Written Answers of 17 May 2004

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Departmental Computers
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to update computer(a) hardware and (b) software standard packages used in her Department. [166363]

  Alun Michael
  The wide range of Defra's responsibilities and its geographic spread result in a variety of computer hardware and software being employed. These are constantly reviewed and updated where necessary in order to ensure they continue to meet business requirements, offer value for money and are fully supportable.

  The supply of computer hardware and software standard packages to Defra is currently subject to an outsourcing procurement exercise.

  Food Labelling
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of the red tractor logo on food produced in the UK. [172451]

  Alun Michael
  The Red Tractor logo is privately owned and its use on food is licensed by a private company, Assured Food Standards (AFS). The logo denotes foods which comply with standards of production set by AFS or by schemes that AFS has recognised as being equivalent. The Government plays no part in setting those standards nor in validating its operations.

  Greenhouse Gases
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she will take during 2004(a) to increase awareness of the dangers of global climate change and (b) to promote education about ways in which (i) citizens, (ii) businesses, (iii) public services and (iv) the media can help the Government to reach its target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. [171228]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department provides funding to two key bodies which as part of their activities run programmes to promote energy efficiency and climate change, including advertising schemes, events, marketing, and awards.

  The Energy Saving Trust encourages the sustainable use of energy in the domestic and small business sectors. Work includes an Energy Efficiency campaign to encourage domestic consumers to take up energy efficiency measures.
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  The Carbon Trust aims to enable UK business and public sectors to move towards a sustainable, low carbon economy while maintaining business competitiveness. Their recent "Lifeblood" campaign has had wide coverage.

  "Energy Efficiency: the Government's Plan for Action" published on 26 April confirms the Government's commitment to raising awareness on climate change and its links to energy use. As stated in the Action Plan, the Government are exploring the scope for a new climate change information campaign.

  The UK has also signed up to Article 6 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), through which Parties to the Convention have a legally binding commitment to carry out activities on education, public awareness, public access to information, public participation and international co-operation.

  At the Eighth Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COPS) in New Delhi, in October-November 2002, the Parties adopted a five-year non-binding Article 6 work programme, known as the New Delhi Work Programme to steer Parties towards implementation of Article 6. As part of this, UK officials are currently involved in the planning stage of a web-based internet clearing house that will act as hub for public users to find out information on Article 6 related activities carried out by different countries.

  Milk (Lancashire)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many milk processing companies in Lancashire are available for farmers in Lancashire to sell the milk they produce. [172072]

  Alun Michael
  There are 112 milk processing establishments in Lancashire, approved under the Dairy Products (Hygiene) Regulations 1995. However, producers are not restricted to delivering their milk to purchasers or processors within their county. Farmers in Lancashire can therefore deliver their milk to milk processing companies outside Lancashire.

  Orchards
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department gives on how many years should elapse before apple trees can be replanted in the same field. [168144]

  Alun Michael
  Defra has not issued advice on this subject.

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) parish and (b) town councils have been awarded Quality status in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Chorley. [172071]

  Alun Michael
  To date no applications for Quality status has been received from parish councils or town councils in Lancashire or Chorley. However, the Lancashire and Mersey County Training Partnership
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  (CTP) has received 14 registrations from clerks who are working towards the Certificate in Local Council Administration. So far one clerk has passed the qualification that was developed in line with the Quality Council Scheme launched in August 2003.

  Websites
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total annual cost of her Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [159514]

  Alun Michael
  The use of websites is now a mainstream of communication for any organisation in the public sector or the private sector and for business units throughout any large organisation. Direct operating costs for the main Defra website (www.defra.gov.uk)—including technical and staff costs associated with hosting of the site, and staff costs for the central team with lead responsibility for updating and maintaining the content of the site—are estimated at around £294,000 for the financial year 2003–04.

  Additional costs arise from the activities of a large number of staff in business units across the Department, contributing to the content of the website as part of their communications activities, but an overall cost for this could not be accurately estimated without incurring disproportionate cost.

  A number of other websites are operated by the Department and its agencies, for which costs are either covered by the budgets for specific programmes (and not separately identified), or included within the above figures. Detailed information is not held centrally for other websites managed by the Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies, and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Community Sports
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the effects of Government expenditure policy on community sports since 1994. [173478]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government has invested over £3 billion Exchequer and lottery funding in sport since 1997. Government policy is to marry mass participation with sporting excellence, as illustrated by the 45 County Sports Partnerships, comprising local authorities, schools, governing bodies of sport and the voluntary sector, established to generate competitive and grass roots sport. Community sport has also benefited from unprecedented investment in facilities, improving community access. To complement this, the Government is investing in coaching and volunteering to deliver community activities. For children and young people the Government is investing almost £120 million this year to deliver the entitlement to high quality PE and School Sport.

  Licensing Act
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consultations were held with the police about the effects of binge drinking on local alcohol and violence problems before the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003; and what consultations are going on now about its implementation. [173665]

  Mr. Caborn
  Prior to the publication of the White Paper on licensing reform in April 2000 (Cm 4696), the Association of Chief Police Officers ("ACPO") were thoroughly consulted on the related development of the policy. Following the publication of the White Paper, ACPO, the Association of Police Superintendents' Association and the Police Federation engaged in the public consultation, as well as several individual police forces. In developing the legal instructions for the Licensing Bill, ACPO provided advice to officials in weekly meetings. In July 2002, a Licensing Bill Advisory Group was formed which included a wide range of stakeholders, including ACPO, and assisted the Government in preparing the Bill. The Group met on a weekly basis and continued to meet regularly throughout the Bill's parliamentary stages. Since Royal Assent in July 2003, this Group has continued to meet on a monthly basis to discuss issues relating to the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003. In addition, during the House of Commons stages of the Licensing Bill, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State also met ACPO to discuss underage drinking and the way in which the Bill dealt with children and the then Minister responsible, the hon Member for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells), also met ACPO to discuss other general licensing issues. More recently, I have met the police in a Working Group which is examining issues relating to alcohol related violent crime.

  Ministerial Visits
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list visits made by each minister in the Department between December 2003 and April 2004, broken down by(a) date, (b) constituency visited and (c) cost. [171560]

  Tessa Jowell
  I have listed visits made by each Minister in my Department, specifying date and constituency visited. The cost of each visit could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Date of visit

  Constituency

  Tessa Jowell

  3 December

  Cities of London and Westminster

  4 December

  Hackney, South and Shoreditch

  6 December

  North Southwark and Bermondsey

  7 December

  Cities of London and Westminster

  15 December

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  22 December

  Stratford-upon-Avon

  10 January

  Islington, North

  Cities of London and Westminster

  13 January

  Oxford, West and Abingdon

  16 January

  Cities of London and Westminster

  27 January

  Cities of London and Westminster

  1 February

  Brent, South

  3 February

  Cities of London and Westminster

  9 February

  Cities of London and Westminster

  10 February

  Bradford, West

  Pudsey

  Shipley

  Hammersmith and Fulham

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  Date of visit

  Constituency

  25 February

  Cities of London and Westminster

  26 February

  Cities of London and Westminster

  3 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  4 March

  Telford

  North Southwark and Bermondsey

  Cities of London and Westminster

  6 March

  Twickenham

  8 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  9 March

  Birmingham, Ladywood

  Leicester, South

  Harborough

  11 March

  Harrow, West

  21 March

  Dulwich and West Norwood

  23 March

  Leeds, Central

  Leeds, East

  City of York

  24 March

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  25 March

  Vauxhall

  28 March

  Islington, North

  29 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  30 March

  Nottingham, South

  4 April

  Bethnal Green and Bow

  6 April

  Regents Park and Kensington, North

  18 April

  Greenwich and Woolwich

  20 April

  Belfast, East

  21 April

  Holborn ant St. Pancras

  22 April

  Cities of London and Westminster

  29 April

  Regents Park and Kensington, North

  Estelle Morris

  8 December

  Hackney, South and Shoreditch

  Cities of London and Westminster

  9 December

  Vauxhall

  10 December

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  11 December

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  15 December

  Cities of London and Westminster

  17 December

  Cities of London and Westminster

  18 December

  Cities of London and Westminster

  6 January

  Bethnal Green and Bow

  8 January

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  9 January

  Birmingham Ladywood

  Stoke-on-Trent, Central

  11–13 January

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central

  Tyne Bridge

  14 January

  Vauxhall

  15 January

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  19 January

  Cities of London and Westminster

  22 January

  Wolverhampton, South-west

  29–30 January

  Cambridge

  30 January

  South Cambridgeshire

  2 February

  Vauxhall

  3 February

  Cities of London and Westminster

  6 February

  Birmingham Edgbaston

  9 February

  Croydon, North

  Cities of London and Westminster

  10 February

  Brighton Pavilion

  Kensington and Chelsea

  15 February

  Cities of London and Westminster

  16 February

  Bristol, West

  17 February

  Kensington and Chelsea

  18 February

  Cities of London and Westminster

  3 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  4 March

  Vauxhall

  7 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  9 March

  Folkestone and Hythe

  12 March

  Sunderland, South

  Sunderland, North

  Tyne Bridge

  Houghton and Washington, East

  16 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  16–17 March

  Liverpool Riverside

  18 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  20 March

  Birminghan Ladywood

  22 March

  West Ham

  Cities of London and Westminster

  23 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  24 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  Holborn and St. Pancras

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  25 March

  Bournemouth, West

  Vauxhall

  26 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  Greenwich and Woolwich

  28 March

  Cities of London and Westminster

  29 March

  Greenwich and Woolwich

  31 April

  Cities of London and Westminster

  1 April

  Cities of London and Westminster

  6 April

  Truro and St. Austell

  St. Ives

  7 April

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  20 April

  Cities of London and Westminster

  21 April

  Cities of London and Westminster

  22 April

  Manchester, Central

  23 April

  Enfield Southgate

  25 April

  Stratford-on-Avon

  26 April

  Cities of London and Westminster

  27 April

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  28 April

  Beaconsfield

  Holborn and St. Pancras

  29 April

  Lewisham, West

  Cities of London and Westminster

  Vauxhall

  Andrew McIntosh

  9 January 2004

  Cities of London and Westminster

  23 January 2004

  Oxford, West and Abingdon

  Abingdon

  26 January 2004

  Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush

  2 February 2004

  Winchester

  19 February 2004

  Camberwell and Peckham

  Bethnal Green and Bow

  4 March 2004

  North Down

  Belfast, North

  Belfast, East

  Belfast, South

  Belfast, West

  8 March 2004

  Cities of London and Westminster

  11 March 2004

  Edinburgh, Central

  Glasgow Kelvin

  Glasgow Maryhill

  15 March 2004

  Cardiff Central

  Cardiff, North

  Cardiff, South and Penarth

  Cardiff. West

  24 March 2004

  Streatham

  Vauxhall

  29 March 2004

  Bournemouth, East

  Bournemouth, West

  Southampton Itchen

  Southampton Test

  27 April 2004

  Bethnal Green and Bow

  Richard Caborn

  2 December 2003

  Greenwich

  9 December 2003

  Edmonton

  11 December 2003

  Horsham

  12 January 2004

  Bethnal Green and Bow

  14 January 2004

  Bethnal Green and Bow

  21 January 2004

  Bournemouth, West

  23 January 2004

  Louth and Horncastle

  29 January 2004

  Cities of London and Westminster

  2 February 2004

  Brent, East

  3 February 2004

  Wimbledon

  8 February 2004

  Sunderland, North

  10 February 2004

  Barking and Dagenham

  12 February 2004

  Leeds, Central

  13 February 2004

  Huddersfield

  18 February 2004

  Winchester

  20 February 2004

  Haltemprice and Howden

  21 February 2004

  Warrington, North

  24 February 2004

  Bristol

  25 February 2004

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  26 February 2004

  Penrith

  26 February 2004

  Meriden

  1 March 2004

  Greenwich and Woolwich

  3 March 2004

  Meriden

  4 March 2004

  Telford

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  Date of visit

  constituency

  5 March 2004

  Meriden

  16 March 2004

  Cheltenham

  30 March 2004

  Liverpool Riverside

  2 April 2004

  Mansfield

  19 April 2004

  Belfast, East

  25 April 2004

  Sheffield, Central

  26 April 2004

  Meriden

  28 April 2004

  York City

  30 April 2004

  Doncaster, Central

  30 April 2004

  Sheffield, Central

  Radio Services
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consultations she has held with the commercial radio sector about the relationship between its activities and proposed commercially-funded community radio stations, with particular reference to(a) the protection of the economic viability of existing services, (b) the requirement to offer specific and quantifiable evidence of any harm to that viability, (c) the establishment of clear and transparent rules for withholding any licence on the basis of harm to viability and (d) the interaction of OFCOM and her Department in determining these issues. [172960]

  Estelle Morris
  A public consultation of the draft community radio Order finished on 20 April 2004. We are carefully considering all the issues raised, including those from the commercial radio sector. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, Ministers and officials have met, or will be meeting, representatives of the Commercial Radio Companies Association to discuss these issues before the Order is laid. Officials will also discuss these views with Ofcom.

  Satellite Digital Television
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has held with broadcasters on the introduction of a free satellite digital television service; and if she will make a statement. [172884]

  Estelle Morris
  The Department is in ongoing discussions with broadcasters and with Ofcom about the further development of digital television services. Ofcom have indicated that they will consider whether regulatory intervention is needed to secure a viable free-to-view satellite proposition before switchover.

DEFENCE

  BAE Systems
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's relations with BAE Systems. [173166]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence's relationship with BAE Systems is based on the need to purchase and maintain equipment to meet the requirements of the armed forces affordably and effectively.

  BAE Systems is currently the largest defence supplier to the Ministry of Defence. The changing pattern of demand for defence equipment makes it important that
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  the Ministry of Defence works closely with them and other defence suppliers, in keeping with the Government's Defence Industrial Policy.

  Our relations with BAE Systems' work force continue to be excellent. I pay tribute to their dedication and commitment.

  Defence Logistics
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he has made to defence logistics operations in the light of lessons learned from Operation Telic. [173167]

  Mr. Ingram
  In light of the lessons learned from Operation Telic the Ministry of Defence has taken steps to address issues such as its holding of a range of desert equipments including body armour, clothing and boots. A package of improvements for logistics materiel management has been introduced which will greatly increase our visibility of logistic materiel in theatres of operations.

  Future Rapid Effects System
  Angela Watkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Future Rapid Effects System will enter service with the Army. [173168]

  Mr. Ingram
  The in-service date for Future Rapid Effects System will not be endorsed until the main investment decision, but on current plans, the intention is to introduce early variants into service around the end of the decade.

  Iraq
  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to change the(a) number and (b) composition of British troops serving in southern Iraq; and how regularly this is reviewed. [173170]

  Mr. Hoon
  We keep under continuous close review the level of forces we require in Iraq. We are currently considering, with other partners, the levels and dispositions of forces in the context of the forthcoming crucial period from the handover of authority to the Iraqi Interim Government on 30 June, through to the election of the Transitional Assembly and Government around the turn of the year.

  Claire Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of investigations into allegations of abuse by the military in Iraq. [173169]

  Mr. Hoon
  Investigations by the Royal Military Police Special Investigations Branch into allegations of abuse continue and as I have already informed the House, I cannot put a precise timeframe on how long these might take. As I said, in my statement last week, it is essential that the integrity of the criminal justice process be maintained. This can involve detailed and lengthy processes, but these are crucial to allow the necessary impartial evaluation of the evidence. As I said last week, two cases have reached an advanced stage with decisions on prosecution pending.
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  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the legal immunity granted to coalition forces in Iraq from prosecution under local law will continue after the handover of power to the Iraq Governing Council. [162665]

  Mr. Ingram
  Following the hand over of authority to the Iraqi Interim Government on 30 June 2004, currently we expect that coalition forces will continue to be granted immunity from prosecution under local law by virtue of an amended Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17. However, they will be subject to the jurisdiction of their home state.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of UK forces in protecting(a) tankers at ports and (b) oil terminals in Iraq. [171419]

  Mr. Ingram
  Currently coalition forces, including those from the United Kingdom, are working closely with the Iraqis to provide effective protection of both ports and offshore installations within Iraqi territorial waters.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for families of Iraqis detained by British forces to(a) have access to information about the detention and (b) visit those detained; and if he will make a statement. [172304]

  Mr. Ingram
  Following the detention of a suspect the individual is taken to the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility. Upon arrival at the detention facility the suspect is provided with a form setting out the reasons for their detention (this has been approved by the International Commission of the Red Cross) and is asked to provide details of a person who he wishes to notify of the detention. The military then inform the person nominated. Internees are entitled to three visits per week by members of their family.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the Iraqi individuals whose treatment by UK armed forces personnel has been the subject of a Special Investigation Branch inquiry, broken down by individuals for whom(a) investigations are ongoing, (b) the finding is that there is no case to answer and (c) a report has been submitted to the Army Prosecuting Authority. [172346]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 January, Official Report, column 917–18W. In addition the death of Tanik S Mahmud in April 2003 is the subject of an ongoing RAF Police investigation and the deaths of Mr. Zaher in March 2003 and Ghanim Gala'e Hacham Daghir Roomi in January 2004 are the subject of ongoing Royal Military Police investigations. However, it would be inappropriate to disclose the names of living individuals whose alleged treatment has been the subject of a Service Police investigation.

  Of the 33 cases I referred to in the statement I made to the House on 4 May 2004, offical Report, column 1213, 16 involve alleged ill treatment by members of the UK Armed Forces. Of these, eight are subject to ongoing Service Police investigations, four have been discontinued for lack of evidence and two have been referred to the Army Prosecuting Authority
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  for consideration. In the remaining two cases the police investigation has concluded and legal advice is being sought in relation to what further action might be necessary.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the investigation into the deaths of the six Royal Military Police soldiers killed in Iraq on 24 June 2003; whether Her Majesty's Government received a response to it from the families of the men; whether he plans to make public the relevant communications log; and if he will make a statement. [173319]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 February 2004,Official Report, column 1637W. Although extensive inquiries have been undertaken, the investigation is still ongoing and it remains unclear when it will conclude.

  Aircraft Carriers
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with the aircraft carrier orders placed with BAE Systems. [173171]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Future Carrier (CVF) programme remains in the Assessment Phase. Ministers are currently considering proposals on the overall CVF programme, the Alliance strategy, and on when to proceed to the Demonstration and Manufacture phases.

  Defence Exports
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the measures the Ministry of Defence is taking to promote defence exports. [173172]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Defence Export Services Organisation, within the Ministry of Defence, promotes legitimate defence exports by offering advice and assistance to the United Kingdom defence industry. The organisation invites and hosts foreign delegations at defence exhibitions in the United Kingdom, and provides military support teams in the promotion of military products and services. The Department continues to work for better market access for United Kingdom manufacturers to foreign defence markets.

  Joint Strike Fighter
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the US Administration on the implementation of the Joint Strike Fighter programme. [173173]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Joint Strike Fighter has been selected to meet our Joint Combat Aircraft requirement to replace our current Harrier aircraft. It will be flown from our new aircraft carriers and from land bases. It will also create thousands of jobs and help to boost our economy. Ministers and officials regularly discuss the progress of the programme with our US partners.

  Afghanistan
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) quantity and (b) type of observation equipment is deployed for British troops to use in Afghanistan. [153038]
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  Mr. Ingram
  I am withholding information on observation equipment available to British Forces in Afghanistan under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Departmental Procurement
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the(a) crockery, (b) cutlery and (c) glassware procured by his Department over the last five years is of British manufacture. [170797]

  Mr. Ingram
  For the last five years the Ministry of Defence's requirements for crockery, cutlery and glassware have been procured through the Office of Government Commerce (OGC).

  The OGC have provided the following information covering the use of British Manufacture, in percentage terms, over the last five years:

  British Manufacture

  Percentage

  Crockery

  100

  Cutlery

  100

  Glassware

  0

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department will receive a discount on its order for the second tranche of Eurofighters similar to that achieved by the German Defence Ministry. [172318]

  Mr. Ingram
  Negotiations between partner nations and industry for the second Tranche of Eurofighters (Typhoons) are ongoing. We are working to ensure that the Tranche 2 contract is affordable and soundly based to deliver the required capability.

  Flakjackets
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further investigations his Department has undertaken into the(a) reasons and (b) those responsible for the flakjackets missing since 1999; what conclusions he has reached; and if he will make a statement. [173318]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have assumed that my hon. Friend has in mind the National Audit Office Report on Operation Telic, which reported that approximately 200,000 sets of Enhanced Combat Body Armour had been issued since the Kosovo campaign in 1999, but seemed to have disappeared.

  I should explain that the figure quoted in the NAO report was an estimate provided for the NAO inquiry of the equivalent number of sets of body armour that would have been issued since 1999. However, the body armour ensemble is not usually issued as a complete set. Instead, units request the number of components required to make up the sets they need (covers, fillers and ceramic plates). The fillers and covers are accounted for as items of consumable stock and are, therefore, usually disposed of locally when they wear out,
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  although items may be returned to stock and re-issued if undamaged. Due to their value, the plates, when surplus to unit requirements and serviceable, are returned to stock for re-issue as the need arises.

  In light of the concern raised about the supply of body armour, the Defence Logistics Organisation conducted an audit of Enhanced Combat Body Armour The audit has provided a picture of our current holdings. It shows that current stock holdings account for 66 per cent. of the total number of Enhanced Combat Body Armour components procured since 1992. The remainder will have been consumed over this period as a result of wear and tear, and operational loss.

  Future Aircraft Carrier
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the prime contractor for the Future Aircraft Carrier programme. [170330]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 May 2004,Official Report, column 1514W, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne East (Mr. Brown).

  Kosovo
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has studied the Amnesty International Report published on 6 May 2004, Protecting the Human Rights of Women and Girls Trafficked for Forced Prostitution in Kosovo; what assessment(a) he and (b) his Department have made of the Report's claims that the international community, including United Kingdom members of KFOR and the UN, make up a significant concentration of these women's clientele; and if he will make a statement. [173235]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence has studied the Amnesty International report 'So does it mean that we have the rights?—Protecting the Human Rights of Women and Girls Trafficked for Forced Prostitution in Kosovo'. The report's findings are a matter of grave concern. The Government condemns the exploitation of vulnerable people, and expects UK military personnel to adhere to the rules for conduct on operations. Military personnel breaking these rules are dealt with under the relevant military disciplinary procedures and, depending on the offence, UK criminal law. With the exception of two cases where, as the report recognises disciplinary measures were taken, we are not aware of any involvement of UK military personnel in the activities the report describes.

  Nimrod MRA4
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 5 May 2004,Official Report, column 1523W, on the Nimrod MRA4, what plans he has to ensure that, in the event of an eventual favourable decision to continue production of the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft, a workforce with the sufficient skills and product knowledge will be available at Woodford. [172415]

  Mr. Ingram
  BAE Systems is clearly best placed to manage their workforce to provide the skills and knowledge to meet current obligations and likely future business requirements.
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  Acceptable design maturity and price are needed before a full production order can be placed. The Ministry of Defence, however, has been approving low risk production activities when it makes sense to do so, where these help maintain essential skills and product knowledge as well as preserve schedule.

  Prison Warder Duties
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what qualifications armed forces personnel have in prison warder duties; whether the training they receive for such duties leads to a recognised qualification; and if he will make a statement. [171586]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence does not run prisons. However, members of the Adjutant General's Corps Military Provost Staff (AGC(MPS)) receive the relevant training to run the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) in Colchester.

  The MCTC is subject to independent inspection and is a National Vocational Qualifications Award accredited custodial care assessment centre. Individual qualifications are not awarded; however close liaison with Her Majesty's Prison Service is undertaken in order that best practice is maintained.

  AGC(MPS) also run the Regimental Police course at MCTC. This course prepares soldiers to run the unit guardroom and to provide them with the skills necessary to handle soldiers serving short-term periods of detention in the unit guardroom. The course covers all legal, administrative and welfare aspects of detention and provides a City and guilds Qualification.

  Radioactive Material
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 when radioactive material has been unaccounted

  Table 2: Other ranks

  Specialism

  Warrant Officer

  Flight Sergeant

  Chief Technician

  Sergeant

  Corporal

  Junior Technician

  Senior Aircraftsman

  Leading Aircraftsman/Aircraftsman

  Total

  Pharmaceutical technicians

  1

  2

  —

  5

  5

  1

  1

  5

  20

  Laboratory technicians

  1

  7

  —

  10

  4

  2

  —

  —

  24

  Radiographers

  —

  3

  —

  6

  3

  1

  1

  1

  15

  Staff nurse (Registered Mental Nurse)

  —

  5

  —

  13

  7

  —

  —

  —

  25

  Operational theatre

  1

  5

  —

  12

  1

  6

  2

  3

  30

  Environmental health technician

  1

  6

  —

  7

  2

  14

  7

  5

  42

  Medical administration

  23

  43

  2

  130

  111

  —

  2

  —

  377

  Medical assistant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  —

  265

  137

  407

  Staff nurse (Registered General Nurse)

  4

  21

  —

  123

  96

  3

  56

  30

  333

  Total

  31

  92

  2

  306

  300

  27

  334

  181

  1,273

  Table 3: Locations of officer and other ranks

  Location

  Number of personnel: Officer ranks

  Numbers of personnel Other ranks

  Total

  Aldergrove Northern Ireland

  2

  14

  16

  Aldershot Duller Barracks

  1

  —

  1

  Aldershot DMSTC (Keogh Barracks)

  4

  106

  110

  Armed Forces Careers Office, Belfast

  —

  1

  1

  Armed Forces Careers Office, Newcastle

  —

  1

  1

  Armed Forces Careers Office, Nottingham

  —

  1

  1

  Defence Academy Shrivenham

  —

  1

  1

  Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering Cosford

  1

  18

  19

  668W
  for, broken down by (a) location, (b) volume and (c) radioactivity level of the material; and whether the material remains missing in each case. [173142]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 14 May 2004]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  RAF (Medical Personnel)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strength of the RAF Medical Services is, broken down by(a) service, (b) rank, (c) specialisation and (d) establishment. [169996]

  Mr. Caplin
  Tables 1 and 2 show the strength of personnel in the RAF Medical Services, by rank and specialisation. Table 3 details the number of RAF medical personnel by Ministry of Defence establishment. These figures do not include dental officers and other ranks.

  Those deployed on operations are not shown separately but are recorded at their home unit.

  All figures are correct as at 1 April 2004.

  Table 1: Officer ranks

  Specialism

  Rank

  Medical officer

  Medical support

  Princess Mary Royal Air Force Nursing Service

  Total

  Air Vice Marshall

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Air Commodore

  7

  —

  —

  7

  Group Captain

  20

  1

  1

  22

  Wing Commander

  62

  11

  11

  84

  Squadron Leader

  59

  18

  46

  123

  Flight Lieutenant

  51

  30

  57

  138

  Flight Officer

  12

  10

  4

  26

  Pilot Officer/Acting Pilot Officer/Officer Cadet

  33

  3

  —

  36

  Total

  245

  73

  119

  437

  669W

  Table 3: Locutions of officer and other ranks

  Location

  Number of personnel: Officer ranks

  Number of personnel: Other ranks

  Total

  Defence Community Psychiatry Catterick

  —

  2

  2

  Defence Dental Agency HQ Halton

  2

  —

  2

  Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Headly Court

  5

  15

  20

  Defence Medical Services HQ London

  27

  1

  28

  Defence School of Transport Leconfield

  —

  2

  2

  Department Community Psychiatry Shrewsbury

  1

  2

  3

  DMETA, Gosport

  4

  4

  8

  External Training

  52

  9

  61

  Gosport Fort Blockhouse Defence Medical College

  —

  55

  55

  HQ DISC Support Unit, Chicksands

  —

  1

  1

  Joint Personnel Administration Worthy Down

  —

  1

  1

  Joint Services Command and Staff College Defence Academy Shrivenham

  2

  —

  2

  JSU RMC

  —

  2

  2

  Lossiemouth

  3

  14

  17

  MDHU Derriford Plymouth

  6

  —

  6

  MDHU Frimley Park

  3

  —

  3

  MDHU Haslar, Portsmouth

  23

  84

  107

  MDHU Peterborough

  41

  92

  133

  Medical Supply Agency Ludgeshall

  3

  1

  4

  MoD Fire Centre Manston

  —

  3

  3

  Northolt

  —

  10

  10

  Overseas not deployed

  26

  76

  102

  Permanent Joint Headquarters Northwood

  1

  —

  1

  RAF Benson

  3

  19

  22

  RAF Bentley Priory SHU

  —

  2

  2

  RAF Boulmer

  —

  9

  9

  RAF Brampton

  —

  22

  22

  RAF Brize Norton

  6

  41

  47

  RAF Buchan

  1

  4

  5

  RAF Coltishall

  3

  14

  17

  RAF Conningsby

  1

  12

  13

  RAF Corsham

  —

  5

  5

  RAF Cosford

  —

  2

  2

  RAF Cottesmore

  2

  17

  19

  RAF Digby

  —

  7

  7

  RAF Fylingdales

  —

  2

  2

  RAF Halton

  4

  87

  91

  RAF Henlow

  59

  26

  85

  RAF High Wycombe

  6

  17

  23

  RAF Honington

  2

  17

  19

  RAF Innsworth

  46

  42

  88

  RAF Kinloss

  2

  19

  21

  RAF Leeming

  2

  16

  18

  RAF Leuchars

  2

  19

  21

  RAF Linton on Ouse

  2

  19

  21

  RAF Lyneham

  26

  85

  111

  RAF Marham

  4

  28

  32

  RAF Odiham

  2

  20

  22

  RAF Saxa Vord

  —

  1

  1

  RAF Sealand Support Unit

  —

  9

  9

  RAF Shawbury

  1

  13

  14

  RAF Spadeadam

  —

  2

  2

  RAF St. Athan Support Unit

  —

  14

  14

  RAF St. Mawgan

  —

  6

  6

  RAF Stafford

  —

  8

  8

  RAF Uxbridge

  —

  7

  7

  RAF Valley

  1

  11

  12

  RAF Waddington

  2

  16

  18

  RAF Wittering

  2

  15

  17

  RAF/RAFC Cranwell

  23

  41

  64

  RAFSU Boscombe Down

  —

  3

  3

  Royal Centre of Defence Medicine Selly Oak

  28

  58

  86

  Royal Military College of Science Shrivenham

  —

  1

  1

  St Thomas' Hospital London

  —

  1

  1

  Totals

  437

  1,273

  1,710

  RAF Bases
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the savings projected from the transfer of functions from RAF Boulmer to RAF Scampton are assumed to derive from savings in(a) personnel costs, (b) maintenance and infrastucture running costs and (c) depreciation and capital charges. [172987]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Prime Minister's letter of 21 April to the right hon. Member explained that the estimated net running cost saving from the transfer of functions from RAF Boulmer to RAF Scampton is £13 million a year. Some three fifths of this is attributable to personnel costs and one fifth to maintenance and infrastructure running costs. In accordance with standard accounting practice, depreciation and capital charges were not included in the Investment Appraisal.

  Special Service Medal (Nuclear Testing)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which members and former members of the UK's armed forces will be entitled to qualify for the Special Service Medal (Nuclear Testing) approved by Royal Warrant SR2002/224; and if he will make a statement. [173529]

  Mr. Caplin
  None. The Special Service Medal (Nuclear Testing) was instituted by the Government of New Zealand in 2002. Retrospective awards instituted by Commonwealth countries with the permission of Her Majesty The Queen are the sole responsibility of the countries concerned.

  Watchkeeper Programme
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with the Watchkeeper programme. [173372]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Watchkeeper programme will deliver, incrementally, an intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability using tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Proposals for the demonstration and manufacture phase of the Watchkeeper project were received from Northrop Grumman and Thales on 18 March 2004 and are currently being assessed. The main investment decision is due later this year.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Citizens (Deaths Abroad)
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were(a) killed and (b) murdered while living in or visiting another country in each of the last three years, broken down by the country in which the deaths occurred. [171255]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office collected data on how British citizens died overseas on an informal basis until the end of the 2001–02 Financial Year period. Our records show that the total number of British citizens reported as killed overseas in 1999–2000 was 200, in
  672W
  2000–01 was 308 and in 2001–02 was 216. Our records show that the total number of British citizens reported as murdered overseas in 1999–2000 was 27, in 2000–01 was 43 and in 2001–02 was 95.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance he has issued to British embassies and high commissions in respect of encouraging international dialogue about the future of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. [171230]

  Mr. Rammell
  We remain committed to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its overall aim to stabilise emissions at a level that will prevent dangerous climate change. We are working hard to ensure that ambitious action is taken under its auspices. Our immediate focus is to bring the Kyoto Protocol into force and we are working hard to achieve that. Discussions on further action to follow the Kyoto Protocol commitment period 2008–2012 are not due to start until 2005. However, we regularly brief our posts on the full range of the UK's climate change priorities and are exchanging views informally with other countries on how to promote further effective action on climate change.

  Colombia
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning(a) threats to and (b) abuses of human rights of native tribes in Colombia by (i) paramilitary groups and (ii) drugs lords; and if he will make a statement. [173367]

  Mr. Rammell
  It is often difficult to distinguish in the field between paramilitary, guerrilla or criminal drug trafficking organisations. Our embassy in Bogota has regular contact with representatives of indigenous groups. In recent months they have met such groups from Amazonas, Choco, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Maria and La Guajira. The meetings covered such groups' treatment by paramilitary and guerrilla groups. Embassy staff have also discussed the situation of indigenous people with representatives of the key UN agencies, the Catholic Church and civil society, and with the Colombian Government.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions(a) he, (b) senior members of his Department, (c) the UK Government's representatives in Colombia, (d) the Government's representatives in New York and (e) his ministerial colleagues in London have (i) had, (ii) agreed to have and (iii) sought to have with (A) Jan Egeland, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, (B) other officials of the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (C) members and representatives of the Government of Colombia and (D) non-governmental organisations, in the UK and Colombia, following Jan Egeland's statement of 10 May 2004; and if he will make a statement. [173370]
  673W
  Mr. Rammell
  Our ambassador had three separate meetings with Mr. Egeland during his visit to Colombia, including dinner and a private conversation with him on 8 May. He subsequently met the UN Co-ordinator on 11 May. EU Heads of Mission have a private meeting arranged with the Colombian Foreign Minister on 17 May, and ambassadors from the countries represented at the July 2003 London Meeting on Colombia (the G24) will meet the Colombian Defence Minister on 18 May. Our Ambassador spoke to representatives of British NGOs in Colombia following Mr. Egeland's visit on 10 May. A further meeting with NGOs is planned for later in the month. The foregoing is the extent of our engagement with the UN to date; we are considering our next steps.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department last assessed the security and humanitarian situation in the Chocó Department in Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [173436]

  Mr. Rammell
  British embassy officials visited Chocó in February to assess the situation there. During their visit they met a cross-section of society. In addition the ambassador visited the region twice in 2003. He also had a meeting in Bogota to discuss the region's problems with the Bishop of Chocó in March 2004. We are very concerned about the severe social problems the people of Chocó face, including high levels of poverty, illegal drug activity, the presence of illegal armed groups and a vulnerable population. We have raised these with the Colombian authorities. In partnership with UNHCR, we support a project aimed at helping displaced communities there.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of Colombia's(a) economic and (b) humanitarian situation; and when this was last updated. [173459]

  Mr. Rammell
  Our embassy in Bogota provides regular reporting on economic and humanitarian issues, drawing its information from a wide range of governmental and non-governmental sources. The latter includes the Church, local and international NGOs, the business community, academic circles and others. They also supplement their knowledge by travelling around the country to see the situation firsthand. Such reporting is vital as it helps us ensure that our policy towards Colombia is based on the most up to date information and analysis.

  Cyprus
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to seek a new settlement plan for the EU for the Cyprus problem which does not involve the indefinite presence in Cyprus of foreign troops. [173224]

  Mr. MacShane
  We will continue to work with all sides with a view to realising the ultimate objective of achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement so that we can see a reunited Cyprus within the EU.

  We believe the UN Secretary General's comprehensive plan established the best possible basis for achieving a settlement. We welcomed the fact that the settlement
  674W
  would have seen a reduction in Greek and Turkish troop numbers to a purely symbolic level. It is now time for reflection on the deal that was rejected and a considered examination of where we go from here.

  We look forward to the UN Secretary General's report on the settlement talks as an important first step in that process. In the meantime there is no prospect of a renegotiation of the UNSG's plan, including the provision for a limited number of Greek and Turkish troops to remain. Any change in this would have to be by mutual agreement of the parties concerned.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to seek a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis that refugees should, in reasonable time, be allowed the right to return to their homes. [173225]

  Mr. MacShane
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today (UIN 173224).

  The UN Secretary General's comprehensive settlement proposals would have enabled a large number of Greek and Turkish Cypriots the right to return to their former homes. Furthermore, every dispossessed owner was entitled to a guaranteed proportion of all their former property under a regime designed to deliver material benefits to all.

  We will continue to work with all sides in pursuit of a just and lasting settlement. We continue to believe that the UNSG's plan offers the best possible basis.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to seek a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis that Cyprus has control of future migration across its sovereign borders. [173226]

  Mr. MacShane
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him today (UINs 173224 and 173225).

  An effective migration regime, agreed by the parties and in line with EU principles would be one important element of any future settlement.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Sir Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between the UK Government and(a) other European Governments and (b) institutions of the European Union regarding the application of the European Convention on Human Rights in Iraq; what the results were; and if he will make a statement. [171553]

  Mr. Straw
  The Government have not had discussions with other European Governments nor with the institutions of the European Union regarding the application of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in Iraq. As the Government have said in relation to the current High Court cases brought by the families of 13 Iraqi the Government's position is that ECHR rights have no application in Iraq.

