Written Answers of 21 May 2004

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Abandoned Vehicles
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles were removed by local authorities in England in(a) 2001–02 (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04. [173407]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 18 May 2004]: The number of abandoned vehicles removed by local authorities in England was as follows:

  Number of vehicles recovered by local authorities

  2001–02

  284,400

  2002–03

  298,900

  Note:

  Figures for 2003–2004 will be available in early 2005

  Disposable Nappies
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 May,Official Report, column 1658W, on disposable nappies, whether the Waste Implementation Programme Manager met representatives of the Nappy Alliance at Ashdown House on 23rd March; and if she will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting. [174743]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 20 May 2004]: I can confirm that the Waste Implementation Programme (WIP) Manager met with representatives of the Nappy Alliance on 23rd March. The meeting was a useful opportunity to discuss the work WIP is already taking forward through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to promote re-usable nappies. This work stream forms an essential part of Government's renewed drive to minimise the amount of household waste generated in England.

  One of the issues raised in the course of the meeting was the need to ensure that this element of Defra's waste strategy has full support across Government. In particular, this means working closely with the Department of Health to ensure that hospitals are in a position to encourage the supply of re-usable nappies, and that healthcare professionals give new parents the facts they need to make their own informed choice. Following the meeting on 23 March and the subsequent publication of the Women's Environmental Network's report 'Nappies and the NHS: Waste Prevention and a Fair Choice for Parents', I have written to the Under-Secretary at the Department of Health to make the case for a strong lead from hospitals and health trusts on this important initiative.

  Farm Income
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the(a) crops, (b) vegetables, (c) fruit and (d) plants the growing of which will not qualify for single farm payment. [166026]

  Alun Michael
  Under the Single Payments Scheme, farmers will be allocated 'entitlements' against which they may make an annual claim for payment. Such claims must be supported by an equivalent number of hectares of agricultural area, except those used for forestry, permanent crops (eg fruit trees) or used for non-agricultural activities.

  In addition, the amount of land used in support of a claim on which horticultural crops (those referred to in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No. 2200/96 and Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No. 2201/96 and potatoes other than those intended for manufacture of potato starch) are grown will be limited by authorisations allocated to individual growers.

  Flooding
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding the recent increased assessment of flood risk in the South East; and if she will make a statement. [170837]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government welcome the report "Foresight Future Flooding" by Professor Sir David King published through the Office of Science and Technology on 22 April.

  Currently nearly two million properties are at risk of flooding in the UK from rivers and the sea and a further 80,000 are at risk from heavy downpours that overwhelm drains in urban areas. Under future scenarios in the report and assuming our approval to flood risk management does not change then annual damages could rise substantially by the 2080s. The areas at greatest risk include the South East Coast. We therefore face major challenges in managing these potential risks and associated costs.

  The Government are considering the implications of the report and we intend to address the findings in an initial response through a consultation document for a new flood and coastal defence strategy that I hope to publish in the summer.

  Each major stakeholder is committed to delivering a number of actions and my Department will oversee progress.

  Greenhouse Gases
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will request the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Subsidiary Bodies to undertake an exploratory study of contraction and convergence as a potential basis for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. [171229]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 17 May 2004]: The UK, as part of the EU, sought to open a technical dialogue on possible approaches to long-term action to tackle climate

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  change at the UN climate change negotiations in Milan last December. The aim was to begin technical discussions on different methodologies, including contraction and convergence, to promote better understanding of the challenge facing the international community.

  We achieved recognition of better access to data and analytical tools relevant to implementing commitments under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, plus a scoping phase to develop a shared data interface to help with this, and a process to exchange further views on these issues in July 2004. The UK will continue to press for technical discussions relevant to the assessment of different methodologies.

  Negotiations on climate change action beyond the end of the first Kyoto Protocol commitment period in 2012 are due to commence in 2005. In the meantime, we will continue to exchange views informally with other countries on how to promote further action.

  Hazardous Waste
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to use BSE and foot and mouth disposal facilities for the handling of hazardous waste. [1712871287]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 May 2004]: We have no plans to use such facilities for the handling of hazardous waste. Sites for handling hazardous waste would have to have the appropriate authorisations under the Waste Framework Directive and the Landfill Directive. The disposal by burial of animal carcases during the FMD epidemic was subject to control under the Animal Waste Directive which has now been superseded by the EU Animal By-Products Regulation. BSE infected carcases are disposed of by incineration in approved incinerators.

  Household Waste
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will impose a statutory obligation on local authorities to ensure weekly collections of household waste. [174088]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 18 May 2004]: We have no plans to require local authorities to collect household waste on a weekly basis.

  Decisions on the frequency of collection are a matter for each local authority, which needs to have in place a collection regime which enables it to meet its statutory duties in a way which is consistent with Best Value and takes full account of local circumstances.

  Hunting
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what research the Department is undertaking into the impact of land used for hunting under the single farm payment; [169742]

  (2) what discussions she has had with the (a) Countryside Alliance and (b) Master of Foxhounds on the impact of the single farm payment on hunting; and whether this will qualify as an activity which will derive payments under the new scheme. [169743]
  1222W
  Alun Michael
  I am not aware of any research or discussions with any organisations on an inter-relationship between hunting and the new Single Payment Scheme. Hunting is not an activity that would attract payment under the Scheme, but agricultural land on which hunting takes place may be used by a farmer in support of a Single Payment claim if that activity does not lead to a breach any of the Scheme's conditions, including the obligation on the farmer to maintain the land in good agricultural and environmental condition.

  Insects
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what ways she proposes that agri-environment schemes will contribute to maintaining the UK's biodiversity, with particular reference to insects. [165305]

  Mr. Morley
  We regularly monitor our existing Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes to assess their environmental benefits. This has demonstrated substantial benefits for many Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitats and species, including mammals, birds, plants and insects.

  Recent Defra-sponsored research has shown that simple measures such as planting a seed mix of flowers in field margins to provide pollen and nectar can attract huge numbers of insects (bumble bees, butterflies, and others) relative to the in-field crop. Full details are available at http://www.f-e-c.co.uk/Buzz/index.htm.

  Defra has also sponsored specific research on butterflies. This has shown that ESAs and CS schemes are slowing, and in some cases reversing, the long-term decline in numbers of England's rarer butterflies. Further details are available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2002/020806a.htm.

  Recent Defra-funded reports on 'Managing priority habitats for invertebrates' will help inform targeting and formulating of future agri-environment agreements. `Environmental Stewardship' (ES) will rationalise and replace ESAs and CS in 2005. ES will be divided into two levels: an Entry Level (ELS) and a Higher Level (HLS). ELS should include measures beneficial for biodiversity, including insects, in the wider countryside. The HLS Scheme will continue the work of ESAs and CS by targeting management on the most valuable and vulnerable farmland habitats. The options available under these new schemes will also have the advantage of having greater generic benefits for insects. Further details of these schemes can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/reviews/agrienv/entrylevel.htm and http://www.defra. gov.uk/erdp/reviews/agrienv/higherlevel.htm.

  Methyl Bromide
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the policy of Her Majesty's Government is on the use of methyl bromide in farm and food production. [166574]

  Mr. Morley
  Methyl bromide is an ozone depleting substance and its production and supply are controlled under the Montreal Protocol. Its production is due to be phased out in developed countries after 31 December 2004, except for quarantine and pre-shipment purposes.
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  In addition, under the Protocol and the equivalent EC legislation, methyl bromide can be authorised for "critical uses" after 2004, including use in relation to farming and food production.

  The Government's view is that methyl bromide is being phased out by the Protoco1 and should not be phased back in by excessive critical uses. Every effort should be made therefore to identify possible alternatives to methyl bromide use in relation to farm and food production.

  Oil Care Campaign
  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the progress of the Oil Care Campaign in halving the number of oil pollution incidents in the United Kingdom by 2005. [166052]

  Mr. Morley
  The Oil Care Campaign is a voluntary initiative which brings together the oil industry, regulators, local authorities and other stakeholders with an interest in reducing the number and severity of oil pollution incidents affecting inland waters in the UK. It does not have any specific target for the reduction in incidents.

  In relation to oil pollution incidents in England and Wales, figures for the last three years provided by the Environment Agency were deposited in the House of Commons Library in January 2004.

  Radioactive Waste
  David Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which(a) Government Departments and (b) external organisations are responsible for the long-term management of high-level radioactive waste. [159026]

  Mr. Morley
  High-level waste (HLW) is held and managed by British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) at its Sellafield site and by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) at its Dounreay site. Responsibility for this HLW is due to be taken over by the new Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) when it comes into being in April 2005. Government sponsorship of both the nuclear industry and the NDA is the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Radioactive waste management policy is the joint responsibility of The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the devolved Administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The main nuclear site regulators are the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the environment agencies (the Environment Agency (EA) in England and Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in Scotland) and the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS).

  Refrigerants
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs what quantity of(a) chlorofluorocarbons, (b) hydrochlorofluorocarbons and (c) hydrofluorocarbons have been recovered from equipment other than domestic refrigerators in each year since 1995. [169582]
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  Mr. Morley
  The information requested is not available, as the data on the recovery of these substances do not distinguish the equipment from which they were recovered.

  Single Farm Payments
  Mr. Curry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis the single farm payment will be established for farmers who were in the dairy sector prior to the foot and mouth disease outbreak whose flocks were slaughtered because of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease and who restocked with(a) dairy cows and (b) beef and sheep. [169465]

  Alun Michael
  Dairy farmers whose flocks were slaughtered because of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and who restocked with:

  (a)dairy cows will be able to claim entitlements whose initial value will be based on the milk quota available on their holding on 31 March 2005.

  (b)beef and sheep before 29 September 2003 will be able to claim entitlements from the National Reserve.

  Sustainable Development
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition of sustainable development has been agreed for application across Government; and what mechanism is in place to ensure that the term is applied and claimed appropriately. [169856]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 30 April 2004]: The UK Government's current sustainable development strategy "A better quality of life", launched in May 1999, describes sustainable development as 'ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come'. It also refers to a widely used international definition, from the Brundtland Report of the 1987 World Commission on Environment and Development, of
  'development which meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'.

  Government publications usually refer to the 'better quality of life' description as given in our 1999 Strategy. Examples would include the departmental sustainable development strategies for the Department of Health, the Department for Trade and Industry and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and HM Treasury's 2002 Spending Review Report.

  We are currently consulting, in partnership with the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and Northern Ireland, to develop new sustainable strategy for the UK. As part of this we are reviewing our explanation of what sustainable development means.

  Two Tree Island
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list(a) the works and (b) the cost of works on (i) Canvey Island's sea defences and (ii) Two Tree Island which are envisaged; and if she will make a statement. [170826]
  1225W
  Mr. Morley
  Decisions on which projects are promoted and their timing rests with the operating authorities.

  (i) Canvey Island's Sea Defences

  Defra is not aware of any proposals for works to Canvey Island's tidal defences. The tidal flood defences around the Island are regularly monitored by the Environment Agency.

  (ii) Two Tree Island

  Southend borough council has recently secured planning permission for coast protection works around the south and northeast sides of the Island. The works are estimated to cost around £1 million and are due to be submitted for Defra grant aid consideration under the Coast Protection Act.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the increased risk of flooding to Canvey Island; and what(a) research and (b) action she plans to take in the light of the increased assessment of flooding risk. [170827]

  Mr. Morley
  Decisions on which projects are promoted and their timing rests with the operating authorities.

  The Environment Agency has been researching the need for capital renewal of the internal flood defences on Canvey Island and a draft Project Appraisal Report is due to be presented to the Agency's National Review Group during this summer.

  Works will include the upgrading of all 12 land-drainage pumping stations on the Island. The works programme will take approx. 3 years and cost up to £6 million.

  Since the 1980s the Department has provided guidance to operating authorities to make allowance for climate change in the planning and appraisal of new and replacement flood and coastal defence works. This guidance has been regularly reviewed in the light of the latest research findings and supplementary guidance was most recently issued in 2003. The aim is to take a suitably precautionary approach while not diverting funds unnecessarily from the solution of problems that affect people today. The approach and guidance will be further reviewed for the new Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has assessed the case for closing beaches in the vicinity of Two Tree Island as a result of the pollution from the old waste dump. [170828]

  Mr. Morley
  The closure of beaches is a matter for local authorities. Local authorities are advised by the Environment Agency on prevailing water quality levels. The nearest designated bathing beach is at Leigh Bell Wharf which met the EU guideline standards in 2003 and is classed as 'excellent' quality.

  Warm Zones
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding has been allocated in(a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06 and (c) in total to Warm Zones. [163648]
  1226W
  Mr. Morley
  The Government provided £1 million funding for the pilot programme of five Warm Zones to run from 2001–04.

  An independent evaluation of the pilots is being carried out by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Department to assess the effectiveness of Warm Zones.

  No additional funding has been allocated to Warm Zones by the Government.

  World Oceans Day
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department will be taking to mark World Oceans day on 8 June. [168469]

  Mr. Morley
  Around the time of World Oceans day Defra plans to publish an updated delivery plan setting out the steps that the Government are taking to achieve the conservation and sustainable management of marine and coastal biodiversity and to promote better oceans governance and partnership initiatives, in line with the commitments made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

  To help progress this delivery plan the UK, together with EU partners, will be calling for the United Nations to take urgent action to protect vulnerable marine biodiversity in areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction at the forthcoming meeting of the United Nations Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. World Oceans day coincides with this meeting.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Department Branding
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on branding the Department between 1997–98 and 2003–04, broken down by(a) consultancy fees, (b) design and orders for new stationery, (c) website design and (d) other material featuring new logos. [154064]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The Home Office logo has not been subject to redesign in 2003–04, but in the previous years you refer to, work was undertaken. The logo was redesigned to ensure the Home Office work was clear to the public and stakeholders.

  Costs involved were as follows:
  (a) and (b) research, project management and design and orders for new stationer y–£147,505.06.
  (c)website design–£18 024.50.
  (d)The logo element of 'other material featuring new logos between 1997–98 and 2003–04' would be covered in individual project/publication/media initiatives and were not funded by or attributed to the corporate logo change initiative.

  No costs were written off due to lack of use or destruction of materials featuring previous logos, as the low levels of old stock continued to be used.

  Departmental Response Times
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was
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  for a substantive response his Department to (a) written questions, (b) hon. Members' written correspondence and (c) public correspondence in 2003–04. [1705291]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The last published performance figures for the Home Office showed that 37 per cent. of all parliamentary questions and 56 per cent. of Members written correspondence were answered within parliamentary deadlines. I have been very clear this is not acceptable and needs to he substantially improved.

