Written Answers of 30 January 2004

TRANSPORT

  Birmingham Airport
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to visit Birmingham airport on official business. [151062]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Secretary of State has no plans to visit Birmingham airport in the near future. Ministers regularly visit all parts of the country, including the West Midlands and I visited Birmingham airport last summer.

  East Midlands Airport
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the Chief Executive of East Midlands airport. [151059]

  Mr. McNulty
  Within the last six months, Ministers have met the Chief Executive of East Midlands airport and the Chief Executive of the Manchester Airports Group (which owns East Midlands airport).

  EU Quick Start Programme
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the UK is taking to comply with EU Quick Start programme objectives in transport projects. [151497]

  Dr. Howells
  The EU Quick Start programme comprises key projects, within existing Community programmes, that meet a set of criteria including readiness to start by end 2006 and impact on economic growth. There are two UK transport projects included in the programme. We are reviewing whether there are others that meet the criteria for inclusion.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cost savings have been made in his Department since the introduction of the Information Technology Procurement Centre of Excellence; and how these were calculated. [151045]

  Mr. McNulty
  A Centre of Excellence was established within the Department for Transport in June 2003 to integrate the essential functions which underpin the successful delivery of all types of acquisition-based programmes and projects. As cost benefits will not accrue until improvements start to take effect, it is too early to measure cost savings. All Centres of Excellence are currently developing future plans and as part of this process measurement of savings will be defined.

  Ministerial Travel
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last travelled on the London Underground on official business. [151061]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Secretary of State regularly travels by all modes of public transport. My right hon. Friend last travelled on London Underground in November.

  Railway Platforms
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the, Secretary of State for Transport what plans Network Rail has to lengthen platforms at London commuter stations. [151484]

  Dr. Howells
  Platform extensions are under way at Hollingbourne, Harrietsham and Charing, and extensions are planned at Braintree, Braintree Freeport, Cressing, White Notley, Harrow and Wealdstone, Bushey, Kings Langley, Apsley, Kernel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring, Cheddington, Bletchley, Billingshurst, Portslade, West Norwood, Hampden Park, Lewes, Farnham, Virginia Water, Basingstoke, Ascot, Farncombe, Milford, Witley, Liphook, Liss, Petersfield, Bentley, Brockenhurst, Camberley, Princes Risborough, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, High Wycombe, West Ruislip, South Ruislip, Wembley Stadium and Denham.

  Railways
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many temporary speed restrictions are in force on Network Rail track. [151481]

  Dr. Howells
  Network Rail advises that there are currently 548 temporary speed restrictions on the railway network. This compares to a peak of approximately 1,200 speed restrictions in February 2001.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much public capital is allocated to the expansion of railway network capacity in the 10 Year Plan. [151483]

  Dr. Howells
  The latest allocations of public spending in the 10 Year Plan are set out in "Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report", which was published in December 2002. The total amount of public expenditure allocated for railways is £33 billion. This is broken down as follows:

  Amount (£ billion rounded)

  2001–02

  2.1

  2002–03

  2.8

  2003–04

  3.8

  2004–05

  3.8

  2005–06

  4.3

  2006–07

  4.2

  2007–08

  3.6

  2008–09

  2.9

  2009–10

  2.7

  2010–11

  2.8

  10 Year Plan total

  33

  Road Deaths
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths have occurred on(a)the

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  A316 between the end of the M3 and the first roundabout and (b) the M4 between junctions 4 and 1 in the last three years. [151487]

  Dr. Howells
  There has been one fatal accident on the M4 between junction 4 and junction 1 in the three years from September 2000 to August 2003. This occurred on the westbound carriageway near junction 3.

  There were no fatal accidents on the A316 between the M3 at Sunbury Cross and the first roundabout, at its junction with the A312, in the same period.

  Rural Bus Challenge
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used to determine which Rural Bus Challenge grants are awarded. [152122]

  Mr. McNulty
  The main objective of the Rural Bus Challenge is to encourage cost-effective innovation in the provision or promotion by local authorities of rural bus transport. The full criteria used in assessing bids to the 2003 competition are set out in guidance to local

  Year in which public inquiry started

  Title of Transport and Works Act 1992 application/order

  Period from end of inquiry to receipt of inspector's report (weeks)

  Period from receipt of inspector's report to decision (weeks)

  2003

  Proposed London Gateway Logistics and Commercial Centre Order

  Inspector's report awaited

  —

  2003

  Proposed Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre Extension, etc.) Order

  Inspector's report awaited

  —

  2003

  Proposed Docklands Light Railway (Woolwich Arsenal Extension) Order

  11

  Under consideration

  2003

  Proposed River Tyne (Tunnels) Order

  23

  Under consideration

  2002

  Proposed Greater Manchester (Leigh Busway) Order

  22

  Under consideration

  2002

  Proposed Network Rail (West Coast Main Line) (No. 2) Order

  26

  Under consideration

  2001

  The Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Trafford Depot) Order

  9

  30

  2001

  Proposed Yorkshire Marina (Bridlington) (Works) Order

  20

  23

  2001

  Proposed Fawley Branch Line Improvements Order

  40

  Under consideration

  2001

  The Network Rail (West Coast Main Line) Order

  30

  38

  2000

  The Railtrack (Shortlands Junction) Order

  10

  16

  2000

  The London Underground (East London Line Extension) (No. 2) Order

  5

  43

  2000

  The Docklands Light Railway (Silvertown and London City Airport Extension) Order

  17

  53

  2000

  The Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Land Acquisition) Order

  5

  21

  2000

  The Alconbury Airfield (Rail Facilities and Connection to East Coast Main Line) Order

  76

  35

  2000

  The Chester Guided Busway Order

  15

  33

  2000

  Proposed London International Freight Exchange and Proposed London International Freight Exchange (Variation) Orders—joint inquiry

  27

  15

  1999

  The South Hampshire Rapid Transit Order

  13

  51

  1999

  The Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Trafford Park) Order

  11

  51

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff there are in his Department's Transport and Works Act processing unit, broken down by grade; and how many are(a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) casual workers. [149988]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department's Transport and Works Act Orders Unit currently consists of 13 members of staff. The following table breaks down the Unit's staff into the categories requested.
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  authorities issued in July 2003, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House and on the Department's website.

  Transport and Works Act
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public inquiries into applications made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 held in each of the last five years; how soon after the inquiry the inspector made his report to him in each case; and how long it took him to reach a decision in each case. [149986]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The following table shows the information requested in respect of applications made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA), with the exception of a few applications that will fall to be decided by the First Secretary of State, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry or the National Assembly for Wales. The variable periods for reaching a decision can partly be attributed to differences in the complexity of the cases. But in many cases this has been for reasons outside our control, such as the need to obtain more information from an applicant or the inspector, or the need for a related consent from another Department.

  Grade

  Number of staff at grade

  Work pattern

  Grade 7(PB6.1)

  1

  Full-time

  Senior Executive Officer (PB5.1)

  2

  Full-time

  Higher Executive Officer (PB4.3)

  4

  3 x full-time and 1 x part-time

  Executive Officer PB3.2

  4

  Full-time

  Administrative Officer PB2.1

  2

  Full-time

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  The Unit will shortly reduce to 12 members of staff, upon the reallocation of one Administrative Officer to other departmental duties.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Animal Pathogens
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the relationship is between risk of spread of animal pathogens from a laboratory and the infectivity of the organism; and which pathogens are classified as group 2. [150896]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The risk of a particular organism escaping from a laboratory is not directly affected by its infectivity. Defra classifies animal pathogens in different groups for containment purposes, according to the risk they pose to the health of farmed livestock and poultry. The assessment of risk takes account of a number of factors, including the infectivity of the pathogen and the nature and seriousness of the disease it causes. The higher the level of risk posed by an animal pathogen, the higher the level of laboratory containment required for its safe handling. The following animal pathogens are currently classified as Defra group 2 pathogens:

  Anaplasma spp.

  Aujeszsky's disease virus

  Avian paramyxoviruses other than paramyxovirus 1 (PMV1) group

  Babesia bigemina

  Babesia bovis

  Babesia caballi

  Babesia equi

  Borna disease virus

  Bovine leukosis virus

  Bovine malignant catarrh virus (African type)

  Chlamydia psittaci

  Cowdria ruminatum

  Derzsky's disease virus (goose parvovirus)

  Echinococcus multilocularis

  Echinococcus granulosis

  Equine viral arteritis

  Getah virus

  Hypoderma bovis

  Hypoderma lineatum

  Maedi-visna virus

  Mycobacterium bovis

  Mycobacterium tuberculosis

  Mycobacterium africanus

  Mycobacterium kansasii

  Mycobacterium leprae

  Mycoplasma agalactiae

  Mycoplasma capricolum sub species capripneumoniae

  Mycoplasma mycoides var capri

  Newcastle disease virus—Hitchener B1 and F strains only

  Porcine influenza viruses

  Pox viruses—camel

  Psoroptes communis var. ovis

  Theileria spp.

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  Trichinella spiralis

  Trypanosoma spp

  Viral haemorrhagic disease of rabbits virus

  Any other non-enzootic animal pathogen not listed in Defra groups 3 and 4

  Animal Quarantine
  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the period of notice provided to owners of facilities licensed to quarantine animals entering the UK before inspections are carried out is; [150790]

  (2) what the minimum number per year is of inspections of facilities licensed to quarantine animals entering the UK; [150793]

  (3) how many inspections of facilities licensed to quarantine animals entering the UK were carried out in each of the last five years. [150794]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Under Article 9 of the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Order 1974, which covers Great Britain, quarantine premises are required to be authorised by a licence issued by a Defra Minister.

  In order to maintain their authorised status, quarantine premises for companion animals are required to be inspected by the State Veterinary Service. If the inspections are satisfactory, the premises are issued with an authorisation licence by Defra. The target for inspections is quarterly visits, that is four visits annually, two of which are pre-notified and two which are unannounced. Pre-notified visits are usually arranged two to four weeks in advance. There are normally, at least, three visits a year to authorised premises, and for some, there may be more than four annually.

  In addition to these, when a complaint is received from the public, an unannounced visit is made to investigate the complaint.

  Detailed records of inspections are kept for individual authorised quarantine premises, but are not collated centrally.

  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what types of diseases were detected in domestic animals in quarantine after entering the UK in each of the last five years. [150795]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Quarantine rules relate only to controls to prevent the introduction of rabies into this country and do not require the reporting of other diseases.

  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to reform the quarantine requirements for domestic animals entering the UK. [150796]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Following the report in September 1998 by the Advisory Group on Quarantine (the Kennedy Report), "Quarantine and Rabies: A Reappraisal", the Government undertook a radical reform of the UK quarantine regulations. On 28 February 2000, the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) was introduced, which allows cats and dogs from specified
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  countries, and which comply with certain conditions, to enter the UK without going into quarantine. The Scheme has now been operating successfully for four years. We have no plans for any further major changes to quarantine law.

  However, between December 2000 and March 2001, MAFF undertook a consultation exercise on proposals for legislation to update the law governing quarantine premises. Agreement of new EU rules on the movement of pet animals will also require some changes to the national quarantine legislation. We therefore expect to review the detailed rules on quarantine during 2004.

  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many facilities are licensed to quarantine animals in the UK; and where they are located. [150797]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Department is responsible for authorising quarantine premises for dogs, cats and all other rabies susceptible animals. These include zoos, research establishments and quarantine kennels and catteries. There are currently 40 authorised quarantine premises for dogs, cats and pet mammals in Great Britain; 36 are in England, one in Wales and three in Scotland. A list of these quarantine premises is freely available on the Defra website.

  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost was of keeping an animal in quarantine after entry to the UK in the last year. [150798]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Quarantine premises set charges according to the facilities provided and it is a matter of contractual arrangement between the pet owner and the quarantine premises.

  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) cats and (b) dogs have died while being kept in quarantine after entering the UK in each of the last five years. [150799]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The table shows the number of cats and dogs notified that died in quarantine in the last five years. It is a requirement on quarantine premises to notify all deaths in quarantine to Defra.

  Number of cats died in quarantine

  Number of dogs died in quarantine

  Total number of deaths in quarantine

  1999

  54

  25

  79

  2000

  35

  30

  65

  2001

  16

  24

  40

  2002

  29

  27

  56

  2003

  22

  11

  33

  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the last recorded case was of a domestic animal showing signs of rabies while kept in quarantine after entering the UK. [150800]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The last recorded case of a domestic animal showing clinical signs of rabies while in quarantine in the UK was in September 1990. This diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by laboratory tests.

  Badgers
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has collated on the estimated badger population of mainland continental Europe. [150897]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The most recent assessment of the status of the badger (Meles meles) in Europe was published in 19971.

  The quality of information available from each country varied considerably and as a result it was not possible to accurately estimate the Continent's total badger population. In an earlier publication2, the same authors estimated that the European badger population was at least 1,220,000. At that time the British population was thought to be 250,000, which is approximately 20 per cent. of all European badgers.

  1 Source:

  The conservation and management of the European badger (Meles meles) (1997). Nature and Environment No. 90; by H. I. Griffiths and D. H. Thomas; Council of Europe Publishing (ISBN: 92–871–3447–2).

  2 Source:

  The status of the badger Meles meles (L.,1758) (Carnivora, Mustelidae) in Europe (1993) by H. I. Griffiths and D. H. Thomas; Mammal Review; 23, 17–58.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account is taken of routine sightings of badgers during daylight hours in calculating population size and density. [150945]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Routine, or incidental, sightings are rarely suitable for estimating animal abundance, although such sightings can be useful for establishing the presence of a species in a locality—especially in the case of rare animals.

  Badger sightings have been used to estimate densities, but only as part of planned surveys following a scientifically robust methodology (Heydon, M. J., Reynolds, J. C. and Short, M. J. (2000); Journal of Zoology; 251, 253–264). Furthermore, sighting-based surveys of badgers are carried out at night rather than during daylight hours, as this is when badgers are most likely to be observed above ground.

  By far the most widely used method for estimating badger density is based on signs rather than sightings of badgers. During the national surveys carried out during the 1980s and 1990s badger numbers were extrapolated from the density of setts (taking account of their size and level of activity) and the average size of badger social groups.

  Full details of the sett surveying methodology used in the last national badger survey are given in: "Changes in the British badger population, 1988 to 1997" by G. Wilson, S. Harris and G. McLaren (1997), published by the People's Trust for Endangered Species.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the expected date is of completion of the project designed to assess the impact of removing badgers from the ecosystem; what the budgeted cost of the project is; from which institution the project is being managed; and who the lead scientist is. [150474]
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  Mr. Bradshaw
  The expected date for completion of the project is the end of March 2005. The budgeted overall cost of the project is £1.48 million. The project is being managed by the head of the team at the Woodchester Park site of the Central Science Laboratory.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will seek from the European Commission permission to compensate farmers who have suffered consequential losses as a result of the suspension of badger culling in reactive areas in the randomised badger culling trials. [150496]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I do not plan to seek permission from the European Commission to pay compensation for consequential losses due the cessation of culling in reactive areas of the randomised badger culling trial. The decision to suspend the reactive culling element of the trial was taken because the preliminary results indicated that this action would reduce the risk of TB breakdowns.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will conduct investigations into whether perturbation in badger populations can be eliminated or substantially reduced by improved culling programme design and execution. [150499]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Defra has funded research into perturbation of badger populations subject to culling. The results of the most recent work are yet to be published.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish data on the prevalence of TB in badgers in areas of high incidence in cattle herds. [150500]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Details of the incidence of TB in badgers captured during operations of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial will be published once the trial is finished, which is scheduled to be mid-2006.

  These data will give an indication of the prevalence of TB in the badger population in trial areas; one of the criteria for the selection of these areas was that there was a high level of incidence of TB in cattle herds.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs based on the findings from post mortem examinations of badgers and other data, what her best estimate is of the number of TB-infected badgers existing in England and Wales; and what the best estimate was for that figure in 1994. [150507]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  It is not possible to give an accurate figure for the number of TB-infected badgers existing in England and Wales because of the difficulty of estimating the size of the badger population and the reliability of the prevalence data available.

  The prevalence of TB in MAFF-taken badgers collected in England and Wales each year from 1975 to 1996 is given in Appendix 10 of the Krebs Report (PB 3423).
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  The prevalence of TB in Road Traffic Accident badgers collected in England and Wales each year from 1972 to 1996 is given in Appendix 11 of the Krebs Report (PB 3423).

  A copy of the Krebs Report is available in the Library of the House.

  Data on the incidence of TB in badgers collected under the present Road Traffic Accident survey and the Randomised Badger Culling Trial should yield more accurate information, but these data will remain confidential until the trial is finished, which is scheduled to be mid-2006.

  Mr. Owen Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what level of TB in badgers is sufficient for the disease to be considered as epidemic in the population; and how in this context the term endemic differs from the term epidemic. [150508]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Bovine TB is endemic in badgers in the UK; i.e. it is constantly present in badgers within this geographical area. An epidemic occurs where the occurrence of an infection increases clearly beyond normal expectancy. There is currently no evidence to suggest that levels of bovine TB in badgers have increased substantially in recent years.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors increase the susceptibility of(a) badgers and (b) cattle to disease following exposure to M. bovis bacilli. [150513]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Factors that increase the susceptibility of cattle to disease following exposure to M. bovis include general health, nutritional status and immunological capability. It is likely that similar factors are important in determining the susceptibility of badgers although no studies have been carried out on this particular subject.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many badger setts that have been sticked have subsequently been found to have been recolonised; and what action is taken in the event that such recolonisation is observed. [150544]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Sticking of a Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) sett is a method used to indicate whether the sett is in active use. The team carrying out the post-cull survey will note the sign and use this information to inform their report. It may be difficult to identify whether a sett has been recolonised or whether there are badgers remaining from the original colony which were not captured during the trapping operation.

  RBCT design requires culling operations to be repeated annually in Proactive areas to maintain badger numbers as low as possible. During such operations, traps are placed on active setts on premises consenting to culling and additionally at locations indicating the movement of badgers from any adjoining non-consent land.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Oxford University research on badger perturbation being carried out on behalf of her Department to be
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  completed; when the report will be made available; who the lead scientist is; what the protocols are for this work; and what the budgeted cost is. [150546]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  It is expected that the Oxford University research on badger perturbation being carried out on behalf of the Department will be completed at the end of March 2004. It is likely that the final report will be available later this year. It is managed by a member of the university's Zoology Department. The project's protocol investigates whether the spatial and temporal scale of the perturbation processes, the pattern and speed of recolonisation and the relief of density-dependent inhibitions on reproduction and survival observed in the study area may be generalised. The budgeted overall cost for the project is £1.25 million.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what statutory measures exist for the licensing and authorisation of badger translocations; under what conditions licences or authorisations are issued; which Department is responsible for implementing their provisions; and what the nature and level of supervisions are over persons licensed or otherwise authorised to carry out translocations. [150581]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 6 January 2004,Official Report, column 249W, and 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 1186W.

