Written Answers of 8 June 2004

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what papers he has submitted to date to Lord Butler's inquiry into intelligence on Iraq; and whether officials from his office have given oral evidence to the inquiry. [177071]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Rammell) gave to him on 8 June 2004,Official Report, column 303W.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Aston Down Airfield
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria are used in the planning system to decide when an environmental impact assessment is considered necessary; and what assessment he has made of whether such an assessment is required in respect of the proposed development at Aston Down Airfield, near Stroud in Gloucestershire. [177598]

  Keith Hill
  In response to the first part of this question, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 April 2004,Official Report, column 885W. On 24 March 2003, a screening direction under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No. 293) was issued to the effect that, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, the proposed development at Aston Down Airfield, near Stroud, would not be likely to have a significant effect on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, size or location.

  Ellipse Project
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many letters he has received about the decision made by Westminster council to approve The Ellipse project for the Royal College of Art; how many requests he has received to meet those opposed to the decision of the council's planning committee; what plans he has to call in the council's planning decision; and if he will make a statement. [176698]

  Keith Hill
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has received over 10,000 representations, the majority of which objected to the proposal by the Royal College of Art for an extension building, known as the "Ellipse". A number of requests were also received to meet those opposed to the proposal but it is not standard practice to do so when a planning application is formally before my right hon. Friend the Deputy 276W
  Prime Minister for consideration on whether it should be called in. The hon. Member will be interested to know that my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister called in these proposals on 19 May 2004. A copy of the decision will be made available in the Library of the House.

  Firefighters' Dispute
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what action he has taken to bring the sides together to discuss the difficulties encountered with the agreement to end the firefighters' dispute; [177029]

  (2) what discussions he has had with the employers' organisations regarding fulfilling the obligations undertaken to end the firefighters' dispute. [177030]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has had no such discussions and taken no such action. The June 2003 agreement, which ended the firefighters' dispute, set out a clear path for pay improvement linked to modernisation of the Fire and Rescue Service subject to some further negotiations. I understand that discussions between the employee representatives and their employers are continuing. Negotiation is clearly the way forward.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received regarding difficulties with the agreement which ended the firefighters' dispute. [177031]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received a handful of representations on these issues both directly and through ministerial colleagues and constituency MPs. Letters originated from members of the public, serving members of the Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Brigades Union. In addition, Andy Gilchrist, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union wrote to all Members of Parliament on 17 May 2004 setting out the Union's views on the detailed negotiations with employers following the June 2003 pay and conditions agreement.

  High Hedges
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken to inform members of the public about how they can participate in the consultation on high hedges. [176912]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued a press release launching the public consultation on the high hedges legislation on 29 March. The announcement was covered in three national and a number of local newspapers, by national radio stations and some regional TV. The consultation package has been sent to a number of organisations with a special interest, for example, Hedgeline, the Consumer's Association, the National Consumer Council, the National Federation of Consumer Groups, the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. It is also available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and on UK Online.

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average number of homeless households living in temporary accommodation was in each year since 1997, broken down by accommodation type. [173736]

  Yvette Cooper
  The most recent quarterly Statistical

  Table 7: Households in accommodation arranged by local authorities under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts, by type of accommodation1

  Bed and breakfast hotels percentage

  Hostels/women's refuges percentage

  1985 and 1996 Housing Acts

  Total number of households accommodated at end of quarter

  Number

  of total

  change on previous quarter

  Number

  of total

  change on previous quarter

  1997

  quarter 1

  41,250

  4,100

  9.9

  -1.4

  9,680

  23.5

  0.4

  quarter 2

  43,720

  4,500

  10.3

  9.8

  9,430

  21.6

  -2.6

  quarter 3

  45,290

  4,630

  10.2

  2.9

  9,450

  20.9

  0.2

  quarter 4

  44,870

  4,520

  10.1

  -2.4

  8,730

  19.5

  -7.6

  1998

  quarter1

  47,520

  4,820

  10.1

  6.6

  9,730

  20.5

  11.5

  quarter2

  49,390

  5,380

  10.9

  11.6

  9,490

  19.2

  -2.5

  quarter 3

  52,510

  5,890

  11.2

  9.5

  9,820

  18.7

  3.5

  quarter 4

  53,790

  7,240

  13.5

  22.9

  9,760

  18.1

  -0.6

  1999

  quarter 1

  56,580

  6,570

  11.6

  -9.3

  9,840

  17.4

  0.8

  quarter 2

  58,430

  7,700

  13.2

  17.2

  10,210

  17.5

  3.8

  quarter 3

  61,450

  8,240

  13.4

  7.0

  9,960

  16.2

  -2.4

  quarter 4

  62,180

  8,000

  12.9

  -2.9

  9,660

  15.5

  -3.0

  2000

  quarter 1

  65,170

  8,680

  13.3

  8.5

  10,300

  15.8

  6.6

  quarter 2

  67,520

  8,910

  13.2

  2.6

  10,320

  15.3

  0.2

  quarter 3

  71,860

  9,420

  13.1

  5.7

  10,460

  14.6

  1.4

  quarter 4

  73,080

  9,870

  13.5

  4.8

  10,790

  14.8

  3.2

  2001

  quarter 1

  75,200

  10,860

  14.4

  10.0

  10,610

  14.1

  -1.7

  quarter 22

  75,920

  11,390

  15.0

  4.9

  10,320

  13.6

  -2.7

  quarter 32

  78,370

  12,240

  15.6

  7.5

  10,400

  13.3

  0.8

  quarter 42

  78,030

  11,890

  15.2

  -2.9

  9,850

  12.6

  -5.3

  2002

  quarter 12,3

  80,440

  11,840

  14.7

  -0.4

  9,610

  11.9

  -2.4

  quarter 22,3

  82,110

  12,380

  15.1

  4.6

  9,760

  11.9

  1.6

  quarter 32,3

  85,260

  13,250

  15.5

  7.0

  9,740

  11.4

  -0.2

  quarter 42,3

  83,860

  12,540

  15.0

  -5.4

  9,640

  11.5

  -1.0

  2003

  quarter 12,3

  89,260

  12,100

  13.6

  -3.5

  10,070

  11.3

  4.5

  quarter 22,3

  91,330

  1 1,340

  12.4

  -6.3

  10,420

  11.4

  3.5

  quarter 32,3

  93,930

  10,310

  11.0

  -9.1

  10,770

  11.5

  3.4

  quarter 42,3

  95,060

  8,360

  8.8

  -18.9

  10,230

  10.8

  -5.0

  Private sector accommodation (eg on lease or licence, or direct with landlord)

  Other types including local authorities' and RSL's own stock

  Percentage

  Percentage

  Number

  of total

  change on previous quarter

  Number

  of total

  change on previous quarter

  1997

  quarter 1

  14,040

  34.0

  27.9

  13,430

  32.6

  -22.9

  quarter 2

  14,300

  32.7

  1.9

  15,490

  35.4

  75.3

  quarter 3

  14,310

  31.6

  0.1

  16,900

  37.3

  9.7

  quarter 4

  14,040

  31.3

  -1.9

  17,580

  39.2

  4.0

  1998

  quarter 1

  14,820

  31.2

  5.6

  18,150

  38.2

  3.2

  quarter 2

  15,470

  31.3

  4.4

  19,050

  38.6

  5.0

  quarter 3

  18,280

  34.8

  18.2

  18,520

  35.3

  -2.8

  278W
  Release on homelessness was published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 15 March, which contains information up to and including the fourth quarter of 2003. Table 7 (as follows) presents estimates of the number of homeless households in England in various types of temporary accommodation as at the end of each quarter since 1997.
  279W

  Private sector accommodation (eg on lease or licence, or direct with landlord)

  Other types including local authorities' and RSL's own stock

  Percentage

  Percentage

  Number

  of total

  change on previous quarter

  Number

  of total

  change on previous quarter

  quarter 4

  17,400

  32.3

  -4.8

  19,390

  36.0

  4.7

  1999

  quarter 1

  19,270

  34.1

  10.7

  20,900

  36.9

  7.8

  quarter 2

  17,670

  30.2

  -8.3

  22,850

  39.7

  9.3

  quarter 3

  18,460

  30.0

  4.5

  24,790

  40.3

  8.5

  quarter 4

  19,820

  31.9

  7.4

  24,700

  39.7

  -0.4

  2000

  quarter 1

  20,060

  30.8

  1.2

  26,130

  40.1

  5.8

  quarter 2

  23,920

  35.4

  19.2

  24,370

  36.1

  -6.7

  quarter 3

  22,330

  31.1

  -6.6

  29,650

  41.3

  217

  quarter 4

  25,260

  34.6

  13.1

  27,160

  37.2

  -8.4

  2001

  quarter 1

  25,610

  34.1

  1.4

  28,120

  37.4

  3.5

  quarter 22

  25,890

  34.1

  1.1

  28,320

  37.3

  0.7

  quarter 32

  25,630

  32.7

  -1.0

  30,100

  38.4

  6.3

  quarter 42

  25,740

  33.0

  0.4

  30,550

  39.2

  1.5

  2002

  quarter 12,3

  28,370

  35.3

  10.2

  30,620

  38.1

  0.2

  quarter 22,3

  29,860

  36.4

  5.3

  30,130

  36.7

  -1.6

  quarter 32,3

  31,880

  37.4

  6.8

  30,390

  35.6

  0.9

  quarter 42,3

  34,100

  40.7

  7.0

  27,590

  32.9

  -9.2

  2003

  quarter 12,3

  37,180

  41.7

  9.0

  29,920

  33.5

  8.4

  quarter 22,3

  40,550

  44.4

  9.1

  29,000

  31.8

  -3.1

  quarter 32,3

  43,880

  46.7

  8.2

  28,980

  30.9

  -0.1

  quarter 42,3

  47,290

  49.7

  7.8

  29,190

  30.7

  0.7

  1Households in accommodation arranged by local authorities pending inquiries or after being accepted as homeless under the 1996 Act (includes residual cases awaiting re-housing under the 1985 Act).

  2Provisional

  3Some self-contained accommodation in Annex-style units previously recorded under B&B now more appropriately attributed to private sector accommodation.

  Note:

  The totals may not equal the sum of components because of rounding

  Regional Government
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he has told people in(a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley about the referendum on regional government; and how much has been spent on informing people of the referendum on regional government in (i) the North West, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Chorley. [177149]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government's "Your Say" information campaign has been running in the three northern regions since November 2003.

  In the North West this has included issue of the "Your Say—A New Opportunity for the North West" leaflet in November 2003, available at no charge from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Free Literature, from the Government Office for the North West and at regional events, such as the recent hearings on elected regional assemblies. 552,000 copies were distributed as inserts in 19 free sheet newspapers across Lancashire and Cumbria. There were three hearings in the North West, at Blackburn, Liverpool and Kendal. Ministers have also visited the North West as part of cross-regional tours in inform voters of our policy and on other occasions.
  280W
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also intends to send a leaflet to every household in the North West prior to the proposed referendum so that voters are fully informed of our policy on elected assemblies and the associated local government restructuring.

  The cost of the 'Your Say' information campaign is not broken down by region, county or town. It has a budget of £5 million across all three regions.

  Secondments
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the secondees from outside organisations working in his Department, stating in each case(a) the name of the person, (b) the name of the organisation, (c) the post held and (d) the start and finish dates of the secondment; and which are involved in drafting parliamentary answers. [158049]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is in the table. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not routinely publish the names and personal details of individual employees, in order to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act. While on secondment,
  281W
  secondees are subject to Civil Service terms and conditions, and are expected to undertake the full range

  Start

  End

  Organisation

  Posting

  Year

  Month

  Year

  Month

  Accord Plc.

  Local Government Quality

  2001

  3 September

  2006

  30 September

  Alien Associates Ltd.

  Strategic Partnering Taskforce

  2002

  1 November

  2004

  31 March

  Audit Commission (NDPB)

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2003

  28 April

  2004

  31 March

  Australian Government

  New Growth Area

  2003

  14 July

  2004

  13 July

  Avon Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  11 August

  2005

  11 August

  Babtie Group Ltd.

  Strategic Service Delivery Partnership Taskforce (LGQ

  2001

  3 September

  2004

  31 March

  Basildon District Council

  Thames Gateway Strategic Executive

  2001

  23 July

  2005

  23 July

  Beds and Luton Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  17 April

  2004

  31 July

  Birmingham City Council

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2004

  2 February

  2004

  30 July

  Bracknell Forest Council

  Local Government Capacity and Modernisation Division

  2003

  3 March

  2005

  3 November

  Bradford MDC

  Housing Directorate

  2002

  4 February

  2006

  31 March

  Bradford MDC

  Local Government Practice Division

  2003

  30 June

  2006

  29 June

  British Urban Regeneration Association

  Planning, Housing and Growth Division

  2003

  17 February

  2005

  16 February

  Building Research Establishment

  Building Regulation Division

  2003

  1 July

  2005

  30 June

  Busha Global Ltd.

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2003

  28 April

  2005

  31 March

  Calderdale MBC

  Community Housing Task Force

  2001

  14 May

  2005

  13 May

  Cambridgeshire County Council

  Local Government Capacity and Modernisation Division

  2003

  6 May

  2005

  5 May

  Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  30 September

  2004

  29 September

  Capacity

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2002

  16 October

  2004

  31 October

  Cheshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Services Inspectorate Fire Service Improvement Team

  2003

  18 August

  2004

  30 April

  Cheshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  1 November

  2004

  14 April

  City of York Council

  Local Government Practice Division

  2003

  30 June

  2006

  29 June

  Cleveland Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  21 October

  2004

  20 July

  Cleveland Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  11 August

  2005

  12 August

  CPEA Ltd.

  Local Government

  2002

  13 May

  2004

  31 March

  Croydon Council

  Regional Economic Performance Division

  2003

  6 May

  2004

  31 July

  Denison Associates Limited

  Local Government Capacity and Modernisation Division

  2003

  2 April

  2004

  1 April

  ED AW Plc.

  Liveability and Sustainable Communities Division

  2004

  5 January

  2004

  2 July

  Elmbridge Borough Council

  Bed and Breakfast Unit

  2003

  17 February

  2004

  31 March

  ENCAMS

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2003

  1 May

  2004

  31 March

  Essex County Council

  Thames Gateway Strategic Executive

  2001

  14 May

  2005

  1 April

  Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  1 November

  2004

  31 March

  Greater Manchester County Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  14 October

  2004

  13 April

  Greater Manchester County Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  19 October

  2004

  31 March

  Greater Manchester County Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  2 January

  2004

  30 September

  Hampshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  1 December

  2004

  30 November

  Hampshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  14 March

  2004

  13 March

  HAS

  Social Exclusion Unit

  2003

  18 August

  2004

  18 June

  Help the Aged

  Social Exclusion Unit

  2003

  1 April

  2004

  1 April

  Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  5 November

  2004

  4 November

  Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue

  Operational Practices, HMFSI

  2004

  1 February

  2006

  31 January

  Idea

  Housing Care and Support

  2003

  12 May

  2005

  10 May

  IPPR

  Social Exclusion Unit

  2003

  16 June

  2004

  18 June

  Kent County Council

  Housing Management Division

  2003

  15 September

  2004

  31 July

  Kent County Council

  Thames Gateway Strategic Executive

  2001

  19 March

  2004

  31 March

  Kent Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  1 August

  2004

  1 August

  Kent Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  1 December

  2004

  30-November

  Knowsley Borough Council

  Local Government Modernisation

  2001

  1 July

  2005

  31 December

  Lambeth County Council

  Community Housing Task Force

  2001

  9 July

  2005

  31 May

  Lancashire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  3 January

  2005

  02 January

  London Thames Gateway Forum

  Planning Legislation Implementation

  2002

  20 August

  2004

  20 August

  Leicestershire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  1 June

  2004

  31 May

  Liberata Plc.

  Local Government Capacity

  2003

  1 August

  2004

  31 March

  Local Government Association

  Local Government Strategy Unit

  2003

  29 December

  2004

  31 December

  Local Government Ombudsman

  Planning Control Casework

  2002

  4 November

  2004

  28 May

  London Borough of Camden

  Social Exclusion Unit

  2003

  3 November

  2004

  7 May

  London Borough of Enfield

  Urban Policy Unit 2

  2003

  30 June

  2004

  31 March

  London Borough of Southwark

  Local Government Strategy Unit

  2004

  1 March

  2005

  28 February

  London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2004

  12 January

  2004

  31 March

  London Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  16 June

  2004

  15 June

  London Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  7 January

  2004

  6 January

  London Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  1 February

  2004

  31 March

  London Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  16 September

  2004

  15 September

  London Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  4 June

  2004

  3 June

  London Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  1 June

  2004

  31 May

  London Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  1 April

  2004

  31 July

  London Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  18 February

  2005

  17 February

  London Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  7 January

  2005

  6 January

  282W
  of duties attached to the post, including the provision of drafts for Parliamentary Questions if required.
  283W

  Start

  End

  Organisation

  Posting

  Year

  Month

  Year

  Month

  London Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  3 September

  2004

  2 September

  London Fire and Rescue

  BM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  1 February

  2005

  31 January

  London Voluntary Service Council

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2001

  1 October

  2005

  30 July

  Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  21 October

  2004

  20 July

  Manchester Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  13 May

  2004

  12 May

  Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

  HM Fire Services Inspectorate

  2003

  13 October

  2004

  31 May

  Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  16 June

  2004

  15 June

  National Housing Federation

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2002

  1 October

  2004

  30 September

  NCYVS

  Equality and Diversity Unit

  2003

  20 October

  2004

  23 April

  New Economics Foundation

  Local Government Capacity and Modernisation Division

  2003

  2 April

  2004

  30 April

  New Islington and Hackney Housing Association

  Equality and Diversity Unit

  2003

  15 September

  2004

  19 March

  Newham Council

  Local Government Quality

  2002

  21 January

  2004

  23 July

  North East Assembly

  Fire, Health & Safety Division

  2003

  30 June

  2004

  31 March

  Nottingham County Council

  Fire Service Improvement Team

  2004

  16 March

  2004

  30 September

  Ofsted

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2003

  1 September

  2004

  1 September

  One North East

  social Exclusion Unit

  2003

  10 November

  2004

  7 May

  PEP Ltd. (Priority Estate Project)

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2001

  18 June

  2005

  30 June

  Pricewaterhousecoopers

  Local Government Quality

  2001

  3 September

  2004

  31 March

  Railtrack

  HM Fire Services

  2001

  16 July

  2004

  3 September

  Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

  Homelessness Directorate

  2003

  17 October

  2004

  30 April

  Safer Merthyr Tydfil

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2000

  1 May

  2005

  3 April

  South Wales Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  13 October

  2004

  12 October

  South Wales Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  1 June

  2004

  3 May

  South Wales Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  6 January

  2004

  20 July

  South Wales Fire Service HQ

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  6 July

  2004

  6 July

  South West Development Agency

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2003

  13 January

  2004

  30 June

  South West London and St. George's Mental Health Trust

  Social Exclusion Unit

  2003

  26 August

  2004

  25 September

  South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  14 April

  2004

  16 April

  South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  6 July

  2006

  6 July

  SPLASH

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2003

  3 February

  2005

  2 February

  Sport England

  Community Participation-Implementation

  2002

  11 November

  2004

  10 November

  Staffordshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  16 June

  2004

  9 June

  Stonham Housing Association

  Social Exclusion Unit

  2003

  28 April

  2004

  25 June

  Strategic Rail Authority

  Fire Service Structure Team

  2003

  27 August

  2005

  26 August

  Strathclyde Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  21 October

  2004

  20 July

  Suffolk Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  6 July

  2004

  6 July

  Surrey Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  24 March

  2004

  31 March

  Sussex Police

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2003

  21 July

  2005

  22 July

  Tower Hamlets

  Thames Gateway Strategic Executive

  2001

  2 April

  2004

  30 September

  Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2002

  21 October

  2004

  20 July

  Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  1 June

  2004

  31 May

  University of East London

  Thames Gateway Strategic Executive

  2002

  20 May

  2004

  19 May

  University of Westminster

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2003

  15 November

  2004

  14 May

  Urban Projects

  Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

  2003

  8 July

  2004

  7 July

  Warwickshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  1 May

  2005

  30 April

  West Midland Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  7 March

  2004

  31 March

  West Midlands Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  1 March

  2005

  31 March

  West Midlands Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  1 December

  2004

  2 April

  West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service

  Fire Service Effectiveness Directorate

  2003

  6 October

  2004

  30 September

  West Sussex Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  9 February

  2005

  31 March

  West Sussex Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2001

  15 January

  2006

  14 January

  West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

  HM Fire Service Inspectorate

  2003

  16 June

  2004

  15 June

TRANSPORT

  Aircraft Seats
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to implement the recommendation of the ICE Ergonomics Ltd. Report of July 2001 commissioned by the Joint Aviation Authorities concerning the seat pitch on British passenger aircraft. [177147]

  Mr. McNulty
  On 28 September 2003 the European Safety Agency (EASA) assumed responsibility for the design standards of most aircraft manufactured and operated in the European Union. This includes standards for airline seat spacing. At the suggestion of 284W
  the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), an investigation of all seat pitch issues has been added to the EASA rulemaking programme for 2005 onwards. It is expected that the EASA investigation will take full account of the ICE Ergonomics Ltd. report of Jury 2001.

  Crime (Public Transport)
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many crimes were committed on London Underground in each year since 1997; and how many were(a) assaults, (b) of a sexual nature and (c) robberies. [175461]

  Mr. McNulty
  [pursuant to the reply, 7 June 2004, Official Report, c. 69–70W]: The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided corrected information on

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  crimes recorded on London Underground in each year since 1998; information is not readily available for earlier than 1998.

  Assaults

  Sexual offences

  Robberies

  Passenger trips (million)

  1998–99

  1,302

  425

  597

  866

  1999–2000

  1,424

  362

  643

  927

  2000–01

  1,234

  393

  591

  970

  2001–02

  1,168

  336

  783

  953

  2002–03

  1,543

  340

  535

  942

  2003–04

  1,834

  357

  502

  947

  Departmental Administration Budget
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17 March 2004,Official Report, column 331. [176509]

  Mr. McNulty
  The real terms reduction of 5 per cent. or more will be a central feature of the public spending settlements for 2006–08 to be announced in detail later this year.

  Race Equality Scheme
  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will report progress on each of the bullet points on page 20 of the Department's Race Equality Scheme 2003–05. [176820]

  Mr. McNulty
  [holding answer 7 June 2004]: In complying with the specific duties of Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 relating to employment, the Department has some monitoring systems in place, and where they are not, we are setting them up for any areas where monitoring has lapsed. We are monitoring by ethnic group applicants seeking employment by:
  the number of applications for employment;
  the numbers dropping out at different stages of the recruitment process;
  the numbers selected;
  the numbers successful and unsuccessful at different stages of selection; and
  the numbers accepting job offers.

  We also ask applicants to let us know where they found out about our vacancies.

  As regards staff working within the Department, we monitor by ethnic group, and gender:
  the numbers of staff in post;
  applicants for training;
  numbers receiving training;
  applicants for promotion, numbers selected, and numbers successful and unsuccessful at different stages of the process;
  appraisal mark distributions;
  distribution of performance-related pay or bonuses;
  harassment and discrimination complaints;
  those involved in grievances and disciplinary procedures; and ceased employment.
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  Where analysis of this monitoring reveals any disparities, we will take appropriate action to address concerns. The results of monitoring, and impact of action taken to address issues identified will be reported to the Departmental Management Board.

  The Department reviewed its recruitment processes between November 2003 to January 2004. The findings are yet to be analysed, however, once analysis has taken place we will carry out implementation as appropriate.

  We have delivered training events on race awareness for staff involved interviewing and chairing for recruitment and promotions. In addition to this, we have held race equality impact assessment training for key staff, and race equality is featured in our Valuing Diversity programme of events being run throughout 2004.

  In 2003, we delivered diversity awareness workshops for untrained staff. The workshops were designed to challenge some of the stereotypes and misconceptions some managers might have about the ability of minority ethnic staff. We set up a Steering Group, with representation from the trade unions and our minority ethnic staff support network, to develop a career development programme for minority ethnic staff. It is hoped that the programme, to be launched early in 2005, might have some impact in helping to address their under-representation in more senior grades.

  The Department conducted a staff survey in November 2003. Among the outcomes were that 64 per cent. of black staff felt that they were treated with dignity and respect, compared to 76 per cent. of white employees although these differences are not statistically significant. Compared to benchmarking data on race, the Department for Transport performs well against other public sector organisations in those who claimed to have been unfairly treated on account of their race. The departmental figure is 3 per cent. below the benchmark.

  The survey also showed that black and Asian staff seem to be more likely to agree that they like working in the Department, but would prefer an alternative job within it (40 per cent. black staff and 47 per cent. Asian staff compared to 23 per cent. of white staff).

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Computer File Formats
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the(a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents. [173359]

  Alun Michael
  Defra's main method for placing documents in the public domain is our online Publication Scheme, which can be found on the Defra website at http://defraweb/corporate/opengov/pubscheme/index.htm. A range of standard web file formats are used for these
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  documents; primarily Portable Document Format (.pdf), Hypertext Markup Language (.html) and Active Server Pages (.asp).