  As a result, last year the Department introduced a new correspondence tracking system and in the last few months our performance in meeting the targets for answering Members written correspondence to Ministers increased substantially. In relation to parliamentary questions, we are currently in the process of introducing a new system, the electronic Parliamentary Questions System (ePQS) to better monitor and manage the Department's performance.

  In relation to public correspondence, we are currently looking at how to improve the tracking and monitoring of performance across the Department. Figures are not currently available except at disproportionate cost.

  Immigration Appeals
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the consequences of delays in dealing with cases of appeals against withdrawal of United Kingdom nationality before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. [169803]

  Mr. Browne
  To date only one appeal against withdrawal of United Kingdom nationality has been lodged with the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. The administrative process for such appeals is subject to continuous review to ensure compatibility with both the public interest and the independent appeals process.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 10 May to Question reference 169812, what the reasons are for the delay in making progress with appeals over the exercise of his powers concerning removal of nationality and indefinite leave to remain. [174144]

  Mr. Lammy
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) has one appeal before it in relation to Deprivation of Citizenship proceedings. Such cases involve significant and complex evidence and require due consideration of public funding applications. Importantly, as with any appea1, parties need to be available and prepared to proceed. The timetable for the resolution of cases is necessarily a function of all these factors The administrative processes for appeals against Deprivation of Citizenship proceedings are subject to ongoing review to ensure compatibility with both the public interest and the independence of the judicial process.

TRANSPORT

  Railways
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2004,Official Report, column 651W, how many of the Department of Transport's PFI projects listed on the Treasury website met the criteria for special purpose vehicles set out in the Strategic Rail Authority's strategic plan. [171521]

  Mr. McNulty
  None of the Department for Transport projects listed on the Treasury website falls within the remit of the Strategic Rail Authority. The Highways Agency is responsible for the strategic roads, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency for the MOT privatisation, Transport for London for London Underground and the Docklands Light Rail projects and the relevant local authority for the other light rail, local roads and street lighting PFI projects.

  The selection criteria used to assess special purpose vehicles tendering for transport projects varies to take account of the nature of the work, the project size and duration.

  The legal, economic, financial and technical information required is set out in the contract advert in the Official Journal of the European Union. The information requested complies with Office of Government Commerce advice, departmental procedures and Treasury guidance on Private Finance Initiative practice.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Network Rail Volume Incentive; and if he will make a statement. [174075]

  Mr. Darling
  The 'Volume Incentive' was first introduced by the Rail Regulator in his Access Charges Review 2000. The SRA set out its views on the continuing effectiveness of a Volume Incentive for Network Rail as part of its response to the Initial Consultation Paper of the Access Charge Review 2003. The SRA's view was that for a number of reasons, the Volume Incentive would no longer be cost effective or appropriate given the changes to the industry since it was first introduced. The Rail Regulator considered this view and the supporting reasons, along with the views of other consultees, in the course of the Access Charge Review 2003. His view was that the Volume Incentive would continue to be an effective way of encouraging Network Rail to make efficient use of a constrained network so that additional traffic could be accommodated. He therefore retained the Volume Incentive, with a number of modifications (including only rewarding Network Rail for growth above a certain threshold level) in the Final Conclusions to the Access Charge Review published in December 2003. This decision is entirely for the Rail Regulator, taking into account his statutory duties as set out in the Railways Act. 1993.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the(a) Strategic Rail Authority's submission to the rail regulator in December 2002 that the Network Rail Volume Incentive be removed and (b) the Rail Regulators' response. [1174076]
  1229W
  Mr. Darling
  The documents referred to are available from the Office of the Rail Regulator's website at the following address:

  (a) http://www. rail-reg. gov.uk/upload/pdf/ir2-sra. pdf

  (b) http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/162.pdf

  The Final Conclusions from the Access Charge Review 2003 and other related documents are also available from this website.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2004,Official Report, column 410W, on railways, what operational performance trajectory was set for the train operating companies between December 2003 and November 2004; and what the current performance is against that target. [174239]

  Mr. Darling
  The performance trajectory, developed by the National Task Force on behalf of the rail industry, consists of Network Rail's performance forecasts and Train Operating Companies (TOC) performance plans. The trajectory is the industry's own internal performance monitoring process and will be reviewed in October 2004.

  TOC performance statistics are published quarterly by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) in "National Rail Trends", the most recent edition of which was published in March 2004. Copies of "National Rail Trends" are placed in the House of Commons Library and published on the SRA's web site.

  Lawrie Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what international models of railway safety he has considered in the context of the Rail Review. [174815]

  Mr. McNulty
  The rail review is considering several international models of railway safety in the course of its work.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria his Department is using to evaluate options for reorganising the structure of the railways as part of the Rail Review. [173798]

  Mr. McNulty
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport said in his statement to the House on 19 January2004, the principles for the review are that railways must operate in the public interest, maintain commitment to public and private partnership and maintain commitment to independent economic regulation.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he will ensure that rail safety continues to improve following changes arising from the Rail Review. [173799]

  Mr. McNulty
  The European Railway Safety Directive requires that member states ensure that railway safety is generally maintained and, where reasonably practicable, continuously improved.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the recommendations from Lord Cullen's public inquiry following the Ladbroke Grove rail accident are fully delivered following changes arising from the Rail Review. [173800]
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  Mr. McNulty
  Lord Cullen recommended that the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) should review compliance with his public inquiry recommendations and publish the outcome of such reviews. The safety regulator will be expected to continue to review compliance following the rail review.

  Blackpool Tram System
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the regeneration effects of(a) proceeding and (b) not proceeding with the proposed upgrade of the Blackpool tram system. [173914]

  Mr. McNulty
  The regeneration impacts of proceeding and not proceeding with the tramway upgrade were assessed in an Economic Impact Report provided by the promoters. The Department has not made its own assessment.

  Bristol Airport
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on proposals to expand the capacity of Bristol airport. [175098]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Air Transport White Paper stated that the main potential for growth in the South West would be at Bristol Airport. We support the Airport's development to around 12 million passengers per annum to include a runway extension and new terminal south of the existing runway, when these are required, having due regard to the environmental impacts that would accompany its expansion.

  Bus Users (London)
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the socio-economic breakdown of bus users in London. [174715]

  Mr. McNulty
  The National Travel Survey provides the information for people aged 16 and over living in households in Great Britain for the period 1998–2000, according to their area of residence.

  The table shows the percentage of users in each socio-economic group, both inside and outside London. Note that tourists are not included in this breakdown:

  All persons aged16 and over

  Bus users1

  socio-economic group(SEG)

  Inside London

  Outside London

  Inside London

  Outside London

  Professional/managerial

  18

  14

  16

  8

  Intermediate non-manual

  12

  9

  12

  8

  Junior non-manual

  13

  12

  13

  13

  Skilled manual

  10

  12

  8

  8

  Other manual/other SEGs

  11

  14

  12

  17

  Retired

  21

  27

  23

  30

  Other economically inactive

  15

  12

  16

  15

  All persons

  100

  100

  100

  100

  1Use a local bus more than twice a year (in London this is 72 per cent. of all persons aged 16 and over and outside London it is 43 per cent.).

  Car-Sharing
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken into the(a) growth and (b) popularity of formal car-sharing through online systems. [173314]

  Mr. McNulty
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 May 2004,Official Report, column 490W.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much clay will be produced as a result of excavations to build the new Channel Tunnel link station at Stratford; and how it is proposed to dispose of it. [175030]

  Mr. McNulty
  About 270,000 cubic metres of clay have been excavated to form the station box at Stratford. The clay was deposited on the Stratford Lands, where the surface is being raised by about 6 m for the redevelopment of the lands.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants were employed by communication division in his Department on the last date for which figures are available. [174326]

  Mr. McNulty
  As at 1 May 2004, the number of staff employed in the Department's Communication Directorate was 73.1 (full time equivalents). This figure breaks down as follows:

  Number

  Director

  1

  Press Officers

  15

  Publications (print, publishing and external websites)

  12

  Publicity (campaigns)

  10.8

  Strategic Communications

  8.8

  Internal Communications

  9.5

  Business Management (finance, procurement, human resources, IT, business and secretarial support)

  16

  Total

  73.1

  Consultants and Advisers
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on external consultants and advisers in each of the last three years. [172434]

  Mr. McNulty
  Details of spend on external consultants and advisers by the central Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies is shown in the following table.

  £million

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Central Department

  1—

  122.2

  58.5

  Highways Agency

  179.8

  157.5

  169.7

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  3.3

  4.0

  3.4

  Driving Standards Agency

  1.2

  4.2

  4.0

  Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

  2.8

  3.3

  3.0

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  Marine and Coastguard Agency

  1.5

  1.2

  0.8

  Strategic Rail Authority

  32.0

  54.1

  53.0

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  £million

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Trinity House Lighthouse Service

  0.3

  0.5

  1.0

  The Northern Lighthouse Service

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  Total

  221.1

  347.2

  293.6

  1The Department was formed in May 2002. Figures for the central Department are not available for 2001–02 or prior years.

  Light Rail
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the levels of private sector investment in(a) commercial and (b) housing property along the lines of light rail routes in each year since 1997; [171947]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect that light rail systems have had on urban regeneration since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [171948]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department makes no annual assessment of the levels of private investment along light rail routes. The Department part funded a programme of research on the regeneration impacts of Sheffield Supertram which concluded in 1997. This showed little effect, however the tram only became fully operational in 1995 and any significant changes would be more gradual.

  Rolling Stock Companies
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the(a) annual capital lease charge and (b) annual heavy maintenance charge made by rolng stock companies to train operators are for (i) a two carriage class 142 Pacer train, (ii) a two carriage class 143 Pacer train, (iii) a two carriage class 156 Sprinter train, (iv) a two carriage class 150 Sprinter train and (v) a four car class 333 train. [173467]

  Mr. McNulty
  The rate to be paid for a particular type of rolling stock for use on a particular franchise is a commercial matter between the rolling stock owner and the train operator.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Education Funding
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public money was spent on education in Chorley in each year between 1992 and 1997. [164183]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is submitted according to local education authority areas rather than districts within an area. Chorley is a district of Lancashire Local Education Authority. The information for Lancashire LEA is as follows:

  £000

  Total net current expenditure

  1992–93

  649,469

  1993–94

  594,252

  1994–95

  596,785

  1995–96

  583,921

  1996–97

  590,313

  1997–98

  600,316

  1233W
  Notes:

  1. The financial data are taken from Lancashire LEA's RO1 statement submitted to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

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

  3. In 1992–93 Net Current Expenditure after recharges was not collected on RO1. In this year Net Recurrent Expenditure is used and consequently figures for this year may not be strictly comparable with those for future years.

  4. Figures are for Lancashire LEA prior to the local government reorganisation in 1998–99.

  Jim Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in Heywood and Middleton in each of the last seven years. [168580]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than districts within an area. Heywood and Middleton is a district of Rochdale local education authority. The information for Rochdale LEA is as follows:

  Net current expenditure per pupil

  £

  Pre-Primary Education

  Primary Education

  Pre-Primary and Primary Education

  Secondary Education

  Special Schools

  1996–97

  n/a

  n/a

  1,800

  2,605

  12,959

  1997–98

  n/a

  n/a

  1,841

  2,658

  13,211

  1998–99

  n/a

  n/a

  1,952

  2,685

  13,276

  1999–2000

  5,105

  2,100

  2,161

  2,804

  13,438

  2000–01

  12,322

  2,315

  2,509

  3,070

  15.180

  2001–02

  21,017

  2,551

  2,747

  3,381

  16,007

  2002–03

  —

  —

  2,793

  —

  3,690

  Notes:

  1. The financial data are taken from Rochdale LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement previously. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 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.
  1234W
  James Purnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in Stalybridge and Hyde in each of the last seven years. [168759]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than districts within an area. Stalybridge and Hyde is a district of Tameside local education authority. The information for Tameside LEA is as follows:

  Net current expenditure per pupil

  £

  Pre-Primary Education

  Primary Education

  Pre-Primary and Primary Education

  Secondary Education

  Special Schools

  1996–97

  n/a

  n/a

  1,743

  2,304

  12,097

  1997–98

  n/a

  n/a

  1,779

  2,449

  12,876

  1998–99

  n/a

  n/a

  1,929

  2,528

  13,371

  1999–2000

  11,672

  2,065

  2,116

  2,579

  22,081

  2000–01

  21,005

  2,237

  2,334

  2,860

  24,175

  2001–02

  25,103

  2,690

  2,794

  3,221

  21,455

  2002–03

  —

  2,786

  —

  3,260

  —

  Notes:

  1. The financial data are taken from Tameside LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's R01 statement previously. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 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 adjusted to 2002–03 prices using the March 2004 GDP deflators.

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

  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.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public money was spent on education in the constituency of West Derbyshire between(a) 1992 and 1997, (b) 1997 and 2001 and (c) 2001 and 2004. [163736]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than districts within an area West Derbyshire is a district of Derbyshire Local Education Authority. The latest information for Derbyshire LEA is contained in the following table. Information on the current year 2004–05 will not be available until the end of 2005.
  1235W

  Net Current Expenditure

  £

  1992–93 to 1996–97

  1,740,789

  1997–98 to 2000–01

  1,104,187

  2001–02 to 2002–03

  728,225

  Notes:

  1. The financial data are taken from Derbyshire LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–00 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement previously. Figures up to and including 1996–97 are for Derbyshire LEA prior to local government reorganisation. From 1997–98 onwards Derbyshire LEA was split into Derbyshire and Derby LEAs. 1999–00 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. In 1992–93 Net Current Expenditure after recharges was not collected on RO1. In this year Net Recurrent Expenditure is used and consequently figures for this year may not be strictly comparable with those for future years

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in Birkenhead in each of the last seven years. [166300]

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

  Net current expenditure per pupil

  Pre-primary education

  Primary education

  Pre-primary and primary education

  Secondary education

  Special schools

  1996–97

  n/a

  n/a

  1,830

  2,570

  12,350

  1997–98

  n/a

  n/a

  1,780

  2,570

  13,350

  1998–99

  n/a

  n/a

  2,020

  2,690

  13,450

  1999–2000

  20,060

  2,120

  2,220

  2,850

  15,100

  2000–01

  28,700

  2,360

  2,510

  3,060

  16,180

  2001–02

  34,050

  2,680

  2,850

  3,420

  18,400

  2002–03

  —

  2,980

  —

  3,760

  —

  Notes:

  1. The financial data are taken from Wirral LEA's section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement previously. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the section 52 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 are subject to change by the LEA. All figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

  3. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEAs.
  1236W
  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.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in Wirral, South in each of the last seven years. [166624]

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

  Net current expenditure per pupil

  Pre-primary education

  Primary education

  Pre-primary and primary education

  Secondary education

  Special schools

  1996–97

  n/a

  n/a

  1,830

  2,570

  12,350

  1997–98

  n/a

  n/a

  1,780

  2,570

  13,350

  1998–99

  n/a

  n/a

  2,020

  2,690

  13,450

  1999–2000

  20,060

  2,120

  2,220

  2,850

  15,100

  2000–01

  28,700

  2,360

  2,510

  3,060

  16,180

  2001–02

  34,050

  2,680

  2,850

  3,420

  18,400

  2002–03

  —

  2,980

  —

  3,760

  —

  Notes

  1. The financial data are taken from Wirral LEA's section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement previously. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the section 52 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 are subject to change by the LEA. All figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

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

  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.
  1237W
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public money was spent on education in the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey between(a) 1992 and 1997, (b) 1997 and 2001 and (c) 2001 and 2004. [159487]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than districts within an area. Sittingbourne and Sheppey is a district of Kent local education authority. The latest information available for Kent LEA is as follows.

