Written Answers of 20 May 2004

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Fruit Farming
  Hugh Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Government support for fruit farming. [174422]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Defra funds a substantial research and development programme of benefit to fruit farmers. Growers are also eligible for assistance under the England Rural Development Programme, for the first time, soft fruit will attract support as a result of CAP reform.

  Fisheries
  Mr. MacDougall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Government measures to protect fish stocks in UK waters. [174423]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There are a range of national and EU measures to protect stocks in our waters. The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit has made far-reaching recommendations for further measures. We are studying the report and will respond fully by the end of the year.

  Egg Regulations
  Mr. Cameron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from small-scale egg producers about recent changes to regulations, including those about egg stamping; and if she will make a statement. [174414]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Defra has received an estimated 3,150 inquiries on the Registration of Laying Flocks Order and the Egg Marketing Regulations—by far the majority of these inquiries were from producers wanting to know how to comply with the changes.

  Air Quality
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs if she will make a statement on(a) urban and (b) rural air quality in 2003. [174406]

  Margaret Beckett
  The Government's annual Air Quality Headline Indicator, published on 28 April 2004, estimates:

  (a) an areas in 2003, air pollution was recorded as moderate or higher on 50 days on average per site, compared with 20 days in 2002

  (b) In rural areas, the figure for 2003 was 61 days on average per site, compared with 30 in 2002.

  Avian Flu
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the safety of imported chickens from South East Asia since the recent outbreaks of avian influenza; and if she will make a statement. [173681]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Under EU rules, imports of live poultry are not permitted from any of the countries in Asia where highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed. This was the case even before the disease outbreaks, as none of these countries had been approved by the European Commission to export live poultry to the EU. Similarly, with the exception of Thailand, imports of meat from the affected countries are not authorised.

  The risk of the avian influenza virus spreading to other birds through meat is low. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, the European Commission took action on 23 January to ban imports from Thailand of fresh and frozen poultry meat unless accompanied by certification confirming that it was from birds slaughtered before 1 January 2004. In addition, cooked poultry meat that had not been heat treated to at least 70°C, was also banned. The UK took immediate action to implement these measures in domestic law.

  The Food Standards Agency advice is that eating chicken is not considered a risk to consumers. This is because the risk to people from Avian Influenza arises from close contact with live chickens that have the disease, and not through eating chicken.

  Beef Exports
  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further steps she will take to promote the export of beef. [174421]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Beef exports are currently limited by the requirements of the Date Based Export Scheme. In the light of last week's positive opinions from the European Food Safety Authority, and taking account of any decision to replace the UK's over-30 months rule by testing, we will continue to work with the EU Commission to ensure that controls on UK beef exports are eased as far as possible.

  Beekeeping
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department has received on the hazards that can be caused by beekeeping. [173089]

  Alun Michael
  The Department has received no such representations.

  Bioremediation
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been conducted by or for her Department on bioremediation using genetically modified organisms. [173118]
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  Mr. Morley
  The Department has recently published research that specifically examines the potential use of genetically modified organisms in bioremediation (final report available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/research/epg-1–5–142.htm). The report concludes that genetic modification offers some possible benefits in this area, but that, as with all GMOs, a thorough evaluation of the potential risks is required. This evaluation needs to be carried out in the context of the contaminated environment in which bioremediation is applied and the possible alternative approaches to bioremediation.

  We have also commissioned research on bioremediation in general, some of which has considered the use of genetically modified organisms (for a full list see http://www.defra.gov.uk/research/Project_Data_projects.asp?M=KWS&V=bioremediation &SCOPE=0).

  Bovine TB
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of repeated intradermal skin tests on the ability of the test to detect bovine TB infection in individual cattle. [172530]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There is often a trade-off between test sensitivity and specificity. The skin test used in GB has been fine tuned to optimise specificity (i.e. keep false positives to a minimum) while retaining a good sensitivity (i.e. probability of identifying infected herds). However, because of the dynamics of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis—the causative organism for bovine tuberculosis) transmission and the time it takes to mount a detectable immune response to the intradermal injection of tuberculin, the skin test cannot be relied upon to detect every animal infected with M. bovis at the time of the disclosing test. This phenomenon is not unique to the tuberculin test and, in fact, this is quite normal for any immunological test.

  For these reasons, it is well accepted that the tuberculin tests are more suited to the detection of infected herds rather than the detection of infected individual cattle, i.e. a small proportion of infected animals in reactor herds may escape detection when the herd is first tested (false negatives). In order to increase the sensitivity of the skin test and detect any animals in the early stages of infection, reactor herds are re-tested at 60 day intervals until no further reactor animals are found and restrictions can be lifted. Reactor herds are then re-tested 6 and 18 months after the lifting of restrictions. Additionally, if infection has been confirmed in the herd by post mortem examination or culture, a more severe interpretation of test readings is applied. This further enhances the ability of the test to detect any residual infection after the initial screening. In other words, the imperfect sensitivity of the skin test is compensated for by the application of short-interval testing and severe interpretation.

  Defra has also sponsored experimental work at the Institute of Animal Health (Compton), to look into the effects of repeat skin testing. The main finding of this experiment was that repeat testing at 56-day intervals before experimental infection of calves with M. bovis had no effect on the animals' ability to respond to an
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  intradermal test carried out seven weeks post-infection. Therefore, no matter how often an animal is skin tested before it contracts TB, the sensitivity of the skin test after infection will not be compromised.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has evaluated on the specificity and sensitivity of the Bovigam gamma in interferon test; and what conclusions she has drawn. [172550]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) has reviewed 13 papers reporting gamma-interferon (γ-IFN) field trials in Australia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Brazil, Italy, Spain and USA. Eight papers gave 20 estimates of sensitivity (80 per cent. were in the range 71–94 per cent.) and 8 papers gave 22 estimates of specificity (80 per cent. were in the range 89–99 per cent.). These estimates for sensitivity are similar to those for the skin test as practiced in the UK, but the estimates for specificity are lower. If the γ-IFN test were used at the same time or shortly after the skin test and animals positive to either test were removed, the combined tests would have a greater sensitivity than the skin test alone. If used with the defined, more specific, antigens developed by VLA, the gamma interferon test can in certain circumstances identify uninfected animals that are positive to the skin test.

  The γ-IFN assay is widely considered to be at least as sensitive as the skin tests and, in addition, will detect a proportion of infected cattle that fail to react to the skin tests. This is thought to be because the γ-IFN test detects infection at an earlier stage than the skin test does, although there is also evidence that the two tests detect slightly different populations of tuberculouses cattle. However, the γ-IFN test is hardly ever used for mass TB screening on its own. This is because the test is relatively expensive, it does not detect all skin test-positive infected animals, it tends to be less specific than the SICCT (the single intradermal comparative cervical test, which is the version of the skin test used in the UK and Ireland) and, the SICCT, it is unlikely to detect infected animals that are negative to the tuberculin test due to a depressed immune response to tuberculin (this can occur in cattle with advanced TB). The need to process samples within 24–30 hours of collection also poses some logistical problems for mass screening.

  In contrast, it has been postulated that the use of the γ-IFN test in tandem with the skin test could allow the removal of more (but not necessarily all) infected cattle from particular breakdown herds than the skin test alone. If this is correct, use of the two tests in quick succession should speed up the elimination of infection from infected herds. Under this premise, the European Commission approved the γ-IFN test in 2002 for use as an ancillary test in animals that fail to respond to the skin test and it now complements the skin tests in cattle herds with intractable, confirmed infection in many EU member states. It is worth noting that most of these member states use a version of the skin test different to that used in the UK and Ireland.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what level of specificity and sensitivity she has concluded might be applied to control bovine TB in cattle herds which
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  (a) are subject to repeated and persistent bovine TB breakdowns, (b) are subject to a first TB breakdown and which are also in a TB hotspot, (c) are subject to a first TB breakdown and which are not in a TB hotspot, (d) have not been subject to TB breakdowns and which are in a TB hotspot and (e) have not been subject to TB breakdowns and which are not in a TB hotspot. [172551]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Sensitivity and specificity of tests for bovine TB in cattle have relative rather than absolute meanings as it is not possible to conclusively demonstrate that an animal with no sign of TB is not in the early stages of infection. In addition, it is possible to increase the sensitivity and decrease the specificity by lowering the reading above which the test is declared positive (as occurs with standard and severe interpretations of the skin test).

  The Divisional Veterinary Managers (DVMs) have the discretion to remove cattle from herds that are not skin test positive—they are generally termed Dangerous Contacts. The DVMs use their epidemiological judgment to vary the criteria used to remove animals in cases (a) to (e) in the question.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the predictive models used in other countries to assess the feasibility of controlling bovine TB using the Bovigam gamma interferon test. [172552]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Other countries with a bovine TB problem comparable to Great Britain's—New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland—have used the interferon test, but there are no published predictive models for its use.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the maximum(a) specificity and (b) sensitivity achieved by the Bovigam gammas interferon test in experiments conducted in the UK is; and under what conditions these results were achieved. [172553]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Specificity and sensitivity must be quoted together as they are inversely related, and they suffer from the lack of an absolute measure of whether an animal is infected. In the UK, the gamma interferon (γ-IFN) test has been used without the skin test only in laboratory studies.

  No large-scale validation of the γ-IFN test has been carried out in GB. The ongoing field trial sponsored by Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government in Wales and the Midlands aims to measure the cost effectiveness of using the γ-IFN in infected herds in conjunction with the single intradermal comparative cervical test (SICCT) and provide some data on the γ-IFN test sensitivity under GB conditions. There are also plans in train to assess the specificity of the γ-IFN test in areas of GB with little or no incidence of TB.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) maximum and (b) minimum (i) sensitivity and (ii) specificity is of the comparative intradermal tuberculin test in the UK. [172554]
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  Mr. Bradshaw
  There is often a trade-off between sensitivity and specificity of a diagnostic test and no test is 100 per cent. sensitive and 100 per cent. specific. When used as a routine screening test in GB, the single intradermal comparative cervical test (SICCT) is designed to maximise specificity while retaining a good sensitivity.

  Statistical analysis of TB testing data suggests that the maximum sensitivity of disclosing tests is 90 per cent. and the maximum sensitivity of subsequent (short-interval) tests is 70 per cent. The average specificity of the disclosing test in low-incidence districts of Great Britain is between 99.98 per cent. and 99.99 per cent.

  When used in herds with confirmed TB, the cut off point of the test is shifted to increase sensitivity at the expense of specificity.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many studies the Government have funded in the last 15 years into the specificity and sensitivity of the Bovigam gamma interferon test; which research establishments conducted each study; what the conclusions of each study were, with reference to specificity and sensitivity; when the results of each study were drawn to the attention of(a) the chief veterinary officers and (b) Ministers; and where and when the results were published. [172556]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Bovigam test became commercially available around 1991. Since then, field research in a number of countries, including Britain, has confirmed the test to be a valuable ancillary test to the skin test. We have not conducted studies designed to look particularly at the specificity and sensitivity of the Bovigam test in the UK. However, there are nine current research projects which are looking at the development of more Mycobacterium bovis specific gamma interferon antigens or on the validation of the ones already trialled.

  Further details of these can be found in Annex 2 of the paper presented to the TB Forum on Gamma Interferon (TBF62) available on line at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/forum/papers/tbf62.htm.

  Work is continuing in the form of the policy pilot field trial. In addition, a number of peer-reviewed papers have been published in academic journals.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of combinations of specificity and sensitivity applied in countries which have a bovine TB problem, in their use of the Bovigam gamma interferon test. [172565]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The performance of the gamma interferon (γ-IFN) test (Bovigam) has been assessed by many authors in trials carried out in several countries with bovine tuberculosis (TB) problems. This research has been carefully evaluated by Defra and scientists from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

  In these trials, the sensitivity of the test has ranged between 55.4 and 100 per cent. and the specificity between 70.0 and 99.6 per cent. However, these results are influenced by the characteristics of the cattle populations in which the studies were carried out, the prevalence of cross-reacting organisms, the cut-off point

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  used to interpret the γ-IFN test and the criteria used to establish the M. bovis infection status of the trial animals (often known as the "gold standard"). It is not, therefore, straight forward to extrapolate specificity and sensitivity estimates directly from one country to another. Ideally, the performance of a diagnostic test for TB should be evaluated under the conditions and in the geographical area in which the test will be used.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has undertaken a cost and benefit analysis of the use of the Bovigam gamma interferon test. [172568]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No large-scale validation of the gamma interferon (γ-IFN) test has been carried out in GB. Although the γ-IFN test is now used in several countries, experimental data is lacking on the cost-effectiveness of using γ-IFN in infected herds in conjunction with the single intradermal comparative cervical test. Desk studies have estimated that significant savings will need to accrue from the use of the γ-IFN before it becomes cost-effective in GB. The on-going field trial sponsored by Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government in Wales and the Midlands aims to resolve this question.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice the Central Scientific Laboratory has provided to her Department on the(a) specificity and (b) sensitivity of the Bovigam gamma interferon test; and what advice it has provided on the applicability of the test as a bovine TB control measure; [172999]

  (2) what recent discussions her Department and its agencies have had with Central Science Laboratory on the practical application of its Bovigam gamma interferon test for bovine TB in cattle. [172555]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No discussions have taken place with the Central Science Laboratory on the subject of the Bovigam gamma interferon test. The Bovigam test was developed by Commonwealth Serological Laboratories Veterinary Ltd., Australia.

  British Produce
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the procurement of British-produced food by public bodies. [173682]

  Alun Michael
  A key objective of the Government's public sector food procurement initiative is to increase the amount of locally produced food purchased by public sector bodies. This cannot be done by restricting business to UK suppliers because the European Treaty prohibits discrimination on the basis of nationality. However, the legal and policy framework for procurement does allow public bodies to create a competitive environment that will encourage more UK producers to bid for public sector business.

  Public bodies are being advised to structure contract requirements so that small and local suppliers have the capacity and opportunity to compete and a realistic chance of being successful. One example is to specify
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  more fresh seasonal produce. We are also asking food service companies to develop opportunities for local producers to become, part of their supply chains.

  The scope for applying these measures will vary depending on the size and particular requirements of each public sector contract. Public bodies have an overarching duty to secure value for money and so will have to ensure that the measures they adopt to encourage more supplies of local food are proportionate and justified. Nevertheless, the Government are confident that more local produce could be supplied to the public sector through the intelligent application of procurement practice.

  More information on this initiative is given on Defra's website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/index.htm.

  Coastal Defence Strategy
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Coastal Defence Strategy. [174417]

  Mr. Morley
  Assuming the question is about the River Arun to Pagham Harbour Coastal Defence Strategy, the Department anticipates receiving submission of the Executive Summary some time in June this year. A complete submission of all documentation is anticipated within the next three months. Defra would anticipate making a response within about three months if the documentation is complete.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the final draft of the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy; how long farmers will have to comply with the requirements of the mid-term review from the date of publication; and if she will make a statement. [174271]

  Alun Michael
  On 26 June 2003,Official Report, column 1220, my right hon. Friend reported to the House on the political agreement that had been reached that morning on the Commission's proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. That agreement was subsequently given legal effect in Council Regulations 1782/2003, 1783/2003, 1784/2003, 1785/2003, 1786/2003, 1787/2003, and 1788/2003. Member states and individual farmers, where applicable, will have to comply with the requirements of those Regulations until such time as the Regulations are amended or repealed. Some provisions are already in place, for example those relating to the new Dairy Premium Scheme, but most will apply from 1 January 2005, when the new Single Payment Scheme (SPS) is introduced, and some, for example, on the Farm Advisory System, will not apply until later years. Details on these provisions appear on the Department's website (www.defra.gov.uk) and further information will be sent to farmers over the coming months in the lead up to the first application period for the SPS.

  Departmental Expenditure (Entertainment)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her latest estimate is of the amount spent by her Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [169004]

  Alun Michael
  The information for Defra is as follows:

  £

  2001–02

  1239,000

  2002–03

  1450,000

  2003–04

  1428,000

  1 Outturn.

  2 Provisional outturn.

  It should be noted that Defra only came into being in 2001. An estimate is not provided for 2004–05 since specific budgets are not set for this type of expenditure.

  The figures include expenditure on official entertainment made in accordance with the principles set out in "Government Accounting" and can range from tea and biscuits to catering for major events at which the Department—at official or ministerial level—discusses a range of issues from high-level policy issues to highly technical, legal and scientific issues. All such expenditure is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Government funding was allocated to the protection and welfare of animals in 2003–04, broken down by budget heading. [169945]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In 2003–04 a total of £9.2 million was spent on the protection and welfare of animals. This can be broken down as follows:

  Amount

  Research (£ million)

  3.6

  Enforcement (£ million)

  12.5

  Administration (£ million)

  2.2

  Scheme (£000)

  2900

  1 This does not include the cost of enforcement by local authorities.

  2 This figure includes items such as contracts with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) to support and promote animal welfare.

  Fallen Stock
  Mr. Cameron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the contribution made by hunt kennels to the disposal of farm animal carcases. [174206]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No formal assessment has been made. Hunt kennels play a useful role in disposal of fallen stock in some areas. However, overall the quantity of material collected is relatively low, and the type of 1110W
  material collected limited, when compared to that collected by the fallen stock collection and disposal industry as a whole.

  Milk
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many litres of liquid milk were imported into the UK from EU countries in each of the last five years, broken down by country of origin. [172935]

  Alun Michael
  The following table shows UK imports of liquid milk from the EU 15 member states in each of the last five years to 2003, broken down by country of despatch.

  UK imports of liquid milk from EU 15 countries, 1999–2003

  Thousand litres

  Country

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Grand total

  Irish Republic

  60,342

  60,199

  54,835

  26,233

  135,719

  337,328

  Denmark

  30,334

  25,166

  9,421

  795

  425

  66,140

  Germany

  17,078

  19,531

  11,196

  5,629

  3,888

  57,323

  France

  13,288

  8,514

  9,667

  10,299

  8,600

  50,368

  Belgium

  6,786

  6,922

  3,811

  2,345

  3,759

  23,624

  Netherlands

  3,620

  462

  919

  2,198

  1,027

  8,227

  Austria

  2,844

  1,355

  —

  —

  —

  4,200

  Italy

  114

  214

  91

  101

  70

  590

  Portugal

  —

  0

  —

  —

  40

  40

  Spain

  23

  14

  —

  —

  —

  37

  Sweden

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  EU 15 total

  134,431

  122,378

  89,940

  47,600

  153,527

  547,877

  Note:

  2003 data are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Source: HM Customs and Excise.

  Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food) Consultancy, Trade & IT, ESD, DEFRA.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Fitness Initiatives
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been(a) allocated to and (b) spent on advertising fitness and exercise initiatives in each year since 1997. [174593]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department has not allocated any specific funding to advertising fitness and exercise initiatives since 1997. However, Sport England has earmarked £250,000 from their budget this financial year to test a campaign in the North East region aimed at changing people's attitude to physical activity. The campaign will be launched on 11 June.

  National Lottery Disbursements
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much lottery money has been distributed in each year from 1997 to date to the(a) Arts Council England, (b) Arts Council of Northern Ireland, (c) Arts Council of Wales, (d) Award for All (England) Joint Scheme, (e) Community Fund, (f) Heritage Lottery Fund, (g) Millennium Commission, (h) New Opportunities Fund, (i) Scottish Arts Council, (j) Scottish Screen, (k) Sport England, (l) Sport Scotland, (m) Sports

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  Council for Northern Ireland, (n) Sports Council for Wales, (o) UK Film Council and (p) UK Sport. [174342]

  Estelle Morris
  The information is shown in the following tables.

  £

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Arts Council of England

  297,674,958.58

  234,629,859.32

  201,058,663.29

  Film Council

  —

  —

  16,056,392.23

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland

  10,489,555.03

  9,023,485.26

  8,167,170.78

  Scottish Arts Council

  32,276,810.09

  26,608,478.86

  24,245,201.60

  Arts Council of Wales

  17,972,111.62

  14,661,626.17

  13,398,079.06

  Community Fund

  366,204,936.20

  304,414,393.21

  275,486,728.98

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  370,693,625.32

  315,021,565.87

  287,593,028.02

  Millennium Commission

  402,696,027.65

  397,144,837.84

  349,839,026.64

  New Opportunities Fund

  1,553,847.62

  236,630,592.46

  302,559,277.80

  Sport England

  307,000,691.38

  255,901,294.48

  210,867,545.58

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  10,126,712.03

  8,316,253.51

  7,162,640.35

  Scottish Sports Council

  32,853,648.26

  27,439,225.26

  23,584,603.19

  UK Sport

  —

  —

  18,932,242.63

  Sports Council for Wales

  18,173,106.37

  15,053,130.74

  12,624,633.25

  Scottish Screen

  —

  —

  —

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Arts Council of England

  201,707,450.45

  207,764,719.59

  177,936,423.27

  161,048,185.71

  Film Council

  33,257,300.98

  36,272,468.66

  32,444,398.13

  28,365,460.42

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland

  9,236,419.17

  9,208,707.25

  8,543,017.15

  7,135,487.05

  Scottish Arts Council

  20,944,373.78

  23,451,472.10

  20,747,939.29

  18,157,194.45

  Arts Council of Wales

  14,679,682.54

  15,153,183.90

  13,416,816.74

  11,648,213.52

  Community Fund

  295,433,473.86

  296,124,518.56

  250,408,130.69

  223,828,328.31

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  321,858,529.67

  320,101,846.34

  291,159,343.35

  246,378,592.73

  Millennium Commission

  345,092,502.45

  123,760,547.94

  21,355,335.16

  6,254,496.64

  New Opportunities Fund

  243 244,793.24

  479,770,400.23

  418,289,289.56

  457,523,040.78

  Sport England

  226,930,617.00

  228,025,901.28

  193,744,834.69

  170,745,796.93

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  7,709,283.55

  8,004,236.17

  7,197,218.30

  6,321,925.77

  Scottish Sports Council

  25,850,263.08

  25,739,278.08

  23,337,098.97

  19,758,355.46

  UK Sport

  24,010,153.18

  25,614,739.83

  21,461,040.01

  19,985,883.40

  Sports Council for Wales

  13,910,716.32

  14,171,442.54

  12,585,730.80

  10,521,925.89

  Scottish Screen

  5,577,636.68

  3,368,609.38

  2,845,832.59

  2,563,477.41

  The figures are the income to each distributor in each year as derived from the lottery games and the income accrued on balances held.

  Awards for All (England) is a joint scheme under which Sport England, Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund, Community Fund and New
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  Opportunities Fund contribute money to single joint pot. The Awards for All (England) budget is, as such, part of the figures in the table, not additional.

  The Awards for All budget in each year was as in the following table.

  £ million

  2000–01

  39.872

  2001–02

  40.787

  2002–03

  45.026

  2003–04

  43.282

  Public Bodies (Funding)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much grant in aid funding was given to the(a) Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites, (b) Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection, (c) Advisory Council on Libraries, (d) Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art, (e) Spoliation Advisory Panel, (f), Treasure Valuation Committee, (g) Working Group on Human Remains, (h) Advisory Group on Illicit Trade, (i) Live Music Forum, (j) Review of BBC's Digital Television Services and (k) Review of BBC's Digital Radio Services in 2002–03; what the administration costs of each were in that year; and what the projected grant in aid (i) is for each in 2003–04 and (ii) will be for each in (A) 2004–05 and (B) 2005–06. [173705]

  Mr. Caborn
  English Heritage administers the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites out of its core grant in aid. The role of the secretariat passed from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) with the successful passage of the National Heritage Act 2002 and has not formed part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's administration costs since then.

  The actual and forecast cost of support to the Committee, which includes travel and subsistence and expenses for board members, is as follows:

  (a) Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites

  £000

  2002–03

  <1

  2003–04

  5

  2004–05

  1

  2005–06

  1

  The other Advisory Committees, Groups and Reviews (b-k) form part of the Administration and Research budget of DCMS; they are not recipients of grant in aid. Their administration costs are borne by the DCMS whose staff provide secretariat support, accommodation and legal advice. These costs are centrally budgeted and could be disaggregated only at disproportionate cost. Details of the Department's administration costs are published in the DCMS Annual Report 2004, Vol. 1 (CM 6220). Copies may be obtained from the Library of the House.
  1113W
  Other support to the committees (b-i), which includes travel and subsistence, expenses for board members and publications, did not exceed £100,000 in total in both years 2002–03 and 2003–04. Forecast total budgets for 2004–05 and 2005–06 are not expected to exceed £100,000 in either year.

  There was no expenditure relating the Review of the BBC's Digital Television and Radio services (j-k) in 2002–03 and 2003–04. The combined budget for these reviews in 2004–05 will not exceed £200,000.

TRANSPORT

  Civil Contingencies Bill
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether(a) port facilitiy security officers and (b) airport security officers would be counted as category 2 responders under the Civil Contingencies Bill. [170069]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Bill provides that a harbour authority within the meaning of section 46(1) of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 and an airport operator within the meaning of section 82(1) of the Airports Act 1986 would be considered as category 2 responders. It will be for them to decide on how they carry out their requirements subject to any guidance issued under the provisions of the Bill.

  Departmental Officials
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in his Department and associated agencies have initially withheld their salaries from official departmental and parliamentary publications and subsequently disclosed this information in each year since 1997. [172085]

  Mr. McNulty
  Since the Department was formed in May 2002 there have been no officials who have initially withheld their salaries from official departmental and parliamentary publications and subsequently disclosed this information.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many overseas visits have been made by management at the Driving Standards Agency in each year since 1997; and what the total cost of these visits is. [174182]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In April 2003, the Driving Standards Agency introduced an electronic system for the payment of staff travel and subsistence. This shows that during 2003–04, members of the agency's corporate management team made 28 overseas visits, at a cost of some £30,000.

  Before April 2003, travel expense claims were dealt with as paper transactions and it is not possible for the agency to identify the information easily.

  Electronic Vehicle Licensing Channels
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effects on Post Offices of setting up electronic vehicle licensing channels. [174173]

  Mr. Jamieson
  It is estimated that up to 30 per cent. of the eligible population will migrate from re-licensing at Post Office branches to electronic vehicle licensing channels by 2006–07, with this figure increasing to 35 per cent. by 2010–11. This equates to approximately 13 million fewer relicensing transactions at Post Offices in 2006–07.

