Written Answers of 7 September 2004

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

  Beijing Platform for Action
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister for Women what her plans are for involvement in the Beijing Platform for Action, known as Beijing +10. [187535]

  Ms Hewitt
  The celebration and evaluation of the 10 years since the Beijing Platform for Action will be an integral part of the UK Government's work on gender equality in 2005. The 49th Session of the Commission for the Status for Women (CSW) at the United Nations in March 2005 will review and appraise the implementation of Beijing over the last 10 years. The cross-Whitehall UK Government delegation will actively participate at CSW. We have already begun feeding into this process, completing a United Nations questionnaire on progress made since 1995 in the UK (available at www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk), which will feed into the UN Secretary-General's report. During the UK Presidency of the EU, July to December 2005, we will host a major European conference and a Ministerial Informal meeting to consider best practice across the EU in relation to national implementation of the Beijing Platform. The UK Government are a strong advocate of the Beijing Platform for Action and UN initiatives to further gender equality.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

  Divisions
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Leader of the House if he will seek to amend the practice of Divisions to allow abstentions to be recorded. [187676]

  Mr. Woolas
  I have no plans to do so.

  Sitting Hours
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Leader of the House when he expects to publish proposals for revised sitting hours of the House. [187672]

  Mr. Hain
  The Modernisation Committee, which I chair, is conducting an inquiry into the sitting hours of the House. I hope that it will report its findings to the House by the end of the year.

  Parliamentary Publications
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Leader of the House what representations he has received since 27 April from the Plain English Campaign regarding the language used in parliamentary publications. [187674]
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  Mr. Woolas
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations from the Plain English Campaign since March of this year, when representatives of that organisation met with the Modernisation Committee as part of its inquiry into Connecting Parliament with the Public.

SCOTLAND

  Immigration
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the First Minister to discuss Scottish immigration issues. [187632]

  Mrs. McGuire
  My right hon. Friend and I have regular meetings with Scottish Ministers and the Home Office to discuss the Government's asylum and immigration policies. I last met the Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Nationality and the Minister for Communities on 2 June this year.

  Infantry Regiments
  Mr. Alan Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has held with the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the Scottish infantry regiments. [187633]

  Mr. Darling
  My right hon. Friend and I have had recent discussions on a range of issues including the Scottish infantry regiments.

  Consumer Debt
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the level of consumer debt in Scotland. [187634]

  Mrs. McGuire
  Growth in personal debt across the United Kingdom is slowing down. Estimates of Scottish consumer indebtedness are not readily available. However, at the end of July 2004 the total UK personal debt was £1,014.5 billion.

  Post Office Closures
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry about the number of post office closures in Scotland. [187635]

  Mr. Darling
  My right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland and I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry about a variety of issues.

  Civil Service Relocation
  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the dispersal of Government jobs to Scotland. [187636]

  Mr. Darling
  Decisions about the relocation of jobs within Government Departments have yet to be made but will be based on Departments' operational needs and individual business cases rather than the particular
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  needs of specific areas or geographies. However, I have made quite clear to other Government Departments the advantages Scotland offers as a location.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the impact of the Lyons review in areas in Scotland not named in the King Sturge report; and what active role his Department is taking towards public sector job relocation to Scotland. [187638]

  Mr. Darling
  Decisions about the relocation of jobs within Government Departments have yet to be made but will be based on Departments' operational needs and individual business cases rather than the particular needs of specific areas or geographies. However, I have made quite clear to other Government Departments the advantages Scotland offers as a location and have encouraged them to consider Scotland when reviewing relocation plans.

  Small Business Regulation
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from small business organisations regarding regulation. [187637]

  Mr. Darling
  I met representatives from Chambers of Commerce throughout Scotland yesterday when a number of regulatory issues were discussed. Furthermore, my hon. Friend., the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, is a member of the Small Business Consultative Group chaired by the Scottish Executive and all meetings of this group have a standing agenda item on regulatory issues. The Government and the Scottish Executive are committed to ensuring that businesses do not face unnecessary regulatory burdens.

  Scottish Parliament
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to provide an opportunity to enable the people of Scotland to decide whether they wish to retain a Scottish Parliament. [187639]

  Mr. Darling
  No. The Scottish Parliament represents the settled will of the Scottish people expressed convincingly in the referendum of 1997.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received regarding postal services in Scotland. [187640]

  Mrs. McGuire
  My right hon. Friend and I receive a wide range of representations on Scottish matters.

  Designated Accommodation
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many rooms are set aside for(a) the use of smokers, (b) worship, broken down by religion and (c) nursing mothers and pregnant women in each building and set of offices for which his Department is responsible. [187322]
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  Mrs. McGuire
  The Scotland Office has one room set aside for smokers. No rooms are currently set aside for worship or for nursing mothers and pregnant women and no requests for such rooms have been received, but appropriate arrangements can be made if necessary.

  Parliamentary Boundaries
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what indications he has received from the Boundary Commission for Scotland as to when it expects to deliver to him its report on Parliamentary Boundaries in Scotland. [186383]

  Mr. Darling
  It is a matter entirely for the Boundary Commission for Scotland when, before December 2006, it reports to me. The Commission is aware that, following the Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004 receiving Royal Assent on 22 July, it is no longer under a duty to review the regional boundaries for the Scottish Parliament. In light of its progress so far, it seems likely that the Commission will report much sooner than its deadline, but the timing is a matter for it.

WALES

  Departmental Staff (Upper Age Limits)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has(a) a set retirement age that applies to all or most personnel and (b) a maximum age beyond which applications for employment will not be considered; and what the age is in each case. [186089]

  Mr. Hain
  Staff working in the Wales Office before June 2003 were on secondment or loan from other Departments—predominantly from the National Assembly for Wales. Their home departments therefore set the retirement age and any retirement taken would be from the home department rather than from the Wales Office.

  Since June 2003 the Wales Office has operated the retirement policy of the Department for Constitutional Affairs for those staff who are not on loan.

  Devolved Government
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to meet the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the future of Devolved Government in Wales. [184032]

  Mr. Hain
  I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss a number of different issues that effect Wales, including the future of Devolved Government.

  Public Relations
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the salary costs to the Department were for employees working in public relations and publicity in each year since 1997. [183845]

  Mr. Hain
  The Wales Office does not have the executive responsibilities which would generally require publicity or public relations expenditure.
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  The Wales Office does employ three Press Officers, whose basic salary scales currently range from £23,764 to £31,003, £26,688 to £35,214 and £42,999 to £56,737.

  Referendum Threshold
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether it is his policy that a turnout threshold be included in plans for a referendum on granting tax-raising powers to the Welsh Assembly. [183390]

  Mr. Hain
  No.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFA#RS

  Automotive Emissions
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has sought about the emissions level that has been established for the automotive sector under the(a) German, (b) French, (c) Spanish and (d) Italian national allocation plans; what this represents as a proportion of actual emissions in 2002; and if she will make a statement. [186276]

  Mr. Morley
  We understand that the French, Spanish and Italians are proposing to adopt a narrow interpretation of the scope of the Directive that will exclude, inter alia, installations in the automotive sector from the scheme in those member states. We have already raised this issue with the Commission and will continue to press for them to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

  The German allocation plan does not contain information on sectoral or individual installation allocations so it is not possible to provide an assessment of the emissions levels for their automotive sector. We are pressing Germany and other member states to publish the details of the projections used in their allocation plans to improve transparency in the assessment process.

  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met representatives of the automotive sector to discuss the UK implementation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. [186277]

  Mr. Morley
  Officials from Defra and DTI have met with representatives of the automotive sector on a number of occasions, including a meeting with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) in February to discuss the draft National Allocation Plan. Defra officials have attended meetings of the DTI-led Vehicle Industry Policy and European Regulation (VIPER) meetings to discuss the implementation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).

  Representatives of the automotive sector have also attended numerous Government seminars covering a range of issues related to the EU ETS.

  Officials from Defra, DTI, Treasury and Number 10 are also due to be meeting with SMMT officials in early August to discuss the EU ETS.

  Departmental Accounting Practice
  Mr. Bacon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the Finance Director of(a) the Department, (b) the Office for Water Services and (c) the Forestry Commission is; what accountancy qualifications each Director holds; and on how many occasions there has been a qualified opinion on (i) the resource accounts and (ii) other accounts of each in the last five years. [183427]

  Alun Michael
  Defra was formed in June 2001. Currently the Finance Director is Andrew Burchell who took up his post in October 2001. He is a career civil servant who does not hold any CCAB recognised qualification.

  Audit opinion on the Core Department's accounts for the last five years has been as follows:

  Since the formation of Defra, the NAO's Opinion on published accounts has been as follows:

  Resource account

  Vote account

  2001–02

  Qualified opinion

  Not applicable

  2002–03

  No qualification

  Not applicable

  2003–04

  Audit not yet completed

  Not applicable

  Ofwat's Finance Director is Roger Dunshea (joined Ofwat 1998) who does not hold any CCAB recognised qualifications. There have been no qualified opinions on the accounts in the last five years. The 2003–04 audit has not yet been completed.

  Emissions Trading
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to(a) maintain UK emissions targets in relation to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme National Allocation Plan and (b) incorporate a proportion of benchmarking into allocations for individual installations under these proposals; and if she will make a statement. [186254]

  Mr. Morley
  The UK emissions targets in relation to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme National Allocation Plan are set out in the plan that was notified to the Commission in April 2004. We have pointed out that the figures in the plan are subject to further change for a number of reasons, including final updates to the emissions projections.

  Generally, the allocation to incumbent installations (those in operation prior to 1 January 2004) is calculated based on historic emissions. The allocation to new entrant installations (those in operation subsequent to a January 2004) will be calculated using a standardised benchmarking methodology.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the percentage allocation of emission permits under the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme to Northern Ireland's power stations will be at the same level as the Great Britain average. [186306]

  Mr. Morley
  The UK National Allocation Plan that was notified to the European Commission in April, stated that the UK had yet to make a final decision on whether the particular characteristics of the electricity
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  supply industry in Northern Ireland made it appropriate to split the power station allocation prior to distribution to installations.

  We are continuing to discuss this with officials from Northern Ireland and intend to make an announcement later this year.

  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the impact of UK implementation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on the competitiveness of vehicle manufacturing in the UK. [186278]

  Mr. Morley
  In the UK National Allocation Plan, sectors that are subject to international competition have been allocated according to projected need. The impact of the scheme on these sectors is expected to be similar to that of existing national policies. In those member states where more effort needs to be made to reach Kyoto targets, the impact of the scheme is expected, over time, to be that much greater.

  We are aware of different proposed implementation in the French and Spanish allocation plans, which would result in the vehicle manufacturing industries in those member states not being included in the scheme. We are continuing to press the Commission to resolve this issue as soon as possible. The UK has also been lobbying the Commission to ensure their assessment of allocation plans is robust, consistent and transparent.

  Flood Defences
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what specific resources have been allocated to river and coastal flood defences between 2005–06 and 2007–08; and if she will make a statement. [186569]

  Mr. Morley
  Defra funds most of the Environment Agency's flood defence activities and provides grant aid on a project-by-project basis to the other flood and coastal defence operating authorities (local authorities and internal drainage boards) to support their investment in improvement projects to manage flood and coastal erosion risk.

  The Department plans to invest at least £564 million each year between 2005–06 and 2007–08 in the management of flood and coastal erosion risk and related expenditure. The amount for flood defence projects (as opposed to projects primarily for coastal erosion or other activities such as fu#ding of the Storm Tide Forecasting Service) will be decided later this year.

  Landfill
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) complaints, (b) court actions and (c) fines against landfill sites for problems related to (i) odours, (ii) water pollutions, (iii) air pollution and (iv) human health impact there were in each year since 1995, broken down by region. [184862]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency holds information on reported incidents of pollution on the National Incident Recording System and information on court actions and fines, separately on the National Enforcement Database. It is not possible to present the 944W
  data in the form requested so a document setting out the available information will be deposited in the Library of the House.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Venezuela
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the British Government offered to Venezuela following the floods in Caracas in December 1999; and if he will make a statement. [186412]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  DFID provided over £770,000 to Venezuela following the floods in December 1999. This was mainly through the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children's Fund and the British Red Cross. These funds went towards providing emergency assistance for those affected and initiating long-term rehabilitation for up to 10,000 families.

  Designated Accommodation
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many rooms are set aside for(a) the use of smokers, (b) worship, broken down by religion and (c) nursing mothers and pregnant women in each building and set of offices for which his Department is responsible. [187316]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  DFID's two main UK offices at 1 Palace Street, London, and Abercrombie House, East Kilbride, both have a smoking room, a room set aside for worship (not designated for any specific faith) and a nursing mothers room. The provision of facilities such as those for religious groups and nursing mothers is a small but important contribution to our Commitment to creating a workplace which embraces diversity, one of DFID's core values.

  Kenya
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the international aid budget was spent in Kenya in each year since 1997. [187409]

  Hilary Benn
  The Proportion of DFID's total aid budget which was spent in Kenya in each year since 1997 is set out in the first column of the following table. The second column gives the proportion of DFID's bilateral programme spent in Kenya. In addition to the funding disbursed under DFID's bilateral programme, we estimate that about £10 million is disbursed annually to Kenya through the contributions which we make to multilateral institutions.

  Expenditure in Kenya is percentage of DFID programme

  Percentage of

  Percentage of

  total programme

  bilateral programme

  1997–98

  1.4

  2.8

  1998–99

  1.4

  2.9

  1999–2000

  1.0

  2.0

  2000–01

  1.8

  3.7

  2001–02

  0.9

  1.8

  2002–03

  1.3

  2.4

  2003–04

  0.7

  1.3

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  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Kenyan Government on aid from the UK in relation to corruption with in Kenya. [187410]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID is in regular contact with the#Kenyan Government on the issue of corruption and its impact on our development assistance. DFID's Kenya Country Assistance Plan recognises that poverty reduction budget support is the Government of Kenya's preferred form of aid. It also makes clear that the level of British aid to Kenya, and whether or not we will provide bilateral poverty reduction budget support, will depend on the pace with which the Kenyan Government implements its Economic Recovery Strategy, especially in tackling corruption, preparing and implementing budgets that benefit the poor, and strengthening public financial management. Progress is not yet sufficient to enable us to provide such support. This point was most recently reinforced in a meeting with President Kibaki on 1 September.

  We are particularly concerned about recent reports of corruption allegedly involving senior members of the Kenyan Government and have urged President Kibaki, in previous meetings, to ensure that appropriate and firm action is taken to investigate these reports, make the results public and take appropriate action against all those found to have acted corruptly. Some progress is being made, i.e. in the establishment of anti-corruption institutions, but it still remains to be seen whether this will lead to decisive action in the short-term.

  We will, therefore, continue to use sector support and project aid where we believe that it can have a sustainable impact on poverty reduction and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals in Kenya.

  PFI/PPP Contracts
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts his Department had with(a) Barclays, (b) Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. [186693]

  Hilary Benn
  None.

  Political and Economic Liberalisation
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research his Department has commissioned regarding connections between political and economic liberalisation and improvements in human security in developing countries. [186775]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID funded research in this area as part of a three year programme on 'Globalisation and Poverty Elimination' between 2000 and 2003. The website address is www.gapresearch.org

  DFID currently funds the Crisis States Development Research Centre based at the London School of Economics. Website www.crisisstates.com.

  Somalia
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support he is giving to humanitarian operations in Somalia. [186443]

  Hilary Benn
  So far in 2004 DFID has agreed to provide £2,941,534 for the following ongoing humanitarian operations in Somalia (DFID contribution in brackets):African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) "Gedo Regional Health Care programme" (£287,521);
  International Committee of the Red Cross "2004 Appeal" to provide humanitarian assistance—food, health, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene—to those affected by instability and conflict (£400,000);
  International Medical Corps "Primary Health Care in Bay, Bakool and Hiraan regions" (£480,000);
  Medecins sans Frontieres "Basic Health and Nutrition, Lower Juba" (£1,225,390)
  Medecins Sans Frontieres "Primary Health Care, Middle Shabelle" (£424,013);
  United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) "Nutritional Supplementation to children and pregnant women" (£300,000);
  United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) "Expanded #rogramme on Immunisation, including Polio Eradication Initiative" (£300,000);
  United Nations Office For The Coordination Of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): "Coordination Support Services" (£250,000);
  United Nations Office For The Coordination Of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): "Humanitarian Response Fund" (£500,000).

  The Somali population, due to instability and severe poverty, remains highly vulnerable to climatic and conflict generated crisis. DFID's continuing humanitarian assistance to Somalia will be based on assessed needs and will address immediate and critical problems in order to reduce suffering and save lives.

  Sugar Protocol
  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether under Common Agricultural Policy reform of the sugar protocol there are mechanisms in place to prevent short-term dumping on developing countries. [186323]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The European Commission presented a communication to the Agriculture Council on 19 July that set out their preferred option for reform. The communication proposes to substantially reduce sugar exports and export refunds, abolish intervention, reduce ELI production and the internal sugar price and grant a de-coupled payment to sugar beet farmers. The reform process will start in July 2005. This should make the regime more market oriented and reduce the quantity of EU sugar exported to third markets. If the option were to be agreed, the Commission estimate that the combined, aggregate effect of the proposals on support price and quota reduction would be a significant reduction in the level of EU production under quota, from 17.3 million to 14.5 million tonnes per year. In turn, as a consequence of the substantial reduction in the overall level of EU production, EU subsidised sugar exports dumping are projected to fall by around 2 million tonnes. The Commission communication will be the subject of discussion between the EU Member States over the coming months.
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  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether under Common Agricultural Policy reform of the sugar protocol there are transitional arrangements for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. [186324]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The European Commission (EC) presented a Communication to the Agriculture Council on 19 July that set out their preferred option for reform. To address the impact on the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP)s, the European Commission will work with affected countries on the basis of an action plan to be produced by the end of 2004 to define appropriate trade and development measures. Tailor made programmes should help ACPs adapt and improve the competitiveness of their sugar industry where viable or help to support their diversification out of sugar. DFID welcomes this commitment in the Communication and are keen to help facilitate the dialogue between the EC and the ACP on this action plan. DFID is commissioning a study from the Overseas Development Institute that should help those countries affected determine their priorities for a transitional package.

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Department is funding research into alternative uses for sugar, with particular reference to developing countries, in the light of Common Agricultural Policy reform of the sugar protocol. [186325]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  DFID has always stressed the need#to take account of the impact that reform of the EU sugar regime will have on our developing country preferential suppliers. DFID is conscious that substantial reform will give rise to transitional problems for the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP)s that currently benefit from preferential access to the EU market at existing price levels and for the Least Developed Countries (LDC)s seeking to develop an export trade to Europe under the EBA initiative.

  In order to help inform the debate and ensure the impact on developing countries is taken sufficiently into consideration, DFID commissioned a study last year with LMC International and Oxford Policy Management, 'Addressing the Impact of Preference Erosion in Sugar on Developing Countries'. The study is divided into two sections. The first part assesses the economic and social impact on the ACP Sugar Protocol countries of the various reform scenarios suggested by the European Commission. The latter part of the study assesses alternative options for addressing the impact of preference erosion in sugar. The purpose of this analysis was to identify various options for debate by the ACP and the EU.

  DFID has recently commissioned two further pieces of work on this issue. The first report has been commissioned with LMC International, 'EU Sugar Reform: the Implications for the Development of LDCs and should be finalised early next month. The second report has been commissioned from the Overseas Development Institute, 'Forthcoming changes in EU sugar/banana markets: a menu of options for an effective EU transitional assistance package' and should also he finalised next month. This report should help
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  those countries affected by reform determine their priorities for a transitional package. This report will include some analysis of alternative uses for sugar.

  Vietnam
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if he will outline his Department's strategy with regard to the Montagnard people of Vietnam since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [187268]

  (2) how much (a) monetary aid and (b) aid in kind his Department has (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to projects directly impacting on the Montagnard people of Vietnam since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [187269]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The Department for International Development's (DFID) engagement in Vietnam since 1997 has focused on supporting the Vietnamese Government in implementing its own strategies for poverty reduction. In their five-year plans, the Government of Vietnam has highlighted the severe poverty issues facing the Central Highlands where the majority of the Montagnard people live.

  From 1997 to 2003 DFID's strategy focused on working with other donors. During this period DFID has developed two projects with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which aim to improve the quality of services provided by the Vietnamese Government to poor people in four provinces of the Central Highlands region. The projects focus on greater participation by poor people in planning and monitoring services, which should ensure that the services provided are more appropriate and of better quality. In addition, DFID has funded UNICEF to improve water supplies to rural areas in three Central Highlands provinces.

  In DFID's Vietnam Country Assistance Plan, 2004–06, a key strategic objective is to strengthen the Government's efforts to achieve development which is socially inclusive In addition to the co-financed ADB projects mentioned above, DFID is currently addressing the development needs of the Montagnard people through co-financing a number of national programmes, which include Central Highlands provinces, districts and communes along with those in other poor areas of Vietnam. In education, our two national programmes with the World Bank, Primary Education for Disadvantaged Children and Primary Teachers Development Project# are strengthening the capacity of local government to improve the quality of primary education for all children. In transport, DFID is working with the World Bank to improve access to rural roads for poor people and building Government capacity to monitor and forecast associated recurrent budget costs. DFID also co-finance two United Nation# Development Programme projects aimed at strengthening the capacities of the National Assembly and a number of provincial People's Councils, including several in the Central Highlands region.

  The only programmes where DFID can explicitly disaggregate it's monetary aid, and aid in kind, for the Montagnard people are for our Rural Transport Programmes, and our Central Region Livelihoods Improvement Programme (CRLIP). Since 1997 our

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  Rural Transport Programmes haw disbursed £512,427 in the two Central Highland provinces of Dak Lak and Gia Lai. The CRLIP has pledged £2,766,667 to the Central Highland Province of Kon Turn.

  Project title

  Allocation (£)

  Project duration

  Project location

  Primary Education for Disadvantaged Children

  26,500,000

  2003–09

  38 provinces including four central highland

  (PEDC)

  provinces—Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Turn, Lam Dong

  Primary Teacher Development Project (PTDP)

  8,256,000

  2002–05

  10 provinces including one central highland province—

  Kon Turn

  Capacity Building for Central Region Poverty

  1,800,000

  2002–04

  Four provinces including one central highland

  Reduction (CBCRPR)

  province—Kon Turn

  Support to the Office of the National Assembly

  330,000

  2004–08

  15 provinces including two central highland

  and People's Councils (ONA project)

  provinces—Dak Lak, Kon Turn

  Support to the Committee for Economic and

  672,000

  2003–08

  11 provinces including one central highland province—

  Budgetary Affairs (CEBA)

  Lam Dong

  Vietnam: Rural Water Supply and Environmental

  2,880,000

  1999–2002

  14 provinces including three central highland

  Sanitation Programme—UNICEF Core Funding

  provinces—Kon Turn, Gia Lai, Dak Lak

  Project

  Water and Sanitation Goals
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the Departmental Expenditure Limits agreed up to 2007–08 will be spent in pursuit of the water and sanitation Millennium Development Goals targets(a) directly and (b) indirectly through (i) budget support and (ii) other programmes which require access to safe water and sanitation to be fully effective. [186127]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  DFID's support for the water sector is predominantly through our country programmes and support to multi-lateral institutions. This includes direct water sector activities, improvements attributed through assistance to other sectors such as health and education, as well as through our poverty reduction budget support, where expenditure reflects developing countries' own priorities and our assistance is coordinated with that of other donors. DFID works to assist countries to use their budgets to make the biggest impact on reducing poverty. DFID's Water Action Plan published in March 2004 and available on our website: www.dfid.gov.uk emphasises the importance of water and sanitation in all aspects of development.

  DFID does provide significant support to the water sector; DFID's bilateral expenditure alone was estimated at £87 million in 2001–02. DFID is currently undertaking work to update it's estimates and project our likely expenditure on water-related activities through to 2007–08, both bilaterally and multilaterally, including the results of DFID's initial resource allocation round in autumn 2004.

  Critically, during 2005, the international community will be reviewing progress against all the MDGs, including the water and sanitation targets, and there will be a special UN General Assembly discussion. Leading up to that, the UK and other parties will be reviewing what further action needs to be taken on water and sanitation at the UN Commission for Sustainable Development in April 2005.
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  The following table details monetary aid from DFID's national programmes that cover the Central Highlands provinces where most of the Montagnard people live in Vietnam.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Summer Recess Visitors
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many people visited the House during the summer recess. [187678]

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  Up to and including 1 September, a total of 72,450 people had visited Parliament during the summer recess; 67,757 were on public (paying) tours and 4,693 were on Members' tours.

  The total number of people who have pre-booked and paid for tours on 2, 3 and 4 September and during the conference recess is 6,795. Another 2,161 people have pre-booked, but not yet paid for tours.

  Crèche Facilities
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the need for crèche facilities to be made available for people attending official meetings with hon. Members in the House.(187677)

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  It is important that visitors are made to feel welcome on the Parliamentary Estate. However, the Commission has not made any assessment of the need for crèche facilities to be made available for people attending official meetings with hon. Members. I should point out that very little use is made of the baby care and changing facilities we already provide, and that the reception desks have no record of any request for crèche facilities for visitors.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Advertising
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was spent on advertising and promotional literature for his Department's initiatives, broken down by year since 1997. [183807]
  951W
  Fiona Mactaggart
  The amount spent by the Home Office on advertising and publications over this period is set out as follows. Printing and publishing costs were not centralised within the Home Office until 1999–2000 and it is not possible to produce spending figures prior to this. The figures for publications include all Home Office publications including command papers and other policy documents, as well as campaign related literature.1996–97

  Advertising spend was £5.23 million in a total communication budget of£8.328 million. Communication spend represents 0.13 per cent. of total Home Office public expenditure of £6,416 million Campaigns included car crime, recruitment of special constables, fire safety and electoral registration.

  1997–98

  Advertising spend was £1.4 million in a total communication budget of £3.372 million. Communication spend represented 0.05 per cent. of total Home Office public expenditure of £6,747 million. Campaigns included recruitment of special constables, fire safety, absent voting and electoral registration.

  1998–99

  Advertising spend was £1.8 million in a total communication budget of £4.194 million. Communication spend represents 0.00005 per cent. of total Home office public expenditure of £7,608,178 million.

  Campaigns included smoke alarms, recruitment of special constables, crime partnerships and electoral registration.

  1999–2000

  Advertising spend was £5.65 million in a total communication budget of £10.08 million which included £2.626 million on publications. Communication spend represents 0.000012 per cent. of total Home Office public expenditure of £7,996,184 million. Campaigns included chip pan safety, fire safety, recruitment of special constables, European parliament elections and electoral registration.

  2000–01

  Advertising spend was £28.36 million in a total communication budget of £35.637 million which included £3.128 million on publications. Communication spend represents 0.00039 per cent. of total Home Office public expenditure of £9,068,695 million. Campaigns included fire safety, vehicle crime and the recruitment of police officers.

  Number of ASBOs, as notified to the Home Office, for all courts in the Country of Durham, by complainant and type of court, 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004

  By application

  Applications by complainant

  Type of court

  Total applications

  Local authority

  Police

  On conviction

  Total issued

  Magistrates court

  North Durham PSA

  8

  4

  4

  2

  10

  South Durham PSA

  3

  —

  3

  —

  3

  Crown court

  Durham CC

  1

  1

  County court

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  11

  4

  7

  3

  14

  1Type of applicant not applicable.

  952W
  2001–02

  Advertising spend was £14.4 million in a total communication budget of £25 million which included £2.995 million on publications. Communication spend represents 0.00023 per cent. of total Home Office public expenditure of £10,820,813 million. Campaigns included fire safety, vehicle crime, internet child protection, drugs, recruitment of police officers and special constables, and postal voting.

  2002–03

  Advertising spend was £9.9 million in a total communication budget of £18.3 million which included £2.493 million on publications. Communication spend represented 0.00013 per cent. of total Home office public expenditure of £13,493,081 million. Campaigns included vehicle crime, internet child protection, drugs, the firearms amnesty and the recruitment of police officers.

  2003–04

  Advertising spend was £12.487 million in a total communication budget of £22,083 million which included £2.986 million on publications. Communication spend represents 0.00017 per cent. of total Home Office expenditure of £12,605,526 million. Campaigns included vehicle crime, internet child protection, drugs, recruitment of police officers and domestic violence.

  Note:
  Please note that the total public expenditure figures for 1996–97 and 1997–98 were compiled under a different accounting system to later years—and are therefore not directly comparable.

  Antisocial Behaviour Orders
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been served in Northampton in each year since their introduction. [186467]

  Ms Blears
  By 31 March 2004, as notified to the Home Office, one antisocial behaviour order has been issued within the Northampton borough council local government area. This was issued in June 2003.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were(a) applied for and (b) granted in the County of Durham in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by magistrates court. [186439]

  Ms Blears
  The available information is given in the following table.
  953W
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in(a) the constituency of Bury St. Edmunds and (b) Suffolk since their introduction. [187192]

  Ms Blears
  The available information is given in the following table.

  Number of ASB0s, as notified to the Home Office, for all courts in Suffolk, by area, 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2004

  Area

  Total issued

  Suffolk

  45

  From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 by pfa1

  3

  From 1 June 2000 to 31 March 2004 by local

  authority area

  42

  of which

  Mid Suffolk DC

  —

  St. Edmundsbury BC

  2

  1 Between 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data are available by police force area (pfa) only.

  Note:

  The constituency of Bury St. Edmunds comprises 16 wards of the District of Mid Suffolk and 14 wards of the Borough of St. Edmundsbury.

  Community Safety
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to consult older people on issues of community safety. [186449]

  Ms Blears
  Within the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, local authorities are required to work with the police to conduct a review of levels and patterns of crime and disorder. They are then required to consult widely with key agencies, community groups, charities (such as Help the Aged and Age Concern) and the community about these findings. Each of the 376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships across England and Wales conduct resident surveys on a variety of issues to find out what people's concerns are, and then act on them as necessary. The survey covers a whole spectrum of residents from young people to older people.

  In addition, the Fear of Crime Team within the Home Office have presented to, and facilitated, workshops at the Help the Aged National and Regional Senior Safety Conferences, developed and published a vulnerability strategy which identifies and addresses fear of crime issues among older people, and developed Fear of Crime reassurance cards, which challenge misperceptions about local crime issues. These cards are being disseminated to older people by H cl p the Aged handyvan fitters and neighbourhood wardens.

  Community Sentences
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reporting procedures are for the performance of prison alternatives. [182285]

  Paul Goggins
  The National Probation Service (NPS) will shortly publish its annual report for 2003–04. In addition, each of the 42 operational areas of the NPS is required to produce its own annual report by the end of October.
  954W
  The National Probation Directorate produces a quarterly Performance Report, which sets out the extent to which local probation areas are performing against targets and how the key strategic obje#tives are being delivered. The reports are available on the NPS website (www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk/output/page34.asp).

  The Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate publishes Probation Statistics for England and Wales on an annual basis. This presents statistics and trends relating to the work of the service, including the number of offenders under different types of supervision, the number of reports produced and staff in post. The most recent edition, published in January 2004, covers the year 2002 and is available on the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ probationl.html). The web address also provides access to a number of Home Office Research Studies on themes relevant to the work of the NFS.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans the Government have to publicise successful outcomes of community sentencing; [182287]

  (2) what plans he has to use the media to communicate information on community sentencing to the public; [182290]

  (3) what measures (a) are in place and (b) he will introduce to demonstrate to the public that community sentences are serious penalties for offenders. [182294]

  Paul Goggins
  There is in place a communication strategy to improve public knowledge, understanding of, and confidence in, community sentences.

  The Home Office and local Probation Areas are also working to increase the public's understanding and knowledge of the range of community sentences available to the courts. The aim is to demonstrate that community punishment can be tough and demanding, making sure that offenders put something back into the community. A national visibility scheme for community. The reparation marque 'Making Amends' identifies locations that have benefited from community work.

  We will also promote public awareness of the new community sentences created by the Criminal Justice Act 2003, including Custody Minus and the new generic community sentence, as they come on stream next year.

  Contingency Planning
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on emergency planning arrangements in the UK. [184912]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 20 July 2004]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, South (Mr. Tynan) on 27 July 2004, Official Report, column 844W.

  Crime (Great Yarmouth)
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment has been made of the level of fear of crime among the people of Great Yarmouth. [186715]
  955W
  Ms Blears
  A Citizens' Panel is currently being conducted across Norfolk which includes questions about crime, the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour. The results will be broken down to district council level and will be published in December this year on the Norfolk Citizen Panel website, the address is: www.norfolk.gov.uk/citizenspanel/content/panellist_results.asp.

  Departmental Expenditure/Staff
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the(a) capital and (b) running costs of mobile phones in his Department were in each year since 2001. [185291]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  [holding answer 20 July 2004]: The accounting policy of the Home Office is to only capitalise assets whose cost is greater than £5,000. Mobile phones purchased as part of a contract are treated as a revenue expense.

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Central Home Office and IND (excluding

  agencies)

  9,358

  8,037

  7,711

  9,270

  13,020

  13,550

  16,540

  Fire Service College

  215

  253

  188

  180

  190

  —

  —

  Forensic Science Service

  1,185

  1,238

  1,638

  1,780

  2,190

  2,420

  2,660

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  1,407

  1,276

  1,245

  1,320

  2,270

  2,770

  2,600

  Prison Service

  37,704

  39,363

  38,719

  40,560

  41,940

  41,780

  43,210

  Home Office Total

  49,869

  50,167

  49,501

  53,113

  59,610

  60,520

  65,010

  In accordance with the policy objectives of the spending review and strategic plan commitments to staff cuts, we are streamlining departmental Head-Quarters (HQ) and reducing staff numbers by 30 per cent. in order to focus resources on the front-line. We are committed to similar reductions in the HQ of Corrections and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Reducing our HQ staff numbers by 2,700 full-time equivalents will free up around £100 million in real terms to be spent on the front-line.

  Designated Accommodation
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rooms are set aside for(a) the use of smokers, (b) worship, broken down by religion and (c) nursing mothers and pregnant women in each building and sets of offices for which his Department is responsible. [186536]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  In the Departments seven main central London buildings there is (a) one smoking room in each building, (b) one building with a multi-faith room and one building with a Muslim prayer room, and

  General government grants1 £ million

  Annual percentage change in general government grants percentage

  Specific grants and capital provisions2 £ million

  Total £ million

  Annual percentage change in all government grants Percentage

  1997–98

  129.7

  6.7

  136.4

  1998–99

  131.5

  1.4

  2.1

  133.6

  -2.0

  1999–2000

  134.8

  2.5

  3.1

  137.9

  3.2

  2000–01

  143.8

  6.7

  4.3

  148.1

  7.4

  956W
  The running costs for each year since 2001 are as follows:

  £

  2001

  890,715.68

  2002

  1,260,983.99

  2003

  1,282,909.33

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent staff there have been in(a) his Department and (b) agencies of the Department in each year since 1997. [182219]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The following table provides a reply to the question based on the civil service statistics staff levels since 1996.

  These are full-time equivalent figures, based on civil service statistics, 1997 onwards available from the available civil service statistics. All figures are as at April.

  (c) a designated room for nursing mothers and pregnant women in three of the buildings. This information is not held centrally for the remainder of the Home Office Estate.

  English Language Training (Leeds)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what English language training is available to(a) adult refugees and (b) adult asylum seekers in Leeds. [186736]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I have been asked to reply.

  These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

  Essex Police
  Mr. Ivan Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change in funding Essex Police Authority has received in each year since 1997. [186315]

  Ms Blears
  The information is set out in the table.
  957W

  General government grants1 £ million

  Annual percentage change in general government grants percentage

  Specific grants and capital provisions2 £ million

  Total £ million

  Annual percentage change in all government grants Percentage

  2001–023

  151.9

  5.6

  7.9

  159.8

  7.9

  2001–023

  147.9

  —

  7.9

  155.8

  —

  2002–03

  151.3

  2.3

  16.0

  167.3

  7.4

  2003–04

  155.9

  3.0

  17.7

  173.6

  3.7

  2004–05

  160.9

  3.3

  16.7

  177.6

  2.4

  1General government grants comprise Home Office principal police grant, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Revenue Support Grant and National Non Domestic Rates. Figures include £2.0 million in 1999–2000, £1.25 million in 2000–01 and £14,000 in 2001–02 for the transitional costs associated with changes in boundaries of the Metropolitan Police District from April 2000.

  2 Includes funding from the Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Fund, South East Allowance Payments, Basic Command Unit funding, Community Support Officer funding, Special Priority Payments, DMA Expansion Programme, Capital grant (including Supplementary Credit Approvals), Airwave (£4.6 million in 2002–03, £2.3 million in 2003–04 and £0.4 million this year) and the Premises Improvement Fund. Specific grants in 2004–05 are an estimate.

  3 Figures for 2001–02 are not directly comparable with 2002–03 due to the change in funding arrangements for National Crime Squad/National Criminal Intelligence Service. Adjusted figures for 2001–02 are therefore included.

  Female Prisoners (Substance Misuse)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of female prisoners have a substance misuse problem, and if he will make a statement. [186862]

  Mr. Browne
  The Prison Service relies on the findings of epidemiological studies to determine drug treatment need in female establishments. A survey carried out in 20011 showed that up to 60 per cent. of female prisoners had a drug problem. The same survey also suggested that over 33 per cent. of women in prison had patterns of hazardous drinking.
  1Borrill, J., Maden, A., Martin, A., Weaver, T., Stimson, G., Farrell, M. and Barnes, T. Differential substance misuse treatment needs of women, ethnic minorities and young offenders in prison: prevalence of substance misuse and treatment needs. Online report 33/03, Home Office.

  Harassment
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions are available for the psychiatric assessment of persons(a) under a stage one warning for harassment and (b) convicted of harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. [186529]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I have been asked to reply.

  As set out in the national service framework for mental health, any service user who contacts their prim#ry health care team with a common mental health problem should have their mental health needs identified and assessed.

  Anyone sent to prison is screened on first reception to identify any health-related, including psychiatric, problems that need prompt attention or more thorough investigation.

  Home Detention Curfews
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been released on the home detention curfew scheme. [186563]

  Paul Goggins
  Information reported to the Home Office shows that there were 95,810 prisoners released on the Home Detention Curfew Scheme between January 1999 and 30 June 2004

  Job Losses (Civil Servants)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the reductions in the numbers of civil servants in his Department announced in the comprehensive spending review will be of special advisors. [185462]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  Special Advisers are appointed by Ministers, with the approval of the Prime Minister, in accordance with Article 3(2) of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995 (as amended).

  The 2004 spending review published planned reductions in Home Office posts of 2,700 by 2008. The Home Office will report progress through its departmental report and on its website.

  Litigation Costs
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to public funds was of the Av. West Yorkshire Police case. [185140]

  Ms Blears
  I understand from the chief constable of West Yorkshire Police that costs incurred by the force totalled £90,000, including costs for 'A', the cost of hearings and taking the matter to the House of Lords. Expenditure incurred by Treasury solicitors in this case totalled £66,638, including disbursements such as counsels' fees.

  Paedophiles
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people convicted of paedophile offences have had restrictions imposed on their ownership of credit and debit cards as part of their punishment; [185432]

  (2) what provisions exist for limiting the use or issue of credit and debit cards to convicted paedophiles. [185433]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 20 July 2004]: The Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduced a new civil preventative order; the sexual offences prevention order (SOPO). A court may make a SOPO against someone with a conviction or caution for a relevant sexual offence (those listed in schedules 3 or 5 to the Act) where it is satisfied that such an order is necessary to protect the

  959W
  public or any particular member of the public from serious sexual harm from the defendant. A SOPO prohibits the offender from doing anything described in the order. This means protecting the public from serious physical or psychological harm caused by the defendant committing one or more of the offences listed in schedule 3.

  It is possible that a court could make a SOPO that would limit the use of credit or debit cards by the offender, if it was thought that limiting this use would protect the public from serious sexual harm. For example, a SOPO could prohibit an offender from making online purchases. Such a restriction would have to be compatible with a defendant's rights under Article 8 of the Convention.

  Statistics on the forms of prohibitions contained in SOPOs are not held by the Home Office.

  In addition, the Home Office has been working closely with the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS), who have a clear policy that acquiring banks routinely monitor the transaction activity of their internet merchants, and that the# will not knowingly do business with sites that sell content inciting, advocating or perpetuating violence against pers#ns, including scenes of sexual assault. APACS have also been developing a range of work with the Internet Watch Foundation to assist in tracking and identifying illegal sites.

  PFI/PPP Contracts
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts have been let by his Department in each financial year since 2001–02 to(a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte and Touche, (c) KPMG and (d) Ernst and Young for advising his Department on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts; and what fees were paid in each case. [182262]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  From the best information available, the number of contracts let with these suppliers, and the fees paid, are as follows:

  Fees £000

  Supplier/Project

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  PricewaterhouseCoopers

  2 Marsham Street1

  757

  183

  9

  Criminal Records Bureau2

  0

  0

  163

  Passports3

  0

  0

  63

  Deloitte and Touche

  Secure Training Centres

  0

  252

  153

  HM Prisons Bronzefield

  and Peterborough4

  0

  0

  18

  KPMG

  Criminal Records Bureau

  0

  25

  0

  Ernst and Young

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  2Marsham Street—financial advice prior to contract close and arrangements to launch a variation bond

  2Criminal Records Bureau—PricewaterhouseCoopers provided internal audit services, and KPMG provided financial advice and support

  3Passports—Scoping Study for Development of Sampling Strategy (Fraudulent Passports). Note: This is the contract value.

  4HM Prisons—advice on accounting treatment of Bronzefield and Peterborough

  960W
  The use of external consultants helps the Department to successfully deliver projects across the office, particularly where the in-house resources are insufficient in number, or do not possess the specialised skills and expertise required.

  The Department also benefits from strategic business advice and the transfer of skills and knowledge to staff.

  Police (Northampton)
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage change there has been in the number of police officers in Northampton in each year since 1997. [186417]

  Ms Blears
  Information on strength at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002. BCU strength for 31 March 2004 will be published shortly.

  The Northampton Area Basic Command Unit (BCU) includes Collingtree, Great Houghton, Hardingstone, Northampton and Wootton. Between March 2002 and March 2003 police strength for the Northampton BCU decreased by 0.3 per cent. (from 346 to 345). The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the chief constable (Peter Maddison) and within the Northampton BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the divisional commander.

  Police Officers (Restricted Duties)
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours were worked per week, on average, by police officers working on restricted or recuperative duties in(a) England and (b) Essex in the last year for which figures are available. [186475]

  Ms Blears
  The Home Office does not publish data on restricted or recuperative duties for police officers in England and Wales.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are(a) working on restricted recuperative duties, (b) unable to work night duty and (c) absent through sickness in (i) England and (ii) Essex. [186444]

  Ms Blears
  For the period 2002–03 a total of 1,364,067 officer days were lost to sickness absence—an average of 10.4 days per officer per year. For the same period, Essex constabulary lost 31,785 officer days to sickness absence—an average of 10.3 days per officer per year. This represents a fall in sickness absence from 1996–97 where the national rate was 12.8 days per officer per year—a reduction of over 18 per cent.

  These figures were published in the annual Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary report for 2002–03.

  The Home Office does not publish data on the number of police officers working on restricted or recuperative duties or who are unable to work on night duty.

  Policies (Environmental Impacts)
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new policy proposals
  961W
  or significant changes in policy were produced in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; how many of these were screened for their environmental impacts; and how many were the subject of separate environmental appraisals. [185099]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  Central records are not kept of the number of policies for which environmental screenings are undertaken. However, advice on the need to screen policies for environmental impacts is contained on the Department's policy makers checklist and the ministerial website on the Department's intranet site states that policy submissions should contain a section on environmental considerations.

  No formal environmental appraisals have been conducted on policy issues, although policy proposals which are likely to have a direct or indirect impact on business, charities and the voluntary sector are required to have a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). RIAs require examination of the potential impacts of relevant policy developments on all stakeholders including environmental impacts.

  Assessments of environmental impacts are undertaken on building developments as required by planning authorities.

  Prison
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget is for each prison library in 2004–05; and how many local authority-employed librarians work in prison establishments on a(a) full-time and (b) part-time basis. [187237]

  Mr. Browne
  The following table shows allocations to each prison establishment to purchase library services. The figures include maintenance of the book stock, exchange of stock within a year and off-site administration of the service.

  Information on the number of local authority-employed librarians working in prison establishments is not held centrally. A survey conducted in February 2004 found that Public Library Authority (PLA) library managers delivered 2,608 on-site hours per week while PLA library assistants delivered 2,230 per week. This equates to 134 full-time equivalent library staff across the prison estate.

  The Prison Service is currently working in partnership with the Public Library Authorities to develop a new and wider ranging specification for prison libraries that addresses the learning and skills agenda as well as providing information, advice and guidance. A new framework for resourcing the new service is also being developed.

  Library budgets 2004–05

  Establishment

  £

  Acklington

  39,088

  Albany

  31,842

  Ashwell

  17,906

  Askham Grange

  7,302

  Aylesbury

  15,875

  Bedford

  22,013

  Belmarsh

  62,491

  Birmingham

  72,523

  Blakenhurst

  36,716

  962W

  Blantyre House

  12,364

  Blundeston

  20,563

  Brinsford

  19,730

  Brinsford YJB

  16,885

  Bristol

  21,117

  Brixton

  58,634

  Brockhill

  15,176

  Buckley Hall

  18,618

  Bullingdon

  42,588

  Bullwood Hall

  5,430

  Bullwood Hall YJB

  361

  Camphill

  38,845

  Canterbury

  19,123

  Cardiff

  16,089

  Castington

  17,648

  Castington YJB

  12,532

  Channings Wood

  28,399

  Chelmsford

  19,815

  Coldingley

  11,850

  Cookham Wood

  8,427

  Dartmoor

  24,469

  Deerbolt

  15,887

  Dorchester

  17,768

  Dover

  12,758

  Downview

  25,126

  Drake Hall

  13,385

  Durham

  22,940

  East Sutton Park

  6,217

  Eastwood Park

  19,951

  Eastwood Park YJB

  529

  Edmunds Hill

  813

  Elmley

  49,666

  Erlestoke

  14,054

  Everthorpe

  32,959

  Exeter

  10,585

  Featherstone

  15,797

  Feltham

  30,869

  Feltham YJB

  8,548

  Ford

  33,591

  Foston Hall

  23,830

  Frankland

  24,602

  Full Sutton

  28,606

  Garth

  37,723

  Gartree

  15,435

  Glen Parva

  20,273

  Gloucester

  20,062

  Grendon/Spring Hill

  16,020

  Guys Marsh

  17,549

  Haslar

  19,597

  Haverigg

  28,022

  Hewell Grange

  11,743

  High Down

  27,457

  Highpoint

  29,345

  Hindley

  11,233

  Hindley

  10,292

  Hollesley Bay

  5,078

  Holloway

  56,463

  Holme House

  55,948

  Hull

  60,309

  Huntercombe

  16,506

  Kingston

  14,072

  Kirkham

  25,645

  Kirklevington

  9,102

  Lancaster Castle

  5,803

  Lancaster Farms

  32,355

  Lancaster Farms

  8,499

  Latchmere House

  2,240

  Leeds

  36,278

  Leicester

  17,409

  Lewes

  30,049

  Leyhill

  15,602

  Lincoln

  20,726

  Lindholme

  24,872

  963W

  Library budgets 2004—05

  Establishment

  £

  Littlehey

  22,854

  Liverpool

  30,591

  Long Lartin

  21,305

  Low Newton

  18,454

  Maidstone

  19,209

  Manchester

  158,515

  Moorland

  43,833

  Morton Hall

  36,364

  New Hall

  158,442

  New Hall YJB

  3,259

  North Sea Camp

  11,978

  Northallerton

  34,756

  Norwich

  40,987

  Nottingham

  34,053

  Onley

  51,758

  Parkhurst

  32,056

  Pentonville

  37,094

  Portland

  16,637

  Preston

  17,985

  Ranby

  47,480

  Reading

  21,975

  Risley

  15,140

  Rochester

  27,904

  Send

  14,283

  Shepton Mallet

  5,615

  Shrewsbury

  12,474

  Stafford

  14,367

  Standford Hill

  20,700

  Stocken

  22,741

  Stoke Heath

  10,306

  Stoke Heath

  9,274

  Styal

  11,305

  Sudbury

  25,933

  Swaleside

  35,296

  Swansea

  17,474

  Swinfen Hall

  33,953

  The Mount

  38,786

  The Verne

  14,944

  Thorn Cross

  8,387

  Thorn Cross YJB

  3,009

  Usk/Prescoed

  16,745

  Wakefield

  23,789

  Wandsworth

  124,646

  Warren Hill YJB

  22,254

  Wayland

  25,885

  Wealstun

  35,478

  Weare

  17,597

  Wellingborough

  28,321

  Werrington YJB

  9,498

  Wetherby YJB

  32,241

  Whatton

  21,085

  Whitemoor

  25,972

  Winchester

  29,418

  Woodhill

  36,932

  Wormwood Scrubs

  43,773

  Wymott

  34,154

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the 10-year custodial population projections referred to in paragraphs D18 and D19 of the Home Office Online Report 38/04. [187235]

  Paul Goggins
  Long-term prison population projections are produced for a seven year period. The latest published projections cover the period up to 2009.964W
  These were first presented in the April 2003 prison population monthly brief, published in September 2003, which can be found on the Home Office website at http:// www.homeoffice.gov uk/rds/prisonsl.html

  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what review of the policy towards(a) prison workplace and (b) prisoner smok#ng is planned; and if he will make a statement. [185643]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 22 July 2004]: No departmental review of smoking in prison workp#aces (where this is permitted) and prisoner smoking is planned. Governors are still operating under Instruction to Governors 16 of 1996, which instructs them where to ban smoking in prisons and gives them discretionary powers 10 extend this ban to other parts of the prison. Smoking policies are included in the Health and Safety Standard and are audited by the Prison Service Standards A udit Unit.

  In 2003 the Department of Health and the Prison service published 'AQUITTED: Best practice guidance for developing smoking cessation services in prisons'. Extra funding of £500,000 has been made available for each of the three years up to 2006. The launch of 'AQUITTED' was supported by a programme of training seminars for staff of prisons and their local Primary Care Trusts. The effectiveness of the initiative is being evaluated and a report is expected in 2005.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated cost was of the new healthcare centre at HMP Holloway in the Department's budget on 1 January; what the latest estimate is of expenditure on the new centre; and how many(a) inpatient beds and (b) day centre places (i) were planned on 1 January and (ii) are planned for the new centre. [186109]

  Paul Goggins
  On 1 January 2003, the estimated capital cost of the new healthcare centre at Holloway prison was £5.85 million with 23 in-patient beds and 30 day centre places planned. The latest estimates for costs, in patient beds, and day centre places remain the same.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prisoners, (b) women in prison, (c) juveniles and (d) young offenders are held (i) over 50 miles and (ii) over 100 miles from their committal court town. [187060]

  Paul Goggins
  An individual prisoner's court details are recorded to show first court appearance, committal, remand, conviction or sentencing. Information specifically on committal court details could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. As at 7 July 2004, the latest date for which information is available, details were available for 70,213 prisoners, or 9.3 per cent. of the total prison population of 74,771, on that day. This information is shown in the following table.
  965W

  Distance

  Total population

  Female population

  Juvenile population

  Young offender population

  Under 50 miles

  Total number of prisoners

  45,632

  2,151

  1,639

  5,184

  Percentage

  65

  52

  63

  65

  50–100 miles

  Total number of prisoners

  14,990

  1,039

  814

  1,828

  Percentage

  21

  25

  31

  23

  100+ miles

  Total number of prisoners

  9,591

  930

  167

  944

  Percentage

  14

  23

  6

  12

  Total

  70,213

  4,120

  2,620

  7,956

  Public Services Funding
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will identify for(a) his Department and (b) the agencies and task forces for which it is responsible each funding strea# for public services in (i) the Isle of Thanet and (ii) Canterbury City local authority area. [181702]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  Home Office funding streams for the Kent area consist of the following:

  General Police Grant

  Capital Grant

  Crime Fighting Fund

  Rural Policing Fund

  DNA Expansion Programme

  Airwave

  Basic Command Unit Fund

  Community Support Officers

  Special Priority Payments

  South East Allowance

  Building Safer Communities to CDRP partnership

  Antisocial behaviour funding to CDRP partnership

  Home Office Connecting Communities Project

  Home Office Time Limited Development Fund

  We do not hold information by local authority area, within each county.

  Following the spending review, my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister have announced a new Safer and Stronger Communities Fund (White Paper "Confident Communities in a Secure Britain", published on 19 July 2004) which will bring together a number of funding streams for community safety and improving public spaces.

  Alongside the intention to bring together a number of funding streams, the Home Office strategic plan intends to further promote local audits of priorities for community safety and the resources used to prevent and respond to crime and other issues. In particular, an assessment of resources and needs will be a feature of new local area agreements covering community safety, in areas in which these agreements will be developed. The Home Office is looking to build on the existing work of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and Drug Action Teams who audit crime and drugs issues in local areas.

  For reference, these are outlined on page 36 of the strategic plan.

  Sellafield
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the off-site emergency plans, including evacuation plans, in place in West Cumbria for circumstances involving an accident or other incident resulting in a significant release of radioactivity from Sellafield. [187286]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are well tried and tested emergency plans to deal with a release of radioactive material from Sellafield's nuclear facilities. These plans are maintained under the licence condition arrangements for all such sites and have been reviewed and tested at regular intervals over many years. The off-site emergency plan, prepared by Cumbria county council in consultation with the emergency services and British Nuclear Group, has been published in accordance with the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001. The plan covers procedures, facilities and equipment, and includes evacuation arrangements. REPPIR is monitored and enforced by the Health and Safety Executive.

  There is an ongoing programme of regular off-site exercises for civil nuclear installations such as Sellafield. These test the local off-site facility for each site, and involve a wide range of local and national agencies. The last such exercise at Sellafield was held on 24 September 2003 and this tested all aspects of Cumbria county council's off-site emergency plan which clearly covers evacuation aspects. The lessons of off-site nuclear exercises are taken forward locally through a standing local Emergency Planning Consultative Committee. Any issues of national relevance are taken forward through the Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group, which is administered and chaired by DTI, and are fed as appropriate into central Government's contingency planning.

  Travel Costs
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the travel costs were of civil servants in(a) his Department and (b) its rel#ted agencies in each year since 1997. [183904]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The information is set out in the following table:

  Travel costs

  £

  UK

  Overseas

  Total

  1997

  Department

  3,898,126.65

  1,224,570.48

  5,122,697.13

  Agencies

  7,620,389.45

  42,316.98

  7,662706.43

  Total

  11,518516.10

  1,266,887.46

  12,785403.56

  1998

  Department

  3,270,766.30

  886,831.19

  4,157,597.49

  Agencies

  8,290,722.40

  50,802.42

  8,341,524.82

  Total

  11,561,488.70

  937,633.61

  12,499,122.31

  1999

  Department

  3,187,174.89

  1,441,260.08

  4,628,434.97

  Agencies

  8,294,957.22

  81,651.74

  8,376,608.96

  Total

  11,482,132.11

  1,522,911.82

  13,005,043.93

  967W

  Travel costs

  £

  UK

  Overseas

  Total

  2000

  Department

  4,245,879.25

  1,396,593.81

  5,642,473.06

  Agencies

  9,133,124.06

  63,087.76

  9,196,211.82

  Total

  13,379,003.31

  1,459,681.57

  14,838,684.88

  2001

  Department

  6,348,417.71

  2,077,311.00

  8,425,728.71

  Agencies

  9,774,147.78

  18,987.40

  9,793,135.18

  Total

  16,122,565.49

  2,096,298.40

  18,218,863.89

  2002

  Department

  8,732,248.97

  2,355,805.87

  11,088,054.84

  Agencies

  10,467,841.11

  36,290.14

  10,504,131.25

  Total

  19,200,090.08

  2,392,096.01

  21,592,186.09

  2003

  Department

  12,406,053.11

  4,449,971.03

  16,856,024.14

  Agencies

  10,780,887.32

  9,053.09

  10,789,940.41

  Total

  23,186,940.43

  4,459,024.12

  27,645,964.55

  The marked increases in travel costs since 2001 can be largely attributed to changes in strategy within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) where increased staff numbers and the need to travel as a result of new policy initiatives and targets for improved IND performance. Other contributing factors have been related to providing advice to the organisers of the 2002 Football World Cup in Japan and Euro 2004 in Portugal and the creation of new units to support the police reform agenda.

  Criminal Records Bureau only commenced operations in 2000.

  Employees of the National Probation Service are not civil servants and their costs have therefore not been included in the above.

  Under-age Drinking
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Se#retary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will issue guidance to police forces that parents should, where possible, be informed when alcohol is removed from their children under the under-age drinking legislation; and if he will make a statement; [186474]

  (2) if he will investigate the impact of requiring the police to inform schools or colleges when alcohol is removed from pupils under the under-age drinking legislation; and if he will make a statement; [186479]

  (3) if he will issue guidance to the police that police schools liaison officers should be made aware of which pupils have had alcohol removed from them by the police under the under-age drinking legislation; and if he will make a statement. [186480]

  Ms Blears
  There is no specific requirement for police forces to inform parents, schools or an education institute when alcohol is removed from children or pupils under the under-age drinking legislation. A decision to inform parents or an education institute is an operational matter for individual police forces. However, a child who commits an offence and is reported for the offence can be seen in the presence of his or her parent or a responsible adult.
  968W
  Police forces would have their own arrangements for involving Social Services or an education institute if the child might be at risk. The role of the police school liaison officers in schools is a matter for the individual police force and the school.

  There is a statutory requirement to educate children and young people about the effect of alcohol. All schools are encouraged to have systems in place to identify and support those young people for whom drugs (including alcohol) may be a problem. Where concerns have been raised schools can provide support either through the curriculum, pastoral system or through referral to more specialised agencies, perhaps co-ordinated through the Connexions Service.

  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were(a) cautioned and (b) found guilty of selling intoxicating liquor to a person aged under 18 in 2003; [184870]

  (2) how many people were (a) cautioned and (b) found guilty under section 169 (2) of the Licensing Act 1964 in 2003. [184871]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 16 July 2004]: Figures for England and Wales 2002 show that 59 people were cautioned and 103 found guilty for "selling etc, intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises" (Licensing Act 1964, S169(1); Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, schedule (section 3) para. 4(1)) and a further two cautioned for "wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18" (Licensing Act 1964, section 181A as added by Licensing Act 1988, section 17). Those cautioned and found guilty under section 169(2) of the Licensing Act 1964 in 2002 were nine and 18 respectively.

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

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Katharine Gun
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the costs have been to date to the Government of the prosecution of the Katharine Gun case. [156197]

  The Solicitor-General
  I can only provide details of the costs incurred to the Crown Prosecution Service for whom the Attorney-General and I have ministerial responsibility. The Crown Prosecution Service estimates that the prosecution costs in this case to date are in the region of £18,552. This figure comprises of counsel's fees. The CPS is unable routinely to assess and attribute its own overhead costs to individual cases.

  Butler Report
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Solicitor-General if she will place in the Library copies of(a) the account given to the Butler Committee on the Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction of the legal advice provided to #he Butler Committee, to which reference is made at paragraph 379 of the Butler Report and (b) the letter from the Prime Minister's Private Secretary to the

  969W
  Legal Secretary to the Law Officers, dated 15 March 2003, to which reference is made at paragraph 384 of the Butler Report. [186192]

  The Solicitor-General
  The account given by the Attorney-General to the Butler Committee of his legal advice was given in oral evidence to the Committee. As is clear from footnote 17 to the Butler Report, the account of the Attorney-General's advice was given in confidence without intending to waive the legal professional privilege to which the Advice is subject. The substance of the letter from the Prime Minister's Private Secretary to the Legal Secretary to the Law Officers, dated 15 March 2003 is set out at paragraph 384 of the Butler Report.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions for alleged child abuse were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many resulted in a conviction. [183616]

  The Solicitor-General
  The following tables show aggregated information about child abuse cases that were finalised on the new Compass system during the year ending March 2004. No information is held for earlier periods, and could be obtained only through an analysis of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

  Table 1 shows the number of child abuse cases in magistrates courts, broken down into unsuccessful outcomes and convictions. Unsuccessful outcomes comprise: cases discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service; cases written off because the defendant could not be traced by the police, had died or been found unfit to plead; cases discharged in the course of committal proceedings; cases dismissed because of no case to answer; and dismissals after full rial. Convictions are divided into guilty pleas and convictions after trial.

  Table 2 shows the number of finalised child abuse cases recorded at the crown court. Unsuccessful outcomes in the crown court comprise: cases dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service before a jury was sworn, in which the judge ordered a formal acquittal; cases written off because the defendant could not be traced by the police, had died or been Found unfit to plead; judge directed acquittals; and acquittals after trial. Convictions are divided into guilty pleas and convictions after full trial.

  It should be noted that these figures are not collected from a specific list of offences. The identification of prosecution cases as child abuse is made by a member of CPS staff when a case is received from police, or within a subsequent review. Police officers and Administrators may also bring a child abuse case to CPS attention within the initial file submission.

  Outcome of child abuse cases in magistrates courts 2003–04

  Number

  Percentage

  Discontinued

  366

  28.3

  Written off

  14

  1.1

  Discharged committals

  21

  1.6

  Dismissed no case to answer

  13

  1.0

  Dismissed after trial

  53

  4.1

  Unsuccessful outcomes

  467

  36.1

  970W

  Outcome of child abuse cases in magistrates courts 2003–04

  Number

  Percentage

  Guilty Pleas

  694

  53.7

  Convicted after trial

  132

  10.2

  Convictions

  826

  63.9

  Total

  1,293

  —

  Outcome of child abuse cases in the Crown court 2003—04

  Number

  Percentage

  Judge ordered acquittals

  145

  16.5

  Written off

  6

  0.7

  Judge directed acquittals

  25

  2.8

  Jury acquittals

  111

  12.6

  Unsuccessful outcomes

  287

  32.6

  Guilty pleas

  446

  50.7

  Convicted after trial

  147

  16.7

  Convictions

  593

  67.4

  Total

  880

  —

  Tom Cox
  To ask the Solicitor-General on how many occasions in each of the last three years the Crown Prosecution Service has not proceeded with a prosecution of an assault committed(a) on a police officer and (b) by an inmate on a prison officer on the grounds that prosecution would not be in the public interest. [183928]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) central records do not include the level of detail required to answer the present question. Information at this level of detail could be obtained only by examining individual case files in each CPS office, which would incur disproportionate cost (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).

  David McGee
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the cost to public funds was of the prosecution of Mr. David McGee; at what level in the Crown Prosecution Service the decision on what charges to proceed with was taken; and what other potential charges were considered. [170407]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service estimates that the prosecution costs in this case to date are in the region of £6,250. This figure comprises counsels' fees and witness expenses. The CPS is unable routinely to assess and attribute its own overhead costs to individual cases.

  The decision to prosecute was made by a level E special casework lawyer within the Crown Prosecution Service, following advice from leading counsel.

  The other potential charges considered were under section 4 of the Official Secrets Act 1989; section 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981; section 16 of the Theft Act 1968; and the common law offence of misfeasance in a public office.

  Elmley Prison Officers (Case Costs)
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the(a) legal costs of the defendants' two trials and (b) total

  971W
  cost to the Crown Prosecution Service were in the case against Prison Officers Rowland, Kerry and Watkins at Elmley Prison. [166226]

  The Solicitor-General
  I can only provide details of the costs incurred by the Crown Prosecution Service, for which both the Attorney and I have ministerial responsibility.

  The Crown Prosecution Service costs are approximately £146,878.04. However, this figure may be reduced as the Crown Prosecution Service is currently seeking a reduction in the amount of counsel's fees claimed.

  The prosecution's costs are broken down in the following table:

  Prosecution's costs (£)

  (a) Counsel's fees:

  at the magistrates' court to include the old

  style committal

  12,978.35

  for the preliminary hearing in 2001

  27,766.19

  the final invoice (being challenged) to include

  re-instituting proceedings and the trial

  96,033.50

  Total

  136,778.04

  (b) Experts' fees:

  1,100.00

  (c) charges for enhancement of the recordings of intercepted telephone calls and for their compilation and indexation on a compact disc:

  9,000.00

  The CPS is unable routinely to assess and attribute its own overhead costs to individual cases.

  Iraq
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Solicitor-General if she will place in the Library copies of the intelligence assessment briefings on Iraq of September 2002 and February 2003, to which reference is made in paragraph 367 of the Butler Committee Report on intelligence on weapons of mass destruction, HC898. [185192]

  The Solicitor-General
  The intelligence briefings of September 2002 and February 2003 referred to in paragraph 367 of the Review of intelligence on weapons of mass destructions were oral briefings given to the Attorney-General by the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee.

  Serious Fraud Office (Bribery)
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Solicitor-General from which(a) companies and (b) organisations the Serious Fraud Office have requested (i) co-operation and (ii) information with regard to investigations relating to the enforcement of anti-bribery legislation since 2000. [184168]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 15 June 2004]: The information requested could be obtained only by examining individual case files in each dating back to 2000 and would incur disproportionate cost (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).

CABINET OFFICE

  Counter-terrorism Grants
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how the Government calculates counter-terrorism grants to front-line responders, with particular reference to(a) police forces, (b) fire brigades and (c) ambulance services. [184599]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I have been asked to reply

  Of the emergency services, only the police carry out counter-terrorism work. Funding for police counter-terrorism and other national security functions is predominantly funded through mainstream funding mechanisms rather than direct grant. However since 2002–03 the Home Office has provided additional funding to the Police Service to enable it to respond to the increased threat posed by international terrorism since September 2001. In 2004–05 this will amount to £4 million. The allocation of this funding to individual forces is determined f allowing full consultation between individual police forces, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office.

  Funding for counter-terrorism has to be considered within the wider context of funding for national security in the round, which will rise from £980 million in 2001 to over £2.1 billion in 2007, including the doubling of the size of M15.

  In addition, an extra £20 million per year from 2005–06 will be allocated to the Civil Defence Grant. This will double to £40 million per year, the contribution the Government previously allocated to local authorities.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Tannery Arts Ltd.
  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the compulsory purchase order placed on Tannery Arts Ltd.'s premises. [187473]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  We are exploring the feasibility of establishing an academy on the site of the former Laburnum primary school following a proposal from the London borough of Hackney and the UBS Investment Bank. There is strong need for new school places in Hackney.

  Provision of a suitable site is a matter for Hackney council and they have begun a compulsory purchase order process on land next to the Laburnum school given the restricted nature of that site. This is entirely a matter for them.

  We are conscious of the concerns raised about the future of Tannery Arts and discussions are taking place. It would be premature to say anything more at this stage. However, the academy would play a key role in transforming educational opportunities and standards for young people in the area.

  Adult Education (Great Yarmouth)
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what public funding has been spent on adult(a) literacy and (b) numeracy in Great Yarmouth in each of the last five years. [186716]

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

  £000

  Apri1 2001 to July 20011

  August 2001 to July 2002

  August 2002 to July 2003

  Basic skills

  874

  2,145

  2,936

  Key skills

  358

  524

  1,022

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

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

  Advertising
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was spent on advertising and promotional literature for his Department's initiatives, broken down by year since 1997. [183805]
  974W
  Mr. Miliband
  The information is as follows.

  1. Expenditure details from the Department's central advertising and public budget, for advertising and promotional work is listed as follows:

  Expenditure (£million)

  1997–98

  11.0

  1998–99

  13.4

  1999–2000

  9.9

  2000–01

  14.6

  2001–02

  11.7

  2002–03

  14.1

  2003–04

  15.5

  2004–05 expenditure (budgeted)

  15.3

  2. Financial information for any other advertising and promotional work from outside of the central marketing team could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Alderman Blaxill Secondary School, Colchester
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received about the closure of classrooms at Alderman Blaxill Secondary School, Colchester, following the discovery of asbestos; what action he is taking to ensure that the school has sufficient operational classrooms for the new school year; and if he will make a statement. [187012]

  M. Miliband
  I am not aware of any representations having been received regarding the matter referred in the question other than your letter to the Secretary of State dated 21 July 2004. Essex LEA is working closely with the school to ensure that suitable accommodation is available to the Alderman Blaxill Secondary School for the new school year. The bulk of schools capital is now allocated by formula to authorities and schools so that they can address their local priorities, including accommodation issues. Prioritisation of need should be through an open, rig#rous and consultative asset management process, based on assessments of the needs of all schools. This Government have increased their support for capital investment in schools from under £700 million in 1996–97 to £3.8 billion this year and this will increase further to over £5 billion by 2005–06.