  Net current expenditure

  £000

  1992–93 to 1996–97

  2,514,790

  1997–98 to 2000–01

  2,138,194

  2001–02 to 2002–03

  1,411,520

  Notes:
  1. The financial data are taken from Kent LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statements submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's R01 statement prior to then. 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance. Figures up to and including 1997–98 are for Kent LEA prior to local government re-organisation. From 1998–99 onwards parts of Kent LEA became Rochester and Gillingham LEA.
  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. In 1992–93 NCE after recharges was not collected on R01. In this year Net Recurrent Expenditure is used and consequently figures for this year may not be strictly comparable with those for future years.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in Burnley in each of the last seven years. [167917]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than districts within an area. Burnley 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 Education

  Secondary Education

  Special Schools

  1996–97

  n/a

  n/a

  1,805

  2,594

  15,988

  1997–98

  n/a

  n/a

  1,824

  2,631

  17,315

  1998–99

  n/a

  n/a

  2,002

  2,701

  17,768

  1999–00

  7,130

  2,108

  2,173

  2,763

  18,487

  2000–01

  11,033

  2,326

  2,437

  2,914

  18,768

  2001–02

  16,391

  2,629

  2,797

  3,230

  20,597

  2002–03

  —

  2,898

  —

  3,399

  —

  1238W
  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 RO1 statement previously. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 outturn statement in 1999–2000. 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance. Up to 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.
  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 are 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 LEAs.
  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.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in the Lancashire Local Education Authority in each year since 1997. [165541]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is contained in the following table:

  Net Current Expenditure per pupil

  Pre-primary education

  primary education

  Pre-Primary and primary education

  Secondary education

  Special schools

  1997–98

  1—

  1—

  1,824

  2,631

  17,315

  1998–99

  1—

  1—

  2,002

  2,701

  17,768

  1999–2000

  7,130

  2,108

  2,173

  2,763

  18,487

  2000–01

  11,030

  2,326

  2,437

  2,914

  18,768

  2001–02

  16,391

  2,629

  2,797

  3,230

  20,597

  2002–03

  —

  3,399

  —

  —

  —

  1Non Applicable

  Notes:
  1. The financial data are taken from Lancashire LEA's section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–00 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement previously. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 outturn statement in 1999–00. 1999–00 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance. Up to 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.
  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

  1239W
  LEA expenditure based on pupil numbers. 2002–03 data is subject to change by the LEA. Pupil data are drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
  3. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEAs.
  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.

  Education Services (Essex)
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were employed in state schools in(a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003. [173323]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information is shown in the following tables. The first table shows the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) regular teachers in maintained schools in Essex LEA in each January between 1980 and 19981. Data for 1987 are not available. The second table show s the number of FTE regular teachers in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock LEAs after local government re-organisation in April 1998, in each January between 1999 and 2003.

  Essex

  1980

  13,080

  1981

  13,040

  1982

  12,820

  1983

  12,640

  1984

  12,440

  1985

  12,620

  1986

  12,000

  1987

  —

  1988

  12,390

  1989

  12,190

  1990

  12,360

  19912

  12,320

  1992

  12,390

  1993

  12,050

  1994

  11,980

  1995

  12,040

  1996

  12,370

  1997

  12,580

  1998

  12,560

  1 Sixth form colleges are included up to 1992

  2 Estimated

  Essex

  Southend-on-Sea

  Thurrock

  Total

  1999

  10,580

  1,270

  1,060

  12,910

  2000

  10,400

  1,380

  1,110

  12,890

  2001

  10,520

  1,410

  1,180

  13,100

  2002

  10,920

  1,520

  1,210

  13,650

  2003

  10,890

  1,560

  1,230

  13,670

  Source:

  Annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies.

  Essex Schools
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much it cost to educate a pupil in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Essex in 2003–04. [172462]

  Mr. Miliband
  The latest date for which this information is available is 2002–03 and is given in the table. The information requested for 2003–04 will not be collected by the Department until October 2004 but I will write to the hon. Member when it is available.

  Net Current Expenditure per pupil

  Primary Education

  Secondary Education

  2002–03

  2,950

  3,600

  Notes:
  1. The financial data are taken from Essex LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES. 2002–03 data is 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 the 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.
  6. Pupil data are drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.

  Further Education
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what his projection is of funding for adult learning and skills provision by colleges of further education in rural areas; [175372]

  (2) what funding provision is made for further education colleges in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [175373]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department allocates funds to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for the provision of education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector. The Department does not provide a specific budget to the LSC for further education colleges in rural areas. The LSC decides on allocations at individual college and regional levels from the funds allocated to it for learning participation. Information about these allocations is not collected by the Department. This is a matter for the LSC. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the Honourable Gentleman on this matter. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library. The Government have set out its investment plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06 which should enable the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to increase funding for further education significantly.

  Pre-schools
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 17 May 2004,Official Report, column 705W, on pre-schools, what plans he has to make a degree qualification essential for teaching under-8s; and if he will make a statement. [175173]

  Mr. Miliband
  All qualified teachers in maintained primary schools or non-maintained special schools will hold a first degree or equivalent qualification. Adults who are not qualified teachers and who do not necessarily have a degree qualification may also teach in such schools in specific circumstances set out in the Education (Specified Work and Registration) (England) Regulations 2003.

  Table A: Capital allocations: Warrington local education authority.

  All figures in £000

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Assistance wth AMPs

  27

  Basic L C Vap

  49

  276

  Basic Need

  1,189

  829

  2,389

  3,434

  2,453

  Class Size initiative

  347

  1,261

  282

  640

  176

  Condition

  1,040

  1,517

  Devolved Formula

  1,438

  1,172

  1,786

  Energy

  62

  Modernisaton (Primary)

  Modernisation LEA

  Modernisation LEA

  611

  Modernisation VA

  148

  NDS2

  1,083

  NDS3

  1,500

  NDS4

  2,660

  Outside Toilets

  56

  School Labs

  149

  149

  School Security

  66

  67

  67

  47

  40

  Schools Access Intitiave

  69

  100

  140

  229

  298

  Secondary Learning Support Units

  43

  47

  58

  Seed Challenge

  152

  167

  274

  Specialist Schools

  100

  100

  Staff Workspace

  60

  Supplementary Credit Approvals

  193

  503

  219

  Supplementary NDS for VA Schools

  116

  Voluntary Aided School Grant

  207

  438

  505

  584

  630

  Total

  3,272

  4,222

  8,041

  8,061

  8,646

  So far Warrington LEA has also been allocated £10.2 million over the two years 2004–05 and 2005–06

  School/College Funding
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to equalise funding between schools and colleges for 16 to 19-year-olds in the Worthing area. [175448]

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

  Specialist Schools
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the schools in England that have a specialist status in primary musical education. [175428]
  1242W

  School Funding
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much capital money has been allocated to schools in Warrington, North in each year since 1997. [174659]

  Mr. Miliband
  Since 2001 the majority of capital support has been allocated to schools and local education authorities by formula, and they decide how to invest it in line with their asset management plans. The Department does not, therefore, have complete information about capital investment at constituency level. This should be held at local authority level. Table A sets out the capital support made by the Department to Warrington local education authority (LEA) and its schools since 1998–99, in total and by programme.

  Mr. Miliband
  Specialist school status is available for secondary (but not primary) maintained schools in England. Of the 259 secondary schools designated as specialist Arts Colleges, 181 are Performing Arts Colleges, providing an enhanced curriculum in music, dance and drama. Following the launch of the new Music specialism last year, the first two specialist Music Colleges (one of which is a combined Music and Mathematics and Computing College) will become operational in September 2004.

  Specialist schools must spend at least a third of their specialist school funding on delivering community development plans. These plans require schools to work in close partnership and to share enhanced facilities and curriculum expertise with a minimum of five other local schools—including feeder primary schools.
  1243W
  In a separate initiative, in 2002, 42 primary schools were included in pilots, with subsequent evaluation by Ofsted, of models to widen opportunities for primary pupils to learn musical instruments. Earlier this year, I announced an extra £1.5 million for music services to help all authorities to develop their own models in this area.

  £

  School Name

  LEA

  Amount of BID (net cost)

  Purpose of Bid

  The Nottingham Bluecoat School

  Nottingham

  1,728,100

  New Accommodation

  Holy Trinity CE VA Primary School

  Calderdale

  937,067

  Replacement School

  Akiva School

  Barnet

  6,758,100

  New VA School

  Our Lady of the Visitation RC Primary School

  Ealing

  1,012,712

  Replacement Accommodation

  The Avenue School

  Brent

  3,420,000

  New VA School

  Hemingfield Ellis CE Primary School

  Barnsley

  1,602,400

  Replacement School

  Richard Challoner School

  Kingston upon Thames

  4,306,781

  Remodelling of School

  Holy Trinity School

  West Sussex

  3,000,000

  Expansion of School

  Montesorri School

  Brighton and Hove

  3,736,000

  New VA School

  St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School

  Cheshire

  1,828,444

  Replacement School

  Four schools—reorganisation

  Devon

  13,236,880

  Reorganisation of four Schools

  St. Andrew CE Primary School

  Devon

  1,812,000

  Replacement School

  Larmenier and Sacred Heart RC Primary School

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  5,285,345

  Replacement School

  St. Gregory's Catholic Primary School

  Stoke-on-Trent

  1,551,518

  Extension to School

  Alderman Cogan's School

  Kingston upon Hull

  1,015,120

  Alterations to Existing School

  St. Bede's RC School

  North Lincolnshire

  700,019

  Independent Learning Centre

  Bethany Junior School

  Bournemouth

  1,261,171

  Remodelling and Improvements

  Notre Dame High School

  Norfolk

  3,984,632

  14–19 Excellence Centre

  St. George's School

  Hertfordshire

  4,124,876

  Growth in Pupil Numbers

  Sacred Heart RC Primary School

  Hillingdon

  4,993,469

  Growth in Pupil Numbers

  Ashlands Ecumenical Primary School

  North Somerset

  2,072,171

  Growth in Pupil Numbers

  St. George's Primary School

  North Somerset

  2,072,171

  Growth in Pupil Numbers

  Holy Trinity Catholic School

  Cornwall

  2,790,000

  Growth in Pupil Numbers

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support his Department gives to UK citizens living abroad who would like to return to the UK in order to undertake teacher training. [174992]

  Mr. Miliband
  Eligibility for support from public funds in respect of Bachelor of Education and Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses in England normally depends on whether or not a person is ordinarily resident in this country or the wider European Economic Area (EEA) Employment-based teacher training schemes, the largest of which is the Graduate Teacher Programme, offer an alternative route to Qualified Teacher Status which allows candidates to be employed in schools as unqualified teachers and paid accordingly while they train. Candidates who are not ordinarily resident in EEA country can take part in these programmes on exactly the same basis as those who are.

  Teachers
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate the Government has made of the likely increase in salary costs of requiring all teachers to work up to the age of 60 years. [174846]

  Mr. Miliband
  There is no existing or proposed requirement on teachers to work to the age of 60.

  Vocational Training
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of the cohort of

  Targeted Capital Fund
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the 23 voluntary-aided projects which were successful in their bids to the 2004–05 Targeted Capital Fund. [174735]

  Mr. Miliband
  The details are as follows:

  (a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18, (d) 19, (e) 20 and (f) 21-year-olds (i) commenced and (ii) completed (A) NVQ level 3 courses and (B) modern apprenticeships in each year since 1992. [172625]

  Alan Johnson
  The proportions of 16 to 21-year-olds to have commenced either a NVQ level 3 in Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funded further education, an advanced apprenticeship or an apprenticeship in 2001/02 and 2002/03 are shown in the following table.

  Commencement rates of 16 to 21-year-olds on NVQ level 3 courses in LSC funded further education and on apprenticeships by programme and age—England: 2001/02 and 2002/03

  Percentage

  Programme/Age at 31 August

  2001/02

  2002/03

  NVQ 3 in LSC funded FE

  16

  0.2

  0.1

  17

  0.6

  0.6

  18

  0.7

  0.8

  19

  0.4

  0.5

  20

  0.3

  0.4

  21

  0.3

  0.4

  All 16 to 21-year-olds

  0.4

  0.5

  Advanced apprenticeships1

  16

  1.6

  1.4

  17

  1.3

  1.2

  18

  1.5

  1.3

  19

  1.2

  1.1

  20

  1.0

  0.8

  21

  0.8

  0.7

  All 16 to 21-year-olds

  1.2

  1.1

  1245W

  Commencement rates of 16 to 21-year-olds on NVQ level 3 courses in LSC funded further education and on apprenticeships by programme and age—England: 2001/02 and 2002/03

  Percentage

  Programme/Age at 31 August

  2001/02

  2002/03

  Apprenticeships2

  16

  5.3

  5.2

  17

  3.4

  3.7

  18

  2.6

  2.8

  19

  1.8

  2.1

  20

  1.3

  1.5

  21

  1.0

  1.1

  All 16 to 21-year-olds

  2.6

  2.8

  All apprenticeships

  16

  6.9

  6.6

  17

  4.7

  4.9

  18

  4.1

  4.1

  19

  2.9

  3.2

  20

  2.2

  2.3

  21

  1.8

  1.9

  All 16 to 21-year-olds

  3.8

  3.8

  Sources:

  LSC Individualised Learner Record

  LSC Individualised Student Record

  Office for National Statistics

  The proportions of 16 to 21-year-olds to have achieved either an NVQ level 3 qualification in LSC funded further education, or the NVQ component of an apprenticeship are shown in the following table.

