Written Statement of 8 January 2003

CABINET OFFICE

  Refurbishment (Whitehall)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method document has been prepared for the refurbishment at 70 Whitehall; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [89076]

  Mr. Alexander
  The external refurbishment work currently being undertaken at 70 Whitehall does not require a BREEAM assessment.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action is being taken by his Department to ensure that timber procured for use in the current refurbishment of 70 Whitehall is sourced legally and sustainably. [89077]

  Mr. Alexander
  External refurbishment works are currently being undertaken at 70 Whitehall. Timber or timber products are not being used in the current refurbishment of 70 Whitehall.

  Timber
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what refurbishment and redevelopment is being undertaken at 70 Whitehall; how much timber will be used; from which countries this will be sourced; and which companies are supplying this timber. [89075]

  Mr. Alexander
  External refurbishment work is currently being undertaken at 70 Whitehall.

  Timber or timber products are not being used in the current refurbishment of 70 Whitehall.

  Energy White Paper
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings his officials have held with external organisations concerning the preparation of the Energy White Paper; and in each case, who attended and when the meeting took place. [88537]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have been asked to reply.

  As part of the preparation of the Energy White Paper my officials have held a large number of meetings and expert workshops with external organisations. These covered a wide range of issues and included three opening workshops in London, Glasgow and Newport, a final integrative conference in London and workshops on regional issues, energy policy and long term carbon reductions, energy efficiency, renewables and the energy implications of PIU energy review. Workshops and focus groups were also held with the general public. Details are posted on the DTI's website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/developep/reports.shtml.

  GM Crops
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what role was played by Lord Sainsbury in the study carried out by the Strategy Unit into GM crops; and whether Lord Sainsbury has access to papers held by the unit. [89095]

  Mr. Alexander
  Lord Sainsbury has had no role in the Strategy Unit study on GM crops. The project team has had no contact with him and he has not had access to any papers held by the unit.

  Ministerial Cars
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what the average cost per Minister arising from the allocation of a ministerial car was in each of the last three years; [89072]

  (2) how many Ministers are entitled to the allocation of a car; and how many Ministers in each year from 1997 have chosen not to avail themselves of one; [89073]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the practicality of replacement by a car pool of the system of allocation of cars individually to Ministers; and if he will estimate the savings which would result were such a scheme implemented. [89071]

  Mr. Alexander
  The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its chief executive Mr Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Freehold
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement about retention of freehold in the context of the Archbishop's Council's review. [88669]

  Mr. Bell
  As promised in my answer of 19 December 2002, I have provided the hon. Gentleman with the Group's Terms of Reference, and have placed a copy in the Library. The Group will be looking at the freehold, but will give priority to consideration of the position of clergy without the freehold. Its full terms of reference are:"to review the terms under which the clergy hold office to ensure a proper balance between rights and responsibilities, and clear procedures for resolving disputes which afford full protection against possible injustice;
  to consider in this context the future of the freehold and the position of the clergy in relation to statutory employment rights; and
  in the review, to give priority to consideration of the position of clergy without the freehold or employment contracts, and to report on this aspect in 2003 with detailed proposals and a programme for their implementation, the rest of the review to be completed, if possible, in 2004".

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Royal Butler Prosecutions
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the cost was to public funds of the prosecution relating to(a) Paul Burrell and (b) Harold Brown; and if she will make a statement. [86183]

  The Solicitor-General
  The cost of the prosecutions relating to(a) Paul Burrell and (b) Harold Brown to public funds has not yet been ascertained.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Solicitor-General on what date the Crown Prosecution Service became aware of the existence of a written authority from the Prince of Wales to Harold Brown, authorising him to dispose of a gold wedding ring; and if she will make a statement. [86185]

  The Solicitor-General
  The CPS has no knowledge of such a document. Following the statement to the judge at court on 2 December 2002, that the Crown would be offering no evidence against the defendants defence, counsel for Harold Brown produced and read out to the court a document that the CPS has to this day not seen. To the best of our knowledge, Harold Brown was not named in the document, nor did it concern the sale of any item.

TRANSPORT

  Air Traffic
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of air traffic dealt with by(a) Swanwick, (b) Prestwick, (c) West Drayton and (d) other air traffic control operators is (i) over 20,000 feet, (ii) over 25,000 feet and (iii) under 20,000 feet. [89001]

  Mr. Jamieson
  It is not possible to disaggregate this information to the level requested. In November 2002, the latest full month for which final information is available, the total number of flights handled by NATS was 157,635. Many of these flights were handled by more than one centre at different stages of their passage through UK airspace. The number of flights handled by each centre in that month was as follows:

  Number

  Swanwick

  129,690

  Prestwick (including oceanic flights)

  64,612

  West Drayton

  95,078

  Manchester

  47,305.

  Air Transport
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 16 December 2002,Official Report, column 641W, on the future development of air transport, how many Scottish consultation documents were sent out by his Department by (a) 30 November and (b) 10 December. [88418]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The breakdown of Scottish consultation documents dispatched by 30 November and 10 December is shown in the following table.
  218W

  30 November

  10 December

  Main document

  5,915

  5,930

  Summary document

  7,176

  7,181

  Questionnaires

  6,655

  6,676

  Airport Capacity (South-East)
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what relative weight will be given to responses to the consultation on the future of airport capacity in the south-east in the form of(a) individual letters and (b) questionnaire responses. [88495]

  Mr. Jamieson
  All responses to the consultation, whether in the form of individual letters or completed NOP questionnaires, will be fully considered and analysed carefully.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what external professional advice was taken into account in devising the questionnaire on airport capacity in the South East; [88496]

  (2) if he will revise and recirculate the questionnaire with regard to the consultation on airport capacity in the South East; and what representations he has received on the drafting and format of the questionnaire. [88497]

  Mr. Jamieson
  NOP were commissioned by the Department to advise on the drafting and format of the South East questionnaire prior to the start of the consultation on 23 July 2002.

  Since then there have been a number of representations from both individuals and organisations about the content and format of the questionnaire. We are considering these points carefully and plan to issue a revised questionnaire when the further South East consultation document is published early in 2003. Those who have already completed the existing questionnaire will be able to replace it with the new version should they wish to do so.

  Lewes Bypass
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects a quieter road surface to be applied to the A27 Lewes bypass. [89097]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 June 2002 [Official Report, column 506W].

  Motorway Tolls
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on toll charging on motorways. [89102]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The M6 Toll (the Birmingham Northern Relief Road), which is under construction and is expected to open in 2004, is the only planned motorway where all vehicles may be tolled.

  NATS
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received
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  on the reliability of the pilot controller radio communication system; and if he will make a statement; [R] [89004]

  (2) what representations he has received on the clarity of the newly fitted computer screens at Swanwick air traffic control centre; [88999]

  (3) what representations he has received on equipment failure experienced by NATS; and if he will make a statement. [89009]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have received a number of representations in recent months concerning NATS' systems or equipment but these are primarily matters for NATS as the service provider. I understand there were computer failures at West Drayton on 27 March 2002 and 10 April and on 17 May at Swanwick and there have been other, well-publicised, minor problems such as print size on the computer screens at Swanwick. The problems which led to the computer failures have been identified and addressed. New software, which provided revised colours and fonts on the radar displays in response to staff concerns, was successfully introduced intro Swanwick on 6 November.

  The CAA, as safety regulator, has remained satisfied throughout that safety has not been compromised.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many engineers were employed by NATS on(a) 1 May 1997 and (b) 1 May 2002. [89008]

  Mr. Jamieson
  NATS employed 1,177 engineers on 1 May 1997 and 1,270 on 1 May 2002.

  Postcodes
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what use his Department and its agencies make of postcode areas for(a) the collection and publication of data, (b) devising formulae for the distribution of grants and awards and (c) the delivery of services; and when such usages were last reviewed. [87742]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Postcode area data are not used widely across the Department and its agencies. The contractors who carry out the Department's National Travel Survey use the 'small user' Postcode Address File as its sampling frame, although final data are only published at Government Office Region or combined county level. The Survey of Privately Owned Vans, begun in October 2002, also uses postcode areas as the basis for collecting data. The sample size is too small to enable publication at postcode level but it is planned to publish regional results.

  Rail Passengers (Security)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish a national strategy and standards for CCTV on stations and in railway coaches; and if he will make a statement. [88717]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We will be considering the effective use of CCTV surveillance on trains as part of our current joint project with the Strategic Rail Authority to improve the on-train environment for rail passengers and staff. We already encourage the effective use of CCTV as part of the secure stations scheme accreditation process.

  Rail Schemes
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which rail schemes involving new or reopened(a) lines and (b) stations the SRA will complete by 2015. [89100]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Details of all rail schemes involving the strategic rail authority (SRA) are in their strategic plan (copies of which are in the House Library). A revised version of that plan is due to be published early in 2003 and copies of the revised plan will also be placed in the House Library.

  Road Congestion
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work he has done to establish(a) the correlation between road space available and road congestion and (b) the impact on existing public transport alternatives along such corridors arising from the provision of extra road space. [89099]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department undertakes forecasting work for road traffic, for which available road space is an input. Forecasts were recently published in 'Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report', a copy of which is in the House Library. This forecasting work also estimates modal transfer arising from transport policies.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional volume of traffic he estimates will be generated using the SACTRA model in each of the road schemes announced in his recent statement to the House. [89101]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department accepted and has implemented the recommendations of the 1994 SACTRA report "Trunk Roads and the Generation of Traffic". As a result, road schemes are designed and appraised having regard to all sources of traffic, including generated traffic. It is no longer standard practice to make separate estimates excluding generated traffic. Thus, it is not possible to provide the information requested.

  St. Pancras Cemetery
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the removal of graves from St. Pancras cemetery in connection with the building of the channel tunnel rail link. [89333]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Secretary of State has received a small number of representations about this matter.

DEFENCE

  Apache Helicopter
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he expects the Apache AH Mk l's UK-specific secure communications system to have the ability to share voice and data information with other UK aircraft types and ground troops. [87976]
  221W
  Mr. Ingram
  The timescales for enhancements to enable Apache AH Mk 1 to share voice and data information with a range of United Kingdom aircraft and with ground forces are being defined but the aim is to introduce them as soon a possible.

  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made to ensure that the Longbow fire-control radar allows the Apache AH Mk 1 attack helicopter to deal with surface threats. [87977]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Longbow fire control radar is being tested and evaluated, along with other sub-systems, as the Apache helicopter is brought into service. Any necessary modifications will be made to ensure that Longbow is able to deal consistently with the threats for which it was designed.

  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what actions have been taken to ensure that the Apache AH Mk 1 attack helicopter achieves its planned initial operating capability in August 2004. [87978]

  Mr. Ingram
  To ensure that an initial operating capability for the Apache of August 2004 is met, action is being taken along six lines of development: delivery of the equipment; development of appropriate organisation structures and infrastructure; development of concepts and doctrine for how the equipment will be used; delivery of the required training; recruitment and retention of manpower; and supporting and sustaining the new capability once the equipment has been introduced into service.

  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the problems experienced with the Apache Mk 1 attack helicopter; and when he expects each of these to be rectified. [87980]

  Mr. Ingram
  The report by the Comptroller and Auditor General: 'Building an Air Manoeuvre Capability: The Introduction of the Apache Helicopter' published on 31 October 2002 reflected the outstanding issues relating to the Apache helicopter. Action is in hand to address the issues highlighted in the report and to ensure the delivery of an initial operating capability in August 2004.

  BAE Systems
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the discussions his Department has had with BAE Systems since 1 December; and what subjects areas were discussed. [88226]

  Mr. Hoon
  BAE Systems is a major supplier to the Ministry of Defence. As is to be expected, numerous discussions with the company have taken place since 1 December 2002, and continue to do so, concerning a wide range of subjects.

  British Nuclear Tests (Compensation)
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions apply on the provision of the medical records of ex-servicemen or ex-military medical auxiliaries who were present at British nuclear tests conducted at Christmas and Maiden Islands. [89018]
  222W
  Dr. Moonie
  There are no restrictions that apply specifically to the provision of the medical records of those ex-Service personnel who were present at the British nuclear tests on Christmas Island and Maiden Island. However, the normal restrictions on access to medical records do apply.

  Christmas Expenses
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost(a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year. [88106]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 19 December 2002]: Defence Ministers sent a total of 520 departmental Christmas cards. All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of these cards was made in accordance with departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.

  The cards were purchased from The Royal Star and Garter Home, a charity for disabled ex-service men and women at an equivalent cost of 67p per card. A copy of the card used will be placed in the Library of the House.

  It is estimated it took around four minutes of staff time to prepare each card for posting.

  Defence Bills Agency
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total spending was of the Defence Bills Agency for the last year for which figures are available; and how much of that was spent in Scotland. [86061]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 10 December 2002]: The total value of Defence contractors' bills settled by the Defence Bills Agency for the year ending 31 March 2002 was £16,849 billion. Data on how much of this figure was spent in Scotland or any United Kingdom region is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Enron
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts the Department has placed with Enron since 1997. [87112]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence has not placed any contracts with Enron since 1997.

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with BAE Systems on the numbers of Eurofighter Typhoons projected to be in(a) Tranche 2 and (b) Tranche 3. [88224]

  Mr. Ingram
  We have regular discussions with BAE Systems on a wide range of issues associated with the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. The planned numbers of aircraft to be procured in Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 are set down in international memoranda of understanding between the four Typhoon partner
  223W
  nations and in the over-arching framework contracts placed with industry. For the United Kingdom these provide for 89 aircraft in Tranche 2 and 88 in Tranche 3.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for the Eurofighter Typhoon project of developing an enhanced ground attack capability for the aircraft. [88225]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Eurofighter Typhoon will be a multi-role aircraft. Although primarily designed for air superiority, the aircraft will progressively benefit from enhanced ground attack capabilities as part of the planned procurement programme. The United Kingdom and other nations involved in the procurement will continue to keep under review the possibility of further enhancements to Typhoon's capability.

  Gracemoor Consultants
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the former employees of his Department who have taken up positions with Gracemoor Consultants, stating in each case the name and date of leaving. [82152]

  Dr. Moonie
  Under the Cabinet Office rules on the acceptance of outside appointments by Crown servants ("the Business Appointment Rules"), all Ministry of Defence non-industrial civilians and officers in the Armed Forces are required, within two years of leaving the Department, to apply for permission before taking up employment with an organisation connected with their official duties. Some of these applications are speculative and not all lead to external appointments being taken up. The rules require only senior officials whose applications are approved by the Prime Minister to confirm to their former department that they have taken up a new appointment on leaving the MOD. Details of such appointments are published by the Cabinet Office in the annual reports of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Green Ministers
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department is the nominated Green Minister; how often he has attended meetings of the Green Ministers; and which official has responsibility for the Defra rural proofing check-list in his Department. [88455]

  Dr. Moonie
  I am the nominated Green Minister for the Ministry of Defence. The Green Ministers Committee (now ENV(G)) is a Cabinet sub-committee. It is established practice under Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information, including ministerial attendance, relating to the proceedings of the Cabinet and its committees.

  A list of the names of departmental contacts, who meet regularly to discuss issues such as rural proofing, is not published as personnel and machinery of Government changes mean that any list would be out of date fairly quickly.

  Knightsbridge Barracks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the result is of his investigation into circumstances of the shooting incident at Knightsbridge Barracks involving a civilian, Mr. Rajko Novakovic; who(a) issued and (b) owned the firearm; how many soldiers were involved in the incident; how many civilian complaints concerning the improper use of firearms have been received in the past five years; what disciplinary action has been taken following the conviction of trooper Adam Everett by Horseferry Road magistrates; what ranks of officer have apologised to Mr. Novakovic; and when trooper Everett offered an apology. [89254]

  Dr. Moonie
  The investigation into the shooting incident at Knightsbridge Barracks leading to the conviction of Trooper Adam Everett was conducted by the civilian police.

  An internal investigation was conducted into the storage security of the firearm. The matter of internal disciplinary or administrative action now lies with the chain of command, and this properly remains a private matter between Trooper Everett and the Army. The matter of the soldier issuing an apology is also a private one between him and Mr. Novakovic.

  The figures relating to the number of complaints concerning the improper use of firearms received by the Service relate to the period 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2002. Worldwide, a total of 16 incidents of offences against the person involving firearms, where there was a civilian complainant and the suspect was a Service person (this includes dependants and United Kingdom based civilians), were reported to Service Police. You may also wish to be aware that, during the same time frame, there were 27 complaints made of similar incidents where the complainants were Service persons (this includes dependants and UK based civilians) and the suspect(s) civilian. These figures include incidents both inside and outside of barracks, but do not include incidents leading to an individual being charged or investigated for murder or attempted murder.

  Military Airfields
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what liaison takes place between his Department and(a) local hon. Members and (b) local authorities in the use of domestic military airfields when being used by the aircraft of a foreign power. [88321]

  Mr. Ingram
  Regular liaison takes place between RAF stations and local authorities. This includes notification of foreign aircraft activity, where it varies from the routine.

  Members of Parliament are similarly advised of such non-routine activity by either my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence or myself.

