Written Statement of 16 September 2004

WALES

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff are employed in the Wales Office; how many there were in 1997; and if he will make a statement. [188997]

  Mr. Hain
  Staff numbers for the Wales Office, since its establishment on 1 July 1999, are shown in table 5.7 of the Wales Office Annual Report 2004 (Cm 6228), a copy of which can be obtained from the Library of the House.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Bexley Council (Asset Sales)
  Derek Conway
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will investigate the process by which Bexley council proposes to dispose of the North Cray school site in Sidcup to London and Quadrant. [188590]

  Phil Hope
  Disposal of land by local authorities is governed by section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972. Authorities have discretion to dispose of land in any manner they wish. The First Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's only power is to grant or withhold consent where authorities wish to dispose of land at less than the best consideration reasonably obtainable and the proposed disposal falls outside the scope of the General Disposal Consent in ODPM Circular 06/2003. There are no statutory powers available to launch an investigation into the disposal process used in any specific case. If an individual feels the correct procedures have not been followed the best course of action would be to approach the Local Government Ombudsman.

  Canvey Island (Housing)
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many additional houses he anticipates will be built on Canvey Island over the next 10 years; and how many school-age children he estimates will live in those houses. [189304]

  Keith Hill
  It will be for Castle Point borough council, as the local planning authority, to decide how many homes should be built on Canvey Island once the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England has been issued. It will also fall to the local authorities to consider how many school-age children are likely to live in any additional Canvey Island housing, having regard to local demography, types of housing to be provided and local educational standards.

  Care Homes
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authority run care home beds there were in Surrey in each year since 1997. [188169]

  Dr. Ladyman
  I have been asked to reply.

  The table shows the number of local authority staffed care home places in Surrey, as at 31 March for the years 1997 to 2001.

  Number of local authority staffed care home places in Surrey at 31 March, 1997 to 2001

  Rounded numbers Number of places

  1997

  1,760

  1998

  970

  1999

  860

  2000

  860

  2001

  520

  Source:

  RA.

  I understand from the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.

  Deprived Wards (Weston-super-Mare)
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the(a) score and(b) rank are for each of the wards in Weston-super-Mare according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 for each of (i) the seven domain indices, (ii) the sub-domains and (iii) the two supplementary indices. [188670]

  Phil Hope
  The Index of Multiple Deprivation (2004) is based on Super Output Areas (SOAs) rather than wards. SOAs are geographical units which are based on consistent areas of between 1,000 to 3,000 people. They are designed to measure small areas more effectively and to be consistent over time. Tables which show each of the wards in Weston-super-Mare and each of the Super Output Areas which make up these wards have been made available in the Library of the House. The scores and ranks of these SOAs are given as requested. In the ranks, 1 is most deprived. One of the Super Output Areas, in Wrington, is partially in this ward and partially in the adjacent ward. This SOA is included.

  Disabled Facilities Grant Programme
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to abolish the means testing of the disabled facilities grant for the parents of disabled children in England. [188185]

  Phil Hope
  The Government are sympathetic to the difficult situation faced by families with disabled children, and announced a review of the operation of the DFG programme on 5 January 2004. In answer to a parliamentary question in the other place, the right hon. Lord Rooker said that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, jointly with the Department of Health will be reviewing the disabled facilities grant programme, in the context of the Spending Review 2004. A number of
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  financial and policy issues affecting the programme, including the operation of the means test and the maximum grant limit will be evaluated.

  Energy Efficiency
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) pensioners and(b) other people have received help to insulate their homes in York in each year since 1997. [188947]

  Keith Hill
  The information requested is not collected centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Housing
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the cost of bringing hard to heat homes in the current housing stock up to standards described in his programme for decent homes. [188613]

  Keith Hill
  The Government and their partners are exploring the most effective means of improving the energy efficiency of hard-to-heat homes in different circumstances, for example where gas supplies are not available or where construction precludes the installation of traditional cost-effective insulation measures. This work is being pursued in the wider context of progress against the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy.

  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new(a) social rented and(b) affordable homes have been provided in York in each year since 1997. [188948]

  Keith Hill
  The number of new registered social landlord dwellings for rent and low cost home ownership dwellings that have been built within York, as reported by the Housing Corporation, are tabled as follows:

  Registered social landlord dwellings for rent

  Low cost home ownership dwellings1

  1997–98

  101

  14

  1998–99

  0

  0

  1999–2000

  155

  6

  2000–01

  119

  28

  2001–02

  50

  3

  2002–03

  29

  1

  2003–04

  35

  12

  1May include some refurbishment of existing dwellings

  Leasehold Property Sales
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to allow the purchase of leasehold property, especially under Right to Buy, by Muslims on the same or a similar basis to freehold, who want to take advantage of the Budget provisions to allow purchase of property without the payment of interest and double stamp duty. [188014]

  Keith Hill
  The Government are aware of the barriers faced by social tenants who wish to use Sharia'a compliant loan finance packages to purchase their homes under the Right to Buy and Right to Acquire schemes. These barriers exist in respect of both freehold 1652W
  and leasehold sales. To address them, the Government are considering ways of facilitating the sale of social homes to such tenants on voluntary terms. It intends to issue proposals for consultation soon.

  Millennium Dome
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the schedule of maintenance and repairs for the Millennium Dome. [189319]

  Keith Hill
  The dome has been maintained under the terms of the contracts with MDL and Anschutz in order to hand over the dome for the construction of the arena and surrounding waterfront development. It has also been maintained sufficiently to enable it to be hired for short-term events in order to mitigate running costs.

  The planned preventative maintenance regime that has been adopted covers the following categories of maintenance: fabric and supporting steelwork; air management system; water and drainage systems; services and plant lighting; CCTV; voice alarm; fire alarm; landscaping; perimeter fence; and operational buildings required.

  Regional Assemblies
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the proposed(a) question and(b) preamble on the ballot paper for the referendum on a regional assembly in the North East of England; and what assessment he has made of the Electoral Commission's statement on the proposed referendum question. [188804]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The form of the question and preamble on the ballot paper for the referendum on a regional assembly in the North East is prescribed by the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003(a). The question was amended during the passage of the Act to take account of the Electoral Commission's comments and those of others.

  Unauthorised Roadside Sales
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will introduce additional measures to enable local authorities more easily(a) to prosecute owners of vehicles and(b) to remove vehicles which are placed for sale on the highway; and if he will make a statement. [187982]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply.

  Defra is currently consulting through it's 'Clean Neighbourhoods' document on a raft of measures that will improve the suite of powers available to local authorities in the management of our local environment. These would be taken forward once a suitable legislative opportunity arises. The document includes proposed measures on nuisance vehicles.

  The proposal is to create a definition of 'nuisance' vehicle that would include vehicles that were detrimental to the amenity of an area or causing a nuisance. Local authorities would have the power to remove these vehicles immediately and recover the costs of doing so. It would become a prosecutable offence for being responsible for such a vehicle.
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  What constitutes a nuisance or detrimental to the amenity of an area would be clarified in regulations and will be subject to the results of the consultation. Vehicles which are placed on the highway for sale is being considered as part of this process.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what legislation is available to local authorities(a) to prosecute owners of vehicles and (b) I to remove vehicles which are placed for sale on the highway; and if he will make a statement. [187983]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply.

  Legislative powers available to local authorities currently cover vehicles that are abandoned. The Government recognises the link between abandoned vehicles and other irresponsible or inconsiderate vehicle ownership and is looking to give local authorities more powers to deal with these issues.

  Defra is currently consulting through it's 'Clean Neighbourhoods' document on a raft of measures that will improve the suite of powers available to local authorities in the management of our local environment. These would be taken forward once a suitable legislative opportunity arises. The document includes proposed measures on nuisance vehicles.

  The proposal is to create a definition of 'nuisance' vehicle that would include vehicles that are detrimental to the amenity of an area or causing a nuisance. Local authorities would have the power to remove these vehicles immediately and recover the costs of doing so. It would become a prosecutable offence for being responsible for such a vehicle.

  What constitutes a nuisance or detrimental to the amenity of an area would be clarified in regulations and will be subject to the results of the consultation. Vehicles which are placed on the highway for sale is being closely considered as part of this process.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Pre-trial Reviews
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Solicitor General what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of pre-trial reviews in the magistrates courts. [187946]

  The Solicitor-General
  Service has played an active, collaborative part in the Effective Trial Management Programme (ETMP), an initiative involving criminal justice agencies, and the judiciary, to plan, design and introduce non-legislative case management reforms heralded in the Government's White Paper, Justice for All.

  During 2003, ETMP has tested a range of improvements to the pre-trial process in six criminal justice areas. These have included measures designed to ensure that pre-trial hearings in the magistrates' courts are held only where necessary to progress a case to an effective trial.

  For example, in Essex, the first Area to introduce changes to the management of magistrates' courts cases, almost all contested cases are progressed outside of
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  formal court hearings by case progression officers based in the courts, the CPS, and the police, working with the local judiciary, and a named contact for the defence.

  There has been an independent evaluation of the changes introduced in Essex, which has calculated that this process change could result in a saving of 8,640 hearings in a year, leading to more efficient utilisation of courtroom time; a decrease in ineffective trials; and improved timeliness. Other test areas have introduced similar changes.

  Guidance on how cases might be managed most effectively and efficiently from pre-charge through to conclusion, including the good practice and learning points from the ETMP test areas, is now contained within the Criminal Case Management Framework (CCMF). The Lord Chief Justice, the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor, the Attorney General and Baroness Scotland jointly issued the Framework on 21 July 2004. It states that "hearings before the court may take place if there is a material failure likely to affect the proper progress of the case."

  All other remaining criminal justice areas are now planning, designing or implementing similar changes to the process.

TREASURY

  Acceptance in Lieu
  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) museum quality and(b) pre-eminent objects were granted conditional exemption by the Acceptance in Lieu Panel in each year since 1994. [187509]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Conditional exemption is granted or refused by the Inland Revenue rather than by the Acceptance in Lieu Panel. Exemption depends on the making of an acceptable undertaking in relation to preservation and access as well as on the standard of quality referred to in the question. The Inland Revenue have taken advice on quality from the Acceptance in Lieu Panel in cases where pre-eminent quality is required, following the changes in Finance Act 1998; prior to that the Inland Revenue sought advice directly from appropriate experts.

  The available information is as follows: the figures show the number of objects or groups which remain exempt, net of the relatively small number of cases where relief given in the years shown has, subsequently been withdrawn, e.g. following a sale. The year shown is the year in which the exemption claims were finally granted and not the year of death or other transfer which determines the quality standard applicable to the claim.

  Number of objects or groups of objects

  Year

  Museum Quality

  Pre-eminent

  1994–95

  3,525

  —

  1995–96

  7,651

  —

  1996–97

  1,406

  —

  1997–98

  3,135

  —

  1998–99

  4,085

  —

  1999–00

  2,690

  —

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  Number of objects or groups of objects

  Year

  Museum Quality

  Pre-eminent

  2000–01

  7,101

  14

  2001–02

  1,395

  36

  2000–03

  3,067

  61

  2003–04

  1,060

  700

  2004–05 (to date)

  —

  99

  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of(a) museum quality and(b) pre-eminent objects considered by the Acceptance in Lieu Panel were granted conditional exemption in each year since 1994. [187510]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Acceptance in Lieu Panel have assessed the quality of objects which were subject to the "pre-eminent" test laid down by Finance Act 1998. Objects subject to the previous test were referred by the Inland Revenue directly to appropriate experts. Formal assessment of quality is the last substantive step in processing a claim, and apart from cases currently being finalised all cases which have reached the relevant quality standard have been granted exemption. The information available for cases rejected by the Revenue's advisers is as follows.

  All cases considered up to and including 1999–2000 were subject to the quality standard applicable prior to Finance Act 1998; the split of rejected cases in subsequent; years between that standard and the preeminent standard required by Finance Act 1998 is not readily obtainable from the records available.

  Year

  Proportion rejected by value Percentage

  1994–95

  0.2

  1995–96

  0.2

  1996–97

  0.5

  1997–98

  0.4

  People in employment by gender in the City of York parliamentary constituency, York Unitary Authority and Yorkshire and Humberside region; 12 months ending February each year; not seasonally adjusted

  Thousand

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  All persons

  City of York PCA

  44

  45

  48

  45

  51

  51

  54

  York UA

  83

  77

  83

  83

  93

  93

  93

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  2,151

  2,170

  2,212

  2,211

  2,259

  2,265

  2,280

  Male

  City of York PCA

  22

  24

  28

  25

  27

  28

  29

  York UA

  44

  43

  45

  44

  49

  49

  50

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,163

  1,178

  1,202

  1,197

  1,208

  1,221

  1.233

  Female

  City of York PCA

  22

  21

  20

  20

  24

  24

  25

  York UA

  39

  34

  38

  39

  44

  43

  43

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  988

  993

  1,010

  1,014

  1,051

  1,044

  1,047

  Source:

  ONS—Labour Force survey.

  Allergy Relief Products
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the VAT rate on allergy relief products was in each year between 1974 and 1996; and if he will make a statement; [188933]
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  Year

  Proportion rejected by value Percentage

  1998–99

  1.3

  1999–00

  0.9

  2000–01

  0.2

  2001–02

  0.8

  2002–03

  3.0

  2003–04

  0.4

  2004–05 (to date)

  6.9

  Employment (Yorkshire)
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) men and(b) women were in work in (i) City of York parliamentary constituency, (ii) City of York Council area and (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber in (A) May 1997 and (B) each May since then. [188954]

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

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 16 September 2004:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many(a) men and(b) women were in work in (i) City of York Parliamentary Constituency, (ii) City of York Council area and (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber in (A) May 1997 and (B) each year since. I am replying in his absence. (188954)

  The attached table gives the estimates of people in employment by gender in the City of York Parliamentary Constituency, York Unitary Authority and Yorkshire & Humberside region for the twelve months ending February each year from 1997 to 2004.