  Achievements by 16 to 21-year-olds of NVQ level 3 courses in LSC funded further education and of NVQ components of apprenticeships as a proportion of the relevant age cohort by programme and age—England: 2001/02 and 2002/03

  Percentage

  Programme/Age at 31 August

  2001/02

  2002/033

  NVQ 3 in LSC funded FE

  16

  —

  n/a

  17

  0.3

  n/a

  18

  0.3

  n/a

  19

  0.2

  n/a

  20

  0.1

  n/a

  21

  0.1

  n/a

  All 16 to 21-year-olds

  0.2

  n/a

  NVQ 3 component of an advanced apprenticeship1

  16

  —

  —

  17

  0.1

  0.1

  18

  0.5

  0.4

  19

  1.0

  1.0

  20

  0.9

  1.0

  21

  0.6

  0.7

  All 16 to 21-year-olds

  0.5

  0.5

  NVQ 2 component of an apprenticeship2

  16

  0.1

  0.1

  17

  1.3

  1.3

  18

  1.4

  1.5

  19

  0.9

  1.1

  20

  0.5

  0.7

  21

  0.4

  0.5

  All 16 to 21-year-olds

  0.7

  0.9

  NVQ component of all apprenticeships

  16

  0.1

  0.1

  17

  1.3

  1.4

  18

  1.8

  1.9

  19

  1.8

  2.1

  20

  1.4

  1.6

  21

  1.0

  1.2

  All 16 to 21-year-olds

  1.2

  1.4

  1246W

  '—' = less than 0.05 percent.

  Notes to tables:

  1 Advanced apprenticeships were until recently known as advanced modern apprenticeships.

  2 Apprenticeships were until recently known as foundation modern apprenticeships.

  3 2002/03 outcomes data for LSC funded further education are not yet available. 2002/03 outcomes data for apprenticeships are provisional.

  Sources:

  LSC Individualised Learner Record

  LSC Individualised Student Record

  Office for National Statistics

  Please note that direct comparisons should not be made between the proportions in the two tables as individual learners will have their programmes of learning delivered over different years. For example, some of the 17-year-olds to have commenced an NVQ 3 course in 2001/02 will finish as 17-year-olds in 2001/02, others will finish in 2002/03 as 18-year-olds, while others will finish the year after as 19-year-olds.

  The percentages in both these tables are produced using post-census population estimates. However we are currently unable to provide a historical series on a comparable population basis. Further information can be found in the Department's Statistical First Release, "Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16–18 Year Olds in England: 2001 and 2002" available online at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000426/index.shtml.

  Watford Grammar School for Boys
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students at Watford Grammar School for Boys are selected by aptitude or ability. [175426]

  Mr. Miliband
  This information is not collected centrally by the Department.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Iraq
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2003,Official Report, column 422W, on Iraq, whether the complete review of missing drugs and supplies has finished; what the findings were; whether new drug supply systems are now fully operational; whether supply accounting and reporting systems are in place; what the new national drug formulary comprises; whether shortages of medicine in Iraq are continuing; when he expects full medical supplies will get through to the Iraqi people; and if he will make a statement. [173385]

  Hilary Benn
  The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently presented a report to the Iraqi Ministry of Health (IMOH) assessing the national drug and supply system, which is currently being considered. In parallel, the IMOH have also been provided with essential drug policy and quality guidance and support to the assessment of the national drug regulations and registration systems. Plans for strengthening the IMOH National Drug Regulatory Authority have been agreed and guidelines for good storage practices are being prepared. Additional strategies for upgrading the Drug
  1247W
  Information Centre have been finalised and procurement of equipment is underway. A new National Formulary, comprising over 1,000 medicines has been produced and is available from the IMOH.

  New procurement and distribution management teams have been set up by the IMOH, replacing the previous system under the corrupt, state-owned Kimadia Company. Procurement of essential medical supplies has been initiated and a delivery is expected in the next few days. Further shipments, including critical medical supplies for the Governorates, are on order.

  Significant progress has been made to improve national drugs supplies and systems: The WHO report that stocks of 23 drugs for chronic diseases out of the 32 commonly used, are in sufficient supply to meet patient demand. The IMOH, WHO and the CPA continue to work to further improve both drug supplies and systems in Iraq.

  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid and assistance his Department is giving to the Iraqi people. [173932]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID has committed over £278 million for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq since March 2003, of which £70 million has been channelled through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI). DFID has also provided a number of staff, filling a range of posts, to the Iraqi ministries and the Coalition Provincial Authority (CPA).

  On 19 February, I published DFID's plans to contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq over the next two years in our interim Country Assistance Plan. It has been placed in the House of Commons Library and can be found on the DFID website: www.dfid.gov.uk

  Liberia
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has(a) pledged and (b) delivered to assist Liberian refugees to (i) return to and (ii) re-integrate into society in Liberia; and if he will make a statement. [175475]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID's relief and reconstruction strategy for Liberia, in 2003 and 2004, has concentrated on helping to relieve the humanitarian crisis, provide security, and restore basic services so that both refugees and internally displaced persons can return to their places of origin. Over this period, DFID has committed a total of £10.6 million for these purposes and has so far disbursed £3.6 million for humanitarian programmes, £0.4 million in support of the UN security coordination agency and interim care centres for children, and £2.7 million for rehabilitation of basic services. For 2004, DFID is discussing with various agencies proposals totalling £1.7 million for humanitarian support, and £2.2 million for reactivation of health care, water supplies, and agricultural livelihoods.

  In addition, DFID has pledged a total of £6 million to support Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programmes over 2003–05, of which we have so far disbursed £1 million. These funds are intended to assist the re-integration into their communities of ex-combatants and others affected by war.

  Staff with Disabilities
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reasons the Service Delivery Agreement target to have 3.3 per cent. of senior Civil Service posts filled with staff with disabilities has not been met. [174140]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  DFID is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity. DFID's policy on recruitment is to stimulate and encourage applications from all sections of the community specifically including candidates with disabilities. We word our advertisements accordingly. Final selection, however, is on merit, and the composition of the Senior Civil Service group is a reflection of appointments made on this basis, through open competition or internal promotion.

  There are currently 79 members of the Senior Civil Service in DFID, so performance against the target is very sensitive to small changes in the actual number of staff with disabilities in post.

  In general, DFID is aware that there are more disabled people in the Department than declare their impairment and is actively pursuing a number of measures to develop a more open culture on disability. However, it will remain the individual's choice to define themselves as disabled or not.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Child Maintenance
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many British citizens avoid paying child maintenance because they have left the country; and how many of these reside in the EU. [166728]

  Mr. Pond
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Barry Sheerman, dated 21 May 2004:

  In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

  You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many British citizens avoid paying child maintenance because they have left the country; and how many of these reside in the EU.

  I do not have the information you seek. I can however say at 30 November 2003 there were around 300 cases where further action was suspended because the non-resident parent was living abroad. I am unable to determine how many of those cases reside in the EU.

  Child Support
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the new Child Support Agency formula will be applied to all absent parents, irrespective of the date of claim; and if he will make a statement. [170823]

  Mr. Pond
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 18 December 2003,Official Report, column 1092W.
  1249W
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his Written Statement of 21 April,Official Report, columns 19–21WS on child support, for what reasons some new cases were unable to be progressed on the new system. [171098]

  Mr. Pond
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 21 May 2004:

  In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

  You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Written Statement of 21st April, Official Report, columns 19–21WS on child support, for what reasons some new cases were unable to be progressed on the new system.

  Some cases were unable to be progressed on the new system because of problems within the computer service provided to the Child Support Agency by EDS. The Agency is working closely with EDS to remedy those problems and as it does so it will become possible to progress those cases.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his Written Statement of 21 April 2004,Official Report, columns 19–21WS on the child support scheme, when he estimates that reliable figures on (a) compliance and (b) throughput will be available. [171099]

  Mr. Pond
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 21 May 2004:

  In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

  You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Written Statement of 21st April, Official Report, columns 19–21WS on the child support scheme, when he estimates that reliable figures on (a) compliance and (b) throughput will be available.

  Whilst EDS have made significant progress in relation to correcting defects within their computer service we are still working through with them how these can be applied retrospectively to provide the type of information you seek. We do not yet have detailed plans for this work and I am therefore unable to provide the estimate requested.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his written statement of 21 April 2004,Official Report, columns 19–21WS, for what reasons his Department has increased the amount retained from the monthly payments to EDS from 15 per cent. to 15 to 20 per cent. [171288]

  Mr. Pond
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 21 May 2004:

  In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
  1250W
  You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Written Statement of 21st April, Official Report, columns 19–21WS, for what reasons his Department has increased the amount retained from the monthly payments to EDS from 15 per cent, to 15 to 20 per cent.

  In the last quarter the Department has retained between 15% and 20% of the monies that would otherwise be due to EDS. The amount of the retention actually made each month reflects the service levels achieved by EDS in the provision of their contracted service to the Agency.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his Oral Statement of 11 February 2004 to the Work and Pensions Select Committee on the Child Support Agency reforms, when the IT recovery programme(a) began and (b) will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [169399]

  Mr. Pond
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 21 May 2004:

  In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

  You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Oral Statement of 11th February, to the Work and Pensions Select Committee on the Child Support Agency reforms, when the IT recovery programme (a) began and (b) will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Since November 2003 we have been involved with EDS to agree the scope, design and development schedule for their programme to remedy issues associated with their provision of a computer service to support the Child Support Reform programme. This has led to enhancements to the main system in January and March and to the work management and telephony system (again in January and March). They have currently planned a further major software release in June. We are still discussing the final content and delivery timetable of subsequent enhancements.

CABINET OFFICE

  Obesity Initiative
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reason the Government discounts to private health club membership for firemen, nurses, police and ambulance workers as part of its initiative to cut obesity have not been extended to all categories of Civil Servants. [173321]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Government are committed to looking after the occupational health of Civil Servants. Having pro-active occupational health policies not only benefits employees but can also assist the organisation by helping to reduce levels of sickness absence.

  As part of programmes to raise awareness of health issues, Government Departments and agencies are free to negotiate membership discounts on behalf of their staff with private health club providers, or provide their own fitness facilities.

DEFENCE

  Aircraft Carrier Programme
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the new aircraft carrier programme. [173703]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Future Carrier (CVF) programme remains in the Assessment Phase. Ministers are currently considering proposals on the overall CVF programme, the alliance strategy and on when to proceed to the Demonstration and Manufacture phases. We expect to make an announcement when these deliberations are complete.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement concerning the Future Carrier Programme, the Alliance Strategy and the timetable for the demonstration and manufacture phases; and if he will make a statement. [173704]

  Mr. Ingram
  Ministers are currently considering proposals on the overall CVF programme, the alliance strategy and on when to proceed to the Demonstration and Manufacture phases. We expect to make an announcement when these deliberations are complete.

  AWE Aldermaston
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department's policy in respect of the proposal to build a high-powered laser facility at AWE Aldermaston has changed since 5 July 1999. [173861]

  Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is currently considering a new proposal for a laser facility at AWE to replace the existing HELEN laser. In 2001, because of time and cost overruns on the United States National Ignition Facility, it was decided not to continue with plans, announced on 5 July 1999, Official Report, column 341W, to build a United Kingdom target chamber attached to that facility.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will promote the benefit of Eurofighter to the Singapore Government. [173771]

  Mr. Ingram
  This Government are actively involved in promoting Eurofighter Typhoon to the Government of Singapore through the work of the Defence Export Services Organisation. The aircraft has been included on the shortlist to be evaluated for the Singaporean next Fighter Replacement Programme, and a decision is expected early in 2005.

  International Committee of the Red Cross
  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether, when the administration of Camp Bucca was handed back to the British Armed Forces, they began to investigate the allegations of ill-treatment detailed to the International Committee of the Red Cross by detainees. [173455]
  1252W
  Mr. Hoon
  No. The United Kingdom took over the running of Camp Bucca from the United States on 25 September 2003, and continued to run the facility until the opening of the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility at Shaibah on 15 December 2003.

  The two incidents concerning prisoners at Camp Bucca, detailed in the ICRC's report on the Treatment by the Coalition Forces of Prisoners of War and other Protected Persons by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during Arrest, internment and Interrogations, both allegedly occurred while the facility was run by the US. These are matters for the US.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the death mentioned at paragraph 44 of the International Committee of the Red Cross Report on the Treatment by the Coalition Forces of Prisoners of War and other protected persons in Iraq said to have occurred on 22 September 2003 was the result of actions by British armed forces. [173020]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: The United Kingdom took over the running of Camp Bucca from the United States on 25 September 2003. The incident referred to in Paragraph 45 of the ICRC Report on the Treatment by the Coalition Forces of Prisoners of War and other Protected Persons by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during Arrest, Internment and Interrogations, occurred before the UK took over the facility, therefore was not the result of action by British Armed Forces.

  Investigation Techniques
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance has been provided by the British Special Air Services to the United States military forces in investigation techniques of military personnel since 1984. [175139]

  Mr. Ingram
  I am withholding details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  IT Outsourcing
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the schedule is for the plan to outsource IT support and provision across his Department; [168293]

  (2) what the projected budget is for the (a) outsourced support and provision of IT services for his Department and (b) cost of terminating existing contracts; [168291]

  (3) what weighting will be given to the previous track records in other areas of the civil and public sector of the consortia that are bidding for the support and provision of IT services in his Department; [168290]

  (4) what his contingency plan is for the possibility that an outside contractor wins the contract for the support and provision of IT in his Department and then fails during the term of that contract. [168289]

  Mr. Ingram
  These questions have been answered with respect to the Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) programme. The Ministry of Defence is in negotiations with two potential commercial Delivery
  1253W
  Partners (DP) for the provision of Information Systems services. The DII programme is currently in the Assessment Phase of the Smart Procurement cycle.

  In terms of cost, the MOD currently spends over £450 million per annum on its information infrastructure. It is anticipated that the DII Public/Private Partnership contract will cost in the region of £4 billion over 10 years.