  Sir Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what areas of Iraq are under the jurisdiction of the UK for the purposes of(a) section 1 of the European Convention

  675W
  on Human Rights, (b) the Geneva Convention and (c) UN Security Council Resolution 1511; and if he will make a statement. [171555]

  Mr. Straw
  The question of whether any areas of Iraq are within the jurisdiction of the UK for the purposes of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) are matters in issue in the current cases before the High Court brought by the families of 13 Iraqi civilians. The Government's position in those cases is that ECHR rights have no application in Iraq. The applicability of the Geneva Conventions and of UN Security Council Resolution 1511 are not matters that turn upon whether jurisdiction is being exercised. Resolution 1511 is a binding Security Council resolution and therefore binds the UK and all other UN member states. The mandate given to the multi-national force to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq in resolution 1511 applies to UK forces in those areas where they are operating. The UK accepts that the Geneva Conventions apply to the conduct of UK forces engaged in an armed conflict and that in some areas of southern Iraq, UK forces are exercising sufficient control as an occupying force for the purpose of the application of the Geneva Convention IV.

  Sir Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether UK officials are bound by the European Convention on Human Rights wherever they discharge their duties; and if he will make a statement. [171557]

  Mr. Straw
  Whether the European Convention on Human Rights applies extra-territorially to the actions of UK officials turns upon whether the United Kingdom can be said to be exercising jurisdiction over an individual in the particular circumstances for the purposes of Article 1 of the Convention in accordance with the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Spanish Government concerning cruise liners which have previously docked at Gibraltar being prevented from entering Spanish ports; [171965]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the decision by the Spanish Government to refuse entry to the cruise liner Norwegian Dream to the port of Barcelona. [171966]

  Mr. MacShane
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: On the instructions of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, the British ambassador in Madrid delivered a message to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday 30 April and complained again over the weekend of 1–2 May. He complained once more, to the Spanish State Secretary for Europe and the Americas, on 12 May, and to a senior Spanish official on 13 May. He expressed HMG's disappointment and surprise at the Spanish action and stressed how seriously HMG views such hindrance to legitimate business by cruise liners. HMG is in close touch with the Spanish Authorities with a view to achieving an early solution to this problem. I will also raise the issue in meetings with Spanish officials this week.

  Honours
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much time his Department spent dealing with honours in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by Civil Service grade. [173039]

  Mr. Straw
  Five staff in my Department are employed full-time on honours work: one ×D6 (Principal), two × C4 (Higher Executive Officer), one × A2 (Administrative Officer), one × A1 (Administrative Assistant).

  In addition, members of the Senior Management Structure (Senior Civil Service) spend a total of approximately six to seven person-weeks in aggregate a year on honours.

  Iraq
  Sir Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what areas of Iraq are under the effective control of the UK. [171554]

  Mr. Straw
  The UK commands Multinational Division South East (MND SE) which comprises all Coalition military forces in the provinces of Basra, Muthanna, Maysan and Dhi Qar. Troops from 10 states operate in the MND SE Area of Responsibility.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the amount owed by Iraq in reparations. [171982]

  Mr. Rammell
  The United Nations Compensation Commission has assessed 98 per cent. of the claims submitted to it for direct losses arising as a result of Iraq's illegal invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1990. The total amount awarded so far amounts to US$ 48,170,438,256 of which US$ 18,389,089,070.86 has been paid. An amount of US$ 29,781,349,185.20 remains to be paid. Work on assessing the remaining claims is ongoing.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what payments his Department has made to private military companies working in Iraq. [172695]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not employ any private military companies. It does employ two private security companies to provide armed protection for its staff and assets in Iraq. Payments under these contracts to 31 March 2004 have amounted to approximately £15 million.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on encouraging the development of secular political parties in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [173008]

  Mr. Rammell
  We fully support the vital role of the UN in helping Iraq prepare for elections in early 2005 to a Transitional National Assembly, as requested by the Iraqi Governing Council. As part of that process, the UN are helping the Iraqis to produce a political parties law which will provide the legal basis for the activities of Iraqi political parties. This and the Transitional Administrative Law will provide the framework in which Iraqis will be free to form political parties and to
  677W
  compete in elections. The Department for International Development have created a Political Participation Fund for Iraq to increase the opportunities for Iraqi citizens to participate in the democratic process. It is now for the Iraqis to decide what sort of political parties they wish to develop within the legal framework being established.

  Official Vehicles
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of official vehicles used by his Department are run on(a) petrol, (b) diesel, (c) liquid petroleum gas and (d) compressed natural gas. [172766]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) runs two distinct fleets of vehicles. The first is the home fleet run by FCO Services and managed by the Supply Chain Service Delivery Group. Vehicles are situated in London (based at King Charles Street) and at Hanslope Park. London vehicles are used to run the London Messenger and London Car Service; the Hanslope fleet is a diplomatic freight/mail delivery service covering the UK and Europe. The required breakdown of this fleet of vehicles is:

  Percentage

  Total number of vehicles (London and Hanslope combined)

  36

  Petrol

  13

  Diesel

  67

  LPG

  20

  Our vehicle replacement programme for the home fleet pays particular attention to the provision of LPG vehicles in London; this is part of our commitments under the FCO's environmental 'green issues' policy.

  The second FCO vehicle fleet is that run by overseas missions in pursuit of diplomatic business, the details we have available on this fleet are as follows:

  Percentage

  Total number of vehicles in the FCO Overseas Fleet

  1,352

  Petrol

  45.8

  Diesel

  33.8

  LPG/Hybrid

  0.3

  Unknown1

  20.1

  1Overseas Missions have the option to procure pool vehicles locally.

  Productivity
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to(a) increase the productivity and (b) cut the costs of his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [171881]

  Mr. Rammell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my honourable Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Ruth Kelly) on 10 May 2004,Official Report, column 149W.

  Sudan
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will mount an independent investigation with the UN and EU into the role of, and support for, the Janjaweed militias operating in the Darfur region of the Sudan, with specific reference to human rights abuses. [173488]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Government of Sudan has announced the creation of a national independent human rights committee to investigate alleged human rights abuses in Darfur, with particular focus on the activities of the Janjaweed armed militias. The UK's Special Representative for Sudan is currently in Sudan where he will meet with the head of this committee and senior Government officials to discuss the situation in Darfur.

  We are in close contact with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) about Darfur. We are considering the best way to take forward recommendations made following their recent mission to Sudan. We are also working to ensure that the Independent Expert, mandated by 23 April UN Commission on Human Rights decision on Sudan, is appointed as soon as possible. We and our EU partners have made clear that alleged abuses should be thoroughly investigated, and we will continue both to monitor the situation closely and to press the OHCHR to follow up effectively.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of(a) the Sudanese Liberation Army and (b) the Justice and Equality Movement about bringing peace to Darfur, Sudan. [173784]

  Mr. Mullin
  Through our embassy in Khartoum we have been in regular contact with both the Sudanese Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement in the run up to the ceasefire talks in Chad, during the talks, and subsequently. We are urging both groups, and the Sudanese Government, to fully implement the ceasefire agreement, and to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and the protection of civilians, in order to find a sustainable solution to the problems in Darfur in the long-term.

  Targeted Assassinations
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 10 May 2004, on targeted assassinations, question reference 169853, on what basis the Government has determined that the policy of targeted assassinations by the Government of Israel is illegal. [173000]

  Mr. Rammell
  We recognise Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism but it must act in accordance with the applicable law. We do not consider that Israel's policy of targeted killings is in conformity with its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention and international human rights law. In particular, the policy does not appear to meet the conditions required for a killing to be justified as self-defence.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

  Equal Pay
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Minister for Women what recent representations she has received from(a) trade unions, (b) employers and (c) other bodies concerning the pay gap between men and women in Hampshire. [171642]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have had no specific representations concerning the pay gap between men and women in Hampshire. However I have ongoing dialogue with trade unions, employers and others including the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and Opportunity Now concerning action to tackle the gender pay gap. For example, last week I met with over 40 trade union women from across the country to discuss this issue and identify action which builds on what we have already achieved. We have made it easier for employers to pay fairly through EOC toolkits, which have been well received. Recent EOC research shows a significant increase in the number of large organisations undertaking pay reviews which suggest we are on track to meet our Public Service Agreement target of 35 per cent. by April 2006. 41 per cent. of those that had carried out a pay review or were planning to do one said that government policy and publicity had influenced them.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Minister for Women pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2004,Official Report, column 486W, on equal pay, what methodology was used to conclude that the gender pay gap in the South East is the second biggest in Great Britain. [171710]

  Ms Hewitt
  The figure I reported on 26 February 2004 was based on April 2002 figures. Using April 2003 figures shows that the South East had the third largest pay gap of regions in Great Britain. The figures in both cases were taken from the New Earnings Survey (NES), conducted by the Office for National Statistics.

  Average earnings are estimated for full-time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for NES tables. The gender pay gap for each region is derived from the male and female estimates for those regions.

  Working Hours
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Minister for Women what research she has commissioned into the effect of a long working hours culture on women's employment and promotion prospects; and if she will make a statement. [172845]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have commissioned no specific research into the impact of a long working hours culture on women's employment and promotion prospects, however last year my Department published "Working Long Hours: a review of the evidence" which was commissioned from the Institute for Employment Studies. It is available on the internet at hppt://www.dti.gov.uk/er/emar.

  Its main findings are that 11 per cent. of employees in the UK work long hours (over 48 hours per week). There are clear gender differences with men more likely
  680W
  to work long hours than women. Two thirds of women who work long hours are in managerial and professional occupations (23 per cent. and 40 per cent. respectively).

  Through the Work-Life Balance Campaign and the introduction of the right to request flexible working, my Department has sought to demonstrate the benefits of alternative work patterns. Employers who pursue family friendly policies and provide their employees with choice about how they work, report greater motivation and productivity and a reduction in recruitment and retention costs.

  In April my Department published research complied by the Office for National Statistics on the first year of the flexible working law. It showed that overall the new flexible working law is proving to have been a huge success. Many more flexible working requests (86 per cent.) are being either fully or partly accepted by employers compared to the rate immediately prior to the new law (77 per cent.). The study can be found at the website mentioned above. 11 per cent. of flexible working requests made since April 2003 were declined, which represents a near halving of the rate of refusal by employers compared with the previous two years. And it suggests the new law has significantly increased employers' willingness to consider employee requests.

  The Second Work-Life Balance Baseline Survey of Employers published in 2003 showed that more than nine out of 10 employers agree that people will work best when they can strike a healthy balance between work and the rest of their lives. The report is also available at the website mentioned above. The report also revealed an increase in the provision of flexible working time practices by employers. Significantly this increase was not confined to workplaces of a particular size or in a particular sector or industry.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Child Pornography
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department has taken to export the UK model of co-operation between Government, police and industry to tackle child pornography on the internet. [173047]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department of Trade and Industry attaches great importance to protecting children from illegal or harmful material on the internet. The Government are primarily addressing it through the Home Secretary's Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet. The Department takes part in the activities of the Task Force, and in particular, supports cooperation between Government, law enforcement, industry and other stakeholders to develop self-regulatory responses to problems arising, in order to strengthen the take-up of the internet and the growth of e-commerce. We strongly support the work of the industry-led Internet Watch Foundation.

  Child protection on the internet is a common challenge in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. The UK's approach has served as the model for the EU's main programme to tackle it, the Safer Internet Programme. Since 1999, Safer Internet has funded

  681W
  over 130 projects across Europe bringing together Government, industry, law enforcement and child protection agencies in the following streams of activity:
  hotlines: Safer Internet supports at least one hotline along the lines of the UK's Internet Watch Foundation in each of 17 countries in Europe, allowing users to report internet content they regard as illegal or harmful. INHOPE, based in the UK, is the European hotline coordinating body, responsible for monitoring standards and spreading best practice for these hotlines.
  rating and filtering technology: the programme encourages the development of software that empowers users to filter or otherwise limit the amount of unwanted material they receive, as well as ways to measure and benchmark its performance.
  promoting cooperation: it has created European-level forums to drive consensus on the challenges and solutions among experts from industry, law enforcement, government, educators, consumer groups, child welfare and other NGOs.
  raising awareness: support is offered to initiatives at country, regional or other levels to inform parents and educators of means to use the internet more safely, using techniques based largely on practice developed by members of the Home Office Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet.

  UK companies and NGOs are very well represented among the participants in the various projects, and some of them act as coordinators at European level (e.g. for best practice for ways of promoting awareness of self-help techniques).

  In March 2004, the European Commission adopted a proposal for Safer Internet Plus, a programme to continue these activities for the next four years. It will increase the international reach of the UK's model approach because it will particularly encourage hotlines and awareness activity in the 10 new member states, and provide resources for the EU to pursue effective cooperation and solutions in international forums and with third countries, especially those which are the origins of a large proportion of illegal, harmful or unwanted material, such as child pornography and spam.

  The Government also take opportunities to raise the profile of a cooperative approach to online child protection in international discussions: for example, at the conclusion of the first phase of the United Nations sponsored World Summit on the Information Society in December 2003, the UK, working with its EU partners, strongly supported a statement to the effect that
  "all actors in the Information Society should take appropriate actions and preventive measures, as determined by law, against abusive uses of ICTs, such as … all forms of child abuse, including paedophilia and child pornography…" (Declaration of Principles, para. 59).

  As part of its strategy to promote a globally competitive environment for electronic communications businesses, the Department has developed a number of dialogues with other countries' regulators, officials and industry representatives. These discussions have frequently covered the implications of offensive or harmful online material. The Internet Watch Foundation and other leading UK players take part to give a first hand account of the UK's cooperative approach, and also actively pursue their own extensive international contacts, supported wherever possible by the Department of Trade and Industry and other Departments. In addition, meetings recently arranged or to take place within the framework of dialogues with the United States, Japan
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  and Australia will address cooperative solutions to the issue of unsolicited messages (or "spam"), some of which can be linked to child pornography.

  Energy Generation
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the relative efficiency of energy generation by wind power in relation to(a) wave power, (b) nuclear, (c) gas and (d) coal generation. [173632]

  Mr. Timms
  Comparing the efficiency of renewable and non-renewable technologies is difficult. Fuel costs for the majority of renewables are zero, so obtaining the highest level of efficiency is less of a priority than reducing the overall cost of each unit of energy generated. The Department has published estimates of the cost of electricity generation from a variety of technologies by 2020. These come from the 2001 PIU energy review, 2002 Interdepartmental Analysts Group report, and the 2004 Renewables Innovation Review. The following ranges are based upon the lowest and highest estimates from each of these reports:

  p/kWh

  Onshore wind

  2.0–3.2

  Offshore wind

  2.0–4.6

  Gas

  2.0–2.9

  Nuclear

  2.6–4.0

  Marine

  4.0–6.2

  Equal Pay
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the pay gap between men and women employed by her Department and its agencies in(a) Southampton, (b) Eastleigh, (c) Winchester and (d) Romsey constituencies. [171643]

  Ms Hewitt
  My Department, including the Small Business Service Executive Agency, currently employs no staff in Southampton, Eastleigh, Winchester and Romsey constituencies.

  Agency Chief Executives will be replying on behalf of their organisations where they employ staff within the constituencies mentioned. These are Employment Tribunal Service and the Insolvency Service.

  Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. John Denham, dated 17 May 2004:
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect to your question (2003/2875) asking what assessment have been made of the pay gap between men and women employed by her Department and its agencies in (a) Southampton, (b) Eastleigh, (c) Winchester and (d) Romsey constituencies.
  In March 2003, The Insolvency Service carried out an Equal Pay audit on a national basis. The Audit along with The Service's action plans setting out proposals for future reviews are available in the House of Commons and published on The Service's website www.insolvency.gov.uk.
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  Letter from Roger Heathcote to Mr. John Denham, dated 17 May 2004:
  You asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the pay gap between men and women employed by her Department and its agencies in (a) Southampton, (b) Eastleigh, (c) Winchester and (d) Ramsey. I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS).
  ETS undertook an Equal Pay Review in 2003. The Review was undertaken separately for all those staff on London and National pay scales and did not cover the situation in individual offices. The results for staff on our National pay scales, which would include those staff in our Southampton office, showed a differential in favour of males of 5.2% (only 0.2% above the Equal Opportunities Commission benchmark).

  Identity Theft
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to reduce identity theft in areas within the remit of her Department and its agencies. [173052]

  Ms Hewitt
  The DTI will work closely with—particularly small business—trade unions and others so that a system to combat identify theft maximise the benefits and minimise the compliance costs to law-abiding business and to develop an effective enforcement system that will deal with illegal workers and the majority of businesses that deliberately flout the law.

  Effective recruitment procedures are in place to deter identity fraud being used to gain employment within the Department itself.

  Imperial Measurements
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions have been carried out against shopkeepers selling goods in imperial measurements in(a) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (b) England. [172759]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Department does not hold comprehensive information on prosecutions carried out by trading standards departments. However, we are aware of five prosecutions of traders selling goods in imperial measurements: one each in Sunderland, Hackney and Sutton and two in Cornwall.

  East Riding Trading Standards Department inform us that it has carried out no such prosecutions.

  Large Combustion Plants Directive
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the likely impact on the UK coal industry of the Large Combustion Plants Directive. [173388]

  Mr. Timms
  This Department commissioned independent research into the likely impact of the two options for implementing the Large Combustion Plants Directive, by a national plan or by emissions limit values. The results of this study will inform the implementation decision, which has not yet been made. The research report will be published in due course.

  Ministerial Visits
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 4 May 2004,684W
  Official Report, column 1404W, on ministerial meetings/visits, which people and organisations in Japan the Minister of State for Energy, e-Commerce and Postal Services plans to meet or visit; and what matters are to be discussed. [173398]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 14 May 2004]: I hope to be able to meet a number of Ministers, senior Government officials and senior representatives from utility power companies responsible for energy, e-commerce and telecommunications issues, including the following;
  Mr. Fuji, Chairman of Federation of Electric Power, Mr. Nakagawa, Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Mr. Kusaka, Director General, Agency of Natural Resources and Energy, part of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, Mr. Aso, Minister and Mr. Nabekura, Vice-Minister for Policy Co-ordination (International Affairs), Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, Mr. Abe Senior Vice-Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  I also hope to meet representatives of British companies operating in Japan.

  I shall be having wide-ranging discussions on telecommunications and energy issues, including nuclear and BNFL related issues. I shall also be explaining the changes to the UK nuclear industry described in the Energy Bill and hope to hear an update on Japan's plans for its nuclear energy programme.

  Post Office
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will instruct Post Office Ltd. not to withhold information requested by hon. Members on closures of local post offices. [172068]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: Under the public consultation process, Post Office Ltd. supplies extensive information to assist stakeholders and other interested parties in their consideration of post office closure proposals, but detailed financial information is, necessarily, commercially confidential.

  David Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advertising is taking place to promote(a) Post Office card accounts and (b) the use of post offices for the collection of pensions. [172323]

  Mr. Timms
  The DWP Direct Payment information campaign raises awareness of all the account options for Direct Payment, including bank and building society and Post Office accounts and also accounts that can be accessed through Post Office branches. It is for customers themselves to decide which account will best meet their needs and circumstances.

  Post Office Ltd. is responsible for advertising its own services and has undertaken a number of advertising campaigns promoting the banking services which are available at post offices. The current campaign recently launched nationally advertises the banking services of the High Street Banks and the Post Office card account available at post offices.

  Post Office Modernisation Fund
  Sarah Teather
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the Government's Post Office
  685W
  Modernisation Fund has been spent in Brent since the fund was initiated; and how much has been spent to (a) keep post offices open and (b) to encourage closures. [172821]

  Mr. Timms
  Rationalisation is necessary in urban areas where there are too many post offices for all of them to survive on the current levels of business available. Parliament has approved funding of up to £210 million to support Post Office Ltd.'s programme to restructure the urban post office network comprising £180 million to compensate sub-postmasters exiting the business and £30 million for investment in modernising offices.

  The administration of the restructuring programme is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member on how much has been utilised in Brent.

  Post Offices (Government Funding)
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Government funding was made available for post offices in(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04, broken down by local authority; and what spending is planned for 2005–06, broken down by local authority. [172921]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government's on-going nationwide package of funding for Post Office Ltd. and the post office network amounts to some £2 billion in total since 1999. This funding is not allocated on the basis of local authority boundaries.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the visual impact of wind farms currently in operation. [173633]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department has made assessments of the visual impact of wind farms currently in operation. Applications for consent to construct wind farms are accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment statement, which includes details of visual impact.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what vote was recorded by the UK director of the International Finance Corporation at the 4 November 2004 meeting on the approval for a commercial loan for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline. [172504]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  A decision to support the approval of a loan for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline was reached by consensus by the shareholders of the International Finance Corporation at the 4 November 2004 Board meeting. No vote was taken. The UK supported the proposed investment in the BTC pipeline as it was felt that both the IFC and EBRD had fully complied with their polices and procedures. DFID 686W
  also supported the project due to the potential developmental benefits that it will bring to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

  Although DFID supported the provision of loans for this pipeline, DFID recognises that complex, large-scale projects of this nature raise difficult issues and present risks, including the weak governance environment and the potential social and environmental impacts of the pipeline, which will need to be carefully managed. It is important that both the International Financial Institutions (IFI)s and the international community remain engaged with the implementation of the project going forward so that we can ensure that commitments are delivered. DFID therefore expects the International Finance Corporation (IFC) management to ensure regular independent consultation on monitoring the implementation of the project; encourage enhanced transparency of revenue management; and demonstrate how IFC has learnt from the project.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the production of his Department's latest annual report cost; how many copies were printed; how many copies of it were sold at its cover price; to whom copies of the report have been provided free of charge; and how many copies were provided free of charge. [171147]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The Department for International Development (DFID)'s 2004 Annual Report cost approximately £45,000 (estimated figure, not all final invoices have been received) for a print run of 3,050 copies.

  600 copies were provided to The Stationary Office Ltd. (TSO) for sale, of which 128 copies have been sold to date at the cover price of £27.00.

  As of May 11 2004, 1,478 copies had been distributed free of charge to staff, and external contacts such as other donors, parliamentary and ministerial contacts, NGOs, embassies and high commissions, as well as multilateral organisations such as the UN. This leaves 972 copies to cope with any future demand.

  The report is also available to download free of charge from the DFID website www.dfid.gov.uk.

  HIPC Initiative
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the countries which have now reached decision point in the highly indebted poor countries initiative. [172464]

  Hilary Benn
  27 countries have reached Decision Point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. These countries are Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Of these countries, 13 have reached Completion Point. These are: Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guyana, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda.

  Nuba Mountains
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid is being provided to projects to assist the people of the Nuba Mountains. [173652]

  Hilary Benn
  Since 2003 the Department for International Development has committed more than £3 million through the UN system and international NGOs, in support of projects to assist the people of the Nuba Mountains. Projects supported include joint monitoring of the Nuba Mountains Cease-Fire Agreement, local peace building initiatives and support to basic education.

  Productivity
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action he is taking to(a) increase the productivity and (b) cut the costs of his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [171878]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  I refer the hon. Member for Castle Point to the written answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Brent, South (Paul Boateng) on 10 May 2004,Official Report, column 149W.

  Statistical Methodologies
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what the changes are to survey methods and the revisions to statistical estimates in relation to the poverty reduction target for South Asia referred to on page 186 of the 2004 departmental report; [171711]

  (2) what the changes in statistical methodologies are which make it impossible to measure firm progress on the target for sustainable poverty reduction in East Asia and the Pacific. [171704]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The 2000 poverty data are not directly comparable with the 1998 baseline data in these two regions because of significant changes to the raw data used to estimate the poverty figures. This, combined with the inherent uncertainty associated with the data and the small time period being considered, means the available data does not allow an accurate assessment of progress. However, the data does point to a reduction in poverty. More details are provided in the following paragraphs.

  Progress towards these poverty reduction targets is measured using the proportion of the population living in absolute poverty (defined as less than an international $1 a day). The data comes from the World Bank, which publishes estimates in their annual Global Economic Prospects report. Each year the World Bank provides the data for the latest year (currently 2000), and revises the data for 1990.

  Estimates for past years can change because additional or updated data is included in the analysis, or the estimation methodology is updated.
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  Usually this results in a relatively small change to the data for previous years. However, this year there were substantial changes to the China and India data. These populous countries have a large impact on the East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia regional figures.

  In China, data on household expenditure instead of income was used for the first time (this has not been available before). Expenditure data is considered more reliable than income data for poverty analysis as expenditure tends to be more accurately reported by households than income. In India, data from an additional household survey was included in the analysis. This additional data, and other more minor methodological changes, resulted in a significant reduction to the poverty figures in East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia for both 1990 and the latest year when compared with the estimates available last year.

  The World Bank does not currently update figures for the years between the latest year and 1990. Hence we do not have 1998 poverty figures that have been estimated using the additional data sets. This means the 1998 baseline data is not directly comparable with the 2000 data published in the Departmental Report.

  There are many problems with the accuracy and reliability of this data. However, it is still the best internationally comparable measure of absolute poverty currently available. DFID is working with the World Bank to improve the quality of this data.

  More information on the methodology is available in Chapter 1 of the World Bank's 2004 Global Economic Prospects:http://www.worldbank.org/prospects/gep2004/chapter1.pdf.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on development in Vietnam. [172694]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The Government of Vietnam has made rapid progress in reducing poverty in recent years and in maintaining a high rate of economic growth. The number of people living in poverty halved from 58 per cent. in 1993 to 29 per cent. in 2002 and economic growth has averaged at approximately 7 per cent. over the last 10 years. Despite this, approximately 23 million people still live below the poverty line and an estimated 8.8 million live in hunger. However, health and education indicators are at similar levels to those normally seen in a country with a per capita income two or three times higher than Vietnam's.

  This progress is a result of the Government of Vietnam's sustained commitment to development and poverty reduction. Recognising this, DFID has rapidly increased it's programme in Vietnam from £19 million in 2002–03 to an expected spend of up to £60 million by 2005–06. The programme supports the Government of Vietnam's own poverty reduction and growth strategy, and DFID works very closely with the Government and other donors to ensure that we achieve the maximum impact of our resources. Copies of DFID's new Country Assistance Plan for Vietnam have been placed in the House Library.
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  DFID also supports poverty reduction in Vietnam through our contributions to the European Commission development budget (currently approximately 18 per cent. of the total budget). The EC spent 22.7 million Euros in Vietnam in 2002 (UK contribution: 4.1 million Euros), and is likely to spend 101 million Euros between 2002 and 2004 (UK contribution: 18.2 million Euros).

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the role of the Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages; and how it is funded. [173196]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages at the Magee campus of the University of Ulster is one of the centres of research excellence funded under round one of the Support Programme for University Research. The Department for Employment and Learning provides 50 per cent, of the total cost over the period of the programme, the other half being provided by the charitable organisation, Atlantic Philanthropies.

  The role of the project is to conduct research of international excellence in the fields of History, Celtic Studies and English.

  Alcohol-Related Illness
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will break down the funding allocated to treat alcohol-related illness by(a) main budget head and (b) recipients. [173594]

  Angela Smith
  The information is not available in this format.

  Autism Services
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to improve services for children with autism in the Northern Board area. [173616]

  Angela Smith
  In the forthcoming year the Northern Health and Social Services Board proposes to improve diagnostic and assessment services by investing £77,000 to strengthen the existing service in Homefirst Trust with additional speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and clerical support.

  £50,000 is also being provided to increase paediatrician and speech and language therapy input, in addition to clerical support, to begin to establish a local service.

  £7,000 has been made available for staff training related to Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

  Essential Skills
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend educational policy on essential skills beyond numeracy and literacy; and if he will make a statement. [173212]
  690W
  Mr. Gardiner
  The Department for Employment and Learning is currently considering its position on the introduction of Information and Communications Technology as a third essential skill with literacy and numeracy.

  Parliamentary Questions
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many(a) ordinary written and (b) named day questions his Department received in (i) the 2002–03 and (ii) this parliamentary session up to the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by month; [170766]

  (2) what proportion of (a) ordinary written questions to his Department we re answered within five sitting days of tabling and (b) questions for a named day received a substantive answer on that day in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) the current parliamentary session up to the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by month. [170767]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The following table sets out the total number of ordinary written question and named day questions asked of my department by hon. Members in 2003 and up to 31 April 2004, broken down by month.

  2003

  2004 (up to 31 April)

  Ordinary written

  January

  233

  324

  February

  163

  263

  March

  198

  327

  April

  125

  248

  May

  208

  —

  June

  354

  —

  July

  214

  —

  August

  0

  —

  September

  172

  —

  October

  147

  —

  November

  105

  —

  December

  143

  —

  Total

  2,062

  1,162

  Named day

  January

  15

  22

  February

  34

  31

  March

  32

  49

  April

  33

  27

  May

  9

  —

  June

  19

  —

  July

  16

  —

  August

  0

  —

  September

  10

  —

  October

  17

  —

  November

  10

  —

  December

  28

  —

  Total

  223

  129

  The other information sought is not available in the form requested, but the following may be of use. From 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003, a total of 3,134 parliamentary questions, including those asked by Members in Another Place, were tabled for answer by ministers in my Department, or on their behalf.

  From 1 May 2003 to 31 December 2003, the 11 Departments of the NI administration for which I currently have responsibility answered 986 ordinary

  691W
  written questions, of which 79 pet cent. were responded to within a working week of the question being tabled. of the 65 named day questions tabled in the same period 80 per cent. were answered by the specified date. The corresponding information in respect of the Northern Ireland Office itself is not currently available.

  Productivity
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is for(a) increasing the productivity and (b) cutting; he costs of (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [172179]

  Mr. Pearson
  The NIO is committed to delivering the Government's policy on efficiencies of 2.5per cent. a year over the SR2004 period. This policy is applicable to the core Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

  The same focus on promoting efficiency will apply to the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration, with a target for annual efficiency gains of at least 2.5 per cent. applying to Departments, and other public bodies funded by them, over the SR 2004 period. This will be a central theme to the Northern Ireland Priorities and Budget process, which will conclude with the publication in December 2004 of the Government's spending and efficiency plans. As a starting point, the departments have been asked to draw up plans for efficiency gains, with measures to include a combination of productivity gain; and cost reductions that will free up resources to be redeployed to priority front line public services.

  Recycled Paper
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of printing in Government Departments in Northern Ireland in 2003–04 was on recycled paper. [168932]

  Mr. Pearson
  The percentage spend on recycled paper, compared with new paper, during the period April 2003 to 31 March 2004 is 5.63 per cent.

  This answer is based on the value of orders placed electronically by Departments for the purchase of paper used for printing and reprographic purposes "in house" and paper purchased by the Central Print Unit, Department of Finance and Personnel. Data on all printed matter produced in-house by Departments and purchased from commercial printers is not readily available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

  Following the adoption of guidance to integrate environmental considerations into procurement practices, as approved by the Procurement Board on 6 April 2004, Departments are required to move to the use of recycled paper. CPD is now implementing this decision.

  Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many rheumatoid arthritis sufferers(a) have commenced treatment since 1 January 2004 with, (b) are prescribed and (c) remain on the waiting list for (i) Embrel and (ii) Remicade. [171756]
  692W
  Angela Smith
  Information is not available in the form requested. However, data collected by Health and Social Services Trusts suggest that there are around 230 people who have received or are currently receiving biologic therapies using Embrel and Remicade, and around 450 people on the waiting lists for such treatment.

  Statins
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the availability of statins in the NHS. [173609]

  Angela Smith
  A range of medicines classified as 'statins' are available to patients on health service prescription, and will remain so.

  In addition, it was announced on 12 May 2004 that Ministers had accepted the advice of the expert Committee on Safety of Medicines, that one particular brand of simvastatin in a 10 mg dose, Zocor Heart-Pro, should become available to people with a specific risk of heart disease, without prescription and supplied under pharmacist supervision. This will happen here from July 2004.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Careers Guidance
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many practising qualified teachers(a) were qualified careers advisers and (b) provided careers guidance in schools in each year since 1997. [172627]

  Mr. Miliband
  Information on the numbers of qualified teachers who are also qualified careers advisers is only available in respect of those who teach careers as a specific subject. This information was published in table 24 of the School Workforce in England Volume 2003 edition and is available from the House of Commons Library or downloaded from the following internet link: www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DBA/OL/v000443/index.shtml.

  This information is not collected on an annual basis.

  Careers advice in schools may also take place within other contexts such as during the provision of Personal Social and Health Education. Information is not available in respect of this provision.

  Child Care Regulation
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent changes he has made to the regulation of child care; and if he will make a statement. [172854]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: We have made two sets of significant changes to the regulation of child care since the national standards for under 8s day care and childminding came into force in the summer of 2001. First, in April 2003, we introduced regulations enabling the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), the national registration authority for child care in England, to suspend a provider's

  693W
  registration in certain circumstances, for example, where there were concerns about their suitability to look after children. Second, the national standards and associated regulations were revised in September 2003, following a public consultation. Amongst the changes were new rules allowing childminders to care for more babies and preventing them from smacking or smoking in front of the children in their care. At this time we also extended the registration requirements to child care provided by schools, which had previously been exempt.

  Further changes to improve the regulation of child care are under consultation at present and are planned for introduction in September 2004.

  Connexions
  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many one-stop-shops are operated by the Connexions Service in England. [170022]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 30 April 2004]: A survey in December 2003 showed there were nearly 300 one-stop shops already open, operated by Connexions Partnerships. This number is set to increase with a further 100 one-stop-shops planned to open in the next 18 months.

  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department's preferred model of delivery is for Connexions partnerships. [172661]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 12 May 2004]: There is no preferred model, and it is for each Connexions Partnership to decide on a structure which they believe will be the most efficient in delivering the Connexions service in their sub-region.

  Early Years Education
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to promote the appropriate training of workers engaged in multi-agency work with early years children. [172343]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Sure Start Unit has allocated £129.9 million to local authorities for the training and development of early years and child care workers for 2004–06 to meet the requirements of the national standards for under 8s day care and childminding. This will include training and development of those working in multi-agency settings such as Children's Centres.

  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new recruits he estimates will be needed over the next three years in the nursery and child care sector to ensure the workforce is at full strength. [171370]

  Margaret Hodge
  Allowing for the expected growth of child care places and continuing staff turnover, we estimate that up to around 180,000 new recruits may be needed in the early years, child care and play work sector over the three-year period April 2003 to March 2006.

  This is a broad estimate, which depends on a range of assumptions, and we will continue to keep it under review in the light of further information about child care growth and staff turnover levels.

  Education Act Powers
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times he has used the power under section 71 of the Education Act 2002 to direct a local education authority to exercise its powers to secure provision for an additional number of pupils. [173783]

  Mr. Miliband
  It has not yet been necessary to exercise this power under section 71 of the Education Act 2002. It was introduced as a complement to the powers of Section 70 of the Act, which require competitions for additional secondary schools. Effectively, it extends the powers of Schedule 7 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to allow LEAs to respond to a direction to provide for an additional number of pupils by either holding a competition for a new school, or using their other powers for the reorganisation of schools.

  LEAs are responsible for the provision of sufficient school places in their; area, and these powers were always intended as reserve powers in exceptional circumstances.

  Education Funding
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) 3 and (ii) 4-year-olds in Oldham, West and Royton in each of the last seven years. [170912]

  Margaret Hodge
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-olds in Oldham local education authority area are shown in the table.

  The latest figures on provision for 3 and 4-year-olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin ?Provision for children under 5 years of age in England—January: 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.

  From April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all 3-year-olds in England whose parents want one, are eligible for a free, part-time early education place.

  Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by 3 and 4-year-old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers—Oldham 1997–2003

  Position in January each year

  3-year-olds

  4-year-olds

  1997

  1,500

  3,100

  1998

  1,500

  3,100

  1999

  1,600

  3,000

  2000

  2,300

  3,100

  2001

  2,500

  3,100

  2002

  2,500

  3,100

  2003

  2,600

  3,000

  1Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-old children.

  2A free nursery education place comprises five 2í12 hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks.

  Education Services
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many child care places have been created in Blackpool, South since 1997. [173066]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Department is unable to provide details of child care places for Blackpool, South. However, from April 1999 to March 2004 Blackpool local authority created 3,060 new child care places helping some 5,505 children. This shows an increase in the stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 2,149 helping some 3,899 children.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on capital projects in schools in(a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003. [173322]

  Mr. Miliband
  The majority of capital funding is now allocated to local authorities and schools by needs-related formulae. Authorities invest according to priorities agreed in their asset management plans. The following table shows total capital allocations to Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock local education authorities (LEA) since 1996–97. We do not hold details of the capital allocation figures per authority for periods before 1996–97.