  The specific conditions imposed on any licence are tailored to the particular circumstances of the operation to be undertaken.

  Licences are issued by the appropriate statutory conservation agency or agricultural department (English Nature and Defra, respectively, in England) depending on the purpose of the proposed translocation. The licensing body is responsible for specifying the conditions and licensee is responsible for complying with them.

  All licensed translocations are closely supervised by the issuing authority and by wildlife advisers with experience in licensed badger operations from the Department's National Wildlife Management Team.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, columns 214–15W, on bovine TB, and 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 631W. on badgers, what plans she has to revise guidelines to farmers on the height, positioning and protection of feed and water troughs following the findings of the Central Veterinary Laboratory on the climbing capabilities of badgers. [150594]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Recent research has demonstrated that in some circumstances badgers are capable of reaching cattle feed troughs set at least 80 cm above the ground.

  There are no plans to change the existing height guidelines, as trough heights must be set so that the cattle intended to feed from them can still reach the contents. However, investigation into trough design to deter access by badgers is being carried out.
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  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether persons wishing or authorised to undertake the relocation of badgers are required(a) to carry out tests on those animals and (b) to await the results of any such tests before setting them free in their new locations. [150609]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 January 2004,Official Report, column 1186W. To briefly reiterate, all badgers relocated under the authority of a licence are tested three times for bovine tuberculosis and are only released if all three tests are negative. A similar approach is also applied to the relocation of rehabilitated badgers by animal hospitals, only in this case testing guidelines are not mandatory, but are set down in a voluntary code of practice.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the conclusions were of Professor Solly Zuckerman's 1988 report to the Ministry of Agriculture; and what his recommendations were for future strategy to protect(a) badgers and (b) cattle. [150713]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  A copy of Professor Zuckerman's 1980 report, in which he describes in detail his conclusions and recommendations, is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the effects of the use of more discrete methods of badger culling on culling results. [150893]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  It is not possible to draw an accurate comparison between different methods of culling badgers because there are no reliable methods of estimating badger populations either before or after culling.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage cull of badgers was originally proposed for the Krebs trials; how the culling was to be achieved; and in what ways the protocol was amended in the final version. [150895]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Krebs report advised that in reactive areas all badgers, including lactating sows, should be removed from all social groups with territories including the breakdown farm. In the proactive areas there should be total removal of complete badger social groups from localised areas at high risk of breakdown, before herd breakdowns occurred. It also recommended that the use of stop-snaring should be explored as an alternative to trapping, and that an expert group should be established to oversee the detailed experimental design and operation of the trial.

  The group which was established, the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, considered the possible use of snaring. It decided against this method of capture in favour of cage trapping and recorded the rationale for doing so in its first report (PB3881). That report also records its reasons for introducing a closed season for three months each year, when no trapping takes place.
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  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any behavioural patterns have been observed in badgers showing signs of TB which predispose them to closer contact with cattle. [150944]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Central Science Laboratory has just finished a research project at Woodchester Park to investigate the behavioural consequences of bovine TB infection in badgers. The findings of this study will be published in the scientific press shortly.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her Answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, column 218W on bovine TB, how many countries use the current skin sensitivity test as the primary diagnostic tool for bovine TB; and how many have reported problems with this test. [150492]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There are a number of different types of skin test in use around the world. We do not hold comprehensive information on the number of countries using each of these tests nor the way in which these tests are interpreted.

  All countries that have either eradicated, or have a programme to control, bovine tuberculosis use one or more forms of the skin test. The Government have close links with a number of countries in various stages of eradication and exchanges information and experiences on the use of the tests in the context of these programmes.

  The Government are not aware of any country that has replaced the skin test as the primary test for bovine tuberculosis.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is possible to determine the relative culpability of an owner of a herd in which a TB breakdown is recorded as to why animals become infected. [150502]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In some cases, a TB breakdown may be attributable to a specific event, for example the purchase of an infected animal. In many cases, despite a veterinary investigation, it is not possible to determine the source of the infection with certainty. Defra does not attempt to determine relative culpability but has encouraged all farmers to take sensible precautions to reduce the risk to their cattle through the issue of the yellow "Better biosecurity" card and various booklets which contain guidance on disease prevention and control measures.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many deer have been subject to post mortem examinations by her Department for the presence of TB during the least five years; and how many were found to be infected; [150514]

  (2) what historical data are held by her Department on the prevalence of bovine TB in the British deer population; and what those data indicate as to the incidence of bovine TB in that population; [150516]
  542W
  (3) what her estimate is of the population of wild deer in England and Wales; what the estimated prevalence is of bovine TB in that population; and what concentrations there are of the disease in the wild population. [150515]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No statutory body routinely collects information on overall wild deer numbers in England and Wales. Stephen Harris et al. (1995) estimated the pre-breeding population sizes for deer in Great Britain (Table 1).

  Table 1: Population of wild deer in England and Wales (estimated)

  Species

  England

  Wales

  Red deer

  12,500

  <50

  Fallow deer

  95,000

  <1,000

  Roe deer

  150,000

  50

  Sika deer

  2,500

  0

  Muntjac deer

  40,000

  <250

  Chinese water deer

  650

  0

  Total

  300,650

  <1,350

  Source:

  Harris, S., Morris P., Wray S. and Yalden D. 1995. "A Review of British Mammals: Population Estimates and Conservation Status of British Mammals Other than Cetaceans". JNCC, Peterborough.

  Table 2 shows the number of wild and farmed deer carcases, investigated for TB between 1992 and 2002 and the number of samples where Mycobacteriutn bovis (M. bovis) was found following bacteriological culture.

  Table 2: Deer samples tested for bovine TB

  Total number of deer tissue submissions investigated by Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA)

  Number of confirmed TB cases in wild deer

  Number of confirmed TB cases farmed/park deer

  Total number of deer confirmed with TB

  1992

  50

  0

  1

  1

  1993

  33

  1

  0

  1

  1994

  21

  1

  0

  1

  1995

  1—

  3

  0

  3

  1996

  217

  11

  0

  11

  1997

  11

  3

  0

  3

  1998

  37

  6

  1

  7

  1999

  49

  7

  3

  10

  2000

  39

  3

  6

  9

  2001

  28

  0

  1

  1

  2002

  54

  3

  10

  13

  1 Data not available.

  2 Most accurate data currently available.

  Defra has funded a survey of wildlife in the south-west of England by the Central Science Laboratory. The first phase established whether Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis—the causative organism for bovine tuberculosis) was present in a number of wild mammal species, including deer. M. bovis has been confirmed in five of the six established wild and feral species of deer in GB. The second phase of the survey (due to end March 2004) is to estimate prevalence of M. bovis in those species where it is found, by carrying out a more targeted and extensive sampling.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) pursuant to her Answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, column 218W, on bovine TB, whether the occasions of severe interference in the operational Krebs triplets areas represented a significant interference; whether that level of interference affected the conduct and outcome of

  543W
  the trials; and what the effects were of that interference in terms of (a) the outcomes and (b) the costs involved; [150565]

  (2) how many farms were affected during the Krebs trials by a partial clearance of the badger population which was subsequently stopped; how many partial clearances were undertaken after a delayed start; and how the incomplete clearances affected (a) the conduct of the trials and (b) their outcome. [150575]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There has been a level of illegal activity and interference with the operation of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial which is certainly undesirable and could be considered significant. The cost of replacing stolen, lost and damaged traps is estimated to be approximately £400,000. Other costs relate chiefly to the loss of staff time, which cannot be provided at proportionate cost.

  At the time of cessation of the reactive strategy one premises was in the process of being trapped and the operation was concluded with only half the number of trapping nights completed. A number of other operations have been stopped early for a variety of reasons, for example bad weather or activity by animal activists. If an operation is not able to start as scheduled, it is extended to ensure that the standard period of two weeks' trapping is maintained.

  Standard Operating Procedures take account of the possibility of interruption to trapping operations. Although interference varied across trial areas, the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB found that the increase in the incidence of TB in reactive culling areas when compared with control (no culling) areas was consistent across all triplets.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the percentage increase was in the number of TB reactor herds reported in 2003 compared with 2002; and what factors are believed to be responsible for this increase. [150576]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In 2003, up to the end of November, there had been 2,880 new cattle herd TB incidents in Great Britain. In the same period in 2002, there were 3,035 new TB herd incidents reported.

  It is difficult to draw comparison between 2002 and 2003, because the testing effort in 2002 was very much increased to clear the backlog of testing after the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many herds required 60-day tuberculosis tests in 1988. [150586]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In 1988, 351 herds required short-interval ('60-day') tests.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated infective dose is of TB bacilli (var bovis) in respect of cattle, by reference to infection portals; what the peak load is of bacilli that can be excreted in the urine of infected badgers; and what the predicted die-off rate is of the TB bacilli on grassland. [150591]
  544W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  Determination of the minimum infectious dose of Mycobacterium bovis in cattle is part of the TB pathogenesis research programme. Early indications are that the minimum infectious dose for cattle via the respiratory tract is relatively small; the lowest infectious dose recorded so far is 70 colony forming units CFU, when introduced by the intracheal route or 9,600 CPU by the intranasal route.

  Relatively high levels of M. bovis in the urine of badgers with renal TB have been identified by culture methods, so far bacterial loads of up to 300,000 colony forming units per millilitre of urine have been measured.

  It is known that the survival of M. bovis on pasture is widely variable depending on climate and pasture type. In hot dry weather survival may be a day or less whereas in cool damp weather M. bovis may survive for several months and in some circumstances in excess of six months.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 8 December 2003,Official Report, column 216W, on bovine TB, what other rapid assay techniques are (a) available and (b) in the course of development which have the potential to speed up the detection of M. bovis in suspected TB lesions submitted for laboratory analysis. [150597]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Several liquid culture methods are commercially available for the isolation of bacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from clinical samples. These methods are mainly used in medical laboratories for the diagnosis of TB in humans. Although the liquid culture media can significantly shorten culture times, they have not been optimised for isolation of M. bovis. The growth requirements of M. bovis and M. tuberculosis are slightly different and culture media that work for one mycobacterium may not work so well for the other.

  The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) is evaluating the M. bovis recovery rates and ease of use of two of these liquid culture media compared with the traditional method used for cattle and badger tissues. Preliminary findings suggest that one of these systems might be adequate for rapid isolation of M. bovis from badger tissues. Additional experiments are under way to validate these findings and see if they can be extrapolated to cattle samples.

  The VLA is also collaborating with the Imperial College in the design and optimisation of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of M. bovis DMA in suspect TB lesions.

  Although this is a priority area of research for Defra, it is unlikely that any of the new laboratory tests being evaluated can totally replace the traditional culture technique.

  Carcase Burial Pits
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what costs were incurred by her Department and its predecessor in relation to the proposed carcase burial pits at Ash Moor in Devon, broken down by(a) costs in relation to the acquisition of rights of way, (b) costs of construction

  545W
  including materials and off-site works, (c) security costs, (d) costs of restoration, including off-site works, (e) legal and professional fees and costs and (f) consultants' fees and costs. [151086]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 26 January 2004]: The site was declared closed by Defra in late 2001. Costs incurred prior to 12/2001 relate to site construction, costs after 12/2001 relate to site management and restoration.

  £

  Up to end 11/2001

  From 12/2001

  Purchase of site (inc Acquire rights of way)

  300,000

  Nil

  Cost of Construction

  5,686,000

  965,350

  Security (inc fence maintenance)

  395,000

  215,000

  Legal fees (estimated)

  100,000

  70,000

  Consultant fees and costs

  203,000

  1603,950

  Notes:

  1 Figure quoted includes site management changes

  Environmental Protection
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department has spent in each of the past three years on training for environmental health officers under the Contaminated Land Regime, Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and if she will make statement. [150612]

  Mr. Morley
  With grant-in-aid from the Department, the Environment Agency enables training in procedural and technical aspects of the regime to include places for both local authority and Agency staff, in a joint approach. The latter often make up 75 per cent. or more of those attending.

  The Agency spent around £180,000 on developing such training in 2003–04, and an estimated £120,000 to £150,000 per annum in earlier years. They work closely with the National Society for Clean Air, and the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health who also provide training for local authority staff. The Agency has made materials available for use by other training providers.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial and practical assistance her Department has given to environmental health officers since the Contaminated Land Regime, Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 came into force; and if she will make a statement. [150613]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department has been providing financial assistance to English local authorities for contaminated land capital projects for many years. Since the introduction in April 2000 of the contaminated land regime in Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, a total of £33.083 million capital funding has been provided, covering the financial years 2000–01 to 2002–03. Final figures are not yet available for 2003–04, but approvals to local authorities total a further £10.8 million, although the final outturn may be lower. Our project assessors frequently give advice to individual authorities which can save money and improve results.
  546W
  To reflect the revenue implications of the regime for local authorities, £12 million per year was added to revenue support grant, and distributed in the normal way through the system of standard spending assessments. Capital and revenue support will continue under the new prudential finance system.

  The Department, together with the Environment Agency, has also been producing procedural and technical guidance, notably the Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment (CLEA) Model and associated materials. This work is continuing. Details are available on the Department's website. The Environment Agency have also produced a number of technical and other documents.

  Fisheries
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what impact she expects the increase in the Scottish North Sea fleet haddock quota will have on landed prices; [150322]

  (2) what the effect on market prices is of major quota increases for a fish species. [150323]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The price for an internationally traded species of fish, such as haddock, will tend to be influenced by the world price.

  The processing industry imports substantial quantities of fish to meet its needs and over time can adjust its import needs for species such as haddock, if the price and quality of domestic landings are considered appropriate.

  However, in the short term, prices for fish landed at UK ports may be affected by a number of factors, including the quality and size of fish, and whether exceptionally heavy or light concentrations of fish, are landed at particular times.

  Prices can also be affected by marketing activities. I understand that Seafish and Seafood Scotland, with the support of Scottish fishermen, are about to begin a consumer campaign for marketing haddock.

  GM Crops
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government's response to the farm scale evaluations of GM crops will be published. [151642]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 29 January 2004]: The Government have received, advice from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) on the implications of the farm scale evaluation results. We are consulting with the devolved Administrations before deciding whether to accept ACRE'S advice.

  The Government are now considering their overall policy on GM crops in the light of all the available information, including ACRE'S advice. We are aiming to set out our conclusions shortly.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for further scientific tests of GM crops following the farm scale evaluations. [151643]
  547W
  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 29 January 2004]: The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) will advise on a case-by-case basis for each individual GM crop whether we have enough scientific evidence to enable us to make decisions. If further evidence is needed then we would expect the applicants to provide it. We are currently considering priorities for further publicly funded research in light of science review report.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what cost savings have been made in her Department since the introduction of the Information Technology procurement Centre of Excellence; and how these were calculated. [151042]

  Alun Michael
  A Centre of Excellence was formally established within Defra in June 2003 to integrate the essential functions which underpin the successful delivery of all types of acquisition based programmes and projects. As cost benefits will not accrue until improvements start to take effect, it is too early to measure cost savings. All Centres of Excellence are currently developing future plans, and as part of this process measurement of savings will be defined and reported.

  Ivory
  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the proposed sale of ivory stockpiles by(a) Namibia, (b) Botswana and (c) South Africa under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [150963]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 28 January 2004]: It was agreed at the 12th Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Chile in 2002, that any one-off ivory sales would be supervised through a strict control system. It was also agreed that no sales would take place before May 2004 at the earliest to provide time for baseline data to be gathered on population and poaching levels and for information to be obtained on whether potential importing countries can effectively regulate their domestic ivory markets. The aim of these controls is to prevent any illegal ivory from entering into legal markets and to discourage an upsurge in poaching.

  The Government are strongly opposed to the illegal and unsustainable trade in elephant ivory. We will therefore insist at the CITES Standing Committee in Geneva in March 2004 that all of the strict conditions governing the one-off sale are met in full before any trade is allowed to go ahead.

  Krebs Trials
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her Answer of 11 December 2003,Official Report, column 539W, what the detailed protocol was for the wildlife survey undertaken as part of the Krebs trials; and whether landowner participation was invited for the specific surveys carried out in pursuance of this survey. [150569]
  548W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  Survey techniques employed on this project to assess abundance of wildlife include spotlight surveys of hedgehogs, foxes, rabbits and brown hares and count surveys of ground-nesting birds. Radiotelemetry is also used to study the behaviour and mortality of hedgehogs, and video and still camera surveillance to monitor predation of birds' nests. Fox diet has been investigated through the collection of faecal samples. Detailed protocols of these techniques will be documented in scientific publications which are currently in preparation. All landowners were contacted to request their permission for access to land before surveys were carried out.

  Rural Payments Agency
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of appeals against the Rural Payments Agency were successful in(a) 2003–04 and (b) 2002–03. [151957]

  Alun Michael
  The Rural Payments Agency is responsible for the administration of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) Appeal Procedure in England. The procedure was introduced on 1 April 2002 to provide IACS scheme applicants with easy access to an independent review of decisions on their claims. Those appellants who are unsuccessful at the first stage of the procedure have the opportunity to progress to a second stage. The percentage of successful appeals under each stage of the appeal procedure is as follows:

  2002–03

  2003 to date

  Number of appeals completed stage 1

  50

  48

  Percentage successful/partially successful

  30

  27

  Number of appeals completed stage 2

  5

  18

  Percentage successful/partially successful

  20

  33

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to pay interest on the late settlement of rural payments due to appeals. [151959]

  Alun Michael
  The Rural Payments Agency will consider on a case-by-case basis requests for the payment of compensation in lieu of interest in successful appeals.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) total number and (b) average value of appeals under consideration by the Rural Payments Agency is. [151960]

  Alun Michael
  There are currently 28 Stage 1 and three Stage 2 appeals under consideration by the Rural Payments Agency under the Integrated Administration and Control System Appeal Procedure in England. Information on the average value of appeals under consideration can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Thames Gateway (Flood Risk)
  John Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment of flood risk in the Thames Gateway Development Area has been made by the Environment Agency; and if she will make a statement. [150902]
  549W
  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 26 January 2004]: The Thames Gateway Development area is currently protected from flooding to a standard in excess of 1:1000 (or a 0.01 per cent. chance).

  This standard will be maintained until 2030 by the existing defences. The Environment Agency is now starting to consider the longer-term strategy for the whole Thames estuary beyond this date including mitigation for the impacts of climate change.

  Warm Front
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the rationale is behind the cut-off point of £14,200 for household income above which a family in receipt of working tax credit will not qualify for assistance through the Warm Front scheme. [150436]

  Mr. Morley
  This cut-off point was established to help target those on low incomes and therefore more likely to be in fuel poverty.

  The eligibility criteria for Warm Front are broadly in line with the low income priority group for the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC). In a consultation document on the changes to the tax credit system affecting the priority group for the EEC, published by the Department in December 2002, a cut-off point of around £14,000 was proposed for child tax credit and working tax credit.