  Network Rail
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the average period of the maintenance and renewals contracts let by Network Rail is; [173726]

  (2) what criteria are used by Network Rail to determine whether maintenance and renewals work should be undertaken in-house; [173727]

  (3) how much was spent by Network Rail on maintenance and renewals work (a) by external contractors and (b) in-house in 2003. [173728]

  Mr. Darling
  These are operational matters for Network Rail. Details of contracts issued by Network Rail are commercially confidential.

  Railways
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the rail projects which have involved the establishment of enhanced Companies (EnCos) since the publication of the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan. [171402]

  Mr. Darling
  None, because Enhancement Companies (EnCos) proved to be an unnecessarily complex method of involving the private sector. The preferred method now is by means of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), specially formed to take forward an infrastructure upgrade. A number of SPVs are currently under development, including that for the Chiltern Line upgrade.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the impact on his target to increase passenger volumes on the railway of the policy adopted by the Government and the Strategic Rail Authority's to thin rail services. [174073]

  Mr. Darling
  No specific assessment has been made by the Department in this area. However, the SRA's Capacity Utilisation Policy aims to make the best use of capacity on the rail network. In some instances this involves taking lightly used services out of the timetable in order to increase the resilience and reliability of the network and the services that use it. A reliable rail service is a key factor that people consider when deciding whether or not to travel by rail.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the economic impact of(a) regular commuter journeys on the railways and (b) long-distance non-commuter journeys. [174078]
  1115W
  Mr. Darling
  Advice from the Strategic Rail Authority on the value for money case for investment to enhance passenger rail services includes assessment of the economic impact of the proposal on all rail passengers.

  Road Traffic Accidents
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents took place in bus lanes in the last year for which figures are available. [175086]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The following table shows the numbers of accidents that took place in bus lanes in 2002, the latest year for which data are available.

  Number

  Fatal

  6

  Serious

  142

  Slight

  864

  Total

  1,012

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many legacy cameras have been removed in each year since 2001. [171922]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Safety Camera Partnerships are asked to review their sites on a regular basis and will take decisions on which sites should be taken out of operation on either a temporary or permanent basis.

PRIME MINISTER

  Appointments
  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make an announcement about the re-appointment of His Honour Viscount Colville of Culross QC, His Honour Colin Kolbert and His Honour John Jeremy Fordham as assistant surveillance commissioners, under section 63 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [175341]

  The Prime Minister
  In accordance with Section 63 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, I have agreed to re-appoint His Honour Viscount Colville of Culross QC, His Honour Colin Kolbert and His Honour John Jeremy Fordham as Assistant Surveillance Commissioners from 1 May 2004 until 30 April 2007 to assist the Chief Surveillance Commissioner in his duties. The remit of each Assistant Surveillance Commissioner covers the whole of the United Kingdom so that any Assistant Surveillance Commissioner can act in jurisdictions other than his or her own.

  His Honour Viscount Colville of Culross QC, His Honour Colin Kolbert and His Honour John Jeremy Fordham have served as Assistant Surveillance Commissioners since 1 May 2001.

  Assistant Surveillance Commissioners are appointed under Section 63 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Since the authorisation of intrusive
  1116W
  surveillance operations forms a key component of the Government's response to serious and organised crime, I attach considerable importance to these appointments, and I am delighted that they have accepted their re-appointment. In conjunction with Sir Andrew Leggatt, their substantial judicial experience, particularly of the criminal justice system, will provide independent oversight of surveillance operations, which although operationally important, must also be subject to stringent safeguards.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will use the British Presidency of the UN Security Council in October to ensure that the Security Council has a detailed discussion on climate change as a global security issue, using the full diplomatic resources of the UK to increase the urgency and effectiveness of global action to combat dangerous climate change; and if he will make a statement; [173306]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to include global climate change on the agenda of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in 2005, in Malta; [173307]

  (3) if he will make it his policy to include climate change on the agenda for the British Presidency of the EU in 2005. [173311]

  The Prime Minister
  As I said in my speech at the launch of the Climate Group on 27 April, climate change is the most important long-term challenge the world faces. We will therefore pursue every opportunity to raise this issue with other nations through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change process, during the UK Presidency of the EU and in other fora where this can help to further effective international action on climate change.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Correspondence
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the hon. Member for West Worcestershire will receive a response to his letter of 31 March. [174746]

  Ms Hewitt
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and the Regions and Deputy Minister for Women and Equality replied on 13 May 2004.

  End of Life Vehicles Directive
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of the consultation on the implementation of the End of Life Vehicles Directive. [174407]

  Mr. Timms
  Public consultation on the draft End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2004, to transpose the remaining provisions (Articles 5 and 7) of the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive, closed on 30 March. 65 responses were received and are being assessed. The Regulations will be presented to Parliament shortly.

  Exports (Gambia)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the number and types of UK companies(a) exporting goods to, (b) exporting services to and (c) investing capital in The Gambia since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [173441]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The total number of UK companies exporting goods, services and investing capital in The Gambia since 1997 is difficult to determine because of the poor records held and maintained by the Gambian authorities, including the Registrar General of Companies, the Department for Trade, Customs and Excise and the Gambian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Nevertheless, from enquiries made by and records held at the British High Commission in Banjul, the number of known such companies is 29. However, UK companies are not required to notify the High Commission or UK Trade and Investment that they are doing business in or with The Gambia, and consequently the list cannot be considered to be exhaustive or complete. The majority on the list are small companies operating in the service industry but also include multinationals such as British American Tobacco and Shell. Furthermore, many UK individuals, as opposed to companies, have businesses in The Gambia such as bars and restaurants.

  An indication of the volume of trade between the UK and The Gambia is shown in the following import/export statistics:

  £ million

  UK export

  UK import

  1997

  19.2

  3.1

  1998

  14.4

  2.9

  1999

  16.7

  2.8

  2000

  14.4.

  3.5

  2001

  18.5

  7.7

  2002

  16.4

  4.0

  2003

  18.96

  2.77

  Identity Theft
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Post Office is taking to minimise identity thefts within its areas of responsibility. [173054]

  Mr. Timms
  Royal Mail has a duty under condition 8 of its licence issued by the postal services regulator Postcomm to protect the integrity of mail. Security issues are taken very seriously and Royal Mail's security team is dedicated to maintaining standards through specific procedures, practices and investigations. To divulge the details of these security activities would inevitably compromise their effectiveness.

  Oil Reserves
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the current strategic reserve of(a) crude oil and (b) oil products is in the U.K. [174108]
  1118W
  Mr. Timms
  The UK does not have a strategic reserve. It meets its international stocking obligations by imposing compulsory oil stocking obligations on commercial companies. These amount to 67½ days of average daily consumption for refiners and 48½ days of average daily consumption for non-refiners. As at the end of February 2004, the UK held stocks of crude oil and petroleum products equivalent to almost 76 days of average daily consumption.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the current position on UK stocks of(a) crude oil and (b) main oil products in relation to average daily consumption. [174111]

  Mr. Timms
  As at the end of February 2004, the UK held stocks of crude oil and petroleum products equivalent to almost 76 days of average daily consumption. This is some eight days in excess of our EU stockholding obligations of 67½ days worth of average daily consumption.

  UK Trade and Investment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what commercial training or experience is required for each grade of staff of UK Trade and Investment. [172113]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: Commercial training or experience is not a specific requirement for UK Trade and Investment staff prior to recruitment. However, the organisation is committed to offering its staff a career structure in which continuous training and development opportunities are offered to enhance professionalism. All staff undertake induction courses and relevant training to enable them to meet business objectives.

  UK Trade and Investment's international trade advisers (based in Business Links) and locally engaged staff overseas also undertake associated commercial training to gain the knowledge and skills relevant to their role. Many international trade advisers and locally engaged staff have practical business experience. Staff are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to work in the private sector and in our commercial posts overseas. Those within the organisation who are from the public sector also benefit from the knowledge, skills and expertise of the private sector business experts working alongside them.

  VAT Registrations
  Albert Owen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many registered businesses were registered for VAT in(a) the UK, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) England in each year since 1996–97 [174067]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in the last quarter of 2003. The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before.
  1119W
  The following table records Barclays business creation data for England and Wales in each year since 1996:

  Business start-ups

  1996

  406,000

  1997

  415,700

  1998

  412,200

  1999

  374,400

  Stocks

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  UK

  1,629,165

  1,645,540

  1,681,335

  1,715,395

  1,736,360

  1,754,915

  1,762,355

  1,762,110

  England

  1,377,30

  1,393,070

  1,426,265

  1,458,720

  1,479,900

  1,498,425

  1,505,575

  1,505,495

  Wales

  77,545

  77,170

  77,390

  77,345

  76,905

  76,955

  76,990

  76,310

  Scotland

  120,225

  120,670

  122,260

  123,355

  123,565

  123,800

  123,980

  124,200

  Northern Ireland

  54,090

  54,635

  55,420

  55,980

  55,990

  55,735

  55,810

  56,100

  Source:

  Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Stocks 1994–2002, Small Business Service, available from www.sbs.gov.uk/statistics/vatstats.php

  VAT stocks do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

  Wind Turbines
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the effect on bird life of additional wind turbines under construction and planned. [174405]

  Mr. Timms
  Over the years, there have been a large number of studies carried out in the UK of the impact of wind farms on wildlife and in particular birds. Those studies suggest that there is a small risk of bird strikes from the operation of wind turbines, as long as they are properly sited.

  Work related to the study of birds is continuing, with DTI funded studies being carried out by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) to look at the distribution and main flight paths of seabirds including migratory, feeding/roosting patterns and their behavioural response to wind farms.

  £000

  1 Project or Sector Aid

  2 Programme Aid

  3 Technical Cooperation

  4 Aid and Trade Provision

  5 Grants Other Aid in Kind

  6 Humanitarian Assistance

  7 DFID Debt Relief

  8 Total DFID Programme

  (i) Africa

  1987–98

  36,134

  74,934

  130,816

  7,648

  60,866

  24,195

  10,419

  345,013

  1998–99

  49,565

  125,234

  144,272

  9,195

  63,430

  46,251

  8,019

  445,966

  1999–2000

  90,617

  132,140

  163,345

  2,652

  66,325

  32,001

  7,513

  494,593

  2000–01

  104,141

  245,857

  165,340

  626

  64,308

  63,425

  6,992

  650,690

  2001–02

  147,860

  161,948

  177,567

  519

  48,971

  42,755

  6,390

  586,010

  2002–03

  135,330

  151,208

  213,177

  -1,052

  92,160

  153,980

  5,414

  750,218

  (ii) Central Africa (Great Lakes)

  1997–98

  20

  —

  2,111

  —

  9,095

  4,984

  —

  16,211

  1998–99

  20

  —

  991

  —

  2,184

  4,473

  —

  7,669

  1999–2000

  19

  —

  1,307

  —

  1,463

  5,736

  —

  8,527

  1120W

  Business start-ups

  2000

  356,400

  2001

  324,800

  2002

  390,700

  2003

  465,100

  Source:

  Barclays Small Business Survey.

  The stock of businesses registered for VAT in the UK, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England at the start of each year 1996–2003, are as follows:

  In addition, no wind farm development can be undertaken without securing the necessary permissions and consents under the normal planning regime or Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. This process places a requirement on developers to consider all environmental aspects of a project, including any effects a particular development may have on the bird life in that location, and produce an Environmental Impact Assessment. These assessments are available to the public.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Aid (Africa)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much(a) financial aid and (b) aid in kind his Department has delivered to (i) Africa, (ii) Central Africa, (iii) Uganda, (iv) Rwanda, (v) Burundi and (vi) the Democratic Republic of Congo in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [173812]

  Hilary Benn
  The amount of bilateral development assistance DFID has given to Africa and the other specified region/countries is given in the following table. Financial aid (excluding the Aid and Trade Provision) comprises all expenditure in columns 1 and 2, and Aid in Kind forms part of the expenditure in column 5.
  1121W

  £000

  1 Project or Sector Aid

  2 Programme Aid

  3 Technical Cooperation

  4 Aid and Trade Provision

  5 Grants Other Aid in Kind

  6 Humanitarian Assistance

  7 DFID Debt Relief

  8 Total DFID Programme

  2000–01

  17

  —

  1,896

  —

  832

  10,203

  —

  12,946

  2001–02

  16

  —

  1,792

  —

  272

  11,085

  —

  13,166

  2002–03

  16

  —

  4,091

  —

  1,295

  25,161

  —

  30,562

  (ii) Uganda

  1997–98

  9,813

  19,145

  12,333

  —

  5,993

  657

  —

  47,941

  1996–99

  17,785

  17,000

  11,928

  —

  5,500

  360

  —

  52,574

  1999–2000

  41,467

  16,000

  17,287

  —

  5,910

  543

  —

  81,206

  2000–01

  17,826

  45,000

  15,748

  —

  7,320

  447

  —

  66,342

  2001–02

  13,974

  35,000

  14,611

  —

  4,563

  328

  —

  68,476

  2002–03

  13,846

  17,500

  15,580

  —

  5,409

  2,533

  —

  54,868

  (iv) Rwanda

  1997–98

  —

  —

  335

  —

  1,843

  4,019

  —

  6,198

  1996–99

  —

  10,000

  1,282

  —

  1,281

  1,005

  —

  13,568

  1999–2000

  —

  10,000

  2,341

  —

  784

  1,170

  —

  14,294

  2000–01

  1,052

  25,400

  5,419

  —

  837

  —

  —

  32,708

  2001–02

  1,488

  18,586

  6,212

  —

  741

  —

  —

  27,027

  2002–03

  2,348

  22,032

  6,542

  —

  1,423

  —

  —

  32,344

  (v) Burundi

  1997–98

  —

  —

  3

  —

  18

  1,580

  —

  1,602

  1996–99

  —

  —

  —

  —

  26

  298

  —

  324

  1999–2000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  203

  709

  —

  912

  2000–01

  —

  —

  —

  —

  43

  1,504

  —

  1,547

  2001–02

  —

  —

  —

  —

  64

  540

  —

  604

  2002–03

  —

  —

  65

  —

  814

  1,055

  —

  1,934

  (vi) Congo (Dm Rep)

  1997–98

  —

  —

  48

  —

  6,056

  807

  —

  6,911

  1996–99

  —

  —

  63

  —

  118

  370

  —

  552

  1999–2000

  —

  —

  49

  —

  15

  1,257

  1,322

  2000–01

  —

  —

  23

  —

  38

  3,036

  —

  3,096

  2001–02

  —

  —

  188

  —

  63

  5,307

  —

  5,558

  2002–03

  —

  —

  1,138

  —

  83

  11,650

  —

  12,871

  Note:

  Comprises expenditure for Angola, Burundi, DRC, Entrea and Somalia,

  The Government's total aid budget has doubled since 1997–98—from £2 billion to £4 billion. As the table shows, assistance to Africa has more than doubled. In the current (2004–05) financial year my Department's bilateral programme in Africa stands at £864 million and in 2005–06 we plan to spend £1.1 billion. These figures demonstrate our real and growing commitment to Africa. But it is not only the quantity of assistance that matters; quality too is vital. In order to improve the quality of aid and hence its impact we are working increasingly closely with other donors to reduce the number of individual and uncoordinated initiatives, and to ensure we use our aid to strengthen—not undermine—national planning and implementation capacity.

  Departmental Projects
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the Department's high-risk bilateral projects, referred to on page 189 of the 2004 Departmental Report, which are evaluated as(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful. [174113]

  Hilary Benn
  The high-risk projects referred to on page 189 of DFID's Departmental Report are listed on the tables below. Each DFID project is given a score ranging from 1 to 5 based on the likelihood of achieving their intended objectives. Table(a) relates to projects scored 1 and 2, table (b) relates to projects scored 3 to 5.
  1122W
  We judge projects receiving a score of 1 or 2 to be successful. Projects receiving a lower score will have achieved some of their objectives

  Table A All high risk projects with a commitment value of £ million or over evaluated as successful during 2003

  £

  Region

  Title

  Commitment

  Africa Division DFID Nigeria Nigeria

  Insecticide Treated Nets

  2,131,094

  CeP

  3,365,346

  Contraceptive Social Marketing

  14,000,000

  DFID Rwanda Rwanda

  R Revenue Authority 3

  7,218,800

  DFID Southern Africa Lesotho

  Agricultural Policy and Cap Bld

  1,200,000

  DFID Uganda Uganda

  Acholi land Conflict Reduction

  1,755,155

  DFID Zambia Zambia

  Venture Capital Fund

  1,362,000

  Asia Division DFID Bangladesh Bangladesh

  Manusher Jonno (HUGO Fund)

  16,520,000

  1123W

  DFID South East Asia

  Table A All high risk projects with a commitment value of £ million or over evaluated as successful during 2003

  £

  Region

  Title

  Commitment

  DFID South East Asia Indonesia

  Community Recovery Prog

  7,050,000

  Sri Lanka

  ICRC Programme 1998–1999

  3,500,000

  DFID Vietnam Vietnam

  Vietnam Proverty Reduction Support Credit Confinancing

  14,000,000

  Western Asia Department Pakistan

  NWFP SRSP Community infrastructure initiative

  1,120,000

  Europe, Middle East and Americas Division DFID Caribbean Belize

  Belize Southern Highway Upgrade

  1,400,000

  Belize Southern Highway Project

  7,835,000

  Guyana

  Guyana Enterprise Privatisation

  3,572,000

  DFID Russia Russian Federation

  Revitalisation of Insolvent Farms Project (RIFP)

  3,539,158

  Latin America Department

  OSI Ham Reduction

  4,200,000

  Brazil

  Plantas do Nordeste Project

  1,953,000

  Peru

  San Martin Rural Development Project

  1,515,000

  Middle East and North Africa Department West Bank and Gaza

  SCF Water and Sanitation—Jabalia

  1,190,537

  SCF Water and Sanitation—Rafash

  2,013,836

  SCF Water and Sanitation—Dura

  2,233,000

  Sanitation—Anabta World Bank NGO Project

  2,290,565

  Private Sector Infrastructure and CDC Department Africa Regional

  Africa Private Infrastructure Financing Facility (APIFF)

  70,500,000

  Table B All high risk projects with a commitment value of £ million or over evaluated as only partly achieving their purpose and output during 2003

  £

  Region

  Title

  Commitment

  Africa Division DFIP Ghana Ghana

  Sub-Vented Agencies Ref Proj

  2,300,000

  Programme Aid Grant 2002

  30,000,000

  Integrated Personnel Payroll Database Replacement Project

  1,500,000

  1124W

  Table B All high risk projects with a commitment value of £ million or over evaluated as only partly achieving their purpose and output during 2003

  £

  Region

  Title

  Commitment

  DF1D Malawi Malawi

  Economic Activities programme (EAP)

  1,490,736

  DFID Mozambique Mozambique

  Agricultural sector public expenditure programme (PROAGRi)

  1,800,000

  DFID Nigeria

  Nigeria

  Chainge Agent Programme

  1,600,000

  Nigeria Governance Fund

  2,400,000

  Slgp

  20,871,000

  DFID Southern Africa

  Sthrn Af Dev Coord Ctte

  Regional Aids Programme

  7,850.000

  DFID Zimbabwe Zimbabawe Great Lakes and Horn

  Credit for the Informal Sector Project

  1,841.000

  Department Angola

  Luanda Urban Poverty Prog

  7.471.188

  Sudan

  ICRC 2002 Appeal Sudan

  2,500.000

  West Africa Department Sierra Leone

  MRC Tonkolili

  1,195,000

  Sierra Leone—Security Sector Programme

  2,030,100

  Asia Division DFID Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladesh

  SHAPLA: Public/Private Partaership

  2.300.000

  SHAPLA: Organisation and Management Development

  5,265.000

  SHAPLA: WB Time Slice Funding

  25,000,000

  Rural Hygiene, Sanitation and Water Supply

  27,250,000

  SHAPLA: Human Resources Planning and Development Project

  1.405000

  Parliamentary Committees

  2,077.554

  SHAPLA: Hospital Management

  3,300,000

  Reforms in Revenue Admin (RJRA)

  5.550.000

  Proshika Phase VI

  23,000,000

  DFID China China

  HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care(TC)

  8,217.100

  HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care(FA)

  11.682.900

  DFID India India

  Madhya Pradesh Technical Assistance for Power Sector Reform

  10.000.000

  AP Power Sector Restructuring Project

  28,000.000

  DFID Nepal Nepal

  Achham Poverty Reduction Project—J1B1KA

  2,150,000

  Hill Agriculture Research Project

  11,661.000

  1125W

  Table B All high risk projects with a commitment value of £ million or over evaluated as only partly achieving their purpose and output during 2003

  £

  Region

  Title

  Commitment

  DFID South East Asia

  Indonesia

  Multistakeholder Forestry Programme

  25.160.000

  Pakistan

  Social Action Prog 2

  50.000.000

  Europe, Middle East and America Division

  DFID Caribbean Guyana

  Guywa Technical Cooperation Water Authority Twinning Project

  1,125,000

  Guyana Water Supply and Rehabilitation Project

  3.870.000

  DFID Russia Russian Federation

  Samara ST1s including Togliam

  1,000,000

  Tuberculosis (TB) treatment training programme in Tomsk

  1.426,224

  Europe and Central Asia Department Bosnia

  Public Broadcasting

  3.710.000

  Private and Sector Infrastructure and CDC Department Non Specific Country

  Public/Private Partnership for the Urban Environment (PPPUE)

  3.614,000

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will publish his assessment of the reasons for the decline referred to on page 190 of the 2004 Departmental Report on the number of low-risk departmental projects evaluated as successful. [174118]

  Hilary Benn
  The number of low risk projects judged as likely to be successful was reported as 75 per cent. in DFID's Departmental Report, against a baseline of 81 per cent. This increased to 78 per cent. in the first quarter figures for 2004.

  The figure gives a forecast of success for projects of £1 million or more that have been in operation for at least two years. It fluctuates on a quarterly basis because it is recording work in progress and is a 12-month snapshot view on a particular date reflecting those projects that meet the above criteria. The decline was caused by a small number of successful projects ending and therefore graduating from the scoring system.

  We will continue to report both the underlying data, and our assessment of it, in our Autumn Performance Report and in the annual Departmental Report.

  Efficiency Reviews
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will publish the outcome of the rolling programme of efficiency reviews referred to on page 190 of the Departmental Report 2004. [174112]
  1126W
  Hilary Benn
  In addition to the information in DFID's Departmental Report, DFID will make a report covering all aspects of DFID's efficiency programmes available on our public website in the autumn. This will incorporate plans under development in response to the Government's Efficiency Review.

  Electronic Applications
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reasons the Service Delivery Agreement target to provide 100 per cent. capacity to receive and process electronic applications from UK offices by 2003 has not been met. [174139]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  As indicated in Annex 3 of DFID's 2004 Departmental Report, the introduction of a Human Resource (HR) Integrated Management System in DFID has initially focused on the payroll and data base elements. Now that these modules have been successfully introduced complimentary e-recruitment systems will be considered and introduced in 2004. The facility to receive full details of vacancies and return application forms on line already exists through the civil service recruitment gateway and DFID websites.

  Iraq
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the trauma caused to children in Iraq from(a) the coalition invasion and (b) the continuing violence; and what assistance his Department is providing to mitigate trauma in Iraqi children. [174374]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID's support for the health sector in Iraq, including psychosocial support, is being channelled through the multi-donor Trust Fund managed by the United Nations. The work of the UN in this area will focus on the provision of technical assistance for the development of mental health and psychosocial support services at the primary level. DFID has made an initial contribution of £30 million to the UN Trust Fund.

  DFID has not undertaken an assessment of the levels of trauma suffered by children in Iraq, but such an evaluation is planned by the UN as part of the World Health Organisation's mental health plans.

  Trade Negotiations
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will publish the evidence base referred to on page 189 of the 2004 Departmental Report that aims to underpin pro-poor UK/EU trade negotiating positions. [174114]

  Hilary Benn
  The evidence based referred to is not a single document but includes the numerous pieces of research already published, commissioned or in the pipeline. DFID is putting together a research matrix detailing issue specific research projects funded by the Department to inform the development of pro-poor trade policies, and I will write to the hon. Gentleman very shortly with more details.

  Yemen
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid was given to Yemen in each of the last five years; and what plans he has to increase such aid. [R] [173746]

  Hilary Benn
  Total aid from all donors to Yemen in each of the last five years for which OECD DAC figures are available was:

  $ million

  Amount

  1998

  370

  1999

  458

  2000

  265

  2001

  461

  2002

  584

  DFID has provided the following aid to Yemen in each of the last five financial years:

  £ million

  Financial year

  Amount

  1999–2000

  1.49

  2000–01

  2.73

  2001–02

  2.58

  2002–03

  5.44

  2003–04

  16.55

  1 Estimate

  The amount for 2000–01 includes a one off payment of £1.52 million for pensions, and for 2002–03 a one off payment of £3.16 million for Paris Club debt relief.

  DFID's share of European Community (EC) spending in Yemen from 1997–2001 was around £7 million; we have also contributed through the World Bank and the United Nations (UN).

  The aid framework for DFID's programme in Yemen is increasing to £5.9 million for 2004–05 and £9.9 million for 2005–06. I will be considering allocations for future years in the light of the Government's Spending Review later this year, and progress with the Yemeni Government's use of our existing aid. The UK is also arguing for an increase in EC spending in Yemen, as the only low income country in the region.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Emergency Services' Communication Systems
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far advanced Government plans are to ensure that police, ambulance and fire services communications systems are able to be used underground. [174679]

  Ms Blears
  The fire service and the British Transport Police already have radio communication facilities in the London Underground. Work commissioned by the Home Office has confirmed the feasibility of extending the new Airwave radio system to the London Underground. The implementation phase is currently under discussion. The new underground system is scoped to accommodate police, ambulance and fire requirements.

  Speed Cameras
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was raised from speed cameras located at motorway construction and repair sites during 2002–03. [169940]

  Caroline Flint
  Information on the amount of revenue generated by speed cameras or camera location is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from(a) police authorities, (b) fire and rescue authorities and (c) health service trusts concerning the administrative costs of dealing with the paperwork generated by the contravention by their vehicles on emergency calls of speed limits captured on speed cameras. [173809]

  Caroline Flint
  None.

