Written Answers of 12 May 2004

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Advisers/Consultants
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on external consultants and advisors in each of the last three years. [171876]

  Mr. Caborn
  The use of external consultants and advisers over the period 2000 to 2003, the last full years of accounting, were as follows:

  £

  2000–01

  358,000

  2001–02

  693,000

  2002–03

  323,820

  These figures include the Royal Parks Agency. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has over 66 sponsored bodies and compiling the figures for them could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Archaeological Sites
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to proceed with the case against Mr. Robert Duqueria for the alleged removal of objects from the scheduled site of Cunetio, Wiltshire on her strategy to protect archaeological sites in England; and if she will make a statement. [172212]

  Estelle Morris
  It is for the Crown Prosecution Service to determine whether any prosecutions are in the public interest and it judges each case on its individual merit. Through the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and the Treasure Act 1996, there is a framework of legislation in place to protect important heritage sites. I would expect those, who operate in this area would do so in accordance with the law.

  In addition, the recently expanded Portable Antiquities Scheme, through its network of Finds Liaison Officers, is designed to encourage closer working relations between archaeologists and metal detector users.

  Bingo Hall Conversions
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of bingo halls which occupy more than 10,000 sq ft and would be eligible to convert to a casino under the terms of the draft Gambling Bill. [172046]
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  Mr. Caborn
  There is no central record of the total area which each licensed bingo club covers; but we have seen estimates that over half of the current total of about 700 clubs have a total area in excess of 10,000 sq ft. We indicated last August that, under the proposed Gambling Bill, the minimum size of the area set aside for table games in a new casino should be 5,000 sq ft. We are now looking again at that requirement in the light of the views of the Joint Scrutiny Committee on the Bill and the points made by interested bodies and individuals in commenting on the Bill proposals. It is, however, relevant to note that a 5,000 sq ft minimum table gaming area would entail a total casino size considerably in excess of that, particularly if the casino also wanted to provide bingo for its customers.

  Early Retirement
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many employees in her Department took early retirement, and at what total cost, in the last financial year. [172185]

  Mr. Caborn
  In DCMS one employee was granted approved early retirement terms in the financial year 2003–04 at a cost of £9,361. In addition, two employees were awarded compensation payments at a cost of £61,887.

  Ice Hockey UK
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance is provided by her Department to Ice Hockey UK. [172077]

  Mr. Caborn
  Ice Hockey is classified as an Olympic sport and as such funding decisions are a matter for UK Sport.

  The top priority for UK Sport is the provision of support for those senior athletes/teams operating at a UK/GB level who have realistic chances of winning medals at the highest level (Olympic Games/World Championships within the current Olympic cycle).

  UK Sport have informed us that in recent years, GB Ice Hockey has been unable to provide evidence that it can meet this criteria and has not, therefore, received support from UK Sport.

  There is scope for developing talent via the home country Sports Councils but sports would be assessed against a number of criteria. Ice Hockey has not been deemed a priority at present by Sport England.

  However, UK Sport does acknowledge that if GB athletes are to win medals in the Winter Olympics, in the longer term, some form of support needs to be provided. In recognition of this, UK Sport is in discussion with a number of partners, including an Olympic Winter Sports Group. Ice Hockey UK is represented on the Winter Olympic Sports Group.

  Productivity
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is for(a) increasing the productivity and (b) cutting the costs of (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [172190]
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  Mr. Caborn
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 10 May 2004,Official Report, columns 148–49W.

  Regional Tourism
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been spent on the digitisation of content in libraries in South Ribble since 1997. [172143]

  Estelle Morris
  This information is not held centrally.

  The New Opportunities Fund £50 million Digitisation of Learning Materials Programme has delivered 150 projects across the UK to enable resources which support learning of all kinds held in libraries as well as museums, archives and other public-sector institutions, to be made available online through the People's Network and the National Grid for Learning. This initiative has created a body of material containing over 2 million images, tens of thousands of sound and video clips and documents and over 1,000 learning packages. All projects can be accessed via the EnrichUK portal at http://www.enrichuk.net.

  Information on grants awarded to individual local authorities and their expenditure can be obtained from the relevant authority.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the work of regional development agencies in developing tourism in South Ribble. [172144]

  Mr. Caborn
  The North West Development Agency (NWDA) is working closely with the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, the nominated Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Lancashire. The new DMOs are, in effect, smaller versions of tourist boards. They aim to ensure a strong visitor and market focus to all that is done within the region and strengthen the connection between businesses and other organisations in the tourism sector.

  During 2003–04, the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board received £275,000 from the agency's tourism budget for a variety of tourism marketing and development projects. South Ribble has also benefited from the agency's contribution of £60,000 during 2003–04 towards the construction of a visitor centre in Cuerden Valley Park.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the New Opportunities Fund was allocated to South Ribble in each year since 1997. [172153]

  Estelle Morris
  The New Opportunities Fund began making grants in 1999. The awards to South Ribble are shown in the table.

  Financial year

  Amount (£)

  1999–2000

  482,994

  2000–01

  273,735

  2001–02

  0

  2002–03

  0

  2003–04

  31,296

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  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.

  Sports Funding (Chorley)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants are available to build(a) a running track and (b) rugby football and other sports stadia in Chorley; and what other assistance her Department can give to such projects in Chorley. [172332]

  Mr. Caborn
  Grants for the provision of sports facilities, including running tracks and sports stadia, are available through the following programmes: Community Club Development Programme and Active England, administered by Sport England; and the New Opportunities Fund for PE and Sport, administered by the New Opportunities Fund. In addition, grants are available to support football facilities through the Football Foundation.

  Chorley Cricket Club has benefited from a Community Club Development Fund grant of £53,000 to provide cricket practice areas and nets.

  Terrestrial Television (Wales)
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households in Wales she estimates cannot receive a terrestrial television signal from the public service broadcasters. [172440]

  Estelle Morris
  The spectrum planners working for the Government's Digital Action Plan have been working to improve the accuracy of the planning tools used to derive both analogue and digital coverage. Until this work is completed, OFCOM estimates that approximately 3 per cent. of households in Wales are unable to receive PSB services (excluding Five) via terrestrial means (analogue or digital).

  Analogue coverage for Five is not available on a per country basis. According to figures given by Ofcom, 20 per cent. of UK households do not currently have access to Five in analogue form, although some of these will be able to receive it by digital terrestrial TV.

DEFENCE

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's response is to the recent request of the transitional Government in Afghanistan for extra military forces from NATO to ensure security; and if he will make a statement. [172050]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Afghan Transitional Authority holds ultimate responsibility for the security of the Afghan national elections due in September 2004. NATO's planned expansion of the International Security Assistance Force will, however, contribute to creating the security conditions within which free and fair elections may take place. As I explained to the
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  House on 31 March 2004, Official Report, column 96WS, we have offered to play a leading role in this expansion in Northern Afghanistan.

  Army Air Corps (Medical Care)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what specialised diagnosis services are available to personnel based at(a) AAC Aldergrove, (b) AAC Hereford, (c) AAC Wattisham, (d) AAC Middle Wallop, (e) AAC Netheravon and (f) AAC Dishforth; [169988]

  (2) what the average waiting time is for specialised diagnosis services available to personnel based at (a) AAC Aldergrove, (b) AAC Hereford, (c) AAC Wattisham, (d) AAC Middle Wallop, (e) AAC Netheravon and (f) AAC Dishforth. [169989]

  Mr. Caplin
  Specialised diagnosis services would require secondary care opinion that would normally be provided within the NHS, including those NHS Trusts which host Ministry of Defence Hospital Units. Waiting times would be based on clinical need and would vary depending on the type of specialised diagnosis required.

  Cluster Bombs
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place a moratorium on the(a) use, (b) manufacture, (c) sale and (d) export of cluster bombs until new international law on the use and clearance of these weapons is introduced. [172024]

  Mr. Ingram
  No. Cluster bombs are legal weapons that are not indiscriminate. They provide a unique capability for use against wide area or dispersed targets. Were we not to use them, it would be necessary to use a large number of either unitary bombs or artillery shells to cover an equivalent area, involving a greater tonnage of explosive. Increasing the number of munitions launched also increases the risk that one or more launches may go astray. In many instances, using munitions other than cluster bombs may pose a far greater risk to civilians at the time of attack. Any applications for the export of cluster bombs would be considered on a case by case basis against criteria announced by the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997 and the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Sales.

  Defence Medal Offices
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom the legal title of the land occupied by the Droitwich Spa Army Medal Office belongs; and who would receive the proceeds of any sale of the site. [172034]

  Mr. Caplin
  The land was acquired on 30 March 1940 by 'The Commissioners of His Majesty's Works and Public Buildings'. Subsequent Government inter-departmental transfers culminated in the disaggregation of the Common User Estate by the Government's Property Holdings Unit in April 1996. This resulted in the land transferring (again on an inter-department basis) to the Ministry of Defence although technically the legal title remains with the successor to 'The Commissioners of His Majesty's Works and Public Buildings'. The proceeds of the disposal would fall to the MOD.
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  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the investment appraisal for the proposed closure of the Droitwich Spa Army Medal Office and the relocation of its services to RAF Innsworth; [172036]

  (2) what the costs of upkeep and maintenance of the Army Medal Office, Droitwich Spa, were in the most recent year for which figures are available. [172037]

  Mr. Caplin
  A copy of the Investment Appraisal will be placed in the Library. It considered the options for co-location of all functions that will come into the Joint Personnel Administration Centre, but did not deal exclusively with the issue of the Army Medal Office. I have also placed in the Library a letter dated 18 March 2004 to the Trade Unions, in which more details were provided on the specific business and financial justification for the closure of Droitwich and the creation of the Joint Medal Office at RAP Innsworth.

  For financial year 2003–04, the property management costs for the upkeep and maintenance of the Army Medal Office were some £110,000. This figure excludes staff and medal bullion/production costs. Utility costs for the same period were some £22,600.

  HMS Trafalgar
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the safety of HMS Trafalgar following its repairs. [170663]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 4 May 2004]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 6 May 2004, Official Report, column 1713W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen).

  Infantry Anti-structure Weapon System
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the procurement of an infantry anti-structure weapon system; and if he will make a statement. [167231]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to my Written Ministerial Statement of 6 May 2004,Official Report, column 86WS.

  Iraq
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what laws apply to the activities of private contractors operating in(a) Iraq and (b) UK controlled areas; and which courts have jurisdiction. [171441]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) average and (b) maximum tour lengths of troops deployed to Iraq since 1st May 2003 were for (i) territorial army and (ii) regular personnel; and if he will make a statement. [171442]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: The average tour length for troops deployed to Iraq, for both Territorial Army and Regular Army personnel, since 1 May 2003, is approximately five to seven months, while the maximum tour length is six months.
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  A small number of TA personnel have extended their period of mobilisation, and will have undertaken successive tours over the period, which in total will amount to over six months. Where this has occurred, it has been at the individual's own request.

  Operation Telic
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when payments for expenses incurred in financial year 2003–04 relating to Operation Telic will be made to his Department. [172125]

  Mr. Ingram
  The net additional costs of Operation Telic are met from the Reserve in the year in which they fall. Funds to cover these costs are voted by Parliament under Request for Resources 2 in Main and Supplementary Estimates. Final expenditure will be reported in the notes to the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts to be published in September.

  Suez Medal
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long it has taken, on average, to process each application for the General Service Medal, Suez Canal Zone, 1951–54. [172367]

  Mr. Caplin
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 April 2004,Official Report, column 663W, to my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Peter Bradley).

  The updated situation since then is:

  Service Medal Office

  Applications received

  Royal Navy

  5 November 2003

  Royal Marines

  As they arrive

  Army

  5 September 2003

  RAF

  11 November 2003

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many outstanding claims there are for the General Service Medal for serving in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954. [172368]

  Mr. Caplin
  As at 7 May there were 29,153 applications requiring assessment. It is not possible to estimate the total number of claim applications that will be received.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many General Service Medals have been issued for service in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954. [172369]

  Mr. Caplin
  As at 7 May 7,696 medals and/or clasps had been dispatched to veterans or their families.

  Support Vehicle Contract
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with Leyland Trucks on the contract for the supply of the Support Vehicle. [172073]

  Mr. Ingram
  Leyland Trucks withdrew from the competition for the supply of the Support Vehicle in June 2002. This competition is now at an advanced stage and it would be inappropriate to invite their further 330W
  interest. We are confident that the existing competition, involving four bidders, will deliver an operationally effective, value for money solution.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Council Housing (Stockton, South)
  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of how the change in the level of council funding for housing has affected the residents of Stockton South since 1997. [171469]

  Keith Hill
  Since 1997 allocations of capital funding to local authorities for housing purposes have risen consistently by an average of 15 per cent. per annum. This includes the Major Repairs Allowance we introduced in 2001–02 specifically for the improvement of local authority housing stock alongside the Decent Homes Standard that set minimum standards to be met by 2010. Stockton's allocations in the period 1997 to 2003–04 have risen by some 320 per cent. In addition, Arms Length Management Organisation initial resources of £44.5 million are available with a further £8 million to follow to facilitate Decent Homes improvements over the whole of the Stockton borough.

  Increased resources have also been generated through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Single Housing Investment Partnerships (SHIP) to target non-decent and non-sustainable housing stock. In the last three years alone £12.7 million has been invested in the local authority housing stock with future investment up to 2010 expected to be £11.45 million.

  In the private sector and as a result of successful SHIP/English Partnerships bids £6.9 million has been secured in addition to £532,000 for renovation grants, home repair assistance, empty homes and damp proofing.

  Coverage Care
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2004,Official Report, column 1227W, on Coverage Care, when he expects the matter to be resolved. [172095]

  Yvette Cooper
  I understand that on 28 April 2004 all parties to Gloucestershire county council met in private session to discuss options for the long term continuation of care provision to the county. The council hope that this matter can be resolved by the end of the year.

  Departmental Budget
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much he expects to spend in this financial year; how much was spent last year; how much is budgeted next year for writing off outstanding debt of local authorities that transfer housing stock; and from which budget this sum is allocated. [172276]

  Keith Hill
  Payments to meet local authorities' overhanging debt are made where the value of the housing stock transferring is less than a local authority's associated housing debt. £90.9 million was paid in 2003–04. The budget is £616 million for both 2004–05 and 2005–06. The payment reflects the liability the
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  Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would otherwise have to pay continuing subsidy on a local authority's housing attributable debt. It is not possible to use this resource for capital purposes.

  Housing (Chorley)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the percentage of housing land to be made available for(a) low cost housing and (b) part-rent-part-buy schemes in the Chorley constituency; and what advice he gives to local authorities on the matter. [172334]

  Keith Hill
  This is a matter for local assessment. National planning advice in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 "Housing" (PPG3) and Circular 6/98, 'Planning for Affordable Housing' makes it clear that each local authority should assess the local need for affordable housing within its area. Policy UR9 of Regional Planning Guidance for the North West gives further advice on the need for affordable housing.

  PPG3 advises that where there is a demonstrable lack of such housing, local planning authorities should include a policy in their development plan seeking affordable housing in suitable housing developments. It advises them to identify sites on which affordable housing will be expected and to indicate the amount of such housing to be sought as a proportion of the overall dwelling provision on a site. Decisions about the amount and types of affordable housing to be provided in individual proposals should reflect local housing need and be a matter for agreement between the local authority and the developer.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has published for consultation proposed changes to the current policies for affordable housing set out in PPG3 and Circular 6/98. The proposed changes re-emphasise the above policy, but also include allowing local authorities to seek affordable housing on smaller sites where this is justified. The changes are designed to help deliver more affordable housing where it is needed, and deliver a better match between a community's housing needs and supply.

  Housing Stock Transfer
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the research evidence showing how housing stock transfer better meets the interests of tenants. [172274]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's housing research report entitled Views on the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer Process—May 2000, examines the degree to which tenants who have transferred from a local authority to a new landlord under a Large Scale Voluntary Transfer scheme are satisfied with their new landlord.

  A copy of the report is available in the Library of the House.

  Parliamentary Questions
  John Thurso
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many(a) Ordinary Written and (b) Named Day
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  Questions his Department received in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) this parliamentary session, broken down by month; [171187]

  (2) what proportion of Ordinary Written Questions to his Department were answered within five sitting days of tabling, and what proportion of Questions for a Written Answer on a named day received a substantive answer on that day, in (a) the 2002–03 parliamentary session and (b) this parliamentary session, broken down by month. [171188]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 3 March 2004,Official Report, column 907W. The effective handling of parliamentary questions is an issue to which my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and ministerial colleagues attach great importance, endeavouring to reply to all Parliamentary Questions within Parliamentary deadlines wherever possible.

  The information requested is tabled as follows:

  Number of named day PQs tabled to ODPM

  Number of named day PQs answered on time (percentage)

  Number of ordinary written PQs tabled to ODPM

  Number of ordinary written PQs answered within five working days (percentage)

  Parliamentary Session 2002–03

  November 20021

  85

  84.7

  245

  88.2

  December 2002

  60

  91.7

  155

  87.1

  January 2003

  71

  90.1

  237

  65

  February 2003

  27

  85.2

  253

  63.2

  March 2003

  53

  84.9

  258

  63.2

  April 2003

  21

  95.2

  176

  61.4

  May 2003

  34

  88.2

  234

  56.4

  June 2003

  27

  74.1

  253

  73.1

  July 2003

  32

  84.4

  201

  82.6

  September 2003

  16

  31.3

  115

  58.3

  October 2003

  34

  88.2

  170

  88.2

  November 20032

  25

  96

  135

  68.9

  Parliamentary Session 2003–04

  November 20033

  11

  100

  38

  86.8

  December 2003

  32

  90.6

  232

  72.4

  January 2004

  105

  73.3

  393

  85.5

  February 2004

  51

  96.1

  267

  67

  March 2004

  75

  90.7

  320

  72.5

  April 2004

  28

  92.9

  178

  86.5

  1 13 November to 30 November 2002.

  2 1 November to 12 November 2003.

  3 26 November to 30 November 2003.

  Planning Inspectorate
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the planning inspectorate has ensured that value for money was achieved when employing external consultants; and who was responsible for making such value for money assessments. [170045]

  Keith Hill
  The Planning Inspectorate follows standard Government purchasing procedures including best practice guidance issued by the Office of
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  Government Commerce from time to time. Particular care is taken to achieve value for money in the procurement of external consultancy which is always handled by the Agency's specialist procurement unit.

  Public Bodies
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the staff numbers were for 2003 of the(a) Standards Board for England, (b) Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils and (c) Review of the Needs Indices used in the allocation of housing capital resources to local authorities and registered social landlords. [172471]

  Keith Hill
  The information requested is as follows.

  (a) The number of staff in post at the Standards Board for England on 31 March 2003 was 105,

  (b) the Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body, has no staff. Its board of 10 core members and 10 specialist advisors is supported by officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and

  (c) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 March 2004, Official Report, column 1257W.

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the planned re-valuation of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre to be(a) finished and (b) published; and if he will make a statement. [169116]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects the revaluation to be completed later in 2004. The valuation report will not be published, but the valuation amount will be included in the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister's Resource Accounts for 2004–05.

  Regional Assemblies
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 1 April 2004,Official Report, column 1649W, on regional assemblies, what proportion of the set-up costs of elected regional assemblies he estimates will be (a) premises, (b) wages and salaries, (c) equipment and stationery and (d) other costs for (i) the North East, (ii) the North West and (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber. [169441]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Available estimates, rounded to the nearest 5 per cent. are:

  colspan="4" align-"right">Percentage

  North East

  North West

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  Premises

  10

  5

  5

  Staff and supplies

  35

  20

  25

  Other

  55

  75

  70

  Tourism
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was spent by local authorities in promoting tourism in each of the last 10 years to(a) domestic markets and (b) overseas markets. [172393]
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  MR. Caborn
  I have been asked to reply.

  The only information available, for English local authority net expenditure on tourism, is as follows:

  Amount (£ million)

  1998–99

  75

  1999–2000

  92

  2000–01

  99

  2001–02

  106

  2002–03

  109

  2003–04

  102

  Sources:

  Revenue (Outturn) Forms 1998–99 to 2002–03, and Revenue Account (budget) form 2003–04.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the development of combined heat and power in the UK in the last three years. [171031]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 5 May 2004]: In 2000 we announced a target of achieving at least 10,000 megawatts of Good Quality CHP capacity by 2010 and to developing a Strategy to achieve it. We consulted on a draft Strategy in 2002, reaffirmed our commitment to the target in the February 2003 Energy White Paper and published "The Government's Strategy for Combined Heat and Power to 2010" on 26 April of this year.

  Development of CHP in terms of installed capacity for each of the last three years for which we have figures is: 4,730M We in 2000, 4,753M We in 2001 and 4,742M We in 2002. A figure for 2003 will become available when the annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) is published in the summer by DTI.

  Environmental Support
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress being made on the introduction of new entry level schemes for environmental support. [168792]

  Mr. Morley
  Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) has been developed in response to recommendations made by the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food. The ELS is intended to tackle countrywide environmental problems such as diffuse pollution, loss of biodiversity and landscape character and damage to the historic environment. A pilot scheme has been running in four areas of England since February 2003, and an evaluation of these pilots has confirmed that the scheme is popular with farmers and has the capacity to deliver widespread environmental benefits.

  Following the success of the pilot, Defra intend to launch Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) as part of a new agri-environment scheme called Environmental Stewardship in early 2005. Proposals for the new scheme have recently been submitted to the European Commission for approval. It is proposed that the ELS should be open to all farmers in England and that they

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  will be paid at a flat rate of 30 per ha in return for carrying out a certain amount of environmental management options across their whole farm.

  A parallel Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) is proposed, which will have the same design as the standard Entry Level Scheme but would be tailored towards organic farming systems. It is proposed that organic farmers will receive a higher payment rate of 60 per ha, in recognition of the contribution that organic farming systems make towards increases in soil health and fertility, benefits for biodiversity and wider landscape benefits.

  Entry Level Stewardship and its Organic equivalent will be complemented by Higher Level Stewardship, which is designed to build on the basic Entry Level in order to deliver significant environmental benefits in targeted high priority situations and areas. Further information on Environmental Stewardship will be available once Commission approval has been received. Final details of the new Scheme will be made available immediately prior to the launch in 2005. Application packs will not be available until the launch of the Scheme.

  Flooding
  Mr. Michael Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the impact of flash flooding in(a) Worcester, (b) Worcestershire and (c) England and Wales; and if she will make a statement; [170130]

  (2) what advice she has received on the future incidence of flash flooding. [170131]

  Mr. Morley
  I understand the recent flash floods in Worcester resulting from exceptionally intense rainfall equivalent to around a month's rain in just a few hours. This caused extensive highway flooding and some local property flooding. This flooding was from surface runoff and storm sewer/highway drain overflow and not from the main river system.

  Although the Environment Agency (EA) issued a Floodwatch and were operating a local storm balancing system on the Barbourne Brook in Worcester, the wider emergency response to the flash flooding fell for the most part to Severn Trent water and the local highway authority who are primarily responsible for responding to such incidents, the EA will be assisting its partners in the follow up investigation and the review of the storm event.

  The Government recognise the need for Integrated Drainage Plans for urban areas prone to such flooding, and this will be considered as part of Defra's new strategy on flood and coastal erosion risk management. However any assessment on flash flooding would need to take into account detailed knowledge of the drainage systems in the area, the local topography, together with modelling of the effects of different types of event. This information is not generally available and carries a high degree of uncertainty. The EA are in the meantime working with Research Councils and the Flood Risk Management Research Consortium to develop improved modelling and prediction of flooding in urban areas.
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  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will estimate how many properties in Cheltenham will be affected by flooding in a once in 100-year event if no bund is constructed at Cox's Meadow; [168387]

  (2) if she will estimate how many properties will be affected by flooding in a once in 100-year event if (a) the Cheltenham Flood Alleviation Project including the bund at Cox's Meadow and (b) the Cheltenham Flood Alleviation Project approved in 1998 is constructed; [168388]

  (3) if she will publish the results of modelling used to assess the impact of flooding in Cheltenham of a once in 100-year event; [168389]

  (4) if she will make a statement of the expected impact on Cheltenham caused by a once in 100-year flooding event. [168390]

  Mr. Morley
  The final stage of the Cheltenham Flood Alleviation Scheme is currently being considered by Defra for formal approval.

  The Project, including the bund at Cox's Meadow and the Project approved in 1998, was designed to protect over 600 properties from flooding up to, and including, a one in 100 year flood. I understand from the Environment Agency (EA) that with no bund constructed at Cox's Meadow, the majority of the 600 properties identified at risk before the project began would remain vulnerable.

  The extent and impact of the 100 year modelled floods were published in the EA's Environmental Report for the Combined Works Contract dated October 2003. This report is available from Cheltenham Library or the local EA office at Tewkesbury. A summary of the modelling that has been prepared for the EA by their consultant's specifically for the benefit of interested parties and members of the public is also available from the local EA office.

  Linda Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance her Department has provided to alleviate the risk of flooding in the London borough of Redbridge since 2000. [164878]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency has powers to undertake works to manage flood risk on designated "main rivers" while Redbridge borough council has similar powers for "ordinary watercourses" in their area.

  The Agency is undertaking a study into flood risk from the River Roding which is due to report in December 2004. Working with Thames Water (which has responsibility for the drainage system) and the council, the Environment Agency aims to agree a strategy to reduce flood risk in the area. Funding of the Environment Agency's Flood defence function will almost entirely be funded by Defra from 1 April 2004.

  Defra has also grant-aided the council for two studies—the Seven Kings Water Hydraulic Study and the Cran Brook Hydraulic Study, both carried out in 2001–02. Our grant amounted to £9,225.00 and £7,425.00 respectively for these two studies. I understand the council plans to apply for grant aid for

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  a further study in 2004–05 into flood risk adjacent to the River Roding in the Chigwell Road and Roding Lane South areas.

  In addition the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister supports the borough's own flood defence expenditure through the local government funding system.

  Flood Defence
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written statement of 20 April 2004,Official Report, columns 7–8WS, on the flood defence finding review, what other substantial reforms to improve accountability and effectiveness will be introduced in the next 12 to 24 months as part of the Government's development of a long-term strategy on flood defence. [171516]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government intend to consult on the proposed content of a new strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England during summer 2004. The final strategy will have a long-term delivery plan from 2005 onwards.

  Background information on the scope of the strategy and updates on progress are available via http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy.htm

  Government Funding (Animals)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Government funding was allocated to zoos in 2003–04. [169947]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department's spending on issues connected with zoos in 2003–04 totalled £36,708.76. This covered funding of the Zoos Forum (the Government's advisory body on zoos issues); publicity material relating to zoo policy (including a Defra Circular on the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 following amendments to that Act) and a research study on the operation of the Zoo Inspectorate.

  In addition the Department donated £50,000 to 21st Century Tiger (a partnership between London Zoo and a non-governmental organisation called Global Tiger Patrol) to undertake tiger conservation projects in the wild.

  These figures do not include the Department's staff costs for officials working on issues relating to zoos or spending by local authorities in respect of their statutory role under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.

  Household Waste
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will broaden the duty of care provisions under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to encompass prosecution for dumping of household waste. [169983]

  Mr. Morley
  A review of section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which sets out the framework for the current duty of care regime, began in March this year. The terms of reference for this review 338W
  are currently being finalised, though it is expected that the review will consider the issue of householders and household waste.

  It is currently a criminal offence under section 33 of the 1990 Act for a householder to dispose of household waste outside the curtilage of his or her property other than in accordance with a waste management licence.

  Illegal Imports (Animals/Endangered Species)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking to stop the illegal import of(a) animals and (b) endangered species into the United Kingdom. [169855]

  Mr. Morley
  Most commercial consignments of live animals must be imported into the UK via a Border Inspection Post (BIP) where import checks are carried out by a veterinarian. The only BIPS approved to check live animals in the United Kingdom are at Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Luton, Manchester, Prestwick and Stansted airports. There are no live animal BIPS at UK seaports.

  Rabies susceptible mammals, including some commercial consignments, may be imported into specified ports and must be pre-licensed and moved directly from the port of entry to an approved quarantine establishment by an authorised carrying agent. The carrying agent submits a report to Defra to state that the animal has been delivered to the quarantine premises.

  As an exemption to quarantine, cats and dogs may also enter under the Pet Travel Scheme. The animal must enter using an approved transporter on an approved route where the transport company is responsible for checks on the animals documents for compliance with the rules of the Scheme. If an animal is entering on an unapproved route then they are licensed into quarantine.

  It is illegal to import rabies susceptible mammals into the UK without a licence issued by the Government. The penalties for not complying are detention of the animal in quarantine at the owners' expense, re-export or destruction. The person responsible is also liable to prosecution and/or imprisonment.

  Accompanied pet birds have to be pre-licensed and under go quarantine under the supervision of a veterinarian at the place of destination.

  Outside border inspection posts enforcement responsibility for ensuring that animals are not introduced illegally rests with the local authority. The State Veterinary Service (SVS) also take action when they receive information that animals have been illegally imported.

  HM Customs and Excise have a presence at all points of entry and if they find live animals they detain or seize (as appropriate) and inform the local Divisional Veterinary Manager of the SVS.

  The "Washington" Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, more commonly known as CITES, aims to protect certain plants and animals by regulating and monitoring

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  their international trade to prevent it reaching unsustainable levels. My Department acts within the UK as the UK CITES Management Authority.

  As part of our efforts to stop the illegal import of endangered species a dedicated team of Customs officers is located at Heathrow airport and they are recognised worldwide as a "centre of excellence".

  Furthermore, we are continuing to contribute to the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit, to help counter serious national and international wildlife crime, including the import of endangered species.

  Landfill Directive
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 10 March 2004,Official Report, column 1534W, on meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister on compliance with the Landfill Directive, on what dates meetings were held; and what was is discussed on each occasion. [168371]

  Mr. Morley
  As stated in the answer of 10 March 2004,Official Report, column 1534W, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has many meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss all manner of topics. However, while there have been exchanges of correspondence between my right hon. Friend and the Deputy Prime Minister on Landfill Directive compliance issues, there has not been a formal meeting to discuss this matter specifically.

  Pharmaceutical Crops
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of pharmaceutical crops. [167830]

  Morley
  'Pharmaceutical crops' is a term used for plants that have been genetically modified so that they contain proteins or other chemicals that may be used for the treatment of disease in humans or animals. Such plants are regulated as all other GMOs, and must be kept under contained conditions as required by the legislation on the contained use of GMOs. Release of such crops into the environment requires consent under the deliberate release legislation.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research into bio-pharmaceutical crops she has commissioned in the last five years; whether this research was carried out outdoors; and what plans her Department has to commission further research. [167831]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department has not commissioned any specific research in this area.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from companies proposing to plant genetically modified food crops for commercial scale drug production. [167833]

  Mr. Morley
  We have not yet received any representations from companies proposing to plant genetically modified food crops for commercial scale drug production.
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  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government's policy on pharmaceutical crops differs from its policy on other genetically modified crops. [167835]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government's policy on genetically modified organisms applies to any GM crop whether intended for pharmaceutical use or other purposes.

  Recycling
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the tonnage of household recycling was in 2002–03 of the 10 local authorities in England that achieved the(a) highest and (b) lowest rates for household recycling in 2002–03. [169772]

  Mr. Morley
  Provisional results from Defra's 2002–03 Municipal Waste Management Survey indicate that the tonnage of household waste recycled and composted by the local authorities in England that achieved the 10 highest and lowest rates for household recycling and composting in 2002–03 (as measured by the Best Value Performance Indicator dataset for 2002–03), is as presented in the following table:

  Local authority

  Type of local authority1

  Tonnage of household waste recycled and composted in 2002–032

  Daventry District Council

  WCA

  16,132

  Lichfield District Council

  WCA

  17,428

  Wyre District Council

  WCA

  11,312

  Melton District Council

  WCA

  6,001

  Isle of Wight District Council

  UA

  18,823

  St. Edmundsbury District Council

  WCA

  14,258

  Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council

  UA

  19,009

  Forest Heath District Council

  WCA

  7,444

  Eastleigh

  WCA

  10,759

  Chiltern District Council3

  WCA

  7,870

  Dorset County Council3

  WDA

  55,658

  Kettering District Council

  WCA

  1,412

  North Tyneside Council

  UA

  3,735

  Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

  WCA

  2,778

  Corby District Council

  WCA

  928

  Tower Hamlets London Borough

  UA

  2,684

  Bolsover District Council

  WCA

  1,030

  Hackney London Borough

  WCA

  2,426

  Sunderland City Council

  UA

  2,718

  Barking and Dagenham London Borough

  WCA

  2,090

  Liverpool Metropolitan Borough Council

  WCA

  3,320

  1 The Waste Disposal Authority (WDA) and Unitary Authority (UA) recycling rate includes all recycling in the area, i.e. the amount recycled by the authority through its own civic amenity sites plus the amount recycled by its constituent collection authorities through bring or kerbside collection schemes. Waste Collection Authorities' (WCA) rates do not take account of waste deposited at civic amenity sites for recycling or disposal.

  2 The tonnage of household waste sent for recycling and composting by each local authority is not collected with the Best Value Performance Indicator dataset. The tonnages given are collected through the Municipal Waste Management Survey 2002–03.