  Following that consultation and consideration of the responses received, a cut-off point of £14,200 was set for the EEC. To maintain consistency, this was also introduced to the eligibility criteria for Warm Front.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Office of the Speaker
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the monthly cost of the Office of the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly(a) was in the six months before suspension and (b) has been since suspension, broken down by (i) staff costs and (ii) administration costs. [150833]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The average monthly expenditure for the Office of the Speaker for the six months prior to suspension—from 1 May 2002 to 31 October 2002—was £15,234 of which staff costs accounted for £12,067 and administrative costs for £3,167. For administrative purposes figures have been included for the period up to and including 31 October 2002.

  The average monthly expenditure for the Office of the Speaker for the eight months following suspension—from 1 November 2002 to 30 June 2003—was £18,881 of which staff costs accounted for £13,392 and administrative costs for £5,489. This included the costs of a number of events already planned prior to suspension of the Assembly.

  The average monthly expenditure for the Office of the Speaker for the last six months—from 1 July 2003 to 31 December 2003—was £13,401 of which staff costs accounted for £12,846 and administrative costs for £555.
  550W

  Children's Homes
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of children's home places in the province. [151185]

  Angela Smith
  In recent years the total number of available residential places has increased from 332 (2001) to 409 (January 2004). Plans for a further increase in the number of residential places and a continuing programme of replacements for unsuitable and substandard facilities are currently being developed but have not yet been fully finalised. It is expected that these further plans will involve an increase of around 50 in the number of residential places available over the next three years.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in negotiating a pay settlement within the Northern Ireland Civil Service following the recent industrial action; and what steps the Department of Finance and Personnel have taken to engage in pay negotiations with union representatives. [151621]

  Mr. Pearson
  Extensive negotiations over several months did not result in an agreed pay deal for the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration this year. Management Side presented an offer worth 3.67 per cent. on 5 November. As this could not be agreed, and Trade Union Side declined to negotiate within the 3.67 per cent. envelope, we took the decision to proceed to pay the award and communicated this to staff and Trade Union Side on 27 November. I have made clear to Trade Union Side that the 3.67 per cent. deal is the maximum that can be paid. We are however open to exploring other reasonable means of resolving the dispute. A further meeting of the Central Whitley Council between Trade Union and Management Sides has been arranged.

  Classroom Assistants
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) part-time and (b) full-time classroom assistants were employed in Northern Ireland's schools in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement on (i) the recruitment and (ii) the retention of classroom assistants in Northern Ireland. [150678]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information requested is as follows.

  Part-time

  Full-time

  19971

  2,181

  705

  19981

  2,696

  748

  19991

  3,019

  793

  20001

  3,273

  815

  20011

  3,558

  886

  2002

  4,157

  1,137

  2003

  5,133

  1,178

  1 Figures for Voluntary Grammar Schools and Grant Maintained Integrated Schools are not available for these years.

  Recruitment and retention of Classroom Assistants does not pose any difficulties, in Northern Ireland.

  Armagh College Staff
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the full-time equivalent staffing complement at Armagh College of Further and Higher Education was at the end of academic years(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [151620]

  Jane Kennedy
  The full-time equivalent staffing complements for Armagh College of Further and Higher Education for the specified academic years are:

  (a) 2001–02: 95.31; and

  (b) 2002–03: 95.11.

  Dementia
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps he has taken to improve services for those who develop dementia early in life. [151183]

  Angela Smith
  The Health and Social Services Trusts provide a range of hospital and community-based services to people with dementia, including those who develop this condition early in life. However there are some younger people whose needs are not being fully met and Trusts are therefore working with this group to determine their specific requirements. The emphasis will be on maintaining people with dementia at home with adequate support from qualified and trained staff.

  Dementia services will be included in a comprehensive evaluation of policy and services being undertaken by the Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability.

  Disabled Persons
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what means are used to assist disabled persons in gaining employment in Northern Ireland. [151181]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Department for Employment and Learning through the Disablement Advisory Service provides advice, guidance, training and a job-placing service for people with disabilities and health issues. The service assists disabled people who wish to obtain or retain employment and is delivered by a team of Disablement Employment Advisers based in JobCentres/Jobs and Benefits Offices across Northern Ireland.

  The Department provides a range of programmes which have been designed to assist people with a range of disabilities enter and keep employment. These include the Job Introduction Scheme, Access to Work, Employment Support and New Deal for Disabled People. The Department also administers European funding under the Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity and the EQUAL Community Initiative which support people with health problems and disabilities return to employment.

  The Special Needs Careers Service provides a service to young people with disabilities in full-time education and training and after completion of these.
  552W

  E-Government
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to promote e-government services within his Department. [150666]

  Mr. Spellar
  The electronic delivery of services is central to our commitment to providing modern, efficient services and to making government more open and accessible to the public.

  The publication of the OnlineNI Strategy in April 2003 provides a framework for the future development of e-government and electronic service delivery in Northern Ireland. Both Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have a target to have 100 per cent. key services capable of being delivered electronically by the end of 2005.

  Maternity Statistics
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many women from outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland gave birth at each maternity unit in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [150753]

  Angela Smith
  One woman from outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland gave birth at a maternity unit in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many women from outside Northern Ireland gave birth in the province in each of the last 12 months who were from(a) Great Britain, (b) the Republic of Ireland, (c) other EU countries and (d) outside the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [150754]

  Angela Smith
  The table shows the number of women from(a) Great Britain, (b) the Republic of Ireland, (c) other EU countries and (d) outside the European Union who gave birth in Northern Ireland in each of the last 12 months.

  Month

  GB

  ROI

  EU

  Non-EU

  January 2003

  9

  21

  0

  0

  February 2003

  1

  27

  0

  0

  March 2003

  4

  26

  0

  0

  April 2003

  8

  22

  0

  0

  May 2003

  11

  17

  0

  0

  June 2003

  11

  25

  0

  0

  July 2003

  6

  35

  0

  0

  August 2003

  8

  24

  0

  0

  September 2003

  8

  24

  0

  1

  October 2003

  9

  24

  0

  0

  November 2003

  7

  30

  0

  0

  December 2003

  7

  22

  0

  0

  Total 2003

  89

  297

  0

  1

  Source:

  Child Health System

  MOT Tests
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) successful and (b) failed MOT tests were performed at each test centre in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [151208]
  553W
  Angela Smith
  Information on successful and unsuccessful MOT tests could be provided from the manual test records of the Department of the Environment's Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA) only at disproportionate cost. However, new information technology recently installed in all DVTA test centres will allow this information to be extracted in the future.

  In the meantime, the table shows, by test centre, the number of all tests and re-tests (previous test failures) for all vehicle categories for which roadworthiness certificates are required, including those generally referred to as MOT tests. It should be noted that the retest figures can include multiple re-tests on a single vehicle, that the re-test may not take place at the same centre as the original test and that re-test numbers may be affected by the proportion of tests on different categories of vehicles at individual test centres. The retest figures do not include vehicles which fail the full test but are not subsequently presented for re-test.

  Number of vehicle tests carried out—January to December 2003 (inclusive)

  Number of full tests

  Number of retests

  Armagh

  23,859

  6,391

  Ballymena

  40,706

  8,121

  Belfast

  56,825

  13,547

  Coleraine

  38,892

  7,814

  Cookstown

  34,867

  7,976

  Craigavon

  33,482

  9,009

  Downpatrick

  28,642

  6,280

  Enniskillen

  24,842

  5,216

  Larne

  22,166

  4,197

  Lisburn

  34,837

  9,558

  Londonderry

  27,673

  7,056

  Mallusk

  37,137

  8,632

  Newry

  29,097

  6,520

  Newtownards

  51,263

  12,206

  Omagh

  20,871

  5,114

  Total

  50,5159

  11,7637

  Moylinn GP Co-operative
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the relocation of the Moylinn General Practitioner Co-operative. [150732]

  Angela Smith
  I can advise that the out-of-hours facility at Moylinn will be moved to new purpose built premises on the Craigavon Area Hospital site. Building work is set to begin in the spring with the transfer of the out-of-hours services from Moylinn due to be completed early autumn this year.

  Muckamore Abbey Site
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what input he has sought from service users into plans for redevelopment of the Muckamore Abbey Site. [151186]

  Angela Smith
  The redevelopment of Muckamore Abbey Hospital was first identified in strategies for services for people with learning disabilities produced by the Eastern and Northern Health and Social Services Boards in the mid-1990s. These strategies were the 554W
  subject of extensive consultation, including public meetings held in number of venues throughout the Boards' areas.

  In July 2000, North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust distributed 800 copies of a consultation document on Muckamore Abbey Hospital. A number of public meetings were held, including a briefing meeting held by the Chief Executive for MLAs. A team of social workers visited the families of every inpatient in the hospital to hear their views on the proposed changes to the hospital.

  A service users' focus group has been set up which has been independently facilitated from outside the hospital. The focus group is made up of people who are currently hospital patients and people who are ex-patients. This is informing the modernisation process.

  NHS
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what charges are in place for people using NHS services in Northern Ireland who do not reside in the United Kingdom; and whether these charges extend to citizens from(a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) other EU member states. [150669]

  Angela Smith
  The responsibility for calculating charges for private patients, or for patients who are not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, lies with Health and Social Services Trusts, each of which maintains its own list of charges. Residents of countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) are entitled to free treatment if they are taken ill while visiting Northern Ireland. Patients may also be referred to Northern Ireland for treatment of a specific condition under formal contractual arrangements between individual hospitals or health boards. With the exception of cross-border workers, visitors from the Republic of Ireland have the same entitlement to treatment as those from any other EEA country.

  Racist Incidents
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment the Community Relations Council has made of the level of race hate crime in Northern Ireland; what remedies they recommend; and what action he has taken as a result. [149245]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Community Relations Council to write to my hon. Friend and I shall arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Orthopaedic Services
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting times are for(a) inpatient admission and (b) outpatient assessment in each of the Province's orthopaedic centres. [151212]

  Angela Smith
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The average waiting time for inpatient admission to the Trauma and Orthopaedic Specialty by Provider Trust in 2002–03 is shown in the following table.
  555W

  Provider Trust

  Average wait in days

  Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

  16

  Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust

  174

  Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust

  21

  Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust

  188

  Northern Ireland Average

  162

  Note:

  The data are calculated based on those people who were electively admitted to hospital during 2002–03.

  Data for the Royal Group of Hospital HSS Trust include patients admitted to the Trauma and Orthopaedic specialty in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

  The casemix at the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust and the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust is different to the casemix at Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust and Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust. This accounts for the large variation in average waiting time between these Trusts.

  Source:

  Hospital Inpatients System

  (b) The information requested is not available

  Racism (Chinese Community)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many racist incidents involving victims from the Chinese community occurred in Northern Ireland in(a) each of the last three years and (b) the current year to date. [148257]

  Mr. Spellar
  I am sorry for the delay in replying.

  Reported racial incidents against the Chinese community in Northern Ireland

  Financial year

  Number of attacks

  2000–01

  78

  2001–02

  33

  2002–03

  44

  2003 to Present

  58

  Security Passes
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many security passes have been reported(a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in (i) his Department and (ii) departmental agencies in the last 12 months. [147988]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Since January 2003 a total of 12 passes have been reported lost and two stolen by staff in my Department; and during the same period five were reported lost and two stolen by staff in departmental agencies. The likelihood of any increased threat to the Department or Agency as a result of the loss of a pass is assessed on each occasion and any appropriate action is taken.

  This reply relates only to the Northern Ireland Office and does not cover the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many security passes have been reported(a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months. [150403]
  556W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Winchester (Question Ref. 147988).

  Sign Language
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals in Northern Ireland are trained in sign language. [151220]

  Angela Smith
  There are 17,000 people in Northern Ireland who have severe or profound deafness. Approximately 4,500 of these people use sign language. Hearing people who associate with signers in business or personal life also use sign language. Statistics are not available on how many individuals are trained in sign language, however, there are currently only five fully qualified registered BSL interpreters in Northern Ireland and one ISL interpreter.

  The Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) in Northern Ireland have provided details of the BSL and ISL training given at each level from 2000 to 2003.

  Sign Language

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Level 11

  456

  592

  522

  386

  Level 12

  63

  60

  32

  27

  Level 21

  72

  60

  81

  84

  Level 22

  12

  16

  20

  13

  Total

  603

  728

  655

  510

  1 British

  2 Irish

  Working Time Regulations
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants have applied under new Working Time Regulations to work from home, broken down by gender; and how many requests have been successful in each case. [149214]

  Mr. Pearson
  The number of applications to work from home made by civil servants employed in NI Departments and the Northern Ireland Office under the Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (which came into effect on 6 April 2003), and the number of successful requests, are shown in the table.

  The procedures and timescales to be followed are specified in the Flexible Working (Procedural Requirements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.

  Also shown are the number of applications received since 6 April 2003 under existing work-life balance provisions, made outside the scope of the legislation, and the number of successful requests.

  Requests under legislation

  Requests made outside the scope of the legislation

  Requests for home-working since 6 April 2003

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Applications

  13

  3

  6

  3

  13

  6

  Successful applications

  1

  2

  3

  1

  1

  2

  1 One application currently under consideration.

HEALTH

  Abortion Act
  Jim Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the application of section 1(1)(d) of the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended); [143172]

  (2) if he will make a statement on whether cleft palate or cleft lip are regarded as serious handicaps for the purpose of section 1(1)(d) if the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended). [143173]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Parliament decided in 1967 that a pregnancy could be terminated by a registered medical practitioner if two registered medical practitioners are of the opinion, formed in good faith that there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. The term "seriously handicapped" has not been interpreted by any court decisions.

  Permission to proceed to a judicial review on these matters was granted on 1 December 2003 and will be considered by the courts at a hearing starting on 24 May 2004. The claimant is also seeking a declaration as to the incompatibility of section 1(1)(d) of the Abortion Act 1967 with Articles 2, 3, 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. A Minister of the Crown is entitled to join any proceedings where the Court is considering whether to make a declaration of incompatibility. The Secretary of State for Health has now given formal notice of his intention to join the proceedings to assist the court on these matters.

  Cancer Research
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to complete its evaluation of the SunSmart campaign; and when he will decide the amount of funds Cancer Research UK will receive to continue the campaign. [152010]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Evaluation of the SunSmart campaign is being undertaken on an on-going basis. Cancer Research UK is working on a plan for future activity on the basis of lessons learned from the underpinning qualitative research by the University of Strathclyde, which was completed in September 2003. Decisions on the funding of a future campaign will be taken in due course.

  Civil Servants
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much space, expressed in square metres, the Department occupies for the offices of civil servants in(a) central London and (b) Greater London. [150286]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department and its Executive Agencies occupies 71,369 m2 in Central London for the offices of civil servants and an additional 1,904 m2 in Greater London.

  Ectopic Pregnancy
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of deaths from ectopic pregnancy; and if he will make a statement. [150771]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Department is currently preparing a national service framework for children, which will include standards for maternity care, including the management of problems in early pregnancy. It also currently provides Section 64 support for the organisation The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, which provides information, support and advice to those affected by ectopic pregnancy, and works to raise awareness. Details of the grants provided are shown in the following tables.

  Core grant

  £

  2000–01

  20,000

  2001–02

  20,000

  2002–03

  10,00

  Project grant for the Chlamydia and Ectopic Pregnancy project

  £

  2001–02

  9,500

  2002–03

  9,500

  2003–04

  9,500

  Food Supplements Directive
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the Minister for Public Health has set a date for his proposed meeting with Commissioner Byrne to discuss the interpretation of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive;. [144870]

  (2) if he will list the dates when he expects that Ministers from his Department will meet their counterparts in each of the Member and Candidate States of the European Union to discuss the interpretation of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive; which officials will accompany Ministers at each of those meetings; what main points he expects will be made; and if he will make a statement. [144871]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive lays out a framework for the future setting of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements, The European Commission has not yet made a proposal listing European Union maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements and we do not expect it to do so for another two to three years.

  The United Kingdom continues to take every opportunity to press its view that maximum levels should be set on a safety basis. I am seeking to arrange a discussion with Commissioner Byrne at the earliest practical opportunity.

  Influenza
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what definition the Department uses of an influenza epidemic; [142961]
  559W
  (2) how many reported cases of influenza there were in each of the last five years; and in which of these year the reported level of influenza cases has been classified as an epidemic. [142962]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The numbers of influenza-like illnesses reported to the Royal College of General Practitioners in the past five winter seasons are shown in the table.

  In none of these years did the level of general practitioner consultation rate reach 400 per 100,000 of the population, which is the level required to be classed as an epidemic.

  Number of influenza like illnesses

  1998–99

  10,044

  1999–2000

  8,513

  2000–01

  5,901

  2001–02

  4,111

  2002–03

  3,541

  Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the forecast outcome for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust is for 2003–04; what assessment has been made of its level of financial risk; and what loans it has(a) taken and (b) applied for from the NHS Bank in 2003–04. [151239]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 27 January 2004]: Audited information on the financial position of national health service trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts. These data will be available centrally in the autumn.

  At the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) Board meeting on 20 January 2004, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust reported a deficit of £1.7 million as at the end of December 2003. The SHA has assessed the financial risk and is forecasting a break even position for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust at the end of the financial year 2003–04.

  The SHA has not made an application to the NHS Bank on behalf of the trust in 2003–04.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2004,Official Report, column 1110W, on personal care charges, what the sources of the estimate are; and if he will place in the Library the assumptions and analysis from which this estimate was derived; [151468]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2004, Official Report, columns 1110–11 W, on long-term care, what the evidential basis is for his estimate; and if he will place in the Library the assumptions and analysis from which this estimate was derived. [151628]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The estimate for the cost of introducing free personal care was prepared by Department of Health economists using a variety of data and assumptions. An explanatory note has been placed in the Library.
  560W

  Mental Health
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the relationship between the criminal guardianship powers in the Mental Health Act 1983 and the community treatment orders proposed in the Draft Mental Health Bill 2002. [149798]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Like the guardianship order, the proposed power—that the courts would make a mental health order without requiring residence in hospital—could enable people who needed treatment subject to sanction to receive it without resort to detention in hospital. Unlike the guardianship order, the proposed power would enable the admission of the person to hospital for compulsory treatment in the event of that becoming necessary for his own health or safety or that of others.

  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the target groups of people with mental health problems who will be helped by the introduction of community treatment orders. [149800]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The provisions in the draft Mental Health Bill for formal powers to be used in the community are based on the principle of least restriction. When treating someone for mental disorder under formal powers, the restriction of their liberty should be the minimum necessary, taking into account all their circumstances and the need to protect themselves or others. The conditions setting out the circumstances in which formal powers may be used, must always be satisfied, whether treatment is to be provided in hospital or in the community. The power to impose requirements on patients in the community will however, in some circumstances, avoid patients having to go to hospital if appropriate alternative arrangements can be made.

  The most important group that it is intended that these powers would be used for is people who have a history of admission to hospital, improvement and discharge, followed by relapse (known as "revolving door" patients). Currently there may be no alternative to renewed admission to hospital. Where someone is well known to services it may not be necessary for them to be reassessed and treated in hospital. Treatment under a regime of conditions and requirements in the community may be more appropriate and avoid the distress of repeated unplanned admissions to hospital.