  As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are subject to sampling variability. In particular, for smaller areas such as York Parliamentary Consistency, changes in the estimates from year to year may arise from sampling fluctuations and the pattern of change over a run of years should be considered rather than changes in individual years.

  (2) if he will apply a zero VAT rate on allergy relief products; and if he will make a statement. [189151]

  John Healey
  Allergy relief products prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a registered pharmacist have been VAT zero-rated since VAT was introduced in 1973.
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  Allergy relief products administered to patients in the course of medical care or treatment in a clinic or hospital have always been exempt from VAT.

  A number of specific zero rates are available for goods designed specially for use by chronically sick or disabled people. Many allergy sufferers are not chronically sick or disabled; however, these reliefs may apply to allergy relief products in certain limited circumstances.

  Since the introduction VAT, in the UK, allergy relief products supplied in all other circumstances are liable to VAT at the standard rate which, since 1 April 1991, has been 17.5 per cent. Prior to that, the standard rate of VAT was as follows: from 1 April 1973–10 per cent.; from 29 July 1974–8 per cent.; from 18 June 1979–15 per cent.

  Long-standing formal agreements with our European partners allow us to keep our existing VAT zero rates, but do not allow us to extend them or introduce any new ones. It is therefore not possible to extend the scope of our zero rates to allergy relief products which do not currently benefit from zero-rating.

  Civil Service (Job Losses)
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which services within his Department will be(a) affected by and(b) subject to job losses consequent on the cuts in the civil service announced in the Spending Review. [189632]

  Mr. Boateng
  Full details of the workforce changes announced in the Spending Review are being worked through, and we are consulting all stakeholders including unions and staff.

  Departments will come forward in due course with details of workforce changes once plans are finalised.

  Diesel (Taxation)
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of taxation per litre is on diesel produced naturally from used cooking oil. [189292]

  John Healey
  The duty rate for diesel produced from biomass or waste cooking oil and used as a road fuel is 27.10 pence per litre providing that it meets the specification for biodiesel as set out in HM Customs and Excise Public Notice 179E "Biodiesel and Bioblend". If it does not meet the specification, it is dutied as a fuel substitute at the same rate as ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) which is 47.10 pence per litre.

  Milk Tokens
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many eligible claimants of tax credit have been waiting for over six months for their milk tokens. [189279]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue provides the Department of Health (DoH) with monthly extracts from its database of people who, on the basis of information they report to the Revenue as tax credits claimants, are entitled to milk tokens.
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  The number of cases for which such notification to DoH is delayed for six months after the calculation of the award is thought to be very small. I understand from DoH that they currently have no delays in issuing milk tokens to eligible claimants based on data supplied by the Revenue.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on 22 July on the value of applications made to the Crown Estate's Research Committee. [189472]

  Mr. Timms
  I did so on 14 September 2004,Official Report, column 1508W.

  Tax Collection (Costs)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of collection of(a) national insurance,(b) income tax,(c) capital gains tax and(d) inheritance tax was in each year since 1997. [189430]

  Dawn Primarolo
  For years up to and including 2001–02, the costs of collecting income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax and national insurance contributions can be found on page 45 of the Inland Revenue Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2002 (published in December 2002). Figures for 2002–03 are contained within Appendix 2 of the Inland Revenue Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2003 (published in December 2003).

  Tax Credit
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken to ensure that the Inland Revenue's computer system is able to cope with the complexity of tax credit claims and payments; how many overpayments of tax credit have been made in the current financial year; what the value of those overpayments is; and how many overpayments are subject to recovery. [188897]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The new IT systems for tax credits have been introduced as planned and are delivering the processes for finalising tax credit awards for 2003–04 and renewing claims for 2004–05. Information about the number of overpayments in relation to 2004–05 tax credits awards will be available after those awards are finalised.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the tax credit appeal by the constituent of the hon. Member for Birkenhead, Mr. Matthew Morrison of Beckwith Street, Birkenhead, lodged on 19 April, will be heard. [189280]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue aims to settle tax credit appeals by agreement with the customer, wherever possible. For appeals that go to tribunal, the Appeals Service aims to hear cases within 12 weeks of receipt of a submission. The Inland Revenue wrote to Mr Morrison about his case on 24 August 2004.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value is of tax credit overpayments not recovered because the Inland Revenue accept that the
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  overpayment arose because of a mistake by the Inland Revenue and the person could reasonably have thought their award was right. [187842]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The information requested for 2003–04 awards is not yet available.

  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value is of compensation awarded for tax credit errors made by the Inland Revenue. [187844]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Compensation payments can be made for mistakes or unreasonable delays. For payments during 2003–04, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton South (Mr. Tynan) and to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 20 July 2004,Official Report, columns 190–91W.

  Later payments up to the end of August 2004 totalled £570,000.

  Mr. John Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement regarding the performance of the Tax Credits Office at Preston, and in particular its Disputes Team, with reference to the case of a constituent of Onslow Crescent in Solihull whose name has been communicated to him. [189159]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Tax Credit Office (TCO) aims to reply to 80 per cent. of complaints within 15 working days and is on line to achieve this target this year.

  The TCO is in contact with the hon. Member and his constituent about his constituent's claim.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Abandoned Vehicles
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research has been conducted on the number of vehicles being abandoned; and if she will make a statement.[188724]

  Mr. Morley
  The most recent data on the numbers of vehicles being abandoned in England has been collated through Defra's Municipal Waste Management Survey of 2002–03 and the Abandoned Vehicle Survey of 2002–03. Although these show an increase in the total amount of abandoned vehicles, the trend has significantly slowed since 2001–02.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abattoirs in the UK are licensed to kill over 30 month old cattle. [188491]

  Alun Michael
  There are currently 20 abattoirs in the UK contracted to slaughter cattle for the over 30 months scheme.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether cattle over 30 months may be transported to slaughter in the same lorry as those under 30 months. [188494]
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  Alun Michael
  Cattle over 30 months can be transported to slaughter in the same lorry as those under 30 months, providing that all necessary animal movement and welfare legislation is adhered to.

  Apples
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what special programmes are it place to support and encourage apple growing in England. [186287]

  Alun Michael
  There are no programmes specifically to subsidise apple growing, but, Defra funds a substantial research and development programme of benefit to apple and other fruit growers. Growers are also eligible for assistance under the England Rural Development Programme. In particular, Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme funds the conservation of about two-thirds of England's traditional orchards.

  Bastroe Channel
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2004,Official Report, column 1340W, on the Bastroe Channel, what the findings were of the independent environmental impact assessment of the Bastroe Channel project by experts appointed by the Council of Europe. [187615]

  Mr. Morley
  The report of the independent on the spot appraisal conducted on behalf of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention on 22–24 July 2004 will propose that the Standing Committee make the following recommendations to the Government of Ukraine:-

  1. to immediately suspend ongoing works in the Bystre canal estuary and abandon implementation of phase two of the project, for the purpose of preventing any significant modification of natural habitats of species listed in appendices I and II of the Convention and settled in the neighbouring maritime and shoreline areas; to carry out in-depth monitoring in physical and biological terms of the evolution of the Bystre estuary and canal;

  2. to act on the recommendations set out in the UNESCO/Ramsar appraisal report (October 2003), which called for a fuller and more in-depth environmental impact study, analysing and comparing the costs to the public of the possible alternatives and the consequences of the works at transfrontier level;

  3. to organise an international workshop in autumn 2004, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, with a view to drawing up a strategic plan for the sustainable development of the Vilkova region. This event, held at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Ukraine, should bring together. alongside the ministries responsible inter alia for regional planning, environment, tourism and transport, representatives of scientific bodies (Academy of Scienc es, Kyiv University, Institute of Ecology etc), local authorities (municipality of Vilkova) and local NGOs, as well as the main international organisations concerned by the project (MAB/UNESCO, Bonn/AEWA, Bern, Ramsar conventions and ICPDR).

  invite the other two countries signatory to the trilateral agreement on cooperation in the natural reserves of the Danube delta and lower reaches of the Prut, namely Moldova and Romania, to participate in this event.

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  5. to ask for the assistance of international organisations to draw up this plan, in particular WWF International and IUCN, and that of the multi lateral lensing agencies for its implementation (EU, EBRD, World Bank etc);

  6. to reinforce protection of the active part of the delta by including the delta isle of Limba, located close to the mouth of the Chilia arm, right bank, in the core zone of the biosphere reserve, as well as the habitats of major ecological interest, lying to the south of Vilkova and currently included in the reserve's buffer and transit zones.

  It is expected that the Bureau of the Standing Committee, meeting this month, will request that this report be placed on the agenda of the Standing Committee annual meeting on 29 November for consideration, together with a draft recommendation which the Standing Committee will be invited to adopt.

  Chemicals Regulation
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessments she has made of the effect on the number of experiments on animals of the new REACH regulations; and if she will make a statement. [187479]

  Alun Michael
  The EU proposal on REACH requires information to be gathered on chemicals in order to provide the basis for protecting human health and the environment. This information may come from a number of sources, one of which is animal testing. The Commission has estimated that this draft Regulation will require data to be gathered on approximately 30,000 chemicals. Of these, 20,000 are thought to be produced or imported in quantities of less than 10 tonnes. At this tonnage the current Commission proposal requires 25 animals per chemical, although it should be remembered that in most cases the tests are expected to demonstrate that the chemical concerned is safe and therefore involves no threat to humans or animals. It is a key objective of the UK Government's work on REACH to keep animal testing to a minimum. Discussions are continuing on that basis.

  The Commission proposal would require further data as tonnage increases to reflect the greater potential human and environmental exposure. The tests performed need to comply with the relevant requirements for the protection of laboratory animals set out in Directive 86/609/EEC where, among other things, methods used must be refined in such a way as to minimise the amount of suffering caused to the animals concerned. Further, the chemical industry already has some of this data and there are other sources of information such as modelling of data and grouping of chemicals to read-across data from one chemical to another, all of which will reduce the amount of new testing that will be required. If recent experience from a major testing programme in the USA were to be duplicated in Europe, the number of new animal tests that will need to be undertaken will be significantly lower than the estimates talked about to date.

  It is an overall objective, for the UK Government, in negotiating this Regulation, to ensure that animal testing is kept to the minimum necessary to protect human health and the environment. One of the ways we aim to do this is by applying an intelligent approach to testing.
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  The Government welcomes the Commission's efforts to minimise animal testing and recognises that several provisos have been included in the legislative proposal to encourage maximum use of existing data, avoid duplication of testing and use alternative methods wherever appropriate.

  CITES
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; and what steps the Government can take to influence the EU position on CITES. [188117]

  Mr. Morley
  The UK has always sought to maintain a balanced approach to CITES issues—basing its decisions on sound science. This means promoting worthwhile and practicable conservation measures while upholding the principle of sustainable development. The views of the UK Government on these issues are widely respected both within the EU and CITES as a whole, and as such have been, and continue to be, very influential in shaping the EU position on CITES issues.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the resumption of a legal ivory trade; and what representations she has made to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on this issue. [188119]

  Mr. Morley
  The UK Government and the other EU member states take the view that no decision on commercial trade in ivory should be taken outside the framework agreed at the last Conference of CITES Parties in Santiago. This allowed for a one-off sale of ivory stocks held by Botswana, Namibia and South Africa subject to certain strict conditions, which have yet to be met.

  It is our view that it would be inappropriate to consider any wider resumption in the commercial trade in ivory until there has been a proper assessment of the wider impact of this proposed one-off sale. This is therefore the line that the UK and other member states will take at the forthcoming CITES conference in Bangkok.

  CITES

    Combined Heat and Power
    Richard Younger-Ross
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which combined heat and power plants she has visited in her official capacity. [187579]

    Mr. Morley
    None. Ministers and officials all meet regularly with the Combined Heat and Power Association and members of the industry. Departmental Ministers have visited a number of CHP schemes.

    Richard Younger-Ross
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will give further details of the very serious challenges to be overcome highlighted in her foreword to the Combined Heat and Power Strategy. [187580]
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    Mr. Morley
    The Strategy details a range of interventions in the market to help support CHP which, by their very nature, are needed to overcome the challenges ahead. We recognise the current unfavourable economic climate for CHP, which largely results from high gas prices and low electricity prices. We are therefore not complacent and will continue to monitor progress towards the CHP target and work in active partnership with industry to ensure delivery of the Strategy.

    Cormorant Predation
    Mr. Salter
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2004,Official Report, column 1084, on cormorant predation, what additional measures will be introduced to help angling clubs and fishing owners protect fish stock in freshwater fisheries from cormorant predation. [189283]

    Mr. Bradshaw
    After careful consideration of cormorant population dynamics and modelling I am announcing a new strategy to help fishery owners and angling interests deal with the problems caused by cormorants.

    A revised licensing system will make it simpler to apply for licences to cull cormorants where serious damage to fisheries can be shown. The new system will presume that where significant numbers of cormorants are present at a site, and it is clear that these are feeding on fish stocks, serious damage is occurring, or there is a risk of serious damage. However this will continue to be confirmed on a case-by-case basis, to ensure that Defra is satisfied that there is no other solution in accordance with the law, and to ensure that there are significant numbers of cormorants feeding which are causing, or are likely to cause, serious damage, Defra will continue its research into non-lethal methods of managing cormorant populations. Further work will be undertaken, in the near future, to test the applicability of fish refuges, optimise their design and to determine their most cost-effective spatial arrangement for them in still waters, as well as looking at ways to resolve problems in rivers.

