Written Answers of 14 May 2004

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  China
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 28 April 2004,Official Report, columns 1068–69W, on China (coercive population control), how and by whom the independent monitoring and evaluation of the impact of UN FPA's work in China is carried out; and if he will make a statement. [172985]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  In 2002, an impact survey was conducted by the China Population and Information Research Centre (CPIRC). Using funds provided by DFID, Southampton University provided technical assistance and quality control in the process of preparing the impact survey report.

  In the current country programme which lasts from 2003 to 2005, the baseline survey and monitoring are funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and conducted jointly by CPIRC and the Chinese Ministry of Health. The baseline was completed in September last year. DFID is again providing funding to Southampton for quality control of the surveys. The total amount of funding from DFID is £99,200.

  Development Aid (Africa)
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total amount of UK development aid to African countries has been since 1992. [172502]

  Hilary Benn
  The total amount of UK development aid to African countries since 1992 is set out in the first table. This includes development expenditure by DFID, other government departments and the CDC (formerly the Commonwealth Development Corporation), whose recent reorganisation will greatly enhance its ability to mobilise investment into Africa. The fluctuations in this series are due to volatility in CDC investments and debt relief over which DFID has no control.

  Total UK Development Programme to Africa

  £ million

  1992–93

  521

  1993–94

  458

  1994–95

  475

  1995–96

  436

  1996–97

  445

  1997–98

  450

  1998–99

  574

  1999–2000

  631

  2000–01

  783

  2001–02

  879

  2002–03

  871

  Source:

  Statistics on International Development and Statistics database.

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  The DFID programme expenditure for Africa is shown in the second table; this did in fact increase by £164 million in 2002–03 although there was a slight decrease in the overall UK development aid.

  DFID programme Expenditure for Africa

  £million

  1992–93

  407

  1993–94

  395

  1994–95

  410

  1995–96

  351

  1996–97

  350

  1997–98

  345

  1998–99

  446

  1999–2000

  495

  2000–01

  651

  2001–02

  586

  2002–03

  750

  Source:

  Statistics on International Development and Statistics Database.

  HIPC Initiative
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the countries which have reached decision point in the highly indebted poor countries initiative will receive their irrevocable debt relief. [172463]

  Hilary Benn
  Thirteen of the 27 countries that have qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative have reached Completion Point, the stage at which they receive an irrevocable reduction in their stock of debt. The next country expected to receive irrevocable debt relief is Ghana, which is expected to reach Completion Point by July 2004. A further five countries—Cameroon, Chad, Madagascar, Malawi and Rwanda—are expected to reach Completion Point by the end of 2004. Of the remaining countries, seven—Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone and Zambia—are expected to reach Completion Point in 2005, and one, the Democratic Republic of Congo by the end of 2006.

  Mines
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library a copy of the recent report on UK mine action funding policy. [171053]

  Hilary Benn
  In reviewing its current policy on humanitarian mine action DFID commissioned an internal report to assist in the decision making process. The report is exempt from release under Part II, section 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information on the basis that to do so would harm the frankness candour of internal discussion.

  The resulting changes in policy from the review have been announced to the House in a Statement dated 10 May. I have also written to the Chair of the Commons All Party Landmine Eradication Group and the Heads of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Development

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  Programme (UNDP) Mine Action Team and the main UK based Non-Governmental Organisations working in the Humanitarian Landmine Sector.

  Sudan
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions his Department is taking to work with the UN World Food Programme and other non-governmental organisations to assist refugees in Sudan. [171118]

  Hilary Benn
  There are approximately 100,000 refugees currently in Sudan. These are of Eritrean origin and are being supported by the World Food Programme's (WFP) Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation. DFID does not contribute to this World Food Programme operation.

  Since October 2003, DFID has provided the following for World Food Programme operations in Sudan.

  Beneficiaries

  Amount (£ million)

  Sudanese affected by conflict in Darfur

  2

  Sudanese refugees from Darfur in Eastern Chad

  1

  Sudanese population affected by war and natural disasters

  3

  Further support for Sudanese affected by worsening conflict in Darfur

  2

  DFID also provided £2 million to UNHCR in the last financial year for the assistance of Sudanese refugees in Chad.

  World Bank
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of how the World Bank's Extractive Industries Review will influence future policy-making, with particular reference to(a) the link between extractive industries and poverty alleviation, (b) consultations with indigenous populations before extractive industries are set in place, (c) human rights obligations where extractive industries are about to be set up and (d) giving a higher profile and better funding to renewable energy projects. [172986]

  Hilary Benn
  The Government have been actively engaged in the Extractive Industries Review (EIR) process. DFID does not anticipate that the review will significantly influence future UK policy-making. It will however contribute to the ongoing process of improving the sustainable development performance of oil, gas and mining sectors; and the high standards that the World Bank encourages from its partners.

  DFID supports the main conclusion of the review that the World Bank Group should remain engaged with the extractives sector and agrees that it is important that social and environmental safeguards are rigorously applied, that human rights are respected, and that efforts are made to improve the governance and transparency of revenue flows from the sector.

DEFENCE

  Afghanistan
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which locations UK military forces have been deployed in Afghanistan in the past six weeks; for what reason in each case; whether the deployed forces have been involved in conflict; and if he will make a statement. [172279]

  Mr. Ingram
  The United Kingdom currently has military forces routinely deployed in Kabul as part of the International Security Assistance Force, across the five northern provinces of Balkh, Faryab, Jowjzan, Samangan and Sar-e Pol covered by our Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and in both Kabul and Bagram as part of the coalition headquarters. All of these forces are routinely engaged in creating the conditions for stability in Afghanistan, through conflict prevention and resolution; examples during the past six weeks include the PRT's contributions towards facilitating Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration in the North, and to calming tensions in Meymanyeh.

  Defence Fire Service
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the size is of the backlog of members of the Defence Fire Service, RAF fire-fighters and contractors' personnel from military sites for their four-yearly residential refresher training at DFS Central Training Establishment at RAF Manston. [172523]

  Mr. Ingram
  It is estimated that there are around 1,200 fire fighters whose refresher training is now overdue. This has been caused by a temporary shortage of instructors at the Defence Fire Service Training Establishment at RAF Manston, a situation we expect to remedy over the next three months.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on his Department's consideration of the option to transfer Defence Fire Service and related training from Manston to the Fire Service College at Moreton-in-Marsh. [172525]

  Mr. Ingram
  Fire fighter training is included within the scope of the Airfield Support Services Project which is seeking to establish the most cost effective method of providing airfield support, and wider fire services, without compromising operational effectiveness. We are currently in the process of reviewing the bids we have received from the competing consortia and the Public Sector Comparator. Should it be determined that the Defence Fire Services will remain within the public sector we can then reassess the position with regard to the future provision of fire fighter training.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the temporary use of the Fire Service College to clear any backlog in refresher training at the Defence Fire Service Central Training Establishment. [172526]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are no plans for the temporary use of the Fire Service College to deliver the Ministry of Defence refresher training. To provide such training at the Fire Service College would require personnel,
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  equipment and vehicles to be transferred to that location, which would then have a direct impact on other specialist fire training that is undertaken at the Defence Fire Service Central Training Establishment.

  Iraq
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on releasing data on the amount of munitions containing depleted uranium used by US forces during the Iraq war. [166868]

  Mr. Ingram
  There have been no such discussions as this is a matter for the United States Government. However, officials have advised their US counterparts of the information published by the Ministry of Defence on 1 September 2003,Official Report, column 900W, on the amount of depleted uranium used by United Kingdom forces during the recent conflict in Iraq.

  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British forces were engaged in the siege of Fallujah. [171924]

  Mr. Ingram
  No.

  Kosovo
  Andrew Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deployment of troops in Kosovo. [173374]

  Mr. Ingram
  The United Kingdom normally contributes around 200 personnel to the NATO KFOR mission in Kosovo. In response to the outbreak of violence in mid-March, we deployed the Ready Battalion—the UK contribution to NATO's Over the Horizon reserve for the Balkans—to Kosovo on 17 March to assist in calming tensions. This additional deployment ceased on 17 April 2004.

  Support Vehicles
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision will be made on the support vehicle contract; and if he will make a statement. [171574]

  Mr. Ingram
  On current plans an announcement on the preferred bidder is scheduled for the early summer.

WALES

  Departmental Procurement
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the(a) crockery, (b) cutlery and (c) glassware procured by his Department over the last five years is of British manufacture. [170809]

  Mr. Touhig
  The overriding principle for all purchases by the Wales Office is value for money. It holds a stock of crockery, cutlery and glassware, some of which was manufactured in Britain.

  Late Payments
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many invoices were not paid by the Wales Office 600W
  within the target of 30 days in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost was of the late payment of these invoices. [172760]

  Mr. Touhig
  Of 1,686 invoices paid by the Wales Office in the 2003–04 financial year, 67 or just under 4 per cent. were paid late, with the remainder paid promptly within 30 days.

  Office is not aware of any charge being incurred as a result of these late payments.

  Official Vehicles
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of official vehicles used by the Wales Office are run on(a) petrol, (b) diesel, (c) liquid petroleum gas and (d) compressed natural gas. [172776]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government Car Service provides the Wales Office with two ministerial cars, both run on petrol.

  University Students
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average university student debt in Wales was in each year since 1997. [172590]

  Mr. Touhig
  General measures relating to student finance have not yet been devolved to the National Assembly for Wales.

  The latest data issued by the Department for Education and Skills (from the Student Income and Expenditure Survey) revealed that the average anticipated student debt from all sources for students graduating in 2002–03 was 8,666 compared with 3,150 (3,465 in real terms) in 1998–99.

  The previous survey was in 1995–96.

  There are no separate figures for Welsh students or students studying at Welsh Institutions.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many students whose home is in Wales were at(a) universities in Wales and (b) universities in England in each year since 1997. [172592]

  Mr. Touhig
  Welsh domiciled full time higher education enrolments at Welsh and English Higher Education Institutions1 is as follows.

  Academic year

  Studying in Wales

  Studying in England

  1996–97

  27,980

  20,565

  1997–98

  28,715

  20,650

  1998–99

  29,785

  20,340

  1999–2000

  29,675

  20,035

  2000–01

  30,595

  19,900

  2001–02

  32,300

  19,495

  2002–03

  33,295

  19,725

  1As at December.

  Notes:

  All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.

  Includes undergraduate and postgraduate enrolments.

  Source:

  HESA Student Record

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Business Regulation
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library a copy of the Regulatory Impact Assessment accompanying the Conduct Regulations for Employment Agencies. [168610]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  A copy of the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 was deposited in the Libraries of the House on 27 November 2003. The title of the RIA is the Revision of Regulations for the Private Recruitment Industry.

  Dairy Industry
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on competition issues in the dairy industry. [170182]

  Alun Michael
  I have been asked to reply.

  Over time we have received a number of representations from hon. Members and others that have raised matters to do with competition issues in the dairy sector. Where appropriate we have taken these up with the DTI and competition authorities who are responsible for competition policy and its administration.

  Departmental Publications (Citizens Advice Bureaux)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations the Department has received from citizens advice bureaux about shortages of the Department's leaflets and forms in each year since 1997. [172603]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  I am not aware that the Department has received any representations from citizens advice bureaux specifically about shortages of the Department's leaflets and forms.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the(a) leaflets and (b) forms supplied by the Department to citizens advice bureaux; and how many of each leaflet were printed in the last 12 months. [172604]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Department's publications are listed on its website: www.dti.gov.uk/publications. The Department does not produce leaflets and forms specifically for citizens advice bureaux.

  Persons1 proceeded against for offences relating to air weapons, England and Wales 1998 to 2002

  Offence description

  Statute

  1998

  1999

  20002

  2001

  2002

  Possession of air weapon with intent to endanger life

  Firearms Act, 1968 Section 16

  35

  29

  27

  35

  32

  Using air weapons or imitation air weapon to resist arrest

  Firearms Act, 1968 Section 17(1)

  1

  4

  1

  —

  —

  Possessing air weapon or imitation air weapon at time of committing or being arrested for an offence specified in schedule 1 of the act

  Firearms Act, 1968 Section 17(2)

  34

  35

  47

  11

  32

  Possessing air weapon or imitation air weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence or resist arrest

  Firearms Act. 1968 Section 18(1)

  16

  14

  21

  12

  11

  Possession of an air weapon or imitation air weapon with intent to cause fear of violence

  Firearms Act, 1968 Section 16A (as amended by Firearms (Amendment) Act 1994

  136

  141

  154

  120

  127

  Possession of an air weapon by persons previously convicted of crime

  Firearms Act 1968 Section 21(4) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 157 Sch. 8 part III

  73

  73

  51

  54

  57

  602W
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1679W, which provides information on those organisations that ordered the largest number of publications for the year ending February 2004.

  Paid Leave (Oldham, West and Royton)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents of Oldham West and Royton qualify for paid leave entitlements. [170941]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  All workers resident in Oldham West and Royton qualify for paid annual leave entitlements; at least four weeks as set out in the Working Time Regulations. Whilst all women are entitled to 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave, only those who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to claim statutory maternity pay for that period.