  These powers would also be available for those whose mental condition has improved while being treated under compulsion in hospital and for whom formal treatment in the community would provide a supportive transition, helping to prevent patients relapsing on discharge from hospital. There may also be other individual cases in which treatment under compulsion in the community would be more appropriate.

  Formal treatment in the community will also be an option for the Court to consider for mentally disordered offenders. It is intended that convicted offenders who require treatment for mental disorder could benefit if the court is satisfied that they do not need to be detained and clinicians confirm that treatment appropriate for the individual is available in the community.
  561W
  The decision that compulsory treatment in the community is appropriate should always be based on the careful assessment of what is the most suitable way to treat and care for individual patients, taking into account all the circumstances of each individual case.

  National Service Framework for Children
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the National Service Framework for children. [152112]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The national service framework for children, young people and maternity services will be published later this year.

  Osteoporosis
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what therapies other than Raloxifen will be provided by the NHS to patients suffering from osteoporosis. [151119]

  Dr. Ladyman
  There are a wide range of treatments available for patients suffering from osteoporosis. Some prevent bone breakdown and stimulate new bone formation while others help maintain bone density and reduce fracture rates. Individuals will receive treatment which best meets their needs.

  Rainbows Children's Hospice (Leicestershire)
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will visit Rainbows Children's Hospice in Leicestershire. [151663]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Minister will be pleased to consider an invitation to visit from the Rainbows Children's Hospice in Leicestershire.

  Telephone Masts
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to set up a public inquiry into the health effects of G3 technology telephone masts; [147054]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the health effects of G3 technology telephone masts. [147059]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Government advice on mobile phones and health is based on the Stewart Report, issued in May 2000 (www.iegmp.org.uk). In respect of base stations they concluded:The balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines.

  The operators of mobile telephone equipment including 3rd Generation (3G) systems should ensure that public exposure does not exceed the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Measurements undertaken by the Radiocommunications Agency, now part of OFCOM (www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/rahome.htm), have confirmed that public exposures are very much lower than the international guidelines.
  562W
  The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has statutory responsibility for providing overall advice on health risks from exposure to electromagnetic fields including radio waves. Research published since the Stewart Report, including research on 3G effects, has been reviewed by the NRPB's Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Their review was announced on 14 January 2004 and concludes that
  "The weight of evidence now available does not suggest that there are adverse health effects from exposures to RF (radiofrequency) fields below guideline levels, but the published research on RF exposures and health has limitations, and mobile phones have only been in widespread use for a relatively short time."

  The report is available on the NRPB web site at: http://www.nrpb.org./ review/docs nrpb/absd14–2.htm. Copies have been placed in the Library.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Extradition
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps are taken to satisfy district judges that each person consenting to extradition has had access to legal advice. [150341]

  Mr. Leslie
  Sections 45 and 127 of the Extradition Act 2003 state that a person may not give his consent to extradition unless he is legally represented. However, a sane person cannot be compelled to take legal advice if they do not wish it.

  All defendants who waive legal advice either have the means, or have been offered legal aid, to obtain it, but have taken a decision not to do so. The Senior District Judge at Bow Street Magistrates Court has confirmed that no District Judge would permit a defendant to waive legal advice without satisfying him or herself that this requirement is met, and that the defendant has full understanding of the consequences of his decision.

  In practice, all defendants in extradition proceedings are represented, either by their own solicitor, or by the court's duty solicitor, to whom they will have access.

  Burglary
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many and what proportion of cases resulting in convictions for(a) house burglary and (b) aggravated house burglary, bail was granted before conviction in each of the last six years. [152119]

  Mr. Leslie
  The number and proportion of defendants convicted in the Crown Court of either burglary or aggravated burglary of a dwelling, and who had been committed on bail by the magistrates' court are provided in the following table.
  563W

  Convictions for offences of burglary and aggravated burglary in dwellings, and those defendants committed on bail by the magistrates' court, in the Crown Court, 1998–2003

  Convicted

  Committed on bail

  Proportion (per cent.)

  Year

  Burglary

  Aggravated burglary

  Burglary

  Aggravated burglary

  Burglary

  Aggravated burglary

  1998

  8,995

  318

  4,268

  115

  47.4

  36.2

  1999

  8,266

  271

  3,746

  108

  45.3

  39.9

  2000

  7,546

  255

  3,573

  79

  47.3

  31.0

  2001

  6,435

  265

  3,007

  99

  46.7

  37.4

  2002

  6,905

  341

  3,189

  107

  46.2

  31.4

  2003

  7,061

  301

  3,232

  75

  45.8

  24.9

  Note:

  Figures relate to number of defendants

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many and what proportion of convictions for(a) burglary of a house and (b) aggravated burglary of a house resulted in a gaol sentence in each of the last six years. [152120]

  Convictions and custodial sentences for offences of burglary and aggravated burglary in dwellings, in the Crown Court, 1998–2003

  Convicted

  Custodial sentence

  Proportion (per cent.)

  Year

  Burglary

  Aggravated burglary

  Burglary

  Aggravated burglary

  Burglary

  Aggravated burglary

  1998

  8,995

  318

  6,389

  302

  71.0

  95.0

  1999

  8,266

  271

  6,070

  270

  73.4

  99.6

  2000

  7,546

  255

  5,309

  238

  70.4

  93.3

  2001

  6,435

  265

  4,564

  261

  70.9

  98.5

  2002

  6,905

  341

  4,730

  322

  68.5

  94.4

  2003

  7,061

  301

  4,530

  264

  64.2

  87.7

  Note:

  Figures relate to number of defendants

  Correspondence
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when he will reply to the letter of 29 August 2003 from the hon. Member for Northavon, forwarded to him by the Department for Work and Pensions, reference 142208, regarding Mr. Dicker. [151710]

  Mr. Lammy
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what cost savings have been made in the Department since the introduction of the Information Technology Procurement Centre of Excellence; and how these were calculated. [151052]

  Mr. Leslie
  My Department established a centre of excellence covering all programmes and projects, including IT and procurement programmes and projects, in June 2003. The centre of excellence reviewed all pre-existing programmes and projects in October 2003 and identified £6.9 million savings that were made immediately. Further savings and other cost benefits will not accrue until planned improvements begin to take effect.

  Legal Aid
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent changes have been made to the provision of public funding to suspects before charge. [150792]
  564W
  Mr. Leslie
  The number and proportion of defendants convicted of either burglary or aggravated burglary of a dwelling, and who received a custodial sentence in each of the last six years are provided in the following table.

  Mr. Lammy
  No changes have been made to the provision of Criminal Defence Service (formerly criminal legal aid) funding to suspects before charge. However the Department for Constitutional Affairs consulted last year on proposals to improve value for money in the CDS and will shortly be announcing the result of the consultation.

  Public Bodies (Membership)
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs who the members of the(a) Imperial College Governing Body, (b) Court of UMIST, (c) Court of the University of Hull, (d) Court of the University of Sussex and (e) Court of the University of Ulster were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and what their remuneration is. [151342]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Privy Council appointees for the bodies mentioned and their terms of office are set out as follows:

  Imperial College—term of office 4 years:

  Field Marshall Lord Vincent

  Trevor Phillips OBE

  Ms Charlotte L. Chothia

  Balram Gidoomal

  Sir Alastair Morton

  Sir Peter Williams CBE

  UMIST—term of office 3 years:

  Denis Robson

  Miss Dawn Gibbins MBE

  Geoffrey Galley

  Keith Beckett

  565W
  University of Hull—term of office 3 years:

  Lord Haskins

  John Trebble

  Michael Hollingbery

  University of Sussex—term of office 3 years:

  Mark Burrell

  Mrs. Gail Rebuck

  James Brathwaite CBE

  University of Ulster—term of office 4 years:

  The Lord Glentoran CBE

  Mrs. Bernadette Grant

  How Universities remunerate the members of their councils is not a matter for the Privy Council Office, but this information should be available from the bodies themselves.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs who the members of the(a) Court of Victoria University of Manchester, (b) General Medical Council, (c) Royal Council of Veterinary Surgeons and (d) Royal College of Court were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and what their remuneration is. [151457]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Privy Council appointees for the bodies mentioned and their terms of office are set out as follows:

  Victoria University of Manchester—term of office three years

  Dame Valerie Strachan DCB

  Dr. Inayat Khan Babar

  Colonel John Bradford Timmins QBE TD JP

  Ms Dawn Peters

  Anthony Nixon

  General Medical Council—term of office four years

  Kevin Baron MP

  The Very Reverend Graham Forbes

  Robert Nicholls

  Ruth Evans

  Dr. Arun Midha

  Mrs. Patricia Moberly

  David Bean

  Sir Michael Buckley

  Mrs. Gillian Camm

  Stuart Heatherington

  Robin McLeod

  Dr. Joan Martin

  Fiona Peel

  Ann Robinson

  Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons—term of office four years

  James M. Scudamore

  F. Brian Jennings

  Mr. Martyn Jones MP

  Mrs. Barbara Saunders

  Royal College of Art—term of office three years

  Dr. Kenneth Grange CBE

  How these bodies remunerate the members of their councils is not a matter for the Privy Council Office, but this information should be available from the bodies themselves.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Heathfield Transmitter
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects that work on the Heathfield Transmitter will take place; and if she will make a statement. [152099]

  Estelle Morris
  The responsibility to convert the transmitter network to digital lies with broadcasters. As there are not enough frequencies to broadcast both analogue and digital signals with sufficient power levels throughout the country, digital reception will not be available in Eastbourne before digital switchover. We are committed to switchover, which we believe could be achieved between 2006 and 2010, but we are not yet in a position to decide a firm timetable.

  Heritage Lottery Funding (Trafford)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Heritage Lottery funding has been awarded in the Trafford Metropolitan Council area in each of the last five years. [151125]

  Estelle Morris
  The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the following in the Trafford Metropolitan Council area in each of the last five years:

  Financial year

  £

  1997–98

  225,000

  1998–99

  32,800

  1999–2000

  nil

  2000–01

  91,000

  2001–02

  25,000

  2002–03

  nil

TREASURY

  R and D Tax Credits
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2004,Official Report, column 1044W, on research and development tax credits, how many claims for research and development tax credits from companies have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected by the Inland Revenue; and if he will make a statement. [151786]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 29 January 2004]: The figure of over 8,000 claims given in the first of my answers of 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 1044W, represents the number of Corporation Tax Self Assessment returns where companies have claimed research and development tax credits. The number of claims that have been adjusted following an inquiry by Inland Revenue is not available.

  Business Tax Credits
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses notified the Inland Revenue of their intention to claim tax credits in future financial years when trading at a profit as a result of trading
  567W
  losses, in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what the total sum of tax credits so notified was. [152184]

  Ruth Kelly
  Loss making small companies can in certain circumstances choose to either claim payable credits under the research and development tax credit scheme or instead claim enhanced tax relief in future accounting periods.

  Information on the number of such companies that have chosen to claim the enhanced tax relief and the amount of this relief is not available.

  Gangmasters (Agriculture)
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in unpaid(a) income tax and (b) national insurance contributions has been recovered from gangmasters operating in the UK's agricultural sector since 1994. [152097]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue does not keep a separate record of recoveries of unpaid income tax and National Insurance Contributions from agricultural gangmasters. It would be disproportionately expensive to provide it.

  Customs and Excise
  Andrew George
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what(a) budgets have been agreed and (b) costs have been incurred in fulfilling HM Customs and Excise obligations in respect of ports and airports (i) in the south east of England and (ii) elsewhere for each of the last six years for which records are available; [150983]

  (2) how much HM Customs and Excise has spent on (a) travel, (b) accommodation, (c) subsistence and (d) other costs in respect of the establishment of mobile teams to support its work at ports and airports in (i) the south east of England and (ii) elsewhere for each of the last six years for which records are available; [150984]

  (3) what budget has been agreed for the creation of mobile Customs and Excise teams to cover ports and airports; and how much has been budgeted for (a) travel costs, (b) accommodation, (c) subsistence allowance and (d) other costs related to the expense of establishing the service and re-deploying staff. [150987]

  John Healey
  [holding answer 26 January 2004]: HM Customs and Excise reorganised in April 2001, creating a Law Enforcement (LE) arm of approximately 7,500 officers. LE staff perform the majority of Customs operational activity at ports and airports in the UK. One of the aims of this restructuring and the subsequent LE business plan for 2003 to 2006 is to build a more intelligence-led, mobile and flexible workforce. The south region includes the south-east, south-west and central southern England.

  The following table gives the authorised expenditure of the LE organisation on salaries, travel and subsistence and other running costs. These costs exclude the intelligence operational arm which is not managed on a comparable regional basis. Comparative data are not available for the years prior to the creation of Law Enforcement.
  568W

  £ million

  Authorised regional spend

  of which: Travel and subsistence1

  2001–02 outturn

  South region

  62.9

  2.3

  Elsewhere

  148.9

  7.7

  2002–03 outturn

  South region

  63.9

  2.3

  Elsewhere

  144.3

  8.4

  2003–04 forecast

  South region

  62.4

  2.5

  Elsewhere

  143.7

  8.2

  1 Includes costs for travel, temporary accommodation and subsistence costs.

  Note:

  Separate figures are not available in the format requested.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Acting Chairman of HM Customs and Excise will reply to the letter of 27 October 2003 from the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham about the Chalfont St. Giles Bowling Club. [152185]

  John Healey
  Customs and Excise replied to the hon. Member's letter on 29 January 2004.

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets have been set for the answering of correspondence by the Inland Revenue. [151836]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The targets for post in local tax areas in 2003–04 are:

  80 per cent. of post worked within 15 working days.

  95 per cent. of post worked within 40 working days.

  80 per cent. of post worked within 15 working days dealt with completely and correctly.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much correspondence to the Inland Revenue at present remains unanswered after(a) three, (b) six and (c) nine months. [151837]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue does not keep records on this basis. The current target for local tax areas is to work 80 per cent. of post (which includes correspondence and other items) within 15 working days and 95 per cent. of post within 40 working days.

  Labour Productivity Levels
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government is planning to improve labour productivity levels. [151478]

  John Healey
  The Government are committed to raising the rate of UK productivity growth over the economic cycle, improving competitiveness and narrowing the productivity gap with the US, France and Germany. The Government's approach to raising productivity is set out in "Productivity in the UK: The Evidence and the Government's Approach", which was published alongside the 2000 pre-Budget Report.

  The Government reports on steps to increase productivity in every Budget and pre-Budget Report. Recent key steps include the introduction of the

  569W
  Enterprise Act 2002, the introduction of R&D tax credits, the reduction of corporation tax rates, implementation of major reforms to capital gains tax, proposals for new Enterprise Capital Funds to increase venture capital investment for small businesses with high-growth potential, increased investment to raise standards in education and to improve adult skills, and a comprehensive review of capital markets through the Myners, Sandler and Higgs reviews.

  Foreign Earnings Deduction
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the shipping industry to discuss plans to prevent workers on offshore installations from receiving the foreign earnings deduction benefit; and if he will make a statement. [151603]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The intention of Foreign Earnings Deduction (FED) is to encourage seafarers to work on UK ships which can be called upon in time of conflict. Some workers on offshore installations are exploiting FED to seek a tax relief that was never intended for them. As announced in the pre-Budget Report, we will be introducing amendments to the legislation to make it clear that workers on offshore installations are not entitled to this relief and officials have begun discussions with industry representatives.

  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to limit the entitlement to foreign earnings deductions for seafarers serving on ships registered in the UK or other EU countries; and what assessment his Department has made of the impact such a change would have on the UK shipping sector. [151605]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In the pre-Budget Report (Cm 6042), it was announced that there would be changes in the Foreign Earnings Deduction to prevent workers on offshore installations claiming the relief. Any changes beyond this would follow consultation with the shipping industry and trade unions and be consistent with the Government's continuing support for the UK shipping, industry.

  Pension Funds
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the levels of public sector pension fund deficits. [150457]

  Mr. Boateng
  Information is not held centrally on all the pension schemes of public sector employers, which include schemes provided by public corporations and other bodies in addition to the major schemes established by statute for public service occupations. Among the major statutory schemes those for the civil service, NHS, teachers, police, fire and armed forces are unfunded and the only major public service scheme that has funds is the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). The LGPS is supported by individual funds held at local level. The last triennial valuations of these funds for England and Wales were conducted in 2001 and showed an actuarial value of aggregate assets of £85.3 billion being held against liabilities of 570W
  £91.5 billion, giving a deficit of £6.2 billion. All the LGPS funds met the solvency requirements of the scheme.

  Project ASPIRE
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 141W, on Project ASPIRE, on what date Inland Revenue first held a meeting to which it invited all suppliers with whom it was engaging in the market-making exercise for Project ASPIRE; and which of the suppliers did not attend. [152231]

  Dawn Primarolo
  As I stated in my answer of 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 140W, the Inland Revenue actively engaged with 14 suppliers in the course of the market-making exercise for Project ASPIRE. My answer provided the names of these companies. These suppliers were offered initial meetings with the Inland Revenue, and these took place during November and December 2001. None of the suppliers directly approached by the Inland Revenue, as part of this exercise, refused the opportunity to discuss the ASPIRE competition.

  An open meeting was held for all interested suppliers on 7 March 2002, which was attended by 42 potential suppliers. No one supplier was directly approached for this meeting, instead the event was advertised through the Inland Revenue's website.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 16 December 2003,Official Report, column 803W, who the board member responsible for Mr. John Yard's division was; and when he commenced planning for project ASPIRE. [152233]

  Dawn Primarolo
  As I stated in my answer of 16 December 2003,Official Report, column 803W, planning for the ASPIRE project began in January 2001. The Board member responsible for Business Services at that time was Tim Flesher, the Inland Revenue's Deputy Chairman. After Tim Flesher moved to another Government Department in April 2003, Helen Ghosh took on Board level responsibility for Business Services.

  Sports Facilities
  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the VAT receipts that would accrue to the Treasury from the construction of new sports facilities associated with the 2012 Olympic bid. [151976]

  Ruth Kelly
  No estimate has been made. By long-standing convention, HM Customs and Excise does not publish details of the VAT collected from individual bodies or in respect of individual transactions. It is for individual bodies to publish any such information as appropriate to their reporting obligations. All construction projects undertaken in the UK are subject to the same set of VAT rules laid out in the VAT Act 1994.

  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of VAT receipts the Treasury has received from the construction of sports facilities for each year since 1997. [151977]
  571W
  Ruth Kelly
  HM Customs and Excise are unable to calculate VAT receipts from the construction of sports facilities. It is not possible to identify specific sources of VAT revenue from VAT returns. Any data available on expenditure on such construction projects would not be sufficient to estimate relevant VAT receipts as the degree to which VAT is due and reclaimable on the construction of sports facilities will vary.