  3 Joint tenth place.

  Sewers
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the population in their domestic premises in Greater London has access to(a) mains sewerage systems, (b) unadopted sewers, (c) sewers connected to a private treatment facility and (d) septic tanks. [168943]

  Mr. Morley
  Detailed information on the number of properties served by various types of sewerage system is not available. However, estimates do exist.

  (a) I have been informed by Thames Water that the vast majority of properties in the Metropolitan London area are connected to the foul water sewerage system. I understand that virtually every property has the opportunity to connect to the public sewerage system under Section 106 of the Water Industry Act 1991.

  (b) Nationally around 40 per cent. of properties connect to public sewers via unadopted sewers. (This is assuming 'unadopted sewers' mean all private sewers i.e. they are not adopted by the relevant sewerage undertaker). Separate data for Greater London are not available.

  (c) Nationally around 10 per cent. of properties are estimated to be connected to completely private systems. This includes those connected to private treatment facilities, septic tanks and cesspools. Separate data for Greater London are not available.

  (d) No data are available on the number of properties with a septic tank, as distinct from other forms of private sewage treatment, either nationally or for Greater London.

  Ship Dismantling (Teesside)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the environmental assessment underlying the decision that dismantling of the US ghost ships on Teesside is now the preferred environmental option; what views have recently been expressed on the matter by the Environment Agency; on what date her view was reached; and if she will make a statement. [169857]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 April 2004]: The Government position remains as stated to the House on 22 April 2004, Official Report, column 435. Four US ships are currently docked in Graythorp dock near Hartlepool. Applications are due to be submitted for the necessary permissions for dismantling to take place at this location, and an associated Environmental Impact Assessment is being prepared. The applications will need to be considered by the relevant authorities. In the meantime, dismantling work is prevented, and the ships are subject to regular inspection by the Environment Agency.

  Substitute Fuels Protocol
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures have been taken to consult the public over proposed amendments to the Environment Agency's Substitute Fuels Protocol. [169924]
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  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency is undertaking a 12 week consultation on its proposals to revise the Substitute Fuels Protocol for use on cement and lime kilns, in accordance with Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations. Responses are invited by 18 June 2004. The consultation document has been sent to a variety of stakeholders and published on the Environment Agency's website. The Agency has engaged with the environmental trade press to encourage coverage of the consultation in relevant magazines and journals.

  In preparing the list of consultees for direct mailing, the Agency has included national organisations such as trade associations, Government agencies, local organisations and members of the public with an interest in this subject.

  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received to extend the consultation period for amendments to the Environment Agency's Substitute Fuels Protocol. [169925]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department has not received any representations to extend the consultation period.

  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will extend the consultation period for amendments to the Environment Agency's Substitute Fuels Protocol. [169926]

  Mr. Morley
  The consultation period, of 12 weeks, has been set in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations. The Environment Agency considers that the 12-week period is appropriate in this case. The Agency has consulted on amendments to the Substitute Fuels Protocol on several consultations in the past.

  Sustainable Development
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on(a) the positions taken by her delegation at the 12 Commission on Sustainable Development in New York and (b) the outcome of that meeting. [172020]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: The Twelfth UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 12) met in New York from 19 to 30 April to review progress towards implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) commitments on water, sanitation and human settlements. Over 100 Ministers attended the ministerial segment (28 to 30 April) including my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and myself, along with senior representatives of the major UN and other international institutions. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan addressed the opening session.

  The UK delegation, led by the Secretary of State, played a leading role at CSD 12, in concert with EU partners, in identifying obstacles to progress and examples of best practice. Amongst the priorities we identified were: incorporation of water, sanitation and

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  human settlements issues in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and national Sustainsable development strategies; integrated water resource management plans to be in place by 2005; innovative financial mechanisms, such as the UK's proposed International Finance Facility; promotion of small-scale local initiatives and partnerships; and improved coordination between UN agencies and with international financial institutions.

  CSD 12 raised the profile of these issues and stimulated inclusive and interactive debate by all parties. The Chairman's Summary of the ministerial segment recognises that we are not yet on track to meet the targets, identifies the main obstacles faced and picks up on most of the UK's priorities. It also sets out a number of challenges to be addressed in the second year of the cycle on water, sanitation and human settlements, culminating at CSD 13 in May 2005, which has the task of agreeing the policy responses needed to get back on track with these international targets.

  Two Tree Island
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which councils and bodies are responsible for monitoring pollution on Two Tree Island in the constituencies of Castle Point and Southend West; [170825]

  (2) what assessment she has made of the risk to children on Two Tree Island of the accidental ingestion of dust or soil; [171527]

  (3) what the cost was of the Halcrow Report into Two Tree Island; and what steps have been taken to publicise the report's conclusions; [171528]

  (4) whether it is safe for the public to consume (a) vegetables and (b) fruit grown on Two Tree Island; [171529]

  (5) what estimate she has made of the cost of stopping the old Two Tree Island waste dump polluting the environment; [170829]

  (6) what assessment she has made of the potential and actual impact on (a) bird life, (b) marine life and (c) mammals of the pollutants within and seeping from the old Two Tree Island waste dump; [170830]

  (7) which areas of land on Two Tree Island may be subject to contamination from leakage from (a) old landfill and (b) old sewage works; [171530]

  (8) when repair work to Two Tree Island's sea wall was first identified as necessary; and when that work will commence; [171531]

  (9) if she will give advice to (a) walkers and (b) bathers regarding the pollutants in and seeping from the old Two Tree Island waste dump; [170831]

  (10) if she will list the health hazards to (a) walkers and (b) bathers around and on Canvey Island and Two Tree Island resulting from pollutants from the old Two Tree Island waste dump; [170832]

  (11) if she will list the toxic substances (a) within and (b) seeping into the Thames and surrounding areas from the old Two Tree Island waste dump; and if she will make a statement; [170833]

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  (12) what assessment she has made of the extent of leakage of pollutants from the old Two Tree Island waste dump; [170834]

  (13) if she will make a statement on the Halcrow Report into environmental problems associated with Two Tree Island in the Castle Point constituency; [170835]

  (14) what investigations have been undertaken by the Environment Agency into leachate seeping into the Thames from Two Tree Island. [171532]

  Mr. Morley
  The local authorities, that is Southend borough council and Castle Point borough council, are responsible for preventing pollution from this landfill site as it was closed before 1990. In this case, the local authority is also the landowner and is responsible for the sea defences.

  I understand that Southend borough council commissioned a consultant, Halcrow, in 2001 to assess the risks associated with the sea defence failure at Two Tree Island and to prepare a management strategy. Following wide consultation with relevant bodies, including the Environment Agency, a report was produced that considered the options. The local authorities involved are considering action in light of the recommendations made in the report.

  Questions about the pollution risks and the assessment of any health impacts associated with this landfill site are a matter for the local authorities.

  Warm Front
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in South Ribble have benefited from the Warm Front and Home Energy Efficiency Schemes. [171278]

  Mr. Morley
  The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme is now marketed as Warm Front. Between the launch of the scheme in June 2000 and the end of March 2004, approximately 1,800 households in South Ribble received assistance from the Scheme.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in Oldham, West and Royton have benefited from the Warm Front and Home Energy Efficiency Schemes. [170881]

  Mr. Morley
  The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme is now marketed as Warm Front. Between the launch of the scheme in June 2000 and the end of March 2004, approximately 3,600 households in Oldham West and Royton received assistance from the Scheme.

  Water Report
  Joyce Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department intends to hold a public consultation on the recommendations of the Report commissioned by her Department from PricewaterhouseCoopers on the future structure of the Consumer Council on Water and the future of WaterVoice organisations. [169478]
  345W
  Mr. Morley
  A wide range of groups were consulted by PricewaterhouseCoopers during their study of the organisational and regional structure of the Consumer Council for Water, including water industry representatives, consumer organisations, and WaterVoice members and staff.

  The Government do not intend to carry out a further consultation. The priority now is to work towards a successful establishment of the Consumer Council for Water in October 2005 based on the consultants' report and to seek to minimise the uncertainties for WaterVoice and its staff.

  Joyce Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to her Department has been of commissioning the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on the structure of the Consumer Council on Water and the future of WaterVoice organisations. [169479]

  Mr. Morley
  The PricewaterhouseCoopers study of the organisational and regional structure of the Consumer Council for Water cost £93,261.41.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Processing
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets are in place for the length of time taken to process asylum claims; when these targets were introduced; and which Minister in his Department approved the setting of these targets. [166557]

  Mr. Browne
  The principal target for processing asylum claims made in 2003–04 is to decide and serve 75 per cent. within two months. This was an element of target 7 of the Home Office Public Service Agreement (PSA) covering the period 2003–04 to 2005–06. The PSA targets were agreed between my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and formed the basis for the Home Office's funding settlement for SR2002.

  The technical notes were published on 25 March 2003, and this was announced by Written Ministerial Statement on 25 March 2004, Official Report, column 55WS, by the Minister for the Environment and Agri-environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Elliot Morley). The notes are held on the Home Office website and can be accessed at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/inside/aims/index.html. The relevant section is on p20. Latest published performance figures against this target indicate that 80 per cent. of applications, received between April and September 2003, were decided and served within two months.

  Body Armour
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of ballistic protection provided by(a) HG1 and (b) HG1A body armour. [172356]
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  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: HG1 and HG1A are body armour protection levels defined in a Home Office body armour standard. Both HG1 and HG1A afford the same ballistic protection. They both provide protection against standard ammunition fired from short-barrelled handguns. In the case of HG1A a back face deformation of the armour to a maximum depth of 44mm is allowed and in the case of HG1 this maximum deformation is reduced to 25mm. The back face deformation is a measure of the trauma that would be inflicted.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he was informed(a) that Highmark Manufacturing Co Ltd. had changed the specification of its KCW223 model of body armour and (b) that the body armour used by some police forces did not meet the protective HG1/KR2 classification of the original tender. [172357]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: Highmark did not change the specification of the armour. In mid 2001 it incorporated a material that had been cured in a different way. They did not inform the Home Office of this change. It has now been established that the fully cured material affords a lower ballistic trauma protection level than the partially cured material. The Home Office was informed of the problem in February 2004 and established its extent in March 2004. All affected forces have been told what action they should take, and the manufacturers are providing upgrade packs to return the armour to the specified protection level.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department(a) which police forces and (b) how many police officers are using body armour supplied by Highmark Manufacturing Co Ltd. that does not meet the protective HG1/KR2 specification of the original tender. [172358]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: The police forces in England and Wales using KCW223 model of body armour supplied by Highmark Manufacturing Co Ltd. are Avon and Somerset constabulary, Cheshire constabulary, Cumbria constabulary, Devon and Cornwall constabulary, Dorset police, Durham constabulary, Greater Manchester police, Hampshire Constabulary, Lancashire constabulary, Leicestershire constabulary, North Wales police, South Wales police, West Midlands police and West Yorkshire police. 30,000 models of this armour have been supplied and the manufacturers are supplying upgrade packs to return the armour to its original HG1/KR2 level (where required).

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long police forces have been using body armour supplied by Highmark Manufacturing Co Ltd. that does not meet the protective HG1/KR2 specification of the original tender. [172359]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: In mid 2001, Highmark Manufacturing Co Ltd. started using a material that makes up part of the construction of the armour model KCW223 which was supplied to police forces. This material had been cured in a different way to material previously used. This resulted in the armour in having a reduced ballistic (trauma) protection level in

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  terms of the HG1/A specification and a slightly reduced stab protection level that placed it just below the KR2 level in some carriers and just above KR2 in others.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long police forces were using HG1A body armour before it was approved by his Department; and what action his Department is taking to ensure that police forces are issued with the certification of body armour they specify at tender. [172360]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: The Police Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) of the Home Office produces a body armour standard. HG1A is a body armour protection level, which was introduced in early 2002. PSDB approved test houses test body armour to the current PSDB standards and the results are published in the Manual of Ballistic and Stab Resistant Body Armour maintained by PSDB. When body armour is tested at a PSDB test house the manufacturer is asked to provide a Declaration of Construction that details the material used in the manufacture of the armour along with a detailed description of the construction of the armour. Any model of armour tested is assigned an identification number that uniquely identifies it and the test sample is retained by PSDB. This procedure is designed to ensure that all armour bearing a particular model number that has met a PSDB defined protection level, which is subsequently supplied by the manufacturer, is of the same construction as the original test armour.

  Care Custody System
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Care Custody computer system to be fully operational throughout England and Wales. [170722]

  Caroline Flint
  The current plan proposes that the Custody and Case Preparation software applications will be installed and ready for service in all 43 Police Forces by October 2005 and that Forces will have the systems in full operational use by March 2006.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether(a) the Came Custody computer system will contain all data held in England and Wales regarding an individual and (b) the information will be limited to locally-held data. [170723]

  Caroline Flint
  As currently designed the bulk of the Custody and Case Preparation information will be held locally within the force area and only core data and that information required to be recorded on the PNC will be available nationally.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timescale targets he intends to set for the input of data into the Care Custody system regarding custody decisions, bail and court decisions. [170724]

  Caroline Flint
  The current requirement established by the Association of Chief Police Officers and monitored by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, (HMIC), stipulates that the following 348W
  timeliness performance indicators are required to be met by the Police for entry onto the Police National Computer:

  Arrest and Charge

  1. Initial key details of arrestee and charge—90 per cent. within 24 hours of arrest.

  2. Full entry—90 per cent. within five days

  3. Once compliance with 1 and 2 is obtained then a staged improvement to 90 per cent. within 24 hours for full entry.

  Bail

  1. Police bail 100 per cent. within 24 hours Court Case Results—Police Entered.

  2. 100 per cent. entered within 72 hours of the result from the court coming into Police possession.

  Court Case Results—Court Entered 1.

  100 per cent. within 24 hours.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he intends to reply to the letter to him from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, dated 19 February, with regard to Wajid Shamsul Hasan; [167260]

  (2) when he intends to reply to the letter to him from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 25 March with regard to Mr. Amanah Ullah. [172254]

  (3) when he intends to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 30 March with regard to Ms S.A. Ntonga. [172255]

  (4) when he intends to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 30 March with regard to Mr. Cristian Cornel Peres. [172256]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 11 May 2004.

  Drugs
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings Ministers have had with their counterparts from(a) Sweden, (b) Greece, (c) Belgium, (d) Denmark, (e) Finland, (f) Spain, (g) the USA, (h) Portugal, (i) Italy, (j) New Zealand, (k) Ireland, (l) Canada, (m) Jamaica, (n) the Netherlands, (o) Switzerland, (p) France and (q) Germany on drug abuse in the past two years. [171622]

  Caroline Flint
  Over the past two years, in addition to the regular contacts we have with European colleagues in the Council of Ministers and with other counterparts at other international meetings, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has met counterparts from Greece, Belgium, Denmark, the United States, Italy, Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany and France; my predecessor as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office with responsibility for drugs issues, my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Ainsworth), met his counterparts from Ireland. Jamaica and France; I have met my counterparts from Jamaica and the Netherlands. As a matter of major concern to Home Affairs and Justice Ministers across the world, drugs will have featured in most of these discussions. Home Office Ministers also have ready
  349W
  access to drug policies and practice in those countries through published reports from and about them and through advice from officials and others who keep in close touch with developments.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funds were spent on tackling drugs misuse in Oldham, West and Royton in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 2003–04. [170957]

  Caroline Flint
  Breakdown of financial allocation to local constituencies is not available to the Home Office. Funding is allocated to Drug Action Team (DAT) areas, in this case Oldham Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT).

  The period 1997–98 pre dates the Government's current National Drug Strategy. Expenditure across all appropriate agencies in the area at this time is estimated to have been £977,350. This figure is based on locally held information for the period 1998–99 and has been supplied by Oldham DAAT.

  In 2003–04 the total drugs allocation for Oldham was £1,697,123. In order to ensure consistency figures supplied are based on funding streams associated with the National Drug Strategy and are readily verifiable. These funding streams are specifically targeted at tackling the harm caused to individuals, families and communities by the misuse of drugs. Other mainstream funding is made available at a local level, this varies and both in amount and origin as a result it is not possible to provide robust financial information.

  2003–04

  £

  Partnership Capacity

  69,259

  Treatment Pooled Budget

  1,016,000

  Through Care After Care Pump Priming

  35,000

  Building Safer Communities1

  386,069

  Young people

  190,795

  Total

  1,697,123

  1 Contains non-drug elements.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funds were spent on tackling drugs misuse in South Ribble in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 2003–04. [171656]

  Caroline Flint
  Breakdown of financial allocation to local constituencies is not available to the Home Office. Funding is allocated to Drug Action Team (DAT) areas, in this case Lancashire DAT.

  In 1997–98 (pre-dating National Drugs Strategy) funding available to Lancashire DAT area totalled £670,000.

  In 2003–04 the total drugs allocation for Lancashire was £6,015,000. In order to ensure consistency, figures supplied are based on funding streams associated with the National Drug Strategy and are readily verifiable. These funding streams are specifically targeted at tackling the harm caused to individuals, families and communities by the misuse of drugs. Other mainstream funding is made available at a local level; this varies both in amount and origin, as a result it is not possible to provide robust financial information.
  350W

  2003–04

  £

  Partnership capacity

  118,000

  Treatment pooled budget

  3,980,000

  Through care after care pump priming

  35,000

  Building safer communities1

  1,147,000

  Young people

  735,000

  Total

  6,015,000

  1 Contains non-drug elements.

  Emergency Services
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many administrators were involved, and at what cost, in each police authority, to deal with the paperwork resulting from emergency police vehicles captured on speed cameras contravening speed limits. [170733]

  Caroline Flint
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  European Communities Association Agreement
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Ministers in his Department were informed of the letter from the UK Vice Consul in Bulgaria to the Home Office Business case Unit, of 20 November 2002, regarding the operation of the European Communities Association Agreement scheme. [166558]

  Mr. Browne
  The operation of the ECAA scheme, including letters to the Home Office about it, is covered by the investigation which Ken Sutton is undertaking of the operation of the ECAA scheme for Bulgaria and Romania. I do not wish to pre-empt the investigation by commenting on the issues before it is completed.

  Explanatory Notes
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the Department did not make explanatory notes available on the day a Bill was published in the last two years; and what steps are being taken to ensure that this does not occur in future. [165897]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  This has happened on only one occasion in the last two years. The guidance issued to Bill teams makes clear that "Explanatory Notes" must accompany the Bill and this is also reflected in the training they receive.

  Forensic Science Service
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the outline business case and financial analysis of the privatisation of the Forensic Science Service will be published. [171397]

  Caroline Flint
  It is not intended to privatise the Forensic Science Service, but to develop the organisation as a public private partnership (PPP). The outline business case currently being prepared will look in detail at how to optimise the performance and economic prospects of the PPP and will include a
  351W
  financial analysis of the impact of the proposed change of status. We expect to be able to announce the results of the work on the outline business case by July.

  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times since July 2003 he has met trade unions representing the Forensic Science Service workforce to discuss the future of the Service. [171759]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: Ministers last met formally with the Forensic Science Service trade union representatives on 20 October 2003. Since then there have been a number of helpful meetings at official level.

  Immigration (Northern Ireland)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have been held between his Department and the Police Service of Northern Ireland regarding immigration irregularities in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) south Belfast. [158610]

  Mr. Browne
  UK Immigration Service (UKIS) has an office in Belfast and there is regular contact between the Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) and UKIS staff. At operational level, the police refer details of potential immigration offenders, and UKIS staff work with them to investigate illegal working allegations and other similar issues. At a more strategic level there is a local Immigration Organised Crime group, chaired by PSNI, with delegates from UKIS, the police and the Garda National Immigration Bureau, Dublin, which meets regularly to discuss matters relating to immigration crime in Northern Ireland (including cross border issues).

  Apart from routine day-to-day contact in respect of immigration offenders throughout Northern Ireland, South Belfast has not been the subject of any special discussions in respect of immigration irregularities.

  North London Mosque
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on(a) the policing of street preaching outside North London Central Mosque and (b) monitoring the compliance of views expressed in that preaching with the law. [169785]

  Caroline Flint
  The Commissioner of the Police for the Metropolis tells me that the activities outside the Finsbury Park Mosque are monitored by the Metropolitan police who have a duty to ensure public safety and to prevent crime and disorder. It is an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent or likelihood to stir up racial hatred. The police will take action where appropriate.

  Road Traffic Offences
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 4 May 2004,Official Report, column 1398W, on road traffic offences, if he will list the centres at which information about points on licences is recorded. [171914]
  352W
  Caroline Flint
  Information about the number of points on the licences of individual motorists is recorded on the database maintained by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

  Speed Camera (Grape's Hill)
  Mr. Bacon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the total value of fines levied as a result of the speed camera at Grape's Hill in Norwich from its installation until its removal. [171745]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: Information on the value of fines made at specific speed camera locations is not collected centrally.

  Tetra
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Perth (Annabelle Ewing) of 17 March 2004,Official Report, column 354W, on Tetra, if he will set out details of the comprehensive programme of work on Tetra health issues; and what institutions are carrying out this work. [171915]

  Caroline Flint
  Following the publication in May 2000 of the Stewart Report on Mobile Phones and Health, we took expert advice from the National Radiological Protection Board's independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR) on the health and safety aspects of TETRA technology.

  The AGNIR experts confirmed that it was unlikely that the specific features of TETRA technology could pose a risk to health and suggested a number of areas where further research would be useful. These suggestions have been taken forward as follows:
  The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is assessing the effects of TETRA exposure on various types of cells. Dstl concluded that TETRA has no effect on calcium exchanges in cells. Further work on epileptiform activity and cognitive performance is underway.
  Imperial College is carrying out a national health monitoring study of police users of Airwave.
  The University of Birmingham and the University of Manchester are looking into patterns of work of Airwave users.
  Microwave Consultants Limited are measuring Specific Absorption Rates (SARs) from TETRA equipment.
  The National Radiological Protection Board have completed further work on modelling SARs.
  The Radiocommunications Agency (now Ofcom) checks emission levels from TETRA base stations.

  In addition, we are funding TETRA research as an adjunct to the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme. Studies funded under this arrangement are selected and managed by the MTHR Programme Management Committee. As part of this adjunct programme, the Burden Neurological Institute in Bristol is examining possible effects of microwave radiation on the electrical activity of the brain.
  353W
  These extensive studies have shown no evidence of any particular risk to health from TETRA.

  Fuller details of the research programme are available on the Home Office website at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/tetra.html.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Environmental Performance
  Norman Baker
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will place in the Library a copy of the review of environmental performance, which the Commission has commissioned. [171511]

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  The Report will be placed in the Library once it has been considered by the Board of Management.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Infant Deaths
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the progress of the Attorney-General's review into infant deaths following the Cannings Judgment. [171552]

  The Solicitor-General
  I would refer the hon. Member to the Attorney-General's statement, 5 May 2004,Official Report, House of Lords, column WS55.

TREASURY

  Cancer
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the change in the incidence of cancer in each region since the Chernobyl nuclear accident. [171927]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Patsy Calton, dated 12 May 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what assessment has made of the incidence of cancer in each region since the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

  The Chernobyl nuclear accident occurred on 28th April 1986. The attached table gives the incidence of all cancers in England, from 1986 to 2000 (the most recent year for which data are available), by Government Office Region.

  Changes over time in the number of cancers registered are affected by many factors unrelated to the Chernobyl accident. These include historic change in smoking patterns, increased testing and screening for specific cancers (e.g. prostate, breast, cervix), and improved ascertainment by regional cancer registries.
  354W

  Directly age-standardised1 rates per 100,000 population of newly diagnosed cases of all cancers2 to residents3 of England, by Government Office Region, 1986–2000

  Englan d

  North East

  North West

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  East Midlands

  1986

  321

  345

  335

  332

  313

  1987

  328

  333

  333

  334

  324

  1988

  337

  344

  338

  341

  324

  1989

  337

  351

  344

  338

  322

  1990

  339

  360

  346

  343

  318

  1991

  340

  353

  354

  344

  333

  1992

  349

  351

  360

  354

  347

  West Midlands

  East of England

  London

  South East

  South West

  1986

  326

  321

  308

  312

  305

  1987

  328

  330

  326

  323

  323

  1988

  347

  338

  339

  329

  334

  1989

  340

  330

  342

  332

  333

  1990

  345

  327

  340

  336

  337

  1991

  350

  321

  338

  334

  335

  1992

  356

  326

  347

  346

  355

  England

  North East

  North West

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  East Midlands

  1993

  348

  360

  354

  352

  350

  1994

  352

  359

  374

  355

  346

  1995

  353

  349

  379

  354

  337

  1996

  351

  373

  379

  354

  354

  1997

  359

  373

  368

  364

  344

  1998

  357

  394

  374

  360

  345

  1999

  360

  395

  373

  356

  353

  2000

  361

  393

  375

  373

  355

  West Midlands

  East of England

  London

  South East

  South West

  1993

  357

  322

  336

  350

  359

  1994

  346

  328

  342

  352

  358

  1995

  358

  337

  353

  354

  347

  1996

  356

  331

  341

  342

  339

  1997

  349

  345

  372

  359

  354

  1998

  364

  335

  361

  347

  351

  1999

  362

  337

  351

  352

  381

  2000

  361

  338

  355

  355

  365

  1 Using the European standard population

  2 All cancers defined as all malignant cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (International Classification of Diseases Ninth revision (ICD-9) codes 140–208, excluding 173; ICD-10 codes C00-C97, excluding C44)

  3 Figures relate to cancers recorded by English cancer registries, where the patient was identified as usually resident in England

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

  Coalminers' Compensation Scheme
  John Mann
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the National Audit Office(a) has made and (b) has been asked to make of the loss to the taxpayer from double charging by solicitors under the coalminers' compensation scheme. [170742]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I am not aware that the National Audit Office (NAO) has made an assessment about solicitors double charging. The NAO sets its own priorities.

  Customs and Excise
  John Mann
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use of ion scanners is made by HM Customs and Excise. [171619]

  John Healey
  HM Customs and Excise use ion scanners at all main ports and airports in the UK, primarily to detect traces of prohibited Class A drugs in baggage, freight and vehicles. They also use them to train Customs officers from international partner countries in the fight against the illicit drugs trade.

  Departmental Expenditure (Entertainment)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the amount spent by his Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [169008]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to him and the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray) on 24 March 2003,Official Report, columns 60–71W.

  Expenditure on official entertainment for 2002–03 was £137,000. Figures exclude expenditure on major events such as G7 meetings of ECOFIN. 2003–04 figures will be available after finalisation of the annual resource accounts.

  Financial Services and Markets Act
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to review the conduct of the scheme operated under section 225 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; [172195]

  (2) if he will order the amendment of the Dispute Resolution section of the Financial Services Authority's Handbook of Rules and Guidance to improve the speed of consideration of determinations; [172196]

  (3) when he expects the review of the Financial Ombudsman Service to report; [172197]

  (4) if he will make a statement on the operation of the Independent Assessor of the Financial Ombudsman Service. [172198]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Financial Ombudsman Service is an independent organisation. In November last year, I announced the two-year review of the operation of the Financial Services and Market Act 2000. As part of that review, I asked the Financial Services Authority and the Financial Ombudsman Service to review the circumstances in which the Financial Services Authority takes regulatory action instead of individual cases being determined by the Ombudsman and to consider introducing a process by which firms may appeal against Ombudsman decisions. The Financial Services Authority and the Financial Ombudsman Service plan to publish a joint consultation paper by early June.

  Responsibility for setting timescale targets for the resolution of complaints is a matter for the Financial Ombudsman Service. The Financial Ombudsman Service sets out for consultation annually a draft Plan and Budget of its overall financial and workload targets, including the number of cases it expects to receive and the number it intends to resolve, overall costs,
  356W
  productivity rates, and average timescales within which it aims to resolve cases. Cases that are not resolved within 12 months are monitored by the Board of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

  The role of the Independent Assessor is to carry out a final review of the service provided by the Financial Ombudsman Service, in cases where the consumer remains dissatisfied with the Financial Ombudsman Service, the Independent Assessor can investigative the Ombudsman's process and the behaviour of its staff. Disagreements about the merits of decisions are expressly excluded from his jurisdiction but is authorised to make findings and recommendations for redress in cases where he believes it is justified.

  Iraq
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of Iraq's external debt. [171983]

  John Healey
  The latest IMF estimate suggests Iraq's external debt is approximately US$120 billion.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of Iraq's(a) gross national product and (b) income to the state in 2004–05. [171984]

  John Healey
  In April this year, the Coalition Provisional Authority forecast the Iraqi Government's total revenue for fiscal year 2004 at US$14.5 billion.

  Figures for Iraq's Gross Domestic Product were published in October 2003 by the World Bank and United Nations in their Joint Iraq Needs Assessment. These very preliminary estimates showed GDP for 2004 to be in the range of $15–20 billion.

  IT Equipment
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in South Ribble have benefited from the 100 per cent. tax exemption for the purchase of computer and internet equipment. [172000]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Djanogly) on 5 May 2004,Official Report, column 1505W.

  Job Vacancies
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in South Ribble in(a) 1997 and (b) 2003. [171998]

  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 Borrow, dated 12 May 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job vacancies in South Kibble. (171998)

  According to Jobcentre Plus administrative records, the number of unfilled vacancies notified to Jobcentres in Lancashire West Jobcentre Plus District was 4,730 on average during 1997. This represents only a proportion of all the vacancies available, as not all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.
  357W
  Figures are not available for South Ribble alone because the vacancies are allocated to local Jobcentres, not according to constituency boundaries, and because of the practice of notifying some vacancies centrally with one Jobcentre taking vacancies forothers in the same district. Jobcentre vacancy statistics were withdrawn from National Statistics in September 2001 as a result of distortions to the data, which occurred following the introduction of new administrative procedures by Jobcentre Plus. Comparable figures for vacancies in 2003 are therefore unavailable.

  Results from the ONS Vacancy Survey were released as National Statistics from July 2003, but are not available for local areas.

  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in Bootle in(a) 1997 and (b) 2003. [172331]

  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. Joe Benton, dated 12 May 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job vacancies in Bootle. (172331)

  According to Jobcentre Plus administrative records, the number of unfilled vacancies in the Liverpool travel-to-work area was 4,403 on average during 1997. This represents only a proportion of all the vacancies available, as not all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.

  Figures are not available for Bootle alone because the vacancies are allocated to local Jobcentres, not according to constituency boundaries, and because of the practice of notifying some vacancies centrally with one Jobcentre taking vacancies for others in the same district.

  Jobcentre vacancy statistics were withdrawn from National Statistics in September 2001 as a result of distortions to the data, which occurred following the introduction of new administrative procedures by Jobcentre Plus. Comparable figures for vacancies in 2003 are therefore unavailable.

  Results from the ONS Vacancy Survey were released as National Statistics from July 2003, but are not available for local areas.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in Bootle in each year since 1997. [172330]

  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. Joe Benton, dated 12 May 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment.

  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Bootle Constituency.

  ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including parliamentary constituencies.

  The table below gives the annual average number of JSA claimants for the Bootle constituency for each year since 1997.
  358W

  Number of claimants

  1997

  4,368

  1998

  3,828

  1999

  3,516

  2000

  3,218

  2001

  2,873

  2002

  2,706

  2003

  2,543

WALES

  Advisers/Consultants
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on external consultants and advisers in each of the last three years. [171879]

  Mr. Touhig
  The Wales Office has spent the following amounts on external consultants and advisers in each of the last three financial years:

  £

  2001–02

  44,650

  2002–03

  6,599

  2003–04

  587

  Health Service Funding
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to his oral answer of 5 May 2004,Official Report, column 1329, on health service funding, if he will list the 10 hospitals which are planned or have been started in Wales. [172347]

  Mr. Touhig
  [hoding answer 11 May 2004]: Since 2001, two hospitals—Neath/port Talbot and St. David's, Cardiff—have been opened.

  Two additional hospitals—the second Rhondda and Tenby hospitals—have completed business case development and received approval

  The following six hospitals are currently going through various stages of business case development:

  Holywell

  Porthmadog

  Blaenau Gwent (Ebbw Vale)

  Caerphilly

  Cynon Valley

  Merthyr Community.

  Nuclear Power Plants (Air Security)
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with(a) the Secretary of State for Defence and (b) the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on emergency planning procedures to deal with a serious nuclear incident since the release of information by the Ministry of Defence on 1 May 2004 on incidents involving military aircraft and the Berkeley nuclear installations. [171648]
  359W
  Mr. Touhig
  Further to the answer given to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the armed forces on 6 May 2004,Official Report, column 1714W, I can confirm that in the UK, off-site civil nuclear emergency planning has been well established over many years. This includes emergency plans which are prepared for all UK nuclear sites by first tier local authorities under the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001. The emergency response arrangements are regularly tested in a programme of off-site exercises which bring together local and national organisations, and which are followed up both locally and nationally through the DTI-chaired Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group.

  Restricted areas of two nautical miles radius are in place around all major nuclear installations, which apply to both military and civil aircraft.

  The Secretary of State for Wales meets with the Secretary of State for Defence and the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues, including emergency planning.

  Productivity
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his policy is for(a) increasing the productivity and (b) cutting the costs of his Department. [172193]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 10 May 2004,Official Report, column 148W.