  All employees in Oldham West and Royton who are eligible will be entitled to take statutory paternity leave with pay and statutory adoption leave with pay.

  Workers' Rights (South Ribble)
  Mr.Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents of South Ribble qualify for paid leave entitlements. [172149]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  All workers resident in South Ribble qualify for paid annual leave entitlements; at least four weeks as set out in the Working Time Regulations. Whilst all women are entitled to 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave, only those who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to claim statutory maternity pay for that period.

  All employees in South Ribble who are eligible will be entitled to take statutory paternity leave with pay and statutory adoption leave with pay.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Air Guns
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought for offences involving air guns in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [172444]

  Caroline Flint
  The available information is given in the table.

  Statistics for 2003 will be published in the autumn.
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  Persons1 proceeded against for offences relating to air weapons, England and Wales 1998 to 2002

  Offence description

  Statute

  1998

  1999

  20002

  2001

  2002

  Supplying air weapon to person denied them under Section 21

  Ibid Section 21 (5) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 157 Sch. 8 part III

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Carrying loaded air weapon in public place etc.

  Ibid Section 19

  246

  237

  213

  241

  186

  Trespassing with air weapon in a building

  Ibid Section 20(1)

  1

  2

  6

  1

  2

  Trespassing with air weapon on land

  Ibid Section 20(2)

  76

  35

  30

  35

  32

  Person under 17 acquiring air weapon

  Ibid Section 22(1)

  6

  3

  3

  2

  —

  Person under 14 having with him an air weapon or ammunition therefore

  Ibid Section 22(4)

  9

  13

  21

  12

  7

  Person under 17 having with him an air weapon in apublic place

  Ibid Section 22(5)

  60

  68

  66

  66

  51

  Person under 14 making improper use of air weapon when under supervision

  Ibid Section 23(1)

  2

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Person supervising person under 14, permitting improper use of air weapon

  Ibid Section 23(1)

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Selling or letting on hire an air weapon to person under 17

  Ibid Section 24(1)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Supplying air weapon to person under 14

  Ibid Section 24(4)

  1

  2

  4

  2

  2

  Supplying air weapon to person drunk or insane

  Ibid Section 25

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Failure to hand over air weapon or ammunition on demand by constable

  Ibid Section 47(2)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  696

  657

  647

  592

  540

  1 These data are on the principal offence: basis.

  2 Excludes figures for Staffordshire.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on preventing(a) crimes and (b) accidents involving air guns. [172447]

  Caroline Flint
  The Government are determined to tackle all aspects of gun crime and the underlying culture that supports it, working with the police and other statutory agencies, the voluntary sector and local communities, to tackle gun crime on a variety of fronts.

  We have recently introduced measures in the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 raising the age limit to 17 for owning air weapons and making it an offence to have an air weapon in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. This means that the police can now challenge anybody seen in a public place with an air weapon and arrest them if they are unable to give a satisfactory explanation.

  The Home Office produces a leaflet on the safe use of air weapons and arrangements have been made for a copy to be included with all new purchases.

  Animal Research
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to visit Huntingdon Life Sciences in Huntingdon. [170856]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I have no plans at present to visit Huntingdon Life Sciences. However, since becoming Home Secretary, I and other Home Office Ministers have held many discussions aimed at ensuring businesses and individuals involved in important scientific research and testing where animal experimentation is necessary can safely carry on their work without impediment from those who try to intimidate or obstruct them. Most recently, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Caroline Flint) met with you on 29 March 2004 to discuss the adverse effect the activities of animal rights extremist is having on members of staff at Huntingdon Life Sciences and the surrounding community.

  Animal Rights Activists
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken to curb illegal activities of animal rights activists. [172060]

  Caroline Flint
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 6 May 2004,Official Report, column 1692W.

  Arson
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children have been prosecuted for arson in each of the last seven years. [169107]

  (2) how many children have been prosecuted for arson under the influence of sniffing petrol in each of the last seven years. [169108]

  Paul Goggins
  The requested information on the number of persons aged 10 and under 18 years proceeded against for arson, England and Wales 1996 to 2002 is contained in the table.

  It is not possible from the information collected centrally by the Home Office to identify the number of persons aged 10 and under 18 years who were proceeded against for arson, who had been under the influence of sniffing petrol.

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

  Number of persons aged 10 and under 18 years proceeded against at the magistrates; courts for arson—England and Wales 1996 to 20021

  Proceeded against

  1996

  708

  1997

  878

  1998

  823

  1999

  924

  2000

  1,005

  2001

  1,134

  2002

  1,064

  1These data are on the principal offence basis

  CCTV
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public funding has been spent on CCTV security cameras in Sittingbourne and Sheppey since 1997. [170289]

  Ms Blears
  Since 1997, the Home Office has provided a total of £471,347 for CCTV schemes to Swale Borough Council, which includes the Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency.

  Allocation of that funding is a matter for Swale Borough Council and Kent County Constabulary. The information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public funding has been spent on CCTV security cameras in Oldham, West and Royton since 1997. [170956]

  Ms Blears
  Since 1997, the Home Office has provided £221,938 to Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, which includes the Oldham West and Royton Constituency for CCTV schemes.

  Allocation of funds across this area is the responsibility of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council and Greater Manchester Police.

  Child Offenders (Injuries)
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on injuries sustained by children in penal institutions, with particular reference to broken limbs; how many such injuries were suffered by children in such institutions in each of the last five years; how many and what percentage of the total are considered to have been inflicted by staff working in such institutions; what plans he has to introduce new or revised policies on the issue; and if he will make a statement. [169526]

  Paul Goggins
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has not received any recent representations on this subject.

  Statistical information on injuries is not collected centrally, but the Youth Justice Board has been reviewing the use of physical restraint procedures and the National Children's Bureau recently produced a report for the board on the use of physical intervention within the juvenile secure estate. The board is currently drawing up a code of practice on the use of physical restraint, which it is intended will apply in all establishments holding young people under 18. The board is also planning to review the techniques that are used in establishments, in the light of the tragic death of Gareth Myatt at Rainsbrook on 19 April.

  Civil Servants
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each civil service grade within his(a) Department and (b) Department's executive agencies, the total number of staff employed, broken down by (i) gender, (ii) ethnic group and (iii) age group and how many are registered disabled. [166390]
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  Fiona Mactaggart
  Data on staffing levels in the Civil Service is collected by the Cabinet Office and published in Civil Service Statistics. A copy of Civil Service Statistics, 2002 is available in the Library, and at www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics. The 2003 edition will be published in summer 2004.

  More recent data for the Home Department and its executive agencies is given in the tables, which will be placed in the Library.

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Derek Conway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the grant from public funds to the Commission for Racial Equality in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in distributing funds to commission area councils for racial equality, including Bexley. [169448]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The grant-in-aid paid to the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) in each of the last five years was as follows:

  £ million

  2000–2001

  16.685

  2001–2002

  20.516

  2002–2003

  20.424

  2003–2004

  123.902

  2004–2005

  19.200

  1 A further £4 million was provided in-year to cover a predicted shortfall in the value of Race Equality Council pension scheme.

  Substantial additional sums were allocated in the three year period 2001–02 to 2003–04 to allow the CRE to implement the provisions of the Race Relations Amendment Act and its modernisation programme. This increase was carried forward to the baseline for this year. The new baseline of £19.2 million (which includes a 4.5 per cent. reduction in administration costs) will be the starting point for considering next year's budget.

  The closing date for bids for Section 44 applications grants was 13 February 2004. Since that time the CRE and the Home Office have been working to agree this years delegated budget, and the CRE has been assessing a large pool of applications in accordance with its criteria. The number of successful applicants is higher than last year. The Commission notified applicants of its funding decisions on Thursday 6 May 2004.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters his Department received from the right hon. and hon. Members in each month(a) between May 1997 and June 2001 and (b) since June 2001. [163122]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The information is as follows:

  (a)

  Month

  No of letters received1

  April 2001

  1,734

  May 2001

  1,423

  June 2001

  1,065

  1excludes letters addressed to officials/agencies

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  Figures for previous years are not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  (b)

  Month

  No of letters received1

  July 2001

  724

  August 2001

  833

  September 2001

  1,346

  October 2001

  1,730

  November 2001

  1,602

  December 2001

  949

  January 2002

  1,723

  February 2002

  1,735

  March 2002

  1,443

  April 2002

  1,944

  May 2002

  1,654

  June 2002

  1,296

  July 2002

  2,001

  August 2002

  2,067

  September 2002

  1,407

  October 2002

  1,741

  November 2002

  1,466

  December 2002

  1,046

  January 2003

  2,107

  February 2003

  1,703

  March 2003

  1,963

  April 2003

  1,869

  May 2003

  1,574

  June 2003

  1,792

  July 2003

  2,270

  August 2003

  1,558

  September 2003

  1,824

  October 2003

  1,797

  November 2003

  1,800

  December 2003

  1,682

  January 2004

  1,140

  February 2004

  1,761

  1excludes letters addressed to officials/agencies

  Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to encourage business participation in crime and disorder reduction partnerships. [172428]

  Ms Blears
  We fully recognise the importance of business participation in the work of crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) and we have taken steps in a number of ways to encourage this.

  Firstly, companies and retail bodies are named under section 5(3) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 as invitees to participate in CDRP audits which are currently under way.

  We have also appointed 10 regional business crime reduction advisers who are currently engaged in a mapping exercise that will pull together data on how CDRPs across the country are prioritising business crime in their strategies. The advisers will work with the CDRPs to promote ways of including business crime activities in their strategies.

  A new toolkit on audits and strategies has been developed for CDRPs on the Crime Reduction website and a section on consulting on the findings of the audit will be available shortly highlighting the importance of consulting businesses during this process.
  608W
  Finally, one of the aims of the Action Against Business Crime (AABC) group is to strengthen the links between businesses and CDRPs, further reinforcing the importance of CDRPs and business working together.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the figures for crime and disorder reduction partnerships were for(a) violence against the person, (b) sex offences, (c) robbery, (d) burglary, (e) theft of a motor vehicle, (f) theft from a vehicle and (g) total crime in each year since 1999 to 2000. [170373]

  Ms Blears
  Recorded crime statistics at Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) level for the six offence groups mentioned are available on a financial year basis from 1999–2000. There are currently 376 CDRPs in England and Wales.

  CDRP figures for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 were published in July 2001 (Table 10 of Statistical Bulletin 12/01 'England and Wales, 12 months to March 2002') and can be accessed via the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at the following address: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hosb1201.pdf

  CDRP figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 can be found on the same website at the following address: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb703supl.xls

  The National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) was introduced across England and Wales in April 2002. Some police forces adopted the standard prior to this date. Broadly, the NCRS had the effect of increasing the number of crimes recorded by the police. Therefore, following the introduction of the standard, numbers of recorded crimes are not directly comparable with previous years.

  The new Home Office website www.crimestatistics.org.uk/tool/contains quarterly data for the 2002–03 financial year at CDRP level for a wide range of offences within the Recorded Crime series.

  Criminal Justice Interventions Programme
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been enrolled in the Criminal Justice Interventions Programme since its inception. [172496]

  Caroline Flint
  The Criminal Justice Interventions Programme (CJIP) is a three-year programme to develop and integrate measures for directing drug-misusing offenders out of crime and into treatment. The programme draws together and builds on the best existing solutions available and introduces new elements. Delivery at a local level is through integrated teams, using a case management approach to offer access to treatment and support from an offender's first point of contact with the criminal justice system through custody, court, sentence and beyond.

  As the programme engages offenders in a wide range of circumstances and at different times in an individuals' contact with the Criminal Justice System, there is no concept of "enrolling" offenders in the programme. Data systems for analysing activity and outcomes across the programme are still in progress but by March 2004 some 2,800 offenders per month were being drug tested of whom 52 per cent. were testing positive.

  609W
  Approximately 900 Drug Treatment and Testing Orders were being commenced each month and criminal justice drugs workers were making 5,500 contacts with offenders. These numbers will increase from April 2004 as 36 more Basic Command Units join the full programme.

  Cycling Offences
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were made for riding a cycle(a) without lights during the hours of darkness and (b) on the pavement in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [172156]

  Caroline Flint
  180 defendants were proceeded against in England and Wales in 2002 for lighting and reflector offences connected with bicycles (this includes cycling without lights during the hours of darkness) and 94 defendants were proceeded against for cycling on the footway (pavement).

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

  Dangerous Driving
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a new penalty category of offences committed by drivers without a licence who maim or kill. [169072]

  Caroline Flint
  The Government is reviewing the existing framework of the criminal law concerning bad driving, particularly where death or injury results, in order to ensure that appropriate offences and penalties are put in place. The offence of driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence is not specifically included within the terms of reference of the review, which focus on the standard of driving, but the Government will of course consider all responses and issues raised during the consultation process. We hope to publish a consultation paper in the near future.