  Documents that are created electronically but are distributed to the public via other methods are stored in their native file format. Typically this will be one of the Microsoft Office formats such as Word (.doc) Excel (.xls) or PowerPoint (.ppt).

  These documents are placed on a registered file, in hard copy, to form part of our official public record, as mandated by The National Archive. Currently Defra does not have an accredited electronic archive, although plans are in development for a future implementation.

  Departmental Administration Budget
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) staffing and (b) staff costs for the Environment Agency are for 2004–05 in respect of its activities on (i) central administration, (ii) flood defence, (iii) water resources, (iv) environmental protection, licensing activities, (v) environmental protection, non-licensing activities, (vi) fisheries, (vii) recreation and conservations (viii) navigation and (ix) other activities. [176407]

  Alun Michael
  The Environment Agency's current staff numbers and costs for each function are set out in the following table.

  Environment Agency

  Full time equivalent staff

  Annual staff costs (£0OO)

  Central Administration

  279

  8,841

  Flood Defence

  4,071

  126,450

  Water Resources

  1,233

  39,078

  Environmental Protection

  3,752

  118,176

  Fisheries

  499

  15,823

  Recreation and Conservation

  189

  4,174

  Navigation

  109

  4,685

  Other Activities

  928

  41,654

  Total

  11,060

  358,881

  The Agency is not able to distinguish between environmental protection staff working on licensing activities and those working on non-licensing activities. Most staff in Environmental Protection functions undertake both duties depending on need.

  "Central Administration" is defined as Head Office Finance, Human Resources, Facilities, Operational Co-ordination, Payroll and other exchequer services and Audit.

  "Other Activities" comprise mainly Corporate Information Systems, National Laboratory Service, Legal, Estates and Procurement.

  Staff costs include travel and subsistence.

  Gender Pay Gap
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the pay gap between men and women employed by her Department and its agencies in(a) Southampton, (b) Eastleigh, (c) Winchester and (d) Romsey. [171633]

  Alun Michael
  In response to the Equal Opportunities Task Force report "Just Pay", the Government committed all departments and agencies to undertake an equal pay review by April 2003 and to prepare action plans to close any equal pay gaps. Consequently, an equal pay audit of the Core Defra, Pesticides Safety Directorate and Veterinary Medicines Directorate pay system was carried out, the results of which revealed that there were no significant inequalities in pay for staff in these locations. There are 17 Core-Defra staff employed in offices in Southampton and Winchester.

  Of my Department's other agencies, only the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) have staff in these locations. The VLA has 33 staff and CSL has three staff based in or near Winchester. Both agencies have carried out equal pay audits of their pay systems. The CSL audit did not identify any pay inequalities. The Chief Executive of the VLA will reply to the hon. Member separately.

  Honours
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much time her Department spent dealing with honours in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by Civil Service grade. [173038]

  Alun Michael
  For the period April 2003 to January 2004 the Departmental Honours team consisted of a full-time Honours Secretary graded at a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) supported by two full-time Administrative Officers (AO's).

  From February 2004 the Departmental Honours team has been re-organised and is now a full-time Honours Secretary who is an Executive Officer (EO) supported by one full-time Administrative Officer (AO).

  The Honours Secretary is involved with the twice-yearly Departmental Honours sift with the Permanent Secretary and other senior officials.

  The majority of the work on honours is undertaken by the Departmental Honours team. Information is not available on time spent on honours related work, by departmental staff who are not members of the Departmental Honours team.

  Public Bodies
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) total budget and (b) budget for administration were for the

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  (i) Agricultural Wage Committee, (ii) Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee, (iii) Consumers' Committee for Great Britain, (iv) Committee of Agricultural Valuation, (v) Committee of Investigation for Great Britain, (vi) Commons Commissioners and

  Total costs budget

  Administrative costs budget

  Comments

  Agricultural Wage Committee

  35,000

  No separate budget

  —

  Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee

  44,000

  No separate budget

  —

  Consumers' Committee for Great Britain

  0

  0

  This NDPB is dormant

  Committee of Agricultural Valuation

  0

  0

  This NDPB is dormant

  Committee of Investigation for Great Britain

  0

  0

  This NDPB is Dormant

  Commons Commissioners

  30,000

  30,000

  —

  Hill Farming Advisory Committee

  0

  0

  Dormant

  Note:

  Advisory and Tribunal NDPBs—Administrative Costs

  Administration costs for advisory and tribunal NDPBs Include the costs of board members (fees and expenses)and any associated direct costs of running the NDPB. It does not include the costs of the secretariats within Defra.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) total budget and (b) budget for administration were for the (i) Dairy produce Quota Tribunal, (ii) Horticultutal Development Council, (iii) Home Grown Cereals Authority, (iv) Meat and Livestock Commission, (v) Forum on Non-Food Uses of Crops,

  Total costs budget

  Administrative costs budget

  Comments

  Dairy Produce Quota Tribunal

  0

  0

  Activities on hold

  Horticultural Development Council

  3,900,000

  293,300

  —

  Home Grown Cereals Authority

  10,167,000

  582,000

  —

  Meat and Livestock Commission

  36,946,000

  2,064,000

  —

  Forum on Non-Food Uses of Crops

  150,000

  No separate budget

  —

  Advisory Committee on Organic Standards

  167,000

  167,000

  —

  Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment

  40,000

  40,000

  —

  Notes:

  Executive NDPBs—Administrative Costs

  Both management accounting practices and the definition of administration costs differ from organisation to organisation. Therefore comparisons between NDPBs may not be appropriate.

  Advisory and Tribunal NDPBs—Administrative Costs

  Administration costs for advisory and tribunal NDPBs include the costs of board members (fees and expenses) and any associated direct costs of running the NDPB. It does not include the costs of the secretariats within Defra.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) total budget and (b) budget for administration was for the (i) Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, (ii) Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, (iii) Veterinary Products Committee, (iv) Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal, (v) Integrated Administration and

  Total costs budget

  Administrative costs budget

  Comments

  Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB

  124,000

  124,000

  —

  Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee

  290,029

  No separate budget available

  —

  Veterinary Products Committee

  149,000

  149,000

  —

  Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal

  0

  0

  This NDPB has not met since 1984 and therefore has not incurred costs

  Integrated Administration and Control Systems Panel

  Costs met from overall Rural Payments Agency budget

  Costs met from overall Rural Payments Agency budget

  This NDPB is demand led. The levels of expenditure are determined by the throughput

  Agricultural Land Tribunals

  30,000

  30,000

  —

  Veterinary Residues Committee

  18,000

  18,000

  —

  Note:

  Advisory and Tribunal NDPBs—Administration Costs

  Administration costs for advisory and tribunal NDPBs include the costs of board members (fees and expenses) and any associated direct costs of running the NDPB. It does not include the costs of the secretariats within Defra.

  290W
  (vii) Hill Farming Advisory Committee in financial year 2003–04. [176273]

  Alun Michael
  Details of the total budget and budget for administration for 2003–04 for the NDPBs requested is as follows.

  (vi) Advisory Committee on Organic Standards and (vii) Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment in the financial year 2003–04. [176286]

  Alun Michael
  Details of the total budget and budget for administration for 2003–04 for the NDPBs requested is as follows:

  Control Systems Panel, (vi) Agricultural Land Tribunals and (vii) Veterinary Residues Committee in financial year 2003–04. [176298]

  Alun Michael
  Details of the total budget and budget for administration for 2003–04 for the NDPBs requested is as follows:

  Thames Barrier
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has held with the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser on the reasons for increased use of the Thames Barrier. [176484]

  Mr. Morley
  There have been no direct discussions between Defra and the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) on the specific issue of the usage of the Thames Barrier. However, Defra has provided assistance in sourcing material for the CSA to use in papers on a variety of subjects including the Thames barrier usage.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Adult Education
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment the Government has made of the benefits of non-academic adult education; and if he will make a statement. [177277]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Department has completed a number of studies that look at the benefits of non-academic or leisure based adult education courses. These include work by the DfES-funded Centre for Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning, published on their website at www.learningbenefits.net and the results from the first sweep of a DfES commissioned tracking survey of 1,900 learners who have participated in Adult and Community Learning to be published by the DfES on 24 June.

  The results from both areas of work confirm the positive impact of adult learning e.g. on health and civic participation and on the individual's confidence and motivation to undertake further learning. That is why we remain committed to safeguarding a varied range of learning opportunities for personal fulfilment, community development and active citizenship.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been allocated to each local council in 2004–05 for the purposes of adult education. [177278]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The LSC decides the funding allocated to local education authorities and other providers. Information about these allocations is not collected by the Department. This is an operational matter and the responsibility of the LSC. Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many investigators are employed by the Adult Learning Inspectorate; [176339]

  (2) how many deaths have been investigated by the Adult Learning Inspectorate since its creation; [176341]

  (3) how many bullying incidents have been investigated by the Adult Learning Inspectorate since its creation; [176342]
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  (4) what training in military procedures and weapons handling is planned in order to prepare the Adult Learning Inspectorate for its role in inspecting military bases. [176343]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  These are matters for the Adult Learning Inspectorate. David Sherlock, the Chief Inspector, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget is of the Adult Learning Inspectorate in 2004–05; and what funds have been set aside to inspect military establishments. [176340]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The annual budget of the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) was set out in the Secretary of State's Grant Letter issued on 16 December 2003. This Grant Letter provides the Inspectorate with up to £24.2 million from the Department for Education and Skills, and a further £5.75 million from the Department for Work and Pensions/Jobcentre Plus, for 2004–05. There is no funding specifically set aside for the inspection agreement between the ALI and Ministry of Defence (MoD) because this is commissioned work, which will be funded on a full cost recovery basis by the MoD.

  Drug and Alcohol Misuse
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were excluded from secondary school because of(a) drug-related and (b) alcohol-related behaviour in each year since 1997. [176623]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  My Department started to collect data on the reasons for exclusions, including drug and alcohol related incidents, from summer term 2003. There are concerns about the reliability of the first term's data but initial findings are expected to be released within the next few weeks. The first set of annual figures, relating to 2003/04, will not be available until 2005.

DEFENCE

  BAE Systems
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in the investigation by the Ministry of Defence police into allegations that a member of the Saudi armed forces project of the Ministry of Defence was provided with free holidays and gifts by BAE Systems between 2000 and 2002; and if he will make a statement. [176052]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence Police investigation is continuing and I am therefore unable to comment on progress.

  Iraq
  Sir Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the status of detainees held by UK
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  forces under Article 78 of the IV Geneva Convention (1949) will be after the transfer of Iraqi sovereignty on 30 June; and if he will make a statement. [173909]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 24 May 2004]: We will not be detaining anyone under Article 78 of the IV Geneva Convention after 30 June. The United Kingdom will cease to be the occupying power on 30 June and Article 78 of the IV Geneva Convention will no longer be relevant. The case of each of the 125 security internees currently being held is reviewed regularly and those no longer posing an imperative threat to security are released. Post 30 June detention policy will need to be discussed with the Iraqi Interim Government.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to provide the British public with information on the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. [173227]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence provides as much information as it is able to through the media and Parliament. Where allegations are subject to investigations and potentially judicial proceedings, it is necessary to limit what is said in order not to prejudice that process.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions Ministers had with(a) Coalition partners and (b) the armed forces, and when, about the handling of prisoners in Iraq. [173521]

  Mr. Hoon
  The handling of prisoners captured by UK forces in Iraq is determined by our obligations under the Geneva Conventions.

  In March 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding was concluded by the US, UK and Australia dealing with the procedures for the transfer of custody of prisoners of war (PWs) between them. This covered not only PWs but all internees and detainees as well. It emphasises the importance of compliance with the relevant Geneva Conventions and customary international law. A copy was placed in the Library of the House on 15 November 2003.

  Ministers have regular discussions with Coalition partners on a wide variety of issues concerning Iraq and I am withholding details of the discussions under Exemption 1 b of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I am withholding details of the advice to Ministers from the Armed Forces under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Medical Downgrading
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in all three services have been medically downgraded as a result of service in the Gulf since January 2003, broken down by reason for downgrading; and if he will make a statement. [176803]

  Mr. Caplin
  As of 20 December 2003, centrally held records show that 1,669 military personnel had been medically downgraded subsequent to their arrival in the Gulf region on deployment on Operation Telic. The main reasons for downgrading are as follows:
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  Causes of medical downgrading

  Number of military personnel medically downgraded1

  Musculoskeletal disorders

  587

  Injuries

  468

  Mental and behavioural disorders

  140

  Respiratory system disorders

  87

  Pregnancies

  83

  Other causes

  294

  Cause not recorded

  10

  Total

  1,669

  1Numbers of Service personnel deployed on Op Telic and subsequent medical down gradings during 2003 excludes Special Forces personnel.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Cultural Services Excellence Network
  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which councils have been included in the Cultural Services Excellence Network; and what the criteria for inclusion were. [176461]

  Estelle Morris
  The Cultural Services Excellence Network is an informal grouping hosted by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The network is open to Cultural Beacon Councils, local authorities that have an "excellent" overall score in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment or perform well in the cultural and leisure services part of the assessment, and authorities that receive an excellent Best Value Inspection score in cultural services. The following councils currently meet the criteria, although not all choose to attend meetings:

  Barnet London Borough Council

  Birmingham City Council

  Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

  Bromley London Borough Council

  Camden London Borough Council

  Cheshire County Council

  Chichester District Council

  City of London

  Colchester Borough Council

  Cornwall County Council

  Derbyshire County Council

  Dorset County Council

  East Riding of Yorkshire Council

  Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council

  Greenwich London Borough Council

  Hambleton District Council

  Hampshire County Council

  Hartlepool Borough Council

  Hertfordshire County Council

  Kensington and Chelsea Royal Borough Council

  King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council

  Kingston upon Thames, Royal Borough of

  Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

  Leeds City Council

  Liverpool City Council

  New Forest District Council

  Nottingham City Council

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  South Hams District Council

  Stockton on Tees Borough Council

  Suffolk Coastal District Council

  Suffolk County Council

  Sunderland City Council

  Sutton London Borough Council

  Telford and Wrekin Borough Council

  Wandsworth London Borough Council

  West Sussex County Council

  Westminster London Borough Council

  Worcestershire County Council.

  Departmental Administration Budget
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made towards the five per cent. reduction in real terms in her Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17 March 2004,Official Report, column 331. [176501]

  Tessa Jowell
  The real terms reduction of 5 per cent. or more will be a central feature of the public spending settlements for 2006–08 to be announced in detail later this year.

  Honours
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much time her Department spent dealing with Honours in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by civil service grade. [173035]

  Tessa Jowell
  We have a centralised team dealing with Honours work, the complement of which for the year to 31 March 2004 was 10 per cent. of a Grade A post (Grade 7), two Grade Cs (EO) and three Grade Ds (AO). The team undertakes virtually all of the work on honours within the Department and information is not available on time spent by other staff who are not members of this team.

  The input from senior civil service officials in the Department is estimated at 16 per cent. of one post.

  Ministerial Travel
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the travel costs incurred(a) by her Department and its predecessors and (b) by each Minister within her Department, for each of the last 10 years. [175641]

  Mr. Caborn
  All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in the Department's staff handbook and all ministerial travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

  In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report
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  information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and in some cases will no longer be held. Information for 2003–04 will be published in due course.

  The following table shows domestic ministerial and overall Departmental expenditure on travel and subsistence combined. An analysis on travel only is not recorded on the Department's accounting system and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  £

  Financial year

  Departmental

  Of which ministerial

  2003–041

  839,928.68

  15,044.44

  2002–03

  876,636.96

  24,719.22

  2001–02

  750,593.38

  17,386.39

  2000–01

  807,806.27

  31,931.38

  1999–2000

  755,429.32

  24,539.59

  1998–99

  643,283.50

  22,913.88

  1997–98

  582,564.51

  11,697.81

  1996–97

  242,031.00

  2—

  1995–96

  280,104.00

  2—

  1994–95

  266,092.00

  2—

  1Financial year 2003–04 costs are provisional pending finalisation of Department's annual accounts.

  2Information for these years is not recorded separately.

  Figures from Financial year 1994–95 to 1996–97 are only available on cash basis (rounded).

  New Opportunities Fund (Stoke)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the New Opportunities Fund was allocated to Stoke-on-Trent, North since 1997. [177633]

  Estelle Morris
  The New Opportunities Fund began making grants in 1999. The awards to Stoke-on-Trent, North are shown in the table.

  Financial year

  Amount (£)

  1999–2000

  49,050

  2000–01

  52,346

  2001–02

  12,381

  2002–03

  123,601

  2003–04

  0

  2004–05

  1,350

  The information is freely available from the Department's searchable Lottery award database at www.lottery.culture.gsi.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.

  Royal Household/Royal Parks
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public funding has been received by(a) the Royal Household and (b) the Royal Parks in each year since 1979; how much the Government plan to spend for each year until 2005–06; and if she will make a statement. [175272]

  Estelle Morris
  The following is the information from 1991–92 when the Grant in Aid arrangements were established for Property Services for the Occupied Royal Palaces, and from the same date for the royal parks.
  297W

  Amount of public funding given by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  £million

  Royal parks

  The royal household

  1991–92

  25.4

  23.94

  1992–93

  22.8

  23.16

  1993–94

  23.2

  19.80

  1994–95

  23.8

  20.54

  1995–96

  24.7

  20.44

  1996–97

  23.4

  19.61

  1997–98

  21.7

  16.41

  1998–99

  23.72

  15.81

  1999–2000

  30.06

  15.64

  2000–01

  26.97

  15.52

  2001–02

  41.97

  16.03

  2002–03

  27.04

  15.92

  2003–04

  30.68

  16.57

  2004–051

  28.03

  14.97

  2005–20061

  27.09

  15.62

  1Planned funding

  In 1999 the royal household took over the maintenance of Marlborough House on behalf of the Department, and also took on responsibility for royal communications and information previously funded by the Central Office of Information.

  Marlborough House is occupied by the Commonwealth Secretariat and this expenditure is not a cost of the monarchy. Therefore, the table above shows the amount of grant in aid to the royal household excluding Marlborough House from 1999–2006. The royal household received an additional grant in aid for Marlborough House in 1999–2000 of 0.47 million, 2000–2001 of 0.57 million and from 2001–2002 until 2005–06 of 0.59 million.

  To allow earlier delivery of some major capital projects, grant-in-aid to the royal household for 2003–04 was increased by £0.75 million and a corresponding reduction has been made in the 2004–05 allocation. Without this rescheduling, funding would have been £16.41 million in 2003–04 and £16.31 million in 2004–05

  The royal parks are administered by the Royal Parks Agency. The figures quoted are taken from the DCMS Annual Report 2004, Vol. 1, (CM 6220). Expenditure is reported on a full resource consumption basis from 1998–99, whereas earlier figures are on a cash basis. Expenditure in 2001–02 includes £18.6 million for impairment of the Agency's fixed assets following a change of valuation policy.

  Television Licence
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received about the TV licensing direct debit scheme; and if she will make a statement.[177488]

  Estelle Morris
  There is no single direct debit scheme for payment of the television licence fee; direct debit arrangements are available for the monthly and quarterly instalment schemes as well as for a single, annual payment. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport receives regular representations from hon.298W
  Members and members of the public about licence fee issues but does not keep a separate record of representations about direct debit arrangements.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

  Draft Bills
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Leader of the House how many Bills have been introduced as draft Bills. [175293]

  Mr. Woolas
  [pursuant to his reply, 25 May 2004, Official Report, c. 1479W]: The number of draft Bills published in 2001–02 was seven, not six as indicated in error in my answer of 25 May.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief about the impact of the security situation on the distribution of aid. [176600]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  DFID does not have regular meetings with the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR) on security but we receive regular briefings from the ACBAR NGO Security Office. These are available on www.acbar.org. ACBAR plays a valuable role in Afghanistan, both by coordinating NGO activity and by challenging the Afghan Government and donors through its advocacy work.

  Africa
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking toward offering micro-generation technologies to poor African countries. [176844]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  DFID does not promote particular technologies but supports initiatives that seek to increase reliable, affordable energy services that meet the needs of the poor. A number of micro technologies at the development stage in the UK have limited prospects in Africa because of problems with accessing secure primary energy supplies, particularly by the poor.

  DFID has funded £3.6 million of research since 1992 for the development and promotion of more renewable energy supplies, especially for rural communities. This has covered a wide range of technologies, including wind, small hydropower, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and biomass. DFID has also seconded experts and provided over £9 million of funding over and above UK contributions to the multilateral system to three relevant international initiatives. These are, the Global Village Energy Partnership, the European Union Energy Initiative for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development, and the World Bank Energy Trust Funds. These initiatives cover a range of suitable energy technologies and policy options that include micro technologies where appropriate.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Honours
  Brian White
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much time his Department spent dealing with honours in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by civil service grade. [173034]

  Mr. Lammy
  We have a dedicated honours team consisting of a part time span 7 (senior executive officer), a span 4 (executive officer) and a part-time administrative support officer. Additionally, a number of departmental officials are involved in our internal sifting meetings. No formal records are kept of the time spent by officials on this work, but for the year ending 31 March 2004 we estimate the time spent by them at those meetings to have been as follows:

  Grade

  Number of hours

  Senior civil service

  66

  Span 9 (grade 6)

  2

  Span 4

  2

  The majority of work on honours is undertaken by the departmental honours team. Information is not available on the time spent on honours-related work by departmental staff who are not members of the Department's honours team.

  Legal Aid
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many solicitors' firms had legal aid departments in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [177571]

  Mr. Lammy
  From 1997–98 to 1999–2000 the number of solicitors' firms paid for civil and criminal legal aid work was:

  Number

  1997–98

  10,601

  1998–99

  10,751

  1999–2000

  10,518

  From 2000–01 onwards the number of solicitors' offices holding civil and criminal contracts was:

  Civil

  Criminal

  2000–01

  4,952

  n/a

  2001–02

  4,932

  2,910

  2002–03

  4,641

  2,900

  2003–04

  4,301

  2,669

  The number of offices with contracts does not equal the total number of firms because some offices practised both civil and criminal legal aid before 2000–01, or now hold a contract in both civil and criminal law.

  Before the introduction of contracting, (January 2000 for civil work and April 2001 for criminal work) any solicitors' firm could undertake legal aid work.
  300W
  The reduction in the number of solicitors' firms undertaking legal aid work had little effect on capacity, since those solicitors' firms which withdrew tended to do little publicly funded work.

  Magistrates
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average age is of(a) male and (b) female magistrates in (i) Surrey, (ii) the South East and (iii) England. [177373]

  Mr. Leslie
  This information is not accurately available in the format requested. We are able to provide numbers of magistrates within age bands, but not divided by gender, in (i) Surrey:

  Up to age 30: 0 magistrates

  30–39: 10 magistrates

  40–49: 68 magistrates

  50–54: 67 magistrates

  55–59: 90 magistrates

  60–65: 87 magistrates

  66 + : 44 magistrates.

  (ii) the South East. (The South East region is comprised of Kent, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire):

  Up to age 30: 0 magistrates

  30–39: 126 magistrates

  40–49: 546 magistrates

  50–54: 581 magistrates

  55–59: 1,004 magistrates

  60–65: 846 magistrates

  66 + : 354 magistrates

  (iii) England (including the Duchy of Lancaster):

  Up to age 30: 22 magistrates

  30–39: 968 magistrates

  40–49: 4,377 magistrates

  50–54: 4,401 magistrates

  55–59: 7,343 magistrates

  60–65: 7,004 magistrates

  66 + : 2,663 magistrates.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assistance is provided by his Department for the training of(a) members of the judiciary and (b) the police force in Afghanistan; [177111]

  (2) what support is provided by his Department to train (a) law enforcement officials, (b) members of the judiciary and (c) Government officials in Afghanistan on the protection of the rights of women. [177117]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK funded two senior Afghan police officers to attend the International Commanders Course at the International Faculty at Bramshill in 2003. Two UK police trainers form part of the International Police Assistance Mission that has been
  301W
  providing basic and conversion police training in Kabul since June 2003. In July 2003 a five-strong team of UK police advisers deployed to Kabul to establish Crime Scene Investigation Units for the Afghan police. A further five UK police mentors are currently being deployed to join the US-led Regional Police Training College in Mazar-e Sharif. All police training in Afghanistan supported by the UK includes an awareness of both human rights and gender issues.

  Italy and UNDP lead work on judicial reform in Afghanistan, in conjunction with the Afghan Ministry of Justice. The UK contributed £1 million in 2002–03 to the UNDP Judicial Reform programme. In 2004–05 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing £240,000 over two years to the Bar Human Rights Committee to train Afghan legal practitioners in human rights and women's rights advocacy.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the case for expanding protection by the International Security Assistance Force throughout Afghanistan. [177114]

  Mr. Rammell
  The international community, including the UK, is responding to the need for security throughout Afghanistan with increased commitments of troops and resources, including extension of the network of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). Deploying additional PRTs is the key to expansion of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The UK is at the forefront of this, having agreed to lead a second PRT and provide a Forward Support Base for all PRTs in the North. But ISAF expansion can only proceed once NATO's statement of requirements is fully met and we are pressing other nations to contribute the resources needed to meet existing shortfalls.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Afghanistan about the need to criminalise(a) rape, (b) the giving of girls in marriage as a means of dispute resolution and (c) the forcing of women and girls to marry against their consent in Afghanistan. [177116]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK and other EU member states have regularly raised human rights issues, including the rights of women and girls with the Afghan Transitional Administration.