  Military Recruits
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was per capita of training a
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  successful military recruit to the agreed standard (a) in 1997 and (b) in the last 12 months; and what the difference was expressed in percentage terms. [88334]

  Dr. Moonie
  The information is not held in the format requested. However, the average cost of initial training for successful recruits is set out as follows:

  £000

  Officer

  Other rank

  1999–20001

  Royal Navy

  25.3

  4.4

  Royal Marine

  97.9

  31.8

  2001–02

  Royal Navy

  31.1

  6.9

  Royal Marine

  103

  33

  1RN/RM figures for 1997–98 and 1998–99 are not readily available

  £000

  Officer

  Other rank

  1997–98

  Army

  40.6

  5.6

  RAF

  15.8

  3.8

  2001–02

  Army

  52.6

  7.3

  RAF

  17.9

  4.5

  The 2001–02 costs were calculated on a resource basis (thus including overheads), whereas costs for previous years were only based on cash. It would, therefore, be inappropriate to make a percentage comparison between the two sets of figures. There are also significant differences between the services in the scope of initial training so that it is generally inappropriate to use these figures to make inter-service comparisons.

  MOD Contracts
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the ROF sites that supply his Department; and what the length of contract is at each site. [88572]

  Mr. Ingram
  The former Royal Ordnance Factories (now owned by RO Defence, within BAE Systems), which are involved in the supply of munitions to the Ministry of Defence are: Birtley, Bridgwater, Chorley, Glascoed and Radway Green. The MOD has a variety of contracts for the supply of munitions with RO Defence, most of which are covered by the MOD/ROD Framework Partnering Agreement. These contracts are not site specific, and it is for RO Defence to decide on the point of assembly and manufacture of components.

  RAF Fairford
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the terms of agreement are between his Department and the US Air Force in the use of RAF Fairford. [88320]

  Mr. Ingram
  The presence of the United States Air Force at RAF Fairford is, as with all bases made available to United States visiting forces in the United Kingdom, governed by the NATO Status of Forces Agreement 1951 and additional confidential arrangements.

  S-type Contracts
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving members of(a) the armed forces and (b) the infantry are employed on an S-Type contract having been manning controlled. [89280]

  Dr. Moonie
  As explained in the answer given on 27 November 2002,Official Report, columns 332–34W, only the Army uses Manning Control Point reviews. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force have their own manning policies that are designed to meet their different requirements.

  There are 351 serving members of the Army who are employed on an S-Type engagement following termination of their notice or open engagement after a Manning Control review. Of these, 291 are Infantry personnel.

  Soldier Discharges
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers in the last five years signed an AFB120A form under QR 9.413; and how many soldiers who were discharged under QR 9.413 applied for a war pension after discharge. [89275]

  Dr. Moonie
  I assume the hon. Member is referring to AFB 130A form, which is completed when soldiers are to be discharged for a number of reasons, including Queen's Regulations 9.413, 'Not required for a full Army career'. For consistency with the period covered in the answer of 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 507W, the number of such forms signed by soldiers discharged under Queen's Regulations, paragraph 9.413 in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.

  Number of AF103As discharged under QR 9.413

  1997

  231

  1998

  175

  1999

  93

  2000

  66

  2001

  47

  2002

  3

  Total

  615

  An AFB 130A form may have been signed in some cases in which discharge action was terminated. Figures for such cases are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The Veterans' Agency does not collate data on the reason for discharge of veterans who claim a war pension. Therefore, the number of soldiers who were discharged under Queen's Regulations, paragraph 9.413, and who applied for a war pension after discharge, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  UBS Warburg
  Syd Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department was informed that the Department of Trade and Industry had hired UBS Warburg to advise it about the relationship between
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  BAE Systems and his Department; which MOD officials met officials from UBS Warburg; and when these meetings took place. [88665]

  Mr. Hoon
  UBS Warburg were retained in early December 2002 to provide specialist financial advice to the Government as a whole, not to individual Departments. Ministry of Defence officials, representatives of the MOD Equipment Capability Customer Organisation, the Defence Procurement Agency and the MOD Press Office have been involved in a number of meetings at which USB Warburg representatives have been present.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Union Learning Funds
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance has been given by his Department to union learning funds; and if he will make a statement. [88808]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 7 January 2003]: Trade unions have a key role to play in promoting the development of learning and skills in the workplace. To help them do this, my Department has provided financial support through the union learning fund since 1998. Between 1998 and March 2002, £16.5million was made available; £9 million is available for 2002–03 and a further £33.6 million has been allocated for the next three years up to 2005–06.

  The union learning fund is a highly successful scheme and has become an established part of the lifelong learning agenda. Regular evaluation of this initiative has taken place and copies of the reports are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Christmas Expenses
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost(a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year. [88109]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  [holding answer 19 December 2002]: This year Ministers at the Department for Education and Skills sent around 1,550 official Christmas cards. These cards cost £1,659. The cards were sent via the governmental inter-departmental Service or the Royal Mail. No breakdown of the delivery methods is available which would enable an accurate assessment to be made of the postage costs. Equally no record is available of the staff time involved to sign, address and place cards in envelopes. A copy of the official Christmas card has been made available to the Library.

  All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of official Christmas cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".

  Connexions
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time employees were employed by Connexions in each region (i) this year and (ii) last year. [88993]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 7 January 2003]: The following table gives the number of full-time and part-time staff employed by Connexions during the current year. The figures are taken from an annual staff survey undertaken by 27 partnerships that were operational by August 2002. The Connexions Service is expected to be operational in all 47 areas by April 2003.

  Comparable information is not available for 2001. Another survey of all Connexions partnerships is planned for the end of April 2003.

  Connexions partnerships operational by August 2002

  Full-time staff

  Part-time staff

  England

  5,023

  2,021

  South-east

  230

  204

  Milton Keynes, Oxon and Bucks

  230

  204

  London

  790

  315

  Central London

  176

  55

  North London

  143

  50

  South London

  184

  93

  East London

  287

  117

  East of England

  431

  172

  Cambs and Peterborough

  214

  74

  Hertfordshire

  107

  66

  Suffolk

  110

  32

  South-west

  599

  288

  Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole

  97

  25

  Cornwall and Devon

  244

  102

  Somerset

  84

  51

  West of England

  174

  110

  West Midlands

  846

  335

  Black Country

  225

  75

  Coventry and Warwick

  182

  112

  Hereford and Worcester

  102

  60

  Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

  109

  51

  Staffordshire

  228

  37

  East Midlands

  314

  94

  Lincolnshire and Rutland

  148

  41

  Nottinghamshire

  166

  53

  Yorks and Humber

  479

  265

  Humberside

  226

  155

  South Yorkshire

  253

  110

  North-west

  968

  265

  Cheshire and Warrington

  204

  61

  Cumbria

  134

  49

  Greater Merseyside

  368

  81

  Lancashire

  262

  74

  North-east

  366

  83

  County Durham

  118

  33

  Tyne and Wear

  248

  50

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of people who have received advice through the Connexions service were(a) under 19 and (b) defined as socially excluded in the latest 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by region. [88996]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 7 January 2003]: The table shows the number and proportion of young people receiving individual advice through operational Connexions Services for the period April 2002 to

  229W
  November 2002—the latest period for which this information is available. The table also shows the numbers of those identified as needing intensive support from the service.

  Intensive support is defined as integrated and specialist support for those facing substantial multiple problems which prevent them from engaging with

  All young people advised by Connexions in a one to one situation1

  Number of under 19s advised by Connexions in a one to one situation

  Number identified as needing intensive support

  Percentage

  England

  1,799,647

  1,726,652

  448,254

  24.9

  South East

  100,432

  96,838

  29,287

  29.2

  London

  154,167

  144,920

  32,056

  20.8

  East of England

  106,796

  102,548

  16,959

  15.9

  South West

  238,711

  225,097

  68,832

  28.8

  West Midlands

  263,257

  252,377

  35,055

  13.3

  East Midlands

  150,312

  145,069

  36,811

  24.5

  Yorks and Humber

  235,772

  226,669

  95,222

  40.4

  North West

  431,343

  416,597

  102,000

  23.6

  North East

  118,857

  116,537

  32,032

  27.0

  1 Connexions Services cover 13 to 19-year-olds and young people up to the age of 25 with learning difficulties and disabilities.

  Departmental Meetings (Wales and Scotland)
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when(a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department last met representatives from (i) the Welsh Assembly and (ii) the Scottish Parliament. [89335]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  Ministers in this Department are in regular contact with representatives from the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament, most recently on 31 October 2002 and 18 December 2002 respectively.

  Officials in the Department work regularly with the Devolved Administrations on matters of mutual interest. Information about the frequency of meetings is not held centrally.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what recent discussions he has had with local education authorities about the future of grammar schools; [87851]

  (2) what recent representations he has received from local education authorities seeking an end to academic selection. [87852]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 17 December 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not held any specific discussions with local education authorities, nor has he had any representations from them, about the future of grammar schools or ending academic selection. However, he has recently had a meeting with representatives of Kent LEA about how school standards in general can be raised.

  Legislation does not allow for LEAs to propose that grammar schools stop being selective; that is a matter for the schools themselves, or local parents, through the ballot system.

  Language Teaching
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what estimate he has made of 230W
  learning. These young people are likely to be involved with a number of different professionals engaged in education, social welfare, health and housing.

  Young people also receive advice and guidance in a variety of group activities, through targeted mail shots and via Connexions websites, however this information is not collected by age group.

  the percentage of children in maintained schools learning a foreign language at Key Stage 2; and what he expects the percentage to be in (a) September 2003, (b) September 2004 and (c) September 2005; [89328]

  (2) by what date he expects that every primary school should have a language co-ordinator. [89332)

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  While the Department does not hold precise information about the numbers of children learning a modern foreign language at Key Stage 2, we are aware from a recent survey conducted by Warwick University that approximately 20 per cent. of primary schools currently offer some form of language teaching. We plan to carry out research this year to verify that percentage, and Ofsted will take account of language learning programmes in the primary schools they inspect. This will allow us to estimate the percentage of children who will be learning a foreign language at Key Stage 2 for the years cited and beyond.

  We expect that, by the end of the decade, every pupil at Key Stage 2 will be offered the opportunity to study at least one foreign language. To support this offer, we are concentrating on building capacity and supporting best practice, enabling schools to introduce early language learning at a pace which is right for them.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the overseas visits on departmental business undertaken by Ministers in his Department during the last 12 months. [89323]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  In the last 12 months, Ministers in this Department have travelled on departmental business to Belgium, France, Slovakia, Italy, Australia and the United States.

  All trips undertaken by Ministers comply with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.

  School Funding
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the SSA average grant per pupil in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools will be in each LEA in England and Wales in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) subsequent years for which figures are available. [88325]

  Mr. Miliband
  The average primary and secondary formula spending share per pupil for LEAs in England are set out in the tables for 2003–04: figures for future years will become available at the time of the Local Government Finance Settlement for each year. These figures are not comparable with primary and secondary SSA per pupil for 2002–03 and previous years. The new system of funding for LEAs consists of a basic entitlement which is the same for all pupils, plus a top up for all deprived pupils, which is the same for all deprived pupils, and a further top up for those LEAs in areas with additional costs for recruitment and retention of staff. Where the average formula spending share per pupil is higher, that reflects a higher number of deprived pupils, and higher area costs. The system in Wales is different and is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly.

  LEA

  Average primary formula spending share per pupil

  Average secondary formula spending share per pupil

  City of London

  3,252

  4,322

  Camden

  3,187

  3,952

  Greenwich

  2,985

  3,866

  Hackney

  3,336

  4,208

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  3,087

  3,935

  Islington

  3,217

  4,156

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,957

  3,771

  Lambeth

  3,232

  4,129

  Lewisham

  3,011

  3,956

  Southwark

  3,160

  4,147

  Tower Hamlets

  3,625

  4,441

  Wandsworth

  2,923

  3,890

  Westminster

  3,255

  4,060

  Barking and Dagenham

  2,482

  3,204

  Barnet

  2,555

  3,250

  Bexley

  2,280

  2,986

  Brent

  2,814

  3,545

  Bromley

  2,237

  2,968

  Croydon

  2,410

  3,213

  Ealing

  2,757

  3,442

  Enfield

  2,538

  3,218

  Haringey

  2,823

  3,572

  Harrow

  2,590

  3,290

  Havering

  2,240

  2,961

  Hillingdon

  2,496

  3,193

  Hounslow

  2,714

  3,373

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,387

  3,117

  Merton

  2,504

  3,285

  Newham

  2,928

  3,611

  Redbridge

  2,505

  3,160

  Richmond upon Thames

  2,318

  3,092

  Sutton

  2,357

  3,112

  Waltham Forest

  2,609

  3,393

  Birmingham

  2,475

  3,156

  Coventry

  2,273

  2,912

  Dudley

  2,180

  2,849

  Sandwell

  2,378

  3,022

  Solihull

  2,115

  2,751

  Walsall

  2,302

  2,944

  Wolverhampton

  2,327

  2,992

  Knowsley

  2,381

  3,022

  Liverpool

  2,385

  3,048

  St. Helens

  2,195

  2,841

  Sefton

  2,156

  2,812

  Wirral

  2,217

  2,873

  Bolton

  2,269

  2,883

  Bury

  2,169

  2,833

  Manchester

  2,540

  3,235

  Oldham

  2,351

  2,985

  232W

  LEA

  Average primary formula spending share per pupil

  Average secondary formula spending share per pupil

  Rochdale

  2,323

  2,988

  Salford

  2,281

  2,936

  Stockport

  2,108

  2,769

  Tameside

  2,220

  2,876

  Trafford

  2,149

  2,817

  Wigan

  2,149

  2,808

  Barnsley

  2,195

  2,829

  Doncaster

  2,244

  2,836

  Rotherham

  2,198

  2,834

  Sheffield

  2,217

  2,877

  Bradford

  2,409

  3,039

  Calderdale

  2,233

  2,857

  Kirklees

  2,275

  2,881

  Leeds

  2,191

  2,837

  Wakefield

  2,167

  2,812

  Gateshead

  2,199

  2,838

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,297

  2,926

  North Tyneside

  2,151

  2,798

  South Tyneside

  2,233

  2,881

  Sunderland

  2,210

  2,855

  Isles of Scilly

  3,366

  3,989

  Bath and North East Somerset

  2,111

  2,747

  City of Bristol

  2,251

  2,949

  North Somerset

  2,119

  2,741

  South Gloucestershire

  2,107

  2,729

  Hartlepool

  2,255

  2,888

  Middlesbrough

  2,326

  2,972

  Redcar and Cleveland

  2,225

  2,842

  Stockton-on-Tees

  2,193

  2,824

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  2,292

  2,938

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  2,163

  2,681

  North East Lincolnshire

  2,210

  2,831

  North Lincolnshire

  2,210

  2,758

  North Yorkshire

  2,214

  2,662

  York

  2,074

  2,702

  Bedfordshire

  2,219

  2,831

  Luton

  2,432

  3,149

  Buckinghamshire

  2,276

  2,939

  Milton Keynes

  2,319

  2,984

  Derbyshire

  2,128

  2,715

  Derby

  2,233

  2,885

  Dorset

  2,136

  2,669

  Poole

  2,059

  2,709

  Bournemouth

  2,122

  2,763

  Durham

  2,208

  2,797

  Darlington

  2,190

  2,802

  East Sussex

  2,159

  2,752

  Brighton and Hove

  2,183

  2,850

  Hampshire

  2,141

  2,764

  Portsmouth

  2,237

  2,908

  Southampton

  2,296

  2,957

  Leicestershire

  2,083

  2,663

  Leicester

  2,443

  2,966

  Rutland

  2,204

  2,659

  Staffordshire

  2,102

  2,698

  Stoke on Trent

  2,254

  2,904

  Wiltshire

  2,214

  2,731

  Swindon

  2,153

  2,788

  Bracknell Forest

  2,287

  3,019

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  2,321

  3,019

  West Berkshire

  2,333

  2,970

  Reading

  2,412

  3,161

  Slough

  2,623

  3,326

  Wokingham

  2,273

  2,970

  Cambridgeshire

  2,224

  2,779

  Peterborough

  2,375

  3,011

  Cheshire

  2,133

  2,738

  Halton

  2,286

  2,946

  Warrington

  2,101

  2,761

  Devon

  2,217

  2,708

  Plymouth

  2,166

  2,813

  Torbay

  2,162

  2,807

  Essex

  2,164

  2,784

  Southend

  2,195

  2,847

  Thurrock

  2,267

  2,938

  Herefordshire

  2,246

  2,683

  Worcestershire

  2,088

  2,689

  Kent

  2,184

  2,803

  Medway

  2,167

  2,812

  Lancashire

  2,183

  2,778

  Blackburn

  2,389

  2,942

  233W

  LEA

  Average primary formula spending share per pupil

  Average secondary formula spending share per pupil

  Blackpool

  2,211

  2,862

  Nottinghamshire

  2,133

  2,746

  Nottingham City

  2,393

  3,075

  Shropshire

  2,201

  2,667

  The Wrekin

  2,196

  2,806

  Cornwall

  2,233

  2,758

  Cumbria

  2,220

  2,721

  Gloucestershire

  2,160

  2,743

  Hertfordshire

  2,257

  2,948

  Isle of Wight Council

  2,210

  2,779

  Lincolnshire

  2,226

  2,714

  Norfolk

  2,211

  2,727

  Northamptonshire

  2,183

  2,789

  Northumberland

  2,206

  2,734

  Oxfordshire

  2,266

  2,884

  Somerset

  2,159

  2,689

  Suffolk

  2,144

  2,698

  Surrey

  2,307

  3,019

  Warwickshire

  2,173

  2,752

  West Sussex

  2,176

  2,806

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Air Quality (Lancashire)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the most recent figures are for air quality in Lancashire. [88651]

  Alun Michael
  Defra currently operates two automated, continuous air quality monitoring sites in Lancashire: one in Preston, the other in Blackpool. These sites measure carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, ozone, particulate matter (PM 10), and sulphur dioxide. Current and historic air quality information from these sites is available at Defra's air quality archive, www.airquality.co.uk. The information is updated hourly.