    The licensing system will be made simpler in the following ways
    Licences will be:
    Issued for a period of up to two years;
    Revoked or amended by Defra as necessary;
    Issued between 31 August and 15 April;
    Issued in advance to prevent problems occurring;
    Issued without an assessor's visit unless it is a new licence application or where circumstances have significantly changed. Every site will be visited at least once every two years, with site visits being undertaken more often if this is considered necessary;
    Licences can be amended by telephone, fax or by email

    We will also ensure that the Environment Agency and other Defra agencies are aware of the changes and encouraged to follow permitted procedures where appropriate.

    In addition to the measures above, where it is necessary to protect salmon and sea trout smolts, we will be prepared to issue licences to kill birds during the smolt run up to 1 May This extension will also apply to
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    protect designated spawning sites, such as gravel shallows on rivers, for appropriate species of fish and fisheries. In addition those sites planning fresh stockings of fish in still waters will be able to obtain licences where such fish would be particularly vulnerable to attack.

    The new licensing system is expected to lead to an increase in the number of cormorants culled. Mathematical modelling by the Central Science Laboratory suggests that the overall cormorant population would be reduced but would stabilise at a number significantly higher than its historic level. We will ensure that the cormorant population will be monitored through a refined Wetland Bird Survey count and, if necessary, the number of licences reduced in future years to ensure the stabilisation of the population.

    The consequences of the new policy will be assessed on an annual basis and the number of cormorants allowed to be killed under licence adjusted as necessary to ensure stabilisation of the population. Defra will cease to issue licences for a period, and may consider revocation or suspension of licences currently issued, should the cormorant population not respond in the manner predicted. This will provide an added safety mechanism and will protect the conservation status of the bird, (as required under the Birds Directive), while providing enough flexibility to resolve fishery problems.

    Council of Ministers
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a written ministerial statement outlining the key points on the agenda for each of the Council of Ministers' meetings at which her Department is represented in advance of each meeting; [188190]

    (2) if she will make a written ministerial statement outlining for each meeting of the Council of Ministers at which her Department is represented as soon as is practicable following that meeting of(a) the key items of discussion,(b) the positions of the Government on those items,(c) the key positions taken by other member states that Ministers consider should be noted by hon. Members and(d) any preliminary discussion on the timing and the agenda of the following meeting. [188191]

    Alun Michael
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 13 September 2004,Official Report, column 1451W.

    Designated Accommodation
    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many rooms are set aside for(a) the use of smokers,(b) worship, broken down by religion and(c) nursing mothers and pregnant women in each building and set of offices for which her Department is responsible. [187317]

    Alun Michael
    The implementation of these policies is decentralised so details are not readily available for the whole Defra estate. But the information for the Department's major headquarters sites in London,
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    Guildford and York and for the site of the Rural Development Service at Reading is as follows:

    Smoking

    Worship

    Nursing/pregnant

    9 Millbank

    1—

    First aid room

    First aid room

    Cromwell House

    1

    First aid room

    First aid room

    Eastbury House

    1

    First aid room

    First aid room

    Ergon House

    1

    First aid room

    First aid room

    1a Page Street

    1

    First aid room

    1

    Nobel House

    1

    First aid room

    First aid room

    Whitehall Place East

    1

    First aid room

    First aid room

    Guildford

    4

    1

    First aid room

    Reading

    1

    On request

    —

    York

    3

    On request

    1

    1 Shares facility with Nobel House.

    In the interests of providing a healthy working environment, Defra pursues a non-smoking policy in the workplace but provides smoking rooms wherever possible. The Department is committed to policies of equal opportunity and tolerance and responds to the needs of religious worship where this is required (for the Christian Fellowship, for Ramadan or for private contemplation for example). Also any, conference room or meeting room can be booked for the purpose of religious observance. Similarly Defra seeks to serve the needs of nursing and expectant mothers. At smaller sites, provision for worship and nursing mothers is often combined with other facilities such as quiet rooms or first aid rooms for reasons of practicality and cost effectiveness.

    Farming
    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the farms in Essex which are predominantly(a) dairy and(b) cattle and sheep. [188726]

    Alun Michael
    As at the June 2003 Agricultural Census there were 33 holdings that were predominantly dairy and 396 that were predominantly cattle and sheep in Essex.

    These figures include the unitary authorities of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea. The Agricultural Statistics Act 1979 prevents the disclosure of the addresses of these holdings.

    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance will be offered to farmers who have suffered crop loss and crop value loss owing to weather conditions during harvest this year; and if she will make a statement. [187970]

    Alun Michael
    It is clear that there have been difficulties during one of the wettest harvest periods on record, particularly in some parts of the country. Defra officials had a detailed meeting with representatives of the NFU on 1 September where it was agreed that the position is still evolving and it would not be possible to establish an overall position for another 10 to 14 days. Until there is a fuller picture, it is not clear whether any measures to alleviate the situation would be warranted. Follow-up meetings are planned between my officials and industry representatives to discuss the issue.
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    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the single farm payment on(a) dairy farmers,(b) cattle farmers and(c) sheep farmers in farms located within land designated as (i) moorland within the upland severely disadvantaged area and (ii) other land within the upland severely disadvantaged area; and if she will make a statement. [186559]

    Alun Michael
    Defra's assessment of the likely impact of the Single Payment is available on the website at: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/capreform/implementation/docs/webnoterev16.pdf

    This includes information concerning the impact on farms of different types and farms within the Less Favoured Areas and I am placing a hard copy of the information in the Library of the House.

    Foot and Mouth
    Mr. Yeo
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the evidential basis was for the conclusion in the report, Origin of the UK Foot and Mouth Disease Epidemic in 2001, that the February 2001 UK outbreak and the September 2000 South African outbreak had a common origin rather than the South African outbreak being the origin of the UK outbreak; and if she will publish the results of the phylogenetic analyses which were undertaken; [183398]

    (2) what outbreaks of the foot and mouth virus have been identified by the Government as providing a plausible common origin for the February 2001 UK outbreak and the September 2000 South African outbreak; [183399]

    (3) if she will publish the results of further analyses of the genome sequences of isolates from the February 2001 UK and the September 2000 South African foot and mouth disease outbreaks and their likely origins, performed since the publication of the report on the Origin of the UK Foot and Mouth Disease Epidemic in 2001; [183400]

    (4) whether a foot and mouth disease outbreak isolate with a closer phylogenetic relationship to the February 2001 UK outbreak than the September 2000 South African outbreak has been identified. [183402]

    Margaret Beckett
    The conclusion, in the report of the Origin UK Foot and Mouth Disease Epidemic in 2001, that the UK and South African epidemics are likely to arise from a common origin, rather than the South African outbreak being the source for the UK outbreak, is based on knowledge of the history of the disease pattern and control measures in place in both countries rather than any direct evidence from phylogenetic analyses. The detailed evidence for this conclusion is set out clearly in the main body and annexes 5 and 6 of the report published by my Department in June 2002. The report may be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/inquiries/lessons/fmdorigins.pdf.

    Phylogenetic analyses alone cannot attribute causal relationships between outbreaks and can only provide data on the similarity between isolates. The following

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    two papers have been published on the possible origin of the UK 2001 outbreak. They include details of the phylogenetic analyses, the first comparing only VP1 sequence data and the second on the complete genome sequences:
    Knowles, N.J., Samuel, A.R., Davies, P.R., Kitching, R.P. and Donaldson, A.I. (2001). Outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype O in the UK caused by a pandemic strain.Veterinary Record 148: 258–259.
    Mason, P.W., Pacheco, J.M., Zhao, Q.-Z. and Knowles, N.J. (2003). Comparisons of the complete genomes of Asian, African and European isolates of a recent foot-and-mouth disease virus type O pandemic strain (PanAsia).Journal of General Virology 84: 1583–1593.

    No viruses have been submitted to the World Reference Laboratory (WRL) for foot and mouth disease which have a closer relationship to either the South Africa 2000 or the UK 2001 than these two viruses have to each other. The most closely related virus that is in the WRL collection to these viruses originated from Japan in 2000. However, as indicated above, this should not be taken to indicate a causal relationship between the Japanese and other isolates. Due to the widespread distribution of the pan-Asia strain and its limited genetic diversity, phylogenetic analysis is unlikely to provide further information on any possible common origin for the UK and South African outbreaks.

    Copies of the two scientific papers referred to above will be placed in the Library of the House.

    Fuel Poverty
    Chris Ruane
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much public money was spent in insulating and improving heating in(a) elderly and(b) low income homes in each of the last 25 years. [186107]

    Mr. Morley
    Since the establishment of Defra in June 2001, the Warm Front scheme, which provides a range of insulation and heating measures to private households in England, has spent approximately £296.6 million. Of this, around £220 million has been spent on the elderly.

    The Energy Saving Trust, which is grant funded by my Department, also provides support to local authorities to run local energy efficiency programmes.

    GM Crops
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is her policy to ensure co-existence measures between GM and non-GM crops are in place before supporting the addition to Europe's common catalogue of seeds varieties of GM maize. [188756]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 13 September 2004]: It is the Government's clear policy to introduce measures on the issue of the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops before commercial cultivation takes place in the UK.
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    We do not expect commercial cultivation of GM crops in the UK before 2008. The recent decision to add 17 varieties of GM maize to the EU Common Catalogue of seed varieties does not alter this as the varieties in question are not appropriate for cultivation in UK conditions.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on recent decisions of the European Commission relating to plans for commercial growing of 17 different varieties of GM maize, as submitted by Monsanto. [188308]

    Mr. Morley
    The European Commission has approved the addition of 17 varieties of GM maize to the EU Common Catalogue of seed varieties. The Common Catalogue is an amalgam of individual member states national seed lists and it is a routine procedure for varieties on individual national seed lists to be added to the Catalogue. These 17 varieties are already on either the national seed lists of France or Spain.

    The 17 maize varieties all contain the same GM transformation event which confers resistance to the European corn borer. This GM event was given EU wide approval for commercial cultivation in 1998, and maize varieties containing this GM event have been grown in Spain since then.

    While adding these varieties to the EU common catalogue means they could theoretically be grown in the UK it is not expected that any farmer in the UK will attempt to grow them. This is because these varieties are very late maturing and in UK conditions they would not produce a crop with anything like the feed value that livestock farmers require from maize. Nor would they ripen to produce a grain crop. In addition the pest to which the maize varieties are designed to be resistant is not a problem in the UK. We understand that Monsanto do not intend to offer these seed varieties for sale in the UK.

    Harvest
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from(a) farmers in the Vale of York and(b) farmers elsewhere in England regarding the impact of the bad weather in August on the harvest; and what measures her Department proposes to take to alleviate the situation. [187560]

    Alun Michael
    The Department has received representations from farming interests and Defra officials had a detailed meeting with representatives of the NFU. It is clear that there have been difficulties during one of the wettest harvest periods on record particularly in some parts of the country. However, it was agreed at the meeting that the position is still evolving and it would not be possible to establish an overall position um it there is a fuller picture to establish whether any measures to alleviate the situation would be warranted. The Department is in close touch with the industry and the EU Commission on this issue.

    Hazardous Waste
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2004,Official Report, column 1298W, on hazardous waste, how many landfill sites are able to accept hazardous waste. [185612]

    Mr. Morley
    Currently, there are 11 merchant dedicated hazardous waste landfill sites (which would receive hazardous waste on a commercial basis accepting hazardous waste). Of these six are operating under PPC permit and five are operating under current Waste Management Licence (WML).There are eight in-house dedicated hazardous waste landfill sites (which are used to dispose of waste from their own operations such as factory process waste) accepting hazardous waste. Of these two are operating under PPC permit and six under WML. Finally, there are 13 non-hazardous sites each with a separate cell for stable non-reactive hazardous waste accepting hazardous in the separate cells. Of these two are operating under PPC permits and 11 under WML.

    Some sites have been issued with PPC permits but are not yet operational usually due to sites undergoing engineering/construction (approximately nine sites). In addition, there are a number of applications pending.

    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many hazardous waste dumping incidents were reported to the Environment Agency in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by region. [188095]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 13 September 2004]: The Environment Agency reports the data broken down by Agency Regional boundaries and is available for the calendar years 2001–04. The table shows the total numbers of incidents of deposits involving hazardous materials on land and in water, recorded in each of the years for each region. Data for 2004 are for the year to date.

    Region

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    Anglian

    90

    89

    117

    66

    EA Wales

    29

    54

    61

    45

    Midlands

    128

    120

    78

    47

    North East

    88

    106

    143

    112

    North West

    86

    48

    74

    38

    South West

    44

    70

    36

    33

    Southern

    75

    62

    65

    49

    Thames

    58

    83

    90

    43

    Total

    598

    632

    664

    433

    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the postponement of the meeting of the Hazardous Waste Forum that was due to take place on 3 September. [188094]

    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Hazardous Waste Forum meeting, due for 3 September, was cancelled; and on what date the meeting will now take place. [188755]
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    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 13 September 2004]The chair of the forum suffered a bereavement in the week before the meeting, necessitating her absence, and there were no other senior officials available to take her place. All members were given over a week's notice of the cancellation, and in the process, the secretariat sought views of the forum on the need for a further meeting before the next planned one at the end of November.

    In the light of comments from a minority of members, a further, likely smaller scale, meeting of the forum is being rescheduled for 11 October. In the meantime the Department continues to maintain regular contact with stakeholders on the forum. The secretariat for the forum has specifically requested feedback from its members on any pressing regulatory or other issues since 16 July which need to be shared with the forum, or discussed at the 11 October meeting.

    Illegal Fly-tipping
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government recommend against those guilty of illegal fly-tipping; and what discussions she has had with the Environment Agency on policy implementation. [188406]

    Mr. Morley
    The illegal disposal of waste, or fly-tipping, is a serious criminal offence. The current penalties for those found guilty of this offence is a maximum fine of up to £20,000 and two years imprisonment for incidents involving non-hazardous waste and unlimited fines and five years imprisonment for incidents involving hazardous waste. The Government is currently consulting on proposals as part of the Clean Neighbourhoods consultation to increase these penalties.