  Women's rights in Afghanistan are protected by the new Constitution, ratified in January 2004. The Constitution contains specific articles on women's equality and rights to political participation. The Constitution also requires the Government to uphold its obligations under international law. Rape and forced marriage are both prohibited by Afghanistan's obligations under the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, both of which Afghanistan has ratified. It is important that these rights now be implemented in practice.

  Practical improvements in women's rights require further progress on security and judicial reform. The UK provided £10 million in 2003–04 for training of the new Afghan National Army and US$4 million in 2003–04 for Disarmament, Demobilisation and
  302W
  Reintegration of former combatants. In 2004–05 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing £240,000 over two years to the Bar Council to train Afghan legal practitioners in human rights and women's rights advocacy.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts he has made to achieve a change in the mandate of the provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan to focus exclusively on security. [177120]

  Mr. Rammell
  We have not sought to change the mandate of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). They are not resourced to focus purely on security, nor is that their purpose. PRTs aim to extend the authority of the central Government by facilitating reconstruction and security sector reform. Although small in size, we believe that PRTs are succeeding in achieving this through the beneficial effect they have on the security environment in the areas in which they operate. This has certainly been borne out by our experience with the UK-led PRT in Mazar-e Sharif.

  Australia
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Australia about its withdrawal in March 2002 from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. [177424]

  Mr. Rammell
  In March 2002, Australia opted out of the compulsory dispute settlement procedures provided for in Section 2 of Part XV of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for disputes concerning the interpretation or application of articles 15, 74 and 83 of UNCLOS relating to sea boundary delimitations or those involving historic bays or titles. This exception is provided for in Article 298(l) (a) of UNCLOS. Australia has not therefore withdrawn from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and there have been no discussions between the Foreign Secretary and the Government of Australia regarding any such withdrawal.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Australia about the economic implications of the International Unitisation Agreement for East Timor. [177425]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK Government has not sought, and would not seek to become involved with this bilateral agreement between Timor-Leste and Australia.

  Burma
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the participation of(a) Aung San Suu kyi, (b) the National League for Democracy and (c) ethnic minorities are conditions of Burma's membership of the Asia Europe Meeting. [176899]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers met on 17–18 April and discussed enlargement of ASEM, among other issues. While Ministers noted moves by the regime in Burma, including the release of some members of opposition parties, they agreed that they wanted to see further and
  303W
  concrete progress in Burma. EU Foreign Ministers raised in particular the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, and an open and inclusive National Convention with the participation of the National League for Democracy. Ministers therefore agreed to postpone a decision on Burma's membership of ASEM, to allow ASEM members to monitor progress in Burma and review the situation in June.

  Butler Inquiry
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what papers his Department has submitted to Lord Butler's inquiry into intelligence on Iraq. [177072]

  Mr. Rammell
  As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear when he announced the establishment of the Review to the House on 3 February 2004,Official Report, columns 625–28, the Committee has access to all intelligence reports and assessments, and other relevant Government papers, and is able to call witnesses to give oral evidence in private.

  Central Intelligence Agency
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which communications that the Government has received from the United States' Central Intelligence Agency since 1 May 1997 have been published; and whether the CIA has sought permission from the Government to make public communications received from the Government over that period. [176790]

  Mr. Straw
  The Central Intelligence Agency has published a large quantity and wide range of material since 1 May 1997. Some of this material has been passed to the British Government but records are not kept centrally. The CIA has on occasion sought permission to make public British Government information.

  Guantanamo Bay
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates his officials have visited British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay; on what dates he received reports on the welfare of detainees; what representations he has made on behalf of the prisoners; and what action he took to make his concerns known to relatives or legal representatives of those detained. [177590]

  Mr. Mullin
  British officials have visited the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay on the following dates: 17–20 January 2002, 26 February-1 March 2002, 27–31 May 2002, 11–15 November 2002, 21–28 April 2003, 8–10 September 2003, 8–9 March 2004. The main points arising from these visits have been reported to Parliament.

  Ministers are kept informed about the visits, as are the families of the detainees. Welfare issues are raised regularly with the US authorities

  Iran
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the report submitted by Iran to the Board of 304W
  Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 21 May on Iran's Nuclear Programmes and Activities. [177073]

  Mr. MacShane
  Iran's report is confidential to the Board of Governors and it is for them to assess its contents, assisted by the Agency's experts, and compare the information contained in it with their own findings from their inspection activities in Iran.

  Iraq
  Sir Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether(a) the Geneva Conventions and (b) all other international humanitarian and human rights law instruments will continue to govern the actions of coalition forces in Iraq after June 30; and if he will make a statement. [176808]

  Mr. Straw
  The forces contributing to the Multi-National Force operating in Iraq after 30 June will act consistently with their obligations under applicable international law, including international humanitarian law.

  Sir Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the dates when Government(a) Ministers and (b) officials met Ahmed Chalabi; what was discussed on each occasion; and if he will make a statement; [176810]

  (2) if he will make a statement on UK Government contact with Ahmed Chalabi and the Iraqi National Congress (a) prior to military action in Iraq and (b) subsequent to military action. [176811]

  Mr. Straw
  Since Ahmed Chalabi was appointed to the Iraqi Governing Council, there have been numerous meetings with him by UK officials, notably the UK Special Representative for Iraq, his staff, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Human Rights in Iraq and the UK Mission in New York. These meetings have covered a wide range of issues. The only formal ministerial meeting was with my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, who met him during her visit to Baghdad in March 2004. They discussed the transition process and the Oil For Food programme. I was introduced to Ahmed Chalabi and had a brief conversation with him at a US Government reception in New York during UNGA week in September 2003.

  Prior to Ahmed Chalabi's appointment to the Iraqi Governing Council, the only recorded meeting took place in New York, during October 2000, where he met officials from the UK Mission to discuss sanctions and human rights.

  Prior to military action, the Iraqi National Congress was in effect a loose umbrella organisation for most of the Iraqi opposition in exile. There were numerous meetings between UK officials and members of the Iraqi National Congress, both prior to and subsequent to military action.

  Sir Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the inclusion of material in the September 2002 dossier on Iraq originating from the Iraqi National Congress. [176812]
  305W
  Mr. Straw
  No part of the dossier on Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction published on 24 September 2002 relied upon information known to have originated from the Iraqi National Congress.

  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has sought from the Coalition Provisional Authority of the(a) capacity and (b) population of prisons in (i) Iraq and (ii) Baghdad. [177208]

  Mr. Rammell
  There are currently 18 Iraqi prisons in operation in Iraq with a capacity of 5,500. They are under the jurisdiction of the Iraqi Correction Service (ICS), under the Ministry of Justice. Of these, 14 are in the Baghdad region. A further 16 facilities with a capacity of 23,000 are planned. The CPA Ministry of Justice team estimate the prison population nationwide to be approximately 4,000. This does not include prisoners of war, security internees or criminal detainees (held for the Iraqis) held in UK or US custody. These number around 9,000.

  Israel
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what punitive measures against the Israeli Government are available to him for non-compliance with the human rights clauses of the EU-Israeli Association Agreement. [177219]

  Mr. Rammell
  The penalties available to the EU if a breach of the Agreement occurs, which would not result in denunciation of the Agreement, are outlined in Article 86 of the Agreement. This article establishes a dispute resolution mechanism. The first stage would be for the concerned party to report the issue to the Association Council. If the Association fails to resolve the issue, the concerned party could then invoke an arbitration process. The arbitrators would decide a judgment and each party would be bound by that judgment. Article 90 further allows for either party to take appropriate measures if it is felt that the other party had failed to fulfil an obligation under the Agreement.

  Article 2 of the EU/Israel Association Agreement states that:
  "Relations between the Parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement."

  Minister

  Date

  Locations

  Total journey time

  1996–97

  Secretary of State

  7 May 1996

  Northolt, Birmingham, Battersea

  1 hour 40 minutes

  Secretary of State

  1 August 1996

  Northolt, Battersea

  15 minutes

  Minister of State, (Eastern Europe)

  18 February 1997

  Northolt, Battersea

  10 minutes

  1997–98

  Secretary of State

  21 July 1997

  Northolt, Highgrove, Battersea

  1 hour 20 minutes

  2002–03

  Secretary of State

  6 September 2002

  Northolt, Birmingham, Northolt

  1 hour 35 minutes

  No RAF helicopter journeys were made in the Financial Years 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2003–04.

  Ivory Coast
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the situation in Cote d'Ivoire. [177097]

  Mr. Mullin
  The situation in Cote d'lvoire is worrying. The Linas-Marcoussis Peace Agreement (LMA) is in jeopardy following the sacking of three opposition Ministers by President Gbagbo, and the opposition's continued boycott of the Government.

  The UK fully supports the LMA and has called on all parties in Cote d'lvoire to ensure its implementation. The UK is working with the Security Council, UN, EU and Economic Community of West African States to keep the LMA alive and to bring renewed stability to Cote d'lvoire.

  Kuwait
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the Kuwait authorities have made to representations to curtail Iraqi reparation payments to their country; what his response to the Kuwaiti position is; and if he will make a statement. [177439]

  Mr. Rammell
  We are conscious of the importance to Kuwait of its entitlement to compensation approved by the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) for the huge losses occasioned by the Iraqi occupation. Under UN Security Council Resolution 1483, Iraqi payments to the UNCC Compensation Fund can be changed only by a decision of a sovereign Iraqi government and of the UNCC Governing Council.

  Ministerial Travel
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many journeys were made by helicopter by each Minister in his Department in each of the last 10 years; and what the journey length was in each case. [175745]

  Mr. Straw
  There is no central record of non-RAF helicopter journeys made by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers. However, since the Financial Year 1996–97, FCO Ministers have made the following RAF helicopter journeys in the UK. This list excludes those made overseas.

  Monaco
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his
  307W
  Department has made of the practice in Monaco of holding prisoners on remand for extensive periods without charge in the context of the Monegasque Government's desire to join the Council of Europe. [177081]

  Mr. MacShane
  Monaco is committed to introduce new laws as part of the process of joining the Council of Europe. As well as undertaking to sign the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) upon accession, and to ratify this Convention and Protocols 1, 4, 6, 7 and 13 within a year of accession, the Government of Monaco has also undertaken to submit the necessary Bills aimed at defining arrangements for: police custody; pre-trial detention; the provision of grounds for negative administrative decisions; and the expulsion of foreigners and suppression of forced exile. These measures will help ensure the compatibility of Monaco legislation with the ECHR and its Protocols.

  Once Monaco joins the Council of Europe we will work within the Council of Europe to monitor Monaco's honouring of their accession commitments and obligations, including this requirement to introduce domestic legislation to ensure conformity with the standards of the Council of Europe.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the fairness of the judicial process in Monaco in the context of the Monegasque Government's desire to join the Council of Europe. [177082]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government welcomes Monaco's application for membership of the Council of Europe, providing Monaco honours the commitments set out by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. These include Monaco signing upon accession to the Council of Europe the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

  North Korea
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information has been received(a) by his Department and (b) by the United Kingdom mission to the United Nations in respect of the nuclear programmes in North Korea, following the visit of the UN Special Envoy, Maurice Strong, to Pyongyang on 22 May. [177069]

  Mr. MacShane
  Mr. Strong gave a briefing to diplomats based in Pyongyang before his return to New York. The briefing was general in nature, and did not go into detail about the discussions that he had with his North Korean interlocutors. Our Embassy in Pyongyang passed details about the briefing to the relevant departments in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. To date, Mr. Strong has not passed any information to the Mission to the United Nations.

  Private Security Contractors
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many private security contractors are employed by the UK to protect its interests, individuals and agencies in(a) Iraq and (b) other countries abroad; in what roles they are
  308W
  employed; under which budget heads, including those of other Departments, the costs fall; what the current annual cost is on those budget heads where the main costs fall; and if he will make a statement. [177077]

  Mr. Rammell
  On Iraq, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on 25 May 2004,Official Report, column 1573W.

  Many of our overseas missions employ private security contractors but the detailed information requested on the numbers involved is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs. The majority of these contracts provide personnel to work as static guards at our missions and at staff accommodation in countries where the security situation warrants that level of protection. In some of our high-risk posts we use contract guards to provide a quick reaction force and to act as individual bodyguards. The costs of these contract guards fall under administration and programme budgets, which are devolved to regional and functional directorates within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The directorates then disburse funds to posts. Not including Iraq, approximately £6 million was allocated to fund contract guarding in the financial year 2003–04.

  Stephen Troth
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the French Government regarding discrimination against Stephen Troth on the grounds of nationality. [177083]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are not aware that Stephen Troth has made any allegations of discrimination on the grounds of nationality and we have made no representations to the French Government on this matter.

  Since Mr. Troth's arrest in Monaco in 2001, our consular staff in London and Marseille have followed his case closely. Our primary role has always been to ensure Mr. Troth's welfare. Our Consul-General in Marseille and Honorary Consul in Monaco visited Mr. Troth several times and our consular staff have provided Mr. Troth and his family assistance wherever they properly could and have recommended that Mr. Troth and his family continue to be guided by their lawyer on legal matters.

  Sudan
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on incursions by the Janjaweed militia into countries neighbouring Sudan; and what assessment he has made of the Sudanese Government's responsibility for them. [177038]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are concerned by reports of incursions by the Janjaweed militias into Chad. We are in regular contact with the Sudanese Government about the situation in Darfur. During the visit of the Sudanese Foreign Minister to London on 11 May, my right hon. Friends, the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development, and I made strong representations to the Foreign Minister about Darfur and in particular the need for the Sudanese Government
  309W
  to act now to rein in the Janjaweed. Whatever the Government's relation to these militias, the Sudanese Government have a responsibility to protect their civilians.

  Our Embassy in Khartoum has discussed the conflict in Darfur with the Government of Chad. We have welcomed the role played by the Government of Chad in mediating at the ceasefire talks between the parties to the conflict, and their continued support to the 130,000 Sudanese refugees whom they are currently hosting.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the peace settlement in the Sudan signed at Naivasha; what help the Government intend to offer in relation to maintaining the peace, with particular reference to Abeyei, the Nuba Mountains and the Southern Blue Nile and Darfur; and what assessment he has made of the implications of the peace settlement for the possible implementation of Sharia law in the south of the country. [177443]

  Mr. Mullin
  We welcomed the signing on 26 May of the latest protocols at the Sudan peace talks at Naivasha. These protocols cover power-sharing, the two areas (Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile) and Abyei, and, together with the previously agreed documents, provide the political framework for a comprehensive peace agreement. We are calling on all parties to continue to work towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement can be signed soon. In the expectation of a peace agreement the UK has allocated £35million to Sudan for 2004–05. In addition, we have also allocated £3.5 million from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool.

  In respect of nationally enacted legislation, Sharia law will only apply in the states outside Southern Sudan, as stated in the Machakos Protocol of 20 July 2002.

  Despite the progress at the Peace Talks in Naivasha, we remain deeply concerned about the situation in Darfur. We have already committed over £18.2 million in response to the crisis there, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for International Development, is currently visiting the region.

  Uzbekistan
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Uzbekistan concerning discrimination faced by Protestant Christians in that country, with particular reference to(a) threats made against members of the Church of Christ by the public prosecutor's office in Nukus in April, (b) the closure by the authorities of the Urgench Baptist Church in Khorezm region in February, (c) attempts to force Murat Abatov to renounce his faith at a state-run farm in the Karakalpakstan region in April and (d) pressure being exerted upon Protestant Christians in Nukus, by the secret police and the regular police, to sign statements admitting they are members of a religious sect. [177455]

  Mr. Rammell
  We remain concerned by reports of religious intolerance and persecution in Uzbekistan and our Embassy in Tashkent maintains close contact with representatives of religious groups and NGOs. My hon.310W
  Friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mike O'Brien) discussed the importance of an open, democratic society where freedom of expression was encouraged with the Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister on 4 February. An EU demarche made to the Uzbek Foreign Minister in April raised the cancellation of a Human Rights Watch Conference on Religious Persecution by the Uzbek Ministry of Justice. We strongly believe that permitting free expression of religious belief is the best means of combating the attractiveness of some of the more radical and extremist ideologies. While we have not made any representations on these individual cases, we have seen reports of discrimination faced by Protestant Christians, as well as other religious minorities, in Uzbekistan and shall continue to raise cases of religious persecution with the Uzbek authorities.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers families are awaiting removal in(a) Greater London and (b) the UK; and for how long each such family has been awaiting removal. [173875]

  Mr. Browne
  Information on the number of unsuccessful asylum seekers awaiting removal—or the length of time for which they have been awaiting removal—is not available, partly because some applicants may leave the United Kingdom without informing the Immigration Service.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which countries(a) are reluctant and (b) refuse to accept the return of failed asylum seekers from the UK. [176289]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 27 May 2004]: When we return failed asylum seekers we do not distinguish them from any other individual with no right to remain in the UK and we do not inform the receiving country that they have claimed asylum.

  The vast majority of countries accept the principle of the return of their own nationals from the UK, once nationality has been established. The Chicago Convention obliges signatory nations to accept back those of their own nationals who do not qualify to remain in other States. 188 countries worldwide are signatories (see following list.).

  Despite their obligations under the Chicago Convention, Iran for example is reluctant to accept the enforced return of their nationals. We are currently in discussions with the Iranian government to agree an arrangement which will allow us to enforce returns to Iran.

  Contracting States to the Chicago convention

  Afghanistan

  Albania

  Algeria

  Andorra

  Angola

  Antigua and Barbuda

  311W

  Argentina

  Armenia

  Australia

  Austria

  Azerbaijan

  Bahamas

  Bahrain

  Bangladesh

  Barbados

  Belarus

  Belgium

  Belize

  Benin

  Bhutan

  Bolivia

  Bosnia and Herzegovina

  Botswana

  Brazil

  Brunei Darussalam

  Bulgaria

  Burkina Faso

  Burundi

  Cambodia

  Cameroon

  Canada

  Cape Verde

  Central African Republic

  Chad

  Chile

  China

  Colombia

  Comoros

  Congo

  Cook Islands

  Costa Rica

  Cote d'Ivoire

  Croatia

  Cuba

  Cyprus

  Czech Republic

  Democratic People's Republic of Korea

  Democratic Republic of the Congo

  Denmark

  Djibouti

  Dominican Republic

  Ecuador

  Egypt

  El Salvador

  Equatorial Guinea

  Eritrea

  Estonia

  Tthiopi

  Fiji

  Finland

  France

  Gabon

  Gambia

  Georgia

  312W

  Germany

  Ghana

  Greece

  Grenada

  Guatemala

  Guinea

  Guinea-Bissau

  Guyana

  Haiti

  Honduras

  Hungary

  Iceland

  India

  Indonesia

  Iran

  Iraq

  Ireland

  Israel

  Italy

  Jamaica

  Japan

  Jordan

  Kazakhstan

  Kenya

  Kiribati

  Kuwait

  Kyrgyzstan

  Lao, People's Democratic Republic

  Latvia

  Lebanon

  Lesotho

  Liberia

  Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

  Lithuania

  Luxembourg

  Madagascar

  Malawi

  Malaysia

  Maldives

  Mali

  Malta

  Marshall Islands

  Mauritania

  Mauritius

  Mexico

  Micronesia (Federated States of)

  Monaco

  Mongolia

  Morocco

  Mozambique

  Myanmar

  Namibia

  Nauru

  Nepal

  Netherlands

  New Zealand

  Nicaragua

  Niger

  313W

  Nigeria

  Norway

  Oman

  Pakistan

  Palau

  Panama

  Papua New Guinea

  Paraguay

  Peru

  Philippines

  Poland

  Portugal

  Qatar

  Republic of Korea

  Republic of Moldova

  Romania

  Russian Federation

  Rwanda

  Saint Lucia

  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

  Samoa

  San Marino

  Sao Tome and Principe

  Saudi Arabia

  Senegal

  Serbia and Montenegro

  Seychelles

  Sierra Leone

  Singapore

  Slovakia

  Slovenia

  Solomon Islands

  Somalia

  South Africa

  Spain

  Sri Lanka

  Sudan

  Suriname

  Swaziland

  Sweden

  Switzerland

  Syrian Arab Republic

  Tajikistan

  Thailand

  The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

  Togo

  Tonga

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Tunisia

  Turkey

  Turkmenistan

  Uganda

  Ukraine

  United Arab Emirates

  United Kingdom

  United Republic of Tanzania

  United States of America

  Uruguay

  314W

  Uzbekistan

  Vanuatu

  Venezuela

  Vietnam

  Yemen

  Zambia

  Zimbabwe

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether China is prepared to receive back failed asylum seekers from the UK. [176290]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 27 May 2004]: China is prepared to accept back failed asylum seekers from the UK in principle. However, the Chinese have very strict conditions for re-documenting their nationals to enable repatriation. This issue is at the forefront of our bilateral relations with the Chinese and the my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister underlined the importance of finding a solution to the problem of undocumented returns during his discussions with the Chinese Premier earlier this month. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese on co-operation on illegal immigration, which will provide a framework to take forward our discussions with the Chinese to improve the system of returning failed asylum seekers as a matter of urgency.

  Child Pornography
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department is funding into the use of(a) peer to peer file-sharing technology, (b) Freenet and (c) other new technologies for the dissemination of child pornography. [173904]

  Paul Goggins
  The role of peer to peer file-sharing technology and related technology, such as 3G mobile phones, has been identified as a means of disseminating illegal content, including child pornography. This was confirmed in Home Office research which sought to examine current and potential future abuses of otherwise legitimate technology, and is consistent with the findings of similar studies which have been carried out by others in this field.

  Regardless of the method used to distribute these images, it is our intention to ensure that law enforcement have the capability to effectively identify and investigate individuals who are producing, distributing, and using them.

  Government continue to work in partnership with industry and law enforcement agencies to assess the new technology which is emerging and the potential it offers for the distribution of child abuse images and other illegal material. Our aim is to ensure that the technology does not present law enforcement with any barriers to fulfil their investigative role.

  As part of a wide range of on-going work of the Police Science and Technology Strategy Group (future scanning subgroup) seeks to ensure that the police service can exploit new technology at the earliest opportunity and is prepared for new technology based threats.

  Child Sex Tourism
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's plans are to tackle child sex tourism. [172797]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 17 May 2004]: The Government are committed to eradicating the sexual exploitation of children, including where British citizens go abroad to abuse children. We have put in place comprehensive legislation to deal with this problem:
  Section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 enables courts in England and Wales and Northern Ireland to deal with British citizens or residents who commit sexual offences against children abroad. Similar provisions apply in Scotland.
  The Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998 makes it an offence for a person to conspire to commit an offence outside the UK, including sexual offences against children.

  In addition, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 has introduced a new civil preventive order aimed at protecting children abroad from UK sex offenders. The foreign travel order is targeted specifically against paedophile sex tourists—those who travel overseas to abuse young children because the opportunities to do so are more available in some countries than in the UK. It enables the courts to prevent those with a conviction for a sexual offence against a child aged under 16 from travelling abroad where there is evidence that they may cause serious sexual harm to children aged under 16 overseas.

  The Sexual Offences Act 2003 also includes a new order which enables the courts to make offenders who have received convictions or cautions for sexual offences overseas (whether they are British citizens or foreign nationals) subject to the notification requirements ("the sex offenders register") of Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 if they come to the UK.

  The Government have also made regulations which reduce the period that "registered" sex offenders can intend to spend abroad before they have to notify the police form eight days to three days. The police can, and do, pass this information to other jurisdictions where they believe it will prevent the offender from committing an offence overseas.

  Finally, a working group has been established to further examine the issue of combating child sex tourism. This group includes representatives for Government Departments, the travel industry, NGOs and the police. The Home Office is also funding a research project, managed by ECPAT UK, aimed at identifying the best channels through which we can raise awareness of child sex tourism.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter from the right honourable Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 30 March with regard to Mrs. Ahmed and Farooq Ahmed. [172253]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 8 June 2004.

  Credit Card Purchases
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted in courts in England and Wales of(a) purchasing child pornography images and (b) other offences involving the use of a credit card on line in each of the last five years. [173055]

  Paul Goggins
  Such offences cannot be separately identified in the statistics of court proceedings collected centrally.

  Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role(a) further education and (b) higher education colleges have played in improving professional standards in crime and disorder reduction partnerships; and if he will provide examples of best practice. [174968]

  Ms Blears
  Further and higher education colleges offer a variety of courses in community safety for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs). These include short course programmes on single topics, vocational qualifications, and degrees up to masters level. Some colleges have also assisted CDRPs with the development of their crime and disorder audits and strategies and analysis of specific local crime problems.

  There are no established examples of best practice. Individual colleges evaluate their own courses and they are also inspected by Ofsted, but no comprehensive assessment of their effectiveness in improving professional standards has been undertaken.