  In 2002 all automated measurements of carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide were in the 'low' category of air pollution. 'High' levels of PM10 occurred at Preston on one day in 2002, where levels peaked at 80 micrograms per cubic metre. `Moderate' levels of PM10 were recorded at Preston on three days in 2002. 'Moderate' levels of PM10 were measured at Blackpool on one day in 2002, peaking at 51 micrograms per cubic metre. 'Moderate' levels of ozone were measured in Preston on 47 separate days in 2002, peaking at 67 parts per billion. In Blackpool, `moderate' levels of ozone were measured on 62 separate days in 2002, peaking at 78 parts per billion. Data for 2002 are provisional. Definitions of low', 'moderate' and 'high' pollution levels are provided at Defra's air quality archive.

  Bird Registration
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 311W, on bird registration, what the significant increase in enforcement action was that caused the increase in costs of running her Department's bird registration scheme between 2000–01 and 2001–02; how
  234W
  many police forces were involved; and how many (a) pending court cases and (b) convictions have resulted from this action. [89282]

  Mr. Morley
  The increase in enforcement costs from 2000–01 to 2001–02 was due partly to increased pay and overhead costs and partly to the recruitment of a number of new inspectors to widen the spread of expertise available to the Department.

  Increased enforcement does not necessarily result in a higher number of court cases as the chief aim of the wildlife inspectors is to deter crime. The number of pending court cases and convictions and the number of police forces involved in taking them forward in 2000–01 and 2001–02 were as follows:

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Pending cases

  0

  3

  Convictions

  3

  1

  Police forces

  3

  1

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 312W, on bird registration, what evidence she collated that de-registration of bird species currently listed on schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 will not lead to an increase in illegal taking from the wild; and what assessment her Department has made of the cost implications for (a) enforcement and (b) conservation agencies of de-registration. [89283]

  Mr. Morley
  The reason for the consultation was to obtain views and evidence on the possible impact of any changes to Schedule 4. We are still analysing the responses.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact on the United Kingdom peregrine falcon population of removing that species from schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [89284]

  Mr. Morley
  No assessment has been made. The development of any future proposals for species to be excluded from Schedule 4 would be accompanied by an appropriate assessment.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 311W, on bird registration, what percentage of her Department's bird registration fees were paid by birdkeepers in (a) 1991–92 and (b) 2001–02. [89285]

  Mr. Morley
  In 1991–92,33 per cent. of the costs of providing the service were recovered and 2001–02, 14 per cent. of costs were recovered.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 311W, on bird registration, whether changes were made to the fees charged following the consultation on Review of Bird Registration and CITES licensing fees undertaken in July 1999. [89286]
  235W
  Mr. Morley
  No changes were made to any fees following the consultation on the review of bird registration and CITES licensing fees undertaken in 1999 because of concerns expressed by consultees.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 311W, on bird registration, how many birds were registered with her Department's bird registration scheme in (a) 1991–92 and (b) 2001–02; and what cost savings her Department has made in the running of the scheme following the 1994 review of Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [89287]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department no longer holds data on how many birds were registered in 1991–92. Before the changes to Schedule 4 in 1993 there were 19,466 birds registered. At 1 January 2002, 6,918 birds were registered.

  In 1991–92 the total costs of Bird Registration were £309,769 and in 2001–02 total costs were £441,557. Because of changes to the species and numbers of birds being registered it is impossible to assess meaningful figures for savings achieved.

  Coley
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mechanism is for the disposal of diseased coley taken from within salmon cages; and what assessment she has made of the effect diseased coley has on domestic farm animals in Shetland. [88723]

  Mr. Morley
  The disposal of diseased fish from fish farming operations in Great Britain must be carried out in accordance with the Animal By-Products Order 1999 (SI 1999/646). The disposal of diseased fish in Shetland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.

  Fisheries
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the terms of fisheries quota swaps undertaken between Spain and Portugal for Western Waters in 1996. [88197]

  Mr. Morley
  I regret that this information is not centrally available.

  Hunting
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of who will take over the role of disposing of fallen stock if the number of hunts are reduced as a consequence of the bill. [89011]

  Alun Michael
  The European Union's Animal Byproducts Regulation will ban routine on-farm burial and burning of animal carcases from 30 April 2003. This will mean that the existing fallen stock service provided by a number of hunts could only continue with considerable investment in new equipment. So the future of the hunts' service is in doubt irrespective of the 236W
  Hunting Bill. The Government has been holding discussions with the livestock and disposal industry with the aim of developing a national fallen stock scheme.

  Marine Wildlife
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to secure greater protection for marine wildlife. [88862]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government's first Marine Stewardship Report, "Safeguarding our Seas", was published in May 2002. It sets out our strategy for the conservation and sustainable development of the marine environment and reiterated the commitment made at the 5th North Sea Conference to establish a network of well-managed marine protected areas by 2010.

  The Report contained a package of initiatives to better protect marine wildlife. In particular, it confirms our commitment to consult on the Regulations to extend the Habitats Directive out to the limit of jurisdiction of UK waters. We are also finalising our UK-wide Small Cetacean Bycatch Response Strategy. This will identify what measures can be taken to reduce the incidental capture of small cetaceans in fishing nets.

  In addition, our Review of Marine Nature Conservation is currently examining how effectively the current system for marine nature conservation is working and how improvements might be made where conservation objectives are not being met.

  Nobel House
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method document has been prepared for the refurbishment of Nobel House. [89079]

  Alun Michael
  The latest refurbishment in Nobel House was for areas of the sixth and eighth floors. This was undertaken for MAFF in 1997. As only parts of floors were refurbished it was concluded that it would not be appropriate to seek a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) assessment. In the summer of 2002 "fit out" work was undertaken to allow Defra to occupy the top four floors of 9 Millbank, which is next door to Nobel House. Again, it was concluded that it would not be appropriate to seek a BREEAM assessment because Defra are not responsible for the building fabric and the building services; these remain the responsibility of the major occupier, Ofgem. Defra does seek BREEAM assessments for the major new or refurbishment schemes for which we are responsible.

  Officials
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in her Department work(a) in the Strategic Development Unit and (b) on Regulatory Impact Assessment matters. [89092]
  237W
  Alun Michael
  There is no unit within Defra specifically called the Strategic Development Unit. The Policy and Corporate Strategy Unit in Defra employs 59 officials of whom approximately 21 work on strategic policy. Their functions include promoting the development of strategic capability across the Department as a whole.

  Five people work full time in the Better Regulation Unit, which is responsible for advice and guidance within Defra on the Regulatory Impact Assessment process. The unit is supervised by a member of the senior civil service who is also engaged in other duties. Responsibility for preparing individual RIAs rests with officials in the policy divisions who draw on other expertise as necessary, for example economic advisers.

  Pigs
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many pigs were slaughtered in abattoirs in the United Kingdom in each year between 1990 to 2001. [87291]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested is given in the table below:

  Number of pigs slaughtered in abattoirs in the United Kingdom 1990–2001

  Unit: Thousand head

  Clean Pigs

  Sows and AdultBoars

  Total Pigs

  1990

  13,879

  325

  14,203

  1991

  14,091

  366

  14,457

  19921

  14,143

  373

  14,515

  1993

  14,265

  356

  14,620

  1994

  14,681

  389

  15,069

  1995

  14,021

  355

  14,376

  1996

  13,897

  324

  14,221

  1997

  15,132

  363

  15,496

  19982

  15,872

  415

  16,286

  1999

  14,350

  379

  14,728

  2000

  12,369

  321

  12,691

  2001

  10,449

  180

  10,628

  Notes:

  153 week statistical year

  2Figures have been rounded individually and totals will not necessarily agree with the addition of separate figures.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many pigs were on holdings in England and Wales in June of each year from 1990. [87294]

  Mr. Morley
  Total pigs in England are shown in the table below. Figures for Wales are a matter for the devolved authority.

  Total Pigs (England)

  Number

  1990

  6,308,324

  1991

  6,411,758

  1992

  6,408,233

  1993

  6,517,778

  1994

  6,591,684

  1995

  6,341,131

  1996

  6,275,376

  1997

  6,631,920

  1998

  6,729,927

  1999

  6,163,443

  238W

  Total Pigs (England)

  Number

  2000

  5,442,468

  2001

  4,822,870

  2002

  4,629,707

  Source:

  June agricultural and horticultural census.

  Water Quality (Lancashire)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the most recent figures are for water quality on the Lancashire beaches that are regularly tested. [88652]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 7 January 2003]: I announced on 11 November the best ever bathing water quality results in England and the North West, with all the Lancashire beaches passing the Directive's main mandatory standards in the 2002 season. Details of the weekly results of the sample testing for individual bathing waters are available on the Environment Agency's internet site at www.environment-agency.gov.uk (then follow "What's in your backyard?"). In addition, my Department will be placing in the Library early in the new year our annual publication "Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) Detailed Summary of Survey Results—United Kingdom" This lists all identified bathing waters and the results of micro-biological and physico-chemical sample testing.

  Working Time Directive
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of a Working Time Directive on the farm community(a) in its general application and (b) specifically in relation to the movement of livestock to and from another auction; and if she will make a statement. [89006]

  Alun Michael
  No sectoral analysis has been provided by the Department. The Department for Trade and Industry has overall responsibility for implementing the Working Time Directive 1998 and has produced a Regulatory Impact Assessment on the 1998 regulations. As a result of the flexibilities included in the regulations in relation to agricultural work it is anticipated that the additional cost to agriculture and associated sectors will have been small.

  The Working Time Regulations 1998 currently exclude a number of sectors including road transport. A new working time directive (known as the Horizontal Amending Directive) covering the excluded sectors, has been adopted together with three sector specific directives, including the Road Transport Directive. The Horizontal Amending Directive is due to come into effect on 1 August 2003. The Department for Trade and Industry is currently consulting on the draft regulations to implement the Directive.

  The Road Transport Directive is due to come into effect in March 2005 and the Department for Transport will be consulting on its proposals to do this in due course.
  239W

TREASURY

  PFI Projects
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Mr. Bacon) of 11 December 2002,Official Report, column 252, if he will list the PFI projects being carried out in the constituency of Maidenhead. [89015]

  Mr. Boateng
  No PFI projects are currently being carried out in the constituency of Maidenhead. However, the constituency benefits from PFI investment both in neighbouring constituencies and at a national level.

  Locally, for example, PFI has helped to channel extra money into hospitals administered by the South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, which take patients from Maidenhead, and has financed the widening and resurfacing of the nearby M40 motorway. At a national level, PFI has provided vital investment to deliver public services whose benefits extend beyond the constituencies in which they are located, in sectors such as defence and the administration of justice. To date, PFI deals delivering over £20 billion worth of capital investment across the country have been signed.

  Climate Change Levy
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) advantages and (b) disadvantages he identified in deciding to introduce the climate change levy in preference to a carbon tax. [89098]

  John Healey
  The Government's decision to introduce the climate change levy as a 'downstream' energy tax took account of the conclusions of Lord Marshall in his 1998 report 'Economic Instruments and the Business Use of Energy'. Lord Marshall concluded that a downstream tax on supplies of energy to the non-domestic sector would be necessary to avoid any tax impacting on domestic energy users. While under such a scheme it is difficult to determine the carbon content of electricity supplies other than as a broad average, it does encourage all non-domestic energy users to improve energy efficiency and thereby reduce carbon emissions. The climate change levy is also consistent with the Government's policy of maintaining a level playing field between different energy sources.

  Environmental Taxation
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the application of tax to(a) plastic bags and (b) aviation fuel. [89093]

  John Healey
  The Government currently have no plans to introduce a plastic bag tax.

  The 2002 pre-Budget report announced that the Government will discuss with stakeholders the most effective economic instruments for ensuring that the aviation industry is encouraged to take account of, and where appropriate reduce, its contribution to global warming, local air and noise pollution. The Government will set out its plans in its Air Transport White Paper later this year.
  240W

  SDA Target SDAB3
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures other than implementation of the Financial Services and Marketing Act were used to determine whether Spending Review 2000 SDA Target SDAB3 was met, as stated on page 20 of the HM Treasury Departmental Report 2002. [89265]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 7 January 2003]: The measure used in assessing Spending Review 2000 SDA Target SDAB3 was whether the Financial Services and Markets Act was implemented successfully.

  The target was met on 1 December 2001 (known as N2). This was the point at which the Financial Services Authority acquired all its powers and is when the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 was fully implemented.

  Tunes Plateau (Wind Farm)
  David Burnside
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what deposit was required from the B9 Consortium with regard to the proposed wind farm on the Tunes Plateau off the County Londonderry coast; and if he will make a statement on the tendering process. [88872]

  John Healey
  I am advised that the development consortium (comprising B9 Energy, Renewable Energy Systems Ltd. and Powergen Renewables Ltd.) have made a premium payment of £30,000 in return for a 12-month exclusivity agreement for the Tunes Plateau site, in order to complete a comprehensive feasibility study.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of the increased insurance costs on voluntary sector organisations. [88505]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government are aware of recent rises in premiums for liability insurance, which have affected some businesses and voluntary sector organisations. As announced in the Pre-Budget Report, the Department for Work and Pensions is undertaking a formal review of the operation of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance.

WALES

  ASW Cardiff
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Welsh Environment Agency has agreed to fund the cleaning of the Combustion Chamber at ASW Cardiff. [85482]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 5 December 2002]: I have been asked to reply. While the Welsh Development Agency would join me in welcoming Celsa's potential future investment in Cardiff, the agency's involvement would be strictly limited by European rules on state aid to assigning the lease on the Castle Works site on purely commercial terms to the new purchasers.
  241W
  The Welsh Development Agency has made it clear that the same terms would be available to any potential purchaser.

  The Welsh Development Agency is not able to offer financial inducements to a steel company.

  Green Ministers
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Minister in his Department is the nominated Green Minister; how often he has attended meetings of the Green Ministers; and which official has responsibility for the Defra rural proofing check-list in his Department. [88456]

  Peter Hain
  My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Wales is the nominated Green Minister for my Department and regularly attends meetings of the Cabinet sub-committee.

  Rural impacts of policies, which apply across England and Wales, are assessed by the relevant lead Government Department. The development of distinctively Welsh policies is undertaken in conjunction with the National Assembly for Wales whose own integrated appraisal tool includes full consideration of the impacts on rural areas.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Christmas Expenses
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much will be spent on(a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by her Department and Government agencies answerable to her Department; and of this sum, how much will be spent in Ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences. [88124]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 19 December 20021: The Department, including the Royal Parks, will have spent £9,944.26 on entertaining, £1,430 on Christmas decorations and £3,369.31 on other festive activities in this Christmas season. Of these amounts, £64.26 will have been spent in Ministers' private offices. No Minister in the Department has an official residence.

  All of this expenditure is strictly for official purposes only and made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Hawk Exports
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what equipment has been exported under the OIEL for the transfer of Hawk components and production equipment to India, which was formally issued on 6 September 2001. [87612]
  242W
  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 17 December 2002]: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 53W.

  Battery Recycling
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2002,Official Report, column 107W, if she will make a statement on the proposed disposal or reuse of this material. [87762]

  Mr. Wilson
  The aim of industrial nickel cadmium battery collection schemes including Bat-Re-Back in the UK and the Collect Nicad schemes in other EU states is to create a closed loop process which will see the collected batteries sent to a recycling facility where the cadmium is extracted for use in the manufacture of new batteries and the nickel is recycled and sold to the steel industry. The batteries collected from Bat-Re-Back are sent to the SNAM recycling facility in France. Although consumer nickel cadmium batteries are not widely collected in the UK they can be subject to the same recycling process.

  British Energy
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the costs to British Energy of(a) storage of all AGR nuclear fuel and (b) continuation with current reprocessing contracts in each year of the projected life of each of British Energy's advanced gas-cooled reactors. [87144]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 19 December 2002]: Details of the restructuring proposal, including those relating to historic and future spent AGR fuel management, were set out by British Energy in its announcement on 28 November 2002.

  The spent fuel management contracts between British Energy and BNFL are a matter for the companies. The Government intend to look at how the historic spent fuel contracts are managed as a part of the creation of the Liabilities Management Authority.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the public purse of British Energy going bankrupt. [89103]

  Mr. Wilson
  British Energy submitted a plan to Government for the solvent restructuring of the company. The Department and its financial advisers assessed the implications and decided to support it. Should British Energy not be able to deliver the restructuring plan, the Government are prepared to see the company go into administration, and would need to consider further the future structure of the business, its assets and liabilities.

  Coal Health Compensation Scheme
  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much compensation was paid to people resident in the(a) Leigh, (b) Markerfield, (c) Wigan parliamentary constituencies and (d) the

  243W
  Wigan borough under the Coal Health Compensation Scheme, by 15 December (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002. [87244]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 17 December 2002]: It is not possible to provide the statistics requested for the year 2000. In the timescale available it is not possible to provide statistics for the year 2002 up until 15 December 2002. However, we are able to provide figures for Wigan Borough up to 12 December 2002 and figures for the constituencies up to 30 November 2002.