  Timber
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department plans to contribute financially to the establishment of the second phase of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber. [167621]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Environment and Agri-Environment on 10 May 2004,Official Report, column 31W.

CABINET OFFICE

  Panel for Regulatory Accountability
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answers of 4 May 2004,Official Report, columns 1444W and 1404–405W, on the Panel for Regulatory Accountability, who the chairman of the Panel for Regulatory Accountability is. [172097]

  Mr. Alexander
  In future, any regulatory proposals likely to impose a major new burden on business will require clearance from the Panel for Regulatory Accountability chaired by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and in his absence my right hon. Friend the Chancellor. I will chair panel meetings which consider specific regulatory and policy issues.

  Regulatory Impact Assessments
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many regulatory impact statements have been brought to his attention in the last 12 months, with particular reference to the Evaluation of Regulatory Impact Assessments Compendium Report 2003–04, March 2004, pages 25–26. [171610]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) is a paragraph that can be included in the Cabinet paper or ministerial letter to colleagues seeking collective agreement to a proposal that impacts on business. The Small Business Service can have its view recorded in both the Regulatory Impact Assessment and the RIS. Such correspondence is routinely sent to all members of the relevant Cabinet Committee. As has been the practice under previous Administrations, Cabinet Committee correspondence is exempt from disclosure under Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. All Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) must include an assessment of the impact of the proposal on small firms' except where the proposal solely affects the public services.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) unemployment claimants and (b) job vacancies there were in each region of the UK in each of the last 12 months. [172127]

  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. George Osborne, dated 12 May 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployed claimants and job vacancies in each region of the UK in each of the last 12 months. (172127)

  The attached Table 1 gives the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance, seasonally adjusted, for each Government Office Region, and for the UK in total, for each of the 12 months up to March 2004.

  The attached Table 2 shows the total numbers of job vacancies in the UK for each month, according to the ONS Vacancy Survey. These vacancy statistics are not available for regions. As these statistics only began in April 2001, they are not yet available on a seasonally adjusted basis.

  Jobcentre vacancy statistics, which used to be available by region, were withdrawn from National Statistics in September 2001 as a result of distortions to the data which occurred following the introduction of new administrative procedures by Jobcentre Plus.
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  Table 1: Monthly average number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (seasonally adjusted) April 2003—March 2004, UK Government Office Regions

  Thousand

  Government Office Region

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  2003

  March

  East Midlands

  59.0

  59.6

  60.2

  59.7

  59.3

  59.3

  59.1

  58.3

  57.4

  Eastern

  58.5

  59.2

  59.4

  58.6

  58.0

  57.8

  57.5

  57.5

  57.0

  London

  172.0

  172.8

  172.8

  171.6

  170.9

  170.5

  170.2

  169.3

  168.6

  North East

  53.6

  54.5

  53.4

  52.5

  52.2

  52.0

  51.3

  50.8

  50.0

  North West

  112.9

  113.9

  113.4

  112.1

  110.6

  110.4

  109.5

  107.7

  105.9

  Northern Ireland

  34.3

  35.0

  35.1

  34.1

  34.5

  34.6

  34.7

  34.3

  34.0

  Scotland

  99.7

  100.3

  100.8

  99.8

  98.6

  99.6

  99.4

  98.6

  97.9

  South East

  75.7

  76.3

  76.5

  76.2

  75.9

  76.2

  76.0

  75.9

  75.3

  South West

  48.8

  49.6

  49.9

  49.1

  48.4

  48.1

  47.6

  46.7

  45.8

  Wales

  45.5

  45.7

  45.6

  45.0

  44.3

  43.6

  43.2

  42.7

  42.1

  West Midlands

  95.3

  95.8

  95.6

  94.9

  94.6

  94.3

  94.2

  93.6

  93.1

  Yorkshire and The Humber

  84.6

  85.8

  85.7

  84.0

  82.9

  82.7

  81.9

  80.1

  78.4

  UK

  939.9

  948.5

  948.4

  937.6

  930.2

  929.1

  924.6

  915.5

  905.5

  Government Office Region

  January

  February

  March

  2004

  March

  East Midlands

  55.6

  54.8

  54.7

  Eastern

  56.3

  56.4

  56.5

  London

  167.2

  166.0

  165.3

  North East

  49.1

  48.2

  47.7

  North West

  103.2

  103.2

  102.5

  Northern Ireland

  33.5

  33.0

  32.5

  Scotland

  96.2

  96.2

  95.9

  South East

  74.5

  74.0

  73.6

  South West

  44.6

  44.0

  43.7

  Wales

  41.5

  41.5

  41.5

  West Midlands

  92.6

  92.1

  91.6

  Yorkshire and The Humber

  77.4

  77.0

  76.7

  UK

  891.7

  886.4

  882.2

  Source:

  Jobcentre Plus administrative system.

  Table 2: Monthly number of job vacancies (not seasonally adjusted) UK, April 2003 to March 2004

  Thousand

  Month/year

  Number of vacancies

  2003

  April

  564.5

  May

  605.3

  June

  578.8

  July

  568.6

  August

  609.9

  September

  642.7

  October

  651.3

  November

  620.3

  December

  552.0

  2004

  January

  515.9

  February

  622.1

  March

  629.0

  source:

  ONS Vacancy Survey.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met members of the Health and Safety Executive; and what was discussed. [168231]

  Jane Kennedy
  [holding answer 28 April 2004]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met with the Director General of the Health and Safety Executive
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  together with the Chair of the Health and Safety Commission on 1 August 2002. He welcomed the Commission and the Executive to the Department, discussed and agreed their strategic priorities and arrangements for them to meet regularly with the Minister of State for Work.

  My right hon. Friend also met with Deputy Director General (Policy) on 13 November and 18 November 2003. They discussed implementation of European legislation in the UK.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group was formed; [168842]

  (2) who the members are of the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group; [168843]

  (3) what the main (a) function and (b) purpose is of the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group; [168844]

  (4) what the select on process is for the membership of the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group; [168845]

  (5) how often and where the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group meetings take place. [168846]

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

  Letter from David Anderson to Mr. George Osborne, dated 12 May 2004:

  As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your questions concerning the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  The inaugural meeting of the Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group was held on the 6th September 2002.

  The Jobcentre Plus Provider Liaison Group's membership includes representatives from several of our largest work-based private sector providers, together with providers in the voluntary and community sector, smaller private providers and Further Education establishments. In addition, membership includes the Association of Learning Providers (ALP), a trade body for the work-based sector who represent approximately 30% of Jobcentre Plus providers. The Group is supported by a small secretariat from Jobcentre Plus. Full membership of the Group is set out in Annex 1.
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  The purpose of the Group is to provide a forum in which providers are consulted on changes to policy and operational processes. In practice this gives them the opportunity to comment upon policies from their perspective as organisations that deliver these policies. The Group enables Jobcentre Plus to obtain the views of providers from a wide background and should help ensure that our business can be delivered more effectively and efficiently.

  There is no formal selection process. In order to ensure the arrangements are manageable, the Group has a membership of approximately 20. However, we do try to be inclusive as possible, and membership is potentially open to each of our providers. In setting up the group we attempted to ensure that a range of providers was represented. In addition to our inviting a number of the largest providers, each Jobcentre Plus Region was requested to nominate a local provider, to ensure that the Group offers views from smaller providers. Some Jobcentre Plus regions also hold their own meetings of local provider groups where there are region-specific issues to discuss.

  The Group meets on a regular basis, usually bi-monthly, and meetings are held in Sheffield.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Annex 1: Jobcentre Plus Provider Group Membership

  Contact

  Provider

  David Bailey

  Action for Employment

  Steve Marsland

  Action for Employment

  Pat Taylor

  Personnel Evaluation Consultants

  George Allon

  BTCV

  Roger Cole

  Pelcombe Training

  Stephanie Baslington

  Rathbone

  Janet Pibworth

  Seetec

  Jim McIntosh

  Shaw Trust

  Teresa Jolly/Colin Kearney

  Sheffield City Council

  George Baines

  Standguide

  Jim Gambles

  Standguide

  Martin Dunford

  TBG learning

  Dawn Marsh

  The Training Network Group

  A Townson

  Bournemouth and Poole College

  Gerard Irwin

  Reed Co. UK

  Sian Woolson

  Dash Training Ltd

  Diane Prosser

  Dash Training Ltd

  Sharon Cooke

  Bethany Group

  Sarah Cooke

  DHP enterprises

  David Cameron

  Scottish Council for voluntary organisations

  Sarah Knight

  Instant Muscle

  Paul Warner

  ALP

  Adrienne Nolan

  WACG LMD Skills and Int

  Beth Simpson

  DFES

  Peter Jordan

  LSC

  David Williams

  TD management Services

  Jill Valentine

  UFI

  Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 23 April 2004,Official Report, column 709W, on pension forecasts, how many (a) employers and (b) pension providers participated in the service in each year since its introduction. [171100]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The number of employers and pension providers who participated in the combined pension forecast service, in each year since the combined pension forecast service was introduced is contained in the following table.

  Employers

  Pension providers

  2002 (up to)

  5

  2

  2002–03

  7

  —

  2003–04

  64

  2

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  In 2004–05 to date a further 59 employers have agreed to participate.

  The table shows two pension providers, however an earlier answer provided on 5 June 2003, Official Report, column 546W, stated that four providers were participating.

  The difference is accounted for by:
  Countrywide Assd Caspil and Countrywide Assd Vax (listed as separate providers in the original reply) have now merged into a single organisation.
  Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society was incorrectly described as a provider and has now been correctly classified as an employer.

  Sure Start Maternity Grant
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many mothers in South Ribble have made use of the Sure Start maternity grant. [172142]

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

  Sure Start maternity grants for Preston Social Fund District

  Applications

  Awards

  2000–01

  1,276

  1,106

  2001–02

  1,536

  1,305

  2002–03

  1,836

  1,531

  2003 (April)

  152

  95

  Sure Start maternity grants for area covered by Lancashire West Jobcentre Plus District

  May 2003 to March 2004

  Applications

  4,866

  Awards

  3,710

  Notes:

  1. South Ribble Parliamentary Constituency used to be part of Preston Social Fund District. In May 2003, Preston Social Fund District was combined with Blackpool Social Fund District and parts of South West Lancashire and, Lancaster and South Cumbria Social Fund Districts to form Lancashire West Jobcentre Plus District. The data for the two areas is not comparable.

  2. Sure Start Maternity Grants were introduced on 27 March 2000. The very small number of cases for 1999–2000 have been excluded for data protection reasons.

  3. Data is given for all applications and awards, irrespective of whether the application was made by the mother of her partner.

  Source:

  DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Iraq
  9. Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, what support is being provided for the rebuilding of Iraq. [172243]

  Hilary Benn
  At the Madrid Donors' Conference in October last year, the Government announced a total UK pledge of £544 million towards the reconstruction effort in Iraq from April 2003 to March 2006.
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  DFID has now committed over £278 million for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq. This includes £70 million for the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq, managed by the World Bank and the United Nations. We are also supporting Iraqi government policies and reforms that benefit the poor, and, in the south of Iraq, helping to restore infrastructure and develop the region's links with central government in Baghdad.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on current levels of(a) power generation, (b) water provision and (c) infrastructure construction in Iraq; and what steps have been taken to maintain provision of these services when contractors leave the country prematurely. [171420]

  Hilary Benn
  The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) reports that average electricity production is in the region of 4,000 megawatts (MW), approximately the same level as before the 2003 conflict. A number of generating units are undergoing maintenance and should be back in service by the summer peak demand period. The CPA's power generation target for 1 June is 6,000 MW.

  It is estimated that immediately after the 2003 conflict coverage of water services was 60 per cent. of the urban and 30 per cent. of the rural populations. Considerable work has taken place since then to improve the quantity, quality and reliability of water services to the population. There are no complete statistics on current coverage, but informal estimates suggest that, in the south, supply has increased by 10 to 15 per cent. since May 2003. By the summer of 2004, water quality and volume in Basra is expected to have exceeded preconflict levels.

  A total of US$32 billion was pledged for the reconstruction of Iraq at the Madrid Donors' Conference in October 2003. Very significant sums are now being committed to specific projects for the reconstruction of power and water infrastructure and in a wide range of other sectors including health, education, transport, irrigation, telecommunications, housing and oil production.

  The maintenance of essential services is to a very large extent undertaken by Iraqis rather than by foreign contractors. However, it is clear that some reconstruction projects may be delayed as a result of restrictions imposed by the present security situation on the ability of contractors and development agencies to operate normally throughout the country.

  Development Financing
  Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on mechanisms for financing development. [172244]

  Hilary Benn
  In January 2003 HM Treasury and the Department for International Development (DFID) launched a proposal for an International Finance Facility (IFF). The IFF is designed to "frontload" aid to help meet the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The IFF has the following advantages; it provides the additional 366W
  resources necessary to help achieve the MDGs, making funds available for education, health, economic development, debt relief and building trade capacity; it is the only feasible proposal at the moment which would deliver these resources; it locks in the political commitment of donors to Monterrey pledges and it provides the predictability and critical mass of aid needed for simultaneous and sustainable investment in developing systems across sectors, tackling the causes rather than the symptoms of poverty.

  Commission for Africa
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, if he will make a statement on the future programme of the Commission for Africa. [172245]

  Hilary Benn
  Following first meeting of the Commission on 4 May, consultation and outreach for submissions to the Commission's work will run from now until October, and consultation on the emerging conclusions of the Commission's work will then follow more detailed consultation plans will be posted on the Commissions website when it is up and running at the end of May.

  The next meeting of the Commission will be in October, and the final meeting in early 2005 before the launch of the report around March/April 2005.

  Sudan
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what assistance his Department is making available this financial year to Sudan. [172246]

  Hilary Benn
  I have allocated £35 million to Sudan for this financial year, in anticipation of a comprehensive peace agreement to end the civil war there. The Africa Conflict Prevention Pool has allocated a further £3.5 million. Last week I announced a further £10 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Western Sudan. Hence, £48.5 million are potentially available for Sudan this financial year.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the development of irrigation systems in Ethiopia. [172247]

  Hilary Benn
  Dependence on rain-fed agriculture contributes to the high levels of vulnerability and chronic food insecurity found in Ethiopia. Less than 5 per cent. of the country's arable land is currently irrigated. The Government of Ethiopia recognises the need for appropriate forms of irrigation that will benefit smallholders as well as commercial farmers, in its poverty reduction strategy. Irrigation is an important component of the Government's Water Sector Development Programme. In addition, the Government are undertaking a large programme to promote rainwater harvesting at the smallholder farm level.
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  DFID supports such initiatives through assisting the development of Government's overall rural development strategies and financing implementation of the country's poverty reduction strategy with direct budget support.

  Malawi
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Malawi. [172248]

  Hilary Benn
  The harvest that has just been completed will be the principal determinant of the need for humanitarian action in Malawi over the next year. Preliminary reports suggest a lower harvest than last year's bumper crop, but with major shortfalls restricted to a few areas. In order to assess more accurately the 2004 harvest and its impact on food security and household vulnerability, the Malawi Government, donors and NGOs are undertaking a series of surveys. The results of these studies will be available by the end of May.

  Development (School Involvement)
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what support his Department is giving to projects designed to strengthen school involvement in raising awareness of development issues. [172249]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  DFID is committed to ensuring that every child is educated about development issues, so that they can understand the key global considerations that shape their lives. DFID works closely with the four education ministries across the UK to ensure that the content of what is taught in schools is enriched by the inclusion of global perspectives.

  DFID's Enabling Effective Support initiative supports the development of locally owned strategies to achieve comprehensive high quality support to teachers for the delivery of the global dimension in the curriculum and wider school life. Each year some 70 per cent. of DFID's Development Awareness Fund supports projects under this initiative. In 2003–04 the Fund allocated over £3.8 million to 43 projects including the production and promotion of resources for schools; Teacher Education projects; and the Global School Partnerships programme that supports links with schools in developing countries. In 2004–05 the Fund will support 33 projects at a projected cost of £4 million.

  Africa
  Ann McKechin
  To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the new Commission for Africa regarding the debt burden on Africa. [172240]

  Hilary Benn
  The first meeting of the Commission for Africa agreed that the debt burden in Africa will be an important issue for the Commission's work. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Trevor Manuel—the South African Finance Minister—and Ralph Goodale—the Canadian Finance Minister—will lead this work.

  Angola
  Mr Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to assist the Government of Angola in preparing for forthcoming elections. [172083]

  Hilary Benn
  The Government of Angola has not yet set a date for the next elections, indicating that 14 steps, including conclusion of the new constitution and re-establishment of the Electoral Commission, are necessary before an election can take place.

  DFID is supporting the electoral process. One of the key aims of our Country Engagement Plan for Angola is "a political system which allows all people to influence state policy and practice". Hence DFID is working closely with the international community and Angolan civil society in developing a strategy to support the forthcoming elections. Specifically, DFID is funding a large-scale programme to help civil society, the media and political parties to prepare for the elections. Through this project DFID envisage providing assistance on technical processes such as election monitoring, although details have yet to be agreed.

  Once the date for the elections is set, DFID would anticipate working with other members of the international community to do more. DFID is also willing to consider supporting nationwide consultations on the new constitution. As of yet, there have been no clear indications on how the Government intends to carry out this process and how donors can best support it.

  Mr Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what efforts have been made by his Department in the last two years to work with civil society in Angola on transparency issues; and what results have been achieved. [172082]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID completed its first Country Engagement Plan for Angola in September 2003. One of the three outcomes highlighted in the Plan is "government systems for raising and using resources which are transparent and give priority to poverty reduction". Since then DFID has made significant progress on developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy on transparency in Angola. This includes encouraging Angola to participate in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), contributing to the World Bank's Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability Review (PEMFAR), and assisting in development of a G8 Anti-corruption and Transparency (ACT) programme. We have also followed negotiations between the Government of Angola and the IMF on a new staff monitored programme for which greater fiscal transparency is a key pre-condition.

  With respect to civil society in Angola, DFID is one of several donors contributing to the Transparency Coalition set up by the international NGO World Learning in September 2003. The coalition consists of six different national NGOs who are working together to raise awareness and disseminate information on

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  transparency issues throughout the country. The coalition recently put forward a proposal, which DFID has agreed to fund, to analyse and make accessible in layman's terms the complex and very technical Angolan National Budget (OGE). This should allow Angolan civil society to more actively participate in debates on the annual budget process. DFID has also participated in a new forum established by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Luanda to look at transparency issues. Through this forum, donors help keep civil society informed on developments in transparency at the political level.

  Much of this transparency work is still in its early stages and it will take some time before we see the full effects. It is worth noting however, that one positive result is already evident. Within the Angolan media there is a more open and animated discussion on transparency issues and civil society has been actively participating in this.

  Births
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the latest proportion is of births assisted by skilled birth attendants in each of the countries covered by his Public Service Agreement target. [172453]

  Hilary Benn
  The latest figures available on the proportion1 of births attended by skilled birth attendants for the countries covered by our Public Service Agreement are set out in the following table.

  1 The percentage of deliveries attended by personnel trained to give the necessary supervision, care and advice to women during pregnancy, labour and the post natal period, to conduct deliveries on their own, and to care for new borns.

  Asia

  Number

  Afghanistan

  no data available

  Bangladesh

  13

  Cambodia

  34

  China

  70

  India

  42

  Indonesia

  56

  Nepal

  12

  Pakistan

  20

  Vietnam

  70

  Sub-Saharan Africa

  Congo, Dem. Rep.

  no data available

  Ethiopia

  10

  Ghana

  44

  Kenya

  44

  Lesotho

  60

  Malawi

  55

  Mozambique

  44

  Nigeria

  42

  Rwanda

  31

  Sierra Leone

  42

  South Africa

  84

  Sudan

  86

  Tanzania

  36

  Uganda

  38

  Zambia

  47

  Zimbabwe

  73

  Children
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received about the role of child-to-child clubs in Kenya in highlighting the phenomenon of female genital mutilation in Kenya. [171699]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID has received no such representations. However, our support for reproductive healthcare and safe motherhood includes work aimed at reducing the incidence—and eventual elimination—of female genital mutilation in Kenya.

  Occupied Palestinian Territories
  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development pursuant to the statement of 29 April 2004,Official Report, column 372WH, on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, when he expects his Department to publish the country assistance plan for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. [172088]

  Hilary Benn
  Following extensive consultations with a wide range of partners in the UK, Palestine and Israel the Secretary of State has now approved the Country Assistance Plan. We expect formal publication to be in June and a printed copy will be placed in the Library of the House. An electronic version will be available on the DFID website shortly.

  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the statement of 29 April,Official Report, column 372WH, on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, what funding and support the negotiations support unit in the Occupied Palestinian Territories receives from his Department. [172089]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID has committed a total of £9.2 million to support the Palestinian Negotiation Support Unit (NSU). This funding covers the period 1999 to 2006. To date £5.25 million has been disbursed. This provides highly professional legal, policy and communications advice to help Palestinians develop detailed policy positions on complex issues in preparation for and during, permanent status negotiations. NSU's professionalism is widely praised, including by Israeli and US negotiators. We believe that the NSU's work represents an effective use of taxpayer's money.

  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the statement of 29 April,Official Report, column 372WH, on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, what funding and support the Palestinian civil police (a) has received and (b) is planned to receive from his Department; and how many people have been recruited to the civil police force as a result. [172090]

  Hilary Benn
  In 2003 DFID provided £700,000 for police vehicles to help increase the efficiency and visible presence of the Palestinian Civil Police. A DFID funded Police Adviser is currently working with the Palestinian Police and Ministry of Interior to assess the type of assistance that would most effectively help to build capacity within the Civil Police. This assistance is likely
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  to be in the form of technical assistance, training and equipment. It is too early to say what impact this will have on police recruitment.

  Pipeline Revenues
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what safeguards are in place to ensure that revenues received by the countries through which the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline runs will receive will not be used to finance regional conflicts. [172416]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The BTC pipeline has the potential to deliver substantial economic benefits to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and it will strengthen regional co-operation, developing new economic and political links between the three host countries. All the international parties involved in the BTC pipeline (including BTC Co., EBRD and IFC) are keen to make sure that the revenues generated by the project do not exacerbate regional tensions. Mitigation measures are already in place, including an IMF approved oil fund in Azerbaijan, a commitment by BP to publish what it pays to the host Governments and support by the World Bank and IMF on budgeting and public expenditure management. Furthermore, Azerbaijan is in the first wave of countries to begin to implement the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The EITI aims to increase the transparency of payments by extractives companies to Governments, as well as the transparency of revenues received by those host countries. Increasing transparency is a key component to reducing poverty, corruption, and the potential for conflict. The UK Government are helping Azerbaijan implement EITI, whereby BTC revenues are channelled through the State Oil Fund to ensure that the people of Azerbaijan benefit. We are also in discussions with the Government of Georgia on the possibility of their involvement in the EITI.

  Sexual and Reproductive Health
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) when he will report progress on the Millennium Development Goal for the reduction in the proportion of 15 to 24-year-old pregnant women with HIV; [171676]

  (2) when data will be available for the measurement of his Department's targets on HIV/AIDS policy in Africa. [171683]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The data for monitoring progress towards the target for a reduction in the proportion of 15 to 24-year-old pregnant women with HIV from a 16 per cent. prevalence rate is collected by the United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). UNAIDS will publish their Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic containing this data in Summer 2004.

  The data will enable us to update progress towards DFID's Public Service Delivery target for HIV/AIDS (as stated above) in 16 key African countries. It will be published in the Department's Autumn Performance Report later in the year.

  Small Arms
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the progress of the National Small Arms Action Plans in Southern African countries. [171677]

  Hilary Benn
  Under the joint DFID/FCO/MoD Global Conflict Prevention Pool Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Strategy the UK Government have been supporting, since February 2003, a programme to conduct in-depth assessments of small arms issues. The aim is to develop and implement National Action Plans (NAPs) in four East and Southern African countries to address the problem of the proliferation and illicit trafficking of SALW. The NGOs Saferworld and SaferAfrica are undertaking the work together with national Governments and local civil society organisations in Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia and Uganda.

  This process is most advanced in East Africa where a draft NAP is with the Kenyan National Security Council for approval. In the Southern African states of Mozambique and Namibia the process is not as advanced. In Namibia the preparatory phase commenced in late 2003 and the mapping process only began last month. In Mozambique the process has been delayed due to a variety of local circumstances, and the timetable is currently being re-assessed.

  Although no formal assessments have yet been undertaken due to the preparatory nature of the work in Southern Africa, DFID is committed to evaluating what progress has been made and the effectiveness of the National Action Plans overall at the appropriate stages in the process. The NAPs will be regularly reviewed through on-going reports from the field and by undertaking more formal assessments as part of on-going programme management. An external review of the programme in East Africa is planned for June and this will guide future evaluations of the work in Southern Africa.

  Sustainable Development
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on his Department's sustainable development strategy. [165431]

  Hilary Benn
  The International Development Act (2002) makes it clear that development assistance is"assistance provided for the purposes of furthering Sustainable Development…"
  It is also generally recognised that poverty reduction is a necessary prerequisite for achieving Sustainable Development. For this reason, DFID does not have a stand-alone Sustainable Development Strategy but rather considers Sustainable Development to be integral to the Department's work.

  DFID leads on four specific areas in the UK's implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.
  Water and Sanitation.
  Integration of environmental considerations into Poverty Reduction Strategies.

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  Access to clean energy.
  (Together with the Treasury) Financing for development.

  DFID has completed a review of its water related activities and prepared a Water Action Plan reaffirming the importance of water resource management, supply and sanitation to poverty reduction.

  DFID, along with other Departments, has been contributing to the consultation process currently underway to develop a new UK Sustainable Development Strategy. DFID shares the lead on developing the international dimensions of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy with the Foreign Office.

  At a recent consultation meeting held during the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) organised to solicit the views of international agency representatives on the UK's Sustainable Development track record, DFID and the UK were praised for leadership in developing a better understanding of the links between poverty and environment. DFID's work has emphasised the importance of prudent environmental management to achieving poverty reduction and the other Millennium Development Goals.

  DFID'S lead role in developing policy and implementation guidance on national strategies for sustainable development/poverty reduction strategies was also cited as an outstanding contribution to international Sustainable Development progress.

  DFID's programmes with developing country partners are shaped by the priorities of those countries, what other donors are doing and where value can be added. These priorities are set out in developing countries' own development plans. DFID has been working with developing country partners to ensure sustainable development considerations underwrite these strategies if they are to be effective.

  In addition to meeting the UK's own domestic obligations as signatories to various multilateral environmental agreements, the UK assists developing countries meet their own commitments.

  For example, climate change is considered to be a key development issue because it is poor people and developing countries that are most vulnerable to its adverse impacts. DFID and other Departments, in partnership with developing countries, are considering options for a global carbon dioxide emissions reduction regime including the necessary incentive to encourage a transition away from carbon intensive economies.

  DFID has made good progress towards the targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. This framework relates to the impact of our offices on the environment. DFID has published delivery plans, used alternatively fuelled vehicles, re-cycle more than 40 per cent. of our waste, purchase more than 50 per cent. green electricity and paper with a 75 per cent. recycled content. DFID is also one of the few departments to meet the water usage targets.
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  DFID's current building project at our office in East Kilbride achieved a Bream award with an "excellent" environmental rating and we have conducted an audit of local habitat and species. DFID has also built volunteering into our staff development planning.

  Zimbabwe
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how many representations his Department has received in 2004 on political manipulation of EU-funded food aid by the Zimbabwean Government; and when his Department will publish the results of the investigation announced in February into the alleged misappropriation of UK and EU aid; [171350]

  (2) how many representations his Department has received in 2004 on UK and EU aid to Zimbabwe not being spent for humanitarian purposes; [171351]

  (3) how many formal meetings his Department had in April with the World Food Programme regarding food aid to Zimbabwe; and whether the Zimbabwean Government's refusal of food aid formed part of discussions. [171352]

  Hilary Benn
  The risk of politicisation of humanitarian assistance, particularly food aid, has been regularly discussed in Parliament and with our international partners. As a result. significant emphasis is placed on monitoring incidents of political interference in the provision of humanitarian assistance.

  Humanitarian assistance provided by the European Union and UK to Zimbabwe is channelled through UN agencies and NGOs. In collaboration with those agencies, DFID operates a policy of zero tolerance towards political interference—including political manipulation of aid—in humanitarian operations. The UN and DFID's NGO partners have procedures in place for those affected to report irregularities. Any such incidents are quickly identified, reported and followed up, including by suspending food distribution where appropriate. As a result of these measures, there has been minimal interfernce with international assistance. DFID and other donors and agencies also use the media when appropriate to publicise our activities and to explain the extent of donor support to Zimbabwe during the present crisis.

  My reply to the hon. Member of Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 25W, set out the position on the report by the European Court of Auditors on the effectiveness of EC aid to Zimbabwe. There was no DFID announcement of a further investigation.

  UK programmes in Zimbabwe provide both humanitarian assistance and support for the fight against HIV/AIDS. EC programmes provide humanitarian assistance and support for a range of social programmes. The EC and DFID have well established systems in place to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those for whom it is intended. DFID has not received any representation in 2004 on misuse of either UK or EC humanitarian assistance.
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  The DFID office in Zimbabwe is in close contact with the World Food Programme (WFP) and meets regularly with WFP, NGOs and other donors to discuss issues affecting WFP's operations.

  The Government of Zimbabwe's decision not to make an immediate appeal to the United Nations for general food distributions is of concern to the humanitarian community. Although the Government of Zimbabwe appear confident of a good harvest there is considerable divergence of views on the crop forecast. The Government also remain unwilling to discuss with the international community what stocks they hold, and what volume of grains they expect to import to meet any deficit in domestic supply. Without an appeal WFP will face difficulty in planning, securing donor funding for and implementing emergency operations beyond the coming months when existing agreements and stocks will run out. DFID will continue to monitor the situation closely in collaboration with WFP and other partners.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  China
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the British negotiating position was with regard to the recent European Union discussions on the subject of lifting the EU arms embargo to China. [172510]

  Mr. Rammell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr. Simmonds) on 29 March 2004,Official Report, column 1147W.

  Clemency Pleas
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on behalf of how many British citizens he has made pleas for clemency, broken down by country, since 1997. [172584]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep statistics on clemency pleas. But I refer the hon. Member to http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/KFile/report2001.pdf for details on our clemency policy, which was amended in 2001.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter of 12 December 2003, from the hon. Member for Aylesbury, on behalf of Mrs. R. H. of Aylesbury, refs GU100/49991 and CON/6487, acknowledged by UK Visas on 14 January. [166017]

  Mr. Mullin
  My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean replied on 4 May.

  Green Minister
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last 376W
  three months in that capacity; and what meetings his Department's Green Minister has attended in the last 12 months in that capacity; [171806]

  (2) if he will list the meetings at which his Department has been present regarding the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-Committee of Green Ministers; [171807]

  (3) what steps he is taking to promote the delivery of sustainable development within Government; [171808]

  (4) what progress has been made with his Department's Sustainable Development Strategy. [171809]

  Mr. Rammell
  As the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Green Minister, I participate fully in ENV(G) Committee activity. I took part in the launch of the consultation on the new UK Sustainable Development Strategy on 21 April this year. I will attend a Royal Parks presentation and discussion in St. James's Park in June to explore how sustainable development relates to the strengths of Government departments.

  I am a member of the cabinet committee of Green Ministers. FCO officials attend pre-ENV(G) meetings co-ordinated by the Sub-Committee of Green Ministers. However, exemption 2 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information precludes me from divulging the details of cabinet committee business or attendance at meetings. The committee has helped the FCO and other Departments to consider how Government policies can best contribute to sustainable development.

  As part of our commitment to Sustainable Development in Government the FCO has implemented an Environmental Management Systems (EMS) across its main London Offices which is certified to environmental standard ISO14001. This covers 78 per cent. of UK based staff and a further 20 per cent. of staff will be covered by an extension to our rural site at Hanslope Park in late 2004. The EMS promotes sustainable development principles in our day-to-day operations. The FCO is working with Defra, DFID and DTI to ensure that international issues are integrated into the new UK Sustainable Development Strategy. The FCO worked with DFID, Defra and DTI to organise a consultation event in New York on the back of the Commission on Sustainable Development 12 on international issues. A further consultation event will be organised in London in July.

  The FCO's Strategy (UK International Priorities A Strategy for the FCO, December 2003 Cm 6052) establishes 'sustainable development, underpinned by democracy, good governance and human rights' as one of its eight international priorities.

  The Strategy will cover a range of economic, social and environmental issues. It will identify specific actions that the FCO can take through multilateral and bilateral processes and organisations. For example, the strategy will identify how the FCO is working through UN and related international bodies, trade, finance and investment bodies, the EU, G8, the Commonwealth, international partnerships, bilateral action through our posts and programme funds and the UK's Overseas

  377W
  Territories. The Strategy will also set out how the FCO is managing its Estate sustainably. Country action plans will also be developed in conjunction with posts and other stakeholders. We are working closely with other government departments, external stakeholders including the Sustainable Development Commission. We aim to complete the Strategy by autumn 2004.