  Euro 2004
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Department is taking to work with and assist the Portugese authorities in policing the Euro 2004 football tournament. [172493]

  Caroline Flint
  Multi-agency preparations for Euro 2004, co-ordinated by the Home Office, have been under way for two years. The preparations will be the most extensive ever for an overseas tournament and incorporate very close and effective liaison with the Portuguese Government, police and other authorities.

  A joint communique on Anglo/Portuguese police co-operation, signed in February 2004 by the Minister of State for policing and her Portuguese counterpart, identified some key measures designed to minimise the risk of significant disorder involving England fans. These measures centred on maximum use of tough banning order legislation to prevent around 2,500 known English football troublemakers from traveling
  610W
  to the tournament and the deployment in Portugal of an English police delegation expert in policing English football crowds.

  National Criminal Intelligence Service
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received regarding the number of police officers seconded to the National Criminal Intelligence Service. [173135]

  Caroline Flint
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 28 April 2004,Official Report, column 1105W.

  The balance between the need to retain skills and contacts with local forces, while developing new capabilities is a matter for the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

  Paedophiles
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 106W, on paedophilia, for what reason the Prison Service does not have a specific offence code to cover paedophiles. [169105]

  Paul Goggins
  There is no specific offence code to cover paedophiles because there is no specific offence of "paedophilia". The sexual abuse of children can occur in a variety of ways and our law, if it is to be effective, has to reflect this. The Sexual Offences Act 2003, which came into force on 1 May 2004, includes a variety of new offences which cover various forms of sexual abuse inflicted on children.

  Probation and Prison Services
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget outturn for(a) the National Probation Service and (b) HM Prison Service was for (i) 2002–03 and 2003–04. [166594]

  Paul Goggins
  The National Probation Service budget outturn for 2002–03 was £693.3 million. The forecast outturn for 2003–04 is £851.0 million and includes £80 million for Electronic Monitoring, which was not part of the service in the previous year.

  The Prison Service budget outturn for 2002–03 was £2,636 million. The forecast outturn for 2003–04 is £2,377 million. The 2003–04 figures exclude the costs of the privately managed prisons (£173.6 million) and include income from the Department of Health to meet Prison Healthcare of £130 million.

  Serious Organised Crime Agency
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the(a) National Criminal Intelligence Service and (b) National Crime Squad Service Authorities will cease to exist when the Serious Organised Crime Agency becomes operational; and if he will make a statement. [172398]

  Ms Blears
  Proposals for the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) were set out in the White Paper "One Step Ahead: A 21st century strategy to defeat organised crime" (CM6167), published on 29 March. As the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) and the
  611W
  National Crime Squad (NCS) will become part of SOCA there will no longer be a role for the current Service Authority once the new agency comes into being.

  We have invited comments on the White Paper proposals by 30 July and will consider these carefully when planning the new agency.

  Standards of Proof
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had on reducing the standards of proof in trials of terrorist or other serious criminal offences. [171480]

  Ms Blears
  I have had no recent discussions on this issue. As I said on 25 February 2004,Official Report, column 328, it is not my intention to lower the standard of proof in criminal cases.

  A discussion paper on the future of our anti-terrorism law is currently out for consultation and I look forward to hearing the right hon. Member's contribution to that consultation.

  Vehicle Registration Plates
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to chief constables to enforce the provisions of the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 relating to vehicle registration plates. [172158]

  Caroline Flint
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has undertaken a number of actions to raise police awareness of these provisions. These include guidance on police powers of entry and inspection of registered premises, a telephone helpline (also available to vehicle registration plate suppliers and trading standards officers), meetings with police forces and accompanying police on targeted operations.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been made in the last 12 months for which figures are available for breaches of provisions of the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 relating to vehicle registration plates; and how many of these involved(a) the incorrect positioning of letters and numbers and (b) an incorrect typeface. [172159]

  Caroline Flint
  Within the Home Office Court Proceedings Database individual offences under the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 cannot be separately identified. In 2002 no prosecutions were recorded under the Act.

TRANSPORT

  British Transport Police
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officers have been employed by the British Transport Police in each year since 1997. [171899]

  Mr. McNulty
  The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information on officers employed by the BTP since 1997.
  612W

  Number of BTP officers

  1997

  2,132

  1998

  2,095

  1999

  2,113

  2000

  2,091

  2001

  2,109

  2002

  2,123

  2003

  2,206

  2004

  2,280

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Transport Police officers patrol on board trains after 11 p.m. on(a) weekdays and (b) weekends. [171901]

  Mr. McNulty
  The British Transport Police (BTP) do not record this information at such a specific level. Officers actively patrol railway property including stations and trains.

  East Midlands Airport
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research his Department has conducted into the(a) levels and (b) effects of (i) noise and (ii) air pollution on the residents of (A) Harborough District, (B) Oadby and Wigston Borough, (C) Melton Borough, (D) Charnwood District, (E) Loughborough and (F) North West Leicestershire District arising from increases in day and night flights into and out of Nottingham East Midlands Airport by (1) 5,000, (2) 10,000, (3) 20,000, (4) 30,000, (5) 40,000, (6) 50,000, (7) 60,000, (8) 70,000 and (9) 80,000 aircraft movements per year over the next decade; and what assessment has been made of the effects in each case of such increases between 10 pm and 6 am each day; [173011]

  (2) what research his Department has conducted into the (a) levels and (b) effects of (i) noise and (ii) air pollution on the residents of (A) Harborough District, (B) Oadby and Wigston Borough, (C) Melton Borough, (D) Charnwood District, (E) Loughborough and (F) North West Leicestershire District arising from increases in day and night flights into and out of Nottingham East Midlands Airport by (1) 5,000, (2) 10,000, (3) 20,000, (4) 30,000, (5) 40,000, (6) 50,000, (7) 60,000, (8) 70,000 and (9) 80,000 aircraft movements per year over the next decade (x) using the eastern and south-eastern approach and departure flight paths only and (y) where approaching aircraft have to circle in stacks before receiving clearance to land. [173015]

  Mr. McNulty
  Environmental controls at Nottingham East Midlands Airport are a matter for local control by the airport.

  It is not envisaged that air pollution from these levels of movements would result in exceedence of any air quality standards. Under the system of local air quality management (LAQM), local authorities have a duty to review and assess the current, and likely future, air quality in their areas against the national objectives set out in the "Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland" and prescribed in the Air Quality Regulations 2000.

  The Department is engaged in a major research study looking into attitudes to aircraft noise, "Attitudes to Noise from Aviation Sources in England" (ANASE).

  613W
  Phase 1, which is nearing completion, is intended to ensure that the methodology for valuing subjective annoyance from aircraft noise, to be used in phase 2 (the main social survey), is robust.

  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the(a) employees of the airport and (b) the airline companies that use or intend to use this airport with whom Ministers and officials held discussions about the expansion of the capacity of Nottingham East Midlands Airport; when and where the discussions took place; and which Ministers and officials conducted them. [173012]

  Mr. McNulty
  During the preparation of the White Paper "The Future of Air Transport", Ministers and officials discussed the future of Nottingham East Midlands Airport on numerous occasions with a wide range of interested parties as part of the extensive consultation process. These included the management of the airport and its parent company and relevant airlines, but also other parties concerned with the future development of the airport including its consultative committee, local authorities, regional and local development agencies, business interests and environmental and local community groups. Similar discussions will continue to take place as we look to implement the policies set out in the White Paper.

  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the level of use of the Antonov and Boeing 747 400 freighter aircraft at Nottingham East Midlands Airport; and if he will make a statement. [173014]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department does not have a policy on which types of aircraft may use particular airports, providing that restrictions such as planning conditions and noise agreements are observed and safety requirements are met.

  Night Flights
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the(a) expansion and (b) restriction of night flights over rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [173013]

  Mr. McNulty
  At airports designated for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, controls on aircraft noise at night may be set under that power: at present, only Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are so designated. At regional airports, controls may be imposed voluntarily by the airport operator, in consultation with those affected. The Department has issued Guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on how to assess environmental impacts of changes to airspace arrangements to augment directions to the CAA under section 66(1) of the Transport Act 2000. The guidance picks up and promotes broader Government policy that the CAA should pursue policies that will help to preserve the tranquillity of the countryside where this does not increase significantly the environmental burdens on congested areas.

  Shell Haven
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency report on the condition of SS Richard 614W
  Montgomery, what the (a) timing and (b) frequency will be of further surveys of the main crack at the No. 2 Hatch. [172571]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Surveys are undertaken during optimal tidal and weather conditions. For visual inspections this is on Neap Tides during the summer months.

  The survey of the SS Richard Montgomery is an evolving process which takes advantage of new technology and understanding. Diver surveys have been undertaken on approximately a decennial basis, with intervening sonar surveys to increase knowledge of the status of the wreck and surrounding area. It is not anticipated that another full visual diver survey of No. 2 Hatch area will be undertaken until 2013. However, if intervening surveys suggest a requirement to gather such information earlier, a visual survey would then be commissioned.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake further sampling and metallurgical analysis of the hull plates on the SS Richard Montgomery in the Thames. [172572]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The form of the next survey, planned for 2005, will be discussed with specialist advisers, and decisions will be based on furthering knowledge of relevant aspects of the condition of the wreck. The use of sonar (multi-beam, sidescan), Remotely Operated Vehicle, physical sampling, and visual or ultra sonic diver survey will all be considered, and might include further sampling and metallurgical analysis. However, as stated in the most recent report, there has been little appreciable change to the thickness of the hull plating in the last 22 years, so there is no reason to suggest this will be necessary before the next full diving survey.

TREASURY

  Army Medal Office
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for the Droitwich Spa office of Customs and Excise of the proposed closure of the Army Medal Office. [171977]

  John Healey
  I understand that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are to close their office in Droitwich. HM Customs and Excise have an arrangement with the MOD to occupy the building until March 2006. Customs are now considering the implications for its 115 staff based at Droitwich and are exploring alternative accommodation options.

  Childcare Tax Credit
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many spot checks the Inland Revenue has carried out on child care providers to check that the childcare tax credit has been properly used in each quarter since the introduction of the childcare tax credit. [171603]
  615W
  Dawn Primarolo
  Of working tax credit awards for 2003–04 that included help with child care costs, there were about 350,000 instances in which claimants reported making payments to child care providers. For all of these, Inland Revenue has contacted the child care provider by letter or telephone to check child care.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his Answer of 1 April 2004,Official Report, column 1677W, on the Gershon Review, when he expects the first reductions in the number of civil servants to be made as a result of the Lyons Review. [171393]

  Mr. Boateng
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave in the House on 13 May 2004,Official Report, column 466.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 1 Apirl,Official Report, column 1677W, on the Gershon Review, when he expects the first reductions in the number of civil servants to be made towards the reduction of 14.000 civil servants in the Inland Revenue and HM Customs [171394]

  Mr. Boateng
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave yesterday in the House Official Report, column 453—and in particular that implementing the job reductions will be included in the remit of the first executive Chairman of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

  Council Tax
  Dr. Vincent Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information set out in the Answer of 10th June 2003, Official Report,

  Council tax as a percentage of gross income

  Great Britain

  Percentages

  Quintile groups of all households ranked by equivalised disposable income

  Bottom

  2nd

  3rd

  4th

  Top

  All households

  2001–02 Quintile points (equivalised disposable income, £ per year)

  Great Britain

  10,647

  14,943

  20,231

  28,840

  England

  10,771

  15,094

  20,641

  29,328

  Scotland

  10,035

  13,838

  18,331

  26,339

  Wales

  10,103

  14,367

  18,429

  25,604

  Gross council tax

  Great Britain

  7.2

  4.4

  3.1

  2.3

  1.4

  2.6

  England

  7.1

  4.3

  3.0

  2.2

  1.4

  2.5

  Scotland

  8.4

  5.3

  3.8

  3.0

  2.1

  3.4

  Wales

  6.0

  3.5

  2.6

  2.1

  1.4

  2.3

  Net council tax1

  Great Britain

  4.7

  3.3

  2.8

  2.3

  1.4

  2.2

  England

  4.7

  3.3

  2.8

  2.2

  1.3

  2.2

  Scotland

  5.0

  4.1

  3.3

  2.9

  2.1

  2.9

  Wales

  4.2

  2.5

  2.5

  2.1

  1.4

  2.0

  2002–03 Quintile points (equivalised disposable income, £ per year)

  Great Britain

  11,242

  15,541

  20,977

  29,745

  England

  11,397

  15,870

  21,392

  30,254

  Scotland

  10,503

  13,965

  18,679

  26,176

  Wales

  9,902

  14,392

  18,695

  26,080

  Gross council tax

  Great Britain

  7.1

  4.6

  3.2

  2.4

  1.6

  2.7

  England

  7.1

  4.4

  3.1

  2.4

  1.5

  2.7

  Scotland

  8.4

  5.8

  4.3

  3.0

  2.0

  3.4

  Wales

  6.2

  4.0

  2.8

  2.2

  1.6

  2.6

  616W
  columns 746–47W, on council tax, to take account of the effects of taxes and benefits on household income in 2002–03. [172602]

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

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 14 May 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking for an update for 2002–03 of the figures for council tax as a percentage of gross income for Great Britain, together with a breakdown for England, Scotland, and Wales, given in the previous answer of 10 June 2003. (172602)

  Estimates have been produced from the Office for National Statistics' analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income" published on the National Statistics website on 6 May 2004 at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits. The analysis includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey.