  £

  Parliamentary Constituency

  Damages Paid

  Leigh

  Markerfield

  Wigan

  Wigan Borough

  Cummulatively to 31 December 2001

  COPD

  1,600,923

  1,341,454

  962,818

  495,762

  VWF

  1,570,421

  1,427,337

  716,237

  127,799

  I January 2002 to 30 November 2002

  COPD

  2,168,399

  1,433,227

  1,351,650

  VWF

  588,329

  713,145

  295,420

  1 January 2002 to 12 December 2002

  COPD

  657,904

  VWF

  6,801

  Construction (Skills Gap)
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures her Department is taking to address the construction industry's skills gap; and if she will make a statement. [88732]

  Mr. Wilson
  In order to recruit and retain people with the necessary skills at all levels, the construction industry needs to address the underlying issues which prevent it being seen as a career of first choice. Rethinking Construction and the Construction Best Practice Programme, which DTI supports, are working to tackle these issues. DTI is also working with the Strategic Forum for Construction which intends to develop and implement strategies to enable the industry to recruit and retain the 300,000 qualified people that CITB estimate are required by the end of 2006, and result in a 50 per cent. increase in suitable applications to build environment, higher and further education courses by 2007.

  The DTI also works closely with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB—the statutory industry training board) and other industry bodies to ensure that workers in construction receive the training they need. For example, DTI gives support to "National Construction Week", a major national event showcasing career opportunities for the industry; the "Making Connections" initiative, which aims to attract and retain higher quality graduates in greater numbers; and a "language skills audit" to assess the perceived need for language skills in construction, where the first language of significant numbers of workers is not English.

  The DTI, together with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and the Department for Education and Skills (DIES), is taking forward a pan-industry skills and workforce development agenda that is relevant to the construction sector. The DTI
  244W
  recognises the particular importance of high quality leadership and management, and has just published a Government response to the final report of the Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership (CEML).

  Crown Copyright
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who sits on the HMSO's Crown Copyright User Group from(a) her Department and (b) industry; and if she will make a statement. [88815]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 7 January 2003]: The Crown Copyright User Group, has industry members from:

  Barbour Index plc;

  Rouse & Co International Ltd;

  The Stationery Office Ltd;

  Thomson Professional Information UK; The Publishers' Association;

  Reuters Ltd;

  Technical Indexes;

  Electronic Publishing Services Ltd, also representing the Information and

  Communication Industries Association.

  The Department of Trade and Industry member was from Communication and Information Industries Directorate.

  Dounreay (Decommissioning)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what implications costs arising from the decommissioning of Dounreay have for the estimated cost of decommissioning other publicly held nuclear liabilities; and if she will make a statement. [88051]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 19 December 2002]: The programme for decommissioning nuclear licensed sites is a matter for the nuclear site license holders and their regulators, taking into account Government policy on nuclear decommissioning. The programme at Dounreay has no special implications for the cost of dealing with other publicly held nuclear liabilities.

  Electricity Prices
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the change in(a) the wholesale price of electricity and (b) the price of electricity charged to retail customers since 1998. [88049]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 19 December 2002]: Since 1998 the month ahead baseload prices for electricity supplied by generators to energy suppliers have fallen by 40 per cent. in real terms up to March 2002.

  The average price of electricity charged to domestic customers has fallen by 11 per cent. in real terms between Q3 1998 and Q3 2002, while that for industrial customers (excluding the Climate Change Levy) has fallen by 23 per cent. in real terms between Q2 1998 and Q2 2002. Domestic customers who switch electricity supplier can save more. At the end of March 2002 over one third of domestic customers were with suppliers other than their traditional home supplier, saving on

  245W
  average around £23 (9 per cent.) on an annual electricity bill in 2002 compared to customers remaining with their traditional home supplier.

  Fireworks
  Huw Irranca-Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the restrictions are on the times of year when fireworks can be sold; what assessment she has made of the adequacy of these restrictions in tackling misuse of fireworks; and what plans she has to make all parts of the 1976 Firework Package Deal legally binding. [86951]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There are no legal restrictions on the times of year when fireworks can be sold. However, the voluntary sales agreement, introduced in 1976, limits the sales of fireworks to three weeks before November 5, and for a few days afterwards. This plays a role in containing the period when fireworks are available for sale, and hence, limiting misuse. To make the voluntary sales period mandatory would require primary legislation.

  Gas Supply (Winter)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she had made of the capability of the gas pipeline infrastructure to meet peak winter demand; what contingency plans are in place if the infrastructure fails; and if she will make a statement. [88044]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 19 December 2002]: The design and investment in the gas pipeline infrastructure is a matter for Transco. Their operating licence obligates them to maintain the network to withstand peak demand and conditions in the sort of severe winter we would face once in a 20 year period. Historic weather patterns dating back to 1928 are used in assessing the risks.

  Copies of Transco's emergency plans are already in the Libraries of the House. I have now also placed copies of the recently updated Gas Industry Emergency Committee plans in the Library. These show how the Government and the wider gas community would work with Transco in handling an emergency affecting the gas transmission system. The plans were last tested in September 2002.

  Insolvency Service
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of the annual pay negotiations for the Insolvency Service. [88498]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Pay negotiations commenced on 13 December. Both parties are working to reach a settlement as soon as possible.

  Kyoto Targets
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list her Department's policies that have as one of their objectives helping Britain meet its Kyoto carbon dioxide emission targets. [87733]
  246W
  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 19 December 2002]: The UK Climate Change Programme, which the Government published in November 2000 sets out the Government's integrated package of policies and measures to deliver the UK's commitment to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol.

  DTI leads on energy policy, where it has encouraged the growth of renewable energy, which will have an important role in meeting our Kyoto targets. In particular, under the Renewables Obligation, electricity suppliers will be obliged to provide a specific proportion of their power supplies from renewable sources.

  The Government is currently carrying out a review of energy policy with a view to issuing a White Paper in the New Year. The White Paper will set out the Government's future energy policies including those relating to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions both globally and nationally in the 21st century.

  The DTI has worked with other Departments to develop and implement policies and measures in the Climate Change Programme, in particular those affecting business. In this context, it has worked with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and HM Treasury on the climate change levy and emissions trading, the establishment of the Carbon Trust and the implementation of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regulatory regime.

  Miners (Industrial Diseases)
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average delay between a current or former miner agreeing to a final settlement payment for industrial disease and receiving it was in the last 12 months(a) in the UK, (b) in the East Midlands and (c) in Bassetlaw. [88976]

  Mr. Wilson
  The figures in the table are the number of days between the Department's claim handler's, IRISC, receiving the acceptance letter and the final payment being made.

  I understand my hon. Friend has indicated to the Department that he no longer requires these figures for the East Midlands.

  COPD

  VWF

  Expedited Payment

  Full and Final Offer

  Full and Final Offer

  UK

  8 Days

  9 Days

  4 Days

  Bassetlaw

  6 Days

  7 Days

  4 Days

  Nuclear Plant Security
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to deploy(a) anti-aircraft and (b) ground-to-air missile batteries around nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel cycle facilities in response to the terrorist threat. [87565]

  Mr. Wilson
  None. Security at civil nuclear sites is ensured in a number of ways, all of which are kept under review.
  247W

  Nuclear Power
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the excess of generating capacity over consumption if all electricity from UK nuclear power stations were to cease. [89087]

  Mr. Wilson
  UK generation capacity currently exceeds peak demand by more than 20 per cent. Nuclear currently makes up around 15 per cent. of UK capacity. Reflecting overall excess capacity wholesale electricity prices are low and some capacity has been mothballed. The impact on capacity margins of a cessation of electricity from nuclear power stations will therefore depend on the timescale over which nuclear output were to decline. Mothballed plant could return to operation. In the longer term new plant would be built.

  Output from nuclear power stations is forecast to decline from its current level of around 20 per cent. of total generation to around 7 per cent. by 2020 as existing stations close, unless the regulatory authorities approve extensions to the life of these stations or new capacity is introduced.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sum has been identified as representing the maximum cost to public spending over the next 10 years of supporting the nuclear industry. [89090]

  Mr. Wilson
  On current projections, the clean up of nuclear liabilities at BNFL and UK Atomic Energy Authority sites is expected to cost some £1.3 billion per year over the next 10 to 15 years. In addition., the cost of the Government's contribution to British Energy's historic nuclear fuel liabilities is expected to average £150 million to £200 million per year for the next 10 years and fall thereafter.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the time a discontinued nuclear power station should remain untouched before dismantling begins. [89091]

  Mr. Wilson
  Decommissioning of a nuclear power station, including details of timing, is a matter for the operator, taking into account the requirements of the regulatory authorities.

  Renewable Energy
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the potential impact on the development of renewable energy sources of the implementation of an indicative planning process; and if she will make a statement. [88050]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 19 December 2002]: DTI Ministers have met and discussed the impact of renewable energy developments on the planning process with colleagues in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. These discussions have taken place in the context of: preparing the Energy White Paper, which the Government plan to publish early in the new year, the re-drafting of Planning Policy Statement 22 which sets out statutory planning guidance on renewables in England and the ODPM's wider planning reforms.
  248W

  Scottish Electricity Grid
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on proposals to improve the Scottish electricity grid. [88052]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 19 December 2002]: It is vitally important that there are no barriers to Scotland's renewable electricity output being brought to centres of demand further south. Following a report, which was published by my Department in February, into the possibility of building a subsea cable to take electricity generated in Scotland down the west coast to link up with the onshore grid system further south, my Department set up the Transmission Issues Working Group to consider the implications for the grid infrastructure of significant increases in renewable energy generating capacity throughout Great Britain.

  The Working Group considered the costs of reinforcing both marine links and the grid onshore to bring electricity generated in Scotland to markets in the south and the transmission system operators in both Scotland and England are currently in discussions with their regulator, Ofgem, on the regulatory framework for making this happen. The report of the Transmission Issues Working Group will be published early next year.

  Small Retail Businesses
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates she has made of the value of small retail businesses to the UK economy. [88645]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 7 January 2003]: Small and medium-sized enterprises are critical to the UK economy, generating new jobs and contributing to over half of the UK business revenue. Recent figures estimate there were 3.7 million enterprises employing nearly 23 million people, and with an annual turnover of over £2 trillion. Small retail businesses (sector 52 with 0 to 249 employees) represent 8 per cent. of all enterprises, 5 per cent. of all work force jobs and account for 4 per cent. of the UK turnover.

  Solar PV Industry
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria she will use to judge the success of phase one of her Department's solar PV major demonstration programme. [87717]

  Mr. Wilson
  The success of the first phase of the major PV demonstration programme will be judged by a number of criteria including: whether the target number of installations have been completed within the budget, whether the overall cost of the PV systems has reduced significantly, and whether a strong PV industry in both installation and manufacture has been established.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures her Department has put in place since 1997 to encourage investment in the off-grid solar PV market; and if she will make a statement. [87719]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department has funded a number of research and development projects under its Renewable Energy Programme, such as Hybrolight and Aviation Beacon/Landing Lights, Transport Refrigeration,
  249W
  Vaccine Fridge, Desalination System and UK leadership of an International Energy Agency PV Power Systems Task on PV for Developing Countries.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a decision to move to phase 2 of the solar PV major demonstration programme will be made in consultation with the UK solar PV industry. [87723]

  Mr. Wilson
  We take it as read that the UK solar PV industry would welcome a second phase of the major PV demonstration programme. Should there be one, we will endeavour to consult them as far as is practicable about its shape and operation.

  Transco
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and industry what percentage of attendances by Transco at uncontrolled gas escapes were achieved within one hour in the last 12 months. [87484]

  Mr. Wilson
  According to figures reported to Ofgem, in the 12 months to 30 November 2002, Transco attended 98.51 per cent. of uncontrolled gas escapes within one hour, against a target of 97 per cent.

  TXU Energy
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations her Department received concerning TXU energy before 19November; and if she will make a statement. [88139]
  250W
  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 19 December 2002]: My officials and I were kept informed as to the developing situation at TXU Europe throughout the period of its difficulties.

  Wind Farms
  Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry further to her answer of 11 December,Official Report, column 329W, if she will set out the conclusions of the research; and if she will make a statement. [87881]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Wind Energy, Defence and Civil Aviation Interests Working Group, which was set up and is chaired by the Department, published in October Interim Guidelines on Wind Energy and Aviation Interests. The guidelines are intended to be a "living document" which will be updated and amended to reflect the outcome of research into the interaction between wind turbines and aviation (particularly radar). Copies of the document have been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

  The Working Group will be considering arrangements for the release of the studies as they are completed. The ongoing research includes studies to produce a model which will be used to predict the impact of wind turbines on radar systems; to investigate the various technical approaches which could reduce these impacts, and a study to examine European experience and practice regarding the impact of wind turbines on aviation interests.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Burma
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department gave through multilateral agencies in(a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002 to (i) the Government of Burma and (ii) the Burmese internally displaced people. [88771]

  Clare Short
  In calendar year 2000 my Department provided approximately £1.8 million through global funding of the UN and ECHO for poor and vulnerable people in Burma. The figures for 2001 and 2002 are not yet available. We also gave humanitarian funding to ICRC in support of its work with the very vulnerable and war affected in Burma. Additionally, we provided humanitarian funding for UNHCR and WHO in support of their work with refugees and the very vulnerable within Burma and across the Thai border. The breakdown by financial years is as follows:

  £ million

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03 (to date)

  UNHCR

  0

  0.805

  0.407

  WHO

  0.3

  0

  0.27

  ICRC

  0

  0.8

  0.5

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department is proposing to give in 2003 to(a) the Government of Burma and (b) the Burmese internally displaced people. [88772]

  Clare Short
  DFID's funding to assist the poor in Burma is not channelled through the Government but through selected non-governmental organisations, United Nation's agencies, and the EU (ECHO). This policy will not be altered unless there is substantive political change.

  During 2003–04 DFID expects to spend more than £2 million on the extremely vulnerable including refugees and otherwise displaced people within Burma and on both sides of the border with Thailand.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the use of child soldiers in Burma. [88774]

  Clare Short
  There is credible information, including from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the United Nations that this is a serious problem in Burma, both with the Burmese army and also Burmese insurgent groups. In November, the EU co-sponsored a resolution on Burma at the United Nations General Assembly that expressed grave concern over the human rights situation in Burma, including the use of child soldiers.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of human rights abuses by Burmese soldiers, with particular reference to sexual violence against ethnic minority women and girls. [88775]
  252W
  Clare Short
  The use of sexual violence by members of the Burmese armed forces requires a thorough and independent investigation. The EU co-sponsored a resolution on the human rights situation in Burma in November 2002 at the United Nations General Assembly that condemned the Burmese regime's human rights record, including the instances of sexual violence by members of the armed forces.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has held with(a) groups working in Burma and (b) the Burmese internally displaced people. [88776]

  Clare Short
  None.

  Child Soldiers
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the recent UN report on child soldiers. [88777]

  Clare Short
  The latest UN Secretary General's report on children and armed conflict covers a range of issues, including child soldiers, on which we are actively engaged. My Department finds the report a useful source of information and guidance. The emphasis on the "era of application" is particularly to be welcomed and supported.

  While the report provides some cause for optimism, for instance the coming into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, there is much more to be done to reduce the impact of armed conflict on children, their families and communities. The best way to achieve this is by the prevention, reduction and resolution of armed conflicts. My Department has intensified its work with other Government Departments to this end. While the Secretary General's report, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1379, identifies various countries where the direct use of children in conflict continues, it is to be welcomed that the report also focuses on those aspects of children and armed conflict that tend to receive less attention, such as the impact of land-mines and the sexual exploitation of girls.

  Mrs. Caroline Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Governments of(a) Afghanistan, (b) Burundi, (c) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (d) Liberia, (e) Somalia, (f) Burma and (g) Colombia on the recent UN Report on child soldiers; and what efforts she is making to end the practice of using child soldiers. [88778]

  Clare Short
  No direct discussions have been held with the above-mentioned Governments and Administrations specifically on the recent report. In Afghanistan the UK will be sending an expert to support the UN and the transitional authority with the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former and current combatants. The new Afghan National Army will have no child soldiers in its ranks.
  253W
  The UK is both very actively engaged in the peace processes in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi and a major contributor to the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration in the Great Lakes region. We are also playing a part in the Somalia peace process. Information from a number of sources, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the United Nations, indicates that use of child soldiers is a serious problem in Burma, both by the Burmese army and various Burmese insurgent groups. In November, the EU co-sponsored a resolution on Burma at the United Nations General Assembly that expressed grave concern over the human rights situation in Burma, including the use of child soldiers.

  In addition UNICEF has recently produced, with our assistance, a publication on the use of child soldiers in the East Asia and Pacific region. The Quaker United Nations Office has recently produced a groundbreaking report—with my Department's support—on the lives of girl child soldiers in Colombia, Angola, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. For instance, the report describes particularly the relationship between sexual or physical abuse and exploitation at home and girls' willingness to become involved in armed conflict and how living in poverty played a key role in girls joining a movement or being abducted.