  Iraq
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government first indicated that the country of source for the uranium source in Africa by Iraq was Niger. [168284]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated in February 2003 that papers passed to the Agency concerning Iraqi attempts to procure uranium from Niger appeared to be forgeries.

  The Government made clear at that time that it had further evidence to support the claim made in its September Dossier that Iraq had sought to procure uranium from Africa.

  The first direct indication that we believed the source to be Niger was made in oral evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 27 June 2003. The evidence is available on the UK Parliament website at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmfaff/813/3062707.htm.

  Japan
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reopen discussions with Japan under Article 26 of the 1951 Peace Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the status of those who were British passport holders in 1945 who have not received compensation payments from the Government. [171392]

  Mr. Rammell
  This issue is currently under discussion between my Department and the MOD. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

  Middle East
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Road Map for peace; and what role the Government is playing in the initiative. [171811]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Government are committed to progress towards peace in the Middle East based on the Quartet's roadmap. We are in close contact with both parties and Quartet members (UN, US, EU and Russia) about the political process. The 4 May Quartet statement sets out a balanced approach to encouraging progress. It closely reflects our views on priorities. Since its publication my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has met his Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian counterparts to discuss next steps.

  At a practical level, we are working to help the Palestinian Authority to fulfil its roadmap obligations on security. Although results so far are encouraging, the lack of progress on Phase One of the roadmap, since its publication in April 2003, has been disappointing. Israel
  378W
  should implement a settlement freeze and remove the settlement outposts erected since March 2001. The Palestinian Authority should undertake sustained, targeted and effective operations against terrorists. Both parties and the international community must work to regain the momentum.

  Claire Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of(a) Israeli and (b) Palestinian people to promote a peaceful settlement; and if he will make a statement. [171885]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met both the Israeli Foreign Minister and the Palestinian Foreign Minister on 5 May 2004. The Government are committed to a Quartet roadmap-based peace process. As the Foreign Secretary told both Ministers, both sides need to put an end to violence and take the steps needed to rebuild basic levels of confidence and hope. We are pleased that the Quartet met on 4 May, and welcomed their statement setting out a balanced and constructive way forward. The Quartet reaffirmed the importance of the roadmap, and the need for both parties to meet their obligations under it.

  Nuclear Non-Proliferation
  LIew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress at the Preparatory Committee meeting for the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference being held at the United Nations in New York. [171651]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Third Session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 2005 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in New York concluded on 7 May. The key procedural issues were agreed and this will enable all the necessary preparations for the 2005 Review Conference to go ahead. This outcome met the United Kingdom's main objective for this PrepCom.

  The major issues of how to deal with nuclear proliferation and tackle compliance with States' non-proliferation obligations were fully discussed and the United Kingdom presented its ideas and views on these issues in a series of detailed statements. The UK gave full accounts of the practical steps we have taken towards nuclear disarmament and made a presentation on the verification of nuclear disarmament, dealing with the issue of warhead dismantlement.

  The United Kingdom also distributed Publicity Material entitled "Making a Safer World" setting out our proposals on countering the proliferation of WMD and the initiatives we have taken; our record on nuclear disarmament; and how we ensure compliance with non-proliferation obligations.

  We are now looking forward to working with other States Party and the President-designate of the Review Conference, Ambassador Duarte of Brazil, as he carries out his consultations in the period running up to the Conference in May 2005. It is the role of the Review Conference to take decisions on all issues and recommendations, and the UK will continue to play a major role in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

  Nuclear Proliferation
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to promote new legislation to tackle nuclear weapons proliferation and the involvement in it of UK citizens and corporations operating from abroad; and if he will make a statement. [171923]

  Mr. MacShane
  Current legislation provides for the criminalisation of involvement in nuclear weapons proliferation by UK citizens or corporations including when operating from abroad. The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, which came into force on 14 December 2001, strengthened then existing legislation controlling chemical, nuclear and biological weapons. It introduced equivalent offences to those contained within the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 in respect of biological and nuclear weapons, and introduced a new offence of assisting or inducing certain weapons-related acts overseas. In the nuclear field these are:knowingly causing a nuclear weapon explosion;
  developing, producing, or participating in the development or production of, a nuclear weapon;
  having a nuclear weapon in (his) possession;
  participating in the transfer of a nuclear weapon; or
  engaging in military preparations, or in preparations of a military nature, intending to use, or threatening to use, a nuclear weapon.

  The Act applies to acts outside the United Kingdom when they are carried out by United Kingdom nationals, Scottish partnerships and bodies incorporated under the law in any part of the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or any colony. We will keep under review the need for any further legislation.

  Tackling the threat posed by the spread of weapons of mass destruction remains a top priority for the UK, as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in his Statement to the House on 25 February 2004, Official Report, columns 46–49 WS. The UK was instrumental in getting Security Council agreement to UNSCR 1540, passed on 28 April 2004. The UNSCR addresses a current gap in international law in addressing the problem of WMD proliferation by non-state actors and is a concrete example of the Security Council responding to a threat to international peace and security. It makes clear that all states have a responsibility to take steps to prevent WMD proliferation, and places legally binding obligations on all states of the UN under Chapter VII of the UN Charter (threats to international peace and security).

  Overseas Recruitment
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what formal assistance his Department's overseas offices offer to UK-based recruitment agencies in the recruitment of education workers; and how many departmental staff are dedicated to offering such assistance. [170986]

  Mr. Mullin
  No staff of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are specifically dedicated to the activity of assisting with the recruitment of education workers. The commercial and other services of overseas 380W
  Posts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are open to eligible UK-based recruitment agencies as to other eligible UK businesses or organisations.

  Paper Recycling
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that(a) all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post consumer waste. [171814]

  Mr. Rammell
  Targets for Sustainable Development in Government, including the DEFRA paper quick wins, are communicated within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as part of our Environmental Management System.

  Our purchasing function is currently pursuing a new contract for 100 per cent. recycled copying paper. Until March 2004 we were purchasing 100 per cent. recycled paper but due to a mill closure we have recently been purchasing 80 per cent. recycled content paper in order to ensure continuity of supply.

  Our Publication and Print Services teams within the FCO have been issued with guidance on the recycled content target for print publications. From May this year the teams have set a minimum recycled content of 75 per cent. post consumer waste for publications.

  Sudan
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Sudan concerning(a) peace negotiations in the south of the country and (b) Darfur. [171389]

  Mr. Mullin
  My right hon. Friends, the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development, and I discussed these and other issues with the Sudanese Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 11 May.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the peace process in Sudan. [171827]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Sudan peace talks continue in Naivasha, Kenya, under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development. The UK Special Representative last visited Naivasha on 7–8 May. The parties are hopeful that a framework peace agreement will emerge very soon.

  Timber
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department plans to contribute financially to the establishment of the second phase of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber. [167629]
  381W
  Mr. Rammell
  As timber procurement policy is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment and Agri-Environment (Mr. Morley) on 10 May 2004,Official Report, column 31W.

  United Arab Emirates
  Huw Irranca-Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the United Arab Emirates; and what plans there are for future ministerial visits to foster(a) business links and (b) cultural relations. [168568]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 16–17 March. He met the Crown Prince and Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. They discussed bilateral and regional issues. We welcome this opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the UAE.

  Foreign engagements for the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers are kept under constant review. It is not our practice to announce such visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Morocco encouraging co-operation with the Sahrawis. [172100]

  Mr. Rammell
  We regularly discuss the situation in Western Sahara with our contacts at all levels in the Moroccan Government. Most recently, my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean discussed Western Sahara with the Moroccan Minister of Interior Mr. Sahel when he visited London on 28 April.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UK will press for an increase in the UN presence in the Western Sahara. [172104]

  Mr. Rammell
  United Nations Security Council Resolution 1541 which was adopted unanimously on 29 April 2004 calls on the Secretary-General to provide an evaluation of the mission size necessary for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara to carry out its mandated tasks, with a view towards possible reduction, in his next report due before 31 October 2004. Pending these results the Government have no current plans to call for an increase in the UN presence in the Western Sahara.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances have been given by the Moroccan Government regarding the safety of inhabitants of the Western Sahara. [172105]
  382W
  Mr. Rammell
  Ministers and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly raise with all parties to the Western Sahara dispute their responsibilities in the search for a fair and lasting solution to that dispute which allows for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government is taking to encourage Morocco to resolve the territorial dispute in Western Sahara. [172107]

  Mr. Rammell
  We continue at Ministerial and official level to urge Morocco to engage constructively with the UN Secretary General's personal envoy, James Baker III, concerning the Peace Plan for Western Sahara, to reach a solution that is acceptable to all parties and allows for self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Departmental Expenditure (Entertainment)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what his latest estimate is of the amount spent by his Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [169000]

  Mr. Lammy
  Expenditure by both Officials and Ministers on entertainment for the financial year 2003–04 was £79,050 (£64,718—covers costs related to Ministers and the Lord Chancellor, and £14,332—costs related to Officials), in 2002–03 was £43,378, in 2001–02 was £44,730, in 2000–01 was £60,768, in 1999–2000 was £71,166 and in 1998–99 was £45,087.

  Information on previous years and the current year is not readily available.

  FOI Requests
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what charges will be made for information requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [172103]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Freedom of Information Act provides that the Secretary of State may make regulations to determine what fee may be charged. Draft fees regulations were published in 2000. A working group has been considering changes to these regulations and final regulations will be brought forward by the Government in time for being in effect on 1 January 2005.

  Mental Incapacity Bill
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the judgement given in the European Court of Human Rights on 9 March in the Glass v. the UK case for the draft Mental Incapacity Bill. [172448]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Glass v.s. UK case relates to a child, whereas the draft Mental Incapacity Bill does not apply to persons under the age of 16.
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  However, the draft Mental Incapacity Bill proposes a statutory framework for decision-making on behalf of adults without capacity. The draft Bill stresses the importance of consultation with those engaged in caring for the person before making a decision. This would ensure that all professionals involved in making such decisions are aware of their roles and responsibilities. The Bill also proposes to introduce a new specialist and accessible Court of Protection, which would help to resolve such disputes when they arise in relation to adults without capacity.

  Ministerial Visits
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list visits made by each Minister in the Department between December 2003 and April 2004, broken down by(a) date, (b) constituency visited and (c) cost. [171558]

  Mr. Lammy
  The number of visits undertaken by Ministers in my Department are as follows:

  Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

  Constituency

  Cost (£)

  19 December 2003

  Middlesbrough

  638.60

  2004

  9 January

  Belfast South

  1,529.70

  29 January

  Birmingham, Edgbaston

  483.85

  30 January

  Derby North

  483.85

  20 February

  Edinburgh Central

  758.76

  2 March

  Manchester, Blackley

  1,043.63

  12 March

  Harrow East

  1—

  12 March

  Oxford West and Abingdon

  584.86

  19 March

  Watford

  1—

  26 March

  Southwark Crown Court1—

  2 April

  Button Coldfield

  334.00

  16 April

  Worcester

  1—

  19 April

  Leicester South

  1—

  30 April

  Leeds North East

  763.71

  30 April

  Bradford West

  763.71

  1. No additional costs incurred aside from the normal cost of running the Ministerial car

  Lord Filkin

  Constituency

  Cost (£)

  11 December 2003

  Cardiff Central

  792.91

  12 December 2003

  Manchester Central

  514.81

  2004

  9 January

  Cambridge

  1—

  23 January

  Kettering

  1—

  18 February

  Belfast South

  696.44

  6 March

  Harrogate and Knaresborough

  620.64

  26 March

  Harrogate and Knaresborough

  620.64

  2 April

  Loughborough

  1—

  22 April

  Nottingham South

  504.00

  1 No additional costs incurred aside from the normal cost of running the Ministerial car

  Christopher Leslie

  Constituency

  Cost (£)

  12 December 2003

  Shipley

  1—

  2004

  5 February

  Reading

  78.00

  6 February

  Liverpool

  466.92

  6 February

  Central Manchester

  96.00

  20 February

  Sheffield

  198.63

  22 March

  Manchester

  347.15

  22 March

  St. Helens

  1—

  22 April

  Birmingham

  354.00

  1 No additional costs incurred aside from the normal cost of running the Ministerial car

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  David Lammy

  Constituency

  Cost (£)

  25 February 2004

  South Dorset

  370.95

  21 April 2004

  Manchester Central

  679.45

  1 No additional costs incurred aside from the normal cost of running the Ministerial car

  Referendums
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total cost has been of holding referendums in the UK since 1997. [172045]

  Mr. Leslie
  The total estimated cost of holding referendums in the UK since 1997, excluding Mayoral Referendums, is £9,600,000. The breakdown of costs is:

  1997 Welsh Assembly Referendum £2,300,000.

  1997 Scottish Parliament Referendum £4,350,000.

  1998 Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement Referendum £1,450,000.

  1998 Greater London Authority Referendum £1,500,000.

  30 Mayoral Referendums have also been held under the Local Government Act 2000. The figures for the cost of these referendums are not held centrally and have therefore not been included in the total.

  Unmade Roads
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs who owns the unmade road at the bottom of Gordon Avenue and Harold Street in Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey. [171384]

  Mr. Lammy
  Land Registry currently holds information on the ownership of almost 19.5 million registered titled in England and Wales. This information is routinely made available to everyone, on the payment of small fee.

  Land Registry processed over four million such requests in 2002–03, over 99 per cent. of which were processed within two working days of receipt. Methods of application for land registration services, and the fees payable, are prescribed by statute and it would be inappropriate for these to be circumvented by a Parliamentary Question.

  I have asked the Chief Land Registrar to write to my hon. Friend setting out the options for acquiring this information.

PRIME MINISTER

  Advisers/Consultants
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Prime Minister how much his Office spent on(a) external consultants and (b) special advisers in each of the last three years. [172341]

  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. For the cost of external consultants for 2001–02 and 2002–03, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) gave to the hon.
  385W
  Member for North East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 22 March 2004, Official Report, column 561W. Final figures for 2003–04 are not yet available.

  For special advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 15 January 2004, Official Report, column 836W to 837W.

  GEC
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the dates of meetings he held with representatives of GEC in(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999, broken down by subjects discussed. [173001]

  The Prime Minister
  I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings under exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Iraq
  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his statement of 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 21, on Iraq and the Middle East peace process, whether the employment of civilian (a) contractors and (b) interrogators in Abu Ghraib prison forms part of the political and military strategy in Iraq. [172052]

  The Prime Minister
  President Bush and I have both made clear, any abuse of human rights, torture or maltreatment of civilians in Iraq is wholly unacceptable and all cases will be investigated fully.

  The employment of civilian contractors and interrogators in Abu Ghraib prison is a matter for the US authorities. As has been made clear, three UK military personnel worked in Abu Ghraib between January and April of this year to assist in the gathering of information important to the Coalition's aim of establishing stability in Iraq.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from hon. Members, and when, concerning maltreatment of Iraqi detainees by US forces. [172663]

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware, as at Monday 10 May I had received one letter from one hon. Member on 30 April 2004, to which I have replied. As at Monday 10 May I had also received four written Parliamentary Questions from my hon. Friend, the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson).

  President Bush and I have both made clear, any abuse of human rights, torture or maltreatment of civilians in Iraq is wholly unacceptable and all cases will be investigated fully.

  Productivity
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is for(a) increasing the productivity and (b) cutting the costs of his Office. [172180]
  386W
  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 10 May 2004.Official Report, column 148W to 149W.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  All-terrain Vehicles
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase safety measures for the use of all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles; and if he will make a statement. [171766]

  Angela Smith
  There are no plans to increase safety measures for the use of all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles.

  These vehicles are primarily intended for off-road use, particularly for agricultural/forestry purposes or leisure use. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides advice on the safe use of these vehicles, sometimes known as quad bikes or all-terrain cycles, for example on such issues as training, protective clothing and equipment, maintenance and safe driving methods. Free leaflets can be downloaded from the HSE website: www.hse.gov.uk.

  The design and construction of these vehicles do not normally meet the requirements for unrestricted road use unless they are modified to comply with regulations on construction, use and lighting. Moreover, for such vehicles to be licensed for unrestricted road use they must also comply with the requirements of the EC Directive (92/61/EC) on type approval for motorcycles.

  Drivers of these vehicles, when on a road, are required to hold an appropriate driving licence and have minimum third-party insurance.

  Asbestos
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the buildings occupied by his departmental and agency staff which require(a) remedial work on and (b) removal of asbestos; what this work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys. [159652]

  Mr. Pearson
  The following buildings occupied by staff of the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration and its agencies have been identified as requiring remedial work or removal of asbestos.

  Ballymena County Hall

  Twickenham House, Ballymena

  18 Castlewellan Road, Banbridge

  6/8 Scarva Street, Banbridge

  Churchill House, Belfast

  Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate

  Ladas Drive, Belfast

  Health Estates, Belfast

  Fermanagh House, Belfast

  Netherleigh, Belfast

  56/58 Ann Street, Belfast

  20 College Gardens, Belfast

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  Hampden House, Belfast

  Inniskeen House, Enniskillen

  Commonwealth House, Belfast

  State Building, Belfast

  Stormont Estate Sub Station

  Courier HQ, Stormont

  Gate Lodge, Prince of Wales Ave, Stormont

  Victoria Hall, Belfast

  Craigantlet Buildings, Stormont

  Boiler/Greenhouse, Stormont

  1 Davey Street, Carrickfergus

  8 Artillery Road, Coleraine

  36 Thomas Street, Dungannon

  15 East Bridge Street, Enniskillen

  Castle Barracks, Enniskillen

  45 Pound Street, Larne

  4–6 Killane Road, Limavady

  14 Asylum Road, Londonderry

  Valencia Place, Newcastle

  8 East Street, Newtownards

  4 Glenford Way, Newtownards

  32 Devenney Road, Omagh

  42 Kings Street, Magherafelt

  86 Main Street, Limavady

  1A Belt Road, Londonderry

  9 Robert Street, Newtownards

  7/9 Conway Square, Newtownards

  19 Mountjoy Road, Omagh

  20 Derry Road, Strabane

  Greenmount Campus (Main) (39 buildings)

  Greenmount Campus (Abbey Farm) (4 buildings)

  Greenmount Campus (Glenwherry) (8 buildings)

  Loughry Campus (39 buildings)

  Enniskillen Campus (10 buildings)

  Veterinary Sciences Division (12 buildings)

  Newforge (14 buildings)

  Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Owned/Leased) (15 buildings)

  Craigavon Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency

  Omagh Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency

  Armagh Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency

  Training Centre at Felden

  There are no separate budgets for all asbestos-related remedial or removal work, costs are contained within the annual maintenance budgets. No specific budgets have been set aside for future asbestos surveys.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of buildings occupied by(a) staff of the Department and (b) staff of the Department's executive agencies have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. [159660]

  Mr. Pearson
  Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) acting on behalf of Office estates and Building standards Division (OBD) of the Department of Finance and Personnel has surveyed 94 per cent. of the buildings within the office estate to identify the presence of asbestos.
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  Of the specialised buildings under the control of the various Departments 91 per cent. have been surveyed for the presence of asbestos.

  It has not been possible to distinguish between buildings occupied by staff of the Department and staff occupied by the Department's agencies.

  Contaminated Land
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons part 3 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 has not yet been brought into operation; and if he will make a statement. [172370]

  Angela Smith
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 21 April 2004,Official Report, columns 562–63W.

  Domestic Rates
  Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to(a) his Department, (b) the Northern Ireland Rate Collection Agency, (c) the Northern Ireland Valuation and Lands Agency and (d) local authorities was of administering domestic rates in Northern Ireland in the financial years (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03; and what the estimated costs are for the financial years (A) 2003–04 and (B) 2004–05. [169955]

  Mr. Pearson
  It is not possible without incurring disproportionate cost to disaggregate the administration of domestic rates from non-domestic rates. The figures in table 1 as follows, are the direct costs, including non-cash, of administering all rates in relation to(a) the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland Administration (b) the Northern Ireland Rate Collection Agency and (c) the Northern Ireland Valuation and Lands Agency. Information is not readily held in relation to (d) local authorities and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Table 1

  £000

  Outturn

  Estimate

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05

  (a) Core Departments1

  n/a

  n/a

  743

  768

  (b) Rate Collection Agency

  7,505

  7,328

  8,914

  10,223

  (c) Valuation and Lands Agency

  6,679

  5,731

  6,504

  7,555

  1 Core Departments include the cost of policy development.

  Educational Psychologists
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding he will make available to assist local authorities in the transition from a one year course to a three year doctorate for training educational psychologists. [171757]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The Department for Education and Skills is currently considering the proposals made by the British Psychological society for a three-year doctorate for the training of educational psychologists.
  389W
  The Department of Education has been in discussion with the Queen's University of Belfast and the five Education and Library Boards about the implications for Northern Ireland if these revised arrangements are adopted.

  A Northern Ireland decision on the matter will be taken in light of local needs and the resources available to the Department for future years.

  Employer Training Pilots
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether Northern Ireland has been included in the Employer Training Pilots. [171716]

  Mr. Gardiner
  There are Employer Training Pilots running in 20 designated areas in England only. These are a HM Treasury initiative and at present there are no indications that they will be extended to Northern Ireland. However, the aims of the Pilots are closely allied to the Department for Employment and Learning's strategic objectives for workforce development. Department officials are therefore monitoring developments on the implementation of the Pilots particularly in regard to their effectiveness and value for money.

  Farming
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to assist the farming community in Northern Ireland to promote greater availability of home grown produce to consumers. [172065]

  Mr. Pearson
  The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Invest Northern Ireland continue to work closely with processors in providing financial and technical support to ensure they are in a position to supply the retail multiples. There has also been liaison with the multiples to encourage them to increase trade with Northern Ireland suppliers. In addition the Farmers' Market Initiative, which concerns direct selling to consumers, has received funding under Leader and assistance has been granted to the Northern Ireland Festival of Food and Drink which seeks to promote the uptake of local produce.

  Ice Hockey
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to promote the development of amateur ice hockey in Northern Ireland. [171926]

  Angela Smith
  Since 2001–02 a total of £4,150 has been provided, via the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, to the governing body for ice hockey in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Ice Hockey Association (NIIHA), to help it promote the development of both professional and amateur ice hockey in Northern Ireland. In addition, the Sports Council is providing ongoing advice and guidance to a range of organisations involved in the promotion and 390W
  development of amateur ice hockey in Northern Ireland. These include individual clubs, local authorities, the NIIHA and the Northern Ireland Ice Hockey Federation.

  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Sports Council for Northern Ireland officially recognises any body governing ice hockey. [172079]

  Angela Smith
  At present the Sports Council for Northern Ireland officially recognises the Northern Ireland Ice Hockey Association (NIIHA) as the body governing ice hockey. I understand, however, that the NIIHA decided last year to reconstitute. Following this decision, the Sports Council entered into discussions with representatives of ice hockey in Northern Ireland in relation to the possibilities of official recognition for an alternative governing body for the sport. These discussions are still on-going and, until they are concluded, the Sports Council will continue to recognise NIIHA as the body governing ice hockey.

  Illegal Fuel
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the amount of illegal fuel smuggled into Northern Ireland in 2003. [169932]

  John Healey
  I have been asked to reply.

  In Northern Ireland, it is not possible to distinguish between the proportion of non UK duty-paid fuel accounted for by legitimate cross-border shopping and the proportion accounted for by cross-border smuggling and the misuse of rebated and low-tax fuels supplied for non-road use. Customs' latest estimates of the overall revenue loss both from legitimate cross-border shopping and from all forms of oils fraud, including smuggling, in Northern Ireland in 2000, 2001 and 2002 are set out in HM Customs and Excise's Annual Report and Accounts (HC 52) published in December 2003.

  Customs' estimates for 2003 will be included in their Annual Report and Accounts for 2003–04.

  Members' Salary/Allowances
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total(a) salary and (b) allowances available to an hon. Member who is also a Member of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly are. [172092]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  With regard to the hon. Members' salaries and allowances, I refer the hon. Lady to the House of Commons Information Factsheet M5— "Members pay, pensions and allowances", a copy of which is available for the Information Office of the House and online at http://www. parliament.uk/document/upload/M05.pdf.

  A Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) who is a member of either House of Parliament will have their salary payable as an MLA reduced by two thirds, presently to £10,606. MLAs' allowances are payable in respect of their duties as Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and are not reduced if an MLA is also

  391W
  a Member of either House of Parliament. The allowances which MLAs may claim in respect of those duties are:

  Office Cost Allowance—not exceeding £48,000 in any year

  Travel Allowance

  Subsistence Allowance

  Disability Allowance—not exceeding £10,000 in any year

  Travel Allowance—employees

  Staff Pensions and Redundancy Allowance

  Temporary Secretarial Allowance.

  Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the budget was for casework of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in each year since its formation. [168166]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has provided me with the following details:

  Amount (£)

  1999–2000

  75,000

  2000–01

  75,000

  2001–02

  100,000

  2002–03

  115,000

  2003–04

  100,000

  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has supported on behalf of individuals in each year since its formation. [168167]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has provided me with the following details:

  Cases

  1999–2000

  11

  2000–01

  15

  2001–02

  7

  2002–03

  10

  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of each case supported by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in each year since its formation. [168168]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has provided me with the following details:

  Amount (£)

  1999–2000

  126,520

  3,000

  7,527

  128,179

  6,545

  7,500

  750

  375

  3,750

  1,700

  176

  392W

  Amount (£)

  2000–01

  18,047

  165,700

  3,967

  411

  100

  110

  250

  176

  470

  235

  1,469

  2001–02

  180,000

  429

  117

  350

  800

  940

  625

  2002–03

  1,087

  500

  180

  294

  15,400

  5,500

  300

  220

  1,175

  470

  2003–04

  15,000

  7,500

  18,300

  7,500

  863

  3,500

  7,500

  824

  588

  2,500

  1,270

  794

  1,335

  1,370

  5000

  1,935

  1 Where a cost is marked incomplete, the case is either still ongoing or final costs have not been submitted. Similarly where the number of cases supported does not tally with the number of case costs listed, costs have not yet been submitted. It should also be noted that the costs associated with a case can be spread over several years and accrued accordingly in the annual accounts.

  Case costs vary as some are simply legal opinion or an intervention to the Court while other cases have been supported to the Court of Appeal, House of Lords or the European Court of Human Rights.

  Patient Exemption Fraud
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards meeting the targets for the reduction of patient exemption fraud in each Northern Ireland Health Board area; and what further targets have been put in place. [171796]

  Angela Smith
  The target for the reduction of patient exemption fraud is set at Northern Ireland, rather than at an individual Health Board, level.
  393W
  2004–05 Priorities for Action sets a Northern Ireland target for patient fraud exemption of a 45 per cent. reduction from the 1999–2000 level by 31 March 2005. The Department remains committed to the achievement of this target.

  The most recent available results are in respect of 2002–03, which showed a reduction in the level of estimated patient fraud of around 37 per cent. compared to 1999–2000 levels.

  Planning Policy
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the development of out-of-town supermarkets in Northern Ireland. [172033]

  Angela Smith
  The Department of the Environment (NI)'s policy on out-of-town development is set out in Planning Policy Statement 5—Retailing and Town Centres, published in June 1996. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  The Department for Regional Development (NI) has commenced work on a review of PPS 5 and aims to publish a draft for consultation in the autumn. A copy of this will then be placed in the Library.

  Plastic Bullets
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the effects of using(a) tasers and (b) other devices in place of plastic bullets. [171754]

  Mr. Pearson
  The Association of Chief Police Officers is currently conducting a trial of the taser in five police forces. The fourth report of the NIO-led Steering Group published on 29 January provided a summary of the initial review of the trial and of the independent assessment of the medical implications on the use within ACPO guidelines of the taser. That medical assessment was set out more fully in the Steering Group's third report, published in December 2002.

  The NIO-led Steering Group has assessed the potential of a wide range of commercial products as potential alternatives to the current L21A1 baton round but none to date have met the criteria for an acceptable, effective and less lethal option. The reports of the Steering Group set out the findings of the assessments in detail.

  The fourth report also described the progress that the Government have made in developing two alternatives—the attenuating energy projectile and discriminating irritant projectile.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost to public funds was of departmentally-related public bodies to which public appointments are made in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [170489]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  With the exception of 2003, the information on the cost of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) in Northern Ireland is available in the 394W
  'Public Bodies' publication produced annually by the Cabinet Office. The last five editions are available in the Library.

  Information on the cost of NDPBs for financial year 2002–03, which was not include in the Public Bodies 2003 publication, was compiled in December 2003. I have placed a table detailing these costs in the Library.

  There are other bodies to which public appointments are made but that information is not held centrally.

  Rugby
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support the Government will provide to ensure the development of Ravenhill Rugby Ground to enable it to meet current standards. [170245]

  Angela Smith
  The Government have already provided, through the Sports Council for Northern Ireland's Interim Safe Sports Grounds Scheme, £559,981 to the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union to support essential health and safety works at Ravenhill Rugby Ground. We are also currently engaged in discussions with the Ulster Branch about a wide range of issues facing Rugby in Northern Ireland, including the further development of Ravenhill Rugby Ground and the possibility of additional Government support. Until the present discussions are concluded, it would be inappropriate to comment on whether and to what extent additional Government support might be provided to enable the Ground to meet current standards.

  School Travel
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what the total amount of funding allocated to develop school travel plans in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years was; and how much funding has been allocated for further development; [172007]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the safe routes to schools pilots that are being developed; when the final assessment report on the safe routes to schools pilots will be published; and if he will make a statement. [172010]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the hon. Lady directly in response to these questions.

  Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Lady Hermon, dated 11 May 2004:

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to respond to your recently tabled Parliamentary Questions about funding allocated to develop school travel plans in Northern Ireland and what assessment has been made of the six safe routes to schools pilots that are being developed.

  You will be aware that, as proposed by the Regional Transportation Strategy 2002–12, Roads Service has been working to address the issue, of the 'school run', given its impact on morning traffic congestion, through the "Safer Routes to Schools" initiative with the aim of encouraging more children to walk, cycle and use public transport for their journey to school.

  The Department of Education, the Department of the Environment Road Safety Team and other agencies are working alongside Roads Service in this project. The following six schools are currently participating in the initiative:

  395W

  St. Joseph's College, Belfast;

  Oakwood Integrated Primary School, Dunmurry;

  Wallace High School, Lisburn;

  St. Anthony's Primary School, Craigavon;

  Parkhall College, Antrim; and St. Brigid's College, Londonderry.

  This is the first time a schools initiative to promote sustainable modes of transport in response to a traffic congestion issue has been undertaken in Northern Ireland. Measures at the six schools are mainly exploratory and at different stages of development. The overall aim is to assist each school in developing a travel plan, which sets out a package of measures for reducing the number of car trips made to school. Where appropriate, Roads Service will subsequently introduce improvements to the roadway such as installing pedestrian facilities and traffic calming measures to facilitate children who may want to walk, cycle and use public transport. Additionally, other measures such as cycle shelters and lockers are provided by the Department of Education inside the schools premises.

  To get the school travel initiative started, Roads Service and its partners have spent nearly £85,000 over the last three years (2001/02-£ nil, 2002/03-£48,391, 2003/04-£36,253) on assisting development of travel plans for the participating schools. The funding was used to investigate existing infrastructure and facilities at the schools, examine accident data, undertake surveys to establish baseline school travel information and pay for the training of a Travel Plan Co-ordinator who was appointed to champion the initiative in the schools. This work was followed by the preparation of draft travel plans, which were given over to the schools to take ownership of and develop in line with the ethos of the school and its thinking on the sustainable transport concept. No specific funding has been allocated yet for the further development of travel plans as resources are being concentrated for the time being on the pilot group of six schools. However, it is intended, as part of the next stage of the initiative, to develop a practical support package that encourages other schools to engage in the travel plan process.

  The improvements to the infrastructure and facilities at each of the pilot schools will be completed this financial year. While we will undertake a preliminary assessment at the end of the school year 2004/05 of how successful these measures have been, initial work including installation of cycle shelters at the schools has had very positive results and generated an increase in cycling among pupils for the school journey. It is anticipated that the planned infrastructure work to the road network adjacent to the schools should have equal effect in facilitating and encouraging more children to use sustainable modes of transport.

  I hope this information is helpful.

  Sport Governing Bodies
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are applied by the Sports Council in recognising a governing body for any sport when there is more than one potential candidate. [172078]

  Angela Smith
  The Sports Council for Northern Ireland applies the policy criteria adopted by Sports Councils across the United Kingdom in recognising a governing body for any sport. This states that only one body will be recognised per sport. In addition, in recognising a body, criteria are applied under the headings of constitution and management, structure and organisation, promotion of the activity, safety and impact. When there is more than one potential candidate for any sport, the decision is based on which body best meets these criteria.

  Sporting Venues
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support he is providing to ensure that Casement Park remains a venue for Gaelic games. [172285]

  Angela Smith
  I have already provided, through the Sports Council for Northern Ireland's Interim Safe Sports Grounds Scheme, £150,000 to the Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to help ensure that Casement Park remains a venue for Gaelic Games. The Sports Council has also recently begun discussions with the Ulster Council of the GAA, which is responsible for the overall development of Gaelic sports in Northern Ireland, about the future capital priorities for Gaelic games including those relating to Casement Park. Until these discussions are completed it would not be appropriate to comment on what additional support might be provided to ensure that Casement Park remains a venue for Gaelic Games.