  Autism
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has commissioned regarding the school exclusion rates of(a) autistic students and (b) students with Asperger's Syndrome; and if he will make a statement on his policy on whether autistic students should remain in mainstream schools. [186943]

  Margaret Hodge
  The statistics published by the Department do not record the types of special educational need (SEN), such as autism and Asperger's syndrome, which excluded pupils with SEN have. The most recent provisional statistics, for 2002/03, do show that children with SEN, both those with and without statements of SEN, account for two-thirds of permanent exclusions and that children with SEN were nine times more likely to be permanently excluded than those without SEN. As part of the SEN strategy "Removing Barriers to Achievement", published in
  975W
  February, we are carrying out research into exclusions and children with SEN, including those with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs), and we will act on its findings.

  Research by the National Autistic Society in 2000 suggested that children with ASDs, including Asperger's syndrome, were far more likely to be excluded than their peers. The Society is represented on our Autism Working Group which produced Good Practice Guidance on ASDs in 2002. This guidance aims to raise awareness of the disorders and to give good practice pointers to schools, local education authorities and others to help develop and audit their autism provision. It is available to assist schools make the reasonable adjustments to their policies and practice with respect to children with ASDs required by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001, which they need to consider when meeting their duty not to discriminate against disabled pupils, without justification, by excluding them because of behaviour caused by their disability.

  Children with autism display a range of strengths and difficulties of differing levels of severity and complexity. Those with SEN statements should be placed in a setting where their profile of needs can be met. The Good Practice Guidance recommends that LEAs, either singly or in regional groupings, should develop a range of provision in mainstream, special and specialist schools so that children with statements can be placed appropriately with the placement being monitored and changed as necessary.

  Child Care
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Government's policy is on extending child care provision; and what plans the Government have to extend child care provision. [186813]

  Margaret Hodge
  Between 1997 and 2004 the Government aimed to create around 900,000 new child care places to help 1,600,000 children. By March 2004 some 1,000,000 new child care places had been created helping some 1,800,000 ch#ldren. The Government have a target to create a further 250,000 new child care places for at least 450,000 children by March 2006 and to increase the stock of registered child care places across England by at least 10 per cent. by March 2008.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Government's policy is on the promotion of the National Childcare Strategy; and what plans the Government has to extend the strategy. [186814]

  Margaret Hodge
  The National Childc#re Strategy is promoted, as part of the Government's Sure Start programme, through a variety of channels and campaigns, targeting parents and those working with parents and children. These include: articles in the daily, local and specialist press; leaflets available in locations such as health centres, Job Centres and Post Offices, and sent to Sure Start programmes, health visitors, midwives and employment advisers; publications such as the "Choosing Childcare" booklet; and National Sure Start 976W
  Month held each June. Children's Information Services (CISs) in each of the 150 local authorities provide detail and advice to parents on Childcare and other Sure Start programmes in their areas.

  The Government are continuing to expand and strengthen Childcare provision. Our PSA Target is 10 per cent. growth in the stock of registered places between 2004 and 2008. The Department for Education and Skills "Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners" (published on 8 July) makes clear that much of the future expansion will be provided on school premises, or in integrated children's centres, so child care becomes part of a web of personalised services, including good quality health and family support, that best suits families and their children. We will link the free early education entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds more effectively with the hours of child care for which parents pay, to offer integrated education and care for a full day, while extended schools—both primary and secondary—will provide, or host, a wide range of services, including child care and a range of family learning and parental support, on-site.

  In addition, the Chancellor confirmed in his "Spending Review" 2004 statement that the Government will publish a plan in the pre-Budget report later this year outlining our vision of choice for parents and high quality provision for young children for the period up to 2015.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate the Government have made of the number of(a) child care places and (b) childminders that will be created by the Neighbourhood Nurseries initiative. [186815]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative will provide 45,000 integrated care and education places for children under the age of five living in the most disadvantaged areas of the country. Currently over 42,600 places are being delivered through 1,218 nurseries. We expect the 45,000 place target to be reached in the next few months.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what estimate the Government has made of how many registered child care places there were in (i) St. Helens and (ii) the UK, broken down by region, in each year since 1997; [186827]

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (2) how many local authority nurseries there were in each year since 1997,(a) broken down by region and (b) in St. Helens; [187364]

  (3) what estimate the Government has made of the number of nurseries which have closed in each year since 1997 (a) broken down by region and (b) in St. Helens. [187365]

  Margaret Hodge
  The information is not available in the form requested. The available information on the numbers of day nurseries or full day care facilities for St. Helens and the regions are shown in#the following tables.

  With the introduction of the National Day Care Standards and the transfer of responsibilities for registration and inspection to Ofsted, child care providers are now classified according to whether they are full day care, sessional day care, childminder, out of

  977W
  school day care or crèche day care places. Previously, child care providers were classified according to whether they were day nurseries, playgroup and pre-schools, childminders, out of school clubs or holiday schemes. Therefore, figures for 2003 are not directly comparable with figures for earlier years because they are collected on a different basis.

  Statistics on the number of child care facilities registered in England were published on 22 July 2004 in a report by Ofsted "Registered Childcare Providers and Places in England, 30 June 2004". The report is available on the Ofsted website, www.ofsted.gov.uk/publications.

  Number of day nurseries1,2 in St. Helens local authority area and by Government Office Region: 1999–2001

  Position at 31 March each year

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  St. Helens

  (3)50

  (3)20

  (3)60

  n/a

  North East

  190

  190

  220

  n/a

  North West and Merseyside

  n/a

  North West

  840

  910

  940

  n/a

  Merseyside

  240

  200

  250

  n/a

  Yorkshire and Number

  700

  690

  710

  n/a

  East Midlands

  560

  660

  550

  n/a

  West Midlands

  870

  900

  970

  n/a

  Eastern

  570

  610

  600

  n/a

  Greater London

  n/a

  Inner London

  610

  650

  680

  n/a

  Outer London

  550

  600

  620

  n/a

  South East

  1,100

  1,240

  1,400

  n/a

  South West

  770

  900

  910

  n/a

  England

  7,000

  7,500

  7,800

  n/a

  Of which:

  Local authority provided

  400

  400

  460

  n/a

  n/a=Not available.

  1Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 as appropriate. Figures may not add to totals due to founding.

  2 Data Source: Children's Day Care Facilities.

  3 Figures as reported by the local authority.

  Number of full day care facilities in St. Helens local authority area and by Ofsted Region, position as at 31 December 2003

  Number

  St. Helens

  30

  East of England

  1,000

  East Midlands

  800

  London

  1,600

  North East and Yorkshire

  1,400

  North West England

  1,400

  978W

  Number of full day care facilities in St. Helens local authority area and by Ofsted Region, position as at 31 December 2003

  Number

  South East England

  1,900

  South West England

  1,200

  West Midlands

  1,300

  England

  10,600

  Note:

  Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.

  Source:

  Ofsted

  Children's Information Services
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's information services(a) have been opened and (b) are planned to be opened in (i) St Helens and (ii) England, broken down by region. [186810]

  Margaret Hodge
  Since the introduction of the National Childcare Strategy in 1998 each local authority in England has been required to have a Children's Information Service (CIS). However, in some cases bordering local authorities have provided a joint service. There are currently 146 CISs in England. St Helens has one CIS. The table below breaks down by region the local authorities in England that operate a CIS.

  Children's Information Services in England

  East Midlands

  Derby City

  Derbyshire

  Leicester City

  Leicestershire

  Lincolnshire

  Northamptonshire

  Nottingham City

  Nottinghamshire

  Rutland

  East of England

  Bedfordshire

  Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (two LAs)

  Essex

  Hertfordshire

  Luton

  Norfolk

  Southend on Sea

  Suffolk

  Thurrock

  North East

  North East

  Darlington

  Durham

  Gateshead

  Hartlepool

  Middlesbrough

  Newcastle

  North Tyneside

  Northumberland

  Redcar and Cleveland

  979W

  South Tyneside

  Stockton-on-Tees

  Sunderland

  North London

  Barking and Dagenham

  Barnet

  Brent

  Camden

  City of London

  Enfield

  Hackney

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Haringey

  Harrow

  Havering

  Islington

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Newham

  Redbridge

  Tower Hamlet

  Waltham Forest

  Westminster

  South London

  Bexley

  Bromley

  Croydon

  Ealing

  Greenwich

  Hillingdon

  Hounslow

  Kingston upon Thames

  Lambeth

  Lewisham

  Merton

  Richmond upon Thames

  Southwark

  Sutton

  Wandsworth

  North West

  Blackburn with Darwen

  Blackpool

  Bolton

  Bury

  Cheshire

  Cumbria

  Halton

  Knowsley

  Lancashire

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Oldham

  Rochdale

  Salford

  Sefton

  St. Helens

  Stockport

  Tameside

  980W

  Trafford

  Warrington

  Wigan

  Wirral

  South East

  Brighton and Hove

  Buckinghamshire

  East Sussex

  Hampshire

  Isle of Wight

  Kent

  Medway

  Milton Keynes

  Oxfordshire

  Portsmouth

  Reading, West Berkshire and Bracknell Forest CIS (3 Las)

  Slough

  Southampton

  Surrey

  West Sussex

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  Wokingham

  South West

  Bath and NE Somerset

  Bournemouth

  Bristol

  Cornwall

  Devon and Torbay (two Las)

  Dorset

  Gloucestershire

  Isles of Scilly

  North Somerset

  Plymouth

  Poole

  Somerset

  South Gloucestershire

  Swindon

  Wiltshire

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  Coventry

  Dudley

  Herefordshire

  Sandwell

  Shropshire

  Solihull

  Staffordshire

  Stoke on Trent

  Telford & Wrekin

  Walsall

  Warwickshire

  Wolverhampton

  Worcestershire

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Barnsley

  Bradford

  Calderdale

  981W

  Doncaster

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  Kingston upon Hull

  Kirklees

  Leeds

  North East Lincolnshire

  North Lincolnshire

  North Yorkshire

  Rotherham

  Sheffield

  Wakefield

  York

  City Academies
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received about the effectiveness of city academies in tacking social deprivation. [186468]

  Mr. Miliband
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills receives many representations on a variety of issues. The academies programme is specifically designed to address the intractable problems of poor standards of teaching and learning, under-achievement and low aspirations in the most socially and economically deprived parts of the country.

  It will take time for the new leadership, bui#dings and curriculum to turn things round. However, of the three academies with GCSE results in 2003 the number of 5A*—C grades rose to 21 per cent. and 35 per cent. respectively from 7 per cent. and 25 per cent. in 2002, and the other had results broadly comparable with its predecessor schools. Academies are also improving behaviour and attendance.

  Civil Service Recruitment
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the anticipated impact is of staff reductions in his Department on the delivery of services to(a) children under five, (b) school age children, (c) young people, (d) 14 to 19-year-olds, (e) adults and (f) families. [187096]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My Department is undertakin# a radical transformation in its role and ways of working to deliver the ambitious agenda for reform set out in the Five Year Strategy for Children arid Learners. Putting people at the heart of public services, building on the existing significant progress and substantial achievement, these changes will enable us to reduce the department's staffing levels and provide strategic leadership to the system, working with our partners and delivering resources to the front line to ensure the further improvements we are determined to secure in the services that we provide for children, young people adults and families.

  School Compute
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils per computer there were in schools in(a) Norfolk and (b) Great Yarmouth in each year since 1996. [186705]
  982W
  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Figures for England, which were derived from a sample of schools, are shown in the following table.

  Average number of pupils1 per computer (used solely or mainly for teaching and learning purposes) by type of school, England

  Maintained

  Year end March

  Primary

  Secondary

  Special

  1996

  19.0

  9.0

  4.0

  1997

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1998

  17.6

  8.7

  4.5

  1999

  13.4

  8.4

  3.7

  2000

  12.6

  7.9

  3.7

  2001

  11.8

  7.1

  3.2

  2002

  10.1

  6.5

  3.4

  2003

  7.9

  5.4

  3.0

  2004

  7.5

  4.9

  3.1

  n/a = Not available.

  1Full-time equivalent numbers of pupils.

  The latest provisional data on ICT in schools was published in Statistical First Release 'Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2004', which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.

  Departmental Administrative Costs
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking to reduce his Department's central administrative costs. [187488]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The 2004 Spending Review White Paper (Table 7.1) shows that the administrative costs of the Department (including Ofsted) will fall from £276 million in 2005–06 to £262 million in 2007–08. This reduction will be principally achieved by reducing staffing by 1,460 posts in the Department by April 2008, but will also reflect other improvements arising from the Efficiency Review.

  Departmental Expen#iture
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Department spent on press officers in each year since 1996–97, broken down by grade. [184322]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is set out in the following table.

  Staff numbers

  Spend (£000)

  1996–97

  19: SCS × 1, SIO × 6.5, IO × 11.5

  702

  1997–98

  20.5: SCS × 1, G7 × 1, SIO × 7.5, IO × 10, AIO × 1

  729

  1998–99

  29.5: SCS × 2, G7 × 2, SIO × 11.5, IO × 10. AIO × 3

  969

  1999–2000

  28: SCS × 2, G7 × 3, SIO × 10, IO × 11, AIO × 2

  997

  2000–01

  28: SCS × 2, G7 × 3.5, SIO × 13.5, IO × 6, AIO × 3

  1,307

  2001–02

  28: SCS × 2, G7 × 4.5, SIO × 9.5, IO × 10, AIO × 2

  1,097

  2002–03

  23.4: SCS × 2, G7 × 3, SIO × 9.5, IO × 7, AIO × 2

  1,314

  2003–04

  18.5: SCS × 2, G7 × 4, SIO × 4.5, IO x 6, AIO × 2

  1,120

  Key:

  SCS—Senior Civil Service

  G7—Grade 7

  SIO—Senior Information Officer

  IO—Information Officer

  AIO—Assistant Information Officer

  983W
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money the Department spent on(a) advertising and (b) public relations in each year since 1996–97. [184323]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 15 July 2004]: Expenditure for both advertising and public relations is listed as follows:

  £million

  Advertising

  Public relations

  1996–97

  8.0

  0

  1997–98

  11.0

  0

  1998–99

  16.8

  0.6

  1999–2000

  12.4

  0.1

  2000–01

  29.7

  0.8

  2001–02

  20.5

  1.7

  2002–03

  11.3

  2.4

  2003–04

  19.5

  1.9

  As can be seen from the figures, spend on advertising fluctuates from year to year. Some campaigns will run over financial years and billing will fall in the later period. The increase in Public Relations (PR) relates to an increase in the use of external organisations to contact those elements of our key audiences that prove more difficult to reach through traditional advertising methods. Examples of this are in the promotion of adult basic skills, Aimhigher and Connexions. Since 2001–02, the Department has changed its approach by concentrating on having fewer, larger, more focused communications, such as that for adult basic skills (to help adults improve their reading, writing, language and maths) instead of numerous smaller campaigns.

  Departmental Press Officers
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many press officers are employed in his Department. [187158]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Department for Education and Skills has 17 press officers.

  Departmental Staffing
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to reduce staffing levels within his Department. [187489]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 14 May 2004,Official Report, columns 624W, to the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin).

  Departmental Stress Policy
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the introduction of a stress policy in his Department. [187092]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My Department and the Trade Union Side are agreed on the importance of addressing workplace stress. My Department is working closely with the Trade Union Side to develop a stress policy based on the Health and Safety Executive Management Standards of good management practice.

  Departmental Theft
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many mobile phones owned by his Department have been reported lost or stolen since 2001. [186681]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Our records show that, since January 2001, twenty-six mobile telephones owned by my Department have been reported stolen and eight reported lost.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the items that his Department has reported lost or stolen to the police from his Department's buildings and property since 2001. [186676]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The following table details the items that the Department for Education and Skills has reported lost or stolen to the police from the Department's buildings ans property since 2001.

  Financial year

  Item and quantity

  Approximate value per item (£)

  Total approximate value(£)

  2001–02

  Laptop PC (1)

  1,150

  1,150

  2002–03

  0

  0

  0

  2003–04

  CD Player/Radio (1)

  100

  100

  CDs (6)

  10

  10

  2004 to date

  0

  0

  0

  Total

  8 items

  n/a

  1,310

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the equivalent monetary cost of theft to(a) his Department and (b) the Executive Agencies affiliated to his Department has been in each year since his Department was established. [186682]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The following table provides details of the equivalent monetary cost of theft to the Department for Education and Skills in each year since the Department was established in June 2001. We do not record similar data for any Executive Agency.

  Financial year

  Cost of theft (£)

  2001–02

  9,087

  2002–03

  4,910

  2003–04

  1,101

  2004-to date

  5,858

  Total

  20,956

  Designated Accommodation
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many rooms are set aside for(a) the use of smokers, (b) worship, broken down by religion and (c) nursing mothers and pregnant women in each building and set of offices for which his Department is responsible. [187314]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The following table shows the number of rooms which have been set aside in each of the five Department for Education and Skills buildings for(a) smokers (b) wo#ship and (c) nursing/pregnant women.
  985W

  Site/Building

  Smokers room

  Worship room

  Nursing/Pregnant women's facilities

  Darlington

  1

  1 (non denominational)

  1 room

  1

  London:

  Caxton House

  1

  1 Muslim prayer room and 1 non denominational

  1 room and use of the first aid room

  Sanctuary Buildings

  1

  1 Muslim prayer room and 1 non denominational

  1 room

  Sheffield

  1

  1 (non denominational)

  1 room

  Runcorn

  3

  1 (non denominational)

  Nursing chairs provided within on-site Nursery

  Early Excellence Centres
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Early Excellence centres(a) have been opened and (b) are planned to be opened in (i) St. Helens and (ii) England, broken down by region. [186809]

  Margaret Hodge
  There is one Early Excellence Centre (EEC) in St. Helens based at Legh Vale school in Haydock ward.

  No further EECs will be developed. The Government are establishing children's centres across England many of which will be developed from existing EECs.

  There are 107 EECs in England six of which are special projects. The special projects are run by RNIB which works with four EECs (two in London and two in the South East) and NHS Newborn which works with two London based EEC's.

  A list of EECs in England, broken down by local authority region follows:

  Annex A

  Local authority

  Number of Early Excellence Centres

  Bath and NE Somerset

  1

  Bedfordshire

  2

  Birmingham

  2

  Blackpool

  1

  Bolton

  1

  Bradford

  1

  Bristol

  2

  Bury

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  2

  Camden

  1

  Cornwall

  2

  Coventry

  1

  Croydon

  1

  Cumbria network

  1

  Derby

  1

  Derbyshire

  1

  Devon

  2

  Dorset

  1

  Durham

  1

  Ealing

  1

  Gateshead

  1

  Gloucestershire

  1

  Greenwich

  1

  Hackney

  1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2

  Hampshire

  2

  Haringey

  1

  Harrow

  1

  Herefordshire

  1

  Hertfordshire

  1

  Hillingdon

  1

  Isle of Wight

  2

  Islington

  2

  Kent

  1

  986W

  Annex A

  Local authority

  Number of Early Excellence Centres

  Kingston upon Thames

  1

  Kirklees

  1

  Lambeth

  1

  Lancashire

  4

  Leeds

  1

  Lewisham

  1

  Liverpool

  1

  Luton

  2

  Manchester

  1

  Middlesbrough

  1

  Newcastle

  1

  Newham

  1

  Norfolk

  1

  North East Lincolnshire

  1

  North Tyneside

  1

  Northamptonshire

  1

  Northumberland

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  Oxfordshire

  2

  Peterborough

  1

  Plymouth

  1

  Portsmouth

  1

  Reading

  1

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  1

  Rotherham

  2

  Somerset

  2

  Southampton

  1

  South Tyneside

  1

  St Helens

  1

  Stockport

  1

  Sunderland

  1

  Surrey

  1

  Sutton

  1

  Swindon

  1

  Tameside

  1

  Tower Hamlets

  1

  Wakefield

  1

  Waltham Forest

  1

  Warwickshire

  2

  Westminster

  1

  West Sussex

  1

  Wigan

  2

  Wiltshire

  2

  Wirral

  2

  Wokingham

  1

  Wolverhampton

  1

  Note:

  Six special projects are operated by NHS Newborn and RNIB. The RNIB project works with four EECs (two in North West and two in South East). The NHSP Newborn initiative works with two EECs in London.

  Early-years Initiatives (Funding)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been made available to(a) Sure start projects, (b) Early Excellence centres, (c) Neighbourhood Nurseries and (d) other early years

  987W
  initiatives in the London borough of Enfield in each year since their inception; what the projected funding is over the period of the Spending Review; and if he will make a statement. [187007]

  Margaret Hodge
  The London borough of Enfield has one Sure Start local programme, five neighbourhood nursery projects, and no Early Excellence Centres. In addition grant was paid for a range of early year's initiatives within the Childcare Grant until 2003, and under the Sure Start General Grant between 2004–06. The funding for each initiative since its inception is as follows:

  Edmonton Sure Start local programme (revenue)

  £

  1999–2000

  42,000

  2000–01

  924,000

  2001–02

  1,300,000

  Childcare Grant 1998–2003

  £

  Source data

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Childcare Grant

  72,000

  249,000

  312,950

  596,030

  613,560

  National Recruitment Campaign

  —

  —

  28,300

  28,690

  29,000

  Childmin#er Start-Up Grant

  —

  —

  25,900

  40,100

  31,500

  Outdoor Play Equipment

  —

  —

  —

  29,610

  —

  Unlocking Barriers for Training

  —

  —

  —

  114,102

  79,893

  Daycare Expansion

  —

  —

  —

  24,100

  15,070

  Toy Libraries/Musical Instruments

  —

  —

  —

  50,680

  32,460

  Capital for Playgroup Conversion

  —

  —

  —

  —

  19,950

  Foundation Stage

  —

  —

  —

  94,448

  94,448

  SENCO Training

  —

  —

  —

  13,774

  11,806

  SENCO Low Incidence

  —

  —

  —

  18,903

  Capital Funding

  —

  —

  —

  115,700

  Total

  72,000

  249,000

  367,150

  991.534

  1,062,29 0

  General Sure Start Gr#nt funding 2004–06

  £

  Source data

  2004–06

  Delivery Support Fund

  1,031,179

  Children's Information Service

  193,947

  Workforce Development (Recruitment and Training)

  699,462

  Nursery Schools Development

  —

  Extended Schools

  79,000

  New Childcare Places (Revenue) Disadvantaged Areas

  236,685

  New Childcare Places (Revenue) Other Areas

  86,462

  New Childcare Places (Capital for out of school Childcare)

  51,232

  New Childcare Places (Capital for Playgroup Conversion)

  99,000

  New Childcare Places (Capital for Playgroup Conversion) Other Areas

  36,387

  SEN and Inclusion (Children with Special Needs and Disabled Children)

  273,258

  Children's Centre's (Revenue)

  1,033,220

  Children's Centres (Capital)

  2,225,058

  Support Childminder Scheme

  105,367

  Total

  6,150,257

  The Chancellor announced in the Spending Review that the Sure Start Unit will be allocated £1,167 million, £1,483 million and £1,667 million for 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08 respectively for England. At this stage it is not possible to say how much will be allocated to individual local authorities.

  Educational Attainment
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of(a) girls and
  988W

  Edmonton Sure Start local programme (revenue)

  £

  2002–03

  1,300,000

  2003–04

  1,3000,000

  2004–05

  1,300,000

  2005–06

  1,300,000

  Note:

  The programme was also allocated £1,250,000 capital funding.

  Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative (revenue)

  2003–04

  133,500

  2004–05

  531,600

  2005–06

  297,600

  2006–07

  90,300

  Note:

  2006–07: £90,300 (funding agreed for this year due to slippage of last project). The authority has also been allocated £327,298 capital.

  (b) boys in receipt of free school meals achieved (i) Level 2 or more at Key Stage 1 in (A) reading, (B) writing and (C) mathematics, (ii) Level 4 or above at Key Stage 2 for (1) English, (2) mathematics and (3) science, (iii) Level 5 and above at Key Stage 3 in (x) English, (y) mathematics and (z) science, (iv) five or more A*–C GCSE/GNVQ and (v) no passes at GCSE/ GNVQ in each year since 1997; and what the percentages were for those not in receipt of free school meals. [185807]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 22 July 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills) on 4 May 2004, Official Report, column 1424W.

  A copy of the Statistical First Release 04/2004 was placed in the Libraries in response to this question.

  Food Education
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether food skills training is provided in primary school teachers' initial teacher training. [187458]

  Mr. Miliband
  All trainee teachers must demonstrate the standards set out in "Qualifying to teach", which rep#esent the minimum that trainees must know, understand and be able to do to be awarded qualified teacher status. Although the standards as they apply to
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  primary school trainees do not specify food skills training, they require that they should be familiar with the National Curriculum Framework for personal, social and health education, which at Key Stage 2 includes teaching about the benefits of healthy eating. Once employed within schools, teachers can look to professional development programmes to develop food technology skills.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what action is being taken to help primary school teachers to teach cookery in addition to the Food in Schools programme; [187459]

  (2) what action his Department is taking to improve food education in schools; [187460]

  (3) how many primary schools have the (a) necessary equipment and (b) purpose built facilities to enable pupils to prepare and cook food; [187461]

  (4) how much schools have spent on average for each pupil in each of the last 10 years on food education in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools. [187462]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  On 6 September, the Government published the Healthy Living Blueprint for Schools. A copy is being placed in the House of Commons Library. The Blueprint and a supporting website will help teachers access support, advice and information to create a healthy school environment. It includes food education within the National Curriculum, and wider opportunities through, for example, cookery and growing clubs.

  In addition to the Food in Schools programme, there are food technology teachers in Technology Specialist Schools and food technology Advanced Skills Teachers who support their feeder primary schools in food education as part of their outreach work.

  The Department does not collect detailed information about expenditure on equipment or per pupil for individual subjects; or on facilities for food education in primary schools. This year, the Government have increased its support for capital investment in schools to £4.5 billion. This includes direct capital funding to every primary school, which a school could allocate for food technology facilities.

  Fraud
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the cost of fraud to(a) his Department and (b) the Executive Agencies affiliated to his Department in the last year for which figures are available. [186683]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The total amount of departmental funds under investigation in the financial year 2003–04 was £177,300. All cases of fraud or alleged fraud were investigated by the Department's Special Investigations Unit. Fully trained, professionally qualified fraud examiners staff this unit.

  The Department has no Executive Agencies.

  General Teaching Council/Teacher Training Agency
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will break down the 2002–03 administration cost of the Teacher Training Agency by main budget heading. [187400]

  Mr. Miliband
  Part 14 of the TTA's Financial Statements 2002–03 outlines a total of 5 budget lines contributing to a total administration expenditure of £10.479 million of which: staff costs totalled £6.651 million and other administration costs totalled £3.828 million.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost of the General Teaching Council was in 2002–03, broken down by main budget heading. [187399]

  Mr. Miliband
  The total expenditure incurred by the GTC in 2002–03 totalled £11.237 million of which staff costs were £3.559 million. Other costs totalled £7.678 million.

  A more detailed breakdown of the figures can be found on page 20 of the GTC's Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff were employed in the(a) Teacher Training Agency and (b) General Teaching Council in 2002–03; and what the staff costs were in each case. [187401]

  Mr. Miliband
  The Teacher Training Agency employed an average of 193 staff during the financial year 2002–03. The total staff costs for the year were £6.651 million.

  The General Teaching Council for England employed an average of 109 staff during the financial year 2002–03. The total staff costs for the year were £3.559 million.

  The staff costs included temporary staff and secondees, and are disclosed in the organisations' accounts.

  Graduate Employment
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has commissioned regarding the number of university graduates who enter graduate jobs within six months of graduating. [186942]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department's main data source for monitoring the destination of graduates is the First Destination Survey (FDS), which is collected annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). This records the employment position of graduates six months after graduation, including the type of work obtained by those graduates entering employment. These figures are published by HESA annually in 'First Destinations of Students leaving Higher Education Institutions', a copy of which can be found in the House Library.

  Following a comprehensive review, the FDS has been expanded for 2002–03 to cover students completing part-time courses and to collect additional information on the student's employment.

  Higher Education (Newcastle upon Tyne)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of 18-year-olds were accepted for entry to higher education through UCAS in the City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in each year since 1995. [186860]

  Alan Johnson
  The available information is taken from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and covers 18-year-old applicants accepted through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses. Figures are given in the table.

  18-year-old applicants domiciled in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne LEA, accepted through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses

  Year of entry

  Number

  Percentage

  1995

  607

  22.2

  1996

  603

  21.0

  1997

  527

  16.4

  1998

  593

  18.0

  1999

  553

  17.2

  2000

  609

  18.9

  2001

  754

  23.3

  2002

  826

  24.4

  2003

  872

  25.1

  Source:

  Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and population figures based on projections from the Government Actuary's Department and the Office for National Statistics.

  IT Training
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to improve(a) IT training and (b) access to the internet for older people. [186794]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The information is as follows:

  (a) DfES colleagues are currently working with partners, developing a strategy to take forward the commitments to ICT user skills made in the White Paper, 21st Century Skills, realising our potential, which include designating ICT as a Skill for Life.

  A project called "Cybrarian" is currently being developed which aims to help reduce the digital divide by facilitating access to the Internet and to learning opportunities for those who currently do not, or cannot, use the Internet. This may be because of a lack of skills or confidence, or because of physical or cognitive disabilities.

  (b) DfES has established a network of 6,000 UK online centres to help those who have not used computers or the Internet before, or who do not have access to a computer of their own. These centres provide free or low cost access to ICT and the Internet, with support from staff on hand to help individuals get started. One of the target groups is older people. Everyone in England should be able to find a UK online centre near to their home. Around 3,000 are based in libraries and the rest are located to provide easy access for all.

  Learner Satisfaction Survey
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how much was spent by the Learning and Skills Council on producing the Learner Satisfaction Survey in 2003; [186602]

  (2) what funding methodology was used for setting budgets for local learning and skills councils in 2003–04; [186604]

  (3) how much money has been allocated to each local learning and skills council in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06. [186605]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom the Council's Chief Executive will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

  Learning Difficulties/Disabilities (Coventry, South)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Coventry, South students in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools suffer from learning (i) difficulties and (ii) disabilities. [187299]

  Margaret Hodge
  Learning difficulties and learning disabiliti#s are covered within the definition set out in section 312 of the Education Act 1996 which states that children have special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.

  Children have a learning difficulty if they:
  (a) have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age
  (b) have a disability which prevents and hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of the same age in schools within the area of the local authority.

  The table shows numbers of pupils with SEN in Coventry, South.

  Maintained primary and secondary schools1: number of pupils with special education needs (SEN)—January 2004 (provisional)

  Coventry, South parliamentary constituency2

  Maintained primary

  Maintained secondary

  Total pupils

  7,780

  7,410

  Pupils with statements of SEN

  80

  150

  Percentage

  1.0

  2.0

  Pupils with SEN but without statements3

  1,340

  1,270

  Percentage

  17.3

  17.1

  1Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

  3Includes children at "School Action" and "School Action Plus" as described in the SEN Code of Practice.

  Minimum Pupil Numbers
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to require small schools to have a minimum number of pupils. [186476]
  993W
  Mr. Miliband
  We have no plans to require small schools to have a minimum number of pupils.

  Decisions on proposed changes to schools, including opening and closing, are taken by each area's local School Organisation Committee, or an independent schools adjudicator, and the Department's guidance makes clear that they must not assume a school must be of a certain size to be a good school. LEAs have a statutory duty to ensure sufficient and efficient school provision in their area and we will expect them to take parental preferences into account in their planning process. LEAs must also ensure that each area offers high quality education in a cost effective way.

  School name

  Reason for opening

  Herman Community Primary School

  Amalgamation of Herman First and Herman Middle School

  Peterhouse Community Primary School

  Amalgamation of Peterhouse First and Peterhouse Middle School

  Martham Foundation Primary School

  Amalgamation of Martham First School and Nursery and West Flegg Middle School

  Belton Voluntary Community Primary School

  Amalgamation of Waveney First School and Breydon Middle School

  Proposals for the new schools were approved by the local School Organisation Committee on 6 December 2002 and they are due to open this coming September.

  Plans for any future organisation of schools are a matter for the local authority.

  Education (Northampton. South)
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) teachers and (b) education support staff there were in Northampton, South in each year since 1992. [186462]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table gives the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers and support staff employed in maintained sector schools in Northampton, South constituency for each year from 1997 to 2003, the latest year available. Data are not available at constituency level prior to 1997.

  Teachers

  Support staff1

  2003

  851

  683

  2002

  860

  659

  2001

  858

  633

  Maintained primary and secondary schools1: Average size of classes taught by one teacher2 Northampton, South parliamentary constituency3

  Position in January each year: 1997 to 2004 (provisional)

  Number of pupils

  Primary Number of classes

  Average class size

  Number of pupils

  Secondary Number of classes

  Average class size

  1997

  7,400

  270

  27.1

  6,930

  330

  21.3

  1998

  7,340

  270

  27.4

  6,790

  300

  22.9

  1999

  7,360

  270

  27.4

  6,890

  290

  23.5

  2000

  7,310

  270

  27.1

  7,010

  290

  23.8

  2001

  7,170

  270

  26.3

  8,480

  380

  22.5

  2002

  7,170

  290

  25.2

  7,840

  330

  23.8

  2003

  7,440

  300

  25.0

  7,320

  320

  22.7

  20044,5

  9,500

  370

  25.8

  5,700

  260

  22.0

  1Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2Classes as taught during the one selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.

  3Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

  4Difference in figures from 2003 to 2004 is due to some schools within Northampton, South parliamentary constituency changing status from middle deemed secondary schools to primary school status.

  5Provisional.

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census.

  New Schools (Great Yarmouth)
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new(a) primary and (b) secondary schools were opened in the Great Yarmouth constituency between 1979 and 1997; and what proposals have been made for building new schools within the Great Yarmouth constituency since 1997. [186706]

  Mr. Miliband
  Information is only available for new school openings since 1988. Between 1988 and 1997 no new schools were established in Great Yarmouth. Since 1997, approval has been given for four new Primary schools, namely:

  Teachers

  Support staff1

  2000

  765

  464

  1999

  756

  446

  1998

  749

  397

  1997

  763

  398

  1Includes teaching assistants, administrative staff, technicians, medical and other child care and education support staff.

  Source:

  Annual School Census.

  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will break down achievement at each key stage in 2003 in Northampton by ethnicity, subdivided into those(a) in receipt of and (b) not in receipt of free school meals. [186509]

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

  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cla#s size in Northampton, South for(a) primary and (b) secondary schools was in each year since 1997. [186521]

  Mr. Miliband
  The requested information is given in the table.

  Offender Education
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time teachers and tutors are in post at each (i) prison and (ii) young offender institute. [187216]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  There are currently 405 full-time teachers and tutors in post in prisons and 271 in Young Offenders Institutions. For part-time teachers the figures are 225 in prisons and 103 in Young Offenders Institutes.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many prison education tutors have(a) resigned and (b) been made redundant in each of the last five years; and how many vacancies there are for these staff. [187217]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  This information is not held centrally by HM Prison Service. Learning and skills in prisons are delivered by 28 educational providers in 137 prisons.

  Matters relating to the employment status of tutors are the responsibility of the contractors.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has for the Offenders' Learning and Skills Unit within his Department. [187218]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The OLSU continues to play a key role in managing improvements to offender learning and skills, working in partnership with a range of Departments and agencies across Government; including the Learning and Skills Council and the prison and probation services. From April 2004, the role of the unit extends to learning and skills for offenders in the community, as well as in custody.

  As we develop plans for improving future delivery of learning and skills for offenders, the unit expects to work increasingly closely with the Learning and Skills Council and other regional partners. As part of the Government's commitment to moving resources closer to the front line of delivery, we will consider how the unit's regional advisory staff could work most effectively within the regions for the future.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what role the regional Learning and Skills Councils will have in the(a) commissioning and (b) delivery of offender education in (i) prisons and(ii) the community; [187220]

  (2) whether the new contracts for prison education will provide funding for (a) staff development, (b) lesson planning, (c) marking of students' work and (d) pastoral education. [187215]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The DfES is working closely with the Learning and Skills Council, the Prison Service, the Probation Service, the Youth Justice Board and JobCentreplus on new arrangements to support improvements in the learning and skills of offenders in the community as well as those in custody.

  The Learning and Skills Council already works in partnership at local level with probation services in order to deliver learning and skills to offenders under supervision in the community. From next year, starting in the three development regions of the north east, north
  996W
  west and south west, the LSC will also assume lead responsibility for planning and funding, education and work related skills training for offenders in custody.

  The precise balance between local, regional and national commissioning in arrangements for the future service for offenders, and the detailed content of any new contracts, will be agreed as we develop a new delivery framework over the next year.

  This work is still at an early stage. We expect the LSC to ensure flexibility in contracting arrangements, and to adopt a funding formula which will promote consistency in the funding of offender learning across all regions. In the meantime, in order to ensure stability, we are extending the current prison education contracts in broadly their existing form.

  Pensioner Education
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to improve access to education for pensioners. [186451]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Our plans were set out in the White Paper "21st Century Skills; Realising Our Potential" published in July 2003. We are committed to safeguarding a wide range of opportunities for pensioners. This is why we have agreed a budget with the Learning and Skills Council of £207.4 million in 2004–05 for adult and community learning secured through local education authorities, compared with £206 million in 2003–04. 28 per cent. of learners on these courses are aged 6.5 or over.

  PFI/PPP Contracts (Financial Advice)
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many contracts his Department had with(a) Barclays, (b) Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. 186690]

  Mr. Miliband
  There are no records of contracts with the organisations listed, or of any payments to them, for these purposes.

  Pre-school Education
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. (1) what the Government's policy is on pre-school education access; and if he will make a statement; [186803]

  (2) whether the Government expects to meet its target of providing free part-time nursery education places to all three and four year old children by September; and if he will make a statement; [186808]

  (3) what plans the Government has to expand access to pre-school education; and if he will make a statement. [186802]

  Margaret Hodge
  In 1997 access to free nursery education was effectively a postcode lottery. We have since invested more than £11 billion as part of an unprecedented expansion of early years provision. From 1 April 2004, six months ahead of the original target, we have amended the regulatory framework to
  997W
  require all local authorities to ensure there is sufficient provision to deliver a free part time nursery education place for all three and four-year-olds whose parents want one. Provisional data from the January 2004 Early Years Census, published in May, confirmed that around 93 per cent. of three-year-olds and virtually all four year olds were already benefiting from some free provision. The Department's Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners, presented to Parliament in July (Cm 6272) outlined our plans to transform and build on the basic free entitlement by enabling parents to use it more flexibly as part of a wider integrated offer of education and child care.

  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how man) free(a) nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four-year-olds in Great Yarmouth in each of the last seven years. [186713]

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

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

  Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by three and four-year-old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers Norfolk local education authority area, 1997–2003

  Position in January each year

  Three-year-olds

  Four-year-olds

  1997

  1,500

  8,200

  1998

  1,800

  8,400

  1999

  1,900

  8,500

  2000

  1,900

  8,900

  2001

  2,000

  8,400

  2002

  4,800

  8,400

  2003

  6,100

  8,400

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

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

  The latest figures on provision for three and four-year-olds in England were published in a Statistical First Release, "Provision for Children Under Five Years of Age in England—January 2004", which is available on the Department's website: www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/

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

  Primary Schools (Non-teaching Grant)
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will ring-fence a specific grant in 2005–06 for planning, preparation and assessment time for primary school teachers. [186308]

  Mr. Miliband
  I refer the Member for Gloucester to the written statement I laid before the House on 13 July 2004,Official Report, column 55W'S, on school funding for 2005–06. On the same day there was also a press notice issued by the Department (DfES press notice 2004/0137), which included a statement welcoming the
  998W
  school funding settlement by those school workforce unions represented on the Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group.

  The written statement to the House sets out how we have considered, with our partner signatories, the costs of implementation of the National Agreement. It announces what funds will be available to schools to implement the Agreement in 2005–06.

  Prison Education
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when his Department will(a) release full details of the new contracts for prison education, (b) begin accepting tenders, (c) make decisions on which tenders will be successful and (d) announce a start date for the new contracts. [187238]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We announced in January that we would not re-tender prison education contracts. With the creation of the new National Offender Management Service and the drive to get more resources to front-line services, we are looking to incorporate offender learning and skills more fully into mainstream further education provision.

  The Offenders' Learning and Skills Unit and the Learning and Skills Council are working with the Prison and Probation Services to develop a new integrated service, initially in three development regions in England. The outcome of this work will inform the national implementation of a new, fully integrated service to offenders from September 2006.

  In the meantime, in order to ensure stability as we develop the new service delivery arrangements, Prison Service officials are negotiating extensions to existing contracts from September 2004.

  Pupil Exclusions
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were excluded from schools in(a) Great Yarmouth and (b) Norfolk in each year since 1997. [186710]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The available information is given in the table.

  Exclusions data for 2000/01, 2001/02 and 2002/03 are known to have been under-reported by some schools. The Department carried out a checking exercise, but this was at LEA level only. As a result this information is not available at parliamentary constituency level for the three most recent years.

  Maintained primary and secondary schools number and percentage of permanently excluded pupils 1997–98 to 2002–032,3

  Primary

  Secondary

  Number

  Percentage4

  Number

  Percentage4

  Great Yarmouth parliamentary constituency

  1997–98

  10

  0.09

  20

  0.59

  1998–99

  10

  0.07

  30

  0.76

  1999–2000

  5—

  0.03

  10

  0.14

  2000–01

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  2001–02

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  2002–033

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  999W

  Maintained primary and secondary schools1 number and percentage of permanently excluded pupils 1997–98 to 2002–032.3

  Primary

  Secondary

  Number

  Percentage4

  Number

  Percentage4

  Norfolk LEA

  1997–98

  40

  0.05

  100

  0.25

  1998–99

  30

  0.04

  130

  0.31

  1999–2000

  20

  0.03

  60

  0.14

  2000–01

  20

  0.03

  40

  0.10

  2001–02

  20

  0.04

  50

  0.12

  2002–033

  10

  0.02

  50

  0.10

  n/a=Not available.

  1Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

  3Provisional.

  Maintained primary schools1: Number and percentage of permanently excluded pupils, 1997/98 to 2002/03 (provisional)1

  Enfield LEA

  Inner London

  England

  Number

  Percentage3

  Number

  Percentage3

  Number

  Percentage3

  1997–98

  10

  0.04

  150

  0.05

  1,540

  0.03

  1998–99

  10

  0.02

  110

  0.05

  1,370

  0.03

  1999–2000

  4—

  0.01

  80

  0.03

  1.230

  0.03

  2000–01

  10

  0.02

  80

  0.04

  1,440

  0.03

  2001–02

  10

  0.02

  80

  0.03

  1,450

  0.03

  2002–035

  10

  0.02

  60

  0.03

  1,300

  0.03

  1Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between the sum of constituent items and the totals as shown.

  3The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils, excluding dually registered pupils.

  4Less than 5.

  5Provisional.

  Source:

  Annual Schools Census.

  Maintained primary schools1: Number and percentage of permanently excluded pupils, 1997/98 to 2002/03 (provisional)1

  Enfield LEA

  Inner London

  England

  Number

  Percentage3

  Number

  Percentage3

  Number

  Percentage3

  1997–98

  70

  0.39

  570

  0.48

  10,190

  0.33

  1998–99

  70

  0.36

  500

  0.41

  8,640

  0.28

  1999–2000

  70

  0.34

  410

  0.33

  6,710

  0.21

  2000–01

  70

  0.32

  430

  0.34

  7,310

  0.23

  2001–02

  60

  0.31

  390

  0.30

  7,740

  0.24

  2002–034

  50

  0.22

  390

  0.33

  7,690

  0.23

  1 Includes middle schools as deemed.

  2Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between the sum of constituent items and the totals as shown.

  3The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils, excluding dually registered pupils.

  4Provisional.

  Source:

  Annual Schools Census.

  We do not hold information centrally on the numbers of excluded pupils unable to access a place in school. However, from September 2002 all local education authorities (LEAs) have been committed to providing suitable full-time education for permanently excluded pupils from the sixteenth day of their exclusion. Since then all but a handful of LEAs have met this commitment. Currently only two LEAs are not meeting it and the Department is working with them to help them achieve it.

  Pupil Expenditure (Great Yarmouth)
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public money was spent per pupil in the Great Yarmouth constituency in each year since 1997. [186709]
  1000W
  4The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils, excluding dually registered pupils.

  5Less than 5.

  Source:

  Annual Schools Census

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary pupils on average were (i) permanently excluded from school and (ii) unable to access a place in school in each of the last five years in (A) the London borough of Enfield, (B) Inner London and (C) England; and if he will make a statement. [187005]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Requested information on the number and percentage of excluded pupils is given in the tables.

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than constituency level. The figures provided are for Norfolk LEA and are shown in the following table:

  Net current expenditure (after recharges) per pupil

  Total

  1997–98

  2,380

  1998–99

  2,470

  1999–2000

  2,570

  2000–01

  2,850

  2001–02

  3,180

  2002–03

  3,400

  1001W
  Notes:
  1. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEA. This is divided by the number of pupils educated in mainstream schools to calculate a unit cost.
  2. Section 52 is collected at local authority level, not constituency level, so the figures provided are for Norfolk LEA.
  3. 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance.
  4. 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. This change in calculation is identified by the dotted line. The 2002–03 figure is calculated by taking all the LEA expenditure, excluding CERA and Youth and Community, and dividing it by the FTE pupil numbers in maintained pre-primary, primary, secondary and special schools.
  5. Data as reported by Norfolk LEA as at 22 July 2004.
  6. Figures are reported in Cash Terms and are rounded to the nearest £10.
  7. The financial data a#e taken from Norfolk LEAs' Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's ROI statement previously. 2002–03 data remains provisional and is subject to change by the LEA.
  8. Pupil data are drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.

  Pupil Referral Units
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to permit academically-orientated students who have been expelled from mainstream education and who are in Pupil Referral Units to study in academic surroundings to complete their education. [186941]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  As part of their legal responsibilities, LEAs are able to make arrangements for all students within Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), including those who have been excluded, to attend other educational establishments (for example Further Education Colleges) in order to complete their education. This is in addition to the core curriculum that must be provided within PRUs. LEA's responsibilities are emphasised in the new guidance "Guidance for LEAs on PRUs and Alternative Provision", which will be issued in the autumn, but is already accessible by them in draft form.

  School Budgets
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking to give head teachers more control over school budgets. [186470]

  Mr. Miliband
  Governing bodies and head teachers are already free to deploy the resources allocated to them through local education authorities' school funding formulae in accordance with their own assessment of their schools' needs and priorities. From April 2006, individual schools will receive guaranteed three-year budgets and this will give them even more control of their own resources by enabling them t# take a much more strategic approach to their budgets.

  In addition to recurrent funding, each maintained school in England is also allocated direct capital funding which it can use for its investment priorities. This year, a typical secondary school will get about £85,000 of its own capital, and a typical primary school about £25,000.
  1002W
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to conduct research into how school budgets are spent. [186471]

  Mr. Miliband
  The DfES is actively involved in a programme of research into how schools use their budgets. This includes a detailed analysis of school expenditure patterns from the Consistent Financial Reporting data, which will provide schools with an indication of how their own expenditure compares to the overall national picture. This work complements the existing Schools Financial Benchmarking web site that allows schools to compare their income and expenditure with other similar schools.

  As well as analysis of expenditure information, qualitative analysis will be carried out in schools to identify the process by which schools allocate their resources to develop better advice.

  Finally there is a work stream in progress developing measures of school efficiency and productivity. These methods look specifically at the relationship between the way in which a school allocates its resources and the outcomes it achieves given the context in which it operates.

  School Refurbishment (Great Yarmouth)
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been given to(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the Great Yarmouth constituency for the refurbishment of school buildings since 1997. [186711]

  Mr. Miliband
  We do not hold information in the form requested. The bulk of capital fundi#g is allocated to local education authorities (LEAs) and schools by formula so that they can decide their priorities for investment in line with locally decided asset management plans. It is therefore for them to decide the balance of investment between primary and secondary schools.

  The Department allocates capital funding at local authority and school level. The following table sets out the capital support provided by the Department to Norfolk LEA and its schools since 1996–97.

  Capital allocations to Norfolk and its schools

  £000

  1996–97

  4,786

  1997–98

  4,907

  1998–99

  9,199

  1999–2000

  10,589

  2000–01

  25,545

  2001–02

  21,219

  2002–03

  1123,526

  2003–04

  39,292

  2004–05

  2106,619

  1Includes £92 million of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits.

  2Includes £60 million of PFI credits.

  School Start Date
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to allow children to start primary education in the September of the calendar year in which the child has its sixth birthday. [187529]
  1003W
  Mr. Miliband
  We have no plans to change from the current statutory provisions which require that children start primary education in the term after their fifth birthday.

  Science and Innovation Consultation
  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential benefits to(a) science in schools and (b) biology fieldwork following the science and innovation consultation; and if he will make a statement. [186465]

  Alan Johnson
  The Government's Science and Innovation 10-year Investment Framework sets out our comprehensive strategy for tackling skills shortages in the science, engineering and technology. We outlined how we would improve science teaching and learning in schools by providing additional incentives to recruit more people to train to be science teachers, making better use of specialist science support staff and, subject to the advice of the School Teacher Review Body, enabling science Advanced Skills Teachers to be paid more. We also outlined the importance of a science curriculum that inspires young people, with opportunities for exciting science practical work in and outside the classroom.

  To improve teacher confidence in using fieldwork, we have funded the Field Studies Council in association with the Geographical Association, the Association of Science Education and the Open University to develop a training course for geography and science teachers. Complementary courses on fieldwork will also be offered through the new national network of Science Learning Centres. Our Growing Schools programme supports teachers to educate pupils about food cultivation, farming, and understanding the natural environment, as well as how to use the outdoors for teaching subjects across the curriculum.

  Secondary School Targets
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations the Department has received regarding its new secondary school targets. [186469]

  Mr. Miliband
  The DIES has received no formal representations on the new secondary school PSA targets since their announcement on 12 July.

  Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Great Yarmouth)
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent in Great Yarmouth on measures within the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. [186720]

  Margaret Hodge
  The information requested is not held in this format.

  Norfolk county council will spend an estimated £45 million on special educational needs in 2004–05. This includes the amount delegated to schools and the authority's central spend on special needs. In addition, Norfolk has £1,352,236 available in 2004–05 through the Schools Access Initiative.

  Strategic Area Reviews
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost of strategic area reviews was in 2003–04; and how much is budgeted for(a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06. [186603]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) was established in 2001 to plan and fund post-16 education and training. LSC led strategic area reviews were introduced in April 2003 and are an integral part of this planning role. No extra funding was allocated to carry out these reviews and it is therefore not possible to disaggregate their specific cost from the overall cost of the wide range of planning activities carried out by local LSCs.

  Student Grants/Loans
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will place in the Library the survey referred to in his answer of 10 May 2004.Official Report, columns 53–54W, on student grants. [186849]

  Alan Johnson
  The specially commissioned survey referred to in the answer of 10 May 2004,Official Report, columns 53–54W, was collected from local education authorities in England #nd Wales and completion of it was on a voluntary basis. The response rate means that the survey results cannot be used safely at the level of individual LEAs, although we can use it nationally when also combined with income data from other sources. That is how we constructed the estimate of the proportion of students anticipated to receive the full grant of £2,700. However because of the data quality issues it is not possible to publish the raw survey data itself.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what monetary sums were transferred to the Scottish Office further to the sale of portfolios of student loans in(a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [182984]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 8 July 2004]: The sums paid to the Scottish Office in respect of the two student loan debt sales were as follows:

  £

  1998

  110,186,867.85

  1999

  110,000,778.97

  Sure Start
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Sure Start programmes(a) have begun and (b) are planned in (i) St. Helens and (ii) England, broken down by region. [186811]

  Margaret Hodge Five Sure Start local programmes have been established in St. Helens since 1999. No further Sure Start local programmes will be developed. As part of our policy to mainstream Sure Start principles, the Government are establishing children's centres across England, many of which will be developed from existing Sure Start local programmes.

  524 Sure Start local programmes have been established in England; these break down by region as follows.
  1005W

  Region

  Number

  East of England

  24

  East Midlands

  44

  London

  96

  North East

  62

  North West

  108

  South East

  33

  South West

  31

  West Midlands

  58

  Yorkshire and Humber

  68

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Government have to extend Sure Start beyond the 20 per cent. most deprived wards; and if he will make a statement. [187362]

  Margaret Hodge
  Sure Start benefits children, parents and communities across the country, delivering free early education for all three and four-year-olds, improving the quality and affordability of child care, and creating at least 250,000 new child care places by 2006. Sure Start children's centres are being established initially in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards and areas where pockets of disadvantage exist in England. By March 2008 we will have up to 2,500 children's centres which will cover all the 20 per cent. wards and beyond. The Government's long-term aim is to develop a children's centre in every community.

  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been allocated to the Great Yarmouth constituency under the Sure Start scheme. [186712]

  Margaret Hodge
  A total of £8,101,348 Sure Start funding has so far been allocated to the constituency of Great Yarmouth, comprising £3 136,535 capital and £4,706,921 revenue towards the development of two Sure Start local programmes, two neighbourhood Nurseries and two Children's Centres. The combined programmes will provide Sure Start services for around 1,596 children and families in the six most disadvantaged wards in the constituency. These figures does not include local authorities funding for child care and nursery educati#n allocated to Norfolk county council.

  Teachers
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact in Nottingham of reductions in numbers of teachers and teaching assistants on the introduction of planning, preparation and assessment time for all teachers. [187084]

  Mr. Miliband
  Individual schools will decide how they introduce planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time for all teachers from September 2005. That is because schools make changes in their staffing levels every year in response to a range of issues including changing pupil numbers, new school priorities and the resources available to them.

  The calculation of the Education Formula Spending Share has a floor and ceiling component which ensures that all authorities see a minimum increase per pupil which is in part funded by having a ceiling which imposes a maximum increase per pupil. In 2004–05
  1006W
  Nottingham City local education authority received the ceiling increase (6.8 per cent. per pupil and percentages provide for average cost of implementing PPA time).

  I refer also to the written statement I laid before the House on 13 July 2004, Official Report, column 55WS, on school funding for 2005–06. On the same day there was also a press notice issued by the Department (DIES press notice 2004/0137), which included a statement welcoming the school funding settlement by the Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group (made up of the majority of the school workforce unions and other partners).

  The written statement to the House sets out how we have considered, with our partner signatories, the costs of implementation of the National Agreement. It announces what funds will be available to schools to implement the Agreement in 2005–06.

  At local level, the funding allocation for each local education authority for 2005–06 will be announced in the provisional local government finance settlement in the autumn. However, every authority will receive an increase in the Schools Formula Spending Share of at least 5.5 per cent. per pupil. Primary and nursery schools will receive a minimum funding increase per pupil of 5 per cent. and secondary schools of 4 per cent. where pupil numbers do not change.

  We will continue to monitor trends in the schools workforce through the Annual Schools Census each January. There are now 427,800 full-time equivalent teachers—28,600 more than in 1997 and the highest number since 1981—and the number of support staff has increased to 241,700, having more than doubled since 1997. These figures illustrate the trend of the significant increases in teachers and support staff since 1997.

  The next School Workforce Volume will be available in the autumn.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the most recent estimate is of the average total salary of a(a) primary school teacher and (b) secondary school teacher in (i) Enfield, (ii) Inner London and (iii) England; and if he will make a statement. [187003]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table shows the average salary of full-time teachers employed in maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools in Enfield local education authority, Inner London and England in March 2002, the latest information available.

  £

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Enfield LEA

  29,700

  32,070

  Inner London

  30,880

  33,660

  England

  27,600

  29,550

  Source:

  The Database of Teacher Records. Figures cover all grades and include all allowances.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills wh#t level of proficiency participants in(a) the Post Graduate Certificate of Education, (b) Teach First and (c) the Graduate

  1007W
  Teacher Programme need to reach with regard to (i) ICT and (ii) special educational needs to be deemed to have met the course requirements. [186421]

  Mr. Miliband
  Before they can be recommended for qualified teacher status, all trainee teachers, whatever training route they follow, must demonstrate that they have achieved the professional standards for QTS set out in "Qualifying to teach". This applies to all the standards, including those related to ICT and special educational needs.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary teacher vacancies there were at the start of each of the last five academic years in (i) the London borough of Enfield, (ii) inner London and (iii) England; what the percentage salary rate was in each year; and if he will make a statement. [187006]

  Mr. Miliband
  The tables show teacher vacancy numbers and rates in maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools in the London borough of Enfield, inner London and England in January of each year since 1999. January 2003 is the latest year available.

  Nursery and Primary

  1999

  2001

  2002

  2002

  2003

  Vacancies1

  Enfield

  19

  13

  29

  27

  16

  Inner London

  367

  355

  510

  321

  153

  England

  1,374

  1,420

  2,110

  1,796

  1,114

  Rates2

  Enfield

  1.9

  1.2

  2.7

  2.5

  1.8

  Inner London

  3.8

  3.6

  5.4

  3.4

  1.6

  England

  0.8

  0.8

  1.2

  1.0

  0.6

  Secondary

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Vacancies1

  Enfield

  9

  15

  33

  33

  21

  Inner London

  140

  197

  367

  267

  194

  England

  939

  1,246

  2,586

  2.447

  2,050

  Rates2

  Enfield

  0.7

  1.3

  2.7

  3.0

  1.8

  Inner London

  1.9

  2.6

  4.8

  3.5

  2.6

  England

  0.5

  0.7

  1.4

  1.3

  1.1

  1Advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments for appointments of at least one term's duration). Includes vacancies being filled on a temporary basis of less than one term.

  2Vacancies as a percentage of full-time qualified teachers in post.

  Source:

  DfES annual survey of teachers in service (Form 618g)

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many full-time equivalent teachers have been employed in Suffolk in each of the last 10 years. [187194]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table gives the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers in the maintained schools sector in Suffolk local education authority in each January since 1994. 2003 is the latest year available.
  1008W

  Number

  2003

  5,700

  2002

  5,660

  2001

  5,490

  2000

  5,450

  1999

  5,450

  1998

  5,380

  1997

  5,330

  1996

  5,330

  1995

  5,360

  1994

  5,270

  Source:

  DfES annual survey of teachers in service (Form 618G).

  Westgate College, Newcastle
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what bids he has received for Westgate College, Newcastle under the Building Schools for the Future programme; when he expects to make a decision; and what funding mechanism he expects to use. [186834]

  Mr. Miliband
  While I can confirm that West Gate Community College is included in Newcastle-upon-Tyne's proposal for the renewal of its secondary school estate to be funded in wave 1 of Building Schools for the Future, the authority is still working with my officials to develop its proposals in detail.

  We hope to confirm approval of Newcastle's proposals later this year, at which point the relevant funding mechanisms will also be confirmed.

  Working Age People (Qualifications)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the change in(a) basic skills and (b) proportion of working age people (i) with no qualifications, (ii) qualified to level 2 and (iii) qualified to level 4 has been in the constituency of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central since 1997. [186838]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  (a) The 2003 Skills for Life survey provides the latest estimate of literacy and numeracy levels for England, the North East and#the Tyne and Wear Learning and Skills Council area in particular. At present it is not possible to estimate levels of need for the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area although such figures will be available via DfES's website this autumn. The Skills for Life survey maps skill levels to the National Standards for Adult Literacy and Numeracy and is not directly comparable with previous estimates of basic skills need. This means we are unable to look at changes in basic skills levels since 1997.

  The survey highlights that 22 per cent. of North East respondents were classified at Entry Level 3 or below for literacy (below a GCSE grade G). The figure for England as a whole is 16 per cent. If the North East's population is approximately 2.6 million, this would mean that over 500,000 people would have literacy skills at entry level 3 or below. For Tyne and Wear LSC area, 22 per cent. of respondents were at Entry Level 3 or below for literacy.

  For numeracy, 55 per cent. of North East respondents were classified at Entry Level 3 or below for numeracy. This compares with a figure of 47 per cent. for England as a whole. If the North East's population is 2.6 million,

  1009W
  this would mean that approximately 1.4 million people would have entry level 3 or below numeracy skills. 50 per cent. of respondents were at Entry Level 3 or below for Tyne and Wear LSC area.

  Available data show that between the launch of the Skills for Life strategy in April 2001 and July 2003, Learning and Skills Council funded learners in the North East achieved some 35,000 Skills for Life qualifications, 18,000 within the Tyne and Wear Learning and Skills Council area. These figures are in addition to achievements funded through the Offenders' Learning and Skills Unit and the Department for Work and Pensions.

  Qualification level (percentage)1

  Geography

  No qualifications

  Level 2

  Level 3

  Level 4 and above

  Level 2 and above

  Newcastle-upon-Tune Central PCA Change from 1999–2000

  -3

  -1

  +3

  +9

  +11

  2002–03

  11

  18

  26

  36

  79

  2001–02

  11

  17

  23

  35

  76

  2000–01

  13

  17

  26

  32

  75

  1999–2000

  13

  19

  23

  27

  69

  Tyne and Wear LLSC Change from 1999–2000

  -3

  -1

  +1

  +4

  +3

  2002–03

  17

  23

  20

  21

  63

  2001–02

  19

  22

  19

  19

  61

  2000–01

  21

  23

  18

  19

  60

  1999–2000

  20

  24

  19

  17

  60

  North East GOR Change from 1999–2000

  -3

  0

  +1

  +3

  +3

  2002–03

  18

  23

  19

  19

  61

  2001–02

  20

  22

  19

  19

  60

  2000–01

  21

  23

  18

  19

  59

  1999–2000

  21

  23

  19

  17

  58

  1Numbers may not add up due to rounding.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff at each grade in his Depart#ent have opted out of the Working Time Regulations; and what the average number of hours these staff work per week is. [187097]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My Department is committed to reducing the number of employees who work in excess of the Working Time Directive maximum to an absolute minimum. 64 staff have signed a formal opt out from the Working Time Directive. The following table shows the number of staff at each grade:

  Grade

  Number

  Administrative Officer

  7

  Executive Officer

  22

  Higher Executive Officer

  15

  Higher Executive Officer (Development)

  2

  Senior Executive Officer

  10

  Grade 7

  7

  Senior Civil Service

  1

  Total

  64

  The average number of hours that these staff work per week is not kept centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  1010W
  (b) The following table shows the proportion of working age1 people (i) with no qualifications, (ii) qualified to level 2 and (iii) qualified to level 4. Figures are given for the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central Parliamentary Constituency Area (PCA), the Tyne and Wear local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area, and the North East Government Office Region (GOR). Data comes from the Local Area Labour Force Surveys conducted annually from 1999–2000 to 2002–03.

  1Working age population refers to males age# 16 to 64 and females aged 16 to 59.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Book Selling
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of the ending of the Net Book Agreement in 1995 on(a) authors, (b) publishers and (c) booksellers; and if she will make a statement. [185676]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  A recent report, "The Benefits from Competition: some Illustrative UK Cases" (available at:http://www.dti.gov.uk/economics/economics_paper9.pdf), prepared for DTI by Professor Steve Davies of University of East Anglia and his team, explored the impact of removing the Net Book Agreement as one of six case studies on the impact of enhanced competition.

  The Davies Report concluded that the ending of the Net Book Agreement was largely beneficial as prices, at least for the more popular books fell, more channels to market have increased competition and access and choice of books, and the feared adverse side effects for small booksellers and book production did either not occur or were smaller scale than expected.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the proposed removal of the
  1011W
  Recommended Retail Price from book sleeves on (a) authors, (b) publishers and (c) booksellers; and if she will make a statement. [185677]

  Nigel Griffiths
  After consultation with industry, we are not aware of any proposals to remove the current system of displaying pricing on books.

  Innovation
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the EU is taking to improve its policy on encouraging innovation. [186503]

  Ms Hewitt
  The EU has been encouraging innovation within the framework of the Lisbon strategy. The EU Innovation Scoreboard (published each year www.cordis.lu/scoreboard/) shows progress against this. The European Commission has carried out a public consultation on its draft Innovation Action Plan (http://www.europa.eu.int) and a revised version is due to be published in November 2004. The EU's sixth Framework Programme already provides a mechanism for funding collaborative research and provides substantial financial support to support research activity aimed at improving the EU's innovation performance. The Commission has published a Communication (Corn (2004) 353) on 16 June 2004 (www.cordis.lu) setting out its ideas for the seventh Framework Programme, due to start at the end of 2006 and the UK will endeavour to ensure that this is structured in ways which further reinforce the EU's support for innovation.

  Age Discrimination
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to eliminate age discrimination in the workplace. [186857]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Government are preparing legislation outlawing unjustified age discrimination in employment and vocational training in accordance with the Employment Directive (2000/78/EC). This legislation will come into force on 1 October 2006. In addition, the Government are promoting the business benefits of an age diverse workforce through the Age Positive campaign. The campaign uses publications, research, press, events, awards initiatives and its website to get the message across. They also encourage employers to adopt the voluntary "Code of Practice: Age Diversity at Work, A Practical Guide for Business".

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what the Government's policy is on preventing age discrimination; and if she will make a statement; [186938]

  (2) what the Government's policy is on (a) direct and (b) indirect discrimination by employers against the employment of workers over the age of 50. [186947]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I have been asked to reply.

  Through the Age Positive campaign the Government are combating age discrimination in the workplace. Age Positive is vigorously promoting the business benefits of
  1012W
  an age diverse workforce by encouraging employers in both the public and private sector to adopt the voluntary Code of Practice: Age Diversity at Work, A Practical Guide for Business.

  The Age Positive campaign is promoted to employers and individuals through advertising, the website and press features in national, local and specialist publications. It features existing good practice by employer champions, research, and strongly promotes to employers at exhibitions and workshops. Age Positive awards help to widely publicise the achievements of businesses and individuals who overcome ageism in employment.

  Legislation will come into force to outlaw unfair discrimination on the grounds of age in employment and vocational training in 2006. We are currently developing proposals for draft legislation. This will cover both direct and indirect discrimination and will apply to all those in employment or vocational training and not just those aged 50 and over.

  As the White Paper 'Fairness for All' has outlined, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) will provide institutional support for the provisions on age discrimination, working closely with partner organisations and key stakeholders to provide advice and assistance. The CEHR will be able to advise individuals of their rights under the legislation, and provide support for some people to bring their cases before the courts. In addition, the CEHR will have the powers to conduct an investigation into a named party where it has reasonable suspicion that the person is not complying with the statutory requirements of the age legislation. If unlawful discrimination or harassment is found, the CEHR will be able to require the discrimination to stop.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how she expects the 2006 age discrimination legislation to be implemented; and which bodies will have responsibility for implementation. [186944]

  Jacqui Smith
  We will consult on regulations to outlaw age discrimination in employment and vocational training, which will come into force on 1 October 2006. The CEHR will enforce this legislation and promote awareness and best practice in relation to equality of opportunity for people of different ages more generally, providing information, advice and in some strategic cases, legal representation. The CEHR will not be fully operational until the end of 2006 at the earliest.

  Biomass Energy Industry
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many planning applications for the construction of biomass power stations are being considered; and how many have been granted permission. [185847]
  1013W
  Mr. Timms
  Proposals to construct and operate generating stations with a capacity greater than 50 megawatts (MW) in England and Wales require the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. No application has been made to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for consent to construct a biomass power station.

  Generating stations below 50 MW fall to be determined by the local planning authority under the normal planning regime.

  Deparmental Policies (Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency of her Department's policies and action since 8 June 2001. [184733]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) promotes a wide variety of areas' policies and are working with businesses, employees and consumers to drive up UK productivity and competitiveness to deliver prosperity to all. To achieve this the Department is involved in a number of regional programmes, with some being delivered through the Small Business Service (SBS), One North East and Business Links.

  Although Department for Trade and Industry policies as a whole lead to increased prosperity and competitiveness throughout the country it is not possible to assess their impact at an individual constituency level. Some examples of specific initiatives benefiting Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency are included in the information set out as follows:

  Business Support

  In his Budget statement the Chancellor announced a number of steps to help small businesses including an increase of capital allowances to 50 per cent. and raising VAT registration threshold to 58 per cent., all of which helps small businesses in your constituency. The Chancellor also announced that the Employer Training Pilot, run in Tyne and Wear for the last 15 months, would be made available to businesses throughout the north east. This will help businesses to improve workforce skills by providing training tailored to their needs.

  Since the spring of 2001, the Business Link has assisted a total of 1,397 businesses to increase productivity and wealth in the Redcar and Cleveland council area. These businesses have been helped in a wide variety of disciplines including workforce development, finance, marketing and regulation.

  In addition in the same area since the spring of 2002 316 businesses have been helped to start up. Business Link has helped would-be entrepreneurs to develop over 1,700 pre-start business ideas, stimulating an enhanced enterprise culture. From June 2001 to June 2004
  1014W
  190 Tees Valley Business Link customers have accessed a range of public funding (e.g. Innovation Action Fund and West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust New Deal for Communities funding).

  From April 2002 to date in the Tees Valley area, 69 Department of Trade an# Industry grants exceeding £14 million in total value have been awarded. These include Selective Finance for Investment in England—and its predecessors Enterprise Grant and Regional Selective Assistance (RSA)—and SMART. The projects being supported are expected to generate investment in excess of £138 million, creating over 1,600 jobs and safeguarding 695. These grants are administered by One North East and the Small Business Service on behalf of the Department for Trade and Industry.