  The current analysis presents data for the category 'Council tax and Northern Ireland rates', as opposed to the category 'Local taxes' used in previous analyses. This is because, from this year, charges made by water authorities for water, environmental and sewerage services have been excluded. This treatment conforms to the National Accounts classification and definition of taxes where water rates and related charges are considered a charge for services rather than a tax. They have therefore been excluded from the calculation of disposable income. This reply is based on the new methodology and I have included updated figures on this basis for 2001–02 for comparison.

  The following table shows the estimated gross and net council tax for all households in Great Britain and (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales, for each income quintile where households are ranked by equivalised disposable income. The net council tax figures are gross council tax less benefits and discounts. The table also shows the equivalised disposable income quintile point boundaries, which have been calculated separately for Great Britain and each country. For example, the 1st quintile point for each country is the income below which one fifth of households in that country are estimated to lie.
  617W

  Council tax as a percentage of gross income

  Great Britain

  Percentages

  Quintile groups of all households ranked by equivalised disposable income

  Bottom

  2nd

  3rd

  4th

  Top

  All households

  Net council tax1

  Great Britain

  4.6

  3.4

  2.9

  2.4

  1.6

  2.4

  England

  4.6

  3.3

  2.8

  2.3

  1.5

  2.3

  Scotland

  5.3

  4.1

  3.7

  2.9

  2.0

  2.9

  Wales

  4.0

  2.9

  2.4

  2.0

  1.6

  2.2

  1 Net council taxes after deducting benefits and discounts

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income', published on the ONS website and in Economic Trends.

  Operation Gestalt
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the assistance being provided by(a) the Government and (b) government agencies to the Metropolitan Police with regard to Operation Gestalt. [172421]

  John Healey
  It is for the Metropolitan Police Service to determine the nature and extent of their inquiries and the information they require. The Commissioners of Customs and Excise have made it clear that the police will have their full co-operation in any investigation.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. David Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue expects to finalise awards of(a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit in respect of 2003–04. [172897]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield (Richard Burden) on 19 November 2003,Official Report, columns 1099–1100W.

  Tax Credits (Blackpool, South)
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Blackpool, South have received the child tax credit. [173065]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) on 15 March 2004,Official Report, column 98W.

  Teenage Pregnancy
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the percentage change in conceptions among girls under(a) 18 and (b) 16 years in Kent is since 2001. [172214]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Julian Brazier, dated 14 May 2004:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the percentage change in conceptions, among girls under (a) 18 and (b) 16 years, in Kent is since 2001. (172214)

  The table gives the numbers and rates of conceptions in 2001 and 2002 (the latest year for which figures are available) among girls aged under 16 and under 18 in Kent. The table also shows the percentage change in the rates of conception between these two years.
  618W
  Numbers of conceptions are estimated from registrations of births and notifications of abortions. Miscarriages before the 24th week of gestation are not included.

  Conceptions at ages: Under 16

  Conceptions at ages: Under 18

  %

  %

  change

  change

  Number

  Rate1

  in rate

  Number

  Rate2

  in rate

  20013

  205

  8.0

  -12

  986

  39.3

  -5

  20024

  183

  7.0

  945

  37.2

  1 Rate per 1,000 females aged 13 to 15

  2 Rate per 1,000 females aged 15 to 17

  3 Provisional figures

  4 Provisional estimate based on incomplete abortion data

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Computers (Wigan)
  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Wigan have received a computer to assist in seeking employment or retraining. [169362]

  Jane Kennedy
  No computers have been purchased for customers within the Wigan District. However, help has been provided to three customers to upgrade an existing computer; to enable the purchase of parts to repair a computer; and for the purchase of a printer. The purchase of such items is via the Advisers Discretionary Fund (ADF). ADF is a financial option designed to help Jobcentre Plus customers make the transition from claiming benefits to employment. ADF was introduced to help support customers with their jobsearch and/or to purchase essential items without which they would be unable to take up a job. Advisers have the discretion to make awards from the ADF, up to a maximum of £300, for any goods and services needed to support the customer in taking up a job.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new appointments have been made to his Department and its agencies in the last five years; and of these how many were aged(a) 60 years or over and (b) 65 years or over. [173298]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Information on the number of new appointments made to the Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies in the last three years is in the table. Information on new recruits in earlier years is not available.
  619W

  Total appointments

  Appointments aged 60 years and over

  Appointments aged 65 years and over

  2001–02

  14,855

  91

  0

  2002–03

  10,917

  97

  0

  2003–04

  8,342

  73

  4

  Notes:

  Numbers exclude temporary appointments.

  Each year stated runs from 1 April to 31 March.

  Employment Training (Wirral, South)
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the provision of employment training in Wirral, South. [168912]

  Jane Kennedy
  Employment training for unemployed people in Wirral South is available through a range of Jobcentre Plus programmes. Training is provided in occupations including: construction, engineering, administration, agriculture, retail, basic skills, IT, health care and self employment.

  People in Wirral South can also access training in construction and IT through our Ambition programmes. These programmes are designed to give unemployed and disadvantaged people the skills and experience they need to get sustained jobs with career potential in areas of specific local labour market shortages. On the 28 April, we announced our Ambition Health programme which will give people the chance of support and training to help them into jobs in the NHS. The Merseyside pilot, which Wirral South residents will be able to access, starts in September.

  Help with travel costs is available for unemployed people undertaking our training programmes, and those known to face particular disadvantage in the labour market may be exempt from an unemployment qualifying period and can join Jobcentre Plus programmes from day one of their unemployment. These can include: disabled people, lone parents and people with basic skills needs.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations the Government has received from(a), sporting groups and (b) others involved in outdoor pursuits with regard to health and safety issues within the last six months; and if he will make a statement. [168232]

  Jane Kennedy
  [holding answer 28 April 2004]: The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcement of health and safety legislation in Great Britain. It has received approximately 430 representations from sporting groups and others involved in outdoor pursuits with regard to health and safety issues within the last six months. This includes meetings, letters to Ministers and officials in HSE, and also approximately 350 responses to the Health and Safety Commission's consultation document on proposals for work at height regulations. HSC/E is currently considering these and other responses to the consultation document before putting final proposals to Ministers. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bedfordshire North East on the 26 April 2004, Official Report, column 847–48W.

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the average time between a pensioner submitting an application for pension credit and receipt of the first payment. [172003]

  Malcom Wicks
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the average time taken to clear Pension Credit applications in March was 9.6 working days, running from the time when all the necessary evidence has been obtained from the customer to the point at which a decision on the application is made. Payment will normally follow within a few days.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans to reduce the length of the pension credit application form. [172006]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The pension credit application form is kept under review and improved where necessary, most recently in April this year. There are no current plans to fundamentally alter its format or length. The application process for pension credit has been designed to be straightforward and the majority of application forms are completed for the customer over the freephone application line.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 4 May 2004,Official Report, column 1461W, on pensions, if he will estimate the effects of this reform in 2006–07 on the number of recipients of pension credit. [173397]

  Malcolm Wicks
  It is estimated that under the suggested reform there would be 1,100,000 fewer recipients of pension credit in 2006–07 (rounded to the nearest 100,000) than under the existing system.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Adult Learning
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding will be provided for adult learning in colleges over the next four years. [171890]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 12 May 2004]: The Department allocates funds to the Learning and Skills Council for the provision of education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector. The Department does not provide a specific budget to the LSC for adult learning in further education colleges. It is for the Learning and Skills Council to determine for itself the right level of investment in further education colleges for the provision of adult learning from the funds allocated to it for learning participation. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will to write to the hon. Friend on this matter. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

  Broadband
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 29 April,Official Report, column 1253W, on broadband, if he will

  621W
  list the schools which (a) have and (b) do not have access to broadband connectivity, broken down by type of local authority in which they are located. [173096]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My Department does not hold the information requested as collection would incur disproportionate costs. I provided available information on the proportion of rural schools with broadband connections at August 2003 in my response to PQ 168668, on 29 April,Official Report, column 1253W.

  Capital Modernisation Fund
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Capital Modernisation Fund computer-learning centres have been established in Manchester, Gorton. [167442]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Five Capital Modernisation Funded UK online centres have been established in Manchester, Gorton.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Capital Modernisation Fund computer-learning centres have been established in Burnley. [167932]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Four Capital Modernisation Funded UK online centres have been established in Burnley.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated to Burnley from the Capital Modernisation Fund. [167934]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Capital modernisation funding is awarded to individual projects. Projects often span constituency boundaries and therefore the information is not available on the basis requested.

  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was allocated to Preston from the Capital Modernisation Fund. [168121]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Capital modernisation funding is awarded to individual projects. Projects often span constituency boundaries and therefore the information is not available on the basis requested.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was allocated to Oldham West and Royton from the Capital Modernisation Fund. [170928]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Capital modernisation funding is awarded to individual projects. Projects often span constituency boundaries and therefore the information is not available on the basis requested.

  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated to Bootle from the Capital Modernisation Fund since its establishment. [171128]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Capital modernisation funding is awarded to individual projects. Projects often span constituency boundaries and therefore the information is not available on the basis requested.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated to Manchester, Gorton from the Capital Modernisation Fund. [167432]
  622W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Capital modernisation funding is awarded to individual projects. Projects often span constituency boundaries and therefore the information is not available on the basis requested.

  Computer Learning Centres (Birkenhead)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many capital modernisation fund computer learning centres have been established in Birkenhead. [166322]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Four capital modernisation fund computer learning centres have been established in Birkenhead.

  These are at:

  Arch Initiatives, Oliver Street East;

  Birkenhead Central Library, Borough Road;

  Encore Computer Training, Odyssey Business Centre; and

  Livingstone Street Play and Community Centre, St. Anne's Street.

  Consultants
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on external consultants and advisors in each of the last three years. [171877]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  This Information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  Education (Heywood and Middleton)
  Jim Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Capital Modernisation Fund computer-learning, centres have been established in Heywood and Middleton. [168507]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Thirteen Capital Modernisation Funded UK online centres have been established in Heywood and Middleton.

  Jim Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was allocated to Heywood and Middleton from the Capital Modernisation Fund. [168509]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Capital modernisation funding is awarded to individual projects. Projects often span constituency boundaries and therefore the information is not available on the basis requested.

  Education Maintenance Allowance
  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing the educational maintenance allowance in schools in England. [173394]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Education Maintenance Allowance Scheme will be available in colleges as well as schools. The Department estimates the overall cost for the next three financial years to be:

  2004–05—£275 million

  2005–06—£403 million

  2006–07—£476 million

  623W
  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 of the population of young people and household income distribution.

  Education Services
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on computers for schools in Blackpool South in each of the last seven years. [173067]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My Department does not collect information on school spend on computers at constituency level. However, Blackpool South is in Blackpool LEA and in the last seven years schools in Blackpool have benefited from the following funding through the Standards Fund grant for ICT (including match funding from the LEA):

  £

  Allocation to Blackpool LEA

  1998–99

  233,891

  1999–2000

  376,443

  2000–01

  471,538

  2001–02

  531,056

  2002–03

  750,176

  2003–04

  774,460

  2004–05

  1,021,894

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public money has been spent on computers for schools in(a) Tamworth constituency and (b) Staffordshire in the East five years. [173281]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My Department does not collect information on school spend on computers at constituency level. However, Tamworth is in Staffordshire LEA and in the last five years schools in Staffordshire have benefited from the following funding through the Standards Fund grant for ICT (including match funding from the LEA):

  Allocation to Staffordshire LEA (£)

  2000–01

  3,000,000

  2001–02

  4,383,181

  2002–03

  6,933,997

  2003–04

  6,257,291

  2004–05

  8,262,812

  FE Colleges
  Rob Marris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is his policy for per capita funding for 16 to 18 years old students attending further education colleges to be the same as that for 16 to 18 year old pupils attending state schools; and if he will make a statement. [169471]

  Alan Johnson
  The government has set out its investment plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06 to support its Success for All strategy to reform further education and training. These plans enable the Learning and Skills Council to increase funding for further education significantly. For the academic year 2003–04, core 624W
  funding rates per qualification increased by 3 per cent. for school sixth forms and 4.5 per cent. for further education colleges (setting aside the impact on rates of changes to targeted funds for pay and staff training and teachers' pension funding). Our expenditure plans to 2005–06 should see that trend continue.