  Capital allocations in £

  Essex LEA

  Southend-on-Sea LEA

  Thurrock LEA

  1996–97

  12,186,000

  —

  —

  1997–98

  11,477,000

  —

  —

  1998–99

  13,796,000

  2,577,000

  1,874,000

  1999–2000

  20,204,000

  1,056,000

  3,190,000

  2000–01

  53,120,000

  6,547,000

  6,014,000

  2001–02

  35,575,000

  5,868,000

  5,129,000

  Nursery and primary

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  City of London

  10

  20

  20

  20

  20

  20

  20

  Camden

  580

  560

  550

  560

  550

  580

  610

  Greenwich

  1,020

  990

  980

  990

  1,000

  960

  980

  Hackney

  840

  860

  870

  880

  910

  870

  950

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  440

  400

  400

  440

  470

  470

  500

  Islington

  780

  770

  720

  730

  700

  820

  750

  Kensington and Chelsea

  360

  350

  360

  340

  360

  380

  400

  Lambeth

  1,010

  1,020

  980

  940

  970

  1,030

  1,020

  Lewisham

  960

  970

  940

  1,030

  1,050

  1,080

  1,100

  Southwark

  1,000

  1,010

  1,040

  1,050

  1,140

  1,170

  1,210

  Tower Hamlets

  1,180

  1,090

  1,200

  1,170

  1,140

  1,160

  1,130

  Wandsworth

  820

  810

  840

  850

  900

  900

  900

  City of Westminster

  560

  530

  530

  530

  610

  630

  620

  Barking and Dagenham

  710

  690

  690

  700

  750

  740

  750

  Barnet

  1,160

  1,210

  1,200

  1,190

  1,250

  1,280

  1,290

  Bexley

  880

  860

  900

  880

  930

  930

  890

  Brent

  1,100

  1,090

  1,090

  1,020

  1,050

  1,080

  1,120

  Bromley

  960

  980

  990

  990

  1,120

  1,140

  1,120

  Croydon

  1,400

  1,390

  1,370

  1,430

  1,570

  1,490

  1,510

  Ealing

  1,190

  1,190

  1,200

  1,180

  1,200

  1,210

  1,160

  Enfield

  1,070

  1,090

  1,080

  1,260

  1,180

  1,300

  1,270

  Haringey

  980

  970

  960

  970

  990

  1,020

  1,020

  Harrow

  930

  880

  860

  770

  900

  900

  910

  Havering

  880

  880

  890

  910

  910

  940

  940

  Hillingdon

  910

  910

  920

  970

  1,020

  1,050

  1,030

  696W

  Capital allocations in £

  Essex LEA

  Southend-on-Sea LEA

  Thurrock LEA

  2002–03

  75,405,000

  6,330,000

  5,249,000

  2003–04

  63,462,000

  9,907,000

  11,007,000

  2004–05

  60,322,000

  13,242,000

  12,834,000

  *Includes allocations to the voluntary aided sector

  Education Statistics (London)
  Sarah Teather
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching staff have taken early retirement in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each London borough in each year since 1997; and what the average figures for a local education authority in England were in each year. [172805]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

  Sarah Teather
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching staff have left the profession as a result of stress or similar conditions in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each London borough in each year since 1997; and what the average figures for a local education authority in England were in each year. [172806]

  Mr. Miliband
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Sarah Teather
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching posts there were in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each London borough in each year since 1997; and what the average figures for a local education authority in England were in each year. [172807]

  Mr. Miliband
  The tables show the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers in local education authorities in London and the national average for all maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England, in January of each year.
  697W

  Nursery and primary

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Hounslow

  900

  870

  880

  860

  900

  890

  840

  Kingston upon Thames

  460

  460

  460

  470

  500

  510

  520

  Merton

  670

  640

  660

  650

  700

  710

  660

  Newham

  1,010

  1,000

  1,060

  1,160

  1,260

  1,290

  1,330

  Redbridge

  850

  870

  900

  940

  1,020

  1,010

  1,030

  Richmond upon Thames

  520

  530

  530

  520

  560

  530

  580

  Sutton

  580

  590

  600

  600

  620

  640

  690

  Waltham Forest

  910

  960

  960

  920

  940

  1,000

  910

  National average

  1,240

  1,230

  1,240

  1,250

  1,300

  1,320

  1,320

  Secondary

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Camden

  780

  790

  770

  650

  780

  850

  680

  Greenwich

  880

  860

  870

  880

  900

  970

  1,020

  Hackney

  500

  520

  550

  530

  500

  530

  580

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  370

  420

  440

  470

  460

  460

  480

  Islington

  520

  510

  500

  520

  520

  560

  550

  Kensington and Chelsea

  260

  250

  260

  250

  260

  260

  280

  Lambeth

  500

  510

  500

  520

  490

  530

  520

  Lewisham

  750

  740

  740

  750

  820

  850

  810

  Southwark

  600

  630

  640

  660

  670

  750

  740

  Tower Hamlets

  930

  920

  940

  920

  910

  940

  1,060

  Wandsworth

  650

  650

  650

  640

  670

  690

  690

  City of Westminster

  530

  550

  560

  570

  600

  640

  660

  Barking and Dagenham

  680

  660

  680

  690

  690

  730

  780

  Barnet

  1,420

  1,370

  1,400

  1,400

  1,420

  1,460

  1,480

  Bexley

  910

  930

  950

  940

  960

  1,090

  1,070

  Brent

  940

  970

  950

  960

  950

  980

  1,150

  Bromley

  1,190

  1,210

  1,210

  1,210

  1,320

  1,400

  1,380

  Croydon

  1,030

  1,070

  1,050

  1,210

  1,140

  1,170

  1,200

  Ealing

  900

  880

  910

  930

  900

  960

  1,040

  Enfield

  1,260

  1,310

  1,350

  1,300

  1,310

  1,250

  1,430

  Haringey

  740

  730

  760

  760

  760

  760

  770

  Harrow

  570

  550

  570

  540

  560

  570

  590

  Havering

  920

  930

  940

  910

  990

  1,050

  1,070

  Hillingdon

  970

  1,000

  980

  1,010

  1,050

  1,070

  1,090

  Hounslow

  1,010

  980

  1,010

  990

  1,040

  1,030

  1,070

  Kingston upon Thames

  520

  530

  520

  520

  520

  520

  600

  Merton

  460

  460

  460

  440

  460

  470

  540

  Newham

  1,010

  1,030

  1,060

  1,060

  1,110

  1,170

  1,190

  Redbridge

  1,060

  1,080

  1,110

  1,080

  1,220

  1,230

  1,300

  Richmond upon Thames

  480

  480

  470

  440

  440

  520

  470

  Sutton

  730

  760

  780

  810

  850

  880

  970

  Waltham Forest

  840

  860

  880

  920

  840

  880

  890

  National average

  1,260

  1,260

  1,280

  1,290

  1,310

  1,350

  1,380

  Source:

  Annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies.

  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four-year-olds in Bootle in each of the last seven years. [172785]

  Margaret Hodge
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 29 April 2004,Official Report, column 1257W.

  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many(a) Sure Start centres and (b) Early Excellence centres have been created in Bootle; [172786]

  (2) how many new nurseries have been established in Bootle since 1997. [1727831]

  Margaret Hodge
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 6 May 2004,Official Report,
  698W
  column 1775W and 6 May 2004, Official Report, column 1776W.

  Examination Results
  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) males and (b) females achieved five A*–C grades at GCSE in each year since 1994; and how many (i) males and (ii) females achieved 5 A*—C grades at GCSE in the 10 per cent. (A) most and (B) least deprived wards in each year since 1994. [170113]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is shown in the following tables Data for years prior to 1997 is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  699W

  Number of males and females achieving. 5 A*—C Grades at GCSE: 1997–2003

  Male

  Female

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  2003

  133,462

  46

  158,525

  56

  2002

  125,476

  44

  150,769

  55

  2001

  119,862

  43

  145,645

  53

  2000

  112,719

  41

  138,218

  52

  Male

  Female

  10 per cent. most deprived wards

  10 per cent. least deprived wards

  10 per cent. most deprived wards

  10 per cent. least deprived wards

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  2003

  9,005

  32

  19,136

  60

  11,349

  42

  21,969

  71

  2002

  8,335

  30

  18,101

  59

  10,507

  40

  21,129

  70

  2001

  7,883

  29

  17,320

  57

  9,855

  37

  20,982

  69

  2000

  7,137

  27

  16,737

  56

  9,037

  36

  19,587

  68

  1999

  6,892

  25

  16,243

  55

  8,711

  34

  19,223

  67

  1998

  6,340

  24

  15,760

  54

  8,122

  32

  18,604

  66

  1997

  6,368

  24

  15,319

  52

  7,904

  30

  18,359

  64

  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) males and (b) females achieved level 5 or above at Key Stage 3 in (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) science in the 10 per cent. (A) most and (B) least deprived wards in each year since 1994. [170114]

  Number of males and females achieving level 5 or above at Key Stage 3: 1997–2003

  Male

  Female

  10 per cent. most deprived wards

  10 per cent. least deprived wards

  10 per cent. most deprived wards

  10 per cent. least deprived wards

  Subject/year

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  English

  2003

  14,067

  48

  24,616

  74

  17,704

  63

  27,070

  86

  2002

  13,486

  44

  23,270

  71

  18,180

  63

  27,134

  86

  2001

  12,723

  43

  22,392

  70

  16,954

  59

  25,432

  85

  2000

  12,053

  40

  21,883

  69

  16,184

  58

  25,135

  84

  1999

  12,309

  41

  21,156

  70

  16,617

  59

  25,431

  85

  1998

  11,605

  41

  20,727

  69

  15,755

  58

  23,652

  84

  1997

  9,535

  33

  18,219

  62

  13,831

  50

  22,472

  80

  Maths

  2003

  16,333

  55

  26,823

  80

  16,149

  58

  26,185

  83

  2002

  15,465

  51

  25,621

  78

  15,078

  52

  25,209

  80

  2001

  14,723

  49

  24,896

  78

  14,609

  51

  24,347

  80

  2000

  13,951

  47

  24,347

  77

  13,232

  47

  23,393

  78

  1999

  13,281

  44

  23,017

  76

  12,442

  44

  22,802

  76

  1998

  11,823

  41

  21,433

  72

  10,808

  40

  20,491

  73

  1997

  11,966

  41

  21,795

  74

  11,060

  40

  21,119

  75

  Science

  2003

  15,177

  51

  26,880

  80

  14,528

  52

  25,811

  82

  2002

  14,876

  49

  25,918

  79

  14,333

  49

  25,306

  80

  2001

  14,318

  48

  25,245

  79

  13,619

  47

  24,316

  80

  2000

  12,345

  41

  23,436

  74

  10,819

  39

  21,752

  73

  1999

  10,909

  36

  21,366

  70

  10,254

  36

  21,182

  71

  1998

  10,912

  38

  21,089

  71

  9,518

  35

  19,577

  70

  1997

  11,808

  41

  22,167

  75

  10,922

  40

  21,083

  75

  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) males and (b) females achieved level 4 or above at Key Stage 2 in (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) science in the 10 per cent. (A) most and (B) least deprived wards in each year since 1994. [170115]
  700W

  Number of males and females achieving 5 A*-C Grades at GCSE: 1997–2003

  Male

  Female

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  1999

  109,564

  40

  134,307

  51

  1998

  103,546

  39

  127,677

  49

  1997

  102,894

  38

  125,761

  48

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is shown in the following table. Data for years prior to 1997 are not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is shown in the following table. Data for years prior to 1997 is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  701W

  Number of males and females achieving level 4 or above at Key Stage 2: 1997–2003

  Males

  Females

  10 per cent. most deprived wards

  10 per cent. least deprived wards

  10 per cent. Most deprived wards

  10 per cent. least deprived wards

  Subject/year

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  English

  2003

  27,223

  57

  22,845

  83

  31,481

  69

  23,540

  90

  2002

  27,323

  57

  22,431

  83

  30,921

  67

  23,536

  89

  2001

  27,046

  57

  21,951

  83

  31,645

  69

  23,364

  90

  2000

  26,863

  57

  21,894

  83

  30,534

  67

  22,464

  90

  1999

  24,391

  50

  20,648

  79

  29,199

  63

  21,914

  88

  1998

  20,083

  42

  18,192

  73

  27,415

  59

  20,547

  86

  1997

  19,712

  42

  17,612

  73

  24,608

  54

  19,407

  84

  Maths

  2003

  29,842

  63

  23,117

  84

  27,739

  61

  21,490

  82

  2002

  30,053

  63

  22,571

  83

  28,898

  63

  21,933

  83

  2001

  28,517

  60

  21,755

  82

  27,291

  59

  21,064

  81

  2000

  28,451

  61

  21,824

  83

  26,955

  59

  20,504

  82

  1999

  27,503

  57

  21,068

  81

  26,098

  56

  20,175

  81

  1998

  21,174

  44

  18,722

  75

  19,831

  43

  17,567

  74

  1997

  22,809

  48

  18,465

  77

  21,118

  47

  17,713

  76

  Science

  2003

  36,763

  77

  25,807

  94

  35,392

  78

  24,528

  94

  2002

  37,482

  78

  25,187

  93

  36,116

  78

  24,551

  93

  2001

  37,529

  79

  24,895

  94

  36,700

  80

  24,511

  94

  2000

  35,072

  75

  24,304

  92

  34,419

  76

  23,326

  93

  1999

  32,126

  66

  23,261

  89

  30,837

  66

  22,315

  89

  1998

  26,281

  55

  20,938

  83

  24,673

  53

  19,874

  83

  1997

  25,573

  54

  19,732

  82

  24,830

  55

  19,301

  83

  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) males and (b) females achieved level 2 or above at Key Stage 1 in (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) science in the 10 per cent. (A) most and (B) least deprived wards in each year since 1994. [170116]

  Number of males and females achieving level 2 or above in the Key Stage 1 Test Tasks: 1998–2003

  Males

  Females

  10 per cent. most deprived wards

  10 per cent. least deprived wards

  10 per cent. Most deprived wards

  10 per cent. least deprived wards

  Subject/year

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  English reading

  2003

  33,082

  71

  23,558

  89

  36,194

  81

  23.981

  94

  2002

  34,128

  71

  23,880

  89

  36,353

  81

  24,035

  94

  2001

  34,186

  71

  24,667

  89

  37,230

  80

  24,439

  94

  2000

  34,667

  70

  23,831

  89

  37,887

  80

  24,120

  94

  1999

  35,212

  68

  24,179

  87

  38,511

  78

  24,307

  93

  1998

  34,136

  64

  23,298

  86

  38,169

  76

  24,030

  92

  English writing

  2003

  30,752

  66

  22,662

  85

  35,246

  79

  23,700

  93

  2002

  34,653

  72

  24,163

  90

  37,535

  83

  24,434

  95

  2001

  34,963

  72

  24,957

  90

  38,354

  83

  24,800

  95

  2000

  34,992

  71

  24,004

  89

  38,728

  82

  24,371

  95

  1999

  35,407

  68

  24,353

  88

  39,247

  79

  24,586

  94

  1998

  34,552

  65

  23,587

  87

  39,010

  77

  24,257

  93

  Maths

  2003

  38,662

  83

  25,064

  94

  38,477

  86

  24,397

  95

  2002

  39,820

  83

  25,355

  94

  38,939

  86

  24,472

  95

  2001

  40,680

  84

  26,234

  95

  40,165

  87

  24,990

  96

  2000

  40,910

  82

  25,245

  94

  40,619

  86

  24,562

  96

  1999

  40,774

  78

  25,598

  93

  40,156

  81

  24,532

  94

  1998

  39,769

  75

  24,611

  91

  39,786

  79

  24,165

  93

  702W
  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is shown in the following table. Data for years prior to 1998 is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Failing Schools
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the schools categorised as(a) subject to special measures, (b) having serious weaknesses, (c) underachieving and (d) having inadequate sixth forms as of 9 April were placed in those categories. [173139]

  Mr. Miliband
  This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools Office for standards in Education categorised as(a) subject to special measures, (b) having serious weaknesses, (c) underachieving and (d) having inadequate sixth forms between 1 January and 9 April. [173140]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 14 May 2004]: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Family Fund Trust
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many families have been provided with grants through the Family Fund Trust; what funding will be provided for the Trust over the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [170606]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Family Fund was set up by the Government in 1973 to give practical help to families with severely disabled and seriously ill children under the age of 16. Since 1998 the charity has received separate funds from the Governments of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales amounting to over £27 million in 2003–4. The number of families assisted in England was £35,226 in 2002–3. England has allocated funding of £22.773 million. for 2004–5. The budgets for the years 2005–6 and 2006–7 are yet to be determined.

  Family Support Grant
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many organisations have applied for funding from the family support grant in 2003–04; and how many were successful in their application. [172498]

  Margaret Hodge
  A total of 287 applications were received for the family support grant (FSG) 2003–04, of which 26 were successful. In addition, three organizations

  (a) Initiatives: 2001–02

  Title

  Cost (£)

  Organisation

  Supporting the Better Government for Older People Network

  20,000

  Better Government for Older People (BGOP)

  Celebrating Older Learners

  25,000

  DfES

  The Dark Horse Encourage Programme

  15,000

  The Dark Horse Venture

  Financial Literacy and Older People

  60,000

  National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE)

  Learning Support for Older People

  50,000

  NIACE

  Peer tutors project

  66,000

  Community Education Development Centre

  Senior Peer Physical Activity Motivator Programme

  14,600

  British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health

  Celebrating Older Learners sponsorship project

  25,000

  NIACE

  Leicester LiveAge project

  32,000

  Leicester Adult Education College

  704W
  continued to receive core funding from FSG 2003–04, together with another 55 organisations who received ongoing funding originally awarded in previous years. Total funding was £6.3 million.

  I announced details of FSG 2004–05 projects on 10 May 2004.

  Fostered Children
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children within the foster care system were born outside the UK. [172492]

  Margaret Hodge
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Ministerial Visits
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list visits made by each Minister in the Department between December 2003 and April 2004, broken down by(a) date, (b) constituency visited and (c) cost. [171559]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  For domestic visits, the Department does not hold this detailed information centrally. To provide this information could only be done at disproportionate cost.

  For overseas visits, the Government publishes on an annual basis the total costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500. Information for 2003–4 is currently being collected and will be published as soon as it is ready.

  Older People
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what(a) initiatives, (b) campaigns and (c) advisory bodies relating to older people his Department (i) is responsible and (ii) has provided funding since 2001; and what the cost in each year was for each one. [166237]

  Alan Johnson
  The tables set out the work the Department for Education and Skills has undertaken or funded since 2001 to promote learning for older people (50+). The main work is support for projects under(a) initiatives.

  The Department has not been responsible for or funded any (b) campaigns. Likewise the Department has not established or funded any national advisory bodies for older people under (c).
  705W

  (a) Initiatives: 2001–02

  Title

  Cost (£)

  Organisation

  4th Age Learning at home and in day care

  33,000

  NIACE

  Senior Learner Awards

  17,100

  NIACE

  Skills for Older People

  50,000

  NIACE

  Drawn from Memory

  20,000

  Adult and Community Learning in Oxfordshire

  Total funding

  427,700

  2002–03

  Title

  Cost (£)

  Organisation

  DfES/BGOP conference

  9,000

  Better Government for Older People

  Senior Peer Physical Activity Motivator Programme

  9,700

  British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health

  Peer Group Training for Older People

  80,000

  Community Education Development Centre

  Days out! Days in!—4th age learning at home and in day care provision

  33,000

  NIACE

  Fred Moore Institutional Award

  21,300

  NIACE

  Why, Where, What and How Older People Learn

  37,800

  NIACE

  Spotlight 2002

  146,440

  Meridian Broadcasting Charitable Trust

  Senior Learner Awards

  28,942

  NIACE

  USA Development Projects

  26,680

  The Third Age Trust

  Learning Support for Older People

  70,000

  NIACE

  Involving adults in learning through sport

  3,000

  Youth Sport Trust

  LiveAge cd-rom

  13,105

  Leicester Adult Education College

  e-Finance Project

  2,000

  Coventry City Council

  Total Funding

  480,967

  2003–04

  Title

  Cost (£)

  Organisation

  Senior Learner Awards

  31,430

  NIACE

  Fred Moore Institutional

  21,300

  NIACE

  Awards for 2004

  USA Development Projects

  17,180

  The Third Age Trust

  Older and Bolder

  71,750

  NIACE

  Total Funding

  141,660

  Pre-schools
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the requirements are for pre-school assistants to be able to work in pre-schools; and if he will make a statement. [173382]

  Margaret Hodge
  The criteria supporting the national standards for under 8s day care and child minding indicate:that all pre-school staff should be subject to checks to ensure that they are not disqualified from registration because of previous criminal convictions;
  that they are suitable, both mentally and physically, to care for children; and
  that they have the appropriate skills and ability to do their jobs.

  Reading Disability
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to improve the availability of reading material for those with reading disabilities. [171265]

  Margaret Hodge
  During the past three financial years £220 million has been made available to schools through the Schools Access Initiative; a further £100 million per annum is available for the current year 706W
  and for 2005–06. This funding can be used to produce materials in alternative formats to enable access to the curriculum for pupils who have reading disabilities.

  It is for schools and local education authorities (LEAs) to ensure that such materials are produced in good time, so that children with reading disabilities are not disadvantaged. Schools and LEAs can use the Department for Education and Skills' Special Educational Needs inclusion site to share information about materials that are required; in production; or already available in different formats.

  Recycled Paper
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled of which a minimum of 75 per cent. is post-consumer waste content. [166792]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  The "quick win targets" set by DEFRA were communicated widely within the Department, particularly to procurement sections, in October 2003. Due to a lack of re-contracting opportunities since that date it has not so far been possible to implement specific measures to ensure the Department meets the quick win targets. Procurement sections have undertaken to introduce these as soon as re-contracting opportunities arise.

  School Sports (Preston)
  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if he will make a statement on the effects on schools of changes since 1997 in the level of investment in school sports in Preston; [168138]
  707W
  (2) how much money has been allocated to develop school sports in Preston since 1997. [168711]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  This information is not held in the format requested.

  Within the context of the statutory National Curriculum, where Physical Education (PE) is compulsory for pupils aged 5–16, it is for individual schools to use their budgets as they judge appropriate.

  The Government are investing more than £1 billion in England to transform PE, school sport and club links. The funding will help deliver an ambitious Public Service Agreement target, shared with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to increase the percentage of 5–16 year olds who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. by 2006.

  The Department is providing just over £440,000 to support the delivery of a School Sport Partnership in Lancashire LEA area. The partnerships includes five secondary and 21 primary schools and provides enhanced sports opportunities for all young people to ensure that their pupils spend a minimum of two hours a week on high quality PE and School Sport. A key objective for all School Sport Partnerships is to ensure that the improvements and enhanced opportunities that they deliver are sustainable and embedded within schools to ensure a lasting legacy. The New Opportunities Fund has provided schools in the Lancashire LEA area with nearly 12 million specifically to enhance PE and school sport facilities.

  Latest research, published by the Departments on 4 March 2004 shows that 68 per cent. of pupils in schools that have been in a Partnership for three years, are taking up the two hour entitlement, rising to 90 per cent. at Key Stage 3. Data has been collected from the remaining partnerships and will be published in April.

  Schools (Capital Investment)
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many wave 1 approvals under Building Schools for the Future involved(a) local authorities other than in their capacity as local education authorities, (b) learning and skills councils, (c) primary care and other NHS trusts and (d) other public sector bodies. [172906]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table shows the number of local education authorities in wave 1 of Building Schools for the Future who made specific reference to the requested categories in their proposals.

  Local education authorities

  Number

  Other local authority services

  1

  Learning and Skills Councils

  12

  Primary care and other NHS trusts

  4

  Other public sector bodies

  9

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria were used in issuing invitations to local education authorities to submit bids 708W
  for consideration for wave one of Building Schools for the Future; and what criteria were used to assess the bids. [172959]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is contained in guidance to local authorities, issued in July 2004. A copy is in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the local education authorities which applied to wave one of Building Schools for the Future; and what the reasons were for each unsuccessful bid. [172962]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following list shows those authorities which applied for wave one funding in the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Projects that were successful in wave one were those which best met our criteria for prioritisation. The criteria for prioritisation were fully set out in the guidance on applying for prioritisation in the BSF programme which we published last July.

  We have discussed with all unsuccessful authorities the reasons why their proposals meet our criteria less well, usually in face to face meetings with my officials.

  Birmingham

  Haringey

  Manchester

  Bracknell Forest

  Harrow

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  Cambridgeshire

  Havering

  Newham

  Cheshire

  Herefordshire

  North Tyneside

  Cornwall

  Hertfordshire

  Nottingham

  Derbyshire

  Islington

  Nottinghamshire

  Doncaster

  Kingston upon Hull

  Oldham

  Dorset

  Knowsley

  Portsmouth

  Dudley

  Lambeth

  Richmond upon Thames

  Durham

  Lancashire

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  Leeds

  Rotherham

  East Sussex

  Leicester

  Salford

  Gateshead

  Lewisham

  709W

  Sandwell

  Hackney

  Liverpool

  Solihull

  Somerset

  Telford and Wrekin

  West Sussex

  South Tyneside

  Walsall

  Westminster

  Stoke-on-Trent

  Waltham Forest

  Wolverhampton

  Sunderland

  Wandsworth

  Tameside

  West Berkshire

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the performance of Pathfinder local education authorities in Building Schools for the Future. [172963]

  Mr. Miliband
  Partnerships for Schools is monitoring and supporting the pathfinder local authorities. By their nature as pathfinders, we are working with authorities to develop Building Schools for the Future, identifying and resolving issues along the way. The pathfinder projects are progressing well and will be submitting outline business cases shortly for formal assessment.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of each successful local education authority's secondary schools in wave one of Building Schools for the Future are covered by its bid. [172965]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table shows the proportion of schools in wave 1 of Building Schools for the Future as a percentage of each local authority's total number of secondary schools.

  LEA

  Total schools in LEA1

  Of which: included in BSF wave

  Percerntage

  Knowsley

  11

  11

  100.0

  Lancashire

  134

  26

  19.4

  Leeds

  68

  42

  61.8

  Leicester

  26

  26

  100.0

  Manchester

  25

  13

  52.0

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  11

  11

  100.0

  Newham

  15

  15

  100.0

  Solihull

  23

  9

  39.1

  South Tyneside

  13

  13

  100.0

  Stoke-on-Trent

  23

  23

  100.0

  Sunderland

  18

  9

  50.0

  Waltham Forest

  19

  9

  47.4

  1Total number of schools that have been included by the LEA in their submissions to Building Schools for the Future; this may include special, middle and other schools, or units such as pupil referral units, in addition to secondary schools.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local education authorities participating in wave one of Building 710W
  Schools for the Future have (a) identified city academies as an integral part of the plans and (b) included provision for 14–19 education. [172966]

  Mr. Miliband
  Six local education authorities (LEAs) participating in wave 1 of Building Schools for the Future mentioned planned or established Academies in their proposals. We now expect all projects to provide a proper evaluation of Academy options.

  All proposals submitted included provision for 14–19 education.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Department's financial commitment is for each successful bid in wave one of Building Schools for the Future, broken down by(a) private finance initiative credits and (b) cash grants. [172967]

  Mr. Miliband
  Total funding available for pathfinder and wave one Building Schools for the Future projects is over £2.2 billion. This includes PFI credits, capital grant and supported borrowings. Details of allocation will not be made until authorities have submitted satisfactory outline business cases, which is expected later this year.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many projects in wave one of Building Schools for the Future will use the exemplar building design. [172968]

  Mr. Miliband
  It is too early to say how many projects Wave 1 will use any one of the exemplar designs in their entirety. However, all authorities in Wave 1 have warmly welcomed all the exemplar designs and are actively using them in their deliberations with schools to develop their educational vision.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was of preparing the exemplar building designs in Building Schools for the Future. [172969]

  Mr. Miliband
  The cost of preparing 11 Exemplar Designs to RIBA Stage C—Scheme Design, including fees, securing copyright for the designs, publishing and dissemination was £3.45 million. We expect that through the stimulation of exemplar designs a number of standardised processes, including strategic partnerships, along the supply chain and off-site fabrication will develop to meet the demands of an increased building programme and secure savings on the costs of new schools of around 10 per cent.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local education authorities have indicated that they wish to participate in wave 2 of the Building Schools for the Future programme. [172970]

  Mr. Miliband
  Local authorities were invited to submit a proposal for wave 1 and/or an expression of interest for the programme as a whole. All have done so. We will use this information to prioritise projects for the next waves of investment.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who owns(a) new and (b) refurbished schools built under the Building Schools for the Future programme. [172971]
  711W
  Mr. Miliband
  Ownership of schools will not usually change when schools are built or refurbished in the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Exceptions to this are where investment is through a Private Finance Initiative contract, where ownership of the buildings will pass to the public sector provider for the length of the contract, and then revert to the previous owner, and also where an Academy is created. In this case, the Academy Trust' will own the buildings for as long as the Academy remains in operation. If the Academy ceases to exist, ownership of the Academy land, and any buildings on it, will revert to the previous owner, which would be either the LEA or the voluntary aided sector body.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the pathfinders for Building Schools for the Future were originally private finance initiative schemes. [172972]

  Mr. Miliband
  An offer to all local education authorities in 2003 to submit projects which would access Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits in 2004–05 also invited expressions of interest to be pathfinders in the Building Schools for the Future programme. Part, but not all, of the funding to support pathfinder Building Schools for the Future projects will be PFI credits.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what controls there are to ensure that a wave 1 Building Schools for the Future scheme develops plans for secondary schools, once accepted. [172973]

  Mr. Miliband
  The development of each local authority project will be monitored by Partnerships for Schools. The Department will also see their plans at two formal points, when the outline and final business cases for each project are submitted for approval. We are also encouraging local authorities to use the local government gateway review process.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects to announce the results of the second round of the Building Schools for the Future initiative. [173005]

  Mr. Miliband
  We hope to announce the next waves of investment under Building Schools for the Future later in the year—probably in the autumn. We are working to provide this information as soon as possible, once the Secretary of State has decided how to allocate the spending review settlement.

  Schools (Physical Exercise)
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to(a) increase the percentage of pupils spending at least two hours a week on physical exercise and school sport and (b) increase the time children spend on exercise; and if he will make a statement. [171447]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  The Government are investing more than £1 billion in England to transform PE, school sport and club links. The funding will help deliver an ambitious Public Service Agreement target, shared with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to increase the percentage of 5–16 year olds who spend a712W
  minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. by 2006.

  Spearheading action is the creation of a network of 400 specialist sports colleges and School Sport Partnerships. There are six other interlinked programmes within the strategy which are designed to help schools and their partners ensure pupils take up their PE and sports entitlement:

  1. Professional Development

  2. School/Club Links

  3. Step Into Sport

  4. Gifted and Talented

  5. Swimming

  6. The QCA PE and School Sport Investigation

  Learning through PE and Sport provides a comprehensive guide to the strategy and a copy has been placed in the House Library.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of special educational needs co-ordinators. [171367]

  Margaret Hodge
  Special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) play a vital role, in conjunction with head teachers and governing bodies, in co-ordinating schools' work on identifying, assessing and meeting the needs of children with special educational needs.

  The Office for Standards in Education considers the effectiveness of schools in meeting the needs of all learners and this takes account of the contribution made by SENCOs. Ofsted is currently carrying out a thematic study of the implementation of the inclusion framework introduced through the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 and the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice 2001. The code of practice introduced changes to the school based elements of SEN provision, including measures designed to help reduce paper work for SENCOs.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that teachers have appropriate training to identify and to respond to the special needs of children in school settings. [172342]

  Margaret Hodge
  New standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) came into effect in September 2002 and new induction standards came into force a year later. Both place a greater emphasis on special educational needs (SEN). The Department's guidance on induction also reflects the duties of head teachers and schools under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

  In order to be awarded QTS, trainee teachers must demonstrate that they understand their responsibilities under the statutory SEN Code of Practice, know how to seek advice from specialists on less common types of SEN, can differentiate their teaching to meet the needs of pupils, including those with SEN, and can identify and support pupils who experience behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.
  713W
  The standards for the Induction Support Programme for those awarded QTS require that newly qualified teachers can demonstrate that they can plan effectively to meet the needs of pupils in their classes with SEN, with or without a statement, and, in consultation with the SEN co-ordinator, contribute to the preparation and implementation of individual education plans or the equivalent.

  Once qualified, teachers are expected to identify their developmental needs through performance management arrangements, and to address identified needs, including improving their teaching skills in the area of SEN, by undertaking appropriate professional development.

  Our recently published SEN Strategy, "Removing Barriers to Achievement", recognises the importance of training. We are committed to working closely with the Teacher Training Agency, higher education institutions and other interested parties to ensure that effective arrangements are in place.

  Teenage Pregnancy
  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are being taken to reduce levels of teenage pregnancy in the UK. [172574]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: The Government have set a target to reduce under 18 conceptions by 50 per cent. by 2010. To achieve this, each local authority has developed a local 10 year strategy, with reduction targets of between 40 and 60 per cent. Based on the best available international research, local strategies adopt a multifaceted approach, which includes a range of measures: to help young people resist peer pressure to have early sex; to improve the quality of sex and relationship education and access to effective contraceptive services; and to involve parents and the wider community. Research published in February 2003 by the Health Development Agency further endorses this approach.

  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effect of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy on the number of teenage pregnancies in the UK. [172576]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: Provisional data for 2002 published on 26 February by the Office for National Statistics, shows that the conception rate among under 18-year-olds in England has fallen by 9.4 per cent. since 1998 (baseline year for Teenage Pregnancy Strategy).

  Under-five Testing
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on testing for under fives. [172629]

  Margaret Hodge
  We do not test under fives. We do ask for a written summary of a child's progress and learning needs at the end of the Foundation Stage, based on teacher observation. Assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning. The Foundation Stage Profile 714W
  summary ensures that every child is assessed on a consistent basis. The information helps teachers and parents to support each child's development and progress; at local and national level it ensures that support is targeted appropriately to improve classroom practice.

TRANSPORT

  Civil Contingencies
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are in place to cope with the immediate(a) physical and (b) economic effects of a floating bomb. [170059]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government regulates a comprehensive maritime security regime under the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990. From 1 July 2004 this will be augmented by the introduction of the International Maritime Organisation's "International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code". We have in addition measures that would enable us to respond proportionately to a range of scenarios.

  The response to mitigate the economic effects would depend on the size and location of a particular incident.

  Early Retirement
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in his Department took early retirement, and at what total cost, in the last financial year. [171867]

  Mr. McNulty
  In the financial year 2003–04, 11 officials of the Department for Transport took early retirement, i.e. before they reached the age of 60, at a cost of £1.45 million.

  Electric Cars
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department is taking to promote the use of electric cars. [173824]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department promotes the use of electric cars in a number of ways. The PowerShift programme provides grants towards the purchase of electric vehicles and the New Vehicle Technology Fund is currently supporting the demonstration of several electric vehicles. The Government also provides fiscal incentives. Electric vehicles are subject to zero vehicle excise duty, an enhanced capital allowance rate of 100 per cent. in the first year and lower personal benefit in kind tax liability. PowerShift approved electric vehicles are also exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many electric cars have been in use in each of the last 10 years. [173905]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The following number of electric cars were licensed at the end of each of the last 10 years.
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  Number

  1994

  93

  1995

  74

  1996

  94

  1997

  116

  1998

  151

  1999

  195

  2000

  221

  2001

  272

  2002

  326

  2003

  372

  Source:

  DVLA vehicle database.

  Light Rail
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps his Department is taking to encourage the building of light rail systems; and if he will make a statement; [171956]

  (2) what assessment he has made of whether the target for 25 light rail systems set out in the 10-Year Transport Plan will be met. [171957]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department recognises that light rail can bring significant benefits in some places, but has always been concerned with what works best locally and represents value for money, this may or not be light rail; it is not in the business of promoting one mode over another. The 10-Year Plan for Transport stated that up to 25 new light rail lines might be affordable with the 10-Year Plan provision subject to passing the Department's value for money criteria.

  MOTs
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the MOT computerisation system to be fully operational. [172136]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The computerised MOT service is due to go live on 29 November 2004. It will take approximately six months for Siemens Business Services to install computer terminals into all MOT testing stations and train station staff. Consequently, it will be June 2005 before all MOT testing is expected to be conducted using the new service. It will be a further year before there will be an electronic test record of every vehicle subject to test for re-licensing purposes.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the monies raised from MOT garages as a result of increased MOT certificate fees have been used. [173891]

  Mr. Jamieson
  All monies raised from MOT certificate fees have been credited to the MOT Scheme account. The funds have been used to finance MOT administration and enforcement activities and the costs incurred on the MOT Computerisation Project.

  Any surpluses on the MOT schemes are identified in our Annual Report and Accounts and it is the intention to balance the scheme on a year-by-year basis.

  Nettleton Bottom/Brockworth
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the 716W
  Highways Agency about the possibility of building a tunnel from Nettleton Bottom to the Brockworth Bypass, Gloucestershire; what advice he received from that body on this option; and if he will make a statement; [173791]

  (2) what instructions he gave to the Highways Agency with regard to further investigations regarding improving the A417 between Nettleton Bottom and the Brockworth Bypass, Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement; [173792]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of (a) building a tunnel and (b) the current favoured option of the Highways Agency to improve the A417 between Nettleton Bottom and the Brockworth Bypass, Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement; [173793]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the cost of building a tunnel from Nettleton Bottom to the Brockworth Bypass, Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement. [173794]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The interim findings of an environmental study, undertaken by the Highways Agency, to look at options for improving the length of A417 from Cowley to Brockworth were published in a pamphlet in March 2003. The tunnel option was discarded as a result of its high cost (at around £200 million), environmental impact and the implications for road safety. In the light of this the Highways Agency was asked to continue work on various surface options. This work is continuing in liaison with the statutory environmental bodies and other stakeholders. I expect to receive further advice on these options later this year. I will then consider the way forward and make an announcement.

  Radioactive Materials
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether radioactive materials may be legally transported(a) on passenger ferries and (b) through the Channel Tunnel. [173476]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Yes. The transport of radioactive material on passenger ferries is permissible subject to the safety requirements and restrictions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, Amendment 31–02, as required by The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No 2367); Merchant Shipping Notice No. M 1772(M), "The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants in Packaged Form—Amendment 31–02 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code" and, where applicable, The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel etc.) (INF Code) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No 3216).

  (b) Yes. Transport through the Channel Tunnel of limited amounts of radioactive material complying with RID1/ADR2 is permissible only as authorised through Eurotunnel Freight by prior agreement between the manufacturer/producer and Eurotunnel. Radioactive

  717W
  material other than that in/as Excepted Packages is further restricted to new manufactured goods in their original packaging.
  1Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) Appendix B. Uniform Rules concerning the Contract for International Carriage of Goods by Rail (CIM) Annex 1 Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) 2001 Edition.
  2European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) 2001 Edition.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the occasions on which his Department has asked regional assemblies to choose between alternative road schemes, broken down by region; and on what date assembly meetings were held to consider such alternatives. [173483]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The choice between alternative road scheme options is made by Ministers, not regional assemblies. However, through the regional planning process, the programme of multi-modal and road based studies, and the Highways Agency's consultation processes, we have obtained the views of regional assemblies on all trunk road and motorway schemes considered for entry to the Targeted Programme of Improvements, including, where relevant, their views on the choice between alternative scheme options. Given the number of schemes that have been subject to these processes since the establishment of the Targeted Programme of Improvements, it is not practicable to list all of the occasions on which the views of the regional assemblies have been sought or the dates of assembly meetings at which scheme proposals and alternative scheme options have been considered.