  Children (Trauma)
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what her Department is doing to help children suffering grave psychological trauma as a result of conflict situations; [88635]

  (2) what her Department is doing to help women and girls who have been victims of rape and sexual violence as a deliberate instrument of war; [88636]

  (3) [hat her Department is doing to help children (a) orphaned, (b) seriously injured and (c) permanently disabled as a result of conflict situations. [88779]

  Clare Short
  Armed conflict often seriously affects the development of children including by the infliction of serious damage to their physical and mental health. Children are damaged through land-mines, direct targeting of their homes and schools, sexual violence including rape and being forced to take part in direct hostilities. The best way to protect children from the impact of armed conflict is to prevent, reduce and resolve conflict. My Department has intensified its work with other Government Departments to this end. DFID also provides humanitarian assistance to children displaced by conflict or who have lost their families. We support efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent to try to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law. DFID also supports the work of UNICEF, UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies of the United Nations, as well as humanitarian NGOs. Many of these provide direct assistance to children who have been subjected to acts of physical and mental violence and their families and communities. This assistance can take the form of the provision of a safe place to live, health care, education, psycho-social assistance and food aid. For instance my Department has a global commitment to UNHCR of £14 million per year. This is in addition to targeted contributions in response to specific regional situations.
  254W
  Our work with UNICEF, UNHCR and humanitarian non-governmental organisations is also concerned with increasing their capacity to respond appropriately to children who have been treated so egregiously in armed conflict situations.

  Women and girls are targeted for sexual abuse and exploitation in situations of armed conflict, often as a deliberate strategy to terrorise them and their families. This issue was highlighted during the recent open debate on women peace and security at the UN Security Council in October when the UK had the Chair. The UK has also been instrumental in encouraging the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on this issue, which emphasised the use of sexual violence against women and girls. DFID is supporting the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in its multi-year programme to identify the causes and impact of sexual violence against women and girls in conflict situations. It also supports the UN Department of Peace-Keeping Operations and nongovernmental organisations to highlight gender issues, including sexual violence, associated with conflict.

  Eritrea
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the numbers of children aged(a) 1 to 3 and (b) 4 to 5 years old suffering from malnutrition in Eritrea; and if she will make a statement. [88683]

  Clare Short
  We do not have a specific breakdown by age of the number of children suffering from malnutrition in Eritrea. However, UNICEF have reported that, as of July 2002, three out of the six zones of Eritrea were showing levels of malnutrition in children above 15 per cent., and that more recent surveys have shown an increase.

  UN Relief and Works Agency
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on Government funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency. [88611]

  Clare Short
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for South-East Cornwall (Mr. Breed) earlier today.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make changes to the use of asylum centres to process applications; how many asylum seekers are housed in accommodation centres; and where asylum seekers are placed when the centres are full. [88859]
  255W
  Beverley Hughes
  Accommodation centres will be introduced on a trial basis with a total capacity of around 3,000 in the trial period. We have made clear our intention that accommodation centres will contribute to faster processing of asylum claims with caseworking and appeal hearings taking place on-site at the centres unless there are sound pragmatic reasons for not doing so. Destitute asylum seekers who qualify for support but who are not placed in the accommodation centres will be supported under existing dispersal arrangements.

  Region

  June 2000

  September 2000

  December 2000

  March 2001

  June 2001

  East Midlands

  140

  300

  760

  1,140

  1,485

  East of England

  0

  0

  0

  140

  205

  Greater London

  70

  140

  245

  405

  620

  North East

  600

  1,120

  2,420

  3,210

  4,055

  North West

  1,090

  1,785

  3,415

  4,580

  5,870

  Northern Ireland

  0

  0

  0

  40

  50

  Scotland

  605

  915

  1,200

  2,395

  3,530

  South Central

  140

  175

  195

  220

  365

  South West

  5

  100

  380

  425

  485

  Wales

  0

  *

  15

  20

  295

  West Midlands

  95

  500

  1,350

  2,125

  3,610

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  570

  1,660

  3,550

  4,845

  5,930

  Overall total

  3,315

  6,700

  13,535

  19,540

  26,505

  Region

  September 2001

  December 2001

  March 2002

  June 2002

  September 2002

  East Midlands

  2,255

  3,215

  3,740

  4,045

  4,400

  East of England

  235

  320

  470

  520

  550

  Greater London

  870

  1,470

  1,870

  2,230

  2,365

  North East

  4,330

  4,765

  5,435

  5,750

  5,700

  North West

  6,885

  8,155

  8,870

  9,500

  10,250

  Northern Ireland

  65

  75

  85

  90

  125

  Scotland

  4,185

  4,750

  4,885

  5,040

  5,240

  South Central

  605

  800

  1,015

  1,040

  1,055

  South West

  595

  665

  765

  815

  830

  Wales

  455

  705

  1,015

  1,150

  1,405

  West Midlands

  5,295

  6,930

  8,035

  9,340

  9,975

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  7,115

  8,470

  9,455

  9,560

  9,690

  Overall total

  32,890

  40,325

  45,640

  49,085

  51,590

  1All figures have been rounded to the nearest five. Figures between one and two are represented by a *. Figures for each quarter exclude cases where support has been ceased before the end of that quarter.

  Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in each region are published quarterly on the Home Office's immigration statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 7 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mohammed AsimQureshi. [87658]

  Beverley Hughes
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 13 December 2002.

  Immigration
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will abolish his rule that prevents those awaiting decisions of the UK immigration authorities from carrying out voluntary work. [87274]
  256W
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers needing accommodation were dispersed to each region of UK in each month since the introduction of the NASS. [89409]

  Beverley Hughes
  Figures are only available on a quarterly basis.

  The table shows the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) who were supported in the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation as at the end of each quarter since June 2000.1 Figures are not available for the number of new asylum seekers who were dispersed in each quarter.

  Beverley Hughes
  We are keen to see asylum seekers and recognised refugees take an active interest in the welfare of their own communities and the local community by undertaking voluntary activity while they are in the UK. All asylum seekers, whether or not they are the principal applicant, may take part in voluntary activity at any point during their time in the UK. Others whose conditions of entry or stay prohibit employment paid or unpaid may not undertake voluntary work while their applications are being considered and we have no plans to change this.

  Missing Persons
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a common reporting procedure for police services for missing persons. [88190]
  257W
  Mr. Denham
  There is an agreed procedure: details of all missing persons should be recorded on the Police National Computer (PNC) as soon as possible and in any case within 48 hours of their disappearance.

  Notification of all outstanding missing persons should be sent to the Police National Missing Persons Bureau (PNMPB), based at New Scotland Yard, within 14 days. Most missing persons are found locally within this period. Forces will not, however, be precluded from forwarding information to the PNMPB in a shorter time if a particular case appears to warrant more urgent attention.

  Details of unidentified persons or bodies found should be reported to the PNMPB within 48 hours of being found.

  Police Stations
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police stations have (a) opened and (b) closed in Lancashire in each year from 1997 to 2002; [87908]

  (2) how many police stations have (a) opened and (b) closed in the north-west of England in 2002. [87909]

  Mr. Denham
  Chief constables in the north-west have provided information on the number of police stations that have opened and closed in the region in 2002. This is given in the table:

  Calendar year 2002

  Force

  Opened

  Closed

  Total

  Cheshire

  0

  1

  34

  Cumbria

  1

  2

  24

  Greater

  Manchester

  1

  1

  68

  Lancashire

  0

  1

  88

  Merseyside

  0

  0

  43

  The chief constable of Lancashire has provided information on the number of police stations opened and closed in each year from 1997 to 2002. This is set out in the table.

  Persons proceeded against for offences connected with pedal cycles, Greater London 2001

  Offence description/Principal statute

  2001

  Lighting and reflector offences Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 81 and RVL Regs. 1989

  2

  Riding on footpath (persons aged 18 and over only) Highways Act, 1835 Sec 72; (as amended by Local Government Act 1888 S.85(1), the Statute Law Revision (No2) Act 1888. Highways Act 1959 Sch25, Criminal Justice Act 1967, 3rd Sch. and Criminal Justice Act 1982, ss 39 and 46 and Sch.3); Metropolitan Police Act, 1839, Sec.54(7) and Byelaws.

  11

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the policy is of the Metropolitan police in seeking to deter adults from cycling on public footpaths; and if he will make a statement. [88443]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  Cycling inconsiderately or irresponsibly on public footpaths is a criminal offence. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the Metropolitan police view the offence seriously, particularly where it is likely to result in
  258W

  Police station numbers in Lancashire 1997 to 2002

  Financial year to:

  Opened

  Closed

  Total

  March 1997

  0

  -3

  102

  March 1998

  0

  -4

  98

  March 1999

  0

  -5

  93

  March 2000

  0

  -3

  90

  March 2001

  0

  -1

  89

  March 2002

  0

  0

  89

  2002 to date

  0

  -1

  88

  It is the Government's role to allocate grant to police force areas as a whole. Capital grant and credit approval in 2002–03 for all police authorities in England and Wales totalled £199 million, including £20 million specifically for premises improvement and associated items. It is for the chief constable to decide how best to deploy available resources according to operational priorities and objectives. Accordingly, the decision to close a police station or restrict opening hours is an operational matter for the chief constable and not one in which it would be appropriate for the Home Office or Ministers to become involved.

  Public Footpaths
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions there have been in the Greater London area of cyclists for cycling on the public highway without lights on their bicycles in the last 12 months; [88441]

  (2) how many prosecutions there have been of adults for cycling on public footpaths in the Greater London area during the last 12 months. [88442]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The available information, relating to the Greater London Area (Metropolitan and City of London police forces) for 2001 is contained in the table.

  This relates to riding on footpaths (which will include riding on pavements and using footpaths designated for pedestrians) and lighting and reflector offences (which will include cycling without lights).

  Information for 2002 will be published in the late autumn of 2003.

  danger being caused. Any Metropolitan police officer who is called to or witnesses such an offence will take whatever action is appropriate in the circumstances. The offence can be dealt with by way of a fixed penalty of £30. To help the police with enforcement we have made it possible for community support officers (CSOs) appointed under the Police Reform Act 2002 to issue these penalties. We have provided the Metropolitan police with additional funding for the recruitment of 500 CSOs.
  259W

  Sporting Events (Violence)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been legally prevented from travelling abroad to football matches since 1997 as a result of prosecution for violent behaviour. [88724]

  Mr. Denham
  1,401 individuals are currently prevented from travelling abroad by the conditions of their football banning orders. Since 1 January 2000, a further 175 orders preventing travel have expired. All individuals subject to an order have at least one conviction for an offence of violence or disorder. No information is available for the period 1997–99.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with European colleagues regarding prevention of violence at football and other sporting events. [88725]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government work very closely with their European counterparts in tackling football disorder through active participation in Council of the European Union (ED) and Council of Europe fora. In the last 12 months this has resulted in a number of European-wide initiatives, including an updated "European Handbook on International Police Cooperation in connection with Football Matches" and the setting-up in each EU member and candidate state of a "National Football Police Information Point" for exchanging football-related intelligence and other information. The United Kingdom is also playing a leading role in a Council of Europe working group on the role of football in delivering social policy and in a recently established European 'think tank' on tackling football related violence. There are regular bilateral meetings with European colleagues.

  Transnational Sex Trade
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legal assistance is provided to women that have entered Britain illegally as victims of sex trade. [89020]

  Beverley Hughes
  The White Paper "Secure Borders, Safe Haven: Integration With Diversity Within Modern Britain"—published in February 2002—sets out our general proposals for assisting the victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. Briefly, where trafficked people are willing to come forward to the authorities, we shall where necessary make special arrangements for their protection including the provision of safe accommodation and health checks. We will consider, in the light of individual circumstances, whether it would be appropriate to allow them to remain here. Where they are to return home, we will assist them to do so, providing them with initial counselling, ensuring that they have suitable accommodation to return to, and providing help to enable them to reintegrate into their own community and find employment.

  We propose to commission non-governmental organisations to provide a range of support services, including access to legal advice, for women who are victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation, when trafficking shortly becomes an offence, as anticipated, on commencement of the relevant provision of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
  260W

  Violent Crime (Havering)
  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many calls to police within the London borough of Havering were logged in the period 1 October 2001 to 30 September 2002 relating to incidents of(a) noise nuisance, (b) disturbance in a public place, (c) drunkenness, (d) criminal damage, (e) community problems and (f) other unlisted disturbances; and which localities are defined as hotspots for this type of offence. [85075]

  Mr. Denham
  The requested information is not collected centrally.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Asylum Support
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what responsibility his Department has for investigating fraud and error in the asylum support budget; and if he will make a statement. [88475]

  Beverley Hughes
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Home Office is responsible for providing support to asylum seekers who are destitute. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is responsible for administering the support provided to asylum seekers. NASS has established a mechanism for investigating fraud and error in its asylum support system.

  Green Ministers
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Minister in his Department is nominated Green Minister; how often he has attended meetings of the Green Ministers; and which official has responsibility for the DEFRA rural proofing check-list in his Department. [88464]

  Maria Eagle
  Our Green Minister is my noble Friend the Baroness Hollis of Heigham.

  It is established practice under Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of the Cabinet and its Committees—such as ministerial attendance at Committees.

  A list of names of departmental rural contacts, who meet regularly, is not, published as personnel and machinery of Government changes mean that any published list would be out of date fairly quickly.

  Pay Offer Information Pack
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place a copy of the Department 2002 pay offer information pack in the Library. [88206]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Pensions
  John Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to help the poorest pensioners. [89049]
  261W
  Mr. McCartney
  The Government want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country. The Government's first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners.

  From April 2002, the Government are spending an extra £6 billion a year in real terms on pensioners as a result of policies introduced since 1997. This includes £21/2 billion more on the poorest third of pensioners. This is three times more than a link between the basic state pension and average earnings since 1998 would have given them.

  We have introduced a range of initiatives designed to encourage pensioners to take up their entitlements. For the minimum income guarantee (MIG) we have undertaken a national advertising campaign, which resulted in almost 140,000 successful claims, with an average gain of £20 per week. We have also reduced the MIG claim form from 40 to 10 pages, introduced a MIG specific leaflet, and we are identifying potential beneficiaries through key events, such as claiming state pension.

  A key priority, for both Government and the Pension Service is the successful take up of the new pension credit, which will enhance and replace the MIG. It has been specifically designed to be easy for pensioners to claim and to be less intrusive. The weekly means test will be abolished for the over 65s and be replaced by a statement of their circumstances every five years. Capital rules will be relaxed and the upper capital limit abolished.

  Our take-up plan for pension credit is extensive and makes use of a range of channels. We will transfer existing MIG recipients to pension credit, ready for payments to be made from October 2003; write to all pensioners not already receiving MIG by June 2004 to alert them to possible pension credit entitlement, supported by a national publicity campaign; work with local partners to help support the communications to pensioners, and tailor marketing and communications activity accordingly.

  The Government have introduced other initiatives to help pensioners. These include winter fuel payments (WFPs), which will continue to be paid to qualifying households at £200 a year throughout this Parliament. In addition, we have introduced free TV licences for the over 75s, worth £104 a year. The WFPs and TV licences are non income-related and are tax free.

  All of the above demonstrate the importance that we attach to encouraging pensioners to take-up their entitlements, which in turn helps the poorest pensioners.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH

  Access to Children (Germany)
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what follow-up action will be taken to contact British parents who have reported prevention of access to their children in Germany to 262W
  British Consulates, in order to identify the common problems they are experiencing and give them assistance in the future. [89025]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Responsibility for cases concerning parental access to children in Germany lies with the Lord Chancellor's Department, Germany being a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on international child abduction. The FCO will continue to provide such consular advice and support as it properly can, in conjunction with the Lord Chancellor's Department, to British nationals who request it.

  Charles Knowles
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department sent category D compensation claim number 3002250 on behalf of Mr. Charles Knowles to the United Nations Compensation Commission; and whether his Department received confirmation of receipt. [88604]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Mr. Charles Knowles' category D compensation claim, reference number 3002250, was sent to the United Nations Compensation Commission on 15 July 1993. The Department received written confirmation of receipt on 7 August 2002.

  Convention on the Future of Europe
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take action in the Convention on the Future of Europe to ensure that the proposed duty to further the aims of the EU does not include joining the euro. [88929]

  Mr. MacShane
  The UK would not agree to a Constitutional Treaty that would compel us to join the Euro.

  Cote d'Ivoire
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on developments in Cote d'Ivoire; what the Government's policy is on(a) security and (b) international intervention in Cote d'Ivoire; and if he will make a statement. [88735]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, remains deeply concerned about the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire, and its implications both for the people of Cote d'Ivoire and for the wider region.

  Recent fighting, particularly in the west of the country between the MPIGO/MJP rebel groups and Government forces, means that the security situation in Cote d'Ivoire remains extremely fragile. Since 9 December 2002, we have advised all UK nationals present in Cote d'Ivoire to use commercial means to leave the country.

  We have consistently made clear that the UK opposes any attempt to overthrow the elected government by force. We continue to provide support to the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders to promote a political settlement which addresses the causes of the crisis, and to restore peace and security. UK support includes up to

  263W
  £2 million to assist the deployment of the Ghanaian contingent of the ECOWAS peace-monitoring force. We are working closely with France, and other partners, to ensure effective international support for these regional efforts. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development has also agreed to provide up to £1 million in humanitarian assistance for Cote d'Ivoire.

  We remain gravely concerned at reports of mass killings and serious violations of human rights in Cote d'Ivoire. We welcome the UN Secretary-General's decision to request the High Commissioner for Human Rights to seek further information about these violations.

  We have also been concerned at all breaches of the 17 October 2002 ceasefire agreement. We are pleased that President Gbagbo has agreed to submit a crisis resolution plan to all Ivorian players and to ECOWAS leaders, and to consult them on it. We also welcome the fresh commitments made by him and by the leaders of the MPCI rebel group, during the 3–4 January visit of the French Foreign Minister, to respect the ceasefire. France has now offered to host a conference from 15 January involving all Ivorian political forces. We urge all parties to engage seriously in the search for an inclusive political solution to the crisis.