  Track record is one of a number of factors included in the evaluation of bids. The Department's Supplier Relations Group has conducted research of bidding consortium members' performance both in Defence and across Government. In addition, the project has taken up references, by telephone and through visits, from existing customers of the key companies in the bidding consortia. Further reference visits will be conducted during the final phase of the procurement, targeting customers in receipt of a similar volume and range of services.

  10 major legacy contracts for IT infrastructure have been identified and these will be subsumed within, or superseded by, the DII contract. The majority of these contracts are due to expire naturally over the next 18 months. An options appraisal has been conducted for each contract and an appropriate scenario agreed for each during subsequent mitigation planning. Where the risks, liabilities or known termination charges are unacceptably high, the preferred option is to allow a contract to run to expiry and then assimilate the activity within DII. Any contracts that currently lie beyond the next three years, which in the main are PFI contracts, will be subsumed on expiry. Residual liabilities will be assessed more fully following negotiations with bidders in the later stages of procurement but generally we would expect to be in no worse a position than now and would seek to be in a better position through negotiation.

  Support to deployed operations will continue to be supplied by Service personnel. For all other elements of IT infrastructure provision and support the MOD will mitigate the risk of supplier failure by contracting with a consortium which will provide the services through a range of service providers. This will ensure that in the event that one member of the consortium fails, there is capacity available for another consortium member to pick up the service provision. In addition, the MOD will retain rights to step in and use its own staff or other third party contractors to remedy major service failures. Ultimately, the MOD will have rights to terminate the contract for material breaches in performance, with options to take services back in-house or contract with another commercial provider for their delivery.

  King's Regiment
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the postings were of the lst Battalion, The King's Regiment for the last two years; and what postings are planned in the next year. [174740]

  Mr. Ingram
  1st Battalion, The King's Regiment has been based at Catterick since March 2001. The Regiment deployed to Iraq from June to October 2003. One Company has since deployed to Kosovo, where they remain. During the period the unit has exercised in
  1254W
  Canada (in the summer of 2002) and was involved in Operation Fresco (towards the end of 2002 and the start of 2003).

  It is currently planned that a Company from the unit will deploy to the Falkland Islands later this year. The remainder of the unit is scheduled to undertake a number of routine tasks in support of the training of other units.

  Missiles
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what armaments are to be fitted to the Future Surface Combatant. [171862]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Future Surface Combatant is currently in its concept stage. As such, no decisions have yet been taken on specific armaments. However, it is envisaged that its roles will include Anti-Surface Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Air Warfare and Land Attack, and the ships will be equipped accordingly.

  Overseas Bribery
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many allegations of overseas bribery involving UK companies his Department has received from the US Administration since February 1999; on what dates these allegations were received; and what action his Department took on each allegation. [151401]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe on 3 February 2004,Official Report, column 844W.

  Procurement
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the long-term costings for the equipment programme. [172741]

  Mr. Ingram
  The detailed financial data and planning assumptions about the proposed content and timing of the future equipment programme form part of internal advice to Ministers on the overall affordability of the defence programme and of individual projects at the time they come forward for approval. This information therefore anticipates decisions still to be taken by Ministers. In parts it also contains information which is commercially sensitive. I am therefore withholding such information under Exemptions 2 and 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Information is, however, routinely made available on a range of major equipment projects, which together form the substantial part of the Department's forward equipment programme, for example in support of the PAC's annual Major Projects Report and the HCDC's annual inquiry into defence procurement. This detail is set in broader context by the publication every two years of the Department's overarching Defence Investment Strategy.

  Refuelling Tanker Aircraft
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government plan to work jointly with the French Government in the CVF programme; and if he will make a statement. [170352]

  Mr. Ingram
  We are continuing to explore opportunities with the French for potential Carrier co-operation. We believe there could be potential political, military and economic benefits to be gained through such co-operation, but we must ensure that the United Kingdom's CVF programme is not disrupted.

  Type 45 Destroyer
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the Type 45 destroyer programme. [174251]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Type 45 will be the biggest and most capable class of air defence destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy, and will be equipped to carry out a range of tasks. Six ships are on order with the prime contractor BAE Systems, providing stability for the shipbuilding work force on the Clyde, and at the new VT facility at Portsmouth, for the remainder of the decade. The programme is in full production against a mature design, a first for a UK warship project at this stage of its development.

  UN Operations
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library transcripts of the media interviews he gave on 10 May 2004 on the situation in Iraq and investigations into alleged abuse of detainees in British custody in Iraq. [173344]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence does not routinely hold full transcripts of interviews given by Ministers on radio or television programmes.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vehicles have been transported to Iraq for use by British armed forces, broken down by type. [173860]

  Mr. Ingram
  This information would require extensive manual retrieval and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what length of deployment UK military personnel are required to serve in Iraq. [174353]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 19 April 2004,Official Refort, column 11W, to the hon. Member for Romford (Mi. Rosindell).

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of each of the(a) B1u-97B, (b) 20 mm Phalanx Sea-to-Air, (c) 25 mm M791, (d) 30 mm PGU-14/B, (e) 120 mm MV Charm, (f) Tow 2 A/B A/tank, (g) AGM-65 G Maverick, (h) Hellfire II/Brimstone, (i) AGM-84 SLAM-ER, (j) AGM-154C JSOW, (k) AGM-158 JASSM, (l) BGM-109 Tactical Tomahawk, (m) Storm Shadow/Scalper, (n) GBU-15, (o) GBU-24, (p) GBU-27, (q) GBU-28B/B, (r) GBU-31JDAM, (s) GBU-37 B/B, (t) GBU-118/B and (u) SSB weapon types were used in Iraq; and which were used against targets in urban areas. [174375]
  1256W
  Mr. Ingram
  The numbers of each weapon type used by British forces during Op. Telic are as follows:

  Weapon type

  Total used

  20 mm Phalanx

  0

  120 mm CHARM

  850

  TOW (I and FI variants)

  83

  AGM-65 G Maverick

  38

  Storm Shadow

  27

  GBU-27

  9

  In respect to the numbers of (l) BGM-109 Tactical Tomahawk, and; in relation to the breakdown of numbers used against urban targets, I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to defence, security and international relations.

  With the exception of the Tactical Tomahawk, those weapon types included in the question but not listed in the table above are not in UK service.

  Vaccination
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the practice of informed consent for the administering of vaccines became standard practice; [174191]

  (2) pursuant to the letter from the Under-Secretary of State of 1 December 2003, under what guidelines vaccines were administered that did not have a product licence at that time. [174197]

  Mr. Caplin
  We are currently assembling the information but it is taking time. I will therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

HEALTH

  Chronic Disease
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure has been allocated by his Department to projects to improve chronic disease management over the next three years. [171233]

  Mr. Hutton
  The management of chronic conditions and the provision of treatment and support to people with such conditions consume substantial national health service resources within primary care trusts' existing allocations. Our recently announced initiative, improving chronic disease management, is intended to make better use of those resources and offer better care to people with chronic conditions. The Department of Health has, however, allocated a total of £5 million in funding to nine primary care trusts participating in the Evercare pilot scheme to test potential ways in which these improvements might be achieved.

  Clinical Advisers (IT Forum)
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for the disbandment of the NHS IT forum for clinicians; and if he will make a statement. [173093]
  1257W
  Mr. Hutton
  The national health service's national programme for information technology is currently considering options to strengthen the arrangements for providing advice from clinicians and patients' representatives to inform its work. Members of the National Clinical Advisory Board are fully involved in discussions about its future role. The National Clinical Advisory Board has not been disbanded.

  Dental Treatment
  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists working within the London borough of Wandsworth provide national health service dental treatment within their practice; and if he will make a statement. [173077]

  Mr. Hutton
  Data for number of dentists are not collected by London borough area. The number of national health service dentists in Wandsworth Primary Care Trust (PCT) at 30 September 2003 is shown in the table.

  National health service: Number of dentists in Wandsworth PCT area—30 September 2003

  Primary care trust

  Wandsworth PCT

  General dental service (GDS)

  121

  Community dental service (CDS)

  27

  Salaried

  4

  Total

  152

  Dentists can work in more than one PCT area. GDS dentists numbers are for those whose main dental work is in the Wandworth PCT area. Therefore, dentists who do some work in this area but more in another PCT have not been included.

  Adult dental registrations as a percentage of the population at 30 September for each year

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Wigan and Bolton HA

  159.6

  54.0

  52.0

  51.4

  51.0

  n/a

  n/a

  Bolton PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  45.6

  45.7

  Greater Manchester SHA area

  160.3

  53.9

  52.2

  52.3

  51.9

  50.6

  49.7

  England

  51.0

  43.8

  43.3

  43.4

  43.4

  44.2

  44.0

  n/a = not available.

  1 Registration figures are not on the same basis as those for later years because of the change in registration period.

  Patients wishing to register with a NHS dentist can obtain details of dentists accepting new patients in their area by accessing www.nhs.uk, contacting NHS Direct or contacting their local PCT. Currently 93 per cent. of callers to NHS Direct are being directed to sources of NHS dental treatment within locally agreed distance standards.

  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in(a) Bolton, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) England treated NHS patients in the past seven years; and how many treated only private patients in each year. [172621]
  1258W
  Dentists in the GDS include principals, assistants and vocational dental practitioners. These figures are on a headcount basis rather than whole-time equivalent basis and therefore take no account of part-time working.

  Dentists
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of adults in(a) Bolton, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) England were registered with an NHS dentist in each of the last seven years. [172598]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information available is for general dental service (GDS) dentist registration rates for adults in the Wigan and Bolton Health Authority at 30 September 1997 to 2001, and for Bolton Primary Care Trust (PCT), which is part of the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority (SHA) for 30 September 2002 and 30 September 2003. Figures for the Greater Manchester SHA area are also shown.

  Registrations cover patients who have been to a general dental service dentist within the past 15 months. These will exclude patients who choose to attend occasionally who have not been to a dentist during that period. Registrations are included in the area of the dentist. Patients may choose to have their dental services in a different PCT area from the one in which they live. The registration period was changed for new registrations and registrations extending from September 1996. Previously the period for adults was 24 months while children's registration lapsed at the end of the following calendar year. This caused registration numbers to fall between November 1997 and August 1998.

  National health service dental services are also provided by the community dental service, personal dental service, the salaried service of the GDS and hospital dental service. These services do not require the patient to be registered with a dentist before treatment.

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The table shows the number of dentists in the general, personal, community, and hospital dental services.

  The figures given are for 30 September for each year. Before 2002 Bolton was part of the Wigan and Bolton Health Authority. In 2002 health authorities (HAs) were replaced by primary care trusts (PCTs).

  Figures for the number of dentists who treat private patients only are not available. Few dentists are purely private. The Office of Fair Trading report "The private dentistry market" in the UK stated that only 210 practices are totally private in the United Kingdom out of 11,000 practices in total.

  Figures are also given for England.
  1259W

  Number of dentists at 30 September of each year

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Wigan and Bolton HA

  205

  210

  211

  219

  207

  n/a

  n/a

  Bolton PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  85

  84

  Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority area

  1,115

  1,127

  1,162

  1,155

  1,150

  1,161

  1,203

  England

  20,483

  21,041

  21,556

  21,902

  22,438

  23,051

  23,490

  n/a = not available

  Dialysis
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) average and (b) maximum waiting time for vascular access surgery for dialysis patients for (i) England, (ii) each region and (iii) each strategic health authority in each year since 1996. [159780]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on waiting times for vascular access surgery is not centrally available. Waiting times for consultant led in-patient elective admissions and consultant led first out-patient appointments following general practitioner referral are collected on the consultant's main specialty not by procedure.

  Diets
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation he has made of studies into long-term calorific restriction diets and their effectiveness in reducing the risk of(a) cancer, (b) coronary heart disease, (c) diabetes and (d) strokes. [169236]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department has not specifically evaluated the long-term effects of calorie restricted diets, but animal research has consistently shown that calorie restriction can increase lifespan by about 30 per cent. and protect against cancer. The longterm effect of calorie restriction in humans has yet to be established.

  Obesity increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and hypertension. Evidence indicates that maintaining a healthy weight is a key element in the prevention of these conditions.

  Food Standards Agency
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) Parliamentary Questions, (b) adjournment debates and (c) urgent Questions on the work of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) the Department has answered since it was established; and if he will make a statement on the accountability of the FSA to Parliament. [171860]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 11 May 2004]: Ministers have answered 1,281 Parliamentary Questions, two adjournment debates and no urgent questions on the
  1260W
  work of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) since it was established. There has been one Opposition Day debate, eight European Scrutiny Debates in European Standing Committee C, one debate on a prayer against a Statutory Instrument in the House of Commons and one in the House of Lords, seven Select Committees where both oral and written evidence was provided and six Select Committees where written memoranda only were provided. FSA policy areas have not been debated in Westminster Hall. Health Ministers have not taken Primary Legislation through Parliament on behalf of FSA.

  The FSA is a United Kingdom non-Ministerial department established by the Food Standards Act 1999. It is accountable to the Westminster Parliament through the Secretary of State for Health and to the administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland through the relevant Health Ministers. Under the 1999 Act, the FSA's expenditure is paid out of money provided by Parliament and the administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its Annual Report and Accounts is laid before the Westminster Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly. Its Chief Executive is the FSA Principal Accounting Officer.

  Correspondence to Health Ministers from hon. and right hon. Members about issues for which the FSA is responsible normally receives a reply from the relevant Minister. The Chairman and Chief Executive of FSA reply to correspondence addressed directly to them.

  The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) is an executive agency of the FSA. It is responsible for enforcement of meat hygiene and BSE-related legislation in licensed meat plants in Great Britain. It also carries out certain functions on behalf of the Environment and Rural Affairs Departments.