  Port Security
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is responsible for vetting the histories of applicants to become(a) port facility security officers and (b) airport security officers; and what the vetting process is. [169960]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Both port facility security officers and airport security officers are required to undergo appropriate vetting procedures. This is carried out by the vetting section of my Department's Transport Security Directorate (TRANSEC) in conjunction with other Government Agencies.

  No Government clearance will be issued until we are satisfied the person in question does not pose a security threat. The vetting process includes stringent reference checks over a number of years, and a verification process to ensure no inexplicable gaps.

  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much time it takes to train(a) port facility security officers and (b) airport security officers. [169961];

  (2) whether the level of training given to port facility security officers will have to be reviewed for the UK to be compliant with the International Ship and Port Facility Code to be implemented by the UK on 1 July. [170066]
  718W
  Mr. Jamieson
  My Department's Transport Security Directorate (TRANSEC) is responsible for developing the required training standards and course criteria for Port and Airport Security Officers.

  In order to comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) Code, all Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs) must have completed a TRANSEC approved PFSO course.

  Under the UK National Aviation Security Programme all staff carrying out listed security activities at UK airports have to receive mandatory training modules applicable to their duties.

  TRANSEC carries out regular audits of training providers to ensure high standards and compliance with legal requirements.

  Ship Searches
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of cargo ships over 500 tonnes that docked in Britain in 2003 were boarded and searched by border security personnel. [170065]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Ships calling at UK ports may be boarded for a variety of reasons and such operations are conducted by different Government bodies and agencies; including the Police, Immigration, Customs and Excise, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), and my own Department's Transport Security Directorate (TRANSEC) inspectors. This information is not collated centrally.

  Trinity House Lighthouse Service
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the Business Process Review of Trinity House Lighthouse Service. [167359]

  Mr. Jamieson
  It is not within the remit of this Department to place a copy of the Report of the Review in the Library of the House, however, it has now been issued to staff and the Trade Unions who have accepted the Report's findings.

  Under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, the Secretary of State is required to sanction expenditure by the General Lighthouse Authorities and any proposal to establish new aids to navigation. He has no powers of direction over GLA internal operational matters. The Business Process Review was an internal exercise commissioned by Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS) to examine their business processes and update these to take account of best practice and future needs of the lighthouse service.

  In terms of granting access to official information, THLS as a non-departmental public body falls under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. It therefore has its own commitment under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information to extend access to official information and to respond to reasonable requests for information except where disclosure would not be in the public interest in accordance with statutory requirements and the exemptions set out in Part II of the Code. There is no commitment to provide access to documents as distinct

  719W
  from information. Nor does the Code require Government Departments to acquire information that they do not possess.

  Vehicle Activated Signs
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle activated signs are in operation in England. [171895]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This information is not held centrally. Local highway authorities are solely responsible for the installation of any traffic signs and all traffic calming measures including vehicle activated signs. The Highways Agency uses vehicle activated signs in special situations where standard signing has failed to resolve a speed related accident problem.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the(a) installation cost and (b) annual maintenance and running costs of vehicle activated signs. [171896]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This information is not held centrally. Local highway authorities are solely responsible for the purchase, installation and maintenance of any traffic calming measure, including vehicle activated signs. Variable Message Signs on motorways have an annual maintenance and running cost of £5,550 per sign per year.

  Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Traffic Area Network's financial position was at the point of merger with the former Vehicle Inspectorate; and whether balances were transferred to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. [173888]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The financial position of the Traffic Area Network at the point of merger was contained within the Trading Fund Order which brought the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency into being—the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency Trading Order 2003 (SI 2003 No. 942). The balances transferred into the newly-formed VOSA, based on estimated valuations at that time, were as follows:

  £ million

  Net Assets

  58.2

  Net Liabilities

  42.6

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on the SchlumbergerSema contract in the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, broken down by main expenditure category. [173892]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The SchlumbergerSema IT Business has been purchased by Atos Origin. The original contract came into effect on 1 January 2003. The expenditure for the financial year 2002–03 was £3.4 million and the estimated expenditure for the financial year 2003–04 is £14.2 million.

  The detailed analysis of this cost is commercial in confidence.
  720W
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what impact on(a) services and (b) procedures of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency the award of the contract to SchlumbergerSema has had. [173893]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The strategic partnership contract between Atos Origin (formerly SchlumbergerSema) and VOSA commenced in January 2003.

  The 10-year relationship involves design, build and implementation of a series of integrated business solutions that will have a significant impact on VOSA's business and the quality of services it provides to its customers.

  Early stages include enhancements to project and programme management and significant enhancement to the quality of the IT platform. This will allow development of better, more timely data for VOSA examiners and enable the introduction of new EU initiatives such as Digital Tachographs. This will in turn improve the targeting of likely offenders allowing law-abiding Operators to go about their business with less interference.

  Future plans include developments of a commercial customer portal bringing together current DVO e-services for commercial customer along with a range of new 'e' enabled services, including e-test bookings and e-payments.

CABINET OFFICE

  Contingency Planning
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has created a working group to consider how to issue advice to individual households within the UK. [170054]

  Mr. Alexander
  A number of working groups have been established to develop the regulations and guidance which will accompany the Civil Contingencies Bill. These working groups are convened by the Cabinet Office, and include members from across the civil protection community. One of these working groups is considering those parts of the legislation covering awareness, warning and informing the public. Full details of these working groups were outlined in the Civil Contingencies Bill update letter to key stakeholders on 2 April 2004, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. A copy of the letter is also available at www.ukresilience.info

  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to issue advice to households in the UK detailing how to plan for and cope with a terrorist attack. [170127]

  Mr. Alexander
  As part of a deliberate strategy by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, an increasing amount of information and advice has been and will continue to be made available to the public about what to do in an emergency, including a terrorist attack.

  Public safety is our first priority in all decisions about public information or warnings. If a warning is necessary to protect public safety in the face of a specific

  721W
  and credible threat, we will issue one without hesitation, as well as giving out any further information that will help the public respond effectively.

  The Government and the emergency services will provide immediate information and advice in the event of a discernible threat or a specific incident.

  There is a wide range of advice and information on the terrorism section of the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism, at www.ukresilience.gov.uk and on the MI5 website at www.mi5.gov.uk

  Government continue to review the best way to keep the public informed and consider alternatives as part of our wider package of information to the public accordingly.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many caseworkers in the London office of the Legal Services Commission will deal with applications by publicly-funded providers of immigration services for extensions to the number of hours permitted for advice and appeal preparation; and what their(a) legal qualifications and (b) experience of immigration work are. [172150]

  Mr. Lammy
  There are 22 caseworkers in the London Office of the Legal Services Commission dealing with these applications. Seven of the caseworkers have been working on Legal Help, Controlled Legal Representation and certificated immigration and asylum work for over nine months, and three for over three years.

  The London team has six solicitors, each of whom has a minimum of three years' immigration experience and acts as a coach and mentor for the more junior members of staff. The team can draw on support from a further three immigration solicitors, all with a minimum of three years' experience of immigration in private practice, and a team of eight consultants, all of whom are currently working in private practice.

  The head of the London team has 19 years' experience in civil litigation and 15 years' experience in relation to immigration and asylum work specifically.

  Public Defenders
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Public Defender System. [172992]

  Mr. Lammy
  In order to assess better the performance of the Public Defender Service (PDS) the Legal Services Commission (LSC), with the agreement of Ministers, increased the number of PDS offices from six to eight in 2003. Ministers will make a decision on the future of the PDS in the light of the research at the end of 2005. There 722W
  are no current plans to open further offices but the Government and the LSC have always said that the PDS provides a flexible option to deliver criminal defence services where existing provision is low, or of poor quality.

  Criminal Defence Service
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what action is being taken by the Legal Services Commission to ensure that the Criminal Defence Service works effectively with other parts of the criminal justice system in order to meet the needs of the community as a whole. [172320]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Legal Services Commission is heavily engaged with other agencies to improve the performance of the Criminal Justice System as a whole. The Commission is represented on key standing co-ordination and management groups, such as the National Criminal Justice Board and the Criminal Justice Council. It is playing an integral part in key reform initiatives, such as the Effective Trial Management Programme. In addition, it has a wide range of direct contacts with other agencies aimed at improving particular aspects of the system.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the Legal Services Commission is doing to improve the quality of defence services in terms of delays caused in the administration of justice. [172321]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Legal Services Commission is working with other agencies within the Effective Trial Management Programme to reduce delays in court proceedings and in the number of ineffective trials.

  Criminal Justice System
  David Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the(a) Home Office and (b) Department for Transport on reform of the criminal justice system. [172787]

  Mr. Leslie
  My Department and the Home Office are in continuous dialogue on reform of the criminal justice system. We also hold discussions with the Department of Transport when necessary.

  Personal Injury Litigation
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many personal injury cases were commenced(a) in the High Court and (b) in the county court in each of the last 10 years; and in relation to (b) how many were (i) in the fast track and (ii) in the multi-track since their introduction; and if he will make a statement on trends in the volume of personal injury litigation. [173564]

  Mr. Lammy
  Figures on personal injury claims commenced in the High Court are set out in the table. Reliable figures on the number of claims to the county court and on how many were dealt with in the fast track and the multi-track are not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  723W

  Claims issued

  1994

  1,474

  1995

  1,224

  1996

  1,543

  1997

  1,464

  1998

  1,754

  1999

  1,187

  2000

  1,024

  2001

  1,019

  2002

  827

  2003

  570

  Solicitors
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to introduce regulations in Northern Ireland to make provision for solicitors to offer their services on a no-win-no-fee basis. [173423]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 provides for the introduction of conditional fee agreements, commonly called no-win-no-fee agreements, and litigation funding agreements. The Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission is currently considering the full implementation of the Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order, including the introduction of conditional fee agreements and litigation funding agreements. Decisions on this issue will be taken in the context of the Commission's recommendations on implementation of the Order.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Planning
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what restrictions are placed on local councillors in respect of(a) receiving representations from residents in respect of planning applications when they are (i) a member of the planning committee and (ii) any other councillor and (b) the ability of these councillors then to speak in debate on such representations. [173082]

  Keith Hill
  There are no restrictions in land use planning legislation on councillors or members of planning committees receiving representations from residents on planning applications. However, where any councillor has a personal 'and' prejudicial interest in any issue to be discussed by a local authority (whether or not in a planning committee), he or she should consider whether the provisions in the relevant authority's Code of Conduct affect their ability to speak in debate on such representations and require them to withdraw from that committee. In making their decision, they may wish to take the advice of their authorities' monitoring officers or the Standards Board for England. In the case of planning committees, they may also wish to consider the Local Government Association's Guidance Note to local planning authorities on preparing Codes of Conduct for councillors and officers specifically involved in planning matters, "Probity in Planning (Update): the role of councillors and officers". This Guidance Note recognises the importance of expressing local concerns in the planning system, while not calling into question the impartiality and integrity of 724W
  councillors, and ensuring that planning applications are seen to be processed and determined in an open and fair manner.

  Brighton and Hove Council
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings have taken place, and on what date, between representatives of Brighton and Hove council and(a) Ministers and (b) officials in the last two years. [173143]

  Keith Hill
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) met representatives of Brighton and Hove council on 14 January 2003 and 16 February 2004.

  Cllr Ken Bodfish is a member of the Central Local Partnership on the Future of Europe which is chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope). The Partnership has met four times in the last two years. My hon. Friend the Member for Corby also went to a New Statesman Round Table event on eGovernment attended by Cllr Bodfish on 11 May 2004.

  The information requested about officials' meetings is not held centrally and could only provided only at disproportionate cost. However Government Office South East officials regularly meet with local authorities to discuss a range of issues for which the Government Office has responsibility.

  Departmental Procurement
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of the(a) crockery, (b) cutlery and (c) glassware procured by his Department over the last five years is of British manufacture. [170795]

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

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002, since this time we have procured replacement crockery through the Office of Government Commerce's pre-tendered, EU compliant contracts.

  European Charter on Regional Self-Government
  Adam Price
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what amendments the Government has tabled since 1998 to the Draft European Charter on Regional Self-Government. [172286]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In 1997 the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe recommended that member states of the Council of Europe adopt a European Charter on Regional Self Government and proposed a draft text for states to consider. Within the Council of Europe, member states' governments are continuing to consider the appropriateness of a charter or other legal instrument on regional self government. Within these discussions the United Kingdom, along with a number of other states, continues to oppose the adoption of a Charter, believing that, given the diversity of States' regional arrangements, a binding charter would be inappropriate.

  Housing
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) affordable housing units and (b) housing units have been built in (i) England and (ii) each English region in each year since 1980. [172878]

  Keith Hill
  The national and regional figures that are available are published in Housing Statistics 2003 (Tables 2.2 and 2.5c). These tables each include a breakdown for those new dwellings built by local authorities and registered social landlords for social renting. A copy of this publication is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable homes were empty for(a) less than 12 months and (b) more than 12 months in (i) England and (ii) each English region in each year since 1980. [172880]

  Keith Hill
  No data is available for empty affordable homes. However, a table with data on empty local authority dwellings from 1983 and empty registered social landlord (RSL) dwellings from 1990 has been made available in the Library of the House.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the local authorities in Essex which(a) retain control of housing stocks and (b) have made representations to him about large scale voluntary transfer of their housing stocks. [173085]

  Keith Hill
  In Essex those local authorities which retain direct control of their housing stock are: Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Epping Forest, Harlow, Rochford, Tenering, Thurrock and Uttlesford.

  Both Maldon and Chelmsford have transferred their stock to registered social landlords under the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer programme (LSVT). To date no other authorities in Essex have formally applied for LSVT.

  Colchester has established an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) for its stock. The housing stock in Colchester is still owned by the local authority but is managed by the ALMO.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to discourage migration within the UK from areas of sufficient housing supply to those where it is in deficit. [173112]

  Keith Hill
  It is not the policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to discourage, or prevent, movement within the UK. To do so would be to undermine the flexibility of our labour market and, with it, economic growth. Statistical returns do not suggest that large scale migration is taking place between English regions.

  Constraining growth in the more successful regions would not necessarily benefit the less successful ones, but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to improving the performance of all the regions and to reducing the disparities in growth between them through targets in our Regional Economic Performance Public Service Agreement.
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  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also working to regenerate those areas worst hit by population loss through our market renewal pathfinders. The programme aims to tackle the low demand and abandonment in these areas and create a balanced and sustainable housing market for the future.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the provisional findings of 2002–03 data from the English House Condition Survey; how many(a) council and (b) registered social landlord properties that were classified in the survey as non-decent; and what the total cost of the repair backlog on these properties is. [173413]

  Keith Hill
  There are no provisional figures for 2002 from the continuous English House Condition Survey (EHCS).

  The continuous survey was designed to provide estimates combining data from two years which could then be rolled forward annually.

  The first results from the continuous EHCS, updating the published 2001 baseline and based on the 2002–03 and 2003–04 financial years, will be available before the end of 2004.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce a target for the provision of additional social housing to address long-term need. [173414]

  Keith Hill
  The Government have accepted that there is a case for increased investment in social housing and will begin to address this in the 2004 Spending Review. There are currently no plans to announce a long-term target for the overall provision of additional social housing.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government expect to meet its target of 100,000 affordable homes by 2004; and what the state of progress was on 1 April. [173415]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is on course to achieve our target to provide 100,000 new or improved homes for low cost renting or owning in the three years to 1 April 2004. Provisional figures indicate that 103,000 homes have been provided.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whether the Government are on track to achieve their target of elimination of non-decent stock by 2010; and what proportion of stock remained non-decent on 1 April; [173416]

  (2) whether the Government achieved their target of cutting the number of non-decent local authority homes by a third by April; and how many local authority homes were classed non-decent on 1 April; [173417]

  (3) whether the Government achieved their target of cutting the number of non-decent housing association homes by a third by April; and how many housing association homes were classed as non-decent on 1 April. [173418]

  Keith Hill
  The target of eliminating non-decent social sector stock in 2010 is challenging but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is making good progress, reducing the number of non-decents by 1 million since
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  1997. The increase in resources to £3.6 billion per year by 2005–06 together with the package announced on 5 May put us on track.

  The milestone of one third reduction applies to the whole social sector not the sectors individually. Our estimates of the position at 1 April 2004, based on local authority and housing association outturn up to March 2003 and their plans to March 2004 shows a 26 per cent. reduction across both sectors. We expect to meet the one third reduction during 2004. From the same data source we estimate the proportion of non-decent homes remaining at 1 April 2004 is 28 per cent.

  for the local authority sector the estimated reduction by 1 April 2004 is 32 per cent. with 810,000 non-decents remaining. For housing association it is 6 per cent. with 360,000 non-decents remaining. These figures take into account the impact of the transfer of stock from local authorities to housing associations.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the change in the level of council funding for housing has affected the residents of Blackpool, South since 1997. [173072]

  Keith Hill
  Since 1997 allocations of capital funding to local authorities for housing purposes have risen consistently by about 15 per cent. per annum on average. This includes the Major Repairs Allowance introduced in 2001–02 specifically for the improvement of local authority stock, alongside the Decent Homes standard which sets out minimum standards to be met by 2010. Blackpool's allocations in the period 1997 to 2003–04 have risen by 109 per cent. In addition to this welcome increase there is support through the Community Housing Task Force and Government Office for the North West to help the local authority and its tenants to choose the best strategy for long-term improvement.

  Housing Renewal Programme
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funds and on what basis are paid to Pathfinder housing renewal programmes; how this changes the finance available for(a) registered social landlords and (b) finance councils; and what the effects are of such changes in each region. [173559]

  Keith Hill
  A Market Renewal Fund has been created which will provide an additional £500 million across the nine pathfinder areas over the three year period 2003–04 to 2005–06.

  Funding will be performance related throughout and agreed in negotiation with each pathfinder on the basis of their strategic schemes. The schemes are subject to Independent Scrutiny by the Audit Commission.

  Funding will be used for the additional housing action needed to address the most acute areas of low demand. Projects will include demolitions, new building and refurbishment and will be chosen or commissioned by the pathfinder on the basis that they support the strategic objectives for their area. This may include projects delivered by RSLs, LAs and other delivery partners.
  728W
  The Market Renewal Fund is in addition to other finance available to registered social landlords and local authorities from existing funding streams.

  The effect of this funding is to support the additional costs of tackling the most acute areas of low demand. These areas could not be tackled at the scale and pace necessary within the constraints of existing funding streams.

  Local Authority Statutory Officers
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whether a local authority has the power to suspend one of the authority's statutory officers before the appointment of a designated independent person under The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001, if the authority has received an independent report from an external consultant of the serious effect of bullying and harassment by the statutory officer on the physical and mental well-being of other officers of the authority; [173348]

  (2) whether a local authority has the power to suspend one of the authority's statutory officers before the appointment of a designated independent person under The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001, if the authority has received more than one allegation of bullying and harassment by the statutory officer; and if he will make a statement. [173349]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Arrangements for councils to handle allegations of misconduct by their head of paid service, monitoring officer or chief finance officer are set out in the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001. The Regulations provide that the authority may suspend the officer for up to two months in order to allow investigation of the allegation. This period may begin before the appointment under the Regulations of an independent person to investigate the allegation and who, once appointed, may extend the period of suspension. Apart from this, no disciplinary action may be taken by an authority in respect of the officer concerned other than in accordance with a recommendation of a report made by the independent person. It is for the authority to decide whether it appears to them that an allegation requires investigation and to ensure that the decisions it makes are within the powers available to it.

  Productivity
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he is taking to(a) increase the productivity and (b) cut the costs of his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [171883]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Ruth Kelly) on 10 May 2004,Official Report, columns 148–49W.

  Regional Assemblies
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the texts of his speeches, and those of his colleagues, made as part of the regional hearings on elected regional assemblies. [169260]
  729W
  Mr. Raynsford
  Formal speeches used at the regional hearings can be found on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website: www.odpm.gov.uk.

  However, at some hearings Ministers did not use a scripted speech; therefore speeches are not available in all cases.

  Regional Government
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the location was of the regional hearings on elected regional assemblies held in Halifax and Sheffield; and how many(a) members of the public and (b) invitees attended. [172757]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Sheffield hearing was held in the Pennine Theatre at Sheffield Hallam University. It is estimated that there were 135 members of the public who attended, including 67 invitees.

  The Halifax hearing was held at the Viaduct theatre at Dean Clough. It is estimated that there were 210 members of the public who attended, including 84 invitees.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is of the average monthly rent and charges falling on the average property in(a) housing associations and (b) council housing in Yorkshire and Humberside. [173560]

  Keith Hill
  The latest available rental figures for social housing within Yorkshire and The Humber are as follows:

  £ per month

  Housing Associations

  Council Housing

  Reference period

  end-March 2003

  2003–04

  Average Net Rent (excluding service charges)

  210.90

  184.47

  Average Gross Rent (including service charges)

  227.72

  n/a

  Note:

  Reliable information on average service charges for council housing is not available at the present time.

  Sources:

  (a) Housing Corporation, Regulatory and Statistical Return, 2003.

  (b) Local authorities, second advance subsidy claim forms.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Adviser Discretion Fund
  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to(a) increase the Adviser Discretion Fund levels for lone parents and (b) allow for multiple Adviser Discretion Fund awards to those with multiple barriers to finding employment. [170041]

  Jane Kennedy
  We have no plans to increase the Adviser Discretion Fund levels for lone parents as we believe that the current levels are sufficient. The 730W
  maximum amount from the ADF that a lone parent can access in a 12 month period is £300. However, the average amount awarded by the fund is £91. These levels are kept under review.

  In exceptional circumstances where lone parents need assistance totalling more than £300, the award of a higher amount from the ADF may be authorised.

  There is no limit to the number of elements in an award, provided these total less than £300.

  Personal Advisers can already make more than one award to a lone parent from the Adviser Discretion Fund. Each time a lone parent requests assistance from the ADF their Personal Adviser will check that they are eligible for help and that using the fund is removing a barrier to employment.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average payment from the Adviser's Discretionary Fund was in each of the last five years; how many people have been given payments from the fund in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [171589]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information is in the table.

  Advisor Discretion Fund1

  Number of award

  Average value of award

  July 2001 to March 2002

  104,388

  60

  April 2002 to March 2003

  138,370

  76

  April 2003 to March 20042

  345,189

  97

  1The Adviser Discretion Fund was introduced in July 2001.

  2Latest available figures.

  Source:

  Department for Work and Pensions Provision and Adviser Division.

  Benefit Claimants (Over-50s)
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of incapacity benefit claimants between the age of 50 and state pension age are in each decile of overall income distribution; and if he will make a statement. [172536]

  Maria Eagle
  The information is in the tables. It is presented both before housing costs (BHC) and after housing costs (AHC) have been taken into account.

  The number of incapacity benefit claimants between the age of 50 and state pension age in each decile of the equivalised income distribution

  Decile

  BHC

  AHC

  1

  130,000

  120,000

  2

  130,000

  150,000

  3

  130,000

  110,000

  4

  110,000

  130,000

  5

  120,000

  100,000

  6

  100,000

  90,000

  7

  70,000

  70,000

  8

  40,000

  50,000

  9 and 10

  50,000

  60,000

  731W

  The proportion of incapacity benefit claimants between the age of 50 and state pension age in each decile of the equivalised income distribution

  Percentage

  Decile

  BHC

  AHC

  1

  15

  13

  2

  15

  17

  3

  15

  12

  4

  13

  15

  5

  13

  12

  6

  11

  10

  7

  8

  8

  8

  4

  6

  9 and 10

  6

  6

  Notes:

  1. Figures are for the financial year 2002–03, the latest date for which data are available.

  2. Estimates are for Great Britain.

  3. Estimates relate to the status of individuals at the time they were interviewed for the FRS.

  4. The estimates are based on sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response using multipurpose grossing factors that control for tenure, council tax band and a number of other variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error, and to remaining variability in non-response which is not corrected by the grossing regime.

  5. The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income (that is to say income that is adjusted to reflect the composition of the household).

  6. The Households Below Average Income series presents analysis of income of two bases: Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing Costs (AHC). This is principally to take into account variations in housing costs that themselves do not correspond to comparable variations in the quality of housing.

  7. Proportions are presented to the nearest per cent, and numbers to the nearest 10,000. Rounding numbers in this way means that compared to other rounding conventions, the distribution is smoother at this level of rounding for the small subset of the population.

  8. Deciles nine and 10 have been combined as individually, these deciles contained too few households to provide robust estimates.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey (FRS).

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a breakdown by local authority of the(a) financial rewards received under the Security Against Fraud and Error Scheme, (b) benefit expenditure and (c) financial rewards received under the Security Against Fraud and Error Scheme as a percentage benefit expenditure for the most recent year available. [172980]

  Mr. Pond
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: The information has been placed in the Library.

  Child Support
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether those in receipt of incapacity benefit are registered by ethnic background; and if he will make a statement. [172856]

  Maria Eagle
  Those in receipt of incapacity benefit are not registered by ethnic background. However, Jobcentre Plus has started to collect information, on a voluntary basis, in areas where customers are required to have a work-focused interview in connection with claims for working-age benefits. This will be extended to 732W
  other areas as Jobcentre Plus offices, and the necessary information management systems, are rolled out nationally over the next few years.

  Departmental Expenditure (Entertainment)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the amount spent by his Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [169001]

  Jane Kennedy
  All expenditure on official hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting. It is typically incurred by the various DWP Businesses to mark the launch of significant initiatives—for example: the introduction of New Deal 50 +; the national introduction of New Deal for Partners; launching call centres for jobseekers; implementation of Employment Zones; and launch of ONE pilots in conjunction with local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors.

  The information is not available in the format requested. It is not possible to provide expenditure information back to 1996–97 for the Department for Work and Pensions, which has existed only since 1 April 2001. The figures for 2001–02 onwards, therefore, are the only expenditure figures relating to the Department for Work and Pensions. Figures for 2004–05 will not be available until the spring of 2005.

  In order to provide figures which are reasonably comparable, information for the earlier years has been provided by combining expenditure on "official hospitality" by the former Department of Social Security (DSS), and on "official entertainment" by the former Employment Service (ES) which, together with relatively small numbers of staff from the Employment Policy Divisions of the former Department for Education and Employment (DFEE), combined to form the new Department for Work and Pensions. However, the expenditure incurred by the Employment Policy Divisions of DFEE is not separately identifiable.

  Estimated expenditure1 on official hospitality on this basis is as follows:

  1Figures rounded to the nearest £000.

  £

  1996–97

  147,000

  DSS+ES

  1997–98

  46,000

  DSS+ES

  1998–99

  86,000

  DSS+ES

  1999–2000

  327,000

  DSS+ES

  2000–01

  127,000

  DSS+ES

  2001–02

  155,000

  DWP

  2002–03

  250,000

  DWP

  2003–041

  400,000

  DWP

  1Expenditure figures for 2003–04 are provisional and may be subject to adjustment.

  Disability Benefits
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of women were claiming disability benefits in each year since 1997, broken down by(a) benefit and (b) age; how long the average claim was in each case; and if he will make a statement. [171588]
  733W
  Maria Eagle
  The information, which is available for all years other than for industrial injuries disablement benefit in 2003, has been placed in the Library.

  Health and Safety Inspectors
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Health and Safety Executive health and safety inspectors were working in the field at(a) 1 June 2000 and (b) 1 March 2004. [167498]

  Jane Kennedy
  We do not have precise figures for the dates requested due to the way HSE collects data on this subject.

  Inspectors in the field

  Total

  1 April 2000

  1,306

  1 April 2004

  1,501

  Notes:

  The figures for 1 April 2000 are actual. Those for 1 April 2004 are estimated or subject to confirmation.

  As far as possible inspector staff undertaking more generalised HQ functions have been eliminated from these figures.

  All figures are for full-time equivalent staff.

  Inspectors at senior grades, or working in other parts of HSE are not included.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many inspectors were employed by the Health and Safety Executive(a) in the Factory Inspectorate, (b) in the Nuclear Inspectorate and (c) on other duties in each of the last 10 years, broken down by grade; and if he will make a statement. [170669]

  Jane Kennedy
  The following table contains the information on the number of inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on 1 April for the years 1995 to 2004.

  The information requested for the period between 1995–96 and 2003–04 is not maintained within HSE in the format requested by this question, i.e. by grade. This information is only held from the period 2000–01 and is not linked to discipline, and can only be extracted at a disproportionate cost to HSE. The Health and Safety Executive's policy is to retain personnel data for six years in line with the requirements of Treasury. However, we have been able to extract the figures from our Annual Reports and from available archived data within the Directorates in question.

  The available information is in the table.

  Number of inspectors employed by HSE

  As at 1 April

  FOD

  NSD

  Other

  Total

  1995

  —

  —

  —

  11,478

  1996

  —

  —

  —

  11,466

  1997

  2780

  153

  509

  1,442

  1998

  783

  147

  507

  1,437

  1999

  853

  144

  500

  1,497

  2000

  3898

  156

  453

  1,507

  2001

  4954

  152

  428

  1,534

  2002

  5955

  156

  514

  1,625

  2003

  962

  167

  522

  1,651

  2004

  6901

  167

  537

  1,605

  1Analysis by Directorate for the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 is not readily available within the timescale for this parliamentary question.

  734W

  2During 1996–97 there were transfers of posts between Safety Policy Directorate, Chemical and Hazardous Installations Divisions, Field Operations Directorate, Nuclear Safety Directorate and Offshore Safety Division following the Review of Senior Management.

  3Reorganisation of HSE 1 April 2000

  4Field Operations Directorate and HM Railway Inspectorate brigaded May 2000.

  5Field Operations Directorate and HM Railway Inspectorate de-brigaded April 2002.

  6During 2003–04 there were transfers of posts between Field Operations Directorate, Hazardous Installations Division and Technology Division due to re-organisation.

  Incapacity Benefit
  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans there are to review the success of work focused interviews for partners of incapacity benefit recipients in finding them employment. [170195]

  Jane Kennedy
  Work Focused Interviews for Partners (WFIP) were implemented on 12 April 2004. They will be fully evaluated along with the enhanced New Deal for Partners (NDP). WFIP and NDP are separate but complementary policy initiatives aimed at broadly the same client group (partners of those receiving jobseeker's allowance, incapacity benefit, income support, severe disablement allowance or carer's allowance). The evaluation will look at the effect of WFIP and NDP on individuals and households.

  It will provide us with information to improve the delivery of these initiatives, where necessary, and also to inform future policy decision—including partners of incapacity benefit recipients.

  The first phase of the evaluation findings is expected to be published in summer 2005.

  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have found(a) full-time and (b) part-time work as a result of attendance at work focused interviews for partners of incapacity benefit recipients since the scheme was introduced. [170196]

  Jane Kennedy
  Work Focused Interviews for Partners (WFIP) were introduced in Jobcentre Plus areas on 12 April 2004. It is too soon to provide information about job placings.

  The Work Focused Interview provides an important platform for us to talk to partners about opportunities to work and about sources of help and advice. We expect most job outcomes will be achieved as a result of participation in New Deal for Partners, following the Work Focused Interview.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefits claimants there are in(a) each region and (b) each of the 30 areas with the poorest labour market position; and if he will make a statement. [172533]

  Maria Eagle
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  New Deal (Lone Parents)
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents in South Ribble have gained work through the New Deal programme. [172140]
  735W
  Jane Kennedy
  320 lone parents in South Ribble have gained work through the New Deal for Lone Parents since the start of the programme in October 1998. Figures for lone parents who have gained work through other New Deal Programmes are not available.

  Pensioner Benefits
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the total Government expenditure on pensioner benefits(a) in pounds, (b) in real terms and (c) as a percentage of gross domestic product was in each year since 1992; [172490]

  (2) what the predicted total Government expenditure on pensioner benefits (a) in pounds, (b) in real terms and (c) as a percentage of gross domestic product is over the next three years. [172491]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the table.

  Expenditure on pensioner benefits 1992–93 to 2006–07

  Cash terms (£ million)

  Real terms (£ million, 2004–05 prices)

  Percentage of Gross Domestic Product

  1992–93

  Outturn

  35,387

  47,810

  5.8

  1993–94

  Outturn

  37,811

  49,731

  5.8

  1994–95

  Outturn

  38,723

  50,189

  5.6

  1995–96

  Outturn

  39,919

  50,276

  5.5

  1996–97

  Outturn

  41,829

  50,923

  5.4

  1997–98

  Outturn

  43,426

  51,560

  5.3

  1998–99

  Outturn

  45,165

  52,122

  5.2

  1999–2000

  Outturn

  47,934

  54,120

  5.2

  2000–01

  Outturn

  50,580

  56,377

  5.2

  2001–02

  Outturn

  54,493

  59,192

  5.4

  The mean and median income of pensioners since 1996–97

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Growth 1996–97 to 2002–03 (Percentage)

  Pensioner units

  Median net BHC income

  156

  159

  161

  169

  173

  183

  189

  21

  Mean net BHC income

  199

  202

  208

  216

  225

  233

  237

  19

  Pensioner couples

  Median net BHC income

  226

  227

  231

  237

  248

  253

  262

  16

  Mean net BHC income

  287

  289

  294

  301

  316

  329

  327

  14

  Single pensioners

  Median net BHC income

  125

  126

  128

  135

  140

  148

  153

  23

  Mean net BHC income

  145

  147

  153

  160

  167

  170

  177

  22

  Pensioner units, pensioner couples and single pensioners have seen significant real terms growth in both mean and median net weekly incomes (before housing costs) between 1996–97 and 2002–03. Annual estimates are based on survey data and are subject to sampling error—strong conclusions should not therefore be drawn about year-on-year changes in pensioner incomes.

  Pensions (Compensation)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost is of compensating, on the same formula that the Pension Protection Fund will use, all those pensioners who will 736W

  Expenditure on pensioner benefits 1992–93 to 2006–07

  Cash terms (£ million)

  Real terms (£ million, 2004–05 prices)

  Percentage of Gross Domestic Product

  2002–03

  Outturn

  57,404

  60,367

  5.4

  2003–04

  Estimated outturn

  60,347

  61,739

  5.4

  2004–05

  Forecast

  64,728

  64,728

  5.5

  2005–06

  Forecast

  67,735

  66,070

  5.4

  2006–07

  Forecast

  71,352

  67,735

  5.5

  Notes:

  1. Figures include basic State Pension (contributory and non-contributory), severe disablement allowance, widow's-bereavement benefits and invalidity-incapacity benefit paid to pensioners, additional State Pension (State Second Pension-SERPS), Graduated retirement benefit, Christmas bonus, winter fuel payment, 80 plus payment, one-off 70 plus payment (for 2004–05), free TV licences for over 75s, pensions compensation board, income support for people over 60-minimum income guarantee-pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  2. Forecast figures for 2003–04 to 2005–06 are consistent with Budget 2004 medium-term forecasts; forecast figures for 2006–07 are consistent with Budget 2004 long-term projections.

  Source:

  (Benefit expenditure Tables consistent with the Budget 2004, and long term projections for 2006–07.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the(a) median and (b) average income of pensioners was in each year since 1997. [171580]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The following table gives the median and mean average weekly incomes of pensioners between 1996–97 and 2002–03. Information is given in 2002–03 prices and rounded to the nearest pound.

  have lost all or part of their occupational pension prior to the commencement of the Pension Protection Fund. [173486]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We do not have the information available to answer this question. This would require detailed information on individual schemes including breakdowns of membership distribution and annual accrual rates.

  We are currently working with trustees to gather data about defined benefit schemes that are winding up under funded. Using this data we will establish firm estimates of the extent of the problem
  737W

  Poverty
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the level of persistent poverty. [169971]

  Mr. Pond
  Indicators of persistent low income for children, working age adults and older people are included in the fifth annual Opportunity for all report (Cm 5956), which is available in the Library.

  We are determined to tackle poverty, from childhood through to old age. The nature of measuring persistent low income means that it will take longer for the impact of tax credits, increases in employment and pension credit for example to be reflected in the data. The progress we have made, for instance, in reducing the number of children with low incomes in a given year have yet to show up in these figures. However, there are now over half a million fewer children in low-income households (below 60 per cent. median income) than in 1997.

  Trade Mark Schemes
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of whether trade mark schemes can help to reduce the cost of employers' liability compulsory insurance. [172468]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Department is aware of a range of trade mark schemes that are designed to help to reduce the cost of employers' liability compulsory insurance. These include the Association of British Insurers'738W
  (ABI's) initiative 'Making the Market Work'. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 23 March 2004, Official Report, column 740W.

  The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has set up with the Electrical Contractors' Insurance Company their own insurance via a captive cell fund exclusively for NFRC members to offer insurance roughly 10 per cent. below current market rates and with longer notice periods and more certainty of gaining cover.

  As with the evaluation of the 'Making the Market Work' initiative by the ABI, if the NFRC undertakes an evaluation of the scheme the Government will take a close interest in the outcome.

  Weekly Benefit Savings Scheme
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a breakdown by local authority of(a) savings achieved under the Weekly Benefit Savings scheme, (b) benefit expenditure and (c) weekly benefit savings as a percentage of benefit expenditure for (i) 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02. [172979]

  Mr. Pond
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: The information has been placed in the Library.

  For local authorities, the Weekly Benefit Saving (WBS) scheme was replaced by the Security Against Fraud and Error (SAFE) scheme on 1 April 2002. The WBS scheme was specifically for fraud and was a measurement of prevention whereas the SAFE scheme is for fraud and claimant error and rewards detection.