  Sunset Clauses
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [149335]

  Ruth Kelly
  HM Treasury, together with the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, actively promote the better regulation agenda and the use of sunsetting provisions where appropriate.

  The need for any such provision is considered on a case-by-case basis. Every Finance Act, for example, contains some provisions which apply only for the purposes of the particular tax year to which it relates, and accordingly, these provisions may be considered to be sunset provisions.

  Particular cases of Finance Act sunsetting provisions are section 107(5) of the Finance Act 2001 (which incorporated a sunset provision applicable to that section only) and section 112 of the Finance Act 2003 (which contains a time-limited power, which was exercisable only before the implementation of Part 4 of that Act on 1 December 2003, to amend the provisions of that Part).

  Some of the transitional provisions connected with the coming into force of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ceased to have effect on a certain date.

  Taxable Income
  Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value was of the taxable income from employment in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available. [151704]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The latest information is contained in table 3.6 on the Inland Revenue website http://www. inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/pi_t06_1.htm. For earlier financial years I refer my hon. Friend to paper copies of Inland Revenue Statistics table 3.6 which are available in the House of Commons Library. These estimates are based upon the Survey of Personal Incomes.

  Thalidomide Victims
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made in discussions with the Thalidomide Trust with regard to the tax treatment of payments to victims. [151606]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Discussions between the trustees of the Thalidomide Trust and officials of the Inland Revenue about the tax treatment of payments to beneficiaries of the trust are continuing. No conclusion has yet been reached.

DEFENCE

  Air Defence Destroyers
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) current and (b) planned requirements are for the number of air defence destroyers. [150870]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are currently 11 Royal Navy Type 42 air defence destroyers. There are six Type 45 destroyers currently on order. Decisions about further orders of Type 45s are not expected until the middle of this decade.

  Aircraft Carriers
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned paying-off dates are for each of the fleet's aircraft carriers. [150871]

  Mr. Ingram
  The planned decommissioning dates for the Royal Navy's Invincible class aircraft carriers are listed as follows:

  HMS Invincible: 2010

  HMS Illustrious: 2012

  HMS Ark Royal: 2013

  Dismounted Countermine Capability Programme
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the Army's proposed Dismounted Countermine Capability programme. [149540]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Dismounted Countermine Capability (DCMC) programme is intended to provide dismounted personnel with an improved capability to locate and deal with anti personnel (AP) and anti tank (AT) mines. DCMC seeks to provide a solution based on the need to detect mines, mark individual mines and areas of mine contamination, neutralise individual mines, and communicate information about these actions to other forces on the battlefield.

  DCMC gained Initial Gate approval in March 2003. In August 2003, following a competitive downselection, Thales Missile Electronics was awarded a contract to complete a Study Assessment Programme. Initial work suggests that a technological answer to the problem of detecting minimum metal and non metallic mines (modern mines made from plastics and other non metal materials) is likely to be feasible.

  HMS Bridport
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how long HMS Bridport was laid up; and for what reason. [150865]

  Mr. Ingram
  HMS Bridport has been in a state of extended readiness since March 2002. This was a programming decision made as part of the routine management of the fleet.

  HMS Enterprise
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what elements of the propulsion system of HMS Enterprise have been transferred to HMS Echo;
  573W
  and whether his Department is seeking compensation from the contractor following technical problems with HMS Enterprise. [150859]

  Mr. Ingram
  HMS Enterprise's Azipod Propulsors were transferred to HMS Echo in October 2003 in order to expedite her entry into service with the Royal Navy. The Department and Prime Contractor are currently negotiating over liability and compensation for the problems that gave rise to this transfer.

  Iraq
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cluster bombs have been defused in Iraq by bomb disposal squads since 1 May 2003; and if he will make a statement. [148296]

  Mr. Ingram
  To date around 675,000 munitions have been cleared in the UK area of responsibility. We do not record individual types of munitions cleared.

  SER No

  Date

  Agency

  Glider type

  Description of incident

  1.

  31 May 1998

  Oxford University GC

  Oxford University GC K21

  Ground incident when winch cable snagged glider. Minor damage to glider, but no injuries.

  2.

  11 June 1999

  Joint Service Adventurous Training Gliding

  RAF Gliding and Soaring Association K21

  Ground loop on landing when wing tip makes contact with ground. Minor damage to glider, but no injuries.

  3.

  11 May 2001

  Oxford University GC

  Oxford University GC K18

  Ground incident in that tractor ran over wingtip. Minor damage to glider, but no injuries.

  4.

  23 May 2001

  Oxford University GC

  Oxford University GC K21

  Early solo student allowed undershoot to develop, clipping a tree resulting in a ground loop (See Ser No 2). Major damage to glider, but no injuries.

  5.

  23 May 2001

  Joint Service Adventurous Training Gliding

  RAF Gliding and Soaring Association K21

  Heavy landing. Minor damage to glider, but no injuries.

  6.

  25 May 2003

  British Gliding Association Visitor

  Discus

  Ground incident where glider was towed into wingtip contact with another glider. Minor damage to one of the gliders, but no injuries.

  7.

  25 August 2003

  Oxford University GC

  RAF Gliding and Soaring Association Astir CS GRP

  Pilot allowed undershoot to develop. Glider ploughed through hedge onto the airfield. Major damage to glider and hedge, but no injuries.

  Reservists
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists mobilised for operational service under(a) Operation Telic 1 and (b) Operation Telic 2 under the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 have lost their jobs since returning from service; what his Department did to support them in retaining their employment rights; and if he will make a statement. [151426]

  Mr. Caplin
  There is no requirement for reservists to provide the information requested to the Ministry of Defence. There is, therefore, no comprehensive record of the numbers of reservists who may have lost their civilian job. However, indications are that civilian employers have been very supportive of reservists and, of over 8,600 reservists called-out to support Op Telic, we are aware of only 14 individuals who have brought cases under the 1985 Act.

  The Ministry of Defence provides detailed advice to demobilising reservists to ensure that they are aware of their legal right to reclaim their civilian employment. The Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers (SaBRE) campaign team provides a help line and a website which gives additional information and advice. Also, each Reserve Forces and Cadet Association

  Lieutenant Lewis Page
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Lieutenant Lewis Page was given authorisation while a serving officer to publish an article in Prospect magazine. [150861]

  Mr. Caplin
  Lieutenant Page was not properly authorised to publish this article.

  RAF Bicester
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many accidents there were at RAF Bicester in the last five years; how many involved gliders or training aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [147964]

  Mr. Caplin
  The following table details incidents that have occurred at RAF Bicester over the last five years. The table includes incidents involving other users of the airfield, notably Oxford University Gliding Club. All the incidents occurred within the confines of Bicester airfield and none resulted in any injuries.

  (RFCA) has an Employment Support Executive who is able to offer advice and assistance to reservists who are experiencing problems returning to their civilian employment.

  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision is being made to ensure that life insurance and other financial services made available to reservists being mobilised for operational service in Iraq are of a similar standard and as affordable as those offered to reservists mobilised under Operation Telic 1; and if he will make a statement. [151427]

  Mr. Caplin
  The only financial service specifically for reservists which MOD facilitates is RPAX, which provide personal accident and life cover—there is a similar product, PAX, for regulars. RPAX was available to reservists mobilised under Operation Telic 1, and is still available now. Information about RPAX was then and still is advised to individual reservists and units.

  Scottish Regiments
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Scottish Regiments; what their authorised strength was; and how many vacancies there were in each year since 1997. [150398]
  575W
  Mr. Caplin
  The establishment, trained strength and difference, of each of the Scottish Regiments, are as follows:

  Highlanders

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Difference

  1997

  660

  615

  -45

  1998

  660

  585

  -75

  1999

  660

  505

  -155

  2000

  660

  500

  -160

  2001

  610

  495

  -115

  20021

  665

  520

  -145

  20031

  625

  520

  -105

  1 Strength totals for 2002 and 2003 exclude Gurkhas attached to the regiment: 100 in 2002, and 110 in 2003.

  Black Watch

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Difference

  1997

  595

  515

  -80

  1998

  595

  540

  -55

  1999

  595

  510

  -85

  2000

  705

  510

  -195

  2001

  670

  565

  -105

  2002

  675

  535

  -140

  2003

  675

  585

  -90

  Note:

  Black Watch totals exclude BW LAD REME.

  Royal Scots

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Difference

  1997

  665

  495

  -170

  1998

  665

  510

  -155

  1999

  665

  470

  -195

  2000

  595

  470

  -125

  2001

  610

  515

  -95

  2002

  620

  495

  -125

  2003

  620

  525

  -95

  Royal Highland Fusiliers

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Difference

  1997

  705

  595

  -110

  1998

  705

  620

  -85

  1999

  705

  580

  -125

  2000

  595

  625

  30

  2001

  605

  530

  -75

  2002

  620

  530

  -90

  2003

  620

  540

  -80

  King's Own Scottish Borderers

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Difference

  1997

  595

  545

  -50

  1998

  595

  565

  -30

  1999

  595

  505

  -90

  2000

  595

  550

  -45

  2001

  640

  585

  -55

  2002

  620

  645

  25

  2003

  665

  630

  -35

  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Difference

  1997

  595

  555

  -40

  1998

  595

  595

  0

  1999

  595

  600

  5

  2000

  595

  600

  5

  576W

  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Difference

  2001

  610

  590

  -20

  2002

  620

  580

  -40

  2003

  625

  575

  -50

  Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Difference

  1997

  410

  385

  -25

  1998

  410

  370

  -40

  1999

  410

  370

  -40

  2000

  410

  405

  -5

  2001

  500

  415

  -85

  2002

  495

  440

  -55

  2003

  500

  475

  -25

  Notes:

  RSDG Watch totals exclude LAD REME

  Scots Guards

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Difference

  1997

  595

  530

  -65

  1998

  595

  520

  -75

  1999

  595

  530

  -65

  2000

  595

  560

  -35

  2001

  610

  645

  35

  2002

  625

  565

  -60

  2003

  625

  565

  -60

  F Coy Scots Guards

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Difference

  1997

  105

  85

  -20

  1998

  105

  100

  -5

  1999

  105

  95

  -10

  2000

  105

  115

  10

  2001

  105

  100

  -5

  2002

  105

  115

  10

  2003

  110

  115

  5

  Notes:

  1. The figures are at 1 January each year.

  2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.

  3. Totals are for Regular Army Officers and Soldiers.

  4. FTRS have been excluded.

  5. Totals include members of other Arms/Services attached to the
  regiment but exclude the 2 REME LADs attached to BW and
  SDG.

  6. Historical establishments for F Coy Scots Gds to be confirmed.

  Service Medals
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the General Service Medal with Canal Zone clasp will be awarded to service men and women in the constituency of the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey. [152068]

  Mr. Caplin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5 November 2003,Official Report, column 634W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle).

  Trident Programme
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances the Government would(a) deploy Trident nuclear weapons and (b) deploy Trident nuclear missiles on a first strike basis. [151597]
  577W
  Mr. Hoon
  As the Government have made clear on many occasions, we would be prepared to use nuclear weapons only in extreme circumstances of self-defence. As our overall strategy is to ensure uncertainty in the mind of any aggressor about the exact nature of our response, and thus to maintain effective deterrence, we do not define the exact circumstances under which we would be prepared to use nuclear weapons.

  We would not use our weapons, whether conventional or nuclear, contrary to international law.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which threats the UK's Trident nuclear weapons are(a) intended to deter and (b) targeted against. [151598]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 3.11 of the Defence White Paper published in December 2003 (Cm 6041). The UK's nuclear weapons are not targeted at any country.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of the Trident programme is in combating international terrorism. [151599]

  Mr. Hoon
  As the Government have made clear on many occasions, we would be prepared to use nuclear weapons only in extreme circumstances of self-defence. I also refer the hon. Member to paragraph 21 of the SDR New Chapter, published in July 2002 (Cm 5566 vol. 1), where we stated that:'The UK's nuclear weapons have a continuing use as a means of deterring major strategic military threats, and they have a continuing role in guaranteeing the ultimate security of the UK. But we also want it to be clear, particularly to the leaders of states of concern and terrorist organisations, that all our forces play a part in deterrence, and that we have a broad range of responses available.'

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system is due to come to the end of its service period; when a decision is due on whether to commission a new UK nuclear weapons system to replace the Trident programme when it comes to the end of its service period; and what consultation will be undertaken in advance of a decision on replacement. [151702]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 3.11 of the Defence White Paper published in December 2003 (Cm 6041). Any decision on the UK's future nuclear deterrent capability will be open to scrutiny and debate in the normal way.

  Unexploded Cluster Bombs
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) adults and (b) children under 16 have been (i) killed and (ii) maimed by unexploded cluster bombs dropped by British aircraft in (A) Kosovo, (B) Afghanistan and (C) Iraq since their invasion by coalition forces. [145494]

  Mr. Ingram
  UK aircraft have not dropped cluster bombs in Afghanistan.

  We have no viable means of ascertaining the information for either Kosovo or Iraq.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Civil Servants (Disabled People)
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will set out the number of employees in his Department who have a disability, broken down by disability type. [148992]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My Department is an active member of the Cabinet Office led Civil Service Disability Working Group, which was set up in January 2003 to look at disability collection issues, monitoring and non-declaration.

  Over 5 per cent. (280) of staff employed in my Department have recorded a disability.

  Information on the numbers by type of disability is set out in the table. Details are not published where the numbers are below five in order to protect the privacy of the individual, in line with Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Disability type

  Number

  Hearing impairment

  43

  Learning difficulties

  7

  Mental illness

  5

  Mobility impairment

  47

  Physical coordination difficulties

  5

  Reduced physical capacity

  51

  Visual impairment

  20

  Unknown disability

  66

  The statistics exclude DfES staff in the Government Office network with a recorded disability where a breakdown by disability type could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Global Gateway for Learning
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on development of the Global Gateway for Learning since the Commonwealth Education Ministers' Conference in October 2003. [151114]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Development of the Global Gateway has continued on schedule since last October. The Global Gateway will be a new one-stop-shop website for UK schools on all aspects of international education. It will also enable UK schools and schools from across the world to develop effective partnerships (e.g. joint curriculum projects, professional development, collaborative opportunities etc.) through a school linking facility. I am pleased to announce that I will formally launch the website on 10 February 2004.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what cost savings have been made in his Department since the introduction of the Information Technology Procurement Centre of Excellence; and how these were calculated. [151051]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  A Centre of Excellence in Programme and Project Management was established
  579W
  within the Department for Education and Skills in August 2002, to improve the planning and management of improvements in the education system. In June 2003, its remit was extended to integrate the essential functions which underpin the successful delivery of all types of acquisition based programmes and projects (including those concerned with procuring IT). As cost benefits for IT procurements will not accrue until improvements start to take effect, it is too early to measure cost savings. All Centres of Excellence are currently developing future plans and as part of this process methods for measuring savings are being worked out.

  Jenny Gray
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the(a) position and (b) role is of Jenny Gray, a civil servant in his Department. [151093]

  Annex 1

  Definition

  2003–04 Target

  Position at 31 December 2003

  Number of Learners

  The total number of learners starting learndirect courses in 2003–04.

  450,000 learners

  350,953

  Number of enrolments

  The total number of enrolments on learndirect courses in 2003–04

  1 million enrolments

  602,308

  New learners

  60 per cent, of learners starting their first learndirect course are 'new learners' (i.e. learners that have not engaged in any other learning in the three years prior to registering with learndirect

  60 per cent. of learners

  50 per cent.

  Workforce Development (1) SMEs

  Numbers of SMEs sponsoring one or more of their employers on learndirect courses

  70,000 SMEs engaged

  34,907

  Workforce Development (2) SMEs

  Number of employees in SMEs enrolling on learndirect courses

  200,000 enrolments on learndirect courses

  118,575

  Course Portfolio Diversification

  Number of Business and Management course enrolments

  112,000 enrolments

  90,167

  Skills for Life achievement

  Refers only to achievement of qualifications in England that can be counted towards the Government's 750,000 PSA Skills for Life Target

  8,000 achievements

  541

  Income generation

  Ufi will generate £3.7 million from the sale of courses unsubsidised with public money to employers and to individuals

  £3.7 million

  £995,018

  LSC Budget Management

  Ufi will use its best endeavours to use all the LSC funding allocated for learndirect provision

  By end 31 March 2004, no less than £151 million of the £159.5 million made available by the LSC for learndirect provision in the financial year 2003–04 shall have been used for the funding of learndirect provision

  £104,338,468

  Quality: Hubs and Centres

  In 2003–04 Ufi/learndirect will achieve an average inspection grade awarded by the Adult Learning Inspectorate of 2.5

  Average ALI inspection grade of 2.5

  2.89

  Quality: Learner Satisfaction

  The percentage of learners satisfied with learndirect

  87 per cent.

  85 per cent.

  Users of the learndirect Information and Advice Service

  A total of number of helpline callers, web users, emails received and responded to and webchats held

  4.7 million

  3,726,801

  Callers from within Government target range

  Calls received by learndirect call centres from callers who are eligible to count towards the Government's level 2 PSA target

  550,000

  240,304

  Quality Information and Advice Service

  Percentage canvassed through a rolling customer satisfaction survey who agreed with the statement: "the overall quality of the service was good" (applicable to all IAS users as defined by agreed volume targets)

  87 per cent.

  93 per cent.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 15 December 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. R. ul Haque Malik; [149546]
  580W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 26 January 2004]: It is not our policy to comment on the position of individual civil servants.

  University for Industry
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which targets have been set by Government for the University for Industry; and what progress has been made in meeting them. [150777]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 26 January 2004]: Stretching targets are agreed annually between my Department and Ufi. They are set at challenging levels and are designed to build upon the achievements of previous years and to maintain Ufi's rapid progress.

  The attached table (Annex 1) shows the targets agreed for 2003–04 and the progress made towards them by 31 December 2003.

  (2) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 15 December 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to R. ul Haque Malik. [151227]

  Mr. Mullin
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 23 January.
  581W
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 16 December 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Ammar Marfani; [149552]

  (2) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 16 December 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Ammar Marfani. [151229]

  Mr. Mullin
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 26 January.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Tyne Bridge of 8 January. [151905]

  Mr. Mullin
  I replied to my hon. Friend's letter of 8 January on 29 January, explaining the delay, advising that the matters he raised were the responsibility of the Home Office and that I had forwarded his letter to my right hon. Friend the Minister of State with responsibility for Citizenship, Immigration and Counter-Terrorism at the Home Office (Beverly Hughes) with a request that it be replied to urgently.