  The Home Office publishes details of courses available from a range of further and higher education colleges on the Crime Reduction Website.

  Crime Prevention/Detection
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many hours were worked by police officers in the latest year for which figures are available in each police force in England and Wales; [173567]

  (2) how many police officer hours were spent by each police force in England and Wales in combating and solving each category of crimes. [173566]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 17 May 2004]: The information requested is not available centrally.

  The latest published figures on police strength for September 2003, were given in online report 13/04, "Police strength in England and Wales 30 September 2004".

  Detainees
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the workings of the escort system for detainees about to be removed from the UK; and if he will make a statement. [173546]

  Mr. Browne
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has not received any representations concerning the workings of the escort system for detainees.

  Detention Centres
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures he has collated on the use of force at(a) Yarl's Wood detention centre and (b) other detention and removal centres; and if he will make a statement. [173544]

  Mr. Browne
  During the period from the re-opening of Yarl's Wood in September 2003 to 17 May 2004 the total number of incidents where the use of force has been necessary are listed in the table.

  Those figures in brackets represent the number of detainees involved in these incidents.

  Number of incidents

  Number of detainees involved

  Campsfield House

  16

  (16)

  Dover

  28

  (24)

  Dungavel House

  24

  (23)

  Harmondsworth

  61

  (56)

  Haslar

  15

  (14)

  Lindholme

  9

  (9)

  Oakington

  9

  (8)

  Tinsley House

  13

  (13)

  Yarl's Wood

  20

  (14)

  Figures are closely monitored in order to identify and investigate any trends in the use of force.

  DNA Evidence
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have had their sentences quashed as a result of DNA evidence. [169238]

  Paul Goggins
  DNA technology can be used both to help the police identify criminals and to eliminate suspects. Convictions may be secured with the assistance of DNA evidence but it may also be a factor in leading to the quashing of a particular conviction and sentence. However, the information on the numbers of such appeal cases is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Durham Jail
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women have been held at Durham jail in each month since 1 May 2003. [176661]

  Paul Goggins
  The population of Her Majesty Prison Durham, by gender, in each month since May 2003 is given in the table.

  Population of HMP Durham—month end figures

  Males

  Females

  2003

  May

  603

  102

  June

  605

  107

  July

  603

  105

  August

  609

  104

  September

  601

  104

  October

  608

  100

  November

  597

  100

  December

  601

  97

  2004

  January

  595

  106

  318W

  Population of HMP Durham—month end figures

  Males

  Females

  February

  603

  100

  March

  619

  106

  April

  625

  103

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been released on early release from Durham jail since 1 May 2003. [176665]

  Paul Goggins
  Between 1 May 2003 and 30 April 2004 there were 118 prisoners released from Her Majesty Prison Durham on the Home Detention Curfew Scheme.

  Entry Clearance (Istanbul)
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to visit the entry clearance operation in Istanbul. [169888]

  Mr. Browne
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has no plans to visit the entry clearance operation in Istanbul.

  EU Accession Countries
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of people from EU accession countries living and working in the UK; and how many of those he estimates are working illegally. [161816]

  Mr. Browne
  During the period September to November 2003, an estimated 113,000 nationals of the 10 EU accession countries were resident in the United Kingdom. Of these, 51,000 were in employment, 48,000 were economically inactive, 10,000 were aged under 16 and less than 10,000 were ILO unemployed.

  Official estimates of the size of the illegally working migrant population in the United Kingdom do not exist. The Government have commissioned research into the methods used in other countries to estimate the size of their illegal populations (illegal workers forming part of this population) in order to define methods appropriate for the UK. Further research is also planned to investigate illegal working in order to help the Government tackle problem more effectively.

  The work required is challenging because, by definition, illegal migrants fall outside of official statistics and are therefore difficult to measure. People illegally present in the UK are also motivated to ensure they remain hidden, which is a challenge to conducting research.

  EU Enlargement
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision his Department made prior to 1 May to ensure that those to whom his Department had written indicating the termination of support and housing benefits had in their possession the documents necessary to enable them(a) to seek work in the UK and (b) to return to their EU member state of origin. [172927]
  319W
  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: On 1 May 2004, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta became members of the European Union and asylum seekers from these countries ceased to be eligible for support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) or a local authority under the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999. Immigration Nationality Directorate officials wrote to all those affected to ensure that they were aware of their options after 1 May. Letters were sent on 5 and 6 April to those supported directly by NASS and on 16 April to those supported by local authorities. The letters explained the options available, namely to obtain work and register under the Worker Registration Scheme (except for those from Cyprus and Malta who are not required to register), to remain in the UK but become self supporting, or to return to their country of origin.

  The letters advised those affected that they could look for work immediately but that they could not take up that work until 1 May unless they already had been given permission to work by the Home Office. The letters also advised those affected that they could approach their embassy or consulate for advice on returning.

  Accession state nationals Who wish to make an application for a workers registration card whose passports are being held by the Home Office should indicate this on the workers registration form. Their documentation will then be considered alongside the application.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from EU accession countries arrived at UK international(a) airports and (b) bus stations in the first week of May last year. [173183]

  Mr. Browne
  Data are not available for the period requested.

  Data from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) shows that a total of 86,000 visits were made by nationals of EU accession countries in May 2003.

  Identity Card
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an identity card card reader will be available for purchase by the general public under proposals in the draft Identity Cards Bill and consultation document (Cm 6178). [173128]

  Mr. Browne
  There are a number of potential options for card readers, ranging from biometric readers which might be used to verify identity securely, to card readers on personal computers which might be able to verify the authenticity of the card. At present no firm decisions have been made on card reader specification. The Identity Cards Programme is investigating these options and evaluating them, looking particularly at how they might be used by potential user organisations and the privacy and security issues which arise from these options.
  320W
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the(a) availability and (b) reliability of technology designed to identify duplicate identities based on identical biometric information. [173131]

  Mr. Browne
  Where an individual attempts to enrol twice into the identity cards scheme using separate identities, it is essential that the second enrolment is detected by making a successful match against the biometric already enrolled by that individual. This form of negative matching is a common feature of existing biometric systems, including the police National Automated Fingerprint Identification Service (NAFIS) system and the on-going United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) biometric trial.

  The identity cards programme is at an early stage in investigating the details of the requirement for matching within a large database, the design of feasibility work to test it and the technical solutions to deliver it.

  Illegal Entrants
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many clandestine entrants into the United Kingdom have been detected and served with illegal entry papers(a) on entry and (b) in country in each month since December 2001. [176336]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 27 May 2004]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 17 May 2004, Official Report, column 761W.

  Immigration
  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the average time spent by immigrants in(a) Metropolitan Police Authority and (b) British Transport Police cells is in (i) Camden and (ii) Greater London; [173872]

  (2) how many immigrants are being detained in (a) Metropolitan Police Authority and (b) British Transport Police facilities in (i) Camden and (ii) Greater London. [173874]

  Mr. Browne
  Information on persons detained in police cells is not held centrally and could be obtained only by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost.

  Annette Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what changes have been made to the employment of UK immigration officers in Cherbourg during 2004; [170603]

  (2) what changes have been made to weekend operations involving immigration controls in Dorset during 2004. [170601]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 5 May 2004]: The UK Immigration Service does not presently operate in Cherbourg.

  On 19 July 2002 a pilot scheme started between Cherbourg and Poole. UK Immigration Officers provided advice and support to the carrier in respect of travel status of passengers prior to boarding in

  321W
  Cherbourg. The officer then returned with the inbound ferry to control passengers seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom during the crossing.

  On 22 February 2004 the scheme was suspended. Local managers are seeking to resume the pilot exercise at the earliest opportunity.

  Iraq Refugees
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has(a) to institute a voluntary assisted return programme for refugees from Iraq and (b) to begin forcibly returning individuals to Iraq who have been refused refugee status and other forms of protection in the UK. [173215]

  Mr. Browne
  Since July last year the Home Office has been facilitating, without incident, the return of small numbers of Iraqi citizens who want to return home through the International Organisation for Migration. Individuals returning under this programme receive independent advice and practical assistance with travel arrangements.

  We have also reached agreement with the Coalition Provisional Authority to begin enforced returns to Iraq. We are working to finalise the practicalities of the enforced returns programme, which we will implement as soon as the necessary arrangements are in place.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the status is of Iraqi individuals who were refused refugee status and other forms of protection in the UK in 2003. [173216]

  Mr. Browne
  The current status of Iraqi asylum seekers, who were refused refugee status and other forms of protection in the UK in 2003, will depend on whether they have appealed against this decision, and if so what the outcome of the appeal was. If all appeal rights have been exhausted and no leave of any kind has been granted, these individuals will have no basis on which to remain in the United Kingdom and will be expected to return to Iraq.

  Prisons holding life sentence prisoners, 31 March 2004

  Operational capacity

  Lifer population

  Total population

  Percentage of population serving life sentences

  Acklington

  881

  25

  869

  2.9

  Albany

  526

  111

  521

  21.3

  Altcourse

  1,010

  7

  988

  0.7

  Ashwell

  545

  52

  533

  9.8

  Askham Grange

  151

  10

  134

  7.5

  Aylesbury

  361

  46

  363

  12.7

  Bedford

  464

  7

  481

  1.5

  Belmarsh

  921

  47

  921

  5.1

  Birmingham

  1,400

  15

  1,406

  1.1

  Blakenhurst

  880

  4

  870

  0.5

  Blantyre House

  122

  27

  117

  23.1

  Blundeston

  464

  29

  462

  6.3

  Bristol

  584

  65

  581

  11.2

  Brixton

  798

  9

  818

  1.1

  Buckley Hall

  330

  8

  322

  2.5

  Bullingdon

  963

  6

  943

  0.6

  Bullwood Hall

  184

  37

  152

  24.3

  Cardiff

  669

  65

  675

  9.6

  Castington

  346

  8

  336

  2.4

  Channings Wood

  667

  51

  664

  7.7

  Chelmsford

  575

  9

  593

  1.5

  Coldingley

  390

  37

  387

  9.6

  Cookham Wood

  140

  15

  137

  10.9

  Dartmoor

  625

  18

  618

  2.9

  Doncaster

  1,120

  12

  1,118

  1.1

  322W
  We are currently facilitating the return of those who wish to go home through the International Organisation for Migration. We have also reached an agreement with the Coalition Provisional Authority to begin enforced returns to Iraq, and will commence these as soon as the necessary arrangements are in place.

  Life Prisoners
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are serving a life sentence; how many of these have served(a) less than 10 years, (b) between 10 and 15 years, (c) between 15 and 20 years, (d) between 20 and 25 years, (e) between 25 and 30 years and (f) longer than 30 years. [173103]

  Paul Goggins
  The number of life sentence prisoners/ at the end of March 2004 was 5,553 and the table shows the life sentence population at the end of June 2002 by the length of time served.

  Population of life prisoners by interval since date of initial reception on life sentence—England and Wales, 30 June 2002

  Number of persons

  All

  5,147

  Less than five years

  1,928

  Five to less than 10 years

  1,389

  10 to less than 15 years

  819

  15 to less than 20 years

  515

  20 to less than 25 years

  299

  25 to less than 30 years

  110

  30 years and over

  86

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list prisons which accommodate life sentence inmates; what the capacity of each prison is; and how many and what percentage of prisoners are serving life sentences. [173104]

  Paul Goggins
  A list of prisons in England and Wales that held life sentence prisoners on 31 March 2004, together with the requested information, is given in the table.
  323W

  Prisons holding life sentence prisoners, 31 March 2004

  Operational capacity

  Lifer population

  Total population

  Percentage of population serving life sentences

  Dorchester

  260

  3

  223

  1.3

  Dovegate

  860

  129

  839

  15.4

  Drake Hall

  315

  5

  297

  1.7

  Durham

  746

  56

  725

  7.7

  East Sutton Park

  100

  3

  97

  3.1

  Eastwood Park

  346

  1

  334

  0.3

  Edmunds Hill

  310

  1

  299

  0.3

  Elmley

  985

  17

  973

  1.7

  Erlestoke

  426

  27

  421

  6.4

  Exeter

  529

  5

  516

  1.0

  Featherstone

  615

  17

  611

  2.8

  Feltham

  761

  6

  688

  0.9

  Ford

  541

  47

  527

  8.9

  ForestBank

  1,040

  3

  994

  0.3

  Foston Hall

  235

  30

  227

  13.2

  Frankland

  653

  275

  662

  41.5

  Full Sutton

  608

  261

  599

  43.6

  Garth

  667

  75

  659

  11.4

  Gartree

  404

  405

  406

  99.8

  Glen Parva

  808

  1

  778

  0.1

  Gloucester

  324

  3

  302

  1.0

  Grendon/Spring Hill

  567

  134

  557

  24.1

  Haverigg

  564

  16

  563

  2.8

  Hewell Grange

  170

  5

  165

  3.0

  Highdown

  753

  5

  732

  0.7

  Highpoint

  816

  39

  807

  4.8

  Hollesley Bay

  330

  34

  303

  11.2

  Holloway

  495

  5

  460

  1.1

  Holme House

  994

  8

  996

  0.8

  Hull

  1,071

  11

  1,086

  1.0

  Kingston(Portsmouth)

  140

  134

  136

  98.5

  Kirkham

  590

  31

  542

  5.7

  Kirklevington

  223

  14

  217

  6.5

  Lancaster

  232

  3

  235

  1.3

  Lancaster Farms

  532

  2

  519

  0.4

  Latchmere House

  196

  14

  197

  7.1

  Leeds

  1,254

  15

  1,243

  1.2

  Leicester

  385

  5

  374

  1.3

  Lewes

  526

  8

  513

  1.6

  Leyhill

  512

  124

  498

  24.9

  Lincoln

  481

  10

  461

  2.2

  Lindholme

  687

  53

  663

  8.0

  Littlehey

  706

  54

  698

  7.7

  Liverpool

  1,476

  114

  1,449

  7.9

  Long Lartin

  442

  194

  436

  44.5

  Low Newton

  396

  1

  320

  0.3

  Maidstone

  547

  23

  548

  4.2

  Manchester

  1,269

  126

  1,252

  10.1

  Moorland

  1,039

  42

  1,005

  4.2

  New Hall

  426

  4

  376

  1.1

  North Sea Camp

  307

  43

  303

  14.2

  Norwich

  760

  10

  726

  1.4

  Nottingham

  550

  15

  509

  2.9

  Parc

  1,028

  15

  1,016

  1.5

  Parkhurst

  507

  52

  496

  10.5

  Pentonville

  1,205

  8

  1,199

  0.7

  Preston

  664

  14

  675

  2.1

  Ranby

  858

  19

  858

  2.2

  Risley

  1,073

  47

  1,060

  4.4

  Rye Hill

  664

  117

  280

  41.8

  Send

  220

  3

  209

  1.4

  Shepton Mallet

  189

  186

  187

  99.5

  Shrewsbury

  350

  1

  350

  0.3

  Standford Hill

  464

  16

  423

  3.8

  Stocken

  622

  47

  621

  7.6

  Styal

  457

  18

  442

  4.1

  Sudbury

  559

  87

  556

  15.6

  Swaleside

  777

  345

  774

  44.6

  Swansea

  348

  1

  347

  0.3

  Swinfen Hall

  310

  34

  310

  11.0

  The Mount

  760

  26

  757

  3.4

  The Verne

  587

  32

  579

  5.5

  The Wolds

  360

  31

  358

  8.7

  Usk/Prescoed

  420

  39

  413

  9.4

  Wakefield

  565

  405

  562

  72.1

  Wandsworth

  1,441

  16

  1,432

  1.1

  Warren Hill

  222

  6

  218

  2.8

  Wayland

  706

  40

  699

  5.7

  Wealstun

  624

  18

  568

  3.2

  Wellingborough

  526

  27

  523

  5.2

  Whatton

  360

  9

  358

  2.5

  324W 325W

  Prisons holding life sentence prisoners, 31 March 2004

  Operational capacity

  Lifer population

  Total population

  Percentage of population serving life sentences

  Whitemoor

  458

  208

  423

  49.2

  Winchester

  655

  16

  591

  2.7

  Woodhill

  789

  18

  792

  2.3

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1,239

  228

  1,244

  18.3

  Wymott

  866

  38

  849

  4.5

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many current life sentence prisoners are detained beyond the expiry of their tariff for(a) less than five years, (b) between five and 10 years, (c) between 10 and 15 years and (d) more than 15 years. [173105]

  Paul Goggins
  This information is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how marry and what percentage of life sentence prisoners detained more than five years beyond the expiry of their tariff refuse to comply with penal and parole regimes that require the prisoner to admit their guilt or confront offending behaviour. [173106]

  Paul Goggins
  The information is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Motoring Offences
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which motoring offences are included within the scope of his Department's statistics on offences that are brought to justice. [172405]

  Motoring offences included with Home Office offences brought to justice statistics

  Classification code

  Brief description of offence

  Legislation

  Indictable offences

  004/04

  Causing death by dangerous driving

  Road Traffic Act 1988 S.1 as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991 S.1 and CJA 1993 S.67

  004/06

  Death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs

  Road Traffic Act 1988 S.3A as added by Road Traffic Act 1991 S.3 and amended by Criminal Justice Act 1993 S.6

  008/04

  Causing bodily harm by furious driving

  Offence Against the Person Act 1861 S.35

  Triable-Either-Way Offences

  005/11

  Causing danger by causing anything to be on road, interfering with vehicles or traffic equipment

  Road Traffic Act 1988 S. 22A as added by Road Traffic Act 1991 S.6

  037/01

  Where, owing the driving of the vehicle, an accident occurs causing the death of any person

  Theft Act 1968 S.12A as added by the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992 S.1

  037/02

  Where the vehicle was being driven dangerously, where injury to any person or damage to any property was caused, or damage was caused to the vehicle

  Theft Act 1968 S.12A as added by the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992 S.1

  048/01

  Stealing motor vehicles

  Theft Act 1968 S.1

  802/00

  Aiding, abetting, causing or permitting reckless driving

  Road Traffic Act 1988 S.2 as amended by Road Traffic Act 1991 S.2

  814/01

  Fraud, forgery etc. associated with driving licence

  Road Traffic Act 1988 S.173(1) Public Passenger Vehicle Act 1981 S.65 (1) (a) and (2)

  814/02

  Fraud, forgery etc. associated with insurance certificate

  Road Traffic Act 1988 SS.173 (1) and 175 (a)

  814/03

  Fraud, forgery etc. associated with registration and licensing documents

  Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 SS.44 and 45; Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 S.65 (1) (b) and (2)

  814/04

  Fraud, forgery etc. associated with work records

  Transport Act 1968 S.99 (5)

  814/05

  Fraud, forgery etc. associated with operator's licence

  Goods Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 S.38; Sch. 5 Para 4; Road Traffic Act 1988 S.173 (1) Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 S.65 (1) (a) and (2)

  814/06

  Fraud, forgery etc. associated with test certificate

  Road Traffic Act 1988 SS.173 (1) and 175 (b)

  814/07

  Mishandling or faking parking documents

  Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 S.115 (1)

  326W
  Paul Goggins
  The table gives information relating to the motoring offences included within Home Office statistics on offences that are brought to justice.

  The offences brought to justice target counts notifiable (recorded) crimes that resulted in a positive outcome during the period, that is where the offender was brought to justice by being issued with a penalty notice for disorder (PND), cautioned, convicted or the offences being taken into consideration (TIC).

  Notifiable offences are those offences that must be notified by police forces to the Home Office and are published as recorded crime as part of the National Crime Statistics.

  The offence code 825/90 (miscellaneous motoring offences), which was included in the 2003–04 targets for each criminal justice system area, will be excluded from the 2004–05 offences brought to justice targets as most of the offences it covers are not notifiable. However, the notifiable element of 825/90 "Tampering with Motor Vehicles" will be retained by giving it a new offence code from April 2004 onwards.
  327W

  Motoring offences included with Home Office offences brought to justice statistics

  Classification code

  Brief description of offence

  Legislation

  Summary offences

  130/01

  Unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle or being carried knowing vehicle to have been taken or driven

  Theft Act 1968 S.12 (1) as amended by Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.37

  131/01

  Where the only factor is criminal damage of £5,000 or under

  Theft Act 1968 S.168 S.12A as added by Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992 S.2

  825/901

  Tampering with motor vehicle and other miscellaneous non-notifiable offences

  Road Traffic Act 1988 S.25 plus other road traffic legislation

  1 The offences included within the offence code 825/90 will be excluded from offences brought to justice calculations from 2004–05 onwards with the exception of "tampering with a motor vehicle", which has been allocated it own code from April 2004 onwards.

  Naturalisation Applications
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many naturalisation applications submitted prior to the reorganisation of the approval system carried out in summer 2003 remain to be processed; and if he will make a statement. [172998]

  Mr. Browne
  Information on the applications referred to is not available.

  The latest published information on numbers of naturalisation applications granted can be found in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2003",
  published on 25 May 2004.

  New Hall Prison
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners at New Hall women's prison were on suicide watch during each of the last three months. [172653]

  Paul Goggins
  "Suicide watch' is not a term used by the Prison Service. The level of observation for any individual prisoner identified to be at risk of suicide or self-harm can vary and is decided by a multi-disciplinary case review team, or by the unit manager when there has not been the opportunity for the case review to be held.

  The inherent vulnerability of many women in custody, combined with the high levels of self-harm across women's prisons, results in a very large number of women prisoners presenting themselves as requiring special care, and being made subject to the "Self-Harm At Risk Form' F2052SH procedures. Staff caring for women prisoners face exceptional difficulties in distinguishing between those women who are intensely vulnerable and those who may be actively suicidal.

  The number of new F2052SHs opened, and the number of prisoners on an open F2052SH at New Hall during each of the last three months is shown in the following table:

  Month

  Number of new F2052SHs opened1

  Number of women on an open F2052SH2

  February

  48

  97

  March

  54

  92

  April

  64

  100

  Total

  166

  289

  1 These figures include women transferred into New Hall on open F2052SHs.

  2 These figures include newly opened F2052SHs and F2052SHs remaining open from the previous month.

  328W
  The number of apparently self-inflicted deaths at New Hall in each of the past three years is shown in the following table.

  Calendar year

  Number of self-inflicted deaths

  2001

  0

  2002

  2

  2003

  3

  In 2004 to date (11 May 2004), New Hall has experienced one apparently self-inflicted death.

  The number of reported incidents of self-harm that occurred in each of the last three months at New Hall, and the number of women involved, is shown in the following table.

  Month

  Number of reported incidents of self-harm

  Number of prisoners involved

  February

  131

  28

  March

  94

  28

  April

  39

  20

  Total

  264

  76

  The number of self-inflicted deaths and level of self-harm among women prisoners is recognised as a very serious concern by the Prison Service and Ministers. The main principles of the outline suicide prevention strategy that I announced on 31 March 2004 apply across all types of prisons and to all prisoners, whether male or female. Women prisoners are to benefit from a specifically targeted and separate suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy being developed for them. This builds upon a number of interventions including: individual crisis counselling for women prisoners who self-harm; the continued development and evaluation of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, which is currently being trialled at Durham, Bullwood Hall and Holloway prisons; investment and planning to ensure progress on the detoxification strategy in women's prisons; and the introduction of a new training pack for all staff working with women in custody, which includes a module on the health and well being of women prisoners. £1 million from the Department of Health has been allocated to women's prisons to be spent on the recruitment of psychiatric nurses.

  New Hall itself has a comprehensive local suicide and self-harm prevention policy which is reviewed annually, and an active suicide and self-harm prevention team. A full-time Suicide Prevention Coordinator and recently appointed Safer Custody Manager are leading

  329W
  improvements to the existing suicide prevention and other safer custody arrangements. It is intended that an open, less institutionalised environment will allow better interaction between staff and prisoners, and the provision of a dedicated interview room will facilitate more open discussion between prisoners and staff, which may, in turn, lead to easier identification of at-risk prisoners.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what liaison took place between New Hall women's prison and the local area child protection committee about the welfare of girls under 18 in custody in(a) 2003 and (b) 2004. [172654]

  Paul Goggins
  During 2003 work began with Wakefield Social Services to develop child protection procedures for New Hall, these cover all child protection issues in the establishment including all individuals under the age of 18 and classified as juveniles, as well as mothers and babies.

  Over the last nine months, the Governor of New Hall prison has, attended the area child protection committee (ACPC) meetings on a regular basis. The ACPC has now agreed the Child Protection procedures. There is also regular liaison with the initial response team about any concerns that the establishment has for any young person under 18, as well as any baby held within New Hall.

  New Prisons
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new prisons have been commissioned since May 1997. [172408]

  Paul Goggins
  Nine new prisons have been commissioned in England and Wales since May 1997; seven are operating (Altcourse, Ashfield, Dovegate, Forest Bank, Lowdham Grange, Pare and Rye Hill) and two are under construction, Bronzefield (to open in June 2004) and Peterborough (to open in March 2005).

  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new prisons are planned for England and Wales which will be opened within the next three years; where these prisons will be located; and if he will make a statement. [173290]

  Paul Goggins
  Two new private sector prisons providing 1,290 places are due to be opened within the next three years. Her Majesty's Prison Bronzefield at Ashford (near Heathrow), and Peterborough will open in June 2004 and March 2005 respectively.