  Ammonium Nitrate
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser were discovered by Customs and Excise being imported into the United Kingdom in each year since 2000. [172748]

  John Healey
  The number of tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer imported into the UK between 2000 and 2002 is shown in the following table. There were no import control restrictions in place between 2000 and 2003. However, regulations were introduced on 1 May 2003 requiring ammonium nitrate fertilizer with high nitrogen content to have satisfied a Detonation Resistance Test (DRT). Import figures for 2003 are not yet available.

  Imports into the UK ammonium nitrate fertilizer

  Tonnes

  2000

  1,242,471.9

  2001

  1,143,713.6

  2002

  813,923.3

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics, HM Customs and Excise

  Carers
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of carers in the United Kingdom, broken down by the number of hours of care provided per week. [172752]

  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. Gordon Marsden, dated 17 May 2004:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the estimate of the number of carers in the United Kingdom, broken down by the number of hours of care provided per week. (172752)
  Figures from the "Census 2001 Key Statistics for local authorities in England and Wales" indicate that there were 5,884,450 people in the United Kingdom providing unpaid care.
  The information below has been extracted from the CD supplement to the "Census 2001 Key Statistics for local authorities in England and Wales", which is available in the House of Commons Library. The table shows the distribution of these carers according to the number of hours of care provided per week.

  Number of people providing unpaid care in the United Kingdom

  United Kingdom

  All Carers

  Provision of unpaid care

  Area

  All Carers

  Provides care: 1 to 19 hours

  Provides: care 20 to 49 hours

  Provides: care 50 or more hours

  United Kingdom

  5,884,450

  3,971,829

  661,952

  1,250,669

  Source:

  Table KS08 Census 2001 Key Statistics for local authorities in England and Wales

  Child Tax Credits
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Liverpool, West Derby have received child tax credits. [173671]

  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.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average council tax was as a percentage of gross income for(a) pensioner and (b) non-pensioner households in all quintile groups in each financial year since 1997–98. [172877]

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

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 17 May 2004:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average council tax was as a percentage of gross income for (a) pensioner and (b) non-pensioner households in all quintile groups in each financial year since 1997–98.1 am replying in his absence. (172877)
  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.
  Pensioner households have been defined as those where the Household Reference Person is retired or unoccupied and aged 65 or more and male, or 60 years of age or more and female, and economically inactive. All other households are defined as non-pensioner households. The Household Reference Person is identified during the interview and is defined as the member of the household who:

  a. owns the household accommodation, or

  b. is legally responsible for the rent of the accommodation, or

  c. has the household accommodation as an emolument or perquisite, or

  d. has the household accommodation by virtue of some relationship to the owner who is not a member of the household.

  If there are joint householders, the Household Reference Person will be the householder with the highest income. If the income is the same, then the eldest householder is taken.
  The following table shows the estimated gross and net council tax for pensioner households, non-pensioner households and all households in Great Britain 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 each group of households.
  741W 742W

  Council tax as a percentage of gross income for pensioner1 and non-pensioner households

  Quintile groups of all households ranked by equivalised disposable income

  Great Britain2

  Households

  Bottom

  2nd

  3rd

  4th

  Top

  All households

  Quintile points3 (equivalised disposable income, per year)

  1997–98

  Pensioner

  7,701

  9,503

  11,707

  15,393

  Non-pensioner

  9,177

  13,623

  18,449

  25,508

  All households

  8,564

  11,936

  16,442

  23,588

  1998–99

  Pensioner

  8,031

  9,765

  12,298

  16,742

  Non-Pensioner

  9,509

  14,328

  19,400

  26,804

  All households

  8,832

  12,582

  17,281

  24,384

  1999–00

  Pensioner

  8,475

  10,316

  13,008

  17,213

  Non-Pensioner

  9,909

  15,215

  20,401

  28,596

  All households

  9,193

  13,221

  18,324

  26,295

  2000–01

  Pensioner

  8,492

  10,621

  13,259

  17,951

  Non-Pensioner

  10,807

  15,832

  21,349

  29,712

  All households

  9,821

  13,893

  19,134

  27,296

  2001–02

  Pensioner

  9,459

  11,742

  14,244

  18,703

  Non-Pensioner

  11,647

  17,133

  22,784

  31,396

  All households

  10,647

  14,943

  20,231

  28,840

  2002–03

  Pensioner

  10,096

  12,524

  15,285

  20,203

  Non-Pensioner

  11,910

  17,591

  23,526

  32,707

  All households

  11,242

  15,541

  20,977

  29,745

  Gross council tax as a percentage of gross income

  1997–98

  Pensioner

  8.5

  6.4

  5.2

  3.9

  2.8

  4.4

  Non-Pensioner

  5.4

  3.1

  2.3

  1.8

  1.3

  2.1

  All households

  6.3

  4.1

  2.8

  2.1

  1.4

  2.4

  1998–99

  Pensioner

  8.8

  6.5

  5.4

  4.2

  2.8

  4.5

  Non-Pensioner

  5.5

  3.2

  2.4

  1.9

  1.3

  2.1

  All households

  6.5

  4.3

  2.9

  2.2

  1.4

  2.4

  1999–00

  Pensioner

  9.9

  7.2

  5.6

  4,3

  2.9

  4.8

  Non-Pensioner

  6.2

  3.4

  2.5

  2.0

  1.3

  2.2

  All households

  7.3

  4.5

  3.0

  2.3

  1.4

  2.6

  2000–01

  Pensioner

  10.4

  7.1

  5.6

  4.6

  2.9

  4.9

  Non-Pensioner

  5.6

  3.2

  2.5

  2.0

  1.4

  2.2

  All households

  7.0

  4.3

  2.9

  2.2

  1.5

  2.6

  2001–02

  Pensioner

  9.8

  7.0

  5.9

  4.6

  3.0

  5.0

  Non-Pensioner

  6.0

  3.3

  2.5

  2.0

  1.3

  2.2

  All households

  7.2

  4.4

  3.1

  2.3

  1.4

  2.6

  2002–03

  Pensioner

  9.8

  7.0

  5.7

  4.6

  3.1

  5.0

  Non-Pensioner

  6.0

  3.5

  2.7

  2.1

  1.4

  2.4

  All households

  7.1

  4.6

  3.2

  2.4

  1.6

  2.7

  Net council tax4 as a percentage of gross income

  1997–98

  Pensioner

  5.2

  4.0

  3.8

  3.0

  2.6

  3.3

  Non-Pensioner

  2.6

  2.5

  2.2

  1.8

  1.3

  1.8

  All households

  3.3

  2.9

  2.5

  2.0

  1.4

  2.0

  1998–99

  Pensioner

  6.3

  4.4

  3.8

  3.3

  2.5

  3.5

  Non-Pensioner

  3.0

  2.6

  2.3

  1.9

  1.3

  1.9

  All households

  3.9

  3.1

  2.6

  2.1

  1.4

  2.1

  1999–00

  Pensioner

  6.9

  4.8

  4.1

  3.4

  2.7

  3.7

  Non-Pensioner

  3.2

  2.9

  2.4

  2.0

  1.3

  2.0

  All households

  4.2

  3.4

  2.7

  2.2

  1.4

  2.2

  2000–01

  Pensioner

  7.1

  4.9

  4.3

  3.7

  2.7

  3.9

  Non-Pensioner

  3.1

  2.8

  2.4

  2.0

  1.4

  2.0

  All households

  4.2

  3.3

  2.7

  2.2

  1.5

  2.2

  2001–02

  Pensioner

  7.0

  5.0

  4.2

  3.8

  2.8

  4.0

  Non-Pensioner

  3.7

  2.9

  2.4

  2.0

  1.3

  2.0

  All households

  4.7

  3.3

  2.8

  2.3

  1.4

  2.2

  2002–03

  Pensioner

  7.1

  4.6

  3.9

  3.6

  3.0

  3.9

  Non-Pensioner

  3.7

  3.0

  2.6

  2.1

  1.4

  2.1

  All households

  4.6

  3.4

  2.9

  2.4

  1.6

  2.4

  1Household reference person is economically inactive and over minimum state pension age.

  2Council tax is not paid in Northern Ireland.

  3Equivalised disposable income at the boundary point between two quintile groups.

  4Net 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 National Statistics website.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the production of his Department's latest annual report cost; how many copies were printed; how many copies of it were sold at its cover price; to whom copies of the report have been provided free of charge; and how many copies were provided free of charge. [171143]

  Ruth Kelly
  Publication of HM Treasury's Departmental Report (Cm 6222) was handled by the Stationery Office Ltd. (TSO). Printing and other production costs were paid for by TSO as the publisher and the document was designed in house by members of the Treasury's publishing unit. TSO have printed 740 copies of the report with 200 copies purchased by the Treasury for internal purposes, 203 copies supplied to Parliament and, to date, an additional 131 copies have been sold by TSO.

  Financial Services Authority
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many regulatory impact assessments have been(a) conducted and (b) published by the Financial Services Authority in each of the last five years; and what percentage of new regulatory measures this represents. [172903]

  Ruth Kelly
  The matters raised in this question are the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from government control and influence. The following figures have been provided by the FSA. They are for the number of cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) conducted and published by the FSA over the past five years. The proportion of new measures these represent is given in brackets. In 2003, 42 (93 per cent.); 2002, 41 (93 per cent.); 2001, 27 (71 per cent.); 2000, 29 (71); and in 1999, 8 (42 per cent.).

  Fuel Tax
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will abandon the implementation of fuel tax increases in September; and if he will make a statement. [173060]

  John Healey
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget Statement of 17 March 2004,Official Report, column 329.

  Gershon Review
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Sir Peter Gershon regarding the total savings in public sector employment within the Department for Trade and Industry as a result of his efficiency review. [173375]

  Mr. Boateng
  Treasury Ministers meet frequently with Department for Trade and Industry Ministers who are working closely with Sir Peter Gershon to identify efficiencies within the Department. These will release further resources for frontline public services.

  Gold Reserves
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of the gold held in UK reserves was at the afternoon fix on 11 May. [173350]
  744W
  Ruth Kelly
  At the afternoon fix on 11 May 2004 the value of the gold held in the UK reserves was approximately $3,775 million.

  Housing
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average build cost of a new home in the(a) social housing sector and (b) private housing sector in the last year for which figures are available. [172875]

  Keith Hill
  I have been asked to reply.

  The average cost of a new build dwelling for social rent in England, in 2003/04, is £116,000. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not keep comparable information for the private sector.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many senior citizens in Liverpool, West Derby constituency qualified for the 10 pence rate of income tax in each year since its introduction. [173674]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A reliable answer cannot be given. This is because the sample size of pensioners living in the Liverpool West Derby constituency is relatively small compared to other constituencies in the Survey of Personal Incomes.

  Inheritance Tax
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he estimates was lost to the public purse as a result of the exemption from inheritance tax of the estate of the late Queen Mother. [171538]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: Further to my answer of 13 May 2002, Official Report, column 437W, the amounts involved in the estate of any taxpayer are subject to the Inland Revenue's normal rules of confidentiality.

  International Aid
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effects of providing resources for the world's poorest countries(a) through the International Finance Facility and (b) through direct aid. [173059]

  John Healey
  Since this Government came to power, UK official development assistance has increased by 97 per cent. in real terms, and our aid ratio as a proportion of national income is set to reach 0.4 per cent. in 2005–06. But it has been estimated that the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals will require an extra US$50 billion more in aid every year until 2015. That is why the UK has proposed the IFF to deliver the funds that are needed now, when they will have the most impact on reducing poverty. The IFF would raise the significant additional resources necessary to make progress on meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
  745W
  The IFF would not be a new disbursement agency but a facility designed to deliver additional funds for development that would then be delivered through existing mechanisms, both through bilateral assistance and multilateral organisations.

  Job Vacancies
  Mr.Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in Liverpool, West Derby constituency in(a) 1989, (b) 1997 and (c) 2003. [173673]

  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. Wareing dated 17 May 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job vacancies in Liverpool, West Derby. (173673)

  According to Jobcentre Plus administrative records the numbers of unfilled vacancies in the Liverpool travel-to-work area on average for the year 1989 was 2,967 and in 1997 it was 4,330. These figures represent only a proportion of all the vacancies available, as not all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.

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

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

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

  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many new jobs have been created in Bootle since 1997; [173146]

  (2) what the (a) change and (b) percentage change was in full-time permanent jobs in Bootle from 1997 to 31 December 2003. [173147]

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

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Benton dated 17 May 2004:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about full-time jobs and jobs created in Bootle. I am replying in his absence. (173146, 173147)
  While statistics of jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes in numbers of jobs from year to year.
  The attached table shows the information requested, relating to all jobs and full-time jobs in Bootle for 1997 and 2002, which is the latest year for which figures are available.
  Information is not available about whether the jobs were permanent.
  746W

  Number of full-time employees and total number of employees1 in Bootle Parliamentary Constituency: 1997 and 2002

  Percentage

  Full-Time

  Total

  Number of employees

  1997

  22,200

  29,666

  2002

  28,196

  39,017

  Change from 1997 to 2002

  Absolute

  5,996

  9,351

  Percentage

  27.0

  31.5

  1Employee jobs only, not self-employed jobs

  Source:

  1997; Annual Employment Survey, resealed 2002; Annual Business Inquiry (ABI)

  Public Sector Employment
  John Mann
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact of job growth in the private sector over the past seven years upon employment figures in the public service. [171242]

  Mr. Boateng
  As a result of the macroeconomic stability and labour market reforms delivered by this Government, employment in the public and private sectors has grown by 1.9 million since 1997, of which over 70 per cent. was in the private sector, and the total number of people in work in the UK is now the highest since records began. While jobs have risen and fallen in a number of areas, jobs in construction are up by 335,000; jobs in finance and business services up by 856,000; transport and communications up by 170,000; and distribution and hotels up by 424,000.

  Teenage Pregnancies
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many girls aged 18 years and under, broken down by age, have(a) become pregnant and (b) had an abortion in each of the last three years. [172866]

  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. Simon Burns, dated 17 May 2004:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many girls aged 18 years and under, broken down by age, have (a) become pregnant, and (b) had an abortion, in each of the last 3 years. (172866)
  Numbers of conceptions are estimated from registrations of births and notifications of abortions. Miscarriages before the 24th week of gestation are not included.
  Numbers of conceptions, and those leading to an abortion, at ages 18 years and under are given in the attached table, broken down by age.

  Number of conceptions to women aged 18 years and under, by outcome and age of woman (single years) at conception—England and Wales, 1999 to 2002

  Total conceptions

  Number terminated by abortion

  Under 14

  19991

  406

  232

  20001

  397

  236

  20012

  398

  219

  20023

  359

  —

  747W

  Number of conceptions to women aged 18 years and under, by outcome and age of woman (single years) at conception—England and Wales, 1999 to 2002

  Total conceptions

  Number terminated by abortion

  Age 14

  19991

  1,866

  1,081

  20001

  1,890

  1,100

  20012

  1,883

  1,154

  20023

  1,652

  —

  Age 15

  19991

  5,673

  2,870

  20001

  5,827

  3,048

  20012

  5,610

  3,025

  20023

  5,111

  —

  Age 16

  19991

  13,334

  5,845

  20001

  13,153

  5,854

  20012

  13,103

  5,993

  20023

  12,876

  —

  Age 17

  19991

  20,749

  8,063

  20001

  20,081

  8,020

  20012

  19,972

  8,323

  20023

  19,117

  —

  Age 18

  19991

  26,627

  9,637

  20001

  26,180

  9,651

  20012

  25,731

  9,666

  20023

  24,239

  —

  1Source:

  Table 12.2, Birth Statistics, Series FM1, No. 30, Office for National Statistics.

  2Provisional figures.

  3Provisional estimates are based on incomplete abortion data, therefore the number terminated by abortion is not provided.

  Tonnage Tax
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of the review of the tonnage tax. [173675]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The tonnage tax review is currently considering a number of representations from professional advisors, industry bodies, companies and Unions. These cover diverse areas of the regime, including the range of vessels covered by the regime, the training link, and numerous technical points. The impact of the regime on British shipping is being assessed. Certainly there has been a very positive effect on the registration of ships under the UK flag.

  In particular, the review is also addressing the impact of revisions to the EU State Aid guidelines for maritime transport that were issued in January 2004. Discussions, primarily on the changes that will be necessary as a result of the changes to the guidelines continue between officials at the Inland Revenue and Department for Transport with industry bodies.

  I expect that a number of proposals for revision of the scheme will be put forward in due course, but at this stage it is not possible to give a firm date by which the review will be completed.

PRIME MINISTER

  Government Buildings
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 28 April,Official Report, column 1087W, on Government buildings (party use), for what reasons he has not identified the amount of income received. [173484]

  The Prime Minister
  As I made clear in my earlier answer, the costs of such events are met directly by the Labour Party.

  Honours List
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a consolidated list of recipients of honours since 1997. [173174]

  The Prime Minister
  Details of all honours are published in the London Gazette, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Iraq
  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will call upon the Coalition Provisional Authority urgently to review the present policy on Iraqi prisons and prisoners. [172315]

  The Prime Minister
  The Iraqi Corrections Service and the Coalition Provisional Authority are currently working on a comprehensive set of policies and procedures for the entire Iraqi Corrections Service. These will be approved by the CPA Senior Adviser for Prisons and the Director of the Iraqi Corrections Service headed by an Iraqi national. The office of the UK Special Representative for Iraq stays in close touch with CPA prisons advisers, and policy and progress is kept under regular review.

  The CPA has a senior adviser for prisons and there are currently 60 CPA trainers and advisers working with the Iraqis. There are currently three senior UK prison advisers working in the UK area of operations.

  The UK will be sending additional UK prison officers to assist the Iraqis in administering prisons and to monitor progress in the current UK area of operations following the transition of sovereignty on 30 June.

  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library details of the policy agreed by the Coalition Provisional Authority on the(a) administration of Iraqi prisons and (b) the oversight and maintenance of prisoners and their welfare. [172316]

  The Prime Minister
  In June 2003, Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Orders 7 and 10 and "Implementing Memorandum number 2 (Management of Detention and Prison Facilities)" set in place detailed guidance for the administration and maintenance of Iraqi prisons and prisoners which are already publicly available on the CPA website. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  All Iraqi corrections officers and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) advisers are required to follow a code of conduct that requires the humane treatment of prisoners. Coalition soldiers involved in

  749W
  looking after the administration and maintenance of Iraqi prisons and prisoners are governed by the Geneva Convention.

  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister who, within the Coalition Provisional Authority, has responsibility for prisons policy in Iraq, in relation to(a) administration of personnel and (b) the welfare of prisoners. [172317]

  The Prime Minister
  The Senior Adviser for Prisons and his staff have primary responsibility within the Coalition Provisional Authority for prison policies in Iraq. They work closely with the Iraqi Ministry of Justice and the Iraqi Corrections Service on administration of personnel and welfare of prisoners. The Ministry of Human Rights already have access to criminal detainees whenever they wish.

  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) when he received a copy of the International Committee of the Red Cross report of February 2004 into allegations of abuse by Coalition forces of Iraqi detainees; [173200]

  (2) on what date he was first informed of the existence of the Report by the International Committee of the Red Cross on the treatment by the Coalition forces of prisoners of war and other persons protected by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during arrest, internment and interrogation, dated February 2004; and on what date he read it; [173341]

  (3) when the International Committee of the Red Cross Report on the treatment by coalition forces of prisoners of war in Iraq was received in Number 10 Downing Street; and what action was taken. [173425]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) at Prime Ministers Questions on 12 May 2004,Official Report, columns 347 to 349.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he has undertaken a(a) comparison and (b) reconciliation with the results of the Iraq Survey Team of information supplied by Iraq in response to UNSC Resolution 1441. [173837]

  The Prime Minister
  The work of the Iraq Survey Group is continuing and a final report has yet to be produced.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date the International Committee of the Red Cross report on the treatment by Coalition forces of prisoners of war and other persons protected by the Geneva conventions during arrest, internment and interrogation in Iraq was received by his Office. [173902]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) at Prime Ministers Questions on 12 May,Official Report, columns 347 to 349.

  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he has read the Amnesty International report, Iraq—Killings of Civilians in Basra and al-Amaia, published on 11 May; and what response he has made to it. [174332]
  750W
  The Prime Minister
  As I said at Prime Minister's Questions on 12 May, Official Report, column 348, Amnesty International has passed eight cases to us, seven of which are already known to us. The one that is not known to us is being investigated.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what matters regarding nuclear non-proliferation were discussed with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on 10 May. [173859]

  The Prime Minister
  I discussed a wide range of issues with the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during his recent visit to the UK, including nuclear non-proliferation. I refer my hon. Friend to the joint statement released by the United Kingdom and China on 10 May 2004, which is available on the No. 10 website.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister how many complaints have been made by civil servants to the Civil Service Commissioners regarding the conduct of(a) special advisers and (b) unpaid advisers in each year since 1996–97. [174190]

  The Prime Minister
  Information relating to complaints made by civil servants to the Civil Service Commissioners is set out in the Civil Service Commissioners' annual report.

  Copies of the reports since 1996–97 are available in the Library of the House and can also be found on the Civil Service Commissioners website. The report for 2003–04 will be published shortly.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum and Immigration
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which air and sea ports in the United Kingdom have previously had routine staffing by the Immigration Service but currently do not; when such staffing ceased; what checks are made on persons arriving at such ports; and how many illegal immigrants were refused entry at such ports in each year from 1996 to 2003. [169249]

  Mr. Browne
  Port staffing levels in the United Kingdom are determined by a number of Factors:Current and projected numbers of passenger arrivals;
  For seaports the number of freight vehicles that will require searching;
  An assessment of the casework generated from the arriving passenger traffic;
  Projected numbers of asylum seekers that will require interview on arrival.

  It is only at ports where passenger services have ceased that immigration coverage has been withdrawn. At smaller ports resources are deployed to meet arriving traffic and in addition powers under the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 are used flexibly to clear passengers where appropriate. Passengers subject to control will be examined to ascertain whether they qualify for entry to the UK. This examination will include checks against the Immigration Service database.
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  A breakdown of persons refused entry and removed by port is not currently published and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the discretionary amnesty to asylum seekers with children will be extended to asylum seekers from EU accession countries who are in the UK on 1 May. [168695]

  Mr. Browne
  Applicants from EU accession countries who come within the terms of this exercise will continue to qualify for indefinite leave to remain after 1 May. We have no plans to extend the exercise to cover all asylum seekers from these countries.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new measures his Department plans to improve the initial asylum decision-making process. [170523]

  Mr. Browne
  We have put a strategy in place to deliver further improvements in the quality of initial asylum decisions. It is comprehensive and builds on mechanisms already in place as well as including additional measures recently identified to help drive up decision quality.

  In broad terms our aim is to:
  invest in recruitment, learning and development so that caseworkers are even better equipped to take high quality decisions;
  enhance our quality assurance systems is by better targeting of checks on problem areas;
  improve country information, instructions and processes so that caseworkers always have the right tools to support high quality decision-making;
  increase the contribution by external organisations to the delivery and accreditation of our quality mechanisms.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new measures his Department plans to improve the asylum removal system, to ensure that a failed claim leads to a swift removal. [170524]

  Mr. Browne
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Beverley Hughes) on 17 March 2004,Official Report, column 338W.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 6 January 2004,Official Report, column 242W, on overseas posts (performance targets), for what reason there are no targets set by his Department for the processing of entry clearance appeals once they are received by the Appeals Processing Centre; how many appeals papers are deemed to require further action from the overseas post; and what plans the Government have for setting such targets. [157004]

  Mr. Browne
  The Immigration Appellate Authority's capacity to receive no more than 7,100 appeals per month, when taken together with the priority given to asylum, has influenced the speed at which entry clearance and other non-asylum appeals can be processed through the Appeals Processing Centre (APC). As a result, specific timescale targets have not yet been set for APC's entry clearance team. Targets will 752W
  be set during the next financial year. Up to 20 per cent. of entry clearance appeals received by APC per month require further contact with posts overseas.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) immigrants and (b) asylum seekers were living in each county in England and Wales in each year since 1997. [168014]

  Mr. Browne
  The information is not available in the form requested. Data on how many immigrants live in each county in England and Wales is not available and could only be produced at a disproportionate cost.

  Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by The National Asylum Support Services is published quarterly. The next publication covering the first quarterly of 2004 (January to March) will be available on 25 May on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html. Data for earlier quarters is published in earlier editions of the publication and is also available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website.

  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refused asylum seekers have been repatriated. [166983]

  Mr. Browne
  We have taken repatriation here to mean removal. The number of persons who had claimed asylum at some stage and have been removed from the United Kingdom in each year between 1993 and 2003 is given in the table.

  Information on the number of asylum applicants removed from the United Kingdom is published quarterly on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.

  Removals and voluntary1 departures of asylum applicants 1993 to 20032

  Principal applicants

  Dependants

  Total

  1993

  1,820

  n/a

  n/a

  1994

  2,220

  n/a

  n/a

  1995

  3,170

  n/a

  n/a

  1996

  4,820

  n/a

  n/a

  1997

  7,165

  n/a

  n/a

  1998

  6,990

  n/a

  n/a

  1999

  7,665

  n/a

  n/a

  2000

  8,980

  n/a

  n/a

  2001

  9,285

  1,495

  10,780

  20023

  10,740

  3,170

  13,910

  20033

  2003

  4,550

  17,040

  n/a = not available.

  1Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.

  2Data on dependants of asylum seekers removed have only been collected since April 2001.

  3Provisional figures.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps were taken to inform hon. Members of changes to support provision for asylum seekers from EU accession countries after 1 May; [167326]
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  (2) what provision will be available to support asylum seekers from EU accession countries whose applications are outstanding after 1 May. [167328]

  Mr. Browne
  From 1 May 2004 nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta, will no longer be eligible for National Asylum Support Service (NASS) support or for support from a local authority under the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999. This is because of the effect of paragraph 5 schedule 3 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Schedule 3 also prohibits local authorities from providing support to European Economic Area (EEA) nationals under other provisions including section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000, section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948 and section 17 of the Children Act 1989. However, schedule 3 does not prevent the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty if, and to the extent that, its exercise or performance is necessary for the purpose of avoiding a breach of a person's convention rights or a person's rights under the Community Treaties.

  Unaccompanied asylum seeking children from these accession countries will continue to be eligible for support under the existing mechanisms and provisions until their 18th birthday.

  Asylum seekers from the accession states will, from 1 May 2004, have the same rights to travel as other nationals of EU and EEA member states. Asylum seekers from the eight eastern European accession countries, namely the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia ("the A8 countries"), will generally be able to take up employment in the UK, providing they register under the Worker Registration Scheme, which will become operational from 1 May 2004. Once they have secured employment and registered under the scheme asylum seekers from the A8 countries may become eligible for family tax credit and child benefit. If they are on low incomes they can also access housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  Part time workers may also be eligible for income based Job Seekers Allowance or Income Support, provided they meet the usual conditions for those benefits.

  Maltese and Cypriot nationals will have the same rights as existing EEA nationals. If they are seeking work they have the right to reside and look for work for six months. If they satisfy the Habitual Residence Test they will be eligible to apply for income related benefits and for social housing and homelessness assistance. Maltese and Cypriot nationals who are not economically active will only have a right to reside if they are self sufficient and are not placing an unreasonable burden on UK social assistance funds.

  Our position is clear, as EU citizens these people are able to work and cannot be maintained at public expense. They gain from being a part of the EU but must become self supporting or return home.

  NASS wrote to people in early April to explain their options and then visited many of them at home giving a further opportunity to explain why they would not be
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  able to make alternative arrangements. If people cannot take up one of the options for good reason they need to contact us to explain why.

  Since 5 April 180 people have in fact made representations to us, and around 10 per cent. of those have been granted transitional support. Each is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate has also been working with local authorities, their associations and voluntary sector organisations to keep them informed of the position.

  No specific steps have been taken to inform hon. Members of the provision available to these accession state nationals.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been given leave to remain in the UK as a result of the exercise announced by him in October 2003; how many dependants have also benefited from this exercise; how many failed asylum seekers who have exhausted their appeal rights have benefited; and how many cases have been refused. [168914]

  Mr. Browne
  An announcement detailing the results of the exercise including the available statistical information will be made when the exercise is completed. We would not wish to release figures until all those potentially qualifying applicants have had an opportunity to respond to our queries.

  We have made good progress in considering the cases originally identified. The bulk of cases has been processed with the majority, where the applicants have responded to our queries having been decided. We are reliant on the applicants we contact replying to our queries promptly. Those not doing so are being reminded.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2004,Official Report, column 898W, on asylum and immigration, if he will break down the numbers of asylum seekers refused support under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 by country of origin. [169411]

  Mr. Browne
  The information requested is unavailable and could be produced only at a disproportionate cost.

  Information on the number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Services is published quarterly. The next publication covering the first quarter of 2004 (January to March) will be available on 25 May on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors influenced his decision to exclude Northern Ireland as a destination for asylum seeker dispersal; and what plans he has to review his policy. [170112]

  Mr. Browne
  The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) undertook research to identify the most suitable areas for the dispersal of asylum seekers. The aim was to establish cluster areas where there was already an ethnic minority community or where it was believed the
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  area was capable of sustaining a new community. Other factors taken into consideration included the availability of support services able to assist newly arrived asylum seekers. It was always acknowledged that not all areas would be suitable for dispersal and, with regard to Northern Ireland, the research identified both a low population of ethnic minorities and a lack of available support services. While the area was not designated as a dispersal area it was agreed that those making their application for asylum in Northern Ireland could remain there if they requested it. Others making their application elsewhere can opt to live with family and friends in Northern Ireland and receive subsistence only support from NASS.

  Most of the contracts NASS has with private and public sector providers are due to expire next year and NASS is now looking at where and how to procure accommodation.

  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the compatibility of Clause 8 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Bill with the(a) Human Rights Act 1998, (b) Children Act 1989 and (c) Children Bill. [169394]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 29 April 2004]: Clause 8 does not prevent the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty where this is necessary to avoid a breach of a person's Convention Rights.

  The Government do not believe clause 8 is incompatible with the Children Act or the Children Bill. Provisions to safeguard and promote children's welfare must take account of the fact that failed asylum seeking families do not have the right to remain in the UK.

  Mr. Matins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the announcement on 30 January of the new agreement on returning Indian immigration offenders, if he will set out the mechanism that will apply to such return; and how many Indian nationals have been returned under this agreement. [170037]

  Mr. Browne
  The agreement reached with the Indians—the first such agreement they have signed—will accelerate the redocumentation of Indian immigration offenders which the UK seeks to return to India. The Indians have agreed to a more streamlined system of referral and consideration which will be a significant improvement on previous arrangements whereby documents could take up to 18 months to obtain. They have also agreed improved arrangements to deal with immigration offenders who are clearly Indian citizens, but who refuse to co-operate with the documentation process and who refuse to sign a visa application form.

  Following the signing of the agreement the Indian Government have had to put in place revised administrative arrangements. This has taken some time, but the new arrangements were in place with effect from 21 April. Consequently there has, so far, been no opportunity to deliver return under the new arrangements. It is intended to begin referring cases under the new arrangements immediately.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the concession announced by the Home Secretary on 24 October 2003 to allow 756W
  families who have been in the United Kingdom for three or more years to stay, how many families he expects to be affected; how many persons in total will be affected; how many of those families have been contacted by the Immigration and Nationality Department (IND) to date and given leave to remain; whether he expects IND will have contacted all the relevant families and completed the bulk of the cases by July; what the timescale is for contacting and processing remaining families; and when he expects to allow immigration practitioners to send in a list of cases they believe are covered by the family concession for confirmation that they will receive a questionnaire. [170089]

  Mr. Browne
  An announcement detailing the results of the exercise including the available statistical information will be made when the exercise is completed and all those potentially qualifying applicants have had an opportunity to respond to our queries.

  Good progress has been made in considering the cases originally identified. The bulk of these cases have been processed with the majority, where the applicants have responded to our queries, having been decided. We rely on the applicants we contact replying to our queries promptly and those not doing so are being reminded. We expect the bulk of the cases eligible for ILR to have been processed by July when we will consider how best to sweep up those who believe they are eligible but have not yet been contacted.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many weeks' training Immigration and Nationality Directorate caseworkers receive; how many other organisations are involved in such training; and what the starting salary of caseworkers is. [170111]

  Mr. Browne
  Training, consisting of classroom based and formal coaching, will normally last up to six weeks. The amount will depend on the type of casework; the specific roles of the caseworker; and the individual's previous experience.

  After formal training and coaching, caseworkers will continue to receive support from their managers and from senior caseworkers.

  The United Kingdom High Commission for Refugees and Social Services have been involved in training design and quality assurance. Casework training is being reviewed, including the use of other organisations in training delivery.

  The national starting salary for caseworkers in the main caseworking grade (Executive Officer) is £16,606 (£17,294 plus £1,300 London Location Allowance in Croydon).

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his statement of 30 March 2004,Official Report, column 1439, on immigration entry clearance standards, which Home Office official met the UK consul in Romania; what was discussed at the meeting; whether minutes were taken of the meeting; what actions were taken as a result of the meeting; and if he will make a statement; [166548]

  (2) pursuant to the statement of the Minister for Immigration and Nationality of 30 March 2004, Official Report, column 1476, if he will place in the Library a

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  copy of the report of the meeting between a senior Immigration and Nationality Directorate official and the British embassy in Bucharest. [166547]

  Mr. Browne
  A senior Home Office official in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate was in Bucharest on 1 and 2 March for talks with the Romanian Government on our on-going co-operation on illegal immigration.

  As part of the visit he held briefing meetings in the embassy. The UK Consul in Romania was present at these.

  The visit produced proposals on a number of aspects of immigration to the UK. These are being taken forward and, where relevant, have been fed into the Sutton enquiry. The report on the visit is internal advice to Ministers, which is not for publication.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which air and seaports do not have routine staffing by the Immigration Service. [169248]

  Mr. Browne
  All the major ports in the United Kingdom (including seaports, hover ports, airports and Waterloo) have a permanent Immigration Service presence. In 1992, following the withdrawal of routine Customs and Excise attendance from ports where they had traditionally operated an immigration control on behalf of the Immigration Service, then Ministers introduced a new policy for immigration coverage of small ports and airports. This policy was later developed with the introduction of new powers in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 enabling a more flexible approach to the operation of the immigration control. Under the Act carriers are obliged to notify the UK Immigration Service in advance of all passengers subject to control. The passengers will then be cleared by the Immigration Service either by attending the port or remotely; the decision being based on all the available intelligence.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish(a) the most recent annual figures of the number of persons refused permission to travel to the United Kingdom by British immigration officers operating from French departure points, broken down by (i) month and (ii) departure points and (b) the most recent estimates of his Department of the annual number of persons prevented from travelling to the United Kingdom by foreign immigration officers at departure points at which British immigration officers are present in an advisory capacity. [169250]

  Mr. Browne
  A breakdown of persons refused and removed by port is not currently published and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  Locally collated management information indicates that during 2003 more than 9,000 passengers have been prevented from travelling from France to the UK as a result of a range of measures including: enhanced juxtaposed controls, deployment of new detection technology and close co-operation with our EU counterparts, carriers and port operators.
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  The Airline Liaison Officer (ALO) network as well as working closely with airlines to provide training and advice has meant that more than 6,000 people travelling to the UK have been denied boarding by airlines after reference to an ALO during 2003.

  In addition airlines advise the Immigration Service that other passengers are also denied boarding at ALO locations as an indirect result of the training and guidance provided to carriers by ALOs.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what routine measures are practised by United Kingdom authorities to detect attempted illegal entrants to the United Kingdom other than those in force at embarkation and arrival points. [169251]

  Mr. Browne
  The Government have recognised for some time that preventing the arrival in the UK of those who would not qualify to enter or remain must be a key element of its immigration control strategy.

  The increasing involvement of organised crime in illegal immigration led to the creation in 2000 of Reflex, the multi-agency forum which brings together key law enforcement players including the Immigration Service, as well as relevant Government Departments and the Security Services, under the chair of the National Crime Squad.

  Reflex has successfully brought focus to the issue and has also provided funding and structures to tackle the problem both in the UK and overseas.

  UK funding for two successful infrastructure-building projects in the Western Balkans was provided by Reflex, as was funding for other projects in Romania and Turkey aimed at upstream disruption of illegal migration.

  As part of a longer-term strategy, the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) manages an expanding network of Immigration Liaison Officers (currently 12) in key overseas posts who work closely with local law enforcement agencies to combat illegal migratory flows.

  We have also had in place for some time a network of Airline Liaison Officers (currently 25) working closely with airline staff at key locations worldwide, who offer advice to carriers on the admissibility of passengers seeking to travel to the UK.

  We are working closely with UK Visas to put in place visa fraud officers at a number of our missions overseas to enhance further the quality of visa issues.

  I should also point out that the introduction of juxtaposed immigration controls in France, and the deployment of New Detection Technology (x-ray machines and scanners) in France and Belgium have been very successful in identifying and stopping unqualified passengers from travelling on to the UK. Further development of this strategy is in hand.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that enforcement of immigration controls in(a) Cherbourg and (b) Dorset operates to the same standard seven days per week. [170600]
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  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 5 May 2004]: The UK Immigration Service does not presently operate in Cherbourg. A pilot project was recently operated at Cherbourg whereby Immigration officers acted in an advisory capacity to the ferry operators to reduce the number of illegal entrants and inadmissible passengers at the point of departure. There are current proposals under way to deploy new detection technology to Cherbourg in partnership with the port authority.

  In Dorset the UK Immigration Service operates full immigration border controls at Poole seven day a week. UK Immigration Officers attend the control and check all arriving passengers and will continue to do so.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants were removed from lorries in Cherbourg bound for Poole in 2003. [170602]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 5 May 2004]: The Home Office does not collate statistics of how many illegal immigrants were removed from lorries in Cherbourg bound for Poole in 2003. The Immigration Service tracks incidents of illegal clandestine entry into the United Kingdom and reviews the pressures at ports of departure in co-operation with the French authorities. Assessments, through the Cross-Channel Commission, have resulted in proposals to deploy new technology in partnership with the port authority in accordance with the convention on new technology signed by the two governments on 24 November 2003.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what level of staffing of UK immigration officers in Cherbourg was provided in 2003. [170604]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 5 May 2004]: The exercise involved one Immigration Officer travelling daily to Cherbourg to provide advice and support to the carrier in respect of travel status of passengers prior to boarding in Cherbourg. The officer then returned with the inbound ferry to control passengers seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom during the crossing.