  Health Service
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women in Bootle with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks in each of the last five years. [171481]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis. The information in the table relates to national health service organisations serving the Bootle constituency.
  1261W

  Waiting times for patients referred urgently by their GP with suspected breast cancer Crosby to 1st outpatient appointment: NHS Trusts in Crosby

  Quarter

  NHS Trust

  Percentage of patients seen in two weeks

  Total patients seen

  Patients seen in two weeks

  1999–2000

  1

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  76.2

  101

  77

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  80.4

  97

  78

  1999–2000

  2

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  88.2

  102

  90

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  166

  166

  1999–2000

  3

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  95.0

  120

  114

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  99.5

  210

  209

  1999–2000

  4

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  118

  118

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  99.5

  209

  208

  2000–01

  1

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  98.0

  102

  100

  Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust

  92.6

  190

  176

  2000–01

  2

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  155

  155

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  295

  295

  2000–01

  3

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  155

  155

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  270

  270

  2000–01

  4

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  143

  143

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  96.8

  250

  242

  2001–02

  1

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  99.4

  157

  156

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  98.2

  276

  271

  2001–02

  2

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  175

  175

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  92.2

  258

  238

  2001–02

  3

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  225

  225

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  84.7

  320

  271

  2001–02

  4

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  198

  198

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  98.4

  319

  314

  2002–03

  1

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  234

  234

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  99.0

  307

  304

  2002–03

  2

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  99.1

  223

  221

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  99.6

  272

  271

  2002–03

  3

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  99.6

  255

  254

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  96.7

  391

  378

  2002–03

  4

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  229

  229

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  98.9

  285

  282

  2003–04

  1

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  221

  221

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  99.4

  320

  318

  1262W 1263W

  Waiting times for patients referred urgently by their GP with suspected breast cancer to 1st outpatient appointment: NHS Trusts in Crosby

  Quarter

  NHS Trust

  Percentage of patients seen in two weeks

  Total patients seen

  Patients seen in two weeks

  2003–04

  2

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  265

  265

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  99.7

  373

  372

  2003–04

  3

  Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  271

  271

  Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

  100.0

  374

  374

  Source:

  DH form QMCW.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the levels of elective admission to the NHS in South Ribble in the past five years. [171269]

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

  Count of in-year elective (waiting time, booked, planned) admissions—PCT of responsibility5F5 Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust—NHS Hospitals, England 1998–99 to 2002–03. Excluding regular attenders.

  PCT of responsibility

  5F2 Chorley and South Ribble

  1998–99

  30,440

  1999–2000

  32,827

  2000–01

  34,386

  2001–02

  24,687

  2002–03

  32,671

  Notes:

  1. An in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the data year. Periods of care on-going at the end of the data year (unfinished admission episodes) are included. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

  2. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).

  3. PCT and strategic health authority (SHA) data was added to historic data-years in the HES database using 2002–03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of Treatment and SHA of Treatment is poor in 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of general practitioner practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997–98 and 1998–99 is also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many rapid access chest pain clinics there are in Workington constituency. [170713]
  1264W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There are no rapid access chest pain clinics based in Workington. However, there is a clinic in Whitehaven.

  Health Tourism
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the scale of health tourism; and if he will make a statement. [160665]

  Mr. Hutton
  The national health service has never been required to provide statistics on the number of overseas visitors treated under the provisions of the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989. It is therefore not possible to give a definitive assessment of the scale of this matter. Nevertheless, NHS staff operating the charging regime have told us that there are significant issues in some areas, which we are taking action to deal with. We are taking forward a study of 12 NHS trusts across England, the results of which will, over time, help to give us a better understanding of the level of inappropriate use of the NHS by overseas visitors.

  In addition, on 14 May I launched a public consultation on proposals to exclude overseas visitors from eligibility for free NHS primary medical services. We are also commissioning a study of the use of these services by overseas visitors which will inform our consideration of the responses to the consultation.

  Heart Bypass Operations
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many heart bypass operations there were per million population in(a) England and (b) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997. [172700]

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

  Heart bypass operations have increased in number over the past six years. However, angioplasty is increasingly being used to treat patients who would have undergone bypass surgery in the past and the procedures performed in national health service hospitals in England have increased from 17,291 in 1997–98 to 34,986 in 2002–03.
  1265W

  All operations (ICD–10 K40–K46) Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts (CABGs). Count of Finished Consultant Episodes by Strategic Health Authority (SHA) of Residence. NHS Hospitals, England 1997–98 to 2002–03

  SHA of Residence

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Q01

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA

  976

  1,148

  1,111

  1,015

  1,040

  1,134

  Q02

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA

  928

  728

  624

  721

  849

  728

  Q03

  Essex HA

  475

  600

  552

  752

  580

  638

  Q04

  North West London HA

  940

  921

  852

  929

  824

  852

  Q05

  North Central London HA

  397

  415

  410

  357

  417

  405

  Q06

  North East London HA

  496

  575

  528

  698

  616

  591

  Q07

  South East London HA

  586

  620

  506

  460

  500

  517

  Q08

  South West London HA

  447

  446

  476

  501

  593

  566

  Q09

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA

  844

  867

  825

  837

  912

  772

  Q10

  County Durham and Tees Valley HA

  842

  875

  732

  751

  650

  772

  Q11

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA

  417

  874

  868

  878

  844

  1,070

  Q12

  West Yorkshire HA

  975

  1,108

  916

  977

  1,097

  998

  Q13

  Cumbria and Lancashire HA

  1,137

  1,158

  1,045

  1,179

  1,232

  1,437

  Q14

  Greater Manchester HA

  1,050

  1,160

  1,185

  1,301

  1,395

  1,515

  Q15

  Cheshire and Merseyside HA

  996

  1,018

  1,084

  1,104

  1,137

  1,421

  Q16

  Thames Valley HA

  641

  801

  819

  793

  916

  931

  Q17

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA

  623

  752

  749

  947

  852

  769

  Q18

  Kent and Medway HA

  702

  738

  702

  674

  739

  707

  Q19

  Surrey and Sussex HA

  1,057

  974

  1,211

  1,194

  1,191

  1,141

  Q20

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA

  829

  1,012

  1,117

  1,048

  1,073

  940

  Q21

  South West Peninsula HA

  660

  795

  941

  987

  1,061

  918

  Q22

  Dorset and Somerset HA

  586

  656

  592

  568

  502

  494

  Q23

  South Yorkshire HA

  518

  523

  630

  632

  639

  769

  Q24

  Trent HA

  652

  1,044

  1,039

  1,088

  1,025

  1,124

  Q25

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA

  626

  690

  625

  560

  615

  588

  Q26

  Shropshire and Staffordshire HA

  585

  633

  645

  801

  736

  825

  Q27

  Birmingham and The Black Country HA

  1,153

  1,095

  1,030

  1,132

  983

  1,226

  Q28

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA

  669

  717

  682

  716

  643

  686

  U

  England Not Otherwise Specified

  —

  2

  —

  4

  2

  6

  England

  20,807

  22,945

  22,496

  23,604

  23,663

  24,540

  Notes:

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

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

  3. All operations count of episodes—these figures represent a count of all FCE's where the procedure was mentioned in any of the 12 (four prior to 2002–03) operation fields in a HES record. A record is only included once in each count, even if an operation is mentioned in more than one operation field of the record. Population figures are not available so only operation counts can be provided.

  4. Strategic Health Authority (SHA) Data Quality—SHA data were added to historic data-years in the HES database using 2002–03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on SHA of treatment is poor in 1998–99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Users of time series analysis including 1998–99 need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Hepatitis C
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to finalise compensation arrangements for those who contracted hepatitis C from blood transfusions. [173232]

  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a further statement on the payment of compensation to patients who were infected with hepatitis C as a result of NHS treatment. [173377]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Work is progressing to finalise the arrangements, to begin making ex-gratia payments. The company that will disburse payments, the Skipton Fund, was incorporated on 25 March. The four United Kingdom health departments expect the Skipton Fund to be operational shortly.

  Medical Negligence
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what code of practice is in place to prevent conflicts of 1266W
  interest concerning solicitors whose practices undertake medical negligence cases who are a (a) board member and (b) chairman of a health trust. [173308]

  Mr. Hutton
  The codes of conduct and code accountability for national health service boards require that all board members should declare any conflict of interest that arises in the course of conducting NHS business. The codes also requires that board members should declare any business interests in the field of health and social care which should be formally recorded in the minutes of the board and entered into a register which is available to the public. When a conflict of interest is established, the board member involved is also required to withdraw from any related board discussion and not play any part in the relevant discussion or decision All NHS board members are required on appointment to sign an undertaking that they will comply with the provisions of the codes. A copy of the codes is available in the Library.

  NHS Information Technology
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) clinical and (b) non-clinical NHS staff had access to e-mail and web browsing by (i) March 2003 and (ii) March 2004. [R] [171825]

  Mr. Hutton
  Numbers of national health service staff with email and web browsing access are shown in the table.

  March 2003

  March 2004

  Clinical staff

  715,888

  874,813

  Total NHS staff

  1,022,488

  1,048,485

  NHS Staff (Wirral, South)
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the levels of elective admissions to the NHS in Wirral South in the past five years. [172690]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the response I gave on 10 May 2004, Official Report, columns 162–63W.

  Nurse Training
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent(a) health visitors, (b) school nurses, (c) district nurses and (d) community psychiatric nurses were in training in each region in September of each year since 1997, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnic origin. [172707]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of whole-time equivalent health visitors, school nurses, district nurses and community psychiatric nurses in training in each national health service region as constituted until 31 March 1998 is shown in Table 1, for each national health service region as constituted between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 2001 is shown in Table 2, and for each Government office region between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002 is shown in Table 3.

  Information on the gender and ethnic origin of health visitors, school nurses, district nurses and community psychiatric nurses, in training is not available.

  Table 1: Student populations by regional office area, 1997–98

  Whole-time equivalents

  School nurses

  District nurses

  Health visitors

  Community psychiatric nurses

  England

  128

  603

  623

  333

  Northern and Yorkshire

  35

  120

  115

  51

  Trent

  —

  42

  52

  —

  Anglia and Oxford

  8

  75

  73

  71

  North Thames

  16

  76

  84

  65

  South Thames

  34

  119

  117

  73

  South and West

  —

  57

  61

  —

  West Midlands

  35

  62

  53

  43

  North West

  —

  53

  69

  31

  Source:

  Finance and Workforce Information Returns.

  1268W

  Table 2: Student populations by regional office area

  Whole-time equivalents

  School nurses

  District nurses

  Health visitors

  Community psychiatric nurses

  1998–99

  England

  119

  542

  580

  250

  Northern and Yorkshire

  31

  103

  129

  13

  Trent

  7

  50

  55

  3

  West Midlands

  19

  62

  52

  40

  North West

  14

  64

  76

  37

  Eastern

  5

  38

  38

  26

  London

  24

  93

  101

  55

  South East

  19

  96

  89

  64

  South West

  1

  36

  42

  13

  1999–2000

  England

  137

  572

  598

  252

  Northern and Yorkshire

  27

  127

  142

  38

  Trent

  9

  43

  53

  3

  West Midlands

  18

  67

  52

  34

  North West

  23

  71

  84

  30

  Eastern

  10

  46

  53

  38

  London

  24

  101

  99

  43

  South East

  20

  89

  81

  51

  South West

  7

  28

  34

  16

  2000–01

  England

  162

  560

  710

  207

  Northern and Yorkshire

  18

  80

  190

  6

  Trent

  14

  49

  59

  —

  West Midlands

  20

  67

  60

  34

  North West

  23

  71

  84

  30

  Eastern

  18

  53

  68

  29

  London

  28

  103

  105

  67

  South East

  21

  96

  101

  34

  South West

  20

  42

  44

  7

  Source:

  Finance and Workforce Information Returns.

  Table 3: Student populations by Government regional office area, 2001–02

  Whole-time equivalents

  School nurses

  District nurses

  Health visitors

  Community psychiatric nurses

  England

  147

  520

  622

  160

  North East

  10

  61

  69

  6

  North West

  31

  84

  96

  21

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  25

  102

  99

  —

  East Midlands

  6

  —

  61

  —

  West Midlands

  24

  68

  64

  41

  East of England

  4

  14

  18

  12

  London

  28

  100

  113

  57

  South East

  20

  92

  104

  24

  South West

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Source:

  Finance and Workforce Information Returns.

  Statins (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Warrington North are being treated with statins. [172846]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis and neither is the number of people currently being prescribed statins. However, the number of statins prescribed for Warrington Primary Care Trust is shown in the table.
  1269W

  Total number of statins prescribed by general practitioner practices in the community, in England, for the year beginning January 2003.

  Region/type of region

  Prescription items

  prescription items per 1,000 population

  Warrington (PCT)

  99,462

  522

  Cheshire and Merseyside (SHA)

  1,363,439

  582

  England Total1

  21,606,624

  441

  1The England total includes a small number of prescription items, prescribed by GPs, that the PPA have been unable to allocate to a PCT or SHA.

  Notes:
  1. The information, by PCT and strategic health authority (SHA), was obtained from the Prescribing Analysis and Cost (PACT) system, which covers prescriptions prescribed by general practitioner practices and dispensed in the community. Prescriptions written within a GP practice but dispensed outside the PCT or SHA will be included in the PCT or SHA in which,

  In-patient waiting list by provider for the Burnley area (1996–2004)

  Months waiting to be seen

  Unit name

  Total

  0–2

  3–5

  6–8

  9–11

  12–14

  15–17

  1997–98

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  6,157

  3,061

  1,470

  968

  625

  33

  0

  1997–98

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  6,569

  3,224

  1,844

  1,087

  412

  2

  0

  1998–99

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  4,895

  2,908

  1,092

  546

  288

  61

  0

  1998–99

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  5,357

  3,231

  1,103

  691

  318

  14

  0

  1999–2000

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  4,803

  2,458

  1,190

  639

  377

  120

  19

  1999–2000

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  5,084

  2,977

  1,202

  606

  251

  48

  0

  2000–01

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  4,554

  2,335

  1,207

  686

  326

  0

  0

  2000–01

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  5,032

  2,924

  1,283

  593

  232

  0

  0

  2001–02

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  4,749

  2,266

  1,165

  778

  405

  135

  0

  2001–02

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  4,883

  2,532

  1,303

  692

  356

  0

  0

  2002–03

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  4,595

  2,219

  1,223

  761

  392

  0

  0

  2002–03

  Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  3,968

  2,375

  1,078

  432

  83

  0

  0

  2003–04

  East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

  8,100

  5,045

  2,200

  855

  0

  0

  0

  Out-patient waiting list by Provider for the Burnley area (1996–2004)

  Weeks waiting to be seen from a GP referral to consultant appointment

  Unit name

  Not seen 13 to 25

  Not seen 26 plus

  1997–98

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,266

  69

  1997–98

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  66

  0

  1998–99

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,371

  895

  1998–99

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  815

  258

  1999–2000

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,158

  1,455

  1999–2000

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  516

  147

  2000–01

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,548

  521

  2000–01

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  283

  24

  2001–02

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,094

  0

  2001–02

  Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust

  246

  0

  Weeks waiting to be seen from a GP referral to consultant appointment

  Unit name

  Not seen 13–17

  Not seen 17–21

  Not seen 21–26

  Not seen 26 plus

  2002–03

  Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust

  603

  273

  0

  0

  2002–03

  Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust

  164

  55

  0

  0

  2003–04

  East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

  291

  0

  0

  0

  Source:

  Department of Health QM08

  1270W
  respectively, the GP pr ictice is based. Prescriptions written in England but dispensed outside England are included. Prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England are excluded.