  European Funding and Tees Valley

  In the north east, the European Social Fund Objective 3 Programme commenced in July 2000 and continues to 31 December 2007. The Programme funds organisations which seek to help individuals (employed and unemployed) to improve their skill levels and obtain employment. Funds can be accessed through co-financing organisations (CFOs) or through the Programme Secretariat. The Tees Valley Learning and Skills Council and Job Centre Plus are Co-Financing (CFO's) funded projects with a total value of £19 million. There is an additional £34 million available to support Co-Financing (CFO) projects in Tees Valley from 2004–07. Between 2001–04 under direct bidding arrangements projects from the Middlesbrough area received a total of £18.6 million.

  The North East of England Objective 2 Programme (2000–06) provides a total of £434 million in support in the north east. Within this £267.97 million is made up of £69.62 million in Priority 1 and £198.35 million in Priority 2 and is available for a wide range of business support activity including generic business support, techn#logy and transfer access to finance. Tees Valley benefits from regional projects as well as those aimed directly at the sub-

  Cross Government coordination

  The Department for Trade and Industry has led the coordination of area specific initiatives with other Departments, such as the foot and mouth grants from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Farm Business Advisory Service and recently the targeted use of Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) support to increase the uptake of business support in the disadvantaged areas of east Cleveland.

  ECGD
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Export Credits Guarantee Department's administration costs were in each of the last five financial years(a) in total and (b) broken down into (i) staff costs, (ii) accommodation costs, (iii) consultancy costs and (iv) IT costs. [186840]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The following table lists ECGD's administration costs by year for the last five financial years.
  1015W

  £000

  Breakdown of administration costs

  Administration costs

  Staff costs

  Accommodation costs (rent)

  Consultancy costs

  IT costs

  Others

  1999–2000

  23,218

  13,548

  1,506

  515

  3,516

  4,133

  2000–01

  27,746

  14,136

  3,152

  758

  4,377

  5,323

  2001–02

  29,371

  15,523

  3,262

  628

  5,403

  4,555

  2002–03

  26,546

  14,022

  3,373

  1,031

  4,388

  3,732

  2003–04

  30,226

  14,806

  3,645

  833

  5,676

  5,266

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what savings in administration costs the Export Credits Guarantee Department is required to achieve#in 2005–06; and what the projected savings in such costs for the next five financial years are. [186841]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  DTI is to invest £10 million into ECGD over the two years from April 2005 to improve ECGD's efficiency and effectiveness (I refer you to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's announcement about the future of ECGD on 1 July 2004,Official Report, column 22WS). The intention is that the cost savings achieved by ECGD during this period will be sufficient to ensure that the premium reduction of up to £5 million per annum can be sustained after April 2007.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is her practice to offer Export Credits Guarantee Department cover in Government to Government defence export and sales agreements; and what the total amount of cover outstanding on such agreements is. [186848]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  UK companies are eligible for support from ECGD under Government to Government contractual arrangements which could result in the UK company incurring a loss as a consequence of the overseas' Government's failure to pay.

  The total amount of cover outstanding in respect of Government to Government contracts underwritten after 1991 currently stand at around £1,060 million.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent a capitalised trading fund will give the Export Credits Guarantee Department autonomy from HM Treasury and her Department. [187094]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  #As a Trading Fund, ECGD will have greater operational freedom to manage its financial affairs.

  HM Treasury's future role will be more focused on strategic oversight, while the Shareholder Executive within the DTI will offer Ministers advice on aspects of the Department's corporate governance, financial targets and performance as a Trading Fund.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what terms the £10 million investment in the Export Credits Guarantee Department from her Department's shareholder executive can be spent; and if she will make a statement. [187095]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The £10 million to be invested by the DTI over two years from April 2005 will be spent to improve the operational efficiency and effectiveness of ECGD. The intention is that the cost savings achieved 1016W
  will be used to ensure that the premium reduction of up to £5 million per annum (as detailed in the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's Trading Fund announcement of 1 July 2004, Official Report, column 22WS) can be sustained after April 2007.

  ECGD's new Chief Executive is currently preparing a detailed plan for these cost reductions.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate what the average reduction in the Export Credits Guarantee Department premium rates will be in(a) 2005–06 and (b) the subsequent five financial years; and if she will make a statement. [187098]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 1 July,Official Report, column 22WS, ECGD will seek to reduce its premium rates to customers by up to £5 million per annum from April 2005. This is around 6 per cent. of its current premium income.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the terms of reference of the Export Credits Guarantee Department business plan are. [187099]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's announcement of 1 July 2004,Official Report, column 22WS, is the basis of the terms of ref#rence for ECGD's business plan. The plan will explain how ECGD will meet the key aims and objectives for the ECGD Trading Fund set out in that statement.

  Eco-Labelling
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's policy is on the European eco-label. [185328]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government have played a full part in building up this scheme at EU level and we fully support the aims of this high-quality voluntary label, which helps to promote products with genuinely lower environmental impacts.

  Defra administers the scheme in the UK and consults the DTI on matters such as the proposed technical criteria for the product groups covered by the scheme. Defra also consults other Departments and the Devolved Administrations, as well as business and other stakeholders. It has publicised the scheme in a number of ways, including currently an electronic newsletter for business about the use of environmental claims and labelling, and a free guide to consumers about reliable green labels.

  Employment Protection
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to expand employment protection to those aged 65 years and over. [186960]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The great majority of employment protection legislation already applies to workers aged 65 and over. We are reviewing upper age limits on statutory redundancy payments and general unfair dismissal claims in the light of responses to the public consultation on age disc#imination carried out last year.

  English Partnerships
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what total tonnage of hazardous waste was(a) treated and (b) disposed of by English Partnerships projects in each of the last five years; what tonnage in each year was (i) consigned to landfill and (ii) decontaminated through onsite remediation; and what the projected tonnages are for 2004–05 in each case. [187161]

  Keith Hill
  I have been asked to reply.

  English Partnerships does not itself record the tonnages of materials—hazardous or otherwise treated or disposed of from projects where it has a core interest. To collate such information from records maintained by partner regional development agencies (who usually lead on coalfields projects) and contractors across the country could only be achieved at a disproportionate cost.

  However, a sense of the scale of activity involved may be drawn from the following estimated numbers of projects contributing to EP's "area of land reclaimed" outputs in each of the last five years. The bulk of activity is through EP's well developed business and projects in the National Coalfields Programme and land reclamation works for sites in the Urban Regenaration Companies' and Millennium Communities' areas.

  No. of projects involving treatment of disposal of hazardous/contaminated material in any given year1

  Year

  National Coalfields Programme

  Other projects

  1999–00

  19

  1

  2000–01

  25

  0

  2001–02

  17

  0

  2002–03

  15

  1

  2003–04

  10

  5

  1For most sites remediation works carry over a number of years and will therefore appear more than once in the totals.

  These totals are expected to increase in 2004–05 and beyond as EP's involvement in large scale brownfield site assembly increases in line with its business focus as set out in the Sustainable Communities Plan.

  Enterprise Insight
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets have been set by her Department for the number of new start up small businesses which will be created with help from Enterprise Insight. [186341]
  1018W
  Nigel Griffiths
  Enterprise Insight has a target of raising enterprise awareness amongst the 14–25 age group, measured by survey before and after Enterprise Week.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the(a) objectives and (b) organisational structure of Enterprise Insight. [186342]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Enterprise Insight is fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in the UK, by stimulating and encouraging enterprise attitudes, culture and values primarily in young people and those who influence them.

  Enterprise Insight was created in 2000 as a company limited by guarantee. The three founder members are: the British chambers of commerce, the Institute of Directors and the CBI. The Federation of Small Businesses is also a member.

  An advisory board provides guidance on Enterprise Insight's operations and campaign functions. Members of the advisory board include some of the UK's principal enterprise education and awareness delivery organisations.

  Environmental Business Growth Action Programme
  Mr. kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many projects have been funded under the Environmental Business Growth Action Pr#gramme by regional development agencies in(a) England and (b) the West Midlands. [184146]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Environmental Business Growth Action Plan is administered by the Environment Agency and is restricted to supporting SMEs in the eligible West Midlands Objective 2 area. Through European Structural Funds the Action Plan has supported four projects with a total value of some £5.4 million:Groundwork UK 'Bridge-It';
  Technology and Innovation Centre 'Enviroinnovate';
  EBG Action Plan Measure 1.4; and
  EBG Action Plan Measure 1.11.

  Equal Opportunities/Pay
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanisms her Department has put in place to monitor(a) sex discrimination, (b) race discrimination, (c) disability discrimination and (d) unfair dismissal affecting her Department's staff; and if she will make a statement on her Department's performance in promoting equal opportunities within (i) her Department and (ii) the bodies for which it is responsible. [186697]

  Ms Hewitt
  As an equal opportunities employer, my Department regularly monitors all processes and policies to identify any potential sex, race or disability discrimination. Mechanisms include collection, publication and discussion of equality data; training for human resources staff; frequent consultation with staff equality groups; and involvement of the DTI Equality and Diversity team in HR policy and process development.
  1019W
  All departmental procedures that may lead to dismissal comply fully with the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance procedures. The procedures include the opportunity for an individual to appeal against their dismissal to a senior officer within the Department, to the civil service appeal board and at an employment tribunal. Dismissals, and the outcome of any related appeals, are monitored at a senior level.

  Good progress is being made in promoting equal opportunities within the Department while our priorities for future action are laid out in our Diversity Strategic Plan.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of S#ate for Trade and Industry what information the Government have collated on the percentage of(a) public and (b) private sector organisations which have committed to carry out equal pay reviews. [186876]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) commissioned Incomes Data Services to carry out research on equal pay reviews. Their findings were published in the EOC's report 'Monitoring Progress on equal pay reviews' in March 2004. The report concluded that 57 per cent. of public sector organisations had conducted, were in the process of conducting, or had plans to conduct an equal pay review by the end of 2004. This compares with 31 per cent. of private sector organisations.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information the Government have collated on the percentage of public sector organisations which have(a) committed to and (b) declined to carry out equal pay reviews. [186877]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) commissioned Incomes Data Services to carry out research on equal pay reviews. Their findings were published in the EOC's report 'Monitoring Progress on equal pay reviews' in March 2004. The report concluded that 57 per cent. of public sector organisations had conducted, were in the process of conducting, or had plans to conduct an equal pay review by the end of 2004. It was found that 32 per cent. had no plans to conduct an equal pay review. As pay reviews are voluntary, there is no mechanism for recording organisations who have 'declined' to carry out an equal pay review.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information the Government have collated on the percentage of(a) public sector and (b) private sector organisations with over 500 employees which have carried out equal pay reviews. [186878]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) commissioned Incomes Data Services to carry out research on equal pay reviews. Their findings were published in the EOC's report 'Monitoring Progress on equal pay reviews' in March 2004. The report concluded that:(a) 20 per cent. of public sector organisations with 500 employees and over had carried out an equal pay review; and
  (b) 13 per cent. of private sector organisations with 500 employees and over had carried out an equal pay review.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information the Government have collated on the percentage of(a) public sector
  1020W
  and (b) private sector organisations with less than 500 employees which have carried out equal pay reviews. 1186879]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) commissioned Incomes Data Services to carry out research on equal pay reviews. Their findings were published in the EOC's report 'Monitoring Progress on equal pay reviews' in March 2004. The following table summarises their findings in relation to the percentage of public sector and private sector organisations with less than 500 employees, which have carried out equal pay reviews.

  Number of employees

  Percentage completed equal pay reviews

  Private sector

  25–99

  15

  100–499

  17

  25–499

  16

  Public sector

  100–499

  13

  25–499

  15

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information the Government have collated on the percentage of(a) public sector organisations and (b) private sector organisations which have carried out equal pay reviews. [186880]

  Ms Hewitt
  #/b> The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) commissioned Incomes Data Services to carry out research on equal pay reviews. Their findings were published in the EOC's report 'Monitoring Progress on equal pay reviews' in March 2004. The report concluded that 18 per cent. or public sector organisations and 14 per cent. of private sector organisations had carried out an equal pay review.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on tackling occupational segregation in relation to the gender pay gap; and if she will make a statement. [186902]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Occupational segregation has been identified as one of the key causes of the gender pay gap. We know that women are concentrated in just two industrial sectors within low-paid occupations. Men in comparison are spread much more evenly across the labour market in typically higher-paid occupations. They also typically hold more senior positions within the labour market than women.

  The Government aims to break down the barriers of occupational segregation as part of a raft of measures to tackle the pay gap. It aims to increase young women's awareness of the importance of education and career choices; address the problems women face getting access to appropriate training or re-skilling and inform employers about their potential in various male-dominated sectors such as information technology, engineering and science.

  We have set up Sector Skills Councils and Learning and Skills Councils to address industry specific training needs and to broaden post-16 learning opportunities. These are addressing occupational segregation issues through various research and initiatives. E-stills Sector Skills Council for example launched initiatives in the South East such as 'Go 4 IT' workshops, Computer

  1021W
  Clubs for Girls and IT Beat, to challenge girls' perceptions of Information Technology (IT).These target schools and young teen publications after a 2001 MORI poll found girls formed negative images of IT between 11 to 13-years-old.

  Other examples of government initiatives include: A new Science Engineering and Technology (SET) resource centre to be set up aimed at working with SET employers; raising the profile of women in SET; funding pilot schemes such as mentoring and networking; and providing help for SET women returners.

  The government are also taking an active interest in the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), general formal investigation (GFI) into occupational segregation and the correlation with skills and pay gaps in the UK. The report is due in the autumn and will inform government policy in this area.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government has to change legislation on equal pay; and if she will make a statement. [186912]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government is continuing to take action to improve the way equal pay legislation works in practice. From 1 October 2004, subject to Parliamentary approval, we shall be introducing changes to the way in which employment tribunals deal with the complex equal value cases. The aim is to streamline tribunal procedures and help to prevent very long running cases. The key features of the new procedures include the early exchange of information, the use of tribunals with specialist knowledge and new case management powers.

  We also intend to amend the Equal Pay Act to remove the "no reasonable grounds" defence in section 2A(1)(b) of the Equal Pay Act 1970 and limit the circumstances in which a tribunal could refuse to consider an equal value claim. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the legislation is due to come into effect on 1 October 2004, at the same time as new tribunal procedures for equal value cases. These form part of a wider package of measures to speed up and simplify equal pay cases, such as amendments that were made to the Equ#l Pay Act in 2003 to introduce the Equal Pay Questionnaire, and make changes to time limits and payment of arrears.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on the promotion of equal pay. [186913]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government continues to lead the way in undertaking equal pay reviews. We believe that the best way to achieve lasting change is through working alongside the business community, employers, trade unions and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to drive forward action on equal pay and to promote voluntary pay reviews. We have toughened our equal pay review target to 45 per cent. of large organisations having carried out equal pay reviews by 2008.

  The EOC published a revised Code of Practice on Equal Pay, which recommends equal pay reviews as the best way of ensuring that a pay system delivers equal pay. By helping employers to check the pay gap in their organisation and by encouraging good equal pay
  1022W
  practice, the Code reinforces the Government's commitment to promoting equal pay and closing the gender pay gap.

  In addition to pay discrimination, occupational segregation has been identified as another cause of the gender pay gap and the Government is putting in place a range of educational and employment measures to address this. The EOC is conducting an investigation into occupational segregation and we await the results of this with interest.

  The Government has provided funding to the EOC to prepare a model for voluntary pay reviews and have also provided funding to trade unions to train representatives in equal pay issues in the workplace. Over 400 representatives have now been trained and as a#result a number of unions and employers are now carrying out joint training on how to do an equal pay review.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on implementing the recommendations in the Equal Opportunities Commission's 2002 Equal Pay Task Force Report; and if she will make a statement. [186914]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government welcomed the Equal Opportunities Commission's (EOC) Equal Pay Task Force report in 2001 as a springboard for action to tackle the gender pay gap. It remains our belief that the best way to achieve lasting change is through working alongside the business community, employers, trade unions and the EOC to drive forward action on equal pay and to promote voluntary pay reviews. This is being reinforced by a Government target of 45 per cent. of large organisations to undertake pay reviews by April 2008.

  The Government have continued to lead the way in undertaking pay reviews. All Government departments and agencies, have now completed pay reviews and submitted action plans. Recent figures from the EOC show that 45 per cent. of large employers had completed an equal pay review, were in the process of completing one or were planning to do so in 2004. Among those that had carried out a pay review or were planning to do one, 41 per cent. said that government policy and publicity had influenced them.

  We provided funding to the EOC to prepare a model for voluntary pay reviews, including a separate system for small businesses, and these were produced in 2002 and 2003.

  The Government are also encouraging voluntary pay reviews by funding the TUC's Equal Pay Partnership Project. The project aims include: setting up a panel of recognised experts in the field of equal pay who have the confidence of both employers and unions; encouraging companies and organisations to undertake voluntary equal pay reviews; offering technical support to unions and employers; and building on the TUC Equal Pay project which has trained over 400 union equal pay representatives from government funding of £295,000.

  We are working with the EOC to promote pay reviews in specific sectors. The Government also welcomes the EOC's in#estigation into modern apprenticeships and

  1023W
  the concentration of men and women in different professions. An interim report was published in May 2004.

  As regards legal change, in April 2003 the Equal Pay Act was enhanced with changes to time limits and payment of pay arrears, and amendments so that the statutory questionnaire procedure for discrimination claims can apply to equal pay claims. The EOC produced a revised statutory Code of Practice on equal pay which was laid in Parliament and came into force in December 2003. From October 2004, subject to Parliamentary approval, we shall be introducing changes to the way in which Employment Tribunals deal with complex cases involving the question of whether jobs are of equal value. We also intend to amend the Equal Pay Act to remove the 'no reasonable grounds' defence in section 2A(1)(b) of the Equal Pay At 1970 to limit the circumstances in which a tribunal could refuse to consider an equal value claim.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many pay discrimination lawsuits have been filed each year since 1997, broken down by region. [186916]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The following table shows the number of pay discrimination applications that have been registered with the Employment Tribunals Service since 1997. A regional breakdown of pay discrimination cases could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Main jurisdiction

  1997–98

  1,845

  1998–99

  5,018

  1999–2000

  2,391

  2000–01

  6,586

  2001–02

  5,314

  2002–03

  3,077

  2003–04

  3,217

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many pay discrimination lawsuits on the grounds of gender discrimination have been filed in each year since 1997, broken down by region. [186917]

  Ms Hewitt
  The following table shows the number of equal pay applications that have been registered with the Employment Tribunals Service since 1997. A regional breakdown of equal pay cases could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Main jurisdiction

  1997–98

  1,845

  1998–99

  5,018

  1999–2000

  2,391

  2000–01

  6,586

  2001–02

  5,314

  2002–03

  3,077

  2003–04

  3,217

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate the Government have made of the average length of time taken to process pay discrimination lawsuits in the last period for which figures are available. [186918]
  1024W
  Ms Hewitt
  The Employment Tribunals Service (ETS) does not report on the average length of time taken to process applications made to the Service. However, ETS has a target of 85 per cent. for cases to come to a first hearing within 26 weeks of an application being received. In 2003–04 75 per cent. of pay discrimination cases which went before a Tribunal (i.e. were not settled or withdrawn) achieved this target.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate the Government has made of the cost to businesses of pay discrimination lawsuits in each year since 1997. [186919]

  Jacqui Smith
  The DTI has not made an estimate of the cost to business of equal pay claims to employment tribunal, which comprise about 3 per cent. of all Tribunal cases.

  The Department and the Employme#t Tribunal Service carried out a sample survey of employment tribunal claims—the Survey of Employment Tribunal Applications 2003. But there were not enough equal pay claims in the sample to allow a reliable estimate of the costs to business of equal pay claims in the period, or to extrapolate to other years.

  The survey of employment tribunal applications contains a sample of all discrimination cases in 2002–03—race, sex, disability and equal pay claims—which would be large enough to allow an estimate of the average cost to business of such discrimination claims. This average mean cost has been calculated as £5.813. However, this estimate would not be representative of the cost to business of equal pay claims, since equal pay claims tend to be of longer duration than the average discrimination claim. Nor, on the other hand, would it include the lower costs of the many cases that are settled, for example there were 578 ACAS conciliated settlements of equal pay cases in 2003–04.

  European Space Agency
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much in pounds sterling she calculates has been under-returned to the UK over the last four years under the funding agreement with the European Space Agency. [186752]

  Ms Hewitt
  The European Space Agency (ESA) began a new set of return statistics on 1 January 2000. The cumulative UK under-return for the four years 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2003 was €41.2 million (£29 million). At 31 December 1999 when the earlier set of ESA return statistics were terminated, UK over-return stood at €94.0 million (£66 million). The Br#tish National Space Centre is working closely with ESA officials to ensure that the return requirements for the UK as set out in the ESA Convention are fully met.

  Flexible Working
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the percentage of employees who work some form of flexible working arrangement in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement. [186666]
  1025W
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Labour Force Survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics, asks respondents about their agreed work arrangement. The number of employees who reported that they work some form of flexible working (defined as part-time, flexitime, annualised hours, term time working, job sharing, compressed working week, zero hours contract) was 41.0 per cent. in 2001, 41.5 per cent. in 2002 and 42.0 per cent. in 2003. If the definition of flexible working is narrowed to exclude part-time working, the respective figures are 21.6 per cent. in 2001, 22.0 per cent. in 2002 and 22.4 per cent. in 2003. Figures for 2004 will be available in early 2005.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the demand for flexible working patterns; and if she will make a statement. [186667]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The DTI has collected evidence on the demand for flexible working patterns from a number of sources. The first DTI Flexible Working Employee Survey was carried out between September 2003 and February 2004. The survey indicated that 13 per cent. of all employees had requested a flexible working pattern since April 2003. The percentage of employees with children aged under six years who requested a flexible working pattern (and for whom their employer is legally obliged to consider the request) was higher, at 24 per cent. Of all employees who requested flexible working arrangements, 38 per cent. requested to change to a part-time working arrangement; 25 per cent. requested flexi-time; 13 per cent. requested reduced hours for a limited time; 10 per cent. requested to work from home on a regular b#sis and 8 per cent. requested a compressed working week.

  The second Work-Life Balance Study—employees' survey, carried out during January and February 2003, asked employees whether they worked particular flexible working patterns. If they did not (or had not in the past year), they were then asked whether they would like to. Table 1 shows the percentages of these employees who said they would like to take up particular flexible working practices.

  Table 1: Demand for specific flexible working practices

  Flexible working practice

  Percentage who would like to take up the flexible working practice

  Work part time

  22

  Work only during school term time1

  33

  Job-share

  17

  Work flexitime

  49

  Work a compressed working week

  34

  Work annualised hours

  25

  Work reduced hours for a limited period

  36

  Work from home on a regular basis

  29

  1 In addition, representative of employees with dependent children aged under 19 (base: 747 employees).

  Note:

  All percentages are representative of employees who have not used the particular flexible working practice in past year with current employer (base: > 1,463 employees).

  Source:

  Palmer, T. (2004) Results of the first Flexible Working Employee Survey. Employment Relations Occasional Papers, DTI.

  1026W
  Both the results of the first Flexible Working Employee Survey and the Work Life Balance stud# reports, which provide greater analysis, are available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/inform.htm under 'EMAR Publications'. Both surveys are to be repeated, with the second Flexible Working Employee Survey expected to be available in 2005; the third Work-Life Balance study is due to be conducted in early 2006.

  Fraud
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has commissioned on fraud in large businesses; and what measures she has taken to prevent such fraud in the UK. [186663]

  Jacqui Smith
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not commissioned any research into fraud in large businesses. But the Department has engaged in a considerable range of activity post Enron as the Secretary of State announced to the House on 29 January 2003 in a speech on strengthening corporate governance.

  A number of those measures are now taken forward in the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Enterprise) Bill which is currently before Parliament. The Bill amends the current regime for investigating companies. It contains provisions giving investigators a new power to get relevant information from anyone and strengthening their document-gathering powers, while retaining the existing protection for legally privileged material and banking confidentiality. There is also a provision giving investigators the power to require entry to, and remain on, a company's business premises without obtaining a warrant. This will make it easier to require documents and other information and to see the business in operation.

  The Bill will also increase the independence of the regulation of the audit profession and give the independent regulator, the Financial Reporting Council, the powers and resources it needs to do its job more effectively. Further the Bill will enable company auditors to carry out their duties more effectively by entitling the auditor to require information and explanations from a wider group of people than at present, in particular from employees.

  The Financial Reporting Review Panel will be given a power to require companies to provide it with the information it needs to carry out its investigations. This body currently reviews the annual accounts and reports of public and large private UK companies. The Bill will allow the Government to extend this to reviewing the interim reports of listed companies. The FRRP will also take a more proactive approach to enforcement.

  I would also like to draw the hon. Member's attention to the proposal by the Home Office to establish the Serious Organised Crime Agency. This body will be part of a comprehensive strategy to target organised criminals. It will exploit hi-tech 21st century technology to uncover the new wave of crime bosses whose lucrative illegal enterprises range from drug trafficking and people smuggling through to fraud and money laundering.
  1027W
  The Government has recently completed a consultation on legislation to reform the law of fraud. The Government proposals for change are based mainly on the Law Commission Report on Fraud published in 2002. The main proposal is for the general offence of fraud which can be committed in three different ways: by false representation, by wrongfully failing to disclose information, or by abuse of office. In each case the behaviour must be dishonest, and must aim at securing a gain for the defendant or a loss for another.

  Additionally the Government sought the views of business and other interested parties on the best means of creating and maintaining effective partnerships to reduce opportunities for crime against business and to enhance the contribution that business could make to crime reduction in England and Wales.

  Gershon Review
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated savings are fr#m the efficient devolution of business support products from the Central Department to the regional development agencies as part of Sir Peter Gershon's efficiency review into public services. [185110]

  Jacqui Smith
  As stated in Peter Gershon's report on his independent review of public sector efficiency "Releasing Resources to the Front Line", the Regional Development Agencies have agreed to deliver 2.5 per cent. efficiencies per year in the Spending Review period, at least half of which will be cash-releasing back into the Single Programme budget, which brings together allocations from all the Departments that fund them. DTI as the lead sponsor Department, will work

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Germany

  1

  0

  4

  2

  1

  4

  3

  Sweden

  1

  0

  0

  1

  3

  0

  0

  France

  0

  0

  5

  0

  0

  3

  2

  USA

  9

  9

  8

  8

  11

  11

  14

  Canada

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  2

  0

  Singapore

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  India

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Australia

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Belgium

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment the region of Yorkshire and the Humber received from(a) Japan and (b) China in each year since 1997. [187223]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since 1997 UK Trade and Investment recorded the following number of inward investment proje#ts from Japan and China to invest in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. Figures for 1997–98 to 2002–03 have been updated since the

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Japan

  0

  5

  1

  1

  3

  2

  2

  China

  3

  1

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  1028W
  with the Regional Development Agencies to identify further efficiencies where possible. The Regional Development Agencies will be expected to identify efficiencies in delivering on the additional responsibilities that have been devolved to them. These additional responsibilities include the delivery of regional and local Business Link services and the grant for Research and Development. The Regional Development Agencies will report to my Department on how these savings are to be achieved.

  Inward Investment
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment the East Midlands has received from(a) Germany, (b) Sweden, (c) France, (d) USA, (e) Canada, (f) Singapore, (g) India, (h) Australia and (i) Belgium in each year since 1997. [187222]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since 1997 UK Trade and Investment recorded the following number of inward investment projects from Germany, Sweden, France, USA, Canada, Singapore, India, Australia and Belgium to invest in the East Midlands region. Figures for 1997–98 to 2002–03 have been updated since the publication of our Annual Reports that have been laid in the Libraries of the House in each financial year.

  These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. The figures take no account of subsequent developments.

  There is no requirement to notify UKTI and so the figures include only those projects where UKTI's Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

  publication of our Annual Reports that have been laid in the Libraries of the House m each financial year.

  These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. The figures take no account of subsequent developments.

  There is no requirement to notify UKTI and so the figures include only those projects where UKTI's Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.
  1029W
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment the West Midlands has received from(a) France, (b) Germany, (c) Sweden, (d) Belgium, (e) USA, (f) Canada, (g) Japan, (h) Singapore, (i) India and (j) Australia in each year since 1997. [187224]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since 1997 UK Trade and Investment recorded the following number of inward investment projects from France, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, USA, Canada, Japan, Singapore, India and Australia to invest in the West Midlands region. Figures

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  France

  7

  5

  8

  14

  8

  4

  7

  Germany

  11

  12

  13

  17

  6

  4

  9

  Sweden

  2

  0

  2

  4

  1

  0

  0

  Belgium

  1

  1

  0

  3

  3

  0

  0

  USA

  33

  33

  48

  31

  42

  18

  17

  Canada

  5

  5

  6

  6

  7

  8

  5

  Japan

  9

  6

  11

  4

  7

  2

  11

  Singapore

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  India

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  Australia

  0

  1

  1

  2

  3

  4

  1

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment the South West of England received from(a) Japan and (b) USA in each year since 1997. [187225]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since 1997 UK Trade and Investment recorded the following number of inward investment projects from Japan and USA to invest in the South West region. Figures for 1997–98 to 2002–03 have been updated since the publication of our annual reports that have been laid in the Libraries of the House in each financial year. These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. The figures take no account of subsequent developments.

  There is no requirement to notify UKTI and so the figures include only those projects where UKTI's Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

  Japan

  USA

  1997–98

  0

  9

  1998–99

  0

  8

  1999–2000

  10

  13

  2000–01

  5

  20

  2001–02

  6

  14

  2002–03

  7

  8

  2003–04

  4

  19

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Belgium

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  USA

  33

  40

  64

  107

  69

  67

  62

  Germany

  5

  3

  7

  13

  12

  3

  4

  China

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  1

  1

  S. Korea

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  3

  5

  Japan

  5

  6

  4

  10

  3

  4

  2

  Australia

  0

  2

  1

  1

  2

  1

  5

  1030W
  for 1997–98 to 2002–03 have been updated since the publication of our annual reports that have been laid in the Libraries of the House in each financial year.

  These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. The figures take no account of subsequent developments.

  There is no requirement to notify UKTI and so the figures include only those projects where UKTI's Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment the South East of England received from(a) Belgium, (b) USA, (c) Germany, (d) China, (e) South Korea, (f) Japan and (g) Australia in each year since 1997. [187226]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since 1997 UK Trade and Investment recorded the following number of inward investment projects from Belgium, USA, Germany, China, South Korea, Japan and Australia to invest in the South East region. Figures for 1997–98 to 2002–03 have been updated since the publication of our annual reports that have been laid in the Libraries of the House in each financial year.

  These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. The figures take no account of subsequent developments.

  There is no requirement to notify the figures include only those projects where UKTI's Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.
  1031W
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment the North East of England received from(a) China, (b) Japan, (c) South Korea, (d) Taiwan, (e) Australia, (f) the USA and (g) Belgium in each year since 1997. [187227]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since 1997 UK Trade and Investment recorded the following number of inward investment projects from China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, USA and Belgium to invest in the North East region. Figures for 1997–98 to 2002–03 have

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  China

  0

  0

  0

  9

  9

  13

  11

  Japan

  7

  5

  6

  4

  6

  5

  7

  S. Korea

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  0

  1

  Taiwan

  4

  2

  2

  0

  2

  1

  1

  Australia

  0

  1

  0

  0

  3

  1

  1

  USA

  21

  13

  18

  9

  13

  13

  10

  Belgium

  0

  1

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment the North West of England received from(a) Japan, (b) USA and (c) Belgium in each year since 1997. [187279]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since 1997 UK Trade and Investment recorded the following number of inward investment projects from Japan, USA and Belgium to invest in the North West region. Figures for 1997–98 to 2002–03 have been updated since the publication of our annual reports that have been laid in the Libraries of the House in each financial year.

  These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. The figures take no account of subsequent developments.

  There is no requirement to notify UKTI and so the figures include only those projects where UKTI's Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

  Japan

  USA

  Belgium

  1997–98

  5

  39

  2

  1998–99

  4

  37

  3

  1999–2000

  5

  42

  2

  2000–01

  2

  16

  3

  2001–02

  1

  14

  0

  2002–03

  6

  27

  2

  2003–04

  5

  21

  1

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment London received from Belgium in each year since 1997. [187280]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since 1997 UK Trade and Investment recorded the following number of inward investment projects from Belgium to invest in the London region. Figures for 1997–98 to 2002–03 have been updated since the publication of our Annual Reports that have been laid in the Libraries of the House in each financial year.
  1032W
  been updated since the publication of our annual reports that have been laid in the Libraries of the House in each financial year.

  These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. The figures take no account of subsequent developments.

  There is no requirement to notify UKTI and so the figures include only those projects where UKTI's Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

  These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. The figures take no account of subsequent developments.

  There is no requirement to notify UKTI and so the figures include only those projects where UKTI's Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

  Belgium

  1997–98

  0

  1998–99

  1

  1999–2000

  3

  2000–01

  1

  2001–02

  1

  2002–03

  0

  2003–04

  0

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much inward investment the East of England received from(a) USA, (b) Belgium and (c) China in each year since 1997. [187281]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since 1997 UK Trade and Investment recorded the following number of inward investment projects from USA, Belgium and China to invest in the eastern region. Figures for 1997–98 to 2002–03 have been updated since the publication of our Annual Reports that have been laid in the Libraries of the House in each financial year. These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. The figures take no account of subsequent developments.

  There is no requirement to notify UKTI and so the figures include only those projects where UKTI's Inward Investment Group and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

  USA

  Belgium

  China

  1997–98

  23

  0

  0

  1998–99

  25

  1

  0

  1999–2000

  17

  0

  0

  1033W

  USA

  Belgium

  China

  2000–01

  21

  1

  0

  2001–02

  28

  0

  0

  2002–03

  11

  1

  0

  2003–04

  25

  3

  1

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Government measures inward investment. [187282]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government measure Inward Investment in two ways.

  Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) statistics are collected and published by Office of National Statistics (ONS). FDI is a financial measure collected primarily to measure balance of payments and internationally comparable statistics are published by the statistical offices of other countries and by international bodies.

  Information on the number of projects and jobs created by region of investment and country of origin are recorded by UKTI based on information provided by companies at the time of the decision to invest in the UK. There is no requirement to notify UKTI, so only those projects where UKTI and its regional partners were involved, or which have come to their notice will be recorded.

  Information on inward investment is also available from a range of commercial sources.

  Iraq
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the total value to date of the contracts awarded to British businesses in Iraq since the start of the occupation. [186335]

  Ms Hewitt
  British companies are not obliged to give details of contracts won and there is no central organisation that publishes such information. However, It is estimated that to date, British companies are involved in contracts for reconstruction and other work in Iraq to the value of US $2.6 billion.

  Low Pay Commission
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are employed by the Low Pay Commission. [187109]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Low Pay Commission has nine Commissioners, including the Chairman.

  The Commission is supported by a Secretariat which currently has 10 members of staff plus one vacancy.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual salaries are of each of the commissioners on the Low Pay Commission. [187114]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Commissioners on the Low Pay Commission do not receive an annual salary. Remuneration is paid on the basis of a daily attendance fee, which is set at £481.06 for the chair and £213.80 for other members of the commission. In addition appropriate expenses are reimbursed.
  1034W
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total annual resource budget for the Low Pay Commission has been since its inception. [187115]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Low Pay Commission (LPC) was established as a result of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998. 1998/99 was the first financial year that the LPC were fully operational. The table below sets out the financial information for the LPC since that date:

  Financial Year

  Expenditure (£000)

  1998–99

  627,000

  1999–2000

  578,737

  2000–01

  605,751

  2001–02

  531,710

  2002–03

  771,032

  2003–04

  658,631

  The above figures are total costs and include salaries, Commissioners fees, research and Travel and Subsistence.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total wage budget is for the Low Pay Commission. [187144]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The total wage bill for the Low Pay Commission secretariat in 2003/04 was £401,725.

  Mandatory Retirement Ages
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to abolish mandatory retirement ages. [186792]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Government are committed to prohibiting age discrimination at work and encouraging more flexibility around retirement. In some circumstances, different treatment on grounds of age can be justifiable, and last year's Age Matters consultation set out some of the issues. We are in the process of considering the best way of tackling retirement ages in the light of the responses to the consultation. Legislation will come into force on 1 October 2006.

  Manufacturing Advisory Service
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which firms have been helped by the Manufacturing Advisory Service in the(a) Northern Region, (b) Tees Valley area and (c) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency; and which of those firms were given advice on added value. [184701]

  Jacqui Smith
  The regional centre of the Manufacturing Advisory Service in the North East (MAS-NE) dealt with 1,323 inquiries from manufacturing companies in the period June 2002 to June 2004. Of these, 1,257 inquiries came from companies based in the North East region, 304 were from companies based in the Tees Valley, and seven were from companies in the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency. 146 companies who contacted MAS-NE in this period have gone on to receive in-depth help. The direct impact of this help on company productivity is measured by the "added value". The total added value generated as a result of M AS-NE interventions stood at just over £705,000 at March 2004.
  1035W
  The names of all companies that have received in-depth assistance from MAS are given in the MAS 2004 Annual Report, which can be found at: www.dti.gov.uk

  National Institute for Medical Research
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place with(a) University College London and (b) King's College London concerning the future site of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR); what consideration was given by the Medical Research Council's Task Force on the NIMR to locating it at other institutions (i) in London and (ii) outside London; and if she will make a statement. [185136]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Task Force set up by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to consider the future of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) has, following national and international consultation, published its vision for the institute: a multidisciplinary biomedical research facility focused on basic and translational research. The Task Force strongly believes that partnership and co-location with a leading university and hospital would strengthen NIMR to deliver its renewed vision and will enhance:the multidisciplinary nature of NIMR's work, providing access to other biologists, physical scientists, engineers and mathematicians; and
  opportunities to collaborate more closely with clinicians and strengthen the focus on translational research.

  The Task Force wishes to keep the critical mass of NIMR's existing excellent science as a foundation for the institute's future scientific portfolio and invited four institutions—Imperial College, King's College London, Queen Mary and University College London to submit partnership proposals. It also asked NIMR management to submit a proposal. All attended a meeting of the Task Force on 21 June for discussion.

  The Task Force has recommended that the renewed institute should be co-located with either King's College London or University College London and was expected to produce a full report to the MRC Council meeting on 29 July 2004.

  National Minimum Wage
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many workers in Great Yarmouth have benefited from the national minimum wage. [186700]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  It is not possible to provide estimates specifically for the constituency of Great Yarmouth. However, based on the Office for National Statistics' Low Pay data released in 2003, the DTI estimates that around 90,000 people in the eastern region stood to benefit from the introduction of the national minimum wage in April 1999. Between 80,000 and 90,000 people were expected to have benefited from the October 2003 uprating of the national minimum wage.

  NCP (Communications)
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list(a) letters, (b) e-mails, (c) telephone calls and (d) meetings between her Department's officials, including the National Contact
  1036W
  Point (NCP), and representatives of companies whose dossiers were forwarded to the NCP for investigation or monitoring in the last 12 months. [186181]

  Mr. Timms
  The information requested forms part of the dialogue process between the companies and the NCP. This process is confidential under Exemption 13—Third Party Commercial Confidences, and Exemption 14—Information Given in Confidence of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The NCP will make a public statement at the end of the dialogue.

  A statement has already been issued on the allegations against DeBeers (www.dti.gov.uk/ewt/debeers.doc). A statement regarding the allegations against Avient will follow shortly.

  Newspaper Market
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will refer the wholesale newspaper market to the Office of Fair Trading for investigation. [186258]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Any such investigation into the wholesale newspaper market would be a matter for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

  Nuclear Power
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the proportions of expenditure by the planned nuclear decommissioning authority that will be Tent on(a) discharging nuclear liabilities, (b) funding nuclear spent fuel reprocessing and (c) power generation. [184397]

  Mr. Timms
  The 2004 Spending Review announced on 12 July provided funding, subject to the successful adoption of the then Energy Bill (now the Energy Act), for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) of approximately £2 billion per year including income from trading.

  The NDA will set out its spending priorities for 2005–06 in its first annual plan. The draft plan will be subject to public consultation during this autumn. The Secretary of State will approve the plan early next year.

  In autumn 2005, the NDA will publish its strategy for the first five years of its operation. This too will provide further information on spending priorities.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the(a) total costs to date and (b) projected future costs to public funds are of decommissioning nuclear power stations; and if she will make a statement. [184578]

  Mr. Timms
  The Government's July 2002 White Paper, "Managing the Nuclear Legacy: A strategy for action", estimated the undiscounted cost of the Magnox decommissioning liabilities at £12 billion and the total cost of treating civil public sector nuclear liabilities at £48 billion. From April 2005, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) will take responsibility for the Magnox power stations, all of which are scheduled to close by 2010.
  1037W
  The cost of decommissioning British Energy's nuclear power stations, which are all operational, is covered in its annual report and accounts. Under British Energy's proposed restructuring plan, the company will continue to contribute to a Nuclear Liabilities Fund (NLF) that will meet British Energy's decommissioning liabilities. To ensure safety and environmental protection, the Government will underwrite the NLF to the extent that the company's contributions are insufficient. The treatment of liabilities by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (BNFL), including Magnox, is also discussed in BNFL's accounts.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made by her office of civil nuclear security is respect of providing guidance to(a) nuclear operators, (b) regulators, (c) other non-departmental public bodies and (d) relevant Government Departments on the release of sensitive nuclear information. [187306]

  Mr. Timms
  Such guidance has been issued by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) and is available on the DTI website.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional protection measures have been taken at(a) Sellafield, (b) other nuclear sites operated by BNFL and (c) nuclear installations operated by the UK Atomic Energy Authority since 11 September 2001. [187307]

  Mr. Timms
  The UK's civil nuclear sites apply stringent security measures regulated by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), the security regulator. The security regulator works closely with the Health and Safety Executive, the safety regulator, which provides advice on the safety implications of events, including external hazards such as plane crashes, at nuclear installations. Security at nuclear sites is kept under regular review in the light of the prevailing threat and has been significantly enhanced since the terrorist attacks in the USA on 11 September 2001. Under Exemption 1—information whose disclosure would harm national security—of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it is not Government policy to disclose details of these measures which could potentially be of use to terrorists.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the report published by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology on 22 July or assessing the risk of terrorist attacks on nuclear facilities. [187304]

  Mr. Timms
  The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology report is an excellent overview of the publicly-available information in this field. My Department and the civil nuclear industry were among the many who contributed in providing the public domain information required for the report.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the additional requirements for personnel vetting that will arise from the contractorisation of(a) nuclear waste management and (b) nuclear installation decommissioning under the guidance of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. [187284]
  1038W
  Mr. Timms
  Security vetting for the civil nuclear industry is conducted by the Office for Civil Security (OCNS). We believe that the initial impact of the formation of the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA) on vetting requirements will be within existing resources. However, as the NDA moves toward open bidding for contracts, OCNS will monitor the situation closely in order to ensure that the high standards of vetting within the civil nuclear industry are maintained.

  PFI/PPP
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts her Department had with(a) Barclays, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) the Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. [186688]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  There have been no contracts for advisory work on PPP or PFI contracts let by the Department with any of the companies mentioned since 2001–02.

  Pharmaceutical Services
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what date she has been advised she will receive the Office of Fair Trading report on pharmaceutical services; and if she will make a statement. [186321]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry received the Office of Fair Trading report on pharmaceutical services on 17 January 2003.

  I made a statement to the House of Commons setting out the Government's response to the OFT report on 17 July 2003.

  My colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health responsible for Pharmacies, announced on 18 August the implementation of the Government's response to the OFT report.

  Post Offices (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices in Northampton, South have disabled access. [186584]

  Mr. Timms
  This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Postal Service
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what change there has been in the number of delays in the postal service in(a) urban and (b) rural areas since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [187113]

  Mr. Timms
  The issue of the postal service is an operational matter for Royal Mail Group plc and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which regional development agencies have(a) an office and (b) representatives outside the UK. [183537]

  Jacqui Smith
  The answer to the question updates answers previously given to the hon. Member for Essex north on 26 January 2004,Official Report, columns 73–76W and 5 February 2004, Official Report, columns 999–1000W.

  I have been advised of the following answers by England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).

  Advantage West Midlands

  Advantage West Midlands has offices in France, Germany, Sweden and Belgium.

  In north America, Advantage West Midlands shares representation with their partner agency, EMDA, under the British Midlands' brand. Together they have a total of five offices and seven full-time staff based in Washington, Boston, Chicago, San Jose and Toronto; they also employ the services of a telemarketing agency in north America. The British Midlands is also represented on a full-time basis in Japan with two staff. In south east Asia, India and Australia, the British Midlands has part-time representation with offices in Singapore, Mumbai and Sydney and a total of six part-time agents.

  The cost incurred by AWM in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £

  Australia

  63,259

  Belgium

  107,625

  Canada

  29,863

  France

  71,082

  Germany

  102,784

  India

  49,817

  Japan

  101,780

  Singapore

  44,386

  Sweden

  85,198

  USA

  468,574

  Total

  1,124,367

  East of England Development Agency

  The East of England Developments Agency (BED A) has an inward investment office in San Jose (Silicon Valley) a joint project between EEDA and Invest East of England. There are no representatives as the office is co-ordinated by the vice-president for business development at Invest East of England.

  EEDA also subscribes to the East of England partnership office in Brussels and the Essex and East of England International Trade office in Jiangsu Province China (but does not have offices or representatives).
  1040W
  The cost incurred by EEDA in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £

  Belgium

  56,500

  China

  63,000

  USA

  250,000

  Total

  369,500

  East Midlands Development Agency

  The East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) is represented in Europe by part-time agents in Germany (Munich-two staff) and Scandinavia (Malmo-one person);

  EMDA also employs a telemarketing agency in France.

  In north America, EMDA shares representation with their partner agency, Advantage West Midlands, under the British Midlands' brand. Together they have a total of five offices and seven full-time staff based in Washington, Boston, Chicago, San Jose and Toronto; they also employ the services of a telemarketing agency in north America. The British Midlands is also represented on a full-time basis in Japan with two staff. In south east Asia, India and Australia, the British Midlands has part-time representation with offices in Singapore, Mumbai and Sydney and a total of six agents.

  EMDA is also a partner in the East Midlands European Office (EMEO), based in Brussels. The partnership also includes the region's strategic local authorities, the Regional Assembly and the East Midlands Regional Local Government Association. In addition, EMDA line manages EMEO on behalf of the regional partnership.

  The cost incurred by EMDA in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £

  Australia

  60,000

  Belgium

  50,000

  France

  20,000

  Germany

  70,000

  India

  50,000

  Japan

  90,000

  North America

  402,000

  Scandinavia

  60,000

  Singapore

  75,000

  Total

  877,000

  London Development Agency

  The London Development Agency is a partner in the London European Office, a staffed Greater London Authority partnership office in Brussels. The cost incurred in maintaining this office in 2003–04 was £50,000.

  North West Development Agency

  The North West Development Agency (NWDA) has an office with two members of staff (one full-time and one part-time) in Japan (in conjunction with Yorkshire Forward).
  1041W
  As part of a north of England collaboration (a joint venture with One NorthEast and Yorkshire Forward) there are offices in Australia (Sydney) and north America: Chicago (five people), Boston (two people), Atlanta (one person) and Los Angeles: (one person full-time and one person part-time).

  The NWDA with the North West Regional Assembly (NWRA) jointly fund an office and one member of staff in Brussels.

  The cost incurred by NWDA in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £

  Australia

  55,000

  Belgium

  103,000

  Japan

  135,000

  USA

  392,000

  Total

  685,000

  One NorthEast

  One NorthEast has offices in China (Shanghai), Japan (Tokyo) and Korea (Seoul). Until the end of 2003–04 it also operated an office in Taiwan.

  As part of a north of England collaboration (a joint venture with North West Development Agency and Yorkshire Forward) there are offices and representatives in Australia (Sydney) and north America (Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Los Angeles).

  The cost incurred by ONE in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £

  Australia

  50,000

  China

  66,525

  Japan

  185,086

  Korea

  73,208

  North America

  396,000

  Taiwan

  51,855

  Total

  822,673

  South East England Development Agency

  The South East of England Development Agency (SEED A) shares an officer post with the Regional Assembly operating from South East England House in Brussels, co-located and working with other partners from around the Region. SEEDA is also represented in Washington DC by Odell Simms and Associates and has a representative in each of the following cities: Berlin, San Diego, Boston, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka and Sydney, the latter post being part-time.

  The cost incurred by SEEDA in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £

  Australia

  56,006

  Belgium

  131,658

  China

  26,331

  Germany

  101,683

  Japan

  127,655

  Korea

  33,699

  USA

  558,735

  Total

  1,035,766

  1042W
  South West of England Regional Development Agency

  The South West of England Regional Development Agency The South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) has an office in Japan. There are two representatives in north America—one in Boston and one in Sonoma, California.

  It also has just opened an office in Guangdong province in southern China and taken on a new representative in Melbourne, Australia. No costs were incurred for these in 2003–04.

  The cost incurred by SWRDA in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £

  Japan

  394,364

  USA

  468,514

  Total

  862,878

  Yorkshire Forward

  Yorkshire Forward has an office and representatives in China and in Japan (the latter joint with the North West Development Agency).

  As part of a north of England collaboration (a joint venture with North West Development Agency and OneNorth East) there are offices and representatives in Australia (Sydney) and north America (Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Los Angeles). Yorkshire Forward also provide a contribution of £60,000 towards the running costs of the Yorkshire and Humber European Office, managed by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly.

  The cost incurred by Yorkshire Forward in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £

  Australia

  58,000

  Belgium

  60,000

  China

  28,000

  Japan

  201,000

  USA

  412,000

  Total

  759,000

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what offices outside the United Kingdom are maintained by regional development agencies; and what the cost of maintaining each one was in the last financial year for which figures are available. [184984]

  Jacqui Smith
  The answer to the question updates answers previously given to the hon Member for Essex North on 26 January 2004,Official Report, columns 73–76W and 5 February 2004, Official Report, columns 999–1000W.

  I have been advised of the following answers by England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).

  Advantage West Midlands

  Advantage West Midlands has offices in France, Germany, Sweden and Belgium.

  In North America, Advantage West Midlands shares representation with their partner agency, EMDA, under the British Midlands' brand. Together they have a total of five offices and seven full time staff based in

  1043W
  Washington, Boston, Chicago, San Jose and Toronto; they also employ the services of a telemarketing agency in North America. The British Midlands is also represented on a fulltime basis in Japan with two staff. In South East Asia, India and Australia, the British Midlands has part time representation with offices in Singapore, Mumbai and Sydney and a total of six part-time agents.

  The cost incurred by AWM in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £ million

  Australia

  63,259

  Belgium

  107,625

  Canada

  29,863

  France

  71,082

  Germany

  102,784

  India

  49,817

  Japan

  101,780

  Singapore

  44,386

  Sweden

  85,198

  USA

  468,574

  Total

  1,124,367

  East of England Development Agency

  The East of England Developments Agency (BED A) has an inward investment office in San Jose (Silicon Valley) a joint project between EEDA and Invest East of England. There are no representatives as the office is co-ordinated by the vice-president for business development at Invest East of England.

  EEDA also subscribes to the East of England partnership office in Brussels and the Essex and East of England International Trade office in Jiangsu Province China (but does not have offices or representatives).

  The cost incurred by EEDA in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £000

  Belgium

  56,500

  China

  63,000

  USA

  250,000

  Total

  369,500

  East Midlands Development Agency

  The East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) is represented in Europe by part time agents in Germany (Munich—two staff) and Scandinavia (Malmo—one person); EMDA also employs a telemarketing agency in France.

  In North America, EMDA shares representation with their partner agency, Advantage West Midlands, under the British Midlands' brand. Together they have a total of five offices and seven full time staff based in Washington, Boston, Chicago, San Jose and Toronto; they also employ the services of a telemarketing agency in North America. The British Midlands is also represented on a fulltime basis in Japan with two staff. In South East Asia, India and Australia, the British Midlands has part time representation with offices in Singapore, Mumbai and Sydney and a total of six agents.
  1044W
  EMDA is also a partner in the East Midlands European Office (EMEO), based in Brussels. The partnership also includes the region's strategic local authorities, the Regional Assembly and the East Midlands Regional Local Government Association.

  In addition, EMDA line manages EMEO on behalf of the regional partnership.

  The cost incurred by EMDA in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £000

  Australia

  60,000

  Belgium

  50,000

  France

  20,000

  Germany

  70,000

  India

  50,000

  Japan

  90,000

  North America

  402,000

  Scandinavia

  60,000

  Singapore

  75,000

  Total

  877,000

  London Development Agency

  The London Development Agency is a partner in the London European Office, a staffed Greater London Authority partnership office in Brussels. The cost incurred in maintaining this office in 2003–04 was £50,000.

  North West Development Agency

  The North West Development Agency (NWDA) has an office with two members of staff (one full time and one part time) in Japan (in conjunction with Yorkshire Forward).

  As part of a North of England collaboration (a joint venture with One North East and Yorkshire Forward) there are offices in Australia (Sydney) and North America: Chicago (five people), Boston (two people), Atlanta (one person) and Los Angeles: (one person full time and one person part time).

  The NWDA with the North West Regional Assembly (NWRA) jointly fund an office and one member of staff in Brussels.

  The cost incurred by NWDA in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £000

  Australia

  55,000

  Belgium

  103,000

  Japan

  135,000

  USA

  392,000

  Total

  685,000

  One NorthEast

  One NorthEast has offices in China (Shanghai), Japan (Tokyo) and Korea (Seoul). Until the end of 2003–04 it also operated an office in Taiwan.

  As part of a North of England collaboration (a joint venture with North West Development Agency and Yorkshire Forward) there are offices and representatives in Australia (Sydney) and North America (Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Los Angeles).
  1045W
  The cost incurred by ONE in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £000

  Australia

  50,000

  China

  66,525

  Japan

  185,086

  Korea

  73,208

  North America

  396,000

  Taiwan

  51,855

  Total

  822,673

  South East England Development Agency

  The South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) shares an officer post with the Regional Assembly operating from South East England House in Brussels, co-located and working with other partners from around the Region. SEEDA is also represented in Washington DC by Odell Simms and Associates and has a representative in each of the following cities: Berlin, San Diego, Boston, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka and Sydney, the latter post being part-time.

  The cost incurred by SEEDA in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £million

  Australia

  56,006

  Belgium

  131,658

  China

  26,331

  Germany

  101,683

  Japan

  127,655

  Korea

  33,699

  USA

  558,735

  Total

  1,035,766

  South West of England Regional development Agency

  The South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) has an office in Japan. There are two representatives in North. America—one in Boston and one in Sonoma, California.

  It also has just opened an office in Guangdong province in Southern China and taken on a new representative in Melbourne, Australia. No costs were incurred for these in 2003–04.

  The cost incurred by SWRDA in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £000

  Japan

  394,364

  USA

  468,514

  Total

  862,878

  Yorkshire Forward

  Yorkshire Forward has an office and representatives in China and in Japan (the latter joint with the North West Development Agency).

  As part of a North of England collaboration (a joint venture with North West Development Agency and One North East) there are offices and representatives in Australia (Sydney) and North America (Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Los Angeles). Yorkshire Forward also provide a contribution of £60,000 towards the
  1046W
  running costs of the Yorkshire and Humber European Office, managed by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly.

  The cost incurred by Yorkshire Forward in maintaining these offices in 2003–04 was:

  £000

  Australia

  58,000

  Belgium

  60,000

  China

  28,000

  Japan

  201,000

  USA

  412,000

  Total

  759,000

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether regional development agencies are required to meet performance indicators for central Government. [185772]

  Jacqui Smith
  I refer the Member to my answer given on 22 July,Official Report, columns 514–515W.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding from her Department in 2004–05 is devoted by regional development agencies specifically towards promoting the development of minority ethnic businesses. [186350]

  Jacqui Smith
  Through the framework provided by their Regional Economic Strategies (RES). RDAs work with a range of local partners, to contribute to the development of ethnic minority businesses. Examples of this are in the document "RDA Activities supporting Ethnic Minority Businesses" which provides a list of RDA supported activities that stimulate ethnic business growth. I have placed this document in the House of Commons Library. Unfortunately, information about costs cannot be easily disaggregated and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The East Midlands Development Agency (emda) have a lead role to co-ordinate policy on ethnic minority businesses on behalf of all the RDAs. They have jointly established with De Montfort University the Centre for Research into Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (www.crème-dmu.org.uk). As part of their work emda are also organising the eighth Ethnic Business Conference in Leicester in September 2004.

  Regional Supply Offices
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the(a) purpose and (b) role of the regional supply offices; and what their budget was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [184985]

  Jacqui Smith
  Regional Supply Offices (RSOs) were designed to provide a means by which small businesses could gain access to the supply chain business of large firms. The market failure was that large firms were often unaware of smaller, potential suppliers in their regions, and for their part small businesses were unable to talk to chief buyers etc because they lacked the status to do so. The role of the RSO Advisers was to go out and learn of the large suppliers' supply chain requirements, and then offer to locate (small business) suppliers for them. In parallel, the RSO Advisers would help the small
  1047W
  suppliers to develop their services to meet the customer requirements. Practical examples of these activities included seminars and workshop to highlight the benefits companies could gain from understanding supply chain development programmes, briefing on special topics such as manufacturing issues, subsidised stand space for companies at major trade shows and exhibitions as well as the organisation of business to business events. In April 2001, responsibility for the RSOs was transferred to the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in the English regions.

  The RDAs integrated their RSOs but services of a similar nature continue to be provided in all regions as part of the RDAs' and Partners' range of business support. However, as supply chain support has been mainstreamed in this way, information about costs cannot be easily disaggregated and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Rural Postal Services
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has carried out into the possible effects on small businesses in rural areas of further plans for restrictions to the postal services; and if she will make a statement. [186532]

  Mr. Timms
  The provision of postal services to small businesses in rural areas is an operational matter for the Royal Mail. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Sellafield Site Remediation Strategy
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made by BNFL towards completing a full structural analysis of the B30 facility at Sellafield. [186118]

  Mr. Timms
  Following discussion with HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, BNFL has carried out a structural analysis of the B30 facility. HSE expects to receive the main findings of the report in September, after which further plans will be developed.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress BNFL has made in removing sludges from B30 Sellafield in order to comply with the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's specification 325 issued in 2000; and what assessment has been made of whether the deadline of removing and treating 90 per cent. of the sludges will be met by August 2010. [186119]

  Mr. Timms
  BNFL are developing plans to meet the specification requirement of 90 per cent. of sludge removal by August 2010. Sludge removal requires modification to the plant at B30 and the building of a new structure to house and treat the sludge. Some preliminary refurbishment work has started. This and other projects form the basis for carrying out sludge removal and are being incorporated into both the short and long term plans for the site. HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate will continue to monitor these plans so that the August 2010 date will be met.

  Turner and Newall
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the implications of Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Turner and Newall for compensation for victims of asbestos-related injuries in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [R] [186491]

  Jacqui Smith
  The treatment of claims of US asbestos related creditors in the Federal Mogul Chapter 11 proceedings is a matter for the parties in interest in those proceedings to determine, under the supervision of the bankruptcy court. In the UK asbestos related claims against the Turner and Newall companies which are in administration are matters for the administrators of those companies. Where required the administrators can seek the direction of the court as to the conduct of the administration.

  UN Sales Convention
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Se#retary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to be in the position to introduce legislation implementing the UN Sales Convention; and if she will make a statement. [186750]

  Ms Hewitt
  Any legislation needed to implement the 1980 UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods will be introduced when Parliamentary time permits. We are it a comparatively early stage on the road towards possible legislation but we are proposing to issue a consultation document, in the course of the next few months, to examine the available options.

  West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the current levels of funding from her Department to the West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum. [186348]

  Jacqui Smith
  The West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum is not directly funded by the DTI but received support from Advantage West Midlands. This year AWM expects to spend £300,000 on the West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum of which approximately £180,000 has been spent to-date.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with her European counterparts regarding proposals to abolish the individual opt-out from the 48-hour limit set by the Working Time Directive; and if she will make a statement. [186337]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  I am not aware of any European proposals to abolish the individual opt out. Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had a number of key meetings with the Commission and member states to ensure that the UK's position is well represented with regards to the opt out.
  1049W
  We are committed to retaining the opt out and securing a solution to both the opt out and SiMAP/ Jaeger which will work for all member states.

  We are currently awaiting publication of the Commission's proposals on the review of the Working Time Directive.

  Access Orders
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on enforcement of access orders. [187662]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Government published a consultation paper on 21 July 2004. It proposes a variety of new powers for courts, to help more effective enforcement of contact orders.

  House of Lords Reform
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures the Government are considering to reform the second Chamber. [187663]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Government are determined to proceed with further reform of the House of Lords. Proposals will be developed in the context of the Labour Party manifesto.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Lord Chancellor plans to bring forward proposals to change the powers of the House of Lords to delay legislation. [187669]

  Mr. Leslie
  Any proposals for substantial reform of the House of Lords will have to consider the role, powers and procedures of the second chamber and its relationship with the House of Commons. The Labour Party will return to House of Lords reform in its manifesto.

  Administration of Justice
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress is being made with his plans for the Lord Chancellor and a supreme court in the administration of justice. [187664]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Constitutional Reform Bill will reform the office of the Lord Chancellor, establish a new Supreme Court and set up a new Judicial Appointments Commission. The Bill was introduced into the House of Lords on 24 February and has received detailed scrutiny from a Lords Select Committee. The Bill is now receiving the attention of the other place.

  Essex Magistrates Court
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress with the allocation of resources to the private finance initiative for Essex magistrates courts. [187665]
  1050W
  Mr. Leslie
  Revised Investment Plans following the summer Spending Review will be concluded in November, but under present plans the new courthouse scheme for Colchester and Essex remains on course for construction over the next few years.

  Postal Ballots
  David Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment has been made of the all-postal vote electoral pilots in the east midlands up to and on 10 June. [187666]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Electoral Commission's report on the June all-postal voting pilots was published on 27 August, which included a specific review of the experience in the East Midlands. The Government are currently considering these reports.

  Court Efficiency
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress with improving the efficiency of the courts. [187667]

  Mr. Leslie
  Her Majesty's Court Service (HMCS) will be established in April 2005 and will bring together the current Court Service and the 42 Magistrates Courts Committees in a single organisation. This will enable us to make the delivery of justice across the criminal, civil and family jurisdictions more efficient on a national scale and geared more closely to the needs of the local community and court users.

  Asbestos (Compensation)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will propose changes to the law on compensation for asbestos injury victims bringing claims against uninsured defendants to enable them to receive interim payments; and if he will make a statement. [R] [186484]

  Mr. Leslie
  Rule 25.7(2) of the Civil Procedure Rules currently prevents a court from making an interim payment order against an uninsured defendant. At the request of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, the Government are seeking views on the operation of this Rule from interested parties, with a view to the issue receiving further consideration by the Rule Committee.

  Bereavement Damages
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to review the level of bereavement damages; and if he will make a statement. [R] [186494]

  Mr. Leslie
  The level of bereavement damages was increased from £7,500 to £10,000 with effect from 1 April 2002, to account for inflation since the previous revision in 1991. The Government are currently considering how best to provide for further increases in future.

  CAFCASS
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many
  1051W
  Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service officers are in post; and how many posts are vacant. [186992]

  Margaret Hodge
  I have been asked to reply.

  As at 30 June 2004, there were 1,304 officers (practitioners) in post (not including the self-employed). The current number of vacancies for officers (practitioners) stands at 39.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many reports were drafted by(a) the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service and (b) predecessor bodies in each of the last five years. [186993]

  Margaret Hodge
  I have been asked to reply.

  Statistics are not available for the period before CAFCASS was established in 2001 as the work was carried out by a range of organisations and authorities, some of which, for example the Probation Service, no longer exist in their previous form. Figures from CAFCASS show numbers of requests for private law reports resulting in written reports:

  Requests for private law reports

  2001–02 (October 2001 to March 2002)

  17,352

  2002–03

  35,074

  2003–04

  33,803

  2004–05 (April to May only)

  5,175

  Total number of requests April 2001 to date

  91,404

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average length of time taken to draft a Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service report has been. [186999]

  Margaret Hodge
  I have been asked to reply.

  There is no 'average length of time' taken by CAFCASS officers to draft reports. However, the number of weeks required to draft a private law report ranges from 10–18 weeks. The length of time may vary from region to region, and also on the scale of officers' workloads and the complexity of individual cases. CAFCASS officers will often seek to agree these times with the courts, on a case-by-case basis.

  In Public Law, the Protocol for Judicial Case Management in Public Law Children Act Cases standard is that cases are to be completed by the courts within 40 weeks, though some of these cases can take a year or more. The drafting of reports in these Public Law cases will be undertaken during part of this period.

  Child Contact
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to take steps to give grandparents a legal presumption of contact with grandchildren that can be enforced by the courts, save where a child's safety would be at risk. [187009]

  Margaret Hodge
  I have been asked to reply.
  1052W
  The Government have no plans to give grandparents a legal presumption of contact. The Children Act 1989 makes clear that the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration in any proceedings relating to the upbringing of a child.. The Government believe that this principle should be sustained, without qualification, in order that there continues to be the clearest possible focus on the needs of children.

  The Government recognise and value the important role which grandparents can play in children's lives. Many grandparents are already involved with the care of their grandchildren and most children see their grandparents as important figures in their lives. However, the primary responsibility for bringing up children in most families lies with their parents and there may be cases where parents prefer to limit contact with grandparents.

  Under the Children Act 1989, grandparents may, provided that the permission of the court is obtained, apply to the court for an order granting contact with a grandchild. The requirement for the court's permission is not designed to be an obstacle to grandparents but to act as an initial filter to sift out prejudiced applications that are unlikely to succeed. Experience suggests that grandparents would not usually experience difficulty in obtaining permission where their application is motivated by a genuine concern for the child.

  The Government are aware there is considerable concern about how court ordered contact arrangements can be supported more effectively. Our consultation document, "Parental separation: Children's Needs and Parents' Responsibilities", published in July, outlines how the Government propose better to support families who are going through separation. It details a range of measures, including better information for parents, parenting plans to help parents make good arrangements, in-court conciliation and mediation for those parents who do go to court, active judicial management and stronger powers for judges to enforce court orders.

  Civil Legal Aid
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of high property values in the South East on the eligibility of people of low income who are home owners for civil legal aid. [187010]

  Mr. Leslie
  The legal Service Commission is currently consulting on proposed changes to financial eligibility for civil legal aid, including replacing the current £100,000 equity disregard with exemptions targeted on those with the lowest incomes, particularly pensioners and the disabled. During the consultation period (which closes on 15 October 2004), the Commission's research centre is undertaking a means survey of legal aid applicants which will provide further data on housing equity. The results of this research and the wider public consultation will be analysed before we announce the way forward.

  Claim Management Companies
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he
  1053W
  has to implement the Better Regulations Task Force's recommendation to strengthen consumer protection against claim management companies. [187668]

  Mr. Lammy
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend, the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore).

  Court Dress
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress with the proposed reforms of court dress. [186587]

  Mr. Leslie
  The consultation paper "Court Working Dress in England and Wales" set out a range of possible options for changing court working dress. It attracted 3,406 responses. My right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor is considering in the light of these responses whether changes would he beneficial and expects to make an announcement in due course.

  Government Information
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what action his Department is taking to deal with delays experienced by applicants under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. [186608]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Government take any delays experienced by applicants under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information seriously.

  The Government regret that delays do unavoidably occur in a minority of complex cases. However, the Ombudsman's review of the first nine months of the Memorandum of Understanding (September 2003 to May 2004) shows that in most cases the requirements of the Memorandum of Understanding were met.

  In all cases, Departments endeavour to ensure that the time limit of 20 working days for Departments to respond to requests for information is met.

  Compliance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information is monitored annually and published in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information Monitoring Report.

  Government Premises
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrangements for access to government premises for(a) physically disabled persons and (b) allergy sufferers, with particular reference to latex allergy. [186959]

  Mr. Leslie
  As of the 31 July 2004 319 of the 377 properties that currently make up the Court Service estate are fully accessible to physically disabled persons.

  There has been no recorded incident in respect of latex allergies within the Department for Constitutional Affairs. In the event that a member of staff or a visitor to one of our buildings were to suffer from an allergy to latex, we would seek the advice of the Department of Health as to an appropriate course of action to ensure that they suffer no discomfort.

  Law Commission
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the outstanding reports for the Law Commission recommending legislation and in relation to which no Bill has been put before Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [186489]

  Mr. Leslie
  The outstanding reports are set out in the following tables. Following recommendations made in the recent quinquennial review of the Law Commission my Department, with the support of the Law Commission, is exploring ways in which Departments could implement more accepted Law Commission recommendations. A Ministerial Committee is to consider the Law Commission's draft programme every two years. In addition, Departments are being encouraged to consider, where appropriate, the use of regulatory reform orders and other ways of implementing recommendations. My Department already seeks from other Government Departments six monthly reports on their progress in deciding on published Law Commission recommendations, and when they propose to implement them. However, it is for individual Departments to decide which recommendations to accept and when to implement them.