  Translink
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new buses were purchased by Translink for use in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [172062]

  Mr. Spellar
  Translink advise that buses purchased in the last five years are as detailed as follows.

  Buses purchased

  2003–04

  193

  2002–03

  17

  2001–02

  52

  2000–01

  41

  1999–2000

  124

  Women's Aid Helpline
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether funding will be provided to ensure the continued operation of the Women's Aid 24-hour helpline; and if he will make a statement. [171760]

  Angela Smith
  The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is liaising with NI Women's Aid and I have met with the organisation regarding the projected funding deficit for 2004–05 in respect of their helpline. When all considerations have been determined a decision will be made and it is hoped that this matter will be resolved as a matter of urgency.

TRANSPORT

  Aylesbury Southern Distributor Road
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the proposed Aylesbury southern distributor road should(a) be a dual carriageway, (b) be on an embankment and (c) have grade separated junctions. [172166]
  397W
  Mr. Jamieson
  None. The Secretary of State has not received a proposal for delivery of the Aylesbury southern distributor road so is not undertaking any assessment.

  However, we anticipate that the local authority will submit proposals in due course to deliver this scheme.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of the Aylesbury southern-distributor road proposed in the Cross-Government Statement on the draft Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional strategy;how it is planned that the road should be funded; and what his current estimate is of the timescale for the project. [172167]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Secretary of State has not received any proposals relating to the Aylesbury southern distributor road and, therefore, has made no estimate of the cost.

  It is for the Local Authority to bring forward specific proposals for a suitably phased scheme for funding under the Local Transport Plan process, taking into account developer contributions.

  The indicative timescale for this scheme is set out in the draft Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub regional strategy.

  Bus Partnership Forum
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what activities have been undertaken by the Bus Partnership Forum; and how often it has met in each year since its creation. [171938]

  Mr. McNulty
  I Chair the Bus Partnership Forum, which brings together senior representatives of the bus industry and local government, and first met in July 2002. Since then the Forum has met a further three times, January and July 2003 and on 23 February 2004.

  Through the work of a number of task and finish groups and the official level steering group, the Forum is tackling problems that may hinder further growth in the industry and is identifying practical solutions. Achievements to date include:
  publication of a report on understanding customer needs;
  agreeing a code of practice on service stability (limiting the number of timetable changes made per year) for local implementation;
  publication of a CD-ROM resource pack on bus priorities;
  publication of model agreements on joint ticketing schemes as a way of encouraging further schemes;
  and commissioning the first national survey of bus punctuality, with a view to establishing realistic standards and targets.

  Further work is in progress on performance monitoring and integrated ticketing and a report on innovative transport and social inclusion issues is due in the summer of 2004.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the(a) expenditure and (b) administration costs of the Bus Partnership Forum were for each year since 1997. [171972]
  398W
  Mr. McNulty
  The forum was established in July 2002. The cost of administering the Forum is negligible and is met from the existing budgets of the constituent organisations. No additional public expenditure has been incurred from the work of the Forum over and above that already planned for in existing research and consultancy programmes.

  Bus Stops
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of bus stops in(a) rural and (b) urban areas outside London have real time bus information. [171973]

  Mr. McNulty
  In April 2002, DfT awarded £20 million supplementary credit approval (SCA) to support 19 local authorities (LA) and passenger transport executives (PTE) in providing real time information (RTI) on their local bus services. The SCA programme ended at the end of March 2004. It has been used to support the provision of:

  over 2,600 buses equipped to provide RTI

  nearly 1,300 at-stop signs now providing RTI

  12 new or extended websites

  seven new or extended SMS services.

  The transport direct team (TDT) is currently working on a national database of bus stops and public transport interchange points. Bus stops are recorded by LA, rather than by rural and urban areas. The information provided below is therefore broken down into PTEs and shire counties. PTEs are amalgamations of adjacent urban LAs, and as such have been used as an indication of urban areas. Shire counties have been taken to represent rural areas. The TDT database holds a total of 277,363 bus stops in England, of these 65,954 are in the PTEs outside London and 191,760 in the shire counties.

  In late 2003, a survey of bus real time information capability in English local authorities, recorded 361 at stop RTI signs in the PTEs outside London, and 2,067 at stop RTI signs in the shire counties. In addition to signs, there are "virtual stops", which provide bus real time information through short messaging service (SMS). The total number of stops equipped with this capability is: 22,639 in the PTEs and 3,933 in the shire counties.

  PTEs (excl. London)

  Shire counties

  No bus stops

  65,055

  194,632

  RTI signs

  361

  2,067

  SMS capability

  22,639

  3,933

  Total RTI

  23,000

  6,000

  Total percentage

  35.4

  3.1

  Note:

  Table 1: RTI enabled bus stops for shire counties and PTEs.

  For PTEs outside London, the percentage of bus stops capable of providing RTI to passengers is 35.4 per cent. For the shire counties the percentage is 3.1 per cent. This figure is skewed towards the PTEs due to the large number of stops that have SMS capability. For at stop signage only, the figures are 0.5 per cent. for PTEs and 1.1 per cent. for shire counties.

  Car Sharing
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding has been given by his Department, and its predecessors, in each year since 1997 towards the(a) development and (b) promotion of (i) car clubs, (ii) car sharing and (iii) the Carplus scheme. [172292]

  Mr. McNulty
  Car sharing was featured as part of the Government's sustainable development campaign, 'Are Your Doing You Bit' prior to 2000. For example, as part of the programme, the Department's predecessor DETR contributed setting up costs of £150,000 to establish the Edinburgh City Car Club in 1999.

  Building on this the Department has been promoting car sharing through its published guidance and initiatives on work place and schools travel plans and by funding bursary schemes.

  Since 1999 the Department has been supporting the Carplus car club advisory service with the following annual grants:

  1999—£37,000

  2000—£38,000

  2001—£103,000

  2002—£53,000

  2003—£60,000

  2003—£60,000

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the average occupancy of motor vehicles for each year since 1997. [172335]

  Mr. McNulty
  Occupancy figures for cars and light vans for Great Britain from the National Travel Survey are as follows:

  1997—1.60

  1998—1.59

  1999—1.59

  2000—1.59

  2001—1.59

  2002—1.58

  Figures for 2003 are not yet available.

  Crime Prevention
  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress of the Government's strategy for crime prevention on public transport. [171889]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Government are raising the profile of public transport crime as an issue which needs to be addressed by a partnership approach between operators, local authorities, the police, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs), and other interested parties.

  Examples of effective partnership working include the work of the National Route Crime Group to reduce the risks posed by acts of trespass on railway property and associated acts of vandalism. This and other local and national initiatives have led to a 32 Per cent. reduction of vandalism on the railways in 2002–03. The Secure Stations Scheme encourages train operators to work with other organisations to improve the 'whole journey'
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  experience of rail passengers. Currently approximately two thirds of all overground rail journeys and one half of all London Underground journeys involve passengers starting or finishing their journey at a Secure Station. The Safer Travel on Buses and Coaches Panel is looking at ways to combat assaults, anti-social behaviour and vandalism on vehicles and property. The Panel has recently produced practical guides to protect bus and coach crews.

  The British Transport Police (BTP) also play a vital role in keeping Britain's railways safe and secure, and pleasant to use. The Force works closely in partnership with those who manage the railway, staff and tenants, and local police forces. BTP covers crime from serious violent and sexual offences to pick-pocketing and car crime. It also takes a lead in combating the anti-social behaviour that can impact so much on those who use and work on the railway. Other examples of the spreading of crime prevention good practice include a toolkit on reducing crime on public transport, and good practice case studies to improve personal security in bus travel. Department for Transport guidance (to be issued this summer) to local transport authorities on giving greater emphasis to accessibility issues within Local Transport Plans will encourage authorities to adopt a partnership approach with CDRPs, local partners in the health, education and welfare to work sectors, and the local community to address crime and the fear of crime issues as one way of improving people's ability to access jobs and key services.

  Delegated Examiner Tests
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the inspection and supervisory regime is for(a) institutions and organisations and (b) individuals who carry out delegated examiner tests; [171939]

  (2) which institutions and organisations carry out delegated examiner tests on behalf of the Driving Standards Agency; and how many candidates (a) entered tests and (b) were successful, broken down by institution and organisation; [171940]

  (3) what the procedure is for permission to be given for delegated examiner tests to take place. [1719711

  Mr. Jamieson
  A number of organisations are authorised to carry out driving tests for their staff. The organisations are fire brigades, police forces, the Ministry of Defence and some bus companies. The bus companies have to hold a Public Service Vehicles operator's licence.

  The Secretary of State for Transport has to be satisfied that these organisations make proper arrangements for conducting tests and keeping proper records, before granting his approval to the appointment of the examiners who may conduct the tests.

  Before being appointed, the examiners have to successfully complete the same four week training course that examiners employed by the Driving Standards Agency are required to undertake.
  401W
  The Agency is responsible for the subsequent supervision of the standards of the examiners, which involves quarterly supervision visits to the organisations to check that tests are conducted and assessed to the required standard.

  The number of tests conducted by the fire and police authorities and bus companies last year, and the pass rates have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Equivalent figures for the Ministry of Defence are not available.

  Driving Test Centres
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which driving test centres have refused to accept candidates because of a lack of capacity at the centre within(a) nine weeks, (b) 12 weeks and (c) more than 12 weeks of a practical test appointment being requested; [171967]

  (2) what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who will seek a driving test in 2004–05; [171968]

  (3) what the average waiting time is for practical driving tests for (a) cars, (b) motorcycles, (c) large goods vehicles and (d) passenger carrying vehicles, broken down by test centre. [171970]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Candidates are able to book driving tests with the Driving Standards Agency by phone, by post or online via the internet. They can also amend their appointment by phone or post to seek an earlier or later date, so appointment availability at individual test centres continually varies. No applicant for a driving test is refused an appointment.

  The Agency has a national target for the average annual waiting time for a practical car driving test in England, Scotland and Wales of six weeks. The national average waiting time at the end of April for car tests was 9.2 weeks. Against the national average waiting time target for a motorcycling test of four weeks, the waiting time was 4.6 weeks. Against the national average waiting time target for a lorry or bus driving test of three weeks, the waiting time was 4.9 weeks.

  The latest information about appointment availability for each type of test, at each test centre has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  In order to reduce the current high waiting times for tests in Great Britain the Agency recruited 283 new driving examiners in the last financial year and plans to recruit a further 330 in the coming year. An extra 7.30 am test slot is being added to weekday programmes in some test centres and tests are now offered on Sundays. The Agency is deploying as many driving examiners as possible from Scotland to the London and South East area to tackle the problem of high waiting times there. In the context of its Business Plan for 2004–05, I have set the Agency a target to bring national waiting times for a car driving test down to six weeks by January 2005.

  The Agency estimates that it will handle 1,563,000 applications for practical car driving tests in 2004–05. The current pass rate for the practical car driving test is 43 per cent., so the applications will include a number from candidates who have been unsuccessful at a previous test attempt—some of whom will delay
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  reapplying for a further test for over a year. Taking these factors together suggests that between 670,000 and 940,000 people will be making applications in the coming year.

  Home Zone Challenge
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities applied for funding under the Home Zone Challenge scheme; and how much each authority received. [171974]

  Mr. McNulty
  A table has been placed in the Libraries of the House which lists the 110 authorities that applied for funding and their respective maximum allocations.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department have put in place to ensure that money given under the Home Zone scheme(a) achieves value for money and (b) meets the original conditions of the bid. [171975]

  Mr. McNulty
  The payment of grant through the Home Zones Challenge is subject to terms and conditions which form an agreement for funding the work programme submitted by the authority in its original bid. The terms and conditions set out the requirements relating to value for money and changes, if significant, to the work programme. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The Secretary of State has appointed a consultant to assist with the management of the Home Zones Challenge, to monitor progress of the schemes and to disseminate good practice. Local authorities are required to provide quarterly finance and progress reports and the schemes are reviewed regularly at regional meetings. Authorities are visited on occasion by officials from the Department and/or the management consultant to review individual schemes.

  Light Rail
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to encourage(a) local authorities, (b) private sector bodies and (c) organisations and institutions involved in light rail to share best practice. [171946]

  Mr. McNulty
  The departmental officials meet regularly with scheme promoters and hold seminars from time to time to disseminate best practice and encourage dialogue between promoters. The Department has also part funded Leeds University's Institute of Transport Studies 'Consult Database' a web-based tool designed to disseminate best practice in local transport planning.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which light rail systems that share road space with road traffic have priority over road traffic; [171949]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the percentage of proposed new light rail systems that will run across surfaces shared with road vehicles; and if he will make a statement; [171950]

  (3) what percentage of current light rail networks run along surfaces shared with road vehicles. [171951]
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  Mr. McNulty
  It is for the promoters to assess the appropriate level of sharing and traffic priority, in the light of local circumstances. All the current and proposed light rail systems have sections of street-running and some degree of priority at junctions.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate his Department has made of the amount of heavy rail track still in use that would be suitable for shared use by light rail systems; and if he will make a statement; [171952]

  (2) sport how many kilometres of track are shared by light rail and heavy rail vehicles. [171953]

  Mr. McNulty
  There are currently about 13 kilometres of track that is shared by light rail and heavy rail vehicles. The Department has made no assessment of the amount of the existing heavy rail network that could be shared with light rail services. However, The Passenger Transport Executive Group on Light Rail is currently looking at the feasibility of more sharing of track between light and heavy rail services and will be presenting their finding to the Department in due course.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what common safety and operational regulations are applied to heavy and light rail projects concerning dangers to pedestrians and motorists. [171955]

  Mr. McNulty
  A number of regulatory provisions apply to both heavy and light rail systems. These include: the Level Crossings Act 1983; the Railways and Other Transport Systems (Approval of Works, Plant and Equipment) Regulations 1994: the Railways (Safety Critical Work) Regulations 1994, and the Railway Safety (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1997. All are relevant statutory provisions under The Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974.

  The measures necessary to meet these provisions reflect scheme specific risk, and so will vary depending on the nature and characteristics of the rail system concerned.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities have indicated to his Department that they are actively considering building tram and light rail systems. [171961]

  Mr. McNulty
  Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire county councils, Hampshire county council and Portsmouth city council, Blackpool borough council, along with all the Passenger Transport Executives have indicated to the Department that they are actively considering light rail proposals.

  Local Transport Schemes
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the 19 major local transport schemes referred to on page 19 of his Department's Annual Report 2003; and how much funding each received. [171937]

  Mr. McNulty
  There is no reference to major local transport schemes on page 19 of the Department for Transport's 2003 Annual Report. The new major 404W
  schemes approved in the 2002 annual local transport settlement, along with their funding allocations, are listed in the table as follows:

  £ million

  Norwich Interchange

  9.8

  A43 Corby Link Road

  12.7

  Nottingham City Centre Scheme

  11.8

  North Middlesborough Accessibility Improvements

  10.9

  Sunderland Central Route

  9.1

  North Manchester Business Park

  20.2

  Merseytram Line 1

  170

  Wigan Inner Relief Route

  19.5

  Ashton Northern Bypass Stage2

  7.7

  A5 8 Blackbrook Diversion

  7.9

  A57 Cadishead Way

  19.9

  Warrington Bus Interchange

  6.4

  A228 Leybourne and West Mailing Corridor Improvement

  19.9

  Ryde and East Wight Gateway

  5.6

  A24 Ashington to Southwater

  19

  A24 Horsham—Capel Improvement

  38.6

  Mereoak Roundabout

  6.3

  Walsall Town Centre Transport Package

  11.3

  Reighton Bypass

  6.6

  Motorway Bridges
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many unused and obsolete bridges are in place over motorways in England and Wales; if he will list their locations and who is responsible for each of them; and how many are scheduled for(a) repair and (b) removal or demolition. [172044]

  Dr. Howells
  There are 11 unused bridges in place over motorways in England for which the Highways Agency is responsible. Bridges over motorways in Wales are the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales. The location of the bridges in England is shown in the following table.

  Location

  Status

  Ml Junction 26 and Junction 27 (midway) near Greasley

  Scheduled for removal

  M23 near Hooley (2 bridges)

  Possible removal pending the outcome of the preferred scheme for the M23/A23 Hooley junction improvement

  M1 Dry Culvert Crossing near Shepshed

  —

  M40 Great Pinley accommodation bridge near Warwick

  —

  Ropple Rail Overbridge on the M50

  —

  A46 Budbrooke Lodge Farm near Warwick

  —

  M5 near Puriton, Somerset

  —

  M25 Junction 5 Sevenoaks

  —

  M1 near Luton

  —

  M45 south of Rugby

  —

  M1 Junction 26 and Junction 27 (midway) near Greasley

  —

  Network Rail
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether(a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) departmental officials have met representatives of Network Rail to discuss the industrial dispute with the RMT Union. [171223]

  Mr. McNulty
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Transport met the Chairman, Chief Executive and other senior Network Rail officers on 27 April and this issue was one of the items discussed. Departmental officials have also had contacts with Network Rail on this issue.

  Parliamentary Questions
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many(a) Ordinary Written and (b) Named Day Questions his Department received in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) this parliamentary session, broken down by month; [171189]

  Ordinary written

  Named day

  Number and percentage1 answered within five sitting days

  Numbered tabled Number Percentage1 answered on date specified

  Numbered tabled

  Number

  percentage1

  Number tabled

  Number

  Percentage1

  2002–03 session

  November 20022

  199

  184

  93

  109

  84

  77

  December 2002

  205

  201

  98

  57

  44

  77

  January 2003

  342

  295

  86

  65

  46

  71

  February 2003

  217

  201

  93

  20

  14

  70

  March 2003

  308

  234

  76

  45

  38

  84

  April 2003

  197

  186

  94

  27

  21

  78

  May 2003

  233

  216

  93

  35

  24

  69

  June 2003

  248

  214

  86

  43

  34

  79

  July 2003

  214

  209

  98

  29

  25

  86

  August 2003

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  September 2003

  183

  177

  97

  24

  20

  83

  October 2003

  258

  231

  90

  54

  44

  82

  November 20033

  181

  174

  96

  29

  26

  90

  Total

  2,785

  2,522

  91

  537

  420

  78

  2003–04 session

  November 20034

  71

  62

  87

  6

  6

  100

  December 2003

  191

  168

  88

  52

  34

  65

  January 2004

  247

  202

  82

  73

  45

  62

  February 2004

  196

  169

  86

  50

  41

  82

  March 2004

  286

  261

  91

  62

  52

  84

  April 2004

  165

  148

  90

  23

  14

  61

  Total

  1,156

  1,010

  87

  266

  192

  72

  1 Rounded to the nearest percentage point.

  2 13 November to 30 November 2002.

  3 1 November to 20 November 2003.

  4 26 November to 30 November 2003.

  Public Transport (Wirral, South)
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rural bus services in Wirral, South are supported by rural bus grants. [172691]

  Mr. McNulty
  Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG) is paid to local transport authorities, in the case of Wirral, South this is the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive (PTE). It is for the authority to decide which
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  (2) what proportion of (a) Ordinary Written Questions to his Department were answered within five sitting days of tabling and (b) Questions for a Written Answer on a named day received a substantive answer on that day in (i) the 2002–03 parliamentary session and (ii) this parliamentary session, broken down by month. [171190]

  Mr. McNulty
  Ministerial colleagues and I endeavour to reply to parliamentary questions within the required deadlines wherever possible. At 5 May 2004, the Department for Transport had answered 4,744 written questions tabled since 13 November 2002, the beginning of the 2002–03 Parliamentary Session. This comprised 3,941 written ordinary questions (90 per cent. of which were answered within five sitting days) and 803 named day questions (76 per cent. of which were given a substantive answer on the specified date). The following table shows the monthly breakdown.

  services should be supported with the grant. We understand from the PTE that one rural bus service in Wirral, South is provided by RBSG.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of priority bus lanes have been created in Wirral, South since 1997. [172692]

  Mr. McNulty
  There is one priority bus lane in Wirral, South 0.2miles long on the southern carriageway of the New Chester Road (B5136). It was created in 1997.

  Rail Franchises
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs have been incurred by the Strategic Rail Authority in respect of the tendering process for the Integrated Kent Franchise; and what the anticipated final costs are. [171224]

  Mr. McNulty
  Expenditure by the SRA of approximately £1.8 million has been incurred to date on the tendering of the IKF and the total cost is expected to be £3.85 million.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether a public sector comparator will be undertaken to establish whether South Eastern train passenger services could be provided more economically and efficiently than under a franchise agreement if the service were to be run through South Eastern Trains. [171225]

  Mr. McNulty
  Under the provisions of the Railways Act 1993, as amended by the Transport Act 2000, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is able to act as operator of last resort for any railway franchise but only on a temporary basis. Section 30 of the Act gives the SRA powers to"secure the provision of services until such a time as they begin to be provided under a franchise agreement".
  The Act reflects the Government's policy that passenger train services should be operated by private companies. It does not provide powers to the SRA to take such services
  "back into the public sector"
  on a permanent basis.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether(a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department have met representatives of the (i) Stagecoach Group and (ii) other private train operators and consortiums in relation to the proposed Integrated Kent Franchise. [171226]

  Mr. McNulty
  No. The franchising process is a matter for the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) which holds regular discussions with both existing and prospective franchise operators as part of discharging its duties.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received a report from the Strategic Rail Authority on the discussions that have taken place between the Chair of the Authority and the Stagecoach Group in relation to the Integrated Kent Franchise. [171227]

  Mr. McNulty
  No. Any such discussions are a matter for the Strategic Rail Authority.

  Railway Crimes
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many crimes were(a) reported and (b) subsequently led to a conviction (i) on trains, (ii) at stations and (iii) on railway property in each year since 1997. [171906]

  Mr. McNulty
  The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information on the total number of crimes reported and the total number of detections since 1998; information is not readily available for earlier than 1998. A split between trains,408W
  stations and other railway property is not available. Prosecutions and convictions are a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.

  Table 1: England and Wales

  Total crime

  Total detections

  Detection rates (percentage)

  1998–99

  107,769

  35,916

  33

  1999–2000

  110,604

  33,614

  30

  2000–01

  103,198

  30,183

  29

  2001–02

  104,292

  23,647

  23

  2002–03

  119,333

  24,225

  20

  2003–04

  123,463

  26,400

  21

  Table 2: Scotland

  Total crime

  Total detections

  Detection rates (percentage)

  1998–99

  10,324

  3,676

  36

  1999–2000

  9,794

  2,882

  29

  2000–01

  9,859

  3,250

  33

  2001–02

  9,452

  2,918

  31

  2002–03

  10,323

  2,694

  26

  2003–04

  9,860

  3,081

  31

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals working on the railways have been the victim of a crime while at work in each year since 1997. [171907]

  Mr. McNulty
  The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information on numbers of railway staff who have been victims of crime while at work since 1999; information is not readily available for earlier than 1999.

  Railway staff—victims of crime while at work

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  1999–2000

  3,437

  235

  2000–01

  3,571

  236

  2001–02

  3,715

  231

  2002–03

  4,283

  264

  2003–04

  4,518

  391

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many acts of vandalism were reported on railway property in each year since 1997. [171908]

  Mr. McNulty
  The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information on acts of vandalism for both Incidents and Offences recorded since 1998; information is not readily available for earlier than 1998.

  Table 1: Acts of vandalism—Incidents

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  1998–99

  7,835

  999

  1999–2000

  8,531

  1,091

  2000–01

  8,592

  1,063

  2001–02

  9,424

  1,153

  2002–03

  8,667

  1,059

  2003–04

  11,720

  1,094

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  Table 2: Acts of vandalism—Offences recorded

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  1998–99

  5,738

  835

  1999–2000

  6,013

  813

  2000–01

  5,783

  753

  2001–02

  5,499

  531

  2002–03

  5,903

  599

  2003–04

  7,989

  563

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many crimes were committed in railway stations in each year since 1997. [171909]

  Mr. McNulty
  The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information on crimes committed at stations, in station car parks, on railway lines and on other railway land since 1999; information is not readily available for crimes committed solely on stations or for earlier than 1999.

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  1999–2000

  83,449

  8,336

  2000–01

  78,526

  8,217

  2001–02

  79,110

  7,969

  2002–03

  86,791

  7,968

  2003–04

  89,229

  7,544

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) train and (b) station staff were attacked in each year since 2000. [172337]

  Mr. McNulty
  The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information on crimes committed against railway staff while on duty:

  Total number of crimes committed

  1999–2000

  1,297

  2000–01

  1,340

  2001–02

  1,436

  2002–03

  1,921

  2003–04

  2,273

  The figures supplied represent the total number of assaults against railway staff; a split between train and station staff is not available.

  Railways
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects that the Strategic Rail Authority will have developed the November 2005 Performance Trajectory with the train operating companies and the National Task Force. [171400]

  Mr. Darling
  The National Task Force (which includes representatives of the ORR, SRA, train operator owner groups and Network Rail), on behalf of the rail industry, has developed a performance trajectory to help them measure progress on industry efforts to improve rail performance. The National Task Force will review the trajectory in October 2004.
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  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects the Strategic Rail Authority to achieve delivery of the Train Operating Company operational performance trajectory projections for November. [171401]

  Mr. Darling
  The Strategic Rail Authority believes that the increased focus on improving operational performance will enable the train operating companies to continue an upward performance trend between now and November 2004.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the railway and land sites which have been identified by the Strategic Rail Authority as being suitable for disposal since 2002. [171403]

  Mr. Darling
  Since the end of 2002, the Strategic Rail Authority has identified 36 sites as suitable for disposal. The table lists the sites.

  Location

  Site description

  Alloa

  Site of former crossing at Hilton Road Whinhill

  Aylesbury

  Railway club and sports ground Perm Road

  Banbury

  Fields by Woodford closed line

  Banbury

  South end of closed line in Woodford Halse

  Bexhill

  Former Galley Hill sidings

  Brize Norton

  Part of former Fairford branch

  Cassington

  Part of former Fairford branch

  Castlethorpe

  Former goods yard

  Challow

  Former station yard

  Colchester Town

  Lower Yard, Magdalene Street

  Corby

  Land at Cottingham Road

  Dunstable

  Land at Skimpot Road/Jeans Way

  Elstree

  Former goods yard

  Exeter

  Former goods yard

  Exeter

  Land and building (Red House)

  Exeter

  Tan Lane former goods yard

  Formby

  Andrew's Lane

  Frome

  Former east goods yard

  Glasgow

  Eastfield Depot

  Goring-by-Sea

  Land south of railway

  Greenhithe

  Land by station

  Haltwhistle

  Alston branch

  Hullavington

  Former goods yard

  Horwich

  Land at site of former railway works

  Hunslet

  Land between Ivory Street and Jack Lane

  Kincardine

  Plot of land beneath electricity pylon

  Kings Lynn

  Land at Extons Place

  Lechlade

  Part of former Fairford branch

  Liverpool, James Street

  Moor House

  Melrose

  Leaderfoot Viaduct

  Reddish

  Former depot, Wayland Road

  Shoreham-by-Sea

  Land at Queens Place

  Tunbridge Wells

  Former goods yard

  Walsall

  Land off Littleton Street West

  Watford

  Wiggenhall Road

  Wivelsfield

  Land at Rockery Lane

  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he envisages the full restoration of passenger rail services between Coventry and Nottingham. [171505]

  Mr. McNulty
  The change in service will be permanent. The decision to curtail direct services is aimed at better matching services to demand and improving performance. This was determined under the
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  Strategic Rail Authority's "Midland Main Line/East Midlands Route Utilisation Strategy", on which they consulted last year. Passengers will be able to travel from Nottingham to Nuneaton, from where a shuttle service will operate to Coventry.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Education Services (South Ribble)
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what public funding has been spent on adult(a) literacy and (b) numeracy in South Ribble in each of the last five years. [171707]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: The estimated total spend on Skills For Life (the Government's strategy for literacy, language and numeracy needs of all post-16 learners from pre-entry level up to and including level 2) and on Key Skills (essential skills of communication, application of number and information technology), from April 2001 to July 2003, in the Lancashire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area is set out in the following table:

  £000

  Basic skills

  Key skills

  April 2001 to July 20011

  3,370

  1,270

  August 2001 to July 2002

  6,577

  1,857

  August 2002 to July

  7,815

  1,948

  1The figures for April to July 2001 include costs incurred from August 2000 on learning aims continuing into April 2001.

  From the information available to the LSC it has not been feasible to obtain estimates at constituency level or separate figures by subject without incurring disproportionate cost. Likewise it has not been feasible to obtain comparable figures for periods before April 2001 when the Skills for Life strategy was launched and the LSC was formed, but information shows it was considerably less than at present.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many and what percentage of 11-year old pupils in South Ribble reached Level 4 in(a) mathematics and (b) English in each of the last seven years; [171660]

  (2) how many and what percentage of pupils in South Ribble reached the (a) mathematics and (b) English standard in each of the last seven years. [171662]

  Mr. Miliband
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given to the hon. Member of Westmorland and Lonsdale (Mr. Collins) on 10 May 2004,Official Report, column. 34W.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in South Ribble on the last date for which figures are available; and what steps he is taking to reduce them. [171708]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: Information on teacher vacancies is not available by constituency as it is collected at local education
  412W
  authority level. In January 2003, the latest information available, there were 40 full-time teacher vacancies in Lancashire local education authority.

  Like other areas, since 1997 South Ribble has benefited from the initiatives that the Government has put in place to recruit and retain teachers and to increase the number of staff supporting them in schools. Since 1997, the number of full-time equivalent regular teachers in maintained schools in the former Lancashire LEA area has risen by 390, from 11,870 to 12,260 in 2003. Over the same period, the number of full-time equivalent school support staff in the area has grown by 2,870 from 3,620 to 6,490 in 2003.

  Adult Literacy and Numeracy
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of progress in meeting his Department's target to improve adult literacy and numeracy skills. [169738]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 4 May 2002]: Skills for Life is the national strategy for improving the adult literacy, language (English for Speakers of Other Languages—ESOL) and numeracy skills needs of all post-16 learners, from pre-entry level up to and including Level 2. It aims to help create a society where adults have the basic skills they need to find and keep work and participate fully in society thereby increasing the economic performance and social cohesion of the country.

  Following the launch of Skills for Life in March 2001, we have made significant progress towards our Public Service Agreement target of achieving 1.5 million adults with better basic skills by 2007.

  We are confident that we have met our milestone of 470,000 achievements by July 2003. We are also on track to meet our interim target of 750,000 achievements by 2004. In terms of participation, from April 2001 to July 2004 an estimated 2.1 million learners will have taken up 4.3 million Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funded basic skills learning opportunities.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what public funding has been spent on adult(a) literacy and (b) numeracy in Cambridgeshire in the last five years. [170842]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The estimated total spend on Skills For Life (the Government's strategy for literacy, language and numeracy needs of all post-16 learners from pre-entry level up to and including level 2) and on key skills (essential skills of communication, application of number and information technology), from April 2001 to July 2003, in the Cambridgeshire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area is set out in the table.

  £000

  Basic skills

  Key skills

  April 2001 to July 20011

  610

  389

  August 2001 to July 2002

  2,354

  577

  August 2002 to July 2003

  4,376

  345

  1The figures for April to July 2001 include costs incurred from August 2000 on learning aims continuing into April 2001.

  413W
  It has not been feasible to obtain comparable figures for periods before April 2001 when the Skills for Life strategy was launched and the LSC was formed, but information shows it was considerably less than at present.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what public funding has been spent on adult(a) literacy and (b) numeracy in Oldham West and Royton in each of the last five years. [170908]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The estimated total spend on "Skills For Life" (the Government's strategy for literacy, language and numeracy needs of all post-16 learners from pre-entry level up to and including level 2) and on Key Skills (essential skills of communication, application of number and information technology), from April 2001 to July 2003, in the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area is set out in the following table:

  £000

  Basic skills

  Key skills

  April 2001 to July 20011

  8,925

  2,598

  August 2001 to July 2002

  15,369

  3,586

  August 2002 to July 2003

  27,258

  4,210

  1 The figures for April to July 2001 include costs incurred from August 2000 on learning aims continuing into April 2001.

  From the information available to the LSC it has not been feasible to obtain estimates at constituency level or separate figures by subject without incurring disproportionate cost. Likewise it has not been feasible to obtain comparable figures for periods before April 2001 when the Skills for Life strategy was launched and the LSC was formed, but information shows it was considerably less than at present.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many residents of Liverpool, Walton have secured apprenticeships in each year from 1997 to 2003. [166964]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Modern Apprenticeship data are not available at parliamentary constituency level. The table shows the number of learners to have completed their modern apprenticeship framework in the Greater Merseyside LSC area in 2001/02 and 2002/03. Some learners gain an NVQ, but do not complete the rest of their framework—these are also shown separately in the table. Comparable data for the years prior to 2001/02 are not available due to changes in the way data are collected.