    The Government would like to see the Environment Agency and local authorities take more effective action to prevent and detect fly-tipping and to prosecute those responsible. We are developing, in close consultation with the Agency and local authorities, a whole range of measures to support this strategy and to aid the Agency and local authorities in implanting our policy.

    My officials frequently discuss the implementation of Government policy with Environment Agency officials, and Ministers also discuss issues at regular bi-lateral meetings.

    Landfill
    Mr. Yeo
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many waste landfill sites have applied for a hazardous waste site permit. [183404]

    Margaret Beckett
    30 sites have applied for a hazardous waste landfill site PPC permit. This number comprises 18 merchant sites (which would receive hazardous waste on a commercial basis) and 12 in-house sites (which are used to dispose of waste from their own operations such as factory process waste), and includes those sites for which a permit has been refused.
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    In addition, there are 44 sites that have applied for a PPC permit to build a cell that can accept stabilised non-reactive hazardous waste in a non-hazardous landfill site.

    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much methane gas per year is produced by landfill sites in England; how much is put to use; and what plans she has to increase this latter figure. [187548]

    Mr. Morley
    In a report commissioned by Defra it is estimated that in 2000, approximately 660,000 tonnes of methane was emitted from UK landfills, accounting for 27 per cent. of the total methane released from the UK.

    The amount of methane that is used has significantly increased over the last five years and information held by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) indicates that there is currently 612,674 KW installed capacity at a total of 269 UK landfill gas power stations. This is out of a potential capacity that could be readily exploited for utilisation of approximately 800,000 KW.

    The proportion of methane in landfill gas that is used has increased in response to two main drivers and is expected to continue to increase. These drivers are:

    (i) The Landfill Regulations (England and Wales) 2002

    These regulations require landfill operators to collect, treat and use landfill gas (e.g. electricity generation) to the extent possible. The requirements for improved landfill gas management form an important part of new landfill permits being permitted by the Environment Agency in accordance with the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) regulatory regime.

    (ii) The Renewables Obligation

    As part of its revised policy for renewable energy in the UK, the Government introduced the Renewables Obligation for England and Wales. This Obligation requires power suppliers to derive a specified proportion of the electricity they supply to their customers from renewable resources and includes strong financial incentives for suppliers. Landfill gas currently provides approximately one-quarter of the UK's installed generating capacity for renewable power.

    Light Pollution
    Chris Ruane
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints concerning light pollution were received by each local authority in England in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [187574]

    Alun Michael
    Data on complaints about light pollution are not collected by central Government.

    The Government are consulting through the Clean Neighbourhoods consultation on proposals to broaden the scope of the statutory nuisance regime in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to include artificial light. To be a statutory nuisance, it would have to be emitted from premises and be prejudicial to health or a nuisance. The closing date for responses to the consultation is 24 September 2004.

    Lions
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department will oppose the proposed ban on the international trade of lion trophies and skins; and if she will make a statement. [188060]

    Mr. Morley
    The UK, in common with the other EU member states, is currently maintaining an open position on this matter and would like to explore the scope for an agreed solution with the range states before coming to a final decision.

    Ministerial Air Travel
    Mr. Paul Marsden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list for each year since 1997 the number of miles flown by each Minister in her Department on official departmental business. [181873]

    Margaret Beckett
    The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for 2003–04 is currently being assembled and will be published shortly. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

    Planning Policy Statement 22
    Mr. Gray
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether Planning Policy Statement 22 was subject to rural proofing by her Department. [188461]

    Alun Michael
    The question appears to be based on a misapprehension about rural proofing. It is the responsibility of each Government department to rural proof its policies, and this principle is included in current guidance on regulatory impact assessment. Defra officials are able to provide rural evidence and guidance in support of this while I meet Ministers regularly to help the process along.

    Defra officials made a substantial contribution to the consultation on Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy and its accompanying Good Practice Guide. By working closely with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, we have ensured that PPS22 gives appropriate guidance on considerations of landscape and biodiversity alongside strong support for the development of renewable energy resources.

    PR Costs
    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the salary costs to the Department were for employees working in public relations and publicity in each year since 1997. [183853]
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    Alun Michael
    Defra was formed in June 2001. Figures on expenditure on public relations and publicity by all sections of Defra are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However the salary costs for staff employed on the full range of communications activities by the Communications Directorate of the Department since its formation in June 2001 were:

    Month

    £million

    2001–02

    10

    2.5

    2002–03

    12

    4.1

    2003–04

    12

    3.5

    Private Sewers
    Paddy Tipping
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the adoption of private sewers following her consultation on the recommendations contained in the W. S. Atkins Report. [188085]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 13 September 2004]: The Department plans to publish a response to the consultation in the early autumn. This will summarise responses, give the Government's views and set out the issues that need to be addressed before a final decision can be made. A decision paper should be published early next year.

    Recycling
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what amounts of(a) waste cooking fats and(b) batteries were disposed of in each of the last three years; how much of each was recycled; what plans she has to increase those figures; and if she will make a statement. [187549]

    Mr. Morley
    There are no precise figures for the amount of waste cooking fats disposed of or recycled. However, it is estimated that between 70,000 to 90,000 tonnes of used cooking oil is collected each year for use in animal feed. The remainder goes to incineration at energy plants.

    Between 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes of used cooking oil going to animal feed comes from catering premises. However, from 1 November 2004, this use will be prohibited under the terms of the Animal By-Products Regulation (Regulation EC No. 1774/2002). It is thought that other markets, including the growing bio-diesel industry, will absorb this stream of used cooking oil. In the short-term, these alternative markets are likely to be elsewhere in the EU. A Cabinet Office sponsored working group, including industry representatives from the various potential markets for used cooking oil, is considering current and potential UK capacity for domestic use of used cooking oil.

    No precise data for the recycling of end of life automotive batteries are currently collected. However, discussions with the battery manufacturing and distributing sector, and the lead recycling industry, suggest that in 2002 and 2003, the UK recycled over 90 per cent. of spent automotive batteries. In each year, an estimated 7.5 million automotive batteries entered
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    the waste stream. In 2002, the UK sold 25,100 tonnes of consumer batteries but only 125 tonnes were collected separately and sent for recycling.

    The proposed forthcoming batteries Directive will ensure that recycling levels for all types of portable battery increase. Collection and recycling targets will have to be met four years from transposition date and the UK will have 18 months to transpose the Directive after it is agreed. There has been a significant increase in the number of local authorities introducing battery collection schemes and G&P Batteries will be opening a recycling plant for portable primary batteries in 2005.

    Refrigerators
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the principal factors behind failures to recover all potential ozone depleting substances from refrigeration units. [187022]

    Mr. Morley
    A significant but highly variable proportion of the original ozone depleting substance (ODS) within a refrigerant unit will have been lost during the working life of the appliance. The failure of the coolant system and consequent loss of ODS is one of the reasons why refrigeration units may be discarded by householders.

    The licence conditions for storage and treatment facilities of refrigeration units include measures that will minimise the loss of ODS, but further losses may occur during the extraction of the coolant (known as phase 1 degassing), as even the best equipment and procedures will not remove 100 per cent. of the coolant. Other sources of loss may include inappropriate transportation/handling or accidents/vandalism at storage facilities.

    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much CFC12 has been recovered from(a) refrigeration circuits and(b) refrigeration unit foams since European Council Regulation No. 2037/2000 came into force; [187023]

    (2) how much CFC11 has been recovered from refrigeration unit foams since European Council Regulation No. 2037/2000 came into force. [187024]

    Mr. Morley
    The information on CFCs is not held in the form requested, as the data on the recovery of ozone depleting substances (ODS) does not distinguish between the type of ODS, or the equipment from which it was recovered.

    The following information is provided.

    The total amount of ODS including CFCs recovered from all equipment was:
    387 tonnes in 2002 and;
    494 tonnes in 2003.

    In addition, a significant number of refrigerators leave the UK for treatment—
    418,000 in 2002 and 377,000 in 2003—and it will fall to the receiving EU state to recover the associated ODS, and report upon it.

    Sustainable Development Impacts
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken by her Department to review arrangements for public reporting of sustainable development impacts. [188256]

    Mr. Morley
    The arrangements for public reporting of our progress towards sustainable development for the UK are being reviewed as part of the UK Government's consultation 'Taking it on: developing UK sustainable development strategy together'. This consultation closed on 31 July 2004. Defra, in partnership with other Government Departments, is currently considering the responses received, and we aim to launch the resulting new strategy, including a monitoring and reporting structure, next year.

    The Government also reports annually on the management of its own land and buildings in the 'Sustainable Development in Government' Report; this provides an overview of departmental progress against targets in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The Government has committed to review the framework during 2004–05.

    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements her Department has in place to report publicly on key sustainable development impacts. [188257]

    Mr. Morley
    The UK Government, with Defra as overall lead department, reports annually on its progress towards sustainable development for the UK in the 'Achieving a better quality of life' series of reports. The most recent annual report, covering our actions and progress in 2003 and including updates for the 15 headline indicators of sustainable development, was published on 16 March 2004. A wider set of 147 indicators of sustainable development 'Quality of life counts' were published at the same time. In addition the headline indicators are updated on the Government's sustainable development website, as and when new data become available. These reporting arrangements are being reviewed as part of the consultation 'Taking it on: developing UK sustainable development strategy together'.

    The Government also reports annually regarding the management of its own land and buildings in the 'Sustainable Development in Government' Report; this provides an overview of departmental progress against targets in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The last report was published in November 2003.

    Warship Dismantling (Hartlepool)
    Mr. Carmichael
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on(a) the four ghost ships moored in Hartlepool and(b) proposals for a further nine former US navy ships to be dismantled in Hartlepool. [188433]
    1676W
    Mr. Morley
    The four US ships are currently docked in Able UK's Graythorp dock on Teesside. The necessary permissions are being sought by Able UK for dismantling to take place at this location. The process of granting the permissions is not a forgone conclusion. Relevant applications will be considered and the outcome will depend upon the relevant regulators.

    In the meantime, dismantling work is prevented and the dock facility is subject to regular inspection by the Environment Agency in liaison with the Health and Safety Executive. The results of environ mental monitoring indicate that storage of the four US naval ships at the Graythorp dock has not had a detrimental impact or posed a significant threat to the environment or human health.

    There are no plans for any further US naval vessels to be towed to the UK at present. The nine ships that are currently in the US are not permitted to be moved to the UK and the US authorities have given a written undertaking that no more ships will be sent unless and until the necessary permissions are in place at the Teesside facility.

    Waste Management
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library copies of all documents relating to discussions in Cabinet Committee meetings on the granting of powers to local authorities to charge householders for the collection, processing and disposal of unsorted household waste that has reached the public domain. [188069]

    Mr. Morley
    It has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has held with companies offering technologies for differential and variable charging for waste collection and disposal; and if she will make a statement. [188071]

    Mr. Morley
    The Department has not held any discussions with companies offering technologies for differential and variable charging for waste collection and disposal.

    I have accepted an invitation from PM Group plc to visit their manufacturing facility at Bradford to see a demonstration of their waste weighing systems but, owing to other commitments, the visit has not yet taken place.

    Water Industry
    Paddy Tipping
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Fool and Rural Affairs if she will set out the latest water leakage figures, broken down by water company. [188267]
    1677W
    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 14 September 2004]: The Director General of Water Services publishes leakage figures annually in the 'Security of Supply, Leakage and the Efficient Use of Water' reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. In 2003—04 total water company leakage, in Megalitres per day, was reported as follows:

    Megalitres per day

    Anglian

    215

    Bournemouth and West Hants

    22

    Bristol

    53

    Cambridge

    14

    Dee Valley

    10

    Dwr Cymru

    230

    Folkestone and Dover

    8

    Mid Kent

    30

    Northumbrian North

    160

    Northumbrian South

    70

    Portsmouth

    30

    Severn Trent

    510

    South East

    69

    South Staffordshire

    71

    South West

    84

    Southern

    92

    Sutton and East Surrey

    24

    Tendring Hundred

    5

    Thames

    945

    Three Valleys

    150

    United Utilities

    480

    Wessex

    75

    Yorkshire

    295

    Written Briefings
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the subject and date of each written briefing prepared by her special advisers for all Labour hon. Members since May 1997; and what the total cost is to date. [184863]

    Margaret Beckett
    The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers sets out special advisers' duties and responsibilities. This includes helping to brief party MPs and officials on issues of Government policy. No central record of such briefings is maintained by the Department. Any written briefings will be distributed by the party.

  HOME DEPARTMENT

    Cultural Objects
    Mr. Don Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider his rejection of the recommendation in paragraph 36 of the First Report of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Session 2003–04, HC59, on cultural objects: developments since 2000, to introduce a performance objective for the theft of cultural objects; and if he will make a statement. [188900]

    Caroline Flint
    The reasons we set out in our joint response with the Department for Culture Media and Sport for not accepting this recommendation remain valid:1678W
    Whether thefts involve cultural items is not currently recorded by all police forces and would be difficult to do in a consistent way due to the problem of defining "cultural objects".
    We are looking to minimise the number of targets on forces to allow them more flexibility to focus on their own local problems and priorities.
    The Home Office considers that driving down the theft of cultural items is just one means to the ends of reducing organised crime and drug trafficking, rather than a target in itself.
    Setting such a target would, therefore, add to the bureaucratic demands on forces for little, if any, benefit.
    We have no plans, therefore, to review our decision.

    Al-Muhajiroun
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to monitor the activities of the Islamic group Al-Muhajiroun. [186837]

    Mr. Blunkett
    The appropriate authorities closely monitor every word and statement that AI-Muhajiroun's representatives make. We are fully aware of their activities. We have made our position very clear -Al Muhajiroun represents neither the Muslim community or their views. We absolutely reject their offensive statements, as have the vast majority of Muslims in the UK.