  Law Commission Reports awaiting Government response

  Year

  Number

  Title

  1995

  229

  Intoxication and Criminal Liability

  1996

  238

  Landlord and Tenant: Responsibility for State and Condition of Property

  1998

  249

  Liability for Psychiatric Illness

  1999

  257

  Damages for Personal Injury: Non-Pecuniary Loss

  1999

  262

  Damages for Personal Injury: Medical, Nursing and other Expenses

  1999

  263

  Claims for Wrongful Death

  2003

  283

  Partnership Law

  2003

  284

  Renting Homes

  2003

  286

  Towards a Compulsory Purchase Code: (1) Compensation

  2004

  287

  Pre-Judgment Interest on Debts and Damages

  2004

  289

  In the Public Interest: Publication of Local Authority Reports

  Law Commission Reports awaiting legislation

  Year

  Number

  Title

  1991

  194

  Distress for Rent

  1993

  218

  Offences Against the Person and General Principles

  1994

  222

  Binding Over

  1994

  226

  Judicial Review and Statutory Appeals

  1996

  237

  Involuntary Manslaughter

  1997

  246

  Shareholder Remedies

  1997

  247

  Aggravated, Exemplary and Restitutionary Damages

  1998

  248

  Corruption Offences

  1998

  251

  The Rules Against Perpetuities and Excessive Accumulations

  1998

  255

  Consents to Prosecution

  1999

  261

  Company Directors Duties and Conflicts of Interest

  2001

  270

  Limitation of Actions

  2001

  272

  Third Parties' Rights Against Insurers

  2002

  276

  Fraud

  2002

  277

  The Effective Prosecution of Multiple Offending

  2003

  282

  Children: Their Non-Accidental Death or Serious Injury (Criminal Trials)

  Law Commission Reports currently under consideration by Parliament

  Year

  Number

  Title

  1995

  231

  Mental Incapacity

  Legal Rights
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to propose changes to the legal principle of volenti non fit injuria in cases involving sport or outdoor pursuits; and if he will make a statement. [R] [186485]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Government have no plans to change the law in this area.

  Magistrate Training
  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what training is available to magistrates on access rights for grandparents in cases of family breakdown. [187661]

  Mr. Leslie
  Statutory responsibility for the training of magistrates currently rests with the 42 independent magistrates courts committees (MCCs). In court lay magistrates sit with their justices' clerk or a legal adviser. The justices' clerk has a statutory duty to provide advice to the magistrates on questions of law, practice and procedure. This will include advice on applying any case law and relevant Court of Appeal judgments when making decisions. Cases concerning contact (access) arrangements are therefore considered by magistrates on individual merit and with appropriate advice on law and procedure. In each case the child's welfare shall be the court's paramount consideration.

  The Children Act 1989 introduced the legal framework for contact (access) arrangements for children in cases of family breakdown. A grandparent is entitled to apply to the court under s.10 of the Act for permission to make an application for contact.

  Only magistrates who sit on the Family Panel can hear cases that involve contact arrangements. The recently updated Magistrates' National Training Initiative (MNTI 2) sets out (and confirms the current practice) that magistrates should only be invited to sit on the Family Panel after successfully demonstrating the competencies required to sit in the adult court. Magistrates have been using a competence framework since 1998 for appraisal and training. Under MNTI 2 there are new competence frameworks for both the adult and family courts. These competence frameworks set out the knowledge, understanding, and skills magistrates need to demonstrate to perform their role.

  Applications for contact arrangements can also be heard in family proceedings in the county court.

  National Debt Helpline/Consumer Direct
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the Government grant to(a) the National Debt Helpline and (b) Consumer Direct is for the next financial year. [185927]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  I have been asked to reply.

  The DTI grant for the National Debtline for financial year 2005–06 has yet to be decided and will be considered as part of the Department's forthcoming business planning exercise.
  1056W
  The DTI's settlement under the Spending Review 2004 included a ring-fenced provision of £16 million in respect of Consumer Direct for financial year 2005–06.

  Personal Injury Cases
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to review the indemnity principle in relation to costs in personal injury cases; and if he will make a statement. [R] [186492]

  Mr. Leslie
  We considered further the indemnity principle as part of our recent review of the conditional fee agreement (CFA) regime Our conclusions on this, the reform of conditional fee agreements and other important costs matters are set out in "Making simple CFAs a reality" which was published on 29 June 2004, copies of which were placed in the Libraries of both Houses..

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to review the quantum of general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity in personal injury claims in line with the Law Commission's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [R] [186493]

  Mr. Leslie
  In response to a question from the hon. Member in November 1999, the Government indicated that this issue was a matter for the discretion of the court, and that the Government had no plans to legislate. That remains the position.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to review the discount rate for damages in personal injury cases; and if he will make a statement. [R] [186495]

  Mr. Leslie
  The discount rate was set at 2.5 per cent. in July 2001. Since then it has been kept under review.

  PFI/PPP Contracts
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many contracts the Department has had with(a) Barclays, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) the Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public-private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. [186610]

  Mr. Leslie
  My Department has had no contracts for advice with Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, UBS Warburg or Bank of Scotland on private finance initiative and public-private partnership contracts since 2001–02.

  Postal Voting
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people were registered for a permanent postal vote in the Bury St. Edmunds constituency in each year since 1997. [187209]

  Mr. Leslie
  Individual Electoral Registration Officers keep records of the number of postal voters in their registration area, but they are not required to keep separate records of long term postal voters and those for
  1057W
  one election only. It is possible to apply for a postal vote at any time, and figures are not maintained on a yearly basis. However, the following information is available for the 1997 and 2001 general elections.

  Bury St. Edmunds

  Total number of postal voters

  1997

  1,966

  2001

  3,104

  In addition, the Electoral Registration Officer for St. Edmundsbury borough council has advised that there are currently 6,544 registered postal voters in the Bury St. Edmunds constituency.

  Sentencing Guidelines
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what provisions are in place to increase awareness amongst the judiciary of the behaviour patterns of people who have communication-related disabilities, including autism and Aspergers' Syndrome, in relation to sentencing for communication-related offences, with particular reference to(a) section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 and (b) the offence of being drunk and disorderly. [186920]

  Mr. Leslie
  The particular offences in question can only be heard within the magistrates court and usually before lay justices, although District Judges (magistrates court) and Deputy District Judges (magistrates court) also have jurisdiction to deal with them. The Government are committed to the equal and fair treatment of all those who find themselves having to answer criminal charges in court. In particular, part of the judicial oath states that magistrates will "do right to all manner of people".

  The JSB Equal Treatment advisory Committee (ETAC) has provided a Bench Book to all professional judiciary and magistrates courts, and this can also be viewed at www.jsboard.co.uk. The Bench Book includes general advice on dealing with mental disability including autism. The JSB will shortly distribute a booklet entitled "Fairness In Courts and Tribunals" to all magistrates. This booklet is a summary of the newly revised (JSB) ETAC Bench Book. If communication difficulties arise during the charging procedure, and autism or Aspergers' Syndrome is suspected or known, the police will notify the courts in advance of the case being heard. The use of interpreters and/or adult support at Court would then be encouraged.

  All magistrates have been issued with an Adult Court Bench Book, published by the Judicial Studies Board. This Bench Book includes a structured decision-making guide for use when making sentencing decisions on both these particular offences and also includes a copy of the newly revised magistrates court sentencing guidelines. The guidelines indicate that the health (physical or mental) of offenders should be considered in mitigation.

  The "Magistrate" magazine, which is produced by the Magistrates Association, published an article in the January 2004 edition entitled "Coping with sufferers of autism". This publication is widely read among the magistracy.

  Speeding
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many motorists fined for speeding as a result of evidence provided by cameras(a) had not paid the fine after six months and (b) had the fine written off as uncollectable in each of the last five years. [187002]

  Mr. Leslie
  Information on the number of motorists fined as a result of safety camera evidence is collected by the Home Office. The most recent data available are contained in the attached table. Details of the number of motorists that do not pay their fine after six months and/ or had the fine written off is not collected centrally. On 5 January I introduced a new policy, from which date fines can no longer be written off. Improving fine enforcement, including for speeding offences, is a priority and good progress continues to be made in improving performance in England and Wales. For the first full quarter of 2004–05 (April to June) the national payment rate was 81 per cent.

  Fixed penalties and prosecutions for speeding offences detected by cameras1 in England and Wales, 1998 to 2002

  Fixed penalty2

  Prosecutions

  Total

  1998

  338,800

  65,100

  403,800

  1999

  423,000

  75,800

  498,600

  2000

  3599,200

  109,200

  699,400

  2001

  877,500

  137,100

  1,014,600

  2002

  1,135,400

  275,900

  1,411,300

  1Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.

  2Paid i.e. no further action.

  3Following publication of 2000 data, Northamptonshire police force revised their 2000 figures for the number of fixed penalty notices issued for speeding offences from 70,300 to 34,800 (a decrease of 35,500). In consequence, national data have been revised.

  Source:

  Home Office Statistical Bulletin 05/04—Motoring Offences and Breath Test Statistics, England and Wales 2002.

  Supreme Court
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans his Department has to bring forward plans to circumscribe the powers of the House of Lords. [186550]

  Mr. Leslie
  The powers of the House of Lords can only be determined when its proper role and functions are decided in relation to that of the House of Commons. The Government will revert to the question in its party manifesto.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress his Department is making in locating a site for the proposed new Supreme Court. [186551]

  Mr. Leslie
  Following a detailed evaluation exercise, two options remain under active consideration. They are Middlesex Guildhall and the New Wing of Somerset. We are continuing to investigate the relative qualitative and financial merits of those two buildings in consultation with the Lords of Appeal before announcing a final decision in the autumn.

  Voter Participation
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to encourage(a) young and (b) first-time voters to vote at the next General Election. [186873]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Government are keen to ensure that all young people are encouraged to play as full a part as possible in all our democratic processes.

  A range of initiatives, such as citizenship education in schools and the UK Youth Parliament, assist this aim. At the last General Election we sought to bring this learning to life for young people by working with partners to provide mock elections in schools and colleges. We are considering how to take forward such initiatives in future elections.

  In addition, the Independent Electoral Commission established under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000, whose remit includes educating and informing people on electoral matters, makes special efforts to target young people especially those who are on the point of attaining the right to vote.

  However, the main responsibility for encouraging young and first-time voters to participate at the next General Election must lie with the political parties.

  Written Constitution
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent representations he has received in support of a written constitution for the UK. [187670]

  Mr. Leslie
  One of the only recent representations that I have received was from one of my hon. Friend's constituents. My right hon. Friend, the Lord Chancellor explained in his reply that the Government have been engaged since 1997 in a major programme of constitutional reform aimed at addressing the key issues and enhancing the credibility and effectiveness of the UK's constitutional arrangements. We have no plans to formulate an overarching codified constitution.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British Indian Ocean Territories
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent(a) discussions have taken place with and (b) representations have been received from the US military on the resettlement of the Chagos Islands and Diego Garcia. [183929]

  Mr. Rammell
  The US authorities have from time-to-time made clear their concerns about the possible restoration of a settled civilian population in the British Indian Ocean Territory. However, the only formal representation from US authorities on this subject was in June 2000.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether detainees are currently held on Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement. [183528]
  1060W
  Mr. Rammell
  The US authorities have repeatedly assured us that no suspected terrorists or Iraqi prisoners are, or ever have been, held on Diego Garcia or on vessels within its waters. The British Representative on the island has confirmed this to be the case.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the International Criminal Court will have jurisdiction over(a) British Indian Ocean Territories and (b) Diego Garcia while the later are under lease to the US military; and if he will make a statement. [182543]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Order in Council to extend the United Kingdom's International Criminal Court Act 2001 to the Overseas Territories, which is a necessary preliminary to the United Kingdom's ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in respect of those territories, will not apply to the British Indian Ocean Territory since that territory has no settled population.

  Butler Inquiry
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 84W, on Iraq, if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) Mr. Nadhmi Auchi's letter to him of 15 May 2003 introducing the Anglo Arab Organisation and (b) his subsequent acknowledgement. [151126]

  Mr. Mullin
  I apologise for the delay in replying to the hon. Member. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Uncle-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Rammell) stated in his answer to the hon. Member on 5 January 2004,Official Report, column 84W, Mr. Auchi wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Hewitt) to introduce the Anglo Arab Organisation, on 15 May 2003, and she replied on 29 May 2003.

  In his pursuant answer on 3 March 2004, Official Report, column 980W, Mr. Rammell stated that Mr. Auchi also wrote to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 15 May 2003 about the Anglo Arab Organisation, and that my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, replied on his behalf on 7 July 2003.

  Copies of the letters, parts of which have been obscured under Exemption 12 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Commonwealth Countries
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of which countries the Queen is the head of state. [186895]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Queen is the Sovereign and Head of State of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Her Majesty's Realms and Her Majesty's Overseas Territories.

  HM Realms are:

  Antigua and Barbuda

  Australia

  The Bahamas

  1061W

  Barbados

  Belize

  Canada

  Grenada

  Jamaica

  New Zealand

  Papua New Guinea

  St Kitts and Nevis

  St. Lucia

  St. Vincent and the Grenadines Solomon Islands

  Tuvalu

  HM Overseas Territories are:

  Anguilla

  Bermuda

  British Antarctic Territory

  British Indian Ocean Territory

  British Virgin Islands

  Cayman Islands

  Gibraltar

  Montserrat

  Pitcairn, Henderson, Dulcie and Oeno Islands

  St Helena (and her Dependencies of Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha)

  Falkland Islands (and her dependencit s of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands)

  Turks and Caicos Island

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for #oreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Foreign Office spent on press officers(a) in 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by grade. [184501]

  Mr. Straw
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent the following amounts on different grades of staff in its press office. These amounts are based on an average salary for the grade, employer national insurance and superannuation for each grade, and therefore do not reflect actual payments to press office staff.

  £

  SMS

  183,734

  Band D

  341,873

  Band C

  333,122

  Band B

  130,705

  Band A

  80,372

  The salary costs for overseas press officers and all costs requested for 1996–97 are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Department spent on(a) mobile phones, (b) hospitality and (c) taxis in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) the latest accounting period. [184504]
  1062W
  Mr. Straw
  The information is as follows:

  Mobile phones

  1996–97: £169,356.77

  2003–04: £680,527.56.

  This does not include the costs of mobile phones for staff overseas. Responsibility for such contracts is devolved to our overseas missions and the relevant figures could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  Entertainment 1996–97

  DS Entertainment Fund, used for official hospitality by Ministers and Officers in London: £383,507.89

  Accountable Entertainment Allowance spent on official hospitality abroad by officers with representational duties against a personal authorised ceiling: £3,865,746.74

  Frais expenditure by Heads of Mission on official hospitality abroad: £5,532,641.13

  Total for 1996–97: £9,781,895.76

  2003–04

  Direct Entertainment Expenditure in London and at Post, that includes the DS Entertainment Fund and expenditure from a system of local entertainment budgets abroad that replaced the former Accountable Entertainment Allowance for individual officers: £4,178,832.75

  Frais expenditure by Heads of Mission on official entertainment abroad: £4,103,380.55

  Total for 2003–04: £8,282,213.30

  Between these two financial years, entertainment budgets have been largely devolved to individual FCO Directorates and some payments previously made directly to individual officers now have to be drawn against tighter objectives from pooled entertainment funds. The annual totals are not therefore altogether directly comparable.

  Expenditure on hospitality for official guests invited to London from overseas for either year could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  Official taxi contract spend for the two periods concerned are:

  FY 1996–97: £113,058.09

  FY 2003–04: £412,168.68

  The 1996–07 figures may not provide a full picture of expenditure as they will not include the large ad-hoc use of black cab taxis in London by FCO staff. Staff would claim these costs via individual travel claims. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  The figures relate to both the FCO's offices in London and Hanslope Park. Hanslope Park, since 1996–07, has developed into an important operational site to the Department and leads on major Projects such as Firecrest, the FCO Telecommunications Network and PRISM; hence the number of visitors has increased. The site is not supported by public transport links and use of taxi's to/from Central Milt#n Keynes (London main line) station has been the only method of reaching the site for train users. We have recognised the increased use of taxis at Hanslope Park and introduced an 'in-house' minibus service at peak times of the morning/ afternoon to cut costs. In addition, we are actively managing the taxi contracts to ensure value for money. We have also encouraged taxi-sharing where possible.
  1063W
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of printing Foreign Office headed notepaper in(a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. [184505]

  Mr. Straw
  For normal departmental use the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not use preprinted headed notepaper. FCO staff use electronic templates to print out the FCO letterhead. There are, however, some departments/posts which require the use of pre-printed headed paper.

  Data from the financial year 1996–97 are not available, although headed paper produced by FCO Services Crystal Print cost £7.70 for 500 sheets in 1996–97. This does not include embossed letterheads which would have been sourced through an external supplier; financial data for this is not available.

  The cost of obtaining 500 sheets of pre-printed letterheads from FCO Services Crystal Print is £49.00, £6.50 for each extra 500 thereafter. In 1996–97 the letterheads were charged at cost (ink and paper) as the artwork was supplied by a separate department, and pricing for the internal market had not been introduced fully. Now that the artwork is produced in house a charge for the set up fee of the artwork is included in the initial cost, hence the reduction in price for multiples of 500. This current price also includes full economic cost. For the latest period June 2003—June 2004, FCO Services Crystal Print took orders for about 133,000 sheets of letterheads, including continuation sheets, for both home and overseas departments. The total cost was approximately £5,200. This type of letterhead is produced in house, from layout to print. For the period June 2003 to July 2004 FCO Services Crystal Print ordered embossed letterheads to the value of £6,586 from external suppliers.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work-related road safety. [185919]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office operates a fleet of 1,361 official vehicles; this is split between the home vehicle fleet (46 vehicles) and the overseas fleet (1,315 vehicles).

  The number of personal injury claims in each of the last five years that have involved official departmental vehicle# are as follows:

  1999–2000: 1 claim (9 September 1999)

  2000–01: 0

  2001–02: 1 claim (18 March 2002)

  2002–03: 0

  2003–04: 2 claims (29 September 2003 and 4 March 2004)

  Road Safety forms a vital element of the training and development for our UK Fleet Managers. All UK Fleet Managers hold the Certificate of Professional Competence in National Road Haulage Operations. This professional qualification trains Fleet Management
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  teams in the many road safety factors that their driving/ maintenance teams must adhere to in the law. All vehicles are fully and properly maintained and driving hours/rest period regulations are monitored as required by the regulations. Other driving/maintenance safety training has been provided to increase the knowledge and proficiency of UK based driving/support teams. To provide details of our overseas fleets and their road safety policies in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cats. Different Regions have a range of special conditions that will need to be complied with by local fleets.

  I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Alexander) on 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 490W).

  EU Export Subsidies
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with European partners about the impact on the developing world of EU export subsidies. [186307]

  Mr. MacShane
  During the last few months the issue of export subsidies and their impact on developing countries has been raised on a regular basis with our European partners by ministerial colleagues including my right hon. Friends; the Foreign Secretary, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Secretary of State for International Development and my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs.

  The Foreign Secretary, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs and I attended meetings of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in the weeks leading up to the WTO Doha Framework Agreement, reached on 1 August 2004, where we strongly supported the European Commission's approach. I am pleased to say that the Framework Agreement provides explicitly for the elimination of all forms of export subsidy, which will greatly benefit developing countries.

  Iraq
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date an official in his Department first informed an official in No. 10 Downing street of the withdrawal of the intelligence on Iraqi production of chemical and biological agent referred to in paragraph 405 of the Butler Report. [186807]

  Mr. Straw
  I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the debate in the House of 20 July 2004,Official Report, column 195.

  Royal Family (Overseas Visits)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty the Queen plans to visit Fiji within the next five years. [186881]

  Mr. Mullin
  There are currently no plans for HM the Queen to visit Fiji.
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  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries(a) HRH Prince Charles, (b) HRH Prince Andrew and (c) HRH Prince Edward plan to visit over the next five years. [186884]

  Mr. Mullin
  The forward programmes of visits for HRH The Prince of Wales, HR# The Earl of Wessex and HRH The Duke of York are not finalised this far in advance. In line with all royal visits, advance announcements are not usually made for security reasons.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official visits overseas HRH Prince Charles has paid over the past five years. [186885]

  Mr. Mullin
  HRH The Prince of Wales has made 43 official visits and one royal visit to a realm in the last five years.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits the Royal Family has paid abroad over the past five years. [186891]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Royal Family has made 175 visits overseas at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty the Queen has visited New Zealand within the past five years. [186892]

  Mr. Mullin
  Her Majesty the Queen visited New Zealand in February 2002.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the last royal visit to Singapore took place. [186894]

  Mr. Mullin
  HRH The Duke and HRH The Duchess of Gloucester visited Singapore in 2002 to promote bilateral relations and commercial interests. HRH The Duke of York visited in 2001 to support commercial and public diplomacy interests.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Royal Family plans to visit Australia within the next five years. [186896]

  Mr. Mullin
  The forward programme of visits to Australia has not been finalised. In line with all royal visits, advance announcements are not made for security reasons.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when(a) Her Majesty the Queen and (b) the royal family last visited Australia. [186897]

  Mr. Mullin
  HM The Queen accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh last visited Australia in February 2002. Other members of the royal family visited Australia on the following dates:

  HRH The Duke of Edinburgh—April 1998

  HRH The Prince of Wales—January, 1994

  HRH The Earl of Wessex—November 2002

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  HRH The Princess Royal—June and September 2000 and October 2003

  HRH The Duke of Gloucester—May 1993

  HRH The Duchess of Gloucester—January 2004.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a member of the Royal Family has visited the Falkland Islands over the past five years. [186898]

  Mr. Mullin
  HRH The Duke of York visited in 2002 to mark the 20th anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands. HRH Princess Alexandra visited the Falkland Islands in 2000 in her capacity as Patron on the UK Falkland Islands Trust.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times in 2004 Her Majesty the Queen has visited countries of which she is Head of State. [186899]

  Mr. Mullin
  HM The Queen has not visited any countries in 2004 of which she is the Head of State.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries Her Majesty the Queen has visited in an official capacity in 2004. [186900]

  Mr. Mullin
  HM The Queen made a State Visit to France from 5-7 April to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Entente Cordiale of 1904. HM The Queen, with other Members o# The Royal Family also attended the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Normandy landings on 6 June.

  It was announced by Buckingham Palace on 19 July that, at the invitation of President Horst Kohler, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will pay a State Visit to Germany from 2 to 4 November.

  Beyond that the forward programme of State or Official visits by The Queen has not been finalised.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a member of the Royal Family plans to make a state visit to Canada within the next five years. [186903]

  Mr. Mullin
  Security reasons preclude announcements of visits to Canada by Members of The Royal Family this far ahead.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a member of the Royal Family has paid a state visit to Canada since 1999. [186904]

  Mr. Mullin
  Visits by Members o# The Royal Family to Realms are classified as Royal Visits, not State or official visits. Our records show that visits to Canada by members of The Royal Family since 1999 have included the following:

  2002 The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh

  2001 The Duke of Edinburgh

  2004 The Duke of Edinburgh

  2001 The Prince of Wales

  1999 The Duke of York

  2000 The Duke of York

  2003 The Duke of York

  2000 The Earl of Wessex

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  2001 The Earl of Wessex

  2002 The Earl of Wessex

  2003 The Earl of Wessex

  1999 The Princess Royal

  2003 The Princess Royal

  2004 The Princess Royal

  1999 The Duke of Kent

  2001 The Duke of Kent

  2001 The Duke of Kent

  2002 Prince Michael of Kent

  Venezuela
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with(a) the Venezuelan Government, (b) international aid organisations and (c) others in the months which followed the 1999 Caracas floods; what support the British Government offered to (i) the Venezuelan Government and (ii) international aid organisations who were working there; and if he will make a statement. [186413]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  I have been asked to reply.

  Following close liaison with the British embassy in Caracas and key operational partners in the field, DFID initially provided 500,000 to Venezuela following the floods in December 1999. This was used to support the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Red Cross. The funds went towards providing emergency assistance for those affected and initiating long-term rehabilitation for up to 10,000 families.

  The right hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Mr George Foulkes, the then DFID Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, later held detailed discussions with the Venezuelan ambassador about DFID's role in providing assistance to the people of Venezuela. DFID also deployed experts to liaise with Venezuelan authorities and humanitarian organisations to identify priority needs. We then provided a further £300,000 in January 2000 to WHO (to expand their programme), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (to fund two disaster management specialists) and the Red Cross (to ensure continuity of relief assistance towards the full-scale recovery process).

  Visiting Heads of State
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which heads of state have made visits to the UK over the past five years. [186882]

  Mr. Mullin
  I have placed a copy of a list from our records of Heads of State who have visited the UK in an#official capacity since 1999 in the Library of the House. In addition the Queen has received some other Heads of State during the course of private visits to this country.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which heads of state plan to make visits to the UK over the next five years. [186883]
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  Mr. Mullin
  President Chirac of France is expected to visit the United Kingdom in the autumn and the President of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Roh Moo-hyun, accompanied by Mrs. Roh Moo-hyun, will pay a state visit to the United Kingdom in December.

  President Klaus of the Czech Republic arrived in London on 6 September for a two-day visit, and President Iliescu of Romania will arrive on 7 September for a three-day visit Both are visiting as guests of Her Majesty's Government.

  In most cases, guest of Government visits by Heads of State are planned only six to eight weeks in advance, sometimes less. For thi# reason I cannot predict which other Heads of State will visit during the next five years.

  There are normally two inward state visits per year, one in the spring and one in the autumn. The forward programme of state visits for 2005, and subsequent years has not been finalised.

HEALTH

  Family Courts
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what remit has been agreed for the review of the use of expert evidence in the family courts; who will be invited to submit evidence to the review; whether it is his intention to publish all submissions to the review; and when he will publish the findings of the review. [185416]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) will take forward a programme of work to examine and make recommendations on how best to ensure the availability and quality of medical expert resources to the family courts. The terms of reference are:

  a) To consider the role of expert medical witnesses in relation to family law cases:

  i. To examine the experts' participation through the process, and the competencies needed.

  ii. To examine evidence of best practice for expert witnesses.

  b) To identify a template and portfolio of medical skills by which a practitioner may be regarded as 'competent' to offer evidence.

  c) To advise on a sustainable supply of competent, quality-assured expert medical witnesses.

  d) To report and make recommendations to Government ministers in early 2005.

  The work will involve a wide range of interests, including judicial, legal, clinical specialities, scientific, statistical and consumer groups, as well as health regulatory bodies.

  Consideration will be given to the appropriateness of publishing individual submissions.

  Advocacy (Older People)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce an independent advocacy service for vulnerable older people. [186458]

  Dr. Ladyman
  There are no plans to introduce an independent advocacy service for older people. The government encourages local authorities to use and support local advocacy schemes, or set up their own to meet specific identified need.

  Annual Health Check (Pensioners)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce an annual health check for pensioners. [186961]

  Dr. Ladyman
  General medical practitioners must provide an annual health check to any patient aged 75 and over who requests it and who has not had a consultation within the last 12 months.

  We have no plans to introduce an annual health check for all pensioners.

  Bed Occupancy Rates
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the bed occupancy rates were for(a) each NHS hospital trust in England and (b) England in each year since 1991. [186513]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on beds is collected on a provider basis from national health service organisations and the latest data available is for the year 2002–03. Beds data for 2003–04 is due to be published later this year.

  The table shows the average occupancy rate for England between 1996–97 and 2002–03. Prior to 1996–97, bed occupancy data was not collected on the bed availability return.

  Bed occupancy data from 1996–97 to 1999–2000 are available in the Library and from the Department's website from 2000–01 to 2002–03 at www.performance. doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/index.htm.

  Average occupancy rate, calculated using the average daily number of available and occupied beds in wards open overnight, England, 1996–97 to 2092–03

  Percentage occupancy

  All specialties

  General and acute

  1996–97

  81 3

  80.8

  1997–98

  80 9

  80.5

  1998–99

  82 5

  82.5

  1999–2000

  82 7

  83.1

  2000–01

  84 0

  84.7

  2001–02

  85 1

  86.0

  2002–03

  85 4

  86.5

  Source:

  Department of Health from KH03.

  Cancer (NICE Guidelines)
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact he expects the revised National Institute for Clinical Excellence Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer will have on postgraduate general practitioner training. [185851]

  Mr. Hutton
  Government does not specify the content of the general practitioner training curriculum. This is the job of the joint committee on postgraduate training for general practice (JCPTGP), which is the competent authority for general practice training in the United Kingdom. The JCPTGP is an independent body and it is required by section 9(3) of the Vocational Training Regulations 1997 to determine and publish the curriculum to be followed by a GP registrar (a trainee GP).
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  The Regulations do specify seven competencies which must be tested, and which the curriculum must therefore teach:
  factual medical knowledge sufficient to enable the doctor to perform the duties of a GP;
  the ability to apply factual medical knowledge to the management of problems presented by patients in general practice;
  effective communication, both orally and in writing; the ability to consult satisfactorily with general practice patients;
  the ability to review and critically analyse the practitioner's own working practices and to manage any necessary changes appropriately;
  clinical skills;
  the ability to synthesise all of the above competencies and apply them appropriately in a general practice setting.

  It is, therefore, the responsibility of the JCPTGP to assess the impact of the revised National Institute for Clinical Excellence referral guidelines for suspected cancer and adapt postgraduate general practitioner training accordingly.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds are available for the elderly in care homes in Northampton; and how many were available on average in(a) 2001 and (b) 1997. [186515]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The table shows the number of places available for people aged 65 and over in residential and nursing homes in Northamptonshire, at 31 March for the years 1997 and 2001.

  Number of care home places for people aged 65 and over in Northamptonshire, 1997 and 2001

  As at 31 March

  Rounded numbers

  Residential

  Nursing2,3

  1997

  2,870

  —

  2001

  2,920

  1,640

  Notes:

  1Figures for residential care are for Northamptonshire local authority and for nursing care they are for Northamptonshire health authority

  2Nursing home figures include places in general nursing homes, mental nursing homes and private hospitals and clinics.

  3Information is not available by age#band at health authority level for 1997.

  Data for Northampton are not centrally available.

  I understand from the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.

  Chiropody
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of time patients have to wait between regular chiropody appointments is, broken down by primary care trust. [186454]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis(a) in Burnley, (b) within the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust and (c) within the East Lancashire NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement. [186740]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Department has no plans to institute special data collection exercises for specific diseases, conditions, syndromes or injuries.

  Central monitoring and reporting is limited to that information needed to demonstrate progress against the targets set out in "National Standards, Local Action: Health and Social care Standards and Planning Framework 2005/06-2007/08", published by the Department on 21 July 2004; and for contractual purposes. Additional monitoring is kept to a minimum in favour of local performance management systems, exception reporting and independent inspections.

  The report of the independent chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy working group, published in January 2002, estimated a population prevalence of around 0.2 to 0.4 per cent. in adults and around 0.07 per cent. in children. It made no analysis of regional variations.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health where chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis-diagnosed patients(a) in Burnley, (b) within the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust and (c) within the East Lancashire NHS Trust receive treatment; what the furthest distance an individual in these areas has to travel to access specialist services; and if he will make a statement. [186741]

  Dr. Ladyman
  We do not hold information centrally on the treatments and rehabilitation services available locally to patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalopathy.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from(a) chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) sufferers in Burnley, (b) CFS/ME sufferers within the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust and (c) CFS/ME su#ferers within the East Lancashire NHS Trust, (d) Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust and (e) the East Lancashire NHS Trust regarding (i) the levels of service provision and (ii) access to services for CFS/ME; and if he will make a statement. [186742]

  Dr. Lady man
  We are not aware of formal representations from people in the towns and trusts mentioned. There is regular correspondence to the Secretary of State, Ministers and the Chief Medical Officer around service provision for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what provision(a) East Lancashire NHS Trust and (b) Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust have for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis services; what specific funding they receive to deliver these services; and if he will make a statement; [186744]
  1072W
  (2) what referrs mechanisms are in place for (a) East Lancashire NHS Trust and (b) Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust to access chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis centres and support teams in the region; and if he will make a statement. [186745]

  Dr. Ladyman
  From April 2005, funding has been granted to create specialist multidisciplinary team for the geographical area of Lancashire and South Cumbria, which includes East Lancashire and Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale primary care trusts. Children and young people with chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalopathy will be managed by local community paediatric services, supported by the two clinical network co-ordinating centres in Manchester and Liverpool. Lancashire and Cumbria have been allocated £115,000 to develop the service.

  Continuing Care
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received fully funded NHS continuing care in each year since 1997, broken down by strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement. [185996]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The number of people receiving National Health Service continuing care in 2002–03 and 2003–04, broken down by strategic health authority (SHA), is shown in the table. The move to SHA took place in 2002. Therefore, it is not possible to provide data broken down by SHA preceding this date.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the 7.2 per cent. increase in health spending announced by the Chancellor on 12 July his Department expects to deploy to meet the cost of NHS continuing care. [186767]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The spending review statement by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirmed the Government's commitment to high and sustained levels of growth in investment for the national health service. The public service agreement published as part of the spending review and the departmental publication, "Health and Social Care Standards and Planning Guidance 2005–06 to 2007–08", set the priorities for investment during the next planning period. In support of these objectives, we plan to allocate the majority of NHS funding directly to primary care trusts and so maximise local flexibility in meeting these priorities.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assumptions his Department made about the change in the numbers of people needing intensive home care and home care during the Spending Review period announced by the Chancellor on 12 July; and how much of the planned increase in social care spending he expects will be deployed to allow for an expansion in domiciliary services as a result. [186795]

  Dr. Ladyman
  One of the Department's public service agreement targets states that, by March 2008, the number of people supported intensively to live independently at home, as a proportion of all those supported intensively at home or in residential care,
  1073W
  should increase to 34 per cent.; increasing the proportion of older people being supported to live in their own home by one per cent. annually in 2007 and 2008.

  The Spending Review settlement announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 12 July, was based on forecast increases in pay and prices, and increases in demand from demographic changes. It is for local authorities to decide how best to deploy the services available.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 15 June 2004,Official Report, column 901W, on NHS Continuing Care (Recompense), when the review of those wrongly denied NHS continuing care was commissioned; when it was submitted to Ministers; when it is expected to report back; and what the remit of the review was. [187067]

  Dr. Ladyman
  As I stated in my answer of 15 June, strategic health authorities (SHAs) are completing their reviews of cases where individuals may have been wrongly denied national health service continuing care and I will make a statement on the number of retrospective reviews completed and the number of individuals eligible for recompense as soon as that information is available. The independent review of the provision and understanding of NHS-funded continuing care within nine SHAs is a separate matter. The report has been completed and the Department is currently considering its conclusions.

  Departmental Publications (Storage)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many departmental publications are in storage; and where they are located. [183870]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department has approximately 40.4 million items stored at its main distributor, Prolog in Nottingham; 2.5 million items stored with EC Logistics in Hayes, Middlesex; 290,000 items at MM Group in Ashby de la Zouch, and 7,000 items at Brian Manktelow Ltd. in London.

  Diabetes
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital accident and emergency departments(a) stock both animal and human insulin and (b) inquire whether the diabetes patient has a preference for one or the other. [187051]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are in place at primary care level to offer diabetes patients a choice between animal and human insulin(a) at first diagnosis of diabetes and (b) on occurrence of the patient suffering from side effects of animal or human insulin [187055]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence issued advice in 2002 on the management of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes and the management of type 1 diabetes in children, young people and adults, issued in 2004. 1 his advice states that patient preference should form part of the choice of insulin type and regimen.
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  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is to the general practitioner of a patient being prescribed(a) animal and (b) human insulin. [187056]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The cost of prescribing insulin is not direct to general practitioners, as all prescribing is funded from the unified budgets of primary care trusts.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings he has had with his EU counterparts to discuss co-operation on research on diabetes. [186626]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  None. However, the Department, with the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust is funding a pan-European study on diabetes. The ADDITION study is a population-based screening study for undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes and is taking place in Denmark, the Netherlands, Cambridge and surrounding counties and Leicester.

  Diagnostic and Treatment Centres
  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the(a) anticipated construction cost, (b) date for start of construction and (c) date for completion is of each diagnostic and treatment centre already completed or in development in March. [182455]

  Mr. Hutton
  Capital investment of circa. £140 million has been made in the 27 treatment centres that are open and run and managed by the national health service. In addition, the NHS is contracting with the independent sector for the provision of surgical procedures rather than new physical capacity. In total, we expect there to be around 80 treatment centres open by the end of 2005.

  Domiciliary Care
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many domiciliary care providers have met the registration standards. [187066]

  Dr. Ladyman
  I understand from the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that, as of 31 August 2004, there were 3,018 domiciliary care agencies registered with the CSCI.

  Environmental Management
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average score for the controls assurance standard on environmental management has been in each year since 1997. [186013]

  Mr. Hutton
  The average scores for controls assurance standard on environmental management were:

  2000–01

  33.6

  2001–02

  35.5

  2002–03

  39.2

  2003–04

  49.0

  Scores were not collected prior to 2000–01. From 1 August 2004, key controls assurance standards were incorporated into Standards for Better Healthcare and the risk management process will be managed locally using the existing assurance framework.

  Free Eye Tests
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many old age pensioners in the Great Yarmouth constituency have benefited from the introduction of free eye tests. [186707]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Figures for the number of sight tests by constituency or by the number of old age pensioners are not collected centrally.

  The total number of national health service sight tests paid for patients aged 60 and over in Great Yarmouth Primary Care Trust (PCT) for the year 2003£04 was 13,720. However, some patients aged 60 and over will be eligible for sight tests for other reasons as well; for example, on income grounds. The classification for such patients will depend on the patient and the practitioner.

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

  Free Health Tests (Pensioners)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of providing an annual(a) chiropody assessment and (b) diabetes check to pensioners. [186456]

  Dr. Ladyman
  It is for local service providers to estimate the cost of any changes to local services which they might be considering.

  GP Access Target
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients were seen by a general practitioner within the 48-hour general practitioner access target in(a) Suffolk and (b) the Bury St. Edmunds constituency in the last year. [187197]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the percentage of patients able to be offered an appointment with a general practitioner within the 48-hour general practitioner access target for Suffolk and the Bury St. Edmunds constituency is shown as follows.

  1. Central Suffolk Primary Care Trust (PCT)—100 per cent, (as at July 2004).

  2. Suffolk West PCT (which serves Bury St. Edmunds)—100 per cent., (as at July 2004).

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average wait for an appointment to see(a) the general practitioner with whom an individual is registered and (b) another general practitioner in the practice with which an individual is registered, was in the last period for whi#h figures are available. [R] [181673]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not hold data on actual waiting times for appointments with general practitioners. It collects data on the availability of appointments to monitor progress towards the primary care access target. These show that, in July 2004, some 98 per cent. of the population could be seen by a GP within two working days.

  Head Injury Rehabilitation
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Health Select Committee's Third Report of Session 2000–01, on Head Injury Rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement. [186978]

  Dr. Ladyman
  We have taken various actions to improve services for patients with head injury. We commissioned the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to prepare guidelines for the triage, assessment, investigation and early management of head injuries in infants, children and adults in June 2003. The guidelines contain recommendations about when it is appropriate to admit patients to hospital following a head injury, what level of care they should receive and correct protocols for transferring patients to specialist head/brain injury units.

  The British Society for Rehabilitation Medicine also published guidelines, Rehabilitation following acquired brain injury; national clinical guidelines, last December. These outline the general principles of service provision and specific advice on the clinical management of patients with acquired brain injury. The guidelines were produced to inform the national service framework (NSF) for long term conditions.

  The NSF for long term conditions will focus on improving services for people with neurological conditions. It will recommend improvements in standards, care and support that will benefit everyone with a neurological condition.

  We are committed to publishing the framework as soon as possible.

  Headed Notepaper
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of printing Department of Health headed notepaper was in(a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. [184550]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 19 July 2004]: The costs of printing departmental headed notepaper in 1996–97 can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Costs for the period 2003 to June 2004 were £2,099.

  Health Promotion (Older People)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to invest in health promotion among older people; and what initiatives for older people have taken place in this area over the last two years. [186797]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The national service framework for older people focused on the promotion of health and active life in old age The Health Development Agency has produced an "advocacy tool" to enable local health and social care services appreciate the importance and make the case for improving health and well-being in midlife and older age.

  The needs of older people have been part of the development and services offered through healthy living centres, local exercise pilot sites and the development of learning through the healthy communities collaborative programme. This work has been supported further

  1077W
  through actions that incorporate a preventative approach into the development of stroke and mental health services and integrated falls services. Recognising the broad nature of factors that contribute to older people's sense of independence and well-being, we have also worked across Government to encourage active ageing based on council-wide strategies involving transport, leisure, education and other services.

  Our consultation, 'Choosing Health' A consultation on action to improve people's health", ended on 28 June 2004. Over 2,200 responses have been received and are now being analysed. These cover a wide range of topics. We shall build on the consultation responses as we prepare our White Paper on improving people's health, which we plan to publish in the autumn.

  Hearing Aids
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost per patient is of(a) an externally-worn hearing aid and (b) a hearing aid fitted to be internally worn. [186314]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There are a number of hearing aid types available under the national health service national framework for the supply of hearing aid products. For behind-the-ear hearing aids, prices are in the range of £67 to £195 for digital aids and £31 to £125 for analogue aids. In-the-ear hearing aid prices are in the range of £54 to £66 for analogue aids. These prices are for supply of a single hearing aid only and do not include the costs associated with the provision of the hearing aid service.

  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date internally-worn hearing aids will be fitted to all NHS patients for whom they are suitable and who request them. [186361]

  Dr. Ladyman
  All audiology departments in England will routinely be fitting digital hearing aids by March 2005 to patients who require them.

  There are no plans for the national health service to supply in-the-ear hearing aids routinely to patients.

  Hospital Hygiene/Infection Control
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what independent inspections are undertaken of hospital hygiene management programmes; and if he will make a statement. [184417]

  Mr. Hutton
  Responsibility for reviewing the performance of national health service trusts rests with the Healthcare Commission. A new inspection process for monitoring against the new healthcare standards will commence from next year.

  In addition, infection control protocols will be inspected as part of the clinical negligence scheme for trusts.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance has been given since 19 March 1997 to the(a) development and (b) use in hospitals of new (i) paints and (ii) cleaning products able to kill known microbes; and if he will make a statement. [184418]
  1078W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The choice of paints and cleaning products for use in hospitals is decided locally by individual national health service trusts. We have set up a rapid review process to assess products that make claims about their efficacy to prevent or control healthcare associated infections. However, products to destroy these micro-organisms are already available and it is the consistent use of good infection control practice that needs to be improved.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospital trust(a) Chairmen, (b) Chief Executives and (c) other board members have received training in administering hygiene and infection control regimes. [185335]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) representations he has received and (b) evidence he has collected regarding the effect of advance publication of hospital cleaning target specifications on the cleanliness of hospitals. [185620]

  Mr. Hutton
  Since 2000, the patient environment action team (PEAT) programme and the national standards of cleanliness for the National Health Service have been introduced.

  As a result of the PEAT inspections; the introduction of the national standards of cleanliness; the investment of £68 million and the efforts of the NHS, standards have risen from a position where, in autumn 2000, only a little over 20 per cent. of hospitals were assessed as having good standards of cleanliness to one where nearly 80 per cent. were assessed as good and the remainder assessed by PEAT as acceptable. We consider that these changes have been important factors in raising standards across the NHS over the past four years, but recognise further improvements are needed.

  No representations have been received specifically on this issue.

  Mental Health
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2004,Official Report, column 1275W, on mental health, what percentage of NHS trusts provide single-sex accommodation for unplanned admissions. [186753]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information is not collected centrally.

  National health service trusts should make every effort to ensure that all patients are cared for in single-sex accommodation. There may be occasions when the use of mixed sex accommodation is unavoidable. Hospitals will not turn patients away because a bed in a single-sex area is not available, and nor would we expect them to.

  Emergency admissions may sometimes be placed in an area that houses both male and female patients. This is not ideal; but it is sometimes necessary, given that the NHS deals with almost four million emergency admissions each year.
  1079W
  Guidance on maintaining patient privacy and dignity issued to the service in 1997 advises that patients admitted under emergency procedures should be transferred into appropriate single-sex accommodation at the earliest possible opportunity; but at least within 48 hours. Where the use of mixed-sex accommodation is unavoidable, hospitals should have in place clear operational policies that minimise the impact of this situation until the patient can be moved to accommodation that is more appropriate.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been taken to assist carers of patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease in Romsey. [186757]

  Dr. Ladyman
  All carers, including those caring for people with dementia, are entitled to an assessment to determine their needs as carers and eligibility for support. The new Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 introduces new provisions that will ensure that carers are made aware of this right.

  The carers grant, worth £125 million this year, provides money for local councils to provide short breaks and services to cares to enable them to continue in their caring role. Carers are also entitled to cash payments for carers' services to enable them to purchase the type of support they require and promote a better quality of life.

  The Department has also revised and updated, "Who cares? Information and support for the carers of confused people."

  At a local level, the Eastleigh and Test Valley South Primary Care Trust, working with the Hampshire Partnership Trusts and the local social services, has developed a wide range of initiatives in both the acute and community setting which offer advice and support to patients with dementia, and their carers. This includes a carer's centre, jointly commissioned specialist services for carers provided by Southampton MIND, and regular carer's education and support sessions which are run by the local memory assessment and research centre.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the availability of drugs for treating advanced Alzheimer's disease in Romsey; [186758]

  (2) how much was spent by the NHS on drug treatments for advanced Alzheimer's disease patients in Romsey in the latest year for which figures are available; [186759]

  (3) how many advanced Alzheimer's disease patients are being treated in the Romsey constituency. [186760]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information on the number of advanced Alzheimer's disease patients being treated by individual primary care trusts (PCTs) is not collected centrally.

  Data on the number of prescription items dispensed in the community and the net ingredient cost are collected by the Prescription Pricing Authority. The total number of prescription items dispensed for dementia drugs and the net ingredient costs of these drugs, in the area covered by Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT in 2003–04 is shown in the table. It is not
  1080W
  possible to provide a breakdown for expenditure on drug treatments for advanced Alzheimer's patients for Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT.

  Total number of prescription items and net ingredient cost for "Drugs for Dementia' (BNF 4.11, Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease) dispensed in the community for Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT in 2003–04

  Number of prescription items (thousand)

  Net ingredient cost (£000)

  Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT

  2.9

  298.0

  England total

  392.7

  34,217.0

  Notes:

  PCA data covers all prescription items that are dispensed in the community in England. PCA data does not include items dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions.

  Drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease are classified in the British National Formulary section 4.11 (Drugs for Dementia) and include the drugs Donepezil, Rivastigmine, Galantamine and Memantine.

  Information on the number of patients receiving prescriptions for these drugs is not available, but numbers of prescription items of all prescriptions dispensed in the community in Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT (this is not necessarily the same as where the drugs were prescribed) and the net ingredient cost is provided.

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

  The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug. This cost does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charge income.

  Source:

  Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data from the Prescription Pricing Authority.

  The Department has not made an assessment of the availability of drugs for treating advanced Alzheimer's disease in Romsey. It is for PCTs, in conjunction with strategic health authorities, to ensure that services meet local needs.

  Sandra Gidley
  #o ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the resources available to Alzheimer's patients. [186457]

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

  The Government is committed to improving standards of health and social care and people with Alzheimer's disease will benefit from the new investment that is being made available to support this commitment. For the NHS, there is an annual average funding increase of 7.5 per cent. above inflation over the five years 2003–04 to 2007–08. This is now the largest ever sustained increase in NHS funding. There have also been substantial increases in the level of funding provided for social services in recent years. Social services resources will increase by an annual average of 6 per cent. in real terms from 2003–04 to 2005–06. These significant funding increases will help provide new and better health and social care services for people with Alzheimer's disease.
  1081W
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Alzheimer's disease patients are being treated in Norwich; what the total spending on drugs available on the NHS for Alzheimer's disease was in Norwich in the last year for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of the availability of drugs for moderately-severe to severe Alzheimer's disease in Norwich; how much was spent by the NHS on drug treatments for advanced Alzheimer's disease patients in Norwich in the last year for which figures are available; and what measures have been taken to assist carers of patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease in Norwich. [187013]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information on the number of advanced Alzheimer's disease patients being treated by individual primary care trusts (PCTs) is not collected centrally.

  Data on the number of prescription items dispensed in the community and the net ingredient costs is collected by the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA). The total number of prescription items dispensed for dementia drugs and the net ingredient costs of these drugs, in the area covered by Norwich PCT in 2003–04 is shown in the table. It is not possible to provide a breakdown for expenditure on drug treatments for advanced Alzheimer's patients in Norfolk.

  Total number of prescription items and net ingredient cost for "Drugs for Dementia" (BNF 4.11, Treatment of Alzheimer's disease) dispensed in the community for selected PCT in 2003–04

  Number of prescription items

  Net ingredient cost

  Norwich PCT

  1,408

  111,272

  England total

  392,652

  34,217,012

  Notes:

  PCA data covers all prescription items chat are dispensed in the community in England. PCA data does not include items dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions.

  Drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease are classified in the British National Formulary section 4.11 (Drugs for Dementia) and include the drugs Donepezil, Rivastigmine, Galantamine and Memantine.

  Information on the number of patients receiving prescriptions for these drugs is not available, but numbers of prescription items of all prescriptions dispensed in the community in Norwich PCT (this is not necessarily the same as where the drugs were prescribed) and the net ingredient cost is provided.

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

  The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug. This cost does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charge income.

  Source:

  Prescription cost analysis (PCA) data from the PPA.

  The Department has not made an assessment of the availability of drugs for treating advanced Alzheimer's disease in Norwich. It is for PCTs, in conjunction with strategic health authorities (SHAs), to ensure that services meet local needs.

  Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridge SHA has advised that all patients who are prescribed medication for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease are assessed by a consultant for four months. If the medication is beneficial then the patient's general practitioner takes
  1082W
  over responsibility for prescribing, with the option to discontinue the medication if it is not producing benefits for the patient, or his/her carer, at any time.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been taken to assist carers of patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease in(a) the UK and (b) Dartford. [187028]

  Dr. Ladyman
  All carers, including those caring for people with dementia, are entitled to an assessment to determine their needs as carers and eligibility for support. The new Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 introduces new provisions that will ensure that carers are made aware of this right.

  The carers grant, worth £125 million this year, provides money for local councils to provide short breaks and services to carers to enable them to continue in their caring role. Carers are also entitled to cash payments for carers' services to enable them to purchase the type of support they require and promote a better quality of life.

  The Department has also revised and updated Who cares? Information and support for the carers of confused people.

  Matters relating to Scotland and Wales are matters for the devolved administration. Whilst the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office.

  There are two new local initiatives in Dartford. Firstly, the provision of 10 residential care beds specifically for the assessment and treatment of dementia. Secondly, there is an intensive domiciliary care scheme that offers patients and their carers an opportunity to choose the kind of support they receive.

  Midwives
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives are registered in the West Midlands. [187300]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not held centrally, but is available directly from the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which is an independent statutory regulatory body.

  Ministerial Conference (Care Issues)
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the purposes were of the ministerial conference on 26 to 27 May on care issues; and if he will list those invited to attend. [186153]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Central Government Departments are required to produce pay and workforce strategies in respect of the public services workforces that they cover. The social care workforce is covered predominantly by three Departments; the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

  The social care workforce conference was organised by the Department of Health to bring together stakeholders in the development of the social care workforce to share knowledge and to reflect on and

  1083W
  inform the revision of the Department's national social care workforce strategy in relation to recruitment, development and rewards.

  Over the past year, most parts of the national infrastructure that are accountable for the social care workforce have experienced significant change. In the Department of Health, a major reorganisation has created a new workforce directorate that has joined health and social care workforce development functions into new teams. Children's social care policy has moved to a new children and families directorate in the DIES and new people are engaged in taking forward the proposals in the Green Paper, Every child matters. Key

  Title

  First name

  Surname

  Organisation

  1.

  Mr

  James

  Churchill

  ARC

  2.

  Professor

  Gillian

  Slater

  Bournemouth University

  3.

  Mr

  Ian

  Johnston

  British Association of Social Workers (BASW

  4.

  Ms

  Julia

  Hurst

  Bupa Care Services

  5.

  Mr

  Peter

  Ludford

  Bupa Care Services

  6.

  Mr

  Oliver

  Thomas

  Bupa Care Services

  7.

  Professor

  Peter

  Beresford

  Centre for Citizen Participation

  8.

  Mrs

  Sheelagh

  Richards

  College of Occupational Therapists

  9.

  Mr

  David

  Behan

  Commission for Social Care Inspection

  10.

  Ms

  Denise

  Platt

  CSCI

  11.

  Mr

  Paul

  Harper

  Department for Education and Skills

  12.

  Mr

  Dominic

  Hudson

  Department for Education and Skills

  13.

  Mr

  Tom

  Jeffery

  Department for Education and Skills

  14.

  Ms

  Judy

  Leavesley

  Department of

  15.

  Dr

  Jeanette

  Pugh

  Department for Education and Skills

  16.

  Mr

  Steve

  Catling

  Department of Health

  17.

  Mr

  Andrew

  Foster

  Department of Health

  18.

  Dr

  Carol

  Lupton

  Department of health

  19.

  Ms

  Anne

  Mercer

  Department of health

  20.

  Mr

  Craig

  Muir

  Department of Health

  21.

  Mr

  Andrew

  Nash

  Department of Health

  22.

  Ms

  Melanie

  Newman

  Department of Health

  23.

  Professor

  Anthony

  Sheehan

  Department of Health

  24.

  Mr

  Martin

  Staniforth

  Department of health

  25.

  Mrs

  Janis

  Stout

  Department of Health

  26.

  Mr

  Lionel

  Took

  Department of Health

  27.

  Ms

  Pat

  Nicholls

  Department of Health

  28.

  Mrs

  Sue

  Brennan

  Department of Health

  29.

  Mr

  Rob

  Webster

  Department of Health

  30.

  Ms

  Joan

  Munro

  Employers Organisation for Local Government

  31.

  Councillor

  John

  Stocks

  Employers Organisation for Local Government

  32.

  Mr

  Mike

  Walker

  Employers Organisation for Local Government

  33.

  Miss

  Ann

  Mackay

  English Community Care Association

  34.

  Ms

  Lynne

  Berry

  General Social Care Council

  35.

  Mr

  Rodney

  Brooke

  General Social Care Council

  36.

  Mr

  John

  Sargent

  Greater Manchester WDC

  37.

  Mr

  Andrew

  Crook

  HM Treasury

  38.

  Miss

  Lucy

  French

  H M Treasury

  39.

  Mr

  Nigel

  Druce

  Improvement and Development Agency

  40.

  Professor

  Michael

  Preston-Shoot

  JUC-SWEC University of London

  41.

  Mr

  Peter

  Huxley

  Kings College London

  42.

  Professor

  Jill

  Manthorpe

  Kings College London

  43.

  Mr

  Neil

  Dhruev

  Leicestershire Partnership Trust

  44.

  Mr

  Vie

  Citarella

  LGA

  45.

  Mr

  Tony

  Hunter

  Liverpool City Council

  46.

  Ms

  Vivienne

  Walters

  Local Government Association

  47.

  Ms

  Catherine

  Mangal

  Local Government Association

  48.

  Ms

  Jenny

  Goodall

  London Borough of Brent

  49.

  Ms

  Christine

  Hawes

  London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

  50.

  Mr

  Des

  Kelly

  National Care Forum

  51.

  Mrs

  Sheila

  Scott

  National Care Homes Association

  52.

  Mrs

  Nadra

  Ahmed

  National Care Homes Association

  53.

  Ms

  Erica

  De'Ath

  NCVCCO

  54.

  Mr

  Brendan

  Johnston

  National Ireland Social Care Council

  55.

  Ms

  Husna

  Mortuza

  Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

  56.

  Mr

  Geoffrey

  Tierney

  Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

  57.

  Mr

  Michael

  Leadbetter

  Practice Learning Taskforce

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  regulatory institutions, the National Care Standards Commission and the Social Services Inspectorate, have merged into the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). The proposed introduction of a sector skills council is also having an impact on the social care employers infrastructure.

  The conference had the dual purpose of providing an early opportunity for the many new people to meet and share perspectives, and then to consider with the Government Ministers with central responsibilities how future strategy should be shaped and partnership managed.

  Invitations were sent to the following people:
  1085W

  Title

  First name

  Surname

  Organisation

  58.

  Mr

  Frank

  Ursell

  Registered Nursing Home Association

  59.

  Mr

  Alistair

  Gaw

  Scottish Executive

  60.

  Ms

  Ann

  Christina

  Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority

  61.

  Mr

  John

  Rogers

  Skills for Health

  62.

  Mr

  Richard

  Clough

  Association

  63.

  Ms

  Sheila

  Barrett

  Social Care Institute of Excellence

  64.

  Mr

  Don

  Brand

  Social Care Institute of Excellence

  65.

  Ms

  Jane

  Campbell

  Social Care Institute of Excellence

  66.

  Mr

  Bill

  Kilgallon

  Social Care Institute of Excellence

  67.

  Ms

  Sue

  Lightup

  St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  68.

  Mr

  Richard

  Banks

  Topss England

  69.

  Mr

  Arthur

  Keefe

  Topss England

  70.

  Mrs

  Andrea

  Rowe

  Topss England

  71.

  Mr

  Francis

  Ward

  Topss England

  72.

  Mr

  Bill

  McClimont

  UK Home Care Association

  73.

  Mrs

  Lesley

  Rimmer

  UK Home Care Association

  74.

  Mr

  Owen

  Davies

  Unison

  75.

  Ms

  Jo

  Goodship

  University of Portsmouth

  76.

  Professor

  Judith

  Lathlean

  University of Southampton

  77.

  Ms

  Maggie

  Blyth

  Youth Justice Board

  78.

  Mr

  David

  Jones

  DfES

  79.

  Mr

  David

  Leay

  NATOPSS

  80.

  Ms

  Fiona

  Woodward

  Unison

  MRSA
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to ambulance authorities on(a) combating MRSA and (b) infection control generally; and what additional resources he plans to make available for this purpose. [184409]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Management action and resources for infection control are matters for individual national health service trusts. Each trust will have an infection control policy which should comply with current best practice and have access to local advice. Healthcare organisations including ambulance trusts should have systems in place to minimise the risk to patients from healthcare associated infections. Health Service Circular 2000/002 required all NHS trusts, including ambulance trusts to take action to strengthen prevention and control of infection, to secure appropriate health care services for patients with infection and improve surveillance of infection. This was reinforced by "Winning Ways—Working together to reduce Hospital Acquired Infection in England".

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the isolation procedures set down by the Department to combat MRSA and which were operative as at 19 March 1997 are still operative; when the procedures were last brought to the attention of hospitals; and if he will make a statement; [184411]

  (2) in what circumstances hospitals are required to provide strict isolation for MRSA sufferers; and if he will make a statement. [184413]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Decisions on isolation are made locally. The guidance issued in 1995 is still in place and we require national health sell ice organisations to regularly assess their needs for isolation facilities. Health Service Circular 2000/002 on the management and control of hospital infection, required trusts to undertake a risk assessment to determine appropriate provision of isolation facilities within each trust.
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  "Winning Ways—Working together to reduce healthcare associated infection in England", published in December 2003 requires chief executives to ensure that there is appropriate provision of isolation facilities within their healthcare facilities.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether hospitals are required to destroy bed linen of MRSA sufferers after use; and#if he will make a statement. [184412]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The destruction of bed linen is not necessary as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is removed by normal laundering.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the results were of the national surveillance by 40 hospitals in respect of MRSA announced by the Minister on 19 March 1997; and if he will make a statement. [184414]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The results were used to develop the nosocomial infection national surveillance service, which was a voluntary and confidential reporting system. This surveillance system aimed to help hospitals benchmark their own performance and investigate their own infection rates. It had two module hospital acquired blood stream infections, which has been replaced by the mandatory surveillance system, and surgical site infections. Orthopaedic surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance is now part of the mandatory system and the rest of SSI module was developed into the surgical site infections surveillance system.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he proposes to introduce to tackle MRSA in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement. [184421]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Implementation of our action plan, "Winning Ways—Working together to reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England", will reduce infections in both hospital and community settings. This report will raise standards by reinforcing the need to follow existing good practice, such as the
  1087W
  public health medicine environmental group guidelines on the control of infection in residential and nursing homes, published in 1996 and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance, "Infection control; prevention of healthcare associated infection in primary and community care", published in 2003. In addition, we have asked the public health medicine and environmental group to update the existing guidance on infection control in nursing homes.

  Nappies
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Department has received a written request from the Nappy Alliance seeking a meeting to discuss policy and practice in the use of nappies within NHS facilities. [178246]

  Expenditure on total non NHS staff: 1997–98 to 2002–03 (£)

  Trust name

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  279,396

  560,994

  668,454

  949,289

  2,173,143

  3,254,519

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

  147,376

  106,148

  208,977

  458,423

  903,261

  1,346,960

  Northampton Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  803,837

  1,221,668

  1,057,035

  1,266,031

  n/a

  n/a

  Rockingham Forest NHS Trust

  265,930

  902,672

  806,521

  1,384,405

  n/a

  n/a

  Northampton Healthcare NHS Trust

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  4,121,279

  4,649,625

  Daventry and South Northamptonshire Primary Care Trust (PCT)

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  63,534

  67,404

  100,000

  Northampton PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  202,315

  Sources:

  1. Annual financial returns of NHS trusts, 1997–98 to 2002–03.

  2. Annual financial returns of PCTs, 2000–01 to 2002–03

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Medical and dental staff, and Non-Medical within Northampton General Hospital National Health Service Trust

  Number (headcount)

  As it 30 September each year

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  Medical and Dental Staff (Doctors)

  226

  241

  248

  264

  283

  Non-Medical Staff (Nurses)

  n/a

  2,628

  2,601

  2,581

  2,799

  Of which

  Professionally qualified clinical staff

  n/a

  1,411

  1,414

  1,427

  1,548

  Qualified nurses

  n/a

  1,141

  1,149

  1,156

  1,233

  Qualified Scientific and Technical staff

  n/a

  270

  265

  271

  315

  Support to clinical staff

  n/a

  893

  876

  766

  879

  Support to doctors and nurses

  n/a

  738

  724

  616

  719

  Support to Scientific and Technical staff

  n/a

  155

  152

  150

  160

  NHS infrastructure support

  n/a

  324

  311

  388

  372

  Central functions

  n/a

  120

  130

  125

  120

  Hotel property and estate staff

  n/a

  145

  127

  204

  193

  Managers and senior managers

  n/a

  59

  54

  59

  59

  Number (headcount)

  As at 30 September each year

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Medical and Dental Staff (Doctors)

  283

  279

  293

  298

  312

  Non-Medical Staff (Nurses)

  2,805

  2,869

  3,023

  3,101

  3,366

  Of which

  Professionally qualified clinical staff

  1,505

  1,529

  1,553

  1,540

  1,611

  Qualified nurses

  1,192

  1,192

  1,202

  1,180

  1,237

  Qualified Scientific and Technical staff

  313

  337

  351

  360

  374

  Support to clinical staff

  861

  901

  979

  1,068

  1,280

  Support to doctors and nurses

  699

  728

  779

  867

  1,051

  Support to Scientific and Technical staff

  162

  173

  200

  201

  229

  1088W
  Dr. Ladyman
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 June 2004, Official Report, column 1279 W]: I regret that my previous reply was incorrect. It should read as follows:

  The Department of Health received a written request from the Nappy Alliance for a meeting in a letter dated 6 May 2004.

  NHS Agency Staff
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent by the NHS on agency staff in Northampton south in each year since 1997. [186519]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information for the national health service organisation serving the Northampton south area is shown in the following table.
  1089W

  Number (headcount)

  As at 30 September each year

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  NHS infrastructure support

  439

  439

  491

  493

  475

  Central functions

  99

  107

  100

  110

  140

  Hotel property and estate staff

  273

  265

  315

  286

  261

  Managers and senior managers

  67

  67

  76

  97

  74

  n/a–not applicable

  Sources:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  Department of Health Non-Medical Work force Census

  NHS Commercial Activity
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will(a) take steps to prevent the distribution within NHS hospitals of Bounty packs to mothers of newly-born children and (b) undertake an assessment of the environmental sustainability of the products contained in Bounty packs. [186180]

  Dr. Ladyman
  There are no plans to take steps to prevent the distribution of Bounty packs within National Health Service hospitals and no plans to undertake an assessment of the environmental sustainability of the products contained in the packs.

  NHS Dentistry
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the progress of the NHS dentistry support team's work with primary care trusts in Gloucestershire; [186311]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress of the action plan to establish new dental practices in Gloucestershire. [186312]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The national health service dentistry support team is working with West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT). The PCT's dental action plan has been endorsed by the support team and will be published following the PCT's board meeting on 16 September.

  Additional recurrent funding of £400,000 has been allocated by the support team to the PCT to support the developments contained in its action plan.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices are offering NHS dental services in the London borough of Enfield; and what efforts are being made to increase their availability. [187004]

  Mr. Hutton
  Data for numbers of dentists accepting new patients are not collected by London borough.

  The available information on practises accepting new patients is on the nhs.uk website at www.nhs.uk. The table shows the number of dentists in Enfield Primary Care Trust (PCT) accepting new patients.
  1090W

  Number of dental practices in Enfield PCT accepting new national health service patients by type of patient as at 27 July 2004

  Service

  Accepting new patients

  Total number of practices

  51

  Providing occasional NHS treatment to non registered patients

  4

  —

  Registering charge exempt adults for NHS treatment

  21

  —

  Registering charge paying adults for NHS treatment

  22

  —

  Registering children aged 0–18 years for NHS treatment

  30

  —

  Note:

  Enfield PCT (as part of North Central London) has the highest general dental practitioner per 1,000 population ratio in the United Kingdom (= 0.5).

  Enfield PCT recognises that practices are not always located in the areas of greatest need. As part of developing its commissioning strategy for dentistry, the PCT will look to increase the number of personal dental services in Enfield in 2004–05 and has already put aside space for a dental practice at the local investment finance trust Forest Road Primary Care Centre, Edmonton, in February 2006.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in the Colchester constituency provide NHS treatment; how many provided NHS treatment in 1997; and if he will make a statement. [186979]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information is not collected by parliamentary constituency. However, there were 82 dentists providing National Health Service treatment in the Colchester Primary Care Trust area, which includes the Colchester constituency, in September 2003, the latest data available. In September 1997, there were 72 dentists. These numbers cover dentists working in the general dental service or personal dental service.

  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS dentists in the Bury St. Edmunds constituency are registering new NHS patients. [187202]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected by Parliamentary constituency. However, there are 34 national health service dental practices in the Suffolk West Primary Care Trust area, which covers the Bury St. Edmunds constituency. Of these, 12, or 35.3 per cent., of the total, are registering children, eight, or 23.5 per cent., are registering charge exempt adults and six, or 17.6 per cent., are registering charge paying adults. In addition, one practice is providing occasional NHS treatment for non registered patients.

  Source:

  NHS.UK website.
  1091W
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have applied to become NHS dentists in each year since 2000 in Suffolk. [187206]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The number of entrants into national health service dentistry in each year since 2000 in Suffolk primary care trusts (PCTs) are shown in the table.

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Central Suffolk PCT area1

  5

  3

  3

  3

  Suffolk Coastal PCT area2

  3

  1

  1

  2

  Suffolk West PCT area3

  8

  14

  16

  10

  1Figures for Central Suffolk are based on general dental service (GDS) contracts only. There are no personal dental service (PDS) dentists in this PCT area.

  2Figures for Suffolk Coastal are based on GDS contracts only. There are no PDS dentists in this PCT area.

  3Figures are based on GDS and PDS contracts.

  NHS Denturists
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Department has to review the role of denturists within the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [187228]

  Department of Health Vacancies Surrey, 1999–2004

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Northamptonshire HA (1999–2001) and Leicestershire,

  Three month vancancy rates and numbers

  Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA (2002–04)

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  GP

  —

  —

  —

  44

  —

  89

  Consultant and other doctors (excluding doctors in training)

  3.30

  9

  1—

  1—

  1.20

  3

  All nursing. midwifery and health visiting staff(excluding HA staff)

  2.3

  76

  1.6

  57

  2.1

  73

  All scientific, therapeutic and technical staff (excluding HA staff)

  1.0

  9

  2.8

  26

  3.4

  34

  All other staff (excluding HA staff)

  1.8

  43

  0.4

  9

  0.4

  9

  2002

  2003

  2004

  Northarnptonshire HA (1999–2001) and Leicestershire,

  Three month vacancy rates and numbers

  Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA (2002–04)

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  Percentage

  Number

  GP

  —

  2123

  —

  348

  —

  —

  Consultant and other doctors (excluding doctors in training)

  1.80

  5

  5.40

  47

  7.70

  31

  All nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (excluding HA staff)

  3.4

  116

  2.8

  281

  1.7

  192

  All scientific, therapeutic and technical staff (excluding HA staff)

  3.5

  36

  3.4

  112

  2.4

  87

  All other staff (excluding HA staff)

  0.2

  4

  0.6

  47

  1.2

  97

  GP information:

  12000 data not available.