  Leavers achieving the whole framework

  Leavers achieving NVQ only

  Total achievers1

  2001/02

  1,300

  900

  2,200

  2002/03

  2

  1,800

  900

  2,800

  1 Totals may not equal sum of columns due to rounding

  2 2002/03 figures are provisional

  Source:

  LSC Individualised Learner Record

  414W
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many residents of West Lancashire have undertaken apprenticeships in each of the last five years. [171492]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The information requested is not available at parliamentary constituency level. Nor is the information available on a consistent geographical basis over the last five years. However, the following table shows the number of starts on modern apprenticeships in the Lancashire LSC area between April 2001 and the end of July 2003, as well as the number of starts from April 1998 to March 2001 in the two TECs that amalgamated into Lancashire LSC—ELTEC and LAWTEC.

  Time period1

  TEC/LSC

  Advanced MA

  Foundation MA

  April 1998 to March

  ELTEC

  1,000

  400

  1999

  LAWTEC

  1,600

  100

  April 1999 to March

  ELTEC

  800

  1,100

  2000

  LAWTEC

  1,900

  1,800

  April 2000 to March

  ELTEC

  900

  1,300

  2001

  LAWTEC

  1,800

  2,100

  April 2001 to July

  Lancashire

  1,900

  4,100

  2002

  LSC

  August 2002 to July

  Lancashire

  1,500

  3,300

  2003

  LSC

  1TECs reported the figures in financial years. LSC reports figures in academic years. The first LSC 'year' was 16 months in order to bring the financial year figures into line with academic years.

  Sources:

  TEC Management Information.

  LSC Individualised Learner Record.

  Care NVQ
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many places are available on the NVQ level 2 court to study care(a) in England and (b) broken down by region; and if he will make a statement. [171008]

  Alan Johnson
  Information on the number of available places to study National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) is not held centrally. However, the following table shows the numbers of enrolments on NVQ level 2 care courses in England in (i) Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funded further education (FE) and (ii) LSC funded work, based learning for young people (WBLYP), broken down by region in 2002–03.

  Enrolments on NVQ work based learning 2 care courses in LSC funded further education (FE) and for young people (WBLYP) in England by region: 2002–03

  Region

  FE1

  WBLYP

  Total2

  North East

  1,900

  1,500

  3,400

  North West

  3,800

  3,400

  7,100

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,300

  2,300

  4,500

  East Midlands

  3,000

  1,400

  4,400

  West Midlands

  3,900

  1,900

  5,800

  East of England

  1,500

  1,800

  3,300

  Greater London

  2,700

  700

  3,300

  415W

  Enrolments on NVQ work based learning 2 care courses in LSC funded further education (FE) and for young people (WBLYP) in England by region: 2002–03

  Region

  FE1

  WBLYP

  Total2

  South East

  2,700

  2,100

  4,800

  South West

  3,700

  2,000

  5,700

  England2

  25,300

  17,000

  42,400

  1 FE figures are provisional.

  2 totals may not add up due to rounding.

  Source:

  Individualised Learner Record.

  Departmental Work
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months in that capacity; [166782]

  (2) what meetings his Department's Green Minister has attended in the last 12 months in that capacity; [166783]

  (3) if he will list the meetings at which his Department has been represented regarding the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers. [166784]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  As Green Minister for the Department for Education and Stills I meet regularly with other Government Departments, Non-Government Organisations and external partners to take forward the Sustainable Development agenda. For further information on my Department's progress on Sustainable Development I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today to question 166786.

  It has, however, been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Education Circulars
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the circular documents that were sent by(a) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, (b) Ofsted and (c) his Department to (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003; and how many pages each document contained. [167560]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following pages show the documents that were sent, including the number of pages, during the period 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003 from(a) the Department for Education and Skills (b) the Office for Standards in Education and (c) the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools.

  In total, 34 documents were sent to all primary schools and 41 documents were sent to all secondary schools in the period from the Department for Education and Skills.
  416W
  Nine documents were sent to all primary schools and 17 documents were sent to all secondary schools in the period from the Office for Standards in Education, and a total of 22 documents were sent to all primary schools and 21 documents were sent to all secondary schools in the period from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

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

  Annex A: Documents sent from the Department for Education and Skills to all primary and secondary schools between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003

  Primary schools

  Pages

  January

  NLNS refresher pack

  26

  Spectrum

  10

  Languages for all: Languages for life

  25

  Sure Start

  9

  KS2 letter from Stephen Twigg

  2

  February

  Raising standards and tackling workload

  32

  Spectrum

  12

  Introduction to e-communications

  2

  Building schools for the future

  20

  March

  Early Years Headcount

  3

  Write here: write now

  2

  Spectrum

  20

  Survey of absences in school

  5

  April

  Notification of move to e-payment system

  2

  Spectrum

  16

  May

  Spectrum

  16

  Excellence and Enjoyment

  50

  June

  Spectrum

  28

  Threshold payments

  1

  Safeguarding children from abuse

  30

  September

  Implementation Review Unit: poster

  1

  Implementation Review Unit: publicity leaflet

  2

  Data collection by type of special educational needs

  10

  Schoolteachers pay and conditions document 2003

  180

  Travelling to school: flyer on sustainable school transport

  1

  Guidance under S133 of the Education Act 2002

  14

  Spectrum 67

  22

  October

  Spectrum 68

  12

  Pupil achievement tracker (CD-ROM)

  1

  Performance management support materials

  1

  Research topic paper on the impact of parental involvement in children's education

  6

  November

  Speaking, listening, learning: working with children in Key stages 1 and 2

  152

  Spectrum 69

  12

  December

  Spectrum 70

  12

  Secondary schools

  January

  Spectrum

  10

  Languages for all: languages for life

  25

  417W

  Annex A: Documents sent from the Department for Education and Skills to all primary and secondary schools between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003

  Primary schools

  Pages

  February

  Peter Housden letter re e-batch

  2

  14–19 Outcome Pack

  10

  Raising standards and workload

  32

  A new specialist system

  50

  Specialist system TSE

  2

  KS3 targets

  2

  Spectrum

  12

  Building schools for the future

  20

  March

  Spectrum

  16

  Survey of absences in schools

  5

  National non stat spec—careers

  30

  Protecting children from abuse

  5

  April

  12th youth cohort study

  5

  Notification of move to e-payment system

  2

  Spectrum

  16

  May

  Spectrum

  16

  June

  Safeguarding children from abuse

  30

  Threshold guidance

  1

  Spectrum

  28

  September

  Implementation Review Unit: poster

  1

  Implementation Review Unit: publicity leaflet

  2

  Data collection by type of special educational needs

  10

  Schoolteachers pay and conditions document 2003

  180

  Travelling to school: flyer on sustainable school transport

  1

  Guidance under S133 of the Education Act 2002

  14

  Education maintenance allowances (EMA)—guidance leaflet

  6

  Principles underpinning the organisation of 16–19 provision (summary)

  8

  Spectrum 67

  22

  October

  Spectrum 68

  12

  Research topic paper on the impact of parental involvement in children's education

  6

  Performance management support materials

  1

  Pupil achievement tracker (CD ROM)

  1

  November

  Direct communication with young people

  20

  KS3 National Strategy: Targeting level 5 and above—teaching responses to reading

  122

  KS3 National Strategy: Year 9 booster kit—English 2003

  170

  Spectrum 69

  12

  KS3 National Strategy: GCSE booster pack

  76

  Future of higher education: changes to student finance

  8

  December

  Spectrum 70

  12

  Notes:

  1. There were no circular documents sent to schools in July or August 2003.

  2. 'Spectrum' is the DfES monthly catalogue of publications, and source of information and news of interest to schools.

  Annex B: Documents sent from the Office for Standards in Education to all primary and secondary schools between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003

  Date

  Schools

  Pages

  Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools: Standards and Quality in Education

  418W

  Annex B: Documents sent from the Office for Standards in Education to all primary and secondary schools between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003

  Date

  Schools

  Pages

  2001–02

  5 February 2003

  All

  106

  Area Inspection Framework Consultation

  10 February 2003

  Secondary

  22

  Good assessment in secondary schools

  3 March 2003

  Secondary

  41

  Key Stage 3 Strategy: Evaluation of second year

  14 March 2003

  Secondary

  32

  Writing in English as an Additional Language at Key Stage 4 and Post-16

  17 March 2003

  Secondary

  74

  Curriculum 2000: Implementation

  21 March 2003

  Secondary

  27

  Bullying: Action taken in secondary schools

  25 March 2003

  Secondary

  33

  Framework for Inspecting Schools (May 2003)

  30 May 2003

  All

  57

  Excellence in Cities and EAZs: management and impact

  2 June 2003

  Secondary

  78

  Key Stage 4: towards a flexible curriculum

  10 June 2003

  Secondary

  53

  The School Sports Co-ordinator Programme: Evaluation of Phases 1 and 2, 2001–03

  16 June 2003

  All

  40

  Leadership and Management of Schools: What Ofsted inspections tell us

  27 June 2003

  All

  48

  Boys' achievement in secondary schools

  11 July 2003

  Secondary

  58

  The education of six-year-olds in England, Denmark and Finland

  23 July 2003

  Primary

  63

  Area Inspection Framework

  22 September 2003

  Secondary

  22

  The education of asylum-seeker pupils

  22 October 2003

  All

  38

  Handbook for Inspectors—Inspection of Connexions Partnerships

  18 November 2003

  Secondary

  89

  Provision and support for traveller pupils

  9 December 2003

  Primary

  21

  National Literacy and Numeracy Report 2003

  9 December 2003

  Primary

  66

  Leadership and management: managing the school workforce (leaflet)

  16 December 2003

  All

  4

  Annex C: Documents sent from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to all primary and secondary schools between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003

  Date

  Schools

  Pages

  KS1 and KS2 standards report

  January 2003

  Primary

  2

  KS3 standards report

  January 2003

  Secondary

  2

  Foundation Stage Profile (+ order form)

  January 2003

  Primary

  2

  A-level circular

  January 2003

  Secondary

  1

  Using mathematics to raise achievement

  January 2003

  All

  1

  KS1 audit

  January 2003

  Primary

  1

  Citizenship Key stages 1–4 Guidance on assessment recording and reporting

  February 2003

  All

  1

  New perspectives on spoken English in the classroom

  February 2003

  All

  1

  419W

  Annex C: Documents sent from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to all primary and secondary schools between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003

  Date

  Schools

  Pages

  Introduction or revised VCEs postponed to September 2005

  March 2003

  Secondary

  1

  Checklist and packing sheets for Key Stage 2 tests 2003

  March 2003

  Primary

  2

  Checklist and packing sheets for year 7 progress tests 2003

  March 2003

  Secondary

  2

  Checklist and packing sheets for Key Stage 3 tests 2003

  March 2003

  Secondary

  2

  Drugs, alcohol and tobacco

  March 2003

  All

  1

  Update to the exemplar scheme of work for ICT at Key stages 1 and 2

  April 2003

  Primary

  1

  KS1 Test circular 2003 with HDF

  April 2003

  Primary

  3

  Test dates for 2004

  May 2003

  All

  1

  Diagnostic software CD-ROM

  June 2003

  All

  1

  2003 KS2 level threshold tables

  July 2003

  Primary

  2

  2003 KS3 level threshold tables

  July 2003

  Secondary

  2

  2003 Year 7 level threshold tables

  September 2003

  Secondary

  2

  Work-related learning for all at key stage 4: guidance for implementing the statutory requirement from 2004

  September 2003

  Secondary

  2

  Changes to the Key stage 4 curriculum: guidance for implementation from 2004

  September 2003

  Secondary

  2

  KS1 ARA

  October 2003

  Primary

  2

  KS2 ARA

  October 2003

  Primary

  2

  KS3 ARA

  October 2003

  Secondary

  2

  Year 7/8 ARA

  October 2003

  Secondary

  2

  Religious education and collective worship

  October 2003

  All

  1

  2003 Testbase and implications for Key stages 1, 2 and 3

  October 2003

  All

  1

  School-based assessment video (CD format)—Assessment for learning: Involving pupils

  November 2003

  All

  1

  2004 Key stage 1 statutory tasks for English and mathematics

  December 2003

  Primary

  2

  2004 Key stage 1 statutory tasks for English and mathematics (independent schools)

  December 2003

  Primary

  2

  Table A—Sefton LEA Capital Allocations

  £000

  Type

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05*

  2005–06*

  Additional NDS Grant (615)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  141

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Assistance with AMPs

  —

  —

  39

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Basic L C Vap

  —

  —

  —

  —

  101

  573

  735

  —

  —

  Basic Need

  70

  217

  683

  1589

  2950

  1804

  903

  550

  716

  City Learning Centres

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1200

  —

  —

  —

  —

  420W

  Annex C: Documents sent from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to all primary and secondary schools between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003

  Date

  Schools

  Pages

  2004 Key stage 1 tasks for English and mathematics and copies of 2003 tests for English and mathematics

  December 2003

  Primary

  2

  Data Handling Toolkit

  December 2003

  All

  1

  Education Maintenance Allowance
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what cost estimate his Department has made of the educational maintenance allowance over the next three years. [167989]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Department estimates the cost of the Education Maintenance Allowance Scheme over the next three financial years to be:

  £ million

  2004–05

  275

  2005–06

  403

  2006–07

  476

  These estimates take account of the phased roll-out to one cohort at a time and the cost of administering, promoting and evaluating the scheme. They take account of new estimates on population of young people and household income distribution.

  Education Services (Bootle)
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how much public funding has been spent on repairing schools in Bootle in each year since 1997; [172678]

  (2) how much funding each school in Bootle has received from the New Deal for Schools. [172680]

  Mr. Miliband
  The majority of capital support is allocated to schools and local education authorities (LEAs) by formula, and they decide how to invest it in line with their asset management plans. The Department does not, therefore, have complete information about capital investment at constituency level. Table A sets out the capital support given by the Government to Sefton LEA since 1997–98, in total and by programme, including devolved formula capital grants to each school. Table B shows the schools in the Bootle constituency that benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools (NDS) programme, which ran between 1997–98 and 2000–01.
  421W

  Table A—Sefton LEA Capital Allocations

  £000

  Type

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05*

  2005–06*

  Class Size initiative

  —

  359

  659

  186

  525

  137

  —

  —

  —

  Condition

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1842

  2794

  3665

  —

  —

  Devolved Formula

  —

  —

  —

  2043

  1677

  2556

  3990

  2763

  —

  Modernisation (Primary)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1174

  —

  Modernisation LEA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Modernisation LEA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  943

  1534

  2113

  2830

  Modernisation VA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  333

  928

  1821

  1070

  NDS1

  836

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  NDS2

  —

  442

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  NDS3

  —

  —

  1862

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  NDS4

  —

  —

  —

  3628

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nursery Provision

  —

  —

  —

  66

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  School Labs

  —

  —

  —

  198

  198

  —

  —

  —

  —

  School Security

  76

  95

  96

  96

  67

  58

  —

  —

  —

  School Access Initiative

  30

  70

  150

  210

  348

  429

  650

  385

  383

  Secondary Learning Support

  —

  —

  —

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Units

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Seed Challenge

  —

  —

  —

  196

  220

  373

  370

  367

  —

  Specialist Schools

  —

  —

  —

  100

  —

  200

  —

  —

  —

  Staff Workspace

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  76

  156

  —

  —

  Supplementary Credit Approvals

  70

  230

  585

  66

  89

  448

  —

  —

  —

  Targeted Capital Funding

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3698

  3999

  —

  —

  Voluntary Aided School Grant

  552

  389

  488

  1003

  1788

  1558

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  1634

  1802

  4562

  9388

  11146

  15980

  16930

  10229

  4999

  Note:

  * Further allocations to be announced

  Table B—NDS Allocations to school in the Bootle Constituency

  £

  School

  Project details

  Grant awarded

  1997–98

  Hillside High School

  Conversion and refit of lab

  LEA wide grant

  1836,000

  St. Winefride's RC Infant School

  Major structural repair due to ground subsidence

  LEA wide grant

  1836,000

  Litherland High School

  Replace felt roof

  LEA wide grant

  1836,000

  The Grange Primary School

  Wet rot repairs and external painting

  LEA wide grant

  1836,000

  1998–99

  Litherland High School

  Heating repairs

  55,850

  Linacre Primary School

  Heating repairs

  61,435

  2000–01

  Hillside High School

  Replace temporary classrooms

  528,513

  Bootle High School

  Boiler replacement package

  Project including 4 schools

  2368,283

  1 For NDS 1 grant was allocated for Sefton LEA wide projects, part of which was used for work at each of 4 schools in the Bootle constituency. The LEA will be able to say how much was allocated to each school.

  2 Allocation shown is the total for package of project within Sefton LEA which included the school shown which is in the Bootle constituency. The LEA will be able to say how much was allocated to the school.

  Further Education
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes he has made to the fee structure for Level 2 courses in further education; and what steps he is taking to ensure the maintenance of employer contributions to those courses. [171422]
  422W
  Alan Johnson
  No changes have yet been made to the fee structure for Level 2 courses in further education institutions. From September this year we will be trialling, in the North East and South East regions, a new entitlement enabling adults in the labour force without a full level 2 qualification to have access to free tuition for their first full level 2 qualification. Where a learner is taking a publicly available course in further education through this entitlement there will be no tuition fee cost to the learner or their employer. We will continue to expect colleges to collect fees from employers for customised provision. From September the Learning and Skills Council's funding assumption that for dedicated provision employers pay above the standard fee assumption for individual learners will be abolished. As outlined in our White Paper '21st Century Skills—Realising Our Potential' we will consult the sector later this year on changes to the fees framework from 2005–06.

  Higher Education (Preston)
  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on higher education in Preston in each of the last seven years. [168123]

  Alan Johnson
  The only publicly funded institutions providing higher education in Preston are Preston College and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). The amounts of public funding spent in academic years for which figures are available are shown in the table. Expenditure was by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), and by the Student Loans Company (SLC).
  423W

  £ million

  1997/98

  1998/99

  1999/2000

  2000/01

  2001/02

  2002/03

  2003/04

  HEFCE funding of the University of Central Lancashire2

  33

  37.5

  41

  42

  45

  47.5

  50

  HEFCE funding of Preston College3

  n/a

  n/a

  641

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Total SLC expenditure4

  n/a

  n/a

  21.62

  30.8

  37.11

  40.01

  n/a

  1 Thousand

  2 These figures represent the Basic Teaching and Research Grant. In addition, the University has received an additional £42 million over the seven years for various activities and initiatives, including:Funding for Teaching and Learning; the Collaborative Research Scheme; Higher Education Reach Out to Business and the Community; Restructuring Funds; Inherited Liabilities; Poor Estates; Project Capital; Access Funds; Teachers' Pension Scheme; and New Technology Institutes.

  3 The 1999/2000 figure is the Basic Teaching Grant from HEFCE. Preston College transferred their directly funded student numbers to the University of Central Lancashire from 00/01 and HEFCE do not hold information on the amount of funding passed by UCLAN to Preston College in connection with students studying at the College under their franchise arrangements. Figures for HNC and HND provision funded via the Further Education Funding Council prior to 1999/2000 are not held centrally.

  4 Expenditure by the Student Loans Company includes fees, loans (cash costs) and the Dependants Grant. Data prior to 1999/2000 is not available. Expenditure information on other grants (Disabled Students' Allowances, Care Leavers' Grant and Travel Grant) that were, until 2003/04, paid through local education authorities is not held centrally.

  Learn Direct
  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual cost to his Department for its contract with Learn Direct is. [170024]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 30 April 2004]: The Department currently agrees an annual contract with Ufi/learndirect. However, from August 2004 the LSC will assume responsibility for the planning and funding of learndirect provision, support and development for the learndirect Information and Advice Service and support and development for UK online centres. The Department has therefore agreed a four month contract with Ufi/learndirect the cost of which is £24.972 million.

  The cost is broken down as follows:
  central and development costs for learndirect learning—£19.389 million
  support and development for learndirect Information and Advice Service—£4.083 million
  support and development for UK online centres—£1.5 million

  Learning and Skills Councils
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on success rates of(a) the North London Learning and Skills Council and (b) the Learning and Skills Councils in England on average in the latest year for which figures are available. [170660]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Chief Executive will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the reply in the Libraries.

  Level 4 (Bootle)
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of 11 year old pupils in Bootle reached level four in(a) mathematics and (b) English in the last seven years. [171299]

  Mr. Miliband
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given to the hon. Member of Westmorland and Lonsdale (Mr. Collins) on 10 May 2004,Official Report, column. 34W.

  School Funding
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of changing the basis of school funding from the periods coterminous with the Government and local government financial years to an academic year. [171768]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]Aligning schools' budgets to the school year would better reflect schools' planning cycles, supporting headteachers and Governing Bodies to make further progress in both schools' financial management and school improvement activities.

  The practicality, time scales and best means of moving to three year budgets aligned to the school year will depend on decisions to be taken about the schools' funding regime for 2006–07 and beyond. The Government will consider what changes are required to the schools' funding regime in light of experience of the measures introduced for 2004–05 and 2005–06 to improve stability in individual schools' budgets. Any changes will be fully discussed with local government and schools representatives.

  School Standards Fund
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grants for primary and secondary schools have been available through the Standards Fund since its creation; and on what date each was(a) introduced and (b) closed. [171085]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table shows for each Standards Fund grant supporting schools and pupils: the year in which it was introduced into the Standards Fund, and the final year of operation. The table also show where grants have merged, or where the grant has been transferred to another agency.

  The Standards Fund was created in 1998–99 replacing the previous specific grant programme, Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST). The table also shows which Standards Fund grants continued from the GEST programme.

  Many of the programmes supported through the Standards Fund are for specific time limited projects and programmes to encourage activities to be continued at local level.
  425W
  The Government are considering further rationalisation of specific grants to provide a single grant for schools, to allow them to access improvement projects and programmes according to their own needs and priorities.

  Standard Fund Grants since 1998–99

  Introduced

  Final year

  Baseline Assessment

  GEST

  1998–99

  1998–99

  merged into School Improvement Grant in 1999–2000

  Assessment: Verification Key Stage 1

  GEST

  1998–99

  1998–99

  merged into School Improvement Grant in 1999–2000

  Assessment: Supply Cover

  GEST

  1998–99

  1998–99

  merged into School Improvement Grant in 1999–2000

  Training for Key Stage 2 Teacher Assessment

  GEST

  1998–99

  1998–99

  merged into School Improvement Grant in 1999–2000

  Books for Schools

  GEST

  1998–99

  1998–99

  Specialist Teacher Assistants

  GEST

  1998–99

  1998–99

  National Professional Qualification for Headship

  GEST

  1998–99

  2001–02

  transferred to National College for School Leadership

  Family Literacy

  GEST

  1998–99

  2001–02

  transferred to Basic Skills Agency in 2003–04

  New Deal for Schools Capital Funding

  GEST

  1998–99

  2001–02

  School Effectiveness/School Improvement

  GEST

  1998–99

  2002–03

  Qualifications

  GEST

  1998–99

  2002–03

  Improving Attendance and Behaviour/Social Inclusion

  GEST

  1998–99

  2002–03

  School Security

  GEST

  1998–99

  2002–03

  Drug Prevention and Advice

  GEST

  1998–99

  2003–04

  Special Educational Needs

  GEST

  1998–99

  2003–04

  merged into School Development Grant in 2004–05

  Specialist Schools

  GEST

  1998–99

  n/a

  Effective Use of National Curriculum Results

  1998–99

  1998–99

  Special Educational Needs: Regional Co-ordination Pilot Projects

  1998–99

  1998–99

  Work Related Learning at Key Stage 4

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  merged into School Improvement Grant in 2000–01

  Recruitment Strategy Managers/Local Recruitment Measures

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Removal of Outside Toilets

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Energy Management

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Public/Private Partnership Pilots

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  School Leadership: Serving Heads

  1998–99

  2001–02

  transferred to National College for School Leadership

  Induction for Newly-Qualified

  1998–99

  2002–03

  not in operation in 1999–2000 and

  426W

  Standard Fund Grants since 1998–99

  Introduced

  Final year

  Teachers

  2000–01

  Reduction of Infant Class Sizes

  1998–99

  2002–03

  funding transferred to Education Formula Spending baseline

  Out of School Hours Learning/Study Support

  1998–99

  2003–04

  merged into School Development Grant in 2004–05

  Advanced Skills Teachers

  1998–99

  2003–04

  National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies/Primary Strategy

  1998–99

  n/a

  Key Stage 3 Literacy and Numeracy/Key Stage 3 Strategy

  1998–99

  n/a

  Football League Study Support Centres/Playing for Success

  1998–99

  n/a

  Health Education Partnerships

  1998–99

  n/a

  Beacon Schools

  1998–99

  n/a

  National Grid for Learning/Information Communication Technology in Schools

  1998–99

  n/a

  Laptops for Heads of Small Primary and Special Schools

  1999–2000

  1999–2000

  School Asset Management Plans

  1999–2000

  1999–2000

  Working Environment Fund

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Best Practice Research Scholarships

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Support for Parent Governor Representatives

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  merged into School Improvement Grant in 2001–02

  Family Numeracy

  1999–2000

  2002–03

  transferred to Basic Skills Agency in 2003–04

  Administrative Support in Small Schools/Small Schools Fund

  1999–2000

  2002–03

  merged into School Support Staff Grant in 2003–04

  Travellers and Displaced Persons1

  1999–2000

  2002–03

  merged into Vulnerable Children's Grant in 2003–04

  Excellence in Cities

  1999–2000

  n/a

  City Learning Centres

  1999–2000

  n/a

  Small/Excellence in Cities Education Action Zones

  1999–2000

  n/a

  Music Services

  1999–2000

  n/a

  Ethnic Minority Achievement2

  1999–2000

  n/a

  Pilot Partnership Initiatives

  2000–01

  2000–01

  New National Curriculum

  2000–01

  2001–02

  merged into School Improvement Grant in 2002–03

  Supported Early Retirement Scheme for Heads

  2000–01

  2001–02

  New Models for LEA Services

  2000–01

  2001–02

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  Standard Fund Grants since 1998–99

  Introduced

  Final year

  School Laboratories for the 21st Century

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Pupil Support Allowance

  2000–01

  2002–03

  Teaching Assistants

  2000–01

  2002–03

  merged into School Support Staff Grant in 2003–04

  Performance Management Support and Training

  2000–01

  2002–03

  Improving Adult: Pupil Ratios in Reception Classes

  2000–01

  2002–03

  Children of Asylum Seekers

  2000–01

  2002–03

  merged into Vulnerable Children's Grant in 2003–04

  Teenage Pregnancies

  2000–01

  2002–03

  merged into Vulnerable Children's Grant in 2003–04

  Summer Schools for Gifted and Talented Pupils

  2000–01

  n/a

  Excellence Challenge/Aimhigher

  2000–01

  n/a

  Teacher Incentives/Golden Helios

  2000–01

  n/a

  Training Schools

  2000–01

  n/a

  Fresh Start

  2000–01

  n/a

  Devolved Formula Capital for Schools

  2000–01

  n/a

  Seed Capital Challenge

  2000–01

  n/a

  National Grid for Learning: Regional Broadband Consortia

  2000–01

  n/a

  Pupil Learning Credits

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Learning Support Units

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Recruitment and Retention Fund

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Teachers' Sabbaticals

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Welcome Back Bonus

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Grammar/Non-Selective School Partnerships

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Children in Public Care

  2001–02

  2002–03

  merged into Vulnerable Children's Grant in 2003–04

  Sick Children

  2001–02

  2002–03

  merged into Vulnerable Children's Grant in 2003–04

  Key Stage 2 Class Sizes

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Information Management Strategy

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Early Professional Development Pilot Scheme

  2001–02

  2003–04

  School Achievement Awards

  2001–02

  2003–04

  Classrooms of the Future

  2001–02

  2003–04

  428W

  Standard fund Grants since 1998–99

  Introduced

  Final year

  School Improvement Projects/Targeted Improvement Projects

  2001–02

  n/a

  Diversity Pathfinders

  2001–02

  n/a

  Child Protection Co-ordinators

  2001–02

  n/a

  Condition Funding

  2001–02

  n/a

  Targeted Capital Projects

  2001–02

  n/a

  Interactive Whiteboards

  2001–02

  n/a

  Training for Educational Visits Coordinators

  2002–03

  2002–03

  Building the Room for Improvement

  2002–03

  2002–03

  Staff Workspaces

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Learning through Landscapes

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Laptops for Teachers

  2002–03

  2003–04

  merged into ICT in Schools Grants in 2004–05

  Electronic Registration Systems in Secondary Schools

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Behaviour Improvement Programme

  2002–03

  n/a

  Fast Track Payments

  2002–03

  n/a

  Extended Schools

  2002–03

  n/a

  e-Learning Credits

  2002–03

  n/a

  Information Communication Technology Pilot Projects

  2002–03

  n/a

  Primary Foundation Stage Profile

  2003–04

  2003–04

  School Support Staff

  2003–04

  2003–04

  merged into School Development Grant in 2004–05

  School Support Staff: Training and Development

  2003–04

  2003–04

  merged into School Development Grant in 2004–05

  Gypsy-Traveller Achievement Project

  2003–04

  2003–04

  Gifted and Talented Pupils: Sports Grant

  2003–04

  2003–04

  Transforming School Workforce Pathfinder Projects

  2003–04

  2003–04

  Leadership Incentive Grant

  2003–04

  n/a

  Targeted Improvement Grant

  2003–04

  n/a

  Study Support: Quality Development Programme

  2003–04

  n/a

  Primary Behaviour Pilot

  2003–04

  n/a

  Local Education Authority Support for School Workforce Remodelling

  2003–04

  n/a

  Federations

  2003–04

  n/a

  Leading Edge Schools

  2003–04

  n/a

  429W

  Standard Fund Grants since 1998–99

  Introduced

  Final year

  Raising Achievement of African Caribbean Pupils

  2003–04

  n/a

  National Primary Strategy EAL Pilot

  2003–04

  n/a

  Vulnerable Children

  2003–04

  n/a

  Enterprise Learning Pathfinders

  2003–04

  n/a

  Key Stage Language Pathfinders: Recurrent

  2003–04

  n/a

  14–19 Pathfinders

  2003–04

  n/a

  London Challenge Projects

  2003–04

  n/a

  School Development Grant

  2004–05

  n/a

  a combination of eight previously separate grants

  School Travel Advisers

  2004–05

  n/a

  n/a = The grant continues in 2004–05.

  1 Paid as a separate grant outside the Standards Fund prior to 1999–2000.

  Note:

  GEST means that the grant continued from the previous grant regime.

  School Transport
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the cost of reducing the three-mile limit for free travel to secondary schools to two miles; and if he will make a statement. [172026]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We do not collect information which would allow us to make this estimate.

  Post-16 Education/Employment
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of those aged 16 to 18 years are(a) unemployed, (b) in training, (c) in work and (d) in full-time education, broken down by (i) ethnic group and (ii) gender. [171718]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Provisional estimates of 16 to 18-year-olds participating in education, training and employment by gender for the latest academic year, end 2002, are shown in the table:

  Participation in education, training and employment by labour market status and by gender for end 2002

  Percentage Activity

  Females

  Males

  All

  In full-time education

  60

  53

  57

  In training1

  16

  20

  18

  In work (excluding those education and training)2

  14

  16

  15

  ILO Unemployed3

  4

  7

  6

  Inactive4

  5

  3

  4

  Total5

  100

  100

  100

  1 'In training' includes those young people in work based learning (WBL), employer funded training (EFT) and other education and training (OET).
  430W
  2 Some young people in education and training will also be in employment. However. these numbers have not been included in the 'In work' figures.

  3 'ILO unemployed' covers anyone who is out of work and available to start work in the next two weeks, but has either looked for work in the last four weeks or is waiting to start a job they have already obtained.

  4 'Inactive' includes those neither in employment nor ILO unemployed. that is—not active in the labour market.

  5 The totals are calculated from unrounded figures and so may not be the sum of the individual cells.

  Data for 16 to 18-year-olds participating in education, training and employment by ethnic group in England are not published by the Department.

  Sustainable Development Strategy
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made with his Department's Sustainable Development Strategy. [166786]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Sustainable Development Action Plan for Education and Skills was launched in September last year. The action plan has four key objectives: education for Sustainable development (ESD); environmental impact of the DfES and its partner bodies; environmental impact of the education estate; and local and global partnership activity. We are already making progress in several areas against the Action Plan. The following are just some examples.We are supporting subject associations in their work to build on ESD within the curriculum.
  On food in schools, we are working with Defra on guidance for school governor organisations. Through website forums we will invite feedback from school managers, governors and parents and report on Food Procurement Implementation.
  We are working closely with the Department for Transport, and have jointly published "Travelling to School: An Action Plan5" which gives guidance on sustainable school travel.
  Colleges and universities are developing as sustainable organisations, promoting themselves as exemplars and sharing best practice with other institutions.
  The Skills agencies have created an online 'toolkit' to encourage, support and promote best practice throughout the sector.
  Internationally, we are contributing to the drafting of the United Nations strategy on ESD.

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 14 and 15-year-olds were studying for vocational qualifications in each year since 2001. [171244]

  Alan Johnson
  Since 2001, the numbers of 15-year-olds entered for General National Vocational Qualifications, either Part One or Full, were as follows:

  Number

  2001

  22,413

  2002

  64,494

  2003

  123,600

  Data on the numbers studying vocational qualifications is not available.