    Cannabis
    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effects of reclassifying cannabis from a class B to a class C drug. [186556]

    Caroline Flint
    The reclassification of cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug allows the police to focus a greater amount of resources on tackling Class A drugs, such as heroin and crack cocaine. Early indications are encouraging in terms of achieving this, but detailed figures are not yet available.

    Computer Misuse
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the action being taken by the Government to address the use of peer-to-peer computer file sharing to obtain illegal film and images of violence and sexual abuse. [188163]

    Paul Goggins
    It is illegal to publish some extreme images under the Obscene Publications Act 1959, whether by peer-to-peer or other means. The Government is currently considering whether the law relating to pornographic material featuring violence and sexual abuse should be strengthened.

    Disability Discrimination Act
    Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all prisons comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in respect of(a) prisoners,(b) staff and(c) visitors; and if he will make a statement. [187974]
    Paul Goggins
    The Prison Service is working constructively to ensure that as a service provider, it responds positively to the needs of disabled prisoners,
    1679W
    staff and visitors. A strategy document was issued to all Prison Service staff in June 2003. This explained the implications for prisons of the changes in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) due to come into effect on 1 October 2004.

    The prison estate consists of a wide variety of buildings of differing ages and security levels and therefore access for prisoners to all prisons and prison facilities poses some difficulties. However the Prison Service's policy for all prisoners is to address their needs, including disability related needs, through the sentence planning process. This will allow prisons to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that prisoners are not discriminated against.

    The Prison Service has significant experience of operating within the employment provisions of the DDA as non-operational staff have had protection since its first introduction. On 1 October, all operational staff will be covered by the DDA. Policies have been revised to ensure that the treatment for individual staff with disabilities is compliant with the employment aspects of the DDA.

    A national disability compliance audit of all Prison Service establishments from a visitors' perspective has not been undertaken. Given the potential scope of the exercise this would not be practicable. It remains the responsibility of each establishment to address the individual requirements of those with particular needs, bearing in mind resource implications and reasonableness. Establishments and Visitors' Centres remain vigilant to the fact that the interpretation of disability within the Disability Discrimination Act is wide.

    GPS Tracking Scheme
    Keith Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the new GPS tracking of offenders scheme will(a) replace and (b) complement the treatment, supervision and surveillance scheme that is in place for offenders. [188300]

    Paul Goggins
    The GPS pilot tracking schemes will not replace the treatment, supervision and surveillance schemes that are currently in place for offenders, but will complement them. Tracking technology is a way of enhancing the management of offenders on such schemes. It will give public protection agencies an added layer of information about the offender's movements and will aid intervention if they breach the requirements of their court order or release licence.

    Hate Crime
    Mr. Woodward
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government has to amend the law to protect(a) transsexuals,(b) people with learning difficulties and(c) people with disabilities from hate crime; and if he will make a statement. [186869]

    Fiona Mactaggart
    All categories of people are already protected by the criminal law. In particular they are protected from violence and threats of violence by offences such as assault, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm. They are also protected from harassment by legislation, including the Protection from Harassment Act. In sentencing for these crimes, courts 1680W
    take particular account of the vulnerability of the victim and the motivation for the crime. The Government has no plans to amend the law to apply differently or specifically to these groups of people.

    Health Information (Confidentiality)
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take to encourage sharing on a confidential basis of health information relating to residents of secure training centres between private contractors responsible for their medical services and the national health service. [188234]

    Paul Goggins
    We would encourage those involved in giving medical advice and treatment to young people in secure training centres to share information with each other as much as possible, within the requirements of the law on the confidentiality of medical records.

    Pay Systems
    Malcolm Bruce
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the most recent review of(a) his Department's pay systems,(b) the pay systems of the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and(c) the departmental equal pay action plan. [181349]

    Fiona Mactaggart
    There is no single document that could be described as a formal review of the Department's pay systems. However, there is a regular evaluation of the Department pay systems to ensure that they meet its business needs and in response to employee representative pay claims. Changes in the reward arrangements are subject to the public sector pay policy, Her Majesty's Treasury pay remit process and the normal collective bargaining with employee representatives. These changes in pay terms and conditions are then published for staff in the Department to see.

    Non-departmental public bodies have delegated authority for their pay and grading arrangements and are individually responsible for their pay systems. Again there is no single document that could be described as a formal review. Changes in pay systems are made within the context of public sector pay policy, Her Majesty's Treasury pay remit process and the normal collective bargaining with employee representatives.

    A copy of the Department's equal pay action plan will be placed in the Library.

    People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to remove the People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran from his list of terrorist organisations; and if he will make a statement. [187550]

    Mr. Blunkett
    As a matter of policy, the Government does not comment on whether a particular organisation is being considered for proscription or de-proscription under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Such decisions are only taken after the most careful consideration and on the basis of the best possible security advice.

    Prisons
    Jane Griffiths
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed reduction in the number of fire safety officers on the operation of the Prison Service. [187956]

    Paul Goggins
    The reduction of staff within Fire Safety Section is a result of reorganisation of the Section and is part of the overall headquarters efficiencies. The reduction in staff is tempered by changes in working requirements that has removed identified unnecessary work from the section. It is considered that the level of provision of advice to the Service will not be adversely affected.

    Ross Cranston
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Prison Service has spent on equal pay tribunal cases since 1997. [187959]

    Paul Goggins
    On 9 September 2004 the Prison Service had spent

    £1,034,741 since 1997 on equal pay tribunal cases.

    Ross Cranston
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many job evaluation exercises have been carried out by the Prison Service in respect of(a) administrative and(b) Prison Service staff since 1997; and what the outcome was. [187960]

    Paul Goggins
    The Prison Service introduced Phase 1 of its review of pay and grading in July 2000. Affecting 2,500 middle and senior managers, including those in administrative and operational disciplines, it replaced more than 150 existing grades with a seven-payband common structure supported by a job evaluation system.

    Development of Phase 2 of the review, which would have applied to 38,000 lower-graded staff in disciplines that included administrative and operational grades, was halted in April 2002 and the project work subsumed within pay modernisation.

    In the process of developmental work, and to date, the Prison Service has carried out 507 individual job evaluations.

    Ross Cranston
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many equal pay cases against the Prison Service at employment tribunals have found(a) for and(b) against the Service since 1997; and what the financial implications of those decisions have been. [187961]

    Paul Goggins
    On the information available, there have been findings against the Prison Service in eight equal pay claims since 1997. These findings are currently subject to appeal by the Prison Service and it is therefore not possible to provide a realistic estimate of the financial implications.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Prison Service has spent since 1997 defending employment tribunal cases in respect of equal pay claims. [188220]

    Paul Goggins
    On 9 September 2004 the Prison Service had spent £1,034,741 since 1997 defending equal pay tribunal cases.
    1682W
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Prison Service plans to review its job evaluation system in the light of recent employment tribunal cases. [188223]

    Paul Goggins
    The Prison Service uses a job evaluation system called Equate, which underpins the jobs of middle and senior managers within Phase 1 of its Pay and Grading scheme. There are no plans to review it in the light of the case of Bailey and Others v. Home Office.

    However, it is proposed to explore the need for a job evaluation scheme that can be used to evaluate jobs that do not fall within Phase 1.

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Prison Service plans to appeal against employment tribunal decisions made during the last 12 months in respect of equal pay claims between administrative support and prison officer grades. [188224]

    Paul Goggins
    The Prison Service lodged an appeal in the case of Bailey and Others v. Home Office on 26 August 2004.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many organisations which expressed an interest in drug rehabilitation work for the Prison Service have not tendered for the work. [188400]

    Paul Goggins
    Prison Service Contracts and Procurement Unit (CPU) received 57 expressions of interest in response to the public notice dated 26 November 2003. All were sent Pre-Qualifying Questionnaires (PQQ). CPU received 41 completed PQQ's by the closing date on 30 January 2004 and rejected 11 of these. Twenty-nine invitations to tender were sent on 20 May 2004 of which 24 tenders were received on 20 July 2004.

    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 22 July,Official Report, column 609W, on prisons, what assessment he has made of the effects of operating with a shortfall in the operational requirement for prison healthcare staff; what steps he is taking to address the shortage; and if he will make a statement. [187476]

    Paul Goggins
    No such assessment has been made centrally. Prison managers and primary care trusts are responsible for ensuring that an establishment's health workforce includes people with the skills and competencies necessary to implement its prison health delivery plan.

    Prostitution Initiative
    Harry Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how his Department's Prostitution Initiative affects the residents of Leyton and Wanstead. [187742]

    Caroline Flint
    On 16 July this year the Home Office published "Paying the Price", a consultation paper on the issues related to prostitution. The consultation exercise, which runs until 26 November, will form the basis for the development of a co-ordinated strategy to deal with prostitution.
    1683W
    The existence of prostitution in a neighbourhood can significantly affect local residents through associated noise and traffic, prostitution-related litter, harassment, anti-social behaviour and criminality. Through the civil and criminal law, environmental means and support for those trapped in prostitution to change their lives, a coordinated strategy for prostitution will enable local partnerships to deliver real improvements for local communities suffering the detrimental effects of prostitution in their neighbourhoods.

    Copies of "Paying the Price" have been placed in the Library and are available from the Home Office website at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/inside/consults/index

    We welcome views from my hon. Friend and his constituents.

    Rehabilitation
    Mr. Keith Bradley
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the National Rehabilitation Action Plan. [188084]

    Paul Goggins
    [holding answer 13 September 2004]: On 19 July 2004, I published the National Reducing Re-offending Action Plan. Over 60 action points have been agreed across Government, covering all the key areas to support the rehabilitation of offenders, in a concerted effort to reduce re-offending. For each agreed action point, the Plan suggests complementary activity for the consideration of those working at the regional and local level. Copies of have been placed in the Library of the House.

    Sentencing Guidelines
    Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government have assessed overseas sentencing guidelines to study the relationship between guidelines and prison capacity. [187246]

    Paul Goggins
    In taking forward its work, the Sentencing Guidelines Council will be looking at experience of sentencing guidelines in other jurisdictions and, amongst other things, their effect on the prison populations.

    Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the functions are of the Sentencing Guidelines Council's research staff. [187247]

    Paul Goggins
    The function of the Sentencing Guidelines Council's research staff is to support the Council's work in framing guidelines that take account of, amongst other things: the need to promote consistency in sentencing; the sentences imposed by courts in England and Wales for offences to which the guidelines relate; and the cost-effectiveness of different sentences in preventing re-offending.

    Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends the new guidelines system will help increase public confidence in the criminal justice system. [187248]

    Paul Goggins
    The membership of the Sentencing Guidelines Council encompasses not only sentencers but also representatives who bring experience of policing, criminal prosecution, criminal defence and the promotion of the welfare of victims of crime. The 1684W
    Council must take account of, amongst other things, the need to promote public confidence in the criminal justice system when framing or revising guidelines, and proposed guidelines will be subject to public consultation before being finalised. The courts must then apply the guidelines in all cases and give any reasons for departing from them when deciding on the sentence to be passed. This is a more collaborative and transparent system, which is open to public scrutiny, and should engender greater public confidence in sentencing practice.

    Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the effect the new guidelines system will have on sentencing policy. [187249]

    Paul Goggins
    Sentencing policy will be reflected in the sentencing guidelines. The legislation also provides for the Home Secretary at any time to ask the Council to frame or revise guidelines relating to a general matter affecting sentencing, to a particular category of offender, or to a particular offence.

    Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has(a) to commission research into public attitudes on sentencing guidelines and(b) to develop a sentencing information system to provide judges with data about sentencing in similar cases. [187250]

    Paul Goggins
    We have no current plans to commission research into public attitudes on sentencing guidelines but public consultation forms part of the process in developing guidelines. The Council will be providing sentencing data and analysis to sentencing on a regular basis, including data on sentencing patterns across the country in order to inform discussions at a local level.

    Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the main aims are of the Sentencing Guidelines Council; and what assessment has been made of when these aims will be fulfilled. [187263]

    Paul Goggins
    The Sentencing Guidelines Council is responsible for framing and revising definitive guidelines on all criminal offences, which will enable all courts to approach the sentencing of offenders from a common starting point. It will take some years to produce comprehensive guidelines and the Council will have a continuing remit to revise them as necessary.

    Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the efficiency of the two-stage sentencing guidelines process. [187264]

    Paul Goggins
    The Sentencing Advisory Panel provides advice to assist the Sentencing Guidelines Council in framing and revising sentencing and allocation guidelines. The membership of the Panel is broader than that of the Council, including academics and public representation, and consultation on its advice includes public consultation in addition to 28 statutory consultees. This ensures that the Council's deliberations on framing guidelines are informed by views from all interested parties.

    Sex Offenders
    Mr. Shepherd
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all sex offenders in the bail hostel in Aldridge will be included in the West Midlands tagging trial. [188008]

    Paul Goggins
    [holding answer 13 September 2004]: No sex offenders from this hostel will be tracked. The pilots of satellite tracking began on 2 September in Greater Manchester, Hampshire and the West Midlands. All three areas will test the technology with prolific offenders and domestic violence offenders, but only the Greater Manchester area will test the technology with sex offenders.

    Young Offenders
    Mr. Oaten
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders aged 18 to 21 were received into prison in 2003(a) under sentence,(b) unconvicted awaiting trial and(c) convicted awaiting sentence. [187232]

    Paul Goggins
    Information from the Prison Service information system records that in 2003 there were 13,261 young offenders aged 18 to 20 received into prison establishments in England and Wales under immediate custodial sentence. There were 9,013 received as untried and 8,359 received as convicted unsentenced into prison establishments in England and Wales.

    Total receptions cannot be calculated by adding together receptions in each category, because there is double counting.

    Young Offenders Institutions (Staff Checks)
    Ms Keeble
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether criminal records bureau checks are carried out on all staff working in young offenders institutions, including those operated by the private sector. [188312]

    Paul Goggins
    Prison Service policy requires the Governor of each establishment, including young offender institutions to arrange for a Criminal Records Bureau check on all those appointed to work with children under 18 years of age. These arrangements also apply to young offender institutions operated by the private sector.