  2In 2002, one HA in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland did not respond to the survey.

  3 Vacancy numbers for Northamptonshire PCTs.

  Note:

  No figures for PCTs are available before 2003 as previous years vacancy numbers were collected from health authorities. Vacancy numbers for each year refer to the number of vacancies occurring in the 12 month period between 1 April and 31 March.

  Northampton General Hospital
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) doctors, (b) nurses and

  Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS): medical and dental staff; and non-medical within Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  Number (headcount)

  As at 30 September each year

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1958

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Medical and dental staff (doctors)

  226

  241

  248

  264

  283

  283

  279

  293

  298

  312

  Non-medical staff (nurses)

  n/a

  2,628

  2,601

  2,581

  2,799

  2,805

  2,869

  3,023

  3,101

  3,366

  of which:

  Professionally qualified clinical staff

  n/a

  1,411

  1,414

  1,427

  1,548

  1,505

  1,529

  1,553

  1,540

  1,611

  Qualified nurses

  n/a

  1,141

  1,149

  1,156

  1,233

  1,192

  1,192

  1,202

  1,180

  1,237

  Qualified scientific and technical staff

  n/a

  270

  265

  271

  315

  313

  337

  351

  360

  374

  1092W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The practice of denturism is currently illegal in the United Kingdom, but the Department is working with the General Dental Council (GDC) to provide for the registration of appropriately trained clinical dental technicians (CDTs). On 30 July we issued for consultation a draft of an Order which, with other amendments to the Dentists Act 1984 to modernise the regulation of dentistry, would give the GDC the necessary powers. Comments on the draft are requested by 30 October and it will subsequently be laid before Parliament for debate under the affirmative procedure. Subject to approval, we expect the Order to come into force during 2005.

  NHS Staff Vacancies
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff vacancies there were on average in the NHS in Northampton in each year since 1997. [186520]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  (c) support staff were employed by Northampton General Hospital, in each of the last 10 years. [186590]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  1093W

  Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS): medical and dental staff, and non-medical within Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  Number (headcount)

  As at 30 September each year

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Support to clinical staff

  n/a

  893

  876

  766

  879

  861

  901

  979

  1,068

  1,280

  Support to doctors and nurses

  n/a

  738

  724

  616

  719

  699

  728

  779

  867

  1,051

  Support to scientific and technical staff

  n/a

  155

  152

  150

  160

  162

  173

  200

  201

  229

  NHS infrastructure support

  n/a

  324

  311

  388

  372

  439

  439

  491

  493

  475

  Central functions

  n/a

  120

  130

  125

  120

  99

  107

  100

  110

  140

  Hotel property and estate staff

  n/a

  145

  127

  204

  193

  273

  265

  315

  286

  261

  Managers and senior managers

  n/a

  59

  54

  59

  59

  67

  67

  76

  97

  74

  Note:

  n/a denotes not applicable.

  Sources:

  Department of Health medical and denial workforce census.

  Department of Health non-medical workforce census.

  Nurses
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many overseas nurses are employed in the University Hospital of Leicester. [186625]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many modern matrons have been appointed in the NHS since the NHS Plan was introduced; and if he will make a statement. [186665]

  Mr. Hutton
  The latest figures, taken from local development plan returns from trusts, indicate that, as at December 2003, there were 3,200 modern matrons employed in the national health service.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether community matrons will take precedence over senior district nurses in the general recruitment process. [187166]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is for local national health service trusts to determine their local work force priorities and to recruit staff according to local need and national priorities. The Government has Increased the number of nurses working in the NHS by 77,500 since 1997, which includes an increase of 25 per cent. in community service nurses.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on current staffing levels of his aim to recruit 3,000 community matrons. [187167]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is expected that nurses with the skills and knowledge to take on the role of community matron will be recruited from a range of community, hospital and intermediate care settings, in particular district nursing. The introduction of community matrons will mean staffing working differently and more effectively and may not always require additional nursing staff.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of community matrons on staffing levels of social care professionals. [187339]

  Mr. Hutton
  In order to deliver benefits for patients, community matrons will need to be able to assess patients medical, psychological and social care needs. This 1094W
  combination of skills is largely found in experienced nurses, rather than social care professionals. It is expected that social care professionals will form part of the multi-professional team that community matrons will work within.

  Out-patient Access Targets
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of health authorities in Great Yarmouth in meeting out-patient access targets since 1997. [186714]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority's (which covers the health economies of Great Yarmouth) performance on meeting out-patient access targets are shown in the table. The figures for 1997 are not available.

  Number of people waiting for out-patient treatment; over 13 and over 17 weeks

  March:

  Over 13 weeks

  Over 17 weeks

  1998

  17,859

  n/a

  1999

  21,517

  n/a

  2000

  19,183

  n/a

  2001

  15,429

  n/a

  2002

  10,797

  n/a

  2003

  5,366

  1,685

  2004

  2,556

  0

  Notes:

  1. Data prior to September 2001 have been converted to match current strategic health authority boundaries.

  2. Target: achieve a maximum wait of four months (17 weeks) for an out-patient appointment and reduce the number of over 13-week out-patient waiters by March 2004, as progress towards achieving a maximum wait of three months for an out-patient appointment by March 2005.

  Source:

  Care and health information portfolio factsheet.

  Patient Environment and Assessment Team
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals were(a) put on special measures and (b) offered additional support following inspection by a Patient Environment and Assessment Team (PEAT) in each year since inspections began; and what the overall (i) PEAT score and (ii) star rating were in each case. [185333]
  1095W
  Mr. Hutton
  Since 2000, assessments of hospital cleanliness have been undertaken by patient environment action teams (PEATs). Following these assessments hospitals are allocated a rating on a 'traffic-light' scale—Red equals poor, Amber equals acceptable and Green equals good. Since August 2001, PEATs have confirmed that there are no hospitals where overall standards are less than acceptable.

  However, following the PEAT assessments in 2002, some hospitals were identified where, although overall acceptable levels had been achieved, it was felt that there were grounds for additional support to be provided to ensure that standards were maintained and any shortfalls identified remedied. This was also the case in 2003.

  In 2002, 51 hospitals were identified where such support was been deemed appropriate and in 2003 this number was 111. The PEAT rating for all of these hospitals was 'Amber'.

  The star rating process is applied to the aggregate performance of a trust, whereas the PEAT rating is applied to each hospital within a trust and it is therefore possible that a trust with an overall good star rating may have an individual site where cleanliness standards are a cause for concern.

  PFI/PPP Contracts
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts have been let by his Department in each financial year since 2001–02 to(a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte and Touche, (c) KPMG and (d) Ernst and Young for advising his Department on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts; and what fees were paid in each case. [182266]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table shows details of the number of contracts and fees paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and Touche, KPMG and Ernst and Young since 2001–02 by the Department for advising on the private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts.

  PwC

  Deloitte and Touche

  KMPG

  Ernst and Young

  2001–02

  Number of contracts

  1

  0

  2

  1—

  25,000

  Fees (£)

  23,818

  —

  25,000

  1—

  2002–03

  Number of contracts

  0

  3

  0

  1—

  50,529

  20,623

  Fees (£)

  —

  221,803

  0

  1—

  2003–04

  Number of contracts

  0

  2

  1

  1—

  189,772

  Fees (£)

  —

  71,557

  58,321

  1—

  2004–05

  Number of contracts

  0

  0

  1

  1—

  Fees (£)

  —

  —

  17,500

  1—

  1No contracts awarded.

  2Sub-contracted to Davis Langdon Everest.

  1096W
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts and what fees(a) Barclays, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) the Bank of Scotland received for advising his Department on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02. [186674]

  Mr. Hutton
  No contracts have been awarded to any of the companies listed in the question.

  Press Officers
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed in his Department. [187159]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There are 21 press officers presently employed in the Department.

  Radioactivity (Public Health)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a study of cancer incidence in North Essex. [183975]

  Dr. Ladyman
  We have no current plans to commission a study of cancer incidence in North Essex. Indeed, in line with the "NHS Plan" and the "Shifting the Balance of Power" initiative to devolve funding decisions to the front line, it is now for primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health tackling health inequalities and modernising services, based on the specialised knowledge they have of the local community.

  Recruitment Consultants
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent in(a) 1996–97 and (b) the last year for which figures are available on (i) head-hunters and recruitment consultants, (ii) management consultants, (iii) advertising consultants and (iv) public relations consultants. [184534]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 16 July 2004]: The detailed information requested is not held centrally. Expenditure by the Department on external consultancy services in each year from 1996–97 to 2003–04 is shown in the table.

  Financial Year

  Expenditure (£ million)

  1996–97

  14.699

  1997–98

  12.694

  1998–99

  7.332

  1999–2000

  8.132

  2000–01

  6.531

  2002–02

  6.800

  2002–03

  7.266

  2003–04

  110.031

  1 This is the latest figure included in the accounts, but the accounts have yet to be authorised.

  Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Medical Research Council has identified
  1097W
  rheumatoid arthritis as a priority area; and how much of its resources are going into (a) research programmes and (b) projects related to this disease. [186279]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  Arthritis and rheumatism is one of 12 disease specific research divisions of the Medical Research Council (MRC).

  The MRC spent £6.8 million in the FY 2002–03, on research into arthritis and rheumatism and much of this will be relevant to rheumatoid arthritis.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government supports the inclusion of rheumatoid arthritis as a priority of research area in the next EU framework programme. [186284]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Government has recently consulted on the European Union seventh research and development framework programme. Details are available on the Office of Science and Technology (OST) website at http://www.ost.gov.uk/ ostinternational/fp7/index.html. Initial feedback will be published on the OST website shortly.

  The Government plans to produce a position paper on the seventh framework programme in early Autumn 2004. That paper will also be published on the OST website.

  Scoliosis
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the incidence of scoliosis among teenagers; and what steps are being taken to develop appropriate treatment of the condition. [185280]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Scoliosis is a descriptive term rather than a specific diagnosis, which can be wide-ranging from simple to very complex conditions. Information is not collected centrally by the Department on the incidence of all types of scoliosis. However, it has been estimated that idiopathic adolescent scoliosis, which is one of the accepted classifications in which scoliosis can be the only finding, has an incidence of two per thousand children.

  A range of services for the treatment of scoliosis is available across the country, including spinal corrective surgery for children. A review of services for children with spinal deformity, including scoliosis, is being undertaken by a project group with wide stakeholder representation. The group, led by the North Central London Strategic Health Authority, produced its first report in May 2004 and is looking to take recommendations forward.

  Suffolk West Primary Care Trust
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current deficit is of Suffolk West Primary Care Trust; and what it has been in each of the last three years. [187198]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Suffolk West Primary Care Trust (PCT) overspend against the revenue resource limit (deficit) is shown as follows. It is not possible to provide a separate figure for 2001–02 as the PCT was then part of Suffolk health authority.
  1098W

  £

  Financial position at year end 2002–03

  1,581

  Financial position for year end 2003–04

  4,423

  Source:

  Audited summarisation schedules of the Suffolk West PCT.

  Suffolk West PCT is forecasting to break even at year end 2005.

  The audited information in respect of the 2004–05 financial position of all PCTs will be published in their individual annual accounts and will be available centrally in autumn 2005.

  Vancomycin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what preventative measures his Department has taken against the threat of vancomycin resistant staphylococcus aureus to the NHS; [184324]

  (2) what re#earch his Government have conducted into the treatment against vancomycin resistant staphylococcus aureus; [184325]

  (3) what contingency plans he has in place to control the spread of vancomycin resistant staphylococcus aureus in NHS hospitals. [184327]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 15 July 2004]: Minimising the development and spread of new strains such as vancomycin resistant staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) requires prudent prescribing of antibiotics as well as strict adherence to infection control measures. These measures are part of our action plan, "Winning Ways—Working Together to Reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England".

  We are aware of three incidents of VRSA infection worldwide to date and all were susceptible to some alternative antibiotics. Hospital microbiology laboratories carry out sensitivity tests on their isolates and the health protection agency monitors isolates of staphylococcus aureus for vancomycin resistance to detect any new cases of VRSA and to ensure that these very rare microorganisms are not becoming more commonplace.

  Vulnerable Adults
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to extend the protection of vulnerable adults list to(a) the NHS and (b) day care services; and if he will make a statement. [187071]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The protection of vulnerable adults (PoVA) list will be extended to the national health service as soon as the necessary changes can be made to the Care Standards Act 2000.

  Day care services do not fall within the scope of the PoVA scheme. This is because they are not regulated under the Care Standards Act 2000.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whom he has consulted on the extension of the protection of vulnerable adults list to the NHS. [187079]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The consultation process on extending the protection of vulnerable adults scheme to the national health service has not yet begun. We intend to go out to consultation in the near future, but we also
  1099W
  need to ensure that the proposals are consistent with the proposals for barring unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults emerging from the Richard Inquiry.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Northampton, South

  Patients waiting, for elective admission: Provider based

  Total number

  of patients

  Patients waiting for admission by months waiting

  waiting for

  6–8

  9–11

  12–14

  15–17

  Over 18

  Month end/Orgamosation

  admission

  months

  months

  months

  months

  months

  March 1996

  Kettering General Hospital National Health Service Trust

  5,991

  889

  424

  15

  1

  0

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  4,707

  380

  180

  78

  4

  0

  March 1997

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

  6,432

  1,106

  640

  0

  0

  0

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  5,796

  783

  424

  191

  28

  0

  March 1998

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

  7,492

  1,141

  715

  201

  100

  0

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  7,225

  1,056

  702

  421

  149

  0

  March 1999

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

  5,910

  863

  543

  245

  8

  0

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  7,088

  1,051

  827

  399

  119

  0

  March 2000

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

  5,818

  750

  362

  235

  77

  0

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  6,713

  909

  718

  467

  238

  0

  March 2001

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

  5,944

  727

  360

  151

  28

  0

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  6,484

  809

  537

  288

  114

  0

  March 2002

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

  5,522

  771

  402

  176

  0

  0

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  6,759

  1,016

  600

  403

  0

  0

  March 2003

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

  5,515

  939

  222

  0

  0

  0

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  7,323

  1,135

  694

  0

  0

  0

  March 2004

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

  4,435

  536

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  5,982

  702

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Total number of patients

  Patients waiting for admission by months waiting

  Organisation

  waiting for admission

  6–8months

  9–11 months

  Over 12 months

  Daventry and South Northamptonshire PCT

  19

  0

  0

  0

  Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

  4,420

  467

  0

  0

  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

  5,625

  804

  0

  0

  Mr Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of patients on(a) in-patient and (b) day case waiting lists was in Great Yarmouth in each year since 1997; and what the percentage change was in each year. [186699]
  1100W
  constituency, or the nearest relevant unit of population were waiting for NHS operations for longer than (a) 18 months, (b) 15 months, (c) 12 months, (d) nine months and (e) six months in each of the last 10 years. [186578]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Dr. Ladyman
  The average number of patients for Great Yarmouth Primary Care Trust (PCT) for inpatient and day case waiting lists, the latest data available, is shown in the table.
  1101W

  Count of elective in-year admissions (waiting list and booked cases) and percentage changes for ordinary and day cases,1996–97 to 2002–03, PCT code (PC7 of residence) = 5GT (Great Yarmouth) National Health Service Hospitals, England

  Year

  In-year admissions ordinary

  Change (ordinary) percentage

  In-year admissions (day case)

  Change (day case) percentage

  In year admissions (ordinary plus day case)

  Change (ordinary plus day case) percentage

  1996–97

  4,737

  5,434

  10,171

  1997–98

  4,339

  -8.4

  5,594

  2.9

  9,933

  -2.3

  1998–99

  3,912

  -9.8

  6.368

  13.8

  10.280

  3.5

  1999–2000

  3,505

  -10.4

  6,287

  -1.3

  9,792

  -4.7

  2000–01

  3.389

  -3.3

  6,174

  -1.8

  9,563

  -2.3

  2001–02

  3,049

  -10.0

  4,452

  -27.9

  7,501

  -21.6

  2002–03

  3,328

  9.2

  4,883

  9.7

  8,211

  9.5

  Notes:

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

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

  Source:

  Hospital episode statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancelled operations there were in each of the last seven years in the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust. [187200]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The number of cancelled operations at the West Suffolk Hospital is shown in the table. However, it should be noted that the figures quoted at trust level only go back three years. Prior to that, the data was collected at health authority (HA) level only and they would not be comparable.

  West Suffolk Hospitals National Health Service Trust—Number of cancelled operations for non clinical reasons

  Quarter

  Number of last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons in the quarter

  2003–04

  4

  183

  2003–04

  3

  124

  2003–04

  2

  78

  2003–04

  1

  40

  2002–03

  4

  43

  2002–03

  3

  11

  2002–03

  2

  74

  2002–03

  1

  66

  2001–02

  4

  145

  2001–02

  3

  122

  2001–02

  2

  14

  2001–02

  1

  81

  Note:

  Data prior to 2001–02 collect at HA level only.

  Source:

  Department of Health dataset QMCO.

  Winter Deaths
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce targets to reduce the number of winter deaths. [186798]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There are no plans to introduce additional targets specifically to reduce the number of winter deaths. The Government are committed to decreasing the number of national targets imposed on the national health service and allowing more locally agreed targets. The document. "National Standards,1102W
  Local action: Health and Social Care Standards and Planning Framework 2005–06 to 2007–08", published on 21 July 2004, has already set out the national targets for the next five years.

  However, there is an existing target to tackle influenza, one of the biggest seasonal killers. A target for influenza vaccination in those aged 65 and over has been set since 2000–01. In 2003–04, the target was that nationally over 70 per cent. of that age group would be vaccinated, and thanks to last year's successful 'flu immunisation campaign, this was exceeded, with 71 per cent. of those aged 65 or over being vaccinated. The 70 per cent. take-up target remains this year.

  In addition to the 'flu target, the Government have several other initiatives to reduce avoidable winter deaths. These include the "Keep Warm, Keep Well" campaign, which offers people advice on staying warm and keeping well in winter and winter fuel payments for older people, which help to keep warm those most susceptible to the cold weather.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) house officers, (b) senior house officers, (c) specialist registrars, (d) general practitioners, (e) consultants, (f) associate specialists, (g) staff grades and (It) clinical assistants have signed a formal opt-out from the Worki#g Time Directive; [186362]

  (2) how many (a) primary care trusts, (b) acute hospital trusts and (c) social care trusts have medical staff who have signed a formal opt-out from the Working Time Directive. [186365]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Working Time Directive is a legal requirement on which implementation is being taken forward locally.

  Under Regulation 5 of the Working Time Regulations 1998, individuals are allowed to voluntarily agree in writing with their employer to exceed the maximum average weekly working time of 48 hours. As this is an agreement made locally, information on take-up is not held centrally.
  1103W
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evidence he has collated following the results from the Working Time Directive Pilots Programme on whether the NHS will be compliant with the European Working Time Directive on 1 August; [186363]

  (2) what recent representations he has received on the ability of (a) anaesthetic, (b) maternity, (c) paediatric, (d) general surgical and (e) general medical services to comply with the European Working Time Directive. [186364]

  Mr. Hutton
  Strategic health authorities are responsible for performance managing trust implementation of Working Time Directive (WTD) compliance for doctors in training from 1 August 2004. The Working Time Regulations have applied to all other national health service staff since 1998 and trusts are expected to comply with them in the same way as any other national legislation. The Department does not routinely collect information on compliance either by trust or by specialty.

  The vast majority of trusts are now fully compliant. A handful of trusts are having problems in securing compliance in a limited number of specialties.

  We are working in partnership with the British Medical Association, the Royal Colleges and the Modernisation Agency to support those trusts finding compliance particularly difficult. The Modernisation Agency WTD team offers expert advice and the sharing of good practice solutions throughout the NHS.

  WORK AND PENSIONS
  Mr. Pond
  The information is not available.

  Savings Incentives
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of people eligible for means-tested benefits on incentives to save. [186546]

  Malcolm Wicks
  In its response last year to the Work and Pensions Select Committee's Third Report on The Future of UK Pensions, the Government recognised that it is important to improve our understanding of savings decisions and how savings incentives work.

  Eligibility for income related benefits is one of many factors likely to influence incentives to save. However these are complex questions and we want to engage with academic and other experts on how best to assess the influences on savings behaviour. The Government has established the independent Pensions Commission to monitor and keep under review the voluntary system of private pensions and long term savings.

  Benefit Recipients
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who receive(a) income support and (b) pension credit also pay income tax; and what proportion this is of recipients of each benefit. [187346]

  Christmas Bonus
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing the pensioners' annual Christmas bonus to the equivalent of one week's state pension. [186567]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The cost of increasing the annual Christmas bonus to the #quivalent of one week's state pension in 2005–06 is estimated at £1.0 billion.

  Notes:
  1. Figures are in 2004–05 price terms rounded to the nearest £100 million.
  2. The bonus is assumed to be paid at the full category A weekly rate of basic state pension, currently £79.60.
  3. The Christmas bonus is currently paid to people in receipt of a number of qualifying benefits, some of whom are of working age. These people are assumed to receive the Christmas bonus at the new rate.

  Council Tax Benefit
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Bridgwater constituency(a) are entitled to council tax benefit and (b) do not claim the council tax benefit to which they are entitled [186500]

  Mr. Pond
  The information is not available in the format requested. Statistics for Great Britain are presented in the DWP series "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up". The latest estimates relate to financial year 2001–02 and are in the Library.

  DLA
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the levels of disability living allowance payable to pensioners. [186459]

  Maria Eagle
  The rates at which disability living allowance is paid are increased in April each year by the rate of inflation as measured by the movement in the Retail Price Index. Thy Government have no plans to change this arrangement.

  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for disability living allowance were initially(a) granted and (b) refused in the last year within the constituency of Northampton South. [186583]

  Maria Eagle
  The number of applications for Disability Living Allowance that were initially granted in the last year in the Parliamentary Constituency of Northampton South is 4001 The number of refusals is not available, as these are held as a national figure only.

  Notes:
  1. Figures less than 500 are subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
  2. Figures taken from a 5 per cent., sample at 29 February 2004
  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
  4. From November 2002. the methodology for producing these figures was changed to show statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre.

  Employers' Liability Insurance
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to require companies to be registered for employers' liability compulsory insurance. [187185]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Department will assess the costs and benefits of registering employers on an ELCI database by autumn 2004. This is part of our work to consider how best to tackle the small number of employers who do not have Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) cover, and how best to help claimants trace employers' ELCI insurance policies.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he, has made of(a) the extent of evasion of employers' liability compulsory insurance within the construction and roofing industries and (b) the impact of such evasion on (i) the health and safety of workers and (ii) the profitability of insured employers. [187186]

  Jane Kennedy
  There are no figures available to show compliance with the Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) Act 1969 solely within the construction and roofing industries.

  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out a survey of compliance with ELCI in the autumn of 2003. That survey included small, medium and large firms across all sectors in England, Scotland and Wales and concluded that ELCI compliance was high—nearly 99.5 per cent. of those employers surveyed were ELCI compliant.

  The provision of ELCI does not, of itself, impact on the health and safety of workers. ELCI merely ensures that there is some money available to compensate a person who successfully claims against their employer in the event of an injury or ill health arising out of their employment.

  The survey found that the most commonly sited response to the increased cost of ELCI has been to "try and improve health and safety performance" (50 per cent. of respondents). In the context of our work to promote a risk-based approach to the setting of ELCI premiums, better Health and Safety performance will enable insurers to better reflect good Health and Safety practices in the terms they can offer.

  £ million

  Actual

  Forecast outturn

  Rollout Programme

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05

  2005–06

  Total

  Capital Costs

  111

  251

  195

  346

  903

  Staffing/Running Costs

  149

  200

  381

  596

  1326

  Cumulative Total

  260

  711

  1287

  2229

  —

  The Jobcentre Plus Implementation project is due to be completed in March 2006. The project has now rolled out over 500 offices and remains within budget.
  I hope this is helpful.
  1106W
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to implement the recommendations of his Department's second report on employers' liability compulsory insurance. [187187]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Department for Work and Pensions, working with stakeholders, has made good progress towards delivering all the recommendations in the Second Stage Report.

  Recommendations still to be fully implemented are the Framework for Vocational Rehabilitation, the Health and Safety Executive Management Performance Index for small businesses, and the Claims Pilots to make claims processes more cost effective, quicker and transparent. All of these will be launched by the autumn 2004.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been of creating Jobcentre Plus offices in each year since 2001–02; and what the estimated costs are for each year to 2007–08. [187347]

  Jane Kennedy
  The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive.

  Letter from David Anderson to Mr. David Willetts, dated 7 September 2004:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the costs of creating Jobcentre Plus offices in each year since 2001/02 and what the estimated costs are for each year to 2007/08. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

  The creation of Jobcentre Plus offices was organised in two separate phases. The rollout did not start until 2002/03. The 56 offices introduced in 2001/02 were known as Pathfinders and were not accounted for as part of the main roll out project. The capital cost of these Pathfinders in 2001/02 was £36.7m.

  From 2002/03 the Jobcentre Plus Implementation Project was set up to roll out the remaining offices nationwide. This is a 4-year programme from 2002/03 to 2005/06. The breakdown of the total costs is as follows:

  Total

  £million

  Percentage

  Total Staffing

  674

  30

  Total Running Costs

  652

  29

  Total Capital

  903

  41

  Total Rollout Programme

  2229

  100

  The total project spend to date, including accruals, is £817m. The annual costs of rolling out the offices are shown below.

  New Deal
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have entered self-employment as a result of participating in each New Deal scheme in each year since 1997–98. [186779]
  1107W
  Jane Kennedy
  The information is not available.

  Information on numbers of people entering the New Deal self employment option through New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus, and those receiving the New Deal 50 plus Employment Credit whilst being self employed is in the table. Information on Self Employment starts from the other New Deals is not available.

  New Deal

  New Deal1 for Young People

  New Deal2 25 plus

  New Deal3 50 plus

  1998–99

  780

  —

  —

  1999–2000

  1,540

  —

  —

  2000—01

  1,350

  —

  4,040

  2001–02

  980

  3,470

  4,120

  2002–03

  1,080

  3,870

  4,040

  2003–04

  1,140

  2,290

  —

  Total

  6,870

  9,630

  12,190

  Notes:

  1. Information is only available from 1998 onwards.

  2. Information is only available from 2001 onwards.

  3. Information is only available from 2000 onwards

  4. Information is for April to March each year.

  5. All data is to March 2004 except New Deal 50 plus which is to March 2003.

  6. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and totals may not sum due to rounding

  Source:

  New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP Information and Analysis Directorate

  New Deal and Employment Zones
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are employed(a) in his Department and (b) in Jobcentre Plus in administering each of the (i) New Deal programmes and (ii) Employment Zones. [186427]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information requested is not available.

  The Department for Work and Pensions, including Jobcentre Plus, keeps staffing records by grade and location, but not by job role.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are(a) eligible for and (b) claiming the pension credit in Northampton South. [186464]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Information on the number of people likely to be eligible for Pension Credit is not available at constituency level. However, we estimate that approximately 250,000 households in the East Midlands region, corresponding to approximately 350,000 individuals (rounded to the nearest 50,000), are likely to be eligible for Pension Credit in 2004–05. At the end of July, 3,885 pensioner households in Northampton South, comprising 4,655 individuals (rounded to the nearest five), were in receipt of Pension Credit. The corresponding figures for the East Midlands region at the same date were 185,305 households and 227,800 individuals in receipt of Pension Credit.
  1108W
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Bridgwater(a) are entitled to pension credit, (b) are in receipt of pension credit and (c) were receiving the minimum income guarantee prior to the introduction of pension credit. [186507]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Information on the number of people likely to be eligible for pension credit is not available at constituency level. However, we estimate that approximately 300,000 households in the South West region, corresponding to approximately 400,000 individuals (rounded to the nearest 50,000), are likely to be eligible for pension credit in 2004–05. At the end of July, 214,425 pensioner households in the South West region, comprising approximately 261,835 individuals, were in receipt of pension credit. Information on the number of pension credit and minimum income guarantee (MIG) recipients in Bridgewater is given in the table.

  Pension credit and MIG recipients in Bridgewater

  Recipients of MIG 3 October 2003

  Recipients of pension credit, 31 July 2004

  Households

  3,025

  4,550

  Individuals

  3,655

  5,655

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to he nearest five.

  2. Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60.

  3. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2004,Official Report, columns 833–34W, on pension credit, if he will provide the same breakdown of calls to the pension credit application line for subsequent months. [186852]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Calls to pension credit application line, January-July 2004

  Calls received by application line

  Calls receiving engaged tone or recorded message

  Calls answered within 30 seconds

  Average call duration (minutes: seconds)

  January

  495,560

  120

  429,670

  08:12

  February

  433,790

  190

  372,930

  08:34

  March

  430,070

  230

  378,440

  08:38

  April

  346,890

  13,560

  250,970

  09:18

  May

  234,580

  20

  212,570

  08:48

  June

  315,200

  20

  266,040

  07:20

  July

  239,990

  30

  212,390

  07:22

  Notes:

  1. Numbers of calls are rounded to the nearest 10.

  2. The number of calls receiving the engaged tone or a recorded message was unusually high in April due to reduced numbers of staff as a result of industrial action. The number of lines feeding into the application line from the network was reduced to avoid people having to wait for a long time for an answer (instead they received a recorded message).

  3. The number of calls received is a measure of the total number of calls from customers made to the application line#number 0800 99 1234. The number or calls answered within 30 seconds is a measure of all calls answered in application line sites and excludes any calls abandoned by the customer.

  1109W
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest projections are for expenditure on all benefits to pensioners, broken down by benefit, up to 2053–54(a) as a percentage of GDP and (b) in £billion at 2004–05 prices. [187358]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average pensioner income was in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04, broken down by (A) state benefits and (B) private savings. [187356]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the tables. Information for 2003–04 is currently unavailable.

  Average pensioner income in cash terms

  Income source

  2001–02

  2002–03

  State benefits

  136

  142

  Private saving

  105

  106

  Earnings

  24

  25

  Average pensioner income

  268

  277

  Average pensioner income in real terms

  Income source

  2001–02

  2002–03

  State benefits

  139

  142

  Private saving

  107

  106

  Earnings

  25

  25

  Average pensioner income

  273

  277

  Source:

  Family Resources Surveys 2001–02 and 2002–03, average incomes rounded to the nearest pound.

  Income from state benefits includes: state pensions; income-related benefits; and disability benefits. Income from private saving includes: occupational pensions; personal pensions; and investments.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the state pensions of expatriates living in countries not covered by reciprocal social security agreements with the UK. [186564]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We up-rate state pensions for British citizens living overseas where there is a legal requirement or a reciprocal social security agreement to do so.

  However, the up-dating of State Pensions outside this arrangement is the subject of an appeal to the House of Lords from a decision of the Court of Appeal which found in favour of the Government. We will respond accordingly at the hearing which is set for 28 February and 1 March next year.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has #o change the rules allowing for the state pension to be reduced after 52 weeks in hospital. [186565]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We have no plans at present to change these rules.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the level of a surviving partner's entitlement to the state earnings-related pension scheme. [186572]
  1110W
  Malcolm Wicks
  We have no plans to alter the current arrangements.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing the 25p a week age addition to £25. [186573]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The net cost of raising the age addition to £25 per week in 2005—06 is estimated at £2.1 billion.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are in 2004–05 price terms, rounded to the nearest £100 million.

  2. Costs net of income-related benefits (savings credit, guarantee credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit) and income tax are calculated using the Department's policy simulation model for 2005–06.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost over a period of five years of increasing the basic state pension to a level of one-third average male earnings. [186575]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Information is in the table.

  £billion

  Gross cost

  Net cost

  2005–06

  50.5

  32.3

  2006–07

  52.9

  36.2

  2007–08

  55.6

  38.0

  2008–09

  58.5

  39.9

  2009–10

  61.5

  41.9

  Notes:

  1. Figures are for GB and overseas in 2004–05 price terms, using the Gross Domestic Product deflator index, rounded to the nearest £100 million.

  2. Gross basic state pension costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with Budget 2004 assumptions and use 2002 based population projections. Basic state pension costs refer to the additional costs after allowing for consequential changes to National Insurance Fund benefits and non-income-related vote benefits.

  3. Costs net of income-related benefits (savings credit, guarantee credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit) and income tax are calculated using the Department's policy simulation model for 2005–06 and 2006–07. For illustrative purposes it is assumed that the proportion of savings calculated for the 2006–07 year is constant for subsequent years.

  4. Average male earnings are taken from table 3.2 of the Department for Work and Pensions annual abstract of statistics. The April 2003 figure was £525 per week, and this was used to set a category A basic state pension of £175 for the following year. This was then projected forward using Budget 2004 economic assumptions for earnings growth.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the full basic state pension to all people of pensionable age regardless of national insurance contributions. [186576]
  1111W
  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the table:

  £billion

  Gross cost

  Net cost

  2005–06

  7.3

  5.0

  2006–07

  8.9

  6.0

  2007–08

  9.9

  6.7

  2008–09

  10.9

  7.4

  2009–10

  11.9

  8.1

  Notes:

  1. Figures are for Great Britain only, in 2004–05 price terms, using the Gross Domestic Products deflator index, rounded to the nearest £100 million.

  2. It is assumed that the rules are changed from 2005–06 and that basic state pension is increased in line with prices. It is assumed that all individuals above state pension age (65 for men; 60 for women receive the full category A rate of basic state pension (currently £79.60 per week) regardless of contribution record or marital status.

  3. Gross basic state pension costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with Budget 2004 assumptions and use 2002-based population projections. Basic state pension costs refer to the additional costs after allowing for consequential changes to National Insurance Fund benefits and non-income-related vote benefits.

  4. Costs net of income related benefits (savings credit, guarantee credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit) and income tax are calculated using the Department's policy simulation model for 2005–06 and 2006–07. For illustrative purposes it is assumed that the proportion of savings calculated for the year 2006–07 is constant for subsequent years.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of raising the basic state pension to the level of the guarantee credit. [186579]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the following table:

  £billion

  Gross cost

  Net cost

  2005–06

  13.5

  7.3

  2006–07

  15.1

  7.7

  2007–08

  16.4

  8.3

  2008–09

  17.8

  9.0

  2009–10

  19.2

  9.8

  Notes:

  1. Figures are for Great Britain and overseas in 2004–05 price terms, using the Gross Domestic Product deflator index, rounded to the nearest £100 million.

  2. It is assumed that the category A rate of basic state pension is increased to the level of the individual guarantee credit in 2005–06 and that both are increased in line with earnings. The category B rate of basic state pension is increased by the same proportion.

  3. Gross basic state pension costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with Budget 2004 assumptions and use 2002-based population projections. Basic state pension costs refer to the additional costs after allowing for consequential changes to national insurance fund benefits and non-income-related vote benefits.

  4. Costs net of income-related benefits (savings credit, guarantee credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit) and income tax are calculated using the Department's policy simulation model for 2005–06 and 2006–07. For illustrative purposes it is assumed that the proportion of savings calculated for the year 2006–07 is constant for subsequent years.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets he has set for the uptake of benefits by pensioners for the next four years. [186796]
  1112W
  Malcolm Wicks
  The Department has two Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets for take up of pension credit by pensioners:By 2006, be paying pension credit to at least 3 million pensioner households;
  and By 2008, be paying pension credit to at least 3.2 million pensioner households while maintaining a focus on the most disadvantaged by ensuring that at least 2.2 million of the households are in receipt of the guarantee element.

  In addition, the 2006 pension credit target is supported by a Service Delivery Agreement (SDA), which says that by 2006, we will be paying the guarantee element of pension credit to at least 2.1 million pensioner households.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimates are of the cost of contracted-out rebates in each of the past 10 years #nd each of the next 10 years consistent with the latest estimates by the Office of National Statistics of Pension contributions. [187348]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available in the format requested. The National Insurance contribution (NIC) rebates for Contracted-out Salary Related Schemes are delivered through lower rate NICs rather than as a payment to the pension scheme. Because of this, they would not be included in the data source used to compile the ONS estimates of pension contributions. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  £billions

  Past 10 years

  Next 10 years

  Tax year

  Estimated cost of rebates

  Tax year

  Estimated cost of rebates

  1994–95

  1—

  2004–05

  11.9

  1995–96

  6.7

  2005–06

  12.3

  1996–97

  6.9

  2006–07

  12.7

  1997–98

  7.6

  2007–08

  12.2

  1998–99

  7.8

  2008–09

  12.5

  1999–2000

  8.3

  2009–10

  12.8

  2000–01

  9.1

  2010–11

  13.1

  2001–02

  9.5

  2011–12

  13.5

  2002–03

  11.1

  2012–13

  13.5

  2003–04

  11.5

  2013–14

  13.8

  1Data not available.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on the assumptions used to determine the current national insurance rebates and those for the long-term Public Expenditure Survey undertaken in February 2004.

  2. They are for Great Britain only and are calculated on an accruals' basis.

  3. The model used by GAD to produce these estimates goes back only to the 1995–96 tax year. They have been unable, therefore, to provide estimates for 1994–95.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department (GAD)

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide a breakdown of expenditure on contracted-out rebates for(a) private sector employees and (b) public sector employees in each of the past 10 years; and what the projections are for each of the next 1 years. [187353]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the(a) mean and (b) median cost of the contracted out rebate for

  1113W
  (i) a public sector employee and (ii) a private sector employee in each of the last 10 years; and what the projection is for each of the next 10 years. [187354]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available.

  PFI/PPP Contracts
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many contracts his Department had with(a) Barclays Bank, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) the Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. [186657]

  Jane Kennedy
  DWP was formed in June 2001. We have had no involvement with any of these companies concerning private finance initiative and public private partnerships contracts.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what resources the Government have made available to the Social Fund since 1997; whether the Government intends to increase the budget of the Social Fund; and if he will make a statement. [186866]

  Mr. Pond
  Additional resources have been made available to both the regulated and discretionary Social Fund since 1997.

  In the regulated fund, which is not cash limited, Sure Start Maternity Grants have been introduced and are now worth £500; five times as much as the old maternity payment. Winter fuel payments, now worth £200, have been introduced to help older people meet fuel costs, and are available to around eight million households. From the winter of 2003–04 those households that include a person aged 80 or over receiving a winter fuel payment receive an additional £100.

  The net budget for the discretionary Social Fund, which includes Community Care Grants, Budgeting Loans and Crisis Loans, has also increased since 1997, and will be increased by a further £90 million over the three years from April 2003.

  The information is in the table.

  Social Fund expenditure since 1997

  £million

  Discretionary Fund

  Community Care Grants

  Budgeting Loans

  Crisis Loans

  1997–98

  97

  311

  54

  1998–99

  98

  344

  59

  1999–2000

  98

  396

  62

  2000–01

  100

  435

  65

  2001–02

  103

  469

  75

  2002–03

  108

  462

  85

  2003–04

  117

  484

  85

  1114W

  Regulated Fund

  £ million

  Maternity Payments/ Sure Start Maternity Grants

  Funeral Payments

  Cold Weather Payments

  Winter Fuel Payments

  1997–98

  20

  38

  0.5

  191

  1998–99

  18

  39

  0.2

  194

  1999–2000

  17

  38

  1.0

  759

  2000–01

  44

  36

  30

  1,749

  2001–02

  61

  38

  15

  1,692

  2002–03

  111

  42

  14

  1,700

  2003–04

  120

  47

  4

  1,931

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1 million, except for cold weather payments of £1.0 million or less which are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.

  2. Winter fuel payments expenditure for 2000–01 includes £94 million for retrospective entitlement due to extending winter fuel payments to all those aged 60 or over (with some exceptions) and £108 million for those entitled for the first time in 2000–01.

  3. Winter fuel payments expenditure for 2003–04 includes expenditure on the 80+ payment. Winter fuel payment expenditure for 2003–04 is estimated.

  Source:

  Secretary of State's annual reports on the Social Fund, except expenditure for winter fuel payments, which is taken from Social Fund accounts

  Social Fund Loans
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Social Fund budget loans, and to what value, have been made in each year since 1997; and how many and what value of these were to cover delays in payments of social security benefits and tax credits. [186781]

  Mr. Pond
  Social Fund Loans, including Budgeting Loans, should not be awarded to compensate for delay in payment of benefits; where there is delay in payment, interim benefit payments can be considered.

  Budgeting Loan awards and gross expenditure since 1997

  Initial awards

  Total gross expenditure (£ million)

  1997–98

  916,000

  311

  1998–99

  935,000

  344

  1999–2000

  1,017,000

  396

  2000–01

  1,145,000

  435

  2001–02

  1,240,000

  469

  2002–03

  1,251,000

  462

  2003–04

  1,250,000

  484

  Notes:

  1. Initial awards do not include awards made after review.

  2. Gross expenditure does include awards made on review.

  3. Numbers of initial awards are rounded to the nearest thousand and total gross expenditure to the nearest million.

  Source:

  Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Annual reports on the Social Fund.

  Winter Fuel Allowance
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing the value of the winter fuel allowance to £300 per household. [186460]
  1115W
  Malcolm Wicks
  The estimated additional cost of increasing the winter fuel payment from £200 to £300 is £860 million.

  Industrial Injuries (Appeals)
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Government's target time is from application to hearing for appeals concerning industrial injuries disablement benefit diseases; and what the average waiting time has been for those whose appeals are currently being heard. [175717]

  Mr. Pond
  [pursuant to the reply, 27 May 2004, Official Rep#rt, c. 1802W]:

  This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will reply to the hon. Member with the information requested.

  Letter from Chris Pond to Mr. Tony Lloyd, dated 31 August 2004:

  Dr. Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service, wrote to you on 27 May in reply to your question about waiting times for Industrial Injuries Disablement appeals.

  Unfortunately, the figure quoted in the reply was for appeal clearance rather than appeal waiting time. I am sorry that this mistake, which was the result of a programming error when producing the data, has arisen. I attach a copy of the amended reply, which will also be published in Hansard.

  Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr. Tony Lloyd, dated 31 August 2004:

  Pursuant to my written answer on 27 May, Official Report, column 1802W. The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding the target time for hearing appeals concerning Industrial Disablement Benefit (IIDB) diseases and the average waiting time for those whose appeals are currently being heard.

  Our target for the 2003–2004 financial year was to hear appeals within an average of 13 weeks from receipt in our Service. Information on waiting times is not available in the format requested but I can advise you that the average waiting time for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit appeals was 9.261 weeks for the 2003–2004 financial year.

  I hope that this is helpful.

  Notes:

  1 All figures are subject to change as more up to date data becomes available.

  Figures for the latest months may rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service.

  Figures are rounded to two decimal places

  Source:

  100 per cent. download of the Generic Appeals Processing System

  Disability Discrimination Act
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will set out the timescale for compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 for(a) voluntary and community groups and (b) small businesses; and if he will make a statement; [187572]

  (2) what financial assistance is available to help (a) voluntary and community groups and (b) small businesses to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [187573]

  Maria Eagle
  Many voluntary and community groups and small businesses, where they are employers or provide services to the public, are already under a duty to meet certain requirements of the Disability 1116W
  Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995. For example, they are already required not to discriminate unjustifiably against, and to make reasonable adjustments for, disabled people in recruitment, employment or in the way that they deliver services to disabled people.

  On 1 October 2004, the employment provisions of the DDA are being extended to employers with fewer than 15 employees. At the same time, service providers will be under additional duties to tackle physical features of their premises which otherwise make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled person to access the service, or to provide the service by another reasonable means.

  The Government, and the Disability Rights Commission, have undertaken wide-ranging publicity campaigns over the last two years to raise awareness of the new duties in order to give employers and service providers the opportunity to understand, and plan for, their implementation.

  There is no specific funding available to help (a) voluntary and community groups and (b) small businesses, or indeed any business or organisation with duties under the DDA, to meet the requirements of the Act. This is because employers and service providers are only required to do what is reasonable, and factors such as the cost and practicability of making reasonable adjustments, and the financial and other resources available to the business or organisation, will be taken into account in determining what is reasonable.

  In certain instances, an employer who employs a disabled person may be able to obtain assistance to make adjustments for the disabled employee from the Access to Work programme. Employers can obtain further information about the programme by contacting their nearest Access to Work Business Centre.

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to alter the rule whereby people who stay abroad for longer than four weeks have their pension credit payments stopped; and if he will make a statement. [187546]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Pension Credit is for people who live in Great Britain. If someone expects to be absent abroad for less than 52 weeks it can continue to be paid normally for no more than four weeks; or for up to eight weeks for someone accompanying a young person who lives with them and who is receiving medical treatment abroad. It can continue to be paid for people who have gone abroad for medical treatment under the NHS for themselves for as long as they receive treatment.

  Officials are currently researching a range of options for potentially extending the period for which Pension Credit can continue to be paid for customers who go abroad for less than 52 weeks.

  Employers' Liability Insurance
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the burden on employers' liability compulsory
  1117W
  insurance on small businesses with good health and safety track records; and what legislative changes are proposed. [186352]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) Review identified a number of steps that would help to reduce the burden of ELCI on small businesses with good health and safety track records.

  Firstly, the Department for Work and Pensions is currently reviewing ELCI in respect of those limited companies in the UK where the owner is the only employee. If a decision is made to remove the requirement for ELCI from such companies, then any legislative change can be expected in the UK early in 2005.

  The Department is keen to see a more risk based approach to the underwriting of risks. The 'Making the Market Work' initiative run by the Association of British Insurers, and the developing Health and Safety Executive Management Performance Index for small businesses, will both help to ensure that insurers are able to reflect good health and safety practices in the terms they can offer.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government have to reform the Social Fund; and if he will make a statement. [186865]

  Mr. Pond
  The Social Fund plays an important role in the Government's agenda for tackling poverty and social exclusion. It provides support to millions of people on low incomes, including some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We have announced a number of improvements to the Social Fund.

  £90 million is being added to the Discretionary Social Fund budget over the three years to 2005–06, as announced in the Pre-Budget report 2002.

  The Child Poverty Review, published on 12 July 2004, announced the Government's intention to abolish the Budgeting Loan 'double debt' rule and to reduce the current standard repayment rate of 15 per cent. of a customers benefit to 12 per cent. These changes will make Budgeting Loans more consistent and easier to understand and the Social Fund more effective in assisting those families most likely to experience over-indebtedness.

  The Government are also looking at ways in which more affordable loans can be made available to people on low incomes, and are seeking to work in partnership with the private and voluntary sectors to find ways of delivering these, while ensuring that the loans enhance the ability of people to manage their finances responsibly.

  We will continue to look at ways in which the Social Fund can be made more effective.

  Work Injuries
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce a training system for 1118W
  providers of rehabilitation services to victims of accidents at work; and if he will make a statement. [R] [186482]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Department's work to produce a Framework for Vocational Rehabilitation has highlighted that organisations representing different rehabilitation providers already provide training schemes. For example, there are existing training curricula for doctors in the specialties of occupational medicine and rehabilitation medicine published by the Specialist Training Authority. There are analogous schemes for nurses and other health care professionals.

  The framework will commit the Department to work with stakeholders, including training organisations, to ensure consistency in the training provided on recognised vocational rehabilitation standards. The Department will also work with stakeholders to identify, and take steps to fill, any standards or training gaps.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce an accreditation scheme for providers of rehabilitative services to victims of accidents at work; and if he will make a statement. [R][186483]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Departments work to develop a Framework for Vocational Rehabilitation has highlighted that many stakeholders would like steps to be taken to consider the need for accreditation schemes for providers of vocational rehabilitation. The Framework will set up the necessary mechanisms to enable the Department and other stakeholders to fully consider the need for accreditation schemes, and if required, to develop these.

  Means-tested Benefits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the assessment of(a) grants, (b) bursaries, whether from Government or other sources and (c) student loans in the household incomes assessments for means-tested benefits; and whether this policy is under review. [186843]

  Mr. Pond
  Income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit are income-related benefits. It is a general principle in the calculation of these benefits that any income available to the customer including grants, bursaries and student loans will be taken into account. A standard disregard is allowed for books, travel and equipment.

  For benefit purposes, a student loan is treated in the same way as a grant or bursary. However, a further disregard of £10 per week is applied.

  The new Higher Education Grant and Educational Maintenance Allowance paid to those students with low parental or family income will be wholly disregarded in the calculation of benefit as they are paid for the purpose of defraying costs of books, equipment, travel and child care.

  DWP are currently working with the Department for Education and Skills and the Devolved Administrations in reviewing our policies on the treatment of grants,

  1119W
  loans and bursaries within the benefit system in time for new grants and bursaries due to be introduced at the beginning of the 2006/07 academic year.

  CSA
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask t#e Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Bridgwater constituency who have cases with the Child Support Agency are using(a) the old maintenance payment system and (b) the new maintenance payment system; and if he will make a statement as to when he estimates all people in Bridgwater will be assessed using the new system. [186502]

  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. Ian Liddell-Grainger, dated 7 September 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, how many people in the Bridgwater constituency who have cases with the Child Support Agency are using (a) the old maintenance payment system and (b) the new maintenance payment system; #nd if he will make a statement as to when he estimates all people in Bridgwater will be assessed using the new system.

  We do not have the information in the format you have requested. However, I can tell you that in total around 1,890,000 people are involved in cases using the old maintenance payment system and around 480,000 people are involved in cases using the new maintenance payment system. Ministers will make a decision on the bulk transfer of cases from the old scheme when they are satisfied that the new arrangements are working well for new clients. It is not possible to provide a timescale for this.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed(a) incapacity benefit and (b) jobseeker's allowance in (i) the Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency and (ii) the county of Suffolk in each year since 1997. [187188]

  Maria Eagle
  The most recent information is in the tables.

  People claiming incapacity benefit in the Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency and Suffolk

  As at February

  Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency

  Suffolk

  1997

  2,000

  18,200

  1998

  2,100

  19,200

  1999

  2,300

  18,800

  2000

  2,000

  19,200

  2001

  2,600

  19,600

  2002

  2,800

  19,500

  2003

  2,700

  19,700

  2004

  2,700

  20,100

  Notes:

  1. Incapacity benefit figures include those getting severe disablement allowance and national insurance credits only.

  2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  3. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

  1120W

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

  5. Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.

  6. Suffolk is made up of the following LAs: Babergh, Forest Heath, Ipswich, Mid Suffolk, St. Edmundsbury, Suffolk Coastal, and Waveney.

  Source:

  DWP-IAD Information Centre 5 per cent. sample.

  People claiming job seekers allowance in the Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency and Suffolk.

  As at July

  Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency

  Suffolk

  1997

  1,350

  13,769

  1998

  1,119

  11,342

  1999

  991

  10,390

  2000

  818

  8,472

  2001

  742

  7,437

  2002

  771

  7,538

  2003

  754

  7,877

  2004

  683

  7,153

  Source:

  Count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems (including clerically held cases).

  Fraud
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made in achieving his anti-fraud targets. [186522]

  Mr. Pond
  We have set firm targets to reduce fraud and error and have already had considerable success. Our latest figures show that since 1997 we have reduced fraud an# error in income support and jobseekers allowance by 29 per cent. This is against our target of reducing fraud and error in these benefits by 33 per cent. by March next year and by 50 per cent. by March 2006.

  For the first time, we have established a continuous measurement of the level of fraud and error in housing benefit with a target to reduce fraud and error in housing benefit by 25 per cent. by 2006.

  The latest assessment of the levels of fraud and error in housing benefit were published in "Fraud and Error in Housing Benefit, April 2002 to September 2003" on 12 August 2004. Copies of the report are in the Library.

  Savings Incentives
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what incentives the Government are offering to young people to begin saving for pensions. [186686]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We recognise that pension saving is far more affordable when done over a long period and the key is for young people to start taking action early in life as they become financially independent and enter the workplace for the first time.

  Through our Informed Choice1 programme we are encouraging all people, including young people, to plan ahead. We are doing this by making them aware of their options and ensuring they have the right information at the right time, together with the basic financial awareness and skills, to help them make appropriate choices. The range of initiatives include measures to:

  1121W
  maximise workplace pensions savings, provide personalised information about an individual's forecasted state and occupational/private pension positions, working with employers to provide information and advice in the workplace, and introducing a new web-based retirement planner.

  Furthermore, the national Financial Capability Strategy, led by the Financial Services Authority and set out in two recent FSA documents2, is working to address the financial capability needs, including those related to saving for retirement, for all groups, including young people.

  We already provide incentives to encourage long-term savings by giving more generous tax treatment on pensions than on other forms of investment. Pensions are one of the most efficient ways of saving for all age groups. To encourage and reassure individuals who save in occupational pensions that their pension is secure, the Pension Protection Fund, will, for the first time in the UK, serve to protect members of defined benefit schemes if their sponsoring employer becomes insolvent and the scheme is under-funded.

  We are also introducing other measures to encourage the savings habit. For example, in June, we announced our proposals for the stakeholder suite of simple, low-co#t, risk-controlled savings and investment products to meet the needs of all, including the young, for their short, medium and long-term needs. Measures such as the Savings Gateway, the Universal Banking Services, the Community Finance and Learning Initiative and the introduction of the Child Trust Fund, also serve to encourage young people to engage with the financial sector.

  1Command paper, Simplicity, Security and Choice: Informed Choices for working and saving.
  2Towards a National Strategy for Financial Capability, November 2003 and Building Financial Capability in the UK, May 2004.

  Family and Child Study
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason all reference to marriage has been omitted from the Family and Child Study data; and if he will reinstate the previous format. [187251]

  Mr. Pond
  The Families and Children Study (FACS) collects data from a sample of British families with dependent children on an annual basis. The questionnaire covers topics such as demographics, health, child outcomes, work, family income, material well-being and child support, among others.

  FACS also continues to collect data on the marital status of the study's members. However, for reasons of limited space, the most recent FACS annual report did not include a separate analysis of marital status. Instead, the focus was on lone parent/couple status, a key determinant of benefit entitlement. It is anticipated that future reports based on FACS data will provide analyses by marital status.

  Pensions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice the Government provide for young people on saving for pensions. [187303]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Through our Informed Choice1 programme, we are delivering a range of initiatives which help to break down the barriers people, including young people, often experience in planning ahead for their financial future in retirement. We are making people aware of their options and ensuring they have the right information at the right time, together with the basic financial awareness and skills, to help them make appropriate choices. The range of initiatives include measures to: maximise workplace pensions savings, provide personalised information about an individuals forecasted state and occupational/private pension positions, working with employers to provide information and advice in the workplace, and introducing a new web-based retirement planner.

  The Government cannot promote or provide advice about financial products for pensions saving but we want all people, including young people, to be confident about making their own informed choices about working and saving for retirement. They can only do so if they have acquired basic financial awareness and skills to help them interpret the information and advice available to them.

  The national Financial Capability Strategy, led by the Financial Services Authority and set out in two recent FSA documents2 is working to address the financial education, information and advice needs, including those related to saving for retirement, for all groups, including young people.

  In addition, Government information about pensions is already available to everyone, including young people, from the Pensions Service and the Financial Services Authority, via their websites and/or telephone helplines, leaflets and publications.

  1Command paper, Simplicity, Security and Choice: Informed Choices for Working and Saving.
  2Towards a National Strategy for Financial Capability, November 2003 and Building Financial Capability in the UK, May 2004.

  New Deal
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Great Yarmouth have benefited from the New Deal for(a) Young People, (b) Long-term Unemployed and (c) Lone Parents. [186719]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information is in the table.

  New Deal information for the Great Yarmouth constituency

  Programme

  Number of individuals starting the programme

  Number of individuals into jobs

  New Deal for Young People

  2,040

  1,270

  New Deal 25 plus

  1,610

  580

  New Deal for Lone Parents

  830

  400

  Notes:

  1. All information is to March 2004.

  1123W

  2. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  Source:

  DWP Information and Analysis Directorate.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for work and Pensions how many people have participated in each New Deal programme; and how many people have participated(a) twice and (b) three times or more. [187357]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information is in the table.

  Participants on the New Deal

  Programme

  Individuals who have started the programme

  Individuals who have started the programme twice

  Individuals who have started the Programme three times

  Individuals who have started the programme three times or more

  New Deal for Young People

  858,780

  159,840

  40,700

  48,430

  New Deal 25 plus

  512,360

  95,390

  31,700

  40,410

  New Deal for Lone Parents

  485,320

  83,590

  18,390

  22,990

  New Deal for Disabled People

  76,620

  2,630

  120

  130

  New Deal 50 plus

  98,040

  —

  —

  —

  New Deal for Parents

  7,820

  —

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1. New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) figures relate to registrations with an NDDP Job Broker.

  2. All data is to March 2004 except New Deal 50 plus which is to March 2003.

  3. Information on New Deal 50 plus relates to starts to the Employment Credit. Only one start to the New Deal 50 plus Employment Credit can be made.

  4. Information on the number of individuals starting New Deal for Partners more than once is not available.

  5. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  Source:

  DWP Information and Analysis Directorate

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Great Yarmouth constituency were(a) entitled to and (b) took up the winter fuel payment in the last year for which figures are available. [186704]

  Malcolm Wicks
  For winter 2003–04 the number of pensioners in the Great Yarmouth constituency who received a winter fuel payment was 22,220. It is not possible to say how many pensioners were entitled to a winter fuel payment.

  Note:

  Numbers are rounded to the nearest 5.

  Source: IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. samples.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of average pensioner household disposable income in each year since 1997; what factors are taken into account in calculating the average figure; and if he will make a statement. [186928]
  1124W
  Malcolm Wicks
  The information in the table gives, in 2002–03 prices, the average weekly net before and after housing cost income for pensioner units between 1996–97 and 2002–03. In this period, net income before housing costs has increased by 19 per cent. in real terms, whereas net income after housing costs has increased by 26 per cent. in real terms.

  Average pensioner unit net income (£)

  Income before housing costs

  Income after housing costs

  1996–97

  199

  170

  1997–98

  202

  174

  1998–99

  208

  182

  1999–2000

  216

  189

  2000–01

  225

  202

  2001–02

  233

  210

  2002–03

  237

  214

  Notes:

  1. Pensioners' income includes income from state pensions and benefits, private pensions and investment income.

  2. The net before housing cost measure of disposable income is equal to gross income minus income tax payments; National insurance contributions; domestic rates/council tax; contributions to occupational pension schemes; maintenance and child support payments; and parental contributions to students living away from home.

  3. The net after housing cost measure additionally deducts rent; water rates; community water charges; and council water charges; mortgage interest payments, structural insurance premiums; and ground rent and service charges.

  Source:

  Pensioners' Income Series 2002–03, in 2002–03 prices.

  The estimates are based on the Family Resources Survey.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of the adult population the Government estimates have claimed the basic state pension in each year since 1990. [186828]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, such information as is available is in the following table.

  Recipients of basic state pension living in GB

  As a percentage of GB population aged 18 and over

  September 1990

  9,380,900

  22

  September 1991

  9,407,000

  22

  September 1992

  9,450,800

  22

  September 1993

  9,458,200

  22

  September 1994

  9,458,900

  22

  September 1995

  9,541,200

  22

  September 1996

  9,679,400

  22

  September 1997

  9,801,700

  23

  March 1998

  9,841,100

  23

  September 1999

  10,030,400

  23

  September 2000

  10,086,600

  23

  September 2001

  10,163,600

  23

  September 2002

  10,224,200

  23

  September 2003

  10,317,700

  23

  Notes:

  1. Recipient figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

  2. Recipient figures are derived from a 5 per cent. sample of cased taken from the Pension Strategy Computer System as at 31 September each year, except for 1998 when the figure is derived from a 5 per cent. sample of cases as at 31 March.

  1125W

  3. Recipient figures exclude persons in receipt of only: non-contributory State Pensions; Graduated Retirement Benefit; and additional State Pension.

  4. Population figures are taken mid-year from mid-1990 onwards. Population data sources are: Office for National Statistics (ONS); and General Register Office Scotland (GROS).

  5. As no population figures are yet available for 2003, mid-2002 figures have been used.

TRANSPORT

  Public Transport (CCTV)
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide resources to enable full coverage of operational CCTV on all public transpo#t vehicles; and what research his Department has commissioned on the effects upon the number of charges and convictions for criminal activity on public transport if full operational CCTV coverage were to be installed in all public transport vehicles. [186976]

  Mr. McNulty
  It is up to individual transport operators to fund CCTV systems on their vehicles and a growing number recognise the importance of doing so. For example, although the Strategic Rail Authority has not stipulated CCTV as a requirement for trains, CCTV has been included on all new trains and most refurbished trains.

  Government funding is available to Local Authorities to support infrastructure improvements to tackle crime through their Local Transport Plan integrated transport block allocations. Schemes funded in this way include the installation of CCTV cameras in bus shelters.

  There has been no Government research into the effects on the number of charges and convictions for criminal activity on public transport if full operational CCTV were to be installed. However, there has been a Government funded national evaluation of CCTV generally which includes an analysis of the perceptions of offenders and any changes in recorded crime in CCTV areas, buffer areas surrounding the CCTV areas (intended to detect displaced crime) and control areas. The report will be published at the end of this year.

  A1
  Joyce Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his current estimate is of the cost of making the A1 between Newcastle and Berwick fully-dualled. [186429]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The A1 Multi-Modal Study Report in May 2002 estimated the cost of dualling the A1 from Newcastle to the Scottish border to be £343 million at 2001 prices. However the report concluded that although the completion of dualling was necessary between Newcastle and Alnwick, wholesale dualling could not be justified in the foreseeable future.

  The Highways Agency have not carried out a detailed costing. But on a pro rata basis from the 2001 estimate, I would expect the cost at current prices to exceed £375 million.

  A40/M40
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many copies of the Highways Agency's consultation leaflet on the M40/A40 Management Strategy have been distributed in Stokenchurch. [187380]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Fifty copies of the consultation for the M40/A40 Draft Route Management Strategy were sent to Stokenchurch Library.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Highways Agency has taken to consult the residents of Stokenchurch on the draft A40/ M40 Route Management Strategy. [187543]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A press notice was issued to inform national and local media. The document was placed on deposit at local council offices. Leaflets were available at Oxford Motorway services, High Wycombe library and subsequently Stokenchurch library.

  Aviation Health Unit
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the work of the Aviation Health Unit. [187190]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Aviation Health Unit was established in December 2003 primarily to provide advice to the UK Government and others on aviation health issues. It also investigates potential new aviation health concerns; reviews research and other information on aviation health; and liaises with the aviation industry and relevant organisations throughout the world. The Department is funding the unit until legislation can be enacted to allow the CAA to meet the costs of the unit from the charges it levies on airlines.

  Cargo Aircraft (Terrorism)
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the vulnerability of cargo aircraft using United Kingdom airports to terrorists stowing on board with the aim of taking over the cockpit in flight. [187305]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department for Transport continually assesses the vulnerability, from all types of terrorist attack, of all aircraft using UK airports.

  Crossrail
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the start of construction of(a) Crossrail and (b) Crossrail 2. [187132]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Secretary of State announced to Parliament on 20 July 2004 that he intended that appropriate powers for the construction of Crossrail should be sought by means of a hybrid Bill to be introduced in Parliament at the earliest opportunity. Previous experience, with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill, suggests that the bill might take around two years to complete its passage. The Government have no plans currently to seek legal powers for Crossrail 2.

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of refurbishments to the fabric of buildings owned by his Department has been since May 1997. [186396]

  Mr. McNulty
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 July 2004,Official Report, column 653W to the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire (Mr. Selous).

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total running cost of his Department's canteen facilities was in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04. [186398]

  Mr. McNulty
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 21 July 2004,Official Report, column 263W, to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous).

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on replacing light bulbs in the last year for which figures are available. [186401]

  Mr. McNulty
  This information is not collected centrally and the costs are often undifferentiated from other mechanical and electrical service costs or are not accounted for separately in the individual finance systems. To separately identify such costs would involve disproportionate costs.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of printing departme#tal headed notepaper was in(a) 1996–97 and (b) the last year for which figures are available. [186397]

  Mr. McNulty
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer on 21 July 2004,Official Report, column 264W, to the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Wiggin).

  Freight Transport
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the 10 Year Transport Plan as it relates to freight transport. [186672]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The 10 Year Plan for transport marked the beginning of a more strategic approach to delivering transport improvements. It delivered a long term Government commitment to sustained increases in transport spending.

  Much of this investment will benefit freight alongside other transport users. The plan is delivering new capacity on the road network, with 80 schemes at various stages in the Targeted Programme of Improvements totalling around £8.8 billion. 13 of these schemes are currently under construction, including widening of the M25 between Junctions 12 to 15 around Heathrow. We have also invested in the Rail Network, renewing 800 miles of track last year. And we have increased total Government capital support for local authorities from £650 million in 2001 to £1.9 billion in 2004–05.

  In relation to specific references to Freight in the 10 Year Plan, there has been a significant increase in freight on rail over recent years. The possibility of dedicated HGV only lanes on our strategic routes has
  1128W
  been under consideration, but suitable sites have yet to be identified, though a number of schemes have been introduced. which afford goods vehicles priority, along with buses and cyclists, over general traffic in congested urban areas. Finally, we have made significant progress in implementing road haulage efficiency measures as outlined in the 10 Year Plan, particularly through the Road Haulage Modernisation Fund. In particular we have been funding projects to offer training in safer and more fuel efficient driving, and to promote operational practices that save on the use of fuel.

  "The future of Transport", published in July this year builds on the 10 Year Plan and looks forward to the factors that might shape travel demand and our transport network over the next 30 years. It sets out how the Government will respond to those pressures while safeguarding our economic and social wellbeing and the environment. Our policies for freight transport are set out in that document.

  M6
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his intention that the proposed M6 toll expressway should be(a) constructed and (b) operated by a private sector contractor. [186986]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The M6 expressway is no more than a broad concept at this stage. If we decide to ask the Highways Agency to undertake further development work in light of the responses from the consultation exercise, one issue we will need to consider further is whether the proposal could be undertaken by a private sector concessionaire to fund, construct and operate the expressway for a set period.

  Night Flights
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish a consultation document on night flights. [186320]

  Mr. McNulty
  I published a consultation paper on night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports on 21 July 2004,Official Report, columns 56–58WS.

  Nuclear Materials (Transport)
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has conducted a review of the suitability, in respect of security and safety, of the different ships used, or planned to be us#d, to transport plutonium MOX fuel to overseas customers from Sellafield. [187285]

  Mr. McNulty
  Ships used to transport MOX fuel are reviewed routinely under separate regulations governing the security and safety of the transport of nuclear materials. The Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 provide for the review of all security aspects of each shipment of MOX fuel including the suitability of the vessel. The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel etc.) (INF Code) Regulations 2000, SI 3216 provide for both certification that vessels have been constructed to international standards, and periodic review to ensure that they continue to comply with the requirements.

  PFI/PPP Contracts
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts his Department had with(a) Barclays, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) the Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. [186659]

  Mr. McNulty
  The De#artment was formed in May 2002. The Department has not awarded contracts to any of these banks for advice on private finance initiative and public-private partnership contracts.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to paragraph 5.3.5 of The Future of Rail, Cm.6233, what estimate he has made of the total amount of money elected regional assemblies would be able to spend on improving rail services in(a) the North East, (b) the North West and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber. [186154]

  Mr. McNulty
  Elected regional assemblies will be given flexibility to decide how much money to spend on rail passenger improvements within the resources available to them. The level of government funding available to assemblies will be determined in due course.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Leonard Cheshire Foundation regarding equal access for disabled people to the rail network. [186971]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department regularly meets with major disability organisations including the Leonard Cheshire Foundation and frequently consults and corresponds with them, both directly and through correspondence with Members. We have recently responded to a number of inquiries generated by the Foundation's "All Aboard" campaign.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has commissioned regarding the Government's rail end date of 2055 and the viability of alternatives proposed by the Leonard Cheshire Foundation. [186972]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Government first consulted on an 'end date', by which time all rail vehicles must comply with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations, last November, as part of a consultation on our proposals for amending the rail provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act. Various dates were considered, looking both at the needs of disabled people and at the financial implications for the rail industry, and we indicated that we favoured 2025.

  The consultation included a draft regulatory impact assessment which was based on an independent economic appraisal of the various options. We are committed to further consultation before a final date is set in regulations. This will take full account of the responses to the November consultation, including that received from the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, and the recommendation of the Joint Scrutiny Committee on the draft Disability Discrimination Bill.