  We are, however, aware of the difficulties which may arise. Home Office officials have already had very useful discussions with the Department of Health and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) with the aim of minimising the, level of bureaucracy involved.

  Animal Research
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information his Department collects on assaults on those working in animal research during the course of their work. [170857]

  Caroline Flint
  It is not possible from the information collected centrally by the Home Office to identify whether a victim of crime works in animal research. However, from regular discussions from the police and industry, we are aware that one individual who works in animal research was physically assaulted in 2001. The Government are working closely with the police and other criminal justice agencies to ensure a proper response to harassment of people working in this area.

  Animal Rights Protesters
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to meet the members of Victims of Animal Rights Extremism. [172623]

  Caroline Flint
  I have not been invited to meet members of the Victims of Animal Rights Extremism, but I would be happy to meet them to discuss their concerns.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to establish a specific police unit for dealing with criminal activity connected to animal rights protesters. [172624]

  Caroline Flint
  The Home Office is funding a new unit which has recently been set up to provide a tactical coordinating role for the policing of extremist protests.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) arrests and (b) convictions there have been for criminal activity connected to animal rights protesters in each year since 1999; [172636]
  1129W
  (2) how many animal rights protesters who have been convicted of criminal activity have been given a custodial sentence in each year since 1999. [172641]

  Caroline Flint
  It is not possible from the information collected centrally by the Home Office to identify whether a defendant is an animal rights protestor. However, we understand from the police that there were 117 arrests of animal rights activists during the first four months of 2004 compared with 15 arrests during the same period in 2003. The Home Office is working with the police and other agencies to improve availability of information in this area.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list visits made by each Minister in the Department to animal rights groups since 1997. [172640]

  Caroline Flint
  Home Office Ministers have not made any visits to extremist groups involved in the harassment and intimidation of individuals or companies licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

  Home Office Ministers are, however, willing to meet groups prepared to engage in reasoned debate and discussion about the use of animals in scientific procedures, whatever their point of view, provided they do not support extremist activity. Ministers have, therefore, met groups involved with the protection of animals, such as the RSPCA, as well as groups opposed to animal experimentation, such as the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, the National Anti-Vivisection Society, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Uncaged Campaigns. Animal Aid and Naturewatch, and organisations seeking humane alternatives to animal experiments, such as the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments.

  Similarly, Ministers have met a wide variety of industry and science groups with an interest in the use of animals in scientific procedures, including Amicus MSF, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, the Association of Medical Research Charities, the BioIndustry Association, the BioSciences Federation, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Institute of Animal Technicians, the Japanese Pharmaceutical Group, the Laboratory Animals Breeders Association, the Laboratory Animals Science Association, the Laboratory Animals Veterinary Association, the Medical Research Council and the Research Defence Society

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans there are to make(a) harassment, (b) intimidation and (c) terrorism against companies, or conspiracy to carry out these acts, specific offences; [172642]

  (2) what plans there are to change the law relating to harassment, with particular reference to harassment by animal rights protesters. [172643]

  Caroline Flint
  It is a key part of the Government's strategy in tackling animal rights extremism to identify new legislative powers where needed. Police must have the right powers to do the job, but legislation needs to be accompanied by robust enforcement.
  1130W
  There is a range of legislation currently available to deal with extremism. We recently made changes to strengthen police powers to deal with intimidatory protests and office occupations in Anti Social Behaviour Act.

  We are looking carefully at what further changes might be made to strengthen police powers to deal with protests outside someone's home and protecting companies from harassment.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to provide funds for the protection of businesses targeted by animal rights protesters. [172644]

  Caroline Flint
  The Home Office has provided the police with additional funding to assist with additional costs arising from animal rights protests. The Home Office is also funding a new unit to co-ordinate the tactical response to extremism.

  Burglary
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglaries per 1,000 households there have been in the Metropolitan Police Authority area in each year since 1999; and what the detection rate each year was for domestic burglaries. [170491]

  Ms Blears
  The available information is given in the table:

  Recorded offences of burglary in a dwelling in the Metropolitan Police District

  Number of burglaries per 1,000 households

  Detection rate (%)

  1999–2000

  28.6

  9.4

  2000–01

  25.2

  9.9

  2001–02

  26.6

  9.3

  2002–03

  24.0

  11.8

  Note:

  Figures for 2002–03 will have been affected by the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard on 1 April 2002.

  CCTV
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public funding has been spent on CCTV cameras in Blackpool, South since 1997. [173062]

  Caroline Flint
  Since 1997, the Home Office has provided £737,350 to Blackpool for CCTV schemes.

  Allocation of that funding locally, is a matter for Blackpool Borough Council and Lancashire Constabulary. The information is not held centrally.

  Counter-terrorism
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role officials from(a) his Department, (b) the Home Security Services and (c) members of the Joint Terrorism Control Unit played in the simulation exercise to counter nuclear-armed terrorists carried out at the NATO headquarters

  1131W
  on 4 May; and what assessment he has made of its applicability to situations in the United Kingdom. [172313]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  Officials from the Cabinet Office represented the UK Government at a seminar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Brussels on 3 May. In total, over 55 officials and experts from 15 countries and half a dozen international bodies were present at the event.

  The seminar addressed issues associated with the terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction in Europe, and focussed on the means by which terrorists might be prevented from acquiring and using such weapons.

  The Government already has an extensive programme to develop our ability to manage threats posed by terrorism. This includes regularly-reviewed preparations to deal with the consequences of a Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear (CBRN) attack. The Government also takes seriously the threat posed by poorly secured CBRN material, and has worked with others to improve security in countries holding such material.

  Crime (Manchester)
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in(a) overall recorded crime, (b) recorded violent crime, (c) burglaries and (d) vehicle thefts in Manchester, Central has been since 1997. [174277]

  Ms Blears
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Manchester, Central is a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. Data at CDRP level has only been published from 1999–2000 onwards. Detailed statistics at CDRP level are available for 2002–03 on the new Home Office website: http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk

  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the home Department what the percentage change in(a) overall recorded crime, (b) recorded violent crime, (c) burglaries and (d) vehicle thefts in Manchester, Blackley has been since 1997. [172891]

  Ms Blears
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Blackley comes within the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership's (CDRP) in the Greater Manchester area. Data at CDRP level has only been published from 1999–2000 onwards. Detailed statistics at CDRP level are available for 2002–03 on the new Home Office website: http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in(a) overall recorded crime, (b) recorded violent crime, (c) burglaries and (d) vehicle thefts in Sittingbourne and Sheppey has been since 1997. [170288]

  Ms Blears
  The information requested is not available centrally.
  1132W
  Sittingbourne and Sheppey lies within the Swale Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. Data at CDRP level has only been published from 1999–2000 onwards. Detailed statistics at CDRP level are available for 2002–03 on the new Home Office website: http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk

  Cyclists
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice the Government offers(a) the police and (b) transport authorities about cyclists cycling on pavements. [165964]

  Caroline Flint
  Chief officers of police are best placed to assess the nature and cause of cycling offences locally.

  To help the police with enforcement we have made it possible for Community Support Officers (CSOs) appointed under the Police Reform Act 2002 to issue £30 fixed penalty notices for cycling inconsiderately or irresponsibly on pavements.

  The cycling infrastructure and environment are currently under improvement as a result of our National Cycling Strategy. We expect this improvement to reduce the incentive to cycle on the pavement.

  Dangerous Driving
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to require drivers to display(a) insurance and (b) MOT documentation on their car windscreens; and if he will make a statement. [169069]

  Caroline Flint
  We have no current plans to require drivers to display insurance or MOT documentation.

  Driving without insurance or MOT are, however, serious offences and we are determined that they should be tackled effectively

  We appointed Professor David Greenaway of the University of Nottingham to carry out an independent review of motor insurance arrangements in the UK and to advise on how to improve its effectiveness and reduce uninsured driving. Professor Greenaway has just presented his report and we shall be studying it carefully with a view to appropriate action as soon as possible.

  The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency are intending to establish in 2004–05 an MOT database. This will enable the police to query MOT status details immediately from the roadside and make enforcement easier.

  Diesel Spillages
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers of diesel vehicles have been prosecuted for overfilling fuel tanks not fitted with non-spill fuel caps, which then caused dangerous diesel spillages, in each of the past three years. [168626]

  Caroline Flint
  Available information held centrally on prosecutions does not include the circumstances of the offence so that offences involving fuel spillages cannot be distinguished from other offences within the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 group of offences.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answers of 4 May 2004,Official Report, column 1398W, and 12 May 2004, Official Report, columns 351–52W, on driving licences, if he will obtain from the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency an estimate of the number of people who have five points or more on their driving licence. [173995]

  Caroline Flint
  I understand from DVLA that such an estimate could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 10 May, reference 169445, how many people lost their driving licence under section 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (penalty points system) in each year since 1990. [174120]

  Caroline Flint
  Information, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, is given in the table.

  Number of persons disqualified1 under section 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (penalty points system) by type of court, England and Wales, 1990–2002

  Type of court

  Magistrates court

  Crown court

  Total all courts

  1990

  33,017

  275

  33,292

  1991

  26,705

  146

  26,851

  1992

  29,194

  121

  29,315

  1993

  31,824

  43

  31,867

  1994

  33,128

  21

  33,149

  1995

  31,652

  262

  31,914

  1996

  31,006

  427

  31,433

  1997

  30,939

  181

  31,120

  1998

  23,695

  170

  23,865

  1999

  34,146

  64

  34,210

  2000

  33,497

  57

  33,554

  2001

  30,004

  75

  30,079

  2002

  30,336

  162

  30,498

  1 The Home Office Court Proceedings Database does not identify the individual offence under which the disqualification on reaching 12 points within three years was ordered by the courts.

  Drug Testing
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his statement of 14 January 2004,Official Report, column 279WH, on drug testing, which organisation trained the Drug Action Team (DAT) nominated trainers; what the cost was to the Home Office; what the lengths and the dates were of the training courses which the DAT nominated trainers undertook; who accredited the courses; for how many companies the DAT nominated trainers have helped to write drug policies; how the trainers have advertised their availability to train companies; what budget has been allocated to this advertising; and how the Home Office is evaluating the effectiveness of the new DAT nominated trainers. [161186]

  Caroline Flint
  188 nominated Drug Action Team (DAT) business trainers from 149 DATS have been trained by an independent training company chosen by the Home Office Business Engagement Team and Hertfordshire DAT. In total, 15 training days took place across the country and the overall cost of training,1134W
  plus the production of a 'Drugs in the Workplace Training Pack' has been approximately £270,000. This came from confiscated asset fund monies that were successfully bid by Kent and Hertfordshire DAT. The training courses so far have not been accredited but plans are being considered for the training to be accredited by the accrediting body City and Guilds.

  In total 74 workplace policies have been introduced into companies by DAT business trainers. The way the DAT business trainers have advertised their service varies from DAT to DAT and region to region. As a first approach, DAT business trainers are encouraged to use their network and approach safety critical companies in their area. Other ways of targeting include direct marketing and organising business breakfasts, lunches and seminars to highlight to employers the importance of a drug and alcohol workplace policy. To date there has not been a budget allocated to DATs to promote the workplace policy service however, for those DATs that need additional funding there are a number of funding programmes that Government Office Drugs Teams facilitate. The Home Office as part of Phase 3 (March-December 2004) of the National Workplace Initiative plans to evaluate each of the 74 companies workplace policies. This evaluation will in principle be qualitative and focused on improving services and understanding the usefulness of the policy in the workplace. After this, evaluations at a local level will be down to each DAT.

  Heroin
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK heroin market of changes in poppy production in Afghanistan over the past two years; and if he will make a statement. [168724]

  Caroline Flint
  According to the annual UN surveys the poppy crops in Afghanistan in 2002 and 2003 were 74,000 and 80,000 hectares. The change does not appear to have had any appreciable effect on the market in the UK.

  Emergency Services (Insurance Cover)
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what insurance cover is provided, and by whom, for members of the emergency services who are called out to terrorist incidents. [173514]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 18 May 2004] Emergency service employers make provision for their employees and their dependants in the event of death or injury on duty. The details of such provision are a matter for employers.

  Firearms
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2004,Official Report, column 531W, on firearms legislation, when his Department intends to publish the review of firearms legislation. [170093]

  Caroline Flint
  The consultation paper was published on 12 May.

  Internet Auction Sites
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the National Hi Tech Crime Unit will investigate cases of fraud associated with internet auction sites. [166356]

  Caroline Flint
  The National Hi Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) investigates serious and organised computer-enabled criminality at national and international levels within or which impacts upon the UK. Individual cases of fraud associated with internet auction sites do not fall within their remit, and such investigations remain the responsibility of local police forces.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change he has made in the police grant to take account of the enforcement of the ban on using mobile phones while driving. [173557]

  Ms Blears
  No additional government grant has been made available specifically for this policing activity, which is less demanding on police resources than previous arrangements.

  We have put significant extra resources into the police service in England and Wales over the last few years. Since 2000–01 total provision for policing to be supported by grant or spent centrally on services for the police has risen by over 30 per cent. or £2.3 billion.

  North London Mosque
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost has been of policing the meetings outside the North London Mosque on Fridays(a) on average per meeting and (b) in total. [169780]

  Ms Blears
  The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis informs me that in general no additional policing costs have been incurred in routine policing of the meetings. The officers used to police the meetings have been drawn from non-operational staff in police support roles. This approach has ensured that there has been no reduction in the number of officers on Response Teams.

  On a few occasions, demonstrations opposed to the meetings have required additional police resources. The Metropolitan Police Authority would be expected to meet any extra costs from its £2.3 billion budget.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of whether the Friday meetings outside the North London mosque are(a) political demonstrations and (b) religious services; and if he will make a statement. [169792]

  Caroline Flint
  The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis tells me that prayers take place during the Friday meetings outside the North London mosque and it is policed accordingly.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the target time period is for entering 1136W
  records on the police national computer in relation to (a) arrests and summonses and (b outcome of court proceedings. [173776]

  Ms Blears
  At present, police forces in England and Wales operate to standards set by the Association of Chief Police Officers, as follows:arrest/summons reports—90 per cent. within 24 hours of the event.
  court results—100 per cent. within 72 hours of receipt from the courts.

  Performance standards have been under review, and a code of practice under the Police Reform Act 2002 has been drafted and circulated for comments. The final code will be published in the near future.

  Policing (North Wales)
  Albert Owen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community support officers are operating in the North Wales police force. [174066]

  Ms Blears
  On 30 April 2004, eight Community Support Officers were employed by North Wales Police.

  Positive Futures Initiative
  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Positive Futures initiative in(a) reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training and (b) reducing substance misuse among participants. [172825]

  Caroline Flint
  Positive Futures has an ongoing national monitoring and evaluation strategy that aims to identify and establish the value that both the national programme and individual projects have for participants and the communities in which they live.

  (a) Reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training.

  Approximately 20,000 young people are engaged with the 107 projects at present. Of these, in the previous six months:
  over 2,400 have made some kind of educational achievement (e.g. returned to education, doing better in school, improved school attendance);
  nearly 600 have secured a job or are now looking for a job1;
  over 1,500 project participants have achieved some form of training or award (e.g. sports/leadership awards, Duke of Edinburgh, drugs education)2.

  Source:
  1 MORI (figures from a minimum base of 83 projects)
  2 MORI

  (b) Reducing substance misuse among participants.

  As a sport and activity based social inclusion programme, Positive Futures creates opportunities to address the multiple issues associated with problematic substance misuse. It is targeted at marginalised young people in the 10–19 age range living in the most deprived communities, who are at increased risk of involvement in problem drug use and crime.
  1137W
  Substance misuse prevention work offered by Positive Futures projects includes:
  drop-in surgeries, often with specialist advisors on hand;
  one-to-one sessions;
  leaflets/literature;
  informal advice through sport, e.g. staff will adapt sessions to focus on fitness and healthy lifestyles. This creates opportunities to address drugs and alcohol issues.

  During March 2004 around 200 front-line Positive Futures staff across the country received comprehensive substance misuse training as part of the programme's Workforce Quality Initiative.

  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the Positive Futures initiative has been in each year since its launch. [172826]

  Caroline Flint
  The table shows the total amount of government funding allocated by the Positive Futures programme to local projects for each financial year, since its launch in 2000.

  Financial year

  Total government fielded project grants (£)

  2000–01

  545,000

  2001–02

  2,915,000

  2002–03

  2,295,000

  2003–04

  6,085,000

  2004–05

  5,200,000

  Notes:

  1. For 2000 and 2003 the figures include funds from the Home Office, Sport England, the Communities Against Drugs fund and the Recovered Assets Fund. From 2003–04 onwards the Home Office funded the total cost of project grants.

  2. 2000 to 2003—these figures have been approximated to financial years as Sport England originally allocated funding in variable 'project years'.

  3. From 2003–04 onwards there was:

  An extension of the programme to include 17 to 19-year-olds, with a focus on links to education, training and employment. Additional funding to projects in the top 30 high crime Basic Command Unit areas (BCU).

  4. From 2004–05 onwards there was a reduction in the core grant to established projects from 100 per cent. to 60 per cent. while support was given to identifying and negotiating gap funding. The programme has secured support from a range of local and national organisations, including £1 million per annum from the Football Foundation for new projects. Local projects have individually secured additional partnership funding ranging from £10,000 to £150,000.

  5. In addition to the project grant costs shown in the table, the programme also incurs some central costs associated principally with monitoring and evaluation, communications and the training and development of project staff. Estimates of these costs are not available for all the years shown in the table. However, for 2004–05 the total central costs are expected to be approximately £0.5 million.

  Charles Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been provided to voluntary youth organisations through the Positive Futures initiative in each year since its launch. [172827]

  Caroline Flint
  Records held about Positive Futures projects classify their lead delivery agency as either statutory or non-statutory. 55 per cent. of 107 Positive Futures projects currently operating have a non-statutory lead delivery agency.
  1138W
  The table shows the amount of government funding that has been allocated to non-statutory agencies for Positive Futures projects since the programme began in 2000.

  Funding (£)

  2000 to 20031

  2,350,000

  2003–04

  956,000

  2004–05

  2,565,000

  1Figures for 2000 to 2003 have been amalgamated because during this period Sport England allocated funding in variable 'project years'.

  Sexual Offences
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to repeat the Spiked initiative. [171026]

  Caroline Flint
  The Spiked campaign is an educational film which raises awareness of drink and drug related sexual assault. It is not a Home Office initiative, and no direct funding has been made available by the Home Office. Funding totalling £9,275 was provided to support the project from the Drugscope Millennium Awards Scheme. It was initiated by an independent film maker based in Hertfordshire and there has been some take up in other local areas, but this has not been organised by the Home Office.

  Solvent Abuse
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has commissioned into the extent of solvent abuse by children. [169063]

  Caroline Flint
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Children, on 29 April 2004,Official Report, column 1273W.

  Terrorism
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who would be responsible for meeting the cost of temporary mortuaries in the event of a large-scale terrorist attack. [170067]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Section 198 of the Public Health Act 1936 states that local authorities may or shall, if directed to do so by the Minister, provide a public mortuary. Additionally, Section 27 of the Coroners Act 1988 sets out that county councils and lead boroughs in metropolitan areas are responsible for providing support to coroners.

  However, we recognise that a large-scale terrorist attack could have the potential to overwhelm existing local or regional mortuary capacity.

  We are issuing national guidance shortly on dealing with fatalities in emergencies. Following publication, we will be working with the regions, devolved administrations, local responders and specialists to review existing levels of national capacity and to consider a framework for a national response. The guidance will he updated in light of this work.
  1139W
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy, in the event of a large-scale terrorist attack that affected several counties, to establish a helpline for concerned family members to gain information about relatives. [170068]

  Mr. Blunkett
  In the event of a terrorist incident affecting several counties the Metropolitan Police Service would respond to any request from the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Home Office or from other UK Police Forces, to open the Central Casualty Bureau.

  Each UK Police Force will have a Casualty Bureau but in the event that several counties were affected by a major terrorist incident, obviously it would be expected that the Central Casualty Bureau would be opened.

  The Casualty Bureau provides a central contact point and is set up to deal specifically with missing persons, survivors, evacuees and witnesses involved in the incident. It is designed to receive and collate information relating to the incident.

  If approached, the Central Casualty Bureau may also be opened for foreign events involving British subjects, as it has previously.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Fine Collection
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps his Department is taking to improve collection rates of fines. [174010]

  Mr. Leslie
  Driving up performance in the collection of fines is a key priority in increasing confidence in the Criminal Justice System. That is why I announced last June my action plan to deliver significant improvements. A wide range of initiatives have been delivered or are planned. These include:The piloting of new enforcement tools and measures included in the Courts Act 2003
  the introduction earlier this year of a policy of no longer writing off fines;
  the introduction from April 2004 of a new incentives package for enforcement teams;
  direct support for poorer performing magistrates courts committees (MCCs) through targeted intervention;
  "Operation Payback", a national blitz on outstanding warrants which raised £630,000 during the week commencing 22 March and will be repeated later in the year; and
  improving the information available to MCCs when offenders are difficult to trace.

  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will set targets for percentage collection rates of fines imposed by the courts for(a) the current year and (b) each of the next two years. [174011]

  Mr. Leslie
  As a result of the progress made in 2003–04, with the payment rate in the final quarter at 76 per cent. against the target of 75 per cent., I have set 1140W
  a new national payment rate target for 2004–05 at 78 per cent. This will sustain the performance improvement achieved to date and build on it.

  Performance during 2004–05 will inform decisions to be taken on targets for future years.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Development International
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the annual running costs of Scottish Development International were over the last three years; and how much inward investment has been attracted and how many new jobs have been created over this period. [174721]

  Mrs. McGuire
  As this is a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive, the Scotland Office does not hold any information on the financial or operational performance of Scottish Development International.

  Information relating to Scottish Development International is also available on their website, at www.scottishdevelopmentinternational.com.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Community Housing Task Force
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people work in his Community Housing Task Force; what their average salary is; and how many are(a) civil servants and (b) consultants. [174099]

  Keith Hill
  There are a total of 16 people working in the Community Housing Task Force. The average salaries for the twelve senior advisers who support local authorities, tenants and other stakeholders across the country is £44,032; salaries for the head of the task force is £79,288 pa and the average salaries for three support staff is £26,497. There are 13 civil servants and three advisers on secondments arrangements from local authorities and the National Housing Federation. There are no consultants working in the task force.

  Mobile Homes
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will review the way in which the Valuation Office Agency assesses mobile homes for council tax purposes. [174971]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Mobile homes are not in themselves subject to council tax, but liability may arise in respect of the land on which the mobile home stands. Most mobile homes pitches which are subject to council tax are rated at band A. The 2001 White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" recognised that council tax bands are not fine grained enough to reflect differences in value at the bottom end of the property market and noted the concerns of mobile home owners about this. This issue has been further considered by his Balance of Funding Review. The Government have
  1141W
  announced that work on a council tax revaluation will start in 2005, with council tax bills based on updated property values issuing in 2007.

  Ahead of revaluation the Government will listen to the views of taxpayers and local authorities about council tax bands to help inform the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's decisions on future band structure.

  Housing (North-east Lincolnshire)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public money per council property

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05

  North East Lincolnshire

  Management and maintenance

  8,129,578

  8,045,574

  8,412,641

  8,770,557

  10,430,125

  Major repairs

  —

  4,785,687

  4,837,178

  4,792,778

  4,807,644

  Charges for capital

  4,271,913

  3,926,612

  3,724,527

  3,940,902

  2,656,856

  Other items of reckonable expenditure

  40

  43

  46

  46

  42

  Tenant Participation Compacts

  17,874

  18,692

  —

  —

  —

  Resource Accounting

  43,903

  45,887

  —

  —

  —

  ALMO allowance

  —

  —

  0

  0

  0

  PFI allowance

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Admissible allowance

  —

  —

  —

  —

  45,051

  Anti-social behaviour allowance

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,000

  Negative subsidy transitional measures transfer allowance

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Assumed expenditure in HRA subsidy

  12,463,308

  16,822,495

  16,974,392

  17,504,283

  17,940,718

  Stock for subsidy calculations

  9,481

  9,378

  9,278

  9,146

  8,973

  Assumed expenditure per dwelling

  1,314.56

  1,793.83

  1,829.53

  1,913.87

  1,999.41

  Kingston upon Hull

  Management and maintenance

  29,060,826

  29,046,493

  27,783,703

  29,494,830

  38,976,355

  Major repairs

  —

  17,621,940

  16,267,665

  16,602,040

  15,982,654

  Charges for capital

  20,363,712

  19,478,339

  17,656,181

  16,807,405

  12,775,370

  Other items of reckonable expenditure

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tenant Participation Compacts

  37,563

  40,098

  —

  —

  —

  Resource Accounting

  124,647

  130,254

  —

  —

  —

  ALMO allowance

  —

  —

  0

  0

  0

  PFI allowance

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Admissible allowance

  —

  —

  —

  —

  16,463

  Anti-social behaviour allowance

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,000

  Negative subsidy transitional measures transfer allowance

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  Assumed expenditure in HRA subsidy

  49,586,748

  66,317,124

  61,707,549

  62,904,275

  67,751,842

  Stock for subsidy calculations

  37,127

  36,097

  32,595

  33,309

  31,957

  Assumed expenditure per dwelling

  1,335.60

  1,837.19

  1,893.16

  1,888.51

  2,120.09

  Sources:

  Claim Forms 0004, 0104, 0204, 0302, 0401

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what common design, lay-out and publicity services were provided by his Department for the literature, the formal consultation document and the videos distributed to tenants in different recent large scale voluntary transfer campaigns were so similar to each other. [174635]

  Keith Hill
  Annex O of the Housing Transfer Manual 2003 Programme contains good practice guidance on producing consultation material which is based on feedback from tenants who have gone through the transfer process. Authorities should take into account specific local circumstances in their consultation material but as they are all consulting on transferring stock there will inevitably be similarities in presentation.
  1142W
  has been allocated to (a) Hull and (b) Grimsby in each year since 2000–01; and what the projected total is for 2004–05. [174634]

  Keith Hill
  The table shows the expenditure allowances within Housing Revenue Account Subsidy for north east Lincolnshire and Kingston upon Hull for 2000–01 to 2004–05.