  MINISTER FOR WOMEN

    Work-life Balance
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Minister for Women what recent initiatives she has taken to improve work-life balance for women. [189166]

    Ms Hewitt
    The Government introduced a package of new laws to support working mothers and their partners in April 2003, including improved maternity pay and leave and the right to request flexible working. We have actively encouraged business to adopt best practice and provide greater flexibility and choice in the workplace. We have invested in child care and continue to do so. Additional funding for Sure Start will support an additional 100,000 new child care places by 2008.

    Politics (Participation)
    Linda Perham
    To ask the Minister for Women what action she is taking to encourage teenage girls to participate in politics. [189167]

    Ms Hewitt
    I am delighted to say that "Citizenship" is now taught in all schools, as part of the National Curriculum, to develop young people's knowledge and understanding of their roles, rights and responsibilities in relation to the democratic process, including the electoral system and the importance of voting.

    The Women and Equality Unit produced last year a special resource pack for teachers and young people that includes ideas on how to cover women's equality issues in Citizenship classes.

    Gender Balance
    David Taylor
    To ask the Minister for Women what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the encouragement of a greater level of entry by women into relevant academic areas to facilitate more representative gender balance in key professional areas; and if she will make a statement. [189168]

    Jacqui Smith
    We are delighted that women are excelling and are now attaining more degrees than ever before. In 1993, 8 per cent. of women held degrees. By 2002, this had increased to 14 per cent. Around 50 per cent. of all students on law, accountancy and medicine undergraduate courses are female. However, we must not get complacent. Occupational segregation still exists. Women are still under-represented in certain sectors and senior positions. Women represent less than 25 per cent. of all managers and senior executives, and only 15 per cent. of those working in science, engineering and technology jobs. That is why earlier today my right hon. Friend was delighted to launch a new resource centre in Bradford, dedicated to promoting women in science, engineering and technology.

    Pensions
    Mr. Carmichael
    To ask the Minister for Women what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding the pension gap. [189169]

    Jacqui Smith
    We have introduced a raft of measures both to help women in retirement and to help women of working-age build better pensions. Almost all the 2.5 million carers who have benefited from the Second State Pension are women, two-thirds of those receiving pension credit are women, and the introduction of, and increases to, the national minimum wage disproportionately benefits women. We have also launched the Informed Choices for Working and Savings publication.

  SCOTLAND

    Black Watch Museum
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to visit the Black Watch Museum in Perth. [187935]
    1687W
    Mr. Darling
    I have no current plans to do so.

    Boundary Commission for Scotland
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received the final report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland. [187937]

    Mr. Darling
    I have not yet received the Fifth Periodical Report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland. As I indicated to the hon. Member on 7 September 2004,Official Report, column 940W, while the Commission has until December 2006 to report to me, in the light of its progress so far it seems likely that the report will be received much sooner than this deadline. However, the timing is a matter for the Commission.

    Business Competitiveness
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the First Minister to discuss business competitiveness in Scotland. [187934]

    Mr. Darling
    I regularly meet the First Minister and discuss a wide range of issues.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his evidence to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee on 29 June, what steps he has taken to improve the performance of his Department in responding to correspondence. [186380]

    Mrs. McGuire
    The Scotland Office annual report shows that from April 2003 to March 2004 the 15-day target for responding to correspondence was met in 81 per cent. of cases. Internal monitoring procedures are in place to ensure that the 15-day performance target is achieved where possible.

    Council of Ministers
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a written ministerial statement outlining the key points on the agenda for each of the Council of Ministers' meetings at which his Department is represented in advance of each meeting; [188194]

    (2) if he will make a written ministerial statement outlining for each meeting of the Council of Ministers at which his Department is represented as soon as is practicable following that meeting(a) the key items of discussion,(b) the positions of the Government on those items,(c) the key positions taken by other member states that Ministers consider should be noted by hon. Members and(d) any preliminary discussion on the timing and the agenda of the following meeting. [188195]

    Mrs. McGuire
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 13 September 2004,Official Report, column 1451W.

    Departmental Buildings
    John Thurso
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of electricity used by buildings in his Department has come from renewable sources in each year since 1997. [186654]
    1688W
    Mrs. McGuire
    Information in the form requested is not available.

    Departmental Expenditure
    John Thurso
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on electricity use for each year since 1997. [186655]

    Mrs. McGuire
    The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.

    Since that date electricity costs of the Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate-General are as follows:

    £

    1999–20001

    11,855

    2000–01

    22,807

    2001–02

    19,526

    2002–03

    28.439

    2003–04

    23,703

    1Part year.

    The information relates to buildings where the Scotland Office are major occupiers. Costs relating to buildings shared with the Scottish Executive are not separately identifiable.

    John Thurso
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on water and sewerage services in each year since 1997. [186656]

    Mrs. McGuire
    The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.

    Since that date water and sewerage costs of the Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate-General are as follows:

    £

    1999–20001

    1,067

    2000–01

    3,656

    2001–02

    4,221

    2002–03

    7,018

    2003–04

    11,699

    1Part year.

    The information relates to buildings where the Scotland Office are major occupiers. Costs relating to buildings shared with the Scottish Executive are not separately identifiable.

    Gershon Review
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what effect he expects the Gershon review of Civil Service manpower to have on payments to the Scottish Consolidated Fund. [186384]

    Mrs. McGuire
    The arrangements for payments to the Scottish Consolidated Fund are set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, which was published by HM Treasury in July 2004. These arrangements have not changed. In the 2004 Spending Review, the Government announced efficiency gains by departments, which will be redeployed to front line delivery following the Gershon review. It will be for the Scottish Executive to make decisions on efficiency gains in devolved areas.

    Ministerial Responsibility
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the policy decisions he has made as Secretary of State for Scotland and Transport; [186381]

    (2) if he will list the policy issues on which he has responsibility both as Secretary of State for Scotland and Secretary of State for Transport [186382]

    Mr. Darling
    My policy responsibilities for Transport and for Scotland are set out in the Annual Reports from the Department for Transport and Scotland Office. Naturally within each area I give due consideration to the full range of my responsibilities when reaching decisions on policy.

    Scottish Executive Secondees
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff in his Department are on secondment from the Scottish Executive. [187936]

    Mrs. McGuire
    There are presently 56 staff on loan to the Scotland Office from the Scottish Executive. In addition, 26 staff are on loan from the Scottish Executive to the Office of the Advocate-General for Scotland.

  CABINET OFFICE

    Departmental Expenditure
    Mr. Swayne
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total cost of printing departmental headed notepaper was in(a) 1996–97 and(b) the latest year for which figures are available. [185382]

    Ruth Kelly
    The majority of management units within the Cabinet Office use an electronic Word template to produce departmental headed notepaper at little or no cost to the Department. However, a small number of Management Units do produce their own headed notepaper at an estimated cost of £30,000 in 2003–04.

    Financial information prior to the 1997–98 financial year was produced on a previous accounting system and cannot be readily retrieved without incurring disproportionate cost.

  EDUCATION AND SKILLS

    Academic Standards
    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on changes in the academic standard of(a) GCSE and(b) A levels; and what research he has commissioned into changes in the academic standard of each. [188812]

    Mr. Miliband
    The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is the body with statutory responsibility for ensuring that the standards of GCSE and A level qualifications are maintained over time. QCA has a rolling programme of standards reviews, which began in 1997. The reports are available on the QCA website.
    1690W
    Following the 2002 Inquiry into A Level Standards, QCA has also appointed an independent panel to advise it publicly on whether or not standards are being maintained. They will report for the first time in the autumn.

    Education (York)
    Hugh Bayley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the capital investment in schools in the City of York has been in each year since the formation of the City of York unitary council. [188944]

    Mr. Miliband
    The majority of schools capital funding is now allocated to local authorities and schools by needs-related formulae. Authorities invest according to priorities agreed locally in their asset management plans. The following table shows the total of my Department's capital allocations to the City of York local education authority and its schools since the formation of the unitary authority in 1996–97.

    City of York LEA capital allocations

    £000

    1996–97

    830

    1997–98

    1,263

    1998–99

    1,501

    1999–2000

    4,281

    2000–01

    6,877

    2001–02

    3,987

    2002–03

    124,379

    2003–04

    9,561

    2004–05

    29,047

    1 Includes £12.4 million of PFI credits.

    2 Further allocations may be made.

    Education Finance
    Brian Cotter
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 26 April 2004,Official Report, column 798W, on education finance, if he will break down the total education funding per child in(a) primary and(b) secondary schools in (i) England and (ii) North Somerset; and if he will estimate the sums that would be available for education in North Somerset if the average funding per pupil for primary and secondary schools in North Somerset were the same as for England. [188685]

    Mr. Miliband
    The information requested is not available by sector (primary and secondary) as this is not how the funding is distributed. Therefore the following two tables set out the information requested using pupils aged 3–10 as the most appropriate figures for primary funding and pupils aged 11–15 as the most appropriate for secondary funding. The formula for the Education Formula Spending Share calculation comprises a basic entitlement for each pupil, which is the same across the country, plus a top-ups for each pupil with additional educational needs, which is again the same across the country, plus top-ups for areas where it costs more to recruit and retain teachers. Local education authorities with a greater proportion of pupils with additional educational needs or higher average earnings will receive a higher level of funding per pupil.
    1691W

    Pupils aged 3–10

    North Somerset (£per pupil)

    England (£ per pupil)

    North Somerset Estimated total (£ million)

    SSA/EFS

    Grants

    Total

    SSA/EFS

    Grants

    Total

    1997–98

    2,020

    180

    2,190

    2,220

    170

    2,380

    34.9

    1998–99

    2,190

    100

    2,300

    2,390

    80

    2,470

    37.0

    1999–2000

    2,280

    180

    2,460

    2,480

    150

    2,630

    39.8

    2000–01

    2,340

    320

    2,660

    2,540

    320

    2,860

    43.2

    2001–02

    2,360

    400

    2,760

    2,600

    430

    3,020

    46.8

    2002–03

    2,380

    420

    2,810

    2,640

    460

    3,100

    48.6

    2003–04

    2,650

    340

    2,990

    2,930

    360

    3,290

    52.3

    2004–05

    2,740

    330

    3,070

    3,020

    380

    3,400

    54.5

    Pupils aged 11–15

    North Somerset (£per pupil)

    England (£ per pupil)

    North Somerset Estimated total (£ million)

    SSA/EFS

    Grants

    Total

    SSA/EFS

    Grants

    Total

    1997–98

    2,960

    30

    2,990

    3,220

    30

    3,260

    33.7

    1998–99

    3,020

    60

    3,080

    3,290

    40

    3,320

    34.8

    1999–2000

    3,080

    120

    3,200

    3,340

    100

    3,440

    36.1

    2000–01

    3,180

    260

    3,440

    3,460

    270

    3,730

    40.5

    2001–02

    3,220

    340

    3,560

    3,520

    410

    3,930

    43.5

    2002–03

    3,260

    380

    3,630

    3,570

    440

    4,010

    45.4

    2003–04

    3,250

    490

    3,740

    3,560

    520

    4,080

    47.2

    2004–05

    3,400

    490

    3,880

    3,700

    550

    4,250

    50.0

    Notes:

    1. The North Somerset estimated totals have been calculated by multiplying the England per pupil total for each year, by the total number of relevant pupils (aged 3–10 and 11–15) in North Somerset in the relevant year.

    2. 2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited. Updates will be available in the autumn.

    3. Figures reflect education Standard Spending Assessment/Education Formula Spending settlement (all sub-blocks), plus all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to EFS pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15.

    4. Figures exclude Education Maintenance Allowance, grants not allocated at LEA level and the pensions transfer to EFS for 2003–04 and 2004–05. For those LEAs in receipt of advance of grant under the transitional support arrangements for 2004–05, advance grant funding is included in the year of payment (2004–05).

    5. The pupil numbers used are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations Ow PLASC 3-year-olds maintained pupils and estimated 3–4 year olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.

    6. Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

    7. Total figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.

    8. 1997–98 figures for LEAs subject to Local Government Reorganisation in that year have been estimated, pro-rata to their post LGR figures.

    9. Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 June 2004

    GCSEs
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04 achieved Grade C or above in GCSE(a) mathematics, (b) science and (c) English. [188830]

    Mr. Miliband
    [holding answer 14 September 2004]: The information requested is as follows:

    Percentage of 15–year–old pupils achieving grade C or higher at GCSE/GNVQ

    English

    Mathematics

    Science

    2003

    56

    48

    48

    2002

    55

    49

    48

    2001

    54

    48

    48

    2000

    54

    46

    47

    1999

    53

    45

    46

    1998

    51

    43

    45

    Note:

    GCSE/GNVQ results are reported as standard as the results of pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.

    1692W
    Mrs. Iris Robinson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in England obtained(a) fewer than five GCSEs at A*-C grades and (b) no GCSEs at A*-C grade in each year since 1990. [188574]

    Mr. Miliband
    The information requested is as follows:

    Number of 15 year old pupils1 achieving less than five A*-C grades at GCSE/GNVQ

    Number of 15 years old pupils1 achieving no A*-C grades at GCSE/GNVQ

    Total number of 15 year old pupil1

    2003

    292,589

    151,641

    622,122

    2002

    293,833

    150,480

    606,554

    2001

    301,680

    156,699

    603,318

    2000

    294,666

    153,121

    580,393

    1999

    302,412

    159,382

    580,972

    1998

    308,779

    164,741

    575,210

    1997

    321,874

    172,907

    586,766

    1996

    329,498

    176,887

    594,035

    1995

    326,893

    178,998

    578,197

    1994

    301,637

    161,798

    532,273

    1993

    307,459

    164,635

    522,447

    1992

    335,654

    186,462

    544,068

    1 GCSE/GNVQ results are reported as standard as the results of

    1693W
    pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.