  Iraq
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have asked the state from which they obtained intelligence on Iraq's alleged attempt to procure uranium from Africa if they may share that intelligence with(a) the United States Administration and (b) other governments. [151301]

  Mr. Straw
  The Government asked the originators of the intelligence that Iraq sought the supply of uranium from Africa to discuss the issue with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Government understand this was done shortly before the IAEA report of 7 March 2003. I am withholding further details of intelligence exchanges with allies under Exemption 1(c) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  North Korea
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with proposals for North Korean students to come to the United Kingdom for cultural and language education to increase links at a sub-governmental level. [151900]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Government have no objection to students from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) studying language and culture courses in the UK. Through our policy of engagement with DPRK, we encourage the country to increase its citizens' exposure to the outside world. Our on-going programme of educational activity with DPRK includes Foreign and Commonwealth Office-funded (FCO), UK-based English language courses for DPRK officials, and an FCO-sponsored/British Council-managed English language course for teachers and students in universities in Pyongyang. We also provide educational materials to schools and universities in DPRK.
  582W
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to secure greater access for western non-governmental organisations into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. [151901]

  Mr. Rammell
  We regularly urge the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) authorities to allow freer and wider access to and within DPRK for western non-governmental organisations (NGOs). We also supported the resolution adopted by the 2003 UN Commission on Human Rights, which calls for free and unimpeded access for NGOs to all parts of DPRK.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests the Government have made to the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on access for international inspectors to their prison system. [151902]

  Mr. Rammell
  We have raised the issue of prison camps in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with the DPRK authorities on a number of occasions, through our embassy in Pyongyang and the DPRK embassy in London. We encourage the DPRK Government to allow access to independent international inspectors to verify the reports of human rights violations in their prison system. Requests have been made for access by western diplomats to prisons, but these have yet to be granted.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to provide protection for economic and political refugees who leave the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and are hiding in China. [151903]

  Mr. Rammell
  We regularly raise the issue of North Korean refugees with the Chinese, including at the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue. At the last round of the Dialogue, on 10–11 November 2003, we urged China to allow the UNHCR access to the border areas and to observe its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention.

  We will continue to encourage greater co-operation between China and UNHCR on this issue.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to assist aid workers in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to obtain timely and unimpeded access to distribute food aid to those people most in need. [151904]

  Mr. Rammell
  Most food aid in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is distributed by the World Food Programme (WFP), a UN agency. We work closely with WFP and the resident aid community, and embassy staff travel frequently with WFP on their monitoring missions. We deplore restrictions placed on WFP by the DPRK authorities which limit their monitoring of food aid in many areas of DPRK, and we regularly urge the DPRK authorities to grant WFP full, unrestricted access to all parts of the country. Although the situation is not satisfactory, we welcome WFP reports of improvements in monitoring, access and food distribution systems.

  Visas
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions relate to the issuing of visas to nationals of countries in the Indian sub-continent. [151981]

  Mr. Mullin
  All entry clearance applications are considered against the relevant requirements of the United Kingdom's Immigration Rules which state that applicants must satisfy an Entry Clearance Officer, on the balance of probabilities, that they meet the requirements of these Rules in the category that they apply. The Rules are applied equally throughout the world, regardless of the nationality of an applicant or the country in which the application is made.

PRIME MINISTER

  Officials' Meetings
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Prime Minister when and where his officials last met officials from the Egyptian Government. [152187]

  The Prime Minister
  The British ambassador, officials from the embassy and other officials meet representatives of the Egyptian Government on a regular basis, in Egypt and in international forums.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Broadband Stakeholder Group
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will publish her proposals for a new consultative body to replace the Broadband Stakeholder Group. [151476]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government value the work of the Broadband Stakeholder Group and the significant contribution it has made 10 the successful development of broadband in the UK. The DTI is reviewing with

  Insolvencies in England and Wales: Seasonally adjusted

  Company insolvencies

  Individual insolvencies

  Years

  Total

  Compulsory liquidations

  Creditors' voluntary liquidations

  Total

  Bankruptcy orders

  Individual voluntary arrangements1

  2000

  14,317

  4,925

  9,392

  29,528

  21,550

  7,978

  2001

  14,972

  4,675

  10,297

  29,775

  23,477

  6,298

  2002

  16,305

  6,230

  10,075

  30,587

  24,292

  6,295

  2000

  Q1

  3,522

  1,178

  2,344

  7,612

  5,361

  2,251

  Q2

  3,431

  1,242

  2,189

  7,440

  5,326

  2,114

  Q3

  3,775

  1,306

  2,469

  7,200

  5,393

  1,808

  Q4

  3,589

  1,198

  2,391

  7,276

  5,471

  1,805

  2001

  Q1

  3,825

  1,330

  2,495

  7,473

  5,742

  1,730

  Q2

  3,765

  1,296

  2,468

  7,591

  5,994

  1,597

  Q3

  3,692

  1,005

  2,687

  7,324

  5,753

  1,571

  Q4

  3,690

  1,044

  2,646

  7,387

  5,988

  1,399

  584W
  stakeholders how the work of the BSG might best be taken forward in the future. I will make an announcement when the review has been completed.

  Bank of Credit and Commerce International
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Secretary of State last met the liquidators of BCCI. [149584]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Officials met one of the liquidators of BCCI on 4 March 2003 to review the progress of the liquidation.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which liquidators of BCCI the Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service met on 4 March 2003; and for what reason. [151679]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service met Mr. John Richards, one of the liquidators of BCCI, on 4 March 2003 to discuss the progress of the liquidation.

  Bankruptcies
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) personal and (b) company bankruptcies there were in each of the last three years for which there are records; what assessment she has made of recent trends; and if she will make a statement. [150214]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The following table shows total personal and company insolvencies in England and Wales for 2000 to 2002 and the first three quarters of 2003. Figures for 2003 as a whole will be available on 6 February.

  The latest quarterly figures (Q3 2003) shows decreases in company insolvencies and increases in individual insolvencies, when compared to both the previous quarter and the corresponding quarter of 2002. The latest annual figures continue increasing trends in levels of insolvency since 1997 for both companies and individuals. However the annual rate of company insolvencies for the last 12 months remains at the Q2 level of 1.0 per cent., the lowest level since Q1 1989 and just over a third of the level reached following the recession in the early 1990s.
  585W

  Insolvencies in England and Wales: Seasonally adjusted

  Company insolvencies

  Individual insolvencies

  Years

  Total

  Compulsory liquidations

  Creditors' voluntary liquidations

  Total

  Bankruptcy orders

  Individual voluntary arrangements1

  2002

  Q1

  4,014

  1,376

  2,638

  7,244

  5,808

  1,437

  Q2

  4,130

  1,608

  2,522

  7,596

  6,003

  1,593

  Q3

  3,882

  1,475

  2,407

  7,779

  6,180

  1,600

  Q4

  4,280

  1,772

  2,508

  7,967

  6,302

  1,665

  2003

  Q1

  3,672

  1,540

  2,132

  8,146

  6,562

  1,584

  Q2

  23,825

  21,416

  22,409

  28,738

  26,807

  21,931

  Q33

  3,398

  1,153

  2,245

  9,094

  7,086

  2,008

  1 Including Deeds of Arrangement.

  2 Revised, reflecting an amendment to the raw data/update of seasonally adjusted figures.

  3 Provisional.

  Bribery
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what departmental investigations her Department has initiated into bribery allegations against a UK company since November 1997. [151511]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Department's records concerning Companies Acts investigations are not kept in a manner which facilitates provision of the information requested. However, officials do not believe that any such investigations have been initiated into allegations of bribery since November 1997.

  The Department also has a criminal investigation function, established principally to follow up allegations of offences under the Companies and Insolvency Acts. Examination of the records of this section do not reveal any allegations of bribery having been investigated since November 1997.

  Such an allegation would, in most instances, be better suited to be dealt with by the wider powers of the police.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many allegations of bribery have been received by the National Contact Point for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; and how many of these allegations have been forwarded to the National Criminal Intelligence Service. [151512]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The NCP has received one allegation of bribery. The allegation was received verbally while attending a conference. The NCP asked that details be provided in writing; these details were then passed to the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

  Buzzard Oil Field Contract
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of the Buzzard oil field contract is; which companies tendered for the contract; what the country of origin of each company is; and which company won the bid. [151151]

  Mr. Timms
  EnCana (UK) Ltd., Operator of the North Sea Buzzard oil field, anticipates that development costs on the project will be around £1.35 billion. There is no single contract to develop this field and the operator, solely responsible for project 586W
  procurement, is still engaged in the process of awarding more than 200 separate contracts to suppliers from the UK, the wider EU and elsewhere.

  EnCana advise however that UK-owned and UK-based companies have already won around two thirds of over £500 million worth of major contracts awarded on the project. I am pleased to acknowledge the successes of these companies who have again proved themselves competitive internationally. I am also advised that UK-based companies are likely to win yet more work from the contracts currently being tendered.

  The following list gives an indication, in respect of some of the major contracts awarded thus far, of the operational location of those tendering and identifies successful companies. Values of individual tenders, and of contracts placed, are still considered commercially sensitive by the operator EnCana.

  Service/Company

  Operational country

  Award date

  Front End Studies

  Granherne

  UK

  Genesis

  UK

  January 2002

  Engineering Design

  John Brown

  UK

  August 2002

  Brown and Root

  UK

  AMEC

  UK

  Jackets

  Aker Kvaerner

  Norway

  September 2003

  Dragados

  Spain

  Heerema

  Holland

  SLP

  UK—only tendered the smallest jacket

  Wellhead Topsides

  Heerema (Hartlepool)

  UK

  SLP

  UK

  McNulty Offshore

  UK

  Burntisland Fabricators

  UK

  November 2003

  Swan Hunter

  UK

  HBG

  Holland

  BLADT

  Denmark

  Production Deck

  AMEC

  UK

  Dragados

  Spain

  December 2003

  Aker Kvaerner

  Norway

  Heerema (Hartlepool)

  UK

  Utilities and Quarters Deck

  AMEC

  UK

  Dragados

  Spain

  Aker Kvaerner

  Norway

  Heerema (Hartlepool)

  UK

  December 2003

  Civil Partnerships Bill
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects extending the provisions of the Civil Partnerships Bill to heterosexual couples. [147061]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 13 January 2004]: Civil partnership is aimed at same-sex couples who cannot obtain full legal recognition of their relationships. Opposite-sex couples can achieve this through marriage. There can be no real benefit of extending to opposite-sex couples the right to achieve legal recognition of their relationships when they already enjoy that opportunity.

  Company Liquidation
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies went into liquidation in 2003. [151011]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Annual insolvency figures for 2003 are not yet available. The insolvencies press release for the fourth quarter of 2003 will be published on Friday 6 February at 9:30 am.

  The seasonally adjusted figures for the first three quarters of 2003 are shown in the following table:

  Company insolvencies in England and Wales in 2003

  Seasonally adjusted

  Quarter

  Total

  Compulsory liquidations

  Creditors voluntary liquidations

  Q1

  3,672

  1,540

  2,132

  Q2

  3,825

  1,416

  2,409

  Q31

  3,398

  1,153

  2,245

  1 Provisional.

  Distance Selling
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to inform consumers about their rights concerning distance selling. [151258]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Online in formation is available from my Department's website and from the Consumer Gateway (www2.consumer.gov.uk/consumer_web/e-shopping.htm), which provides links to a variety of websites that will help consumers make informed decisions about buying goods and services.

  On 29 December DTI published guidance about buying from internet auction sites, and on 22 January the Department began a consultation on changes to the Distance Selling Regulations, including a proposal to clarify what suppliers must tell consumers about their cancellation rights.

  DTFs Safe Internet Shopping campaign, launched in 2001, promotes wider access to information on e-commerce. Guidance has been delivered through TV and radio, and over the Internet in partnership with private sector organisations such as Microsoft, Sainsbury's, Freeserve and Expedia. Hard copy information has been distributed through Citizens Advice Bureaux and libraries. The Office of Fair Trading also provides information on internet shopping and distance contracts more generally, on its website and through consumer roadshows.
  588W
  In addition, Consumer Direct will offer advice to consumers by telephone, by e-mail or on the web. The service is likely to begin in three pathfinder areas this Summer and is expected to be operating nationally by 2007.

  Energy Policy
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the Russian Government on securing a supply of gas to the UK. [151707]

  Mr. Timms
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry discussed gas issues with Russian Government during the "Russia-UK Energy Conference: Long Term Partners" held in June last year, during President Putin's State visit. During the visit, she had a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Kudrin where a wide range of issues were discussed.

  Also at the conference, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Igor Yusufov. Minister for Energy for the Russian Federation, in which the UK and Russia agreed to work closely together on the North European Gas Pipeline project.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many valid applications have been received for the renewable energy initiative of the Export Credits Guarantee Department; which have been successful; what the(a) company involved, (b) amount allocated, (c) project type and (d) form of renewable energy concerned is for each successful application; and what the maximum liability is. [151693]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since the announcement of the renewables initiative ECGD has received 24 inquiries, nine of which required and were given preliminary indications of cover for business in prospect. So far none of these have progressed to the stage of becoming firm business.

  Gas (Northern Ireland)
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average bill for domestic gas consumers in Northern Ireland who pay for gas by(a) direct debit, (b) quarterly credit and (c) prepayment meter was in the last year for which figures are available. [151527]

  Mr. Timms
  The average bill for domestic gas consumers in Northern Ireland at current 2004 prices for the various payment methods is as follows:

  Payment method

  Bill (£ per annum)

  Direct Debit

  377

  Quarterly credit

  398

  Prepayment meter

  402

  Note:

  1 Figures are calculate dusing an annual consumption of 18,000 kWh, and are inclusive of VAT.

  2 Figures relate to prices charged by Phoenix Natural Gas, the sole domestic gas supplier for Northern Ireland.

  Source:

  Phoenix Natural Gas

  Investment
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she collates on the investment levels of small and medium enterprises of other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development states in Asian countries. [151805]

  Nigel Griffiths
  This information is not collected by HMG since this would involve tracking each individual company and therefore be a disproportionate cost to obtain the information.

  National Business Angels Network
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the budget was of the National Business Angels Network for each year since its inception; and what the anticipated budget is for each year until 2006–07. [151434]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 27 January 2004]: The National Business Angels Network is a private company, which has received the following funding from the DTI:

  £

  2000–01

  340,000

  2001–02

  250,000

  2002–03

  200,000

  2003–04

  200,000

  2004–05

  1150,000

  2005–06

  1150,000

  1 Subject to upward-only review up to a maximum of £200,000

  National Power Provision
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers exist to penalise power companies whose service suffers from persistent power cut problems. [151196]

  Mr. Timms
  Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority have powers to penalise power companies whose service suffers from persistent power interruptions.

  The DTI's Engineering Inspectorate has powers under Regulation 34 of The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, to impose actions on a company to improve its service. The Inspectorate may take action if there is evidence to suggest that repeated interruptions to supply are occurring and that no remedial measures have been taken.

  The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority has powers under the Electricity Act 1989 to investigate whether a licence holder has breached the conditions of its licence, and if so, whether remedial action (such as a financial penalty) is appropriate. The Authority may impose a penalty upon a licence holder when it is satisfied that a licence holder is contravening or has contravened any relevant condition or requirement. No penalty imposed may exceed 10 per cent. of the turnover of the licence holder.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many power cuts there were in each of the last five years in(a) Howden, (b) Anlaby,
  590W
  (c) Willerby, (d) North Cave, (e) South Cave, (f) Kirk Ella, (g) Cottingham, (h) Eastrington, (i) Brough, (j) North Ferriby, (k) Swanland and (l) Holme Upon Spalding Moor. [151256]

  Mr. Timms
  It has not been possible for Yorkshire Electricity Distribution Limited (YEDL) to collate all the information sought within a short timescale.

  I will respond to the right hon. Member in writing when I have received a full report from YEDL.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the power consumption of the United Kingdom was in each of the last 25 years. [151261]

  Mr. Timms
  Available data are shown in the following table.

  TWh

  Total electricity consumption

  1978

  231.42

  1979

  242.00

  1980

  231.11

  1981

  227.21

  1982

  222.82

  1983

  226.09

  1984

  230.96

  1985

  241.85

  19861

  249.34

  19861

  259.82

  1987

  268.38

  1988

  274.50

  1989

  279.40

  1990

  284.42

  1991

  290.84

  1992

  291.45

  1993

  295.75

  1994

  292.83

  1995

  303.92

  1996

  319.78

  1997

  321.07

  1998

  325.35

  1999

  332.05

  2000

  340.30

  2001

  342.78

  2002

  343.83

  1 Prior to 1986 the consumption figures are based on electricity supplied from major power producers, transport undertakings and industrial hydro and nuclear stations only. From 1986 the consumption figures are based on electricity supplied from all generating companies.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much compensation for loss of power was paid by power companies to customers in each of the last five years, broken down by individual power company. [151262]

  Mr. Timms
  Payments made under Guaranteed Standards of Performance following loss of power were as follows.
  591W

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2002–03 storms compensation

  Aquila

  0

  0

  400

  0

  0

  542,650

  EME

  150

  30

  100

  0

  350

  44,820

  EPN

  390

  85

  1,150

  0

  0

  1,155,800

  Hydro

  0

  120

  0

  0

  0

  LPN

  150

  66,920

  650

  100

  0

  NEDL

  385,650

  0

  16,050

  750

  250

  SP

  0

  0

  6,425

  3,150

  7,900

  SPN

  0

  12,660

  100

  0

  0

  3,725

  Southern

  0

  60

  100

  0

  0

  2,000

  SP Manweb

  0

  0

  8,150

  4,300

  12,625

  157,575

  UU

  628,520

  240

  6,250

  2,800

  100

  WPD S. Wales

  0

  30

  400

  0

  0

  11,300

  WPD S. West

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  YEDL

  180

  0

  4,075

  2,450

  0

  1 WPD S. Wales payment relates to total paid by WPD S Wales and WPD S. West. From April 2000 payment in respect of first payment due increased from £30 to £50 and period triggering payment reduced from 24 to 18 hours.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that power companies give adequate compensation to customers who suffer from power cuts. [151263]

  Mr. Timms
  This is a matter for the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). As part of its distribution price control review, which is presently under way, Ofgem is reviewing the standards of performance under which compensation payments are made.

  As the next price control is not implemented until April 2005, with two winter periods before then, Ofgem has recently introduced interim arrangements for compensation in severe weather conditions. The aim of these arrangements is to ensure that the basis for compensation is clear and that customers who have valid claims are paid out quickly after the event. Under the new arrangements, for all but the most extreme events, customers who make a valid claim for compensation will be entitled to £25 if they are off supply for more than 48 hours plus £25 for each additional 12 hour period up to a maximum payment of £200.

  Under normal weather conditions, the Guaranteed Standards of Performance continue to apply and a payment of £50 is triggered at 18 hours with £25 for each additional 12 hour period.