  The allowances include the funding provided to meet the costs of past and new borrowing carried out to finance renovation and improvement work. It is also open to authorities to fund such work from their own resources, for example from capital receipts. Decisions on this are for individual authorities to take in the light of local priorities.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the fact that 44 per cent. of eligible tenants have voted to give away the council housing stock of north-east Lincolnshire is a sufficient mandate for transfer. [174660]

  Keith Hill
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister cannot grant consent to a housing stock transfer if it appears that the majority of tenants are opposed to it. 64.98 per cent. of tenants in north-east Lincolnshire participated in the ballot and 67.3 per cent. of those who voted were in favour of the transfer. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister considers that a simple majority of those voting being in favour is sufficient to indicate tenant support for a transfer.

  Renewal Areas (Physical Activity)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress his Department's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has made on developing a toolkit for delivering sport and physical activity in renewal areas; and if he will make a statement. [173707]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to launch a multi-agency toolkit showing how best to deliver sport and physical activity in renewal areas on its good practice website, renewal.net. in summer 2004.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has spent on sport and physical activity, and who has received grants from that spending, broken down by(a) year and (b) region. [173709]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is unable to provide a breakdown of how much its Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has spent on sport and physical activity.

  The NRU does not allocate funding specifically for sport and physical activity, but funding can be used in this way to meet local priorities in delivering the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people live in areas that are exempt from stamp duty on properties up to the value of £150,000, broken down by local authorities in England. [174464]

  Keith Hill
  The selection of areas eligible for stamp duty exemption was based on the 15 per cent. most deprived wards in England as determined by the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 (IMD 2000). This index was based on ward boundaries in existence in April 1998. Using the IMD 2000 there are just over 11 million people living in these wards. A table with the breakdown of this population by local authority district has been made available in the Library of the House.

  Thames Gateway
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made by the Thames Gateway Strategic Executive with the Environment Agency on the production of working maps of environmental and flooding constraints for the zones of change in the Thames Gateway; and when he expects these maps to be published. [174360]

  Keith Hill
  In the Thames Gateway and elsewhere, the Environment Agency provides local planning authorities with information on flood risk for use in local planning processes. In summer 2004 the Environment Agency will be issuing local planning authorities with flood zone maps, which show the different zones of flood risk as set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 25 on 'Development and Flood Risk'. These flood zone maps will be incorporated into the Flood Map on the Agency's website in the autumn. Updates to the Flood Map (which also includes information on flood defences) will be provided to local planning authorities every three months.
  1144W
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with the Environment Agency on the management of flood risk in the Thames Gateway. As elsewhere, new development is expected to comply with guidance on flood risk as set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 25. In addition, all Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's funded local delivery vehicles in the Thames Gateway zones of change are required to ensure the production of flood risk assessments for their area so that the appropriate siting and design of development is considered. Where we are funding individual projects in the Thames Gateway this will also be conditional on an appropriate flood risk assessment being carried out.

CABINET OFFICE

  Emergency Communications Network
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has(a) to upgrade and (b) to modernise the Emergency Communications Network. [172750]

  Mr. Alexander
  Departmental officials are currently exploring options for modernising Emergency Communications.

  EU Regulations
  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the EU regulations which have taken effect in the UK since May 1997; and which such regulations have subsequently been(a) revised and (b) repealed. [171440]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  Based on the records in the Official Journal of the European Union (copies available in the Library of the House) we assess that the number of EC, ECSC and Euratom Regulations made was as follows:

  Number

  1997

  2,339

  1998

  2,852

  1999

  2,802

  2000

  2,882

  2001

  2,600

  2002

  2,125

  2003

  2,176

  We also assess that the number of EU directives issued was as follows:

  Number

  1997

  85

  1998

  109

  1999

  100

  2000

  91

  2001

  83

  2002

  159

  2003

  134

  All the data covers the period from December (of the preceding year) to November of that year inclusive.
  1145W
  The number of regulations subsequently revised and repealed is not held centrally and it would incur disproportionate costs to supply such a figure.

WALES

  Early Retirement
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff in his Department took early retirement, and at what total cost, in the last financial year. [171866]

  Mr. Touhig
  None.

  Education Maintenance Allowance
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the National Assembly for Wales the procedure for applying for Education Maintenance Allowance. [173110]

  Mr. Touhig
  The National Assembly Wales are currently collaborating with the Northern Ireland Office on a single delivery system for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for both countries.

  The introduction of EMAs in Wales is following the success of the pilot schemes in England and Scotland over the last three years. Wales and Northern Ireland will now join the scheme on a common basis for the UK. The criteria and eligibility for young people throughout the UK wishing to apply for the EMA is already available on the DfES website, and is outlined in the Assembly Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning's press notice of 27 April.

  Although full details of the workings of the Welsh system are not yet available, they will be in place in time for young people aged 16 starting full-time education in September this year.

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the National Assembly for Wales the timetable for enabling people in Wales to apply for Education Maintenance Allowance. [173111]

  Mr. Touhig
  The Assembly Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning announced on 27 April the introduction of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in Wales for the academic year starting in 2004.

  The Assembly is currently working on their system for the delivery of EMAs for young people in Wales aged 16–19 and aims to have detailed information on their website as soon as possible. Young people will be able to apply when they return to their chosen education path in the new academic year in September.

  Welsh Development Agency
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the annual running costs of the Welsh Development Agency were over the last three years; and how much inward investment has been attracted and how many new jobs have been created over this period. [174722]
  1146W
  Mr. Hain
  The Welsh Development Agency provides this information in its latest annual report. A copy of which can be found on its website at www.wda.co.uk.

DEFENCE

  Falklands War
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether veterans of the Falklands War will be eligible for grants under the 'Hero's Return' scheme to enable them to return to the Falkland Islands to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the War. [173788]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 17 May 2004]: The 'Heroes Return' scheme is part of a special lottery programme called Veterans Reunited, set up to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the events that led to the end of the Second World War. For this reason, only veterans of the Second World War and their widows are eligible. It is too early to say whether there will be similar programmes in the future to commemorate other conflicts.

  Geneva Convention
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to make service personnel aware of the provisions of the Geneva Convention. [173007]

  Mr. Hoon
  All Service personnel are made aware during their initial training of the provisions of the Geneva Conventions in respect of the treatment of Protected Persons (including Prisoners of War). This training is reinforced during specialist and career courses.

  Before deployment on operations the Permanent Joint Headquarters directs that any capability offered by the three Services must meet the pre deployment training standards laid down in the relevant mounting instruction. This requires all personnel to undergo training in the Law of Armed Conflict; and applies equally to regular and non-regular Service personnel.

  In view of the particular nature of the Army's operational role it is mandatory for its personnel to receive Law of Armed Conflict training annually. Since August 2003, the Army has implemented additional cultural training to enable commanders and units to understand the cultural and social differences of other countries. From October 2003 combat units in the Army were mandated to provide eight to 10 Senior Non Commissioned Officers trained in Prisoner of War handling, thereby providing a trained pool of instructors and specialist supervision. Those specialist elements of the Army (such as the Military Provost Staff) who are responsible for carrying out routine handling of detainees conduct further specialist training covering such aspects of their role.

  MOD Land
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the Department acquired rights over land and foreshore not owned by, or leased to the
  1147W
  Department in Scotland in the period of (a) 1980 to 1990, (b) 1990 to 2000 and (c) 2000 to the present; and if he will make a statement. [173440]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Ministry of Defence has consistently utilised the expertise of professional Estates Advisors who work within Defence Estates to undertake negotiations with land owners to secure rights over land and foreshore where there has been an operational military requirement to do so. These rights are formalised in legal agreements usually known as "Minutes of Agreement" or similar.

  Special Investigation Branch
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Special Investigation Branch files recommendations for proceedings have not been acted upon in the past year. [172867]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Royal Military Police (Special Investigations Branch) do not make recommendations for proceedings. At the conclusion of any Royal Military Police investigation a report, together with supporting evidence, is submitted to the appropriate Commanding Officer and to the Army Legal Services.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the latest strength against establishment of the Territorial Army is, broken down by(a) unit and (b) location; [174590]

  (2) what the size of the Territorial Army was in each of the last five years; and what his estimate for each of the next three years is. [174591]

  Mr. Caplin
  Figures for the strength and establishment of the Territorial Army (TA) by unit and location are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The current strength of the TA, as at 1 March 2004, is 36,900 (including 2,760 mobilised reservists) against an establishment of 41,900.

  For historical information on the strength of the TA, I refer the hon. Member to Tri-Service Publication 7 (TSP 7), which is available from the House of Commons Library, or through the Ministry of Defence website. Forecasts of projected strength are not available.

  Iraq
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether the activities of(a) UK and (b) Coalition forces in Iraq fully comply with the Geneva conventions; and if he will make a statement. [171635]

  Mr. Ingram
  The provisions of the Geneva conventions underpin the missions and activities carried out by the United Kingdom and their Coalition partners in Iraq. Any credible suggestions that the UK forces have not observed the provisions of the conventions are investigated and appropriate action is taken.
  1148W
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women(a) have been detained by the UK military since the occupation of Iraq began and (b) are being detained by the UK military in Iraq. [172699]

  Mr. Hoon
  Since the occupation of Iraq began, UK Armed Forces have interned one woman in Iraq who posed or was likely to pose a threat to Coalition Forces. As of 16 May 2004, no women were being detained by UK Armed Forces.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for(a) the Red Cross and (b) other aid agencies to visit Iraqi detainees held by United Kingdom military forces. [172904]

  Mr. Hoon
  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has unrestricted access to the UK detention facility in Shaibah. The ICRC are the recognised international authority for visiting and checking on conditions of detainees, internees, prisoners of war and any other persons held.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when ministers first read the International Committee of the Red Cross draft report on Iraqi prisoners delivered in February. [172995]

  Mr. Hoon
  Defence Ministers first read the International Committee of the Red Cross's (ICRC) report of the Treatment by the Coalition Forces of Prisoners of War and other Protected Persons by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during Arrest, Internment and Interrogation, dated 10 February 2004, over the weekend of 8/9 May.

  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the age of the(a) youngest and (b) oldest Iraqi (i) man and (ii) woman being held in United Kingdom-run prisons in Iraq is. [173999]

  Mr. Hoon
  Of internees held by United Kingdom forces in Iraq, as at May 15, the oldest was 68 and the youngest 18 years old. There were no female internees.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2004,Official Report, columns 1480–81W, on Iraq, what the total cost was of all surveys conducted over the last 12 months; what further surveys have been conducted since those disclosed to the hon. Member for North Norfolk subsequent to the answer; and if he will place copies of each in the Library. [174334]

  Mr. Caplin
  Information on the totality of quantitative and qualitative surveys carried out by the Ministry of Defence and its agencies and non-departmental public, bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in the Financial Year 2003–04 the total cost of external corporate-level public opinion surveys undertaken by Ministry of Defence was £86,450.62 (including VAT). This includes expenditure on survey work carried out in late 2002–03 but not paid for until Financial Year 2003–04. This figure is provisional and subject to final audit.

  No further surveys have been conducted subsequent to my answer of 31 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1480–81W

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  College Funding
  Clive Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is his policy that funding for 16 to 18-year-olds in colleges should match that provided to schools. [173895]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Rob Marris) on 14 May 2004,Official Report, column 623W.

  Adult Community Learning
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 4 May 2004,Official Report, column 1414W, on the adult community learning budget, when he will write to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West giving the details of the adult and community learning budget for each English local authority area. [175077]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Further to my reply of 4 May 2004,Official Report, column 1414W, I have written to the hon. Member separately, as promised, to provide him with the details of the adult and community budget for each English local authority area expressed (a) in cash terms and (b) per head of population.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the number of 14 to 16-year-olds that will register for young apprenticeships in each of the next three years. [173748]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We estimate that 1,000 pupils will participate in the Young Apprenticeship programme from September 2004. It is our intention to rapidly accelerate the number of places in year two.

  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department will take to ensure the(a) young apprenticeship, (b) apprenticeship and (c) advanced apprenticeship schemes are successful in recruiting and retaining trainees. [173749]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  For young apprenticeships, the strategy is to set high quality standards, offer attractive learning opportunities alongside the statutory curriculum and ensure that recruits have good means of support for the duration of the programme. First, we have set demanding entry criteria for both the candidates and the partnerships that want to participate in the programme. Second, recruits will have every incentive to complete the programme as they will gain worthwhile skills, experience and qualifications as well as more training opportunities. Third, the programme will provide generous funding as well as comprehensive advice and support from partners such as the Sector Skills Councils. Finally, we believe the programme will meet an unmet need and will therefore prove itself popular among the recruits.
  1150W
  For apprenticeships post 16 accurate initial assessment by the Learning and Skills Council working with the Connexions Service will ensure that young employees are placed on the programme most appropriate to their training need. In addition the LSC published its 'Quality Improvement Strategy to 2006' in February 2004. This sets out how the LSC will set out to improve training provider performance including the setting minimum performance levels. Where these are not met the LSC will withdraw contracts from providers. We are looking to SSCs to work with the LSC to raise levels of employer engagement in apprenticeship programmes.

  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial incentives will be available to(a) apprentices and (b) employers providing (i) young apprenticeships, (ii) apprenticeships and (iii) advanced apprenticeships; what the cost to the public purse will be of incentives to (A) apprentices and (B) employers in the next three years; and whether those costs will be met from his Department's existing budgets. [174037]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  As we announced on 10 May 2004, financial incentives for apprentices and employers are being reviewed as part of a range of reforms to ensure apprenticeships are fit for purpose and meet employers' needs. Decisions are subject to subject to post-Spending Review allocations and announcements will be made when appropriate.

  Attitude Surveys
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what surveys of public perceptions of(a) his Department, (b) schools and other education institutions and (c) teaching unions have taken place over the last 12 months; what the (i) title and (ii) nature of these surveys was; what the findings of each survey were; where these findings have been published; what the cost of all such surveys was; and if he will place copies of the surveys in the Library. [174339]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  [holding answer 18 May 2004]: In the past 12 months my Department has contributed to the British Social Attitudes Survey and commissioned a survey of public perceptions of education.

  The British Social Attitudes Survey is an annual independent survey on a range of issues which is managed by the National Centre for Social Research. The Department contributes to a module of questions around education and skills issues. The Department's contribution to the survey in 2003 cost £62,700. Findings are published by the National Centre for Social Research in hardcopy and on their website and results for 2003 are due to be published in November 2004.

  The Public Perception of Education Survey is an annual survey commissioned by the Department that asks the public's view of the education service nationally. It was last carried out in November 2003 and cost £51,140. The findings will be published on the Department's internet site in June 2004 and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Timber
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether his Department plans to contribute financially to the establishment of the second phase of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber. [167627]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Agri-environment on 10 May 2004,Official Report, column 31W. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are the lead Department for the central point of expertise on timber procurement and will be consulting with my Department to determine objectives and resources required.

  Class Sizes
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how average class sizes have varied in the last 20 years in England. [171314]

  Mr. Miliband
  A table showing how class sizes have changed over the last 20 years has been placed in the House of Commons Library. This shows an overall rise in the size of primary school classes between 1984, when the average class contained 25 pupils, to a peak in 1998 of 27.8. Primary class sizes have fallen steadily from 1999 to 2004, with the average class now containing 26.3 pupils.

  The average secondary class contained 20.9 pupils in 1984, peaking in 2000 at 22.2, and falling to 21.8 in 2004.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Wirral, South were taught in classes of more than 30 pupils on the latest date for which figures are available. [173627]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 14 May 2004]: Tables giving the requested class size information for all parliamentary constituencies have been placed in the House of Commons Library. Final figures for 2003 and the latest provisional figures for 2004 have been provided. Further details on the 2004 provisional figures on class sizes by local education authority can be found on http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000457/index.shtml.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many undergraduate dentists started university degrees in each year since 2001, broken down by university. [157357]

  Alan Johnson: The available information is given in the table.

  Intakes to English dental schools. 2001/02 to 2003/04

  Academic Year

  University Dental Schools

  2001/02

  2002/03

  2003041

  Birmingham

  73

  77

  76

  Bristol

  55

  58

  60

  King's College London

  150

  168

  151

  Leeds

  61

  65

  59

  Liverpool

  57

  56

  66

  Manchester

  79

  87

  90

  Newcastle

  70

  70

  72

  1152W

  Intakes to English dental schools. 2001/02 to 2003/04

  Academic Year

  University Dental Schools

  2001/02

  2002/03

  2003041

  QMW (Barts & The Lordon)

  68

  61

  78

  Sheffield

  59

  69

  72

  Total England

  672

  711

  724

  1 Provisional until November 2004 when a finalised figure will be declared.

  Source:

  Higher Education Funding Council for England.

  Figures do not include intakes to Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish Dental schools, which are the responsibility of the devolved administrations, although students from these institutions will be eligible to work in England.

  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Stockton South were taught in classes of more than 30 on the latest date for which figures are available. [171478]

  Mr. Miliband
  Tables giving the requested class size information for all parliamentary constituencies have been placed in the House of Commons Library. Final figures for 2003 and the latest provisional figures for 2004 have been provided. Further details on the 2004 provisional figures on class sizes by local education authority can be found on http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000457/index.shtml

  Education Funding
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skill how many children in Oldham, West and Royton were taught in classes of more than 30 on the latest date for which figures are available. [170917]

  Mr. Miliband
  Tables giving the requested class size information for all parliamentary constituencies have been placed in the House of Commons Library. Final figures for 2003 and the latest provisional figures for 2004 have been provided. Further details on the 2004 provisional figures on class sizes by local education authority can be found on http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s00457/index.shtml.

  Education Services
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Blackpool, South(a) in each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available. [173068]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table gives the numbers of full-time equivalent teaching assistants in maintained schools in Blackpool. South constituency in January of each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which data are available.

  Teaching assistants

  1997

  130

  1998

  150

  1999

  160

  2000

  180

  1153W

  Teaching assistants

  2001

  240

  2002

  140

  2003

  290

  Source:

  Annual School Census.

  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Bootle were taught in classes of more than 30 on the latest date for which figures are available. [172679]

  Mr. Miliband
  Tables giving the requested class size information for all parliamentary constituencies have been placed in the House of Commons Library. Final figures for 2003 and the latest provisional figures for 2004 have been provided. Further details on the 2004 provisional figures on class sizes by local education authority can be found on http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/000457/index.shtml

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary school teachers, (b) secondary school teachers and (c) education support staff there were in Tamworth constituency in each of the last 10 years. [173280]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table gives the full time equivalent number of teachers and support staff in maintained primary and secondary schools in Tamworth constituency in each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which constituency level data are available. Information is not available prior to 1997.

  Teachers

  Support staff

  Primary

  1997

  370

  120

  1998

  360

  140

  1999

  370

  150

  2000

  360

  160

  2001

  360

  190

  2002

  370

  190

  2003

  360

  220

  Secondary

  1997

  360

  60

  1998

  360

  70

  1999

  350

  80

  2000

  360

  80

  2001

  360

  90

  2002

  370

  100

  2003

  380

  100

  Source:

  Annual School Census.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Tamworth constituency(a) in each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available. [173282]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table gives the numbers of full-time equivalent teaching assistants in maintained schools in Tamworth constituency in January of each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which data are available.
  1154W

  Teaching assistants

  1997

  110

  1998

  120

  1999

  140

  2000

  140

  2001

  170

  2002

  150

  2003

  210

  Source:

  Annual School Census.

  Education Statistics
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost per pupil of education in(a) primary school, (b) secondary school and (c) sixth form in the Borough of Havering was in the last academic year for which figures are available. [169948]

  Mr. Miliband
  My Department collects financial data according to the financial year. The available information is provided in the following table for the financial year 2002–03:

  Net current expenditure per pupil—2002–03

  £

  Primary education

  2,740

  Secondary education

  3,810

  Notes:

  1. The financial data are taken from Havering LEA's section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES. Section 52 is collected on a financial year basis and not an academic year basis. 2002–03 data are subject to change by the LEA. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

  2. The outturn 2002–03 tables captured the data in a fundamentally different way to the previous years. Categories were aligned with the Consistent Financial Reporting framework and the spending by LEAs was no longer split by school sector. Consequently the unit costs per pupil in 2002–03 are not strictly comparable with earlier years as they include an apportionment of LEA expenditure based on pupil numbers.

  3. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEA.

  4. The NCE per pupil figures for primary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained primary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained primary schools sector.

  5. The NCE per pupil figures for secondary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained secondary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained secondary schools sector and includes those secondary schools with sixth forms. Separate figures cannot be calculated for costs of sixth forms.

  6. Pupil data are drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.

  Sarah Teather
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistant posts there have been in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Brent in each year since 1997; and what the average figures for (i) English borough councils and (ii) London boroughs were in each year. [172812]

  Mr. Miliband
  Teacher assistants are not available at borough council level. The following table gives the numbers of full-time equivalent teaching assistants in maintained schools in Brent local LEA, the average
  1155W
  number in London LEAs and in all LEAs in England. The figures are as at January of each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which data are available.

  Brent

  London average

  England average

  Nursery and Primary

  1997

  160

  170

  270

  1998

  200

  180

  280

  1999

  230

  200

  300

  2000

  250

  240

  340

  2001

  300

  310

  420

  2002

  330

  320

  460

  2003

  350

  370

  530

  Secondary

  1997

  10

  20

  50

  1998

  10

  20

  60

  1999

  30

  20

  70

  2000

  30

  30

  80

  2001

  40

  50

  100

  2002

  60

  60

  130

  2003

  60

  70

  150

  Source:

  Annual School Census.

  Medical Students
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the estimated intake in medical schools in Great Britain is in each of the next three years. [173430]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 18 May 2004]: The available figures from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) are given in the table. Data are given for English medical schools only. Allocation of places for Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish medical schools is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

  Target1 medical school intakes to English institutions, 2004–06

  Academic year

  Target intake

  2004/05

  5,777

  2005/06

  5,894

  2006/07

  5,894

  Target figures cover UK and overseas domiciled students.

  Source:

  HEFCE

  Postgraduate Students
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average expenditure per postgraduate student was in(a) the UK, (b) the US and (c) the OECD in the last year for which figures are available. [174132]

  Alan Johnson
  International comparisons of expenditure on higher education cover all 'tertiary' education which includes both under and postgraduate study. The OECD's "Education at a Glance 2003" gives figures for the year 2000, the latest year for which comparable figures are available. It shows expenditure per higher education student per year in the UK was US $9,657, above the OECD average (US $9,571). Expenditure per student was highest in the USA (US 1156W
  $20,538). At current rates of exchange, equivalent figures in sterling are: UK £5,461, OCED £5,413 and USA £11,615.

  Prison Education
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills why the Offenders' Learning and Skills Unit cancelled the re-tendering exercise for prison education contracts due to take place this year; what the cost of this exercise was; and when the unit will next be seeking bids for prison education contracts. [172424]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Ministers took the decision to cancel the re-tendering exercise on the basis that it was no longer the most appropriate method of delivering provision. This decision was based on a number of key changes in the offender learning and skills environment:The creation of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the introduction of new sentencing arrangements which offer an important opportunity to refocus work in this field and to improve coherence of offender learning across the custodial system and into the community;
  Central Government initiatives to free resources for front line delivery and to reallocate operational responsibilities between government and partners and
  The need to reap the skills and workforce benefits of closer partnerships between key agencies such as Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council, and the desire to bring offender learning and skills into the mainstream of post-16 provision.

  The Offenders' Learning and Skills Unit is now working with these partners towards a phased introduction of a new integrated service by developing prototypes in up to three regions or areas. These prototypes will inform the development of comprehensive proposals for a national delivery framework for offender learning and skills, so that from the summer of 2005 we can move towards a new delivery partnership led by the LSC.

  In the meantime, officials are negotiating extensions to existing contracts from September 2004 as we develop the new service, with minimal changes to avoid disruption.

  The total cost to my Department of the re-tendering and re-contracting project up until the change in policy was £346,000. The majority of this would have been spent anyway in conducting policy development and administration, but it also includes professional, legal and technical advice specific to the project. Money spent on the latter has not been wasted as there will still be improvements to the delivery of prisons education, just not via a tendering exercise. Indeed, the main output of this project was a detailed specification for the new future service delivery; this was a valuable investment, as with some tailoring, this will form the key input to our new approach.

  Pupil Funding (Preston)
  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in Preston in each of the last seven years. [168134]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than districts within an
  1157W
  area. Preston is a district of Lancashire local education authority. The information for Lancashire LEA is as follows:

  Net current expenditure per pupil

  Pre-Primary Education

  Primary Education

  Pre-primary and primary

  Secondary Education

  Special

  1996–97

  n/a

  n/a

  1,800

  2,590

  15,990

  1997–98

  n/a

  n/a

  1,820

  2,630

  17,320

  1998–99

  n/a

  n/a

  2,000

  2,700

  17,770

  1999–00

  7,130

  2,110

  2,170

  2,760

  18,490

  2000–01

  11,030

  2,330

  2,440

  2,910

  18,770

  2001–02

  16,390

  2,630

  2,800

  3,230

  20,600

  2002–03

  —

  2,900

  —

  3,400

  —

  Notes.

  1. The financial data are taken from Lancashire LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's ROI statement previously. Figures up to and including 1997–98 figures are for Lancashire LEA prior to local government reorganisation. From 1998–99 onwards parts of Lancashire LEA became Blackpool and Blackburn LEAs. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section52 outturn statement in 1999–2000. 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance.

  2. The outturn 2002–03 tables captured the data in a fundamentally different way to the previous years. Categories were aligned with the Consistent Financial Reporting framework and the spending by LEAs was no longer split by school sector. Consequently the unit costs per pupil in 2002–03 are not strictly comparable with earlier years as they include an apportionment of LEA expenditure based on pupil numbers. 2002–03 data is subject to change by the LEA. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  3. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEA.

  4. The NCE per pupil figures for pre-primary and primary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in the pre-primary sector and maintained primary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained nursery and primary schools sector.

  5. The NCE per pupil figures for secondary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained secondary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained secondary schools sector.

  6. The NCE per pupil figures for special schools relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained special schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained special schools sector.