  2. Prescriptions are written on a prescription form. Each single item written on the form, is counted as a prescription item.

  3. The figures for Statins represent data on the following chemical entities: atorvastatin; cerivastatin; fluvastatin sodium; lovastatin; pravastatin sodium; rosuvastatin calcium; simvastatin.

  Writing Lists/Times
  Mr. Pike
  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 Burnley. [167953]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information on national health service waiting list times is not gathered on a constituency basis. The tables show information based on NHS organisations serving the Burnley area.
  1271W
  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what medical treatment there is the longest waiting time for(a) consultation and (b) treatment at NHS hospitals within the Greater London area. [173078]

  Mr. Hutton
  The treatment area with the longest wait to receive a first out-patient appointment with a consultant within the five London strategic health authorities (SHAs) is clinical immunology and allergy.

  Of a selection of common, elective, surgical operations, the one with the longest average wait to receive admitted treatment within the five London SHAs is knee replacement.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq
  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will estimate how many Iraqi(a) women, (b) children and (c) civilians have been (i) killed and (ii) injured in the recent siege of Fallujah. [171976]

  The Prime Minister
  The Coalition always take great care to minimise the risks to civilians in all areas of Iraq. It is not always possible to confirm whether casualties have occurred, as Coalition forces are not always able to enter the areas from which they are being fired on. There are further difficulties in estimating numbers of deaths when those deaths have been caused by terrorist attacks.

  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2004, Official Report, column 385W, on Iraq, whether the three UK military personnel were working in the military intelligence section of Abu Ghraig prison; [174330]

  (2) whether the three UK military personnel who worked in Abu Ghraib prison between January and April were under the command of (a) British and (b) US authorities during that time; and to which authority they reported. [174328]

  The Prime Minister
  Yes. The three military personnel were under British Command at all times, reporting to the Senior British Military Representative in Baghdad. They assisted in gathering information important to the Coalition's aim of establishing stability in Iraq through interviewing detainees.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Chapelcross
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer on Chapelcross, of 13 May 2004,Official Report, column 489, whether a breach of the air exclusion zone around Chapelcross took place in 2003; and if she will make a statement. [175147]

  Mr. Timms
  No breach of the air exclusion zone at the Chapelcross nuclear power station took place in 2003.

  Mail Services (Northern Ireland)
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of mail items which were not delivered in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [173591]

  Mr. Timms
  Delivery services are the operational concern of Royal Mail Group and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Research Assessment Exercise
  John Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to bridge the funding gap for research projects consequent on implementation of the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise. [174183]

  Ms Hewitt
  The 2002 Spending Review announced the largest sustained growth in science for a decade, providing an additional £1.25 billion a year by 2005 06, including:a dedicated stream of capital for Higher Education Institutions to develop their science research infrastructure;
  substantial new resources to Research Councils to enable them to make a higher contribution to the full costs of the research they sponsor;
  increased funding for the Higher Education Funding Council for England for the research component of HEI block grants, to underpin project funding.

  Alongside this, changes are being implemented, following consultation, to make explicit the responsibility of HEIs for ensuring the long-term sustainability of their research enterprises and to enable them to cost and price research projects more effectively, whether publicly or privately funded. Taken together these measures will, over time, make a substantial impact on the quality and sustainability of the research base.

  The Government will set out its future priorities for science and innovation in a 10-year Investment Framework for Science and Innovation, to be published in the summer.

  Advantage West Midlands
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of(a) developing and (b) maintaining (i) the Advantage West Midlands website and (ii) each regional development agency's website in each financial year since 1999. [172372]

  Mr. John Smith
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: The information requested is set out in the following table.

  £

  East of England Development Agency

  1999–2000

  Not available

  Not available

  Not available

  2000–01

  Not available

  Not available

  Not available

  2001–02

  Not available

  Not available

  7,000

  2002–03

  Not available

  Not available

  8.900

  2003–04

  Not available

  Not available

  5,675

  East Midlands Development Agency

  1999–2000

  26,000

  20

  46

  2000–01

  26

  20

  46

  2001–02

  26

  20

  46

  2002–03

  26

  20

  46

  2003–04

  26

  20

  46

  1273W

  £

  London Development Agency

  1999–2000

  0

  0

  0

  2000–01

  0

  0

  0

  2001–02

  0

  0

  0

  2002–03

  36,515

  18,000

  54,515

  2003–04

  36,515

  21,000

  57,515

  Northwest DevelopmentAgency

  1999–2000

  Not available

  Not available

  Not available

  2000–01

  Not available

  Not available

  Not available

  2001–02

  Not available

  Not available

  5,000

  2002–03

  Not available

  Not available

  51,214

  2003–04

  Not available

  Not available

  37,964

  ONE North East

  1999–2000

  20,735

  0

  20,735

  2000–01

  45,127

  11,388

  56,515

  2001–02

  71,204

  17,520

  88,724

  2002–03

  12,050

  17,520

  29,570

  2003–04

  50,275

  17,520

  67,795

  South East England Development Agency

  1999–2000

  Not available

  Not available

  7,954

  2000–01

  Not available

  Not available

  20,160

  2001–02

  Not available

  Not available

  39,234

  2002–03

  Not available

  Not available

  48,242

  2003–04

  10,457

  27,213

  37,671

  South West of England Regional Development Agency

  1999–2000

  8,400

  2.000

  104,700

  2000–01

  14,465

  32,735

  47,200

  2001–02

  0

  30,000

  30,000

  2002–03

  145,200

  15,000

  160,200

  2003–04

  27,000

  30,000

  57,000

  Yorkshire Forward

  1999–2000

  Not available

  Not available

  0

  2000–01

  Not available

  Not available

  23,275

  2001–02

  Not available

  Not available

  14,306

  2002–03

  Not available

  Not available

  58,000

  2003–04

  Not available

  Not available

  36.647

  Note:
  A breakdown is not available as the services were contracted out.

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the salary bill was of(a) Advantage West Midlands and (b) each regional development agency for staff employed in a press office or public relations capacity in each financial year since 1999; and what the average salary was for staff employed in a press office or public relations capacity in each case in each year. [172373]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 13 May 2004]: The information requested is set out in the following table:

  RDA

  Total salary of relevant RDA staff

  Average salary of RDA relevant RDA staff

  Advantage West Midlands

  1999–2000: N/a

  N/a

  2000–01: N/a

  N/a

  2001–02: 24,136

  24,136

  2002–03: 80,519

  26,839

  2003–04: 96,692

  32,230

  East of England Development Agency

  1999–2000: 77,000

  31,000

  2000–01: 100,000

  33,000

  2001–02: 99,000

  30,000

  2002–03: 104,000

  32,000

  2003–04: 112,000

  32,000

  East Midlands Development

  1999–2000: N/a

  N/a

  2000–01: Outsourced

  N/a

  2001–02: Outsourced

  N/a

  2002–03: 52,000

  26,000

  2003–04: 52.000

  26,000

  1274W

  London Development Agency

  1999–2000: Nil

  Nil

  2000–01: Nil

  Nil

  2000–02: Nil

  Nil

  2002–03: 195,000

  39,000

  2003–04: 193,000

  39,000

  Northwest Development Agency

  1999–2000: Nil

  Nil

  2000–01: Nil

  Nil

  2001–02: 71,123

  17,780

  2002–03: 88,582

  17,716

  2003–04: 109,078

  15,582

  ONE North East

  1999–2000: 106,305

  17,717

  2000–01: 111.900

  18,650

  2001–02:117.790

  19,361

  2002–03: 135,103

  22,517

  2003–04: 175,242

  25,034

  South East England Development Agency

  1999–2000:75,130

  35,956

  2000–01: 87,530

  37,510

  2001–02:87,122

  29,408

  2002–03: 151,423

  33,694

  2003–04: 187,737

  30,288

  South West of England Regional Development Agency

  1999–2000: 24.754

  19,877

  2000–01: 68,989

  28,830

  2001–02:110,965

  27,741

  2002–03: 184,280

  31,782

  2003–04: 263,465

  29,583

  Yorkshire Forward

  1999–2000:41,666

  20,833

  2000–01: 82,623

  20,655

  2001–02: 83,549

  23,871

  2002–03: 70,561

  20,160

  2003–04:82,992

  23,712

  Disconnections
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if site will make a statement on actions being taken by(a) Ofgem and (b) industry to minimise disconnections made in error; [174361]

  (2) what assessment she has made of the impact of energy disconnections for debt; [174362]

  (3) how many household (a) gas and (b) electricity disconnections were made in each year from 2000; and how many were made in error in each case in each year. [174363]

  Mr. Timms
  Disconnection remains an appropriate action of last resort where a customer has repeatedly failed to respond to efforts to secure payment or to make specific repayment arrangements. However, this power must be subject to appropriate safeguards. I welcome the arrangements proposed by Ofgem and energy suppliers in April to improve those safeguards to protect vulnerable customers. The total number of disconnections for debt between 2000 and 2003 was:

  Gas

  Electricity

  Total

  2000

  16,500

  300

  16,800

  2001

  26,088

  375

  26,463

  2002

  21,780

  995

  22,775

  2003

  15,973

  1,361

  17,334

  Ofgem does not collect data about disconnections made in error. Such disconnections are plainly unacceptable. If the hon. Member or other have information about such cases, they should provide the evidence to Energy watch, which is responsible for

  1275W
  investigating complaints against gas and electricity suppliers. Energywatch may provide evidence to, and recommend regulatory action by, Ofgem.

  European Research Council
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how close to the market the research is in which the European Research Council will be involved. [174130]

  Ms Hewitt
  The possible establishment of a European Research Council is still at an early stage, and no proposal has yet been made by the European Commission, but it should not detract from the more directly industry-oriented research, historically funded by the Framework Programme. The Government are currently consulting about the matter as part of its overall consultation on Framework Programme 7, a copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Fireworks Ban
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her proposals to ban category 4 firesworks from consumer sale. [174382]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 19 May 2004]: The supply of category 4 fireworks to the general public was banned in 1997 with the coming into force of the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations. Only fireworks professionals may purchase this type of firework.

  Additionally, under these Regulations only fireworks that comply with the British Standard—BS 7114—are to be supplied to ordinary consumers.

  Insolvency
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases have been handled by the Insolvency Service Protracted Realisations Unit in each year since 1998; what the(a) gross and (b) net flow of cases was in each year; and what the average professional fee charged by an insolvency practitioner handling a protracted realisations unit case during that time was. [173277]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Protracted Realisations Unit was created in October 1999, the figures in the table list how many cases had been handled in each year by the Unit from October 1999 to 31 March 2004.

  Year to 31 March

  B/fwd

  Input

  Sent IPs

  Closings

  C/fwd

  1999

  None

  —

  —

  —

  —

  September 1999 to 31 March 2000

  33,027

  1,355

  519

  1,724

  32,139

  2001

  32,139

  4,727

  1,382

  3,205

  32,279

  2002

  32,279

  3,816

  1,926

  3,303

  30,866

  2003

  30,866

  3,816

  2,762

  5,078

  26,842

  2004

  26,842

  1,566

  3,876

  3,200

  21,332

  Total

  —

  15,280

  10,465

  16,510

  —

  The Insolvency Service does not hold details of the average Insolvency Practitioner fee for handling a protracted realisations unit case. The fees are charged by the Insolvency Practitioner which may vary on a case-by-case basis.

  International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on(a) the siting and (b) cost sharing of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. [174579]

  Mr. Timms
  The international partners are trying to reach a compromise on the two proposed locations for ITER that will be acceptable to the whole ITER partnership. Currently the €4.5 billion budget for the construction of the ITER facility is to be shared as follows:

  Percentage

  €

  Europe or Japan as host

  48

  2.2 billion

  Europe or Japan as non-host

  12

  540 million

  US

  10

  450 million

  China

  10

  450 million

  Russia

  10

  450 million

  South Korea

  10

  450 million

  This is likely to change if more countries join the ITER partnership.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what level of fusion research funding she will make available after the decision on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor has been taken; and if she will make a statement. [174580]

  Mr. Timms
  Funding for the UK's national fusion programme is determined by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which took over this function in April 2003. It is currently in the region of £16 million per year. Europe's participation in ITER will be funded through the Framework Programme.

  Mail Services
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with(a) Royal Mail and (b) Postwatch on the disappearance of mail. [174530]

  Mr. Timms
  DTI Ministers and officials meet representatives from the Royal Mail and Postwatch on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues, including quality of service and lost mail.

  Nuclear Installations
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the operation to date of the Sellafield MOX plant. [173347]

  Mr. Timms
  The Sellafield Mox Plant (SMP) is currently undergoing plutonium commissioning prior to meeting its first overseas orders. I understand from BNFL that various technical challenges, which are not unduly surprising in such a sophisticated plant, are being addressed by the company.

  Post Office
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last discussed the question of deprived wards with reference to the application of the
  1277W
  urban reinvention programme by Post Office Ltd.; and what interpretation the Post Office uses of the term deprived ward; and if she will make a statement. [173919]

  Mr. Timms
  In accordance with the recommendations of the Performance and Innovation Unit's year 2000 report 'Counter Revolution—Modernising the Post Office Network', the Government have provided support for post offices in deprived urban areas of England in the form of the Deprived Urban Post Office Fund administered by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Similar schemes are administered by the devolved Administrations of Scotland and Wales while the merits of such a scheme are being considered in Northern Ireland. I announced on 5 February details of changes agreed by Post Office Ltd. and Postwatch to the current programme to restructure the post office network in urban areas which includes clarification of criteria to define exceptional circumstances under which Post Office Ltd. might propose to close a post office branch in a deprived urban area without an alternative within a half a mile. I understand that the Post Office uses the Indices of Deprivation 2000 to define its interpretation of an urban deprive ward.

  Sellafield
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what timescale is being applied to the decommissioning of the B30 ponds at Sellafield. [173462]

  Mr. Timms
  HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) has issued a number of Specifications for remediation activities at Sellafield.

  A Specification issued by NII in 2000, requires BNFL to retrieve at least 90 per cent. of the potentially mobile intermediate level radioactive waste sludge from the B30 ponds and bays by 2010.