  Nigeria
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2003,Official Report, column 798W, on the Export Credits Guarantee Department, if she will list the contracts for which Nigeria has incurred its total debt to the ECGD, stating the project type and the UK company concerned in each instance. [151539]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The current outstanding debt on Nigeria is £4.494 billion (this figure includes interest and arrears.) Due to the high number of transactions involved (over 26,000 dating back 20 years or more), it would not be possible to identify all projects individually without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Nuclear Energy
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the confidentiality clauses at
  592W
  pages 88 to 90, paragraph 38 of the Nuclear Liabilities Fund Agreement covering British Energy Generation Ltd. and Newcol dated 1 October 2003 will preclude providing hon. Members with details of British Energy contracts with British Nuclear Fuels plc. [147620]

  Mr. Timms
  Clause 38(4) of the Nuclear Liabilities Funding Agreement provides that the Secretary of State may disclose information to Parliament to the extent that she considers that it is appropriate to do so pursuant to her duty to Parliament but, where reasonably practicable, shall consult with Newcol (the proposed successor company to British Energy under the restructuring) prior to such disclosure. Any request to the Secretary of State for disclosure of the contracts would be considered in the light of information already made available by British Energy, and Exemption 13: Third Party's Commercial Confidences of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Defence Facilities
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 12 January 2004,Official Report, columns 505–06W, whether any visits by safeguards inspectors have been made to military nuclear facilities; and what the (a) dates and (b) purposes were of the visits. [151867]

  Mr. Timms
  As indicated in the previous answer, there are and have been no safeguards inspections at UK defence nuclear facilities. Senior officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (the IAEA) did take up an invitation from the UK to visit such a facility in 1993 to discuss UK support for the use of sampling and measurement techniques which had the potential to help strengthen the IAEA safeguards regime as a whole.

  Political Risk Insurance
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the length of time is within which the Export Credits Guarantee Department must appraise whether a claim will be paid on political risk insurance. [151493]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Under the terms of ECGD's insurance products, in order for ECGD to assess whether a claim will or will not be paid, evidence must be provided by the Insured to demonstrate to ECGD's
  593W
  satisfaction that an insured loss has occurred. There is no fixed time limit on this process although the Insured must notify its intention to make a claim within a set period, which is three months for Overseas Investment Insurance Policy and 12 months for Export Insurance Policy and Bond Insurance Policy.

  Under its financing products, ECGD will normally pay claims including interest to the financing banks following notification of default. Claims are normally paid three months after the due date of payment of the defaulted amount.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to implement postal competition in line with EU requirements set out in COM (2004) 29. [151492]

  Mr. Timms
  The UK has set an end date for the full opening of the UK postal market by 31 March 2007. Market opening is proceeding in three phases to allow Royal Mail to prepare for competition and for potential entrants to prepare to enter the market.

  The first phase, which started in January 2003, provides three possible entry routes for new entrants designed to open up 30 per cent. of the UK letter market (by revenue). In phase two, from 1 April 2005, Postcomm intends to open another 30 per cent. of the mails market (by revenue) by increasing the proportion of the bulk mail market that is open to competition. We believe that this staged approach provides Royal Mail, other operators and customers with a clear end date and a simple step-by-step transition to make their plans.

  Market developments are consistent with trends in Europe, and concordant with the requirements of the EU Postal Services Directives.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down how(a) the funding allocated to modernisation of the Post Office network, (b) her Department's financial support to Consignia, and (c) the grant-in-aid to the Consumer Council for postal services set out in her Departmental Report 2003 was allocated for 2003–04. [147803]

  Mr. Timms
  The funding provision for 2003–04 for postal services as published in my Department's Departmental Report 2003 is:

  (a) £90 million allocated to modernisation of the Post Office network in support for the urban post office network reinvention programme to fund the compensation payment terms negotiated between Post Office Ltd. (POL) and the National Federation of SubPostmasters and the investment grant package;

  (b) The DTI has provided a loan facility to POL (a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Mail Group plc) to enable it to fund its working capital requirements. This is primarily to ensure that there is sufficient cash in post offices to meet benefit payment and other cash needs. POL's cash used to be pre-funded by the Department for Work and Pensions but the pre-funding will decline as benefits are paid directly into recipients' accounts and POL still needs to have the cash available for benefits to
  594W
  be paid in cash. The loan facility package is designed on commercial lines in terms of interest and commitment charges and administration fees;

  (c)The provision of £7.810 million is based on the Consumer Council for Postal Services (CCPS) actual budget expenditure for 2001–02. The actual budget agreed for 2003–04 is £9.905 million. The breakdown of how the funding was allocated for 2003–04 will be published in the CCPS financial report on 30 July 2004.

  Power Stations (Wales)
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the power stations in Wales and their(a) maximum operating capacity and (b) average operating capacity over the last year. [151756]

  Mr. Timms
  Power stations in Wales owned by major power producers along with their installed capacities as at the end of May 2003 are listed as follows:

  Station

  Fuel

  Installed capacity (MW)

  Aberthaw B

  Coal-fired

  1,455

  Aberthaw GT

  Gas oil

  51

  Barry

  Gas-CCGT

  250

  Connahs Quay

  Gas-CCGT

  1,380

  Cwm Dyli

  Hydro

  10

  Deeside

  Gas-CCGT

  1250

  Dinorwig

  Pumped storage

  1,728

  Dolgarrog

  Hydro

  37

  Ffestiniog

  Pumped Storage

  360

  Fifoots Point

  Coal

  2393

  Maentwrog

  Hydro

  20

  Rheidol

  Hydro

  50

  Wylfa

  Nuclear

  980

  1 Excludes a further 250 MW that was mothballed, but brought back into service at the end of 2003.

  2 In receivership and not operating at that time but subsequently leased by Innogy for winter 2003–04 operations.

  Source:

  Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2003, Table 5.10

  Operational data for individual power stations are matters for the operating companies themselves and are not collected centrally. In total, generation by the stations listed above in 2002 was 30,459 GWh. It is estimated that the aggregate plant load factor for these stations 4 per cent. for the UK as a whole.

  Project Funding
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding has been provided by her Department to finance(a) the UK High Technology Fund, (b) the Quality Mark Scheme, (c) the Inside UK Enterprise Scheme, (d) the Construction Line Programme, (e) the Basic Technologies Programme, (f) the Construction Best Practice Programme and (g) the Foresight Programme in each financial year since the inception of each; what funding has been allocated to finance each scheme in future financial years; and if she will estimate the extent to which businesses have benefited from each initiative to date. [149448]

  Ms Hewitt
  The following table shows the level of funding provided to 2002–03; and, the projected spend in future years.
  595W

  Expenditure (£ million)

  UK High Technology Fund

  Quality Mark

  Inside UK Enterprise

  Construction Line

  Basic Technologies

  Construction Best Practice2

  Foresight

  1998–99

  —

  —

  n/a

  —

  —

  n/a

  1.4

  1999–2000

  3.0

  —

  n/a

  —

  —

  n/a

  2.8

  2000–01

  17.0

  n/a

  —

  —

  n/a

  4.8

  2001–02

  0

  1,26.7

  n/a

  0.2

  —

  2.1

  2.2

  2002–03

  0

  1.2

  0.2

  —

  2.7

  1.0

  2003–04

  0

  2.0

  1.2

  0

  0.6

  2.6

  1.8

  2004–05

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2.8

  0

  0

  2005–06

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2.4

  0

  0

  2006–07

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2.0

  0

  0

  2007–08

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0.3

  0

  0

  1 Combined expenditure 2000–03

  2 Funded by former DETR 1998—June 2001

  Notes:

  1. Some historic expenditure data has been omitted from this reply due to the disproportionate cost of providing it.

  2. Forecast expenditure reflects outstanding legal and contractual obligations.

  3. All figures have been rounded to the nearest £100,000

  Benefits to Business

  (a) UK High Technology Fund

  The UK High Technology fund has stimulated private sector investments of £106.1 million, against a target of £105 million, significantly increasing the amount of finance available for investment in technology-based businesses.

  From the total fund of £126.1million (which includes DTI investment of £20 million), over £123 million of this has, to date, been committed to nine specialist venture capital funds. These venture capital funds have in turn made investments in over 130 technology-based companies throughout the UK.

  (b) Quality Mark

  Quality Mark provides a competitive edge for accredited tradespeople by improving the information available to consumers.

  (c) Inside UK Enterprise

  In the three years to 2002, Inside UK Enterprise helped users to increase sales by around £175 million and increase profit margins by around £135 million.

  (d) Constructionline

  Constructionline streamlines procurement procedures and cuts costs by supplying the construction industry and its clients with a single national pre-qualification scheme.

  (e) Basic Technologies

  The first projects to be supported by this programme commenced in mid-2003. It is too early to estimate the benefits to businesses.

  (f) Construction Best Practice

  In 2002, businesses using Construction Best Practice increased profitability by £56 million—28 times the cost of running the scheme.

  Productivity also improved with each user saving an average of 12 days and £3,300. This equates to a total of £8.5 million and 60,000 days saved.

  It is currently estimated that in 2003, users increased their profitability by more than £100 million.

  (g) Foresight

  Between 1994 and 2001 the Foresight Programme helped Government, Research Organisations and Business prepare for the future by helping to identify potential
  596W
  threats and opportunities over the coming 10 to 20 years. New partnerships have been forged between business and the science base and across all sectors and disciplines to change the way business and the science base relate to each other and to the future.

  Organisations such as Research Councils, Training Organisations, other Government Departments and education funding bodies used the results of Foresight to set priorities for the benefit of business.

  Public Bodies (Membership)
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who the members of the(a) Post Office Users Council for Scotland, (b) Post Office Users Council for Northern Ireland, (c) Post Office Users Council for Wales, (d) English Advisory Committee on Telecommunications and (e) Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and what their remuneration is. [151448]

  Mr. Timms
  In 2001 the former Post Office Users National Council was replaced by a new Consumer Council of Postal Services, known as Postwatch. The Postwatch Council is made up of the Chairs of nine Regional Postwatch Committees and four national Council members, operating under a National Chairman. Full details of all Council members and their remuneration are set out in the Postwatch Annual Report. Currently the Northern Ireland, Scottish and Welsh committees are chaired by, respectively John Stringer, Tom Begg and Eifon Pritchard. The remuneration for the Regional Chairs is based on an average annual rate of £20,500 per annum for two days per week; with some working for two and a half and some three days per week.

  The Advisory Committees on Telecommunications effectively ceased to exist with the vesting of Ofcom on 29 December 2003.

  Science and Society Directorate
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 15 December 2003,Official Report, column 646W, on the Science and Society Directorate, whether the objectives of the Science

  597W
  and Society Directorate's Public Engagement Team include the promotion of the public understanding of cultural factors impinging on and operating within scientific communities that will help the public make informed judgments. [151087]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Science and Society Directorate's Public Engagement Team promotes public awareness and engagement with all aspects of science. This includes the scientific 'process' in all its forms, for example: the setting of research priorities; peer review; the interaction of scientists within and across disciplines; the legal boundaries within which scientists operate; ethical considerations; and the lack of absolute certainty in science.

  We believe this approach helps to set the context within which the public can consider specific science related issues as they arise.

  Security Passes
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many security passes have been reported(a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in her Department in the last 12 months. [150889]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten) on 22 January 2004,Official Report, column 1386W.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies have been commissioned by her Department into the safety of TETRA masts. [151793]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 29 January 2004]: My Department contributes to the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme (MTHR), which includes studies looking at TETRA technology. The Home Office also has an extensive research programme. Details of the MTHR research programme can be found at www.mthr.org.uk and the Home Office at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/tetra.html

  UK Business Online
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the closure of UK Business Online. [150617]

  Mr. Timms
  In November 2002, the Secretary of State announced that business support was to be radically restructured as a result of feedback from key stakeholders. Rather than being closed, therefore, UK online for business will be integrated into mainstream DTI and Business Link, from April onwards. The aim is to make it simpler for businesses to access the support that DTI provides and to make the support more effective.

  While the UK online for business brand will therefore be discontinued, ICT support and promotion will nevertheless remain a key focus for DTI.

  Unfair Dismissal
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice her Department has given to small firms about unfair dismissal rules introduced under the Employment Act 2002. [144235]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Part 3 of the Employment Act 2002 set out a framework of new minimum statutory dismissal and disciplinary and grievance procedures, and also made some changes to the law on unfair dismissal and on employment particulars. The detailed operation of disciplinary and grievance procedures was left to be specified via secondary legislation. This was laid before Parliament on 20 January 2004, and is anticipated to come into force on 1 October 2004.

  All employers, regardless of size, will normally be required to follow these minimum procedures before dismissing employees—failure to do so may result in a tribunal finding the dismissal automatically unfair. In addition, in ordinary unfair dismissal cases, the employment tribunals will continue to take account of the Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures in deciding whether or not an employer acted reasonably in dismissing. Acas launched this month a public consultation on a revised version of their Code of Practice.

  The Government will put in hand an extensive guidance and advice campaign in good time for implementation, in consultation with small firms and other advisory organisations. This will inform employers and employees as necessary of the new rights and responsibilities created by this part of the Employment Act.

  Utilities Act
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under which provisions of the Utilities Act 2000 she is prevented from making public the findings of the Engineering Inspectorate of its inquiry into the power failures in London and Birmingham; and if she will make a statement. [151346]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 27 January 2004]: Section 105 of the Utilities Act 2000 places general restrictions on the disclosure of information relating to the affairs of any individual or to any particular business obtained by virtue of the provisions of the Act, Part I of the Gas Act 1986 or Part I of the Electricity Act 1989 during the lifetime of the individual or so long as the business continues.

  Disclosure is permissible with the consent of the individual or the person for the time being carrying on the business. Disclosure is also permitted in limited circumstances, for example where it is necessary for the purpose of facilitating the performance of certain functions of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry or regulatory authorities or where it is required by a licence holder in order to fulfil a condition of his licence.

  Section 105 makes unauthorised disclosure of information obtained under the 2000 Act, or under Part I of the 1986 Act or Part I of the 1989 Act, a criminal offence.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Attendance Allowance Claims
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of attendance allowance claims, processed since the new claim pack was introduced in October 2003, have been subject to appeal. [146742]

  Mr. Pond
  [pursuant to his reply, 7 January 2004, c. 458W]: The information given contained an inaccuracy in one of the figures; that of the number of decisions made in November 2003. The correct information is tabled as follows.

  The following information shows the number of decisions made on new Attendance Allowance claims in the months of October and November 2003 and the number of Attendance Allowance appeals registered in the same months. Decisions appealed in October and November will contain a mix of claims made on the old and new forms. No separate data are available.

  October 2003

  November 2003

  Decisions made

  35,111

  30,521

  Appeals registered

  1,213

  1,120

  Percentage

  3.45

  3.67

  Child Poverty
  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of children are living in poverty, using the(a) absolute low income, (b) relative low income and (c) material deprivation indicators announced in his Department's report, Measuring Child Poverty; and if he will give this information for (i) before and (ii) after housing costs for (A) 1998 and (B) 2001 for (1) the UK, (2) England, broken down by region, (3) Scotland, (4) Wales and (5) Northern Ireland. [151376]

  Mr. Pond
  The requested figures for absolute and relative low income are available from: "Households Below Average Income—An analysis of the income distribution for 1994–95 to 2001–02". This analysis covers Great Britain only; no data are available for Northern Ireland.

  'Measuring Child Poverty', published in December 2003, outlines the Government's measure of UK child poverty for the long term; this new measure will begin from 2004–05. It also states that data for material deprivation will not be collected on the Family Resources Survey until the 2004–05 sample, and not available for full analysis until 2006.

  All publications listed are available in the Library.

  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate(a) how many and (b) what percentage of children will be living in poverty in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2020, (A) before and (B) after housing costs, broken down by nation and region of the UK. [151377]

  Mr. Pond
  Pre-Budget report 2003 announced that the child element of the Child Tax Credit would increase by £180 to £1,625 a year, equivalent to a weekly increase 600W
  of £3.50. This increase will benefit 7.2 million children in 3.7 million families. As a result of this investment the Government are on track to meet or exceed its PSA target to reduce by a quarter the number of children in low income-households by 2004–05 on a Before Housing Costs (BHC) basis. The target is more challenging on an After Housing Costs (AHC) basis, although the nature of the target means there are uncertainties either way.

  Forecasting how many children will be in relative low income in future years is problematic. Any estimate is dependent on forecasting median household income growth from 2001–02 (the latest available data). This itself is dependent on a number of factors, including the rate of earnings growth, demographic changes, changes in household composition and employment patterns, and changes to the tax and benefit system. Consequently, there is inherent uncertainty in any estimates produced, which is exacerbated the further into the future one attempts to model. For this reason, while our estimates allow us to provide a broad indication of progress towards the 2004–05 PSA target to inform policy decisions, point estimates are not sufficiently robust to be put in the public domain.

  Independent analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies suggests that the increase in Child Tax Credit will enable the Government to make substantial progress on both elements of the PSA. This extra investment will also enable the Government to make progress step by step towards their goal to halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020.

  Departmental Office (Hebburn)
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are employed in the Department's offices in Hebburn; and how many of those are residents of south Tyneside. [146949]

  Maria Eagle
  The Department has 51 staff working in Hebburn of these eight have postcodes indicating a south Tyneside home address.

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the age profile is of the people employed in the Department's offices in Hebburn. [146950]

  Maria Eagle
  The age profile of the staff working in the Department's offices in Hebburn is shown in the table.

  Age group

  Number of staff in age group

  Under 20

  0

  21–30

  6

  31–40

  14

  41–50

  22

  51+

  9

  Total

  51

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual running costs are of the Department's offices in Hebburn; and when the offices are due for closure. [146996]
  601W
  Maria Eagle
  Inland Revenue is the major occupier of the Reyrolle Building in Hebburn. The amount to be paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) towards annual running costs for the building is estimated to be £395,701 for the year from April 2003 to March 2004.

  The lease is due to expire in June 2006. It is anticipated that DWP staff will be relocated before then.

  Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the procedures are for claiming industrial injury disablement benefit; and if he will list the claim forms required. [147944]

  Mr. Browne
  A person wishing to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) in respect of an industrial accident or a prescribed disease should, in respect of an industrial accident, fill in B1 100A and, in respect of prescribed diseases, B1 100B for all diseases apart from Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema (B1 100C); Allergic Rhinitis (Bl 100E); Occupational Asthma (B1 1000A); Occupational Deafness (B1 1000D); and Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis or asbestos related diseases (B1 100PN).

  An appropriate advice leaflet from the series SD6/7/8 will also be sent; a person wishing to claim IIDB should complete the appropriate form and forward it without delay to their local Social Security office.

  Copies of all forms referred to are in the Library.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what cost savings have been made in his Department since the introduction of the Information Technology procurement Centre of Excellence; and how these were calculated. [151043]

  Maria Eagle
  Centres of Excellence were established in the Department for Work and Pensions in June 2003 to integrate the essential functions which underpin the successful delivery of all types of acquisition based programmes and projects. As cost benefits will not accrue until improvements start to take effect it is too early to measure cost savings. All Centres of Excellence are currently developing future plans and as part of this process measurement of savings will be defined.

  Publicity Campaigns
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much(a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department spent on (i) advertising and (ii) information campaigns in each year since 1995–96; what his estimate is for 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [149722]

  Maria Eagle
  [holding answer 21 January 2004]: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001. Between that date and March 2003, the Department spent a total of £35,031,354 alerting people to their rights, responsibilities and entitlements through information campaigns. Of this sum, £18,788,328 was
  602W
  spent on advertising using television, radio, cinema and press media. Expenditure by the Department, broken down by year is in the table.