  Afghan Refugees
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the return of refugee women and children to Afghanistan from the UK. [170305]

  Mr. Browne
  The Government's preferred option for repatriating Afghan asylum applicants whose asylum claims have been rejected and appeal rights exhausted is assisted voluntary return, in line with the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on Voluntary Return between the UK, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Afghan Transitional Administration. When the Memorandum of Understanding was signed we agreed that we would not return family groups to Afghanistan before the summer of 2003. Although this general policy bar on enforcing the removal of families no longer applies, we are still not enforcing the departure of vulnerable groups, such as families with young children, or female heads of household.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 23 February 2004,Official Report, columns 228–29W, on Centre for the 3Rs, whether he has now received the final report of the Inter-Departmental Group for the 3Rs; and if he will make a statement on how he intends to proceed with the Select Committee's recommendation. [169587]

  Caroline Flint
  I have recently received the Inter-Departmental Group's final report on the recommendation of the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures that a centre for research into the 3Rs—the replacement of animal use, reduction of the number of animals used and the refinement of the procedures involved to minimise suffering—should be set up and have discussed its findings with Ministerial colleagues. We expect to announce our conclusions in the next few weeks.

  Asylum Detainees (Children)
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are being held in detention solely under Immigration Act powers; and how many of these have been held for more than 28 days, broken down by removal centre. [169243]

  Mr. Browne
  Management information indicates that on the 26 January 2004 35 children were detained solely under Immigration Act powers. Three quarters of those had been in detention for 14 days or less and the remainder had been detained for less than four months. These individuals were all detained as part of families whose detention as a group was considered necessary.

  Information on the number of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at 27 March 2004 will be published on the Home Office website on 25 May: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been held in detention solely under Immigration Act powers since his announcement that children will not be detained for more than 28 days without ministerial consent; and how many of these have been held for more than 28 days, broken down by removal centre. [169244]

  Mr. Browne
  Information on the total number of children detained under Immigration Act powers since the announcement in October 2003 that children will not be detained for more than 28 days without ministerial consent is not available.

  Management information indicates that on the 26 January 2004 35 children were detained solely under Immigration Act powers. Three quarters of those had been in detention for 14 days or less and the remainder had been detained for less than four months. This includes children and infants who were detained as part of family group for very short periods pending removal.

  Information on the number of people detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at 27 March 2004 will be published on the Home Office website on 25 May: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to re-examine the law on the(a) sale and (b) cultivation of cannabis seeds. [170146]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 5 May 2004]: None. The seeds are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as they do not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

  The cultivation of cannabis seeds, other than for purposes licensed by the Home Office, will remain illegal.

  Clandestine Entrants
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many clandestine entrants into the United Kingdom have been detected(a) on entry and (b) in the country in each month since December 2001. [171253]

  Mr. Browne
  Illegal entry action is initiated against those people who are detected having entered or attempting to enter the country clandestinely or by means of deception, either verbal or documentary.

  The available figures include those people who were identified as having entered the country clandestinely, they are not separately identifiable as such information would only be available by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost. A monthly breakdown of this figure is not available.

  48,050 people had illegal entry action initiated against them in 2002.

  Information on the number of people against whom illegal entry action was initiated in 2003 will be published later this year in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2002" which can be found on the Home Office website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 18 March, with regard to Miss Z. Patel. [170700]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I replied to my right hon. Friend on 29 April 2004.

  Crime Statistics
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the percentage change in(a) domestic burglary, (b) juvenile anti-social behaviour, (c) arrests for violent crime, (d) incidents of violent crime, (e) road traffic collision involving fatality or serious injury, (f) domestic burglary per 1,000 households, (g) robberies per 1,000 population and (h) vehicle crimes per 1,000 population was between 2001–02 and 2002–03 for (i) division of the North Wales police and (ii) each local authority in North Wales. [154295]
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  Ms Blears
  The available statistics recorded by North Wales Police, are given as follows. Those figures derived from recorded crime statistics will have been affected by North Wales police adopting the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in October 2001.

  Percentage changes between 2001–02 and 2002–03:
  Domestic burglary1 increased by 34 per cent.
  Juvenile anti-social behaviour2 remained level. Two Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) were issued in both 2001–02 and 2002–03.
  Arrests for violent crime3 increased by 28 per cent.
  Violent crime1, 4 increased by 53 per cent.
  Details on road traffic collisions involving fatality or serious injury, are not collected by the Home Office.
  Domestic burglaries pet 1,000 households1 increased by 31 per cent.
  Robberies per 1,000 population1 increased by 15 per cent.
  Vehicle crimes per 1,000 population1 increased by 5 per cent.

  1The National Crime Recording Standard (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, and figures derived from them, are not directly comparable with previous years.

  2Figure based on number of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, as reported to the Home Office, issued to juveniles (persons aged 10–17 years), within North Wales.

  3Figure based on numbers of notifiable arrests made by North Wales Police.

  4Violent crime comprises the offences of Violence against the person, Sexual offences and Robbery.

  Crime statistics are recorded at Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) level. CDRPs were set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and are broadly local authority areas They include representatives from police, health, probation and other local agencies and provide strategies for reducing crime in the area. The available figures are given in the table.

  Percentage change between 2001–02 and 2002–03, by CDRPs in North Wales

  CDRP

  Domestic burglary

  Violent crime

  Conwy

  -3

  74

  Denbighshire

  45

  78

  Flintshire

  37

  29

  Gwynedd

  47

  41

  Isle of Anglesey

  104

  55

  Wrexham

  42

  53

  See footnote I above.

  The number of ASBOs1 which were issued to juveniles, by local authority area, for 2001–02 and 2002–03:

  Local authority area

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Conwy

  0

  1

  Wrexham

  2

  1

  1ASBOs are issued by the courts but can be applied for, among other authorities, the police.

  Figures on arrests are not collected by local authority area.

  More generally, the British Crime Survey (BCS), which asks members of the public about their experiences of crime, gives a more complete estimate of crime in England and Wales since it covers both unreported and unrecorded crime. It also gives a more

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  reliable indication of trends in crime as BCS estimates are unaffected by changes in levels of reporting, or in police recording. Between 2001–02 and 2002–03 there was a decrease of 2 per cent. in crime as measured by the BCS.

  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funds were spent on tackling drugs misuse in Preston in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 2003–04. [1696961]

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

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

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

  2003–04

  Amount (£)

  Partnership Capacity

  118,000

  Treatment Pooled Budget

  3,980,000

  Through Care After Care Pump Priming

  35,000

  Building Safer Communities1

  1,147,000

  Young People

  735,000

  Total

  6,015,000

  1Contains non-drug elements.

  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers preventing racial harassment have been introduced since 1997; and how many times these powers have been used in Wigan. [169336]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 created new and separate offences where the offences of causing fear and violence or of causing harassment, alarm or distress under the Public Order Act 1986, or the offences of harassment or putting in fear of violence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were racially aggravated.

  Figures for the number of prosecutions in Wigan for this type of offence are not centrally available. Over the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02 Greater Manchester police recorded a total of 2,075 harassment offences.

  Prior to 1997 the Race Relations Act (RRA) 1976 already prohibited discrimination on racial grounds. The RRA did not specifically refer to harassment, but it was clear from case law that racia1 harassment was a type of detriment capable of amounting to the kind of less favourable treatment prohibited by the Act.

  As part of its fulfilment of its obligations under the EC Race Directive the UK amended the Race Relations Act 1976 (by virtue of the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003) so as to make it
  764W
  unlawful to harass a person, on grounds of race or ethnic or national origins, in the areas of activity covered by the 1976 Act.

  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funds were spent on tackling drug misuse in Wigan in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 2003–04. [169338]

  Caroline Flint
  The period 1997–98 pre-dates National Drug Strategy, during this time the local council and primary care trust allocated funding for tackling drug misuse. Accounting procedures mean that the 1997 figures are no longer available and that 1998 figures are not accessible by the DAT.

  In 2003–04 the total drugs allocation was £2,187,607. In order to ensure consistency figures supplied are based on funding streams associated with the National Drug Strategy and are readily verifiable. These funding streams are specifically targeted at tackling the harm caused to individuals, families and communities by the misuse of drugs. Other mainstream funding is made available at a local level, this varies and both in amount and origin as a result it is not possible to provide robust financial information.

  2003–04

  £

  Partnership Capacity

  72,429

  Treatment Pooled Budget

  1,455,000

  Through Care After Care Pump Priming

  35,000

  Building Safer Communities1

  410,404

  Young people

  214,774

  Total

  2,187,607

  1Contains non-drug elements.

  Criminal Justice Act
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when part 10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 will be brought into force. [169161]

  Mr. Blunkett
  We are working towards implementation of the retrial provisions contained in part 10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and will bring this part of the Act into force as soon as practicable.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when section 114 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 will be brought into force. [169162]

  Paul Goggins
  No final decision has yet been made but the current aim is to bring the hearsay provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 into force as soon as possible.

  Custodial Sentences (Wolverhampton)
  Rob Marris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those convicted in 2003 by courts in Wolverhampton for offences of failing to have valid(a) vehicle excise discs, (b) vehicle insurance and (c) MOT certificates received custodial sentences. [168400]

  Caroline Flint
  None: these offences are not imprisonable.

  Departmental Communications
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on(a) internal communications and (b) advertising internal initiatives in each of the last five years. [163577]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The Home Office is a large organisation with inter-related aims so it is important that the 73,000 staff throughout the department and its agencies understand how the work that they do fits together to deliver the departmental outcomes. The department achieves this through the production of a range of services and publications. Examples are Home Office Today—a daily on-line news service for staff, and Inside Track the corporate staff magazine. In addition each agency keeps its own staff informed of internal activities through agency publications. Together the Department and its agencies spent the following sums on internal communications staffing and products:

  £

  2001–02

  3,670,000

  2002–03

  4,080,000

  2003–04

  4,180,000

  Note:

  Figures for previous years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  (b) The figures in (a) above include the cost of advertising internal initiatives to Home Office staff and cannot be separately identified.

  Documentation (Arrivals)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that inadequately documented passengers arriving in the UK are intercepted. [170521]

  Mr. Browne
  Measures to intercept passengers with inadequate documents on their arrival in the UK include risk-assessing all incoming flights, conducting intelligence-led document checks, observing passengers as they disembark from aircraft and planned special exercises sometimes involving other agencies and at certain locations using CCTV.

  At the main arrivals control, passengers are interviewed and their documents examined to detect impostors and to identify forged or counterfeit passports or passengers without the requisite entry clearance.

  In addition we have strategies in place to prevent passengers with inadequate documents arriving in the UK. These include the use of pre-entry controls in France (Juxtaposed controls), new detection technology screening equipment to detect clandestine entrants and Airline Liaison Officers (ALOs) who offer advice to airlines on the validity of travel documents held by passengers.

  The Government are currently legislating to make disposing of travel documents without reasonable excuse a criminal offence. In addition a pilot is planned for airlines to scan travel documents at points abroad
  766W
  and supply copies to the UK Immigration Service. This will deter those who might otherwise destroy their documents en route.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether surveillance techniques have been extended to airports other than Heathrow, to ensure that inadequately documented passengers are intercepted. [170522]

  Mr. Browne
  Surveillance techniques to ensure that inadequately documented passengers are identified and intercepted are already in use at major airports other than Heathrow. The UK Immigration Service has the ability to employ CCTV and/or overt surveillance in order to identify and intercept such passengers.

  Smaller airports where these methods are not routinely employed are subject to regular risk assessment, monitoring and special exercises with Customs and other agencies. Resources are deployed to identify and intercept inadequately documented passengers on an intelligence led basis.

  Drink Driving
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were sentenced in England and Wales for driving with excess alcohol, excluding those causing death or serious injury, in each of the last 10 years; how many of those received a custodial sentence; and what the average custodial sentence length was. [169087]

  Paul Goggins
  The available information is contained in the table and relates to persons sentenced for offences of driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs.

  It is not possible in the statistics collected centrally to exclude those offences where serious injury is caused, but the figures exclude persons sentenced for the specific offence of 'causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs'.

  Number of persons1 sentenced at all courts for offences relating to driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, those sentenced to custody and the average custodial sentence length, England and Wales 1993–2002 Driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs

  Driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs

  1993

  Total sentenced

  80,926

  Custodial sentence

  2.575

  Average sentence length (months)

  3.1

  1994

  Total sentenced

  78.038

  Custodial sentence

  3.243

  Average sentence length (months)

  3.2

  1995

  Total sentenced

  81.474

  Custodial sentence

  3,443

  Average sentence length (months)

  3.1

  1996

  Total sentenced

  85.010

  Custodial sentence

  3,529

  Average sentence length (months)

  3.1

  767W

  Number of persons1 sentenced at all courts for offences relating to driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, those sentenced to custody and the average a custodial sentence length, England and Wales 1993–2002 Driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs

  Driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs

  1997

  Total sentenced

  89.271

  Custodial sentence

  4,065

  Average sentence length (months)

  3.0

  1998

  Total sentenced

  83.092

  Custodial sentence

  3.754

  Average sentence length (months)

  3.0

  1999

  Total sentenced

  79.524

  Custodial sentence

  3.653

  Average sentence length (months)

  3.0

  2000

  Total sentenced

  76.779

  Custodial sentence

  3.465

  Average sentence length (months)

  3.1

  2001

  Total sentenced

  76.113

  Custodial sentence

  3.475

  Average sentence length (months)

  3.0

  2002

  Total sentenced

  81.444

  Custodial sentence

  3,290

  Average sentence length (months)

  3.2

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

  Drugs
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what collaborative endeavours there are with other Governments to stifle the synthetic supply of drugs. [168727]

  Caroline Flint
  The United Kingdom Government have signed and ratified the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which establishes an international control system for such substances, including a number of synthetic drugs. It has also signed and ratified the United Nations 1988 Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which provides comprehensive measures against drug trafficking and the diversion of precursor chemicals of synthetic drugs.

  UK law enforcement agencies have well-established bi-lateral links with their opposite numbers overseas, and share both strategic and tactical intelligence on synthetic drugs and their precursor chemicals on a regular basis.

  They also participate in a range of multi-lateral, operationally focused intelligence work, including, for example:
  participation in and follow-up to Europol initiatives on amphetamine profiling, illicit laboratory comparison, and pill logo comparison;
  768W
  training, through the European Union PHARE Project to aid the EU accession states in combating the illicit trade in precursor chemicals and synthetic drugs;
  leading a European Joint Unit on Precursors which co-ordinates EU member state activity in relation to illicit precursor chemicals trade;
  acting as joint chair to a major UN initiative to stifle the supply of precursor chemicals used in the production of amphetamine type stimulants.

  Employment Agencies
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the employment agencies which his Department has used to supply temporary staff in each financial year since 1996–97 to the most recent date for which figures are available. [163822]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The requirements for temporary staff are at Directorate level in the Core Home Office and the relevant supplier then used in each financial year are in the table.

  Accountancy Personnel

  Adecco

  Allegis Group

  Anderson Sign Language

  Ann Pettengell Gold Helm Ltd.

  Badenoch & Clark

  Brook Street (UK) Ltd.

  Cameron Kennedy Resources Ltd.

  Capita Business Services Ltd.

  Carlisle Facilities Servs Ltd.

  Carlisle Group Staffing Service

  Catherine Johnstone Recruitment

  Centre for Dispute Resolution

  Cgms Consulting

  Chubb Security Personnel Ltd.

  Computer People Ltd.

  Crown Personnel Plc

  Crown Protection Services UK

  Dbi Consulting

  Employment Plus Ltd.

  Excel Recruitment Ltd.

  First Recruitment Services Ltd

  Grafton Recruitment

  Hays Accountancy Personnel

  Headstart Employment Ltd.

  Hto Consulting

  Hudson Global Resources Ltd

  Huntress Recruitment Specialist

  Ibnix Ltd.

  Icts (UK) Ltd.

  Impact Executives Ltd.

  Josephine Sammons Ltd.

  K International Plc

  Kpmg Fees Account

  Logicacmg

  Lorien Consulting

  Mailsource UK Ltd.

  Manpower Plc

  Method Application Ltd.

  Michael Canham & Associates Lt

  769W

  Michael Page International

  New Appointments Group

  Nicholas Andrews & Temps Finance

  Office Angels Ltd.

  Pa Consulting Services Ltd.

  Pel Security Ltd

  Pegasus Security Group Ltd

  Pertemps

  Prc Employment

  Purcon Consultants Ltd.

  Reed Information Services Ltd.

  Reed Personnel Services

  770W

  Reed Solutions Plc

  Sabrewatch Ltd.

  Securicor Security Ltd.

  Select Appointments Plc

  Symbia

  Tangent International Ltd.

  The Synergy Group Ltd.

  Tmp Worldwide Ltd.

  Trowers & Hamlins

  Turner & Townsend

  Wackenhut UK Ltd.

  Watts & Partners

  Wt Partnership

  Suppliers used

  Customer name

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Accountancy Personnel

  Yes

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Hays Accountancy Personnel

  —

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Adecco

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Adecco UK Limited

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Adecco UK Ltd.

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  —

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  Allegis Group

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Anderson Sign Language

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  Anderson Sign Language Consult

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  —

  —

  Ann Pettengell Gold Helm Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Badenoch & Clark

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Brook Street (UK) Ltd.

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Cameron Kennedy Resources Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Capita Business Services Ltd.

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Carlisle Facilities Servs Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  —

  Carlisle Group Staffing Service

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Carlisle Group Staffing Service

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Catherine Johnstone Recruitment

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Centre For Dispute Resolution

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  —

  Cgms Consulting

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Chubb Security Personnel Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Computer People Ltd.

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Crown Personnel Pic

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Crown Protection Services UK

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  Dbi Consulting

  Yss

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Employment Plus Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Excel Recruitment Ltd.

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  First Recruitment Services Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Grafton Recruitment

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Headstart Employment Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Hto Consulting

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Hudson Global Resources Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Huntress Recruitment Specialist

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Ibnix Ltd.

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Icts (UK) Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Impact Executives Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Josephine Sammons Ltd.

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  K International Plc

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  —

  Kpmg Consulting

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Kpmg Fees Account

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Logicacmg

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  Lorien Consulting

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Mailsource UK Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Manpower Plc

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Method Application Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Michael Canham & Associates Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Michael Page International

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  New Appointments Group

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Nicholas Andrews & Temps Finance

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Office Angels Ltd.

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Pa Consulting Services Ltd.

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Pcl Security Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Pegasus Security Group Ltd.

  —

  —

  Yes

  —

  —

  Yes

  —

  Yes

  Pertemps

  —

  Yes

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Prc Employment

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Purcon Consultants Ltd.

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Reed Information Services Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Reed Personnel Services Plc

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Reed Solutions Plc

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Sabrewatch Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  771W

  Suppliers used

  Customer name

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Securicor Security Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Select Appointments Plc

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Symbia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Tangent International Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  The Synergy Group Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Tmp Worldwide

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Tmp Worldwide Ltd.

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Trowers & Hamlins

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Turner & Townsend

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Wackenhut UK Ltd.

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  Watts & Partners

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Wt Partnership

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Yes

  Yes

  EU Accession States
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making to release, without prejudice to any outstanding application to be allowed to remain in the country, documents held by the UK authorities which are required by individuals from EU accession countries to facilitate their search for work in this country; what the timescale is for the release of such documents; whether such individuals will be able to register on the Workers Registration Scheme while they are seeking work; whether they can utilise the services of Jobcentres; what implications the arrangements for those from new EU member states seeking work in the UK have for(a) their right to remain in the UK and (b) National Asylum Support Service or local authority support, with particular reference to their accommodation and its cost; and if he will make a statement. [170049]

  Mr. Browne
  Documents held by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will be returned to EU accession state nationals as soon as is practicable.

  Individuals from the eight Accession States will only be able to register under the Worker Registration Scheme when they are in employment. They should apply to register as soon as they start work and within one month at the latest. They will be able to utilise Jobcentres to enable them to find employment.

  Nationals of Cyprus and Malta will have a right of residence in the UK for up to six months on the basis that they are job seekers. Nationals of the remaining eight accession states will be able to remain in the UK while they seek work, provided that they are self-sufficient.

  Nationals of the European Economic Area are not eligible for support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) or from local authorities under the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 2000. Those who were supported by NASS or their local authority can find work and register, seek support from friends or relatives or leave the UK. Individuals have had advance warning of the fact that they are no longer eligible for support but if they cannot avail themselves of these options without a violation of their Convention rights, they can approach NASS or their local authority to explain why. NASS will consider such representations from such individuals and will consider offering temporary support until that assessment is concluded. NASS have asked local authorities to consider matters relating to Interim Provisions cases in a similar manner
  772W
  and will consider reimbursing costs of continuing support for the short period of time it will take to make an assessment.

  European Communities Association Agreement
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement by the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration of 8 March 2004,Official Report, columns 1245–52W, on the European Communities Association Agreement, if he will issue amended immigration statistics for the relevant period and categories. [161434]

  Mr. Browne
  Statistics on European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA) are management information collected by The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND).

  Statistics on the Control of Immigration produced by the Research and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office are part of the National Statistics, and are covered by the National Statistics Code of Practice. This means they are free from political interference and are produced to high professional principles and standards.

  There are no plans to issue any corrections to these statistics arising from the statement on the European Communities Association Agreement, as management information on the ECAA are not included in the Control of Immigration Statistics.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Ministers in his Department were informed of the letter from John Ramsden to Chris Mace, of 5 November 2002, regarding the operation of the European Communities Association Agreement scheme. [166559]

  Mr. Browne
  This matter is covered by the investigation which Mr. Ken Sutton is undertaking of the operation of the European Community Association Agreement scheme for Bulgaria and Romania. I do not wish to pre-empt the investigation by commenting on the issues before it is completed.

  Female Prisons
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average female prison population was; and how many female prisons or prison units there were, in each of the last 10 years. [169086]
  773W
  Paul Goggins
  The average female prison population and the number of prisons with female units in each of the last 10 years is given in the table.

  Average female prison population and number of England and Wales

  Average female prisons

  Prisons with female units

  1994

  1,810

  12

  1995

  1,979

  14

  1996

  2,262

  17

  1997

  2,675

  16

  1998

  3,105

  17

  1999

  3,247

  17

  2000

  3,350

  16

  2001

  3,741

  18

  2002

  4,298

  19

  2003

  4,425

  19

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution identity cards are intended to make to combating terrorism. [169442]

  Mr. Browne
  We know that about 35 per cent. of terrorists use false or multiple identities. An identity cards scheme which made it far more difficult to establish multiple identities would help to disrupt terrorist support networks.

  As the Home Secretary has always made clear—going back to 2001—an identity card scheme would not guarantee to protect the UK against a terrorist attack. However, the Government have a duty to take all reasonable measures which will contribute to preventing and disrupting terrorist activity.

  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete the Gateway Review Stage for the National Identity Cards Programme; and if he will publish the outcome of that review. [169814]

  Mr. Browne
  Legislation on Identity Cards—A Consultation (CM 6178) explains that the Identity Cards Programme will be subject to continuing external review by the Office of Government Commerce Gateway process. A Gateway 0 review of the Programme took place in January 2004 which concluded that it was ready to proceed to the next stage. Subsequent Gateway reviews of the Programme will take place throughout its development and implementation. In line with the usual practice, the reports from these Gateway Reviews are not published.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasion and how frequently identity cards under the Draft Identity Cards Bill would need to be renewed. [169913]

  Mr. Browne
  ID cards will have a limited validity, this power is provided for in the draft Identity Cards Bill. At present passports and driving licences are valid for 10 years and the cost estimates for the identity cards scheme are based on fees for cards covering a 10 year period.
  774W
  However, in advance of it being a requirement to register, there will be no compulsion to renew an identity card. Only when it is a requirement to register will there be a requirement on individuals, whose card will expire in a prescribed period or whose card is not valid, to apply for an ID card within a prescribed period. Different validity periods will apply in different cases, for example the validity of cards issued to foreign nationals will be linked to the length of their entitlement to stay in the country. Validity periods will require the approval of Parliament.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the draft regulations under the Draft Identity Cards Bill that will be published in time for pre-legislative scrutiny at the same time as the Bill. [169914]

  Mr. Browne
  The Legislation on Identity Cards Consultation paper (Cm 61708) makes clear that the draft Identity Cards Bill is an enabling measure and that detailed provisions will be set out later in regulations, relating for example to the level of fees or the application process. Regulations will not, therefore, be published during the consultation period on the draft Bill but will be determined as the identity cards programme proceeds.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Government databases that will be linked to the National Identity Register under proposals in the Draft Identity Cards Bill. [169916]

  Mr. Browne
  There are no provisions in the draft Identity Cards Bill, which establish a direct link between the National Identity Register and any other Government database.

  However, applications for one of the family of identity cards will require checks to be made against other databases, including those of public sector bodies. The data-sharing gateways established for this purpose will be used only when processing applications for cards or related purposes to ensure that the person, who applies to register and to be issued with an identity card, is the person he or she claims to be. Under the draft Bill, Parliament would have to approve each such "gateway" via an affirmative order where no powers already exist for the sharing of data in this way.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he will issue on police use of finger-print information held on the National Identity Register proposed in the draft Identity Card Bill. [170257]

  Mr. Browne
  Disclosure of information from the National Identity Register without the individual's consent may be made to the police only in the specified circumstances set out in Clause 20(3) of the draft Bill. This is subject to certain rules, including that information will only be disclosed if the Secretary of State is satisfied that it was not reasonably practicable for the police to have obtained the information by another means. For example, if fingerprint information
  775W
  is recorded on the register, the police would first have to search their own fingerprint records before resorting to the register. I will consider the need for further guidance on this subject nearer to the time of the introduction of the identity cards scheme.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which bodies will have access to all the data stored on the National Identity Register. [170262]

  Mr. Browne
  Proposals to permit information held on the National Identity Register to be disclosed without an individual's consent are set out in "Legislation on Identity Cards: A Consultation" (CM6178) published on 26 April.

  It is incorrect to say that any body or person will have "access" to the register, rather the legislation will permit the Secretary of Sate to disclose information where a person consents or, where a person does not consent, only for specified purposes to specified persons.

  There will be an exception to the general bar on disclosing information without consent, but disclosure will only be allowed to specified persons for specified purposes approved by Parliament and will be subject to an internal authorisation and independent oversight procedure.

  There will be a general power to disclose information to the security and intelligence agencies for their statutory purposes under clause 20.

  In addition, law enforcement agencies will be able to seek disclosure of information from the National Identity Register for the prevention or investigation of crime under clause 20 (3). For these groups, disclosure of "audit trails" of card usage would be permitted only in cases of serious crime under clause 20 (8). The police in Scotland will have similar powers but will only be permitted to apply for disclosure in relation to matters that are reserved under clause 20 (7)(b).

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how individuals will gain access to relevant services if their identity card is lost or stolen. [170263]

  Mr. Browne
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Beverley Hughes) gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (John Barrett) on 9 February 2004,Official Report, column 1261W. My right hon. Friend said that an identity card, although very helpful to public services as a reliable means of proving identity, would not become mandatory for free public services and benefits until a specific further parliamentary decision on a move to compulsion. Where the identity card is used to access public services we will want to ensure that procedures are in place to help those whose card has been lost or stolen, especially in cases of emergency.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication strategy has been developed to ensure, engagement with the public on the subject of identity cards. [170264]
  776W
  Mr. Browne
  The communication strategy on identity cards includes the following elements to ensure engagement with the public:Quantitative and qualitative research was undertaken with the general public during the first consultation period. The findings are set out in "Identity Cards: A summary of Findings from the Consultation Exercise on Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud" (CM6019). Further quantitative and qualitative research among the general will be undertaken during the current consultation period.
  It is important that members of the public are able easily and quickly to obtain information about identity cards from a dedicated UK Government website. Therefore a new website domain has been registered (www.identitycards.gov.uk) and a new website created that contains official publications about identity cards. This will be updated with additional information as the national identity cards scheme progresses. Currently, there is a section about the consultation which invites individuals to comment on the draft legislation through a dedicated e-mail address.
  Media handling strategies have been developed to make the best use of press and broadcast opportunities for engaging with the general public about identity cards.
  The 'essential information' leaflet which is sent out with all new passports has been updated by the UK Passport Service to confirm that, subject to legislation, the passport will become part of a future family of national identity cards.
  A public awareness campaign will be developed to support the roll out of the first identity cards from 2007–08.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to pilot data sharing powers in advance of the introduction of identity cards. [170324]

  Mr. Browne
  "Identity Cards: The Next Steps" (CM 6020) published in November 2003 made it clear that applications for one of the family of identity cards will require checks to be made against other databases, held by the public or private sector, in order to help establish that an application for a card is genuine. This followed recommendations on identity verification included in the Cabinet Office study on Identity Fraud, published in July 2002.

  The data-sharing gateways which may be approved by Parliament in clause 11 of the draft Identity Cards Bill will only be used when processing applications for an identity card or for related purposes (for example, issuing a replacement) to ensure that the person who applies to register is the person he or she claims to be. These powers do not confer any general right to share data for wider purposes.

  In order to allow for testing of the identity cards scheme in advance of the first cards being issued, these data sharing powers could be piloted but it is not possible to give further detail at this stage as detailed work on implementation of an identity cards scheme is not at the stage where we can be definitive about these timings. Use of the powers on a pilot basis would require Parliament's consent.

  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to procure(a) ID cards and (b) ID card technology from firms within the UK. [170408]

  Mr. Browne
  Government policy requires that all procurement must be transparent and non-discriminatory, and that contracts must be awarded on a value-for-money
  777W
  basis. Any requirement for services or goods above certain value thresholds, which will include those in support of the identity cards programme, must be advertised across the European Union.

  We have been discussing technical options with Intellect, the UK information technology, telecommunications and electronics industry trade body, for the past two years. We hope that UK industry will rise to the challenge and opportunity that the identity cards programme brings.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what biometric information he intends to store on(a) passports and (b) driving licences; and what databases will be established to store such information centrally. [170816]

  Mr. Browne
  The United Kingdom Passport Service is planning to implement the facial recognition image biometric in the British Passport book from 2005. This facial biometric will be stored on the passport database. There are as yet no firm plans for driving licences to include biometric information although the driving licence database already stores digital photographs.

  The passport and driving licence may be designated as ID cards under the draft Identity Cards Bill. In which case these documents may include additional biometrics, which would be stored on the new National Identity Register. However, no final decisions have yet been taken on which biometric or biometrics the identity cards scheme will use. The draft Identity Cards Bill allows for fingerprints and other forms of biometric information such as iris images to be recorded.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an individual will have the right to see all the information contained on his or her entry in the National Identity Register under proposals in the draft Identity Cards Bill. [170817]

  Mr. Browne
  Clause 3 (1) of the draft Identity Cards Bill published on 26 April sets clear limits for the information that could be held on the National Identity Register. Schedule 1 lists the categories of information that may be held on the Register.

  Individuals registered on the identity cards scheme would have subject access rights under the Data Protection Act 1998. In addition the Government will investigate whether it would be possible for a cardholder to use his card securely to access his own record to avoid the usual authorisation process and cost involved in applying for subject access. The Government will have to be satisfied that this could be achieved without compromising personal information, for example that another person could not use a stolen card to view another person's record on the National Identity Register.

  Clause 14 (4) excludes information held in Schedule 1, paragraph 9 (records relating to disclosure of an entry) from being disclosed unless the Secretary of State deems it appropriate.

  Immigration and Nationality Directorate
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent staff 778W
  were employed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each year since 1997; and what the total payroll costs were. [170374]

  Mr. Browne
  The table shows the full-time equivalent of staff employed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each year since 1997 and pay costs for the same period.

  Staffing numbers

  Total pay costs

  1997–98

  5,372

  136,784,988

  1998–99

  14,705

  134,391,253

  1999–2000

  15,976

  145,498,131

  2000–01

  7,523

  193,600,000

  2001–02

  9,640

  272,484,211

  2002–03

  11,186

  337,121,813

  2003–04

  13,716

  2—

  1Year end figure.

  2Pay costs for 2003–04 have not yet been finalised.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons applications under the European Communities Association Agreements are now sent directly to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate rather than via local embassies. [166554]

  Mr. Browne
  This matter is covered by the investigation which Mr. Ken Sutton is undertaking of the operation of the European Communities Association Agreements (ECAA) scheme for Bulgaria and Romania. I do not wish to pre-empt the investigation by commenting on the issues before it is completed.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the legal costs, to date, of representing the Government(a) before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in connection with (i) proceedings under the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 and (ii) in respect of removal of nationality under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 and (b) in any subsequent appeals; and if he will make a statement. [168223]

  Mr. Browne
  A total of £1,287,414.42 has been spent on representing the Government in proceedings under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and £35,038.71 in proceedings relating to the deprivation of nationality under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. These costs include both Counsels' and the Treasury Solicitor's fees.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the right of appeal by the Home Secretary against decisions by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in cases involving national security. [169810]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 30 April 2004]: This is a matter which is kept under review. We introduced an amendment to the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Bill during Lords' Committee Stage, which creates a right of appeal on a point of law in respect of bail decisions by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in cases involving a person detained under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. This mirrors the existing right of appeal in

  779W
  respect of SIAC determinations where a person has appealed against the decision to certify them as a suspected international terrorist.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend his powers to remove nationality and indefinite leave to remain to ensure that action can be taken without undue delay caused by the appeal process. [169812]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 30 April 2004]: Experience so far does not suggest that it is the appeals process itself which causes delay. I am reviewing the situation to see what lessons we can learn and how we might speed up the holding of appeals. I have no current plans to amend the legislation.

  Immigration Minister
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he was first informed of the issues raised in the letter of 4 March 2003 from the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. [166560]

  Mr. Browne
  This matter is covered by the investigation which Mr. Ken Sutton is undertaking of the operation of the European Communities Association Agreements (ECAA) scheme for Bulgaria and Romania. I do not wish to pre-empt the investigation by commenting on the issues before it is completed.

  Immigration Summit
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the persons and organisations invited to his Immigration Summit. [169889]

  Mr. Browne
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 29 April 2004,Official Report, columns 1224–25W.

  Iraqi Asylum Seekers
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from(a) the United Nations and (b) other international organisations over the consequences of returning Iraqi asylum seekers in the UK to Iraq; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement. [169146]

  Mr. Browne
  We keep in close contact with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other relevant organisations. We agree with UNHCR's view that voluntary return is preferable to enforced return, but believe that enforced return to stable areas of Iraq is justifiable.

  We are currently facilitating the return of those who wish to go home through the International Organisation for Migration. We have also reached an agreement with the Coalition Provisional Authority to begin enforced returns to Iraq. We are working to finalise the practicalities of the enforced returns programme, which we will implement as soon as the necessary arrangements are in place.

  There is clearly a difficult position in those parts of Iraq most affected by insurgencies, but we do not accept
  780W
  this is the case in all areas. Returns will be taken forward on a case by case basis and we will only return to particular areas assessed as sufficiently stable, where we are satisfied that the individual concerned will not be at risk. The situation is kept under constant review and we are still working with the coalition authorities, to return those who are not at risk of persecution and do not need humanitarian protection.

  New Workers Registration Scheme
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who will operate the New Workers Registration Scheme; [161408]

  (2) what (a) budgetary and (b) staffing resources are to be allocated to the New Workers Registration Scheme; [161409]

  (3) when the New Workers Registration Scheme will commence operations; [161410]

  (4) what target is to be set concerning the average time for the processing of work registration applications; [161411]

  (5) whether specific arrangements are to be made for Scotland under the New Workers Registration Scheme. [161412]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 15 March 2004]: The Worker Registration Scheme, announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in his statement to the House on 23 February 2004, Official Report, columns 23–25, will be administered by the Home Office through its Work Permits (UK) operation in Sheffield. A dedicated team of 42 staff is being deployed initially to administer the scheme, the resources for which will form part of the WP (UK) budget for 2004–05.

  The Worker Registration Scheme has been operational since 1 May and applications have been accepted from this date onwards. Further guidance for applicants, including the application form and guidance, are available on the "Working in the UK" website (www.workingintheuk.gov.uk).

  My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) indicated to the House on 2 March 2004, Official Report, columns 877–80, that the Worker Registration Team will aim to process 80 per cent. of applications within 24 hours of receipt, following payment clearance. Incomplete applications will take longer to process.

  Citizens of the new member states (with the exception of Malta and Cyprus) who take up employment in Scotland will need to apply to register with the Home Office when they start a job, in the same way as those taking up employment in the rest of the UK. Employers in Scotland will be required to satisfy themselves that accession country nationals in their employment have received registration under the scheme.

  North London Mosque
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support the Charity Commissioners propose to offer to the trustees of the
  781W
  North London Mosque to ensure that it operates within the law on its re-opening; and if he will make a statement. [169793]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  This is a matter for the Charity Commission as the Government Department responsible for the regulation of charities in England and Wales. The Director of Operations of the Charity Commission will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

  Offender Management
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the post of(a) Head of Human Relations and (b) Head of Standards in the National Offender Management Service will be advertised. [168461]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The Home Office uses external recruitment when there is a shortage of the necessary skills and knowledge to fill the vacancy. These posts will not be advertised. They are being filled by existing Home Office staff on level transfer and on their existing salaries.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will ensure that the National Offender Management Service reduces the prison population. [167516]

  Paul Goggins
  The National Offender Management Service will ensure the more effective management of offenders as well as better targeting and co-ordination of custodial and community sentences. As a result we intend to maintain the prison population at a stable level of around 80,000 by 2009. Without these reforms, the latest estimates indicate that the prison population may otherwise increase to 93,000 by that date.