  Headquarters Staff
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 41W, how many headquarters staff there were in his Department as at 17 March. [171391]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  As at 1 April 2004, my Department employed 4,487 staff. Staffing numbers are produced quarterly.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 41W, on headquarters staff, what information is being provided to staff regarding plans to reduce the number of headquarters staff in his Department; and if he will place a copy of that information in the Library. [171409]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Staff received the latest in the series of messages from the Permanent Secretary on 30 April 2004 which set the context for the changes and explained how the reductions will be achieved. In addition, staff have been given information on the Human Resource policies to support the transition. Senior managers have written to staff in their parts of the Department and are discussing the changes with them. A copy of the Permanent Secretary's message will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 41W, on headquarters staff, when he expects the first reductions in the number of headquarters staff in his Department to be made. [171410]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Department plans to reduce its size by 850 posts by April 2006 and a further 610 posts by April 2008, based on the full time equivalent staff in post, figures as at October 2003 (4660). Reductions will be spread throughout that period and the Department intends to make the first reductions of staff by the end of 2004.

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 41W, on headquarters staff, what discussions he has had with trade unions regarding his plans to reduce the number of headquarters staff in his Department. [171411]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I met the Trade Unions in my Department on 25 March 2004 and plan to do so again in June.

  More generally there have been regular and constructive discussions between management and the unions about the reductions and how they will achieved.

  Information and Communication Technologies (Preston)
  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Capital Modernisation Fund computer-learning centres have been established in Preston. [168119]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  16 Capital Modernisation Funded UK online centres have been established in Preston.

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Rob Marris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much of the 2004–05 budget for Modern Apprenticeships is allocated to large businesses to convert their existing training for young employees into Modern Apprenticeship qualifications; and what proportion this represents of the total Modern Apprenticeship training budget allocation. [169467]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

  Truancy
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in the East Riding of Yorkshire played truant from school in each of the last five years. [171791]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is as follows:

  Number of pupils that missed at least a half day due to unauthorised absence in schools in East Riding of Yorkshire

  Academic year1

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  1998

  1,844

  3,853

  1999

  1,419

  3,643

  2000

  2,013

  4,171

  2001

  1,766

  2,875

  2002

  1,956

  3,805

  2003

  1,725

  4,025

  1 September to May

  Percentage of pupils that missed at least a half day due to unauthorised absence in schools in East Riding of Yorkshire

  Academic year1

  Primary schools

  Secondary schools

  1998

  7.67

  20.36

  1999

  6.07

  18.84

  2000

  8.31

  20.97

  2001

  7.21

  14.26

  2002

  8.07

  18.34

  2003

  7.62

  19.20

  1 September to May

HEALTH

  Anti-psychotic Drugs
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many items of(a) anti-psychotic drugs
  626W
  excluding atypicals and (b) atypical anti-psychotic drugs were prescribed in (i) January to March 2000 and (ii) January to March 2003; [172417]

  (2) how many anti-psychotic drug items were prescribed in (a) January to March 2000 and (b) January to March 2003. [172418]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information requested is shown in the table. The data covers prescription items dispensed in the community in England only. It does not cover prescription items dispensed in hospitals/mental health trusts or private prescriptions.

  Number of prescription items (thousands) of anti-psychotics dispensed in the community in England January to March 2000 and January to March 2003

  Prescription items (thousands)

  January to March 2000

  January to March 2003

  Anti-psychotics excluding atypicals

  953.5

  574.4

  Atypical anti-psychotics

  244.5

  701.2

  Total anti-psychotics

  1,198.1

  1,275.6

  Notes:

  1. The prescription information is from the Prescription Cost Analysis system and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospital or private prescriptions.

  2. Antipsychotics are defined in the table as British National Formulary paragraph 4.2.1 "Antipsychotic drugs". Antipsychotic depot injections (BNF paragraph 4.2.2) are not included in this data.

  Asylum Seekers (Health Screening)
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many asylum claimants refused the offer of basic health screening in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [171856]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is not available on a national basis. Data collected locally shows that health screening was refused by around one per cent. (28 of 2,406) of asylum claimants who were received at the East Kent induction centre during the last six months. A new system of collating data was introduced in autumn 2003, and local information for a 12-month period could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Clinical Negligence
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to bring forward a bill on clinical negligence; and if he will make a statement; [171761]

  (2) which of the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer's report, Making Amends into Medical Negligence, have been implemented. [171762]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department is reviewing the responses to the consultation document 'Making Amends'. It is intended to publish a statement of policy later this year, setting out how the National Health Service response to clinical negligence will change in the
  627W
  future. Following this, the Department intends to introduce the changes which require primary legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

  Competent Authorities (EU Accession States)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2004,Official Report, column 1222W, on competent authorities (EU accession states), when he expects to receive from the European Commission a list of competent authorities operating in the accession countries in respect of the health and social care profession. [172101]

  Mr. Hutton
  The European Commission has undertaken to provide this information within the next month. Meanwhile, it has advised that the competent authorities are the Health Ministries of the Member States concerned.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the letter he has received from Mr. C.J. Ray of Ash Vale, Surrey, a constituent. [172796]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: A reply was sent to Mr. Ray on 10 May 2004.

  Dentistry
  Dr. Richard Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to ensure that NHS dentists understand the detail of the new NHS contract. [169817]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 4 May 2004]: This Government is committed to rebuilding and restoring National Health Service dentistry to improve the oral health of the Nation. The proposals in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 represent the most radical reform of NHS dentistry since 1948. Our proposals for NHS dentistry will underpin a modernised, high-quality primary dental service provided through contracts between primary care trusts (PCTs) and dental practices. The service will be properly integrated with the rest of the NHS providing better access to services and an improved patient experience.

  We have made considerable progress on implementation. We have consulted widely with representatives of stakeholders on the framework proposed for the new primary dental services. The consultation period ended on 30 April and we are considering the responses received and will use them to inform implementation plans.

  The Department, supported by the special health authority shadow arrangements we put in place last year, will ensure that the NHS, both strategic health authorities and their PCTs, have the information they need to open meaningful discussion with their potential local providers of primary dental services to establish contracts for the provision of NHS dentistry in the new world. PCTs will be supported in this through the national primary and care trust development programme (NatPaCT) and by the shadow special health authority.
  628W
  The underpinning principles on which we are working were set out in a letter from the Chief Dental Officer to all dentists in England in January 2004, copies of this letter have been placed in the Library. Now that the consultation on the framework proposals is over, the Department plans to communicate directly with dentists in England on a regular basis to keep them informed of developments.

  Eating Disorders
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional funding his Department has made available to support the implementation of the new National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines relating to the treatment of eating disorders. [172477]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Funding to meet recommendations of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has been included in the allocations notified to primary care trusts for the period 2003–04 to 2005–06. This funding is not separately identified.

  Fluoride
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of routine NHS dental treatment to remove the physical manifestations of dental fluorosis. [172111]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Dental fluorosis is characterised by a flecking or more rarely a mottling of the teeth, which may leave some people concerned about the appearance of their teeth, although they are endowed with the extra resistance to decay offered by exposure to fluoride.

  The report, A Systematic Review of Water Fluoridation, published by the University of York in October 2000 estimated that only 12.5 per cent, of cases of dental fluorosis were the cause of aesthetic concern. Often the effects can be ameliorated by dental polishing or alternatively National Health Service patients can, if clinically appropriate, have veneers fitted to the front of the affected teeth.

  General Practitioners
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of general practitioners(a) work part-time, (b) will retire in three years' time and (c) have indicated that they are prepared to work out of hours under the new general practitioner contract. [171507]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Of the 33,564 all general practitioners employed in the National Health Service as at September 2003 8,687 or 25.9 per cent, were part-time.

  We do not collect information on the number of GPs who will retire in three years' time. Neither do we centrally collect any information on the workings of local out of hours services. Strategic health authorities have responsibility for the performance management of their primary care trusts in their delivery of out of hours services.

  Health Services
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many rapid access chest pain clinics there are in South Ribble. [171270]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust has rapid access chest pain clinics at both the Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. Both clinics are meeting the national service framework two week target for patients to be seen from date of referral by a General Practitioner.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many residents in South Ribble aged over 60 years have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests; [171272]

  In-patient waiting list in months

  Name of Commissioner

  Total

  0–2

  3–5

  6–8

  9–11

  12–14

  15–17

  18+

  1996–97

  South Lancashire HA

  10,092

  4,565

  2,587

  1,696

  1,069

  160

  12

  3

  1997–98

  South Lancashire HA

  10,414

  4,566

  2,391

  1,580

  1,128

  563

  186

  0

  1998–99

  South Lancashire HA

  9,179

  4,259

  2,285

  1,354

  839

  356

  86

  0

  1999–2000

  South Lancashire HA

  8,604

  4,251

  2,042

  1,260

  715

  270

  66

  0

  2000–01

  South Lancashire HA

  8,283

  4,401

  1,979

  1,041

  559

  208

  95

  0

  2001–02

  South Lancashire HA

  8,047

  4,317

  1,997

  1,090

  544

  99

  0

  0

  March 2003

  Chorley and South Ribble PCT

  4,761

  3,108

  1,108

  510

  35

  0

  0

  0

  March 2003

  West Lancashire PCT

  3,042

  1,390

  844

  564

  244

  0

  0

  0

  September 2003

  Chorley and South Ribble PCT

  4,922

  3,278

  1,178

  447

  19

  0

  0

  0

  September 2003

  West Lancashire PCT

  2,813

  1,681

  788

  306

  38

  0

  0

  0

  Source:

  Department of Health QF01

  Out-patient waiting list in weeks

  Name

  13–25

  26+

  1997–98

  South Lancashire HA

  2,200

  6,291

  1998–99

  South Lancashire HA

  2,790

  1,373

  1999–2000

  South Lancashire HA

  2,135

  5,07

  2000–01

  South Lancashire HA

  1,823

  374

  2001–02

  South Lancashire HA

  1,676

  1

  Name

  13–17

  17–21

  21–26

  26+

  March 2003

  Chorley and South Ribble PCT

  363

  108

  0

  0

  March 2003

  West Lancashire PCT

  196

  72

  0

  0

  December 2003

  Chorley and South Ribble PCT

  615

  17

  0

  0

  December 2003

  West Lancashire PCT

  250

  1

  0

  0

  Source:

  Department of Health

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents in South Ribble awaiting heart surgery have had the option of choosing an alternative hospital for quicker treatment in the last 12 months. [171268]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  This information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents in West Lancashire aged over 60 years have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests. [171547]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the response I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Workington (Mr. Cunningham) today.
  630W
  (2) how many senior citizens in South Ribble have access to free eye tests. [171279]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Workington (Tony Cunningham) today.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been to NHS waiting list times in the last seven years for residents of South Ribble. [171275]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information most closely associated with place of residency is not collected on a constituency level, but at a health services commissioner level.

  Data are shown as follows for the South Lancashire Health Authority for the period 1997 to 2002 and the Chorley and South Ribble and West Lancashire Primary Care Trusts for 2003.

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many senior citizens in Workington constituency have access to free eye tests; [170704]

  (2) how many residents in Workington constituency aged over 60 years have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests. [170705]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Data for the number of sight tests by constituency or by the number of senior citizens is not collected centrally.

  The total number of sight tests paid for by Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority in the year 2002–03 for those aged 60 and over was 189,100.
  631W
  The total number of eligible for a free eye test for those aged 60 and over was 429,300. Sight tests cannot be equated to the number of patients.

  Source:

  Department of Health statistics.

  NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff in the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority area by organisation as at 30 September each specified year

  headcount

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Q13

  Cumbria and Lancashire SHA total

  3,352

  3,486

  3,595

  3,706

  3,758

  3,893

  4,279

  5D6

  West Cumbria PCT

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  128

  128

  130

  RE7

  West Cumbria Health Care NHS Trust

  187

  209

  224

  243

  1—

  1—

  1—

  RLG

  Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust

  200

  206

  230

  230

  1—

  1—

  1—

  RNL

  North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  351

  331

  366

  1 Not applicable

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of suspected cancer patients in Workington constituency saw an NHS consultant within two weeks in each of the last seven years. [170709]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information from 2000–01, the earliest available, is shown in the table.

  Waiting times for first consultant outpatient appointment for suspected cancer following urgent GP, referral—Workington

  Seen within two weeks

  Quarter

  NHS trust

  Percentage

  Number

  2000–01

  4

  West Cumbria Health Care NHS Trust

  89.6

  190

  2000–01

  4

  Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust

  79.6

  227

  2001–02

  1

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  89.8

  467

  2001–02

  2

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  85.3

  492

  2001–02

  3

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  84.9

  594

  2001–02

  4

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  78.7

  511

  2002–03

  1

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  83.1

  674

  2002–03

  2

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  85.6

  734

  2002–03

  3

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  87.1

  757

  2002–03

  4

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  81.2

  722

  Count of in-year elective (waiting time, booked, planned) admissions—Primary care trust of responsibility—5D6 West Cumbria PCT—NHS Hospitals, England 1998–99 to 2002–03

  PCT of responsibility

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  5D6 West Cumbria PCT

  16,395

  16,163

  16,579

  16,577

  16,613

  Notes:

  1. An in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the datayear. Periods of care on-going at the end of the datayear (unfinished admission episodes) are included. 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 have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding has been spent on heart disease and cancer care in Workington constituency in each of the last five years. [170716]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is not collected centrally. Allocation of funding for
  632W
  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) therapists and (b) scientists were located in Workington constituency in each of the last seven years. [170707]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Waiting times for first consultant outpatient appointment for suspected cancer following urgent GP referral—Workington

  Seen within two weeks

  Quarter

  NHS trust

  Percentage

  Number

  2003–04

  1

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  82.4

  831

  2003–04

  2

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  96.9

  946

  2003–04

  3

  North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust

  99.8

  991

  Source:

  Department of Health form QMCW

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents in Workington constituency awaiting heart surgery have had the option of choosing an alternative hospital for quicker treatment in the last 12 months. [170711]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the levels of elective admissions to the NHS in Workington constituency in the past five years. [170712]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  particular treatments are matters for local primary care trusts.