  Roads
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list planned road resurfacing projects broken down by the number of houses affected by above 68dB of noise that will benefit from noise reduction; and how many of these projects will be financed from the £5 million ringfenced sum. [186728]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In general, priorities for resurfacing sections of the strategic road network are assessed according to maintenance need rather than noise criteria. Detailed information on the numbers of houses exposed to more than 68dB that are expected to benefit from this resurfacing programme is not available.

  An assessment of the number of houses exposed to more than 68dB is only made for sites meeting the criteria for noise announced on 22 March 1999 in connection with the £5 million ringfenced sum. This ringfenced sum was specifically aimed at funding noise mitigation measures at sites where the noise problems were serious and pressing and where resurfacing with quieter materials could not be justified on normal maintenance grounds.

  In the majority of cases, the ringfenced sum has funded the provision of noise barriers at locations identified on the list published on 11 November 1999. There is #nly one resurfacing scheme in the 2004–05 programme with funding from, the ringfenced sum. This will deal with the problem identified on M6 junctions 34–35, Camforth and should provide a significant noise reduction for approximately 300 houses currently exposed to more than 68dB of noise.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent in each year since 1997 installing speed humps on roads. [186761]

  Mr. Darling
  The installation of speed humps is a matter for individual Highway Authorities. As such this information is not held centrally.

  Local authorities are solely responsible for the implementation of all traffic calming schemes, including the installation of road humps.

  Funding is allocated via the Single Capital Pot based on the Road Safety Strategy contained within their Local Transport Plans.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 20 July 2004,Official Report, column 130W, on road safety, how many people died as a result of crashes that occurred on hard shoulders of English trunk motorways in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [187058]

  Mr. McNulty
  The number of people who have died as a result of crashes that occurred on English trunk road motorways where at least one vehicle was on, entering or leaving the hard shoulder in(a) 2002 was 22 and in (b) 2003 was 11.

  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road schemes have been started in Northampton in each year since 1992. [186517]
  1131W
  Mr. McNulty
  The number of road improvements, costing over £1 million, and excluding maintenance schemes, started in Northampton for each year since 1992 is as follows:

  Number

  1992

  1

  1993

  0

  1994

  0

  1995

  0

  1996

  1

  1997

  1

  1998

  1

  1999

  2

  2000

  0

  2001

  0

  2002

  1

  2003

  2

  Richard Younger-Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government are on track to achieve its target of delivering(a) 100 new bypasses on trunk and local roads and (b) 130 major local road schemes by 2010; and what the (i) construction costs,

  A. Major Project Bypasses already completed

  Scheme

  Latest estimated outturn cost (£million)

  Start of works

  Date of completion

  A5 Nesscliffe Bypass

  20

  March 2002

  March 2003

  A6 Great Glen Bypass

  21

  April 2001

  February 2003

  A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass

  16

  April 2002

  August 2003

  A6 Rothwell-Desborough Bypass

  19

  April 2002

  August 2003

  A6 Clapham Bypass

  44

  May 2001

  December 2002

  A6 Alvaston

  22

  September 2002

  December 2003

  A27 Pplegate Bypass

  29

  October 2000

  June 2002

  A41 Aston Clinton Bypass

  44

  August 2001

  October 2003

  A43 Towcester-M40 Dualling (including A43 Silverstone Bypass)

  97

  February 2001

  September 2002

  A63 Selby Bypass

  65

  October 2001

  June 2004

  A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass

  12

  July 2001

  December 2002

  A500 Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass

  54

  June 2001

  May 2003

  A650 Bingley Relief Road

  91

  July 2001

  December 2003

  M6 Toll (accelerated Roads Review scheme)

  1Toll Road

  March 2001

  December 2003

  1The M6 Toll Road is privately funded. There is some publicly funded expenditure, which is currently estimated to outturn at £41 million.

  B. Major Project Bypasses in the current TPI, either on site or expected to be on site by the end of 2004–05, and to be completed by' 2010–11

  Scheme

  Latest Estimated Outturn cost (£ million)

  Actual/Estimated Start of Works

  Estimated date of completion

  Status at 1 April 2004 (2004–05 Business Plan Key/Critical Event)

  A10 Wadesmill Colliers End

  39

  April 2002

  2004–05

  Road Open

  A21 Lamberhurst Bypass

  19

  June 2003

  2004–05

  Road Open

  A5 Weeford-Fazeley Improvement

  38

  April 2004

  2005–06

  Start of Works (achieved)

  A421 Great Barford Bypass

  43

  2004–05

  2006–07

  Start of Works

  A47 Thorney Bypass

  28

  2004–05

  2006–07

  Start of Works

  C Major Project Bypasses in the TPI, not yet on site, but to be completed by 2010–11

  Scheme

  Latest estimated outturn cost(£ million)

  Status at 1 April 2004 (2004–05 Business Plan Key/ Critical Event)

  A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst Bypass

  68

  Awaiting Ill entry (achieved)

  A3 Hindhead Improvement

  236

  Public inquiry

  A303 Stonehenge

  223

  No Event—Public inquiry already started

  A38 Dobwalls Bypass

  36

  Publish draft Orders and Environmental Statement

  A419 Blunsdon

  40

  Publish draft Orders and Environmental Statement

  A483 Pant-Llanymynech Bypass

  41

  ECI tenders invited

  1132W
  (ii) scheduled date for start of construction, (iii) expected completion date and (iv) status at 1 April is for each currently identified scheme. [186168]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government are on track to deliver 32 new bypasses on the strategic road network by the end of 2010–11. The following table gives the relevant detail on these bypasses which have either been completed, or are contained within the current Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI).

  Firm decisions have yet to be made on start of works for the remainder of the current programme so no forecast dates of opening are possible but the latest estimated outturn costs and status report for these schemes has been provided.

  On local roads it is too soon to say whether the quoted number of local road schemes will be delivered. This depends largely on how quickly local authorities bring their schemes to completion. 79 road schemes have been fully or provisionally approved by the Government since 2000; these schemes are now at various stages of delivery. A local authority's progress in delivering a local road scheme is a matter for the local authority concerned. The Government are considering a number of other road scheme proposals from local authorities.
  1133W

  C Major Project Bypasses in the TPI, not yet on site, but to be completed by 2010–11

  Scheme

  Latest estimated outturn cost(£ million)

  Status at 1 April 2004 (2004–05 Business Plan Key/ Critical Event)

  A505 Dunstable Northern Bypass (A5 to M1 Link)

  48

  ECI contract awarded

  A57/A628 Mottram in Longdendale, Hollingworth and Tintwistle Bypass

  103

  ECI contract awarded

  A590 High and Low Newton Bypass

  22

  ECI tenders invited

  A595 Parton-Lillyhall Improvement

  25

  Publish Inquiry

  A64 Rillington Bypass

  12

  ECI tenders invited

  A66 Temple Sowerby and Improvement at Winderwath

  23

  ECI contract awarded

  A69 Haydon Bridge Bypass

  24

  ECI contract awarded

  Strategic Rail Authority
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what will happen to the work force of the Strategic Rail Authority when it is abolished, [186737]

  (2) how much the Department expects to spend in severance payments when the Strategic Rail Authority is abolished. [186778]

  Mr. Darling
  Work is in progress, following publication of the rail White Paper in July, to determine which of the SRA's functions will continue and which body will exercise them. Until decisions have been taken, it is too soon to know how many SRA staff will transfer elsewhere and how many might become eligible for severance payments.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will happen to the(a) stock and (b) assets held by the Strategic Rail Authority when it is abolished. [186739]

  Mr. Darling
  Appropriate arrangements will be made in the proposed legislation for the transfer of the property, rights and liabilities of the Strategic Rail Authority.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Peace Process
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress towards restoration of devolution to Northern Ireland. [187675]

  Mr. Spellar
  We are engaged in intensive political activity with the aim of restoring stable and inclusive partnership government in Northern Ireland.

  It is important to draw upon the high degree of commitment among the Northern Ireland parties to bring about resumed devolution at an early stage. Recent meetings with all parties have made me confident of support from all sides and good prospects for restoring stable devolved government to Northern Ireland.

  12 and 13 July Disturbances
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) police officers, (b) rioters, (c) army personnel and (d) ordinary civilians were injured in disturbances in Northern Ireland on 12 and 13 July. [186024]
  1134W
  Mr. Pearson
  The number of persons injured as a result of the security situation and serious public disorder on 12 and 13 July 2004 is listed in the following table:

  Number

  Police

  29

  Police Reserve

  6

  Army

  9

  Civilian

  10

  Total

  54

  Note:

  Statistics are provisional and will be subject to minor amendment

  Andersonstown Newspaper Group
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2004,Official Report, column 530W, on the Andersonstown Newspaper Group, whether the monies were allocated for projects (a) outside the UK and (b) in the Republic of Ireland. [186466]

  Mr. Spellar
  None of the monies referred to in the previous answer have been allocated to the Andersonstown Newspaper Group for projects(a) outside the UK or (b) in the Republic of Ireland.

  Anti-TNF Drugs
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ensure all patients requiring anti-TNF drugs for rheumatoid arthritis will receive this medication within three months. [186017]

  Angela Smith
  The degree to which the health and social care system can respond to presenting needs is limited by the level of resources available. Although there are no plans to ensure that all patients requiring anti-TNF drugs for rheumatoid arthritis will receive this medication within three months, my Department remains committed to extending the availability of these specialist drugs where they will clearly result in a significant improvement in patient care.

  Substantial extra funding has been allocated to the Health and Social Services Boards to allow 100 additional patients to receive anti-TNF drugs during this financial year. The Department of Health, Social Services will continue to seek additional resources to further improve access to these and other specialist medicines.

  Apple Growing
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce special programmes to support and encourage apple growing in Northern Ireland. [186288]

  Mr. Pearson
  I have no plans to introduce special programmes to support and encourage apple growing in Northern Ireland. Producer organisations in the sector can avail of financial assistance through the structural support arrangements under the EC Fruit and Vegetable Regime. Further, the Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Countryside Management Schemes include options whereby scheme participants may receive payment towards the restoration or re-creation of traditional orchards.

  Aid is available to the apple processing sector through the EU Agricultural Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme and the EU Marketing of Quality Agricultural Products Grant Scheme. Invest NI also provides assistance to companies in the sector.

  The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to provide assistance to the apple sector through its advisory and technical services

  Coastal Protection (Northern Ireland)
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his oral statement of 21 July 2004,Official Report, columns 343–70, what Royal Naval presence he plans around the coast of Northern Ireland to secure the Province against illegal importation of arms and explosives by sea. [186528]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no plans for a dedicated Royal Naval presence in Northern Irish waters once the Northern Ireland Flotilla is paid off.

  Delayed Hospital Discharge
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the level of delayed hospital discharges in the Homefirst Health and Social Services Trust area; and if he will make a statement. [186221]

  Angela Smith
  The most recent figures show that, at the end of April 2004, there were 111 patients in the Homefirst Health and Social Services Trust area whose discharge was delayed, amounting to 29 per cent. of the Nort#ern Ireland total of 387. The total number of delayed days amounted to 6,124 with a patient average of 55 delayed days. Thirty-three Homefirst residents had remained in hospital for more than three weeks and another 47 were still in hospital at the end of eight weeks.

  It is unacceptable that some people have to remain in hospital long after they are medically fit for discharge. A target has been set for all Health and Social Services Boards to ensure that, by 31 March 2005, 85 per cent. of all people who are medically fit for discharge should wait no more than eight weeks for community services to be provided and that the number of delayed discharge days is reduced by 10 per cent. compared to 2003–04 levels. Considerable additional resources have been allocated to ensure that these targets are met.
  1136W
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to reduce delayed hospital discharges within the Homefirst Health and Social Services Trust area. [186222]

  Angela Smith
  The Northern Health and Social Services Board has developed a strategy for older people to reflect the needs of its growing and ageing population. Over the past 18 months the board has been working to implement a comprehensive range of services to address the high levels of delayed discharges in its area, and is planning to invest over £4 million in the Elderly Programme of Care during 2004–05.

  A number of measures have been put in place aimed at reducing hospital admissions and speeding up the discharge process. Additional nursing home places have been funded, Home from Hospital and community rehabilitation services have been expanded across the whole Homefirst Trust area, and Rapid Response Nursing services have been established to provide acute care in the Homefirst community.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect of delayed hospital discharges in the Homefirst Health and Social Services Trust on hospital waiting lists at(a) Antrim and (b) Whiteabbey hospitals. [186223]

  Angela Smith
  Delayed discharges have some impact on waiting lists at Antrim, Whiteabbey and other hospitals, although the scale of this is difficult to quantify. Delayed discharges increase the pressure on medical beds and m hen medical beds are full, new medical patients may be admitted to surgical wards and this can sometimes impact on the level of s#rgical activity.

  Work is currently under way to re-design and reform the emergency care service in Northern Ireland. Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts are required to develop plans to streamline processes relating to emergency patient flows at all hospitals so that, by 31 March 2005, the number of delayed discharge days is reduced by 10 per cent. compared to 2003–04 levels. This work, coupled with planned increases in capacity, such as the 24-bed ward at Antrim hospital due to open in 2005, will reduce the need for medical patients to be cared for in surgical wards.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many copies of his Department's annual report were printed in each year since 1997; how many were sold in each year; and what the(a) publication costs and (b) sales revenue were. [183889]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Stationery Office has provided the following information:

  Number of NIO annual reports issued

  19971

  —

  19981

  —

  19991

  —

  2000

  519

  2001

  558

  2002

  494

  2003

  443

  20042

  321

  1137W

  1The Northern Ireland Office has only produced a published version of its annual report since 2000. Prior to that the NIO was one of a number of contributors to the Northern Ireland Departmental Report, an annually published report produced by the Department of Finance and Personnel (NI), which set out the work and expenditure of all the different Departments in Northern Ireland.

  2The 2004 report became available for purchase only on 7 May 2004 so final details of costs and sales arc not to hand. Figures shown are the latest available.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work-related road safety. [185916]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The NIO and its agencies and the 11 Departments and agencies of the NI Administration operate a total of 2,492 vehicles. The number of personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the NIO and the NI Departments within each of the last five years is outlined as follows:

  Number of personal injury accidents

  1999–2000

  9

  2000–01

  9

  2001–02

  9

  2002–03

  7

  2003–04

  9

  Policies for managing work-related road safety are encompassed within health and safety policies as required by Health and Safety legislation. These include centrally issued guidance, and local guidance where appropriate, on issues such as the use of mobile phones while driving, the need for drivers of certain Government vehicles to be medically examined, road worthiness of vehicles, driver competence and the availability of driver training.

  Employment Opportunities
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many adults were available for work in Northern Ireland in(a) June 2004 and (b) June 1999. [186243]

  Mr. Gardiner
  Latest figures from the Spring (March–May) 2004 Labour Force Survey estimated that there were 754,000 persons aged 16 and over who were either working or available for work in Northern Ireland. This compares to a figure of 748,000 for Spring (March–May) 1999.

  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were in(a) full-time and (b) part-time employment in Northern Ireland in (i) June 2004 and (ii) June 1999. [186244]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The most up-to-date employee jobs data relates to March 2004. Estimates of the number of full-time and part-time employee jobs in Northern Ireland for June 1999 and March 2004 are as follows.
  1138W

  Employee Jobs1 in Northern Ireland

  June 1999

  March 20042

  Full-Time Employee Jobs

  422,150

  441,070

  Part-Time Employee Jobs

  201,850

  235,450

  Total Employee Jobs

  624,000

  676,530

  1Figures are rounded to the nearest 10

  2Provisional

  Figures are not seasonally adjusted

  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask th# Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were employed in the small and medium enterprise sector in Northern Ireland in(a) 2004 and (b) 1999. [186266]

  Mr. Spellar
  Estimates from the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) of the number of employee jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises (i.e. enterprises with less than 250 employees) in the private sector in Northern Ireland for March 1999 and March 2004 are as follows.

  Employee jobs1 in private sector small and medium sized enterprises

  Number of employee jobs

  March 1999

  288,900

  March 2004

  318,200

  1Provisional

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

  Figures are not seasonally adjusted

  Fisheries Conservancy Board Vessel
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to ensure traceability of the Fisheries Conservancy Board vessel since the disappearance of the previous boat from Lough Neagh. [184834]

  Angela Smith
  There are no measures available which are foolproof and which would ensure traceability of a stolen boat. However, there are other factors which may enable the Board to trace the vessel. The Board has registered the vessel with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Accordingly, if it was stolen and recovered it could be traced back to the Board. The Board is also looking at whether there are cost effective measures, which might make traceability easier. Furthermore, appropriate equipment on board the vessel carry serial numbers.

  The Board has taken measures to try to protect the boat from theft. The vessel is moored in a prominent berth in Ballycastle Marina. The Marina is staffed from 8.00 am to midnight during the summer and from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm in winter. There are also three CCTVs covering the Marina for security purposes.

  Football
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the money will be released by the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure to pay for the improved floodlights at Windsor Park. [186409]

  Angela Smith
  To date the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) has made no commitment to release money to pay for the improved floodlights at Windsor Park. However, money may be made available
  1139W
  under the facilities component of the Soccer Strategy. This would be dependent on my being satisfied that the necessary changes in the governance of soccer have been implemented and that remaining issues, including the completion by the Irish Football Association (IFA) of a detailed audit of priority football facilities, are addressed in accordance with accountability requirements for public funds.

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on implementing the football strategy in Northern Ireland. [186410]

  Angela Smith
  Since the Irish Football Association's (IFA) decision on 6 April 2004 to accept the recommendations of the football strategy. I have set up a Sports Council led Implementation Group to oversee the implementation of the strategy in Northern Ireland. This Group has held a number of meetings and advertisements were recently placed in the press by the IFA for the appointment of two external members to the Association's new Executive Committee. Arrangements are also presently being made for the appointment of a new IFA Chief Executive. In addition to these, I have established a Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure led Monitoring Group to ensure that overall progress rem#ins consistent with the central aims of the football strategy. This Group held its first meeting on 23 July 2004.

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the floodlights at Windsor Park will be upgraded in time for Northern Ireland's first home World Cup matches. [186411]

  Angela Smith
  Responsibility for upgrading the floodlights at Windsor Park in time for Northern Ireland's first home World Cup matches rests with the governing body of Soccer in Northern Ireland, the Irish Football Association (IFA), and the owners of the stadium, Linfield FC. I understand that the IFA and Linfield FC are presently putting arrangements in place for the necessary upgrading work to be carried out within the given time constraints.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sites in Northern Ireland are licensed to accept hazardous waste; how many such sites there were in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [186598]

  Angela Smith
  At present in Northern Ireland, the legislation that defines hazardous waste are the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (which came into operation on 31 March 2003) and the Landfill Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (which came into force on 6 January 2004). Hazardous waste was not defined in Northern Ireland waste legislation before this.

  There are currently no landfill sites nor 'permitted' disposal facilities authorised to accept hazardous waste. However, there are various treatment facilities and transfer stations authorised to accept special waste as defined by the Special Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998.

  Hospital-acquired Infections
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of hospital-acquired infection were recorded(a) at each hospital and (b) within each health and social services board area in Northern Ireland in each of the last four years. [186601]

  Angela Smith
  There were 228 reports of patient episodes of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections in Northern Ireland in 2001–02 and 218 in 2002–03. The figures for 2003–04 will be available shortly. Records of such reports are maintained on an acute hospital trust basis and are set out in the following tables along with a breakdown by health and social services board. Earlier data and data for other infections are not available.

  Table 1: Number of MRSA patient episodes by acute hospital trust

  Acute hospital trust

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Altnagelvin Group

  22

  13

  Belfast City Hospital

  55

  46

  Causeway

  8

  9

  Craigavon Area Hospital Group

  13

  16

  Down Lisburn

  10

  8

  Green Park Healthcare

  2

  4

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital

  16

  19

  Newry and Mourne

  6

  4

  Royal Group of Hospitals

  40

  26

  Sperrin Lakeland

  5

  9

  Ulster Community and Hospitals

  17

  29

  United Hospitals Group

  34

  35

  Table 2: Number of MRSA patient episodes by health board

  Health and social service, board

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Northern

  42

  44

  Southern

  19

  20

  Eastern

  140

  132

  Western

  27

  22

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action has been taken by the Department of Employment and Learning to recover the estimated loss identified by the Auditor General's Report NIA 41/03, HC 673, as having accumulated through irregular expenditure on the Individual Learning Accounts Scheme. [183063]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The NIAO report on Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) indicated potential irregular payments to providers in Northern Ireland (NI). The Department for Employment and Learning has obtained legal advice on the scale and nature of the potential recoveries as part of a wider validation exercise; has liaised with the Department for Education and Skills and the police, in England, on the progress of their investigations; has undertaken extensive checks with Companies Registry NI and Companies House Great Britain (GB) to establish the present status of ILA providers; and obtained credit rating reports on the providers highlighted by the validation work. The Department is undertaking audits of providers to determine the actual potential for recovery and a
  1141W
  number of providers which operate also in GB is being pursued on DEL's behalf by the relevant police authorities.

  Infantry Battalions (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many men and women as at

  Infantry battalion

  Establishment

  1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards

  620

  1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards

  620

  1st Battalion The Scots Guards

  670

  1st Battalion The Irish Guards

  620

  1st Battalion The Welsh Guards

  620

  1st Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)

  620

  1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment)

  620

  1st Battalion The Kings Own Scottish Borderers

  620

  1st Battalion The Black Watch (The Highland Regiment)

  651

  1st Battalion The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)

  670

  1st Battalion The Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)

  687

  1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)

  670

  2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)

  620

  1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  670

  2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  620

  1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment

  667

  2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment

  620

  1st Battalion The Kings Own Royal Border Regiment

  620

  1st Battalion The Kings Regiment

  670

  1st Battalion The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire

  667

  1st Battalion The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)

  620

  1st Battalion The Queens Lancashire Regiment

  620

  1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)

  670

  1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and The Ulster Defence Regiment)

  620

  1st Battalion The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment

  620

  1st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment

  667

  1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Fusiliers

  620

  1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot)

  670

  1st Battalion The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment

  620

  1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th and 70th Foot)

  620

  1st Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's)

  670

  1st Battalion The Light Infantry

  670

  2nd Battalion The Light Infantry

  620

  1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets

  620

  2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets

  620

  1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles

  712

  2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles

  712

  1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment

  687

  2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

  687

  3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

  687

  Total

  25,874

  Information relating to the number of personnel classed as 'fit' in individual infantry battalions is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, as at 3 July 2004, the number of personnel classed as 'fit' in the infantry as a whole was 23,335. Personnel are defined as 'fit' when they are considered to be fit for service on operations anywhere in the world. It should be noted that although an individual soldier may be medically downgraded, they may still be liable for deployment, depending on the reason for the downgrading, the nature and location of the deployment, and medical advice.

  Invest Northern Ireland
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average time taken to process an
  1142W
  21 July were serving with each infantry battalion of the British Army who were battle fit or able to serve on operational tours in Northern Ireland or overseas; and what the establishment strength is of each of those battalions. [187255]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have been asked to reply.

  The unit establishment of each infantry battalion is given as follows:

  application for assistance by (a) Invest Northern Ireland and (b) Invest Northern Ireland's legacy organisations was in the most recent relevant period. [186854]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Invest NI target processing time for larger business development projects is 60 days. with a target of 30 days for less complex development cases. These times relate to 'controllable' time, ie periods when an application is being dealt with by Invest NI, and do not include periods when further information is required to be provided by the client. While target timeframes are currently being met in the majority of cases, there can be exceptions where, for example, the case is particularly complex or the negotiations prolonged.
  1143W
  The average processing target time operated by the legacy organisations IDE and LEDU, was 83 days. Invest NI has set target times which are shorter than those operated by these legacy bodies. It would require a disproportionate administrative effort to attempt to provide precise information on the legacy agencies' performance. However, it is clear that in the majority of cases the target timeframes were met and where this was not the case it again tended to reflect the complexity of the case concerned.

  Mortality Statistics
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 20 July 2004, reference 184778, how many of the patients in the table for(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 subsequently died in hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [187155]

  Angela Smith
  There is no information available on whether any particular patient recorded in the mandatory surveillance of MRSA patient episodes subsequently died in hospital as a result of that episode. The tables published annually by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Northern Ireland regarding such patient episodes of MRSA are derived from data mandatorily supplied by acute hospital trusts. The data is aggregated and does not carry personal identifiers.

  Movanagher Fish Farm
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what(a) temperature and (b) quality checks have been carried out in the last 12 months by staff of the Movanagher Fish Farm to detect poor water quality. [181819]

  Angela Smith
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Staff at Movanagher Fish Farm record the temperature of the inflowing water supply on a daily basis for management purposes.

  (b) Staff at Movanagher fish farm do not monitor water quality in the river and canal supplying water to the farm. This is the responsibility of the EHS Water Management Unit. Water quality is monitored at four points on the Lower Bann. The nearest monitoring point to Movanagher Fish Farm is at Kilrea Bridge, 3 to 4 km upstream of the farm. Samples are taken monthly. In addition, farm staff undertake checks of dissolved oxygen of the inflowing water supply if flows and temperature suggest that fish may be stressed.

  EHS is committed to chemical and biological monitoring of all significant waterways in Northern Ireland in line with national and international classification schemes and agreements. DCAL continues to engage with EHS and others to bring forward initiatives to address widespread water quality problems in Northern Ireland's waterways.

  National Stadium
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the specification for a national stadium requires a site of 60 acres. [186018]
  1144W
  Angela Smith
  In setting the minimum acreage specification for a possible multi-sports stadium in Northern Ireland at 60 acres, the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) is seeking to satisfy both the design requirements of the three sports concerned (soccer, rugby and Gaelic games) and defray costs to the public purse as much as possible through the acquisition of additional land space for mixed-use business development in and around the stadium itself. However, as this is not yet a formal procurement process, the SIB has been willing to consider notifications of interest from landowners of sites below 60 acres provided they satisfied the key criteria of acceptability to the three sports, deliverability and potential economic benefits.

  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the reason was for a deadline of 30 June for submissions on a new national stadium. [186019]

  Angela Smith
  The deadline of 30 June for submissions on a possible multi-sports stadium in Northern Ireland was set because I have asked the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) to complete its evaluation of potential sites for a multi-sports stadium and report back to me with an appropriate location by the autumn. However, as this is not yet a formal procurement process, the SIB has been willing to consider notifications of interest from landowners submitted after 30 June provided they satisfied the key criteria of acceptability to the three sports concerned (soccer, rugby and Gaelic games), deliverability and potential economic benefits.

  Nursing Staff
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the nursing staff at each Northern Ireland hospital are not of UK origin. [186184]

  Angela Smith
  Nurses not of UK origin are employed within the HPSS but cannot be identified separately either from HRMS or by the Trusts themselves. Information is only held by Trusts on the number of EC and non-EC nurses employed. Figures for the percentage of non-EC nursing staff working within each Health and Social Services Trust are as follows.

  Percentage of non-EC nurses working within each Health and Social Services Trust as at 30 June 2004

  HSS1 Trust

  Percentage of non-EC nurses working within each HSS Trust

  Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust

  3.0

  Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

  0.0

  Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

  4.0

  Causeway HSS Trust

  1.4

  Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

  4.5

  Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust

  0.5

  Down Lisburn HSS Trust

  5.0

  Foyle Community HSS Trust

  0.3

  Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust

  8.0

  Homefirst Community HSS Trust

  9.3

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

  7.5

  Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

  0.4

  North and West Belfast HSS Trust

  0.2

  Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

  10.3

  South and East Belfast HSS Trust

  0.0

  Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust

  1.5

  Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

  3.6

  United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

  3.8

  Total

  3.8

  1Health and Social Services

  1145W
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the potential impact recruiting nursing staff from overseas to work in Northern Ireland's hospitals will have on health services in less developed countries. [186185]

  Angela Smith
  The Department is currently drafting guidance on International Nursing Recruitment that will advise HPSS employers not to actively recruit from developing countries that are experiencing nursing shortages of their own.

  The majority of overseas nurses currently employed within the HPSS are from the Philippines, where nursing surpluses exist and the national Government actively supports recruitment by health service employers.

  Parades
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what participating bands were listed in the notification to the Parades Commission submitted by Ballymacarrett District Loyal Orange Lodge No 6 as organisers of the 1 July parade; and what bands participated in the parade. [182845]

  Mr. Pearson
  Information in relation to Notified bands is as follows. Police are currently investigating if additional bands attended without prior notification.

  Notified

  1. Ulster Volunteer Flute Band

  2. Albertbridge Accordion Band

  3. Parkinson Accordion Band

  4. Crimson Star Flute Band

  5. Pride of the Hill, Carnmoney

  6. Lord Carson Memorial Accordion

  7. Hillview Flute Band

  8. Gertrude Star Flute Band

  9. Pride of the Shore

  10. Pride of the Ravan

  11. Rising Sons of Donaghadee

  12. East Belfast True Blue Flute Band

  13. Ballymacarrett Defenders Flute Band

  14. Ballysillan Volunteers Flute Band

  15. Shankill Road Protestant Boy Flute Band

  16. Rising Sons of East Belfast Flute Band

  17. Shankill Star

  18. Pride of the Shankill Flute Band

  19. Ballybeen Young Loyalist Flute Band

  20. Pride of Laganvalley Flute Band

  21. Fairhill Flute Band

  22. Monkstown YCV Flute Band

  23. East Belfast Protestant Boys

  24. Shankill Road Defenders Flute Band

  25. Millar Memorial Flute Band

  26. Fusiliers Flute Band

  27. Crown Defenders Flute Band

  28. Mount Vernon Flute Band

  29. Ballynafeigh Apprentice Boys

  30. North Down Defenders Flute Band

  31. Castlereagh Young Defenders Flute Band

  32. Blues and Royals East Belfast

  PFI/PPP Contracts
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts his Department had with(a) Barclays, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) the Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. [186691]

  Mr. Pearson
  None of the 11 Northern Ireland Departments nor the Northern Ireland Office have entered into contracts with any of the institutions identified.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many positions on public bodies in Northern Ireland are occupied by persons aged under 25 years. [184938]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  At the 16 July 2004, 16 persons aged under 25 held ministerial appointments to the Boards of public and other governing bodies in Northern Ireland.

  Other information on appointments to bodies sponsored by Northern Ireland's 11 Government Departments can be found in the Public Appointments Annual Report for 2002–03. Information on appointments made by the Northern Ireland Office during the same period can be found in Appendix F of the NIO Departmental Report for 2004. Copies of both reports are available from the Library of the House and can be found on the internet at: www.ofmdfmni. gov.uk/publicappointments and www.nio.gov.uk/pdf/ deptreport2004.pdf

  Rail Network
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public money has been spent on(a) maintaining and (b) upgrading the rail network between Belfast and the border with the Irish Republic in each of the past five years. [185114]

  Mr. Spellar
  Public money spent on maintaining and upgrading the rail network between Belfast and the border with the Irish Republic in each of the past five years is as follows:

  Infrastructure maintenance—Cross-border line

  £000

  1999–2000

  668

  2000–01

  691

  2001–02

  696

  2002–03

  720

  2003–04

  725

  Total

  3,500

  This includes work carried out on the track, level crossings, bridges/embankments and buildings/stations.

  £000

  1999–2000

  5,150

  2000–01

  1,175

  2001–02

  2,800

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  Upgrading cross-border line

  £000

  2002–03

  2,552

  2003–04

  5,700

  Total

  17,377

  This includes work carried out on resignalling at Lurgan, the City junction to Central relay, fencing, conversion to full barrier and the installation of CCTV at Moira and Trummery accommodatio# crossings and the upgrading of Belfast Central station.

  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public money from Northern Ireland Departments has been spent on(a) maintaining and (b) improving the Enterprise rail service between Belfast and Dublin in each of the past five years. [185115]

  Mr. Spellar
  Public money spent on maintaining and improving the Enterprise rail service between Belfast and Dublin in each of the last five years is as follows:

  £000

  1999–2000

  523

  2000–01

  786

  2001–02

  932

  2002–03

  1,006

  2003–04

  1,200

  Total

  4,447

  Within this, around £1.9 million was spent on routine maintenance of the rolling stock and around £2.5 million on the refurbishment of Enterprise carriages. Translink classify the latter as planned maintenance.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2004,Official Report, column 1329W, on the Railway Review Group, if he will list the officials from (a) the Department for Regional Development, (b) the Department of Finance and Personnel and (c) Translink who are members of the Railway Review Group. [186305]

  Mr. Spellar
  Listed as follows are the officials from the Department for Regional Development, Department of Finance and Personnel, Translink and the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company who are members of Railways Review Group.

  Members of Railways Review Group

  Official

  (a)

  Doreen Brown (Department for Regional Development)— Joint Chairperson David Sterling (Department for Regional Development)Brian White (Department for Regional Development) Michael Pollock (Department for Regional Development) Garry McKenna (Department for Regional Development)

  (b)

  Michael Brennan (Department of Finance and Personnel)

  (c)

  Keith Moffatt (Translink)—Joint Chairperson Jim Aiken (Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company) Stephen Armstrong (Translink)Clive Bradberry (Translink) Mal McGreevy (Translink)

  1148W
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the Department of Transport's New Approach to Transport Appraisal; and whether future investment decisions relating to Northern Ireland's railways network will be considered in the light of this report. [186855]

  Mr. Spellar
  The New Approach to Transport Appraisal is applied to all transport projects as set out in the "Guidance on Methodology for Multi Modal Studies" and this is fully consistent with the Treasury "Green Book-Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government" which is used to inform investment decisions in Northern Ireland.

  Royal Group of Hospitals, Belfast
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed in the Royal Group of Hospitals. Belfast in(a) clinical and medical, (b) secretarial and administrative, (c) ancillary and cleaning. (d) security and (e) catering positions; and what percentage in each category are non-Roman Catholics. [186989]

  Angela Smith
  The information requested is as follows. Clinical staff are those who provide a direct service to patients. Therefore, clinical staff within this trust include the following terms and conditions groups: nursing, midwifery and health visiting, professional and technical, medical and dental. It was impossible to break down the figures for ancillary and cleaning, security and catering as requested so information has been provided as detailed. Cleaning and security staff are employed by the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS and are included in the figures for operatives.

  (a) Table 1: Number of clinical staff positions in the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS1Trust as at 23 July 2004 and percentage in each category that are non-Roman Catholics

  Group

  Headcount

  WTE2

  Percentage of staff non- Roman Catholic

  Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  2,761

  2,291.95

  46.12

  Professional and technical Staff

  864

  770.31

  55.56

  Medical staff

  675

  635.73

  83.72

  1Health and Social Services

  2Whole time equivalent

  (b) Table 1: Number of administration and clerical positions in the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS1Trust as at 23 July 2004 and percentage that are non-Roman Catholics

  Group

  Headcount

  WTE2

  Percentage of staff non- Roman Catholic

  Administration and clerical staff

  1,090

  970.5

  27.80

  1Health and Social Services

  2Whole time equivalent

  1149W

  (c), (d) and (e) Table 1: Number of ancillary and general positions in the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS1Trust as at 23 July 2004 and percentage that are non-Roman Catholics

  Grades

  Headcount

  WTE2

  Percentage of staff non- Roman Catholic

  Operative

  715

  485.07

  4.2

  Catering assistant

  155

  109.00

  7.1

  Cook

  27

  24.59

  18.52

  Other grades

  26

  24.78

  26.90

  1Health and Social Services

  2Whole time equivalent

  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to ensure equality of opportunity for employment at he Royal Group of Hospitals, Belfast. [186990]

  Angela Smith
  The Royal Group of Hospitals carry out a three yearly review of their employment composition and practices in accordance with Article 55 of the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998. The last review, carried out in 2002, was submitted to the Equality Commission, which is the body with responsibility to ensure compliance with the legislation. All job vacancies are advertised widely and the advert includes a statement welcoming applicants from groups which are currently under represented in the work force. The Royal Group of Hospitals also promotes equality of opportunity for all groups covered under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

  Schools (New Build)
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools in Northern Ireland he estimates will be replaced as a result of the new build programme which is under way. [186235]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The Department of Education's current capital building programme will result in 130 schools being replaced.

  Second Homes
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of dwellings that were used as second homes in the towns of(a) Portballintrae, (b) Portstewart, (c) Portrush and (d) Castlerock last year. [186328]

  Mr. Spellar
  Although the use of dwellings as second homes has a significant impact on the housing market and on the housing stock available for permanent occupation by residents in certain areas, it is not possible to establish accurately the extent of second home use in specific areas without detailed field work. No estimates have therefore been produced for these towns.

  Secondary Education
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the result was of the public consultation on(a) the future of grammar schools in Northern Ireland and (b) on the 11-plus examination in Northern Ireland. [187121]
  1150W
  Mr. Gardiner
  There has been no consultation on the future of grammar schools, which will remain as an integral part of the schools system under new arrangements for post-primary education. Responses to the earlier consultation following the Burns report showed a clear majority favoured the abolition of the present 11-plus transfer test.

  Sexual Abuse Victims
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research he has collated on the number of individuals in Northern Ireland who have suffered sexual abuse. [183019]

  Angela Smith
  The information requested is not available, as cases of sexual abuse are largely unreported, and information on the number of people who have reported experiencing sexual abuse is not collected centrally.

  Information is, however, available on the number of children who have been placed on the Child Protection Register because they are at risk of sexual abuse. At 31 March 2003, there were 238 such children.

  In addition, during the financial year 2003–04, there were 1,780 notifiable sexual offences against adults and children recorded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. During 2002–03, when in total 1,469 notifiable sexual offences were recorded, the victim was under 18 years of age in 851 cases (out of 1,418 cases where the age of the victim was known or applicable).

  Sion Mills
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what future development is anticipated in the Sion Mills area up to 2030 that the wastewater treatment works due for completion in March 2006 will be designed to cater for. [186302]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chief Executive of Water Services (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Member in response to this question.

  Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated September 2004:

  You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about anticipated future development in Sion Mills catered for in the design of the planned wastewater treatment works for the area. I have been asked to reply as Chief Executive of Water Service as the issue falls within my operational responsibility.

  Water Service estimates that the existing wastewater treatment works at Sion Mills serves a population equivalent of some 3,100 taking account of both domestic and non-domestic properties. Water Service is proposing to undertake a major upgrade of the Works as it does not have capacity for dealing with significant additional flows.

  The new Works will be designed to cater for a population equivalent of 3,700 by the year 2030. This has been assessed using established methodologies taking into account population growth and anticipated housing and commercial development. This projection does not take into account the recent proposal to develop the Herdman's Mills site in Sion Mills. This could have an impact on the required capacity of the new Works but the implications cannot be assessed at this stage. However, as the design of the Works is still at an early stage, it should be possible to allow for the impact of the proposals for the Herdman's Mills site at a later stage in the design.

  Textiles Industry
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were employed in the textiles industry in Northern Ireland in(a) June 2004 and (b) June 1999. [186245]

  Mr. Spellar
  The most up-to-date employee jobs data relates to March 2004. Estimates of the number of employee jobs in the textiles industry in Northern Ireland for June 1999, and March 2004 are as follows.

  Employee jobs1 in the textiles industry in Northern Ireland

  Number of employee jobs

  June 1999

  19,300

  March 20041

  7,360

  1Provisional

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  Figures are not seasonally adjusted

  Titanic Quarter
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what value he places on Northern Ireland's connection with the Titanic as a means of attracting visitors to Northern Ireland. [182609]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The Northern Ireland Tourist Board's 'Tourism in Northern Ireland—A Strategic Framework for Action 2004—2007' has identified Belfast, and in particular its historical connections with Titanic (Maritime) Belfast, as one of five signature projects for Northern Ireland tourism.

  Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board are currently in the process of commissioning research into realising the potential value of the 'Titanic' theme for Belfast and Northern Ireland. It is anticipated that this research will begin in September 2004 with the first draft results available by January 2005.

  The Titanic brand could have substantial tourist potential, especially on the centenary in 2012 and the years immediately after. Conservatively, MAGNI (National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland) estimate that visitor numbers to a new museum attraction and to Belfast could be in the region of 300,000 per annum. Such is the interest in the Titanic and the city in which she was built, that it is considered that visitors will be attracted from all over the world.

  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how prominent a role the Titanic story will play in the proposed Museum for Sea and Sky at Titanic Quarter. [182611]

  Angela Smith
  So far as the possible development of a museum at Titanic Quarter is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the questions tabled on 28 June 2004,Official Report, column 56W (179804). It is

  £

  Gasyard Feile

  West Belfast Festival

  DCAL

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Arts Council grant in aid ArtsDev Fund

  —

  —

  —

  45,000 ASOP

  45,00 ASOP

  80,000 ASOP

  Strategic Review

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,850

  Arts and Business

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7,500

  1152W
  anticipated that exhibitions on the Titanic will be included in this museum and would obviously feature prominently in the year 2012, the centenary of the Titanic disaster. The museum would also include exhibitions both temporary and permanent on themes related to, for example, the industrial history of Belfast and the story of the people of Northern Ireland.

  University Admissions
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the lowest A level grades were with which students from(a) Northern Ireland and (b) outside the UK were admitted to each faculty at (i) Queen's University, Belfast and (ii) the University of Ulster in each of the last 10 years. [187447]

  Mr. Gardiner
  The Department for Employment and Learning does not hold A level grades for entrants to higher education institutions nor information by faculty. From 1994–95 to 2001–02 A level points scores and in 2002–03 tariff scores are held for full-time undergraduate entrants that accessed higher education through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

  In each of the years between 1994–95 and 2002–03 the lowest recorded A level point-tariff score of students enrolled at both Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster was equivalent to one E at A level. Information on 2003–04 enrolments is not yet available.

  Although this may be the lowest recorded A level score for entrants, institutions may consider a wide range of qualifications and experience in addition to or instead of A levels when considering student applications. It is also t#e case that A level point-tariff scores may not be available for all students applying directly to the institutions, students making late applications and some students from outside the UK who generally do not take A level examinations.

  West Belfast Festival/Gasyard Feile
  Mr. Gregory Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public money has been allocated to the(a) West Belfast Festival and (b) Gasyard Feile in Londonderry in each of the last three years, broken down by Department. [183788]

  Angela Smith
  The amount of public money allocated by Northern Ireland Departments and their associated public bodies to(a) West Belfast Festival and (b) Gasyard Feile is as follows.

  West Belfast Festival

  Gasyard Feile

  2001–02

  258,030

  0

  2002–03

  358,138

  0

  2003–04

  317,321

  0

  Detailed breakdown by department is as follows.
  1153W

  £

  Gasyard Feile

  West Belfast Festival

  DCAL

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Foras Na Gacilge DCAL

  —

  —

  —

  23,000

  12,000

  16,000

  NI Events Co

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20,000

  NIFTC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  £

  Gasyard Feile

  West Belfast Festival

  DSD

  BRO

  —

  —

  —

  10,000

  46,200

  105,160

  VCU

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  68,811

  EU

  —

  —

  —

  150,330

  113,024

  —

  NWDO

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  DFP

  BLSP

  —

  —

  —

  —

  121,914

  —

  DETI

  NITB

  —

  —

  —

  20,000

  20,000

  15,000

  OFMDFM

  CRU

  —

  —

  —

  9,700

  —

  —

  Total Public Funding Support

  —

  —

  —

  258,030

  358,138

  317,321

PRIME MINISTER

  Government Information
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister whether Ministers are required to(a) consult and (b) notify other Ministers before deciding not to comply with recommendations by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration under the Code of Practice on access to Government information. [186609]

  Mr. Leslie
  I have been asked to reply.

  Consultation between Ministers is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.

  2012 Olympic Gaines
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what plans he has to create a new ministerial post with specific responsibility for London's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games; whether the post will carry Cabinet status; and if he will make a statement; [187183]

  (2) what discussions regarding the creation of a new ministerial post with specific responsibility for London's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games he has held with (a) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (b) London 2012 and (c) other bodies; and if he will make a statement. [187184]

  The Prime Minister
  Current ministerial arrangements already provide for a Cabinet Minister with explicit responsibility for the Olympic bid. In this capacity, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport represents the Government, alongside the Mayor and the Chairman of the British Olympic Association, on the Stakeholders Panel, which is overseeing the delivery of the bid.

  EU Army
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is on the French Government's position on the establishment of an EU army. [186597]

  The Prime Minister
  The framework for the European Security and Defence Policy was set out in the European Council Conclusions from Nice in December 2000. These were unanimously agreed by all member states. They explicitly say that t#is policy "does not involve the establishment of a European army".

  Intelligence Services
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Prime Minister what research his Office has commissioned regarding reform of the United Kingdom's intelligence services. [186595]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 14 July 2004,Official Report, column 1431.

  Iraq
  Mr. Marshall-Andrews
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date he was informed of the withdrawal of the Iraq intelligence reports to which paragraph 405 of Lord Butler's report refers. [186799]

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Prime Minister which official at No. 10 Downing Street was first informed, by whom, and on what date, of the withdrawal of the intelligence on Iraqi production of chemical and biological agent referred to in paragraph 405 of the Butler Report. [186804]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. and right hon. Members to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Mr. Adam Price), on 21 July,Official Report, column 285W.

  Ministerial Visits
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the local authority areas he has not visited as Prime Minister. [186994]

  The Prime Minister
  The information is not held in the format requested. For visits I undertook during 2003, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Norman Baker) on 26 April 2004,Official Report, columns 829–30W.

  North Korea
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will meet representatives from North Korea to discus#(a) its nuclear weapons programme and (b) security on the Korean peninsula. [186973]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no current plans to do so.

  US Presidential Elections
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he plans to meet(a) Mr. John Kerry and (b) President George W. Bush before the US presidential elections. [186593]
  1156W
  The Prime Minister
  I have no current plans to do so.

  Weapons of Mass Destruction
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Prime Minister what research he has commissioned into the threats from weapons of mass destruction programmes in hostile countries. [186974]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government keep such threats under constant review.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet leaders of other United Nations Security Council member states to discuss methods of resolving the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. [186596]

  The Prime Minister
  I have regular discussions with members of the United Nations including on Zimbabwe. We are considering the next steps at the UN with colleagues on the Security Council arid in the General Assembly.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  House Prices
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the percentage change in house prices in Suffolk was in each of the last seven years. [187211]

  Keith Hill
  The annual average property prices in Suffolk and the year-on-year percentage price changes for the past seven years have been as follows:

  Annual average price (£)

  Year-on-year percentage change

  1996

  62,205

  —

  1997

  68,377

  9.9

  1998

  73,669

  7.7

  1999

  81,221

  10.3

  2000

  93,495

  15.1

  2001

  106,018

  13.4

  2002

  129,167

  22.3

  2003

  149,167

  15.1

  £

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  North East

  56,503

  58,965

  63,866

  66,599

  69,656

  82,391

  94,590

  North West1

  62,951

  67,555

  72,158

  77,923

  85,059

  99,122

  108,956

  Yorkshire and Humber

  60,874

  63,312

  67,644

  71,416

  77,833

  94,116

  107,325

  East Midlands

  62,656

  68,907

  71,532

  80,259

  89,226

  111,511

  133,215

  West Midlands

  69,598

  75,840

  81,315

  92,055

  99,200

  120,618

  132,898

  East

  84,306

  95,478

  102,525

  118,718

  129,666

  158,248

  181,494

  London

  107,968

  123,921

  150,909

  174,727

  188,342

  206,960

  236,476

  South East

  98,329

  113,194

  124,490

  147,220

  161,049

  187,562

  213,115

  South West

  75,064

  83,269

  92,171

  106,202

  118,902

  146,784

  170,560

  England

  79,814

  89,714

  100,012

  114,335

  123.149

  144,081

  165,834

  1Published figures for the whole of North West region are not available prior to 1999. So the figures shown for 1997 and 1998 are estimates derived from a weighted combination of published prices for Merseyside and for North West excluding Merseyside".

  Notes:

  1. Mix-adjustment nullifies the effect of changes in the mix of properties sold from one period to the next through the use of fixed weights.

  New weights are introduced in January each year.

  2. The above figures are based on mortgage completions only— i.e. they exclude purchases for cash.

  3. Up to 2002, the figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of completions obtained through the Survey of Mortgage Lenders. From 2003, the figures are based on a substantially larger sample.

  Source:

  Survey of Mortgage Lenders

  Housing Demand
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what his Department's estimate is of demand for housing units in each decade to 2050, broken down by UK region; [187330]

  (2) what his Department's estimate is of extra demand for housing units by decade to 2050, by UK region. [187334]

  Keith Hill
  The following table shows growth in household numbers using the 1996-based household projections for English regions. These give the additional households projected to form if demographic trends continue. They are not estimates of demand as they do not take account of future economic trends and housing supply.

  The household projections are to 2021 only. The figures show projected additional households between 2001 and 2011 ane between 2001 and 2021.
  1158W
  Notes:

  1. The figures reflect prices at the completion stage.

  2. Purchases by sitting tenants (under "Right-to-Buy" schemes) are excluded because the prices are below market value.

  3. Prices below £1,000 or above £20 million are also excluded-so that the average prices are not affected by outliers.

  4. The average prices are simple averages, not mix-adjusted averages. The reason for this is that the number of transactions obtained through the Survey of Mortgage Lenders is relatively small for a single county. Consequently Land Registry figures have been used instead. However, these can only be presented as simple averages. It should be noted, however, that changes in simple average prices from one period to the next may reflect both actual price change and change in the mix of properties sold in the respective periods.

  Source:

  Land Registry

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list average house prices by region in each year since 1997. [187325]

  Keith Hill
  The mix-adjusted average house prices by region for each year since 1997 have been as follows:

  Households in Thousands:

  2001 Base

  Growth to 2011

  Growth to 2021

  England

  20,992

  1,527

  3,008

  North East

  1,099

  36

  68

  North West

  2,875

  122

  235

  Yorks, and Number

  2,136

  124

  236

  East Midlands

  2,189

  110

  209

  West Midlands

  2,189

  110

  209

  East

  2,284

  210

  417

  London

  3,128

  249

  517

  South East

  3,403

  332

  657

  South West

  2,115

  202

  400

  Mortgages
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average mortgage taken out by first time buyers was in each year since 1997. [187331]
  1159W
  Keith Hill
  The average advance (mortgage) taken out by first-time buyers across the whole of the UK during each year since 1997 has been as follows.

  Year

  Average advance (£000)

  1997

  46,600

  1998

  50,900

  1999

  57,400

  2000

  60,500

  2001

  67,000

  2002

  80,300

  2003

  82,600

  Note:

  The term "first-time buyer" refers to buyers who were not homeowners immediately prior to this purchase.

  Source:

  Survey of Mortgage Lenders.

  Figures are shown to the nearest 100.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Urban Deprived Fund will be extended to include post offices in the 20 per cent. most deprived wards. [186732]

  Phil Hope
  The Deprived Urban Post Office Fund (DUPOF) was created as a one-off programme to target the most deprived areas with a fixed amount of funding (£15 million) which will be fully allocated by the end of October.

  There are no plans to extend the scheme.

  Affordable Housing
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what impact the additional funding granted to his Department in the 2004 Spending Review will have on the provision of affordable housing(a) in the Bridgwater parliamentary constituency and (b) in the South West; and what assessment he has made of the likely impact on the greenbelt and green spaces. [186540]

  Keith Hill
  The funding provided in the Spending Review will, along with efficiency improvements, produce 75,000 social rented homes and 40,000 homes for essential public sector workers and low cost homeownership over the three years to 2007–08. Decisions have not yet been taken on how Regional Housing Pot funding for 2006–07 and 2007–08 (including the additional funding for affordable housing) is split between regions. This needs to reflect the different pattern of needs across regions and the Government's national housing priorities, including development of the growth areas, and targets. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is aiming to complete this work, which raises some complex issues, by the end of the year.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will announce decisions on allocation of funding within regions next summer in the light of recommendations from Regional Housing Boards, which are due in May next year.
  1160W
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has carried out to assess the impact of expanding shared ownership schemes on the production of affordable rental housing for key workers and low-income groups. [187530]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published the results of an Evaluation of the Housing Corporation funded Low Cost Home Ownership Programme in 2002. The research found that shared ownership proved good value for money for both the public purse and for the consumer.

  Shared ownership provides a means of helping key workers, existing social tenants and those on housing waiting lists into horse ownership while at the same time helping to reduce pressure on housing waiting lists and freeing up existing social rented accommodation for those in priority housing need. The balance between social rented and shared ownership accommodation is dependent on the Government's national housing priorities together with regional and local housing strategies and investment priorities.

  The funding provided in the Spending Review 2004 will, along with efficiency improvements, produce 75,000 social rented homes and 40,000 homes for essential public sector workers and low cost home ownership over the three years to 2007–08.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the credit needs of low and moderate income borrowers in relation to accessing affordable privately-rented accommodation. [187531]

  Keith Hill
  None.

  Audit Commission
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many full-time equivalent staff of the Audit Commission were working(a) in the Inspection Directorate, (b) in the Housing Inspectorate, (c) on the Comprehensive Performance Assessment, (d) on local authority audits and (e) in administration and management in each financial year since 2000–01. [187561]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission. I will ask the chief executive to write to the hon. Member md ensure that copies of the letter are made available in the Library of the House.

  Building Regulations
  Tom Cox
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department is taking to ensure conformity of requirements for fire safety under the Building Regulations 2000 and crime prevention measures introduced into the Building Act 1984 by the Su#tainable and Secure Buildings Bill. [186791]

  Phil Hope
  It is anticipated that the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Bill will receive Royal Assent during September. It will provide an opportunity for Building Regulations to make a fuller contribution to government policies on sustainability and crime prevention. The regulations and guidance needed to implement the powers given by the Bill have not yet been drafted. When doing so, officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will identify the issues that are
  1161W
  amenable to control through the Building Regulations and seek the advice of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee and key stakeholders. The proposals will be subject to Regulatory Impact Assessment and public consultation in the usual way.

  Tom Cox
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether fire safety requirements for occupants' means of escape and emergency access for the fire and rescue service in the current Building Regulations will take precedence over requirements for crime prevention measures due to be introduced into the Building Act 1984 and the Building Regulations by the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Bill. [186793]

  Phil Hope
  Security and means of escape and emergency access are important to life safety. However, the practical requirements can conflict if not considered holistically. When new Building Regulations and guidance are drafted for Security, officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will take advice from the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, key stakeholders and other experts, to ensure a sensible and safe balance is achieved. The proposals will be subject to Regulatory Impact Assessment and public consultation in the usual way.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what studies he has undertaken regarding the energy losses occurring in public and private heated swimming pool shells in advance of his forthcoming consultation document on improving the building regulations concerning the conservation of fuel and power. [187385]

  Phil Hope
  Proposals for amending the Building Regulations energy provisions next summer were published on 21 July 2004. The consultation document indicates that whilst initial studies have shown significant benefits could accrue from defining standards for pools, more investigations are needed to establish the costs and benefits on a national scale, and whether regulating would be cost-effective and proportionate. It will be impossible to complete the investigations in time to influence 'his amendment but it will be taken into account next time.

  Name

  Number of rooms for smoking

  Number of rooms for Worship

  Number of rooms for Nursing mothers and pregnant women

  26 Whitehall—London

  1—Shared with OGD

  1—Shared with OGD

  1—Shared with OGD

  Ashdown House—London

  1—Shared with OGDs

  1—Shared with OGDs

  1—Shared with OGDs

  Eland House—London

  1

  1

  1

  Portland House—London

  0

  1—Meeting room

  1—First aid room.

  Exchange Tower—London

  2—Shared with OGD

  0—(under discussion with OGD)

  1—First aid room—Shared with OGD

  Ashdown House—Hastings

  3—Shared with OGDs

  1—"Drop in" room available—shared with OGDs

  2-1 "Drop in" room and 1 Medical rooms can be used—shared with OGDs

  Hempstead House—Hemel Hempstead

  1—Shared with OGD

  1—Room available on request

  0

  Fire Experimental Unit—Moreton-in-Marsh

  0

  0

  0

  Fire Service College—Moreton-in-Marsh

  0

  1—Muslim Prayer Room 1—multi-denominational chapel

  1

  Fire Statistics and Research Division—BRE Garston

  0

  1—Room available on request

  1—Room available on request

  Housing Care and Support Division—Glossop

  0

  1—Quiet room available on request

  1—Quiet room available on request

  Emergency Fire Service—Marchington

  1—External Smoking Shelter

  0

  1—First aid room.

  Temple Quay House—Bristol

  1

  0

  0

  QEII Conference Centre—London

  1

  1—private room available on staff

  1—private room available on staff

  Departmental Accounts
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when his Department's resource accounts for 2004–05 will be published; and if he will make a statement. [187565]

  Phil Hope
  The accounts preparation is progressing according to timetable and publication will be before the statutory deadline of 31 January 2005.

  Departmental Travel
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of(a) air travel by and (b) overnight accommodation for his Department's officials on departmental business was in 2003–04. [186594]

  Phil Hope
  In 2003–04 the cost of(a) air travel was £356,500 and (b) overnight subsistence and accommodation was £1.437 million.

  Derelict Homes
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate has been made of the number of derelict homes; what proportion of these are council owned; what proportion of these are in(a) urban areas and (b) in the south east region; and if he will make a statement. [187328]

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

  Designated Accommodation
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many rooms are set aside for(a) the use of smokers, (b) worship, broken down by religion and (c) nursing mothers and pregnant women in each building and set of offices for which his Department is responsible. [187320]

  Phil Hope
  The data requested is set out in the following table for the buildings occupied by officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. As indicated, a number of the rooms are shared with other Government Departments (OGDs).
  1163W

  Name

  Number of rooms for smoking

  Number of rooms for Worship

  Number of rooms for Nursing mothers and pregnant women

  Government Offices

  8

  2—dedicated (multi-faith) 3— Meeting rooms (can be used for prayer)

  7—First aid rooms in 7 locations

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to providing an environment in which staff are able to work in safety and with religious tolerance.

  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.

  East of England
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of the East of England was classed as#urban area(a) 30 years ago, (b) 10 years ago, (c) five years ago and (d) at the most recent date for which figures are available. [187212]

  Keith Hll
  The following information is available for land area designated for urban settlements with an associated population of 1,000 or more in the East of England.

  Number of vacant dwellings in Tyne and Wear (Met County) at 1 April 2004.

  Local authority

  Registered social landlord

  Other public sector

  Other private sector

  Total dwellings

  Gateshead

  525

  94

  7

  2,936

  3,562

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,413

  350

  385

  3,020

  5,168

  North Tyneside

  404

  196

  6

  1,745

  2,351

  South Tyneside

  449

  48

  0

  922

  1,419

  Sunderland

  0

  1,401

  0

  1,185

  2,586

  Tyne and Wear

  2,791

  2,089

  398

  9,808

  15,086

  Source:

  ODPM's Housing Investment Programme (HIP) returns.

  EU Groups/Committees
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the working groups and committees at European Union level upon which his Department sits; and if he wi#l list the current agenda of each. [187324]

  Name of working group

  Current agenda

  European Working Group on Land-Use

  To provide guidance on the implementation of Article 12 of the Seveso II

  Planning in the context of Article 12 of the Seveso II Directive 1

  Directive addressing the issue of land-use planning in the vicinity of establishments handling dangerous substances.

  National EIA and SEA experts Committee

  To provide updates and exchange examples of good practice in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA).

  Raw Materials Supply Group

  To discuss a wide range of issues concerning the extractive industries with European industry trade associations. The Group examines improvements to industry environmental performance, such as restoration and aftercare, and other initiatives which may impinge in this sector and its competitiveness.

  Working Group of the Environment Council on the proposed EU Directive on management of waste from the extractive industries

  To debate and negotiate proposals for new European environmental legislation, and to forward dossiers to the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper).

  Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Commitee

  To assist the Commission in the implementation of the directive.

  Standing Committee on Construction (SCC)

  To examine any questions posed by the implementation and the practical application of the Construction Products Directive (CPD).

  Eurocodes National Correspondents Group

  To assist in the implementation of the structural curocodes.

  The Committee on the Development and

  To implement Structural Funds Regulations, as required under Article 48 of EU

  1164W

  Year

  Percentage

  1981

  6.0

  1991

  6.5

  2001

  7.0

  These figures relate to built-up areas, irrespective of administrative boundaries.

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many empty properties there were in each tenure sector in each authority in Tyne and Wear, according to the latest returns available. [186955]

  Keith Hill
  The latest available information on empty properties in Tyne and Wear is tabled below. This data has been provided from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Housing Investment Programme returns.

  Phil Hope
  The working groups and committees at European Union level upon which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sits together with their current agendas are listed in the following table.
  1165W

  Name of working Group

  Current agenda

  Conversion of Regions (CDCR)

  Regulation 1260/1999. It considers issues such as the simplification of funding rules, and other policy issues affecting funding programmes.

  The Structural Actions Working Group

  To address the reform of the Structural Funds for the next round of funding (post 2006), in the light of the "Report on the Economic and Social Cohesion of the EU". The committee will be negotiating the terms of the draft Structural Funds Regulations from September, which are likely to be finalised in the second half of 2005.

  Urban Environment Expert Group.

  The current agenda is the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment, which is part of the 6th Environmental Action Plan.

  Fire and Rescue Service
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the operational efficiency of regional boundaries in relation to the reorganisation of local fire and rescue services. [186613]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The policy statement accompanying the draft Regional Assemblies Bill published in July 2004 confirmed that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. A referendum will take place in the North East on 4 November. Other than in regions where referendums are held, the Government have no plans to re-organise local fire and rescue services, which continue to be the responsibility of local Fire and Rescue Authorities.

  All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to work together through Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level. These range from secure Regional Control Centres responding to the new dimension of environmental disaster and terrorist threat to purchasing consortia to secure better value for money for the taxpayer.

  No new assessment has been conducted of the Government Office regional boundaries, but they are the basis on which a wide range of government activities are organised, including contingency planning to deal with civil emergencies.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the basis was for the decision that a single regional fire control room should be created to cover the South West region; what assessment he has made of the operational advantages of such a reorganisation; and what assessment he has made of the impact on the number of deaths as a result of fire. [186698]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government accept the conclusions of the Mott MacDonald report on the "Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales", published in December 2003. The report concluded that the optimum solution to secure efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of fire and rescue service control rooms would be nine control rooms in England, matched to the areas of the Government Offices for the Regions. Copies of the report are in the Library of the House.

  The Government's conclusions about the benefits of a regional approach are set out in the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808), and are informed by on a number of reviews of the service, culminating in
  1166W
  the report of the Independent Review of the Fire Service published in December 2002. These reports are listed in the White Paper.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he has sought from(a) the Practitioners Forum and (b) the Business and Community Safety Forum on plans for a national procurement strategy for the Fire and Rescue Service; what details of his reform proposals each forum has seen; and what recommendations they have made to him. [186967]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Practitioners Forum has had a presentation on the National Procurement Strategy. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to make copies of the strategy available to the Business Community Safety Forum shortly. The Strategy will be launched at the Fire Conference in September; formal consultation will take place shortly after its publication. Both groups will be consulted at that stage as part of the wider consultation. We will consider all comments before the publication of the final draft.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to remove the constraints imposed on major procurement to the Fire and Rescue Service in November 2003. [186968]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Fire Service Circular (11/2004) gave advice to Fire and Rescue Authorities on the arrangements that fire and rescue authorities should adopt before entering into new contracts for major operational equipment. However, the #eriod initially specified may have had the effect of making it impractical to run a tender exercise. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will therefore shortly be issuing guidance setting out revised milestones which will enable authorities to enter into more viable arrangements and create a natural progression to the proposed national arrangements. Where an Authority requires further clarification of whether a proposed contract will conflict with the National Procurement Strategy, they should not hesitate to contact the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, as two authorities have already done.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what conclusions he has drawn on the effect that a national procurement plan for the Fire and Rescue Service will have on competition in the industries concerned; [186970]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact that plans to reform guidelines for procurement to the Fire and Rescue Service will have on the supply sector's (a) small and medium-sized enterprises, (b) levels of employment, (c) research and development capability and (d) exports. [186969]
  1167W
  Mr. Raynsford
  Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are preparing a Regulatory Impact Assessment on the draft National Procurement Strategy. This Assessment, which will be issued shortly as part of the consultation document on the draft National Procurement Strategy, will include a competition assessment which will look at the impact for UK customers. It will analyse the impact of the proposed regulation in the relevant markets and on importers into the UK. We will carefully consider any comments arising from this consultation exercise. Officials have recently held very constructive meetings with representatives of the Federation of British Fire Organisations (FOBFO) and the Fire Fighting Vehicles Manufacturers Association (FFVMA). Lead officials will also be participating in the procurement workshop lead by FOBFO at the Fire Conference in September.

  Home Buyers
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of home buyers were first-time buyers in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [187326]

  Keith Hill
  The percentage of house purchases made by first time buyers in the United Kingdomin each year since 1997 is estimated to have been as follows:

  Percentage of house purchases made by first time buyers

  1997

  45

  1998

  48

  1999

  47

  2000

  44

  2001

  43

  2002

  38

  2003

  29

  Notes:

  1. The CML figures are based on mortgage completions supplied through the Survey of Mortgage Lenders.

  2. The figures exclude cash purchases and also exclude mortgage purchases where the type of buyer was not stated.

  3. In the context of the Survey of Mortgage Lenders, the term "first-time buyer" refers to those buyers who were not homeowners immediately prior to this purchase. But they might have been homeowners at an earlier stage in their lives. For example someone who, after a period of home ownership, sold up, moved into rented accommodation and is now returning to home ownershipas a "first-time buyer".

  Source:

  Council of Mortgage Lenders

  Homelessness
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department is conducting into homeless families. [186310]

  Phil Hope
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister currently has four externally commissioned research projects on different aspects of homelessness, which include consideration of homeless families.

  1. A nationally representative survey of homeless families will collect data on the characteristics of homeless families and on the reasons for their homelessness. It will also assess the impact of homelessness and living in different types of temporary accommodation on the health and education of children, and collect
  1168W
  information on the additional costs faced by families as a result of their homelessness. Findings from the survey will help to inform future policy on homelessness and the use of temporary accommodation. Planning for this major survey has been informed by a successful feasibility study, which reported this summer. This study will complement quarterly statistical data collected on households accepted as statutory homeless by local authorities.

  2. Research about the causes of homelessness among black and minority ethnic communities. People from BME groups are disproportionately represented in statutory homelessness statistics. A development guide to assist local authorities and other agencies to address the needs of homeless black and minority ethnic households is expected to be published by the end of this year.

  3. A study to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of homelessness prevention initiatives, including family mediation services, help for victims of domestic violence to remain safely in their own homes, and homelessness advice services. This research has recently been commissioned, and will produce good practice guidance for local authorities and service providers, to be published early in 2003.

  4. A survey of households receiving Supporting People legacy funded services. This survey was commissioned to measure satisfaction with housing related support services provided by the Supporting People programme. The survey included interviews with 351 families receiving Supporting People funded services for homeless families. The survey reported on their support needs, the help and services that they receive, and on the problems they had experienced. It is due to be published in the autumn of 2004.

  House Building
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department has issued with respect to l#vels of new-house building(a) within the Bridgwater parliamentary constituency and (b) in the south west region; and if he will list for both areas the sites targeted for development. [186533]

  Keith Hill
  The First Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has not issued any guidance in respect of levels of new-house building(a) within the Bridgwater parliamentary constituency.

  Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG10), section 7: Housing gives guidance on new-house building in (b) the south west region. General guidance on appropriate levels of house building are also set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold lists of development sites, such information is held by the local authorities.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what targets his Department has set with respect to levels of new-house building(a) within the Bridgwater parliamentary constituency and (b) in the South West region; and if he will i mike a statement. [186541]
  1169W
  Keith Hill
  The First Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has not set any targets for levels of new-house building(a) within the Bridgwater parliamentary constituency.

  The levels of housing development for (b) the South West region are set out in Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG10). Policy HOI says the levels of net additional housing for which provision should be made in the South West region over the period 1996–2016 should be based on the average annual rate of 20,200 dwellings per annum.

  Key Worker Accommodation
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of public sector employees are in accommodation designated for key workers; and if he will make a statement. [187327]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect information about the proportion of public sector employees that are in accommodation designated for key workers. Information is, however, collected about the public sector employees given assistance with affordable housing through the following schemes:

  Capital (£ million)

  Revenue (£ million)

  Total (£ million)

  Average number of properties

  Average spend (£)

  1997–98

  2,557,000

  9,241,851

  11,798,851

  15,272

  773

  1998–99

  4,027,000

  8,812,889

  12,839,889

  14,965

  858

  1999–2000

  3,444,000

  9,931,275

  13,375,275

  14,779

  905

  2000–01

  6,519,000

  9,241,717

  15,760,717

  14,439

  1,092

  2001–02

  7,593,000

  8,480,604

  16,073,604

  13,999

  1,148

  2002–03

  7,956,000

  9,752,773

  17,708,773

  13,568

  1,305

  2003–04

  8,931,000

  9,354,808

  18,285,808

  13,077

  1,398

  Total

  41,027,000

  64,815,916

  105,842,916

  —

  —

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of council-owned homes are directly run by the council. [187329]

  Keith Hill
  The stock of local authority housing in England is currently about 2.3 million. Of this stock, about 575,000 dwellings are currently managed by Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) and about 4,500 dwellings are managed as part of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes Therefore about three quarters of the stock is directly run by local authorities.