  Offender Management
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the performance testing programme for prisons will continue in its current form under the National Offender Management Service. [168397]

  Paul Goggins
  Market testing is only one mechanism for ensuring contestability, but it will remain an important one. As it will be some time before we can introduce full contestability through the regional offender managers' commissioning role it is likely that, in the short term, the majority of contracts with the public sector prisons will be agreed on a national basis.
  330W
  We expect the first market tests to begin in 2005–06. No decisions have yet been reached on how many prisons will be market tested in the first year, or how the competitions will be structured

  Policing/Crime Statistics (Preston)
  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers preventing racial harassment have been introduced since 1997; and how many times these powers have been used in Preston. [169693]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  Prior to 1997 the Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976 already prohibited discrimination on racial grounds. The RRA did not specifically refer to harassment, but it was clear from case law that racial harassment was a type of detriment capable of amounting to the kind of less favourable treatment prohibited by the Act.

  As part of its fulfilment of its obligations under the EC Race Directive the UK amended the Race Relations Act 1976 (by virtue of the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003) so as to make it unlawful to harass a person, on grounds of race or ethnic or national origins, in the areas of activity covered by the 1976 Act.

  The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 created new and separate offences where the offences of causing fear and violence or of causing harassment, alarm or distress under the Public Order Act 1986, or the offences of harassment or putting in fear of violence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were racially aggravated. Figures for the number of prosecutions in Preston for this type of offence are not centrally available. Lancashire police figures for harassment offences (published by the Home Office under the requirements of S95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991) show a total of 717 recorded offences of this type in the Lancashire police area over the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02.

  Prescoed Young Offenders Institute
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the proposed transfer of prisoners convicted of sex offences to open conditions at Prescoed Young Offenders Institute; and if he will make a statement. [173621]

  Paul Goggins
  I have received a small number of representations from various organisations and individuals. I have endorsed the Prison Service's decision to allocate certain prisoners convicted of sexual offences, who are in their final stages in custody, to Her Majesty's Prison Prescoed. I have also undertaken to monitor progress closely.

  Prisoners
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that no prisoner in England and Wales has to slop out at night. [172657]

  Paul Goggins
  All prisoners in normal location accommodation have access to sanitation by means of integral sanitation, electric unlocking, manual
  331W
  unlocking or open access. Where integral sanitation is not in place, sanitation pots are provided for use in certain circumstances, for example when there are electronic system failures, or where staff operating manual night unlocking are called upon to respond to unforeseen incidents.

  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the prison population to reach 80,000. [168837]

  Paul Goggins
  The prison population cannot safely exceed the operational capacity of the Prison Service. On current plans the useable operational capacity of the Prison Service will be around 79,500 by the beginning of 2006. Prison Service funding for 2005–06 to 2007–08 will be considered as part of the current Spending Review.

  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women who are category A prisoners were being held in prison in England and Wales on 1 May. [173291]

  Paul Goggins
  On 1 May 2004, 951 males and seven females who were being held in prison in England and Wales, were classified as category A prisoners.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners have taken part in the(a) core, (b) extended, (c) adapted and (d) booster prisoner rehabilitation programmes; how much each programme costs per prisoner; and what impact each programme has had on levels of re-offending; [171249]

  (2) how many prisoners have taken part in the (a) Enhanced Thinking Skills, (b) Reasoning and Rehabilitation, (c) Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it, (d) Cognitive Self-Change Programme, (e) Cognitive Skills Booster Programme, (f) Healthy Relationships and (g) Prison Addressing Substance-Related Offending prisoner rehabilitation programmes; how much each programme costs per prisoner; and what impact each programme has had on levels of re-offending. [171252]

  Paul Goggins
  The following table gives information on the number of offending behaviour programmes that have been completed by prisoners in 2003–2004. Costs vary between establishments depending on the level of security and staffing. An estimate of the average cost is provided.

  Name of programme

  Number of programmes completed by prisoners1

  Average cost per completion (£000)2

  Sex Offender Treatment

  496

  7

  Programme (SOTP) Core

  SOTP Extended

  103

  7

  SOTP Adapted

  133

  7

  SOTP Booster

  183

  3.5

  Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS)

  6,120

  2.25

  Reasoning and Rehabilitation (R&R)

  1,090

  3

  Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it (CALM)

  335

  3

  Cognitive Self Change Programme (CSCP)

  38

  13.8

  Cognitive Skills Booster Programme

  160

  2

  Healthy Relationships Programme

  28

  7.8

  332W
  1These are provisional figures. Final figures will not be available until the end of May 2004. These figures do not include prisoners who started but did not complete a programme. Prisoners may also have undertaken more than one programme.
  2The costs exclude one-off costs and overheads, and will vary between establishments.

  Information on Prison Addressing Substance-Related Offending is not yet available and I will write to the right hon. Member when it is. Details of the impact on the levels of re-offending for prisoners participating in ETS and R&R can be found in Home Office Research Findings Nos. 161, 206 and 226, and for SOTP core in No. 205. These can be found on the Home Office website. The levels of re-offending for prisoners participating in the other programmes are not yet available.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have taken part in the(a) RAPt, (b) Prison 12 Step, (c) Substance Treatment Order, (d) Action on Drugs, (e) FOCUS, (f) Ley Prison Programme and (g) North West Therapeutic Community prisoner rehabilitation programmes; how much each programme cost per prisoner; and what impact each programme has had on levels of reoffending. [171250]

  Paul Goggins
  Information on offending behaviour programmes has been collected centrally only since 2001–02. Information for 2003–04 has not yet been fully collated. Information broken down by each intensive drug rehabilitation programme is currently being collated, and I will write to the right hon. Member when this is available. The following table shows the number of prisoners entering intensive drug programmes for the two years for which figures are available.

  Intensive drug rehabilitation programme entrants

  Number

  2001–02

  4,691

  2002–03

  4,386

  Costs vary between programmes and establishments; and some costs are contained in existing baselines. The average cost per prisoner per programme is around £1,500.

  Due to the need to wait two years for reconviction results, only a limited research base on the effectiveness of prison-based drug rehabilitation programmes in reducing re-offending is so far available. Emerging research into the RAPt programme is, however, showing encouraging results, with 40 per cent. of graduates, rather than a predicted 51 per cent., re-offending within two years. Such results underline the importance of effective throughcare arrangements and timely aftercare services in the community.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many babies have been removed, voluntarily or compulsorily, from their mothers in prison in(a) 2003 and (b) 2004. [172352]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: This information is not available centrally. However, most separations are only temporary for the period of imprisonment and all decisions are made in the best interests of the child.
  333W
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been held in police cells in each region of England and Wales under lock-out arrangements in the last 12 months; what the total cost of lock-outs was over this period; and what the average daily cost was. [172412]

  Paul Goggins
  The total number of lockouts in each escort contract area between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004 is given in the table.

  Area

  Number of lockouts

  1

  South Wales and West

  51

  2

  South and South East

  12

  3

  Metropolitan Police District

  10

  4

  East Anglia

  153

  5

  West Midlands and Mid-Wales

  45

  6

  Merseyside and North Wales

  73

  7

  East Midlands and Humberside

  263

  8

  The North

  184

  Total

  791

  As police forces charge retrospectively, it is not yet possible to give a final cost for lockouts for 2003–04. However, the average cost per prisoner per night is calculated as £120, which means that the total cost for this period has been estimated at £94,920.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether prisoners serving sentences in England and Wales are permitted to pay national insurance contributions; and if he will make a statement. [172399]

  Paul Goggins
  Prisoners do not usually earn over the threshold for national insurance contributions. However, they are not exempt from payments. They may also make voluntary contributions whilst in prison.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentenced prisoners aged over 65 years were released from prisons in England and Wales in the last year for which figures are available. [172407]

  Paul Goggins
  The number of sentenced prisoners aged 65 years and over, who were released from prisons in England and Wales in 2003, was 341.

  Number of defendants1 proceeded against at the magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997

  Statute

  Offence description

  Year

  Cautioned

  Proceeded against

  Found guilty

  Sentenced

  Absolute/ conditional discharge

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997

  Offence of harassment

  1997

  171

  507

  249

  248

  99

  Sec 2

  1998

  693

  4,304

  2,221

  2,224

  763

  1999

  1,147

  5,427

  27,09

  2,700

  973

  22000

  1,693

  5,760

  2,852

  2,853

  901

  2001

  1,861

  5,627

  2,704

  2,711

  915

  2002

  1,993

  5,594

  2,764

  2,765

  878

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 2 as amended by Crime & Disorder Act 1998, Sec 32(1) (a) (3)

  Racially aggravated offence of harassment

  1997

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1998

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1999

  37

  113

  44

  45

  8

  22000

  48

  217

  81

  81

  12

  334W
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to deal with prisoners who complain of rape and sexual assault. [173133]

  Paul Goggins
  Prisoners who complain of rape or sexual assault are reporting an extremely serious assault. The prison would refer such a complaint to the police for investigation. The referral would either be through the local police liaison officer or directly to the local police.

  The Prison Service would remain responsible for the aftercare of the prisoner and governors have available to them a range of specialist staff, including doctors and psychologists, to assist with this.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the(a) average and (b) medium wage earned by prisoners in England and Wales was in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [172406]

  Paul Goggins
  The purpose of paying convicted prisoners is to encourage and reward their constructive participation in the regime of the establishment.

  While the Prison Service sets minimum rates of pay, each prison has devolved responsibility to enable them to set their own pay rates, details of which are not held centrally. The current average wage is approximately £8 per week.

  Protection from Harassment Act
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) police first stage warnings and (b) prosecutions have been made under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in each of the last five years; [170013]

  (2) how many people have (a) been imprisoned, (b) received a community sentence and (c) fined as a result of a breach of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; [170014]

  (3) how many prosecutions under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 have involved a (a) racial and (b) religious aggravation element. [170015]

  Paul Goggins
  The available information is contained in the table. Statistics on religiously aggravated offences were not collected centrally until 2003.

  Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the autumn of this year.
  335W

  Number of defendants1 proceeded against at the magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997

  Statute

  Offence description

  Year

  Cautioned

  Proceeded against

  Found guilty

  Sentenced

  Absolute/ conditional discharge

  2001

  76

  246

  102

  102

  10

  2002

  35

  248

  99

  102

  10

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 3

  Breach of conditions of an injunction against harassment

  1997

  1

  7

  3

  3

  —

  1998

  8

  23

  14

  14

  1

  1999

  5

  30

  13

  15

  —

  22000

  5

  40

  22

  21

  3

  2001

  2

  31

  14

  18

  —

  2002

  4

  44

  23

  26

  2

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 4

  Putting people in fear of violence

  1997

  51

  243

  76

  76

  17

  1998

  173

  1,505

  522

  514

  108

  1999

  283

  1,632

  488

  494

  81

  22000

  403

  1,585

  515

  520

  104

  2001

  577

  1,502

  535

  539

  83

  2002

  655

  1,470

  585

  582

  61

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 4 as amended by Crime & Disorder Act 1998, Sec32 (1) (b) (4)

  Racially aggravated putting people in fear of violence

  1997

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1998

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1999

  15

  63

  25

  25

  4

  22000

  15

  118

  59

  60

  7

  2001

  7

  149

  55

  55

  8

  2002

  7

  130

  53

  52

  6

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 5

  Breach of restraining order

  1997

  —

  23

  16

  14

  2

  1998

  10

  357

  274

  273

  35

  1999

  3

  669

  461

  471

  60

  22000

  1

  777

  557

  561

  65

  2001

  4

  776

  539

  534

  76

  2002

  2

  847

  604

  597

  88

  Statute

  Offence description

  Year

  Fine

  Community sentence

  Fully suspended sentence

  Immediate custody

  Otherwise dealt with

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 2

  Offence of harassment

  1997

  56

  48

  3

  33

  9

  1998

  512

  591

  18

  245

  95

  1999

  574

  722

  13

  294

  124

  22000

  620

  860

  29

  305

  138

  2001

  559

  815

  12

  284

  126

  2002

  517

  923

  10

  288

  149

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 2 as amended by Crime & Disorder Act 1998, Sec 32(1) (a) (3)

  Racially aggravated offence of harassment

  1997

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1998

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1999

  3

  14

  —

  16

  4

  22000

  10

  29

  4

  24

  2

  2001

  13

  52

  —

  23

  4

  2002

  11

  53

  —

  23

  5

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 3

  Breach of conditions of an injunction against harassment

  1997

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  1998

  1

  6

  —

  5

  1

  1999

  6

  2

  —

  6

  1

  22000

  7

  3

  2

  6

  —

  2001

  8

  6

  1

  3

  —

  2002

  8

  8

  4

  3

  1

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 4

  Putting people in fear of violence

  1997

  16

  24

  1

  16

  2

  1998

  66

  194

  6

  121

  19

  1999

  80

  194

  8

  116

  15

  22000

  49

  188

  9

  148

  22

  2001

  54

  223

  12

  142

  25

  2002

  45

  237

  9

  167

  63

  336W 337W

  Statute

  Offence description

  Year

  Fine

  Community sentence

  Fully suspended sentence

  Immediate custody

  Otherwise dealt with

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 4 as amended by Crime & Disorder Act 1998, Sec32 (1) (b) (4)

  Racially aggravated putting people in fear of violence

  1997

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1998

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1999

  3

  12

  —

  6

  —

  22000

  2

  26

  —

  22

  3

  2001

  3

  26

  —

  16

  2

  2002

  6

  23

  2

  15

  —

  Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 5

  Breach of restraining order

  1997

  1

  1

  —

  10

  —

  1998

  53

  57

  3

  123

  2

  1999

  89

  94

  12

  206

  10

  22000

  86

  154

  13

  226

  17

  2001

  93

  142

  14

  193

  16

  2002

  101

  169

  11

  206

  22

  n/a = Not applicable.

  1These data are on the principal offence basis.

  2 Staffordshire police were only able to submit sample data for persons dealt with at magistrates courts in 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table.

  Racial Harassment
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times powers to prevent racial harassment have been used in Oldham, West and Royton. [170955]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  Figures for the number of prosecutions in Oldham, West and Royton for this type of offence are not centrally available. Greater Manchester police figures for harassment offences (published by the Home Office under the requirements of S95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991) show a total of 2,075 recorded offences of this type in the Greater Manchester police area over the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02.

  Reoffending
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how individual prisons will be held to account in order to reduce the reoffending of discharged prisoners. [167518]

  Paul Goggins
  Under the National Offender Management Service prison governors will continue to be accountable for the running of prisons. Over time regional offender managers will become responsible for ensuring the effective management of all offenders regardless of whether they have received a custodial or community sentence or a combination of the two. They will also commission services from prisons in the public and private sectors and specify standards to which each should perform. The regional offender managers will be line managed by the national offender manager who will report directly to the chief executive and will be responsible for reducing re-offending.

  Reconviction Rate
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much the reconviction rate has changed since the introduction of the private sector to the Prison Service. [168396]
  338W
  Paul Goggins
  The first private prison opened in 1992. Figures for the number and percentage of prisoners reconvicted within two years of discharge from prison are given in Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 2002. Table 9.1 shows reconviction rates for samples of discharged prisoners in each of the years 1987 to 1999. The related text explains that to compare reconviction rates over time it is necessary to control for changes in the characteristics of discharged prisoners, such as age and previous criminal history, which are strongly associated with reconviction rates.

  Recordable Offences
  Huw Irranca-Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) acceptable behaviour certificates, (b) interim antisocial behaviour orders and (c) full antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in (i) Wales, (ii) the South Wales Police Authority region, (iii) the Bridgend Division of the South Wales police and (iv) the Ogmore constituency. [176579]

  Ms Blears
  Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs)—data on numbers of ABCs are not collected centrally.

  Interim antisocial behaviour orders—available information shows that interim orders have been issued for two offenders within South Wales between introduction (2 December 2002) and 31 December 2003 (latest available).

  Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs)—introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act (1998) ASBOs have been available to the courts since 1 April 1999. Since commencement, and up to 31 December 2003, the number of ASBOs issued in Wales, as reported to the Home Office, is 77. Data on numbers of ASBOs issued within South Wales (in which the South Wales Police Authority and the Ogmore constituency are located), are given in the table, by local authority area.
  339W

  Number of ASBOs, as notified to the Home Office by all courts within South Wales, by local authority area, 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2003

  Local authority area

  Total issued

  South Wales Of which:

  36

  From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 by pfa

  0

  From 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003 by unitary authority area:

  36

  Cardiff CC

  13

  Merthyr Tydfil CBC

  8

  Neath Port Talbot County BC

  10

  Rhondda Cynon Taff County BC

  4

  Vale of Glamorgan Council

  1

  Note:

  Between 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data available by police force area (pfa) only.

  Reducing Crime/Changing Lives
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the implementation team for the Reducing Crime-Changing Lives reform programme. [170440]

  Paul Goggins
  Implementing the reforms set out in "Reducing Crime-Changing Lives" is a complex and long-term programme. Full implementation will take several years to be fully concluded. We are currently consulting key stakeholders on our preferred model for the organisational structure of the National Offender Management Service.

  Security Patrols
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will implement the recommendation on oversight arrangements in relation to visible security patrols in residential areas set out in the recent Joseph Rowntree Foundation study. [176393]

  Ms Blears
  Responsibility for co-ordinating the deployment of the extended police family at a local level is a matter for local employers, such as individual chief officers or local authorities, in partnership with other local community safety related organisations. We shall continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure maximum clarity on how these roles can be best used while not restricting local flexibility. The pending report of the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) Thematic on Civilianisation and the evaluation findings from the £13 million suite of workforce modernisation pilots launched in March 2004 will add to our evidence-base of effective practice.

  Sentencing
  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were serving a prison sentence of more than five years in prisons in England and Wales on 1 May 2004. [173531]

  Paul Goggins
  On 31 March 2004 there were 844 females serving sentences of more than five years in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. This is the latest date for which information is available.

  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were serving a life sentence in prisons to England and Wales on 1 May 2004. [173532]
  340W
  Paul Goggins
  The total number of prisoners serving life sentences in prison in England and Wales on 31 March 2004 was 5,553, of which 5,378 were male and 175 female.

  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were serving prison sentences in England and Wales for sexual offences on 1 May 2004. [173533]

  Paul Goggins
  On 31 March 2004 there were 5,665 males and 23 females held under sentence in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for sexual offences. This is the latest date for which information is available.

  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female foreign nationals were serving prison sentences in prisons in England and Wales on 1 May 2004. [173577]

  Paul Goggins
  On 31 March 2004 there were 5,784 male and 673 female foreign nationals held under sentence in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. This is the latest date for which information is available.

  Sex Offenders
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether people convicted of sex offences abroad are supervised or monitored on their return to the UK. [172354]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) which we placed on a statutory basis in 2001, provide a robust framework within which sexual and violent offenders are managed on a multi-agency basis in the community. The scope of the MAPPA includes those who were convicted of sexual offences abroad and have returned to the UK.

  The Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduced a new civil order—the notification order. This order enables offenders who have been convicted or cautioned for a sexual offence overseas to be made subject to the notification requirements of Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The notification order is an important new tool which will help the police and probation services manage offenders who have committed sexual offences overseas.

  The police can also apply to the courts for a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) to be made against an offender convicted of a sexual offence overseas who is living in the UK and who poses a risk of serious sexual harm. A SOPO can set prohibitions on an offender and will also make him subject to the notification requirements for the duration of the order.

  Shrewsbury Prison
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will estimate the cost of replacing the gymnasium at HM Prison Shrewsbury; [171375]

  (2) what the expected completion date is for building a new gymnasium at HM Prison Shrewsbury; [171378]
  341W
  (3) when he expects the design for a new gymnasium at HM Prison Shrewsbury to be completed. [171379]

  Paul Goggins
  The existing gymnasium at Shrewsbury prison needs to be demolished for health and safety reasons. A business case for the re-development of the site has not yet been completed.

  Solvent Abuse
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were made of retailers selling restricted solvents to children in each of the last seven years. [169065]

  Paul Goggins
  The available information is contained in the table.

  Defendantsl proceeded against under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 19852, England and Wales, 1996–2002

  1996

  4

  1997

  11

  1998

  4

  1999

  9

  2000

  —

  2001

  1

  2002

  —

  1These data are on the principal offence basis.

  2The offence is to supply or offer to supply any intoxicating substances to a person under the age of 18 where the retailer may reasonably believe that the product will be used for intoxication.

  Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the autumn.

  Statistics (London)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racially aggravated incidents were recorded in each of the last seven years by the Metropolitan police, broken down by local authority area. [173250]

  Ms Blears
  The available information has been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and relates to the number of recorded racially aggravated offences. These data are available only for the last four years.

  Racially aggravated offences recorded by the Metropolitan police

  Racially aggravated offences

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Barking and Dagenham

  407

  353

  297

  350

  Barnet

  509

  427

  450

  469

  Bexley

  225

  191

  185

  274

  Brent

  254

  260

  216

  238

  Bromley

  198

  214

  217

  243

  Camden

  291

  290

  210

  217

  Croydon

  509

  286

  343

  318

  Ealing

  397

  343

  289

  274

  Enfield

  383

  364

  363

  173

  Greenwich

  610

  512

  568

  434

  Hackney

  297

  356

  290

  310

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  355

  215

  201

  147

  Haringey

  255

  247

  196

  131

  Harrow

  250

  26

  232

  196

  Havering

  181

  160

  143

  176

  Heathrow airport

  50

  37

  38

  37

  Hillingdon

  333

  408

  356

  316

  Hounslow

  648

  649

  542

  507

  Islington

  334

  370

  269

  284

  Kensington and Chelsea

  216

  109

  126

  134

  Kingston upon Thames

  239

  207

  194

  248

  342W

  Racially aggravated offences recorded by the Metropolitan police

  Racially aggravated offences

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Lambeth

  419

  324

  331

  317

  Lewisham

  446

  351

  293

  266

  Merton

  408

  342

  355

  340

  Newham

  693

  612

  490

  450

  Redbridge

  234

  208

  232

  305

  Richmond upon Thames

  192

  209

  217

  161

  Southwark

  517

  527

  325

  409

  Sutton

  198

  213

  206

  265

  Tower Hamlets

  612

  598

  693

  567

  Waltham Forest

  318

  297

  250

  295

  Wandsworth

  293

  319

  232

  228

  Westminster

  Belgravia

  657

  96

  76

  75

  Charing Cross

  —

  74

  67

  75

  Marylebone

  —

  92

  107

  74

  Paddington

  —

  182

  128

  105

  West End Central

  —

  93

  125

  112

  Special Ops

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Annual MPS totals

  11,929

  10,802

  9,858

  9,520

  Stowaways
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated cost is of his Department's efforts to detect and deter illegal immigrants from entering the UK through concealment in vehicles in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [160377]

  Mr. Browne
  The costs are as follows:

  Cost (£000)

  2001–02

  2,178

  2002–03

  14,049

  2003–04 (To January 2004)

  4,919

  The costs cover both the capital investment and the costs of staff working both in the UK and at the juxtaposed control conducting the following tasks

  Physical vehicle searches

  The handling of trained people detection dogs

  The management of new detection technology equipment

  The operation and management of carbon dioxide probes

  The annual cost of funding the Immigration and Nationality Directorate is less than 1 per cent. of the Government's Total Managed Expenditure and this will reduce further from next year.

  The deployment of now detection technology and the extension of juxtaposed controls are part of a wide range of measures which have contributed to a 52 per cent. reduction in the number of asylum claims and the associated costs of supporting asylum seekers.

  Travellers
  Mr. Michael Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Irish Government regarding the effect upon police resources of travellers. [170132]

  Ms Blears
  There have been no discussions specifically on the effect on policing. However I understand that officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are discussing the issue of Travellers with their counterparts in the Republic.

  Wiltshire Coroner
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received about delays in the holding of inquests by the Wiltshire coroner; and if he will make a statement. [171585]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: The Wiltshire coroner has reported that the investigation, and preparation for the inquest, into the death of Ronald Maddison at Porton Down in 1953 has proved extremely time-consuming and has caused delays to other cases. His county council has appointed an additional assistant deputy coroner in order to deal with the backlog.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Real IRA
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to proscribe the Real IRA under the Terrorism Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [176968]

  Mr. Pearson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for the proscription of groups which are concerned in the terrorism connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland. Following the RIRA judgment, the Attorney-General announced on 28 May that he would refer the ruling to the Court of Appeal. It would be inappropriate to comment further on matters which could be before the Court. It is however the Secretary of State's position that RIRA was proscribed under the Terrorism Act and he remains of the view that RIRA should be proscribed. The Secretary of State has made it clear that he will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that RIRA is proscribed.

  Administration Budget
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards the 5 per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17 March 2004,Official Report, column 331. [176506]

  Mr. Pearson
  The real terms reduction of 5 per cent. or more will be a central feature of the departmental settlements to be announced later this year in the Northern Ireland Priorities and Budget 2006–08 document.