  Vocational Training
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 14 and 15-year-olds are studying for(a) NVQs and (b) vocational GCSEs. [171245]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department does not collect data on the numbers of 14 and 15-year-olds presently studying NVQs and GCSEs in vocational subjects. Rather the Awarding Bodies makes available data on the numbers of entries and the results thereof for particular qualifications. This information is routinely placed in the House of Commons Library in the autumn.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Parental Leave
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many men(a) requested and (b) received paternity pay prior to 6 April 2003 in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) region and (ii) income. [1712976]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Statutory Paternity Pay was introduced in 2003 for fathers of children born or expected to be born on or after 6 April 2003 and adopters of children placed for adoption on or after 6 April 2003. Statutory Paternity Pay was therefore not paid before 6 April 2003, except to a small number of fathers whose children were born prematurely.

  Some employers will, of course have offered contractual paternity leave and pay to their staff before April 2003. Contractual provision is not recorded centrally but surveys suggest that where this provision was available fathers used it.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many men took(a) parental leave and (b) time off for dependants in each year since 1997 prior to 6 April 2003, broken down by (i) region (ii) income and (iii) length of leave. [171295]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  It is not possible to provide the information requested since take up of parental leave and time off for dependants are not recorded centrally. However, a recent survey commissioned by the DTI (The Second Work-life Balance Survey: Results from the Employees' Survey, Employment Relations Research Series No. 27) suggests that 4 per cent. of all parents with dependant children took parental leave in the year preceding the survey.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many women have taken(a) ordinary maternity leave and (b) additional maternity leave (i) in each year since 1997 up until April 2003 and (ii) since April 2003, and how many women have taken 52 weeks maternity leave, broken down by region. [171301]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Take-up of maternity leave is not recorded centrally, and the regional figures cannot be provided. It is possible to make an estimate of the 432W
  numbers of mothers taking ordinary maternity leave based on employer returns to Inland Revenue for payment of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) they recover. Nationally around 300,000 women receive SMP each year. Some of the women will take additional maternity leave, but as SMP is not paid during additional maternity leave, it is not possible to estimate the number taking additional maternity leave.

  In addition, there will be some women who will qualify for maternity leave but not SMP (because they do not meet the earnings criteria) and similarly some who qualify for SMP but not leave (because they are employed earners for the purposes of SMP but not employees in order to qualify for leave).

  British Coal
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Department has been given Treasury approval to retain surpluses payable to it out of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme during the last five years to offset expenditure on liabilities inherited from British Coal. [164382]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 April 2004, Official Report, c.66–67W1: I regret it covered only the three financial years 2001–02 to 2003–04 and I am taking the opportunity to clarify that for the preceding financial years, the position was as set out in the Government's Expenditure plans 2000–01 to 2001–02 (Cm 4611) which was placed in the Libraries of the House, and which stated:
  "These figures include receipts of 50 per cent. of the surpluses in the coal pension funds which are required under the Coal Industry Act 1994 to be paid into the consolidated fund, except in so far as they may be retained to offset expenditure on liabilities inherited from British Coal."

  This reflected the special arrangements agreed between the Department and Her Majesty's Treasury as part of the DTIs CSR to ensure the Department's ability to pay coal health claims as quickly as possible.

  Business (South Ribble)
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses have started up in South Ribble since 1997. [172145]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start-ups in England and Wales, including 2,600 in Lancashire County (which contains the constituency of South Ribble), in the fourth quarter of 2003. The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. There were 10,200 business start-ups in Lancashire County in 2003. Data for counties are not available for before 2003.

  DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for South Ribble and West Lancashire local authorities (which contain the constituency of South Ribble) are shown in the table for the period 1997 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in autumn 2004.
  433W

  VAT registrations: 1997–2002

  South Ribble

  West Lancashire

  1997

  275

  260

  1998

  300

  245

  1999

  255

  290

  2000

  280

  265

  2001

  240

  285

  2002

  250

  265

  Source:

  Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service, available from: www.sbs.gov.uk/statistics/vatstats.php

  VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government has taken to help small businesses in South Ribble since 1997. [172146]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Business Link Operator for North and West Lancashire has provided assistance to 2,083 enterprises in the South Ribble constituency since 2001. The Small Business Service (SBS) 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 businesses was provided through Training and Enterprise Councils and the Small Business Service does not have access to this data.

  The type of assistance provided by the Business Link Operator includes pre-starts, start up advice, intensive assists, IT support, Investors In People.

  In addition under the Enterprise Grant Scheme three companies have received offers of grant with a total value of £167,883 since 1997. This scheme has now come to a close from the 1 April 2004.

  Business Regulation
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total(a) staff numbers and (b) resource budget of the Departmental Regulatory Impact Unit has been since its inception. [168611]

  Ms Hewitt
  Information about staff numbers and resource budget of the Departmental Regulatory Impact Unit since its inception could not be ascertained without disproportionate cost. However since 2002 the unit has had an average of six full time staff and for the financial year 2004–05 has a total resource budget of £350,000.

  Businesses (Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers in Sittingbourne and Sheppey have benefited from the national minimum wage. [170293]
  434W
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  It is not possible to provide estimates specifically for the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey. However, based on the Office for National Statistics' Low Pay data released in 2003, the DTI estimates that around 120,000 people in the South East stood to benefit from the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in April 1999 Between 80,000 and 100,000 people were expected to have benefited from the October 2003 uprating of the National Minimum Wage.

  Care Staff
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health about the impact of flexible working for carers on the demand for paid care staff. [172001]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  My officials are in discussion with all interested Government Departments, including officials from the Department of Health, to explore how flexible working arrangements can help carers. This is part of on-going work which will inform the review of the flexible working law in 2006 and shape future policy. It is too early to consider the implications on the demand for paid care staff.

  As part of this work, we are aiming to hold two roundtables involving employers and individuals who have caring responsibilities, such as those caring for elderly or sick relatives. The roundtables will explore how individuals balance work and caring responsibilities, including how different working patterns suit both carers and their employers. We are discussing the roundtables with the Department of Health and bodies representing carers.

  The Government's work-life balance campaign seeks to persuade all employers of the business case to adopt work-life balance policies and to follow best practice by providing flexible working opportunities across the workforce. This applies equally to those providing paid care as it does to those providing unpaid care.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what definition he will use of the term carer in relation to the planned introduction of the right to flexible working for carers; and if he will make a statement; [170974]

  (2) when plans for the right to flexible working for carers will be implemented; and if he will make a statement. [171009]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Government are committed to reviewing the impact of the right to request flexible working and has no plans to extend the provisions of the law until after the review in 2006.

  Currently, the law provides eligible parents of children under 6 and disabled children under 18 with a legal right to apply to work flexibly. An issue that the review will consider, which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has indicated should be a priority, is extending the law to wider groups of carers, such as carers of elderly or sick relatives. Definition of terms relating to any extension to the law as an outcome of that review, including carers, will be something that will be addressed at that time.

  Corporate Governance
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many FTSE 250 companies have recruited at least one non-executive director from the not-for-profit sector. [172383]

  Jacqui Smith
  This information is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the change in proportion of non-executive directors of FTSE 250 companies following the publication of the Tyson Report. [172384]

  Jacqui Smith
  As recommended by the Tyson Report, the Department commissioned a study by Cranfield University on the diversity of all directors in FTSE 100 companies. This report has now been presented to my Department. In addition, I have participated in a series of roundtables hosted by leading businesses which debated the issues surrounding diversity in the boardroom in an open and constructive manner. We are currently consulting the Financial Reporting Council and a range of business and other organizations on how best to build on these initiatives and will be making an announcement later in the year.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has for promoting a register of talented candidates from the not-for-profit sector for consideration for non-executive director posts, as recommended in the Higgs Report. [172390]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Higgs Review made a number of recommendations to stimulate the inclusion of a more diverse range of people on company boards. These were taken forward by the Tyson Group, which decided against developing a list of candidates from the non-commercial sector.

  The Government welcome the creation of registers of suitably skilled people, across a range of sectors, to assist companies in identifying potential candidates for non-executive board positions. Such registers should be co-ordinated by the relevant professional or affiliated body.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many FTSE 250 companies publish their recruitment procedures for non-executive directors; and what plans she has to encourage such publication. [172391]

  Jacqui Smith
  This information is not collected centrally. This is a matter for companies and their shareholders and is a provision of the Financial Reporting Council's Combined Code. The provision applies on a comply or explain basis to all listed companies, and for all board appointments, and came into effect for reporting years beginning on or after 1 November 2003.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to provide a deadline by which FTSE 250 companies should publish their recruitment procedures for non-executive directors. [172392]
  436W
  Jacqui Smith
  This is a matter for companies and their shareholders and is a provision of the Financial Reporting Council's Combined Code. The provision applies on a comply or explain basis to all listed companies, and for all board appointments, and came into effect for reporting years beginning on or after 1 November 2003.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she intends to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 25 March with regard to Jenny Edwards. [172262]

  Ms Hewitt
  I replied to my right hon. Friend's letter seeking support for the Early Day Motion 576—Corporate Responsibility on 7 May 2004. As outlined in my reply, my Department published draft Regulations on the Operating and Financial Review for consultation on 5 May.

  Electricity Network
  Mr. Laurence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2004, Official Report, column 501W, on the electricity network, how many warnings have been issued by National Grid Transco about low levels of spare electricity generating capacity (a) this year and (b) in each of the previous seven years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [172543]

  Mr. Timms
  National Grid have issued the following system warnings as part of normal operations to inform the market that its projected reserve is not fully met:

  Amount of system warnings

  2004

  12

  2003

  13

  2002

  7

  2001

  18

  2000

  41

  1999

  13

  1998

  2

  1997

  1

  1 To date

  Energy Bills
  Jon Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what percentage of households with electricity accounts she estimates the regulator has been successful in enforcing Standard Licence condition (Electricity) 17 in inspecting meters every two years; [171487]

  (2) what percentage of gas accounts she estimates Ofgem has been successful in enforcing Standard Licence condition (Gas) 17 in inspecting meters every two years. [171488]

  Mr. Timms
  Regulation of gas and electricity is the responsibility of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM). I understand that the Chairman of the Authority will write to my hon. Friend about the matters he has raised.

  Energy Supply
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with energy companies about the integrity and security of supply; and if she will make a statement. [172544]

  Mr. Timms
  Department of Trade and Industry Ministers hold regular meetings with electricity companies to discuss a wide range of issues, including the integrity and security of energy supplies.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how long the consultation period on the proposals to prohibit the possession of fireworks was. [171594]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The consultation on the emergency Fireworks Regulations 2003 was launched on 5 November and closed on 26 November—making a total of three weeks of consultation.

  Due to the temporary nature of the regulations, they are due to be repealed and incorporated into a comprehensive package of draft measures designed to tackle the misuse of fireworks resulting from supply and use. The consultation was launched on 23 April and will run till 2 July 2004.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers the Insolvency Service's Prosecution Section has to investigate people in breach of(a) disqualification orders and (b) bankruptcy orders. [171614]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Insolvency Service's Prosecution Section (now Criminal Allegations Team) does not have any powers to investigate people who are in breach of(a) disqualification orders and (b) bankruptcy orders.

  Allegations that individuals are breaching their disqualification orders or bankruptcy orders, which are supported by evidence and documentation are referred by the Criminal Allegations Team to the Department's Legal Services Directorate (Prosecutions), where a lawyer reviews the papers and decides on the course of action to be taken. If the lawyer concludes that the matter is suitable for a criminal investigation, an investigation officer is instructed to conduct such investigation and where necessary take witness statements for any prosecution.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many calls have been received by the Disqualified Directors Hotline of the Insolvency Service's Prosecution Section in the last 12 months; how many cases were taken forward by the Legal Services Directorate as a result; and if she will make a statement. [171615]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Disqualified Director's Hotline is now called "the Enforcement Hotline" but the telephone number remains the same.
  438W
  For the period May 2003 to April 2004 there were 807 calls made to the Hotline and these included invalid calls eg hang ups.

  From these calls, 166 questionnaires were sent out and on the basis of the information received 36 cases were referred to the Legal Services Directorate (LSD) and of these 25 were accepted by LSD for full investigation. Most of these cases will still be under investigation.

  Mineworkers' Pension Scheme
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings she has held with trustees of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme in the last year; when the meetings were held; and what subjects were discussed. [170329]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I met the Trustees of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, along with those of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, on 30 March 2004. We discussed the Government's commitment to the pension schemes, including the Guarantee arrangements and the agreement to award RPI increases to members despite there being deficits in both schemes.

  The Trustees reiterated their view that the Government Guarantee negotiated in 1994 allows them to take a balanced amount of risk in their investments helping the funds to grow and pay around 30 per cent. bonuses to scheme members. Without the Guarantee the Trustees would have had to follow a much more cautious investment strategy that would not have generated the surpluses we have seen.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers in Huntingdon constituency have benefited from the national minimum wage. [170862]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  It is not possible to provide estimates specifically for the constituency of Huntingdon. However, based on the Office for National Statistics' Low Pay data released in 2003, the DTI estimates that around 90,000 people in the Eastern region stood to benefit from the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in April 1999. Between 80,000 and 90,000 people were expected to have benefited from the October 2003 uprating of the National Minimum Wage.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers in Oldham West and Royton have benefited from the national minimum wage. [170937]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  It is not possible to provide estimates specifically for the constituency of Oldham West and Royton. However, based on the Office for National Statistics' Low Pay data released in 2003, the DTI estimates that around 140,000 people in the North West stood to benefit from the introduction of the national minimum wage in April 1999. Between 130,000 and 160,000 people were expected to have benefited from the October 2003 uprating of the national minimum wage.
  439W
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers in West Lancashire have benefited from the national minimum wage. [171726]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  It is not possible to provide estimates specifically for the constituency of West Lancashire. However, based on the Office for National Statistics' Low Pay data released in 2003, the DTI estimates that around 140,000 people in the North West stood to benefit from the introduction of the national minimum wage in April 1999. Between 130,000 and 160,000 people were expected to have benefited from the October 2003 uprating of the national minimum wage.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers in South Ribble have benefited from the national minimum wage. [172147]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  It is not possible to provide estimates specifically for the constituency of South Ribble. However, based on the Office for National Statistics' Low Pay data released in 2003, the DTI estimates that around 140,000 people in the North West stood to benefit from the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in April 1999. Between 130,000 and 160,000 people were expected to have benefited from the October 2003 uprating of the National Minimum Wage.

  Businesses (Huntingdon)
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses started up in Huntingdon constituency in each year since 1997. [170780]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start-ups in England and Wales, including 1,300 in Cambridgeshire county (which contains the constituency of Huntingdon), in the fourth quarter of 2003. The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. There were 5,000 business start-ups in Cambridgeshire County in 2003. Data for counties are not available for before 2003.

  DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Huntingdon Local Authority (which contains the constituency of Huntingdon) are shown in the table for the period 1997 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in Autumn 2004.

  Ordinary Written Pqs

  Named Day Pqs

  Total answers

  Answers within 5 days

  Total answers

  Answers on named day

  Number

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Number

  Percentage

  2002–03

  November

  76

  73

  96

  A monthly breakdown cannot be given

  December

  156

  129

  83

  January

  267

  225

  84

  February

  183

  150

  82

  March

  294

  203

  69

  April

  236

  178

  75

  May

  208

  171

  82

  June

  402

  296

  74

  July

  255

  215

  84

  440W

  VAT Registrations: 1997–2002

  Huntingdon

  1997

  535

  1998

  540

  1999

  485

  2000

  520

  2001

  485

  2002

  515

  Source:

  Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service, available from: www.sbs.gov.uk/statistics/vatstats.php

  VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

  Nuclear Power
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with British Energy about extending the life of Dungeness B nuclear power station; and if she will make a statement. [172546]

  Mr. Timms
  My officials have regular discussions with British Energy on a range of issues affecting the company. Any decisions about extending the life of Dungeness B or any other British Energy nuclear power station would be a matter for the company who would need to evaluate the safety, technical and economic case, within the overall regulatory framework.

  Parliamentary Questions
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many(a) Ordinary Written and (b) Named Day Questions her Department received in (i) the 2002–03 and (ii) this parliamentary session up to the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by month; [170776]

  (2) what proportion (a) Ordinary Written Questions to her Department were answered within five sitting days of tabling and (b) Questions for a Named Day received a substantive answer on that day in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) this parliamentary session up to the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by month. [170777]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information requested is as follows:
  441W

  Ordinary Written Pqs

  Named Day Pqs

  Total answers

  Answers within 5 days

  Total answers

  Answers on named day

  Number

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Number

  Percentage

  Recess

  45

  30

  67

  September

  158

  140

  89

  Recess

  53

  47

  89

  October

  211

  183

  87

  November

  323

  253

  78

  Total

  2867

  2293

  80

  723

  247

  34

  2003–04

  November

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  December

  225

  190

  84

  58

  18

  29

  January

  405

  317

  78

  71

  26

  48

  February

  340

  230

  68

  72

  24

  35

  March

  458

  338

  74

  105

  39

  22

  April

  251

  225

  90

  30

  10

  27

  Total

  1679

  1300

  77

  336

  117

  32

  Note:

  DTI figures are based on sittings days.

  We endeavour to answer all Parliamentary Questions within the Parliamentary deadlines whenever possible. In addition I refer the hon. Gentleman to a reply given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 3 March 2004, Offical Report, column 907W.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices were closed in each of the past three years up to March in(a) the East of England, (b) Suffolk and (c) the parliamentary constituency of Bury St. Edmunds. [171869]

  Mr. Timms
  I am advised by Post Office Ltd. that data on post office closures by county or parliamentary constituency are not available in the form requested as the company does not require this data for its operational purposes. However, I understand that since March 2000 the company has recorded details of post office closures on the basis of Government Region and in the East of England region as a whole, the numbers of net closures were as follows:

  East of England Region

  Number

  2000–01

  70

  2001–02

  21

  2002–03

  33

  Post Office Ltd. produces statistics on post office closures on a quarterly basis. The latest data on net closures by region currently available for year 2003–04 is to the end of December 2003. Data for the quarter to end March 2004 is expected shortly. There were 61 net closures of post offices in the East of England region to the end of December 2003. These figures include a total of 55 closures in the East of England region under the urban reinvention programme since its commencement in late 2002.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what(a) Post Office, (b) Royal Mail and (c) Government functions are (i) provided by all sub-post offices, (ii) provided by some sub-post offices at the discretion of (A) the sub-postmaster, (B) Post Office Ltd and (C) others, (iii) provided by all
  442W
  Crown post offices and (iv) provided by some Crown post offices at the discretion of (1) the manager, (2) Post Office Ltd. and (3) others. [171936]

  Mr. Timms
  These are operational matters for Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the decision to turn Taunton Crown Post Office into a SPAR store with post office facilities was taken; and if she will make a statement. [171990]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  David Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation took place between the Government and the main clearing banks prior to the introduction of the Post Office card accounts; and what advice Ministers received on these matters. [172319]

  Mr. Timms
  Extensive consultation took place between the Government and the banking industry. The result of those negotiations was that all the main High Street banks and the Nationwide Building Society agreed to make a significant contribution to universal banking services at the Post Office. They are contributing £180 million towards the Post Office card account and are each providing access at Post Offices to a basic bank account product. Universal banking services were successfully launched on 1 April 2003.

  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 28 April 2004,Official Report, columns 1163–64W, on rural post offices, for what reasons she will not publish Postcomm's advice on future levels of support; and when the Department will complete its consideration of this advice. [172547]

  Mr. Timms
  As I made clear in my answer of 28 April, Postcomm's advice on the future of the rural post office network was submitted to the Government in confidence. There are good reasons for this. The report contains detailed material which is commercially sensitive, both in relation to Post Office Ltd. and to the many individual businessmen and women who own and
  443W
  run sub-post offices. While I do not rule out the publication in due course, it would be inappropriate to publish it before the Government has taken any decisions on the future of the rural network. The Government is currently considering that advice and will take decisions on the shape of the rural post office network after 2006 in good time to allow for a smooth transition from the current support arrangements. The current funding arrangements for the rural post office network have nearly two years to run yet.

  Radio Frequency Identifiers
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the likely change in the number of jobs in the retail sector as a result of the implementation of radio frequency identifier devices. [170163]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To date, DTI has not conducted any assessment of the likely change in retail staff numbers as a consequence of the implementation of RFID technologies.

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of the(a) measures in the Regulatory Reform Action Plan and (b) regulatory reform orders which her Department has proposed but not completed. [171613]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The updated Regulatory Reform Action Plan, published in December 2003, contains over 600 deregulatory and simplification measures under way across Government. I am advised that over 300 of these measures have already been delivered.

  The DTI proposed 10 Regulatory Reform Orders in the Regulatory Reform Action Plan; two have been implemented, three are in the scrutiny process and the remaining five will be the subject of consultation exercises.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research she has commissioned on the balance between profit and investment associated with renewable energy development. [170173]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Government have created an attractive investment framework for renewable energy developments through the creation of the Renewables Obligation and, for certain technologies, additional support through capital grants. This is in support for our policy goals of securing 10 per cent. of electricity from renewables by 2010 and further significant contributions from this sector 2020 and beyond.

  However the specific economics of individual renewable energy projects will differ on a case by case basis for a variety of reasons, notably the location of the project and the technology involved. Those seeking to develop or finance renewable energy developments must reach their own views on the economics of individual projects.
  444W
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on renewable energy. [170792]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government's target for renewables is that, by 2010, 10 per cent. of our electricity sales will come from renewable sourced electricity. The target is challenging as we are starting from a low base.

  The Government's main policy mechanism for achieving the target is the Renewables Obligation (and Renewables Obligation Scotland). Introduced in April 2002, it places an obligation on all licensed electricity suppliers to supply a specified and growing proportion of their sales from electricity generated from a range of eligible renewable sources.

  Through the Renewables Obligation (RO), we are looking to accelerate the development of renewables in a wide range of sources and technologies. In order to encourage a more vigorous and diverse renewable energy sector, the Government have also allocated a total of £350 million over four years for capital grants and research grants to promote forms of renewable energy that are further from becoming commercially competitive. This includes among other things grants of £117 million for offshore wind, £66 million for energy crops and biomass, £25 million for solar photovoltaics (PV), £10 million for community schemes and £5 million for wave and tidal demonstration projects.

  Scottish Power
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met representatives of Scottish Power Plc; who was present; and what was on the agenda for discussion. [171781]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have had no recent meetings with representatives of Scottish Power.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Service, met with representatives of Scottish Power on 11 March to discuss a number of issues relating to electricity supply. Also present were DTI officials.

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Meacher
  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 Oldham West and Royton. [170939]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The residents of Oldham West and Royton 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-rata 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 occurred;
  rights under the fixed term work directive that provide equal treatment and prevent abuse of fixed term contracts;

  445W
  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 and;
  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.

  Timber
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department plans to contribute financially to the establishment of the second phase of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber. [167618]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 10 May 2004,Official Report, column 31W.

  Travel Agents
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to require travel firms not bonded with ABTA or ATOL to display this information when advertising their services. [172027]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is soon to make recommendations to Government on the possible extension of financial protection for consumers in the event of failure of air travel firms. I understand from their published draft advice that CAA may recommend an extension to mandatory protection, but I also expect the proposals to address the scope for improving transparency regarding protection for travel arrangements.

  VAT
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses have(a) registered and (b) deregistered for VAT in each year since 1997 in each local authority area in East Sussex. [169849]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start-ups in England and Wales, including 1,100 in East Sussex County, in the fourth quarter of 2003. The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. There were 4,700 business start-ups in East Sussex County in 2003. Data for each local authority in East Sussex County are not published by Barclays. Barclays start-up data for counties in England and Wales have only been published for 2003. Barclays closure data for counties in England and Wales have not been published.

  DTI figures for VAT registrations and de-registrations for each local authority in East Sussex County are shown below for the period 1997 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in autumn 2004.
  446W

  VAT registrations: 1997–2002

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  East Sussex

  County

  1,745

  1,605

  1,610

  1,575

  1,535

  1,540

  Eastbourne

  255

  215

  240

  210

  235

  215

  Hastings

  195

  180

  200

  205

  185

  205

  Lewes

  355

  335

  290

  275

  285

  280

  Rother

  335

  290

  285

  285

  265

  275

  Wealden

  610

  585

  590

  595

  565

  565

  Source:

  Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service

  VAT de-registrations: 1997–2002

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  East Sussex

  County

  1,435

  1,335

  1,430

  1,430

  1,475

  1,475

  Eastbourne

  225

  200

  205

  210

  195

  235

  Hastings

  170

  180

  170

  170

  175

  190

  Lewes

  260

  260

  255

  265

  280

  230

  Rother

  265

  230

  300

  285

  290

  315

  Wealden

  510

  460

  500

  500

  535

  505

  Source:

  Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service

  VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

  Work-Life Balance Study
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the findings were of the second Work-Life Balance study's accompanying employee survey report. [170519]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  "The Second Work-Life Balance Study (WLB2): Results from the Employees' survey" was published in March by my Department as report number 28 in the Employment Relations Research Series. It is based on a survey carried out by MORI in January and February 2003. Key findings from the study are as follow:There was a high leve1 of support for work-life balance amongst employees with 95 per cent. agreeing that 'people work best when they can balance their work and other aspects of their lives'. However, they were also clear that business considerations should still come first with three-fifths (60 per cent.) agreeing that employees should not expect to 'change their working pattern if to do so would disrupt the business'.
  Reported availability of work-life balance practices appeared to have increased since 2000 for several arrangements, but varied considerably from 67 per cent. of employees who said part-time working was available to only 20 per cent. who said that working from home on a regular basis was available.
  There has also been an increase in take up of several flexible working practices since 2000. Where employers provided flexible arrangements, take up among employees in the previous year and with their current employer was highest for flexitime (55 per cent.) and working from home (54 per cent.), but lower where hours of work (and thus pay) would be reduced such as for job-sharing (15 per cent.).
  A sixth of employees (17 per cent.) had approached their employer in the last two years to make a request to change how they regularly work For a sustained period of time, and 77 per cent. said their request had been agreed. Almost one-third

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  (29 per cent.) of mothers had requested a change in how they regularly worked from their employer in the last two years, compared to only 12 per cent. of fathers.
  However, there was some employee concern, particularly among men, about the consequences of adopting flexible working practices in terms of their job security and career prospects. Although when asked about various working patterns and leave arrangements, only in the case of working reduced hours (such as part-time working) did more employees consider that adopting this way of working would negatively affect their career (51 per cent.) than those who stated that it would not (38 per cent.).

  The findings indicate strong support for work-life balance among employees. The increases in provision and take up indicate a shift towards improved work-life balance for employees, and the Department has encouraged this trend through the new employment rights introduced in April 2003. This legislation gives new rights to parents including introducing paternity and adoption leave for the first time, and the right to request flexible working for parents of children under six-years-old and of disabled children under 18-years-old (with a statutory duty on the employer to consider the request), as well as increasing maternity pay and leave.

  The report is available free from publications @ dti, or can be downloaded from the DTI website.

  Workers' Rights (South Ribble)
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the benefits to the residents of South Ribble of new rights for night workers. [172138]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Working Time Regulations came into force on 1 October 1998. The regulations limit working time to 48 hours per week averaged over a 17-week reference period. For night workers the limit is eight hours per day on average, including overtime where it is part of a night worker's normal hours of work. There is no opt-out from the night working time limit.

  Night workers are entitled to 11 hours rest between working days, one day's rest per week, and a 20-minute in work rest break if the working period is longer than six hours.

  All night workers should be offered a free health assessment before they start working night and thereafter at regular intervals for as long as they are working nights. The health assessments should take account of the nature of the work and the restrictions on a worker's working time under the regulations. Workers who suffer from problems as a result of working at night, should as far as practicable be offered alternative day work.

  All workers are entitled to four weeks paid annual leave. There is no specific data available for night shift workers in South Ribble.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents in South Ribble have benefited from a reduction of the working week to 48 hours. [172139]
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  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Working Time Regulations provide workers with the right to refuse to work more than 48 hours on average, if they do not want to. Numbers for South Ribble are not available, however it has been estimated that around 300,000 workers resident in the North West region stood to benefit from the introduction of the weekly working time limits in 1998.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of women in South Ribble have taken 26 weeks maternity leave since 1997. [172148]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Take-up of maternity leave is not recorded centrally. It is possible to make an estimate of the numbers of women taking maternity leave based on employer returns to Inland Revenue of the Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) they recover (since 2003 this has covered the first 26 weeks of leave). Figures for the take-up of SMP are not available on a regional basis, but nationally around 300,000 women receive SMP each year.

  In addition, there will be some women who will qualify for maternity leave but not SMP (because they do not meet the earnings or length of employment criteria for SMP) and similarly some who qualify for SMP but not leave (because they are employed earners for the purposes of SMP but not employees in order to qualify for leave).

HEALTH

  Abortions
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of an NHS abortion was in each of the past three years; and what the total cost of NHS provision of abortions was in each year. [171508]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  National health service funded abortions performed in NHS hospitals in England

  Average cost of an NHS abortion1 provision (£)

  Total cost of NHS abortion (£ million)

  2000–01

  393.00

  32.7

  2001–02

  415.00

  35.7

  2002–03

  469.00

  38.2

  1 Average cost of a day case surgical abortion.

  Source:

  National Schedule of Reference Costs, Appendix IC.

  Blood Transfusion
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work is being undertaken by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence into the most efficient use of alternatives to blood transfusions in the NHS. [164110]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 21 April 2004,Official Report, columns 548–49W.
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  The Chief Medical Officer's national blood transfusion committee is looking at how to encourage the most efficient use of blood donations in the national health service.

  Breast Cancer (Preston)
  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women in Preston with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks in each of the last five years. [168102]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis. The information shown in the table relates to the national health service organisations serving the Preston area.

  Waiting times for first consultant out-patient appointment for suspected breast cancer following urgent GP referral

  Seen within 2 weeks

  NHS Trust

  Percentage

  Number

  1999–2000

  Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust

  94.5

  52

  2000–01

  Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust

  100.0

  169

  2001–02

  Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust

  100.0

  240

  2002–03

  Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  238

  2003–04

  Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  279

  Note:

  Lancashire Teaching Hospitals was established on 1 August 2002 from the acute services of Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust and Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  Source:

  DH form QMCW.

  Care Qualifications
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of home care workers who have(a) obtained and (b) have yet to obtain NVQ level 2 in care. [171006]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not collected centrally. Since April 2004, the regulation and inspection of domiciliary care services has been the responsibility for the commission for social care inspection (CSCI). Information about the numbers of staff and their qualifications are provided to the CSCI as part of the registration process. Aggregate information is therefore likely to become available after March 2005.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of courses in NVQ level 2 in care; and if he will make a statement. [171007]

  Mr. Hutton
  The nature of the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 2 in care and its assessment precludes the provision of courses specifically designed to support study for this qualification. Candidates require access to specific educational or training courses according to their existing level of knowledge and skill. Such courses are provided locally and information about them is not collected centrally by the Department.
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  Topss England and the Learning and Skills Council have been working to ensure that social care employers have robust NVQ frameworks and increased number of NVQ assessors and verifiers in place so that staff can complete NVQs in care.

  Catheter Laboratories
  Andrew Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many catheter laboratories there are at Manchester Royal Infirmary; when the last new one was opened; how many patients were treated in its first 12 months of working; and what the levels of throughput were of the older laboratories over the same period. [170143]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information is not collected centrally and is a matter for the Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospital National Health Service Trust.

  Chief Medical Officer's Report
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the reasons are for the delay in the publication of the report on health and activity written by the Chief Medical Officer and due to be published last year; [165238]

  (2) if he will publish the report on health and activity written by the Chief Medical Officer last year. [165247]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) report, "At Least Five a Week", was published on 29 April. It is the authoritative source document on the health benefits of physical activity for England. The report includes the most up-to-date academic literature and was fully peer reviewed before publication.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take further measures to increase the availability of NHS dentistry. [168095]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Government are committed to rebuilding and restoring national health service dentistry to improve oral health. New legislation in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 will underpin a modernised, high-quality primary dental service, properly integrated with the rest of the NHS The aim is to deliver better access to services, better working lives for dentists and their teams, better oral health and an improved patient experience.

  As part of the new arrangements, the current remuneration system, which is based on item of service fees, will be abolished and replaced by a much simpler contract. Under transitional arrangements we are developing a simple but robust 'base contract' which all dentists and primary care trusts (PCTs) will be able to put in place from 2005. These transitional arrangements will provide protection of dentists gross earnings for three years to enable them to come off the treadmill of item of service fees to see their patients at intervals appropriate to their oral health needs and to modernise and adjust their workload. These proposals are set out in "Framework proposals for primary dental services in

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  England from 2005" which was published on 24 February and on which we have been seeking views from dental representative bodies.

  In the meantime we have provided new investment totalling £90 million to NHS dentistry over the last year. £59 million will support access and is aimed at increasing access to NHS dentistry for patients. Strategic health authorities have been advised of their shares and are working with their PCTs to address access issues. £30 million is to support information technology and the balance of £1 million will support organisational development locally.