  Local Government
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes have been made to the 1988 Local Authority Publicity provisions, with particular reference to paragraph 43 on political publicity prior to an election; and if he will make a statement. [186319]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, (Department of Environment Circular 20/88) was amended in April 2001 to take account of the new council constitutions,
  1170W
  under the Starter Home Initiative (SHI), 9,000 key workers were helped from the original £250 million budget. In addition, an extra £50 million was found to help a further 1,200 key workers in the SHI pipeline; and
  around 3,800 key worker homes are being provided through the Housing Corporation's Chal#enge Fund; and
  Key Worker Living is expected to provide up to 16,000 homes over the next three years.

  In addition, English Partnership's London Wide Initiative will provide some 2,000 key worker homes over the next two to three years through a!pilot scheme with private sector developers.

  Local Authority Housing
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent by Northampton borough council in each year since 1997 on(a) refurbishment, (b) redecoration and (c) renewal of its directly-owned housing stock; and what the average spending per property was each year, excluding the amount spent on central Government schemes, including the New Deal. [186516]

  Keith Hill
  Work carried out on council housing stock is generally categorised as Capital and Revenue. The work carried out under the Capital heading includes installation, replacement or major repairs and could be categorised as refurbishment. Work under Revenue would consist of minor and routine repairs, including redecoration. Figures for Capital and Revenue spend since 1997 are set out in the following table:

  particularly the possibility of individual members holding executive positions, and of mayoral referendums and petitions.

  The amended Code provides for restrictions on publicity in circumstances where there is a by-election or election affecting the local authority's area, a mayoral referendum or a mayoral petition. The 2001 amendment explicitly enables local authorities to respond to events or enquiries during the period preceding an election or referendum with answers that are factual and not party political.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Audit Commission's latest ratings are for councils in(a) Essex and (b) the Eastern area. [186534]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The Audit Commission announced the results of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) for district councils in the county of Essex in June this year. The outcomes of the assessments for Maldon and Rochford district councils have not yet been published.

  1171W
  The results are listed in the following table along with the results for Essex county council and single tier councils in Essex.

  Council

  Rating

  Essex County Council1

  Good

  Basildon DC

  Fair

  Braintree DC

  Good

  Brentwood BC

  Good

  Castle Point DC

  Poor

  Chelmsford BC

  Good

  Colchester BC

  Excellent

  Epping Forest DC

  Good

  Harlow DC

  Poor

  Southend on Sea BC1

  Fair

  Tendring DC

  Good

  Thurrock1

  Weak

  Uttlesford DC

  Fair

  1Single tier and county councils.

  (b) The table below shows the CPA results for councils in the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Norfolk. District councils in the County of Suffolk have yet to be assessed. The exception is Ipswich, in Suffolk, which was a Pathfinder council for the CPA methodology and was rated as a 'good' council. CPA categories for Single Tier and County Councils were last announced in December 2003 and their results will be updated again in December 2004. All district councils will have been assessed by December 2004.

  Council

  CPA Rating

  Date Assessment Published

  Bedfordshire County1

  Poor

  18 December 2003

  Bedford BC

  Good

  22 July 2004

  Luton BC1

  Good

  18 December 2003

  Mid Bedfordshire DC

  Fair

  22 July 2004

  South Bedfordshire DC

  Good

  22 July 2004

  Cambridgeshire County1

  Good

  18 December 2003

  Cambridge CC (Pathfinder)

  Excellent

  22 January 2004

  East Cambridgeshire DC

  Good

  22 July 2004

  Fenland DC

  Fair

  22 July 2004

  Huntingdonshire DC

  Excellent

  22 July 2004

  Peterborough CC1

  Fair

  18 December 2003

  South Cambridgeshire DC

  Fair

  22 July 2004

  Hertfordshire County1

  Excellent

  18 December 2003

  Broxbourne BC

  Good

  6 May 2004

  Dacorum BC

  Good

  6 May 2004

  East Hertfordshire DC

  Good

  6 May 2004

  Hertsmere BC

  Fair

  6 May 2004

  North Hertfordshire DC

  Fair

  6 May 2004

  St Albans CC

  Fair

  6 May 2004

  Stevenage BC

  Good

  6 May 2004

  Three Rivers DC

  Good

  6 May 2004

  Watford BC

  Weak

  6 May 2004

  Welwyn Hatfield DC

  Fair

  6 May 2004

  Norfolk County1

  Good

  18 December 2003

  Breckland DC

  Good

  13 November 2003

  Broadland DC

  Fair

  13 November 2003

  Great Yarmouth BC

  Good

  13 November 2003

  King's Lynn and West Norfolk BC

  Good

  13 November 2003

  North Norfolk DC

  Fair

  13 November 2003

  Norwich CC

  Fair

  13 November 2003

  South Norfolk DC

  Good

  13 November 2003

  Suffolk County1

  Good

  18 December 2003

  Ipswich BC

  Good

  22 January 2004

  1Single tier and county councils.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many councils in England were assessed as(a) excellent, (b) good, (c) fair and (d) weak in the last available assessment. [186535]
  1172W
  Mr. Raynsford
  Tables showing the latest results for all single tier and county councils and for all the district councils that have been assessed so far (189 out of 238 councils altogether) have been made available in the Library of the House. Since the Comprehensive Performance Assessment categories for all single tier and county councils were last announced (December 2003), a number of councils have had a corporate reassessment in 2004, seven of which have now moved up a category. These councils are Coventry, Durham, North Lincolnshire, Southwark, St Helens, Wakefield and Walsall.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department has issued relating to local authority websites; whether this includes guidance on external links to councillors' party political websites; and if he will make a statement. [186134]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has issued no guidance specifically concerned with local authority websites.

  The Department for En#ironment, Transport and Regions Circular 06/2001 "Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity", issued under section 4 of the Local Government Act 1986, sets out certain limits on the nature of material to which a local authority may devote expenditure. It recommends that local authorities should not solely rely on websites as a means of disseminating information, and it sets out that local authority publications, including those published on local authority websites, should treat issues in an objective and informative way. The code does not stipulate which sites may or may not be linked to by a local authority website.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will apply the 2001 Census data for the next round of calculating the local government finance settlement; [187598]

  (2) whether it is his policy to use the most up-to-date data available for calculating grant distribution to local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [187599]

  Mr. Raynsford
  On 21 July 2004, I announced to the House that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not intend to use 2001 Census data for the 2005–06 Local Government Finance Settlement, 21 July 2004.Official Report, column 3OWS.

  This announcement followed work carried out by officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and local government experts during the last year to remodel Formula Spending Shares (FSSs) using the 2001 Census data. Incorporating the new Census data in the funding formula is not a simple task. It is technically incorrect to update the Census data in the police formula; and in other areas the changes needed to incorporate the 2001 Census data would break the current formula freeze, and could cause large changes to the distribution of FSSs. I should also add that, for the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services and the Highways Maintenance formulae, we still do not have all the 2001 Census data we need.

  In the Government's December 2001 White Paper 'Strong Local Leadership–Quality Public Services' (CM5237), it was announced that there would be a

  1173W
  freeze on formula changes for 2004–05 and 2005–06 in order to ensure a period of stability for councils. In deciding not to use 2001 Census data in the 2005–06 FSS calculations, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister balanced this aim of providing stability in local authority funding against our desire to use the most up-to-date data in the funding formulae calculations.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Deputy#Prime Minister what the cost was of the Boundary Committee Review of local government in(a) the North East, (b) the North West and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber. [187254]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The costs of the local government reviews undertaken by the Boundary Committee were:

  £ million

  North East Region

  1,272,168

  North West Region

  1,973,416

  Yorkshire and Humber Region

  662,983

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2004,Official Report, column 753W, on the non-domestic rate pool, whether (a) the police and (b) other agencies in Gloucestershire were allocated funding from non-domestic rates in 2003–04. [186327]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Distributions from the non-domestic rate pool are currently based on population and the services which a local authority is responsible for. The national amount per head for 2003–04 was £317.1934786, and the relevant population of Gloucestershire for the 2003–04 Local Government Finance Settlement was 565,000. The resulting total of £179,214,316 from the non-domestic rate pool for the Gloucestershire area was allocated between the Gloucestershire billing and precepting authorities as follows:

  £

  Gloucestershire County Council

  151,436,097

  Gloucestershire Police Authority

  8,064,644

  Cheltenham Borough Council

  3,839,576

  Cotswold District Council

  2,804,945

  Forest of Dean District Council

  2,792,873

  Gloucester City Council

  3,836,122

  Stroud District Council

  3,770,422

  Tewkesbury Borough Council

  2,669,637

  The Fire Authorities in shire areas were not precepting authorities in 2003–04 and so did not receive a share of the non-domestic rate pool in that year. No other agencies in Gloucestershire received a share of the £179,214,316 for the Gloucestershire area.

  One North List
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the value of assets transferred from One North East to the partnership with UK Land Estates was; and what the(a) cost and (b) source of the advice obtained by One North East before the sale was. [186846]
  1174W
  Keith Hill
  The assets transferred (as disclosed in the Agency's 2003–04 accounts as a post balance sheet event) were valued at £122 million.

  The cost of advice sought was £2.2 million.

  The main costs can be broken down as follows:

  £000

  1. Legal advice

  970

  2. Property Consultant costs

  544

  3. Surveying costs

  515

  4. Accounting, tax and other technical advice

  160

  Specialist advice was received from Eversheds (Legal), King Sturge (Property Specialists), PriceWaterhouseCoopers (Tax) and PartnershipsUK (more General advice).

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will reply to the Question tabled by the hon. Member for Meriden on 21 June, reference 180362, on refurbishment of buildings. [186418]

  Phil Hope
  A reply was given to the hon. Member on 13 August 2004.

  PFI/PPP Contracts
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many contracts#his Office had with(a) Barclays, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg, (d) the Bank of Scotland, (e) Price WaterhouseCoopers, (f) Deloitte and Touche, (g) KPMG and (h) Ernst & Young for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. [186695]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Since 2001–02, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has had two contracts, one with Ernst & Young and the other with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, both in 2003–04. Ernst & Young was paid £62,734 excluding VAT to review the Fire and Rescue Service private finance initiative programme.

  PriceWaterhouseCoopers carried out work on the Housing Private Finance Initiative Procurement Pack. The Housing Procurement Pack was jointly procured with the 4Ps, (Public Private Partnerships Programme) an agency of the Local Government Association set up to provide advice to local authorities on PPP/PFIs. The total fee paid was £57,486 excluding VAT. 50 per cent. of the fees paid by the Office will be recovered from the 4Ps.

  Planning
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will req#ire a start on works to activate a time-limited planning approval to represent at least a quarter of the development; and if he will make a statement. [186980]

  Keith Hill
  Under section 56 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, a variety of works is held to constitute the start of development. A material change of use of land may also indicate that development
  1175W
  has started, provided the change is related to the development. There are no plans to amend the law in the manner suggested.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the minimum requirement of works commenced is for a time-limited planning approval to be activated; and if he will make a statement. [186981]

  Keith Hill
  The activities that may indicate that a planning permission has begun to be implemented include: any work of construction; demolition of a building on the site; the digging of a trench to contain foundations; the laying of any underground main or pipe to the foundations; laying out an access road; and any material change in the use of the land. The full list is in section 56 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the revised Planning Policy Guidance, PPG22, on renewable energy will be published; and if he will make a statement. [186557]

  Keith Hill
  Planning policy statement 22 (PPS22) on renewable energy was published on 9 August 2004. Copies of the document are available in the Libraries of the House and have been sent out to all planning authorities in England.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) when the Government will publish good practice guidance for local authorities and developers on the planning obligations; [187150]

  (2) when the Government plan to issue a revised circular on planning obligations. [187175]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to publish a Good Practice Guide on planning obligations in early 2005, alongside a new circular on planning obligations. A draft of the new circular is to be issued for consultation in the autumn.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also continuing work on developing proposals for an optional planning charge, so that decisions on implementation can be made in the context of the Chancellor's decision on a Planning Gain Supplement at the end of 2005.

  Jim Knight
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities have conducted n#eds assessments on sport, recreation and open space facilities as required by Planning Policy Guidance Note 17. [187383]

  Keith Hill
  PPG17 was published in July 2002. An assessment of its implementation and effectiveness will be undertaken as part of the normal policy review process within five years of publication.

  The collection of regular statistics on the implementation of specific national planning policies could be attained only at disproportionate cost. However, Government offices do scrutinise statutory development plans for compliance with national policies before these plans are adopted.

  Under the new planning system local development frameworks must be supported by an evidence base comprising data such as that required by PPG17. Where
  1176W
  this evidence falls short of such a requirement, inspectors could rule al public examination that the plan did not meet the test of soundness. Subsequently authorities' annual monitoring reports which will report upon policy performance, will also provide a mechanism by which Government offices can assess whether PPG 17 requirements continue to be met.

  Postal Voting
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he assessed the(a) support for and (b) problems of all postal voting in (i) the North East, (ii) the North West and (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber. [186997]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government listened to the concerns raised in the Commons debates on 19 and 21 July about whether we should go ahead with referendums in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. In light of these, the Government decided to proceed with the referendum in the North East, subject to the Electoral Commission's report. The Government also decided to reschedule referendums in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber once we had considered the report prepared by the Electoral Commission. This report was published on 27 August.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to prevent the postal vote problems in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber from appearing in the North East. [186998]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The rules for the North East referendum were approved by Parliament in July. The administration of the North East referendum is for the Chief Counting Officer, Ged Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Sunderland city council and for the local counting officers.

  The Electoral Commission published their report into the June electoral pilots on 27 August and has said:
  "The Commission has therefore considered carefully, in the light of our conclusions in relation to postal voting more generally, whether it is appropriate for the referendum in the North East to continue as planned…our conclusion is that the referendum should proceed as an all-postal ballot without major changes to the process."

  In reaching this conclusion the Electoral Commission highlighted the desirability of avoiding late changes in a process already approved by Parliament, and a number of additional factors specific to the North East referendum, as follows:
  The form of all postal-voting defined in law for the regional referendum is a significant improvement over that piloted in June, in part as a result of changes advocated by the Commission earlier in the year. For example there is no requirement for a witness to sign the security statement and more assistance and delivery points are provided for and discretion given to counting officers to provide additional points as they see fit.
  There is presently no evidence on which to conclude that an all-postal referendum in the North East would be unsafe in terms of fraud or malpractice To the Commission's knowledge, no allegations of electoral fraud made in the North East in relation to the June all-postal pilot scheme have led to formal prosecutions.

  Voters and election professionals in the North East have substantial previous experience of all-postal ballots.

  The public is more positive about all-postal voting, and its future use, in the North East than in any other pilot region; and

  1177W
  The capacity of commercial printers and the Royal Mail to manage an all-postal ballot of the scale required in the North East (with approximately 1.9 million electors) was evidenced in June and their capacity will be further enhanced by the lack of competing pressures from other all-postal ballots taking place simultaneously. Additionally, planning between printers, local authorities and other key suppliers is already well under way.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering the Electoral Commission's report and will make a statement to Parliament about the implications for the regional referendums soon.

  Private Sector Housing
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has carried out into potential policy mechanisms aimed at stimulating growth in the private rented sector. [187532]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to securing a larger, better-quality, better-managed private rented sector. The Housing Bill currently before Parliament includes a number of measures, the licensing of private rented properties, designed to help achieve this objective.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's research has recently focused on aspects of the condition and management of properties in the private rented sector which are key to building market confidence.

  Recent research carried out for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has included: powers for private sector housing renewal; the housing health and safety rating system and houses in multiple occupation; tenancy deposit schemes; the economics of the park homes industry; run-down private sector housing; fiscal policy options to promote affordable housing; voluntary accreditation schemes: and harassment and unlawful eviction of private sector tenants and park home residents.

  The English House Condition Survey (EHCS) is also used to monitor overall improvements in the sector.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures his Department is taking to stimulate private sector involvement in the delivery of(a) shared equity and (b) privately-rented accommodation. [187536]

  Keith Hill
  The Housing Bill, currently before Parliament, contains a provision that would allow the Housing Corporation to pay grants to bodies other than Registered Social Landlords (RSLs). Such grants would be essentially for the same housing purposes as the Corporation's grants to RSLs. This could include the provision of shared equity schemes such as Homebuy.

  The Government are keen to secure a larger contribution from the private rented sector towards meeting housing need. Measures in the Housing Bill should raise the standards, the professionalism, and the reputation of the sector. Consultations are also under way on ways of encouraging new institutional investment in residential property, including the use of Property Investment Fund.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated(a) total budget,
  1178W
  (b) departmental funding and (c) cost to his Department of the (i) Property Consultative Group, (ii) Home Buying and Selling Forum, (iii) Central Stakeholder Group, (iv) Building Regulations Advisory Committee and (v) Home Ownership Task Force are for the financial years 2005–06 to 2007–08. [187564]

  Keith Hill
  With regard to the Property Consultative Group, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 April 2004,Official Report, column 1139W.

  The Home Buying and Selling Forum and Central Stakeholder Groups are hosted by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, in, one of its buildings and the costs falls within its general administration and staff budget: there is no separate budget for these groups. The estimated costs for the financial years 2005–06 to 2007–08 are not expected to change significantly from those quoted for 2004–05, in the answer given on 30 June 2004, Official Report, column 294W.

  The Building Regulations Advisory Committee does not receive Government funding other than costs internal to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of sponsoring it. We are unable to estimate costs for the financial years 2005–06 to 2007–08, but do not expect them to change significantly from the £70,000 quoted for 2003–04 on 28 April 2004, Official Report, column 1140W.

  With regard to the Home Ownership Task Force, the answer is none. The Task Force's work was completed with the publication of its report "A Home of My Own" on 13 November 2003.

  Regional Assemblies
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information was available to his Ministers on 22 July about the likely outcomes of votes for regional assemblies. [186995]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Ministers were aware of a number of published surveys and opinion polls. The decision to reschedule the referendums in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West followed differences of view in the House of Commons about whether the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister should go ahead with those referendums, on the basis proposed involving all postal ballots, by November 4.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the resources which have been put into preparing for the postponed votes on regional assemblies. [186996]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The referendums for Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West are being rescheduled, so preparation for them has been and still is necessary. Some of the preparations are common to all three regions. The main costs incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which can be attributed to the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber are as follows:The costs for the Boundary Committee's local government reviews in these two regions is included in the answer I am giving to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) today (PQ 187254).

  1179W
  Some costs in relation to the Your Say information campaign. These are detailed in the answer I am giving to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) today (PQ 187162).

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the total cost is of the Your Say information campaign on elected regional assemblies in(a) the North West, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the North East to date; [187162]

  (2) what his revised estimate is of the total cost of the Your Say information campaigns in the light of the postponement of the referendums in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber; [187252]

  (3) if he will list each item of expenditure undertaken as part of the Your Say information campaign on elected regional assemblies, broken down by the region in which that expenditure was undertaken. [187253]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Originally, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister proposed a budget for the Your Say information campaign across all three regions of £5 million.

  Information campaign activity relating to the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber was suspended on 22 July. The Department has sought to secure refunds for expenditure related to these two regions, wherever possible.

  It is estimated that total expenditure until the referendum in November will be approximately £3.2 million.

  Expected expenditure to the end of the campaign can be broken down by region, into its main components, thus:

  £000

  North West

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  North East

  Total

  (a) Production and distribution of leaflets

  98

  72

  308

  478

  (b) Posters

  232

  193

  86

  511

  (c) Broadcast media

  242

  211

  223

  676

  (d) Newspapers

  137

  158

  128

  423

  (e) Events

  49

  39

  68

  156

  (f) Other

  309

  278

  408

  995

  Total

  1,067

  951

  1,221

  3,239

  Regional Bodies (South-West)
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the cost(a) each year and (b) in total since their inception of the regional bodies in the South West that fall under the remit of his Department; what responsibilities these regional bodies hold; what these regional bodies' total budgets are; that assessment he has made of their impact; and if he will make a statement. [186538]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for no regional bodies in the South West. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for the Government Office for the South West, which is part of central Government and is not a regional body in its own right.
  1180W
  My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has designated a regional chamber for the South West, under the terms of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. However, the chamber is an independent, voluntary body and is not the responsibility of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister makes a grant to the chamber to help it fulfil its responsibilities.

  Since designation in 1999 the regional chamber has been responsible for scrutinising the work of the South West Regional Development Agency and since 2003 has been the recognised Regional Planning Body for the South West. The chamber has been allocated the following maximum levels of grant:

  £

  2001–02

  500,000

  2002–03

  600,000

  2003–04

  1,613,000

  2004–05

  2,101,000

  Regional Planning
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what rules govern whether a unitary council's area can be treated as a sub-region for the purpose of regional planning arrangements. [187716]

  Keith Hill
  There is no rule. It is up to each RPB (Regional Planning Body) to decide how best to take sub-regional matters forward and to define the subregions in the draft RSS (Regional Spatial Strategies) revision. What might be an effective sub-regional approach in one region may not necessarily suit the circumstances and geography of another.

  The definition of need for a sub-regional approach should be based on an assessment of the functional relationship between settlements, such as journey-to-work patterns, or land uses within the area affected by the same strategic planning issue or issues which may well differ from administrative boundaries. This could include consideration, for example, of how the strategic planning system can assist not only in creating and sustaining the economic competitiveness of a city or a cluster of towns but in spreading the benefits of a prosperous city to the wider region (the concept of a `city-region').

  The sub-regional definition should be based on a clearly recognisable 'strategic policy deficit' which cannot be adequately addressed by general RSS policies or by LDDs (Local Development Documents) on their own. In some parts of a region, LDDs may be capable of being prepared within the context of the generic policies of a RSS. In some cases this may need to be on a joint LDD basis and the RPB may need to encourage the relevant LPAs (Local Planning Authorities) to produce a joint LDD in order that the RSS can be effectively implemented. However, in many cases there will be sub-regional strategies issues which cannot be tackled through a joint plan or where the LDDs require a more detailed strategic policy context which cannot be provided by generic policies in a RSS. Therefore, it will be common to have sub-regional policies as part of the RSS revision.
  1181W
  Where the RPB decides that it is appropriate to have RSS policies which are specific to a particular part or parts of the region, section 5(5) of the Act requires a section 4 (4) authority or authorities to be first to make detailed proposals, unless it is agreed that the RPB itself or a district council should do so instead. Providing these section 4(4) authorities agree, there is no reason why an RPB should not continue to take the lead, as it has in the past, in preparing detailed proposals on a partnership basis with these authorities and others.

  Planning Policy Statement 11: Regional Spatial Strategies (PPS11) will be published on 7 September 2004. Until now it was only available as a draft.

  Suffolk Fire Authority
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many firefighters were employed by the Suffolk Fire Authority(a) in 2004–05 and (b) in each of the last 10 years. [187208]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information requested is set out as follows:

  Number of firefighters employed by Suffolk

  Year1

  Whole-time

  Retained

  Total

  2004

  244

  399

  643

  2003

  250

  415

  665

  2002

  253

  401

  654

  2001

  248

  404

  652

  2000

  249

  396

  645

  1999

  256

  400

  656

  1998

  252

  418

  670

  1997

  256

  423

  679

  1996

  258

  422

  680

  1995

  267

  415

  682

  1994

  264

  421

  685

  1Data refer to workforce as at 31 March for each year except 1995, where data refer to 1 January.

  Supporting People Programme
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to commission research into the effects on vulnerable people of changes in funding for the Supporting People programme. [187523]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister undertakes extensive monitoring and research to assess the success of the Supporting People programme. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will continue to monitor progress to ensure the programme protects vulnerable people in a cost effective and efficient manner.

DEFENCE

  Army Recruitment
  Mr. Gamier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) officers and (b) other ranks have been recruited into each infantry battalion in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many are planned to be recruited in each of the next five years. [187342]
  1182W
  Mr. Ingram
  The following tables show the number of officers and other ranks that were recruited into infantry battalions since financial year 2000–01. Statistics prior to this period are not available.

  Table 1: Officers commissioned into the Infantry since financial year 2000–01 by regiment

  Financial year

  Regiment

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Grenadier Guards

  9

  7

  2

  7

  Coldstream Guards

  6

  2

  6

  12

  Scots Guards

  4

  10

  3

  7

  Irish Guards

  8

  4

  3

  3

  Welsh Guards

  2

  6

  3

  3

  Royal Scots,

  7

  3

  2

  7

  Royal Highland Fusiliers

  3

  6

  4

  4

  King's Own Scottish Borderers

  4

  4

  2

  4

  Black Watch

  7

  7

  5

  6

  Highlanders

  7

  3

  8

  4

  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  5

  5

  7

  6

  Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

  6

  6

  10

  12

  Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  12

  14

  10

  8

  Royal Anglian Regiment

  11

  8

  9

  10

  King's Own Border Regiment

  4

  4

  6

  6

  King's Regiment

  2

  3

  3

  4

  Prince of Wales's Own Regiment

  4

  4

  4

  3

  Green Howards

  1

  2

  10

  5

  Queen's Lancashire Regiment

  1

  3

  4

  4

  Duke of Wellington's Regiment

  6

  4

  5

  2

  Devonshire and Dorset Regiment

  6

  4

  6

  3

  Cheshire Regiment

  2

  1

  9

  1

  Royal Welsh Fusiliers

  6

  1

  6

  5

  Royal Regiment of Wales

  3

  1

  4

  1

  Royal Gloucestershire. Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment

  1

  6

  8

  4

  Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment

  6

  6

  5

  5

  Staffordshire Regiment

  6

  3

  3

  7

  Light Infantry

  8

  10

  30

  10

  Royal Green Jackets

  12

  11

  12

  10

  Royal Irish Regiment

  8

  1

  4

  8

  Parachute Regiment

  12

  16

  19

  14

  Royal Gurkha Rifles

  8

  10

  4

  6

  Total

  188

  170

  196

  148

  Table 2: Trained soldiers passing out from Infantry training centre Catterick to the Infantry since financial year 2000–01 by regiment

  Financial year

  Regiment

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Grenadier Guards

  119

  108

  78

  137

  Coldstream Guards

  87

  50

  51

  119

  Scots Guards

  91

  78

  50

  83

  Irish Guards

  72

  87

  62

  99

  Welsh Guards

  111

  64

  57

  87

  Royal Scots

  56

  59

  79

  56

  Royal Highland Fusiliers

  55

  52

  97

  85

  King's Own Scottish Borderers

  70

  66

  47

  60

  Black Watch

  78

  58

  66

  88

  Highlanders

  16

  59

  53

  59

  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  55

  57

  85

  72

  Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

  218

  214

  224

  133

  Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

  95

  122

  135

  198

  Royal Anglian Regiment

  139

  127

  141

  188

  1183W

  Table 2: Trained soldiers passing out from Infantry training centre" Catterick to the Infantry since financial year 2000–01 by regiment

  Financial year

  Regiment

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  King's Own Border Regiment

  83

  69

  46

  55

  King's Regiment

  85

  100

  98

  74

  Prince of Wales's Own Regiment

  64

  81

  76

  104

  Green Howards

  56

  62

  64

  72

  Queen's Lancashire Regiment

  92

  78

  117

  104

  Duke of Wellington's Regiment

  94

  93

  91

  71

  Devonshire and Dorset Regiment

  77

  71

  52

  78

  Cheshire Regiment

  64

  74

  56

  72

  Royal Welch Fusiliers

  94

  102

  87

  91

  Royal Regiment of Wales

  85

  104

  68

  56

  Royal Gloucestershire. Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment

  75

  82

  54

  102

  Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment

  69

  72

  88

  60

  Staffordshire Regiment

  80

  96

  91

  120

  Light Infantry

  136

  149

  146

  170

  Royal Green Jackets

  12

  11

  12

  10

  Royal Irish Regiment

  75

  83

  62

  70

  Parachute Regiment

  379

  240

  246

  190

  Total

  3,065

  2,925

  2,845

  3,211

  The following tables show the latest figures for the number of trained officers and soldiers expected to join infantry over the next five years. At this stage it is not possible to quantify the numbers by individual battalion.

  The figures for financial years 2005–06 to 2008–09 take into account my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's (Mr. Hoon) announcement to the House on 21 July 2004, Official Report, columns 343–70.

  Table 3: Officers

  Financial year

  Method of entry

  2004–05

  2005–06

  2006–07

  2007–08

  2008–09

  Direct entry

  165

  165

  165

  165

  165

  Late entry

  31

  28

  28

  28

  28

  Total

  196

  193

  193

  193

  193

  Note:

  Direct entry relates to those who enter the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst direct from education or civilian life. Late entry refers to those who apply for a commission through the ranks.

  Table 4: Soldiers

  Financial year

  Category

  2004–05

  2005–06

  2006–07

  2007–08

  2008–09

  Foot Guards

  368

  405

  418

  430

  430

  Line

  2,004

  2,200

  2,134

  2,036

  2,036

  Parachute Regiment

  230

  225

  221

  234

  234

  Total

  2,582

  2,830

  2,780

  2,700

  2.700

  Cheshire Regiment
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Cheshire Regiment. [186425]
  1184W
  Mr. Ingram
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Hoon announced on 21 July 2004,Official Report, columns 343–70, the reduction in the number of battalions committed to Northern Ireland, means that the overall requirement for infantry battalions can be reduced by four. This reduction will comprise of one battalion recruited from Scotland and three recruited from England.

  Together with the phasing out of the Infantry Arms Plot, a new infantry structure is required. This will seek to preserve the best elements of the regimental system while adapting to ensure operational success for the future. The new structure will be based on large single-cap badge regiments of two or more battalions. Details of the new organisation will be worked through by the Army and announced by the end of the year.

  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the tours of duty undertaken by the Cheshire Regiment in the last 25 years. [186426]

  Mr. Ingram
  The tours of duty and operational tours undertaken by 1st Battalion. The Cheshire Regiment, since 1980. are as follows:

  Date

  Primary Location

  Operational Tours

  Comment

  1980–82

  UK (Tidworth)

  Belize

  1982–84

  Northern

  As resident Northern

  Ireland

  Ireland Battalion (an

  (Ballykelly)

  accompanied tour)

  1984–86

  Hong Kong

  1986–88

  UK (Catterhana)

  Belize

  1988–91

  UK (Chester)

  Northern

  Ireland

  (Armagh)

  1991–94

  Germany

  Yugoslavia

  (Fallingbostel)

  1994–96

  UK (Cakington)

  Northern

  Ireland

  (Fermanagh

  1996–98

  Northern

  As resident Northern

  Ireland

  Ireland Battalion

  (Ballykelly)

  1998–2000

  UK (Chepstow)

  Northern

  Eight week tour

  Ireland

  2000–02

  Cyprus

  Falkland Islands

  Coy only deployed

  2002–05

  UK (Bulford)

  Northern

  Unit returns from Iraq

  Ireland

  in November 2004

  (Dungannon)

  Iraq

  Correspondence
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2004,Official Report, column 1321W, on deaths in service, when he will write to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North. [187032]

  Mr. Ingram
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 31 August 2004 and a copy of my letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Drug Smuggling
  Mr. Bill Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent naval operations to combat international drug smuggling. [186772]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Royal Navy makes a significant contribution towards UK efforts to combat international drug smuggling. At home, the Royal Navy act in support of HM Customs and Excise under the terms of "Military Aid to the Civil Power". In the Caribbean, the RN deployment (Atlantic Patrol Task (North), primarily promotes UK interests in the region and provides security to UK Overseas Territories. It is also tasked to carry out counter-drugs activities as part of its deployment and provides a tangible presence as one element of the UK's broader counter drugs activities in the region. In addition. Royal Navy units East of Suez may also be involved in efforts to reduce narcotics trafficking.

  Efficiency Savings
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral statement of 21 July 2004,Official Report, columns 343–70, if he will list the principal areas where he expects to make the efficiency savings of £2,800 million; how much will be attributable to each area; and over what time scale these savings will be delivered. [186638]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence is committed to achieving annual efficiency gains in excess of £2.8 billion by 2007–08. The principal areas where it is planned to make efficiency gains are set out in the 2004 Spending Review White Paper (Cm 6237), chapter 13; work is continuing to refine these figures. Further details of the Department's efficiency plans, and bow performance against those plans will be measured, will be included in an Efficiency Technical Note, which will be published on the Department's website by the end of October 2004.

  Mr. Gamier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the Government's departmental efficiency savings are to be implemented in the British Army in the(a) current and (b) next two financial years. [187341]

  Mr. Ingram
  An additional £3.7 billion was allocated to Defence over the period of Spending Review 2004. In parallel the Ministry of Defence is committed to achieving annual efficiency gains in excess of 2.8 billion by 2007–08. The principal areas where it is planned to make efficiency gains are set out in the 2004 Spending Review White Paper (Cm 6237), Chapter 13; work is continuing to refine these figures. Further details of the Department's efficiency plans, and how performance against those#plans will be measured, will be included in an Efficiency Technical Note, which will be published on the Department's website by the end of October 2004.

  Iraq
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British(a) officials, (b) Ministers and (c) service personnel were issued with copies of International Committee of the Red Cross working
  1186W
  papers about detainee conditions and treatment in Iraq delivered to Coalition Forces headquarters in October and November 2003. [183523]

  Mr. Hoon
  The International Committee of the Red Cross produces confidential working papers following visits to detention facilities. The majority of these papers contain information relevant to local Commanders, and concern issues that can be resolved at a local level. However, where working papers have contained more substantive issues, these have been brought to the attention of Ministers.

  A working paper dated 11 October 2003 was issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross to US service personnel in Iraq. This working paper was subsequently passed to UK service personnel and MOD Officials. This working paper was not passed to Ministers.

  We are not aware of an ICRC working paper having been produced in November 2003.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information has been given to the families of the deceased about the(a) progress and (b) conclusion of Royal Military Police investigations into deaths allegedly caused by UK forces in Iraq. [185888]

  Mr. Ingram
  Details of the information passed to the families of Iraqis whose deaths were allegedly caused by UK forces are being withheld under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Bereaved families are kept informed of progress and results wherever possible, although the prevailing security situation in Iraq has made this difficult to achieve in every case.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel serving in Iraq since 1 January 2003 have been discharged from the forces as a result of injuries sustained from(a) road traffic accidents, (b) armed conflict and (c) other causes; and if he will make a statement. [186378]

  Mr. Ingram
  As of 31 May 2004 centrally held records show that 16 service personnel who had been deployed on Operation Telic have subsequently been medically discharged from the armed forces as a result of injuries. The main reasons for medical discharges are as follows:

  Causes of medical discharge

  Number of military personnel medically discharged1

  Road traffic accidents

  6

  Battle wound or injury

  1

  Other causes

  9

  Total number of injuries

  16

  1Numbers of service personnel deployed on Op Telic and subsequent medical discharges excludes special forces personnel.

  Mr. Bill Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has commissioned on the offensive capabilities of enemy insurgents in Iraq. [186773]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence has commissioned no external research on the offensive capabilities of enemy insurgents in Iraq. However, MOD continuously evaluates the offensive capabilities being used, working-closely with other relevant
  1187W
  Government Departments. This evaluation draws on a range of materials from a variety of sources, and includes work to identify the weaponry and equipment available to insurgent groups as well as their training and military experience.

  Kilve Bend (Somerset)
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what future plans his Department has for the use of the range at Kilve Bend in Somerset. [186498]

  Mr. Ingram
  We plan to continue to use Kilve Bend as a helicopter gunnery range.

  NATO/Russian Relations
  Mr. Bill Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on relations between NATO and Russia, with particular reference to security in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet bloc. [186771]

  Mr. Hoon
  Formal relations between NATO and Russia are conducted through the NATO-Russia Council (NRC). The Council facilitates engagement between the twenty-six member-stales of NATO and Russia on a number of key issues. It provides a forum where concerns can be aired and practical solutions to problems can be identified. There is an increasing broadening of political dialogue in the NRC to cover key security issues including Afghanistan, the Balkans and counter-terrorism. Our aim is for Russia to be a long-term strategic partner of NATO. Wider European security can only benefit as a result

  As many countries of Eastern Europe are now members of NATO, their security—like that of other allies—is part of the normal business of the Alliance. NATO has encouraged Russia to make progress in negotiating with-Georgia and Moldova over her presence in the region; this was reflected in the communiqué following the Istanbul Summit (28–29 June 2004). NATO and Russia are working together on a range of security issues including: counter-proliferation; theatre missile defence; arms control and counter-narcotics. They are also conducting work towards joint operations such as Operation Active Endeavour (NATO's counter-terrorist naval mission in the Mediterranean).

  Nimrod MRA4 Aircraft
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to agree the production contract for the remaining Nimrod MRA4 aircraft. [184458]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 16 July 2004]: Under the restructured contract with BAE SYSTEMS, formally amended on 23 February this year, design and development and manufacture have been separated as far as possible to ensure that technology is adequately de-risked before making further commitment to production price and schedule. A decision on full production is dependent on design maturity and price negotiation and is planned for next year.

  RAF Aldergrove
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Oral Statement of 21 July 2004,1188W
  Official Report, columns 343—70, what the future operational size of RAF Aldergrove will be; and whether it will include all present forces, with particular reference to aerial surveillance stationed on the base. [186527]

  Mr. Ingram
  No decisions have been taken as to the future operational role of RAF Aldergrove which is listed in the Joint Declaration as one of the locations where, in the context of a peaceful society, the regular garrison in Northern Ireland might be based.

  RAF Leeming (Nuclear Weapons)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the security of nuclear weapons stored in transit at RAF Leeming. [186620]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 4 February 2004.Official Report, column 890W.

  RAF Servicemen and Women
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans to reduce the number of RAF servicemen and women; and how many(a) military and (b) civilian employees will be affected. [186395]

  Mr. Hoon
  As I announced in a statement to the House of Commons on 23 July 2004,Official Report, columns 344–71, we must transform our armed forces so that they can continue to respond effectively to the global challenges of the 21st century. This means modernising the structure of our forces, embracing new technology and focusing on the means by which our armed forces can work together with other Government agencies to meet the threat of international terrorism and the forces of instability in the modern world.

  A combination of significant advances in capability, both within some existing aircraft fleets and as a result of the introduction to service of new types, such as Typhoon, and changes in investment towards greater deployability. better targeted action and swifter outcomes have enat led us to make a number of changes in the RAFs force structure. These changes, in conjunction with the achievement of planned organisational efficiencies, will lead to a reduced RAF manpower requirement of around 41,000 by 2008, from a current strength of around 48,500.

  In addition to the reductions in service manpower, we envisage reductions of around 10,000 civilian jobs across Defence. These will flow from efficiencies as a consequence of the Department's change programme and other initiatives, as well as changes to the force structure.

  Royal Irish Regiment
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Oral Statement of 21 July 2004,Official Report, columns 343–70, what the future battalion strength of the Royal Irish Regiment will be; and whether it will include the retention of the three Home Battalions. [186526]
  1189W
  Mr. Ingram
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 21 July 2004,Official Report, columns 343–370, that the number of Regular battalions in the Army would reduce by four to 36 by April 2008. This will allow the resulting manpower to be redistributed across the Army to create more robust unit establishments under the Future Army Structure. To maintain a regional balance the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment has been exempted from consideration.

  The Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) battalions are fundamental to the armed forces' support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. No decisions have been taken concerning their future role, as it is premature to come to conclusions about the composition of the long-term garrison.

  SA80A2/L85 Components
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what supplies his Department has of replacement components for the(a) SA80A2 and (b) L85; and what plans he has to replenish these supplies. [186640]

  Mr. Ingram
  The SA80A2 family consists of the L85A2 Individual Weapon and the L86A2 Light Support Weapon. Stocks of consumables and repairable spare parts, sufficient to meet all operational and training requirements, are currently held in Ministry of Defence depots. Stock levels are regularly reviewed and replenished as necessary.

TREASURY

  Civil Service/Public Sector Relocation
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of civil service and public sector jobs presently located in London and the South East that will be relocated to(a) Bridgwater and (b) the South West following the report by Sir Michael Lyons, Well Placed to Deliver? Shaping the Pattern of Government Service, and the 2004 Spending Review. [186548]

  Mr. Boateng
  In line, with Sir Michael Lyons' recommendations contained in his report published in March this year and endorsed in the 2004 Spending Review, it will be for departments and public bodies themselves to determine the destination of relocated activities from London and the South East. Departments' decisions will be based on their own business needs and priorities, taking account of the requirement to improve public services, secure greater efficiencies and value for money for the taxpayer as well as of local economic conditions. Departments will also take into account forthcoming locational guidance that will be issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

  In the course of the Lyons and 2004 Spending Reviews, some departments, including the Chancellor's departmen#s and the Department for Work and Pensions, have identified the South West as a possible destination for public sector activity. As you know, the
  1190W
  South West has already benefited recently following the significant relocation of the Meteorological Office from the South East to Exeter.

  EU
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress with the agenda for structural reform of the EU. [186624]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury published its latest progress report on economic reform "Advancing Long-Term Prosperity: Economic Reform in an Enlarged Europe" in February. It reaffirms the Government's commitment to the Lisbon agenda on structural reform, assesses progress to date and concludes that, despite some recent actions, if the ambitious goals of the agenda are to be realised further efforts are needed.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the EU target of 70 per cent. employment in 2010 is expected to be met. [186653]

  Ruth Kelly
  Employment in the European Union has risen considerably in recent years. Since 1999, EU employment has risen from 154.9 million, or 62.5 per cent. of the working age population to 162 million and 64.3 per cent. in 2003. Though the UK's employment rate already exceeds the EU target (74.5 per cent.), it is clear that significant further reforms are necessary, particularly in the new Member States, to meet the target of 70 per cent. by 2010.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what strategy is in place to improve productivity levels in the EU. [186622]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's approach to economic reform in the EU is based around improving both productivity and employment. To this end the progress report on economic reform, published in February of this year, highlighted a number of priority areas. These included:improving the regulatory framework, building on the four Presidency initiative on regulatory reform;
  strengthening the Single Market, with a more pro-active competition policy, further reform of the state aid rules, and by making the Single Market a reality for services as well as goods;
  promoting enterprise and innovation, including through new European Centres of Enterprise—local centres of excellence in enterprise policy;
  taking a leading role in world trade negotiations, by improving access-to all of Europe's markets and further reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; and
  strengthening the transatlantic economic relationship, by tackling the barriers to trade and investment between the ED and the US.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual growth rate of the EU was(a) in 2002–03 and (b) in 2003–04. [186650]

  Ruth Kelly
  As defined by the UK financial year (i.e., from the second quarter in the preceding year to the first quarter in the following year), annual real GDP growth in the EU25 was 1.7 per cent. for the period 2003–04 and 1 per cent. for the period 2002–03. On the same basis, EU 15 real GDP grew by 1.6 per cent. in 2003–04 and by 0.9 per cent. in 2002–03.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the cost to public funds of absenteeism within the public sector; and if he will make a statement. [186339]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Treasury does not collect data on absence in the public sector but there are other published sources. Figures for the civil service, including estimates of cost, are published annually by the Cabinet Office in "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". The Ch#rtered Institute of Personnel and Development published a survey in July titled "Employee absence 2004—A survey of management policy and practice" which included estimates of average sickness absence across the public sector.

  Barnett Formula
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his reply of 20 July 2004,Official Report, column 187W, what the (a) increase in the public expenditure programmes used as the comparator spend for the purposes of the Barnett formula for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 2000–01 and 2003–04, (b) actual increases in the Barnett formula allocations to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 2000–01 and 2003–04 and (c) increase in public spending between 2000–01 and 2003–04 in the North East for programmes used as comparator programmes for Barnett formula assessments were. [186864]

  John Healey
  The operation of the Barnett formula is set out in the Statement of Funding Policy. The formula is applied to increases in the spending of the comparable Government Departments. The increases in spending of Government Departments were announced in the 2000, 2002 and 2004 Spending Review White Papers. The increases in spending for the devolved Administrations were also announced in these White Papers. Information on identifiable public spending in the North East is published in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2004 (Cm 6201). The Barnett formula is not applied to English regional spending.

  British Film Production
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of tax relief on the production of British films was in each of the last five years broken down by scheme. [187141]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The UK has a number of film tax reliefs that are designed to assist the production of British qualifying films, as certified by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The estimated tax cost of Section 48 film tax relief is 440 million for the period 1997–98 to 2001–02 and the estimated costs for 2002–03 and 2003–04 are £300 million and £140 million respectively. The tax cost of the other film tax reliefs is estimated to be an additional £70 million a year.

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what resources the Government have 1192W
  provided to reduce child poverty in (a) St. Helens and (b) the UK, broken down by region, since 1997. [186812]

  Dawn Primarolo
  St. Helens, like the rest of the UK, has benefited from a range of measures since 1997 to reduce unemployment and make work pay, and to raise the incomes of the poorest families with children. Since 1997, the Government have committed substantial resources to tackle child poverty, both through universal and targeted public services and through financial support. For example, by 2004–05, total spending on financial support for children through tax credits, child benefit and other benefits will have increased by £10.4 billion in real terms from its 1997 level, a rise of 72 per cent. In addition, the Government have increased spending on the Sure Start Unit, and has invested over £2.9 billion on child care, early years and Sure Start local programmes from 1998–99 to 2003–04.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to reduce child poverty; and if he will make a statement. [186839]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government are making steady progress towards tho PSA target to reduce by a quarter the number of children in low-income households by 2004–05, as a contribution to the longer-term goals of halving child poverty by 20#0 and eradicating it by 2020. By 2002–03 there were around half a million fewer children in relative low-income households compared to 1998–99. The 2004 Spending Review announced a new child poverty PSA target, shared by the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury, to halve the number of children in relative low-income households between 1998–99 and 2010–11, on the way to eradicating child poverty by 2020. The Government will also set an additional target in the 2006 Spending Review to halve by 2010–11 the number of children suffering a combination of material deprivation and low income. The child poverty review, published alongside the 2004 Spending Review, sets out a range of key measures to reduce child poverty and improve poor children's life chances, thus breaking cycles of deprivation.

  Children
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children(a) under two, (b) under five and (c) aged five to 16 years there were in (i) South-West Surrey constituency, (ii) Waverley borough council, (iii) Surrey county and (iv) England in (A) 1997 and (B) the latest available year; and what the estimate is for (1) 2007 and (2) 2012. [187288]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Virginia Bottomley, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many children (a) under two, (b) under five and (c) aged five to 16 years there were in (i) South West Surrey constituency, (ii) Waverley borough council, (iii) Surrey county and (iv) England in (A) 1997 and (B) the latest available year: and what the estimate is for (1) 2007 and (2) 2012. (187288)
  1193W
  I attach a table showing the 1997 and 2002 mid-year population estimates and the 2007 and 2012 population projections for the areas requested. However, South West Surrey parliamentary constituency is coterminous with the area covered by Waverley borough council.

  Please note that population figures for the years shown are presently on different bases and cannot be compared precisely. This is because of work to improve popular ion statistics following the 2001 Census, which is being incorporated progressively into statistical outputs. By November 2004, all the data shown in the tables will be available on a consistent basis.

  This follows an announcement made on 8 July 2004 about population estimates, which contains information about population estimate revisions and can be found at:http://WWW.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/PEUannouncement_08Jul.pdf

  Information about the subnational population projections due for release on 16 November 2004 can be found at:

  http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/Subnational/Projections-22July2004. pdf

  Estimated and projection populations—Age groups and areas as shown, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012

  Thousand

  Year1

  Area

  Age group

  19972

  20022

  20073

  20123

  England

  All ages

  48,635.9

  49,561.8

  50,503.3

  51,527.1

  0–1

  1,217.7

  1,113.6

  1,153.7

  1,171.6

  0–4

  3,086.2

  2,864.0

  2,880.2

  2,908.4

  5–16

  7,490.4

  7,594.9

  7,244.2

  6,943.4

  Surrey

  All ages

  1,039.7

  1,059.9

  1,090.3

  1,106.4

  0–1

  25.4

  23.6

  24.2

  24.1

  0–4

  64.3

  61.5

  62.1

  60.9

  5–16

  150.0

  156.0

  162.6

  160.0

  Waverley borough council area

  All ages

  115.0

  116.0

  115.4

  116.4

  0–1

  2.7

  2.5

  2.5

  2.5

  0–4

  6.7

  6.5

  6.3

  6.3

  5–16

  17.2

  17.6

  16.9

  16.3

  1Important Note—Population figures for the years shown are presently on different bases and cannot be compared precisely. This is because of work to improve population statistics following the 2001 Census, which is being incorporated progressively into statistical outputs. By November 2004, all the data will be available on a consistent basis.

  2 Mid–year estimates

  3 Mid–year projections

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics, Government Actuary's Department

  Civil Service Relocation
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to relocate civil service staff to the South West of England [186547]

  Mr. Boateng
  In line with Sir Michael Lyons' recommendations contained in his report published in March this year and endorsed in the 2004 Spending Review, it will be for Departments and public bodies themselves to determine the destination of relocated activities from London and the South East. Departments' decisions will be based on their own business needs and priorities, taking account of the requirement to improve public services, secure greater efficiencies and value for money fin the taxpayer as well as of local economic conditions. Departments will also take into account forthcoming locational guidance that will be issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
  1194W
  In the course of the Lyons and 2004 Spending Reviews, some Departments, including the Chancellor's Departments and the Department for Work and Pensions, have identified the South West as a possible destination for public sector activity. As you know, the South West has already benefited recently following the significant relocation of the Meteorological Office from the South East to Exeter.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the reasons were for the delay by the Chief Executive of Inland Revenue in answering the letter to him from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight dated 23 April concerning tax credit. [187507]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue aims to deal with letters from Members of Parliament and members of the public promptly and is targeted to deal with 80 per cent. of letters within 15 days. The Tax Credit Office is on line to achieve this target this year.

  Unfortunately, although the Tax Credit Office dealt promptly with the points raised in the hon. Member's letter, there was a long delay in replying to the letter itself because of an oversight. The Tax Credit Office has apologised to the hon. Member for the delay.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the(a) average and (b) upper decile delay by the Inland Revenue is in answering letters about tax credits from (i) hon. Members and (ii) members of the public. [187508]

  Dawn Primarolo
  This information is not available.

  Debt Relief
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to(a) the International Monetary Fund, (b) the World Bank and (c) the G8 regarding further topping up of highly indebted poor countries debt relief in the event of further oil price or other price shocks. [186785]

  John Healey
  The HIPC Initiative is delivering real benefits to participating countries. It is providing over $70 billion of debt relief, to the 27 countries that have reached decision point. It is helping increase annual social expenditures in countries receiving debt relief. Total social spending has increased by around $4 billion since 1999—equivalent to 2.7 per cent. of GDP. On average, health and education spending account for 65 per cent. of the use of HIPC debt relief.

  But there are countries that are forecast to exit the initiative with debt-to- export ratios above the HIPC target of 150 per cent. because of factors beyond their control. The UK continues to push for additional relief to be granted to all these countries at completion point ('topping up' relief). We successfully campaigned for Niger and Ethiopia to receive such additional relief, resulting in over $800 million in additional relief for two of the world's poorest countries.

  At the recent G8 Summit at Sea Island, the UK successfully pushed for Heads of Government to reaffirm their commitment to the provision of topping up relief for eligible countries at completion point. The

  1195W
  UK also continues to lobby for a change in the topping up methodology to maximise the quantum of topping up relief.

  The UK also believes that more must be done beyond the HIPC Initiative to ensure debt sustainability in the world's poorest countries. We are proposing that the international community review further debt relief for the poorest countries, including making better use of IMF gold using a revaluation or off-market transactions, so that, to match bilateral debt relief, which we provide at up to 100 per cent., we can begin to consider how we provi#e multilateral debt relief of up to 100 per cent. as well.

  However, all low-income countries will need additional aid to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This is why the UK has called for an examination of possible financing mechanisms to provide up to 100 per cent. multilateral debt relief for HIPCs, and continues to push the International Finance Facility (IFF), which could provide the much- needed substantial increase in aid—in the form of grants, concessional loans, or further debt relief—needed to attain the MDGs without threatening the long-term debt sustainability of the world's poorest countries.

  Departmental Performance (Complaints)
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking in response to the comments made by the Parliamentary Ombudsman regarding delays by his Department in responding to complaints under the Code of Practice on access to Government information in her review of departmental performance against requirements of the Memorandum of Understanding published on 30 June; and if he will make a statement. [186661]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government takes any delays in responding to complaints under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information seriously.

  The Government regrets that delays do unavoidably occur in a minority of complex cases. However, the Ombudsman's review of the first nine months of the Memorandum of Understanding (September 2003—May 2004) shows that in most cases the requirements of the Memorandum of Understanding were met.

  In all cases, Departments endeavour to ensure that the time limit of three weeks for departments to respond to a "statement of complaint" from the Ombudsman is met. In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding, Departments aim to enter into dialogue with the investigating officer should there be any difficulty in replying by the date set by the Ombudsman.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in numbers in employment was in each industrial sector in(a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004, broken down by (i) sector, (ii) private sector and (iii) self-employment in each (A) region and (B) county. [186832]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
  1196W
  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Cousins, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the change in the numbers of people in employment in each industrial sector. (186832)

  I am placing four tables in the House of Commons Library, as follows.

  Table A shows the annual changes in the numbers of employee jobs by industry sector and region in Great Britain, for the years 2002 and 2003. The data comes from surveys of employers that provide the most up-to-date source of national and regional information. However, no information is available from them for areas below regional level.

  Table B shows the annual changes in the numbers of employee jobs by industry sector and local authority areas in Great Britain during 2002. This data comes from the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI), which provides information below regional level. However, the equivalent changes for 2003 are not yet available.

  Table C shows the available information about changes in private sector jobs by industry sector in the year ending June 2003, for the United Kingdom as a whole. This information is compiled annually using a special analysis of the employer survey data. Information is not available for all industry sectors, or by region.

  Table, D shows changes in numbers of self-employed people by industry, region and local authority area for the United #ingdom as a whole in the year ending February 2003. This information is obtained using local area data from the Labour Force Survey, which is a survey of people in households across the UK.

  Financial Inclusion Fund
  Mr Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will outline his plans for a financial inclusion fund referred to at paragraph 5.28 of the 2004 Spending Review; whether it will cover Leeds, West; where it will be piloted; what support the fund will provide to credit unions; and if he will make a statement. [186777]

  Ruth Kelly
  Further details of the Financial Inclusion Fund, announced in the 2004 Spending Review White Paper to support initiatives to tackle financial exclusion, will be published later in the year

  Financial Products
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what efforts he is making to improve public understanding of financial products and services; and if he will make a statement. [186627]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government are working closely with the voluntary sector, the financial services industry and others to develop and implement a national strategy for raising levels of financial capability, under the leadership of the Financial Services Authority. This strategy has identified a number of priority areas, based around key life events, from prospective parents to those who are planning for retirement. The Government already provide incentives to encourage long-term savings by giving generous tax treatment on pensions and is also working, with industry to set up a suite of simpler savings products. In June this year the Government announced their proposals for the stakeholder suite of savings and investment products to be launched into the marketplace in April 2005. These are a suite of simple, low-cost, risk-controlled products to meet the short, medium and long-term savings needs for all consumers.
  1197W
  Measures to support financial inclusion, such as the Savings Gateway, and the establishment of the Child Trust Fund also serve to encourage people to engage with the financial sector and develop the savings habit.

  Financial Services and Markets Act
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are in place for the review of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [186637]

  Ruth Kelly
  As explained in my statement to the House of 4 November 2003, the review is considering the impact of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 on competition, changes to aspects of the Financial Services Authority's practices, changes to the Financial Ombudsman Service, and changes to the boundary of regulation. I expect to make an announcement about the outcome of these considerations later this year.

  FSA Regulations
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the financial services industry of complying with Financial Services Authority regulations since 1997. [186353]

  Ruth Kelly
  In 2003 the Financial Services Authority (FSA) commissioned Europe Economics to undertake a major survey of the financial costs of regulation and published the results. This survey found that the median increase in annual incremental compliance costs from 1998 to 2002 resulting from changes to FSA regulation was less than 1 per cent. of operating costs.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross domestic product per head was for each of the last 25 years at current prices. [187117]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for the Gross Domestic Product per head for each of the last 25 years at current prices. (187117)

  Estimates of current price Gross Domestic Product per head for the UK, for the past 25 years, are shown in the attached table. These are the most recent data available and are taken from the National Accounts 'Blue Book' 2004.

  Gross Domestic Product per head at current prices UK, 1979–2003

  Year

  GDP per head (£)

  1979

  3,509

  1980

  4,096

  1981

  4,488

  1982

  4,921

  1983

  5,376

  1984

  5,750

  1985

  6,276

  1986

  6,727

  1987

  7,387

  1988

  8,229

  1198W

  Gross Domestic Product per head at current prices UK, 1979–2003

  Year

  GDP per head (£)

  1989

  9,010

  1990

  9,737

  1991

  10,203

  1992

  10,607

  1993

  11,127

  1994

  11,772

  1995

  12,402

  1996

  13,139

  1997

  13,928

  1998

  14,727

  1999

  15,444

  2000

  16,210

  2001

  16,837

  2002

  17,628

  2003

  18,524

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what national productivity growth rates were in each of the last 25 years. [187129]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Chris Ruane, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on the rate of change of productivity in the UK economy in each of the last twenty five years. (187129)

  The accompanying table shows the rate of change of productivity, as measured by output per worker, for the whole UK economy. The data shown are from 1979 to 2003 inclusive.

  Annual change in productivity1 UK, 1979–2003

  Year

  Annual percentage change

  1979

  0.7

  1980

  -1.4

  1981

  2.2

  1982

  4.2

  1983

  4.0

  1984

  0.0

  1985

  2.6

  1986

  3.4

  1987

  2.3

  1988

  1.1

  1989

  -0.7

  1990

  0.3

  1991

  2.0

  1992

  3.6

  1993

  3.5

  1994

  3.7

  1995

  1.5

  1996

  1.9

  1997

  1.4

  1998

  2.5

  1999

  1.3

  2000

  2.8

  2001

  1.3

  2002

  0.7

  2003

  1.0

  1Measured by output per worker

  HM Revenue and Customs
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Minister at HM Treasury will be responsible for the proposed HM Revenue and Customs organisation. [187239]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the current revenue departments, and subject to passage of the appropriate legislation this will remain the case for the proposed new department.

  House Prices (Consumer Expenditure)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has been undertaken into the impact of changes in house prices on the level of consumer expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [186632]

  Ruth Kelly
  HM Treasury published evidence on the link between the housing market and consumer behaviour in June 2003 as part of the EMU Five Tests Assessment, in the supporting study 'Housing, Consumption and EMU'.

  Household Saving
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the level of household saving; and if he will make a statement. [186544]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's strategy for savings and assets is focused on providing individuals with security, opportunity and independence throughout life, and with the information, incentives and income to make savings decisions.

  We have delivered this with reforms such as the introduction of Individual Savings Accounts, the application of the 10 per cent. starting rate for income tax to income from savings, and the new Child Trust Fund, as well as creating a stable economy with low interest rates, and radical reform and simplification of financial regulation and pensions. Net household wealth has now risen by over 50 per cent. since 1997.

  Inheritance Tax Revenues
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much, and what proportion, of inheritance tax revenues in fiscal year 2003–04 was derived from(a) primary homes, (b) other homes, (c) financial assets, (d) land, (e) art and similar assets, (f) investments overseas, (g) individual savings and trusts, (h) life insurance and (i) other sources, broken down by main categories. [186963]

  Table 1: Number of people aged 50 and over who are long-term unemployed1, by gender, UK regions, 1997 to 2004 three-month periods ending May each year)

  Thousand

  Region

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  Total

  North East

  9

  10

  11

  8

  0

  5

  6

  6

  North West

  16

  18

  15

  16

  10

  9

  7

  6

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  14

  12

  12

  5

  5

  4

  9

  6

  East Midlands

  15

  7

  7

  6

  5

  5

  5

  5

  West Midlands

  20

  15

  13

  15

  12

  10

  8

  5

  Eastern

  16

  12

  10

  7

  4

  7

  5

  5

  1200W
  Dawn Primarolo
  IHT receipts were £2.5 billion in 2003–04. A breakdown of this figure into asset types is not yet available. The available information relates to the asset breakdown for taxable estates passing on death in 2001–02 which is published in Table 12.6 of Inland Revenue Statistics, available at http://newinternet.inrev.gov.uk/ stats/#nheritance_tax/tble12–6.pdf.

  Loan Repayments
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research is being conducted into the size of(a) secured and (b) unsecured loan repayments in different (i) socio-economic and (ii) income groups. [186861]

  Ruth Kelly
  Annex C of "Tackling Over-indebtedness—Action Plan 2004", published on 20 July 2004 by the Department of Trade and Industry, provides a summary of recent research into over-indebtedness. Furthermore, Annex D, of the same document, reinforces the DTI's commitment to developing a monitoring approach, as promised in the Consumer Credit White Paper. "Tackling Over-indebtedness-Action Plan 2004" can be found at http:// www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/pdf1/overdebt0704.pdf.

  Long-term Unemployment
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate the Government have made of how many(a) men and (b) women over the age of 50 were defined as long-term unemployed in each year since 1997; [186930]

  (2) what estimate the Government have made of the percentage of men and women over the age of 50 who were defined as long-term unemployed in each year since 1997, broken down by region. [186945]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about long-term unemployment. (186945, 186930)

  Table 1 shows the number of men and women aged 50 and over in long-term unemployment. Table 2 shows the rate of long-term unemployment as a percentage of all unemployment in this age group. Both tables relate to the three month periods ending in May of each year from 1997 to 2004.

  Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability. In particular, estimates for UK regions are based on small sample sizes and are subject to a high degree of sampling variability. They should be treated with caution.
  1201W

  Table 1: Number of people aged 50 and over who are long-term unemployed1, by gender, UK regions, 1997 to 2004 (three-month periods ending May each year)

  Thousand

  Region

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  London

  32

  25

  24

  18

  15

  13

  16

  12

  South East

  18

  17

  9

  10

  6

  6

  5

  7

  South West

  11

  12

  9

  5

  5

  4

  5

  2

  Wales

  7

  9

  6

  5

  4

  5

  2

  3

  Scotland

  17

  13

  15

  18

  10

  15

  11

  8

  Northern Ireland

  7

  6

  3

  4

  3

  3

  3

  3

  United Kingdom

  183

  157

  134

  118

  85

  87

  82

  69

  Male

  North East

  6

  9

  8

  6

  5

  4

  5

  5

  North West

  14

  14

  12

  13

  7

  7

  7

  4

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  12

  11

  11

  4

  4

  4

  7

  6

  East Midlands

  11

  5

  5

  4

  4

  4

  3

  4

  West Midlands

  15

  12

  10

  12

  11

  8

  6

  4

  Eastern

  12

  8

  7

  5

  2

  5

  3

  4

  London

  22

  16

  18

  14

  12

  9

  10

  8

  South East

  15

  11

  6

  7

  4

  4

  5

  4

  South West

  7

  9

  7

  4

  3

  4

  3

  2

  Wales

  6

  8

  6

  4

  4

  4

  1

  2

  Scotland

  13

  10

  12

  15

  8

  12

  9

  6

  Northern Ireland

  6

  6

  3

  3

  2

  2

  3

  3

  United Kingdom

  139

  119

  104

  92

  67

  66

  62

  52

  Female

  North East

  3

  1

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  North West

  3

  4

  3

  4

  3

  2

  1

  2

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2

  1

  1

  1

  0

  1

  2

  0

  East Midlands

  4

  2

  2

  2

  1

  1

  2

  1

  West Midlands

  6

  3

  2

  3

  1

  2

  2

  1

  Eastern

  4

  5

  3

  2

  2

  2

  2

  1

  London

  10

  8

  7

  4

  3

  4

  6

  4

  South East

  3

  6

  4

  3

  2

  2

  1

  3

  South West

  4

  3

  2

  1

  2

  1

  2

  0

  Wales

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Scotland

  4

  3

  3

  3

  1

  3

  2

  2

  Northern Ireland

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  United Kingdom

  44

  38

  30

  26

  17

  22

  20

  17

  1Unemployed for one year or more.

  Note:

  Estimates for UK regions are based on small sample sizes and are subject to a high level of sampling variability. They should be treated with caution. In particular, year-to-year changes are likely to show considerable volatility, and should not be used is isolation from the estimates for a sequence of years.

  Source:

  ONS: labour Force Survey.

  Table 2: Percentage of unemployed people aged 50 and over who are long-term unemployed1, by gender, UK regions, 1997 to 2004(three-month periods ending May each year)

  Percentage2

  Region

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  Total

  North East

  55

  55

  57

  47

  47

  38

  46

  49

  North West

  51

  61

  43

  49

  36

  40

  36

  35

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  53

  52

  44

  24

  33

  27

  44

  38

  East Midlands

  56

  48

  37

  33

  37

  23

  28

  32

  West Midlands

  63

  57

  44

  46

  54

  38

  39

  23

  Eastern

  52

  47

  46

  38

  27

  38

  26

  24

  London

  59

  57

  55

  46

  53

  38

  44

  35

  South East

  41

  47

  34

  36

  27

  23

  18

  26

  South West

  41

  51

  38

  24

  35

  24

  29

  15

  Wales

  57

  57

  37

  47

  51

  39

  17

  31

  Scotland

  51

  46

  50

  50

  39

  52

  49

  35

  Northern Ireland

  73

  68

  66

  55

  49

  49

  40

  53

  1202W 1203W

  Table 2: Percentage of unemployed people aged 50 and over who are long-term unemployed1, by gender, UK regions, 1997 to 2004 (three-month periods ending May each year)

  Percentage2

  Region

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  United Kingdom

  52.9

  52.9

  45.4

  41.7

  40.2

  35.4

  35.2

  31.5

  Male

  North East

  53

  66

  60

  48

  53

  40

  50

  49

  North West

  55

  60

  44

  54

  38

  45

  43

  37

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  61

  59

  49

  29

  39

  39

  50

  46

  East Midlands

  61

  48

  43

  35

  45

  25

  26

  38

  West Midlands

  64

  57

  53

  56

  55

  43

  43

  23

  Eastern

  53

  43

  50

  43

  25

  50

  30

  28

  London

  64

  59

  57

  50

  55

  40

  45

  42

  South East

  49

  46

  34

  35

  26

  21

  22

  26

  South West

  38

  59

  42

  32

  39

  31

  31

  17

  Wales

  76

  72

  45

  52

  55

  55

  15

  33

  Scotland

  55

  51

  55

  51

  43

  58

  52

  35

  Northern Ireland

  74

  77

  73

  60

  49

  48

  47

  62

  United Kingdom

  57.3

  56.7

  49.6

  46.0

  43.8

  40.3

  38.5

  34.5

  Female

  North East

  62

  24

  49

  47

  31

  33

  32

  52

  North West

  38

  62

  40

  37

  31

  30

  12

  30

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  32

  25

  25

  16

  11

  11

  33

  11

  East Midlands

  45

  49

  27

  27

  23

  18

  29

  19

  West Midlands

  59

  54

  25

  27

  38

  27

  30

  23

  Eastern

  49

  54

  38

  27

  30

  22

  20

  17

  London

  50

  53

  51

  36

  46

  34

  41

  26

  South East

  23

  49

  34

  39

  29

  29

  10

  28

  South West

  47

  35

  30

  11

  29

  12

  26

  10

  Wales

  18

  24

  11

  32

  31

  18

  26

  27

  Scotland

  40

  35

  35

  47

  23

  37

  39

  38

  Northern Ireland

  63

  20

  38

  43

  49

  50

  20

  23

  United Kingdom

  42.7

  43.7

  35.0

  31.4

  30 6

  26.0

  27.8

  25.0

  1Unemployed for one year or more.

  2 Long-term unemployed people as a percentage of all unemployed people.

  Note:

  Estimates for UK regions are based on small sample sizes and are subject to a high level of sampling variability. They should be treated with caution. In particular, year-to-year changes are likely to show considerable volatility, and should not be used is isolation from the estimates for a sequence of years.

  Source:

  ONS: Labour Force Survey.

  Mortgage Market
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is proposing to improve the working of the UK mortgage market following the Miles Review; and if he will make a statement. [186633]

  Ruth Kelly
  On 12 March 2004 David Miles published his review of the UK mortgage market. His remit was to undertake analysis of supply and demand side factors limiting the development of the longer-term fixed-rate mortgage market in the UK, and to examine whether there has been any market failure that has held back the market for longer-term fixed-rate mortgages. In Budget 2004 the Chancellor endorsed the conclusion in David Miles review of the UK mortgage market that "urgent reform is desirable to make the market work better for consumers in a number of areas". The Treasury has been discussing the recommendations with a range of stakeholders including the Financial Services Authority, and intends to provide a detailed update in the Pre-Budget Report.

  Older Workers
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 5 July 2004,Official Report, column 602W, on people of retirement age, how many people above state pension age were in employment for the same period in each year since 1992. [186770]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about people of retirement age in employment. (186770)

  The attached table gives the estimates of the number of people above state pension age in employment for the three months ending May each year from 1992 to 2004.