  Assets Recovery Agency
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Home Office about increased funding for the Assets Recovery Agency; and if he will make a statement. [176959]

  Mr. Pearson
  I was consulted by the Home Office on the Assets Recovery Agency's Business Plan for 2004–05. I refer the hon. Lady to the statement made to the House, by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department on 27 May 2004.

  Attention Deficit Disorder
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) financial support and (b) other resources are available to each health board for help to groups assisting individuals who suffer from attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; and what (i) support and (ii) resources are offered by each board to such groups. [173095]

  Angela Smith
  There is no central specific financial support provided by the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) services. Boards and trusts may fund local groups providing support to families of children with ADHD, through the Mental Health Programme of Care.

  The Eastern Health and Social Services Board has advised that South and East Belfast and Down Lisburn Trusts have offered some limited financial support to the Northern Ireland-ADHD Centre in Belfast.

  Autism
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the role of the new Educational Centre of Excellence for Autism will be. [167604]

  Mr. Gardiner
  It is the intention that the Middletown Centre for Autism will be dedicated to improving the educational opportunities of children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders. Provision will be made for comprehensive educational assessment, individual intervention, training and research support. The centre will be multi-disciplinary and will not replace or prevent the development of local provision, but will seek to enhance or support existing services through collaborative working arrangements.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what services will be provided at the new autism centre of excellence. [169724]

  Mr. Gardiner
  It is planned that the Middletown Centre for Autism will provide the following services:an educational assessment service;
  a learning support service;
  a training and advisory service for parents, teachers and other professionals; and
  a research and information service.

  The Centre will be multi-disciplinary in approach and work in collaboration with local services. It will not replace or prevent the development of local provision, but will seek to enhance or support existing services through collaborative working arrangements.

  Costello Report
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the first meeting of the Strategic Implementation Group following the publication of the Costello Report will take place. [176530]

  Mr. Gardiner
  Nominations to the Strategic Advisory Group have been sought from the key educational interests. The first meeting of the Group will be arranged
  345W
  as soon as all the nominations have been finalised. It is hoped that this meeting will take place before the end of the current school year.

  Delayed Discharges
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients in each hospital have their discharge delayed while awaiting community care packages. [172739]

  Angela Smith
  The number of delayed discharges recorded in each hospital at 29 February 2004 (the latest date for which such information is available), is as follows.

  Number of delayed discharges, by hospital, 29 February 2004

  Hospital

  Total delayed discharges

  Ards

  0

  Bangor

  0

  Belfast City

  40

  Downe

  9

  Forster Green

  2

  Lagan Valley

  9

  Mater Infirmorum

  4

  Musgrave Park

  13

  Royal Victoria

  46

  Ulster

  46

  Antrim

  16

  Braid Valley

  34

  Causeway

  14

  Coleraine

  0

  Dalriada

  9

  Moyle

  10

  Mid-Ulster

  16

  Robinson Memorial

  2

  Whiteabbey

  28

  Craigavon Area

  11

  Daisy Hill

  11

  Loane House

  7

  Lurgan

  15

  Mullinure

  20

  South Tyrone

  10

  Altnagelvin

  9

  Erne

  6

  Tyrone County

  4

  Northern Ireland total

  391

  Note:

  Information is collected only for hospitals which provide an acute service. Delayed discharges refer to persons delayed in these hospitals while awaiting a community care package.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have left employment in his Department because of(a) anxiety, (b) stress, (c) depression and (d) other mental health reasons in each year since 1997. [175671]

  Mr. Pearson
  The 11 Departments of the NI Administration and their agencies and the Northern Ireland Office hold readily available information only in respect of the total number of ill-health retirements, details of which are set out in table 1. More detailed information showing the particular cause of actual ill-health retirements could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.
  346W
  However figures set out in table 2 show the number of recommendations made by the Occupational Health Service of the Northern Ireland Civil Service for ill-health retirement under the general category of mental and behavioural disorders. Such recommendations would normally result in actual retirement but it should be noted that the date of a recommendation for ill-health retirement may fall into a different financial year from that of the actual retirement.

  Table 1: NICS ill health retirement

  Financial year

  Total

  2003–04

  172

  2002–03

  189

  2001–02

  133

  2000–01

  134

  1999–2000

  117

  1998–99

  127

  1997–98

  130

  Note:

  Figures for 1997–98 to 1999–2000 are for the six NI Departments and their agencies and NIO.

  Table 2: OHS recommendations for ill health retirement due to mental and behavioural disorders

  Financial year

  Total

  2003–04

  66

  2002–03

  59

  2001–02

  57

  2000–01

  48

  1999–2000

  34

  Note:

  No figures are available for the years 1997–98 and 1998–99.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions there have been in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years of drivers who had in excess of twice the legal limit of alcohol in their blood. [176629]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written directly to the hon. Gentleman in response to this Question

  Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 1 June 2004.

  You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how many incidents of thefts from cars parked in car parks operated by and on behalf of the Department of Regional Development in Northern Ireland there were in 2003. I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive Roads Service has over 370 car parks throughout Northern Ireland, of which 45 per cent. are charged and 55 per cent. are free. During 2003 there were some 126 incidents of theft or attempted theft reported by members of the public to car park staff. However since many car parks are unmanned, there may have been additional cases reported directly to the police.

  I hope this information is helpful.

  General John de Chastelain
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full days General John de Chastelain spent in Northern Ireland between 1 January and 30 April; and what his salary was for the period. [175219]
  347W
  Mr. Pearson
  Between 1 January 2004 to 30 April 2004 General de Chastelain has spent 10 days in Northern Ireland engaged on decommissioning business. General de Chastelain is paid £600 per diem.

  Heart Conditions
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sudden cardiac deaths

  Table: Number of registered deaths by year in Northern Ireland resulting from (a) all heart diseases, (b) sudden cardiac death, so described, (c) acute ischaemic heart disease and (d) cardiac arrhythmias in persons, by age-group, 1999 to 2003

  Age group

  Cause of death/ Registration year

  0–14

  15–44

  45–64

  65—84

  85 +

  (a) All heart diseases

  1999

  3

  53

  587

  2,579

  1,114

  2000

  1

  60

  500

  2,294

  1,017

  2001

  2

  41

  455

  2,278

  1,115

  2002

  1

  46

  484

  2,143

  1,082

  20031

  0

  64

  410

  1,959

  1,055

  (b) Sudden cardiac death, so described

  1999

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2000

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2001

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2002

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  20031

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  (c) Acute ischaemic heart disease

  1999

  0

  22

  370

  1,597

  525

  2000

  0

  24

  302

  1,465

  513

  2001

  0

  10

  292

  1,423

  536

  2002

  0

  19

  272

  1,273

  514

  20031

  0

  21

  230

  1,179

  540

  (d) Cardiac arrhythmias

  1999

  1

  2

  1

  29

  22

  2000

  1

  4

  2

  23

  15

  2001

  0

  1

  3

  43

  36

  2002

  0

  3

  5

  54

  36

  20031

  0

  0

  4

  36

  38

  1Data for 2003 are provisional.

  2Figures only available from 2001, after the introduction of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for coding cause of death.

  Heart Transplants
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients under the age of 16 are awaiting heart transplants in Northern Ireland. [176253]

  Angela Smith
  There are no patients under the age of 16 currently awaiting heart transplants in Northern Ireland.

  Annual cost of space and water heating for average size houses,(£)

  Fuel

  Type of heating system

  2 bed

  3 bed

  4 bed

  Solid Fuel

  House coal—Group 2

  Open fire with back boiler radiators and Domestic Hot Water cylinder

  562

  740

  1,046

  Anthracite Nuts—'Burnglo'

  Room heater with back boiler Radiators and Domestic Hot Water cylinder

  530

  694

  973

  Anthracite Grains

  Gravity feed boiler Radiators and Domestic Hot Water cylinder

  498

  655

  926

  Electricity

  Standard Domestic Tariff

  Electric radiators, immersion water heater

  1,266

  1,711

  2,510

  Economy 7 Tariff 1

  Storage heaters living rooms, Electric radiators bedrooms, Immersion water heater

  562

  747

  1,083

  Natural Gas

  Phoenix Natural gas Home Energy Tariff (Including optional Direct

  Gas fired boiler, Radiators and Domestic Hot Water cylinder

  348W
  there were in each of the last five years, broken down by age range; and if he will make a statement. [175162]

  Mr. Pearson
  The information requested is not directly available. It is not possible to give an exact number of cardiac deaths which occurred suddenly, as information on whether or not a death was sudden is not currently recorded at death registration. Therefore figures have been provided for all heart diseases, sudden cardiac death (so described), acute ischaemic heart disease and cardiac arrhythmias.

  Heating Costs
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the annual cost of heating an average domestic property in Northern Ireland by(a) electricity, (b) solid fuel and (c) natural gas. [175860]

  Mr. Spellar
  The following table contains the most recent available space and water heating costs for the fuel types across Northern Ireland.
  349W

  Annual cost of space and water heating for average size houses,(£)

  Fuel

  Type of heating system

  2 bed

  3 bed

  4 bed

  Debit Discount)

  474

  618

  870

  Gas fired condensing boiler, Radiators and Domestic Hot Water cylinder

  395

  512

  718

  Source:

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of domestic properties in Northern Ireland are heated by(a) electricity, (b) solid fuel and (c) natural gas. [175861]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information is as follows:

  Fuel source

  Percentage

  Mains Gas

  3.2

  Solid Fuel

  14.3

  Electric

  8.3

  Dual

  9.5

  Note:

  Dual heating is either solid fuel and electric or solid fuel and oil.

  Source:

  Home Energy Conservation Report 2003, NIHE.

  Invest Northern Ireland
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visits have been made under the auspices of Invest Northern Ireland by potential inward investors to each constituency within the past 12 months; and how many jobs have been created as a result in each. [171740]

  Mr. Gardiner
  Over the past year (April 2003 to March 2004) there have been 211 visits by potential inward investors to the Parliamentary constituency areas of Northern Ireland. These are detailed in the following table.

  Constituency

  Number of visits

  North Antrim

  1

  South Antrim

  10

  East Antrim

  5

  North Belfast

  39

  East Belfast

  40

  South Belfast

  54

  West Belfast

  17

  North Down

  2

  Strangford

  1

  South Down

  1

  Newry and Armagh

  5

  Lagan Valley

  4

  Upper Bann

  6

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  1

  Mid Ulster

  1

  West Tyrone

  4

  Foyle

  18

  East Londonderry

  2

  Total

  211

  Securing inward investment is the result of extensive work over an extended period which may involve a number of visits. As a consequence it must be recognised that there is a time lag between visits by potential investors and ultimately securing investment.
  350W
  Recognising this fact, during the past year (April 2003 to March 2004) Invest NI secured 11 new inward investment projects as a result of which 1,099 new jobs will be promoted (i.e. are expected to be created). The final constituency locations for all of the 11 projects have not yet been finalised. Not all of the 11 companies visited Northern Ireland during 2003–04, many visited during previous years.

  Maghaberry Prison
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports he has received of physical and mental abuse of persons inside HMP Maghaberry, with particular reference to the(a) excessive use of strip-searching and (b) restricted movement of inmates; and if he will make a statement. [177189]

  Mr. Pearson
  I have received representations from the Ulster Political Research Group expressing their concern at the use of full-body searching at Maghaberry prison. Searching of accommodation and prisioners is a vital part of the prison routine and is essential in order to protect the safety of both prisoners and staff. I was able to assure the UPRG representatives that the level of searching that takes place in Maghaberry is the same across the rest of the UK for similar category prisoners.

  Milk Cup Tournament
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support his Department provides to the Milk Cup Football tournament. [175907]

  Angela Smith
  The Northern Ireland Events Company The Northern Ireland Events Company has provided funding for the Northern Ireland Milk Cup as set out in the table.

  £

  2001–02

  90,000

  2002–03

  90,000

  2003–04

  180,000

  Total

  360,000

  The Northern Ireland Events Company have also agreed funding of £80,000 towards the 2004 event.

  The Northern Ireland Tourist Board

  A total of £25,000 grant payment was made by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in the period 2001–03 towards marketing costs of the Milk Cup Football tournament. £5,000 was provided for the 2001 Milk Cup tournament while £10,000 was provided for the 2002 tournament and again for the 2003 tournament.

  Motor Cycling
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his latest estimate is of the value to the Northern Ireland economy of the races and events associated with(a) the North West 200 motorcycle races and (b) the Circuit of Ireland Rally. [170246]

  Mr. Gardiner
  Government do not collect this information and are therefore not in a position to estimate their value to the Northern Ireland economy.

  However, the Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC) provide financial support towards the North West 200. Based on information from the event organisers the NIEC will draw up a post evaluation report. This information will include bed revenue and tourist spend and will be required from the organisers within eight weeks of the date of the event.

  Based on figures for previous years prvided by Coleraine borough council it is estimated that the North West 200 will generate approximately £5.6 million tourism revenue to the Northern Ireland economy in 2004.

  Figures are not available for the Circuit of Ireland rally.

  MS Treatment
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are waiting to commence beta interferon or glatiramer for multiple sclerosis treatment; and if he will make a statement. [173605]

  Angela Smith
  At 20 May 2004 there were 76 patients on the waiting list for disease-modifying treatments such as beta interferon or glatiramer; included in this number are a small number of patients who have signalled that they do not wish to commence treatment as yet.

  My Department remains committed to introducing drugs that offer the potential for significant improvement in patient care. There is a growing demand for treatment with disease-modifying drugs for people who suffer from MS and substantial extra funding has been made available to Health and Social Services Boards for these and other specialist medicines. However, despite this additional investment, there continue to be waiting lists for treatment due to the increasing levels of demand. My Department will continue to seek additional resources for specialist medicines that offer the potential for significant improvement in patient care.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are receiving(a) beta interferon and (b) glatiramer for multiple sclerosis; and how many of each have commenced treatment since 1 January. [173607]

  Angela Smith
  At 20 May 2004 there were 513 patients receiving disease-modifying treatments such as beta interferon or glatiramer, with a further 17 currently suspended from treatment at present.

  During the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 May 2004, 26 patients have commenced treatment.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Lottery funding has been allocated to sporting organisations relating to(a) soccer, (b) rugby and (c) hockey in Northern Ireland since the introduction of the Lottery.[175723]

  Angela Smith
  Since the National Lottery began the Sports Council for Northern Ireland's Lottery Fund has allocated the following funding to sporting organisations in relation to soccer, rugby and hockey in Northern Ireland:

  £million

  Soccer

  6.28

  Rugby

  1.63

  Hockey

  1.99

  Police Service
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many recruits undergoing training with the Police Service of Northern Ireland have criminal convictions; and for what offence in each case; [176684]

  (2) how many recruits undergoing training with the Police Service of Northern Ireland have relatives with criminal convictions; and for what offence in each case. [176685]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However all successful applicants who enter the Training College have met the criminal convictions criteria set out in the Police Recruitment Regulations 2001 and the criteria under the vetting procedure. This includes close family members.

  Police Trophies
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether an official record exists of(a) competition trophies, (b) presentations to Station Parties and (c) other items belonging to the (i) Royal Ulster Constabulary, (ii) Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve and (iii) associated bodies at the time of their inclusion within the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and where those items are located. [176332]

  Mr. Pearson
  The Police Service of Northern Ireland have advised me that all sporting trophies presented to the RUC or RUC Reserve are the property of the Athletic Association and that no official police records of such trophies exist.

  No official records exists of presentations to Station Parties or of other items belonging to the RUC or RUC Reserve and of their location. Such a list could be compiled only at disproportionate expense.

  PPP Contracts
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times the principal private public partnerships officer with the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) met the Chief Executive of the SEELB over the past year to brief him on the development of negotiations in relation to the private public partnership scheme involving Comber
  353W
  High School and Bangor Academy; what matters were discussed on each occasion; and for what reasons the Chief Executive of the SEELB did not inform staff in March that jobs would be transferred from the Board to the preferred bidder in January 2006. [174009]

  Mr. Gardiner
  I have been informed that the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board met with the Head of the PPP Education Service/ Project Manager for the Bangor and Comber Project on 35 occasions since 17 May 2003 to brief him on the Bangor and Comber Project. All aspects of the project were discussed including those relating to legal, financial, technical, facilities management, staffing and consortia/bids.

  On 26 March 2002, meetings were held with caretaking, cleaning and catering staff in both Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Comber High School. Staff were informed that transfers were likely.

  School based staff were kept informed throughout the process through their line managers; line managers were kept informed through monthly briefing meetings chaired by a senior officer of the SEELB.

  On 15 January, 2004 meetings were held in both Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Comber High School. Staff were informed that transfers were likely.

  On 4 February, 2004 meetings were held in both Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Comber High School to allow staff to meet representatives of Jarvis. The caretakers of both schools attended; other staff did not.

  Pre-school providers in the Dundonald area

  Places available

  Number of applicants with Dundonald addresses at first preference

  King's Road Nursery School

  52 full-time places

  24

  Brooklands Nursery Unit

  26 full-time places, 52 part-time places

  79

  Ballybeen Women's Centre Playgroup

  16

  12

  The pre-school admissions process was completed on 31 March. At that date 17 children from the Dundonald area did not gain a place in one of their preferred settings. The local Education and Library Board has provided the parents of these children with details of unfilled pre-school places in the wider area.

  There were no places awarded to children under the age of three in 2004—05.

  Road Building
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated cost is of providing a dual carriageway between(a) Ballygawley and Omagh, (b) Omagh and Strabane and (c) Strabane and Londonderry. [176330]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chief Executive of roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written directly to the hon. Gentleman in response to this Question.

  Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. David Burnside dated 1 June 2004:

  You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question asking what the estimated cost is of providing a dual carriageway between (a) Bally gawley and
  354W
  On 9 March 2004 the SEELB issued a letter to the catering, cleaning and caretaking staff in Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Comber High School informing them of Jarvis proposals and of the intent to establish a series of union meetings and the date of the first meeting.

  Trade unions were kept informed throughout the process and were furnished with documentation and opportunity to discuss staffing issues with the shortlisted bidders. This is in line with the Information and Communication memorandum as agreed by the trade unions, the five education and library boards and CCMS through the PPP Service Information and Communication Forum.

  Pre-School Places
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Pre-School Education Advisory Group (PEAG) places were allocated to each(a) private playschool and (b) state nursery unit in the Dundonald area in 2004–05; how many applications were received on behalf of children living in the Dundonald area seeking a pre-school place for their final pre-school year, at each pre-school facility; how many children living in the Dundonald area failed to obtain a PEAG place for their final pre-school year; and how many PEAG places were awarded to pre-school facilities in Dundonald for children under the age of three in 2004–05. [174007]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The information requested is as follows.

  Omagh, (b) Omagh and Strabane and (c) Strabane and Londonderry. I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.

  £million

  Preliminary estimates for the provision of these lengths of dual carriageway are:

  Ballygawley to Omagh (including bypass)

  110–153

  Omagh Strabane

  139–192

  Strabane (including bypass) to Londonderry (Craigavon Bridge)

  97–135

  I would stress the preliminary nature of these estimated costs. No feasibility studies or surveys have been undertaken of possible schemes and thus alignments for such schemes have not been identified. The costs assume a mixture of agricultural and development lands, are based on approximate lengths using typical costs, and depend on the standard of road provided.

  I trust this information is helpful.

  Sustainable Transport Plan
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress being made on the implementation of a sustainable transport plan for Northern Ireland. [176542]
  355W
  Mr. Spellar
  The Regional Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland 2002–2012 sets out a strategic framework for the future planning, funding and delivery of an integrated, sustainable transport system for the region. The Transportation Vision of the RTS is"To have a modern, sustainable, safe transportation system which benefits society, the economy and the environment and which actively contributes to social inclusion and everyone's quality of life."

  The Strategy seeks to address the effect of years of under-investment in transportation. It tackles deficiencies in the current transportation systems to make best use of existing assets and introduces a number of important enhancements to the infrastructure and services. At the same time, programmes have been initiated to promote sustainable transport, such as walking, cycling and public transport, and to encourage modes of travel other than private car for appropriate journeys.

  An Annual Monitoring Report for 2003–04 on the progress to date in implementing the RTS is currently being prepared and will be published in September. Copies of the Report will be made available in the Library.

  Teachers
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for the publication and circulation of the second part of the Curran Report into teachers' salaries and conditions of service. [176679]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The Independent Inquiry's Final Report Part 2 is detailed and its recommendations have significant financial implications. The Department is currently costing these and the Report will be published and circulated in due course.

  Titanic Quarter (Tourist Facilities)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans are in place for the development of tourist facilities and attractions at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board; and if he will make a statement. [174092]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The recent 'Tourism in Northern Ireland—A Strategic Framework for Action 2004–07' has identified Belfast, and in particular its historical connections with Titanic (Maritime) Belfast, as one of five signature projects for Northern Ireland tourism.

  Belfast city council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board intend to commission research into realising the potential of the 'Titanic' theme for Belfast and Northern Ireland.

  Trevor Kell
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about the investigation into the murder of Trevor Kell in December 2000 in North Belfast. [169234]

  Mr. Pearson
  The Government have received a variety of correspondence concerning the investigation of the murder of Trevor Kell.
  356W
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the status of investigations into the murder of Trevor Kell in North Belfast in December 2000. [169235]

  Mr. Pearson
  The murder of Trevor Kell is an ongoing investigation. A number of persons were arrested and interviewed but released without charge, due to lack of evidence. The police will continue to pursue any new line of inquiry to help develop and progress this inquiry.

  Water/Sewage Pipes
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the annual cost of leaking or damaged water and sewage pipes in each of the last five years. [168193]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has written to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.

  Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Mr. Roy Beggs dated 27 April 2004:

  You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question (No. 1259) about the annual cost of leaking or damaged water and sewage pipes in each of the last five years. I have been asked to reply as Chief Executive of the Water Service.

  Water Service undertakes regular and extensive maintenance and repair work on the water and sewerage infrastructure, including repairs to burst watermains and blocked sewers, maintenance of valves and hydrants and desilting of sewers. Over the last five years Water Service has spent £76.1 million on such work. The annual breakdown is as follows:

  Cost (£ million)

  1999–2000

  13.8

  2000–01

  13.8

  2001–02

  15.6

  2002–03

  16.3

  2003–04

  16.6

  In addition to maintenance and repairs, Water Service has also invested £282 million on upgrading watermains and sewers over the last five years, as part of the ongoing investment programme to comply with EU Directives, protect the environment and deliver customer service improvements.

HEALTH

  Dentistry
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on access to NHS dentists in Shropshire. [177295]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There are currently 100 general dental services dentists providing National Health Service dental care in Shropshire County Primary Care Trust.

  There is a dental access centre in Shrewsbury and six further outreach centres throughout Shropshire County.
  357W
  Mr. David Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on his Department's consultation with the dental profession regarding the changes to the way NHS dentistry will be organised from April 2005. [177302]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We are implementing the biggest reform of NHS dentistry since 1948. We have just completed a consultation with representative bodies of the dental profession on our "Framework Proposals for Primary Care Dental Services in England"; this concluded on the 30 of April.

  NHS Funding
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funds available to NHS trusts in East Sussex. [177301]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Between 2003–04 and 2005–06, the seven primary care trusts across Sussex will receive increases of £280 million. PCTs, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the financial situation of NHS trusts in Cornwall and Scilly. [177307]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  In line with the Government's policy of shifting the balance of power, the responsibility for the performance and financial management of NHS Trusts rests with Strategic Health Authorities. The latest financial returns submitted by the South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority forecasts an overall end of year deficit of £14 million for all organisations within the South West Peninsula health economy. The Strategic Health Authority is working closely with the NHS organisations in Cornwall in order to achieve financial recovery, while ensuring that the local health community continues to achieve its key targets.

  Diabetes
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on best practice for the delivery of services for diabetics. [177303]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The National Service Framework for Diabetes sets out the Government's vision for making the best practice in diabetes services already offered in some places in the National Health Service the norm throughout. The National Service Framework sets out the steps that the NHS locally can take to ensure that this vision becomes a reality.

  NHS Staff (Overseas Recruitment)
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of health workers in the NHS who have been recruited from overseas. [177304]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not held centrally. Regulatory Bodies provide statistical analyses annually of those health care professionals entitled to practice in the United Kingdom.
  358W
  International recruitment makes a key contribution to services in the national health service and is a two way process. Welcoming staff from abroad enables the transfer of experience and the sharing of ideas.

  Nurses
  Mrs. Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on developing the role of nurses in the delivery of health care. [177305]

  Mr. Hutton
  Developing the role of nurses has been at the centre of the government's plans for improving health services. Patients are benefiting from the most comprehensive programme ever that is increasing the number of nurses, creating new roles such as nurse consultants, and extending their responsibilities in prescribing, ordering investigations and referring patients to other professionals.

  Community Pharmacists
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for community pharmacists. [177306]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We are currently negotiating a new contractual framework for community pharmacy with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. We want to implement this as soon as is practicable.

  We have considered the report of the expert Advisory Group on reforming the current NHS regulatory system and will make further announcements shortly.