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding has been spent on health in Workington constituency in each of the last seven years. [170718]
  633W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information is not available in the format requested. Expenditure per weighted head of the population in the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area, which includes the constituency of Workington, has increased from £600.03 in 1997–98 to £1,173.57 in 2002–03 (the latest year available). This does not represent the total expenditure per head as an element of health expenditure cannot be identified by SHA area.

  Hip Fractures
  Rob Marris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to(a) raise public awareness of osteoporosis and (b) reduce the number of avoidable hip fractures. [169468]

  Dr. Ladyman
  A considerable amount of work is under way which will help to raise general awareness of osteoporosis, for example, The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is to develop two clinical guidelines and a technology appraisal to provide the best available evidence of what is effective in:the assessment and prevention of falls in older people;
  the assessment of fracture risk and the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in individuals at high risk; and
  the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

  The clinical guideline on the assessment and prevention of falls in older people is currently out for consultation. Although osteoporosis does not cause falls it significantly increases the likelihood of a fracture when a fall happens.

  The falls guideline will provide recommendations for good practice that are based on the best available evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness. It is due to be completed in August this year. A second clinical guideline has been commissioned to look at the assessment of fracture risk and the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in individuals at high risk.

  We know it is the fractures which result from osteoporosis which can lead to pain, disability, greatly reduced quality of life and premature death. This guideline will look at all groups of people recognised to be at high risk of osteoporotic fracture. It will examine both interventions used to prevent an initial fracture and those used to prevent subsequent fractures where one has already occurred.

  It will cover care from primary and secondary National Health Service healthcare professionals who have direct contact with and make decisions about the care of high risk individuals. It will look at areas where collaboration is needed between primary and secondary NHS services. Although it does not specifically cover areas outside the NHS, it will be relevant to practice in non-NHS residential and nursing homes, social services and the voluntary sector. This guideline will build on and where necessary extend the work already completed around osteoporosis. It is due to be completed in June 2005.

  Rob Marris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) number and (b) percentage of patients who suffered a hip fracture died as a consequence of the fracture in (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03. [169469]
  634W
  Dr. Ladyman
  Numbers are not available on patients who die specifically from hip fractures. However there is information on the number of deaths with the main injury of hip fracture and also with an underlying cause of osteoporosis.

  Information on the number of hospital episodes of patients admitted with hip fracture is shown in the tables.

  Number of deaths with underlying cause of death of Osteoporosis1persons, England and Wales 2001–02

  Number of deaths

  2001

  11,542

  2002

  11,605

  1 ICD-10 codes M80–M81

  Number of deaths with main injury of Hip fracture1 persons,England and Wales 2001–02

  Number of deaths

  2001

  2,214

  2002

  2,151

  1 ICD-10 codes S72.0-S72.2

  These two groups are mutually exclusive.

  Count of finished admission episodes primary diagnosis hip fracture (ICD-10 diagnosis code S72)—NHS

  NHS hospitals

  Finished admission episodes

  2001–02

  63,999

  2002–03

  70,508

  Note:

  Finished admission episodes—A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Department of Health

  Ungrossed Data:

  Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (ie the data are ungrossed)

  Immigrant Medical Inspections
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the publication Instructions to Medical Inspectors was last updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [156839]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  "Instructions to Medical Inspectors" was last updated in 1992. It was marked for disclosure "only to persons authorised to receive it", but it is no longer known why this restriction was placed on the document. I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library. We will consider the need to review the "Instructions" in the light of any decisions taken as a result of the Cabinet Office review of imported infection.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is responsible for making appointments of medical inspectors of immigrants; who employs them; who is responsible for the policy to be operated by medical inspectors; and what changes to these arrangements will occur if the Health Protection Agency Bill is enacted. [156841]
  635W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 (c.77) provides that medical inspectors for the purposes of the Act may be appointed by the Secretary of State, or in Northern Ireland, by the Minister of Health and Social Services or other appropriate Minister of the Government of Northern Ireland in pursuance of arrangements made between that Minister and the Secretary of State.

  The Secretary of State's responsibilities for appointing medical inspectors in Scotland was transferred to Scottish Ministers by The Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc) Order 1999 (Statutory Instrument 1999 No. 1750).

  Medical inspectors are employed by the National Health Service (in England, in some cases by primary care trusts and in others by the Health Protection Agency). The policy to be operated by medical inspectors is governed by the Immigration Act and Immigration Rules (HC 395 as amended) and is the joint responsibility of the Home Office (which is responsible for immigration policy) and the Department of Health and the devolved administrations (which are responsible for health policy).

  Paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to the Health Protection Agency Bill will allow the Secretary of State to direct that his function of appointing medical inspectors is also exercisable by such persons specified in the direction who exercise functions relating to health in England or Wales. The intention is to use this power to delegate the appointment of medical inspectors to the National Assembly for Wales in Wales, and to the Health Protection Agency in England. Such delegation takes

  Average daily number of available beds, by sector, Burnley Health Care NHS Trust, 1996–97 to 2002–03

  All specialties(excluding day only)

  General and acute

  Acute

  Geriatric

  Mental illness

  Learning disability

  Maternity

  Day only

  1996–97

  858

  659

  458

  201

  163

  0

  36

  51

  1997–98

  879

  669

  475

  194

  163

  0

  47

  30

  1998–99

  838

  627

  627

  —

  163

  —

  48

  35

  1999–2000

  837

  626

  626

  —

  163

  —

  48

  33

  2000–01

  840

  643

  643

  —

  149

  —

  48

  25

  2001–02

  810

  620

  620

  —

  141

  —

  49

  26

  2002–03

  680

  632

  632

  —

  —

  —

  48

  31

  Source:

  Department of Health form KH03

  Average daily number of available beds, by sector, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust, 1996–97 to 2002–03

  All specialties(excluding day only)

  General and acute

  Acute

  Geriatric

  Mental illness

  Learning disability

  Maternity

  Day only

  1996–97

  824

  588

  478

  110

  157

  —

  79

  57

  1997–98

  857

  618

  532

  86

  166

  —

  73

  53

  1998–99

  824

  603

  511

  91

  150

  —

  72

  56

  1999–2000

  808

  604

  517

  87

  138

  —

  66

  67

  2000–01

  833

  623

  531

  93

  143

  —

  67

  67

  2001–02

  825

  633

  530

  104

  122

  —

  70

  67

  2002–03

  680

  611

  505

  106

  —

  —

  70

  67

  Source:

  Department of Health form KH03
  636W
  account of the fact that arrangements for identifying medical inspectors are best made locally. The Bill does not change the responsibility for the policy operated by medical inspectors.

  NHS (Road Traffic Matters)
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons employed by or on behalf of the NHS undertake work relating to road traffic matters, including alleged speeding offences of ambulance drivers; and what the annual salary cost thereof to public funds was in 2003–04. [171036]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 5 May 2004]: The information requested is not collected centrally.

  However, the Department is aware that speeding tickets issued to ambulances on emergency journeys are creating extra administration costs in some areas. Officials have already had useful discussions with the Home Office and are working closely with them to provide a workable solution.

  NHS Beds (Burnley)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS beds were available in Burnley in each year since 1997. [167954]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information on beds is collected on a provider basis from national health service organisations and the latest data available is for the year 2002–03. Beds data for 2003–04 will be published later this year.

  Beds data for the relevant trusts is shown in the tables.
  637W

  Average daily number of available beds, by sector, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT 1996–97 to 2002–03

  All specialties(excluding day only)

  General and acute

  Acute

  Geriatric

  Mental illness

  Learning disability

  Maternity

  Day only

  1996–97

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1997–98

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1998–99

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1999–2000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2000–01

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2001–02

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2002–03

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Source:

  Department of Health form KH03

  Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage change in sexually transmitted infections among(a) girls and (b) boys under (i) 18 and (ii) 16 years in Kent is since 2001. [172213]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The percentage change in the number of sexually transmitted diseases diagnosed in males and females in the under 16, and 16 to 19 age groups in Kent between 2001 and 2002 are shown in the table. The data refer to diagnoses made in genitourinary medicine clinics.

  Diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections1 by gender and selected age groups, Kent: 2001 to 2002

  Gender

  Age group

  2001

  2002

  Percentage change

  Female

  16

  32

  55

  72

  Male

  16

  13

  11

  -15

  Female

  16–19

  553

  738

  33

  Male

  16–19

  260

  310

  19

  1 Primary and Secondary syphilis, uncomplicated gonorrhoea, uncomplicated genital chlamydia, genital herpes (first attack) and genital warts (first attack)

  Stoke Mandeville Hospital
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the time scale for the signing and implementation of the private finance initiative agreement to rebuild Stoke Mandeville Hospital. [172208]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: The £46 million redevelopment of Stoke Mandeville Hospital, part of Buckinghamshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust, is expected to reach financial close this month.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Legal Aid (London)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people(a) applied for and (b) received legal aid in Greater London, broken down by borough, in each of the last seven years. [173197]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Legal Services Commission is unable to answer in fall the question asked. The Commission will shortly be able to provide details of the applications received from suppliers for funding, and funding certificates issued but only for the last four years, broken 638W
  down by its London bid zones which largely equate to the London boroughs. This information will not be a wholly accurate representation of the number of people assisted in each London borough, since applicants can be assisted by lawyers based in different geographical areas from those where the applicants are resident and vice versa.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  British Grand Prix
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what further consultations with outside interests her Department is holding, in conjunction with other departments, in order to safeguard the long-term position of the British Grand Prix. [172974]

  Mr. Caborn
  The East Midlands Development Agency is currently leading discussions on behalf of the Government about the developments around Silverstone. These discussions are ongoing. The current negotiations about the retention of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone are part of a commercial deal, and the Government is not directly involved.

  Computer File Formats
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the(a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents. [173354]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department follows the e-GIF standards as set out by the Office of the e-Envoy. The standard formats used for distributing publicly available documents are Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat.

  Publicly available documents committed to archive are stored on paper as per our obligations under the Public Records Act. The Department is moving to a full electronic document management system and documents held in this system will be stored in their original e-GIF compliant format.

  Mayor of London (Meetings)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the official meetings she and her predecessor had with the Mayor of London since July 2000 to discuss matters on London within her Department's responsibilities, and the dates and subject of each meeting. [172205]
  639W
  Tessa Jowell
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: Between July 2000 and July 2001 my predecessor met the Mayor of London on 1 occasion in the course of official business:

  23 March 2001—Lee Valley meeting

  Since July 2001 I have met the Mayor of London on 10 occasions in the course of official business:

  24 September 2002—Olympics meeting

  16 January 2003—Olympics meeting

  22 January 2003—Olympics meeting

  13 April 2003—Marathon lead vehicle

  15 May 2003—Olympics meeting

  20 October 2003—Olympics meeting

  28 October 2003—Olympics meeting

  23 January 2003—Olympics meeting

  10 January 2004—Olympics meeting

  16 January 2004—Olympics launch

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list(a) the official meetings she has had with the Mayor of London since July 2000 and (b) the dates and subject of each meeting. [170568]

  Tessa Jowell
  [holding answer 4 May 2004]: Since July 2001 I have met the Mayor of London on 10 occasions:

  24 September 2002—Olympics meeting

  16 January 2003—Olympics meeting

  22 January 2003—Olympics meeting

  13 April 2003—Marathon lead vehicle

  15 May 2003—Olympics meeting

  20 October 2003—Olympics meeting

  28 October 2003—Olympics meeting

  23 January 2003—Olympics meeting

  10 January 2004—Olympics meeting

  16 January 2004—Olympics bid launch

  Official Vehicles
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of official vehicles used by her Department are run on(a) petrol, (b) diesel, (c) liquid petroleum gas and (d) compressed natural gas. [172780]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not have official vehicles, but uses cars, supplied with drivers, by the Government Car and Despatch Service. Vehicles used by the Royal Parks Agency are either diesel fuelled (40 per cent.) or duel fuelled Petrol/Liquid Petroleum Gas (60 per cent.).

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Advisers/Consultants
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on external consultants and advisers in each of the last three years. [172436]
  640W
  Alun Michael
  The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are taken to confirm that badgers found to have TB after testing in an animal sanctuary or hospital have been destroyed. [159068]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Triple testing of badger cubs for TB in animal sanctuaries or hospitals, is part of a voluntary protocol adopted by responsible wildlife rehabilitation organisations and endorsed by the National Federation of Badger Groups, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Secret World Wildlife Rescue. Cubs testing positive to any of the three TB blood tests must be euthanased under licence from Defra.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 29 April 2004,Official Report, column 1180W, on badgers, when she expects to decide whether to allow departmental policymakers access to the interim results of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB. [171271]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  This is currently being considered by Ministers.