  Population under sentence of open prisons—England and wales

  As at 30 June

  Less than 12 months

  Percentage

  12 months to less than or equal to four years

  Percentage

  4 years and over

  Percentage

  1994

  2,017

  48.4

  1,261

  30.3

  887

  21.3

  1995

  1,489

  36.2

  1,697

  413

  922

  22.4

  1996

  1,244

  28.3

  2,150

  48.9

  1,000

  22.8

  1997

  1,279

  26.9

  2,388

  50.2

  1,086

  22.8

  1998

  1,125

  24.2

  2,263

  48.7

  1,256

  27.0

  1999

  732

  77.7

  1,884

  45.4

  1,530

  36.9

  2000

  635

  16.0

  1,755

  44.3

  1,569

  39.6

  2001

  586

  15.0

  1,730

  44.4

  1,583

  40.6

  2002

  625

  15.0

  1,728

  41.4

  1,823

  43.7

  2003

  624

  13.0

  1,790

  37.3

  2,382

  49.7

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Woking on 10 March 2004, refs(a) 161619 and (b) 161620. [164270]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 29 March 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 28 April 2004, Official Report, columns 1097W and 1102W respectively.

  Open Prisons
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the occupancy rate was for open prisons in each of the last 10 years. [169085]

  Paul Goggins
  The average population, average certified normal accommodation and occupancy rate of open prisons in each of the last 10 years is given in the table.

  Average population of open prisons and average C.N.A. England and Wales, 30 June

  Average population

  Average C.A.N.

  Occupancy rate (percentage)

  1994

  4,205

  4,829

  87.1

  1995

  3,948

  4,666

  84.6

  1996

  4,408

  4,884

  90.3

  1997

  4,765

  5,112

  93.2

  1998

  4,650

  5,082

  91.5

  1999

  4,155

  5,089

  81.6

  2000

  3,969

  4,813

  82.5

  2001

  3,910

  4,592

  85.1

  2002

  4,431

  4,852

  91.3

  2003

  4,812

  5,302

  90.8

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of prisoners serving(a) under 12 months, (b) 12 months to under four years and (c) four years or over completed part or all of their sentence in an open prison in each of the last 10 years. [169090]

  Paul Goggins
  Information on the number of prisoners serving(a) under 12 months, (b) 12 months to under four years and (c) four years or over who completed part or all of their sentence in an open prison is not available.

  The number of prisoners serving sentences in the relevant bands in an open prison on 30 June in each of the last 10 years is given in the table.

  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will provide an answer to the questions reference(a) 161078 and (b) 161079 on steps to control websites encouraging or promoting suicide. [169012]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 27 April 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 26 April 2004, Official Report, column 765W.

  Parole
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners who had been sentenced to more than 10 years have been recalled during each of the last 48 months; and what the reasons for recall were. [168023]

  Paul Goggins
  The number of prisoners who had been sentenced to determinate sentences of 10 years or more who have been recalled is given in the table.

  Prisoners with sentences of 10 years or more recalled by month of recall and reason for recall

  All

  Not known

  Further offences

  Being out of touch

  Hostel—failure to reside

  Other

  2000

  April

  6

  0

  0

  3

  0

  3

  May

  8

  0

  4

  1

  1

  2

  June

  3

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  July

  5

  0

  2

  0

  1

  2

  August

  6

  0

  2

  2

  0

  2

  September

  6

  0

  3

  2

  I

  0

  October

  9

  0

  5

  0

  1

  3

  November

  4

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  December

  2

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  2001

  January

  6

  1

  4

  0

  1

  0

  February

  8

  0

  2

  2

  2

  2

  March

  5

  0

  2

  0

  1

  2

  April

  5

  0

  1

  1

  1

  2

  May

  4

  0

  0

  3

  0

  1

  June

  2

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  July

  6

  0

  2

  3

  0

  1

  August

  5

  0

  1

  0

  1

  3

  September

  5

  1

  1

  1

  0

  2

  October

  5

  0

  1

  1

  0

  3

  November

  5

  0

  4

  0

  0

  1

  December

  4

  0

  0

  1

  0

  3

  2002

  January

  5

  0

  1

  0

  1

  3

  February

  6

  0

  3

  1

  0

  2

  March

  6

  0

  2

  1

  2

  1

  April

  8

  0

  1

  1

  0

  6

  May

  4

  0

  2

  2

  0

  0

  June

  7

  0

  1

  2

  0

  4

  July

  8

  1

  2

  2

  1

  2

  August

  8

  0

  6

  1

  1

  0

  September

  4

  0

  3

  0

  0

  1

  October

  5

  0

  2

  0

  0

  3

  November

  7

  1

  3

  0

  1

  2

  December

  6

  0

  5

  0

  0

  1

  2003

  January

  10

  1

  7

  2

  0

  0

  February

  5

  2

  1

  0

  1

  1

  March

  13

  0

  5

  3

  2

  3

  April

  7

  0

  2

  2

  2

  1

  May

  7

  2

  2

  0

  2

  1

  June

  7

  0

  1

  3

  0

  3

  July

  11

  1

  3

  5

  0

  2

  August

  6

  0

  2

  1

  0

  3

  September

  12

  2

  5

  2

  1

  2

  October

  7

  1

  3

  0

  0

  3

  November

  7

  0

  2

  2

  0

  3

  December

  11

  0

  7

  3

  1

  0

  2004

  January

  14

  0

  4

  4

  4

  2

  February

  13

  1

  6

  3

  0

  3

  March

  14

  0

  7

  5

  0

  2

  Passport Service
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place 784W
  to ensure the trustworthiness of staff operating database systems, with particular reference to the UK Passport Service. [170527]

  Mr. Browne
  There are a number of mechanisms available to minimise the risk to databases operated by Government Departments and Agencies from staff who might not be trustworthy.

  In the case of the UK Passport Service (UKPS), all prospective staff are subject to a number of pre-employment checks to confirm identity and entitlement to take employment. UKPS staff are also subject to security clearance checks in accordance with the Prime Minister's statement on security vetting of 15 December 1994. These checks provide UKPS with an appropriate degree of assurance as to the integrity and trustworthiness of staff. The same arrangements apply to the employees of UKPS' private sector partners.

  In addition to pre-employment checks and security clearance for staff, all UKPS systems undergo formal risk assessment and are accredited in line with Government standards and Information Security Standard BS7799. This ensures that UKPS has in place management and technical systems to provide comprehensive auditing and accounting facilities to monitor all access to, and activity on, its databases.

  Piracy
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made on charges of piracy in the UK in 2003. [170058]

  Ms Blears
  Information collected centrally is based on persons arrested for 'notifiable' offences within main offence groups only, and as such it does not separately identify piracy offences in the "Other" offence group within which they fall.

  Prison Officers
  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent consideration he has given to the awarding of a long-service medal to prison officers employed in prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [162647]

  Paul Goggins
  There are no plans to introduce a Long Service Medal specifically for prison officers employed in prisons in England and Wales. Prison Officers, along with all other staff employed by the Prison Service, receive a 25 Year Long Service Award.

  Prisoners
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners who had been sentenced for more than 10 years were(a) in Category C conditions and (b) in open conditions on (i) 31 March and (ii) 31 March in each of the last five years. [168027]

  Paul Goggins
  The number of prisoners sentenced to 10 years or more, including life sentence prisoners, that were in(a) Category C conditions and (b) open conditions on 31 March 2004 and 31 March in each of the previous four years is given in the table. Information for 31 March 1999 is not available and hence data has instead been provided for 30 June 1999.
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  Prisoners sentenced to 10 years or more

  Category C conditions

  Open conditions

  2004

  2,879

  747

  2003

  1,660

  668

  2002

  1,890

  641

  2001

  1,748

  574

  2000

  1,472

  565

  1999

  1,515

  511

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are projected to be given a custodial sentence in each of the next 12 months. [168030]

  Paul Goggins
  The number of offenders sentenced to custody each month is not one of the totals contained within the prison population projections. Projections of the prison population under various sentencing scenarios, and the details of these scenarios, are published in the monthly Prison Population Brief.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of prisoners were reconvicted of subsequent offences having served a sentence(a) under 12 months, (b) 12 months to under four years and (c) four years or over in each of the last 10 years. [169091]

  Paul Goggins
  Figures for the number and percentage of prisoners reconvicted within two years of discharge from prison are given in Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1997–2002. Table 9.3 shows reconviction rates for samples of discharged prisoners in that year. To make a full comparison of reconviction rates over time it is necessary to control for changes in the characteristics of discharged prisoners, such as age and previous criminal history, which are strongly associated with reconviction rates.

  Prisons
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the judgment in the case of Mr. David McGee; and what plans he has to amend prison regulations. [170403]

  Paul Goggins
  The Prison Service is considering the decision of the court in this case and whether any change to the Prison Act might be appropriate.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Government about the use of Private Finance Initiative by North Wales police(a) for refurbishment and replacement of police stations and (b) generally. [170319]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 4 May 2004]: I met Welsh Assembly Minister Edwina Hart AM last year to discuss funding of Welsh police forces generally. My officials have also had discussions with their counterparts in the Assembly regarding Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes and more generally on Welsh police funding. North Wales police currently have one PFI scheme approved for the divisional HQ at St. Asaph,
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  which is under construction. Another scheme put forward by the force is under consideration, jointly by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Home Office.

  Welsh PFI schemes need the approval of the Welsh Assembly Government, as they are responsible for providing the annual revenue grant on the service charge.

  Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of Private Finance Initiative in relation to capital investment for use of modernising police stations in North Wales. [170320]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 4 May 2004]: The Government support the use of Private Finance to help deliver modern police facilities in England and Wales. One Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme has been approved for the divisional HQ at St. Asaph in North Wales and is under construction. A second scheme put forward by the North Wales Police is currently under consideration.

  All Welsh PFI schemes also need approval by the Welsh Assembly Government, which provides revenue grant on the annual service charges for approved schemes.

  Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each police force in England and Wales has spent through Private Finance Initiative(a) on refurbishment and replacement of police stations and (b) in total. [170322]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 4 May 2004]: The cost incurred by each police force in England and Wales on refurbishment and replacement of police stations through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is not held centrally.

  As a guide to the volume of PFI schemes, I list in the following table schemes for which grant support has been approved as at 1 April 2004:

  £ million

  Police authority

  PFI credits1

  Cleveland/Durham

  11.000

  Cumbria2

  7.500

  Derbyshire2

  3.774

  Derbyshire2

  23.917

  Dorset2

  24.300

  Dyfed-Powys2

  5.300

  Gloucestershire2

  26.200

  Kent2

  23.600

  Norfolk2

  36.300

  Northumbria

  1.881

  Nottinghamshire

  21.460

  Thames Valley2

  10.406

  Wiltshire

  3.053

  North Wales2

  19.623

  Cheshire2

  45.000

  Sussex

  39.250

  Greater Manchester2

  63.000

  Wiltshire

  23.979

  Total

  389.543

  1 PFI credits represent the capital element within the overall project. They form the basis of annual revenue grant support towards the unitary service charge payable by the police authority to the service operator.

  2Denotes schemes that include police stations.

  Public Sector Workers (Assaults)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on introducing an offence of assaulting a public sector worker in the course of their duty; and if he will make a statement. [169451]

  Paul Goggins
  Assaulting a public sector worker in the course of his or her duty is an extremely serious matter. Magistrates courts' guidelines emphasise that assault against "a victim serving the public" should be considered an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes. The Sentencing Guidelines Council will draft a new set of consolidated sentencing guidelines for use in all criminal courts. We anticipate this would similarly include references to whether the victim was at the time of the offence working with the public. We believe this is the right way to deal with such offences.

  The most recent representations we have received on introducing an offence of assaulting a public sector worker in the course of their duty was from the British Parking Association, who wanted a specific offence of assaulting a parking attendant.

  Road Traffic Offences
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people lost their driving licence as a consequence of speeding in each year since 1990. [169445]

  Caroline Flint
  Available information from 1990 to 2002, which has been taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, is given in the table.

  Number of persons disqualified1 from driving at all courts for speed limit offences2 England and Wales, 1990 to 2002

  Persons disqualified

  1990

  14,690

  1991

  14,858

  1992

  13,053

  1993

  9,658

  1994

  8,899

  1995

  9,223

  1996

  9,587

  1997

  10,061

  1998

  12,215

  1999

  12,050

  2000

  11,283

  2001

  11,510

  2002

  9,557

  1Excludes persons disqualified under s 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (penalty points system).

  2Offences under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.

  Seasonal Agriculture Workers
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the suspension of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme in respect of students from Romania and Bulgaria; and when he expects to review the suspension. [170107]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 30 April 2004]: On 30 March 2004, we announced a suspension on the processing of visa applications in Bulgaria and Romania while allegations of abuse of the immigration arrangements were investigated. On 13 April, the
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  suspensions were partially lifted, except for applications under the managed migration entry routes, including the Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme (SAWS).

  The investigation into the allegations is being conducted as quickly as possible.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on his Department's Sustainable Development Strategy. [172305]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The Department's Sustainable Development Framework Project has been commissioned to develop, implement and manage a series of individual activities across the Home Office Group including the Prison Service. This project has been established to ensure the Department meets the environmental targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. A review of existing initiatives and policies has been undertaken and a gap analysis produced to enable the development of individual work streams to address sustainable development targets. Progress against these individual work streams is being made and is monitored and reviewed regularly.

  We have also made significant progress towards sustainable development targets on reducing crime and the fear of crime, and increasing voluntary and community activity. The British Crime Survey (BCS) data shows that vehicle thefts fell by 38 per cent. and burglary by 29 per cent. between 1991 and 2002–03. Recorded crime fell by 23 per cent. and burglary in dwellings by 17 per cent. between 1990 and 2002–03 and that the fear of crime is now lower than the levels in the 2001 British Crime Survey. The number of people engaged in community participation has increased by more than 6 per cent. to 1.6 million since 2001.

  Sutton Inquiry
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will ensure that the inquiry and visit to Sofia by Mr. Ken Sutton of his Department into the Managed Migration scheme and related issues will take account of the impact that suspension of the issuing of visas will have on teachers appointed to schools in Essex and Thurrock; and if he will make a statement; [170027]

  (2) when he expects to receive the report by Mr. Ken Sutton into the Managed Migration scheme as it operates in Sofia; when teachers appointed to posts in Essex and Thurrock schools can expect consideration of their visa applications; and if he will make a statement. [170028]

  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 30 Apri12004]: We hope to receive Ken Sutton's report shortly. The length of the temporary suspension of the arrangements for those, in Sofia, seeking visas for managed migration schemes will be as short as possible. The impact on those wishing to seek entry to the UK legitimately under managed migration routes is a matter of regret. However, we consider that this temporary suspension was the right action in the circumstances and crucial to public confidence in the integrity of our immigration system.

  Workplace Crime
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring the victims of workplace crimes and their families into the remit of the Victims' Charter. [167497]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 28 April 2004]: A review of the Victim's Charter was completed in 2003. The Charter will be replaced by a statutory Code of Practice for victims, which is enabled by, and one of the key measures in, the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill currently before Parliament. The Code will place obligations on criminal justice agencies to provide specific services, within prescribed time scales, to victims of crime, irrespective of where the crime takes place.

  As part of the review, my officials had discussions with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). HSE is further developing the existing arrangements for liaison with victims, and bereaved families, of work-related incidents so as to mirror, as far as resources and remit allow, the kinds of services the Code will deliver. However, as the Code's primary purpose is to set out the obligations of criminal justice agencies to victims of crime, the HSE, along with other organisations which have interactions with victims in a broader sense, was considered outside of its scope. My officials will remain in close touch with their counterparts in the HSE to ensure that best practice continues to be shared.

HEALTH

  Air Gun Injuries
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated for injuries involving air guns in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [172443]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There are no central data on the total number of patients treated each year in the national health service for injuries involving air guns.

  Alzheimer's
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the research projects into Alzheimer's disease and related conditions funded by the Government, with the amounts of money provided in each case. [169890]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Details of research projects relating to Alzheimer's disease and related conditions, funded by, or of interest to, the national health service are recorded on the National Research Register (NRR) at www.update-software.com/national. The NRR currently contains details of over 200 on-going projects in this area, as well as a larger number of completed projects. These include projects commissioned by the Department.

  In 2002–03, the Medical Research Council (MRC) spent £6.6 million on research relevant to Alzheimer's and related conditions, such as general dementia, AIDS-related dementia, Pick's disease and Huntington's. Details of the research may be found on the MRC website at www.mrc.ac.uk.
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  The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) also funds research relating to Alzheimer's and related conditions. Details of projects can be found on the EPSRC website at www.epsrc.ac.uk.

  Ambulances
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to the ambulance service regarding the introduction of the Localizer or White Noise siren systems. [172645]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department for Health and the Department for Transport have not issued guidance to the ambulance service regarding the introduction of White Noise siren systems.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whose responsibility it is to take decisions on the specifications of ambulance sirens; and whether there is a published list of contact details of the persons responsible. [172646]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The decision of which ambulance siren to use is normally made by the fleet manager or transport manager at each national health service trust, in conjunction with the operations director.

  There is no published list of all the personnel responsible for making this decision.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what level the decision on the specifications of ambulance sirens was taken. [172647]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Decisions on the specifications of ambulance sirens are made by the local ambulance trusts.

  Anti-psychotic Drugs
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse reaction reports were received through the Yellow Card reporting system regarding(a) anti-psychotic drugs excluding atypicals and (b) atypical anti-psychotic drugs in (i) 2000–01, (ii) 200–02, (iii) 2002–03 and (iv) 2003–04; and how many prescriptions there were for each of these types of drugs in these years. [172419]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The table shows the number of suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports received via the United Kingdom yellow card scheme regarding antipsychotic drugs (atypical and other antipsychotics) each year since 2000 together with the number of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England.

  Number of suspected ADR reports UK and number of prescriptions dispensed in the community (England)

  Antipsychotics (excluding atypicals)

  Atypical antipsychotics

  ADRs

  Prescriptions

  ADRs

  Prescriptions

  2000

  110

  3,790,273

  917

  1,149,450

  2001

  118

  2,875,980

  1100

  1,842,005

  2002

  100

  2,507,203

  1322

  2,471,345

  2003

  131

  2,251,279

  1689

  3,083,712

  It is important to note that a report of an adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by

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  the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease. Other factors such as the time since a drug was first marketed, media interest or regulatory action can also influence the frequency of reporting. This means that reporting rates based on numbers of spontaneous reports and numbers of prescriptions are not true measures of the frequency of reactions or a firm basis for comparisons between drug substances or classes.

  Ashford Hospital
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what costs were incurred by his Department in changing the preferred bidder for the proposed diagnostic treatment centre at Ashford hospital; [171112]

  (2) what date it was decided to remove preferred bidder status from Mercury Healthcare for the provision of a diagnostic treatment centre at Ashford (Middlesex) hospital; and on what date this decision was communicated to the company. [171113]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department made a payment of approximately £1.1 million to Mercury Healthcare as a contribution towards their bid costs when they were deselected as the preferred bidder for the provision of the independent sector treatment centre 'spine' chain. Capio UK was subsequently appointed as preferred bidder for the chain. This switch has enabled the Department to secure a multi-million pound saving in the price of the contact. This significant saving is shared across the entire chain, including the proposed treatment centre at the Ashford hospital.

  The decision to remove the preferred bidder status from Mercury Healthcare was formally endorsed by the chain's board of national health service sponsors at its meeting on 27 January 2004. Following a period of negotiation with Mercury Healthcare, the national implementation team formally communicated this decision on 17 February 2004.

  Body Piercing/Tattooing
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the regulation of body piercing and tattooing establishments. [172030]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Local authorities have powers to regulate body piercing and tattooing businesses by requiring registration and observance of bylaws relating to the hygiene and cleanliness of premises, practitioners and equipment. In London, local authorities have powers under private legislation to require such businesses to be licensed and observe licensing conditions relating to a range of matters including the hygiene and cleanliness of the premises and equipment.

  It is an offence for a body piercing or tattooing business to operate without being registered or licensed or to breach bylaws or licensing conditions.

  The following statutory provisions are relevant to the regulation of body piercing and tattooing businesses:

  Local Government Act 2003

  London Local Authorities Act 2000

  London Local Authorities Act 1995

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  London Local Authorities Act 1991

  Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

  Greater London Council (General Powers Act) Act 1981

  Local authorities also have general enforcement powers under health and safety at work legislation.

  Caesarean Sections
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health risks for(a) mother and (b) baby in delivery by Caesarean section. [172387]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence issued clinical guidelines on the use of caesarean section on 29 April. The guideline will be a useful tool to advise clinicians of best evidence on when to perform a caesarean section and when not to perform one. It also emphasises the appropriate care women and their babies need before, during and after the procedure. The guideline will also ensure that when considering a caesarean section, there should be a discussion on the benefits and risk of caesarean section compared with vaginal birth. We support the need for women to be offered evidence-based information and support to enable them to make informed choices about their care during birth.

  The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has been established to focus our efforts to improve patient safety in the national health service to promote an open and fair culture and to run a new national reporting and learning system for patient safety incidents including those involving mothers and their babies. The NPSA has begun a programme to roll out this system, launched at NPSA's conference on 25 February 2004, across NHS organisations during 2004.

  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many births were by Caesarean section in each maternity unit within Northumbria NHS Trust in 2003; and how many of these were(a) emergency and (b) planned procedures. [170421]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Estimated1 numbers of emergency and planned caesarean deliveries at North Tyneside General Hospital for 2002–03 are shown in the table.

  1Available data on delivery method from 1,552 records are grossed to known number of deliveries.

  Type of delivery

  Number

  Planned caesareans

  130

  Emergency caesareans

  193

  Total deliveries by caesarean

  323

  Total deliveries

  1,604

  Source:

  Hospital Episodes Statistics.

  Further information can be found at www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public.sb0410.htm.

  Chernobyl
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms in Cumbria are still affected by the radioactive fall out from the 1986 Chernobyl accident. [170662]
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  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) on 11 May 2004,Official Report, column 208W.

  Chest Pain Clinics
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many rapid access chest pain clinics there are in the constituency of Huntingdon. [172633]

  Dr. Ladyman
  There is one rapid access chest pain clinic in the constituency of Huntingdon, at Hinchingbrooke Healthcare National Health Service Trust.

  Continence
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the number of children with continence problems assessed and managed by(a) school nurses, (b) general practitioners and (c) specialist nurses; [1171130]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of treatment and care received by children with continence conditions. [171132]

  Dr. Ladyman
  National health service primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for assessing and providing continence services. An assessment of service levels and of the numbers of children accessing services provided by school nurses, general practitioners and specialist nurses is not undertaken centrally. Guidance issued in 2000, "Good Practice in Continence Services", advises that each PCT should have specialist continence services in place, which provide an individual assessment of needs. PCTs are also encouraged to use the Modernisation Agency's publication, "Good practice in paediatric continence services—benchmarking in action", when ensuring quality provision.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) why the appropriation aid provision in the Estimates attributable to dental charges is reduced in 2004–05 to £229,550,000 from £491,000,000 in 2003–04; [168945]

  (2) why the provision in the Estimates for general dental services in 2004–05 is £245 million less than the provision in 2003–04. [168947]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 27 April 20041: The Government are committed to rebuilding and restoring national health service dentistry to improve the oral health of the nation. Overall expenditure on dental services, covering both general dental services (CDS) and personal dental services (PDS) and the associated income from dental charges, is expected to rise in 2004–05. However, in drawing up the estimate for this early stage in the year, provision for primary dental services has been split initially between section D (GDS) of the estimate and section A (aggregate provision for strategic health authority and primary care trust budgets and central allocations). This is because an
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  increasing number of dental practices are converting from general dental practice contracts to PDS contracts. PDS contracts are funded from discretionary allocations delegates to PCTs, whereas GDS are funded from a national, non-discretionary budget.

  The balance of provision between the two sections of the estimate, and the associated charge income, will be adjusted at a supplementary estimate stage when the level of conversion from the GDS to the PDS over the coming 12 months is known. As a non-discretionary service, provision for the GDS will be adjusted to reflect the volume of dentistry delivered by general dental practitioners.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls to NHS Direct about access to an NHS dentists there were in each month since November 2001, broken down by(a) emergency, (b) urgent, (c) routine and (d) other calls for (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority. [166118]

  Mr. Hutton
  Calls to NHS Direct about access to a National Health Service dentist in each month since November 2001 by emergency, urgent, routine and other are shown in the table.

  This information is not collated centrally for each strategic health authority.

  Number

  Total

  Emergency

  Urgent

  Routine

  Not known

  November 2001

  10,922

  1,143

  2,542

  6,546

  691

  December 2001

  10,023

  1,456

  3,274

  4,482

  811

  January 2002

  13,064

  1,605

  3,078

  7,124

  1,257

  February 2002

  10,316

  1,073

  2,902

  5,535

  806

  March 2002

  13,336

  1,061

  3,849

  6,742

  1,684

  April 2002

  15,472

  1,666

  4,241

  8,322

  1,243

  May 2002

  15,693

  1,506

  4,287

  8,361

  1,539

  June 2002

  14,726

  1,551

  4,598

  7,145

  1,432

  July 2002

  16,032

  1,539

  4,164

  8,827

  1,502

  August 2002

  15,797

  1,584

  4,646

  8,303

  1,264

  September 2002

  14,862

  1,387

  3,886

  8,229

  1,360

  October 2002

  15,912

  1,409

  3,457

  9,671

  1,375

  November 2002

  15,770

  1,456

  3,381

  9,505

  1,428

  December 2002

  14,629

  1,729

  4,308

  7,149

  1,443

  January 2003

  17,860

  1,614

  3,648

  10,952

  1,646

  February 2003

  13,576

  1,220

  3,075

  7,968

  1,313

  March 2003

  15,325

  1,416

  3,407

  9,093

  1,409

  April 2003

  15,863

  1,399

  3,510

  9,446

  1,508

  May 2003

  16,257

  1,471

  3,977

  9,307

  1,502

  June 2003

  17,404

  1,563

  3,823

  10,485

  1,533

  July 2003

  19,012

  1,581

  4,192

  10,723

  2,516

  August 2003

  18,016

  1,806

  4,201

  10,471

  1,538

  September 2003

  19,472

  1,708

  4,117

  11,350

  2,297

  October 2003

  19,829

  1,529

  3,733

  10,905

  3,662

  January 2004

  19,702

  1,462

  3,613

  12,726

  1,901

  February 2004

  18,258

  1,575

  3,653

  11,312

  1,718

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) dental practices and (b) dentists in Hampshire provide NHS treatment; how many hours of NHS dentistry they offer each (i) week and (ii) month; and if he will make a statement on the availability of NHS dental treatment in Hampshire. [168096]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The latest available information for Hampshire shows that there were 288 dental practices and 635 dentists providing national health service dental services in the general dental services or personal dental services.
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  In the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority there were 62 dentists working full or part-time in the Community Dental Service area (a whole time equivalent of 42) and, in the hospital dental service, there were 57 dentists (48 whole-time equivalent). Information on the number of practices is not available.

  Information is not available on the number of hours worked as general dental practitioners are independent contractors who are able to vary the amount of NHS dentistry they do and to vary then working week.

  We are currently taking forward major reforms of NHS dentistry through proposals in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003. Under these proposals, primary care trusts (PCT) will have a duty to secure the provision of primary dental services. With these new responsibilities will go the £1.3 billion financial resources (2003–04) currently held centrally. The reforms will give a better deal for patients, for dentists and for the NHS.

  In the run up to the changes, we have provided new investment totalling £90 million to improve NHS dentistry. £59 million will support access, and strategic health authorities have been advised of their shares and are working with their PCTs to address access issues. £30 million is to support information technology and the balance of £1 million will support organisational development locally.

  The PCTs in Hampshire are working closely with their strategic health authority (Hampshire and Isle of Wight) supported by the shadow special health authority (dentistry) to improve local dental access using their share of the access funds: some £1.64 million in 2004–05.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have left the NHS, in whole or in part, to work in the private sector in each year since 1997 in(a) Greater London and (b) each London borough. [168940]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information on the total number of dentists leaving the general dental service (GDS) or personal dental service (PDS) is given in the table for primary care trust (PCT) areas in London; information is not collected by borough. Information is not available on the reason for leaving.

  Dentists can leave the national health service for a variety of reasons. These include retirements, short-term absence, leaving for other employment as well as dentists leaving the NHS dental services to practise wholly privately. Those working in the GDS can increase or reduce their NHS commitment, and this is not reflected in the figures.

  Few dentists leave the NHS altogether to practise privately. The Office of Fair Trading report, "The private dentistry market in the UK", stated that only 210 practices are totally private in the United Kingdom out of 11,000 practices in total.

  The number of NHS dentists in the Greater London area increased from 3,107 in September 1997 to 3,444 in September 2003.
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  Table 1: Number of leavers from GDS and PDS

  Year ending 30 September

  Primary Care Trust

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Barking and Dagenham

  2

  1

  3

  3

  6

  1

  Barnet

  12

  13

  6

  13

  10

  11

  Bexley Care Trust

  2

  6

  6

  6

  7

  5

  Brent

  7

  10

  4

  7

  11

  11

  Bromley

  13

  2

  9

  7

  8

  9

  Camden

  17

  14

  13

  12

  23

  11

  City and Hackney

  9

  5

  9

  6

  9

  4

  Croydon

  17

  13

  9

  13

  20

  5

  Ealing

  10

  13

  32

  7

  21

  1

  Enfield

  10

  10

  8

  8

  4

  10

  Greenwich

  4

  6

  7

  7

  5

  4

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  4

  3

  10

  9

  19

  2

  Haringey

  8

  3

  11

  13

  9

  8

  Harrow

  2

  6

  7

  4

  7

  2

  Havering

  3

  5

  5

  5

  7

  7

  Hillingdon

  6

  9

  5

  9

  11

  8

  Hounslow

  6

  3

  14

  13

  14

  2

  Islington

  7

  7

  12

  9

  12

  14

  Kensington and Chelsea

  10

  2

  6

  5

  7

  11

  Kingston

  1

  4

  7

  8

  7

  2

  Lambeth

  12

  21

  8

  14

  14

  5

  Lewisham

  3

  13

  9

  9

  16

  5

  Newham

  5

  5

  5

  9

  6

  6

  Redbridge

  5

  5

  7

  9

  13

  9

  Richmond and Twickenham

  3

  6

  9

  10

  6

  6

  Southwark

  4

  10

  6

  13

  6

  6

  Sutton and Merton

  9

  8

  12

  9

  17

  11

  Tower Hamlets

  4

  6

  5

  4

  7

  5

  Waltham Forest

  7

  2

  2

  5

  5

  6

  Wandsworth

  19

  10

  16

  17

  19

  25

  Westminster

  13

  26

  12

  24

  21

  19

  Greater London PCTs

  234

  247

  274

  287

  347

  231

  Note:

  Information is not available on the number of dentists who have partially left the NHS. Dentists in the GDS and PDS are mainly self-employed and are free to vary the amount of NHS work that they do.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the availability of NHS dentists in(a) Plympton, (b) Plymstock and (c) South West Devon; and if he will make a statement; [169397]

  (2) what steps he intends to take to increase the number of NHS dentists in South West Devon. [169398]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 29 April 2004]: The number of dental undergraduates is increasing and we are seeking to attract new graduates into national health service dentistry, to bring back returners to practice and to recruit overseas dentists. At a local level, the whole of the South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority area has been identified as an "Options for Change" field site and dentists are increasingly opting for the new ways of working that personal dental services allows. A total of 18 practices across the South West Peninsula, including two in Plymouth, have now adopted local contracts with their primary care trusts under "Options for Change".

  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the trend has been in the number of NHS dentistry patients in each year since 1997 in Morley and Rothwell. [169410]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested for Leeds Health Authority (HA) and South Leeds Primary Care Trust (PCT), which covers Morley and Rothwell, is shown in the tables.
  797W

  General Dental Service: children and adult registration list sizes and registration rates at 30 September 1977 to 2001—Leeds HA

  Number of registrations

  Registration rate (percentage)

  Adult

  Child

  Total

  Adult

  Child

  Total

  1997

  304,406

  111,899

  416,305

  55

  68

  58

  1998

  273,722

  104,724

  378,446

  50

  64

  53

  1999

  269,879

  104,494

  374,373

  49

  64

  52

  2000

  269,905

  104,420

  374,325

  49

  65

  53

  2001

  266,807

  101,479

  368,286

  48

  63

  52

  General Dental Service: children and adult registration list sizes and registration rates at 30 September 2002 to 20031—South Leeds PCT

  Number of registrations

  Registration rule (percentage)

  Adult

  Child

  Total

  Adult

  Child

  Total

  2002

  56,298

  21,626

  77,924

  51

  61

  53

  2003

  55,172

  21,067

  76,239

  50

  59

  52

  1Following transfer from HAs to PCTs in 2002, results were published for PCTs rather than HAs.

  Notes:

  1. Based on the number of registrations at 30 September each year.

  2. Registration rates are based on a 15 month registration period. Following the change of registration rate from 24 months to 15 months September 1997 rates are affected.

  3. Population data are ONS mid year census estimates.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 255W, on dentists, if he will estimate the impact of the recent National Institute for Clinical Excellence draft guidance on the patient charge revenue from dental examinations. [169720]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence's (NICE) consultation document on dental recall intervals does not constitute its formal guidance: the recommendations are preliminary and may change after the consultation. Dentists will be expected to follow the final advice, which NICE is expected to publish later this year. This may mean that patients with low risk of disease are seen less frequently than now.

  We have also set up a working group under the chairmanship of Harry Cayton, the Department's director for patients and the public, to recommend a new patient charge system. This group has now reported and we are considering its recommendations. We hope to publish the report in due course.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people failed to attend NHS dentist appointments in(a) 2003–04 and (b) each of the preceding five years in (i) Worthing and (ii) England. [170630]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  No information is available on the number of people failing to attend national health service dental appointments. Details of missed appointments are held only by the dentists and are not collected centrally.

  Early Retirement
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department took early retirement and at what total cost, in the last financial year. [171864]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  65 staff took early retirement in the Department in the financial year 2003–04 at a cost of £6,311,042, including annual compensation payments until staff reach normal retirement age.

  Eating Disorders
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local health authorities provide a specialist eating disorders service; where these services are located; and how many in-patient beds each facility had in each of the last five years. [172470]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information requested is not centrally available.

  Details of services available locally can be obtained from strategic health authorities.

  The hon. Member may wish to contact the Eating Disorders Association (Registered Charity No. 801343), which provides information on the services available across the country, at the following address.

  Eating Disorders Association

  103 Prince of Wales Road

  Norwich

  NR1 1DW

  Direct Line 0870 7703221

  Fax 01603 664915

  Email media@edauk.com

  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has made available for the specific treatment of eating disorders in each of the last five years. [172474]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  In his 2002 Budget announcement, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the largest sustained increase in funding of any five-year period in the history of the national health service. Over the years 2003–04 to 2007–08, these plans mean that expenditure on the NHS will increase on average by 7.4 per cent., a year over and above inflation. However in keeping with the philosophy of "Shifting the Balance of Power", primary care trusts are free to decide the allocation of resources locally.

  Fluoride
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to(a) receive and (b) publish the results of the Newcastle university research study on the bioavailability of artificial and natural fluoride in drinking water; [172110]

  (2) when he expects to receive the Chief Medical and Chief Dental Officers' report (a) on the relevance and priority of the Medical Research Council report on water fluoridation and (b) setting out the alternatives available to residents of fluoridated areas who do not wish to drink fluoridated water; and if he will make a statement. [172112]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The report of the research study into the bioavailability of fluoride in naturally and artificially fluoridated drinking water will be placed in the Library when available. The results of the research will enable the Chief Medical and Chief Dental Officer to complete their advice which will cover both research requirements and the conduct of consultations on fluoridating local water supplies. All drinking water contains some fluoride. Strategic health authorities undertaking consultations on proposals to increase the
  799W
  fluoride content will need to take into account the views of any people who do not wish to drink fluoridated water.

  Foreign Health Professionals
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) doctors and (b) nurses trained abroad in each of the last three years. [172017]

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine, Community Health Services (HCHS) and General Medical Practitioners—All NHS Doctors by country of primary medical qualification: England, as at 30 September

  Number (Headcount)

  2001

  2002

  2003

  All Doctors

  100,289

  104,448

  109,964

  of which:

  Qualified within United Kingdom

  69,833

  71,284

  74,037

  Qualified within the rest of the European Economic Area

  4,829

  5,097

  5,379

  Qualified Elsewhere

  22,095

  24,413

  26,785

  Unknown1

  3,532

  3,654

  3,763

  HCHS medical and dental staff2

  68,484

  72,168

  76,400

  Of which:

  Qualified within United Kingdom

  43,831

  45,017

  46,890

  Qualified within the rest of the European Economic Area

  3,574

  3,741

  3,932

  Qualified Elsewhere

  17,547

  19,756

  21,815

  Unknown1

  3,532

  3,654

  3,763

  General Medical Practitioner3

  31,805

  32,280

  33,564

  Of which:

  Qualified within United Kingdom

  26,002

  26,267

  27,147

  Qualified within the rest of the European Economic Area

  1,255

  1,356

  1,447

  Qualified Elsewhere

  4,548

  4,657

  4,970

  1Information about country of qualification is derived from the General Medical Council. For staff in dental specialties, with a General Dental Council registration, the country of qualification is therefore unknown

  2Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part-time in hospitals

  3All practitioners include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SPA), PMS Other and GP Retainers.

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

  Foundation Trusts
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of the regulator of NHS foundation trusts will be for each of the next three years. [171262]

  Mr. Hutton
  The provisional amount in parliamentary estimates that has been allocated to the office of the independent regulator for 2004–05 is £5 million. Negotiations on the actual amount of the budget for 2004–05 are nearing completion. The office of the independent regulator is currently classified by the Cabinet Office as an executive non-departmental public body of the Department, and therefore for future financial years the Department will allocate funds based on costed business plans provided by the chairman of the independent regulator each year for inclusion in the departmental vote.