  As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are subject to sampling variability.
  1205W

  Number of people above state pension age2 in employment, United Kingdom, 3 month periods ending May each year from 1992 to 2004

  Thousand

  Number of People

  1992

  814

  1993

  770

  1994

  779

  1995

  794

  1996

  770

  1997

  802

  1998

  775

  1999

  817

  2000

  831

  2001

  819

  2002

  887

  2003

  933

  2004

  995

  1Seasonally adjusted.

  2This refers to men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over

  Source:

  ONS: Labour Force Survey.

  One-parent Households
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Government have made of

  Number of dependent children living in lone parent families—UK Government Office Regions, 1997–2004

  Thousand

  Area of residence

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  United Kingdom

  2,762

  2,916

  2,905

  2,863

  3,043

  3,037

  3,033

  3,084

  North East

  142

  146

  145

  148

  144

  149

  164

  158

  North West

  392

  428

  405

  397

  410

  464

  430

  411

  Merseyside

  116

  129

  116

  103

  107

  122

  125

  111

  St. Helens

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  11

  12

  1—

  1—

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  241

  247

  242

  242

  260

  248

  249

  262

  East Midlands

  175

  174

  163

  162

  196

  195

  187

  170

  West Midlands

  240

  258

  251

  257

  279

  269

  254

  255

  Eastern

  197

  206

  205

  196

  222

  226

  219

  230

  London

  427

  458

  486

  487

  461

  480

  485

  554

  South East

  298

  289

  289

  285

  325

  325

  328

  315

  South West

  181

  193

  192

  175

  209

  197

  192

  191

  Wales

  144

  169

  181

  169

  165

  160

  157

  166

  Scotland

  231

  250

  249

  246

  269

  233

  259

  261

  Northern Ireland

  93

  98

  95

  100

  103

  94

  108

  110

  Percentage of dependent children living in lone parent families—UK Government Office Regions, 1997–2004

  Percentage

  Area of residence

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  United Kingdom

  20.8

  22.0

  21.9

  21.6

  23.3

  23.2

  23.2

  23.6

  North East

  24.3

  24.8

  24.7

  26.2

  26.3

  27.4

  30.5

  30.6

  North West

  24.7

  26.8

  25.7

  25.4

  26.7

  28.9

  26.7

  26.3

  Merseyside

  31.9

  37.1

  35.2

  32.8

  34.0

  35.3

  36.3

  316

  St. Helens

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  26.9

  27.2

  1—

  1—

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  21.4

  22.4

  21.9

  22.2

  23.3

  23.5

  23.5

  24.5

  East Midlands

  19.1

  19.1

  17.6

  18.0

  21.3

  20.9

  20.3

  18.7

  West Midlands

  19.8

  21.8

  21.2

  21.4

  23.1

  22.7

  21.8

  21.4

  Eastern

  16.6

  17.4

  17.4

  16.6

  18.6

  18.7

  18.1

  19.1

  London

  26.0

  27.6

  28.8

  28.2

  29.0

  28.1

  27.9

  31.2

  South East

  17.3

  16.4

  16.3

  15.9

  18.6

  18.7

  19.4

  18.1

  South West

  17.4

  18.6

  18.4

  16.2

  20.3

  19.3

  19.2

  18.6

  Wales

  22.1

  25.0

  26.6

  25.2

  25.4

  24.1

  24.9

  26.3

  Scotland

  21.2

  23.1

  23.8

  23.7

  25.3

  23.0

  24.9

  26.0

  Northern Ireland

  19.3

  20.9

  21.1

  22.6

  22.9

  21.1

  24.0

  24.9

  1Not available.

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey and 2001 Census. ONS

  2001 Census Northern Ireland Statistics

  2001 Census General Register Office for Scotland

  1206W
  (a) how many and (b) what percentage of children lived in one parent households in (i) St. Helens and (ii) the UK, broken down by region, in each year since 1997. [186821]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question #oncerning the number and percentage of children living in one-parent households in (a) St. Helens and (b) the United kingdom broken down by region in each year since 1977. (186821)

  The attached table shows estimates of the numbers of dependent children living in one-parent families in private households, and the proportions they represent of all dependent children living in families in private households. These estimates have been derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), apart from the year 2001 for which that year's Census data are shown.

  The LFS provides estimates for the United Kingdom, countries of the UK and Government Office regions as well as local authority data for certain variables. However, the most recent year for which estimates are available on children in one-parent families in St. Helens local authority is 2001. Estimates for this specific variable are not available at local authority level before 2001.

  Pensions (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to public funds was of tax relief for individuals on pension contributions in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [186634]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Available estimates of the cost of tax relief on private pensions are contained in table 7.9 of Inland Revenue Statistics. The latest version is on the Inland Revenue website: http://www.inlandrevenue.qov.uk/stats/pensions/ table 7 9.pdf These estimates are due to be updated in September 2004.

  Personal Income Tax Allowance
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the effects would be on the incomes of households in each quintile of the income distribution of raising the personal income tax allowance to £10,000 per annum. [186783]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The information is as follows.

  Percentage increase

  Quintile

  Percentage change in net equivalised household income (before housing costs)

  1

  1.4

  2

  3.1

  3

  4.9

  4

  5.9

  5

  5.1

  These changes in household income are based on IGOTM tax and benefits model using the Family Resources Survey 2002–03.

  Personal Tax Allowance
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the personal tax allowance for those of pensionable age. [186582]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government's policy is to increase the age-related personal allowances for those 65 and over at least in line with earnings for the remainder of the Parliament.

  PFI/PPP Contracts
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts his Department had with(a) Barclays, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) the Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. [186662]

  Ruth Kelly
  None
  1208W
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of costs for insurance is included in PFI/PPP schemes agreed in the last two years; what review of insurance costs has been undertaken; and what conclusions have be en reached. [186845]

  Mr. Boateng
  The contractor in a PFI consortium is responsible for procuring the necessary insurance for a PFI scheme. The costs will vary depending on the nature of the project as well as the conditions in the insurance market at the time the insurances are taken out.

  There has been no official review of PFI insurance costs by HM Treasury. However, guidance on the treatment of insurance costs is contained in the HMT Standardisation of Contracts Version 3 (SOPC3) and OGC Business and Operational Guidance "PFI Contracts: Insurance Costs". SOPC3 states that the risk of increases in insurance costs should be borne by the contractor, while recognising that it will not represent best value for money if bidders price in worst case scenarios for future insurance premium levels in to their bids. The OGC guidance therefore sets out a mechanism for sharing insurance cost increases should there be exceptional circumstances in the international insurance market.

  Population Changes
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Excheque# what estimate he has made of the change in population arising from changes in(a) net indigenous population and (b) net immigration in each decade to 2050, broken down by region. [187335]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Hayes, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the change in population arising from changes in net indigenous population and immigration in the decades to 2050, by reg on. (187335)

  The attached table shows population projections at Government Office Region level for the years 2000, 2010 and 2020. These figures an 1996-based and are the latest basis on which long-term subnational population projections are currently available. These projections have a 25 year "horizon" and so only figures to 2020 are available at this geographical level.

  The projected natural population change (number of births less number of deaths) and i he assumed level of net international migration, for each region, are also shown in the table. It should be noted that these two components are not independent, and that the level of natural change projected for the future is itself partly dependent on the assumed level of net migration.

  The figures shown in the table for England are not the latest 2002-based projections produced by GAD but are 1996-based to be consistent with the subnational projections shown. Please note that these include a lower assumption for international migration than the latest set which can be found at: http://www.gad.gov.uk/Population/index.asp

  A note considering the overall impact of assumed net migration on future population growth is available from the Government Actuary's Department website at: http://www. gad.gov.uk/ Population/2002/methadology/mignote.htm. This is a UK level analysis from GAD's latest (2002-based) national projections. Comparable analysis is not available for the 1996-based projections.
  1209W
  The Office for National Statistics will publish 2003-based subnational population projections on 16 November. Information about this release can be found at:

  http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/ Subnational/Projections-22July2004 pdf

  Projected Population by Government Office Region for Decades—Total population for Government Office Regions as shown, 2000, 2010, 2020

  Thousand

  Year

  Area

  Population

  2000

  2010

  2020

  England

  Total population

  49,730.2

  51,031.6

  52,361.2

  (10-year change)

  1,301.5

  1,329.6

  Net natural change

  640.8

  669.0

  Net international

  658.6

  658.6

  migration

  North East

  Total population

  2,584.0

  2,539.4

  2,511.8

  (10-year change)

  -44.7

  -27.6

  Net natural change

  -18.7

  -16.5

  Net international

  10.9

  10.9

  migration

  North West

  Total population

  6,875.4

  6,823.7

  6,809.4

  (10-year change)

  -51.7

  -14.3

  Net natural change

  25.5

  36.5

  Net international

  -5.3

  -5.3

  migiration

  Yorkshire and

  Total population

  5,065.2

  5,122.9

  5,193.5

  the Humber

  (10-year change)

  57.7

  70.6

  Net natural change

  43.1

  56.1

  Net international

  34.3

  34.3

  migration

  East Midlands

  Total population

  4,217.0

  4,369.4

  4,510.4

  (10-year change)

  152.4

  141.0

  Net natural change

  25.2

  20.2

  Net international

  41.7

  41.7

  migration

  West Midlands

  Total population

  5,338.5

  5,369.2

  5,407.5

  (10-year change)

  30.7

  38.3

  Net natural change

  53.3

  47.5

  Net international

  42.4

  42.4

  migration

  East

  Total population

  5,418.8

  5,678.4

  5,918.1

  (10-year change)

  259.6

  239.8

  Net natural change

  63.2

  44.5

  Net international

  58.2

  58.2

  migration

  London

  Total population

  7,191.6

  7,442.6

  7,712.3

  (10-year change)

  251.0

  269.7

  Net natural change

  422.8

  480.8

  Net international

  310.0

  310.0

  migration

  South East

  Total population

  8,088.6

  8,496.5

  8,869.5

  (10-year change)

  407.9

  373.0

  Net natural change

  81.8

  67.2

  Net international

  113.5

  113.5

  migration

  South West

  Total population

  4,951.0

  5,189.6

  5,428.7

  (10-year change)

  238.6

  239.1

  Net natural change

  -55.4

  -67.3

  Net international

  53.0

  53.0

  migration

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

  Post-65 Population
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the percentage of the population over the age of 65 has changed in each year since 1975. [186946]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
  1210W
  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Woodward, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the annual change in the percentage of the population aged over 65 since 1975. (186946)

  I attach a table showing the population estimates for England and Wales, the percentage of the population aged 65 and over, and the annual change in this percentage. The table incorporates interim revised estimates for England and Wales for mid-1992 to mid-2000, which take account of research carried out into population estimates following the 2001 census.

  Population estimates for mid-1992 to mid-2002 are subject to future revision. Information about population estimate revisions can be found at:

  http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/Methodology_by_theme/ revisions_popestimates.asp.

  Total population and change in the percentage of population aged 65 and over England and Wales, 1975–2002

  Thousands

  Year1

  Total population

  Population aged 65 and over

  Percentage population aged 65 and over

  Change in percentage population aged 65 and over

  1975

  49,469.8

  7,033.5

  14.2

  —

  1976

  49,459.2

  7,119.1

  14.4

  0.18

  1977

  49,440.4

  7,214.2

  14.6

  0.20

  1978

  49,442.5

  7,315.8

  14.8

  0.20

  1979

  49,508.2

  7,409.6

  15.0

  0.17

  1980

  49,603.0

  7,505.4

  15.1

  0.16

  1981

  49,634.3

  7,548.1

  15.2

  0.08

  1982

  49,581.6

  7,550.0

  15.2

  0.02

  1983

  49,617.0

  7,505.2

  15.1

  -0.70

  1984

  49,713.1

  7,482.6

  15.1

  -0.07

  1985

  49,860.7

  7,646.9

  15.3

  0.29

  1986

  49,998.6

  7,767.6

  15.5

  0.20

  1987

  50,123.0

  7,865.7

  15.7

  0.16

  1988

  50,253.6

  7,931.9

  15.8

  0.09

  1989

  50,407.8

  7,997.1

  15.9

  0.08

  1990

  50,560.6

  8,033.0

  15.9

  0.02

  1991

  50,748.0

  8,080.3

  15.9

  0.03

  1992

  50,873.5

  8,115.8

  16.0

  0.03

  1993

  50,983.0

  8,145.0

  16.0

  0.02

  1994

  51,109.3

  8,157.8

  16.0

  -0.01

  1995

  51,252.2

  8,191.5

  16.0

  0.02

  1996

  51,385.5

  8,213.7

  16.0

  0.00

  1997

  51,528.2

  8,228.1

  16.0

  -0.02

  1998

  51,685.3

  8,249.2

  16.0

  -0.01

  1999

  51,884.2

  8,251.6

  15.9

  -0.06

  2000

  52,070.7

  8,275.3

  15.9

  -0.01

  2001

  52,297.3

  8,330.8

  15.9

  0.04

  2002

  52,480.5

  8,389.5

  16.0

  0.06

  1Mid-year estimates. Population estimates for 1992–2002 are subject to revision

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics

  Productivity
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the rate of change of productivity in the UK economy in each of the last seven years. [186210]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
  1211W
  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Kenneth Clarke, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on the rate of change of productivity in the UK Economy in each of the last seven years. (186210)

  The accompanying table shows the rate of change of productivity, as measured by output per worker, for the whole economy. The data shown are from 1997 to 2003 inclusive.

  Percentage

  Annual growth rate

  1997

  1.4

  1998

  2.5

  1999

  1.3

  2000

  2.8

  2001

  1.3

  2002

  0.7

  2003

  1.0

  Public Sector Jobs (Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the implications of the Spending Review for public sector jobs in Gloucestershire. [186313]

  Redundancy rates1 for people aged 50 and over—UK regions, 1997 to 2004 (3 month period ending May of each year)2

  Rate per 1.000 employees2

  Area of residence

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  United Kingdom

  8.7

  8.1

  9.1

  8.0

  7.1

  9.S

  7.2

  7.1

  Great Britain

  8.7

  8.2

  9.3

  7.9

  7.3

  9.6

  7,3

  7.2

  England

  8.8

  8.1

  9.2

  8.1

  7.2

  10.0

  7.2

  6.8

  North East

  20.0

  7.9

  2.2

  6.1

  6.0

  17.1

  12.6

  1.7

  North West

  13.1

  6.7

  15.8

  9.3

  7.2

  8.1

  5.5

  4.2

  Yorkshire & Humberside

  7.4

  9.5

  11.2

  8.5

  6.8

  8.3

  6.3

  8.0

  East Midlands

  13.3

  12.8

  9.1

  8.0

  12.3

  15.7

  14.0

  7.9

  West Midlands

  7.9

  9.5

  10.3

  10.1

  10.1

  12.6

  11.3

  12.2

  Eastern

  5.1

  11.1

  8.2

  5.4

  7.2

  8.5

  3.6

  8.8

  London

  4.0

  5.3

  7.0

  8.1

  9.0

  9.2

  1.0

  4.9

  South East

  9.0

  7.6

  7.7

  8.5

  3.7

  10.3

  7.3

  6.0

  Southwest

  5.9

  3.9

  8.0

  7.8

  5.1

  4.9

  8.7

  5.6

  Wales

  7.8

  4.8

  9.8

  3.7

  9.9

  9.1

  8.8

  7.7

  Scotland

  9.0

  10.7

  9.7

  7.8

  6.I

  6.1

  7.3

  10.4

  Northern Ireland

  9.1

  2.6

  0.0

  13.5

  0.0

  6.5

  3.1

  1.8

  1The redundancy rate is based on the number of people resident in an area who are made redundant in the three months prior to interview in the LFS expressed as a proportion (per 1,000 employees) of the total number of employees

  2Not seasonally adjusted

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey

  Residential Stamp Duty
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the revenue from residential stamp duty was in(a) 1996–97, (b) 2001–02, (c) 2002–03 and (d) 2003–04; and what the projected revenue is for 2004–05. [186950]
  1212W
  Mr. Boateng
  There will be an overall gross reduction in posts of 84,150 by 2008 and Departments will pursue these reductions in line with business need. Departments are still developing their plans concerning the SR04 work force changes.

  Redundancy
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information the Government have collated on the percentage of people over the age of 50 who have been made redundant in each year since 1997(a) nationally, (b) by region and (c) in St. Helens. [186875]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about redundancy. (186875)

  The attached table gives estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) of redundancy rates for people aged 50 and over for the UK as a whole and by region for the three month periods ending in May of each year from 1997 to 2004.

  As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability. The LFS sample sizes were too small to yield meaningful estimates for St Helens local authority.

  Ruth Kelly
  Estimates of the revenue from stamp duty on residential property in 1996–97, 2001–02 and 2002–03 are given at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/ stats/stamp_duty/03IR152.pdf.

  Estimates of the revenue from stamp duty on residential property for 2003–04 will be published later in the year. Projections for 2004–05 are not available.

  Savings Gateway Pilot
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation has taken place of the impact of the Savings Gateway pilot on levels of savings among low-income consumers; and if he will make a statement. [186631]

  John Healey
  The Saving Gateway pilot final evaluation is due in early 2005. No substantial conclusions can be drawn until we receive the full research findings, however indicators so far are good. The latest interim evaluation report showed that 1,478 accounts had been opened (the target was 1,500), and the participants were mostly drawn from young families with childre#. The total amount saved by account-holders was approaching £300,000 by the end of February 2004, and there was little evidence that people had transferred money from existing savings accounts or borrowed to save. This report is available on the HM Treasury website.

  Staff Recruitment
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what media outlets are used for the recruitment of each level of staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [187087]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury uses a wide variety of different publications for recruitment advertising, tailored according to the nature of the vacancy to be filled. This includes the use of professional journals and magazines, national and local newspapers, and websites.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how vacancies are publicised within his Department; how non-fast streamers are recruited to work in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [187088]

  Ruth Kelly
  HM Treasury publicises its internal vacancies on the Treasury's intranet site, and the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway. For external recruitment of non-fast streamers, HM Treasury uses a wide variety of different publications for advertising, tailored according to the nature of the vacancy to be filled. This includes the use of professional journals and magazines, national and local newspapers, and other relevant websites, including HM Treasury's website (www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/careers). Recruitment in HM Treasury is based upon the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Code of fair and open competition, and selection on merit.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Treasury spent on recruitment in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [187089]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 5 March 2004,Official Report, column 1211W. The costs of recruiting staff fall largely to individual teams, and are charged to team budgets.
  1214W
  Therefore, information on the total cost of recruiting staff is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people the Treasury recruited in each of the last three years. [187090]

  Ruth Kelly
  The number of new recruits to HM Treasury, as recorded in the Treasury's Departmental Report, can be found in the following table:

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Permanent appointments

  135

  80

  103

  Fixed-term appointments

  20

  9

  13

  Permanent transfers/reinstatements

  2

  0

  2

  Secondments in

  17

  15

  19

  Casual appointments

  42

  32

  45

  Total

  212

  136

  182

  Unemployment Payments
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of unemployment payments(a) in total and (b) as a percentage of national income in each of the last 25 years. [186102]

  Mr. Pond
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information is in the table.

  Unemployment benefits (£ million)

  Nominal terms1.2

  2004–05 prices1.2

  Percentage of gross domestic product1

  1979–80

  1,176

  3,752

  0.6

  1980–81

  2,074

  5,600

  0.9

  1981–82

  3,214

  7,923

  1.2

  1982–83

  4,067

  9,364

  1.4

  1983–84

  4,753

  10,464

  1.5

  1984–85

  5,308

  11,104

  1.6

  1985–86

  5,803

  11,519

  1.6

  1986–87

  6,070

  11,676

  1.6

  1987–88

  5,453

  9,934

  1.3

  1988–89

  4,152

  7,070

  0.9

  1989–90

  3,364

  5,352

  0.6

  1990–91

  3,810

  5,618

  0.7

  1991–92

  5,804

  8,071

  1.0

  1992–93

  7,139

  9,615

  1.2

  1993–94

  7,389

  9,693

  1.1

  1994–95

  6,482

  8,381

  0.9

  1995–96

  5,925

  7,445

  0.8

  1996–97

  5,112

  6,215

  0.7

  1997–98

  3,893

  4,615

  0.5

  1998–99

  3,558

  4,099

  0.4

  1999–2000

  3,255

  3,670

  0.4

  2000–01

  2,882

  3,213

  0.3

  2001–02

  2,606

  2,832

  0.3

  2002–03

  2,624

  2,760

  0.2

  2003–04

  2,548

  2,606

  0.2

  1Unemployment benefits totals are rounded to the nearest million; the percentage of gross domestic product has been rounded to nearest 0.1 per cent.

  2Unemployment benefits include: unemployment benefit, which was replaced by jobseeker's allowance contribution-based in October 1996; supplementary benefit paid to unemployed people, which was replaced by income support for the unemployed in April 1988, and was further replaced by jobseeker's allowance (income-based) in October 1996.

  Women Workers
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates the Government have made of the percentage of women in(a) full-time and (b) part-time employment in (i) St Helens and (ii) the UK, broken down by region, in each year since 1997. [186926]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Sean Woodward dated 7 September 2004:

  Female employment: percentages in full and part-time 3 months ending May each year from 1997 to 2004 not seasonally adjusted

  March to May

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  Full Time1

  United Kingdom

  55.1

  55.2

  55.6

  55.5

  55 6

  55.9

  55.6

  55.6

  Great Britain

  55.0

  55.0

  55.3

  55.4

  55 4

  55.8

  55.5

  55.4

  England

  54.7

  54.7

  55.2

  55.5

  55 4

  55.7

  55.4

  1 55.3

  North East

  51.4

  54.1

  52.2

  52.9

  53 5

  53.9

  53.8

  56.3

  North West:

  55.7

  55.2

  55.7

  56.6

  57.1

  57.5

  57.2

  57.4

  St Helens (Local Authority)2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  44

  56

  56

  59

  63

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  52.5

  51.3

  51.0

  52.9

  51 5

  52.8

  52.1

  52.3

  East Midlands

  51.0

  51.8

  52.8

  53,0

  52 7

  52.4

  54.0

  53.7

  West Midlands

  54.2

  54.8

  53.8

  54.7

  54 8

  54.7

  54.9

  53.6

  Eastern

  54.4

  54.0

  55.3

  53.0

  53.9

  53.8

  55.1

  52.1

  London

  65.6

  64.3

  66.2

  65.6

  66,3

  66.9

  65.9

  66.1

  South East

  53.4

  53.7

  53.8

  54.6

  54 4

  54.3

  52.6

  53.5

  South West

  47.9

  49.2

  50.0

  50.6

  48,4

  49.3

  48.9

  49.5

  Wales

  53.6

  54.8

  55.0

  53.3

  53,7

  55.3

  56.1

  54.2

  Scotland

  57.9

  57.6

  56.5

  55.5

  56,8

  57.6

  56.6

  57.8

  Northern Ireland

  61.3

  61.6

  63.6

  58.5

  61,8

  58.8

  59.0

  62.5

  Part Time1

  United Kingdom

  44.9

  44.8

  44.4

  44.5

  44.4

  44.1

  44.3

  44.3

  Great Britain

  45.0

  45.0

  44.6

  44.6

  44.5

  44.1

  44.4

  44.5

  England

  45.3

  45.2

  44.7

  44.5

  44.6

  44.3

  44.6

  44.7

  North East

  48.6

  45.9

  47.7

  47.1

  46.5

  46.1

  46.2

  43.6

  North West:

  44.3

  44.8

  44.3

  43.4

  429

  42.5

  42.8

  42.6

  St Helens (Local Authority)2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  56

  44

  44

  41

  37

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  47.5

  48.7

  #8.9

  47.0

  48,5

  47.2

  47.9

  47.7

  East Midlands

  49.0

  48.2

  47.2

  47.0

  47.3

  47.6

  45.9

  46.3

  West Midlands

  45.8

  45.1

  46.2

  45.3

  45.2

  45.3

  45.0

  46.4

  Eastern

  45.5

  46.0

  44.7

  47.0

  46,1

  46.1

  44.9

  47.9

  London

  34.4

  35.6

  33.7

  34,4

  33.7

  33.1

  33.9

  33.8

  South East

  46.6

  46.2

  46.2

  45.3

  45.6

  45.7

  47.4

  46.4

  South West

  52.1

  50.8

  50.0

  49.4

  51.6

  50.7

  51.0

  50.4

  Wales

  46.3

  45.2

  45.0

  46.7

  46.3

  44.6

  43.8

  45.8

  Scotland

  42.1

  42.4

  43.5

  44.5

  43.1

  42.4

  43.4

  42.1

  Northern Ireland

  38.6

  38.2

  36.4

  41.5

  38.2

  41.1

  41.0

  37.4

  Total in employment (thousands)

  United Kingdom

  12,000

  12,092

  12,294

  12,471

  12,017

  12,764

  12,847

  12,971

  Great Britain

  11,697

  11,792

  11,984

  12,175

  12,307

  12,442

  12,520

  12,647

  England

  10,091

  10,179

  10,359

  10,534

  10,636

  10,764

  10,767

  10,893

  North East

  485

  469

  469

  483

  489

  507

  489

  515

  North West:

  1,339

  1,322

  1,346

  1,365

  1,418

  1,420

  1,433

  1,445

  St Helens (Local Authority)2

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  35

  34

  37

  35

  35

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  986

  1,006

  1,006

  1,039

  1,044

  1,034

  1,056

  1,077

  East Midlands

  881

  884

  891

  908

  886

  919

  918

  944

  West Midlands

  1,045

  1,067

  1,086

  1,082

  1,086

  1,099

  1,109

  1,119

  1216W
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about females in full-time and part-time employment. (186926)

  The attached table' shows the percentages of females in full-time, and part-time employment and the number of women in employment in St. Helens Local Authority and each region of the UK for the three month periods ending in May of each year from 1997 to 2004.'

  Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling Variability. Estimates for St Helens Local Authority District are based on small sample sizes and are subject to a high level of sampling variability. In particular, year-to-year changes are likely to show considerable volatility.
  1217W

  Female employment: percentages in full and part-time 3 months ending May each year from 1997 to 2004 not seasonblly adjusted

  March to May

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  Eastern

  1,118

  1,144

  1,164

  1,190

  1,225

  1,221

  1,228

  1,265

  London

  1.466

  1,474

  1,537

  1,554

  1,557

  1,576

  1,534

  1,543

  South East

  1,731

  1,768

  1,790

  1,833

  1,839

  1,859

  1,883

  1,856

  South West

  1,040

  1,046

  1,070

  1,081

  1,091

  1,128

  1,118

  1,128

  Wales

  551

  545

  555

  560

  560

  559

  625

  605

  Scotland

  1,054

  1,068

  1,070

  1,081

  1,111

  1,119

  1,129

  1,149

  Northern Ireland

  304

  300

  310

  296

  310

  321

  327

  324

  n/a no available data

  1Percentage of all women in employment. Percentages are based on total that includes people who did state whether they were full or part-time who did not answer the full or part time question

  2Estimates for St. Helens Local Authority are based on smaller sample sizes and are therefore subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. They should therefore be treated with caution and, in particular, changes from year to year should not be used in isolation from the figures for a run of years.

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey

  Work Force Statistics
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the(a) female work force aged between 50 and 60 and (b) male work force aged between 50 and 65 have been in employment in each year since 1997, broken down by region. [186929]

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

  Percentage of men aged 50–64 and women aged 50–59 in employment UK regions, 1997 to 2004 (three month period ending May of each year)

  Percentage

  Area of residence

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2004

  Men aged 50–64 in employment United Kingdom1

  67.2

  67.7

  68.4

  68.5

  70.0

  69.7

  71.7

  71.7

  Great Britain

  67.3

  68.0

  68.6

  68.8

  70.3

  69.9

  71.8

  71.9

  England

  68.4

  69.1

  69.9

  69.9

  71.3

  71.0

  72.6

  72.5

  North East

  54.6

  53.5

  54.3

  54.1

  58.2

  55.1

  60.0

  58.0

  North West

  61.9

  60.6

  62.8

  63.6

  64.3

  64.0

  68.7

  68.0

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  61.8

  64.6

  62.7

  68.1

  67.9

  70.1

  69.1

  71.4

  East Midlands

  70.2

  70.8

  71.6

  74.0

  72.6

  72.1

  75.5

  73.8

  West Midlands

  71.0

  71.3

  71.3

  67.6

  68.9

  70.6

  73.3

  69.9

  Eastern

  72.8

  76.9

  74.7

  75.3

  78.4

  77.6

  77.2

  76.2

  London

  67.7

  65.2

  68.8

  67.7

  69.7

  68.8

  68.6

  70.7

  South East

  74.5

  77.4

  78.9

  76.8

  77.8

  77.8

  77.7

  79.3

  South West

  72.8

  72.4

  73.3

  72.9

  75.2

  72.8

  75.6

  75.7

  Wales

  58.2

  57.7

  58.7

  60.6

  60.1

  62.4

  64.5

  66.1

  Scotland

  62.9

  63.1

  61.8

  62.5

  66.7

  63.9

  69.1

  69.5

  Northern Ireland

  60.7

  57.7

  61.2

  58.6

  61.0

  62.7

  66.5

  64.8

  Women aged 50–59 in employment United Kingdom2

  60.7

  62.2

  62.8

  63.9

  64.9

  65.3

  67.3

  67.5

  Great Britain

  61.0

  62.5

  63.1

  64.2

  65.3

  65.6

  67.6

  67.9

  England

  62.0

  63.7

  64.0

  65.3

  66.0

  66.5

  68.0

  68.3

  North East

  52.3

  48.1

  52.5

  57.8

  60.6

  59.9

  58.6

  54.7

  North West

  56.0

  58.3

  58.8

  57.9

  60.9

  61.7

  68.5

  65.8

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  59.0

  61.6

  60.8

  64.0

  63.8

  62.6

  67.9

  67.3

  East Midlands

  64.8

  66.0

  62.3

  66.3

  68.0

  67.1

  67.0

  68.5

  West Midlands

  60.6

  63.3

  63.9

  64.8

  64.0

  66.2

  65.7

  67.3

  Eastern

  65.9

  66.5

  67.3

  68.7

  68.3

  69.3

  72.8

  73.7

  London

  60.6

  61.5

  63.3

  63.2

  64.8

  63.9

  64.0

  64.4

  South East

  66.7

  71.1

  69.3

  71.6

  72.0

  73.4

  72.5

  72.4

  South West

  67.5

  67.4

  69.5

  68.7

  67.6

  68.5

  67.9

  72.4

  Wales

  55.7

  50.7

  52.9

  56.7

  56.8

  54.5

  62.7

  62.2

  Scotland

  53.9

  57.7

  60.9

  58.1

  63.5

  63.5

  66.1

  66.7

  Northern Ireland

  50.3

  49.0

  52.7

  53.4

  48.4

  54.1

  56.4

  54.3

  1As a percentage of male population aged 50-64

  2As a percentage of female population aged 50-59 *Not seasonally adjusted

  Source:

  ONS: Labour Force Survey

  1218W
  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Sean Woodward dated 7 September 2004:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment of people aged 50 and over. (186929)

  The attached table shows the percentage of (a) men aged 50–64 and (b) women aged 50–59 who are in employment in each region for the three months ending in May each year from 1997 to 2004.

  Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Archaelogical Sites (Theft)
  Mr. Gamier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what studies her Department has made of(a) the incidence of theft from or criminal damage to and (b) the market value of items or artefacts stolen from sites of archaelogical interest in England and Wales since 1 June 1997. [187180]

  Mr. Caborn
  This information is not currently available. English Heritage, however, is in the process of designing a data system that will centrally compile the statistics for damage to English sites.

  Free Television Licences
  John Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will introduce free television licences for blind and partially sighted people. [187569]

  Estelle Morris
  The Government introduced a 50 per cent. reduction in the television licence fee for registered blind people in April 2000. We have no plans at present to change the concessionary arrangements but will consider all aspects of BBC funding, including concessions, as part of the BBC Charter review process.

  Mr. Anthony D. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many old age pensioners in the Great Yarmouth constituency have benefited from the introduction of free television licences. [186708]

  Estelle Morris
  TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, 2001 Census data for parliamentary constituencies indicate that there are approximately 8,600 people aged 75 or over living in the Great Yarmouth constituency.

  Arts Council Grants
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many individuals who have received an Arts Council grant have had to pay back part or all of their grant because they did not meet the standard conditions for grants in each year since 1997. [187283]

  Estelle Morris
  Since April 2003, one grant to an individual has been reduced due to a breach of the standard conditions.

  Figures for individuals are only available from April 2003, when Arts Council England introduced Grants for the Arts, Individuals. Previously, Arts Council England funding programmes did not make a distinction between organisations and individuals; therefore they do not hold records of this nature.

  Arts Programmes
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much is being spent by the Government on arts programmes in(a) Yorkshire and (b) England (i) directly and (ii) indirectly. [186850]
  1220W
  Estelle Morris
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not fund the arts directly, but through Arts Council England, who are responsible for distributing public money from Government.

  The following table supplied by Arts Council England provides a breakdown of the allocation of Government Grant- in-Aid, 2004–05.

  Arts Council England—Allocation of grant-in-Aid, 2004–05

  £

  National

  Yorkshire

  Regularly Funded Organisations (over 1,300 organisations receive guaranteed funding corresponding with the Spending Review)

  280,081,000

  21,363,000

  Total flexible funds (awards to one-off projects through an open application system)

  28,000,000

  —

  Grants for the arts, individuals (1 April 2004–10 August 2004)

  2,988,000

  291,000

  Total

  315,581,000

  21,654,000

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the government-sponsored arts programmes in(a) London, (b) Yorkshire and (c) England (i) in 2004 and (ii) in the next five years. [186949]

  Estelle Morris
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not fund the arts directly, but through Arts Council England, who are responsible for distributing public money from Government.

  Arts Council England's funding allocations correspond with the Treasury's Spending Review—the current allocations run from 2003–04 to 2005–06. Arts Council England's Spending Plan 2003–06 for Regularly Funded Organisations lists the 1,300 + organisations that receive Government Grant-in-Aid, categorised by region, and is available on their website—www.artscouncil.org.uk

  Arts Council England will announce its funding allocations for the period 2006–07 to 2007–08 in 2005.

  Culture (Improved Access)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to improve accessibility to(a) sports and (b) arts for older people. [186450]

  Mr. Caborn
  My Department fully recognises the benefits participation in activities like sport and the arts can bring to older people.

  Arts Council England funds a number of arts organisations which aim to encourage older audiences and engage older people in artistic opportunities. Older people were also a focus of the Arts Council's recent New Audiences pilot project. Over £250,000 was awarded to projects targeting older people. Projects designed for older people addressed barriers such as lack of transport, price and having no one to go with. Information about successful New Audiences projects will be disseminated to arts practitioners and arts organisations across the country.
  1221W
  On Sport, Game Plan, our strategy for delivering Sport and Physical Activity Objectives, identified older people as one of the key priority groups for increasing physical activity. Following discussions with the British Heart Foundation, Sport England's 9 Regional Plans for Sport are providing the framework for regional action. Older people are also one of the target groups for Local Exercise Action Plans (LEAPs). The Public Health White Paper due in the autumn will set out the Government's proposals for increased activity across the population.

  Designated Accommodation
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many rooms are set aside for(a) the use of smokers, (b) worship, broken down by religion and (c) nursing mothers and pregnant women in each building and set of offices for which her Department is responsible. [187313]

  Mr. Caborn
  DCMS leases all or part of four buildings. Two of those have a room set aside for smokers. One building has a room available to an Islamic worshipper. There are no discrete facilities for nursing mothers as children are not brought to work and pregnant women have the facility of a first aid/ medical rest room in each building.

  Digital Television (Bridgwater)
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in the Bridgwater constituency do not have access to digital television. [186499]

  Estelle Morris
  Digital television in the UK can be accessed through Satellite, Cable or Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).

  The BBC calculate that, of the 40,800 households in the Bridgwater constituency, around 19 per cent. (7,600) do not have access to DTT services (including Freeview). Therefore 81 per cent. (33,200) of households should be able to receive DTT from either the Mendip or Stockland Hill transmitter, compared with 73 per cent. nationwide.

  According to Ofcom figure Digital Satellite television is available to the vast majority (96–98 per cent.) of households in the UK. Unfortunately, it is not possible to give a breakdown of Digital Satellite coverage in individual areas.

  Digital Cable is not currently available to any households in the Bridgewater constituency.

  English Institute of Sport
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the budget for the English Institute of Sport is for(a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06 and (c) 2006–07. [186932]

  Mr. Caborn
  The English Institute of Sport (EIS) is funded by a grant from Sport England.

  For the financial year 2004–05 the budget for EIS is £8.5 million.
  1222W
  For each of the financial years 2005–06 and 2006–07 the budget currently agreed by the EIS and Sport England is also £8.5 million for each year.

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time staff are employed at each English Institute of Sport Hub. [186933]

  Mr. Caborn
  The number of full-time and part-time staff employed (as of 30 July 2004) at the nine regional English Institute of Sport Hubs are as follows:

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  East

  4

  0

  4

  East Midlands

  13

  2

  15

  London

  2

  3

  5

  North East

  7

  1

  8

  North West

  11

  1

  12

  South East

  11

  1

  12

  South West

  7

  1

  8

  West Midlands

  4

  1

  5

  Yorkshire

  8

  1

  9

  Freeview
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many more Freeview broadcasting licences the Government are planning to grant. [186858]

  Estelle Morris
  Digital television services, except those provided by the BBC, S4C and TeleG, are licensed by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) under the powers granted to it by the Broadcasting Acts of 1990, 1996 and the Communications Act 2003. With the exception of the public service channels (Channel 3, 4 and 5), the choice of whether a licensed television programme service is available free of charge or as part of a subscription package is for the broadcaster to decide. Where services are to be broadcast via satellite, Ofcom does not limit the number of licences available to either pay-TV or free channels and it will#issue licences to any eligible organisation wishing to broadcast television programme services provided they meet the relevant regulatory requirements, for example as to content, advertising and sponsorship issues. In relation to the digital terrestrial platform, however, spectrum capacity is a key factor in determining how many services may be licensed at any one time.

  Gaming Machines
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has held with owners of category D gaming machines in relation to the proposed ban on them in the Government's response to the Joint Select Committee on Gambling, broken down by(a) mini-cab offices, (b) fish and chip shops, (c) kebab shops, (d) other take-away food outlets and (e) others; and if she will make a statement. [187181]

  Mr. Caborn
  Many, if not most gaming machines, are owned by machine suppliers who have rental agreements with retail outlets. While the Department has had no recent discussions with trade associations representing any of the above categories of outlets, it
  1223W
  meets regularly with trade associations who represent suppliers and manufacturers of gaming machines to discuss a range of matters relating to the Gambling Bill.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessments her Department has made of the likely impact of the ban on category D gaming machines proposed in the Government's response to the Joint Select Committee on Gambling on(a) mini-cab companies, (b) fish and chip shops, (c) kebab shops, (d) other take-away food outlets and (e) others; and if she will make a statement. [187182]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department will publish a full Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for the Gambling Bill when publishing it. In the meantime, consultations on the RIA continue.

  The Department's policy on the siting of Category D gaming machines acknowledges that their removal from unlicensed premises may reduce the turnover which they would otherwise have had; but we take the view that it is necessary to give more weight to the difficulties of ensuring that children are adequately supervised when using gaming machines in unlicensed premises and ensuring that unlawful machines are not sited there. We do not intend to cut back on entitlements to install machines conferred by current permits prior to their expiry.

  Government Policies
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on(a) sport, (b) culture and (c) art. [186951]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government's policy is to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities and to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the creative and leisure industries.

  To achieve this we have developed four strategic priorities:

  Strategic Priority 1: Children and Young People

  Further enhance access to culture and sport for children and give them the opportunity to develop their talents to the full and enjoy the full benefits of participation.

  Strategic Priority 2: Communities

  Increase and broaden the impact of culture and sport, to enrich individual lives, strengthen communities and improve the places where people live, now and for future generations.

  Strategic Priority 3: Economy

  Maximise the contribution which the tourism, creative and leisure industries can make to the economy.

  Strategic Priority 4: Modernising Delivery

  Modernising delivery by ensuring our sponsored bodies are efficient and work with others to meet the cultural and sporting needs of individuals and communities.

  Human Remains
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to publish the Government's response to the report on the retention of human remains conducted by the Working Groups on Human Remains. [187262]

  Estelle Morris
  On Wednesday 28 July DCMS launched a consultation to assess the necessity and appropriateness of the recommendations of the Working Group on Human Remains. The consultation will run for three months, and the Government will make their response after that point.

  Lower Priority Olympic Sports
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what definition the Government uses of the term "lower priority Olympic sports". [186376]

  Mr. Caborn
  All sports were assessed in 1997–98 against UK Sport classification criteria (significance in the UK, significance internationally, international success) and more refined indicators which were: the recent record of success or achievement in the international arena, recognition as an Olympic sport, the quantity and quality of the competitive field, the number of world class performers in the UK, the public profile of the sport in the UK and the number of affiliated members in the UK.

  Based on these criteria, a number of sports were not considered to be high priority for support from UK Sport. The Olympic Sports Development Fund established by UK Sport and the BOA attempts to help such sports achieve their potential.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the National Lottery-derived balances held by(a) lottery funds, (b) each arts council and (c) each national sports body as at 1 April (i) 2002, (ii) 2003 and (iii) 2004. [186836]

  Estelle Morris
  The information is in the table.

  £

  1 April 2002

  1 April 2003

  1 April 2004

  Lottery bodies

  Community Fund

  401,424,347 40

  299,618,282.83

  213,264,652.72

  Heritage Lottery Fund

  993,667,076.93

  1,019,998,113.28

  942,584,325.01

  Millennium Commission

  386,384,791.53

  217,263,126.69

  155,697,623.33

  New Opportunities Fund

  826,417,473.31

  877,706,762.87

  737,229,803.65

  Total

  2,607,893,689.17

  2,414,586,285.67

  2,048,776,404.71

  Arts lottery

  bodies

  Arts Council England

  246,267,031.91

  245,670,398.81

  224,087,590.60

  Scottish Arts Council

  44,642,966.34

  49,568,856.98

  41,965,097.49

  Arts Council of Wales

  32,542,529.69

  30,410,338.37

  23,972,897.04

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland

  33,555,929.90

  34,925,265.14

  35,643,987.16

  1225W

  £

  1 April 2002

  1 April 2003

  1 April 2004

  UK Film Council

  67,640,453.91

  75,587,327.45

  44,281.587.69

  Scottish Screen

  3,637,995.37

  2,273,214.37

  2,194,824.31

  Total

  428,286,907.12

  438,435,401.12

  372,145,984.29

  Sport lottery bodies

  Sport England

  382,438,489.79

  268,225,324.48

  201,571,121.41

  Scottish Sports Council

  72,899,223.81

  78,840,531.03

  65,033,163.09

  Sports Council for Wales

  39,765,549.00

  31,719,079.87

  21,471,242.28

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  19,539,173.47

  21,070,644.46

  23,487,949.83

  UK Sports Council

  8,011,661.64

  3,630,659.65

  3,786,512.05

  Total

  522,654.097.71

  403,486,239.49

  315,349,988.66

  Overall lottery total

  3,558,834,694.00

  3,256.507,926.28

  2,736,272,377.66

  PFI/PPP Contracts
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many contracts her Department had with(a) Barclays, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) the Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. [186689]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Department (including the Royal Parks Agency) has had no contracts with any of these firms for advice on Public Private Partnership contracts.

  Public Bodies
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people(a) the National Lottery Commission, (b) the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, (c) the Film Council, (d) the Football Task Force, (e) the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, (f) Historic Royal Palaces, (g) the Millennium Commission, (h) the New Opportunities Fund, (i) the New Millennium Experience Company Ltd., (j) Resource, (k) the Spoliation Advisory Panel, (l) the Treasure Valuation Committee, (m) the Working Group on Human Remains, (n) the Craft Council, (o) the British Film Institute, (p) the National Film and Television School, (q) the Alcohol Education and Research Council, (r) the Gaining Board for Great Britain and (s) the Horserace Betting Levy Board employs on a (i) full-time and (ii) part-time basis. [187138]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information is shown in the table.

  Body

  Full-time staff

  Part- time staff

  (a) National Lottery Commission

  41

  0

  (b) Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment

  65

  13

  (c) UK Film Council

  89

  1

  (d) Football Task Force (wound up in 1999)

  —

  —

  1226W

  Body

  Full-time staff

  Part- time staff

  (e) National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts

  91

  6

  (f) Historic Royal Palaces

  526

  65

  (g) Millennium Commission

  52

  0

  (h) New Opportunities Fund1

  333

  30

  (i) New Millennium Experience Company Ltd. (in voluntary solvent liquidation)

  0

  0

  (j) Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (formerly known as Resource)

  75

  2

  (k) Spoliation Advisory Panel

  0

  0

  (l) Treasure Valuation Committee

  0

  0

  (m) Working Group on Human Remains (dissolved in 2003)

  —

  —

  (n) Crafts Council

  39

  17

  (o) British Film Institute

  385

  81

  (p) National Film and Television School

  65

  20

  (q) Alcohol Education and Research Council

  0

  2

  (r) Gaming Board for Great Britain

  73

  3

  (s) Horserace Betting Levy Board

  23

  2

  1#igures for 1 April 2004. The New Opportunities Fund has since undergone an administrative merger with the Community Fund. The merged body is now operating as the Big Lottery Fund.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total salary bill has been for(a) the National Lottery Commission, (b) the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, (c) the Film Council, (d) the Football Task Force, (e) the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, (f) Historic Royal Palaces, (g) the Millennium Commission, (h) the New Opportunities Fund, (i) the New Millennium Experience Company Ltd, (j) Resource, (k) the Spoliation Advisory Panel, (l) the Treasure Valuation Committee, (m) the Working Group on Human Remains, (n) the Craft Council, (o) the British Film Institute, (p) the National Film and Television School, (q) the Adult Education and Research Council, (r) the Gaming Board for Great Britain and (s) the Horserace Betting Levy Board in each year since its creation. [187139]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information is shown in the tables.

  (a) National Lottery Commission

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  1,750

  2002–03

  1,380

  2001–02

  1,294

  2000–01

  1,375

  1999–2000

  1,367

  The figures cover the years since the National Lottery Commission's inception in its current form.

  (b) Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  2,231

  2002–03

  1,013

  2001–02

  543

  2000–01

  331

  1999–2000 (from 29 September—31 March)

  136

  1227W
  (c) UK Film Council

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  5,010

  2002–03

  4,161

  2001–02

  3,922

  2000–01

  2,928

  1999–01

  176

  (d) the Football Task Force had no staff

  (e) National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  3,932

  2002–03

  3,429

  2001–02

  2,282

  2000–01

  1,380

  1999–2000

  944

  1998–99

  222

  (f) Historic Royal Palaces

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  17,774

  2002–03

  16,142

  2001–02

  14,611

  2000–01

  13,415

  1999–2000

  12,917

  1998–99

  12,577

  The figures cover the years since Historic Royal Palaces's inception in its current form.

  (g) Millennium Commission

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  2,647

  2002–03

  2,754

  2001–02

  3,460

  2000–01

  3,834

  1999–2000

  3,181

  1998–99

  3,249

  1997–98

  2,115

  1996–97

  1,818

  1995–96

  1,076

  1994–95

  283

  Up to 31 March 1994

  12

  (p) New Opportunities Fund

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  11,597

  2002–03

  9,769

  2001–02

  7,036

  2000–01

  4,591

  1999–2000

  2,329

  1998–99

  401

  1228W
  (i)New Millennium Experience Co. Ltd.

  Salary bill (£000)

  January—December 2001

  4,642

  January 2000—December 2000

  40,055

  April 1999—December 1999

  14,194

  April 1998—March 1999

  7,121

  February 1997—March 1998

  2,493

  (j) Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (formerly known as Resource)

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  3,062

  2002–03

  2,601

  2001–02

  2,380

  2000–01

  2,053

  (k) the Spoliation Advisor# Panel has no staff

  (l) the Treasure Valuation Committee has no staff

  (m) the Working Group on Human Remains had no staff

  (n) Crafts Council

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  not yet available

  2002–03

  1,481

  2001–02

  1,376

  2000–01

  1,199

  1999–2000

  1,019

  1998–99

  1,118

  The earlier figures for the years since the Crafts Council's creation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  (o) British Film Institute

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  not yet available

  2002–03

  15,381

  2001–02

  13,243

  2000–01

  11,034

  1999–2000

  11,383

  1998–99

  10,981

  The earlier figures for the years since the British Film Institute's creation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  (p) National Film and Television School

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003

  2,387

  2002

  2,551

  2001

  2,611

  2000

  2,850

  1999

  2,639

  The earlier figures for the years since the National Film Television School's creation School's creation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  1229W
  (q) Alcohol Education and Research Council

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  63

  2002–03

  74

  2001–02

  61

  2000–01

  61

  The earlier figures for the years since the Alcohol Education and Research Council's creation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  (r) Gaming Board for Great Britain

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  2,399

  2002–03

  2,391

  2001–02

  2,236

  2000–01

  2,090

  1999–2000

  2,073

  The earlier figures for the years since the Gaming Board for Great Britain's creation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  (s) Horserace Betting Levy Board

  Salary bill (£000)

  2003–04

  1,046

  2002–03

  1,037

  2001–02

  925

  2000–01

  961

  1999–2000

  909

  The earlier figures for the years since the Horserace Betting Levy Board's creation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people who work for(a) the National Lottery Commission, (b) the Commission for Architecture and the, Built Environment, (c) the Film Council, (d) the Football Task Force, (e) the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, (f) Historic Royal Palaces, (g) the Millennium Commission, (h) the New Opportunitie# Fund, (i) the New Millennium Experience Company Ltd, (j) Resource, (k) the Spoliation Advisory Panel, (l) the Treasure Valuation Committee, (m) the Working Group on Human Remains, (n) the Craft Council, (o) the British Film Institute, (p) the National Film and Television School, (q) the Adult Education and Research Council, (r) the Gaming Board for Great Britain and (s) the Horserace Betting Levy Board are untitled to a final salary pension scheme. [187140]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information is shown in the table.

  Body

  Number entitled to a final salary pension scheme

  (a) National Lottery Commission

  40

  (b) Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment

  78

  (c) UK Film Council

  55

  1230W

  Number entitled to a final salary pension scheme

  (d) Football Task Force (wound up in 1999)

  —

  (e) National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts

  31

  (f) Historic Royal Palaces

  445

  (g) Millennium Commission

  0

  (h) New Opportunities Fund (Figure for 1 April 2004. The New Opportunities Fund has since undergone an administrative merger with the Community Fund. The merged body is now operating as the Big Lottery Fund)

  363

  (i) New Millennium Experience Company Ltd. (in voluntary solvent liquidation)

  0

  (j) Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (formerly known as Resource)

  77

  (k) Spoliation Advisory Panel

  0

  (l) Treasure Valuation Committee

  0

  (m) Working Group on Human Remains (dissolved in 2003)

  —

  (n) Crafts Council

  10

  (o) British Film Institute

  264

  (p) National Film and Television School

  42

  (g) Alcohol Education and Research Council

  0

  (r) Gaming Board for Great Britain

  77

  (s) Horserace Betting Levy Board

  21

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the remit is of(a) the National Lottery Commission, (b) the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, (c) the Film Council, (d) the Football Task Force, (e) the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, (f) the Millennium Commission, (g) the New Opportunities Fund, (h) the New Millennium Experience Company Ltd., (i) Resource, (j) the Spoliation Advisory Panel, (k) the Treasure Valuation Committee, (l) the Working Group on Human Remains, (m) the Craft Council, (n) the British Film Institute, (o) the National Film and Television School, (p) the Alcohol Education and Research Council, (q) the Gaming Board for Great Britain and (r) the Horserace Betting Levy Board. [187142]

  Mr. Caborn
  The terms of reference for public bodies are contained in the annual Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies. Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The bodies listed are contained in Public Bodies 2003, with the following exceptions:
  The Football Task Force, which was dissolved in 1999.
  The New Millennium Experience Company Ltd., which is in voluntary solvent liquidation.
  The Crafts Council. The object of the Crafts Council shall be to advance and encourage the creation of works of fine craftsmanship and to foster, promote and increase the interest of the public in the work of craftspeople and in the accessibility of those works to the public.
  The British Film Institute. The objects of the British Film Institute are contained in its Royal Charter, available on the British Film Institute website (www.bfi.org.uk).
  The National Film and Television School. The mission of the National Film and Television School is to educate the best creative talent to the highest professional standard for tomorrow's screen media industries.
  1231W
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what annual Government expenditure on(a) the National Lottery Commission, (b) the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, (c) the Film Council, (d) the Football Task Force, (e) the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, (f) the Millennium Commission, (g) the New Opportunities Fund, (h) the New Millennium Experience Company Ltd., (i) Resource, (j) the Spoliation Ad#isory Panel, (k) the Treasure Valuation Committee, (l) the Working Group on Human Remains, (m) the Craft Council, (n) the British Film Institute, (o) the National Film and Television School, (p) the Alcohol Education and Research Council, (q) the Gaming Board for Great Britain and (r) the Horserace Betting Levy Board was in each year since its creation. [187143]

  Mr. Caborn
  Expenditure on the National Lottery Commission, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, UK Film Council, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (formerly known as Resource), the National Film and Television School and the Gaming Board for Great Britain is shown in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Annual Report 2004, Vol. 1 (Cm 6220) and in previous editions. Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The Gaming Board for Great Britain has been sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport since 2001. Expenditure figures for earlier years are contained in the Annual Reports of the Home Office, which are available from the Libraries of both Houses.

  Expenditure on the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts is contained in its 2002–03 Annual Report, copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The Millennium Commission and the New Opportunities Fund are funded by money raised from the National Lottery. (The New Opportunities Fund has undergone an administrative merger with the Community Fund and the merged body is now operating as the Big Lottery Fund). The New Millennium Experience Company Ltd. (now in voluntary solvent liquidation) was funded by the Millennium Commission.

  The Spoliation Advisory Panel and the Treasure Evaluation Committee (and the Working Group on Human Remains and Football Task Force, when they existed) form part of the Administration and Research budget of DCMS; they are not recipients of grant-in-aid. Their administration costs are borne by the DCMS, whose staff provide secretariat support, accommodation and legal advice. These costs are centrally budgeted and could be disaggregated only at disproportionate cost. Details of the Department's administration costs are published in the Department's Annual Report.

  The Crafts Council is funded mainly by Arts Council England and earned income and has not received any direct Government funding since 1998–99.

  The British Film Institute is funded by the UK Film Council and earned income and has not received any direct Government funding since 1999–2000.
  1232W
  The Alcohol Education and Research Fund is vested in and administered by the Alcohol Education and Research Council (AERC) and the AERC does not receive any direct Government funding.

  The Horserace Betting Levy Board is funded by collection of a statutory levy and does not receive any direct Government expenditure.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people who work for(a) Culture North East, (b) the East Midlands Cultural Consortium (c) Living east, (d) the North West Cultural Consortium, (e) the South East England Cultural Consortium, (f) the South West Regional Cultural Consortium, (g) the West Midlands Life Cultural Consortium and (h) the Yorkshire Cultural Consortium are entitled to a final salary pension scheme. [187145]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information requested is in the table. The Regional Cultural Consortiums do not at present directly employ any staff themselves. Those who work for the Consortiums are employed by other regional agencies and partners and may be entitled to join the pension schemes of the organisations which employ them. Not all those entitled to join a final salary pension scheme are currently members of that scheme.

  Consortium

  Staff entitled to a final salary pension scheme

  Culture North East

  3

  East Midlands Cultural

  1

  Consortium

  Living East

  3

  The Cultural Consortium

  4

  England's Northwest

  South East England Cultural

  2

  Consortium

  Culture South West

  0

  West Midlands Life

  4

  Yorkshire Culture

  5

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total salary has been for(a) Culture North East, (b) the East Midlands Cultural Consortium (c) Living east, (d) the North West Cultural Consortium, (e) the South East England Cultural Consortium, (f) the South West Regional Cultural Consortium, (g) the West Midlands Life Cultural Consortium and (h) the Yorkshire Cultural Consortium in each year since its creation. [187146]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Regional Cultural Consortiums do not at present directly employ any staff themselves. Those who work for the Consortiums are employed by other regional agencies and partners and paid by those organisations. In most cases, the salary costs are subsequently invoiced to the Department for payment from the resources allocated to the Consortiums, but the Department does not record these costs separately from other Consortium expenditure.

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people(a) Culture North East, (b) the East Midlands Cultural Consortium, (c) Living east, (d) the North West

  1233W
  Cultural Consortium, (e) the South East England Cultural Consortium, (f) the South West Regional Cultural Consortium, (g) the West Midlands Life Cultural Consortium and (h) the Yorkshire Cultural Consortium employs on a (i) full-time and (ii) part-time basis. [187147]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Regional Cultural Consortiums do not at present directly employ any staff themselves. Those who work for the Consort it ms are employed by other regional agencies and partners and seconded to work for the Consortiums. The number of people currently working full-time and part-time for each Consortium is shown in the table.

  Consortium

  Full-time staff

  Part-time staff

  Culture North East

  3

  0

  East Midlands Cultural Consortium

  1

  1

  Living East

  3

  0

  The Cultural Consortium England's Northwest

  3

  2

  South East England Cultural Consortium

  1

  1

  Culture South West

  4

  0

  West Midlands Life

  4

  0

  Yorkshire Culture

  5

  0

  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Government expenditure on(a) Culture North East, (b) the East Midlands Cultural Consortium, (c) Living east, (d) the North West Cultural Consortium, (e) the South East England Cultural Consortium, (f) the South West Regional Cultural Consortium, (g) the West Midlands Life Cultural Consortium and (h) the Yorkshire Cultural Consortium was in each year since its creation. [187148]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information requested is in the table.

  Regional Cultural Consortiums Annual Expenditure, from DCMS funds

  £

  Consortium

  1999–20001

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–042

  Culture North East

  1,355

  41,855

  32 415

  92,952

  197,326

  East Midlands Cultural Consortium

  857

  34,366

  15,927

  108,880

  141,267

  Living East

  388

  26,358

  31,621

  110,150

  184,763

  The Cultural Consortium England's Northwest

  230

  21,995

  32,890

  93,686

  240,695

  South East England Cultural Consortium

  968

  20,229

  36,929

  30,242

  204,862

  Culture South West

  4,823

  33,609

  22,043

  152,725

  213,750

  West Midlands Life

  1,613

  31,089

  6,097

  120,100

  223,217

  Yorkshire Culture

  829

  29,800

  17,326

  131,450

  217,629

  1The Regional Cultural Consortiums were established in October 1999.

  2 Expected outturn.

  Public Swimming Pools
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what action she has taken to ensure that access to public swimming pools in London increases; [186923]

  (2) what action she (a) can and (b) will take to increase the number of swimming pools in London. [186924]

  Mr. Caborn
  Sport England is working with the Amateur Swimming Association on an agreed strategy "From Armbands to Gold Medals" to support the development of swimming in London and across the country.

  At present, Sport England is working with the Greater London Authority (GLA), London Development Agency (LDA) and London 2012 on the provision of new swimming facilities in Stratford which will be built whether the Olympic bid is successful or not.

  Sport England is also working to encourage greater investment in privately owned swimming facilities that provide public access.

  Under the Community Club Development Programme, the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) will receive £1.6 million from the Government's Capital Modernisation Fund to invest strategically in community swimming clubs in all parts of the country.

  The overall aim of the programme is to both increase and widen participation in sport at a local level and encourage an active lifestyle. It is expected that this programme will help to raise the number of people, particularly juniors, involved in competitive sport and will also help to improve the health of the nation through encouraging people of all ages to become involved in the sport of their choice.

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many(a) public lidos and (b) swimming pools have closed in London since 1997. [186925]

  Mr. Caborn
  Since 1997, three public lidos and five swimming pools have closed.

  Of the five swimming pools that have closed, one is due to be replaced in 2005 (Swiss Cottage Baths).

  There are currently 104 pools in London open to the public. This includes two pools that are currently run independently of local authorities, but fully open to the public (these are Brockwell Lido and Hampton outdoor pool).

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public swimming pools there are in Coventry, South. [187302]

  Mr. Caborn
  There are 18 swimming pools within a five-mile distance of the CV1 postcode in Coventry, South. Full details of all public swimming pools in the area can be found by visiting the Active Places website at www.activeplaces.com

  Public Transport
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has held with(a) the Department of Transport, (b) transport authorities, (c) public transport user groups and (d) companies operating public transport services on ensuring that public transport services are able to respond to the increased demand for late night services arising from increased use of late licences resulting from powers granted to licensing authorities under the Licensing Act 2003. [187157]

  Mr. Caborn
  The implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 can have no impact on the demand for late night transport services until November 2005 at the earliest. The content of the Licensing Act 2003 and the Licensing Guidance issued by the Secretary of State on 7 July this year, following approval by Parliament, were discussed with and approved by the Department for Transport. There have been no direct discussions with individual transport authorities, public transport user groups and companies operating public transport services other than through the public consultations that preceded the introduction of the Licensing Bill and the laying of the Guidance in Parliament. At paragraph 3.50, the Licensing Guidance advises licensing authorities when developing local statements of licensing policy to have regard to the existing policies and strategies of the relevant local transport authority as set out in their local Transport Plan. Local Transport Plans are the mechanism by which local authorities are expected to work in partnership with all appropriate bodies to deliver effective local transport services that meet the needs of local people. These are expected to include provision of night-time and evening services, where this is appropriate to the local situation. It is for local authorities to identify where and how to take action.

  Regional Cultural Consortiums
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the remit is of the regional cultural consortiums. [187149]

  Mr. Caborn
  The remit of the Regional Cultural Consortiums is set out in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies", copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses. The role of the Consortiums is to champion the whole spectrum of cultural and creative interests in the regions, including tourism and sport. The Consortiums have responsibility for implementing the regional cultural strategies and they have a role in central policy-making, regional data collection and research.

  School Sports
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many children aged between five and 16 years she estimates have not participated in at least two hours per week of physical activity and sport at school this year. [186504]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information requested is not held centrally for all pupils.

  As a result of the 2004 Spending Review the PE, School Sport and Club Links PSA target is being increased and extended to 2008. The ambition is to
  1236W
  further increase the percentage of five to 16-year-olds spending a minimum of two hours a week on high quality PE and school sport from 75 per cent. in 2006 to 85 per cent. by 2008. 1 he target also seeks to ensure that all School Sport Partnerships are able to demonstrate that at least 75 per cent. of their pupils spend a minimum of two hours a week on high quality PE and schools sport. From this month, 50 per cent. of schools will be in a School Sport Partnership.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many schools in the Bridgwater constituency(a) are and (b) are not participating in a school sports partnership. [186505]

  Mr. Caborn
  Within the constituency of Bridgwater there is one School Sport Partnership, based around the hub school, King Alfred's, and comprising four secondary schools, 25 primary schools and two special schools. All schools within Bridgwater will be within a School Sport Partnership by September 2006.

  Shooting
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to meet the governing bodies of shooting in the near future. [186922]

  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to meet the governing bodies of shooting in the near future. Officials from the Home Office and Defra have recently met representatives from the governing bodies of shooting to discuss the Home Office consultation on firearms. DCMS officials will continue discussions with Home Office and Defra officials to ensure that the interests of shooting clubs are given appropriate consideration.

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last met representatives of the governing bodies of shooting to discuss the impact of recent legislation on the sport. [186935]

  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not met representatives of the governing bodies of shooting to discuss the impact of recent legislation.

  Sport England
  Joyce Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the budget of Sport England in the North East region of England was in each of the last three years. [186428]

  Mr. Caborn
  The following table provides figures for Sport England's budget in the North East region for each of the last three financial years and the current financial year.

  £

  North East budgets

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05

  Exchequer

  1.16

  1.17

  2.59

  1.17

  Lottery1

  15.23

  18.70

  5.33

  11.49

  Total budget

  16.39

  19.87

  7.92

  12.66

  1Lottery includes Community Schemes and Awards for All

  Sports Lottery Fund
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total reserves in the Sports Lottery Fund are. [186931]

  Mr. Caborn
  Balances held by each of the sports Lottery distributors as at 1 August 2004 are shown in the table.

  Distributing body

  Balance (£)

  Sport England

  193,912,849.51

  Sport Scotland

  60,688,533.81

  Sports Council for Wales

  17,974,275.50

  Sports Council of Northern Ireland

  24,127,137.58

  UK Sport

  2,880,357.25

  Total

  299,583,153.65

  St. Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to assist maritime archaeology of sunken British vessels in the waters off Commonwealth countries, with particular reference to wrecks off St. Kitts being researched by the St. Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project. [185002]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 19 July 2004]: We have no current plans to assist the St. Kitts Maritime Archaeological Project.

  Tourism
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much revenue she estimates tourism generated for(a) the East of England and (b) Suffolk in each of the last seven years. [187210]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information requested is as follows.

  (a) The available figures for tourism expenditure in the East of England region are shown in the table.

  Tourism expenditure in the East of England region by year1

  £ million

  Visits by overseas residents

  Trips by domestic residents with an overnight stay

  Tourism day trips by domestic residents

  Total

  1997

  500

  n/a2

  n/a

  n/a

  1998

  550

  n/a2

  2,870

  n/a

  1999

  550

  n/a2

  n/a

  n/a

  2000

  650

  1,540

  n/a

  n/a

  2001

  520

  1,800

  n/a

  n/a

  2002

  620

  1,700

  2,930

  5,250

  2003

  590

  nya

  n/a

  n/a

  1Sample sizes at this level of detail will be small which means that th estimates will be subject to a high margin of error. Particular caution should therefore be exercised when comparing any two of the estimates.

  2Figures for overnight stays by domestic tourists are taken from the UK Tourism Survey. Comparable figures at regional level prior to 2000 are not available due to a major change in survey methodology.

  n/a = not available,

  nya = not yet available

  Sources:

  International Passenger Survey, UK Tout ism Survey, GB Leisure Day Visit Survey

  1238W
  (b) The available figures for tourism expenditure in Suffolk are shown in the table. Figures for tourism day trips are only available at regional level.

  Tourism expenditure in Suffolk by year1

  £ million

  Visits by overseas residents

  Trips by domestic residents with an overnight stay

  Tourism day trips by domestic residents3

  Total

  1997

  30

  n/a2

  n/a

  n/a

  1998

  40

  n/a2

  n/a

  n/a

  1999

  55

  n/a2

  n/a

  n/a

  2000

  50

  225

  n/a

  n/a

  2001

  40

  310

  n/a

  n/a

  2002

  70

  160

  n/a

  n/a

  2003

  40

  nya

  n/a

  n/a

  1Sample sizes at this level of detail will be small which means that the estimates will be subject to a high margin of error. Particular caution should therefore be exercised when comparing any two of the estimates.

  2Figures for overnight stays by domestic tourists are taken from the UK Tourism Survey. Comparable figures at regional level prior to 2000 are not available due to a major change in survey methodology.

  3Due to small sample sizes in the GB Day Visits Survey, data are not available below Government Office Region level.

  n/a = not available

  nya = not yet available

  Sources:

  International Passenger Survey, UK Tourism Survey

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to support the tourism industry in Bridgwater. [186506]

  Mr. Caborn
  Since April 2003, the Regional Development Agencies have had strategic responsibility for tourism development in the regions, reflecting its importance as a driver of regional economies. Over 2003–06, South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) will receive £403,000 per annum from my Department for tourism development activity, which is currently passed to the Regional Tourist Board, South West Tourism (SWT), as core funding. The board of SWRDA has recently endorsed the new tourism strategy, 'Towards 2015' and additional funding of £1.5 million per annum for the next four years has been proposed to cover its implementation. SWRDA has also funded other projects which benefit tourism in the region, including regional marketing, the Tourism Skills Network and capital investment in regional attractions.

  DCMS has made available to VisitBritain in 2004–05 grant in aid of £35.5 million to promote Britain overseas and £12.9 million to lead the domestic marketing of England. Tourism in Bridgwater benefits from this expenditure, as does the rest of the country.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to visit Herefordshire to promote it as a tourist destination for(a) British and (b) foreign holiday-makers. [186823]

  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State currently has no official plans to visit Herefordshire. However, Herefordshire is promoted
  1239W
  both globally and domestically in many of VisitBritain's campaigns. Domestically, it is featured in the flagship £2.5 million 'enjoyEngland' campaign and other themed promotions. For example, in the 'Outdoor England' campaign the region's natural attractions, such as the
  1240W
  Wye Valley walk and the Forest of Dean are featured. Internationally, the county is included in campaigns such as 'Good Living', 'Lifestyle & Culture' and 'Hidden Britain'. Further information can be obtained from VisitBritain's website www.visitbritain.com.

  Weapons of Mass Destruction: Intelligence Review Committee
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  Mr Quayym Raja
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