,365,631

  2,361,200

  2,350,901

  2,349,300

  2,349,581

  2,347,088

  Practice nurses

  690

  682

  794

  782

  849

  905

  Practice nurses per 1,000 of population

  0.29

  0.29

  0.34

  0.33

  0.36

  0.39

  Qualified nursing staff5

  14,874

  15,319

  15,766

  16,473

  17,150

  19,091

  Qualified nursing per 1,000 of population

  6.29

  6.49

  6.71

  7.01

  7.30

  8.13

  of which:

  St. Helens's and Knowsley HA

  Population

  329,194

  328,976

  327,852

  327,592

  —

  —

  Practice nurses

  101

  115

  114

  110

  111

  —

  Practice nurses per 1,000 of population

  0.31

  0.35

  0.35

  0.34

  —

  —

  Qualified nursing staff5

  1,637

  1,607

  1,652

  1,682

  1,795

  —

  Qualified nursing per 1,000 of population

  4.97

  4.88

  5.04

  5.13

  —

  —

  1 UPEs includes GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried Gps.

  2 Figures for 1992 to 1994 may not be fully comparable with other data due to under-reporting of fundholding practice staff by FHSAs.

  3 Includes estimated data for Buckinghamshire.

  4 Headcount practice nurse figures are estimated for these years.

  5 Refers to qualified nursing staff in the hospital, public health and community health service sectors.

  Notes:

  1. Data as at 1 October 1992–99 and 30 September 2000–02.

  2. A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995. Information based on this classification is not directly comparable with earlier years.

  3.'—' Accurate comparable information is not available.

  Sources:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

  Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census

  2001 ONS Population Census

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 5 January 2004,Official Report, column 203W, on nurse recruitment, if he will list the countries from which his Department has received written representations regarding the recruitment of nurses; and if he will make a statement. [148050]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Government has nurse recruitment agreements with Spain, the Philippines, India and Indonesia. A memorandum of understanding has recently been signed with the Government of South Africa.

  The Chinese Government has recently written to the Department to ask for a meeting to discuss opportunities for nurse recruitment.

  Oxfordshire Primary Care Trusts
  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the proposal to amalgamate the South East Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust with the South West Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust. [148477]
  1360W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There is currently no proposal for a formal merger of the two primary care trusts (PCTs). The South East and South West Oxfordshire PCTs have been exploring ways of working more closely together in the delivery of services to their populations. This has included the appointment of a single chief executive and management structure, while retaining separate boards.

  Prescription Fraud
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average annual cost of prescription fraud has been in the last five years. [148834]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The National Health Service Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (NHS CFSMS) has an ongoing programme of highly accurate risk measurement exercises—accurate to plus or minus one per cent.—designed to reveal levels of losses and, through repeated exercises, reduction in such losses, where they take place.

  The latest available data on pharmaceutical patient fraud is shown in the table.
  1361W

  £ million

  Year data selected

  Fraud losses

  1998–99

  117

  1999–2000

  69

  Point of dispensing checks were introduced in all community pharmacies on 1 April 1999 to help deter this type of fraud. The check requires pharmacists to ask patients who are claiming free prescriptions to produce evidence to support their claim to exemption from prescription charges. Later data will be produced shortly.

  Private Contractors
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will ensure that private contractors in the NHS will not be able to recruit NHS staff indirectly through private agencies. [148462]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: New treatment centres run by the independent sector will be precluded as part of the contracts they sign from poaching National Health Service staff. The recruitment of NHS staff indirectly through private agencies would breach this contract.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the staff required by private contractors are expected to come from if they cannot be recruited from the NHS; and what proportion of recruitment is expected to be from abroad. [148463]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: The procurement of independent sector treatment centres (IS-TCs) is designed to contribute to a genuine increase in workforce capacity to treat national health service patients. This is why bidders have been asked to provide as many non-NHS staff as possible: primarily from overseas. In some circumstances, it will be appropriate for NHS staff to work in independent sector treatment centres but this will only be done under a structured arrangement that is agreed between the NHS and the ISTC provider. The number of professional staff Working in these new units and the proportion from overseas will be finalised during the stage of negotiations leading to contract close.

  Private Contractors (Netcare)
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether, over the long-term, Netcare will employ staff that would otherwise have been employed by the NHS. [148464]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: As part of its contract, Netcare is required to provide an additional workforce.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the change in the number of health professionals from South Africa working in the UK as a result of the award of contracts to run fast-track surgery centres to Netcare; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this change on the South African health service. [148465]
  1362W
  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: Clinical teams working in the independent sector treatment centres from abroad will work on a rotational basis. The exact amount of time spent in the United Kingdom will depend on the contractual agreements made between the provider and its staff. This programme will not recruit clinical staff from existing hospital facilities.