  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to improve NHS dentistry for pensioners in Gloucester. [169984]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We have provided new investment totalling £90 million to national health service dentistry over the last year. £59 million will support access, and strategic health authorities (SHAs) have been advised of their shares and are working with their primary care trusts (PCTs), including those in Gloucestershire, to address access issues. £30 million is to support information technology and the balance of £1 million will support organisational development locally.

  In Gloucestershire, the existing dental access centres offer emergency and routine dental treatment—this is prioritised according to patients' needs and the demands placed on the service.

  All the PCTs in Gloucestershire have been invited by Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA to submit proposals to improve access to dental care, funded through the SHA's £2 million share of the access funding. They are also exploring the possibility of establishing an outreach-teaching pilot for dental and dental therapy students with Bristol University.

  West Gloucestershire PCT is one of the 16 PCTs in England with which the NHS dentistry support team is working. The support team has made several visits to Gloucestershire towards the end of 2003, and an action plan to establish new dental practices in Cinderford, in the Forest of Dean, and Gloucester City will be agreed by the end of April 2004. Additionally, work is underway to explore the potential for overseas recruitment in Gloucestershire.

  This work is to improve NHS dentistry for all patients in Gloucester including pensioners

  Departmental Annual Report
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the production of his Department's latest annual report cost; how many copies were printed; how many copies of it were sold at its cover price; to whom copies of the report have been provided free of charge; and how many copies were provided free of charge. [171145]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The total cost to the Department of producing the 2004 Departmental report was £27,532. This included £20,577 for design, typesetting and artwork and a further £6,955 for the cost of the copies ordered by the Department.
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  This year 1,500 copies of the report were printed.

  Those who receive free copies of the departmental report are chief executives of strategic health authorities, departmental senior civil service, directors of social care, parliamentary Libraries, Her Majesty's Treasury and Department of Health Ministers' private offices. This came to a total of over 640 copies that were provided free of charge.

  Information is not yet available on how many reports have been sold at the cover price.

  The report is also available on the Department's website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/AnnualReports.

  Departmental Procurement
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the(a) crockery, (b) cutlery and (c) glassware procured by his Department over the last five years is of British manufacture. [170801]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Crockery and cutlery in use in the Department for catering and hospitality is supplied by the Department's catering contractor.

  Digital Hearing Aids
  Mrs. Humble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when digital hearing aids will be available on the NHS in the constituency of Blackpool, North and Fleetwood. [170591]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Digital hearing aids have been available on the national health service from the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust since January 2004. Priority is currently being given to new patients who require a hearing aid for the first time. However, existing patients are eligible for consideration subject to agreed criteria.

  Drug Addicts
  Jim Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Heywood and Middleton are receiving drug treatment. [168538]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  In 2000–01, there were 712 people receiving drug treatment in Rochdale. This is the latest available data. Data broken down by drug action team for 2001–02 and 2002–03 have not been finalised.

  Exubera Inhaler
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Exubera inhaler will gain a certificate of a medicinal product and become available on the NHS to diabetics. [170535]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  As with all marketing authorisation applications, before Exubera is granted a licence and becomes available in the United Kingdom it must be fully evaluated in relation to the appropriate standards required in the relevant European rules and
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  regulations on medicinal products. Data submitted in support of the application will need to demonstrate that the safety, quality and efficacy of the product are satisfactory for its intended use.

  Food Procurement
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is towards local food chain procurement; and what attempts he has made to amend his Department's competitive tendering rules. [170140]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) and NHS Estates have produced an action plan, entitled "Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative", on behalf of the Department. The action plan was produced in response to the action on farming and food programme and it focuses on promoting sustainability in terms of NHS food procurement. This plan can be viewed at the PASA's website at www.pasa.nhs.uk or copies can be requested from the Corporate Affairs Manager, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, 80 Lightfoot Street, Chester CH2 3AD.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is towards special dietary provision by health trusts with reference to(a) halal, (b) kosher and (c) vegan diets. [170141]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Ensuring patients have access to adequate nutrition is a key component of effective health care. National health service trusts should have arrangements in place to ensure that the individual dietary needs of all patients can be met whether these arise from clinical need, cultural or religious requirements, or individual choice.

  The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is currently re-negotiating two new central agreements for the provision of special diets and authentic ethnic food. The process is currently under way for developing the specifications for these with religious and cultural leaders and with dieticians and the British Dietetic Association to ensure authenticity and acceptability of the products.

  General Practitioners
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the(a) average cost of each patient consultation to a general practitioner and (b) average (i) hourly and (ii) daily cost to the NHS of a general practitioner's time was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [168716]

  Mr. Hutton
  Data on general and personal medical services expenditure and activity are included in the Department's annual reports.

  The report for 2004—Cm 6204—was published on 29 April 2004, and figure 7.5 of the report shows that expenditure per consultation was £17.42 in 2002–03.
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  The Report is available in the Library and on the Department's website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/AnnualReports/DHAnnualReportsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4080936&chk=OsqvVR

  General practitioners are self-employed contractors to the national health service and so determine their own hours of work and the hours of work of the staff that they employ to assist them. It is not possible, therefore, to estimate hourly or daily rates for a GP's time.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) under what circumstances a general practitioner may make a charge to patients for signing official documents; and if he will make a statement; [169746]

  (2) if he will issue guidance to primary care trusts on suitable levels for charges by general practitioners for signing documents; [169756]

  (3) if he will list the official documents and certificates which require a general practitioner's signature; and what action he is taking to satisfy himself that the level of charges by general practitioners for such signatures are reasonable. [169757]

  Mr. Hutton
  General practitioners are required to sign the following prescribed list of medical certificates:To support a claim or to obtain payment either personally or by proxy; to prove incapacity to work or for self-support for the purposes of an award by the Secretary of State; or to enable proxy to draw pensions etc.
  To establish pregnancy for the purpose of obtaining welfare foods.
  To secure registration of stillbirth.
  To enable payment to be made to an institution or other person in case of mental disorder of persons entitled to payment from public funds.
  To establish unfitness for jury service.
  To support late application for reinstatement in civil employment or notification of non-availability to take up employment owing to sickness.
  To enable a person to be registered as an absent voter on grounds of physical incapacity.
  To support applications for certificates conferring exemption from charges in respect of drugs, medicines and appliances.
  To support a claim by or on behalf of a severely mentally impaired person for exemption from liability to pay the Council Tax or eligibility for a discount in the amount payable.

  They must also sign prescription forms. If the doctor is asked to sign another document, such as a passport application form, he or she is not obliged to do so. However, if the GP does do this work, he or she is entitled to charge a fee. There are no plans to issue guidance on the level of this fee since successive Governments have regarded it as a private matter to be agreed upon between doctor and patient.
  455W
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much income general practitioners lost in 2003–04 owing to not meeting specific targets imposed on them by his Department in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement [170206]

  Mr. Hutton
  No targets have been imposed on general practitioners in any of the last three years.

  Guide Dogs
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support is given to train guide dogs for the blind. [171536]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: The Government do not fund the training of guide dogs. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is a registered charity and has not requested core funding from the Department or from the National Lottery.

  Health Checks (Over-75s)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what tests are contained in the general practitioner health check for all patients aged 75 or over who request it and have not had a consultation within the last 12 months. [169717]

  Mr. Hutton
  Tests to be undertaken in the health check for patients aged 75 and over are not specified. It is a matter of practitioners' clinical judgment, based on the patient's needs arising from the consultation.

  Health Directorates
  Angel Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each local health directorate in England the number of(a) men and (b) women elected. [164632]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Health Services
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents in Bootle awaiting heart surgery have had the option of choosing an alternative hospital for quicker treatment in the last 12 months. [169263]

  Selected Trusts in Crosby area: Counts of finished admission episodes (valid waiting list and booked cases) by time waited grouping—NHS hospitals, 1997–98 to 2002–03

  Time waited grouping

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  0 to 3 months

  38,836

  35,102

  36,452

  37,931

  35,230

  34,472

  more than 3 to 6 months

  4,618

  5,478

  5,672

  5,740

  5,723

  5,652

  more than 6 to 9 months

  2,384

  2,896

  2,414

  2,778

  3,174

  2,597

  more than 9 to 12 months

  1,685

  1,918

  1,947

  2,353

  2,033

  2,607

  more than 12 months

  2,753

  3,377

  2,990

  2,636

  2,235

  1,749

  Total admissions

  50,276

  48,771

  49,475

  51,438

  48,395

  47,077

  Selected Trusts in Crosby area: Counts of finished admission episodes (valid waiting list and booked cases) for aggregated time waited groupings—NHS hospitals, 1997–98 to 2002–03

  Time waited grouping

  1997––98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  0 to 3 months

  38,836

  35,102

  36,452

  37,931

  35,230

  34,472

  more than 3 months

  11,440

  13,669

  13,023

  13,507

  13,165

  12,605

  more than 6 months

  6,822

  8,191

  7,351

  7,767

  7,442

  6,953

  456W
  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of suspected cancer patients in Bootle saw an NHS consultant within two weeks in each of the last seven years. [169265]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information from 2000–01, the earliest available, is shown in the table. BOOTLE—Waiting times for first consultant outpatient appointment for suspected cancer following urgent GP referral.

  Seen within two weeks

  Quarter

  NHS Trust

  Percentage

  Number

  2000–01

  4

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  665

  2001–02

  1

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  683

  2001–02

  2

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  712

  2001–02

  3

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  878

  2001–02

  4

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  795

  2002–03

  1

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  916

  2002–03

  2

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  992

  2002–03

  3

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  1066

  2002–03

  4

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  1019

  2003–04

  1

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  1094

  2003–04

  2

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  1150

  2003–04

  3

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100

  1151

  Source:

  Department of Health form QMCW.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inpatients in Crosby had to wait more than(a) three, (b) six, (c) nine and (d) 12 months for treatment in each year since 1997; and what the percentage change in each year was in each case. [164307]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information is not collected on a constituency basis but at national health service trust level. This information is shown in the tables.
  457W

  Selected Trust in Crosby area: Counts of finished admission episodes (valid waiting list and booked cases) for aggregated time waited groupings—NHS hospitals, 1997–98 to 2002–03

  Time waited grouping

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  more than 9 months

  4,438

  5,295

  4,937

  4,989

  4,268

  4,356

  more than 12 months

  2,753

  3,377

  2,990

  2,636

  2,235

  1,749

  Total admissions

  50,276

  48,771

  49,475

  51,438

  48,395

  47,077

  Selected Trust in Crosby area: Counts of finished admission episodes (valid waiting list and booked cases) for aggregated time waited groupings—NHS hospitals, 1997–98 to 2002–03

  Time waited grouping

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  0 to 3 months

  −9.6

  3.8

  4.1

  −7.1

  −2.2

  more than 3 months

  19.5

  −4.7

  3.7

  −2.5

  −4.3

  more than 6 months

  20.1

  −10.3

  5.7

  −4.2

  −6.6

  more than 9 months

  19.3

  −6.8

  1.1

  −14.5

  2.1

  more than 12 months

  22.7

  −11.5

  −11.8

  −15.2

  −21.7

  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. Figures are grossed for coverage, except for 2001–02 and 2002–03, which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.

  3. Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.

  4. Trusts in Crosby Area:
  REM Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust
  REQ Southport and Formby Hospitals NHS Trust
  RJV West Lancashire NHS Trust
  RVY Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust.

  5. Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust was created on 1 April 1999 from Southport and Formby Hospitals NHS Trust and part of West Lancashire NHS Trust. The figures for West Lancashire NHS Trust for 1997–98 and 1998–99 are for the whole trust. It is not possible to identify the proportion of this figure attributable to Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of suspected cancer patients in Wigan saw an NHS consultant within two weeks in each of the last seven years. [169348]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information from 2000–01, the earliest available, is shown in the following table.

  Waiting times for first consultant outpatient appointment for suspected cancer following urgent GP referral.

  Seen within two weeks

  Quarter

  NHS Trust

  Percentage

  Number

  2000–01

  4

  Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust

  100

  146

  2001–02

  1

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  214

  2001–02

  2

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  232

  2001–02

  3

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  304

  2001–02

  4

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  346

  2002–03

  1

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  306

  2002–03

  2

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  337

  2002–03

  3

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  353

  2002–03

  4

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  337

  2003–04

  1

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  396

  2003–04

  2

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  393

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  Seen within two weeks

  Quarter

  NHS Trust

  Percentage

  Number

  2003–04

  3

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  447

  Source:

  Department of Health form QMCW.

  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS waiting times for heart surgery in Wigan. [169349]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  In February 2004, no patient waited more than nine months for heart surgery at The Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospital National Health Service Trust or the South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust.

  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women in Wigan with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks in each of the last five years. [169352]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Waiting times for first consultant outpatient appointment for suspected breast cancer following urgent GP referral

  Seen within 2 weeks

  Quarter

  NHS Trust

  Percentage

  Number

  1999–2000

  1

  Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust

  100

  19

  1999–2000

  2

  Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust

  100

  31

  459W

  Waiting times for first consultant outpatient appointment for suspected breast cancer following urgent GP referral

  Seen within 2 weeks

  Quarter

  NHS Trust

  Percentage

  Number

  1999–2000

  3

  Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust

  100

  53

  1999–2000

  4

  Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust

  100

  59

  2000–2001

  1

  Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust

  100

  48

  2000–2001

  2

  Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust

  100

  68

  2000–2001

  3

  Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust

  100

  80

  2000–2001

  4

  Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust

  100

  71

  2001–2002

  1

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  89

  2001–2002

  2

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  93

  2001–2002

  3

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  93

  2001–2002

  4

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  106

  2002–03

  1

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  107

  2002–2003

  2

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  88

  2002–2003

  3

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  120

  2002–2003

  4

  Wrightington. Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  88

  2003–2004

  1

  Wrightington. Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  93

  2003–2004

  2

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  98

  2003–2004

  3

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  100

  110

  Source:

  DH form QMCW.

  Hospitals (Bedside Televisions)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department intends to take to resolve the problems in some hospitals where bedside televisions cannot be switched off. [169722]

  Mr. Hutton
  The bedside televisions provided can be switched off and no action is therefore required. Patients can turn off screens or turn them to face the wall if they prefer.

  Immigrant Medical Inspections
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which bodies have had the prime responsibility for making available medical staff to support local authorities in their functions related to the Control of Disease Act 1984 during the NHS reorganisations of the last five years; and whether funding has followed these changes. [156843]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Long-standing central guidance has been that the local consultant in communicable disease control (CCDC) should normally be the local authority proper officer for the purposes of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984. Local authorities also look to the national health service to provide medical officers for the purposes of the port health regulations which are made, or deemed to be made, under powers in the Act.
  460W
  In the last five years, CCDCs have been employed by health authorities, primary care trusts (PCTs—which were created in three waves, from April 2000, April 2001 and April 2002) and, from 1 April 2003, the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

  From 2003–04, funding previously allocated to health authorities has been made available directly to PCTs. From April 2003, all PCTs which transferred staff to the HPA were top-sliced in line with the expenditure associated with the staff transferred. This included the funding for CCDCs and their teams.

  Internet Medicine Sales
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list websites which have been(a) closed and (b) required to amend their web pages by their internet service providers following representations made by (i) the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency in the last year and (ii) the Medicines Control Agency for each year between 1997 and 2003 for (A) being in breach of the law on the scale of unlicensed medicines via the internet and (B) providing medicines without adequate patient consultations. [167807]

  Mr. Hutton
  During the period 1997 to 2003, the former Medicines Control Agency (MCA) achieved compliance through amendment to the website by the internet service providers in six cases involving the sale and supply of all medicines via the internet. A further seven websites were closed as a result of the operators voluntarily agreeing to do so. These cases involved both licensed and unlicensed medicines.

  Specific enforcement activity is a matter between the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the individual(s) concerned.

  Mobile Telecommunication Masts
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to undertake further research into the health effects of G3 technology mobile telecommunication masts. [170128]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 4 May 2004]: A review of recent research entitled, "Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields", published by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) advisory group on non-ionising radiation concluded:
  "Exposure levels from living near to mobile phone base stations are extremely low, and the overall evidence indicates that they are unlikely to pose a risk to health."

  Nevertheless, following the precautionary approach advocated by the independent expert group on mobile phones (IEGMP) in May 2000 (www.iegmp.org.uk), the LINK mobile telecommunications and health research (MTHR) programme, was established under an independent programme management committee (PMC), following the publication of the IEGMP report. The PMC has expressed its wish to undertake research into the effects of 3G exposures and discussions are already taking place on how this can be added to the overall programme of research. Further information about this programme as a whole can be found on the MTHR website at www.mthr.org.uk.
  461W
  The operators of mobile telephone equipment, including 3G technologies, ensure that public exposure does not exceed national and international guidelines. A substantial number of measurements of potential exposures of the public from base station emissions, have been made by a number of bodies, including the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) (www.nrpb.org) and Ofcom, formerly the Radiocommunications Agency (www.ofcom.org.uk). In all cases, exposures have been very much lower than guidelines.

  National Service Frameworks
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress towards the National Framework milestone for primary care group and primary care trust schemes for older people to receive more help from pharmacists in using their medicines. [170617]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  While we do not collect data centrally on the number of primary care trusts (PCTs) that have schemes in place so that older people can get more help from pharmacists in using their medicines, there is good evidence to indicate that the number of pharmacists providing support to patients, general practitioners and PCTs to improve medicine taking has increased significantly since 2001, when the older people's national service framework was published.

  PCTs now employ over 1,000 pharmacists, some of whom provide hands on support to GP practices to set up medicines management schemes, which help patients take their medicines more effectively. Through the national medicines management collaborative at least 393 community pharmacies are actively involved in programmes such as prescription intervention schemes, medication reviews, return of unwanted medicines, and minor ailment schemes, thereby encouraging self-care and support to vulnerable groups, particularly older people. This includes enhanced prescription collection and delivery services, medicines management services to care homes and domiciliary visiting. The Department is also funding a trial of structured services based exclusively in community pharmacies for patients with coronary heart disease, led by the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee.

  The proposed new community pharmacy contractual framework, which is currently being negotiated, will also be an important driver for change and will help to ensure that pharmacists are more involved in supporting patients in using their medicines. Repeat dispensing, which is expected to be an essential service provided by all pharmacies, will enable patients with stable conditions to obtain a prescription from their GP, which can then be dispensed in several instalments by their pharmacy over an agreed period of time.

  The first pharmacist supplementary prescribers have qualified and will be writing their first prescriptions imminently. Supplementary prescribing within a clinical management plan agreed with the doctor will be particularly beneficial for patients with chronic diseases. The work of the medicines partnership taskforce, funded by the Department, has helped professionals and older people to become more involved in medication reviews.
  462W
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress towards the National Service Framework milestone for single integrated community services. [170619]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Of the 138 areas in England that have been identified to be covered by integrated health and social services community equipment services, 110, or 72 per cent., predicted in January 2004 that they would meet the four integration criteria, which are: to have a pooled budget, a sole manager, a manager's advisory board, and unified stock. The majority of the remaining services are expected to complete their integration during the course of the year.

  Neurosurgical Consultants
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neurosurgical trainees who were awarded their Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training more than six months ago have not yet received a consultant appointment, excluding locum consultancies. [167059]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  NHS Land Sales
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the sale of surplus NHS land within the Northumbria NHS Trust area. [170414]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  An agreement in principle has been given to transfer surplus land in the ownership of Secretary of State for Health to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Details of the transaction and the price to be paid have still to be determined.

  Some of the land under consideration for transfer falls within the area covered by Northumbria national health service trust.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what conditions attach to the receipt of the proceeds of sale of the surplus NHS land to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; [168350]

  (2) what arrangements have been entered into with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that the Department receives a share of any profits made on the subsequent sale of the surplus NHS sites by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. [168351]

  Mr. Hutton
  The announcement on 7 April was of an in-principle agreement to transfer the sites and the detailed terms of the transfer are still under discussion.

  NHS Recruitment
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether NHS organisations adhere to the Code of Practice on Ethical Recruitment in the granting of work permits to foreign healthcare applicants. [170668]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 4 May 2004]: We monitor compliance to the code of practice through information supplied by strategic health authorities and also publish of a list of agencies who agree to comply with the code.
  463W
  National health Service employers may only apply for a work permit following a professional registration assessment by the relevant statutory body.

  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which medical professionals from EU accession countries after 1 May will help to fill vacancies for(a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) dentists in the NHS. [168069]

  Mr. Hutton
  No assessment has been made on how many national health service vacancies could be filled by healthcare professionals from European Union accession countries after 1 May.

  However, international recruitment has a long established history with many healthcare staff from around the world having come to the United Kingdom at some point in their career. International recruitment has made a key contribution to the delivery of services in the NHS, and is a two way process. Welcoming healthcare professionals from abroad gives valuable opportunities for a transfer of experience and the sharing of ideas.

  NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Qualified speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists employed in the NHS as at 30 September each year

  Headcount

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Increase Number

  Percentage

  Speech and language

  5,430

  5,685

  5,960

  6,243

  813

  15.0

  Therapists

  Occupational therapists

  13,129

  13,914

  14,749

  15,391

  2,262

  17.2

  Physiotherapists

  15,608

  16,212

  16,885

  17,922

  2,314

  14.8

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Training commissions

  Headcount

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Increase Number

  Percentage

  Speech and language

  457

  558

  553

  597

  140

  30.6

  Therapists

  Occupational therapists

  1,173

  1,385

  1,563

  1,692

  519

  44.2

  Physiotherapists

  1,346

  1,473

  1,780

  2,157

  811

  60.3

  Source:

  Department of Health Quarterly Monitoring

  Parliamentary Questions
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Richmond Park will receive an answer to her questions regarding the use of Thimerosal, tabled on 22 March. [168865]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I replied to the hon. Member on 4 May 2004,Official Report, column 1474W and 5 May 2004, Official Report, column 1626W.

  Patient Forums
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of patient forums in representing the interests of patients following the abolition of community health councils; and if he will make a statement. [167291]

  NHS Therapists
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS therapists for children with disabilities in mainstream schools have been recruited in the last three years; how many additional training places for such NHS therapists have been created in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [I70607]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not specifically available on the number of therapists for children with disabilities that have been recruited to the national health service. The tables show the number of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists employed in the NHS and entering training each year.

  Between September 2000 and 2003, the number of speech and language therapists employed in the NHS has increased by 15 per cent. Physiotherapists have increased by 15 per cent., and occupational therapists by 17 per cent.. The Government is also increasing the number of students entering training each year; since 1999–2000, training places in speech and language therapy have increased by 31 per cent., in occupational therapy by 44 per cent., and by 60 per cent., in physiotherapy.

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Community health councils had a general duty to represent the interests of the public in the health service. The new system of patient and public involvement is a much broader structure with a range of specific features.

  The new system comprises on the spot support for patients through patient advice and liaison services (PALS), independent support for complainants through the independent complaints advocacy service (ICAS), the powers to scrutinise health services by overview and scrutiny committees of local authorities, and a duty on the national health service to involve and consult patients and the public in the planning and development of services.
  465W
  On top of these arrangements there are also 572 independent patients' forums with a clear remit to monitor local NHS services, obtain the views of patients using those services and feed those views into local decision-making.

  The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, the independent body responsible for supporting, advising on and monitoring the work of forums will also be responsible for reviewing how effectively forums have been in carrying out their responsibilities. It is also responsible for ensuring that appropriate and high quality support is provided to forums by the forum support organisations—it does this through rigorous contract and performance management arrangements.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers were employed in his Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04; what the total cost was in each year; and if he will make a statement. [162845]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The cost for all staff employed in the media centre from 1997–98 to 2003–04 is shown in table 1.

  Table 1

  Cost (£ million)

  1997–98

  1,062

  1998–99

  1,239

  1999–2000

  1,253

  2000–01

  1,233

  2001–02

  1,279

  2002–03

  1,077

  2003–04

  1,284

  Information showing the number of press officers employed by the Department is shown in table 2.

  Table 2

  Staff

  1990–91

  11

  1991–92

  12

  1992–93

  14

  1993–94

  14

  1994–95

  14

  1995–96

  17

  1996–97

  17

  1997–98

  15

  1998–99

  15

  1999–2000

  16

  2000–01

  19

  2001–02

  22

  2002–03

  24

  2003–04

  26

  The cost of employing press officers from 1990–91 to 1996–97 could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  QA Business Services
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he is taking to complete the 466W
  compensation calculations in respect of former employees of QA Business Services to achieve final conclusion of their claims; [170476]

  (2) when he expects all the agreed compensation claims in respect of former employees of QA Business Services to be settled and paid. [170532]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Almost all the former employees of QA Business Services, who have taken legal action over compensation, have now received offers in settlement. The professional advisers for the litigants have responded to the offers. We are currently considering the issues raised and will respond to the litigants shortly. It will then be a matter for the litigants to decide if the revised offers are acceptable or not.

  All those non-litigants who have been shown to have suffered losses on the same basis as the litigants have already received compensation payments.

  Rheumatological/Musculoskeletal Conditions
  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of hospital trusts provide access to a multidisciplinary team for patients with rheumatological conditions; [171931]

  (2) what steps are being taken to increase patient access to direct advice, information and support to assist them in coping with their conditions. [171933]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information is not collected centrally on the proportion of hospital trusts with access to a multidisciplinary team for patients with rheumatological conditions.

  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 rheumatological conditions are not identified specifically, people with these conditions stand to benefit from the improvement in access to specialist care for patients with any form of orthopaedic condition.

  Maximum waiting times have fallen over the past few years and will continue to do so. By the end of 2005, the maximum waiting time for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant will fall to three months and the maximum wait for inpatient treatment will fall to six months. Also, the older peoples' national service framework set standards that will improve treatment and care for a range of older people, including those with rheumatological conditions.

  Royal Colleges
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of those classified as(a) senior managers, (b). managers, (c) clerical staff and (d) administrative staff within the NHS are eligible to join a royal college; and how many are not. [171361]
  467W
  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Scanners
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of a(a) MRI scanner and (b) CT scanner. [169709]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The costs of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners are dependent on the precise specification of equipment required at each individual institution. Costs may also be influenced by the method used to purchase equipment.

  In England, costs range from £300,000 to £700,000 for CT scanners and £650,000 to £1,500,000 for MRI scanners. These costs are not inclusive of value added tax or any necessary build and installation costs.

  Local authority

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  20031

  Barking and Dagenham

  22

  37

  32

  40

  28

  46

  46

  Barnet

  63

  77

  50

  71

  77

  93

  88

  Bexley

  18

  17

  22

  17

  21

  22

  35

  Brent

  195

  163

  211

  287

  293

  226

  175

  Bromley

  21

  13

  26

  28

  26

  9

  20

  Camden

  105

  103

  78

  81

  100

  125

  119

  City of London

  —

  —

  2

  1

  1

  2

  5

  Croydon

  64

  83

  87

  92

  85

  108

  108

  Ealing

  162

  212

  197

  238

  240

  261

  153

  Enfield

  45

  68

  63

  83

  79

  111

  72

  Greenwich

  54

  70

  59

  59

  91

  98

  88

  Hackney

  117

  121

  96

  180

  176

  138

  217

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  54

  59

  49

  75

  34

  10

  19

  Haringey

  145

  99

  135

  158

  158

  79

  106

  Harrow

  64

  73

  75

  89

  99

  124

  110

  Havering

  19

  6

  12

  27

  21

  15

  19

  Hillingdon

  75

  98

  79

  86

  93

  98

  123

  Hounslow

  74

  79

  105

  104

  45

  24

  42

  Islington

  77

  84

  93

  93

  106

  112

  113

  Kensington and Chelsea

  51

  43

  64

  45

  47

  36

  47

  Kingston upon Thames

  10

  17

  15

  12

  17

  18

  8

  Lambeth

  94

  102

  100

  126

  137

  98

  122

  Lewisham

  57

  78

  68

  68

  64

  82

  34

  Merton

  39

  21

  30

  40

  43

  65

  30

  Newham

  174

  213

  237

  290

  238

  228

  247

  Redbridge

  100

  70

  71

  58

  73

  91

  97

  Richmond upon Thames

  9

  14

  16

  9

  14

  16

  6

  Southwark

  75

  61

  74

  102

  98

  69

  76

  Sutton

  23

  18

  15

  14

  23

  31

  34

  Tower Hamlets

  136

  104

  107

  120

  128

  151

  135

  Waltham Forest

  94

  93

  93

  102

  87

  93

  99

  Wandsworth

  70

  67

  59

  51

  55

  87

  95

  Westminster, City of

  105

  81

  89

  92

  89

  73

  98

  London total

  2,411

  2,444

  2,503

  2,938

  2,886

  2,839

  2,786

  1 2003 is provisional data and may be subject to small adjustments in the future.

  Sources:

  Statutory Notifications to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre.

  All forms of Tuberculosis. Corrected Notifications.

  Data excludes chemoprophylaxis.

  Data excludes Port Health Authorities.

  Population denominators ONS.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of people eligible for the BCG inoculation in Greater London, broken down by national health service trust, received it in each year since 1997. [170507]

  Solvent Abuse
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many children were treated for solvent abuse in each of the last seven years; [169031]

  (2) what the average waiting time is for children requiring consultations for solvent abuse. [169032]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Tuberculosis
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of people eligible for the BCG inoculation in Greater London, broken down by national health service trust, received it in each year since 1997. [170501]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of tuberculosis cases is not available broken down by national health service trust. As the nearest alternative, information on tuberculosis notification is shown in the table at local authority level.

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not available in the format requested. The number of BCG vaccinations to children aged under one and those aged 10–15 given by trusts in London is shown in table 9 of the annual statistical bulletin "NHS Immunisation Statistics,
  469W
  England: 2002–03" and in similar tables in earlier bulletins, copies of which are available in the Library. Copies of bulletins from 1998–99 onwards are also available electronically on the Department's website at:

  www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0316.htm,

  www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0218.htm,

  www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0121.htm,

  www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0026.htm and

  www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb9928.htm.

  Waiting Lists/Times
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of patients with suspected cancer in Burnley saw an NHS consultant within two weeks in each of the last seven years. [167943]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis. Information from 2000–01, the earliest available, is shown in the table and relates to the national health service organisations serving the Burnley area.

  Waiting times for first consultant out-patient appointment for suspected cancer following urgent GP referral

  Seen within 2 weeks

  NHS Trust

  Percentage

  Number

  2000–01

  Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  100.0

  175

  2000–01

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  100.0

  173

  2001–02

  Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  100.0

  229

  2001–02

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  100.0

  262

  2002–03

  Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  99.6

  246

  2002–03

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  100.0

  317

  2003–04

  East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  688

  Note:

  East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust was formed from the merger of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust and Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust on 1 April 2003

  Source:

  DH form QMCW.

  Vaccinations
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there is a shortage of serum for(a) measles, (b) mumps and (c) rubella for children whose parents opt for individual inoculations; and if he will make a statement. [171738]
  470W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department holds no information about the supply of single vaccines.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what analysis he has made of the potential link between the use of mercury-based whooping cough vaccines and the incidence of autism; and if he will make a statement. [167767]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  As with all medicinal products, vaccine safety is continually monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and its independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). The MHRA and CSM have thoroughly reviewed the safety of mercury-containing vaccines, including alleged links with autism, on a number of occasions.

  In 2001, CSM conducted a major review of the available evidence and has since then considered new data as it has emerged. In 2003, following a review of further studies, including two United Kingdom studies involving more than 100,000 children, CSM advice was placed on the MHRA website at http://medicines.mhra.gov.uk.

  Further studies from Denmark involving almost half a million children have also specifically investigated the suggested link between mercury-containing vaccines and autism. None of these studies found any evidence of a causal association.

  On the basis of the available data, the advice of CSM remains that there is no evidence of harm from the form of mercury contained in vaccines, with the exception of possible hypersensitivity reactions, typically skin rashes or local swelling at the site of injection. The CSM advises that the benefits of immunisation with such vaccines outweigh any potential risks of vaccination. This view concurs with that of the World Health Organisation.

  Despite the strong evidence supporting the safety of mercury-containing vaccines, the European medicines regulatory body, the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) continues to promote the development of vaccines without, or with the lowest possible levels of, mercury compounds. The CSM supports the EMEA position. In response to this, several UK licensed vaccines have had levels of such compounds reduced or removed completely from the manufacture of the component antigens or from the final vaccine.

  Special European Un ion Programmes Body
  Special European Un ion Programmes Body
  Immigration Appeals
  Immigration Appeals
  Olympic Games 2004
  Olympic Games 2004
  Taiwan: World Health Organisation
  Taiwan: World Health Organisation
  Tristan da Cunha: Post and Supplies
  Tristan da Cunha: Post and Supplies
  Afghanistan: UN Assistance Mission
  Afghanistan: UN Assistance Mission
  Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy
  Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy
  Olympic Games 2012: London Bid
  Olympic Games 2012: London Bid
  Labour Market Conditions: Ethnic Minorities
  Labour Market Conditions: Ethnic Minorities
  Export Subsidies
  Export Subsidies
  Work at Height Regulations: Mountaineering and Similar Activities
  Work at Height Regulations: Mountaineering and Similar Activities
  34 Second Fuel Oil
  34 Second Fuel Oil
  Business: Regulation and Taxation
  Business: Regulation and Taxation
  Gulf War 1990–91: Vaccines
  Gulf War 1990–91: Vaccines