  The Department's agencies and non-departmental bodies use advertising for various reasons, ranging from public information and recruitment to advertising opening hours of local offices. On each occasion, national and/or regional media may be used as well as various local newspapers. A breakdown of expenditure by agency and non-departmental public body could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  £

  Total publicity costs

  Advertising costs

  June 2001 to March 2002

  22,727,979

  13,787,594

  April 2002 to March 2003

  12,303,375

  5,000,734

  Total

  35,031,354

  18,788,328

  Notes:

  1. Machinery of Government changes during the period 1997 to 2001 mean that like-for-like figures are not obtainable without disproportionate cost. During this time communications activity was accounted for under different systems in the agencies, Headquarters and the Department for Education and Employment, part of which transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions.

  2. All costs exclude VAT.

  3. Advertising costs are total publicity costs excluding all production costs.

  4. Information campaigns costing under £250,000 have not been included as a disproportionate cost would be incurred in compiling these figures.

  Unclaimed Assets Register
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money there is in the Unclaimed Assets Register. [148380]

  Maria Eagle
  As Government Accounting does not explicitly require the Department to maintain a register of unclaimed assets and neither is it in the nature of DWP's business to come into contact with such items, the Department does not keep an unclaimed assets register.

  US Warships (Disposal)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has received from Able UK Ltd. reports on the condition of the visible asbestos on board the ships from the US Naval Reserve docked at Hartlepool; and if he will make a statement. [148615]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 19 January 2004]: DWP has not received any reports. However, in accordance with the conditions laid down by the Health and Safety Executive, Able UK arranged for an inspection to be undertaken of the visible asbestos aboard the four US Naval Reserve ships prior to the ship leaving the US. In accordance with said conditions Able UK advised HSE on 6 October for the first two ships and 17 October for the second two that the visual condition of the asbestos aboard was good. The ships docked in Hartlepool on 12, 13, 27 November and 3 December, soon after they arrived Able UK confirmed to HSE that the asbestos remained in a satisfactory condition. On 10 December

  603W
  inspectors from HSE made a tour of one of the ships and confirmed Able UK's report that the visual condition of the asbestos in accessible locations was good.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Criminal Justice Boards
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to his answer of 10 December 2003,Official Report, column 497W, on the Nottinghamshire Criminal Justice Board, whether the action plans of local criminal justice boards are being sent to local hon. Members for comment. [145048]

  Paul Goggins
  It is a matter for Local Criminal Justice Boards how they consult locally on their plans.

  Nottinghamshire Criminal Justice Board has not sent its plan to local hon. Members for comment. However, I understand that in the spring the Board plans to hold a consultation event on the criminal justice system for local hon. Members.

  Knives
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  T o ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had regarding a UK-wide amnesty on knives. [150953]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 27 January 2004]: There are presently no plans to introduce a national knives amnesty. However, we are discussing a range of issues relating to the sale and possession of knives with the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Table A: Total National Probation Directorate staff by grade, as at 31 December 2003

  Grade

  Staff in post 31 December 2003

  Consultants within establishment

  Contractual staff within establishment

  SCS

  14

  0

  0

  Grade 6

  37

  1

  2

  Grade 7

  96

  10

  10

  Senior Executive Officer

  56

  5

  8

  Higher Executive Officer (D)

  1

  0

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  49

  4

  1

  Executive Officer

  65

  1

  0

  Administrative Officer

  37

  0

  0

  Administrative Assistant

  7

  0

  0

  Senior Personal Secretary

  9

  0

  0

  Personal Secretary

  15

  0

  0

  Assistant Chief Officer

  12

  0

  0

  Senior Probation Officer

  11

  0

  0

  Detective Chief Inspector

  1

  0

  0

  PO5

  1

  0

  0

  Psychological Assistant

  2

  0

  0

  Interventions Consultants

  17

  17

  0

  Electronic Monitoring Consultants

  4

  4

  0

  IT Project Manager

  1

  —

  1

  IT Consultants

  9

  9

  —

  Total

  444

  51

  22

  604W
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the merits of raising the age limit for the purchase of non-kitchen knives to 18 years of age. [150955]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 27 January 2004]: We are currently seeking the views of the Association of Chief Police Officers on the sale of knives.

  Prison/Probation Services
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, broken down by grade, were employed(a) at the National Probation Directorate and (b) at the headquarters of the Prison Service on the latest date available; and how many of these are (i) consultants and (ii) contractual staff. [147633]

  Paul Goggins
  The information requested is listed.

  Table A indicates the total establishment in the National Probation Directorate, broken down by grade and the relevant numbers of consultants and contractual staff from that establishment figure.

  Table B indicates the total establishment in the Prison Service Headquarters, broken down by grade and relevant consultant/contractual establishment from that total.

  These figures are the latest available as at 31 December 2003 and 31 October 2003 respectively.

  Projects are currently under way to substantially reduce staff within the National Probation Directorate.

  Note:

  The figures shown in the Contractual/Consultant columns are included in the total figure. Agency staff only included in the total column.
  605W

  Table B: Total Prison Service headquarters staff by grade, as at 31 October 2003

  Grade

  Staff in post 31 October 2003

  Consultants/contractual staff 30 September 2003

  AA

  59

  16

  AO

  368

  45

  Assistant Information Officer

  1

  0

  EO

  418

  16

  Farm and Gardens Grades

  1

  0

  Governor 5

  1

  0

  HEO(D)

  2

  0

  Industrial

  63

  4

  Manager E

  304

  9

  Manager F

  314

  12

  Manager G

  161

  4

  Nursing Grades

  2

  0

  OSG

  11

  0

  Personal Secretary

  79

  6

  Principal Officer

  87

  1

  Principal Officer IDS

  3

  0

  Prison Officer

  52

  0

  Prof and Tech Officer

  10

  0

  Psychological Assistant

  26

  1

  Psychologist

  15

  0

  Scientific Officer

  1

  0

  Senior Civil Servant

  42

  1

  Senior Manager A

  17

  0

  Senior Manager B

  55

  0

  Senior Manager C

  27

  0

  Senior Manager D

  236

  3

  Senior Officer

  68

  0

  Senior Officer IDS

  1

  0

  Senior Personal Secretary

  12

  1

  Storeperson/Officer

  6

  0

  Support Band 1

  1

  0

  Support Band 2

  12

  0

  Technical Officer

  1

  0

  Typist

  16

  3

  Total

  2,472

  122

  Prisons (Foreign Nationals)
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals due for detention in(a) Yarls Wood and (b) other specialist immigration detention centres have been imprisoned in the prison estate in the past (i) 12 months and (ii) 24 months. [151079]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 26 January 2004]: Information on individuals detained in Prison Service establishments who were due to be detained in Immigration Removal Centres and on the number of individuals detained over a period is not available except by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

  The latest available data on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act 2002 powers relate to 27 September 2003. As at that date, 190 people were recorded as being detained in Prison Service establishments.

  The figure of 190 may include individuals who are held pending deportation after completion of custodial sentences. Although the routine use of Prison Service accommodation for immigration detainees ended at the beginning of 2002, it may be necessary to continue to hold some individuals in Prison Service accommodation for reasons of security and control. Such decisions are taken on a case-by-case basis.
  606W
  Information on Immigration Act 2002 detainees as at 27 December 2003 is due to be published at the end of February on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the(a) shortest and (b) longest period is that an individual due for detention in a specialist immigration detention centre has spent in detention in the prison estate; and what procedures are being implemented to ensure that immigrants who have not been convicted or accused of a crime or offence are not detained in the prison estate. [151080]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 26 January 2004]: I regret it is not clear exactly what figures the hon. Member is requesting and therefore I cannot say if they are available or not.

  The routine use of prisons to hold immigration detainees ended at the beginning of 2002. However, in ending the routine use of prisons to hold detainees, it was made clear that there would continue to be a need to hold small numbers of individual detainees in prison for reasons of security and control. That remains the case.

  Remand Fostering Schemes
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much his Department has spent on remand fostering schemes in each year since 1998; [145171]

  (2) how many remand fostering schemes there are. [145175]

  Paul Goggins
  Remand fostering in England and Wales is funded by local social services departments and neither the Home Office nor the Youth Justice Board hold central information on them. However, some foster placements contribute to bail support and supervision schemes for young people which are sponsored by the Youth Justice Board.

  The National Children's Homes (NCH) Wessex Community Remand Project is the largest example. This successful project provides remand fostering for the Wessex Youth Offending Team covering Hampshire, Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and Southampton. Carers work with a variety of young defendants, most charged with more than two offences including violent and sexual offences and arson. The Home Office sees such schemes as important to the development of intensive community supervision for juveniles.

  UK Entry Numbers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people entered the UK from Sweden in the latest year for which figures are available; [151524]

  (2) how many people entered the UK from Bolivia in the latest year for which figures are available; [151525]

  (3) how many people entered the UK from Jamaica in the latest year for which figures are available. [151526]
  607W
  Beverley Hughes
  The latest available information shows that a total of 62,300 Jamaican nationals were admitted to the United Kingdom during 2002.

  I regret that is not possible to identify nationals of Bolivia separately in our admission statistics.

  Also, admission statistics are not collated on Swedish nationals. European Economic Area (EEA) nationals are free to enter the United Kingdom without requiring leave to do so. EEA nationals are therefore not included in statistics on border control.

  Data on passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom are published in the Command Paper `Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2002' (Cm6053), obtainable from the House Library, The Stationery Office and via the Home Office website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hobpubs1.html

  Work Permits
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conditions relate to the issuing of work permits to nationals of countries in the Indian sub-continent. [151982]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are no specific conditions applied through the work permit arrangements in respect of India or any other individual country. Work permits are issued to foreign nationals to come to work in the UK where an application by a UK employer has met the published criteria.

  Adjucted 2003–04 (£ million)

  2004–05 (£ million)

  Change (£ million)

  Percentage change

  Revenue Support Grant

  137.04

  161.288

  24.249

  17.7

  Redistributed Business Rates

  142.756

  140.759

  -1.997

  -1.4

  Formula Grant

  279.796

  302.047

  22.252

  8.0

  Electoral Pilots
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of(a) consultation, (b) reports and (c) publications was in relation to the Electoral Commission's recommendations for electoral pilots of whole regions for the municipal and European elections in 2004. [151572]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This a matter for the independent Electoral Commission which reports directly to Parliament through the Speaker's Committee.

  European Regional Funding
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the criteria were for obtaining European Regional Funding for the 2000 to 2006 period; and what the criteria are for the 2007 to 2013 period. [151891]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The criteria for obtaining European Regional Funding for 2000–06 were:Objective 1—Areas corresponding with the EC's NUTS II level, with per capita GDP less than 75 per cent. of the EU average
  Objective 2—Regions with structural problems requiring socio-economic conversion, including, in particular, the industrial and service sectors, declining rural areas, urban areas in difficulty and depressed areas dependent on fisheries.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Cambridgeshire County Council
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the Government grant for Cambridgeshire County Council(a) was in 2003–04 and (b) will be in 2004–05. [151586]

  (2) whether the actual grant payable to Cambridgeshire County Council for 2004–05 has increased in comparison with the current budgetary year. [151583]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The table as follows shows the amount of grant received by Cambridgeshire County Council in 2003–04 together with the amount that will be paid in 2004–05.

  £ million

  2003–04

  2004–05

  Revenue Support Grant

  139.766

  161.288

  Redistributed Business Rates

  148.375

  140.759

  Formula Grant

  288.141

  302.047

  It is inappropriate to directly compare the amount of grant received by Cambridgeshire County Council in 2003–04 with that received in 2004–05 as there have been a number of changes in the functions of councils and the financing of particular services. This includes the change in the financing of combined fire authorities in England, which will become major precepting authorities on 1 April 2004. The table as follows shows the changes to grant on a like-for-like basis.

  Negotiations on the criteria for 2007–13 have not yet commenced with the European Commission.

  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the criteria are for organisations to obtain European Regional Funding. [151892]

  Mr. Raynsford
  To obtain European Regional Funding, organisations must submit good quality projects, which meet the objectives and priorities, plus the project eligibility and selection criteria set out in the relevant Single Programming Document and Programme Complement for that particular area.

  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the criteria for obtaining(a) 2000 to 2006 and (b) 2007 to 2013 period European Regional Funding are based on (i) regional and (ii) national data. [151893]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The eligible areas for European Regional Funding for 2000–06 were based on both regional and national data.

  It is too early to speculate on the likely criteria for selecting areas for 2007–13.

  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether European Regional Funding has to comply with EU state aid rules. [151894]
  609W
  Mr. Raynsford
  Yes. European Regional Funding has to comply with the EU state aid rules.

  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether European Regional Funding figures are quoted for(a) a seven-year period and (b) annually. [151895]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Yes. For the current 2000–06 round of programmes, European Regional Funding allocations are set out in the Single Programming Documents both annually and for the seven-year period. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also holds both seven-year and annual figures at the overall English level.

  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the proposed regional assemblies would be responsible to(a) Parliament and (b) the EU for European Regional Funding. [151896]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The arrangements for the future management of European Regional Funding programmes have not yet been finalised. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would expect the proposed Regional Assemblies to play a leading role, but that precise role has yet to be defined.

  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much Objective One money has been allocated to the(a) Yorkshire and Humber Region, (b) North West Region and (c) North East Region in the current financial year, broken down by area. [151881]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Objective 1 programmes operate to a calendar year and the allocations for 2003 and 2004 are as follows:

  € million

  2003

  2004

  South Yorkshire

  170

  150

  Merseyside

  193

  171

  The North East region does not qualify for Objective 1 funding.

  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what projections he has made of the level of Objective One money likely to be given to the(a) Yorkshire and Humber Region, (b) North West Region and (c) North East Region for the 2007–13 period. [151882]

  Mr. Raynsford
  None, at this stage. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is still awaiting proposals from the European Commission on their priorities for the future allocation of the Structural Funds.

  Ann Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the criteria which need to be fulfilled for an area to obtain Objective 1 funding. [151883]

  Mr. Raynsford
  For an area to qualify for Objective 1, it must correspond to level II of the Nomenclature of Territorial Statistical Units (NUTS level II) and have a per capita GDP less than 75 per cent. of the EU average.

  Fire and Rescue Service
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what estimate he has made of the change in the 610W
  number of jobs in Staffordshire Fire Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service; [149842]

  (2) what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Staffordshire. [149847]

  (3) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Staffordshire's Fire and Rescue Service; [149843]

  (4) what discussions he has had with Staffordshire County Council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149845]

  (5) What discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Staffordshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was. [149846]

  (6) under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Staffordshire without the consent of Staffordshire county council. [149844]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Members for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow), for Taunton (Mr. Flook), for North Thanet (Mr. Gale), for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray), for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond), for South-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Paice), for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles), for Poole (Mr. Syms) and for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 22 January 2004,Official Report, columns 1454–1457W.

  Grant Definition
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition he uses of(a) raw grant and (b) adjusted grant in spreadsheets published by his Department on http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/0405/fandc2/index.htm. [151585]

  Mr. Raynsford
  2004–05 raw grant is the sum of the following items:The authority's share of the Distributable/Amount (Redistributed National Non-domestic Rates) calculated in accordance with section 6 of the draft Local Government Finance Report (England) 2004/05, plus
  The amount of any police grant payable to the authority calculated in accordance with section 5 of the draft Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2004–05, plus
  Revenue Support Grant (RSG) before floors and ceilings for 2004–05.

  RSG before floors and ceilings for each authority may be calculated as follows:
  Total FSS in 2004–05 calculated in accordance with section 4 of the draft
  Local Government Finance Report 2004–05,minus
  redistributed business minus
  the result of:
  Taxbase as described Annex D of the draft Local Government Finance Report 2004/05, multiplied by
  ANCT as given in paragraph 3.4 of the draft Local Government Finance Report 2004/05, multiplied by
  the share of ANCT for the appropriate class of authority as given in Annex B of the draft Local Government Finance Report (England) 2004–05.
  611W
  2003–04 adjusted grant is the sum of the following items:
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's estimate of the authority's share of the Distributable Amount (Redistributed National Non-domestic Rates) calculated in accordance with section 6 of the Local Government Finance Report 2003–04, after adjusting for changes in the functions of councils or the financing of particular services, plus
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's estimates of the authority's share of Revenue Support Grant calculated in accordance with section 3 of the Local Government Finance Report 2003–04, after adjusting for changes in the functions of councils or the financing of particular services, plus
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's estimate of the amount of any Police Grant payable to the authority for 2003–04 calculated in accordance with section 5 of the Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2003–04, after adjusting for changes in the functions of councils or the financing of particular services.

  Further information on how the 2003–04 adjusted grants are calculated may be found at http://www. local. odpm.gov.uk/finance/0405/adjpap.pdf

  Local Government
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the additional £344 million allocated to local authorities in December 2003 by the Treasury will be incorporated into the Revenue Support Grant settlement figure for future years. [150136]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The additional £340 million which Government have made available for local authorities in 2004–05 is a one-off payment for this year. The amount of money available for local government beyond 2004–05 will be as set out in the relevant Spending Review.

  However, the extra funding put into the 2004–05 settlement will be taken into account when calculating floors and ceilings for future years.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the issuing of directions to local authorities before those authorities have completed local consultations on the matters to which such directions relate; and if he will make a statement. [150808]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Minister for Local and Regional Government will exercise powers under section 15 of the Local Government Act 1999 and other comparable legislation when there is clear evidence that an authority is failing either to discharge its functions adequately or failing to meet its statutory obligations. Further details are set out 612W
  in the Protocol on "Central government engagement in poorly performing local authorities" http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_localgov/documents/page/odpm_locgov_609124.pdf

  Phone Boxes
  Sarah Teather
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many derelict phone boxes there were in each London Borough at the latest date for which data is available. [151123]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.

  Policy on public call boxes is a matter for the Office of Communications (Ofcom) and I understand the Chief Executive of Ofcom will be writing to the hon. Member shortly.

  Regional Assemblies
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from the(a) British chambers of commerce, (b) Confederation of British Industry and (c) Institute of Directors on proposals to establish elected regional assemblies; what response he has made; and if he will place in the Library copies of the exchanges of correspondence on this issue. [151005]

  Mr. Raynsford
  After the White Paper was published the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received one response each from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the British Chamber of Commerce. Each received a reply thanking them for their comments.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also received letters from a number of individual chambers of commerce.

  It is not the practice to disclose the contents of correspondence by placing it in the Library. However a summary of the responses to the White Paper "Your Region, Your Choice" are available in the Library of the House.

  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the(a) date and (b) venues were of the public consultations on the powers of the proposed regional assemblies for the (i) North West, (ii) North East and (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber. [151889]

  Mr. Raynsford
  A series of public hearings on the powers of the proposed regional assemblies will take place across the three northern regions. The dates and venues of the hearings have yet to be decided.