  The new memorandum of understanding between South Africa and this Government recognises the benefit for the South African health care system by offering South African and English healthcare professionals the chance to go on time-limited placements to the other country.

  Scrutiny Committees
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the maximum number of local government overview scrutiny committees is that a national service within the NHS could have to report to under the terms of the Health and Social Care Act 2001. [148811]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  If a National Health Service body is proposing a variation in or development to its services it must consult all the overview and scrutiny committees of those local authorities for which the proposal represents a substantial one.

  A NHS organisation which provides services to the whole country must first establish which of the 150 overview and scrutiny committees (those committees with the powers to scrutinise health services) believe the proposal is substantial for their populations. The NHS body involved need only consult those committees that specify that the proposal is substantial for their own populations. Those committees must form a joint committee to respond to that consultation; and that only joint committee may respond.

  Student Nurses
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of student nurses who enrolled for courses in(a) general nursing, (b) paediatric nursing, (c) midwifery and (d) psychiatric nursing successfully completed their course in each year since 1973. [148647]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information for England on the percentage of pre-registration student nurses who have completed their course is shown in the following table. Data is not held before the 1994–95 financial year and has not been collected since October 2001. It is therefore only accurate for cohorts up to 1997–98, most students on subsequent cohorts had not completed courses by October 2001.

  Pre-registration student nurses who have completed their course Percentage

  Percentage

  Year of cohort

  Midwifery

  Adult

  Mental health

  Learning disability

  Child

  1994–95

  75.27

  78.18

  76.51

  70.73

  77.43

  1995–96

  78.13

  76.67

  74.14

  72.67

  74.31

  1996–97

  73.48

  75.32

  73.05

  67.59

  74.29

  1997–98

  74.33

  72.27

  70.31

  65.28

  70.42

  Note:

  This data is based on a snapshot in time of a particular cohort(s) and therefore each year there will still be students who have yet to complete their course.
  1363W
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the drop-out rate was in England for student nurses studying(a) general nursing, (b) paediatric nursing, (c) midwifery and (d) psychiatric nursing in each year since 1973. [148648]

  Mr. Hutton
  Most recent information for England on the percentage of pre-registration student nurses who have left their course is shown in the table. Data is not held before the 1994–95 financial year.

  Pre-registration student nurses who have left their course

  Percentage

  Midwifery

  Adult

  Mental health

  Learning disability

  Child

  1994–95

  22.08

  18.87

  19.91

  25.64

  19.66

  1995–96

  17.43

  17.75

  20.56

  20.29

  19.46

  1996–97

  21.84

  18.91

  19.58

  24.44

  20.05

  1997–98

  18.23

  18.82

  20.05

  21.67

  21.95

  1998–99

  17.17

  17.61

  16.18

  19.74

  16.99

  1999–2000

  14.59

  12.45

  12.63

  14.6

  15.86

  2000–01

  6.7

  5.98

  6.47

  6.48

  6.75

  1364W
  Note:

  This data is based on a snapshot in time of a particular cohort(s) and therefore each year there will still be students who have yet to complete their course. The last data collection was October 2001 so the attrition rate for the later cohorts is incomplete.

  Worcestershire Royal Infirmary
  Dr. Richard Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much the unitary fee for the Worcestershire Royal Infirmary increases each year; and whether this annual increase was specified in the contract. [148699]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The annual uplift in the unitary fee for Worcestershire Royal Infirmary is specified in the contract.

  The unitary fee is uplifted by the General Index of Retail Prices (RPI) each year, unless the Whitley council pay increase for ancillary staff exceeds this level. In this case, the uplift for pay on the soft service element of the contract (eg., catering and domestic services, etc.) is as per the Whitley council agreement and the non staff costs associated with these soft services is uplifted at RPI less 1 per cent.

  Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986: Project Licence Applications
  Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986: Project Licence Applications
  Asylum Reform
  Asylum Reform
  Charities
  Charities
  Transpennine Rail Services: Blackpool-Scarborough
  Transpennine Rail Services: Blackpool-Scarborough
  Pension Credit
  Pension Credit
  Company Law Reform
  Company Law Reform
  Equal Pay Act 1970
  Equal Pay Act 1970
  Patent Infringements
  Patent Infringements