  Douglas Grindlay
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Ambassador to Berlin is giving to Mr.Douglas Grindlay. [88565]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  On 21 November 2002, a member of staff from our consulate in Hamburg accompanied Mr. Grindlay and his German lawyer to a hearing at the court in Pinnerberg. Consular staff in London and Hamburg are in regular contact with Mr. Grindlay and we will do all that we properly can to assist him.

  Flanders
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by the Government to the Belgian authorities concerning the potential impact on Pilckem Ridge of the projected route of the A19 motorway in Flanders. [84521]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government have made no representations to the Belgian authorities regarding the proposal to extend the A19 motorway in the area around Pilckem Ridge. However, the Flemish authorities have reassured the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that while the proposed route has not been finalised, it will not encroach on any Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries. The MOD and the FCO, with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, continue to monitor developments.

  Ian Hook
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has given to Mr. Ian Hook's relatives about seeking redress for his killing. [88609]
  264W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today (UIN 88952). When we have received the results of the IDF and UN inquiries, we will discuss follow-up action with Mr. Hook's family.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2002,Official Report, column 765W and 87111, when he expects to receive the results of the investigations into the killing of Mr. Ian Hook from (a) the IDF and (b) the UN. [88952]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We understand that both the Israeli and the UN reports are almost complete.

  Indonesia
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many internal armed conflicts there are in Indonesia; what the origins were of each conflict and how long each has involved the use of armed force; and what steps he has taken to press the Indonesian Government to provide for civilian oversight and accountability of the security forces. [88307]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There are a number of areas in Indonesia where the levels of violence give us cause for concern. These include Maluku, Sulawesi, West Papua and notably Aceh, where we welcome the recent agreement between GAM and the Government of Indonesia to end 26 years of conflict in that Province.

  The origins of such conflicts vary and are complex: some are inter-ethnic or inter-religious while others may have economic causes. Our message to the Indonesian Government is clear and consistent: long-term stability can be achieved only through political negotiation and consultation with the people. Together with our European partners we are in regular, top-level dialogue with the Indonesian Government, and urge them to maintain law and order and promote reconciliation in order to ensure the territorial integrity of Indonesia.

  We are implementing a strategy to tackle the causes of conflict; supporting reconstruction and reconciliation in troubled provinces such as Maluku, Aceh and Papua; and working with EU and other partners to help Indonesia build capacity to analyse and respond effectively to outbreaks of violence.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Andy Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Sri Lankan Government concerning(a) the publication in July 2001 of the Sinhala Commission Report and (b) the publication of similar anti-Christian material over the last 18 months; [88619]

  (2) [hat recent representations he has made to the Sri Lankan Government concerning the increase in violent attacks perpetrated upon Christians by Buddhist extremists; [88618]

  (3) what representations he has made to the Sri Lankan Government concerning the activities of the Bauddha Sanrakshana Sabhava, the Society for the Preservation of Buddhism; [88620]
  265W
  (4) what representations he has made to the Sri Lankan Government concerning the difficulties faced by Christians in obtaining planning permission to build new churches. [88621]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We are aware of allegations of attacks on members of the Christian community in Sri Lanka. It appears that such attacks are not on the increase or part of a generalised problem or coherent strategy. There are some safeguards in place to protect people from all religious backgrounds, and there are dedicated ministries for Christian as well as Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist affairs. However, our High Commission continues to monitor the situation and raises the rights of religious minorities, and other human rights issues, with the Sri Lankan authorities. We regularly urge the authorities to ensure the rights of all minorities are upheld.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the Sri Lankan peace talks. [89411]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Foreign Secretary and I were pleased to meet Professor Peiris, the Minister leading the Sri Lankan Government delegation, in December. This is an historic time for Sri Lanka. It is encouraging that the two sides have agreed to explore a solution founded on the principle of internal self-determination for the Tamil people, based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka. I am pleased that human rights are being addressed. I look forward to further progress at the next round of talks in January. The international community has an important role to play in offering both political and practical support to Sri Lanka. The UK has committed over £15 million in developmental assistance for 2003–04.

  Sudan
  Annette Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent fighting in Darfur, Sudan. [88267]

  Mr. Rammell
  There are 13 tribes living in the border area between Chad and Darfur, Sudan. The Embassy in Khartoum raised reports of clashes between camel herders from the north and the Fur in Jebel Marra with the Government of Sudan on 19 December. Tribal reconciliation conferences took place for the Fur in Jebel Marra on 16–22 August and for the Arabs in Kas on 1–13 September.

  Annette Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made concerning recent reports of arrests and torture of student activists in Khartoum by the Government of Sudan. [88268]

  Mr. Rammell
  Torture and arbitrary arrest were raised as part of the EU/Sudan dialogue discussions on 9–10 December 2002. We regularly urge the Government of Sudan to ratify the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment and make representations to the Government of Sudan about individual cases.
  266W
  Annette Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the timetable for the resumption of EU development aid to Sudan and the pre-conditions for resumption. [88269]

  Mr. Rammell
  When a peace agreement is reached between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army, the EU will respond quickly to underpin it through the initiation of a normalisation process and the release of development funds. The EU is also engaged in a political dialogue with the GoS involving benchmarks on democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the peace process. This dialogue is reviewed on an annual basis, most recently by an EU Troika mission to Khartoum on 9–10 December 2002.

  Timber
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the Government intends to take(a) unilaterally and (b) internationally to stop the import of Liberian conflict timber where it cannot be demonstrated that it is not being used for legitimate social, humanitarian and development purposes; and if he will make a statement. [89070]

  Mr. Rammell
  We have played a leading role in trying to restrict the Government of Liberia's sanction busting activities. We share the concern of the UN Panel of Experts Reports that the revenues from timber sales are being used to fund arms purchases in breach of UN sanctions. UN Security Council resolution 1408 calls on the Government of Liberia to undertake the audit of shipping and timber revenues and to use the revenues from the timber trade for social, development and humanitarian purposes.

  We supports the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (AFLEG) process, calling on all African governments and trading partners to take actions to control illegal activities in the logging sector and associated trade. There will be a Ministerial Conference in April 2003, organised by the World Bank, to push this process forward.

  Weapons of Mass Destruction
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the United States' recently announced national strategy to combat weapons of mass destruction in respect of the policy to discourage the worldwide accumulation of separated plutonium. [89016]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  This strategy is further evidence of the seriousness with which the United States is approaching the issue of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We welcome the renewed commitment to discourage the worldwide accumulation of plutonium and the use of highly-enriched uranium, in addition to the US programmes in Russia and other former Soviet states. The UK Government believe that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the materials needed to make them, represents a serious threat. We support all efforts to counter that threat. On plutonium, we have committed £70 million over ten
  267W
  years to help Russia dispose of thirty-four tonnes of plutonium, as part of the 2000 US-Russian agreement. UK officials met with G8 partners in Moscow in December 2002 to progress this important programme. This UK-supported plutonium disposition programme forms just one part of the G8 'Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction', to which the UK has committed up to $750 million over ten years.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Devolution
  10. Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had on devolved power being reinstated in Northern Ireland. [89186]

  Mr. Tom Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has held with Northern Ireland party leaders about the future of the devolved institutions. [89184]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Helen Jackson),Official Report, Column 154.

  Punishment Beatings
  11. Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received about punishment beatings in Northern Ireland. [89187]

  Jane Kennedy
  Both the Secretary of State and I hold regular meetings with our senior security advisers, elected representatives and members of political parties to discuss a wide range of security issues including attacks on communities by both Loyalist and Republican paramilitary groups.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research his Department has carried out into the impact of regulations on small businesses in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [89188]

  Mr. Pearson
  When drawing up the Better Regulation Strategy, which currently operates in Northern Ireland, and which seeks to reduce the regulatory burden on business, my Department consulted the various Northern Ireland business representative organisations including the Northern Ireland Federation of Small Business, about the impact of regulations on business.

  Castlereagh RUC Station
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the final report from Sir John Chilcott on the break-in at Castlereagh RUC station on 17 March 2002; and if he will make a statement. [89189]
  268W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The Government take the break-in at Castlereagh extremely seriously, which is why my predecessor as Secretary of State immediately announced an independent review to examine the implications to national security, how it happened, whether the measures taken following the incident have been adequate and whether there are wider lessons.

  This review, conducted by Sir John Chilcot, is running in parallel to the ongoing police investigation.

  I have not received Sir John's final report, but look forward to doing so in due course.

  Good Friday Agreement
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further progress has been made towards the implementation of outstanding elements of the Good Friday Agreement. [89178]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Substantial progress has been made in implementing the Agreement, but the restoration of the devolved institutions depends on the restoration of public trust in the commitment of participants to exclusively peaceful means and to stable inclusive institutions. If that can be achieved then, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has explained, we can implement the rest of the Agreement in its entirety together.

  Security
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Northern Ireland. [89190]

  Jane Kennedy
  Dissident Republicans remain a threat to the peace process but for the most part their activities have been thwarted, intercepted or nullified by good policing operations. Sectarian violence and the Loyalist feud continue to affect communities in Northern Ireland. Interface areas remain tense but quiet.

  It is now time for republican and loyalist paramilitary groups to make a commitment to end all forms of violence.

PRIME MINISTER

  Cabinet Papers
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the Cabinet Office guidance issued to Cabinet committees requiring all Cabinet papers and letters to explain how proposals meet the economic, social and environmental objectives of sustainable development. [89094]

  The Prime Minister
  "Cabinet Committee Business: A Guide for Departments (February 2002)" is already available on the internet at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/cabsec/2002/guide/index.htm. I am also placing copies in the Libraries of the House.

  Environmental Policy
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the delivery of environmental policy, with particular
  269W
  reference to the allocation of departmental responsibilities and the separation between policy making in DEFRA and policy delivery in other Departments. [89068]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have made significant improvements across a range of environmental policy areas. The UK now has the cleanest rivers, beaches, air and drinking water since the industrial revolution. Greenhouse gas emissions were 13 per cent. below 1990 levels in 2000, with policies to improve energy efficiency taking 350,000 households out of fuel poverty since 1997, with a further 200,000 expected by 2004.

  In addition we have delivered improvements to sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), increases in the green belt, and increased the proportion of new housing built on brownfield land. The Government's Strategy for Sustainable Food and Farming, published in December 2002, set out further proposals for redirecting agricultural support to environmental goals.

  Full assessment of the effectiveness of the delivery of environmental policy can be found in Defra's first annual report, at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2002/index.htm. This report provides an overview of the Department's objectives, and assesses progress against key targets. Responsibility for two of Defra's Public Service Agreement targets (PSAs) is shared with other Government Departments: with DTI for the target relating to greenhouse gases; and with DfT for the target relating to local air quality, reflecting the need for joint efforts to achieve the desired outcomes.

  The independent Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) assessed the UK's environmental policy and delivery in November. This report highlights areas in which progress has been made since the previous review in 1994, as well as identifying areas where more remains to be done. A copy is in the Library of the House and is available at http://www.oecd.org/E/home/0" EN-home-478-nodirectorateno-no- no-21,00.html

  World Peace
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with President Bush concerning world peace. [89202]

  The Prime Minister
  I am in regular telephone contact with President Bush about threats to world peace, and had three meetings with him last year, most recently at the NATO summit in Prague in November. At a joint press conference there, we said that we shared the strong conviction that we must work together to make the world a more peaceful place.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Bedroom Standard
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 16 December 2002,Official Report, column 612W, if he will publish a table showing
  270W
  households in England below the bedroom standard broken down by (a) region and (b) tenure for the year 2001–02. [89524]

  Mr. McNulty
  The answer given on 16 December 2002,Official Report, column 612W, to my hon. Friend, gave information on households in England below the bedroom standard by region and tenure averaged over the years 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 in order to provide a sufficiently large sample. Information at regional level for single years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Councillors (Liabilities)
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the legal and financial liabilities of individual councillors appointed by their local authorities to serve on outside bodies by reason of their membership of that outside body. [88927]

  Mr. Leslie
  The potential liabilities of councillors as members of other bodies will depend on a number of issues, notably the terms on which they were appointed and the nature of the body concerned. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends shortly to consult on a draft of an Order to be made under section 101 of the Local Government Act 2000 to give authorities powers to provide indemnities to their members and officers. This will include provision in respect of functions performed by such individuals in their capacity as members or officers, including on outside bodies.

  Housing (Stock Transfer)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list housing allocations created as a result of stock transfer from a local authority which have since been transferred to another housing association. [88322]

  Mr. McNulty
  None of the housing associations created to receive stock transferred from a local authority have since transferred the stock onto another housing association. Some of these associations have undergone a name change or have become a subsidiary of a group structure, but they have remained separate legal entities with individual boards.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what(a) the level of homelessness and (b) housing list numbers for those requiring housing were in each authority which has undergone stock transfer (i) at the time of transfer and (ii) at each year-end subsequent to unit transfers. [88323]

  Mrs. Roche
  A comprehensive table presenting available information since 1988/99 in respect of homelessness household accepted annually, those accommodated at 31 March, and total households on the housing register at 1 April deemed to be "in need" has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken to ensure that there is no conflict of interest in the position of senior local authority officers promoting stock transfer. [88324]

  Mr. McNulty
  The current Housing Transfer Guidance includes detailed advice on how to deal with potential conflicts of interest when senior local authority officers are involved in a proposed housing
  271W
  transfer. Specific advice is addressed to those officers proposing to move to the prospective new landlord. This advice also covers consultants advising the authority and the prospective new landlord over various aspects of the transfer.

  Listed Buildings (Solar Panels)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he provides to planning authorities on applications to install solar panels on listed buildings. [89074]

  Mr. McNulty
  General advice to local authorities about listed building controls is contained in PPG15, Planning and the Historic Environment. Specific advice about solar panels on listed buildings is provided in the new Annex to PPG22 Renewable Energy—Annex on Photovoltaics.

  New Mortgage Lending
  Mr. Steve Webb
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 12th December,Official Report, column 470W, on new mortgage lending, if he will provide corresponding estimates for new mortgage lending that was not for house purchase; and if he will estimate the total amount of new mortgage lending in the last 12 months that was (a) for house purchase and (b) not for house purchase. [88931]

  Mr. McNulty
  Variable/Fixed rate lending. The estimated percentages of remortgages or further loans taken out in each of the past 12 months with an initial interest rate that was(a) variable and (b) fixed are shown in the table below. Also included, for comparison purposes, are the equivalent figures for new mortgages.

  New mortgages for house purchase

  Remortgages or further loans

  Month

  Variable

  Fixed

  Variable

  Fixed

  2001

  Dec

  83.6

  16.4

  91.6

  8.4

  2002

  Jan

  67.4

  32.6

  86.1

  13.9

  Feb

  70.2

  29.8

  88.8

  11.2

  Mar

  71.5

  28.5

  90.8

  9.2

  April

  73.9

  26.1

  91.9

  8.1

  May

  76.9

  23.1

  93.8

  6.2

  June

  79.1

  20.9

  94.4

  5.6

  July

  81.8

  18.2

  94.9

  5.1

  Aug

  82.6

  17.4

  94.5

  5.5

  Sep

  80.7

  19.3

  94.5

  5.5

  Oct

  77.3

  22.7

  92.5

  7.5

  Nov

  71.0

  29.0

  89.8

  10.2

  Source:

  ODPM, Survey of Mortgage Lenders

  It should be noted that loans taken out at an initial fixed rate of interest are likely to revert to a variable rate of interest after a fixed period of time, unless of course the borrower then chooses to remortgage (again) at another fixed rate of interest.

  New mortgage lending, December 2001-November 2002

  Gross mortgage lending in each of the last 12 months is shown in the table, together with the total for the 12 month period December 2001 to November 2002.
  272W

  Month

  Mortgage lending for house purchase £million

  Other new mortgage lending £million

  2001

  Dec

  5,964

  5,970

  2002

  Jan

  6,449

  6,814

  Feb

  8,908

  6,940

  March

  11,131

  7,429

  April

  12,162

  8,200

  May

  13,686

  9,678

  June

  11,185

  8,006

  July

  12,368

  9,818

  Aug

  9,685

  8,914

  Sept

  9,805

  9,342

  Oct

  11,089

  11,333

  Nov

  10,186

  11,155

  Total

  111,618

  103,599

  Source:

  Bank of England

HEALTH

  Acute Hospital Services
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in developing indicators to reflect patient views on food and other issues in acute hospitals. [88762]

  Mr. Lammy
  National health service performance ratings published in July 2002 included a number of performance indicators relating to acute inpatient survey data. In addition to this, the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) and the Department have recently announced a number of additional patient survey performance indicators for the next publication in 2003.

  The CHI has now assumed responsibility for future publications of the performance ratings as well as the patient survey programme.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute hospitals have(a) closed and (b) opened since 1997. [88768]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on hospital closures ceased to be collected in 1991 following the introduction of the national health service internal market and trusts.

  What is usually referred to as a hospital closure often follows reprovision with the intention of providing higher quality care, in a more suitable setting for the benefit of patients.

  Since May 1997, a total of 64 such major reprovision developments under the private finance initiative have been prioritised, of which 14 involving acute settings have now opened and a further nine are under construction. In addition, four major publicly funded schemes involving acute settings have also been given the go ahead of which three are now open. These, along with a number of medium size projects, comprise the NHS plan commitment to deliver over 100 new hospital schemes between 2000 and 2010.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the recommendation by the medical Royal Colleges that an acute hospital should serve a population of 500,000 people. [88182]
  273W
  Mr. Hutton
  "Provision of Acute General Hospital Services" was published in July 1998 by a joint working party of the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians of London and the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It suggested that the ideal unit for a fully comprehensive medicine and surgery is a hospital or integrated group of hospitals serving a population of 450,000 to 500,000. The effective size to provide most of the acute services for medicine and surgery was recommended to be one serving a population of 250,000 to 300,000. These recommendations were made some time ago now and thinking about how to organise services safely and effectively has moved on.