  7. Pupil data are drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.

  Regional Assemblies
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which functions and responsibilities would be transferred from his Department to elected regional assemblies where they are established. [172755]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The aim of elected assemblies is to ensure that regional functions are carried out effectively and better reflect the needs of the religion. Assemblies will also play an important role in supporting delivery of the Department's skills agenda, specifically in three key areas: (i) the assembly will appoint two members to the Boards of each local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in its region, one of whom will have a business background, and will be consulted on other appointments; (ii) the national LSC will be under a statutory duty to consult assemblies on its guidance to the local LSC; and (iii) local LSCs will be obliged to have regard to the strategies of the ERA; and will be under a1158W
  statutory duty to consult the assembly on their plans for the local area, in the same way that RDAs are consulted now (a statutory requirement under the Learning and Skills Act 2000).

  Schools (South Ribble)
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary school children in South Ribble were taught in classes of more than 30 on the latest date for which figures are available. [171664]

  Mr. Miliband
  Tables giving the requested class size information for all parliamentary constituencies have been placed in the House of Commons Library. Final figures for 2003 and the latest provisional figures for 2004 have been provided. Further details on the 2004 provisional figures on class sizes by local education authority can be found on http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000457/index.shtml

  Selective Admissions
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils there were in years seven to 11 in(a) grammar, (b) modern and (c) comprehensive schools in each local authority retaining a selective admissions system in each of the last four years. [172377]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 19 May 2004]: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils in maintained(a) grammar and (b) non-selective schools in each local authority retaining a selective admissions system were (i) eligible for free school meals, (ii) statement and (iii) from ethnic minorities in each of the last four years. [172378]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 19 May 2004]: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Social Sciences
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what(a) financial assistance and (b) grants his Department offers students undertaking postgraduate degrees in social sciences. [174131]

  Alan Johnson
  Research awards to postgraduate students in the social sciences are awarded on a competitive basis by the Economic and Social Research Council, funded by the Office of Science and Technology. Research council awards include increased tax free stipends (from £9,000 for 2004–05 to £12,000 by 2005–06) to cover living expenses.

  Post graduate students, regardless of discipline, are not eligible for student loans and grants. They are free to apply for a Career Development Loan, a scheme which is administered by my Department. Postgraduates with a disability are able to receive assistance for specialist equipment, for example, as well as additional travel and non medical help costs through

  1159W
  Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs), up to a maximum of £5,370 in academic year 2003/04 and £5,500 in 2004/05.

  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking to widen participation in postgraduate study of social sciences. [174133]

  Alan Johnson
  The Government are investing significant sums in widening access to higher education. This will have the additional benefit of increasing the supply of potential postgraduate students, including students in the social sciences. The increased funding available for science and research, (up £1. 25 million by 2005/06 compared to 2003/04) will also expand the opportunities for research across all disciplines. Financial support for postgraduate study is available through the Career Development Loan Scheme which is administered by my Department.

  Surplus School Places
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills under what powers local education authorities may be required to reduce the number of surplus places in schools. [173100]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 14 May 2004]: Under Schedule 7 to the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Secretary of State may direct a local education authority (LEA) to bring forward statutory proposals where there is, or is likely to be, an excess of school places. If the LEA does not publish proposals or if the proposals are time expired, Schedule 7 allows the Secretary of State to publish his own proposals. Both types of proposal fall to be considered by the School Organisation Committee (SOC) or schools adjudicator if the SOC cannot reach a unanimous decision. The powers granted to the Secretary of State under Schedule 7 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 have never been used.

  Teachers
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if he will make a statement on the methods used to allocate initial teacher training places to each subject; [174563]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the number of initial teacher training places allocated to religious education. [174564]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 20 May 2004]: The allocation of undergraduate and postgraduate teacher training places in England by phase and subject is informed by the outputs of the Teacher Supply Model. Details of how the model works may be found in the paper "Teacher Supply and Demand Modelling: A Technical Description", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  On 27 December last year, I announced that, for 2004/05, 730 training places would be available for religious education, 30 more than in the current year. These do not include places on employment-based training programmes.

  Teaching Assistants
  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants were employed in schools in(a) Leeds and (b) Elmet constituency for each year since 1996. [173392]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 14 May 2004]: The following table shows the full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants employed in all maintained schools including non-maintained special schools in Leeds local education authority for each January since 1996 and for Elmet constituency in each January since 1997. Information is not available at constituency level prior to 1996.

  Leeds LEA

  Elmet

  1996

  1,470

  —

  1997

  1,570

  180

  1998

  1,680

  190

  1999

  1,670

  190

  2000

  1,790

  220

  2001

  1,950

  220

  2002

  2,390

  260

  2003

  2,480

  290

  Source:

  Annual Schools Census

  Transport Workers (Centres of Excellence)
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many centres of excellence for transport workers have been established since 1997. [174155]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 18 May 2004]: Since 1997 20 Centres of Vocational Excellence have been established covering the transport sector and associated engineering sectors. These include logistics, automotive engineering and rail industry engineering.

  Truancy
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children played truant at least once from,(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency. [167565]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Universities
  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the rate of return on each subject studied at each university. [172109]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department does not conduct a formal cost-benefit assessment, or rate of return, to university qualifications by subject or by institution.

  However, the Department has commissioned research to estimate the earnings benefits of different degree subjects. Table 1 shows the estimated percentage wage premium by subject over and above someone with A levels alone.
  1161W

  Table 1: Wage benefits to HE by subject1

  Percentage

  Subject

  Women

  Men

  Languages

  20

  4

  Health

  24

  23

  Nursing

  12

  10

  Science

  7

  11

  Maths

  19

  22

  Engineering

  11

  18

  Architecture

  21

  10

  Economics

  20

  23

  Law

  24

  23

  Education

  2

  -3

  Social science

  4

  6

  Arts

  -2

  -8

  Combined

  5

  11

  1Source:

  Analysis provided by Ian Walker and Yu Zhu, from data used in their research: "The Returns to Education: Evidence from the Labour Force Surveys—DfES research report No.313.

  Recent research evidence has also found up to 44 percentage point differences in average graduate earnings depending on the institution attended.1

  1 Conlon and Chevalier (2000) Financial Returns to Undergraduates and Tuition Fees, CIHE.

  Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adults achieved an NVQ level 2 or equivalent qualification in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [172977]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: Table 1 shows the number of NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) and OVQs (Other Vocational Qualifications), at level 2, achieved by adults in each year since 1997/98. Data are for England and are taken from the National Information System for Vocational Qualifications (NISVQ).

  Table 1: The number of level 2 qualifications1 achieved by adults2, in England, 1997/98 to 2001/02

  Thousand

  NVQs

  OVQs

  Total level 2 awards

  1997/98

  171

  58

  229

  1998/99

  161

  65

  226

  1999/2000

  167

  76

  243

  2000/01

  152

  96

  247

  2001/02

  139

  79

  218

  1NVQ figures are based on information relating to all awarding bodies that award NVQs. OVQ data are for City and Guilds, OCR and Edexcel only.

  2Adults are defined as those who are academic age 18 or over. Academic age is age of the person at the start of the academic year e.g. in 2001/02 age would be calculates against 31 August 2001.

  Source:

  NISVQ

  Youth Education
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to answer of 13 May 2004, ref 171718, if he will make it his policy to publish data for 16 to 18-year-olds participating in education, training and employment by ethnic group. [174336]
  1162W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Annual population estimates are not available by ethnic group and hence the published participation rates for 16 to 18-year-olds in education, training and employment cannot be broken down by ethnic group, as they use population estimates as the denominator to calculate the percentages.

  However, each of the separate sources used to produce the numbers of 16 to 18-year-olds in education and LSC funded work based learning (WBL) do publish information by ethnic group, though not specifically for the 16–18 ages. These are available on the departmental website for those in schools; in HE institutions; and in LSC funded further education and work based learning.

  Information on the labour market status of young people comes from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which also supplies the numbers in non-college based employer funded training (EFT) and other education and training (OET). Due to sample sizes, LFS numbers cannot be broken down by ethnic group for single years of age.

  Some information is also available on the Departmental website from the Youth Cohort Study, for single years of age. This is a sample survey of school pupils monitoring their transition from school to further (then higher) education or to the labour market and is not directly comparable with the participation rates.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Bribery
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2004,Official Report, column 837W, on bribery, how many reports of concerns of bribery registered by UK companies about foreign competitors have been made by his Department to foreign governments since February 2002. [174267]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no record of having received any approaches since February 2002 as a result of concerns registered by UK companies about foreign competitors; and has not therefore had any reports to pass to foreign governments.

  British Prisoners Overseas
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on behalf of how many British citizens in prison outside the United Kingdom he has discussed their cases since 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [174121]

  Mr. Rammell
  Ministers frequently raise cases of British nationals detained overseas, with foreign governments, where it is appropriate to do so. However, such statistics are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty
  Harry Cohen
  To ask Secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2004,Officals Report, column 541W, on the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty,

  1163W
  what representations he has received from Russia about the Adaptated Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty; for what reasons the enlargement of NATO went ahead without an agreement for the continuance of a CFE Treaty; whether the new NATO states were required to give a commitment to join a CFE Treaty; whether they have given such a commitment; what commitments on (a) restraint on troop numbers and (b) build-ups NATO has given in the absence of an agreed CFE Treaty; and if he will make a statement. [173386]

  Mr. MacShane
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Bill Rammell) discussed CFE issues with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Chizov during their meeting in Moscow on 6 April 2004.

  The Adapted CFE Treaty (ACFE) cannot come into force until it has been ratified by all States Party. To date only three States have done so: Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Ratification by NATO Allies is delayed by continued Russian failure to meet the political commitments entered into at the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Summit, in relation to their presence in Georgia and Moldova. Until the ACFE is ratified, the 1990 CFE Treaty remains in force.

  There is no link between NATO Enlargement and accession to the CFE Regime. However we welcome the stated intention of all the new Allies involved to seek accession to the ACFE once the Treaty has entered into force.

  Investigations in Foreign Jurisdictions
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates in the last two years(a) his Department and (b) UK diplomatic posts abroad have given advice to law enforcement agencies about pursuing investigations in foreign jurisdictions; and which jurisdictions that advice concerned. [174006]

  Mr. Rammell
  Staff in many departments within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have frequent contact with UK law enforcement agencies on a range of issues and covering different foreign jurisdictions. In addition there are over 140 Law Enforcement Liaison Officers based in UK diplomatic missions overseas. These officers are in daily contact with UK law enforcement agencies in the course of their work which includes giving advice about investigations. To list all such contacts for the last two years would incur disproportionate costs.

  Iran
  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Iranian authorities concerning human rights, with particular reference to religious liberty. [173759]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary frequently raises our grave concerns about Iran's human rights record, including restrictions on religious freedom, with the Iranian authorities,1164W
  including the Iranian Foreign Minister. The EU as a whole has raised cases of religious persecution in Iran through an EU Human Rights dialogue with Iran.

  Iraq
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what status of forces agreement is proposed for Iraq following the proposed transfer of sovereignty; whether it will be different from that currently pertaining; whether the private security forces and other quasi-military personnel contracted to Coalition forces operating in Iraq will(a) be covered by it and (b) be subject to any form of control by the proposed new Iraqi administration; what plans he has for a new United Nations resolution which would cover the status of forces including private and quasi-military contractors; and if he will make a statement. [172281]

  Mr. Rammell
  The precise new arrangements for the Multinational Force and private security companies operating in Iraq after the transfer of sovereignty are being discussed. We expect a new United Nations Security Council Resolution to endorse the future role of the Multinational Force.

  Middle East Peace Plan
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the international community will ensure that the future Palestinian Government installs democratic institutions as part of the Middle East Peace Plan. [173243]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK has long supported the development of more effective and accountable Palestinian institutions in preparation for Palestinian statehood. The Palestinian Authority has made progress on developing better accountability and a transparent legal environment. The international community is supporting the Palestinian Authority in their efforts. Encouraging free and fair elections, at all levels, is one part of the process. We hope that the Palestinian Authority will hold elections as soon as possible as called for in the roadmap.

  As a priority, the Palestinians need to take the necessary steps to finalise their election laws, and to complete the work, funded by the EU, on voter registration. We also recognise that free and fair elections cannot take place while Israeli restrictions on the freedom of movement remain in place.

  Overseas Posts (Costs)
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the running costs were for the UK high commissions in(a) Australia, (b) Canada, (c) India and (d) Pakistan, and how many staff were employed in each of these embassies, in the last year for which figures are available. [173647]
  1165W
  Mr. Rammell
  The information is as follows.

  Total operating costs for financial year 2002–03 are:

  £ million

  Canberra

  1.3

  Ottawa

  3.32

  New Delhi

  14.34

  Islamabad

  11.46

  These costs include an element in respect of support incurred in the UK.

  Staff numbers for financial year 2003–04 are:

  Post

  FCO UK

  OGD1 UK

  FCO LE2

  Canberra

  18

  6

  80

  Ottawa

  19

  10

  75

  New Delhi

  61

  42

  490

  Islamabad

  79

  15

  333

  1 Other Government Department

  2 Locally employed

  The figures reflect the total number of full-time equivalents.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the running cost was of the UK embassy in(a) Japan and (b) China in 2003–04; and how many staff were employed in each of these embassies. [173886]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office account for 2003–04 has not yet been finalised.

  However, total operating cots for financial year 2002–03 were:

  £ million

  Tokyo

  19.45

  Beijing

  11.92

  These costs include an element in respect of support incurred in the UK.

  Staff numbers for financial year 2003–04 are:

  Post

  Tokyo

  Beijing

  FCO UK

  40

  68

  OGDM1 UK

  20

  10

  FCO LE2

  135

  166

  1Other Government Department

  2Locally employed

  The figures reflect the total number of full-time equivalents.

  Saudi Arabia
  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to encourage Saudi accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights. [173757]
  1166W
  Mr. Rammell
  We continue to have wide-ranging concerns about human rights in Saudi Arabia including aspects of the judicial system; corporal and capital punishment; restrictions on the freedoms of religion, expression and assembly; and discrimination against women and Non-Muslims.

  The U K Government is committed to encouraging Saudi Arabia to improve its human rights record. We discuss our concerns about human rights with the Saudi authorities at working, ambassadorial and ministerial level.

  In bilateral discussions with Saudi Arabia we have not recently specifically discussed accession to the ICCPR or ICESCR.

  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Saudi authorities regarding the rights of members of minority faiths in Saudi Arabia; [173758]

  Mr. Rammell
  We continue to have wide-ranging concerns about human rights in Saudi Arabia including aspects of the judicial system; corporal and capital punishment; restrictions on the freedoms of religion, expression and assembly; and discrimination against women and Non-Muslims. The UK Government is committed to encouraging Saudi Arabia to improve its human rights record. We discuss our concerns about human rights with the Saudi authorities at working, ambassadorial and ministerial level.

  Seal Culling
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will support a pan-European ban on the clubbing of baby seals. [173406]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 14 May 2004]: I have been asked to reply.

  The Department is not aware of any such proposed agreement. In the event that one was forthcoming, we would consider such a proposal carefully.

  Sudan
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress being made in securing the rights of the Nuba people in the peace talks concerning the Sudan. [173653]

  Mr. Mullin
  The arrangements for the administration of the Nuba Mountains Region of Sudan is currently under discussion at the peace talks in Naivasha, Kenya. We hope that agreement will be reached on this and the other outstanding issues soon.

  UK Personnel
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries where UK personnel are involved in providing training in interrogation techniques; whether the hooding of those being interrogated forms part of the training; and if he will make a statement. [173238]
  1167W
  Mr. MacShane
  The Government does not offer training in interrogation techniques to overseas governments. Our training on interviewing techniques for police, military and intelligence agencies complies with UK and international law. This training does not involve the use of hooding.

  Venezuela
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions(a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) other United Kingdom representatives have (i) had and (ii) sought with (A) members and (B) representatives of the Government of Venezuela concerning the arrest of the Venezuelan National Guard Colonel Orlando Castro: and if he will make a statement. [173814]

  Mr. Rammell
  We have neither had nor sought discussions with members or representatives of the Venezuelan Government about this issue.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions(a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) other United Kingdom representatives have (i) had and (ii) sought with (A) members and (B) representatives of the (1) Government of and (2) the opposition in Venezuela concerning the arrest of 80 Colombian nationals on 9 May; what these individuals are being charged with; and if he will make a statement. [173815]

  Mr. Rammell
  We have neither had nor sought discussions with members or representatives of the Venezuelan Government or Opposition about this issue. To date, we are not aware of any charges having been brought against these individuals.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the possibility of a referendum in Venezuela this year. [173816]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Venezuelan constitution allows for the possibility of a recall referendum against elected officials, including the President, provided certain conditions are met. It is not yet clear whether these conditions will be met, and therefore not possible to determine if a referendum will take place at this stage.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed Venezuela with his United States counterpart. [173817]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions with Secretary Powell on a wide range of issues, including Venezuela.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the claims of cross-border activity by the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia in Venezuela; when this assessment was last revised; and if he will make a statement. [173818]

  Mr. Rammell
  Alleged cross-border activities by the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia and other illegally armed groups are a matter for the Governments of Venezuela and Colombia. The border between the two countries covers more than 2,200 km. It is porous 1168W
  and difficult to secure completely with the resources available. British diplomatic staff in Bogota and Caracas periodically visit the border region.

  Websites
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total annual cost of his Department's websites, including those of its agencies, was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [159518]

  Mr. Rammell
  For the past three years the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has been implementing a major ICT infrastructure project to co-ordinate and host its global web presence. This includes a secure platform for launching and maintaining multiple websites: FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk), a new UK Visas website (www.ukVisas.gov.uk), separate websites for over 100 British missions worldwide, and a new portal site about the UK (www.i-uk.com). It will also host the UK G8 Presidency website next year. The total cost of the project is £10 million funded by the Treasury's Capital Modernisation Fund.

  The Wilton Park Executive Agency (www.wiltonpark.org.uk) spent £26,720 on their website in 2003–4.

  Simon Mann
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has assessed on the treatment of Mr. Simon Mann in Zimbabwe; [173548]

  (2) whether the authorities in Zimbabwe have indicated that they consider Mr. Simon Mann to be British; [173549]

  (3) what representations he has made about the treatment of Mr. Simon Mann and his condition. [173550]

  Mr. Rammell
  Mr. Simon Mann is a dual British/South African national who requested our consular assistance on 23 April. Our rules on consular confidentiality mean that we cannot discuss the specific details of his case. However, the Zimbabwean authorities recognised his nationality status by allowing our Consul to visit him on 7 May, where we were able to discuss his welfare and treatment. We welcomed the Zimbabwean court's decision on 7 May to remove handcuffs and manacles from all of the accused while they are detained in Chikurubi Prison. Harare. We will continue to be guided by Mr. Mann about his treatment and are in regular contact with his lawyers and family.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Benefit Claimants (Over-50s)
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of incapacity benefit claimants aged between 50 and state pension age have claimed for(a) more than one year, (b) more than five years and (c) more than 10 years, broken down by gender; and if he will make a statement. [172541]
  1169W
  Maria Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Number of incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) claimants between the ages of 50 and state pension age, by gender and claim duration as at November 2003

  Thousand

  Men

  Women

  Duration of claim

  Aged 50 to 64

  Percentage

  Aged 50 to 59

  Percentage

  All

  804.1

  100

  451.7

  100

  Up to 1 year

  86.9

  11

  50.0

  11

  From 1 to 5 years

  235.6

  29

  135.3

  30

  From 5 to 10 years

  353.6

  44

  196

  43

  Over 10 years

  128.0

  16

  70.4

  16

  Notes:

  1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.

  2. Totals may not sum due to rounding

  3. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre 5 per cent. sample.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people between the age of 50 and state pension age claimed(a) sickness and (b) disability benefits in each year since 1997, broken down by gender; and if he will make a statement. [172542]

  Maria Eagle
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Child Support Agency
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when existing Child Support Agency cases will be transferred to the new scheme; and if he will make a statement. [174279]

  Mr. Pond
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 18 December 2003,Official Report, column 1092W.

  Council Housing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cumulative extra cost to the social security budget of the transfer of council housing to registered social landlords has been in each year since 1997. [172275]

  Mr. Pond
  The information is not available. To determine such a figure would require detailed assumptions about the rents each authority might theoretically have charged had it retained the stock. However, the potential impact on housing benefit where stock is transferred to registered social landlords is considered as part of the overall value-for-money assessment of transfers.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of his Department's annual report has been in each of the last seven years. [172918]
  1170W
  Maria Eagle
  The Department for Work and Pensions has published three Departmental Reports since it was established in June 2001. The costs falling directly to the Department for production of these reports are shown in the table.

  Other costs of printing and publication are met directly by the publisher, TSO (The Stationery Office) and do not fall to government.

  Date of publication

  Cost to Department for Work and Pensions (£)

  May 2002

  94,940

  May 2003

  73,089

  April 2004

  38,897

  Departmental Policies (Sustainable Development)
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in his capacity in the last three months; [165665]

  (2) what meetings his Department's Green Minister has attended in his capacity in the last 12 months; [165668]

  (3) if he will list the meetings at which a representative of his Department had been present regarding the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers. [165667]

  Mr. Pond
  The Green Minister for the Department for Work and Pensions is my noble Friend Baroness Hollis of Heigham, but it has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Additionally, officials regularly attend the working groups which report directly to ENV(G), particularly related to the Development of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

  Departmental Procurement
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the(a) crockery, (b) cutlery and (c) glassware procured by his Department over the last five years is of British manufacture. [170808]

  Jane Kennedy
  This Department does not procure the items specified for its staff canteens or catering facilities because these services are delivered by our contractor for the provision of estate and property services. Information on the country of manufacture of these items procured for other purposes is not collected centrally.

  Employers' Insurance
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of representations from the Association of British Insurers
  1171W
  on matters relating to employers' liability compulsory insurance; and whether he has taken steps to confirm their accuracy. [169401]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Association of British Insurers (ABI) represents many of the major underwriters of employers' liability compulsory insurance (ELCI) and the Department worked closely with the association in the recent review of ELCI. However, we draw information from a wide range of other sources, such as Lloyd's of London, and Datamonitor, and work closely with a range of other key representative organisations such as the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF), the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

  The formal response of the ABI to the review of ELCI was one of 86 received by the review team.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many personal injury claims were made to general insurers in specific relation to employers' liability in each of the last five years, broken down by region; and what the total value of all costs and claims in relation to such claims was, broken down by region. [174048]

  Jane Kennedy
  Figures for the number of personal injury claims in relation to Employers' Liability for 1999–2000 are not available. Figures for the number of personal injury claims in relation to Employers' Liability for 2001 to 2003 are in the table.

  Number

  2001

  219,183

  2002

  170,554

  2003

  183,342

  Source:

  Compensation Recovery Unit.

  A regional breakdown of the figures would be available only at disproportionate cost. Separate figures for just the total value of costs and just the total value of settlements are not available. However the total value of costs and claims combined for 1999–2002 are shown in the table.

  £ million

  1999

  468

  2000

  427

  2001

  639

  2002

  926

  Note:

  Figures are not yet available for 2003.

  A regional breakdown of the figures is not available.

  Source:

  Association of British Insurers.

  It is important to note that because of the long tail nature of certain claims, settlements may accrue for many years to come. The figures in the table only relate to the value of claims thus far settled in each of those years.

  Pensioner Income
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners entitled to council tax benefit were non-recipients in the financial years(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and how much the unclaimed benefit amounted to in each year. [172883]

  Mr. Pond
  The information requested is not available.

  Latest estimates of the number of pensioners who are entitled to but not receiving council tax benefit and the amount of benefit unclaimed relate to financial year 2001–02. These are published in the DWP report: "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2001/2002"; copies of the publication can be found in the Library. DWP statisticians will announce the publication date of the next set of statistics in Updates'—the bulletin of National Statistics releases.

  Local authorities have a statutory duty to promote awareness of council tax benefit. To support them in this I launched a national campaign on 1 March 2004 to particularly encourage pensioners to claim council tax benefit.

  Pensioners' Benefits
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2004,Official Report, column 447W, on pensioners' benefits, how many people are projected to be on (a) disability and (b) carer's benefits in the years shown in the answer. [172948]

  Maria Eagle
  The information requested is in the table.

  Number of pensioners (historical and projected) in receipt of disability and carer's benefits for selected years

  Thousand

  Disability benefits 1

  Carer's benefits.2

  1997–98

  1,738

  19

  2002–03

  2,026

  19

  2010–11

  2,487

  46

  2020–21

  2,967

  54

  2030–31

  3,561

  62

  2040–41

  3,879

  66

  2050–51

  4,022

  68

  1 Disability living allowance and attendance allowance.

  2Invalid care allowance/ carer's allowance.

  Notes:

  1. Numbers are based on estimates from the 5 per cent. Quarterly Statistical Enquiry and therefore subject to some sampling variation.

  2. Projected numbers are consistent with the long term projections of benefit expenditure as published in the HM Treasury publication "Long-Term Public Finance Report: Fiscal Sustainability with an ageing population" at the pre-Budget report 2003.

  3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Poverty (Greater London)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of(a) men, (b) women and (c) children in each ethnic group are living in poverty, defined as below 60 per cent. of median income (i) before and (ii) after housing costs, in each Greater London borough. [173333]
  1173W
  Mr. Pond
  The information requested is not available due to insufficient sample size.

  Productivity
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is for(a) increasing the productivity and (b) cutting the costs of (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [172188]

  Maria Eagle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, on 10 May 2004,Official Report, columns 148–49W.

  Timber
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans to contribute financially to the establishment of the second phase of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber. [167622]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Department is keen to ensure that all its timber is procured from legal and sustainable sources, and is developing a supply chain mechanism to track these sources and their levels of certification. DEFRA will set out the current position regarding the CPET in their reply on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.