  Private Finance Initiative (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the private finance initiative development in the area of Mid Yorkshire Acute Trust; and what bed provision will be made in the three areas covered by the Pontefract, Wakefield and Dewsbury Trust. [177308]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust is working with its partner Primary Care Trusts to agree a final design brief for the Private Finance Initiative scheme. The trust expects to announce its preferred bidder for the PFI scheme by October 2004. The provision of acute beds will reflect good practice in the care of patients across community and hospital settings.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of residential care for the elderly. [177309]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The National Care Standards Commission report "How do we care?", published in March 2004, reported that there were 12,990 registered care homes with 371,200 places for older people at 31 October 2003.

  Apnoea
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of sleep apnoea patients being treated with continuous positive airway pressure machines. [176858]
  359W
  Dr. Ladyman
  The information is not available centrally in the form requested.

  The figures showing counts of admissions to hospital for sleep apnoea are shown in the table.

  Primary diagnosis ( ICD-10 G47.3, P28.3) sleep apnoea—count of finished admission episodes—national health service hospitals, England 2000–01 to 2002–03

  Diagnosis

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  G47.3

  Sleep apnoea (excluding newborns)

  10,709

  11,098

  11,479

  P28.3

  Primary sleep apnoea of newborn

  67

  60

  57

  Total

  10,786

  11,158

  11,536

  Notes:

  1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

  2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.

  3. Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data for 2000–01. For 2001–02 and 2002–03, figures are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sleep apnoea clinics there are within the NHS. [176860]

  Dr. Ladyman
  That information is not available centrally.

  Primary care trusts and other local stakeholders are responsible for assessing the health needs of their populations, including those with sleep disorders, and commissioning services to meet those needs. Sleep services are provided as part of the overall service package that primary care trusts and other local stakeholders develop for their local populations.

  Asthma
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital episodes there were where the primary diagnosis was asthma, using the International Classification of Disease 10 codes J45–J46. in each year since 1996(a) in total and (b) broken down by (i) health authority and (ii) age. [177477]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Figures for admitted patient care finished consultant episodes held by the hospital episodes statistics data warehouse for 1996–97 to 2002–03, broken down by health authority of residence and age, have been placed in the Library.

  Care Home Closures
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he issues to local authorities on criteria to be satisfied before a decision is taken to close a care home; if he will assess the extent to which the criteria were satisfied in the recent decision by Sefton Council to close Connolly House and Linacre Grange, Bootle; if he will re-examine the criteria; and if he will ask Sefton Council to reconsider its decision. [171748]
  360W
  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: Local councils are responsible for arranging and delivering services that will meet the assessed needs of their local populations. It is for each council to decide which services they should provide in order to meet those needs. In so doing, they are under an obligation to act reasonably.

  If it becomes necessary to close a care home, councils, acting both as commissioners and providers, should seek to achieve this in a planned way. There are a number of court decisions which set out the nature of councils' obligations towards residents in care homes which councils must have regard to. One of these obligations is to consult residents on any proposed closure.

  The Government are concerned that any decision to close a home is handled as sensitively and appropriately as possible, but are limited in the extent to which they can intervene in local decisions. Councils are obliged to comply with statutory obligations and relevant case law. When a home does have to close, the essential thing is that proper arrangements are made for the safe and satisfactory transfer of all residents to other suitable homes. There should be adequate time for this to be done, in a way that allows both residents and their relatives a choice in where they are to move to and which creates the minimum possible discomfort to all concerned.

  The Secretary of State does not intervene in decisions of this nature at local level. The relevant legislation and the Secretary of State's Approvals and Directions set out the extent of council's obligations to provide services to persons in their area. The council has statutory obligations to meet the needs of any residents it has placed in these homes, and if the homes are closed, it must ensure that those obligations are fulfilled in some other way. It must also comply with its obligations to consult all residents and to take into account their views. It is a matter for all councils to ensure that they comply with their legal obligations. If they do not, this may be challenged through local complaints procedures, the commissioner for local administration, and through the courts.

  Carers
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers have had their needs assessed(a) in the North West and (b) in Warrington since the introduction of such assessment. [176410]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The table shows the number of carers who have been assessed in the North West and Warrington for the years 2000–01 to 2002–03.

  Data for previous years is not available.

  Number of carers1 who have been assessed in the North West and Warrington, 2000–01 to 2002–03.

  Rounded numbers

  North West2

  Warrington

  2000–01

  31,820

  250

  2001–02

  40,440

  260

  2002–03

  34,860

  720

  361W
  1 Care should be taken when comparing data across the years as recording practices, levels of completion and quality may have changed.

  2 Includes estimates for missing data.

  Source:

  RAP form A4.

  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which primary care trusts have taken steps to ensure that the services recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the guidelines on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary and secondary care are provided to patients in their area; and if he will make a statement; [176550]

  (2) what progress has been made in the implementation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary and secondary care since the guidelines were published; and if he will make a statement; [176551]

  (3) what steps he will take to ensure primary care trusts implement National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommendations within a three-month period; and if he will make a statement. [176552]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answers 7 June 2004]: Information is not available centrally on the steps taken by individual primary care trusts to implement the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline.

  The Healthcare Commission will inspect against healthcare standards. The healthcare standards were published on 10 February 2004 and were out for consultation until 4 May. NICE guidance features at two places within the standards. Within the core standards (under clinical and cost effectiveness, NICE appraisals are included; and under the developmental standards, NICE clinical guidelines are shown. The developmental standards are aspirational and for the NHS to implement over a longer period of time.

  National health service bodies are under a statutory obligation to provide funding for drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance within three months of publication. This obligation does not apply to the clinical guideline on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

  Continuing Care
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date information will be made available from the review of NHS continuing care in nine strategic health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [177562]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Department is currently considering the report of the review of national health service continuing care in nine strategic health authorities. The report itself will be published in due course.

  Doctors' Language Tests
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has given to hospital trusts on training of overseas doctors in English language skills. [177463]
  362W
  Mr. Hutton
  The Department's guidance, "Health Service Circular 1999/137: Employment of European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals", which is available in the Library, makes clear that it is the responsibility of employers to ensure that all staff have the necessary language skills to carry out their duties safely, regardless of which country they come from.

  Dr. Andrew Holton
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been set aside by his Department in relation to(a) compensation payments to and (b) possible legal costs incurred by patients or patients' families and next of kin in response to claims arising out of treatment by Doctor Andrew Holton, a former consultant paediatrician at Leicester Royal Infirmary. [177471]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 7 June 2004]: The National Health Service Litigation Agency is dealing with all negligence claims as a result of the actions of Dr. Andrew Holton.

  Detailed information about these claims is confidential and as such its disclosure could be prejudicial to the outcome of the current cases.

  Bamford Inquiry
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the findings of(a) his Department's regional office inquiry commissioned by Professor Lindsay Davies and chaired by Dr. Margaret Bamford, (b) the General Medical Council's investigation and (c) the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust inquiry into the professional conduct of and treatment of his patients by Dr. Andrew Holton with particular reference to (i) the independence of the inquiry teams and (ii) their prior knowledge of or professional connections with Dr. Holton and his work; and if he will make a statement; [177472]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the evidence given to the Bamford Inquiry by Dr. Mark Anthony Edgar; and if he will make a statement. [177473]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 7 June 2004]: The independent inquiry panel members were chosen specifically because they had no connection with this issue, Dr. Holton's practice or the geographical area. The local clinical investigation involved independent experts from the British Paediatric Neurology Association.

  It would be inappropriate to comment on the General Medical Council's investigations of Dr. Holton's professional competence. Ministers are not able to comment on the clinical competence of individual practitioners.

  Conclusions drawn from evidence provided by individual witnesses is the responsibility of the inquiry panel. It would not be appropriate to comment on any evidence submitted as part of the inquiry.

  Family Planning Clinics
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many attendances of those aged 11 to 19 years there were at family planning clinics in the Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Avon Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by age; [176121]

  (2) how many women aged 11 to 19 years were fitted with a contraceptive implant since 2000 in the Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Avon Strategic Health Authority, broken down by age. [176124]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends, the Members for Workington (Tony Cunningham) and Heywood and Middleton (Jim Dobbin) on 7 June 2004,Official Report, columns 34–36W.

  Principal investigator

  Host institution

  Project title

  Completion date

  Professor Jonathon Hill

  University of Liverpool

  A pilot study of a new intervention for hard to treat children with conduct disorder

  September 2006

  Professor Richard Harrington

  University of Manchester

  A pilot randomised study of an intensive multi-modal cognitive behavioural programme for adolescent offenders in secure care

  February 2006

  Professor Robert Plomin

  Institute of Psychiatry

  Investigating the aetiology and developmental pathways related to the emergence of psychopathic tendencies in children

  December 2005

  Professor Anita Thaper

  University of Wales

  A longitudinal study of clinical, genetic and environmental risk factors for juvenile antisocial personality disorder in a high risk group

  June 2005

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist psychiatric centres specifically for children and adolescents with mental health problems there are in England and Wales; where they are located; how many consultant paediatric psychiatrists and psychologists work in them; what plans he has to develop further such centres; and if he will make a statement. [177512]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information is not collected in the format requested. The 2002 child id adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) mapping exercise identified 732 CAMHS teams in England. The teams ranged from those serving a local community, a regional service and those with a national remit. As of 30 December 2003, there were 461 whole-time equivalent consultants in England working in the speciality of child and adolescent psychiatry.

  The national service framework for children, due to be published later this year, will outline how a comprehensive child and adolescent mental health service may be provided. However, how these services are delivered is best decided locally.

  Information on the situation in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received in relation to (i) waiting lists for appointments with child psychologists and (ii) shortages of educational psychologists in mainstream and special needs schools in England in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [177517]

  Mental Health
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned and undertaken in conjunction with the Home Office into(a) the provision of child and adolescent mental health services, (b) early intervention of educational psychologist services and (c) offending behaviour in young people; and if he will make a statement. [176058]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Department is working very closely with the Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills to establish a framework for the improvement of services for young people with mental health needs, including those at risk of offending behaviour. Developing a shared understanding of those interventions that are effective is essential to this programme of work.

  The projects shown in the table have been funded jointly with the Home Office:

  Dr. Ladyman
  None. However, we recognise that further work needs to be done to reduce the waiting time for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). To help achieve this and also meet our target of having a comprehensive service in every area by March 2006, in the three years to March 2006 we shall be investing an additional £300 million in CAMHS provided by the national health service and local authorities.

  Decisions on the recruitment, retention and deployment of educational psychologists (EPs) are matters for local authorities as employers to determine in light of local circumstances and available resources.

  The Department for Education and Skills, which has the lead Government responsibility, is aware there are shortages of EPs in some areas. It has facilitated discussions involving a range of partners, including representatives of the Local Government Association, on developing a new shorter entry training route for Eps.

  NHS Independent Reconfiguration Panel
  Dr. Richard Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the chairman of the NHS Independent Reconfiguration Panel receives in salary. [177299]

  Mr. Hutton
  For the year ending 5 April 2004 the Chairman of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel received a salary of twenty three thousand three hundred and three pounds and 54 pence (£23,303.54).

  NHS Upper Age Limits
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the upper age limit for(a) heart bypass surgery and (b) kidney dialysis in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [177576]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The older people's national service framework makes clear that national health service services should be provided, regardless of age, on the basis of clinical need alone. There is no upper age limit for either bypass surgery or kidney dialysis.

  PFI
  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the private finance initiative programme. [177018]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 7 June 2004]: The private finance initiative (PFI) is helping to deliver the biggest hospital building programme in the history of the national health service. Of the 107 PFI hospital schemes announced since 1997, 38 are already operational and a further 22 are under construction.

  In January 2004, I announced the next prioritisation round. This called for expressions of interest from strategic health authorities; trusts submitted their strategic outline cases in April. I expect to make a further announcement in the summer.

  Policy Collaborative Programme
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the external evaluation of the first phase of the Department's policy collaborative programme. [173840]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Copies of the evaluation report will be placed in the Library.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times a year the Board of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards is scheduled to meet; and when it last met. [175345]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The last meeting of the Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards was on 7 October 2003. It has since been succeeded by the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards, which convenes annually. 13 regional sub-committees in England and one in Wales support the central committee. They meet two or three times a year.

  Spondylolisthesis
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into spondylolisthesis. [177106]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 7 June 2004]: The Medical Research Council (MRC) currently supports three on-going clinical trials looking at interventions to relieve low back pain, including both recurrent and chronic back pain that may be of relevance to spondylolisthesis. A further MRC trial has recently been completed and the results are soon to be published. The clinical trials include comparison of the effectiveness of surgery to stabilise the
  366W
  spine with physiotherapy rehabilitation, and comparisons of various other interventions including exercise and manipulation by massage, chiropractors, osteopaths, or physiotherapists, and use of the Alexander technique.

  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been given to primary care trusts on treatment of spondylolisthesis. [177148]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 7 June 2004]: No advice has been given to primary care trusts on the treatment of spondylolisthesis. However, the Department is driving forward a major programme of work to improve equality of access to all national health service treatment and care services. Priorities for health and social care are set out in "Improvement, Expansion and Reform", the priorities and planning framework for 2003–06. Although spondylolisthesis is not identified specifically, people with this condition stand to benefit from the general improvement in access to specialist care we are bringing about, including for patients with any form of orthopaedic condition.

  Teenage Cancer
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to address problems with fertility amongst teenage cancer sufferers. [172794]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Currently, many teenage girls and boys are advised to consider having their eggs/ embryos or sperm stored for future fertility treatment. Fertility problems among teenage cancer sufferers will be included in the upcoming National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on child and adolescent cancers.

  This guidance is expected to be published in February 2005 and will specifically address specialist follow up for the late effects of treatment, including fertility, along with allied treatment services children and adolescents with cancer may need, such as fertility services.

  This guidance will take into account the fertility guidance already published by NICE in February 2004, which recommended early specialist referral when there is a known reason for infertility, such as prior treatment for cancer.

TREASURY

  Pensions
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners there have been in each year since 1979; and how many there are projected to be in each year to 2020, broken down by gender.[177558]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 8 June 2004:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the number of pensioners for each year from 1979 to 2020. (177558)
  367W
  The attached table shows the population over state pension age in England and Wales, broken down by gender. The present state pension age is 65 for males and 60 for females. This will remain the case until 2010, after which the state pension age for females will rise progressively to 65 between 2010 and 2020.

  Mid 2002 population estimates are the latest available, therefore projections are shown for mid-2003 to mid-2020.

  Estimated1 and projected2 mid-year population aged over the state pension age3 England and Wales, 1979–2020

  Thousands

  Year

  Total

  Male

  Female

  1979

  8,696

  2,907

  5,789

  1980

  8,837

  2,950

  5,887

  1981

  8,928

  2,970

  5,958

  1982

  8,980

  2,970

  6,010

  1983

  8,993

  2,947

  6,046

  1984

  9,016

  2,936

  6,080

  1985

  9,117

  3,014

  6,103

  1986

  9,190

  3,072

  6,118

  1987

  9,250

  3,123

  6,127

  1988

  9,291

  3,158

  6,133

  1989

  9,337

  3,192

  6,145

  1990

  9,363

  3,217

  6,146

  1991

  9,400

  3,248

  6,152

  1992

  9,422

  3,274

  6,147

  1993

  9,435

  3,297

  6,138

  1994

  9,430

  3,314

  6,116

  1995

  9,449

  3,340

  6,109

  1996

  9,465

  3,365

  6,100

  1997

  9,484

  3,389

  6,095

  1998

  9,521

  3,414

  6,107

  1999

  9,543

  3,433

  6,110

  2000

  9,579

  3,460

  6,119

  2001

  9,627

  3,505

  6,122

  2002

  9,689

  3,552

  6,137

  2003

  9,780

  3,603

  6,177

  2004

  9,886

  3,653

  6,232

  2005

  9,999

  3,703

  6,295

  2006

  10,111

  3,743

  6,368

  2007

  10,310

  3,797

  6,513

  2008

  10,514

  3,878

  6,637

  2009

  10,705

  3,969

  6,737

  2010

  10,840

  4,063

  6,777

  2011

  10,864

  4,162

  6,702

  2012

  10,950

  4,325

  6,624

  2013

  11,014

  4,464

  6,550

  2014

  11,051

  4,577

  6,474

  2015

  11,078

  4,676

  6,402

  2016

  11,091

  4,763

  6,328

  2017

  11,104

  4,846

  6,259

  2018

  11,115

  4,928

  6,187

  2019

  11,126

  5,009

  6,117

  2020

  11,174

  5,085

  6,090

  Sources:

  Office for National Statistics1

  Government Actuary's Department2

  1 Estimates for 1992–2002

  2 Projections for 2003–2020

  3 State pension age is presently 65 for males and 60 for females. This will remain the case until 2010, after which the pension age for females will rise progressively to 65 between 2010 and 2020.

  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of people over 75 years with a personal pension who will take up the option in the proposed reform of pension taxation of an alternatively secured pension. [176823]

  Ruth Kelly
  The proposed Alternatively Secured Pension (ASP) will be a way of providing a secure retirement income after age 75. It will be attractive to 368W
  those with personal pensions who, on religious or other grounds, object to the pooling of mortality risk in an annuity. We do not anticipate significant numbers of people will choose this option.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of(a) the assets and (b) the liabilities of occupational pension schemes. [177547]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government does not monitor the level of liabilities in occupational pension schemes. The Government Actuaries Department's 11th Survey of occupational pension schemes for the year 2000 estimated total occupational scheme assets to be around £860 billion.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of corporation tax revenue forgone on employer contributions into pension schemes in each year since 1997–98; and what projections he has made for the future. [177561]

  Ruth Kelly
  No estimates are available.

  16 to 18-year-olds
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many 16 to 18-year-olds there were in the UK in each three month period ending in November in each year since 1997; and how many of those were not in full-time education, training or work in each of those periods. [177554]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 8 June 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about 16 to 18 year olds who are not in employment. (177554)

  The attached table gives estimates of the levels of young people aged 16 to 18 resident in the United Kingdom who were not in full time education and were not working or on Government-supported training schemes for the three months ending each November from 1997 to 2003.

  As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are subject to sampling variability.

  People aged 16–18, United Kingdom, three months ending each November from 1997 to 2003

  Thousand

  People aged 16–18

  People aged 16–18 who are not in full-time education, not working or on Government training schemes

  1997

  2,130

  230

  1998

  2,124

  243

  1999

  2,107

  239

  2000

  2,114

  238

  2001

  2,195

  263

  2002

  2,253

  288

  2003

  2,290

  304

  Source:

  ONS-Labour Force Survey

  Accounting Officers
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions since 1 July 2003 he has been informed of a Minister issuing a direction to an
  369W
  accounting officer as set out in paragraphs 14 to 17 of the Treasury document, The responsibilities of an accounting officer; on which grounds the note of dissent was issued; and if he will make a statement. [177235]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury has not been informed of any directions issued by Ministers to Accounting Officers under this guidance, since the reply I gave the hon. Member on 5 March 2004,Official Report, column 1211W.

  African Debt
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is owed to the UK in bilateral debt by countries in Africa, broken down by country. [177418]

  John Healey
  Most of the debt owed to the UK Government by other sovereign Governments arises from defaults on export contracts guaranteed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD). These debts usually become the subject of Bilateral Debt Agreements entered into under the auspices of the Paris Club of official creditors. The following table shows the debt owed to the UK Government as at 30 September 2003 under Paris Club Arrangements.

  The UK Government have already announced their commitment to providing 100 per cent. irrevocable debt relief for all countries eligible for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative on their reaching Completion Point. In addition, for eligible HIPC countries yet to reach Decision Point, the UK does not ask for, or expect to receive, payments. Any debt payments that are made are held in trust until they can be returned to fund poverty reduction.

  The debts of Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda were all cancelled when they reached the HIPC Completion Point.

  Total amounts outstanding1 held by African countries on Paris Club Agreements as at 30 September 2003

  Total owed (£ million)

  Algeria

  145.1

  Angola

  130.4

  Cameroon2

  64.1

  Central African Republic3

  0.4

  Congo3

  159.8

  Cote d'lvoire3

  18.9

  Democratic Republic of Congo2

  75.3

  Egypt

  151.9

  Ethiopia4

  11.8

  Gabon

  139.8

  Ghana2

  27.7

  Guinea2

  3.9

  Kenya5

  18.9

  Liberia3

  20.6

  Madagascar2

  27.2

  Malawi2

  0.4

  Morocco

  25.3

  Niger4

  8.2

  Nigeria

  4,905.1

  Senegal4

  1.4

  Sierra Leone2

  3.5

  Somalia3

  31.9

  Sudan3

  580.8

  Togo3

  19.4

  Zambia2

  174.4

  370W

  Total amounts outstanding1 held by African countries on Paris Club Agreements as at 30 September 2003

  Total owed (£ million)

  Total

  6,746.2

  1 Includes principal outstanding plus any arrears.

  2 At Decision Point of the HIPC Initiative.

  3 Eligible for the HIPC Initiative, but not yet at Decision Point.

  4 Graduated from the HIPC Initiative and had all debt irrevocably written off since end-September 2003.

  5 Eligible for HIPC Initiative but currently deemed sustainable without HIPC treatment.

  Business Premise Renovation Allowance
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was claimed in Business Premise Renovation Allowance in each qualifying ward in Wales, listed in descending order. [177350]

  Dawn Primarolo
  As announced by the Chancellor in Budget 2004, the proposed Business Premises Renovation Allowance scheme will be introduced in 2005, subject to state aid approval.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people within Tamworth constituency receive child benefit(a) through an Order Book, (b) through a Post Office Card Account and (c) paid directly into a bank or building society account. [176905]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Nationally, about 15 per cent. of child benefit (CB) recipients were being paid by Order Books at mid-May 2004, although arrangements are in place for some of these to move to direct payment when their books run out. About 5 per cent. of CB recipients have supplied Post Office Card Account details to Inland Revenue for payment.

  Separate figures are not available for each constituency. There were an estimated 12,000 child benefit recipients in the Tamworth constituency at November 2003.

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff from Customs and Excise were employed at UK seaports and airports in each of the last five years. [177175]

  John Healey
  Statistics on the number of HM Customs and Excise staff employed at UK seaports and airports are not held centrally. Staff are increasingly formed into mobile teams working at seaports, airports and inland locations according to risk in order to improve the impact of their activity.

  Departmental Administration Budgets
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards the 5 per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 which he announced in the House on 17 March 2004,Official Report, column 331. [176513]
  371W
  Mr. Boateng
  HM Treasury's Spending Review 2004 settlement, agreed at the time of the Budget, fixes the Department's administration budget in cash terms at the 2005–06 level through to 2007–08. At forecast rates of inflation, that represents a real terms reduction of more than 5 per cent. There will be further announcements in the Spending Review.

  Gift Aid
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many responses he has received to the consultation he announced in the 2004 Budget on ending the entitlement of charities to claim gift aid on day memberships; and what percentage this represents of the number of organisations written to about this consultation. [177417]

  John Healey
  The Inland Revenue has written to 118 organisations—of which 84 are charities and 34 are representative bodies. A copy a this letter has been placed on the Inland Revenue website. At 8 June the Inland Revenue had received 14 written responses, representing almost 12 per cent. of those written to. Charities and representative bodies have until 11 June to respond.

  Officials and I have also held a series of constructive meetings with sector representatives and we will report this outcome of the consultation in due course.

  Home Computer Initiative
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) employers and (b) employees have taken part in the Home Computer Initiative in each year since its inception. [176985]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien), on 27 February 2004,Official Report, columns 591–92W.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to promote the Home Computer Initiative (HCI) within the public sector; and whether he plans to offer the HCI to civil servants. [176986]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Head of the Home Civil Service has written to the Heads of Civil Service departments to inform them of the initiative and to encourage them to adopt computer loan schemes within their departments.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many senior citizens in(a) Leeds metropolitan district council and (b) Leeds, West constituency have qualified for the 10p rate of income tax in each year since its introduction. [176982]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The requested information is given in the following table.

  Number of pensioners taxpayers

  Thousand

  2000–01

  2001–02

  (a) Leeds Metropolitan District

  47

  51

  (b) Leeds West Constituency

  —

  4

  372W
  All income taxpayers benefit from the 10p starting rate. In the Survey of Personal Incomes the sample size of pensioners living in Leeds, West constituency is relatively small compared to other constituencies so a reliable estimate cannot be given for 2000–01. All estimates should be treated with caution because of sampling variation. Estimates are based on the 2000–01 and 2001–02 Survey of Personal Incomes. Figures for 1999–2000 are currently not available.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many pensioners in Greater London paid income tax at the(a) higher rate and (b) basic rate in each year since 1996–97; and what percentage of all (i) pensioner taxpayers and (ii) pensioners the figures represent in each case. [177046]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Estimates are in the following tables.