  BNFL is continuing work to develop detailed plans necessary to meet that deadline.

  Winkleigh Biomass Project
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much direct or indirect expenditure by(a) central Government and (b) regional development agencies (i) has been incurred and (ii) is planned in connection with the proposed Winkleigh Biomass Project; and on what the expenditure was or will be incurred. [169461]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 29 April 2004]: In relation to payments by the Department and the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), the information requested was set out in the answer provided by my hon. Friend the Minister for State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services on 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1674W.

  The grant undertaking awarded under the Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme will provide £11.05 million conditional on successful construction and commissioning of the plant.

  The funding approved by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) is to support the costs of feasibility studies (an Environmental Impact
  1278W
  Assessment, a Biomass Study and an Economic Impact Assessment) and associated technical studies. These do not commit the Agency to any further expenditure. In addition SWRDA has bought land which, if the project were to go ahead, could be resold to the project at open market value.

  I am not aware that any other Regional Development Agency or Department has made any payments to this project or has any plans to do so.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Council Tax
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to(a) the Valuation Office Agency, (b) the Valuation Tribunals and (c) central Government of administering (i) council tax and (ii) council tax benefit was in financial year 2001–02. [174359]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information is as follows:

  (a)

  (i) The Valuation Office Agency (VGA) budget for council tax costs in 2001–02 was £13.3 million,

  (ii) The VGA does not deal with council tax benefit cases.

  (b) The cost of Valuation Tribunals administering council tax is not separately identified. The overall expenditure of the valuation tribunal in 2001–02 was £9.31 million.

  (c) The Government are responsible for the policy and legislation rather than the administration of council tax and council tax benefit.

  Council Tax Revaluation
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost to(a) his Department, (b) the Valuation Office Agency and (c) other Government agencies and bodies was of council tax revaluation for financial years (i) 2003–04, (ii) 2005–06 and (iii) 2006–07. [174358]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The cost of council tax revaluation for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not separately identified.

  (b) The Valuation Office Agency estimated council tax revaluation costs are:

  (i) 2003–04 is £7.6 million;

  (ii) 2005–06 is £50.2 million, and

  (iii) 2006–07 is £50.5 million.

  (c) The cost of council tax revaluation for the Valuation Tribunal Service is not significant for these years. Some preparation work will be required in 2005–06 and 2006–07 but this is not separately identified.

  Departmental Officials
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which former officials of the Department have asked for permission to join(a) PricewaterhouseCoopers,(b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG. [156901]
  1279W
  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Since that date there have been no requests from former officials seeking permission to join Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young and KPMG.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what secondments(a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG has made to his Department since 2001; for what (i) periods and (ii) tasks the secondments were made; whether secondments of staff from his Department have been made to those firms; and for what (A) periods and (B) tasks. [156930]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Since that date there has been one inward secondment from PricewaterhouseCoopers, and none from the other organisations specified. The inward secondee, working in Local Government Efficiency Unit, started work in September 2001 and their secondment ended on 31 March 2004.

  No staff from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have been seconded to any of the organisations specified.

  Secondments are part of the Interchange Initiative which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the civil service and other organisations. Before an Interchange can occur all parties must be satisfied that no conflict of interests arises.

  Employment Agencies
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the employment agencies which his Department and its predecessors have used to supply temporary staff in each financial year since 1996–97 to the most recent date for which figures are available. [163807]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. The Office has contracts for the supply of temporary staff with three recruitment agencies: Adecco, Brook Street and Reed. These contracts were awarded as a result of an invitation to tender by the Office.

  Fire Service
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have for inter-brigade co-operation in the Fire Service in the event of a serious emergency. [174674]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government are keen to ensure a co-ordinated response from the fire and rescue service in the event of a major emergency. That is why all fire and rescue authorities have been invited to sign a Mutual Aid Agreement, which will enable individual fire and rescue authorities to ask for assistance from another authority in the event of a serious emergency.

  The development of the Mutual Aid Agreement forms part of the Government's commitment to improving resilience and the fire and rescue service's response to a major incident. The Fire and Rescue Services Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, should make such an agreement easier to establish in
  1280W
  future as it will extend authorities' ability to enter into mutual reinforcement schemes to include new duties such as responding to the increased terrorist threat.

  The Government have also established the New Dimension programme, which will help to ensure a co-ordinated response to any terrorist incidents on a national scale by providing suitable equipment and training to deal with such incidents. A national co-ordination centre is being established in order to provide central command and control when the New Dimension equipment is utilised. This will remain in place until such time as the regional control rooms are operational, when they will direct resources on a regional basis.

  Housing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Community Housing Task Force has yet been integrated within the Government office network; how many of its staff are(a) civil servants and (b) consultants; and what services they provide to local authorities whose tenants have voted to reject the Government's three options for council house privatisation. [174661]

  Keith Hill
  From 1 June, the Task Force advisers will be allocated to their respective Government office regions and will fall under the line management of their respective Government office housing directors. The practical arrangements are being agreed and formalised.

  There are 13 civil servants on fixed term contracts and three on secondments arrangements from local authorities and the National Housing Federation. There are no consultants working in the task force.

  Where tenants have rejected the options to deliver the decent homes target, the Community Housing Task Force will continue to support local authorities and its tenants to investigate other options within the decent home policy framework to achieve decent homes by 2010.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) for what reasons North East Lincolnshire was not granted the full sum for gap funding for its housing transfer for which it had applied; what assessment he has made of the effect this has on the business plans for the new housing association; and what plans he has to make supplementary gap funding available to North East Lincolnshire under the new arrangements for gap funding for areas of negative equity; [174500]

  (2) whether the supplementary gap funding he announced in the week beginning 10 May for housing transfers in areas with negative equity will be made available to North East Lincolnshire. [174663]

  Keith Hill
  North East Lincolnshire sought £6 million, £2 million annually for three years, from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Housing Board transitional commissioning as gap funding to cover the negative valuation of its stock to enable its Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) proposal to proceed. The Board has agreed in principle to such a level of funding, with years two and three subject to the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review. It has invited the Council to submit a final proposal by 4 June 2004 with
  1281W
  a view to the Board making its final decision on 14 July 2004. Discussions will take place with the Board as to whether there is merit for their commitment to be absorbed within the central gap funding arrangements.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what councils, how many houses and how much land have been admitted to the Stock Transfer programme for each year since 2002–03; how many applied for inclusion; and what assessment he has made of what this means for future financing of councils which submit proposals by his deadline of July 2005. [174655]

  Keith Hill
  The following lists and tables show those councils which have applied for and/or been granted places on the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) programmes since 2002 and also the number of dwellings involved.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information on how much land has been involved in stock transfer.

  Local authorities transferring their housing stock under the LSVT programmes will have no impact on the future financing of social housing in other local authorities.

  Names of local authorities granted places on LSVT programmes since 2002:
  2002 programme

  Amber Valley

  Bromsgrove

  Cannock Chase

  Cherwell

  Forest of Dean

  London Borough of Ealing

  London Borough of Hackney

  London Borough of Islington

  London Borough of Southwark

  Liverpool County Council

  Maidstone Borough Council

  Manchester City Council

  Middlesbrough Council

  North Hertfordshire

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

  Rushcliffe Borough Council

  Scarborough Borough Council

  Sheffield City Council

  Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

  South Norfolk Council

  Stockport

  Teignbridge

  Worcester.

  2003 programme

  Copeland

  Forest Heath District Council

  Hartlepool Borough Council

  London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

  London Borough of Hackney London

  Borough of Islington

  London Borough of Lambeth

  1282W

  London Borough of Tower Hamlets

  Manchester City Council

  Middlesbrough

  North East Lincolnshire

  Peterborough County Council

  Purbeck District Council

  Royal Borough of Kingston

  South Norfolk

  Stroud District Council

  Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council

  Wakefield Metropolitan District Council

  Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.

  2004 programme

  Broxbourne Borough Council

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  Halton Borough Council

  Hyndburn

  Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council

  Lambeth

  London Borough of Tower Hamlets

  Macclesfield

  Mid Devon

  North Somerset

  Sedgefield Sheffield

  Stafford Borough Council

  West Lancashire District Council.

  Number of dwellings gr ented places on LSVT programmes since 2002

  Programme

  Number

  2002

  180,794

  2003

  123,543

  2004

  76,052

  Names of local authorities applying for places on LSVT programmes since 2002:

  2002 programme

  Amber Valley Borough Council

  Bromsgrove District Council

  Cannock Chase

  Cherwell District Council

  Copeland Borough Council

  Forest of Dean District Council

  London Borough of Hackney

  London Borough of Islington

  London Borough of Southwark

  Liverpool County Council

  Maidstone

  Manchester Council

  Middlesbrough Council

  North Hertfordshire

  Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council

  Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

  Rushcliffe Borough Council

  Scarborough Borough Council

  Sheffield County Council

  Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

  1283W

  South Norfolk Council

  Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

  Teignbridge District Council

  Worcester.

  2003 programme

  Forest Heath District Council

  Hartlepool Borough Council

  London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

  London Borough of Hackney

  London Borough of Islington

  London Borough of Lambeth

  London Borough of Tower Hamlets

  Manchester City Council

  Middlesbrough

  North East Lincolnshire

  Peterborough County Council

  Purbeck District Council

  Royal Borough of Kingston

  Stroud District Council

  Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council

  Wakefield Metropolitan District Council

  Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.

  2004 programme

  Broxbourne Borough Council

  Copeland

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  Halton Borough Council

  Hyndburn

  Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council

  Lambeth

  London Borough of Tower Hamlets

  Macclesfield

  Manchester City Council

  Mid Devon

  North Norfolk

  North Somerset

  Preston

  Sedgefield Sheffield

  Stafford Borough Council

  Teesdale

  West Lancashire District Council

  Number of dwellings applying for places on LSVT programmes since 2002

  Programme

  Number

  2002

  180,794

  2003

  125,806

  2004

  115,063

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what(a) support, (b) advice and (c) guidance his officials have provided to North East Lincolnshire in connection with its campaign for the large-scale voluntary transfer of its housing stock; what estimate he has made of the cost of (i) staff time, (ii) travel and (iii) other expenditure in connection with such support, advice and guidance; and how much of that cost is payable by North East Lincolnshire. [174549]
  1284W
  Keith Hill
  As with any local authority on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Disposals Programme, North East Lincolnshire council have discussed their stock transfer proposals with officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister at each stage of the process, including seeking advice and guidance on all public consultation material. We make no specific estimate of the cost of staff time, travel or other expenditure in connection with the giving of support, advice or guidance to any particular local authority. No payment has been made by the council for any advice or support.

  Land Developers
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice is given to local authorities on how best to assess whether developers have sought brownfield site alternatives before proposing back land development. [174462]

  Keith Hill
  Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: "Housing" (PPG3) says that the country's housing needs should be met in the most sustainable way possible, giving priority to re-using suitable brownfield land in preference to the development of greenfield sites. PPG3 advises local planning authorities, in preparing their local plans, to adopt a systematic approach to assessing the development potential of sites and the redevelopment of existing buildings, deciding which are most suitable for housing development and the sequence in which development should take place. It is for local planning authorities to consider whether proposals for back land development are in principle consistent with the local plan (or where this is not up-to-date, the relevant criteria set out in PPG3) and are well-designed.

  Local Authorities Complaints Fees
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will restrict the maximum fee which a local authority can charge persons who make a complaint against a nuisance hedge grower to £100; [174581]

  (2) when he will report on his consultation on the maximum fee which a local authority can charge persons who wish to make a complaint against a nuisance hedge grower. [174582]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will not be deciding the maximum fee which local authorities will be able to charge people making a complaint about a nuisance high hedge until we have analysed the responses to the current public consultation on implementing Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. The consultation period runs until 30 June. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to report the results of the consultation and to bring the legislation into operation towards the end of 2004.

  Local Authority Leisure Services
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the saving to local authorities of contracting out leisure services to the private sector. [174052]

  Phil Hope
  The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many press officers were employed in his Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04; what the total cost was in each year; and if he will make a statement. [162851]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002.

  On 1 April 2003, ODPM (c) employed 21.8 full-time equivalent press officers. Salary costs for the period 1 June 2002 to 31 March 2003 were £0.86 million.

  On 1 March 2004, 23 full-time equivalent press officers were employed. Salary costs for the period 1 April 2003 to 29 February 2004 were £0.96 million.

  Regional Government
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost to his Department was of the event on elected regional assemblies held in Barrow on 5 May 2004; how many staff from his Department were involved; how many staff from Government Office North West were involved; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the speech delivered by the Minister for Local and Regional Government. [172756]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimates that the Barrow hearing cost £3,900. This includes costs associated with venue hire and catering. Four members of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and three members of the Government office for the north-west were involved.

  As on previous occasions, I spoke extempore, rather than from a prepared text.

  Register of Interests
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the requirements are on officials in his Department to declare current interests; and what register of interests is kept for his departmental officials. [164707]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Civil Service Management Code sets out the general principles and rules governing the conduct of civil servants declaring any conflict of interest. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Staff 1286W
  Handbook states that staff are required to seek permission from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister before undertaking any activity that might result in a conflict of interest and all applications are kept on file.

  Timber Purchases
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how(a) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, (b) its regional offices, (c) the Fire Service College, (d) the Ordnance Survey, (e) the Planning Inspectorate, (f) the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre and (g) the Rent Service monitor and audit purchases of timber and timber products to ensure that they meet the Department's stated commitment to being obtained from legal and sustainable sources. [164676]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, its regional offices and its agencies are committed to the Government Policy on the purchase of Legal and Sustainable forested wood and this is fully supported in our Greening Operations Policy Statement.

  Contracts where the use of timber and timber based products is anticipated, contain clauses that require the supplier to actively seek legally sourced and sustainable timber and to supply physical evidence that supports this. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has the use of framework contracts for the purchase of furniture, which are subject to supply chain audit by officials.

  Timber and timber based products have been adopted within the certificated and independently audited Environmental Management Systems which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has developed to manage our response to the "Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate".

  It is expected that Government targets associated with Timber Procurement will be published in the coming months and officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be incorporating this into our procurement processes.

  Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the buildings occupied by Government Offices, they carry out functions on behalf of 10 Departments.

  Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
  Asylum and Immigration Tribunal
  Tourism: Support After Foot and Mouth Disease
  Tourism: Support After Foot and Mouth Disease
  Higher Education Bill: Scottish Implications
  Higher Education Bill: Scottish Implications