  Percentage of non-working single people between age 50 and state pension age by each decile group of income distribution

  Decile

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9&10

  Before housing costs

  Male

  24

  16

  16

  14

  9

  9

  6

  3

  3

  Female

  25

  21

  16

  11

  10

  7

  6

  3

  3

  After housing costs

  Male

  27

  18

  15

  10

  10

  6

  6

  3

  5

  Female

  28

  23

  9

  13

  5

  8

  5

  5

  4

  Number of non-working people between age 50 and state pension age by decile of income distribution

  Thousand

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  Before housing costs

  Male

  390

  240

  240

  190

  170

  130

  120

  80

  80

  50

  Female

  250

  180

  170

  140

  140

  120

  110

  80

  80

  80

  After housing costs

  Male

  370

  260

  200

  220

  160

  130

  120

  90

  100

  50

  Female

  240

  180

  130

  180

  120

  130

  110

  100

  80

  100

  Proportion of non-working people between age 50 and state pension age by each decile of income distribution

  Decile

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  Before housing costs

  Male

  23

  14

  14

  11

  10

  8

  7

  5

  5

  3

  Female

  18

  13

  12

  11

  10

  9

  8

  6

  6

  6

  Labour Statistics
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what percentage of single non-working people between the age of 50 and state pension age are in each decile of overall income distribution, broken down by gender; and if he will make a statement; [172537]

  (2) how many and what proportion of people between the age of 50 and state pension age, who are not working, are in each decile of overall income distribution, broken down by gender; and if he will make a statement. [172539]

  Mr. Pond
  The Government are committed to tackling age discrimination in employment, extending opportunities for older workers. From Spring 1997 to Spring 2003 the employment rate for those aged 50 to State Pension Age has increased from 64.5 per cent. to 70.1 per cent. We are committed to further increasing the employment rate for the over 50s by 2006.

  Through Age Positive, we are promoting the business benefits of an age diverse workforce by encouraging employers to adopt the voluntary Code of Practice: Age Diversity at Work, A Practical Guide For Business, which was first developed in 1998 and updated in 2002. The Budget 2004 announced a new high profile national guidance campaign to raise employers' awareness of, and ability to adopt, flexible employment and retirement opportunities in order to increase the recruitment, training and retention of older workers.

  The information is in the tables.
  1175W

  Proportion of non-working people between age 50 and state pension age by each decile of income distribution

  Decile

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  After housing costs

  Male

  22

  15

  12

  13

  9

  7

  7

  5

  6

  3

  Female

  18

  13

  9

  13

  9

  9

  8

  7

  6

  7

  Notes:

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

  2. Estimates are for Great Britain. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10,000, and proportions to the nearest per cent. Decile 1 is the lowest income decile.

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

  4. FRS-based estimates for both the number of people aged between 50 and state pension age, and the number of workless in this group exceed estimates sourced from the Labour Force Survey, the main source for employment statistics. The estimate of percentages should therefore be considered more robust than the estimate of numbers in this group.

  5. The estimates are based on sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response. Estimates are subject both to sampling error and to variability in non-response.

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

  7. 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.

  8. The Households Below Average Income series assumes that both partners in a couple receive the same income. Therefore any differences in the above between genders can be driven only by differences from single adults, which will themselves be diluted by the figures for couples.

  9. Deciles nine and 10 of the tables relating to non-working single people have been combined as individually, these deciles contained too few households to provide robust estimates.

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey (FRS).

HEALTH

  A and E/Paediatric Departments
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have an accident and emergency department and a paediatric department which is not open for 24 hours a day. [174562]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of his Department's budget was spent on the development of treatment and care for Alzheimer's sufferers in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the provision for those with Alzheimer's; [173269]

  (2) what future funding has been allocated specifically in relation to the development of treatment and care for Alzheimer's sufferers. [173271]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Funding for the development of treatment and care for people with Alzheimer's disease is not identified separately, but is part of general allocations to local health and social care organisations. It is for local primary care trusts, in partnership with other local national health service and social care organisations, to assess the needs of the local population and meet them from general funding allocations.

  The Government are committed to improving standards of health and social care and people with Alzheimer's disease will benefit from the new investment that is being made available to support this commitment. For the NHS there is an annual average funding increase of 7.5 per cent. above inflation over the five years 2003–04 to 2007–08. This is now the largest ever sustained increase in NHS funding. There have also been substantial increases in the level of funding provided for social services in recent years. Social services resources will increase by an annual average of 6 per cent., in real terms from 2003–04 to 2005–06. These significant funding increases will help provide new and better health and social care services for people with Alzheimer's disease.

  Asthma
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to require health care professionals to establish a policy to reduce the number of deaths from severe asthma. [173739]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The chronic disease management programme, introduced in July 1993, provides arrangements for health promotion under the general practitioner (GP) contract. Participating GPs, around 1178W
  94 per cent. of the total, receive a fixed annual payment for running organised programmes of care for patients with asthma

  The new general medical services contract, launched in February 2003, includes a specific quality indicator for treatment and care of people with asthma. This builds on the chronic disease management programme.

  People with asthma will benefit from the expert patients programme (EPP), currently being piloted in primary care trusts around the country. The EPP is providing national health service based training in self-management skills for people with long-term chronic illness.

  Bowel Cancer
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he will take to tackle increases in workload for NHS staff working in(a) pathology, (b) radiology, (c) oncology and (d) surgery arising from the bowel cancer screening programme; [173829]

  (2) what plans his Department has to introduce a targeted and tailored national recruitment programme to increase participation in social groups in whom colonoscopy uptake is particularly low; [173830]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of introducing the national bowel cancer screening programme; [173831]

  (4) what type of diagnostic test will be used in the national bowel cancer screening programme; and if he will make a statement; [173832]

  (5) when the national bowel cancer screening programme will become fully operational; and if he will make a statement; [173833]

  (6) what plans he has to change the (a) lower and (b) upper age limit for bowel cancer screening. [173834]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The methodology for a national bowel cancer screening programme is not clear cut. Following the publication of the results of a pilot using faecal occult blood (FOB) testing in May 2003, and early signs of the potential of flexible sigmoidoscopy, the Government re-affirmed their commitment to introducing bowel screening and to improving symptomatic services. The Department is addressing these difficult issues with the assistance of key stakeholders from the voluntary sector, patient and professional groups, and the national health service through the NHS bowel cancer programme and the bowel cancer advisory group.

  The first phase of the pilot study of FOB testing showed that the performance of the original research can be replicated in a routine NHS setting. We have commissioned a second phase of the pilot at a cost of £1 million per annum to enable us to monitor the acceptability and effectiveness of repeat screening and to try and investigate service improvements, including

  1179W
  encouraging hard to reach social groups to accept their screening invitations. We are also considering a potential pilot of screening using flexible sigmoidoscopy.

  NHS cancer screening programmes have commissioned a formal options appraisal of bowel cancer screening from the School of Health and Related Research in Sheffield. The options appraisal is due to report in the autumn, and will consider all the issues associated with bowel cancer screening, including the age range at which men and women will be invited for screening.

  In addition, as part of the NHS bowel cancer programme, we are investing in the expansion, training and modernisation of the bowel cancer workforce, streamlining services for patients with bowel cancer symptoms, and considering communications issues for the general public and health professionals.

  In order to gather evidence on screening methodology and to ensure symptomatic services are expanded and modernised to take on the extra work required, it is unlikely that a national screening programme will start before 2006–07. It is currently estimated that a national bowel cancer screening programme will cost around £80 million a year to run.

  Care Provision
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many referrals to care homes there have been in each of the last five years in(a) the Ribble Valley, (b) Milton Keynes, (c) the Isle of Wight and (d) Eastbourne. [173473]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information on the number of referrals to care homes is not available centrally.

  The table shows the number of admissions to care homes, for adults aged 18 and over, financially supported by Lancashire, Milton Keynes, Isle of Wight and East Sussex Councils with social services responsibilities (CSSRs), for the years 1998–99 to 2002–03. As data are collected by CSSR, separate figures for Ribble Valley and Eastbourne are not available. Figures for the CSSR in which Ribble Valley (Lancashire) and Eastbourne (East Sussex) are located have been provided.

  Number of supported admissions1 to care homes, 1998–99 to 2002–03

  rounded numbers

  CSSR

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–032

  Lancashire

  10,885

  10,815

  10,595

  11,250

  12,225

  Milton Keynes

  745

  850

  1,030

  905

  865

  Isle of Wight

  3,030

  2,265

  2,480

  2,400

  2,765

  East Sussex

  4,115

  4,940

  4,095

  3,960

  5,175

  1 The table refers to the number of admissions into care homes, not the number of people. It is possible for a person to have more than one admission to a care home during the year.

  2 Includes those clients formally in receipt of preserved rights.

  Source:

  SR1, Tables 5a, 5b and 6.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Lancashire received more than £400 a week in domiciliary care packages in each of the last five years. [173474]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is not collected centrally.
  1180W
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received care in care homes in the Ribble Valley in each of the last five years. [173475]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information on the number of people receiving care in care homes in the Ribble Valley is not centrally available.

  The table shows the number of care home places in Lancashire, as at 31 March for the years 1999 to 2001.

  Figures for later years have been collected by the National Care Standards Commission but comparable details broken down by council are not available.

  Number of care home places1 in Lancashire2, 1999 to 2001

  Rounded numbers

  At 31 March

  Number of places

  1999

  18,900

  2000

  18,700

  2001

  17,800

  1 Nursing data includes places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes and private hospitals and clinics.

  1 Residential data refers to Lancashire CSSR. Nursing data refers to South Lancashire, East Lancashire and North West Lancashire health authorities.

  Source:

  RA and RH(N) form A

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his letter dated 3 April to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. B. Preston, he will obtain for the right hon. Member the letter from the Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority promised in that letter. [172260]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  A reply from the Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority was sent to the right hon. Member on 12 May 2004.

  Departmental Staff (Drugs)
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of his Department's employees have been dismissed for drug abuse misconduct in the last five years. [171627]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  None according to our records.

  Diabetes Mellitus
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of his Department's expenditure was allocated to diabetes mellitus in(a) 1984, (b) 1989, (c) 1994, (d) 1999 and (e) the latest date for which figures are available. [173735]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information is not collected centrally on how much is spent on the treatment of diabetes. However, it has been estimated that around five per cent. of total national health service resources are used for the care of people with diabetes.

  In his 2002 Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced an historic five-year settlement for the national health service, which provides a sustained high level of growth in funding across the whole period. These plans mean that,

  1181W
  for the period 2003–04 to 2007–08, expenditure on the NHS in England will increase on average by 7.3 per cent. a year over and above inflation, a total increase over the period of 42 per cent. in real terms However, in keeping with the philosophy of "Shifting the Balance of Power", primary care trusts are free to decide the allocation of resources locally.

  Disposable Surgical Instruments
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how frequently and for what type of surgeries disposable instruments are used in NHS hospitals; [173177]

  (2) what research he has commissioned on the possible risk of haemorrhages when using disposable instruments during operations; [173178]

  (3) what action he would take in response to research which showed a correlation between using disposable instruments and increased risk of haemorrhages. [173179]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Single-use instruments are used in a range of surgical procedures. The Department does not collect data on the frequency and the type of procedures where single-use instruments are used.

  The Department has not commissioned any research on the possible risk of haemorrhaging when single-use instruments are used. The national prospective tonsillectomy audit is looking at different techniques used in tonsillectomies, including the use of single-use instruments.

  The Chief Medical Officer has asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to issue guidance on the safety of single-use instruments in tonsillectomies following the initial findings of the national prospective tonsillectomy audit. NICE issued interim guidance on the use of diathermy on 24 March and definitive guidance will be issued after it has conducted a full review.

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Doctors1 and General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)2 for Trent Strategic Health Authority and selected organisations—as at 30 September

  Number (headcount)

  1997

  All doctors1

  of which: HCHS doctors1

  General Medical Practitioners2

  of which selected organizations

  Ashfield PCG

  4ME54

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bassetlaw PCG

  4ED35

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCG

  4GM13

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gedling PCG

  4QV83

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mansfield District PCG

  4NT23

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Newark and Sherwood PCG

  4GA33

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City Central PCG

  4CC42

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City North and West PCG

  4EA27

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City South and East PCG

  4VW19

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Rushcliffe PCG

  4XH33

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mansfield District PCT

  5AM

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Newark and Sherwood PCT

  5AP

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gedling PCT

  5EC

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City PCT

  5EM

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bassetlaw PCT

  5ET

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT

  5EV

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Ashfield PCT

  5FA

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Eating Disorders
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was of formulating the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines on the treatment of eating disorders. [172476]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The estimated cost of formulating the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's guidance on eating disorders was about £240,000.

  Fossetts Farm
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when work on Fossetts Farm for the new NHS treatment centre will begin; and if he will make a statement. [174149]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Southend Primary Care Trust has lodged a planning application with Southend borough council for the new treatment centre at Fossetts Farm.

  Health Services
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged over 60 in Derby, North have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests; and what percentage this represents of over 60-years-olds in Derby, North. [173741]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Figures for the number of sight tests by constituency, or senior citizens are not collected centrally.

  In 2002–03, the total number of national health service sight tests paid for patients aged 60 and over in Trent Strategic Health Authority was 231,650. The total number eligible for free sight test for those aged 60 and over was 584,620.

  Sight tests can not be equated to the numbers of patients. Although most people do not come back for a sight test within the year, some patients suffering from medical conditions are advised to have re-examinations sooner.

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS doctors were working within Nottinghamshire health authority areas in each year since 1997. [173524]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is shown in the tables.
  1183W

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Doctors1 and General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)2 for Trent Strategic Health Authority and selected organisations —as at 30 September

  Number (headcount)

  1997

  All doctors1

  of which: HCHS doctors1

  General Medical Practitioners2

  Rushcliffe PCT

  5FC

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RFJ

  64

  64

  n/a

  Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust

  RCS

  342

  342

  n/a

  Nottingham Community Health NHS Trust

  RCT

  64

  64

  n/a

  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust

  RK6

  108

  108

  n/a

  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RHA

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University NHS Trust

  RFK

  572

  572

  n/a

  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust

  RK5

  184

  184

  n/a

  1998

  All doctors1

  of which: HCHS doctors1

  General Medical Practitioners2

  of which selected organisations

  Ashfield PCG

  4ME54

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bassetlaw PCG

  4ED35

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCG

  4GM13

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gedling PCG

  4QV83

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mansfield District PCG

  4NT23

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Newark and Sherwood PCG

  4GA33

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City Central PCG

  4CC42

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City North and West PCG

  4EA27

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City South and East PCG

  4VW19

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Rushcliffe PCG

  4XH33

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mansfield District PCT

  5AM

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Newark and Sherwood PCT

  5AP

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gedling PCT

  SEC

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City PCT

  5EM

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bassetlaw PCT

  SET

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT

  5EV

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Ashfield PCT

  5FA

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Rushcliffe PCT

  5FC

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RFJ

  77

  77

  n/a

  Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust

  RCS

  346

  346

  n/a

  Nottingham Community Health NHS Trust

  RCT

  54

  54

  n/a

  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust

  RK6

  105

  105

  n/a

  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RHA

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University NHS Trust

  RFK

  568

  568

  n/a

  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust

  RK5

  187

  187

  n/a

  1999

  All doctors1

  of which: HCHS doctors1

  General Medical Practitioners2

  of which selected organisations

  Ashfield PCG

  4ME54

  39

  n/a

  39

  Bassetlaw PCG

  4ED35

  56

  n/a

  56

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCG

  4GM 13

  56

  n/a

  75

  Gedling PCG

  4QV83

  54

  n/a

  54

  Mansfield District PCG

  4NT23

  49

  n/a

  49

  Newark and Sherwood PCG

  4GA33

  67

  n/a

  67

  Nottingham City Central PCG

  4CC42

  48

  n/a

  48

  Nottingham City North and West PCG

  4EA27

  72

  n/a

  72

  Nottingham City South and East PCG

  4VW19

  55

  n/a

  55

  Rushcliffe PCG

  4XH33

  63

  n/a

  63

  Mansfield District PCT

  5AM

  r /a

  n/a

  n/a

  Newark and Sherwood PCT

  5AP

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gedling PCT

  5EC

  r /a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City PCT

  5EM

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bassetlaw PCT

  5ET

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT

  5EV

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Ashfield PCT

  5FA

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Rushcliffe PCT

  5FC

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RFJ

  82

  82

  n/a

  Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust

  RCS

  382

  382

  n/a

  1184W 1185W

  1999

  All doctors1

  of which: HCHS doctors1

  General Medical Practitioners2

  Nottingham Community Health NHS Trust

  RCT

  50

  50

  n/a

  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust

  RK6

  113

  113

  n/a

  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RHA

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University NHS Trust

  RFK

  568

  568

  n/a

  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust

  RK5

  193

  193

  n/a

  2000

  All doctors1

  of which: HCHS doctors1

  General Medical Practitioners2

  of which selected organizations

  Ashfield PCG

  4ME54

  43

  n/a

  43

  Bassetlaw PCG

  4ED35

  59

  n/a

  59

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCG

  4GM13

  77

  n/a

  77

  Gedling PCG

  4QV83

  56

  n/a

  56

  Mansfield District PCG

  4NT23

  45

  n/a

  45

  Newark and Sherwood PCG

  4GA33

  68

  n/a

  68

  Nottingham City Central PCG

  4CC42

  50

  n/a

  50

  Nottingham City North and West PCG

  4EA27

  74

  n/a

  74

  Nottingham City South and East PCG

  4VW19

  58

  n/a

  58

  Rushcliffe PCG

  4XH33

  69

  n/a

  69

  Mansfield District PCT

  5AM

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Newark and Sherwood PCT

  5AP

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gedling PCT

  5EC

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City PCT

  5EM

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bassetlaw PCT

  5ET

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT

  5EV

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Ashfield PCT

  5FA

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Rushcliffe PCT

  5FC

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RFJ

  82

  82

  n/a

  Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust

  RCS

  313

  313

  n/a

  Nottingham Community Health NHS I rust

  RCT

  55

  55

  n/a

  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust

  RK6

  114

  114

  n/a

  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trusi

  RHA

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University NHS Trust

  RFK

  555

  555

  n/a

  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust

  RK5

  195

  195

  n/a

  2001

  All doctors1

  of which: HCHS doctors1

  General Medical Practitioners2

  of which selected organizations

  Ashfield PCG

  4ME54

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bassetlaw PCG

  4ED35

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCG

  4GM13

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gedling PCG

  4QV83

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mansfield District PCG

  4NT23

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Newark and Sherwood PCG

  4GA33

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City Central PCG

  4CC42

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City North and West PCG

  4EA27

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City South and East PCG

  4VW19

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Rushcliffe PCG

  4XH33

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mansfield District PCT

  5AM

  66

  19

  47

  Newark and Sherwood PCT

  5AP

  70

  n/a

  70

  Gedling PCT

  5EC

  56

  n/a

  56

  Nottingham City PCT

  5EM

  186

  8

  178

  Bassetlaw PCT

  5ET

  67

  8

  59

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT

  5EV

  92

  13

  79

  Ashfield PCT

  5FA

  47

  3

  44

  Rushcliffe PCT

  5FC

  72

  n/a

  72

  Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RFJ

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust

  RCS

  388

  388

  n/a

  Nottingham Community Health NHS Trust

  RCT

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust

  RK6

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RHA

  201

  201

  n/a

  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University NHS Trust

  RFK

  642

  642

  n/a

  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust

  RK5

  223

  223

  n/a

  1186W 1187W

  2002

  All doctor s1

  of which: HCHS doctors1

  General Medical Practitioners2

  of which selected organizations

  Ashfield PCG

  4ME54

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bassetlaw PCG

  4ED35

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCG

  4GM13

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gedling PCG

  4QV83

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mansfield District PCG

  4NT23

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Newark and Sherwood PCG

  4GA33

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City Central PCG

  4CC42

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City North and West PCG

  4EA27

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City South and East PCG

  4VW19

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Rushcliffe PCG

  4XH33

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mansfield District PCT

  5AM

  64

  16

  48

  Newark and Sherwood PCT

  5AP

  74

  3

  71

  Gedling PCT

  5EC

  56

  1

  55

  Nottingham City PCT

  5EM

  189

  9

  180

  Bassetlaw PCT

  SET

  67

  9

  58

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT

  5EV

  92

  14

  78

  Ashfield PCT

  5FA

  44

  2

  42

  Rushcliffe PCT

  5FC

  110

  34

  76

  Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RFJ

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust

  RCS

  423

  423

  n/a

  Nottingham Community Health NHS Trust

  RCT

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust

  RK6

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RHA

  204

  204

  n/a

  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University NHS Trust

  RFK

  658

  658

  n/a

  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust

  RK5

  233

  233

  n/a

  2003

  All doctor s1

  of which: HCHS doctors1

  General Medical Practitioners2

  of which selected organizations

  Ashfield PCG

  4ME54

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bassetlaw PCG

  4ED35

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCG

  4GM13

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gedling PCG

  4QV83

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mansfield District PCG

  4NT23

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Newark and Sherwood PCG

  4GA33

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City Central PCG

  4CC42

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City North and West PCG

  4EA27

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City South and East PCG

  4VW19

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Rushcliffe PCG

  4XH33

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mansfield District PCT

  5AM

  75

  19

  56

  Newark and Sherwood PCT

  5AP

  74

  3

  71

  Gedling PCT

  5EC

  60

  1

  59

  Nottingham City PCT

  5EM

  190

  16

  174

  Bassetlaw PCT

  5ET

  67

  8

  59

  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT

  5EV

  94

  14

  80

  Ashfield PCT

  5FA

  49

  3

  46

  Rushcliffe PCT

  5FC

  104

  32

  72

  Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RFJ

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust

  RCS

  421

  421

  n/a

  Nottingham Community Health NHS Trust

  RCT

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust

  RK6

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  RHA

  229

  229

  n/a

  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University NHS Trust

  RFK

  724

  724

  n/a

  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust

  RK5

  241

  241

  n/a

  n/a = not applicable

  1Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals.

  2 All Practitioners (excluding retainers) include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para. 52 SFA), PMS Other, Flexible Career Scheme GPs and GP Returners.

  Note:

  Data as at 30 September every year except GP as at 1 October 1997–99.

  Sources:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

  Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census

  1188W 1189W

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Doctors1 and General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)2—as at 30 September

  Number (headcount)

  All doctors1

  of which: HCHS doctors1

  General Medical Practitioners2

  1997

  North

  Nottinghamshire HA

  QCN

  559

  352

  207

  Nottingham HA

  QCP

  1,471

  1,116

  355

  1998

  North

  Nottinghamshire HA

  QCN

  578

  370

  208

  Nottingham HA

  QCP

  1,445

  1,088

  357

  1999

  North

  Nottinghamshire HA QCN

  598

  387

  211

  Nottingham HA

  QCP

  1,494

  1,127

  367

  2000

  North

  Nottinghamshire HA

  QCN

  610

  395

  215

  Nottingham HA

  QCP

  1,437

  1,053

  384

  2001

  North

  Nottinghamshire HA QCN

  681

  461

  220

  Nottingham HA

  QCP

  1,44S

  1,064

  385

  Percentage

  PCT code

  PCT name

  June 2002

  September 2002

  December 2002

  5AM

  Mansfield District Primary Care Trust

  77.8

  88.4

  81.8

  5AP

  Newark and Sherwood Primary Care Trust

  83.7

  81.6

  72.9

  SEC

  Gedling Primary Care Trust64.2

  79.7

  100.0

  5EM

  Nottingham City Primary Care Trust

  63.2

  85.5

  89.9

  5ET

  Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust

  76.4

  63.6

  87.6

  5EV

  Broxtowe and Hucknall Primary Care Trust

  57.4

  100.0

  72.2

  5FA

  Ashfield Primary Care Trust

  73.4

  73.4

  96.0

  5FC

  Rushcliffe Primary Care Trust

  73.1

  87.8

  82.7

  Percentage

  PCT code

  PCT name

  Februray 2003

  March 2003

  April

  5AM

  Mansfield District Pr mary Care Trust

  —

  —

  5AP

  Newark and Sherwood Primary Care Trust

  93.3

  78.5

  88.4

  SEC

  Gedling Primary Care Trust

  90.7

  97.1

  100.0

  5EM

  Nottingham City Primary Care Trust

  94.9

  93.2

  98.9

  SET

  Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust

  95.1

  95.6

  92.9

  5EV

  Broxtowe and Hucknall Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  92.9

  100.0

  5FA

  Ashfield Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  91.2

  74.1

  5FC

  Rushcliffe Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  Percentage

  PCT code

  PCT name

  May 2003

  June 2003

  July 2003

  5AM

  Mansfield District Primary Care Trust

  —

  —

  —

  5AP

  Newark and Sherwood Primary Care Trust

  90.3

  90.3

  90.3

  5EC

  Gedling Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  95.2

  100.0

  5EM

  Nottingham City Primary Care Trust

  96.3

  91.6

  92.7

  SET

  Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust

  88.7

  94.2

  100.0

  5EV

  Broxtowe and Hucknall Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  5FA

  Ashfield Primary Care Trust

  91.2

  91.1

  91.1

  5FC

  Rushcliffe Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  1190W
  1 Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals.

  2 All Practitioners (excluding retainers) include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para. 52 SFA), PMS Other, Flexible Career Scheme GPs and GP Returners.

  Note:

  Data as at 30 September every year except GP as at 1 October 1997–99.

  Sources:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

  Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census

  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS patients were able to see a general practitioner within two days within Nottinghamshire health authority areas in each year since 1997. [173527]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information is not available in the format requested. The data requested was not collected prior to 2002. The tables show the data from July 2002 until February 2004.
  1191W

  Percentage

  PCT code

  PCT name

  August 2003

  September 2003

  October 2003

  5AM

  Mansfield District Primary Care Trust

  —

  —

  —

  5AP

  Newark and Sherwood Primary Care Trust

  98.1

  90.4

  100.0

  5EC

  Gedling Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  5EM

  Nottingham City Primary Care Trust

  90.6

  89.1

  88.3

  5ET

  Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust

  94.3

  94.3

  94.3

  BEV

  Broxtowe and Hucknall Primary Care Trust

  91.9

  97.7

  100.0

  5FA

  Ashfield Primary Care Trust

  82.8

  90.5

  100.0

  5FC

  Rushcliffe Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  94.6

  100.0

  Percentage

  PCT code

  PCT name

  November 2003

  December 2003

  January 2004

  5AM

  Mansfield District Primary Care Trust

  —

  —

  —

  5AP

  Newark and Sherwood Primary Care Trust

  98.1

  100.0

  100.0

  5EC

  Gedling Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  5EM

  Nottingham City Primary Care Trust

  94.5

  86.9

  92.1

  5ET

  Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust

  94.6

  100.0

  94.6

  5EV

  Broxtowe and Hucknall Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  5FA

  Ashfield Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  5FC

  Rushcliffe Primary Care Trust

  90.8

  100.0

  100.0

  Percentage

  PCT code

  PCT name

  February 2004

  5AM

  Mansfield District Primary Care Trust

  —

  5AP

  Newark and Sherwood Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  5EC

  Gedling Primary Care Trust

  95.4

  5EM

  Nottingham City Primary Care Trust

  96.0

  5ET

  Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust

  94.6

  5EV

  Broxtowe and Hucknall Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  5FA

  Ashfield Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  5FC

  Rushcliffe Primary Care Trust

  100.0

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS waiting times for patients needing heart surgery in Taunton. [172015]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The latest available data for March 2004 shows that there were no patients waiting nine months or more in the Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority area, which includes Taunton.