    Learning and Skills Council/HEFCE/Sector Skills Agency
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff are employed in administration roles within the(a) Learning and Skills Council, (b) Higher Education Funding Council for England and (c) Sector Skills Agency. [187487]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    The overall number of staff in post in each organisation, as at August 2004, is set out in the following table.

    Organisation

    Number of staff1

    Learning and Skills Council for England

    3,871

    Higher Education Funding Council for England

    256

    Sector Skills Development Agency

    84

    1Staff in post figures are expressed as full-time equivalents.

    Looked-after Children/Care Leavers
    Mrs. Brooke
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to extend the funding which was available for the purchase of capital equipment for looked-after children and care leavers in 2002–03 and 2003–04 to future years; and what plans there are for alternative funding. [188994]

    Mr. Miliband
    [holding answer 14 September 2004]: Overall support for capital investment in schools, including buildings and information and communications technology, has risen to £4.9 billion in 2004–05, and will rise to £5.5 billion in 2005–06. Increasingly, we provide this support direct to local authorities, and let them set priorities locally. Looked-after children can benefit from this investment, and we have no plans to extend the specific. Quality Protects Information Technology Grant, which ended in 2003–04.

    Pupil Funding (Coventry, South)
    Mr. Jim Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the most recent figures are for the per pupil funding level for(a) schools, (b) sixth forms and (c) further education colleges in the Coventry South region. [189157]

    Mr. Miliband
    The total funding per pupil aged 3–for 2004–05 in Coventry LEA is £3,920.

    The further education funding system is different to schools. Funding is paid for learning aims as well as an entitlement per 16 to 18 payment. Under the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC's) funding formula the basic cost to the public purse of delivering three A-levels in a sixth form college and a further education college to a student in the 2004–05 academic year will be £3,045. This figure comprises £766 for the delivery of each A-level learning aim, and £747 for each student for the entitlement element of their learning programme.
    1694W
    Under the LSC's funding formula the basic cost to the public purse of delivering three A-levels to a student at an English maintained secondary school will be £3,212. This figure comprises £785 for the delivery of each A-level learning aim, £750 for each student for the entitlement element of their learning programme, and £107 for each student to meet additional employers' contributions to teachers' pensions.

    These figures do not represent all funding that colleges and school sixth forms receive and are not directly comparable. For example the further education funding rates include consolidated funds for pay and staff training that are not reflected in the school sixth form rates. Also, in each case additional funding may also be available to take account of the higher costs of delivering learning in particular geographical areas, in higher cost subjects, or to students with particular disadvantages or individual needs.

    Science Education
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether researchers from humanities disciplines focusing on public understanding of science and cultural studies of science will be supported by the funding increases announced in the paper Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004–14, published in July; and if he will make a statement. [188079]

    Ms Hewitt
    I have been asked to reply.

    As outlined in the Science and Innovation Investment Framework, the Government intends to increase the scale of its activities in advancing the Science and Society agenda. This includes activities to promote public confidence and engagement in science. Expenditure in this area will be supported through the Office of Science and Technology's Science and Society budget which will, overall, increase from £4.25 million per year in 2005–06 to over £9 million per year by 2006–07. Arts and humanities research clearly provide important theoretical and practical bases for public engagement with science and technology. Applications for financial support for researchers from the arts and humanities disciplines will be treated in the same way as those from the natural and social sciences.

    Standard Spending Assessments
    Brian Cotter
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average Standard Spending Assessment/formula spending share funding per head has been for all services in(a) England and (b) North Somerset in each year since 1997; and if he will estimate the sums that would be available for services in North Somerset if the average SSAIFSS funding per head were the same as the English average. [188659]

    Mr. Miliband
    The DfES does not hold funding information for all services in England. The recurrent funding allocated by Government for education through SSA/FSS and grants in the DIES departmental expenditure limit for England and North Somerset is set out in the following table.
    1695W
    The formula for the education formula spending share calculation comprises a basic entitlement for each pupil, which is the same across the country, plus a top-up for each pupil with additional educational needs, which is again the same across the country, plus top-up

    Per pupil aged 3–19

    North Somerset (£per pupil)

    England (£per pupil)

    North Somerset Estimated total (£million)

    SSA/EFS

    Grants

    Total

    SSA/EFS

    Grants

    Total

    1997–98

    2,580

    110

    2,690

    2,790

    110

    2,900

    77.8

    1998–99

    2,670

    80

    2,760

    2,900

    60

    2,950

    80.2

    1999–2000

    2,740

    150

    2,890

    2,950

    130

    3,080

    84.4

    2000–01

    2,810

    290

    3,100

    3,030

    300

    3,330

    91.6

    2001–02

    2,820

    370

    3,190

    3,080

    410

    3,490

    98.1

    2002–03

    2,660

    600

    3,260

    2,960

    620

    3,580

    102.2

    2003–04

    2,800

    600

    3,400

    3,100

    610

    3,710

    107.5

    2004–05

    2,900

    590

    3,500

    3,210

    630

    3,840

    112.5

    Notes:

    1. The North Somerset estimated totals have been calculated by multiplying the England per pupil total for each year, by the total number of pupils aged three to 19 in North Somerset in the relevant year.

    2. 2003–04 and 2004–05 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited. Updates will be available in the autumn.

    3. Figures reflect education standard spending assessment/education formula spending settlement (all sub-blocks), plus all revenue grants in DIES departmental expenditure limits relevant to EFS pupils aged three to 19.

    4. Figures exclude education maintenance allowance, grants not allocated at LEA level and the pensions transfer to EFS and Learning and Skills Council for 2003–04 and 2004–05. For those LEAs in receipt of advance of grant under the transitional support arrangements for 2004–05, advance grant funding is included in the year of payment (2004–05).

    5. The pupil numbers used are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC three-year-olds maintained pupils and estimated three to four-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.

    6. Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

    7. Total figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.

    8. 1997–98 figures for LEAs subject to local government reorganisation in that year have been estimated, pro-rata to their post LGR figures.

    9. Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30 June 2004.

    Stored Publications
    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many departmental publications are in storage; and where they are located. [183864]

    Dr. Howells
    The majority of Departmental publications are stored on sites managed by Prolog—the Department's storage and mailing contractor. There are currently 5,320 titles in storage, the majority of which are located in Nottingham.

    The range of publications stored includes materials to support teaching staff in the delivery of Key Stages 1, 2 and 3, former Department of Health publications that transferred to this Department as a result the Machinery of Government changes announced in June 2003 and titles in alternative formats, including ethnic languages, Braille, audio tape and large print.

    We are working towards reducing the number of publications in storage. The Department has recently taken forward a programme of stock rationalisation in which overstocked and obsolete products were identified and recycled. We have also introduced a 'print on demand' facility, whereby low turnover items are stored electronically and only printed when requested.

    Furthermore, we are in the process of rolling out an online ordering system for schools which allows head teachers to access print materials electronically and order them in the multiples they need when they need them.
    1696W
    for areas where it costs more to recruit and retain teachers. Local education authorities with a greater proportion of pupils with additional educational needs or higher average earnings will receive a higher level of funding per pupil.

  HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

    September Sittings
    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what estimate the Commission has made of the cost to the I- louse arising from the interruption of building work in preparation for the sitting of the House this September. [187938]

    Mr. George Osborne
    To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the additional cost to the House is of providing for the September sitting; and what impact the September sitting has had on the(a) nature and (b) cost of contracts with external contractors. [188128]

    Sir Archy Kirkwood
    I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to the hon. Member for Salisbury on 9 September 2004 Official Report, column 1330W.

    Unfair Dismissal
    Mr. Greg Knight
    To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many employees have been dismissed during the past three years; how many of those dismissals have resulted in a claim for unfair dismissal being pursued; how many unfair dismissal claims are current; and if he will make a statement. [189161]
    1697W
    Sir Archy Kirkwood
    The information requested is as follows for the period 14 September 2001 to 13 September 2004:

    Number

    Staff dismissed

    21

    Claims pursued for unfair dismissal

    5

    Current claims

    2

  CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

    New Opportunities Fund
    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out the distribution of the

    Forecast grunt drawdown1

    Initiative

    Amount available to distribute (£million)

    Award committed as at 31 March 2004

    Paid out as at 31 March 2004

    2004–05

    2005–06

    2006–07

    Healthy Living Centres

    280.24

    267.78

    83.37

    45.60

    43.20

    40.80

    Cancer prevention, detection, treatment and care

    145.28

    145.19

    122.64

    13.80

    7.20

    0.74

    Reducing the burden of CHD, cancer and stroke

    202.07

    195.18

    66.17

    57.14

    45.00

    26.41

    Palliative caret2

    79.53

    78.14

    12.88

    19.64

    22.80

    16.42

    Out of school hours learning

    214.90

    208.26

    130.57

    45.60

    24.86

    9.86

    Out of school hours child care and child care

    389.89

    367.70

    233.72

    71.34

    70.61

    35.98

    Community access to lifelong learning

    189.70

    188.22

    142.26

    30.71

    14.16

    2.92

    Small scale grants schemes (Awards for All)

    53.00

    33.85

    33.59

    18.29

    2.22

    —

    ICT training and content creation

    286.48

    286.21

    260.02

    12.02

    —

    —

    Green spaces and sustainable communities

    121.91

    116.73

    68.55

    34.17

    12.50

    4.41

    Fair Share

    50.00

    50.00

    50.00

    —

    —

    —

    Transforming communities

    150.11

    136.99

    11.64

    30.76

    40.45

    48.42

    Opportunities for young people—PE and sport in schools

    811.30

    291.77

    31.00

    145.24

    343.50

    235.88

    Opportunities and activities for young people

    64.85

    63.13

    39.73

    21.29

    2.20

    2.30

    Young Peoples Fund

    200.00

    —

    —

    Not yet known

    Total

    3,239.26

    2,429.15

    1,286.13

    545.59

    628.70

    424.14

    1 The drawdown of funds to grant recipients is estimated on the forecast rate of spend, and therefore may be subject to change.

    2 Approximately 58 per cent. of these awards are for children's palliative care projects in England.

    Aboriginal Artefacts
    Mr. Greg Knight
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the lenders on securing the return of two bark etchings and an Aboriginal ceremonial headdress on loan to the Museum Victoria in Melbourne, Australia; why such items have not been returned; and if she will make a statement.[189148]

    Estelle Morris
    DCMS has been following this matter with interest and is liaising closely with the British Museum (which has been leading on this issue for the lenders), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Australian High Commission. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has represented the UK Government position directly to the Victorian State Government and to the Federal Government of Australia.

    The items in question are currently on loan from the British Museum and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to Museum Victoria. Their return from Australia has been delayed by two Emergency Declarations imposed by an Aboriginal inspector under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protection Act 1984. The current Declarations expire on 18 September. While a Declaration is in force, the removal of an item contrary
    1698W
    New Opportunities Fund over the next three years broken down by main heading, including the Children's Hospice Service. [189070]

    Estelle Morris
    The following table outlines the New Opportunities Fund's existing commitments until 2006—07. The New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund have undergone an administrative merger and are now operating as the Big Lottery Fund. Full merger will take place as soon as legislation permits. New funding will be available to the Big Lottery Fund by 2006–07. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently announced proposed themes for future funding and the Big Lottery Fund will be consulting on these shortly.

    to its terms is a criminal offence. Museum Victoria is therefore currently unable to return the items to the British Museum and Kew Gardens.

    Like the lenders, we are concerned about the potentially negative impact of this issue upon future loans to Australian museums, and are keen for the loan agreements entered into by Museum Victoria to be honoured.

    Mr. Greg Knight
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will prevent further loans of cultural artefacts to Australia in the light of the seizing of Aboriginal etchings recently on loan to that country from the UK. [189149]

    Estelle Morris
    Decisions on whether or not to loan objects in museum collections are matters for the institution concerned, and the Government has no power to influence this decision. In making any decisions concerning loans of objects overseas, Trustees would obviously want to consider the particular circumstances of the countries to which the items would be sent. The government will take into account the risk that any item will not be returned to this country before granting any application for an export licence in relation to an item which a museum proposes to lend overseas.

    Departmental Publicity
    Mr. Moss
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's expenditure was on(a) advertising consultants, (b) public relations consultants and (c) press officers, broken down by grade in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.[184346]

    Mr. Caborn
    The Department did not incur any expenditure on advertising consultants or public relations consultants in either 1997–98 or 2003–04, the latest year for which figures are available. Expenditure on press officers for 2003–04, broken down by grade, was:

    Grade

    £

    A

    66,124

    A/TP

    56,325

    B

    315,021

    Information requested for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    Free TV Licences
    Siobhain McDonagh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners in Mitcham and Morden have received free television licences. [189356]

    Estelle Morris
    TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide breakdowns by parliamentary constituency of the number of free licences issued. However, 2001 Census data for Parliamentary constituencies identifies that there are approximately 3,650 people aged 75 or over living in the Tamworth constituency.

    Historic Buildings
    Bob Russell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many requests in the last three years for which figures are available were(a) made and (b) granted for the spot listing of buildings of historic or architectural interest threatened with imminent demolition; and of these how many related to industrial premises. [188773]

    Mr. Caborn
    I regret that there is no facility, within either the English Heritage or DCMS listing databases, to separate out the listing requests made or granted that related to buildings that were threatened with imminent demolition or were industrial premises.

    Information and Communication Specialists
    Mr. Jenkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many information and communication technology specialists there are in full-time employment in the Department. [189581]

    Mr. Caborn
    My Department has three information and communication specialists in full-time employment.