  BSE
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the time scale is for the introduction of comprehensive testing for BSE; and if she will make a statement. [170624]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK already undertakes extensive BSE testing which includes all casualty cattle and fallen stock aged over 24 months; all healthy cattle entering the Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS) aged over 42 months and born after 31 July 1996; a random sample of 10,000 older healthy animals entering the OTMS; and any cattle aged over 30 months sold for human consumption (currently limited to a small number of cattle aged 30 to 42 months from herds approved under the Beef Assurance Scheme). Since January 2001, the UK has tested over a million cattle.

  Health Ministers are currently considering advice from the Food Standards Agency that the Over Thirty Month rule could be replaced by testing. For practical reasons related to the need to cull cohorts of BSE cases, Rural Affairs Ministers agreed last year that cattle born before August 1996 should remain permanently excluded from the food chain for both domestic consumption and export. Any cattle aged over 30 months sold for human consumption will be tested.

  Departmental Staff
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many employees in her Department took early retirement and at what total cost, in the last financial year. [170824]

  Alun Michael
  In 2003–04, 45 Defra employees took early retirement at a total cost of £6,109,000.
  641W
  33 of these left the Department under the provisions of the Early Departure Scheme, which falls within strand four of the Defra Change programme. Departures consisted of eight SCS, four Grade 6s and 21 Grade 7s. The total cost amounted to 5,204,000.

  The remaining 11 employees who took early retirement cost a total of £905,000. They consisted of four HEOs; one SAHO; two EOs; one AO; two typists; and one SGB2.

  Fisheries
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2004,Official Report, column 861W, on fisheries, in which member states UK registered fishing vessels have (a) an entitlement and (b) an historic entitlement to fish within six to 12 miles zones. [172460]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  All UK registered vessels, except those in the beam trawling fleet with engine powers in excess of 221 kWs, are permitted to fish within the six to 12 mile zone.

  Horse Passports
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to publish the revised Horse Passport Statutory Instrument. [171387]

  Alun Michael
  We hope to lay the revised Horse Passport Statutory Instrument later this month.

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of parish and town clerks she estimates have achieved a relevant qualification in order to help qualify towards their council being a Quality Parish Council. [171390]

  Alun Michael
  Since the launch of the Certificate in Local Council Administration as the bespoke qualification for town and parish clerks, 55 clerks have qualified while another 450 clerks have requested to take the qualification in the next 12 months representing 6 per cent. of the 7,900 parish and town clerks in England. This figure is based on estimates provided by the Society of Local Council Clerks. This represents an excellent start for such a new professional qualification.

  Clerks who have gained the Certificate of Higher Education in Local Policy, provided by the University of Gloucester also meet the relevant Quality Council criteria. Since this course started in 1987 the University estimate that over 450 people have gained the qualification although it is not known how many of the earlier students are still serving as clerks.

  Parliamentary Questions
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of Ordinary Written Questions to her Department were answered within five sitting days of tabling, and what proportion of Questions for a Written Answer on a642W
  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. [171183]

  Alun Michael
  Records for Session 2002/03 were not maintained in such a way to enable the Department to extract the information requested without incurring disproportionate costs. I can confirm that the new database does record all the information.

  For this parliamentary session up to 30 April 2004 the information requested is below.

  Written Questions

  Total Received

  Number answered within five sitting days

  Percentage answered within five sitting days

  27/11/2003–27/12/2003

  395

  205

  51.9

  28/12/2003–27/01/2004

  478

  263

  55

  28/01/2004–27/02/2004

  490

  126

  25.7

  28/02/2004–28/03/2004

  590

  114

  19.3

  29/03/2004–30/04/2004

  228

  80

  35

  Named Day Questions

  Total Received

  Number received asubstantive answered on the given day

  Percentage answered on the given day

  27/11/2003–27/12/2003

  69

  9

  13

  28/12/2003–27/01/2004

  73

  20

  27.4

  28/01/2004–27/02/2004

  73

  13

  17.8

  28/02/2004–28/03/2004

  108

  13

  12

  29/03/2004–30/04/2004

  45

  0

  0

  Defra endeavours to reply to all parliamentary questions within parliamentary deadlines wherever possible. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. friend the Leader of the House to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 3 March 2004, Official Report column 907W.

  Productivity
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [172181]

  Alun Michael
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mrs Ruth Kelly) on 10 May 2004,Official Report, column, 149W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to his Department has been for(a) first and (b) business class travel incurred by employees in each of the last three financial years; and which of his Department's staff are entitled to travel (a) first and (b) business class. [172114]
  643W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure on First and Business class air travel by its staff during the last three financial years was:

  £

  Financial year

  First class

  Business class

  2001–02

  723,145

  12,392,629

  2002–03

  675,400

  11,684,958

  2003–04

  377,680

  10,983,035

  For journeys with a flying time of up to three hours only Senior Management Staff in Pay Band 2 or above may travel business class. Where flights last over three hours Senior Management Staff with Permanent Secretary rank may travel first class, others business class.

  Heads of Mission not entitled to first class by grade may travel first class on the last leg of the journey on first arrival at their Post, on the first leg of the journey on final departure from their Post or on their first visit to any other country, to which they are accredited.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent from his Department's budget towards paying school fees for children of his Department's staff in each of the last three years. [172115]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: During the last three financial years Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure on education fees for children of members of staff was:

  £

  Financial year

  Amount

  2001–02

  13,806,197

  2002–03

  15,990,618

  2003–04

  17,761,886

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office accounts for 2003–04 have not yet been finalised and may therefore be subject to revision. The published accounts will be expressed in resource rather than cash terms.

  Early Retirement
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees in his Department took early retirement, and at what total cost, in the last financial year. [172194]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  46 employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office took early retirement during the 2003–04 financial year at an initial cash cost of £1,385,153. Ongoing payments to employees who retired before 2003–04 amounted to a further £2,026,971.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office accounts for 2003–04 have not yet been finalised and may therefore be subject to revision. The published accounts will be expressed in resource rather than cash terms.

  Saddam Hussein
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effects the(a) possibility of Saddam Hussein receiving a capital sentence and
  644W
  (b) implications of the European Convention on Human Rights have had on the provision of information by the UK Government to the investigations into Saddam Hussein's alleged crimes. [162066]

  Mr. Rammell
  On 10 December 2003, the Iraqi Governing Council approved the Statute creating the Iraqi Special Tribunal to try major crimes committed under the former Ba'athist regime. The Transitional Administrative Law signed on 8 March 2004 confirms the establishment of the Tribunal. The Tribunal itself must now be set up and the judges selected.

  The UK Government has made it clear that it opposes the use of the death penalty. We were instrumental in securing the suspension of the death penalty in Iraq under Coalition Provisional Authority Order No 7. It will be up to the new Iraqi Government to determine whether this punishment will be reinstated following the transfer of authority. After the transfer of power to the new Iraqi Government, we will continue to lobby against the death penalty.

  The UK will consider any request to provide information to the Tribunal consistent with our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and our opposition to the death penalty. Iraq is in any event an evidence rich environment, with considerable documentary proof of the atrocities committed by the former regime. The important question is how to ensure that Saddam and other members of his regime suspected of major crimes are tried under an Iraqi process that meets international standards.

  Taiwan
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the forthcoming Peace Referendum in Taiwan. [160083]

  Mr. Rammell
  The referenda failed to get the necessary number of votes to make them valid.

  The United Kingdom monitors cross-straits relations closely.

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

  United Nations
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the(a) timetable for the preparation of draft reports, (b) consultation period, (c) deadlines for submission to reporting bodies and (d) provisional dates and locations of public hearings to consider the UK periodic reports for each UN international obligation are; and which (i) Department and (ii) officials have primary responsibility in each case. [171373]

  Mr. Rammell
  Setting out the situation with regard to all the UK periodic reports for every obligation within the UN framework would incur disproportionate costs. However, it might be helpful to set out the process with regard to one specific area, human rights, as on example of the UK's reporting obligations.
  645W
  With regard to the six core UN international human rights treaties which require States Parties to submit reports, the timetables for reporting and consideration of reports vary from treaty to treaty and can depend on the workload of, and recommendations expressed by, the relevant treaty monitoring body. Lead responsibility for the UK's reports also varies within Government, but in each case the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for coordinating material relating to the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

  For the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, reporting is required every five years. The UK's last report was submitted in 1999 and examined in October 2001. The relevant treaty monitoring body has asked that the UK submits its next report by 1 November 2006. The Department for Constitutional Affairs is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Human Rights Division.

  For the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, reporting is also required every five years. The UK's last report was submitted in 2001 and examined in May 2002. The relevant treaty monitoring body has asked that the UK submits its next report by 30 June 2007. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Human Rights Policy Department.

  For the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel. Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, reporting is required every four years. The UK's latest report was submitted on 4 December 2003. A date has not yet been scheduled for the examination in Geneva. The timing of the next report will depend on the recommendations of the relevant treaty monitoring body. The Department for Constitutional Affairs is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Human Rights Division.

  For the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, reporting is required every two years. The UK's last report was submitted in October 2002 and examined on 6–7 August 2003. The relevant treaty monitoring body has asked that the UK submits its next two reports combined by

  Total vacant dwellings at 1 April in London boroughs, 1997–2003

  2003

  2002

  2001

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  Barking and Dagenham

  775

  1,117

  1,329

  2,172

  2,005

  1,727

  1,509

  Barnet

  5,179

  4,915

  3,153

  4,068

  4,673

  4,442

  4,211

  Bexley

  2,064

  1,644

  1,982

  1,185

  2,203

  2,467

  2,410

  Brent

  5,115

  5,670

  5,504

  6,174

  5,151

  3,754

  4,792

  Bromley

  4,297

  4,256

  4,318

  3,718

  3,715

  –

  –

  Camden

  3,605

  4,018

  4,335

  4,703

  6,261

  4,745

  4,033

  City of London

  75

  32

  31

  –

  –

  22

  32

  Croydon

  4,526

  4,650

  4,401

  4,130

  4,598

  5,505

  5,594

  Ealing

  1,630

  1,749

  2,449

  2,308

  5,397

  5,705

  5,433

  Enfield

  –

  –

  –

  –

  –

  –

  –

  Greenwich

  3,308

  3,096

  3,058

  4,541

  4,421

  4,508

  4,523

  Hackney

  4,307

  –

  3,254

  3,970

  3,284

  4,486

  5,165

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  3,191

  4,141

  4,557

  4,138

  3,710

  4,026

  4,108

  Haringey

  –

  3,538

  4,815

  4,417

  5,604

  4,413

  5,419

  646W
  6 April 2006. The Home Office is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Race Equality Unit.

  For the Convention on the Rights of the Child, reporting is required every five years. The UK's last reports were submitted in 1999 and examined in September 2002 for the UK and 2000 for the Overseas Territories and the Isle of Man. The relevant treaty monitoring body has asked that the UK submits its next two reports combined by 15 July 2007. The Department for Education and Skills is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Children, Young People and Families Directorate.

  For the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, reporting is required every four years. The UK's last report was submitted in July 2003. The relevant treaty monitoring body has scheduled an examination of the report for July 2005 in New York and the date of the next report will depend on its recommendations. The Department for Trade and Industry is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Women and Equality Unit.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Planning
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the occasions when costs have been awarded against(a) a local council and (b) councillors following an appeal against their refusal to grant planning permission when their decision was to uphold their local plan. [173083]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not record such details.

  Empty Homes (London)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many empty residential dwellings there were in each Greater London borough, in each year since 1997. [173296]

  Keith Hill
  The available information on empty residential dwellings in Greater London boroughs is presented in the table. This data has been provided from a combination of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Housing Investment Programme return and Housing Corporation's Regulatory Statistical Return.
  647W

  Total vacant dwellings at 1 April in London boroughs, 1997–2003

  2003

  2002

  2001

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  Harrow

  1,196

  1,180

  1,218

  1,231

  1,325

  1,081

  983

  Havering

  2,777

  505

  2,702

  –

  –

  –

  –

  Hillingdon

  2,454

  3,003

  2,511

  2,468

  2,497

  2,273

  2,628

  Hounslow

  1,950

  2,056

  1,050

  1,903

  2,012

  2,211

  2,306

  Islington

  2,643

  3,719

  3,237

  2,773

  2,897

  2,970

  5,392

  Kensington and Chelsea

  6,025

  6,040

  6,067

  1,715

  1,655

  –

  8,387

  Kingston upon Thames

  –

  –

  –

  1,152

  –

  –

  –

  Lambeth

  3,851

  4,262

  2,572

  4,639

  4,646

  4,656

  5,213

  Lewisham

  4,072

  3,643

  4,025

  3,251

  3,259

  –

  5,246

  Merton

  2,597

  2,332

  2,114

  2,310

  1,793

  1,625

  1,733

  Newham

  3,276

  3,140

  5,102

  4,663

  5,717

  5,183

  3,424

  Redbridge

  –

  2,335

  –

  –

  –

  –

  –

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,953

  1,947

  1,757

  1,629

  1,600

  1,714

  2,420

  Southwark

  4,112

  3,840

  6,367

  6,917

  6,649

  4,658

  3,665

  Sutton

  2,542

  2,489

  2,238

  1,243

  2,342

  2,205

  1,826

  Tower Hamlets

  4,519

  4,620

  5,429

  5,306

  5,507

  5,071

  4,894

  Waltham Forest

  1,470

  3,969

  2,739

  3,004

  2,601

  4,939

  4,840

  Wandsworth

  2,293

  2,229

  2,079

  2,314

  2,511

  1,991

  2,783

  Westminster

  4,378

  3,176

  2,957

  3,063

  3,407

  3,295

  3,128

  London

  100,648

  101,017

  105,181

  105,016

  112,665

  111,952

  121,298

  Note:

  Missing data is denoted by a "–". London total includes imputation for these missing values.