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in Taunton in each of the last three years. [172018]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Requested information on the number of national health service doctors and nurses in Taunton, in each of the last three years is shown in the tables.

  All NHS doctors within specified organisations as at 30 September each year

  number (headcount)

  2001

  2002

  2003

  All doctors1

  396

  382

  392

  Taunton Deane PCT

  111

  89

  88

  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust

  285

  293

  304

  of which

  General practitioners2

  111

  81

  80

  Taunton Deane PCT

  111

  81

  80

  Medical and dental staff1

  285

  301

  312

  Taunton Deane PCT

  3—

  8

  8

  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust

  285

  293

  304

  1192W
  1Excludes medical hospital practitioner and medical clinical assistant most of whom are also GPs that work part time in hospitals.

  2All practitioners include QMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs,

  PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried

  doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, GP retainers, flexible career scheme GPs

  and GP returners.

  3Zero.

  Sources:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  NHS hospital and community health services: qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff and practice nurses in each specified organisation as at 30 September each specified year.

  Number (headcount)

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Total Nursing Staff

  1,318

  1,282

  1,304

  Taunton Deane PCT

  55

  193

  185

  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust

  1,263

  1,089

  1,119

  of which

  Practice Nurses

  55

  56

  49

  Taunton Deane PCT

  55

  56

  49

  Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  1,263

  1,226

  1,255

  Taunton Deane PCT

  1—

  137

  136

  Taunton and Somerset NHS trust

  1,263

  1,089

  1,119

  1Zero.

  Sources:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been to NHS waiting list times in the last seven years for the residents of Wigan. [169347]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis. The information relating to the national health service organisation serving the Wigan area has been placed in the Library.

  Honours
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much time his Department spent dealing with honours in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by civil service grade. [173040]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department, during the last financial year, had four full time staff (36 hours per week) working on honours. The grades are:One administrative officer (IP1 upper),
  Two executive officers (IP2 upper),
  One senior executive officer (IP3 upper).

  Data is not kept on time spent by other members of staff in the Department who occasionally deal with honours.

  Midland Health Consultancy Network
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Department will place in the Library a copy of the report by the Midland Health Consultancy Network, compiled at the time of the Griffiths Review into the research framework in north Staffordshire. [174739]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Midland Health Consultancy Network Ltd. (MHCN), acting under contract to the former West Midlands Regional Office of the NHS Executive, provided secretariat support to the panel conducting the review of the research framework in North Staffordshire Hospital National Health Service Trust. MHCN did not produce a separate report.

  NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff including practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)1 in the Essex Strategic Health Authority area and by each specified organisation as at 30 September each specified year

  Headcount

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Q03

  Essex SHA total

  8,453

  8,017

  8,192

  8,332

  8,867

  9,490

  9,368

  Of which

  Total specified organisations

  2,302

  2,141

  2,317

  1,885

  2,184

  2,622

  2,652

  4KH89

  Southend PCG

  —

  —

  60

  80

  —

  —

  —

  4RQ27

  Thurrock PCG

  —

  —

  54

  58

  —

  —

  —

  5AK

  Southend on Sea PCT

  —

  —

  —

  —

  292

  298

  293

  5GQ

  Thurrock PCT

  —

  —

  —

  —

  167

  184

  191

  RAJ

  Southend Health Care NHS Trust

  835

  837

  871

  1,020

  949

  1,078

  1,079

  RDD

  Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS Trust

  890

  749

  758

  727

  776

  1,062

  1,089

  RDK

  Southend Community Care Services NHS Trust

  577

  555

  574

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Mobile Dental Surgeries
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mobile dental,surgeries operate in England, broken down by trust area. [172031]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  National health service mobile dental clinics are used in mostly rural areas to improve

  Mobile PDS pilots

  Commissioning primary care trust (PCT)

  County Durham Mobile Clinic

  Derwentside PCT

  Salford and Trafford Mobile Clinic

  Salford PCT

  PDS pilots which use mobile outreach clinics

  Bedfordshire Dental Access Centre

  Bedfordshire Heartlands PCT

  Birmingham Personal Dental Service

  Eastern Birmingham PCT

  East Lancashire Personal Dental Service

  Burnley Pendle and Rossendale PCT

  1194W
  The full report can be found on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/01/45/42/04014542.pdf.

  Midwives/Nurses
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed by the national health service in(a) the county of Essex in each year from 1990 to 1997 and (b) the county of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southe nd-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003. [173639]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is shown in the tables. The figures have not been provided for 1990–94 as they are incomparable with later years because of the way data was collected.

  National health service hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff including practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)1 in each specified health authority as at 30 September2 each specified year

  Headcount

  1995

  1996

  Total specified health authorities

  8,152

  7,879

  QAX

  North Essex HA

  4,872

  4,625

  QAY

  South Essex HA

  3,280

  3,254

  1UPEs include QMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.

  2 Practice nurse data is estimated at 1 October.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  access to dental services. The mobile clinics operate under the community dental service (CDS) and the personal dental service (PDS).

  Information is not collected centrally on CDS mobile dental services. Currently, there are two PDS pilots that operate solely from mobile units and a further 13 which use mobile units as an outreach service. Details of these are shown in the table.
  1195W

  Mobile PDS pilots

  Commissioning primary care trust (PCT)

  Hull and East Riding Personal Dental Service

  Eastern Hull PCT

  North and East Devon Personal Dental Service

  Mid Devon PCT

  Northamptonshire Dental Access Centre

  Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT

  Plymouth Personal Dental Service

  Plymouth PCT

  Shropshire Personal Dental Service

  Shropshire Country PCT

  Solihull Personal Dental Service

  Solihull PCT

  Southampton and South West Hampshire PDS

  Southampton City PCT

  Swindon and Wiltshire Dental Access Centre

  Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT

  Vauxhall Personal Dental Service

  North Liverpool PCT

  Worcestershire Dental Access Centre

  South Worcestershire PCT

  Nursing and Residential Homes
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to each local authority in England of nursing and residential home placements was in the latest period for which figures are available. [173937]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information on the average gross weekly expenditure per person on supporting adults in residential and nursing care by each council responsible for social services in England for 2002–03, the latest financial year for which data are available, has been placed in the Library.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals were placed in nursing and residential homes by each local authority in England in each of the last six years. [173938]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The number of individuals placed in care homes by each council in England is not available centrally.

  Information on the number of admissions to care homes, for adults aged 18 and over, financially supported by councils with social services responsibilities, for the years 1997–98 to 2002–03 has been placed in the Library.

  Data on admissions to care homes of adults whose fees are paid fully by income support, private means or any combination of these are not collected centrally.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals are in nursing and residential placements in each local authority in England. [173939]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information on the number of people in care homes is not centrally available.

  Information on the number of residential care home places in England by council with social services responsibilities (CSSR) and nursing home places by health authority for people aged 18 and over as at 31 March 2001 has been placed in the Library.

  Figures for later years have been collected by the National Care Standards Commission but comparable details broken down by CSSR and health authority are not available.

  Organ Donation
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has made of how a mandatory choice scheme for organ donation(a) would operate in the UK and (b) would be enforced; [171653]
  1196W
  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the impact on organ donation rates of a mandatory choice scheme, under which people would be obliged to register their intention whether or not to donate. [171654]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Government's policy on organ donation and transplantation is set out in "Saving Lives, Valuing Donors—A Transplant Framework of England", which was published in July 2003. This draws on the evidence of those factors that are effective in increasing organ donation. There is no evidence to suggest that a mandatory choice system would affect organ donation rates.

  Residential Care/Nursing Beds
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change in numbers of(a) residential care beds and (b) nursing beds has been in (i) Dorset health authority area and (ii) Bournemouth since 1997. [173622]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The table shows the number of residential and nursing home places in Dorset and Bournemouth, as at 31 March for the years 1997 to 2001.

  Figures for later years have been collected by the National Care Standards Commission but comparable details broken down by council are not available.

  Number of residential and nursing places in Dorset and Bournemouth: 1997 to 2001

  Rounded numbers

  At 31 March

  Residential places1

  Nursing places2,3

  Dorset

  19974

  —

  3,660

  1998

  3,430

  3,690

  1999

  3,140

  3,410

  2000

  3,110

  3,130

  2001

  3,070

  3,090

  Bournemouth

  1997

  —

  —

  1998

  3,340

  —

  1999

  3,040

  —

  2000

  2,660

  —

  2001

  2,520

  —

  1 Covers Dorset and Bournemouth councils with Social Services responsibility.

  2 Dorset health authority includes Bournemouth.

  3 Nursing data includes places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes and private hospitals and clinics.

  4 Comparable data not available. In 1997 Dorset county council included Poole and Bournemouth councils.

  Source:

  RA and RH(N) form A

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the Written Questions tabled by the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West on 5 March. [173579]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I replied to the hon. Member on Tuesday 18 May 2004.

  Professional Executive Committees
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reviews of(a) professional executive committees (PECs) and (b) the role patients' forum representatives play on PECs has been conducted by the Government. [171349]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There has been no national review of the role of patients' forums and professional executive committees (PECs).

  Primary care trusts (PCTs) have developed their PEC membership in many diverse ways to reflect and meet the needs of their local health community.

  Forums are encouraged by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health to work closely with PCTs, their boards and professional executive committees to enable them to carry out their functions.

  Radiography Services (Berkshire)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average waiting time for radiotherapy treatment is in(a) East Berkshire, (b) the Royal Berkshire Hospital and (c) Wexham Park Hospital; [173731]

  Number of conceptions leading to an abortion to women under 20 by age England and Wales, strategic health authority, 2000

  Age at conception

  Under 14

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  England and Wales

  236

  1,100

  3,048

  5,854

  8,020

  9,651

  10,517

  England

  225

  1,035

  2,894

  5,572

  7,613

  9,146

  9,966

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  6

  28

  80

  109

  163

  172

  180

  Northumberland, Tyne & Wear

  5

  32

  110

  168

  221

  293

  265

  Cheshire & Merseyside

  8

  44

  141

  298

  427

  479

  513

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  3

  39

  138

  214

  301

  368

  320

  Greater Manchester

  5

  54

  153

  345

  419

  556

  569

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  6

  33

  90

  185

  221

  285

  262

  South Yorkshire

  4

  39

  91

  172

  191

  224

  246

  West Yorkshire

  9

  40

  111

  221

  300

  338

  370

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  5

  26

  82

  157

  221

  254

  309

  Trent

  13

  48

  137

  238

  335

  377

  404

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  20

  62

  173

  300

  448

  547

  566

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  7

  33

  106

  180

  256

  287

  327

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  3

  35

  88

  161

  218

  237

  235

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  4

  34

  74

  165

  223

  268

  270

  Essex

  5

  29

  85

  165

  218

  262

  245

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  10

  27

  86

  184

  250

  294

  281

  North Central London

  8

  28

  76

  174

  244

  350

  422

  North East London

  12

  52

  140

  264

  370

  464

  516

  North West London

  13

  35

  98

  236

  354

  442

  606

  South East London

  19

  51

  116

  267

  350

  464

  560

  South West London

  11

  32

  86

  153

  232

  288

  322

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  4

  24

  89

  168

  232

  264

  303

  Kent and Medway

  7

  27

  83

  172

  232

  239

  276

  Surrey and Sussex

  5

  47

  114

  222

  339

  374

  447

  Thames Valley

  9

  42

  112

  217

  260

  322

  407

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  14

  39

  106

  211

  233

  301

  365

  Dorset and Somerset

  5

  20

  57

  96

  158

  170

  142

  South West Peninsula

  5

  35

  72

  130

  197

  227

  238

  Wales

  11

  65

  154

  282

  407

  505

  551

  1198W
  (2) how many people were waiting for radiotherapy treatment in east Berkshire in each of the last five years. [173732]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department does not collect data on waiting times for radiotherapy.

TREASURY

  Abortion
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many conceptions resulted in abortions in women aged(a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years in each year since 2000, broken down by strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement. [174525]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Amess, dated 20 May 2004:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the number of conceptions leading to an abortion for women aged between 11 and 19 for each year since 2000. (174525)
  The number of conceptions leading to an abortion, at ages under 14 and by single year for ages 14 to 19, are shown in the attached tables. The information is provided for all strategic health authorities in England, for the years 2000 and 2001. This is the most recent year for which figures are available.
  In order to protect the confidentiality of individuals, ONS does not publish these figures by single year of age below age 14, given the small number of cases.
  1199W

  Number of conceptions leading to an abortion to women under 20 by age England and Wales, strategic health authority, 2001 (provisional)

  Age at conception

  Area

  Under 14

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  England and Wales

  219

  1,154

  3,025

  5,993

  8,323

  9,666

  10,312

  England

  211

  1,087

  2,840

  5,638

  7,925

  9,198

  9,838

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  5

  29

  56

  114

  169

  181

  175

  Northumberland, Tyne & Wear

  6

  37

  97

  157

  219

  250

  250

  Cheshire & Merseyside

  7

  42

  119

  311

  422

  453

  454

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  9

  45

  115

  208

  273

  306

  314

  Greater Manchester

  10

  64

  175

  312

  474

  536

  525

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  —

  39

  83

  175

  243

  235

  243

  South Yorkshire

  7

  43

  94

  159

  194

  219

  257

  West Yorkshire

  10

  42

  109

  217

  295

  360

  362

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  —

  33

  68

  155

  212

  268

  282

  Trent

  7

  55

  143

  252

  322

  400

  386

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  18

  63

  160

  330

  448

  529

  518

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  5

  36

  117

  168

  240

  271

  314

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  7

  30

  83

  178

  235

  195

  223

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  6

  36

  78

  153

  220

  265

  283

  Essex

  6

  29

  71

  159

  242

  275

  281

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  6

  36

  94

  186

  245

  282

  321

  North Central London

  8

  37

  78

  185

  261

  364

  443

  North East London

  6

  48

  146

  281

  399

  500

  563

  North West London

  7

  33

  108

  228

  335

  480

  569

  South East London

  17

  47

  138

  319

  421

  523

  554

  South West London

  6

  23

  85

  161

  253

  256

  345

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  6

  36

  107

  166

  239

  278

  334

  Kent and Medway

  9

  33

  93

  165

  250

  287

  279

  Surrey and Sussex

  9

  47

  106

  224

  319

  388

  398

  Thames Valley

  6

  32

  103

  212

  301

  382

  393

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  12

  41

  95

  206

  319

  316

  378

  Dorset and Somerset

  5

  18

  50

  135

  156

  159

  172

  South West Peninsula

  7

  33

  69

  122

  219

  240

  222

  Wales

  8

  67

  185

  355

  398

  468

  474

  Note:

  To protect confidentiality, figures for certain strategic health authorities are not shown

  E-Government
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when a decision was made to proceed with the Inland Revenue's e-Government programme; and what consultation took place before the decision to proceed with the programme. [174027]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue started to develop 'e' channels in March 1999 in response to the Modernising Government White Paper and the Chancellor's Budget announcement that internet filing of tax returns for individuals was to be developed. The 'e' services Programme was more formally established in April 2001.

  Export Subsidies
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on EU negotiations with the World Trade Organisation on the removal of export subsidies; and if he will make a statement; [174268]

  (2) what discussions he has had with his French counterpart regarding export subsidies in connection with World Trade Organisation trade requirements in the context of the Doha Round. [174801]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bristol, North-West (Dr. Naysmith) on 13 May 2004,Official Report, columns 460–62.

  Income Tax
  John Mann
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost implication to the Treasury of all pensioners being exempt from income tax for the first £10,000 of their earnings; and how many pensioner households this would affect. [171641]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: The cost of exempting the first £10,000 of income from income tax for all pensioners would be £2.2 billion in 2004–05. This measure would affect approximately 3.0 million pensioner households. This estimate is based on the 2001–02 Family Resources Survey, and excludes any behavioural response to the change. Well over half the cost is accounted for by the top 20 per cent. of pensioner households.

  Plastic Bags
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a tax on plastic bags. [174974]

  John Healey
  The Chancellor continues to keep all taxes under review. The Government currently have no plans for a plastic hag tax.

  Prescription Drugs (Import Controls)
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what controls art available to prevent individuals importing drugs that are available in the UK by prescription only. [174472]
  1201W
  John Healey
  HM Customs and Excise are responsible for detecting and preventing the illegal import of drugs controlled under section 3(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1971. There are no import prohibitions on prescription-only medicines unless they contain drugs that are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act, such as Valium. A Home Office drugs licence must accompany such drugs if they are to be imported legally. When Customs detect such drugs illegally imported, either in the post or at ports or airports, they seize them and prosecute the importers where appropriate.

  Sports Facilities
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of granting mandatory rate relief to all sports and leisure facilities in line with that granted to community amateur sports clubs. [174051]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have been asked to reply. There was never any intention to grant mandatory rate relief to all sports and leisure facilities. The relief is targeted at community based sporting activities. Many premises defined on the rating list as "sports clubs" and "leisure facilities" are commercial profit- making companies. There would be no reason to offer relief to commercial companies to be funded by the general taxpayer.

  Teenage Pregnancies
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many conceptions in women aged(a) 11,

  Conceptions: Numbers and rates1 for women under 20 by age

  England and Wales, strategic health authority

  Number, rate per 1,000 women

  Age at conception

  Area

  Under 14

  14

  15

  16

  2000

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  England and Wales

  397

  12

  1,890

  5.8

  5,827

  18.1

  13,153

  42.4

  England

  376

  12

  1,771

  5.8

  5,472

  18.0

  12,323

  42.1

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  12

  15

  58

  7.4

  163

  21.0

  349

  46.5

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  10

  1.1

  62

  6.8

  217

  24.0

  424

  48.6

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  12

  0.8

  74

  4.6

  278

  17.4

  649

  42.4

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  9

  0.7

  68

  5.4

  276

  22.4

  508

  42.5

  Greater Manchester

  16

  1.0

  97

  5.8

  326

  19.8

  817

  51.8

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  8

  0.7

  56

  5.3

  182

  17.4

  441

  43.6

  South Yorkshire

  7

  0.9

  61

  7.8

  182

  23.3

  412

  54.6

  West Yorkshire

  15

  1.1

  75

  5.4

  245

  18.0

  605

  46.4

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  10

  1.1

  52

  5.5

  178

  18.9

  373

  41.5

  Trent

  24

  1.4

  86

  5.2

  281

  17.1

  634

  40.3

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  32

  2.0

  110

  7.1

  343

  22.4

  735

  50.9

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  14

  1.5

  59

  6.2

  181

  19.4

  405

  44.4

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  5

  0.5

  65

  6.6

  185

  18.7

  371

  39.4

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  10

  1.0

  57

  5.5

  129

  12.7

  338

  34.8

  Essex

  9

  0.9

  48

  5.1

  144

  15.7

  341

  37.4

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  11

  0.8

  48

  3.8

  157

  12.3

  434

  35.1

  North Central London

  17

  2.5

  45

  6.9

  132

  19.7

  302

  47.0

  North East London

  14

  1.4

  74

  7.5

  232

  23.0

  459

  47.7

  North West London

  18

  19

  53

  5.7

  166

  18.1

  369

  41.0

  South East London

  24

  2.7

  80

  9.2

  199

  23.6

  488

  62.0

  South West London

  14

  2.0

  51

  7.7

  127

  19.2

  275

  43.0

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  7

  0.7

  46

  4.4

  161

  15.7

  365

  36.5

  Kent and Medway

  13

  1.3

  51

  5.1

  170

  16.9

  392

  39.5

  Surrey and Sussex

  11

  0.7

  74

  5.0

  182

  12.4

  420

  29.5

  Thames Valley

  14

  1.1

  68

  5.4

  186

  14.9

  432

  36.2

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  24

  1.7

  75

  5.6

  202

  15.3

  458

  36.3

  Dorset and Somerset

  6

  0.9

  29

  4.1

  105

  14.8

  199

  29.1

  South West Peninsula

  10

  1.1

  49

  5.5

  143

  16.2

  328

  37.6

  Wales

  21

  1.1

  119

  6.3

  355

  18.7

  830

  46.0

  1202W
  (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 there were in each year since 2000, broken down by strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement; [174522]

  (2) what the rate of conceptions in women aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 was in each year since 2000, broken down by strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement. [174523]>

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Amess, dated 20 May 2004:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking for conception numbers and conception rates for women aged between 11 and 19 for each year since 2000. (174522, 174523)
  Numbers of conceptions are estimated from registrations of births and notifications of abortions. Miscarriages before the 24th week of gestation are not included.
  Numbers and rates of conceptions at ages under 14, and by single year for ages 14 to 19, are shown in the tables. The information is provided for all strategic health authorities in England, for the years 2000 to, 2002. The figures for 2002 are provisional estimates, since complete abortions data is not yet available. Information on the number of conceptions at age 19 is not available for 2002, and information on conceptions at age 18 is only available at national level for this year.
  In order to protect the confidentiality of individuals, ONS does not publish these figures by single year of age below age 14, given the small number of cases.
  1203W

  17

  18

  19

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  England and Wales

  20,081

  66.0

  26,180

  87.3

  30,136

  94.7

  England

  18,757

  65.5

  24,518

  86.8

  28,263

  94.4

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  537

  73.4

  689

  98.3

  736

  97.4

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  646

  74.3

  849

  98.2

  882

  94.9

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  1,014

  69.1

  1,212

  85.9

  1,405

  97.0

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  839

  71.7

  1,084

  94.9

  1,100

  97.0

  Greater Manchester

  1,223

  79.8

  1,659

  111.2

  1,822

  112.6

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  571

  59.4

  826

  86.3

  865

  87.7

  South Yorkshire

  593

  80.7

  738

  103.1

  862

  98.9

  West Yorkshire

  953

  73.2

  1,248

  95.6

  1,394

  92.2

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  575

  63.2

  714

  77.8

  881

  87.2

  Trent

  985

  64.1

  1,228

  81.7

  1,416

  87.4

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  1,243

  86.2

  1,599

  113.2

  1,887

  122.8

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  556

  62.5

  732

  81.9

  845

  93.0

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  558

  60.0

  697

  78.4

  791

  915

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  466

  49.4

  641

  68.2

  715

  816

  Essex

  502

  58.5

  644

  74.4

  702

  816

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  637

  52.7

  873

  71.6

  1,006

  83.6

  North Central London

  448

  70.7

  652

  106.7

  825

  103.4

  North East London

  728

  78.7

  1,033

  113.2

  1,350

  132.5

  North West London

  606

  69.0

  843

  99.9

  1,132

  113.4

  South East London

  677

  86.2

  951

  122.9

  1,131

  127.9

  South West London

  443

  69.8

  576

  93.8

  654

  91.2

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  543

  55.2

  675

  70.8

  909

  80.7

  Kent and Medway

  644

  68.0

  728

  77.1

  829

  94.7

  Surrey and Sussex

  691

  48.2

  831

  56.4

  976

  69.4

  Thames Valley

  615

  50.8

  827

  68.6

  980

  78.3

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  643

  52.5

  881

  72.1

  993

  77.9

  Dorset and Somerset

  356

  53.8

  448

  68.9

  475

  78.3

  South West Peninsula

  465

  55.1

  640

  78.7

  700

  84.0

  Wales

  1324

  74.6

  1,662

  95.6

  1,873

  99.0

  1 Rates for women aged under 14 are per 1,000 females aged 13 and rates by single year of age are per 1,000 females of the same age