  The chairman of the independent regulator is the accounting officer and is responsible for ensuring that the public funds for which he is responsible are properly managed and safeguarded, and are used in line with the regulator's statutory functions and responsibilities. This includes a duty to exercise functions effectively, efficiently and economically.
  800W
  Mr. Hutton
  The number of doctors employed in the national health service by country of qualification for each of the last three years is shown in the table.

  The Department does not collect information on the number of nurses employed in the NHS who trained abroad. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) holds information on the number of overseas nurses entering the register each year. This information can be found on the NMC website at www.nmc-uk.org.

  General Practitioners
  Ms. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into the most common reasons for people visiting their general practitioner; what the results were; and if he will make a statement. [168717]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department does not commission such research but studies of this kind are made by the Office of Health Economics.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner premises have been(a) replaced and (b) modernised in each year since 1997. [171592]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table shows the number of general practitioner premises replaced and modernised in each year from 2000–01. This information was not collected prior to that date.

  GP premises

  Replaced

  Modernised

  2000–01

  163

  403

  2001–02

  174

  358

  2002–03

  132

  402

  2003–041

  105

  213

  Totals

  574

  1,376

  1Up to December 2003.

  Health Services
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding has been spent on health in Bootle in each of the last seven years. [171482]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information is not available in the format requested. Expenditure per weighted head in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area, which includes the constituency of Bootle, has increased from £596.24 in 1997–98 to £1,103.34 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.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes he expects in the number of patients requiring health services in the constituency of Huntingdon over the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [172634]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Following the "Shifting the Balance of Power" initiative, it is for primary care trusts (PCTs) in partnership with health authorities and other local stakeholders to plan and commission local services for their local populations.

  I understand that Huntingdonshire district council anticipates an increase in population from 158,000 in 2002 to 163,800 by 2011.
  802W
  Huntingdonshire PCT is working with its local partners to ensure that services meet the future needs of an increased population.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the benefits for residents of the constituency of Huntingdon of the Health Development Agency. [172638]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Department has not required the Health Development Agency (HDA) to assess its effect separately at constituency level.

  Much of the East of England regional work of the HDA, which includes Huntingdon, is focussed on service delivery that supports the whole of the region's public health development, particularly around cancer, coronary heart disease and respiratory diseases, national healthy schools standards and the ageing population.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS staff working in Greater London hospitals, broken down by national health service trust, receive financial assistance with regard to(a) housing and (b) transportation. [170508]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Information on the number of healthcare workers who have benefited from Government assistance in purchasing their own homes under the Starter Home Initiative scheme by the end of March 2004 broken down by London national health service trust is collected and is contained in the following table.

  SHI Completions 2001–02 to 2003–04

  Number of Units

  Employer name

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Total completions by end March 2004

  Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust

  —

  1

  4

  5

  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS trust

  —

  5

  21

  26

  Barts and the London NHS trust

  —

  7

  58

  65

  Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford Primary Care Trust City and

  Hackney Primary Care Trust

  —

  6

  14

  110

  East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust

  —

  13

  17

  30

  Havering Primary Care Trust

  —

  —

  4

  4

  Homerton Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  7

  28

  35

  Newham Healthcare NHS Trust

  —

  5

  15

  20

  Newham Primary Care Trust

  —

  5

  13

  18

  North East London Mental Health NHS Trust

  —

  3

  10

  13

  Redbridge Primary Care Trust

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust

  —

  4

  11

  15

  Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone Primary Care Trust

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  7

  12

  19

  Total NE London

  0

  63

  201

  264

  Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust

  —

  4

  33

  37

  Barnet Primary Care Trust

  —

  2

  12

  14

  Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust

  —

  3

  7

  10

  Camden and Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust

  —

  8

  10

  18

  Camden and Islington Mental Health NHS Trust

  —

  7

  29

  36

  Enfield Primary Care Trust

  1

  8

  9

  Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust

  —

  28

  42

  70

  Haringev Primary Care Trust

  —

  5

  10

  15

  Moorfieids Eye Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  —

  11

  11

  North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  —

  16

  16

  Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust

  —

  14

  39

  53

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  1

  13

  14

  Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust

  —

  —

  2

  2

  University College London Hospitals NHS Trust

  —

  35

  56

  91

  Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

  4

  12

  16

  Total NC London

  0

  112

  300

  412

  803W

  SHI Completions 2001–02 to 2003–04

  Number of Units

  Employer name

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Total completions by end March 2004

  Brent

  4

  4

  Kensington Chelsea and Westminster Mental Health NHS Trust

  —

  24

  29

  53

  Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust

  1

  33

  46

  80

  Ealing Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  10

  16

  26

  Harrow and Hillingdon Healthcare NHS Trust

  —

  2

  2

  4

  Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  9

  16

  25

  Hillingdon Primary Care Trust

  —

  1

  4

  5

  Hounslow Primary Care NHS Trust

  —

  1

  13

  14

  North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

  —

  16

  28

  44

  Parkside Health NHS Trust (Hammersmith and Fulham PCT)

  1

  2

  15

  18

  Riverside Community Healthcare NHS Trust (H and F PCT)

  —

  3

  3

  6

  Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust

  —

  10

  17

  27

  St. Mary's Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  17

  25

  42

  The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust

  1

  49

  57

  107

  West London Mental Health NHS Trust

  —

  —

  19

  19

  West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  7

  10

  17

  Total NW London

  3

  184

  304

  491

  Bexley Primary Care Trust

  1

  3

  4

  Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust

  —

  7

  12

  19

  Bromley Primary Care Trust

  —

  2

  2

  4

  Community Health South London NHS Trust

  —

  6

  14

  20

  Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust

  3

  11

  14

  Greenwich Primary Care Trust

  —

  2

  2

  4

  Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  30

  54

  84

  King's Healthcare NHS Trust

  —

  21

  47

  68

  London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  —

  34

  43

  77

  Oxleas NHS Trust

  —

  1

  13

  14

  Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust

  —

  2

  5

  7

  South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

  1

  37

  45

  83

  The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  12

  13

  25

  Total SE London

  1

  158

  264

  423

  Croydon and Surrey Downs Community Health NHS Trust Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust

  —

  11

  212

  313

  Kingston Hospital NHS Trust

  —

  4

  11

  15

  Kingston PCT

  —

  1

  1

  Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust

  —

  7

  16

  23

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

  —

  15

  23

  38

  South West London Community NHS Trust

  —

  4

  17

  21

  St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust

  —

  26

  37

  63

  Teddington, Twickenham and Hamptons Primary Care Trust

  —

  2

  2

  4

  The Royal Marsden NHS Trust

  2

  10

  14

  26

  Total SW London

  2

  71

  134

  207

  Total

  6

  588

  1,203

  1,797

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of MRSA have been identified in hospitals within Greater London, broken down by national health service trust, in each year since 1997; [170509]

  (2) what percentage of patients within hospitals in Greater London, broken down by national health service trust, are infected with MRSA; [170510]

  (3) what percentage of NHS staff within hospitals in Greater London, broken down by national health service trust, are infected with MRSA. [170511]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information on cases by individual Trust from 1997 is not available. The tables show data available from the mandatory methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream (bacteraemia) infections surveillance system that started 804W
  in April 2001. Information on National Health Service staff is not available, but MRSA rarely infects healthy people such as healthcare staff.

  Reported MRSA bacteraemias and rates by acute NHS Trust (April 2001 Mar 2002)

  London region

  Total MRSA

  MRSA Rate per 1,000 bed days

  Trust Name

  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust

  92

  0.19

  Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust

  62

  0.18

  Barts and the London NHS Trust

  62

  0.17

  Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust

  37

  0.19

  Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust

  36

  0.21

  Ealing Hospital NHS Trust

  40

  0.29

  Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust

  84

  0.31

  Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust

  7

  0.09

  Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust

  114

  0.31

  Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust

  89

  0.27

  805W

  Reported MRSA bacteraemias and rates by acute NHS Trust (April 2001 Mar 2002)

  London region

  Total MRSA

  MRSA Rate per 1,000 bed days

  Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust

  33

  0.15

  Homerton Hospital NHS Trust

  14

  0.09

  King's College Hospital NHS Trust

  92

  0.30

  Kingston Hospital NHS Trust

  23

  0.12

  Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust

  54

  0.29

  Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust

  39

  0.16

  Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  0.00

  Newham Healthcare NHS Trust

  25

  0.17

  North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  45

  0.28

  North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

  59

  0.21

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust

  18

  0.12

  Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust

  30

  0.23

  Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust

  9

  0.07

  Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust

  122

  0.43

  Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust

  6

  0.09

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust

  2

  0.04

  St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust

  115

  0.38

  St. Mary's NHS Trust

  64

  0.30

  University College London Hospitals NHS Trust

  94

  0.36

  West Middlesex University NHS Trust

  32

  0.23

  Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust

  45

  0.18

  Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

  27

  0.18

  MRSA reported bacteraemias and rates by acute NHS Trust (April 2002 to March 2003)

  London region

  Total MRSA

  MRSA rate per 1,000 bed days

  Trust Name

  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust

  77

  0.16

  Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust

  94

  0.27

  Barts and the London NHS Trust

  74

  0.21

  Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust

  32

  0.17

  Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust

  32

  0.19

  Ealing Hospital NHS Trust

  38

  0.28

  Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust

  72

  0.26

  Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust

  13

  0.17

  Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust

  154

  0.42

  Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust

  115

  0.34

  Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust

  36

  0.17

  Homerton Hospital NHS Trust

  19

  0.13

  King's College Hospital NHS Trust

  108

  0.35

  Kingston Hospital NHS Trust

  42

  0.23

  Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust

  45

  0.24

  Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust

  48

  0.20

  Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust

  0

  0.00

  Newham Healthcare NHS Trust

  33

  0.23

  North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  48

  0.30

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital

  35

  0.23

  Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust

  32

  0.24

  Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust

  9

  0.07

  Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust

  101

  0.35

  Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust

  7

  0.10

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust

  6

  0.13

  St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust

  75

  0.25

  St. Mary's NHS Trust

  72

  0.33

  University College London Hospitals NHS Trust

  84

  0.32

  West Middlesex University NHS Trust

  41

  0.30

  Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust

  43

  0.18

  Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

  30

  0.20

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in South Ribble are receiving drug treatment. [171657]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  In 2000–01, there were a total of 2,874 people receiving drug treatment in the area covered by the drug action team for Lancashire. This is 806W
  the latest available data. Data broken down by drug action team for 2001–02 and 2002–03 has not yet been finalised and published.
  Source:
  DH Statistics.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in South Ribble in each of the last seven years. [171273]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding has been spent on(a) heart disease and (b) cancer care in South Ribble in each of the last five years. [171669]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is not collected centrally. Allocations of funding for particular treatments are matters for local primary care trusts.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding has been spent on health in South Ribble in each of the last five years. [171674]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information is not available in the format requested. Expenditure per weighted head in the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area, which includes the constituency of South Ribble, 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.

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the levels of elective admission to Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust in the past three years. [172014]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Data on the levels of elective admission to Taunton and Somerset National Health Service Trust in the past three years is shown in the table.

  In year elective admission episodes for Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust

  Number

  2000–01

  31,329

  2001–02

  31,385

  2002–03

  31,907

  Notes:

  In-year admissions

  An in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the data year. Periods of care ongoing at the end of the data year (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.

  Ungrossed Data

  Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  807W
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) therapists and (b) scientists were located in Taunton in each of the last three years. [172016]

  Headcount

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Taunton Deane PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  13

  14

  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust

  418

  421

  432

  454

  384

  377

  410

  n/a = not applicable.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many rapid access chest pain clinics there are in Taunton. [172019]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There is one rapid access chest pain clinic in Taunton, based at the Musgrove Park Hospital, part of the Taunton and Somerset national health service trust.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding has been spent on health in West Lancashire in each of the last seven years. [171550]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: The information is not available in the format requested. Expenditure per weighted head in the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area, which includes the constituency of West

  NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff in each specified organisation as at 30 September each specified year

  Headcount

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  488

  506

  516

  528

  619

  587

  624

  Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  311

  335

  Wigan and Bolton HA

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust

  488

  506

  516

  528

  —

  —

  —

  Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  —

  615

  276

  289

  Wrightington Hospitals NHS Trust

  40

  44

  45

  47

  —

  —

  —

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the numbers of NHS(a) doctors and (b) nurses in Workington constituency in each of the last seven years; [170706]

  (2) what changes there have been to NHS waiting list time in the last seven years for the residents of Workington constituency. [170708]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS waiting times for heart surgery in Workington constituency. [170710]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  808W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Requested information on the number of national health service therapists and scientists located in Taunton in each of the last three years is shown in the table.

  Lancashire, 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.

  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in Wigan in each of the last seven years; and if he will make a statement. [169345]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) therapists and (b) scientists were located in Wigan in each of the last seven years. [169346]

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

  Coronary heart disease waiting time: West Cumbria Primary Care Trust

  Year/quarter

  Patients waiting over nine months

  2002–03

  1

  5

  2

  12

  3

  2

  4

  0

  2003–04

  1

  0

  2

  0

  3

  0

  Source:

  Department of Health form QF01.

  Hospices
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the £12 million announced on 26 December 2003 for palliative care will be available to hospices. [167052]
  809W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The additional £12 million investment over three years announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 26 December 2003 follows on from the commitment in the recent Command Paper "Building on the Best".

  This additional money is not intended for hospices. It is to be used to ensure that, by widening the pool of generalist staff, in primary care, in care homes and in hospitals, who are trained in meeting the needs of people nearing the end of their lives, patients—regardless of their diagnosis—will have access to high quality palliative care so that they will be able to be cared for and to die in a place of their choice.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many licensed fertility clinics have had their licences(a) suspended and (b) revoked by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in each year since 1991. [166910]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The number of licence suspensions and revocations for failure to comply with the provisions of either the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's code of practice or the conditions of the establishment's licence, since 1997, are shown in the table.

  Licences suspended or revoked by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority since 19971

  Year2

  Suspension

  Revocation

  1999

  —

  1

  2003

  31

  —

  2004

  1

  —

  1Figures do not include licences voluntarily given up by licensed establishments.

  2No licences were suspended or revoked in the years 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

  3Suspension applied only to specified licensed activities, not the whole licence.

  Source:

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

  Information for 1991 to 1996 is held on microfilmed records, by licensed establishment, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Intermediate Care
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of National Service Framework local implementation teams have reported that an intermediate care co-ordinator is in place; and if he will make a statement. [171021]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-regional Strategy
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on proposals for increased funding to growth areas in South-east 810W
  England, as mentioned in paragraph 97 of the Cross-Government Statement (matters 1, 2, 3, 4) on the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy. [172171]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has given its backing to providing health service infrastructure to support the development of sustainable growth areas.

  As announced to Parliament, on 15 March 2004 the Department has agreed to provide an extra £20 million, per annum, of revenue funding in 2004–05 and 2005–06 to be allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) and £20 million of capital resources in 2005–06 to be allocated to strategic health authorities.

  PCTs within the growth areas were notified of their additional 2004–05 at d 2005–06 revenue allocations on 25 March 2004.

  The Department has also agreed to give priority to Office of the Deputy Prime Minister growth areas for future local improvement finance trust schemes and to include a growth area adjustment for ODPM growth areas in the next round of PCT allocations.

  Morphine Sulphate
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the target date is for the availability of morphine sulphate by NHS prescription in each primary care trust area; in what areas it is already available; and when guidelines will be published on the prescription of morphine sulphate. [171928]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Morphine sulphate is available on national health service prescription and was prescribed in all primary care trust areas in 2003.

  Guidance on the prescribing of morphine sulphate is given in the British National Formulary, a copy of which is supplied to all NHS doctors and pharmacists. Advice on the use of morphine sulphate in specific medical conditions has also been published in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletins, the MeReC Bulletins and in PRODIGY guidance for primary care, which are widely distributed free of charge to NHS professional staff.

  Mumps
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of teenagers in England who(a) are not inoculated against mumps and (b) have had only one of the two necessary doses. [167428]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department does not have data on the number of teenagers who either received only one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or no doses. Most older children and adolescents will naturally be immune from mumps infection. Seroprevalance data, this is data where antibody levels are measures in blood samples, suggests that around 20 per cent., may be unprotected against mumps.

  National Service Frameworks
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on progress towards the National Service Framework milestone for
  811W
  general practitioner practices diagnosing, treating and caring for older people with depression and dementia; [170615]

  (2) if he will make a statement on progress towards the National Service Framework milestone for protocols across health and social care systems for the care and management of older people with mental health problems; [170616]

  (3) if he will make a statement on progress towards the National Service Framework milestone for strategic and operational plans to include the development of an integrated mental health service for older people. [170629]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Department is monitoring progress towards the development of protocol driven, joined-up mental health services for older people. This is a "must do" target in the 2003–06 priorities and planning framework.

  All of the milestones relating to standard 7 of the national service framework are the responsibility of strategic health authorities to plan for and monitor progress towards, but we would expect the type of service mentioned to be part of an integrated service.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress towards the National Service Framework milestone for integrated continence services across health and social care systems. [170620]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The responsibility for implementing this milestone and monitoring progress is the responsibility of strategic health authorities. Monitoring information on progress with this milestone is not collected centrally.

  NHS Beds
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS beds were available in Birkenhead in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [167646]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information on the average daily number of beds in acute wards in each national health service trust and England from 1996–97 to 2002–03 is available from the Department's website at www. performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/index.htm.

  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS beds were available in Preston in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [168104]

  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.

  Information about the relevant trusts has been placed in the Library.

  NHS Information Technology
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the end-user groups being consulted in the National Programme for Information Technology in the NHS. [R] [171823]
  812W
  Mr. Hutton
  Consultation has taken place with clinical representative groups, including the professional Royal Colleges, the General Medical Council, the British Medical Council and the NHS Confederation, all of whom have provided valuable input. As well as the national professional bodies and groups, the national programme for information technology (NPfIT) team has engaged closely with expert primary care practitioners, including practising general practitioners, who are there to represent and feedback issues with their professional colleagues.

  The national clinical advisory board (NCAB) has ensured that the wide-ranging clinical needs and requirements are reflected in the design of the NPfIT solutions and integrated into the ongoing plans of the programme. Their work covered a variety of care settings, from cancer care to out of hours care. Since the appointment of Aidan Halligan, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, as joint senior responsible owner and director general for NPfIT, plans are in hand to improve and review the formal arrangements for engaging with key stakeholders across the national health service. This will include a frontline support academy and wider patient groups and an announcement will be made later in summer.

  The NPfIT has to date hosted around 400 local events, engaging managers, clinicians, allied health professionals and IT staff. Over 21,000 individuals have been involved. A series of national and regional joint events with the NHS Confederation began on 10 May, aimed at speaking directly to the chief executives and board members who need to lead local implementation.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the dates of(a) past and (b) planned future meetings of the clinical consultation group to the National Programme for Information Technology in the NHS are. [R] [171824]

  Mr. Hutton
  Previous meetings of the national clinical advisory board were held on:2 October 2003.
  27 November 2003.
  15 January 2004.
  16 March 2004.
  13 May 2004.

  The Department issued a press notice on 30 April 2004 to outline the plans to continue and improve engagement with patient and national health service stakeholders in order to support the implementation of the national programme for information technology (NPfIT). This follows on from the appointment of Aidan Halligan, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, as joint senior responsible owner and director general for NpfIT, who now has responsibility for leading on the preparations and planning for implementation across the NHS.

  The first step has been to set up a new frontline support academy for clinicians. The formal arrangements for engaging with key groups are also being reviewed and an announcement will be made later in the summer.
  813W
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost is of training(a) clinical staff and (b) non-clinical staff to use the information systems developed by the National Programme for Information Technology in the NHS. [R] [171826]

  Mr. Hutton
  Training plans are still evolving as is to be expected when approaching a phased programme of implementation and roll out of new applications, systems and services. The training requirements are not solely related to the national programme for information technology in the national health service in England (NPfIT) as general IT skills are now an everyday element for any public service and service based organisation. The European computer driving licence is helping to improve general skills across the NHS. The move to e-learning and development and the NHS University will both create more demand for computer and online skills and provide more channels and solutions to bring training to people.

  As we complete the more detailed plans for each geographical cluster and local service provider contract, we can map out the extent of IT support for clinical practice and patient care over the phased implementation of NPfIT. This will generate clearer training requirements and will enable us to consider the most appropriate ways of providing training and development and produce firmer costs.

  NHS Staff
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS whole-time equivalent(a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in East Worthing and Shoreham in each of the last seven years. [169028]

  Ratio of applicants to pre-registration nursing and midwifery training courses to nursing and midwifery training commissions in England each year

  Diploma1

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Applicants

  18,732

  32,405

  34,953

  40,908

  33,864

  29,689

  Commissions

  16,120

  16,586

  17,383

  18,666

  19,704

  n/a

  n/a = Not available.

  1Applicant and commissions data are not directly comparable as the NMAS applications cycle runs for longer than the commissioning cycle, 1997–98 applicants data is therefore compared with 1998–99 commissions data and a direct ratio is not applicable

  Source:

  Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service Department of Health Quarterly Monitoring Reports its Degree.

  Degree

  1997–98

  1998–89

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Applicants to commissions ratio

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  2.0

  2.0

  2.0

  Applicants

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  5,357

  6,126

  6,541

  Commissions

  521

  1,569

  2,121

  2,638

  3,104

  3,252

  n/a = Not available.

  Source:

  University and Colleges Admission Service Department of Health Quarterly Monitoring Reports

  Osteoporosis
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of primary care trusts have a fully integrated falls and osteoporosis service as set out in the National Service Framework for Older People. [172548]

  Dr. Ladyman
  I refer my hon. Friend to the response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Forest of Dean
  814W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information is not available for the area requested. However, the number of whole time equivalent doctors and nurses within Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority area, broken down by trust, has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in Wirral, South in each of the last seven years. [172685]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Nurse Training
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which years since 1997 applications for nurse training places from suitably qualified applicants have exceeded the number of places available; and if he will make a statement. [171822]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not available. Information on the number of applicants to pre-registration nursing and midwifery training commissions and the number of training commissions available each year is shown in the tables.

  The national health service recruitment campaign was launched on 1 March to raise the profile of careers in the NHS and encourage new entrants into training and the Government is increasing the number of training places for nurses and midwives. Between 1997–98 and 2002–03, the number of pre-registration nursing and midwifery training commissions has increased by 6,417, or 39 per cent., with a further increase forecast in 2003–04.

  (Diana Organ), on 11 May 2004, Official Report, column 319W.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reply to the question from the hon. Member for Westbury, reference 159700, tabled on 5 March, concerning Government information on dentist training numbers. [172174]
  815W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 178W.

  Patients Forums
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken by the Commission for Public Patient Involvement to ensure that(a) residents and (b) patients can find the names of members of local patients' forums. [172522]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Any member of the public can contact their local patients' forum through the forum support organisations (FSO); their details are on the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health website at www.cppih.org.

  Names of individual members are made available to the primary care trust and national health service trust that the patients' forum is working with, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 requirements.

  Individual members' names are not currently widely available to the public for technical reasons linked to the Data Protection Act. The Commission is, however, working with all forums to enable wide availability of members' names.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pharmacy and general practitioner prescribing projects are operating; how many people they cover; and what assessment he has made of their(a) influence on the numbers of people seeking treatment and (b) impact on the level of crime. [168722]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department does not centrally collect numbers of general practitioner prescribing projects.

  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the numbers of patients who fail to get prescriptions dispensed because of the charges. [165410]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The number of prescription items dispensed in the community is recorded centrally but no information is held centrally about the number of items prescribed. We have not, therefore, made any

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): dental staff within the Orthodontics and Prosthodontics—England1

  Orthodontics

  December

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2003

  All staff

  509

  501

  504

  513

  506

  508

  522

  n/a

  Of which:

  Consultant

  153

  153

  157

  161

  154

  161

  178

  176

  Doctors in training

  110

  120

  117

  101

  115

  130

  118

  n/a

  n/a = Not applicable.

  1Data at 30 September 1997 to 2003 and 31 December 2003.

  Note:

  December 2003 data has been taken from the mini census which collected consultants only.

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

  816W
  assessment of the number of items which might be prescribed but not dispensed. However, in 2002 only 14 per cent. of prescriptions dispensed in the community attracted a charge.

  Prisoners
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what alternative therapeutic environments are available to treat women who are sent to prison who are mentally ill. [172610]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Specialist services for people with mental health problems who come into contact with the criminal justice system are provided by multidisciplinary teams working in in-patient settings and in the community. The Department supports a range of police and court diversion and liaison schemes that enable the early diversion of such people to specialist mental health services. The courts have a number of psychiatric disposals available to them, ranging from a hospital order requiring detention in a psychiatric hospital to probation order with a condition requiring an offender to have psychiatric treatment. In addition, women prisoners assessed as needing in-patient treatment for mental disorder may be transferred to hospital.

  Prosthetics/Orthodontics
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to train more people in(a) prosthetics and (b) orthodontics. [172396]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of training places in prosthetics and orthodontics has increased from 28 to 30 between 1996–97 and 2002–03 and the workforce review team annually reviews the need for increases in training for all the allied health professions.

  Information on the number of consultants and doctors in training in orthodontics is shown in the table. The Department has centrally funded two more training posts in orthodontics in 2004–05, bringing the total training posts in place to 31. The number of dentists electing to train in specialties like orthodontics is related to the number of undergraduates training as dentists relative to the demand for dental care. We have recently completed the first review of the dental workforce since 1987 and will shortly be announcing the results including the implications for the intake of undergraduates to dental schools in England.

  Provigil (Modafinil)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions of provigil (modafinil) have been made for children in each of the last five years. [172586]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: In each of the last five years, it is estimated that under 1,000 prescription items of modafinil were dispensed in the community to children.

  Rheumatological/Musculoskeletal Conditions
  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice and guidance is provided as part of the expert patients programme to patients with musculoskeletal conditions. [171932]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The expert patients programme (EPP) provides generic, lay-led, group based training for people in the self management of their long term condition. The programme is aimed at a wide range of people from different long term conditions and age groups, geographical location and ethnicity. The EPP is delivered locally by a network of trainers and volunteer tutors with long term conditions.

  The EPP is a generic course and teaches five core self-management skills: problem solving; decision making; resource utilisation; developing effective partnerships with healthcare providers and taking action. The programme offers a tool-kit of fundamental techniques that patients can undertake to improve the quality of their life living with a long-term condition.

  The course enables patients to develop their communication skills, manage their emotions, manage daily activities, interact with the healthcare system, find health resources, plan for the future, understand exercising and healthy eating, and manage fatigue, sleep, pain, anger and depression.

  No specific medical advice is given to people with musculoskeletal conditions, the course aims to develop confidence and self control and does not concentrate on the physiological symptoms of the disease.

  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extended scope physiotherapists are working in the NHS; and what steps are being taken to increase this number. [171934]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not collected separately on the number of extended scope physiotherapists employed in the national health service. As at September 2003, there were 17,922 physiotherapists employed in the NHS, an increase of 3,679 or 26 per cent., since 1997.

  The Government have implemented a range of measures to recruit more health care professionals, including physiotherapists. These include improving pay and conditions, encouraging the NHS to become a better, more flexible and diverse employer, increasing training, investing in child care and continuing professional development, attracting back returners and running national and international recruitment campaigns.

  School Nurses
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase the number of school nurses. [170370]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not available on the number of school nurses employed in the national health service. The Government collected information on the school nursing workforce in the September 2003 non-medical workforce census but this information was incomplete. Reliable information will be available from the September 2004 workforce census.

  School nurses are largely employed by primary care trusts (PCTs), and it is for PCTs and care trusts to continue to assess the level of need for school nurses in the context of wider initiatives which impact on the delivery of health services to school age children. These include a review of the nursing, midwifery and health visiting contribution to vulnerable children and young people by the Chief Nursing Officer, the development of the national service framework for children and the work arising from the green paper on children including the development of a workforce strategy covering a range of staff working with children and young people.

  Sexually-transmitted Infections
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage changes were, broken down by(a) age and (b) sex for rates of (i) conception and (ii) sexually transmitted infections in teenagers for each of the last five years in the North West London Health Authority. [167997]

  Mr. Hutton
  Conception data, numbers, rates and percentage changes, for the years 1997–2001 (latest data available) for North West London Strategic Health Authority is as shows in the table.

  Conceptions (numbers, rates, percentage change)—North West London Strategic Health Authority, 1997 to 2001

  Under 16

  16 to 19

  Number

  Rate1

  Percentage change

  Number

  Rate2

  Percentage change

  1997

  205

  7.9

  —

  2,861

  72.1

  —

  1998

  213

  7.9

  0.0

  2,969

  79.0

  +9.5

  1999

  222

  8.0

  +1.3

  2,933

  78.3

  −0.9

  2000

  237

  8.4

  +5.0

  2,950

  81.5

  +4.1

  2001

  238

  8.4

  0.0

  2,854

  75.1

  −7.9

  1Rate per 1,000 females aged 13 to 16.

  2Rate per 1,000 females aged 16 to 19.

  The following table shows the percentage change in the rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) shown for the four principal infections (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, herpes—first attack—and genital warts—first attack) for the combined age group 13 to 19-years-old by sex in North West London Health Authority for the last six years of complete data (1998–2002).

  Too few and sporadic cases of syphilis among teenagers 13 to 19 years were reported from GUM clinics in the North West London Health Authority over the last five years, making calculation of rates unreliable; thus these data are not provided.
  819W
  Note that these diagnoses represent only persons attending genito urinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the North West London Health Authority and not necessarily residents within that area Data on diagnoses

  Diagnoses, rates (per 100,000 of population) and rates change of selected STIs in teenagers age 13 to 19 years attending GUM Clinics in North West London STHA

  Males

  Females

  Diagnoses

  Rate

  Rate change (Percentage)

  Diagnoses

  Rate

  Rate change (Percentage)

  Uncomplicated genital chlamydia

  1997

  66

  88.9

  —

  296

  423.9

  —

  1998

  72

  96.9

  9.0

  342

  492.7

  16.2

  1999

  98

  133.7

  38.0

  387

  580.3

  17.8

  2000

  225

  303.0

  126.6

  709

  1,088.2

  87.5

  2001

  257

  363.1

  19.8

  675

  1,014.1

  −6.8

  2002

  252

  356.0

  −1.9

  630

  946.5

  −6.7

  Uncomplicated gonorrhoea

  1997

  105

  141.5

  —

  105

  150.4

  —

  1998

  80

  107.7

  −23.9

  105

  151.3

  0.6

  1999

  106

  144.6

  34.3

  147

  220.4

  45.7

  2000

  200

  269.3

  86.2

  230

  353.0

  60.2

  2001

  180

  254.3

  −5.6

  235

  353.0

  0.0

  2002

  189

  267.0

  5.0

  233

  350.0

  −0.9

  Genital herpes

  1997

  13

  17.5

  —

  97

  138.9

  —

  1998

  17

  22.9

  30.6

  109

  157.0

  13.0

  1999

  23

  31.4

  37.2

  92

  137.9

  —12.2

  2000

  32

  43.1

  37.3

  105

  161.2

  16.8

  2001

  28

  39.6

  −8.2

  117

  175.8

  9.1

  2002

  25

  35.3

  −10.7

  83

  124.7

  −29.1

  Genital warts

  1997

  56

  75.5

  —

  217

  310.8

  —

  1998

  77

  103.6

  37.3

  213

  306.9

  −1.3

  1999

  79

  107.8

  4.0

  230

  344.9

  12.4

  2000

  97

  130.6

  21.2

  217

  333.1

  −3.4

  2001

  88

  124.3

  −4.8

  253

  380.1

  14.1

  2002

  94

  132.8

  6.8

  248

  372.6

  −2.0

  Total

  1997

  240

  323.4

  —

  715

  1,023.9

  —

  1998

  247

  332.4

  2.8

  769

  1,107.9

  8.2

  1999

  306

  417.5

  25.6

  857

  1,285.0

  16.0

  2000

  555

  747.3

  79.0

  1261

  1,935.4

  50.6

  2001

  553

  781.2

  4.5

  1280

  1,923.0

  −0.6

  2002

  561

  792.5

  1.4

  1194

  1,793.8

  −6.7

  Source:

  Health Protection Agency.

  Unified NHS Database
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to create a unified database of(a) health records and (b) users of NHS services; and if he will make a statement. [170334]

  Mr. Hutton
  The national programme for information technology in the national health service in England has been established to connect delivery of the NHS Plan with the capabilities of modern information technologies to support the delivery of fast, convenient and seamless services designed around the patient.

  Fundamental to this is the NHS care records service (NHS CRS) that will enable patient care information and records to be accessed at the point of need anywhere in England.
  820W
  made outside the GUM setting, such as in general practice, are not held centrally and not, therefore, included in these totals.

  Over time, the NHS CRS will provide all 50 million NHS patients with an individual electronic care record to summarise key treatment and episodes of care within either the health service or social care. Access to any personally identifiable information about patients will be subject to stringent access controls, confidentiality and security safeguards and will be fully compliant with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

  Unused Medicines
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate for each year since 1997(a) the amount of medicines dispensed and never used in (i) England, (ii) each NHS region, (iii) each strategic health authority and (b) the cost of these medicines to the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [169704]

  Rosie Winterton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Waiting Lists
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of patients on(a) in-patient and (b) day case waiting lists was in each Greater London NHS Trust since 1997; and what the percentage change was in each year. [168936]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested for the national health service trusts within the five London strategic health authorities has been placed in the Library.

  Waiting times for first consultant out-patient appointment for suspected cancer following urgent GP referral

  Seen within 2 weeks

  Quarter

  NHS Trust

  Percentage

  Number

  2000–01

  4

  Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust

  90.4

  75

  2000–01

  4

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  95.0

  19

  2001–02

  1

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  90.0

  81

  2001–02

  1

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  83.3

  5

  2001–02

  2

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  85.0

  68

  2001–02

  2

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  100.0

  8

  2001–02

  3

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  93.5

  100

  2001–02

  3

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  100.0

  3

  2001–02

  4

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  87.9

  80

  2001–02

  4

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  100.0

  3

  2002–03

  1

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  88.0

  95

  2002–03

  1

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  83.3

  5

  2002–03

  2

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  98.4

  125

  2002–03

  2

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  100.0

  2

  2002–03

  3

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  165

  2002–03

  3

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  85.7

  6

  2002–03

  4

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  135

  2002–03

  4

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  80.0

  4

  2003–04

  1

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  109

  2003–04

  1

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  75.0

  3

  2003–04

  2

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  99.2

  128

  2003–04

  2

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  100.0

  5

  2003–04

  3

  Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  151

  2003–04

  3

  Christie Hospital NHS Trust

  100.0

  3

  Source:

  Department of Health form QMCW.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS waiting times for heart surgery in Manchester, Gorton. [167387]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  In February 2004, no one waited more than nine months for a heart operation at Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospital National Health Service Trust. The total number of people waiting for a heart operation at Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospital NHS Trust was 257.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for non-urgent operations within the(a) Sunderland, (b) Easington, (c) Hartlepool and (d) Durham primary care trusts in the last year for which figures are available. [168306]

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

  Primary care trust

  Finished admissions

  Time waited mean (days)

  5D9

  Hartlepool PCT

  9,185

  96

  5J8

  Durham Dales PCT

  6,082

  89

  5KC

  Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT

  10,371

  118

  5KD

  Easington PCT

  8,717

  105

  5KL

  Sunderland Teaching PCT

  22,164

  95

  Waiting Lists/Times
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of suspected cancer patients in Manchester, Gorton saw an NHS consultant within two weeks in each of the last seven years. [167386]

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

  Notes:

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

  2. Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.

  3. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e., the data is ungrossed).

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times are for hip replacements within the(a) Sunderland, (b) Easington, (c) Hartlepool and (d) Durham primary care trusts. [1608307]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  823W

  PCT—Primary care trust code

  Finished admissions

  Time waited mean (days)

  5D9

  Hartlepool PCT

  153

  145

  5J8

  Durham Dales PCT

  165

  237

  5KC

  Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT

  193

  247

  5KD

  Easington PCT

  149

  233

  5KL

  Sunderland Teaching PCT

  385

  293

  Notes:

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

  2. Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.

  3. The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. time waited, but the figures for "all operations count of episodes" give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.

  4. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the(a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) medium waiting times were for first diagnostic appointments to consultant (i) neurologists, (ii) geriatricians and (iii) physicians for people suspected of having Parkinson's disease in of the last five years for which figures are available; [172578]

  (2) how many patients were in the latter stages of Parkinson's accessed hospice care in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [172579]
  824W
  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the Department is driving forward a major programme of work to improve equality of access to all national health service treatment and care services. Maximum waiting times have fallen over the past few years and will continue to do so. By the end of 2005, the maximum waiting time for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant will fall to three months and the maximum wait for inpatient treatment will fall to six months.

  The Department is developing a national service framework for long term conditions, which will focus on improving services for people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson's Disease. The Department has also commissioned the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to prepare guidelines for the diagnosis, management and treatment of Parkinson's disease in primary and secondary care. We expect that the guidelines will be published in spring 2006.

  Wanless Report
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures are being taken to ensure that the recommendations of the Derek Wanless Report are being implemented, with particular regard to the prevention of cardiac arrhythmias; [169270]

  (2) how he will ensure that the (a) measures to improve patient information access and (b) the expert patients programme will be applicable to sufferers of cardiac arrhythmias. [169273]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Wanless Report does not make any specific recommendations with regard to the prevention of cardiac arrhythmias. On 12 March 2004, the Government announced that a new national service framework chapter on arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death would be published within one year.

  An expert group will be formed to take this work forward.

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