  Sources:

  ODPM's annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP) returns and the Housing Corporation's annual HAR 10 and Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR)

  Guildford (Council Elections)
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the letters and reports he has received from the Electoral Commission in relation to the Guildford borough council elections of 1 may 2003. [173299]

  Phil Hope
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 11 May 2004,Official Report, column 211W and 29 April 2004, Official Report, column 226W. The statutory evaluation report referred to is the only report or letter that the Government have received from the Electoral Commission on the all-postal pilot election held in Guildford on 1 May 2003.

  Households accepted as homeless and in priority need

  1997–981

  1998–991

  1999–20001

  2000–011

  2001–021

  2002–031

  20032

  Barking and Dagenham

  65

  257

  230

  234

  364

  595

  3—

  Barnet

  876

  1,048

  1,109

  1,159

  1,112

  838

  852

  Bexley

  285

  319

  275

  359

  454

  468

  372

  Brent

  1,200

  920

  1,045

  1,145

  1,236

  1,039

  956

  Bromley

  610

  728

  839

  881

  785

  867

  905

  Camden

  1,422

  1,555

  1,338

  1,021

  1,111

  1,329

  1,510

  City of London

  44

  53

  64

  18

  14

  39

  22

  Croydon

  956

  882

  1,219

  1,886

  1,198

  1,291

  1,409

  Baling

  1,068

  1,016

  989

  1,026

  860

  1,001

  1,190

  Enfield

  743

  754

  793

  1,007

  1,150

  1,191

  1,072

  Greenwich

  1,318

  1,456

  1,242

  1,227

  1,217

  1,003

  1,021

  Hackney

  676

  705

  963

  762

  967

  1,138

  3—

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  598

  709

  895

  917

  805

  811

  3—

  Haringey

  1,157

  975

  1,716

  1,362

  1,094

  1,315

  3—

  Harrow

  691

  725

  668

  700

  444

  399

  296

  Havering

  283

  386

  440

  649

  173

  180

  416

  Hillingdon

  1,144

  1,083

  686

  1,003

  1,119

  958

  888

  Hounslow

  858

  1,056

  1,003

  945

  957

  852

  692

  Islington

  949

  1,176

  1,298

  1,556

  1,387

  1,397

  3—

  Kensington and Chelsea

  590

  611

  534

  658

  605

  417

  463

  Kingston upon Thames

  437

  400

  306

  421

  400

  450

  426

  Lambeth

  779

  1,106

  1,124

  1,110

  1,470

  1,651

  1,632

  Lewisham

  865

  1,085

  1,248

  892

  1,102

  1,170

  1,559

  Merton

  186

  205

  242

  168

  173

  156

  180

  Newham

  1,053

  1,105

  1,411

  1,495

  1,377

  1,388

  1,542

  Redbridge

  322

  302

  450

  464

  437

  556

  3—

  Richmond upon Thames

  584

  633

  432

  343

  399

  325

  320

  648W

  Homelessness
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless families there were in each Greater London borough, in each of the last seven years. [173294]

  Yvette Cooper
  The latest available information reported to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister about the number of households accepted by each of the London boroughs as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need is tabled as follows.
  649W

  Households accepted as homeless and in priority need

  1997–981

  1998–991

  1999–20001

  2000–011

  2001–021

  2002–031

  20032

  Southwark

  884

  1,204

  1,614

  1,703

  1,317

  1,857

  1,671

  Sutton

  274

  299

  513

  429

  474

  429

  344

  Tower Hamlets

  971

  1,070

  1,130

  1,282

  1,400

  1,617

  1,701

  Waltham Forest

  880

  1,048

  856

  1,024

  1,121

  1,140

  1,048

  Wandsworth

  440

  613

  758

  886

  926

  1,072

  1,095

  Westminster

  1,124

  1,266

  1,152

  1,075

  1,154

  1,074

  1,060

  London total

  24,330

  26,750

  28,580

  29,810

  28,800

  30,010

  32,300

  of which: Households with dependent children or a pregnant woman

  1997–981

  1998–991

  1999–20001

  2000–011

  2001–021

  2002–031

  20032

  Barking and Dagenham

  36

  169

  160

  165

  229

  339

  3—

  Barnet

  672

  797

  878

  756

  795

  528

  613

  Bexley

  192

  217

  206

  285

  377

  376

  278

  Brent

  618

  663

  714

  719

  905

  774

  707

  Bromley

  477

  574

  607

  644

  587

  565

  564

  Camden

  805

  934

  836

  631

  676

  749

  798

  City of London

  40

  50

  61

  9

  6

  14

  11

  Croydon

  662

  609

  903

  1,397

  892

  935

  1,034

  Baling

  850

  759

  763

  826

  680

  779

  901

  Enfield

  594

  624

  678

  876

  941

  875

  814

  Greenwich

  849

  981

  899

  899

  875

  690

  660

  Hackney

  451

  535

  780

  605

  691

  847

  3—

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  455

  556

  735

  681

  531

  533

  3—

  Haringey

  921

  764

  1,351

  989

  775

  918

  3—

  Harrow

  575

  574

  512

  513

  327

  286

  232

  Havering

  227

  311

  107

  157

  125

  135

  281

  Hillingdon

  842

  909

  512

  793

  722

  570

  554

  Hounslow

  502

  741

  706

  710

  745

  548

  407

  Islington

  506

  622

  699

  855

  780

  602

  3—

  Kensington and Chelsea

  334

  324

  312

  361

  277

  256

  264

  Kingston upon Thames

  292

  295

  245

  285

  282

  278

  233

  Lambeth

  489

  680

  808

  798

  982

  985

  852

  Lewisham

  729

  908

  1,106

  746

  799

  818

  1,134

  Merton

  147

  160

  173

  32

  109

  103

  106

  Newham

  808

  884

  1,144

  1,196

  982

  1,048

  1,027

  Redbridge

  235

  230

  353

  380

  368

  100

  3—

  Richmond upon Thames

  415

  420

  239

  213

  260

  156

  176

  Southwark

  528

  711

  1,006

  1,085

  787

  1,117

  1,048

  Sutton

  190

  182

  353

  261

  278

  237

  164

  Tower Hamlets

  699

  824

  825

  917

  1,048

  1,153

  1,131

  Waltham Forest

  679

  865

  721

  825

  931

  900

  815

  Wandsworth

  333

  469

  558

  610

  575

  647

  664

  Westminster

  593

  696

  669

  628

  595

  578

  537

  London total

  16,750

  19,040

  20,620

  20,850

  19,930

  19,440

  21,060

  1 Source: ODPM Housing Investment programme return (financial year). Data for 2003–04 wil1 be available in October 2004.

  2 Source: ODPM PIE homelessness returns (sum of quarterly data).

  3 Data not available.

  Housing
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's definition of affordable housing is. [172879]

  Keith Hill
  For the purposes of Government funding, a working definition of affordable housing is housing available at social rents (i.e. subject to the rent restructuring regime) or other forms of submarket housing, which can generally only be accessed by existing social tenants or people on waiting lists or others groups specifically identified, such as key workers, with other groups having much lower priority.

  For the purposes of planning decisions, guidance (PPG3) puts the onus on local planning authorities to define affordable housing in terms of the relationship between local income levels and housing prices or rents for different types and sizes of housing, and housing for identified groups such as key workers, and for these
  650W
  definitions to be based on an up-to-date assessment of housing needs.

  Local Authority Housing (Evictions)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many evictions there were from local authority housing stock for rent arrears in(a) Greater London and (b) each London borough during each of the last three years. [173297]

  Keith Hill
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-regional Strategy
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to inform local residents in
  651W
  Buckinghamshire of the results of the examination in public of the draft Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional strategy. [172163]

  Yvette Cooper
  Once the Public Examination Panel report is completed it will be made available to all participants and posted on the web. Following this there will be a wide consultation for eight weeks, including the Aylesbury area, on any proposed alterations to Regional Planning Guidance as a result of the sub-regional strategy.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Government's policy is on the relationship between Aylesbury South area and the villages of(a) Stoke Mandeville, (b) Weston Turville, (c) Wendover and (d) Aston Clinton in the context of the draft Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional strategy. [172164]

  Yvette Cooper
  This relationship between Aylesbury and nearby villages is one of a number of issues currently being considered by the independent panel that was appointed to undertake a public examination of the sub-regional strategy. The Government await the outcome of the panel's report before making any decisions.

  Previously developed vacant land and derelict land and buildings

  Hectares

  1998

  2001

  2002

  London boroughs

  Vacant land

  Derelict land and buildings

  Vacant land

  Derelict land and buildings

  Vacant land

  Derelict land and buildings

  Barking and Dagenham

  2

  19

  43

  89

  43

  86

  Barnet

  13

  40

  13

  41

  12

  40

  Bexley

  10

  10

  1

  10

  5

  10

  Brent

  13

  11

  n/a

  n/a

  9

  10

  Bromley

  1

  1—

  n/a

  n/a

  1—

  1—

  Camden

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  City of London

  1

  1

  1

  1

  n/a

  n/a

  City of Westminster

  13

  3

  n/a

  n/a

  8

  1—

  Croydon

  n/a

  n/a

  15

  16

  10

  13

  Ealing

  1—

  1—

  n/a

  n/a

  1—

  1—

  Enfield

  18

  40

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Greenwich

  46

  155

  60

  107

  59

  126

  Hackney

  1

  1—

  1—

  3

  1—

  3

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2

  32

  16

  n/a

  14

  1—

  Haringey

  7

  1—

  7

  n/a

  6

  1—

  Harrow

  3

  1—

  17

  1—

  2

  1—

  Havering

  40

  34

  37

  15

  48

  15

  Hillingdon

  2

  1—

  1

  3

  1

  5

  Hounslow

  30

  1—

  7

  5

  n/a

  n/a

  Islington

  3

  1—

  4

  1—

  n/a

  n/a

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1

  4

  n/a

  n/a

  1—

  4

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  7

  1—

  1

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Lambeth

  7

  1—

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Lewisham

  5

  2

  9

  1

  8

  1

  Merton

  1—

  1—

  n/a

  n/a

  2

  5

  Newham

  95

  32

  77

  31

  46

  4

  Redbridge

  n/a

  n/a

  1—

  5

  1—

  5

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  2

  1

  n/a

  n/a

  13

  2

  Southwark

  n/a

  n/a

  1—

  1

  1

  4

  Sutton

  10

  7

  n/a

  n/a

  2

  1

  Tower Hamlets

  n/a

  n/a

  14

  7

  4

  4

  Waltham Forest

  18

  2

  8

  2

  7

  1

  Wandsworth

  4

  2

  4

  31

  4

  26

  1 Nil or less than 0.5 hectares

  n/a not available

  652W
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to paragraph 15 of the Cross-Government Statement (matters 5b and c) on the draft Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional strategy, how many dwellings the Government offices believe should be transferred from the post-2016 to the pre-2016 period. [172165]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government made this suggestion as a possible way of assisting with the sustainability of Aylesbury. Precise figures were not specified because this whole matter is for the independent panel to consider and to provide recommendations from all the representations made and the evidence at the public examination.

  Vacant/Derelict Land (London)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much previously developed land was(a) vacant and (b) derelict in each Greater London borough, in each year since 1997. [173295]

  Keith Hill
  The available figures are from borough responses to the National Land Use Database of Previously Developed Land in 1998, 2001 and 2002, tabled as follows. Figures for 2003 will be published later in the summer. Response to the survey is voluntary and not all local authorities make a response every year.

PRIME MINISTER

  Regulatory Reform
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions, and on what dates, he has chaired meetings on regulatory reform since 1997. [173261]

  The Prime Minister
  I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects, including on regulatory reform. As with previous Administrations it is not my 654W
  practice to provide details of all such meetings under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Iraq
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister whether any coalition partners in Iraq have disapplied the Geneva Convention in respect of detainees held there; and if he will make a statement. [173006]

  The Prime Minister
  No. All Coalition partners have consistently stated that they regard themselves as bound by the Geneva Convention in their conduct in Iraq.