  In particular, the NHS Plan, published in July 2000, set the direction for the future development of hospital services, and Shifting the Balance of Power sited responsibility for local health service with primary care trusts.

  The Department of Health's configuring hospitals project has been examining the complex issues around configuration of acute hospitals over the past few months, and will publish a consultation document shortly. Ultimately, it is for local health services to decide, with their local populations, and in the light of relevant guidance and standards, how acute hospital services should be organised.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the implications of the whole system redesign approach for the introduction of the European Working Time Directive to acute hospitals; [88358]

  (2) what changes to working practices in acute hospitals will take place to accommodate the European working time directive. [88357]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department is currently running 19 pilots exploring solutions to enable National Health Service trusts to implement the European working time directive (EWD) for doctors in training while protecting service delivery.

  Details of the necessary changes in working practices are also set out in the HSC 2003/001 'Protecting Staff, Delivering Services—Implementing the European Working Time Directive for Doctors in Training'.

  Ambulances
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of ambulance trusts are failing to meet the eight-minute response target. [88745]

  Mr. Lammy
  The latest information available about the proportion of emergency calls resulting in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the eight-minute response time for all ambulance trusts, is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin, "Ambulance Services, England 2001–02". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and also at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0213.htm.
  274W
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been to average turnaround times by ambulances at accident and emergency units since 1997, broken down by acute trust area. [88355]

  Mr. Lammy
  Validated information providing complete coverage is not available centrally.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances are operating in England; and how many operated in each of the past six years. [88746]

  Mr. Lammy
  The number of accident and emergency ambulances owned or leased by ambulance trusts in England is 2,970. This information was collected in October 2000. No other information is available.

  Bed Occupancy
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the optimal level of bed occupancy to reduce trolley waits for emergency admissions and cancelled operations. [88561]

  Mr. Lammy
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) on 19 December 2002,Official Report, column 1039W.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's target is for occupancy levels in(a) general and (b) acute NHS beds; and what the levels were in 1997. [87533]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has not issued any specific guidance on bed occupancy. As part of routine capacity planning each national health service trust needs to establish the levels of occupancy required for different specialties and types of care depending on their own particular circumstances. Appropriate levels of occupancy will depend on a number of factors including specialty, the balance between emergency and planned admissions and the size of the hospital.

  In 1996–97 the bed occupancy level for general and acute NHS beds was 80.7 per cent. Over the last two years, the number of beds have increased, reversing a 40 year decline.

  Cancelled Operations
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have had operations cancelled on more than two occasions in each of the past three years. [88769]

  Mr. Hutton
  Figures are collected on a quarterly basis on the number of patients whose operations are cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons on the day of surgery and at the last minute, that is on the day patients are due to arrive or after arrival in hospital or on the day of their operation. This information is available in the Library and on the Department of Health website at: www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/ data requests/cancelled operations.htm

  These figures are not broken down to show whether a patient has been cancelled by the hospital more than once.
  275W

  Children's Vision
  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to(a) implement a programme of vision screening among children with hearing impairments; and (b) ensure consistent access in different areas to specialist eye examinations for children with hearing impairments; [88580]

  (2) how much public funding was allocated to raising awareness among parents, children and teachers of (a) the importance and purpose of vision screening in children, (b) the importance of children having regular eye tests and (c) children's entitlement to free NHS eye tests in each year since 1997; [88578]

  (3) what steps he is taking to improve the (a) consistency and (b) quality of children's vision screening programmes in England. [88577]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 7 January 2003]The provision of vision screening programmes is a matter for local primary care trusts to consider in accordance with professional advice. This includes vision screening for children with hearing impairments and ensuring access to specialist eye examinations. The national screening committee recommends that all infants and children with a hearing loss should have an expert eye examination as a matter of routine. A national service framework for children, which will set standards aimed at raising the quality of the health and social care services that children receive, is currently under development. Information is not collected centrally on the amount of public funding allocated to raising awareness of vision screening and eligibility for free sight tests—which includes all children under the age of 16 and those aged under 19 in fulltime education.

  Department of health vacancies survey, March 2002. Vacancies in NHS trusts, consultant dental group of specialties 3 month vacancy rates, number and staff in post—England (excluding HA staff)

  3 month vacancy

  Rate (percentage)

  Number

  Staff in post1

  Staff in post 2

  Total consultants dental group

  4.5

  22

  473

  582

  Of which:

  Oral and maxillo-facial surgery

  2.2

  5

  222

  255

  Orthodontics

  6.8

  10

  140

  158

  Restorative dentistry

  0.0

  0

  57

  86

  Paediatric dentistry

  6.3

  1

  15

  24

  Additional dental specialties

  15.8

  6

  32

  47

  Oral surgery

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  Periodontics

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  Prosthodontics

  3—

  3—

  3—

  3—

  1Whole-time equivalent

  2Headcount

  3Figures where sum of staff in post and vacancies is less than 10.

  Notes:

  1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2002.

  2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).

  3. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.

  4. Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey and the Consultant Census, March 2002.

  5. Staff in post data is from the Mini Consultant Census, March 2002.

  6. Staff in post data excludes staff employed by health authorities, as vacancy information was only collected from trusts, PCTs and special health authorities.

  7. Medical and dental figures exclude staff in training.

  8. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the whole number.

  9. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.

  10. —= figures where sum of staff in post and vacancies is zero

  11. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.

  276W

  Correspondence
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health during the last year for which figures are available, how many letters from hon. Members were replied to(a) within six months, (b) within six to nine months, (c) within nine to 12 months and (d) in over 12 months; and what was the average time taken by ministers in the Department to reply to hon. Members' correspondence in that period. [87051]

  Mr. Lammy
  The information is shown in the table.

  Period

  Number of letters

  (a)Within six months

  15,080

  (b)Within 6–9 months

  489

  (c)Between 9–12 months

  205

  (d)Over 12 months

  74

  Average time to reply for the 12 month period:

  44.8 days

  A Customer Service Project has been set up under the Department's change programme. The aim of this project is to significantly improve the Department's performance in handling telephone, written and e-mail inquiries from members of the public and their representatives and to maximise the potential of the Department's website and other forms of communication media.

  Dental Surgeons
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of vacancies for dental surgeons. [87425]

  Mr. Hutton
  The data requested is shown in the table.
  277W

  12 HA figures are based on trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of healthcare.

  13 Figures may not match previously published data due to a different method of rounding used on the staff in post data.

  Sources:

  Vacancy numbers and rates: Department of Health Vacancies Survey March 2002 and Consultant census March 2002.

  Medical and dental staff in post: Department of Health Consultant census March 2002

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances after August 2004 junior doctors will be subject to the limit on night workers of eight hours of work in any 24 hour period under the Working Time Directive. [83452]

  Mr. Hutton
  In order to implement the Working Time Directive (93/104EC) the Government propose to introduce legislation to extend the Working Time Regulations, including the provisions that apply to "night workers", to the activities of doctors in training from 1 August 2004, with the exception of the average weekly working time limit which will be introduced over a transitional period.

  A worker covered by the Regulations will be subject to the controls on night working if they satisfy the meaning of "night worker' in the Regulations.

  Under the Government's proposals, which are currently the subject of public consultation by the Department of Trade and Industry, the night work limits are excluded where there is a need for continuity of service as may be the case in hospitals, including the activities of doctors in training, but this is subject to the compensatory rest provisions.

  David Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many junior doctors are in training; and how this compares with the number in 1997. [89243]

  Mr. Hutton
  The data requested is shown in the table.

  The figures show an increase in the number of doctors in training between 1997 and 2001 of 9 per cent.

  NHS Doctors in training, England (Headcount)

  1997

  2001

  Doctors in training of which

  32,800

  35,790

  HCHS1

  31,460

  33,910

  GP Registrars

  1,340

  1,880

  1Hospital, Public Health medicine and Community Health Services medical and dental staff

  Note:

  Figures are for 30 September in the year stated except for GP registrars in 1997, which is for 1 October.

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

  Drugs Budget
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has assessed on spending levels on drugs in acute hospitals in(a) the last year for which figures are available and (b) each of the past three years. [88740]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  278W

  Total expenditure on drugs for NHS trusts in England

  £

  Total expenditure on drugs for NHS trusts in England

  £

  1998–99

  1,208,098,376

  1999–2000

  1,360,825,466

  2000–01

  1,515,722,071

  2001–02

  1,683,684,266

  Source:

  NHS Trust Financial Returns 1998–99 to 2001–02.

  The data include total expenditure on drugs, gases and blood products (but not fresh blood from blood centres) for national health service trusts in England. Drugs expenditure alone cannot be identified.

  E Coli
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce free prescriptions for those people who have suffered from the bacterium E coli0157 when they reach adulthood and display illnesses associated with this bacterium. [88990]

  Mr. Lammy
  Our policy is to give priority to helping people who may have difficulty in paying charges, rather than extending the exemption arrangements to people suffering from other conditions, for example, those who display illnesses associated with the bacterium E coli-157.

  Emergency Admissions
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to address the decline in the number of patients being admitted within two hours in accident and emergency units. [88743]

  Mr. Lammy
  Improving access to emergency care is one of the Department's top priorities. Three quarters of those who go to an accident and emergency (A&E) department, who need to be admitted to hospital, get a bed within four hours. By December 2004, all patients will be in and out of A&E within four hours.

  To help support A&E departments across the country, a new national clinical director for emergency care was appointed in autumn 2002. Additional investment of £30 million was made to enable the launch of the Modernisation Agency programme to help reduce waiting times in every A&E.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole time equivalent general practitioners there were in(a) each region and (b) England in each of the last five years. [89029]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of whole time equivalent general practitioners in each strategic health authority and in England in each of the last six years is shown in the table.
  279W

  General Medical Practitioners (excluding GP Retainers)1 in England; 1997–2002 (by Apri1 2002 boundaries)

  Estimated whole time equivalent

  DHSC/Strategic Health Authority

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  North

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  782

  802

  807

  812

  836

  852

  Country Durham and Tees Valley

  620

  617

  619

  622

  652

  642

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  1,079

  1,083

  1,090

  1,079

  1,093

  1,107

  Greater Manchester

  1,409

  1,404

  1,420

  1,424

  1,422

  1,422

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  1,346

  1,335

  1,370

  1,371

  1,388

  1,395

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  944

  934

  951

  959

  968

  985

  West Yorkshire

  1,188

  1,198

  1,221

  1,227

  1,248

  1,266

  South Yorkshire

  716

  711

  720

  725

  734

  728

  Midlands and Eastern

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  757

  776

  787

  792

  779

  781

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  1,260

  1,272

  1,279

  1,299

  1,305

  1,317

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire

  859

  853

  853

  869

  878

  903

  Trent

  1,363

  1,382

  1,386

  1,408

  1,434

  1,405

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  857

  851

  841

  817

  827

  831

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  1,228

  1,243

  1,250

  1,268

  1,276

  1,276

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  869

  892

  894

  897

  906

  906

  Essex

  805

  819

  819

  814

  805

  814

  London

  North West London

  1,107

  1,097

  1,055

  1,044

  1,064

  1,043

  North Central London

  739

  741

  727

  748

  746

  755

  North East London

  835

  845

  844

  866

  841

  859

  South East London

  814

  810

  840

  825

  833

  820

  South West London

  731

  720

  732

  735

  727

  752

  South

  Thames Valley

  1,145

  1,186

  1,198

  1,202

  1,218

  1,236

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  996

  999

  1,014

  1,017

  1,037

  1,041

  Kent and Medway

  860

  867

  868

  853

  860

  855

  Surrey and Sussex

  1,410

  1,430

  1,432

  1,435

  1,464

  1,469

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  1,225

  1,257

  1,281

  1,289

  1,301

  1,300

  South West Peninsula

  990

  981

  972

  1,000

  1,025

  1,012

  Dorset and Somerset

  727

  744

  761

  759

  771

  768

  England total

  27,660

  27,848

  28,033

  28,154

  28,439

  28,540

  1All Practitioners (excluding GP Retainers) include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA) and PMS Other.

  Notes:

  1. GP Retainers were first collected in the 1999 census and have been omitted for comparability purposes.

  2. WTE data has been estimated using the results from the 1992–93 GMP Workload Survey; Full-time = 1.00 wte; three quarter time = 0.69 wte; job share = 0.65; half-time = 0.60 wte.

  3. Data as at 1 October 1997–99, 30 September 2000–01 and 31 March 2002.

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

  Homeless People
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has recently met with Ministers from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister concerning homeless people's access and use of GP services; and what plans there are to do so in the near future. [87471]

  Mr. Hutton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not recently met with Ministers from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss homeless people's access and use of general practitioner services and currently has no plans to do so in the near future.

  However the Cross-Cutting Spending Review on health inequalities, published on 20 November, identified vulnerable groups, including homeless people, as a priority. The Domestic Affairs Cabinet Subcommittee on Social Exclusion and Regeneration will drive forward the implementation of the review.
  280W

  Medical Devices
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to publicise new regulations requiring CE marking on packaging for self-testing diagnostic medical devices. [88528]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Medical Devices Agency (MDA), which is the United Kingdom's competent authority for the medical devices regulations, has published the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Directive, which came into force on 7 June 2000, on its web site together with guidance documents on its implementation. In addition members of the MDA have given several presentations on the Directive's provisions to both manufacturers and users.

  Medical Qualifications
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the proposals from the European
  281W
  Commission on medical qualifications will require Britain to recognize levels of training below those required in the UK. [88172]

  Mr. Hutton
  Under legislation introduced in 1994 the United Kingdom automatically recognises training completed by nationals of European Economic Area (EEA) countries in other countries in the EEA which meets or exceeds the minimum standards specified in the relevant European Directive. Similarly, other EEA countries automatically recognise UK training. Most UK postgraduate medical training exceeds Directive minimum standards. The proposals from the Commission do not affect this position.

  Mortuary Provision
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of mortuary facilities are contained in temporary buildings. [88423]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  NHS Foreign Health Care Workers
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foreign health care workers were recruited by the NHS, broken down by profession in each year since 1990. [88000]

  Mr. Hutton.
  The Department does not collect data on the country of qualification for nurses, midwives and other health professionals.

  The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) publishes an annual statistical report which includes information about the number of foreign nurses and midwives on the register. This data can be found on the NMC website at: www.nmc-uk.org.uk.

  NHS Funding
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the proposed new funding system for the NHS will take into account the number of people who have private health insurance in a particular area. [88343]

  Mr. Hutton
  The new formula used to allocate revenue resources to primary care trusts for 2003–04 to 2005–06 is concerned with health care need and not availability of private care. The research on which it is based excluded all private episodes of care on the grounds that the need for national health service resources was being modelled. The research also takes account of supply factors such as private hospitals.

  £ per head

  Year

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority

  584.27

  641.16

  813.92

  827.74

  869.19

  South Eastern Region

  599.07

  656.57

  759.83

  810.94

  890.46

  England

  607.85

  659.76

  763.79

  825.38

  885.83

  Notes:

  1.In many health authorities there are factors which distort the expenditure per head. These include: the health authority acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and asset revaluations in NHS Trusts being funded through health authorities, for these reasons expenditure per head cannot be compared reliably between health authorities.

  2.Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of health authorities.
  282W
  David Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work is underway to review NHS funding formulae. [89244]

  Mr. Hutton
  The formula used to allocate National Health Service revenue resources has been reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation.

  Following the review the allocations to primary care trusts for 2003–04 to 2005–06 were based on a new formula.

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the new formula for allocation of health spending to health authorities and trusts. [88426]

  Mr. Hutton
  The 2003/2004 to 2005/2006 Primary Care Trust Revenue Resource Limites Exposition Book has been published. This shows how each Primary Care Trust's allocation has been calculated using the new formula. It can be found at.

  Later this year we will publish a revised version of Resource Allocation: Weighted Capitation Formulas which will describe the new formula.

  The team who carried out the research into the new formula have published Allocation of Resources to English Areas, a full report of their findings. It can be found at http://www.nhsis.co.uk/isdLservices/info_ consult_AREAReport.htm

  NHS Recruitment
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) administrators, (b) doctors and (c) nurses have been recruited by the NHS in the past 12 months. [88770]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of staff recruited to the national health service in the last 12 months is not separately available.

  NHS Spending
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average amount of NHS spending was per head in(a) England, (b) the South-East, (c) East Sussex and (d) Eastbourne, in each of the last five years. [87592]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the average amount of national health service spending per weighted head of population in the East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority area, the South Eastern Region and in England is shown in the table. Information is not held centrally for East Sussex or Eastbourne.
  283W
  3. Expenditure is taken from audited health authority and primary care trust summarisation forms which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total expenditure by the health authority and by the primary care trusts within the health authority and region area. The majority of General Dental Services expenditure is not included in the health authority or primary care trust summarisation forms and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by health authorities.

  4. Health authorities and primary care trusts should account for their expenditure on a gross basis. This results in an element of double counting in 2000–01 and 2001–02 where one body acts as the main commissioner and is then reimbursed by other bodies. This element cannot be identified in 2000–01 but has been removed in 2001–02 following the submission of the relevant information.