  Conceptions: Numbers and rates1 for women under 20 by age

  England and Wales, strategic health authority2

  Number, rate per 1,000 women

  Age at conception

  Area

  Under 14

  14

  15

  16

  2001

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  England and Wales

  398

  1.2

  1,883

  5.7

  5,609

  17.4

  13,099

  40.5

  England

  374

  1.2

  1,774

  5.7

  5,247

  17.2

  12,255

  40.2

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  9

  1.2

  51

  6.7

  140

  18.3

  371

  48.4

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  9

  1.0

  57

  6.4

  192

  21.7

  434

  48.7

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  16

  1.0

  73

  4.6

  225

  14.2

  599

  37.1

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  12

  0.9

  76

  6.1

  203

  16.3

  492

  40.1

  Greater Manchester

  17

  1.0

  117

  7.0

  328

  19.6

  811

  49.3

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  9

  0.8

  54

  5.2

  184

  18.0

  417

  41.2

  South Yorkshire

  15

  1.8

  67

  8.3

  179

  23.0

  387

  50.0

  West Yorkshire

  17

  1.2

  78

  5.5

  258

  18.6

  600

  43.6

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  11

  1.1

  53

  5.3

  150

  15.2

  347

  35.3

  Trent

  15

  0.9

  97

  5.9

  283

  17.8

  648

  40.9

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  28

  1.8

  108

  6.8

  332

  21.8

  776

  51.2

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  10

  1.0

  54

  5.7

  172

  18.1

  357

  38.0

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  14

  1.4

  55

  5.8

  161

  17.0

  401

  42.4

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  9

  0.8

  43

  4.2

  127

  12.6

  292

  28.6

  Essex

  10

  1.0

  49

  4.9

  135

  13.9

  299

  31.4

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  13

  1.0

  70

  5.3

  185

  14.4

  426

  32.7

  North Central London

  14

  2.0

  55

  8.2

  126

  19.6

  322

  46.3

  North East London

  17

  1.7

  76

  7.9

  221

  22.6

  507

  49.3

  North West London

  13

  1.3

  56

  5.9

  169

  18.3

  370

  38.5

  South East London

  24

  2.7

  69

  7.8

  233

  27.0

  517

  61.3

  South West London

  9

  1.3

  34

  5.0

  132

  20.2

  255

  38.8

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  11

  1.0

  60

  5.5

  184

  17.2

  379

  35.3

  Kent and Medway

  13

  1.2

  57

  5.6

  169

  16.9

  398

  39.1

  Surrey and Sussex

  11

  0.7

  64

  4.4

  173

  11.9

  428

  29.7

  Thames Valley

  12

  0.9

  49

  3.8

  173

  13.3

  414

  32.0

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  16

  1.2

  77

  5.8

  196

  15.0

  460

  35.9

  Dorset and Somerset

  8

  1.1

  33

  4.6

  90

  12.5

  244

  34.3

  South West Peninsula

  12

  1.2

  42

  4.4

  127

  13.7

  304

  33.0

  Wales

  24

  1.2

  109

  5.8

  362

  19.5

  844

  44.6

  1204W 1205W

  17

  18

  19

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  England and Wales

  19,975

  63.9

  25,735

  83.7

  29,225

  94.7

  England

  18,786

  63.8

  24,200

  83.6

  27,518

  94.8

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  531

  72.1

  666

  92.4

  751

  104.5

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  596

  69.2

  779

  89.2

  868

  92.9

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  1,025

  66.7

  1,253

  85.0

  1,355

  95.2

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  749

  63.0

  953

  81.4

  1,081

  94.8

  Greater Manchester

  1,273

  80.7

  1,569

  101.7

  1,763

  112.3

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  626

  63.7

  771

  81.8

  840

  91.5

  South Yorkshire

  610

  80.8

  721

  93.9

  843

  97.6

  West Yorkshire

  934

  71.4

  1,284

  95.4

  1,464

  96.7

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  545

  57.4

  693

  72.4

  831

  81.6

  Trent

  926

  60.5

  1,253

  84.1

  1,319

  85.8

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  1,173

  81.4

  1,599

  108.6

  1,760

  114.4

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  549

  59.5

  687

  77.5

  111

  90.1

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  569

  62.5

  681

  76.1

  739

  88.3

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  489

  50.7

  648

  70.4

  726

  88.2

  Essex

  526

  56.1

  648

  74.6

  715

  90.6

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  635

  50.6

  840

  68.3

  1,012

  84.2

  North Central London

  456

  67.3

  673

  99.4

  824

  113.1

  North East London

  762

  78.1

  1,063

  113.0

  1,374

  146.9

  North West London

  580

  60.8

  860

  90.8

  1,044

  111.1

  South East London

  754

  93.6

  1,013

  125.5

  1,097

  131.2

  South West London

  432

  66.8

  513

  79.0

  644

  92.7

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  583

  56.4

  749

  71.6

  886

  80.7

  Kent and Medway

  581

  57.9

  763

  80.9

  828

  97.6

  Surrey and Sussex

  639

  45.7

  833

  60.6

  913

  69.3

  Thames Valley

  622

  49.1

  836

  66.7

  921

  75.9

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  746

  60.3

  862

  70.7

  1,002

  79.2

  Dorset and Somerset

  341

  49.6

  396

  61.8

  481

  83.5

  South West Peninsula

  534

  58.5

  594

  66.5

  660

  74.3

  Wales

  1,189

  65.8

  1,535

  85.7

  1,707

  93.0

  1 Rates for women aged under 14 are per 1,000 females aged 13 and rates by single year of age are per 1,000 females of the same age

  2 Provisional

  Conceptions: Numbers and rates1 for women under 20 by age

  England and Wales, strategic health authority, (provisional estimates2)

  Number, rate per 1,000 women

  Age at conception

  Area

  Under 14

  14

  15

  16

  2002

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  England and Wales

  359

  1.1

  1,652

  4.9

  5,111

  15.6

  12,376

  38.2

  England

  335

  1.1

  1,562

  4.9

  4,786

  15.5

  11,630

  38.1

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  11

  1.5

  44

  5.7

  150

  19.8

  332

  43.3

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  11

  1.3

  47

  5.3

  162

  18.2

  403

  45.3

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  11

  0.7

  63

  3.9

  235

  14.9

  603

  38.0

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  15

  1.2

  81

  6.3

  190

  15.1

  493

  39.5

  Greater Manchester

  14

  0.8

  102

  6.0

  284

  17.0

  792

  47.3

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  6

  0.6

  55

  5.1

  175

  16.8

  390

  38.1

  South Yorkshire

  11

  1.4

  57

  7.0

  189

  23.5

  410

  52.8

  West Yorkshire

  17

  1.2

  99

  7.0

  242

  17.1

  541

  38.8

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  11

  1.1

  54

  5.1

  122

  12.1

  366

  36.7

  Trent

  20

  1.2

  93

  5.5

  256

  15.4

  581

  36.5

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  22

  1.4

  88

  5.6

  290

  18.4

  697

  45.8

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  8

  0.8

  53

  5.4

  138

  14.6

  393

  41.1

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  10

  1.0

  49

  5.0

  160

  16.8

  363

  38.3

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  11

  1.0

  39

  3.7

  101

  9.9

  301

  29.7

  Essex

  4

  0.4

  35

  3.4

  136

  13.4

  286

  29.5

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  15

  1.1

  58

  4.3

  178

  13.6

  413

  32.1

  North Central London

  14

  2.1

  41

  5.9

  117

  17.4

  332

  50.3

  North East London

  13

  1.3

  65

  6.6

  180

  18.7

  458

  46.1

  North West London

  13

  1.4

  37

  3.8

  137

  14.4

  360

  38.1

  South East London

  22

  2.5

  66

  7.6

  229

  26.1

  502

  58.5

  South West London

  9

  1.3

  29

  4.1

  114

  16.8

  271

  41.3

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  17

  1.5

  39

  3.5

  154

  14.0

  355

  33.1

  Kent and Medway

  10

  0.9

  50

  4.7

  155

  15.1

  362

  36.0

  Surrey and Sussex

  16

  1.1

  47

  3.1

  157

  10.7

  398

  27.1

  Thames Valley

  5

  0.4

  41

  3.1

  167

  13.1

  368

  28.2

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  6

  0.4

  65

  4.7

  159

  11.9

  403

  30.7

  Dorset and Somerset

  4

  0.5

  21

  2.8

  83

  11.5

  179

  25.0

  South West Peninsula

  9

  0.9

  44

  4.5

  126

  13.2

  278

  29.8

  Wales

  24

  1.3

  90

  4.7

  325

  17.2

  746

  40.3

  1206W 1207W

  17

  18

  19

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  Number

  Rate

  England and Wales

  19,117

  58.7

  24,239

  76.9.

  England

  17,876

  58.3

  —

  —

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  561

  73.3

  —

  —

  —

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  663

  74.4

  —

  —

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  891

  55.1

  —

  —

  —

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  756

  60.9

  —

  —

  Greater Manchester

  1,150

  70.2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  594

  58.8

  —

  —

  South Yorkshire

  554

  71.6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Yorkshire

  887

  64.6

  —

  —

  —

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and R Aland

  518

  52.0

  —

  —

  —

  Trent

  935

  58.7

  —

  —

  —

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  1,151

  75.8

  —

  —

  —

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  508

  53.2

  —

  —

  —

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  544

  57.5

  —

  —

  —

  Bedford and Hertfordshire

  452

  44.3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Essex

  500

  52.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  606

  45.9

  —

  —

  —

  North Central London

  490

  68.7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North East London

  722

  69.6

  —

  North West London

  561

  56.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South East London

  659

  78.0

  —

  —

  —

  South West London

  393

  59.0

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  543

  50.2

  —

  —

  Kent and Medway

  527

  51.3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Surrey and Sussex

  606

  41.7

  —

  Thames Valley

  603

  45.7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  628

  48.8

  —

  —

  Dorset and Somerset

  355

  49.7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South West Peninsula

  519

  56.4

  —

  —

  —

  Wales

  1,241

  65.4

  —

  —

  1 Rates for women aged under 14 are per 1,000 females aged 13 and rates by single year of age are per 1, 000 females of the same age

  2 Provisional estimates based on incomplete abortion data.

  3 Processing of abortion data for women aged 18 and over is incomplete and therefore figures are not yet available. An early provisional national estimate has been made of conceptions at age 18, but not at other ages or subnationally.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Wareing
  , To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in Liverpool, West Derby constituency in each year since 1989. [173672]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 17 May 2004]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Robert Wareing, dated 20 May 2004:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Liverpool, West Derby constituency. (173672)
  Table 1 gives levels of unemployment in the Liverpool West Derby Parliamentary Constituency covering the twelve months ending February of 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. Estimates for the 12 month periods ending in February of all other years since 1989 are unavailable.
  Estimates are taken from the Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any statistical sample survey, estimates for the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
  ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (ISA) for local areas including Parliamentary Constituencies. Table 2 gives the annual average number of ISA claimants for the Liverpool, West Derby constituency in each year since 1989.
  1208W

  Table 1 Number of unemployed people in Liverpool West Derby Parliamentary constituency 12 month periods ending in February on 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003

  Year

  Number unemployed

  1997

  8

  2000

  5

  2001

  1—

  2003

  5

  1 Sample size too small for reliable estimate

  Source:

  ONS—Labour Force Survey

  Table 2 Annual average number of claimants of Jobseekers' Allowance Liverpool, West Derby Parliament constituency, 1989—2003

  Year

  Number of claimants

  1989

  7,161

  1990

  6,065

  1991

  6,162

  1992

  6,617

  1993

  6,603

  1994

  6,232

  1995

  5,539

  1996

  6,276

  1997

  5,277

  1998

  4,506

  1999

  4,037

  1209W

  Table 2 Annual average number of claimants of Jobseekers' Allowance Liverpool, West Derby Parliament constituency, 1989—2003

  Year

  Number of claimants

  2000

  3,862

  2001

  3,412

  2002

  3,183

  2003

  2,928

  Source:

  Jobcentre Plus administrative system

  £

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Belfast International Airport

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Belfast City Airport

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  City of Derry Airport

  1.4 million

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  St. Angelo Airport

  973,583

  26,417

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  "Capital infrastructure" is interpreted as being infrastructure that is necessary to the operation of an airport business.

  Bilingual Policy
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by whom, by what authority, and when the decision was taken to continue the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's bilingual policy following the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly in October 2002. [170053]

  Angela Smith
  During devolution Northern Ireland Executive Ministers decided policy on the language to be used by each Department for letterheads and public advertisements, including the use of Irish and Ulster Scots. At an early stage during the current period of suspension, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, decided that the position within each Northern Ireland Department, including the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, should remain unchanged. This remains his current assessment.

  Bus Station (Lisburn)
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department for Regional Development has received the economic appraisal for a new bus station in Lisburn; and when a decision will be made. [173195]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Department for Regional Development has not yet received an economic appraisal for a new bus station in Lisburn.

  2004

  Full-time equivalent staff numbers1

  Salary total (£)

  Average salary (£)

  Increase in average salary between 2003 and 2004 (percentage)

  SCS

  215.15

  14,325,435.64

  66,583.48

  2.92

  Grade 6

  220.82

  10,593,469.32

  47,973.32

  0.65

  Grade 7

  974.17

  38,707,644.96

  39,733.97

  0.31

  Deputy Principal

  2,011.51

  61,897,910.12

  30,771.86

  -1.52

  Staff Officer

  2,868.46

  68,553,759.99

  23,899.15

  0.48

  Executive Officer I

  3,429.82

  70,677,467.27

  20,606.76

  0.68

  Executive Officer II

  3,888.25

  64,285,384.40

  16,533.24

  0.50

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Airports
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public funding supported capital infrastructure improvements were carried out at each of the Northern Ireland airports during the last five years. [174378]

  Mr. Spellar
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Civil Service
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff were employed, by grade, in the Northern Ireland Civil Service in financial years(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and if he will list the (i) total salary bill, (ii) average salary and (iii) change in average salary for staff within each grade during these two periods. [170032]

  Mr. Pearson
  The information in the following tables gives the total salary costs and average salary costs for staff in post at March 2003 and March 2004. These figures do not include non-salary payments such as allowances or non-consolidated bonuses. The figures given do not allow for the consequences of staff movements in to or out of grades on promotion during the financial year or other personnel changes within grades such as recruitment, retirement and wastage.

  For these reasons the increase in average salary between 2002–03 and 2003–04 is different to the cost of the 2003–04 pay award which was 3.67 per cent.

  2003

  Full-time equivalent staff numbers1

  Salary total (£)

  Average salary (£)

  SCS

  215.95

  13,970,622.01

  64,693.78

  Grade 6

  215.59

  10,276,104.13

  47,665.03

  Grade 7

  910.39

  36,061,567.23

  39,611.12

  Deputy Principal

  1,730.25

  54,065,540.27

  31,247.24

  Staff Officer

  2,684.37

  63,845,361.83

  23,784.11

  Executive Officer I

  3,392.37

  69,435,134.15

  20,468.03

  Executive Officer II

  3,529.13

  58,057,105.87

  16,450.83

  Administrative Officer

  7,164.03

  96,120,522.87

  13,417.10

  Administrative Assistant

  2,618.97

  28,905,560.18

  11.037.00

  Total

  22,461.05

  430,737,518.54

  19,177.09

  1211W

  2004

  Full-time equivalent staff numbers1

  Salary total (£)

  Average salary (£)

  Increase in average salary between 2003 and 2004 (percentage)

  Administrative Officer

  7,291.42

  98,431,257.28

  13,499.60

  0.61

  Administrative Assistant

  2,779.99

  32,065,042.11

  11,534.23

  4.51

  Total

  23,679.59

  459,537,371.11

  19,406.47

  1.20

  1 These figures refer to permanent NICS non-industrial staff-in-post in the 11 Northern Ireland Departments (excluding NIO).

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what discretion is available to principals and governors in applying the guidance on class sizes in practical subjects in post-primary schools contained in Circular 2004/05; [173202]

  (2) whether (a) choir and (b) orchestra are considered practical subjects for the purposes of restricting class sizes in post-primary schools as outlined in Circular 2004/5; [173208]

  (3) whether the limitation on class sizes in music lessons is affected by (a) the types of instruments being used and (b) the number of pupils using instruments; [173209]

  (4) for what reason the decision was taken by the Department of Education, outlined in Point 15 of Circular 2004/5, to supersede the exception previously granted to class sizes in music by Circular 2001/14 and the Department's letter dated 19 December 2001. [173211]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The Department considers that in general health and safety hazards are such that adequate and safe supervision of pupils is not possible if more than 20 pupils are present in a class and involved in practical activities. This applies to music classes but not choirs or orchestras which are not classified as classes for the purposes of the Department's Circular on Class Sizes in Practical Subjects. This Circular supersedes an earlier Circular which temporarily removed the 20 pupils class size limit. This occurred because of representations which were made at the time that schools required more notice before implementing the policy in relation to class sizes in music.

  In meeting the Circular's requirements schools should consider the effective use of timetable strategies to reduce class sizes. Should any other issues arise for specific schools with regard to meeting the maximum class size requirement of 20 pupils for music, schools can seek advice from the Department on an appropriate way forward.

  Diabetes
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of health funding was spent on diabetes mellitus in(a) the last year for which figures are available, (b) 1985, (c) 1990, (d) 1995 and (e) 2000. [173586]

  Angela Smith
  This information is not available.

  Integrated Development Fund
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the quality of 1212W
  engagement between Government Departments and local agents in Derry on the marker bid under the Integrated Development Fund. [165343]

  Mr. Pearson
  On the 12 August 2003, I formally invited bids from the Integrated Development Fund (IDF) in the context of the completion of integrated development plans for the North West, West Belfast and Greater Shankill and the South Down fishing villages.

  The Ilex Urban Regeneration Company was responsible for preparing an interim bid for the North West to the IDF, working in partnership with relevant Government Departments and other public bodies. Ilex submitted the interim bid to the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, for consideration on 5 April. I have been assured by Ilex that Government Departments and other relevant agencies worked constructively and effectively with them on this matter in providing the necessary information and support, and helping to ensure that plans are consistent with existing Government strategies.

  Invest Northern Ireland
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the annual running costs of Invest Northern Ireland were over the last three years; and how much inward investment has been attracted and how many new jobs have been created over this period. [174720]

  Mr. Gardiner
  Invest NI was established on 1 April 2002. The running costs were £26.61 million for 2002–03 and £27.47 million (provisional) for 2003–04. Over the period, Invest NI has attracted 46 inward investment projects with the promise of £298.02 million of investment and 3,086 jobs.

  Official Vehicles
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [172773]

  Mr. Pearson
  The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments run a total of 248 vehicles. The percentage of each type of fuel used is outlined in the table.

  Type of fuel

  Percentage

  Petrol

  12

  Diesel

  87

  Liquid petroleum gas

  1

  Compressed natural gas

  0

  1213W
  In addition to the vehicles summarised above, the Department of the Environment has a fleet of 252 mopeds which are used to train pupils undertaking Road Traffic Studies at school, of which 251 are run on petrol and one on diesel.

  Older People
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what(a) initiatives, (b) campaigns and (c) advisory bodies relating to older people his Department (i) is responsible and (ii) has provided

  Initiatives, Campaigns and Advisory bodies relating to Older People in NI from 2001

  (a) Initiatives

  Department

  Initiative

  2001–02

  Costs (£) 2002–03

  2003–04

  DCAL/Fisheries Concessionary Board

  Concessionary Permit Fee for fishing Public Angling Estate for over 60 year olds + Concessionary Angling Licence Fee for over 60 year olds

  —

  —

  144,000

  DEL

  "New Deal 50 +

  1,435,000

  1,151,000

  854,000

  DHSSPS

  "Keep Warm, Keep Well"

  13,686

  No grant made

  12,550

  DRD

  Concessionary Fares Scheme for over 65 year olds

  22,918,000

  26,682,644

  26,853,750

  DSD

  Warm Homes and Warm Homes Plus

  34,300,000

  37,952,000

  310,650,000

  DSD

  Locks for the Elderly Scheme

  —

  150,000

  DSD

  Londonderry Regeneration Initiative: Age Concern

  21,600

  22,300

  23,000

  DSD

  University for the Third Age

  —

  8,700

  6,200

  DSD

  Making Belfast Work: Engage with Age

  342,000

  74,000

  117,000

  NIO

  Be Sure Be Secure

  —

  60,614

  —

  NIO

  Lock Out Crime Scheme

  —

  —

  152,795

  Drama School

  —

  —

  1,000

  Competition

  —

  —

  705

  1Estimate

  2Includes costs for public bus travel only

  3Includes people under 50 years receiving benefits under Warm Homes scheme.

  (b) Campaigns

  Department

  Campaigns

  2001–02

  Costs (£) 2002–03

  2003–04

  DETI

  Age Positive

  —

  —

  Launched January 20041

  DRD

  Promotion of Free Travel for Older People

  120,000

  —

  —

  DSD—Social Security Agency

  Pension Credit Advertising Campaign2

  —

  —

  Not available2

  NIO

  Stay Safe Secure

  —

  —

  111,540

  1Costs of Age Positive campaign in fin uncial year 2004–05 expected to be £70,000.

  2In addition to the Pension Credit Advertising Campaign, from 2001 DSD Social Security Agency has been engaged in a range of initiatives and campaigns to promote awareness of benefits for older people, which has incurred an overall cost of over £1 million.

  (c) Advisory Bodies

  Costs (£)

  Department

  Advisory Body

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  DHSSPS

  Age Concern (NI)

  151,377

  155,161

  161,305

  DHSSPS

  Help the Aged (NI)

  42,000

  43.050

  44,755

  In addition, there are a number of general initiatives carried out by Departments which will inevitably impact on older people. For example, DARD carry out programmes and initiatives for farmers, 42 per cent. of whom in NI are over 50 years; and DEL's New Deal 25+ programme includes participants aged 25–64 years.
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  funding since 2001; and what the cost in each year was for each one. [166242]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is currently developing an older people's strategy entitled Ageing in an Inclusive Society within the context of the Promoting Social Inclusion element of the New Targeting Social Need policy, which is due to be published for public consultation shortly.

  Set out as follows is available information on departmental initiatives, campaigns and advisory bodies relating to older people, and corresponding costs for each financial year from 2001–02:

  Also, DRD is developing an Accessible Transport Strategy to improve access to the transport system for older people and people with disabilities, which is currently under public consultation.

  Psychiatry Services
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on child and adolescent psychiatry services in the Northern Board area, including provision of social workers. [173615]

  Angela Smith
  Recognising that up to 20 per cent. of young people experience mental health problems at some stage in childhood, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are a key priority in the Northern Health and Social Services Board. The
  1215W
  number of staff in the specialist CAMHS team, which includes three Senior Social Work Practitioners, has increased from 11 to 20 over the last three years. Waiting lists for the specialist CAMHS team have reduced from 18–24 months to 3–9 months. In the last year up to 30 multidisciplinary professional workers working with young people outside of the specialist CAMHS team have received training and support.

  Specialist community-based CAMHS teams strive to support young people in the community wherever appropriate rather than have recourse to in-patient services.

  Public Sector Housing
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the decision was taken by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to develop two separate integrated sites for public sector housing; what criteria were used; whether further sites have been identified by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for integrated communities; and if he will make a statement. [174093]

  Mr. Spellar
  Applicants for social housing have a choice of where they wish to live and there are a number of people who would prefer to live in an integrated housing environment. With less than 10 per cent. of social housing integrated, the choice of where to live for those people who prefer integration is greatly reduced compared to those living in segregated communities.

  The Housing Executive Board, at its meeting in September 2003, agreed that proposals should be brought forward for two integrated housing pilot projects which would enable the Housing Executive, and others, to test the policy and procedural implications of integrated housing.

  The proposals are at an early stage and locations for the pilot projects have still to be identified. There are no proposals for further pilots.

  The criteria to be used for developing the two pilot projects will facilitate and encourage integrated housing as far as this is practicable, desirable and safe. It will take into consideration local letting policies, sustainability of the schemes, plans to involve stakeholders and strategic and operational structures.

  The proposals reflect the Housing Executive's and other public bodies' responsibilities under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 which deal with the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations.

  Strategic Investment Board
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what conflict of interest procedures are in place for board members and officials of the Strategic Investment Board. [164942]

  Mr. Pearson
  Board members of the Strategic Investment Board are required to comply fully with procedures to deal with potential conflicts of interest that follow "Company Law and the Guidance on Codes of Practice for Board Members of Public Bodies", produced by the Cabinet Office, a copy of which is available in the Library.
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  Officials of the Strategic Investment Board are required to provide conflict of interest declarations in the same format as board members and in line with the relevant public sector guidance.

  Under these requirements, the Strategic Investment Board keeps an up-to-date conflict of interests register, details of which will be made publicly available.

  Teachers (Sick Leave)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teachers took long-term sick leave during each of the last five academic years. [173205]

  Mr. Gardiner
  It will some time to collate this information. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with details as soon as possible and place a copy of my response in the Library.

  Tourism (Motor Cycling)
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the tourism revenue spent in Northern Ireland as a result of the North West 200 motorcycle races this year. [R][174597]

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

  Based on figures for previous years provided by Coleraine borough council (CBC) it is estimated that the North West 200 will generate approximately £5.6 million tourism revenue in 2004.

  Visitor Centres
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the visitor centres in receipt of grant aid since 1990; what the nature and level were of grant-aid sums paid; what visitor numbers were originally predicted for each centre; and what the most recent visitor numbers recorded at the centres are. [164945]

  Mr. Gardiner
  A list of visitor centres assisted by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the Department of Agriculture and Regional Development and Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure since 1990, has been placed in the Library.

  Recent actual visitor numbers have been provided where possible. However, it has not been possible to provide originally predicted visitor numbers for each visitor centre as this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Waiting Lists/Times
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are awaiting(a) admission and (b) out-patient assessment at each hospital in the province; and how many have been waiting six months of longer. [175172]
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  Angela Smith
  Waiting list statistics are collected for each HSS trust. The most recent waiting list data available show the position at 31 December 2003.

  Number of people waiting for in-patient admission to hospital1

  Provider

  Total number waiting

  Number waiting six months or longer

  Altnagelvin Hospitals HSS Trust

  4,405

  1,153

  Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

  6,699

  2,811

  Causeway HSS Trust

  1,477

  442

  Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

  7,610

  3,379

  Down and Lisburn HSS Trust

  1,145

  245

  Green Park HSS Trust

  5,381

  2,772

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

  1,755

  278

  Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

  892

  223

  Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

  11,025

  4,920

  Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust

  1,801

  319

  Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trus

  5,369

  2,011

  United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

  5,047

  1,715

  Northern Ireland total

  52,606

  20,268

  1Includes normal in-patient and day cases.

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  Number of people waiting for a first out-patient appointment1

  Provider

  Total number waiting

  Number waiting six months or longer

  Altnagelvin Hospital HSS Trust

  18,498

  6,874

  Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

  1,649

  497

  Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

  10,728

  2,284

  Causeway HSS Trust

  4,643

  1,858

  Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust

  432

  103

  Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

  13,122

  5,302

  Down and Lisburn HSS Trust

  5,683

  1,931

  Foyle HSS Trust

  44

  6

  Green Park HSS Trust

  8,640

  4,244

  Homefirst Community HSS Trust

  762

  88

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

  4,731

  1,238

  Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

  5,816

  1,966

  Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

  27,718

  12,011

  South and East Belfast HSS Trust

  1,037

  0

  Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust

  4,053

  681

  Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust

  22,412

  10,841

  United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

  16,212

  7,028

  Northern Ireland total

  146,180

  56,951

  1 Includes cancellation and referrals.

  North/South Language Body
  North/South Language Body
  Northern Ireland Departments: Funding and Expenditure
  Northern Ireland Departments: Funding and Expenditure
  Cross-Border Implementation Bodies
  Cross-Border Implementation Bodies
  Northern Ireland Department of Culture. Arts and Leisure
  Northern Ireland Department of Culture. Arts and Leisure
  Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston
  Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston
  Thames Pleasure Craft
  Thames Pleasure Craft
  Network Rail
  Network Rail
  National Art Galleries
  National Art Galleries
  Electoral Pilots: Electronic Counting
  Electoral Pilots: Electronic Counting
  Sex Offending against Children
  Sex Offending against Children
  Drug Treatment and Testing Orders
  Drug Treatment and Testing Orders
  European Union: National Parliaments
  European Union: National Parliaments
  NHS: Continence Services
  NHS: Continence Services
  Hip Replacements
  Hip Replacements
  Psychotherapists
  Psychotherapists