  (a) Higher rate pensioner1 taxpayers in London boroughs

  Number: Thousan

  Number

  Percentage of London pensioner taxpayers (i)2

  Percentage of London pensioner taxpayers (ii)2

  1996–97

  27

  7

  3

  1997–98

  29

  7

  3

  1998–99

  33

  6

  3

  2000–01

  36

  7

  3

  2001–02

  33

  7

  3

  (b) Basic rate pensioner1 taxpayers in London boroughs

  Number: Thousand

  Number

  Percentage of London pensioner taxpayers (i)2

  Percentage of London pensioner taxpayers (ii)2

  1996–973

  165

  40

  15

  1997–983

  210

  49

  20

  1998–993

  246

  47

  23

  2000–014

  371

  74

  36

  2001–024

  358

  74

  35

  1Men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over.

  2 Mid-year population estimates supplied by the Office of National Statistics.

  3 From 1993–94 until 1998–99 the figures in the table do not include a number of taxpayers with taxable income in excess of the lower rate limit who only paid tax at the lower rate, not the basic rate. This was because only their dividend income and (from 1996–97) savings income took their taxable income above the lower rate limit. As such, this income was chargeable to tax at the lower rate and not the basic rate.

  4In 1999–2000 the starting rate replaced the lower rate. In 1998–99 the 20 per cent. lower rate band was £4,300. In 1999–2000 the 10 per cent. starting rate band was £1,500. Some taxpayers who were paying at the lower rate of income tax started paying at the basic rate.

  Estimates should be treated with caution because of sampling variation. The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes. Figures for 1999–2000 are currently not available.

  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many and what proportion of pensioners in(a) South West Surrey constituency and (b) Surrey paid income tax at (i) higher rate and (ii) basic rate in each year since 1996–97. [177266]
  373W
  Dawn Primarolo
  Estimates are in the following tables.

  (b) Higher rate pensioner1 taxpayers in Surrey

  Number: Thousand

  Number(i)

  Percentage of all Surrey pensioners(i)2

  1996–97

  8

  4

  1997–98

  9

  5

  1998–99

  13

  7

  2000–01

  12

  6

  2001–02

  12

  6

  (b) Basic rate pensioner1 taxpayers in Surrey

  Number: Thousand

  Number(ii)

  Percentage of all Surrey pensioners(ii)2

  1996–97 3.5

  —

  —

  1997–983

  61

  31

  1998–993

  67

  34

  2000–014

  88

  44

  2001–024

  80

  40

  1 Men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over.

  2 Mid-year population estimates supplied by the Office of National Statistics.

  3 From 1993–94 until 1998–99 the figures in the table do not include a number of taxpayers with taxable income in excess of the lower rate limit who only paid tax at the lower rate, not the basic rate. This was because only their dividend income and (from 1996–97) savings income took their taxable income above the lower rate limit. As such, this income was chargeable to tax at the lower rate and not the basic rate.

  4 In 1999–2000 the starting rate replaced the lower rate. In 1998–99 the 20 per cent. lower rate band was £4,300. In 1999–2000 the 10 per cent. starting rate band was £1,500. Some taxpayers who were paying at the lower rate of income tax started paying at the basic rate.

  5 In the Survey of Personal Incomes the sample size of pensioners living in Surrey is relatively small compared to other geographical areas so a reliable estimate cannot be given for 1996–97.

  In the Survey of Personal Incomes the sample size of pensioner taxpayers living in the South West Surrey constituency is relatively small compared to other geographical areas so reliable estimates cannot be given. Estimates should be treated with caution because of sampling variation. The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes. Figures for 1999–2000 are currently not available.

  Inflows/Outflows
  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) total inflow to the UK, (b) total outflow from the UK and (c) new inflow into the UK in each year since 1979. [177095]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Alan Duncan, dated 8 June 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question regarding estimates of international migration to and from the United Kingdom, plus net migration, since 1979. (177095)
  374W
  These estimates are shown in the attached table.

  International migration, time series 1979 to 2002, United Kingdom

  Thousand

  Inflow

  Outflow

  Balance

  1979

  194.8

  188.5

  6.2

  1980

  173.4

  228.4

  -55.0

  1981

  152.8

  232.3

  -79.5

  1982

  201.0

  257.3

  -56.2

  1983

  201.6

  184.2

  17.4

  1984

  200.9

  163.5

  37.4

  1985

  232.1

  173.7

  58.4

  1986

  250.3

  213.1

  37.2

  1987

  211.4

  209.1

  2.2

  1988

  216.0

  237.2

  -21.3

  1989

  249.8

  205.4

  44.3

  1990

  266.8

  230.8

  36.0

  1991

  328.4

  285.0

  43.5

  1992

  267.6

  281.1

  -13.5

  1993

  265.1

  266.3

  -1.2

  1994

  314.4

  237.6

  76.8

  1995

  311.9

  236.5

  75.4

  1996

  317.8

  263.7

  54.1

  1997

  326.1

  279.2

  46.8

  1998

  390.3

  251.5

  138.8

  1999

  453.8

  290.8

  163.0

  2000

  483.4

  320.7

  162.8

  2001

  479.6

  307.7

  171.8

  2002

  512.8

  359.4

  153.4

  Notes:

  1. Data tor 1979–90 are based on the international Passenger Survey (IPS) only. Data for 1991–2002 are based mainly on data from the IPS but also include adjustments for (1) those whose intended length of stay changes so that their migrant status changes; (2) asylum seekers and their dependants not covered by the IPS; and (3) flows between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. This means that figures for years from 1991 onwards include all categories of migrants and therefore represent total international migration, while figures for years Drier to 1991 exclude certain categories

  2. The estimates for years from 1991 onwards are compiled using the following main sources of migration data in addition to the IPS: Home Office data on asylum seekers and their dependants, and people who entered the UK as short-term visitors but were subsequently granted an extension of stay for a year or longer for other reasons, for example, as students or on the basis of marriage; and estimates of migration between the UK and the Irish Republic.

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much compensation has been paid out by the Inland Revenue to accountants and other professional advisers following the admission of blame for errors in each of the last three years. [177192]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue does not pay compensation to accountants and other professional advisers. In accordance with its Code of Practice 1

  "Putting things right" the Inland Revenue reimburses customers for additional professional fees paid as a direct result of Inland Revenue errors.

  The total amount of compensation paid to customers, including reimbursement of professional fees, for each of the last three years is as follows:
  375W

  Year ending 31 March

  £ million

  2004

  2.43

  2003

  2.28

  2002

  2.57

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the late filings penalty notices for financial year 2002–03 were incorrectly issued because of a logging error by the Inland Revenue. [177196]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 7 June 2004]: The information requested is not available.

  Migrants
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of(a) migrants in the UK and (b) dependant children of migrants aged under 16 years who were born (i) in and (ii) outside the UK. [177445]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Julian Brazier, dated 8 June 2004:

  As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of the number of (a) migrants in the UK and (b) dependent children of migrants aged under 16 years who were born (i) in and (ii) outside the UK. (177445)

  For the purposes of this question, a 'migrant' is taken to be a person resident in the UK who was born in another country. The 2001 Census estimated that 4,643,086 residents of England and Wales were born outside the UK: this represents 8.9 per cent. of the total population of England and Wales. The figure can be derived from table KS05 in the "Census 2001 Key Statistics for local authorities in England and Wales' report which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Information on the country of birth of the dependent children of such 'migrants' is currently unavailable. However, you may wish to note that the Census recorded a total of 11,665,266 dependent children in England and Wales, of which 430,623 were born outside the UK. These figures are provided in table T12 in the "Census 2001 National report for England and Wales", which is also available in the House of Commons Library.

  The above figures for people born outside the UK will include people born in the Republic of Ireland and some UK citizens who happen to be born outside the UK, such as children born to Armed Forces personnel when the family was stationed overseas.

  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the net non-EU migration to the UK in each year since 1979. [177089]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Alan Duncan, dated 8 June 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question regarding estimates of net non-European Union migration to the United Kingdom since 1979. (177089)

  These estimates are shown in the attached table. The phrase "non-European Union migration" has been interpreted as referring to the citizenship of migrants as opposed to, for example, their country of birth or country of last residence.
  376W
  Please note that the definition for the European Union does not include the ten states that joined on 1 May 2004, nor does it include the non—EU states in the European Economic Area. The countries included are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

  International migration of people who are not citizens of EU countries, time series 1979 to 2002, United Kingdom

  Thousand

  Inflow

  Outflow

  Balance

  1979

  98.7

  49.5

  49.2

  1980

  88.9

  57.2

  31.7

  1981

  81.0

  53.0

  28.0

  1982

  85.8

  59.8

  25.9

  1983

  92.3

  50.5

  41.7

  1984

  86.1

  51.3

  34.8

  1985

  98.4

  52.5

  45.9

  1986

  94.2

  68.2

  26.0

  1987

  87.8

  58.0

  29.8

  1988

  99.3

  70.3

  28.9

  1989

  114.2

  61.2

  53.0

  1990

  123.7

  65.2

  58.6

  1991

  166.5

  77.5

  89.0

  1992

  131.4

  87.6

  43.9

  1993

  135.0

  77.3

  57.7

  1994

  155.8

  70.9

  84.9

  1995

  166.8

  63.0

  103.8

  1996

  151.7

  64.0

  87.7

  1997

  165.6

  77.4

  88.2

  1998

  205.4

  76.9

  128.6

  1999

  270.8

  93.0

  177.8

  2000

  316.2

  102.6

  213.6

  2001

  312.9

  99.4

  213.5

  2002

  355.4

  122.0

  233.4

  Notes:

  1. Data for 1979–90 are based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS) only. Data for 1991–2002 are based mainly on data from the IPS but also include adjustments for (1) those whose intended length of stay changes so that their migrant status changes; (2) asylum seekers and their dependants not covered by the IPS; and (3) flows between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. This means that figures for years from 1991 onwards include all categories of migrants and therefore represent total international migration, while figures for years prior to 1991 exclude certain categories of migration.

  2. The estimates for years from 1991 onwards are compiled using the following main sources of migration data in addition to the IPS: Home Office data on asylum seekers and their dependants, and people who entered the UK as short-term visitors but were subsequently granted an extension of stay for a year or longer for other reasons, for example, as students or on the basis of marriage; and estimates of migration between the UK and the Irish Republic.

  Registrar Records
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what back-up systems are in place for the records held on computers by registrars of births, marriages and deaths; and if he will make a statement; [177002]

  (2) what measures are taken against possible abuse of records held by registrars of births, marriages and deaths; and if he will make a statement. [177003]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General for England and Wales, who has been asked to reply.
  377W
  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Laurence Robertson, dated 8 June 2004:

  As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions concerning what back-up exists for the records held on computers by registrars of births, marriages and deaths and what measures are taken against possible abuse of records held by registrars of births, marriages and deaths. (177002,177003)

  Every birth, death and marriage in England and Wales is registered locally in a register book. The Registrar General maintains a central archive of each registration created from paper certified copies of the original record. The certified copies are microfilmed to enable certificates to be issued by the General Register Office. The register entries and the central archive are the legal records of the event.

  Since the early 1990's part of the registration process has been computerised to facilitate the collection of the information and the local printing of certificates. The computer records are backed up locally and copies are sent weekly to the Registrar General.

  The information to be recorded by registrars of births, deaths and marriages is set out in statute and entered into a bound register book. Registers are kept locally in a secure fireproof store. In order to maintain the integrity of the records a register entry may be amended only by an authorised official and by the means set out in statute. The Registrar General maintains a central archive of all registrations made and any amendment made locally has to be duplicated in the central archive.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total expenditure on advertisements for tax credits has been since their inception. [176230]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Advertising expenditure on tax credits was £12.5 million in 2002–03 and £11.4 million in 2003–04.

  For earlier years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 13 June 2002, Official Report, column 1397W.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the costs of administering the(a) children's tax credit, (b) child tax credit, (c) working families tax credit, (d) working tax credit and (e) family credit in each year since 1997–98; and what his projected expenditure on administration costs for each credit is in each future year for which figures are available. [177489]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The costs of managing and paying working families and disabled person's tax credits are shown in the Inland Revenue Trust Accounts, at Note 3 for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 and at Note 4 for 2002–03. A broad estimate of the annual cost of administering the child and working tax credits appears in the Regulatory Impact Assessment, published on 15 July 2002. The actual cost in 2003–04 will appear in the Trust Account for that year.

  I understand from the Department of Work and Pensions that the estimated annual costs for family credit in Great Britain are given in the Annual Reports of the former Department of Social Security. The administration of the children's tax credit for 2001–02 and 2002–03 was part of the Inland Revenue's routine work and was not separately identified in running costs.

  Transport Emissions
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rules and guidelines cover the recent modifications to the Office of National Statistics report on emissions and the information added on the website relating to aviation and road freight emissions. [177267]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Virginia Bottomley, dated 8 June 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on modifications to the ONS Environmental Accounts report. (177267)

  The information on greenhouse gas emissions from transport were not removed from the ONS Environmental Accounts report published on 20 May 2004. The report was never altered from the version originally prepared by professional statisticians within ONS, and is publicly available on the National Statistics website.

  The focus of the accompanying News Release changed during drafting, as there were some unresolved statistical concerns over the reconciliation of road freight emissions figures using alternative definitions. Given these concerns, it was decided that it would not be appropriate for the News Release to focus upon transport emissions as had been intended. This decision was taken independently by senior Government statisticians, as a matter of professional judgement.

  The circumstances surrounding this decision are explained in a letter that I sent to David Rowlands (Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport) on 28 May. This letter is available on the website of the Statistics Commission at: http:// www.statscom. org.uk/media_pdfs/correspondence/letter0189.pdf

  The ONS operates in accordance with the "Framework for National Statistics" and follows the principles and procedures set out in the "National Statistics Code of Practice" and its supporting "Protocols". One of the key principles within the "Code of Practice" states that National Statistics will be "fit for purpose and of high quality". Our concerns about the reconciliation of the emissions data led us to make the professional judgement that these measures, while of publishable quality, were not fit for the purpose of being the focus of a high-profile news release.

  "The Framework for National Statistics" also states that National Statistics must "be produced and presented without political interference". The Environmental Accounts report was produced and released fully in accordance with this principle.

  Travellers
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2004,Official Report, columns 1461–62W, on travellers, what assessment of the risk of non-compliance in relation to the payment of income tax and VAT has been made in respect of unauthorised traveller developments in (a) England and Wales and (b) South Bedfordshire. [176835]

  John Healey
  Risk assessment is not carried out by demographic or socio -economic group. Therefore, no specific assessment of the risk of non-compliance in relation to the payment of VAT or income tax has been made in respect of unauthorised traveller developments.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the transfer of pension rights and benefits under TUPE for members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in to the Industry Wide Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme complied fully with Article 3 of the EU Acquired Rights Directive; and if she will make a statement. [176636]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I am advised that, in accordance with Article 3 of the EU Acquired Rights Directive occupational pension rights—specifically old age, invalidity or survivors' benefits—are excluded from the operation of TUPE.

  However, recent rulings by the European Court of Justice may have implication, on whether early retirement benefits on redundancy are excluded from TUPE protection. Interpreting the ECJ ruling in relation to British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) members and their current employers is a matter for the Pensions Ombudsman and the courts.

  The Government already funds the early retirement benefits on redundancy for members of the BCSSS.

  Business Support
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses were helped by each Business Link operator in(a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in 2001–02 [177127]

  Nigel Griffiths
  In 2001–02 there was one Business Link Operator in London, Business Link for London. In 2001–02 14,980 business were assisted.

  The breakdown in boroughs is approximately as follows:

  Number

  Camden

  440

  Islington

  544

  Kensington and Chelsea

  216

  Lambeth

  240

  Southwark

  365

  Wandsworth

  334

  Westminster

  733

  Barking and Dagenham

  63

  Bexley

  133

  City of London

  287

  Greenwich

  185

  Hackney

  331

  Havering

  159

  Lewisham

  231

  Newham

  298

  Redbridge

  215

  Tower Hamlets

  365

  Barnet

  277

  Enfield

  344

  Haringey

  332

  Waltham Forest

  237

  Bromley

  225

  Croydon

  378

  Kingston upon Thames

  188

  Merton

  169

  Richmond upon Thames

  257

  Sutton

  125

  Brent

  212

  380W

  Number

  Ealing

  372

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  261

  Harrow

  192

  Hillingdon

  174

  Hounslow

  220

  Not allocated to borough

  5,877

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses in Greater London increased their net profit above £15,000 in each year since 1997; and what the percentage change was in each year. [177129]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I regret that this information is not available.

  Coal Health Claims
  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much had been paid(a) in total and (b) in Nottinghamshire for coal health claims for (i) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (ii) vibration white finger at 31 March. [176546]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 7 June 2004]: To date the figures are:

  COPD (£ billion)

  VWF (£ million)

  Total amount paid to claimants

  1.1

  972.4

  Total amount paid to claimants in 1Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire/ Leicestershire

  56.1

  123.5

  1Figures for Nottinghamshire are not available separately.

  Regional and constituency figures can be found on the Department's website: www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth. The information is complied in the middle of the month and shows the figures for the end of the previous month.

  IT Equipment
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how often since 1997(a) her Department and (b) its associated public sector organisations have undergone portable appliance testing of IT equipment; and what the cost was of portable appliance testing in each year since 1997. [174982]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 24 May 2004]: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has since 1997 undertaken annual testing of all portable appliances in DTI offices, including IT equipment, usually through its operations and maintenance contract. The cost of portable appliance testing is included in the overall price of the contract and cannot be provided separately.

  In respect of the DTI's executive agencies, each Chief Executive has been asked to reply.

  Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 8 June 2004:

  I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.

  The Portable Appliance Testing of IT equipment at Companies House is carried out every three to five years in accordance with the IEE recommendations. The cost is approximately £5000.00 per annum.
  381W
  Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 8 June 2004:

  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (2003/3109) asking how often since 1997 (a) the Department (b) its associated public sector organisation have undergone portable appliance testing of IT equipment and what the cost was of portable appliance testing in each year since 1997.

  Since 1997, The Insolvency Service has undertaken annual testing of all portable appliances in our office, including IT equipment, usually using contactors from OGC 'Buying Solutions' call-off arrangements. The Service do not have the separate costs available for such testing as this is included with other maintenance costs.

  Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 8 June 2004:

  Since 1997 the Patent Office has undertaken annual testing of all portable appliances in our offices, including I.T. equipment.

  Our appointed mechanical and electrical contractors undertake this work for us and these costs are included in our overall building maintenance contract.

  Letter from Roger Heathcote to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 8 June 2004:

  You asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how often since 1997 her Department and its associated public sector organisations have undergone portable testing of IT equipment and what the cost was of portable appliance testing in each year since 1997. I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS).

  Portable Appliance Testing is undertaken on a two yearly cycle within ETS as part of a planned programme of maintenance which includes the testing of IT equipment. I regret that I am unable to identify the separate costs within this associated with the testing of IT equipment.

  Marketing
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Innovation Review, what research the Government have carried out into customer value and brand reputation marketing; and if she will make a statement. [176417]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  At the start of the innovation review, DTI collated the available evidence on the drivers of innovation, the UK's innovation performance and the factors that help explain it. The evidence paper can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/economics/economicspaper7.pdf. DTI funding is also supporting the projects on the measurement and management of intangibles assets. One ongoing project under this theme is "Facilitating Innovation through the Measurement and Management of Intangibles". This study focuses on the contribution, which 'intangible'assets (including brands and customer networks) make to processes of innovation. Further information can be found on the website at: www.ebkresearch.org/index.htm

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to carry out further research in the areas of brand reputation, customer value and marketing and their role in the innovation process; [176446]

  (2) pursuant to the Innovation Review, what plans the Government have to help companies make more effective use of marketing and branding as a means of delivering successful innovation and increasing customer satisfaction. [176448]
  382W
  Nigel Griffiths
  Support for the development of marketing skills falls within the new "Achieving Best Practice in your Business" theme that promotes the new best practice products produced from the Business Support review. For example, the information and advice product has a suite of literature aimed at promoting E-marketing. On the support side, we aim to support 9,000 benchmark diagnostics and up to 2,000 best practice projects, many of which will have marketing/branding aspects.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what the planned regional competition deadlines are for the grant for research and development over the next 28 months; and if she will make a statement; [174711]

  (2) what funds have been allocated for the grant for research and development between 2004 and 2007; and if she will make a statement.[174712]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Overall spend on programmes to improve UK innovation performance and accelerate business exploitation of science and technologies is planned to increase from £377 million in 2004–05 to over £387 million in 2005–06.

  Following a review of the Department's business support Grant for Research and Development was introduced on 1 June 2003 to replace and enhance the Smart scheme. It has proved just as popular as its predecessor so regional competitions for the grants have been introduced to ensure that expenditure on the product remains under control and to ensure that those research and development projects which best meet the grant selection criteria are supported.

  The first regional competition deadline for Grant for Research and Development was 28 May. The dates of further competitions are yet to be decided.

  The Department is planning to spend £36 million on Grant for Research and Development and its predecessor, Smart, in the financial year 2004–05 and £26 million in 2005–06. Plans for subsequent years will be agreed as part of the 2004 Spending Review process.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government have taken to help small businesses in Bootle since 1997. [176527]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Business Link Operator for Merseyside, Greater Merseyside Enterprises (GME), has provided assistance to 713 enterprises in the Bootle constituency since 2001. The Small Business Service was set up as an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in April 2000. Contracts were exchanged with a national network of 45 Business Link Operators (seven in the North West) to provide business support to small and medium-sized enterprises from April 2001. Before this date, Government support to business was provided through training and enterprise councils and the SBS does not have access to these data.
  383W
  85 of the 713 companies received business start-up advice, other assistance provided included: workforce development, financial advice, Investors In People, specialist business advice, international trade, and marketing assistance.

  29 of the companies were female-run businesses and 39 were ethnic-run businesses.

  Under the Enterprise Grant scheme, 11 companies have received offers of grant with a total value of £333,380 since 1997.

  Under the Research and Development scheme, 12 companies have received offers of grant with a total value of £678,044 since 1997.

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effects of the EU Social Chapter on the residents of Bootle. [177000]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The residents of Bootle have benefited from the EU Social Chapter by having their employment rights extended to include:the right to parental leave, which gives parents the right to 13 weeks unpaid leave at the birth or adoption of a child;
  the entitlement of part-time workers to the same pro-rate terms and conditions of employment as full-time workers, thereby removing any discrimination and improving the quality of part-time jobs;
  the provision that once a prima facie case has been made in an employment tribunal claim, the burden of proof is placed on the defendant (usually the employer), who will need to demonstrate that sex discrimination has not occured;
  rights under the Fixed Term Work Directive that provide for the fair treatment of fixed term workers and prevent abuse of fixed term contracts; and
  rights under the European Works Council Directive, which requires companies with at least 1,000 employees in total and at least 150 workers in each of the two member states, to establish structures for consulting workers on issues that affect them.
  384W
  In addition, the Information and Consultation of Employees Directive to be implemented in the UK by March 2005, establishes a right to new minimum standards for workforce communication and involvement in large firms.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the visual impact of wind farms in operation; and if she will make a statement. [175000]

  Mr. Timms
  The visual impact of proposed wind farm developments is considered on a case-by-case basis by the relevant planning authorities.

  The Government's national planning policy with regard to wind farms and renewable energy is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 22: Renewable Energy, which gives local planning authorities guidance on a range of issues that affect the siting of wind turbines—including visual impact.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the composition was of the working group responsible for the ETSU-R-97 report entitled the Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms. [175562]

  Mr. Timms
  The working group responsible for the ETSU-R-97 report entitled the Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms was:

  Name

  Mr. R. Meir—Chairman

  DTI

  Dr. M. L. Legerton—Secretary

  ETSU

  Dr. M. B. Anderson

  Renewable Energy Systems

  Mr. B. Berry

  National Physical Laboratory

  Dr. A. Bullmore

  Hoare Lea and Partners

  Mr. M. Hayes

  The Hayes McKenzie Partnership

  Mr. M. Jiggins

  Carrick District Council

  Mr. E. Leeming

  The National Power Company Ltd.

  Dr. P. Musgrove

  National Wind Power Ltd.

  Mr. D. J. Spode

  North Cornwall District Council

  Mr. H. A. Thomas

  Isle of Anglesey County Council

  Ms E. Tomalin

  EcoGen Ltd.

  Mr. M. Trinick

  Bond Pearce Solicitors

  Dr. J. Warren

  National Wind Power Ltd.

  Palestinian Aid
  Palestinian Aid
  Former Diplomats (Open Letter)
  Former Diplomats (Open Letter)
  Sentencing: Licence Period
  Sentencing: Licence Period
  Fire and Rescue Service: Charging
  Fire and Rescue Service: Charging
  Iraq: Prisoners
  Iraq: Prisoners
  Iraq: Ministerial Accountability
  Iraq: Ministerial Accountability
  Royal Navy: MK251 Active Decoy Round
  Royal Navy: MK251 Active Decoy Round
  Gulf War 1990–91: Vaccines
  Gulf War 1990–91: Vaccines
  Airfield Support Services Project
  Airfield Support Services Project
  Defence Equipment: UK and US Trade
  Defence Equipment: UK and US Trade
  British Grand Prix
  British Grand Prix
  EU Duty Rates
  EU Duty Rates
  NHS Efficiency Figures
  NHS Efficiency Figures
  Osteoporosis
  Osteoporosis
  Broadband: Rural Access
  Broadband: Rural Access