  Sources:

  Health authority annual accounts 1997–98 to 1999–2000

  Health authority summarisation forms 2000–01 to 2001–02

  Primary care trust summarisation schedules 2000–01 to 2001–02

  Weighted population figures for 1997–98 to 2001–02

  Nursing Staff
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing students were studying at(a) diploma level and (b) degree level in the most recent year for which figures are available. [88660]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  2002–03 forecast nursing student population

  Whole-time equivalent

  Total

  53,868

  Diploma

  47,449

  Degree

  6,419

  Figures are forecast and are subject to change. They are based on the planned number of places by workforce development confederations.

  Pathology Services
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) mortuary technicians and (b) clinical pathologists were employed in each trust in each of the last five years. [88506]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information available has been placed in the Library. Separate information is not collected on mortuary technicians; they are included with pathology technicians.

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new pathology departments have been opened in the past year. [88422]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Dr. Liam Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS hospital trusts with pathology services have not been accredited by Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd. [88424]

  Mr. Hutton
  We do not collect this information centrally. According to the latest information available from Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd, over 90 per cent, of National Health Service pathology laboratories are registered for accreditation. Full details are available on their website at www.cpa-uk.co.uk.

  PCT Allocations
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list of primary care trust allocations for 2003–04, including(a) allocations per head and (b) a statement of the deprivation levels in each PCT area. [88342]
  284W
  Mr. Hutton
  Primary care trusts revenue allocations for 2003–04,2004–05 and 2005–06 were announced on 11 December 2002.

  Information by primary care trust on allocations, 2003–04 allocations per weighted head and unweighted head and need index in the funding formula which provides an indicator of deprivation have been placed in the Library.

  Post Mortems (MRI Scans)
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce compulsory MRI scans during post mortems. [88420]

  Mr. Lammy
  We have no plans to introduce compulsory magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans during post mortems. The Department has commissioned a scoping study to look at the current level of research knowledge about minimally invasive post-mortem techniques, including MRI scanning. From this it is clear that at present there is limited research evidence as to the effectiveness of these minimally invasive techniques.

  Practice Nurses
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many practice nurses there were in each of the last five years. [89028]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Practice nurses employed by Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs)1 in England; 1997–2001

  Numbers (headcount) and whole time equivalent

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Whole-time equivalent

  10,082

  10,358

  10,689

  10,711

  11,163

  Headcount

  18,389

  218,894

  219,495

  19,200

  19,846

  1UPEs includes GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs.

  2Headcount Practice Nurse figures are estimated for these years.

  Note:

  Data as at 1 October 1997–99 and 30 September 2000–01.

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Primary Care Services
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the expansion of the range of services provided by the primary care sector. [83565]
  285W
  Mr. Hutton
  "Delivering the NHS Plan" confirmed our commitment to substantial increases in health service capacity. Our aim is, however, not simply to rely on expanding hospital capacity but to use the extra investment provided by the April 2002 budget to modernise the way services are provided to bring services closer to patients, expand the choices available to patients and make better use of the skills and capacity of the primary care work force.

  The Department is therefore taking forward a programme to deliver a wider range of services in primary and community settings, using general practitioners and nurses with specialist skills, working from improved and modernised premises. This is expected to deliver for example, millions more outpatient appointments taking place in the community rather than in hospital.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the lines of accountability for primary care trust boards are. [88525]

  Mr. Hutton
  Primary care trusts are national health service bodies established by the Secretary of State. They are performance managed by strategic health authorities and through them are accountable to the Secretary of State.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect that the provision of private medical insurance has had on the standard of health in each primary care trust. [88344]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department has made no such assessment.

  Smallpox
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements exist to vaccinate people in remote areas in the event of a smallpox threat. [87247]

  Mr. Hutton
  Responsibility for putting in place appropriate local arrangements for vaccinations against smallpox will rest with the regional directors of public health (RDsPH). The Department of Health has recently published its draft guidance for dealing with smallpox and invited comment and discussion on the plans for dealing with any smallpox outbreak. RDsPH were involved in the drafting of the guidance. In this guidance, it is intended to establish 12 regional smallpox response groups across the United Kingdom, consisting of infectious disease physicians, paediatricians, public health physicians, microbiologists/virologists, acute care and communicable disease control nurses and occupational health staff who will be able to set up specialist care and vaccination centres for the regions in the event of a smallpox emergency.

  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made to distribute smallpox vaccine. [87248]

  Mr. Hutton
  The strategic stock of smallpox vaccine is held centrally and arrangements have been put in place whereby the vaccine can be delivered to anywhere in the mainland United Kingdom within 24 hours of a request 286W
  for vaccine, 365 days of the year. As smallpox has been eradicated, this is only likely to be in response to a bioterrorist incident, whereupon the Chief Medical Officer or nominated Deputy would authorise the release of vaccine.

  As part of plans for dealing with any smallpox incident, it is intended to establish 12 regional smallpox response groups across the UK. The staff in these groups, consisting of infectious disease physicians, paediatricians, public health physicians, microbiologists/virologists, acute care and communicable disease control nurses and occupational health staff will be able to set up vaccination centres for the regions in the event of a smallpox emergency.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to vaccinate the whole UK population against smallpox. [87407]

  Mr. Hutton
  There are no plans to vaccinate the whole population as a contingency measure against the threat of a bioterrorist incident involving smallpox. Mass vaccination of the population could be justifiable if there was a smallpox attack or outbreak but it would not be acceptable to expose people to the risk of vaccination in the absence of any possible exposure to the smallpox virus.

  Smallpox vaccine has a much higher rate of serious complications than vaccines that are in regular use today. Certain groups are at even higher risk, such as those with weak immune systems or with severe eczema.

  We have already announced that a small number of key frontline national health service staff and a small number of military personnel who would provide the first response in the event of a confirmed, suspected or threatened release of smallpox will be vaccinated shortly. We are discussing with other Government Departments how to identify key workers in the emergency services and agreeing circumstances and timing under which they might be vaccinated.

  Our contingency plans for dealing with smallpox are detailed in the draft guidelines on smallpox available on http://www.doh.gov.uk/epcu/cbr/biol/smallpoxplan.htm

  Terrorism
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent precautions have been taken by the NHS for dealing with a mass casualty terrorist incident. [88394]

  Mr. Hutton
  The planning for the response to a mass casualty incident involves the scaling up of the normal response to a major incident. Following the September 11 2001 terrorist attack on the United States, specific guidance was issued to the national health service on the public health response to the deliberate release of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents, mass decontamination and mass casualties.

  The Department has made available, through the emergency planning section of its website, www.doh.gov.uk/epcu a comprehensive package of guidance for clinicians on dealing with the consequences

  287W
  of deliberate release. The information is regularly updated. The website contains a link to the Public Health Laboratory Service website, which provides additional clinical and other information.
  288W
  Additional arrangements have been put in place for the provision of decontamination units and protective equipment for NHS staff and strategic stockpiles of medical supplies and other equipment.

CULTURE, MEDIA & SPORT

  Fixed Odds Betting Machines
  The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell)
  The Government have noted with concern the increasing installation in licensed betting offices of machines, described as fixed odds betting machines, which enable customers to play virtual casino games for prizes up to £50,000.

  The present law allows only two gaming machines in any betting office, offering maximum prizes of £25. Under the Government's proposals for reform of the laws on gambling in Great Britain, published in "A safe bet for success" (Cm 5397), betting offices would be able to install up to four gaming machines with a maximum prize of £500. Cm 5397 also noted the appearance of betting machines, pointing out that they have many of the characteristics which justify controls over gaming machines.

  The Government understand that the Gaming Board for Great Britain and the Association of British Bookmakers have agreed to the bringing of a test case to clarify the status of fixed odds betting machines under the existing law. While it would not be appropriate to comment on the merits or possible outcome of such legal proceedings, we welcome any action which will bring certainty to this issue so far as the present law is concerned.

  In order to make the position on future legislation clear for interested parties, I wish to confirm that the statement set out in "A safe bet for success" remains the Government's current policy. Therefore, our current plan is to introduce new legislation which will be drafted in such a way that those betting machines which in reality involve gaming will be brought within the relevant controls for gaming machines. We take the view that the uncontrolled proliferation of high-prize machine gaming on the high street risks seriously increasing problem gambling.

DEFENCE

  Service Museums
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Lewis Moonie)
  A business process review of the six principal service personnel museums is to be carried out by the Ministry of Defence. These organisations have non-departmental public bodies designation and receive Grants in Aid from the MOD. They are the Royal Naval Museum, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, the Fleet Air Arm Museum, the Royal Marines Museum, the National Army Museum 8WS
  and the Royal Air Force Museum. The previous review termed a Quinquennial review was completed in March 1997.

  Preliminary work has defined the scope of the study. The second phase will begin shortly and is expected to be completed within six months. The aim of the review is to examine the function, role, operation, funding and organisation of the museums, seek to identify key objectives and performance and to determine whether their current status is most appropriate to future needs.

  The review team will consult with a range of stakeholders during the course of the review including the museum directors, staff and trustees, MOD and single service sponsors, TUs, local government, other government Departments and other museums. The Ministry of Defence is interested also to hear the views of other organisations or individuals who would like to make a contribution to the review. Those wishing to do so should send their contributions by 28 February 2003 to:

  The Museums Business Process Review Team

  Open Plan Area, 2nd Floor

  Ministry of Defence

  St Giles Court

  1–13 St Giles High Street

  London WC2H 8LD

  Or by email to:

  dgmo-musbrhd@defence.mod.uk

  METEOR
  The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr. Adam Ingram)
  I am pleased to inform the House that the contract for the Meteor air-to-air missile for the RAFs Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft was placed with MBDA on 23 December 2002. This followed the signature of the Meteor MOU by Germany, the last of the six partner nations (France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the UK) to sign, which permitted the UK, as lead nation, to sign the contract with MBDA.

  Meteor is a key element of the Government's commitment to provide the best possible equipment for the Armed Forces. It will ensure Typhoon has the capability to combat predicted air-to-air threats thereby meeting our requirement to maintain air superiority well into the future.

  This is extremely good news for British and European industry, sustaining high quality jobs in new technology and in system and software design. Furthermore, it puts MBDA at the forefront of a strengthened European missile defence industry and enhances export prospects for Typhoon.

  When my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 16 May 2000, Official Report, columns 149–51 the decision to select Meteor as the beyond visual range air-to-air missile to arm Typhoon, he agreed to publish the details of the breakpoints and

  9WS
  determination of when theseassessments will be made, once the Memorandum of Understanding was established. Now that this has been achieved, I can confirm that the contract includes four breakpoints as follows:

  Demonstration of Ramjet Propulsion System (Boost to Sustain Motor Transition and Sustain Motor Operation)—at month 40 of the programme.

  Demonstration of Guidance and Control of the Asymmetric Airframe—at month 45 of the programme.

  Demonstration of the Effectiveness of Aircraft to Missile Transfer Alignment Process via Data Links—at month 45 of the programme.

  Demonstration of Electronic Protection Measures—at month 51 of the programme.

  The process for the independent assessment of the achievement of the milestones, and for securing partner nation agreement that they have been either achieved or failed, is set out in the MOU, copies of which will shortly be placed in the Library of the House. If MBDA fail to achieve any of the milestones, partner nations will be able to terminate the contract and recover all monies paid.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

  Commons Commissioners
  The Minister for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael)
  The Department is undertaking a financial management and policy review of the Commons Commissioners.

  The Commissioners are an independent tribunal, sponsored jointly by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government. They were established under the provisions of the Commons Registration Act 1965 to deal with disputed registrations of common land.

  The review will comprise an investigation of the functions carried out by the Commissioners, whether these functions still need to be undertaken and, if so, whether they should continue to be carried out by the Commissioners or whether another body in the public, private or voluntary sector could undertake the work.

  If it is considered that the Commissioners should be retained the review will consider issues such as cost effectiveness, staffing, finance and their relationship with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Lord Chancellor's Department. The full terms of reference are:

  Stage 1.

  To consider whether there is a continuing need for the functions carried out by the Commons Commissioners and, if so, whether the Commissioners provide the best means of doing so or whether the work could more effectively be carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) or another body in the public, voluntary or private sectors.
  10WS
  Stage 2.

  If the conclusion from Stage 1 is that the Commissioners should be retained, the review will then look at all aspects of their financial management, accountability and relationship with Defra, WAG and the Lord Chancellor's Department. The review will consider and make recommendations on:

  the Commissioner's cost effectiveness, and the value of its work;

  the composition, operation, management and staffing of the Commissioners;

  the financial regime applying to the Commissioners and the effectiveness of

  financial and other management controls;

  the way in which Defra and WAG sponsor the body and monitor its performance and the role of the Lord Chancellor's Department in appointing Commissioners.

  The review will also consider and take account of the work of related reviews, such as the Leggatt review of tribunals and the policy and legislative review of common land being undertaken by Defra and WAG.

  The review will be undertaken in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines, and we expect it to be completed in April 2003.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration Control
  The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Blunkett)
  The Government are firmly committed to maintaining effective immigration controls and ensuring that genuine passengers are able to pass through our ports with the least possible delay.

  For some years the number of Jamaican passengers being refused entry on arrival in the United Kingdom has been increasing, nearly 3,500 or 6 per cent of arrivals last year. The number of Jamaicans who abscond having been given temporary admission is also unacceptably high, more than 150 a month during the first half of this year. These problems create enormous pressures for the Immigration Service but also lead to unacceptable delays and inconvenience for the great majority of genuine travellers from Jamaica. The situation can best be demonstrated by looking at the period leading up to Christmas. During the six weeks to 17 December 2002, 1,233 Jamaican nationals were refused entry at the UK's 12 busiest ports. This represented nearly 20 per cent. of all refusals at those ports during that period.

  The only effective way of easing these problems is to ensure that Jamaican passengers have demonstrated that they qualify to enter the United Kingdom before they embark for this country. In the circumstances I have decided to impose a visa regime on all Jamaican nationals wishing to visit the United Kingdom.
  11WS
  I would want to provide reassurance that the presence of a visa regime should not be a bar to those Jamaican nationals who genuinely wish to visit the United Kingdom. The rules under which decisions are made are the same whether that decision is made on arrival or before. This visa regime simply allows officials to consider the application before the passenger embarks for the United Kingdom. Providing greater certainty that a person has satisfied the Immigration Rules will also smooth the passage of genuine visitors through the immigration controls, giving advantage to all concerned.

  Board of the Central Police Training and Development Authority (CENTREX)
  The Minister for Policing, Crime Reduction and Community Safety (Mr. John Denham)
  I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor David Croisdale-Appleby to the board of the Central Police Training and Development Authority. Professor Croisdale-Appleby will be taking up his duties immediately.

  He is a visiting professor of strategic marketing and communications at Strathclyde University, and these skills will be of immense value to the board. He has extensive experience as a board member with various bodies, and has been a CEO of major international marketing and advertising businesses. He was recently invited by the Lord Chancellor's office to become a member of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority and for one year was seconded to run a firm of solicitors specialising in criminal and family law.

  Professor Croisdale-Appleby joins the board at a time when Centrex is still finding its feet, having only been established as an executive non-departmental public body on 1 April last year. Centrex has a pivotal role to play in developing policing excellence, charged as it is with new police recruit training, and developing leadership skills within the police service. In addition to providing support and consultancy to forces, both domestic and international, on operational policing matters, Centrex is leading the way on alternative learning technologies through its new web based learning portal. Centrex is also establishing the National Centre for Policing Excellence, which will identify and disseminate good policing practice, such as the new street crime knowledge map, and develop regulations and codes of practice for effective operational policing.

HEALTH

  National Health Service
  The Secretary of State for Health (Mr. Alan Milburn)
  I am announcing capital allocations for the national health service for the next three years today. This is consistent with the revenue budget allocations which were issued late last year.

  Capital allocations are made to the NHS in two parts. Operational capital is for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing existing capital stock, and is made direct to NHS Trusts and primary care trusts. Strategic capital, which is allocated direct to all strategic health authorities (StHAs), is for distribution at their own discretion for larger scale investments.

  Total operational capital is increasing by 10 per cent., in each of the three years 2003–04 and 2005–06. The growth in strategic capital in the StHAs is 13 per cent./11 per cent./14 per cent., for each of the three years. The residue of the capital is being held centrally—the largest being for information technology, where £400 million is being held for 2003–04, £700 million for 2004–05 and £1.2 billion for 2005–06.

  This is the first time that day-to-day operational capital has been allocated directly to NHS StHAs, trusts and primary care trusts.

  This is the first time that capital allocations have been made for three years rather then one year, allowing the local NHS to plan with confidence and certainty for the future.

  In addition, allocations have been informed by a new funding formula for both operational and strategic capital to give a nationally consistent and fairer basis for the distribution of funds.

  Of the money allocated to StHAs, £100 million is for the establishment of a local access incentive fund. The purpose is to reward NHS trusts and primary care trusts who make rapid progress in improving access to NHS treatment. Clearly this could include any of the NHS plan targets for access, both in hospital and primary care. Initially, however, we expect the main focus to be on:

  (a) reducing waiting times in accident and emergency (A&E) (progress towards the maximum four-hour total wait in A&E);

  (b) reducing in-patient and out-patient waiting times (progress towards the maximum six month waiting time target and the maximum 13 week wait);

  (c) reducing in-patient and out-patient waiting lists.

  Details of the allocations and an explanation of the new funding formulae have been placed in the Library.