    Lottery Grants
    Mr. Don Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Lottery money has been granted to Healthy Living centres, breaking down funding by(a) distribution body and (b) region, when the grants were made; and if she will make a statement. [188748]

    Estelle Morris
    The New Opportunities Fund Healthy Living Centres initiative was designed to reduce health inequalities throughout the UK and improve the health of the worst off in society. Between the launch of the initiative in 1999 and the final awards being made in September 2002, a total of £267,775,226 was committed to 351 projects UK-wide.

    It is not possible to break down funding in the way requested, but the following table shows total funds committed by the New Opportunities Fund by region:

    Region

    £million

    East Midlands

    16.22

    Eastern

    11.00

    London

    34.47

    North East

    18.79

    North West

    31.37

    South East

    20.81

    South West

    14.67

    West Midlands

    14.23

    Yorkshire and the Humber

    35.59

    England wide

    7.62

    England total

    204.18

    Northern Ireland

    12.64

    Scotland

    31.72

    Wales

    17.65

    The number of grants awarded by year in England only is as follows:

    Number

    1999

    54

    2000

    157

    2001

    45

    2002

    1

    Other Lottery distributors may have awarded other grants to Healthy Living Centres, but this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    Marine History
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of her time she has spent on work on the marine historic environment in the last 12 months. [189200]

    Mr. Caborn
    Officials carry out marine historic environment duties on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Within the last 12 months various licences have been issued that allow archaeologists and recreational divers access to protected wrecks. In addition the Departments consultation paper "Protecting our Marine Historic Environment: Making the System Work Better" was published in March 2004.

    Renaissance in the Regions Programme
    Dr. Iddon
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her intention to fund in future the North West Renaissance in the Regions hub for improvements in the delivery of museum services to the same level as the pathfinder hubs in the north east, south west and the Midlands. [189400]

    Estelle Morris
    As set out in the 2004 Spending Review White Paper, it is our intention to extend the Renaissance in the Regions programme to all nine English regions. Our spending plans for 2005–08, which will be announced later in the year, will strike a balance between that objective and the other spending priorities we have to deliver during the period.

    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to develop the Renaissance in the Regions programme in the east of England. [189486]

    Estelle Morris
    As set out in the 2004 Spending Review White Paper, it is our intention to extend the Renaissance in the Regions programme to all nine English regions. Our spending plans for 2005–08, which will be announced later in the year, will strike a balance between that objective and the other spending priorities we have to deliver during the period.

    Televised Sporting Events
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what powers she has to insist that recorded highlights of major sporting events including international football matches, are shown on terrestrial television. [188426]

    Estelle Morris
    None. Provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1996, as amended by the Communications Act 2003, ensure that when rights to live coverage of events on the statutory list are made available they should be offered to the free-to-air broadcasters who reach 95 per cent. of UK audiences (currently BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4), either for live coverage (Category A events) or for delayed coverage or highlights (Category B events). It is a matter for the relevant broadcasters whether they acquire these rights and show the sporting events.

    Television Reception
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions she has had with(a) the BBC and (b) BSkyB on the options that will be available for free-to-view digital satellite television in areas where this is the only practical way of receiving terrestrial stations; [188413]

    (2) what plans she has to enhance the affordability of digital television when the only means of access is via satellite. [188416]

    Estelle Morris
    The Department is in ongoing discussions with broadcasters, including the BBC and BskyB, and with Ofcom about the further development of digital television services. BSkyB has announced plans to offer a free-to-air satellite service; in their report "Building public value" BBC declared that they "will work with others to develop, market and promote" a free digital satellite service. Ofcom have indicated that 1702W
    they will consider whether regulatory intervention is needed to secure a viable free-to-view satellite proposition before switchover.

    Tourism Revenues (Royal Family)
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the amount of revenue generated by tourism related to the royal family in summer 2004.[189204]

    Mr. Caborn
    No estimate is made of the amount of revenue generated by the royal family in relation to tourism. The royal family and its heritage is a major factor in attracting visitors to Britain. They are a key part of Britain's successful tourism industry which is worth £76 billion to the economy. The royal family is very supportive of the tourism industry and their commitment will continue to bring great economic benefits to Britain.

  FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

    Australian Embassy (Jakarta)
    Mr. Simmonds
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the level of threat faced by British missions and their staff in South East Asia following the Australian embassy bombings in Jakarta; [189267]

    (2) if he will make a statement on the security arrangements in place for British Missions and their staff in South East Asia; and whether those arrangements have been reviewed following the Australian embassy bombings in Jakarta. [189268]

    Mr. Rammell
    We take the security of all our staff, both overseas and in the UK, extremely seriously. The level of threat faced by British Missions in South East Asia and other parts of the world is high. Security arrangements for all our Posts are regularly reviewed. We have implemented a number of measures to enhance the security of our Missions in South East Asia in recent years, and have reviewed them again following the bombing outside the Australian Embassy.

    Correspondence
    Sir Gerald Kaufman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 20 July from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms. Ruma Begum Churi. [188856]

    Mr. Mullin
    My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied to my right hon. Friend on 10 September.

    Gibraltar
    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he has agreed with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will play in the tercentenary celebrations [160695]
    1703W
    Mr. MacShane
    [pursuant to his reply, 11 March 2004, Official Report, c. 1701W]. We are playing a full part in celebrating the warm relationship that we have enjoyed with the people of Gibraltar for the past 300 years. The Government are participating in an extensive programme of commemorative events taking place in both Gibraltar and the UK. The Royal Gibraltar Regiment and military units from the United Kingdom, including the Royal Marines, the Royal Engineers, the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy ships and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are taking part in a total of more than 20 events throughout the year. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary hopes to attend an event to commemorate the Gibraltar Tercentenary later this year.

    Iraq
    Norman Lamb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2004,Official Report, column 1528W, on Iraq, whether the Government have received further clarification on the investigations by the Pentagon Inspector General into the awarding of contracts for the provision of mobile telecommunications in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.[188338]

    Mr. Rammell
    [pursuant to my replies, 15 December 2003, Official Report, c. 734W and 10 March 2004, Official Report, c. 1528W]: Following inquiries by the British embassy in Washington to the United States Department of Defense, the British ambassador has received notification that the two British citizens originally named in my reply of 15 December 2003 are not under investigation by the US Defense Criminal Investigations Service (DCIS) in this regard. We are not aware of investigations into any other British Citizens. The DCIS had previously been looking into allegations concerning the handling by staff of the Coalition Provisional Authority of the award of licences for the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Iraq.

    Our position remains that we are aware of no formal or credible allegations against any British citizens in this connection and, specifically, that we have no reason to doubt the integrity of the British citizens involved in the award of these licences.

    Joan Ruddock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the process by which voters will be registered for the parliamentary elections in Iraq.[189075]

    Mr. Rammell
    The Independent Electoral Commission for Iraq is responsible for producing the electoral role through voter registration. Voter registration forms will be distributed to Iraqis around the country on 1 November enabling voters to register for elections in January 2005.

    Joan Ruddock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many voters are registered in Iraq. [189076]
    1704W
    Mr. Rammell
    The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq is in the process of taking forward voter registration and the final figure will not be known until shortly before the end of January 2005 when the elections are due.

    Joan Ruddock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which body will be in charge of the voter registration process in Iraq. [189077]

    Mr. Rammell
    The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq is responsible for the organisation, oversight and implementation of the elections including the registration of voters.

    Kirsty MacColl
    Harry Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Mexican authorities in relation to legal proceedings following the death of Kirsty MacColl in a speedboat incident; what discussions he has had with Ms MacColl's family on the outcome of the case; what assistance the Foreign Office provided to the family during the legal process; and if he will make a statement. [188930]

    Mr. Mullin
    Under international law, the British Government cannot interfere in the legal proceedings of another country Nevertheless, we have frequently raised our interest in this case with the Mexican authorities, including through ambassador and counsellor meetings with the Minister for Europe in July 2003; the Director General of Consular Protection and the Tourism Minister in November 2003; and the Director General for Europe and the Chief Adviser to the Tourism Minister in August 2004. In addition, the case was also raised during High Level Talks when my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) (Bill Rammell) visited Mexico in October 2003. Consular Directorate also briefed the new Mexican Consul in London last week.

    We continue to provide all the consular assistance we properly can. Staff in our Consular Directorate are in regular contact with the 'Justice for Kirsty Campaign'. We have met them twice in London. Embassy staff met the Campaign team and facilitated meetings with local and Government authorities on their trip to Mexico in March 2004.

    We hope to raise the case again during Sir Michael Jay's, the Permanent Under Secretary at the FCO, visit to Mexico for High Level Talks later this year.

    Poppy Cultivation
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress his Department is making in seeking to meet the targets of reducing poppy cultivation by 75 per cent. by 2003 and eradicating it completely by 2013. [188361]

    Mr. Rammell
    The UK remains committed to supporting the Afghan government in implementing its
    1705W
    National Drug Control Strategy, which aims for a 70 per cent. reduction in opium poppy cultivation by 2008, and elimination by 2013.

    The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will publish its annual report on the level of poppy cultivation in the autumn. We anticipate an increase in cultivation levels. Although unwelcome, experience of counter narcotic policies in Pakistan and Thailand, which both had much lower initial levels of production and were more stable countries, shows that cultivation tends to increase before declining.

    In the first year of implementation of the strategy, the basic counter narcotics structures have been put in place: drug control legislation, a Counter Narcotics Directorate, the Ministry of Interior's Afghan Special Narcotics Force, the Counter Narcotics Police and a central eradication capability. Work is also in hand to develop alternative livelihoods for farmers dependent on opium poppy cultivation. These measures provide a sound basis for the future development of robust institutions and programmes to combat opium production and trafficking. Progress remains linked to the wider security situation in Afghanistan and to the implementation of other areas of institution building such as policing and judicial systems.

  CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

    No Win, No Fee Cases
    Sir Michael Spicer
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether he plans to publish information as to the number of solicitors willing to take on no win, no fee cases. [189155]

    Mr. Lammy
    The information requested is not collected centrally. But the Law Society in its Solicitors' Firms Business survey 2003 found that, of those solicitors firms that use CFAs, 92 per cent. used them in personal injury cases, 24 per cent. in employment and pension cases, 17 per cent. in clinical negligence and 18 per cent. in professional negligence.

  INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

    CDC/Actis Capital
    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) whether his responsibilities in relation to CDC/Actis Capital have changed with regard to the reorganisation of public shareholder interests under the Shareholder Executive; [188850]

    (2) what reserved rights he retains in CDC/Actis Capital with regard to the reorganisation of public shareholder interests under the Shareholder Executive. [188851]

    Hilary Benn
    My responsibilities for CDC Group plc and Actis Capital LLP have not changed as a result of the involvement of the Shareholder Executive in DFID's shareholder responsibilities. I maintain responsibility for HMG's interests in both CDC and Actis.
    1706W
    The Shareholder Executive now has delegated responsibility for advising me on HMG's interest in Actis. DFID officials retain direct responsibility for advising me on CDC. The Shareholder Executive provides advice to my officials in relation to the discharge of my shareholder responsibilities for CDC.

    The reserved rights I retain in CDC Group plc and Actis Capital LLP have not changed as a result of the involvement of the Shareholder Executive in DFID's shareholder responsibilities.

    For CDC, the reserved rights that I retain as the owner of 765,036,042 ordinary shares (the remaining one is held by HM Treasury Solicitors) and one special rights preference share are set out in detail in the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1999 and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of CDC.

    As for Actis, the Members Agreement which I placed in the library of the House on July 14 this year sets out the rights I retain over Actis.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has made to review CDC/Actis Capital investee(a) accountability standards and (b) compliance procedures. [188966]

    Hilary Benn
    Since 1999, the conduct of CDC's business has been governed by a set of responsible business principles which set out standards for corporate ethics, accountability, environmental and labour practices etc. Equivalent standards are required from CDC's investee companies. These were monitored by the Business Principles Committee of the CDC board.

    As part of the reorganisation of CDC, these principles and requirements were reviewed and it was agreed that they should in future also apply to Actis. They have accordingly been written into the Members' Agreement establishing Actis, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The Business Principles Committee of the Actis Supervisory Board will now oversee their application.

    The business principles are also mandated in CDC's management contract with Actis and CDC will continue to monitor compliance through the CDC board Business Principles Committee.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether a formal environmental impact assessment was carried out regarding CDC's Higaturu Oil Palms investment. [188967]

    Hilary Benn
    Environmental impact assessments were not the norm when Higaturu was first established in the 1970s. Since then Higaturu has commissioned several environmental studies.

    Most recently, in late 2002/early 2003, Higaturu achieved certification to IS014001 for environmental management: this requires that companies have mechanisms in place for identifying potential environmental impacts and their amelioration or avoidance. Such plans are updated twice a year, and include provisions for incorporating stakeholder feedback. The environmental management system is externally audited at least annually.
    1707W
    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the environmental concerns relating to CDC/Actis Capital's Higaturu Oil Palms investment that arose(a) in the biannual Investment Valuation Review and (b) via the Business Principles Unit; and if he will list the action plans developed in response. [188969]

    Hilary Benn
    CDC's and Actis' investment reviews are confidential and commercially sensitive. CDC has in place appropriate procedures for monitoring that Actis complies with its Business Principles, including monitoring of the management of the environment by investee companies.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received regarding investee environmental regulation exemption requests in Papua New Guinea. [188970]

    Hilary Benn
    I have received no representations regarding investee environmental regulation exemption requests in Papua New Guinea.

    For the record, CDC does not ask for or receive exemptions on environmental regulations on investments made on its behalf by any of its managers.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the monitoring visits at Higaturu Oil Palms since 1999 that CDC/Actis Capital has(a) directly performed and (b) independently contracted. [188971]

    Hilary Benn
    Monitoring visits commissioned by the Pacific Rim Palm Oil Ltd. (PRPOL) Board have been effectively contracted by CDC as its owner. Since 1999, independent environmental studies have been contracted from at least four expert consultancy firms. There have been two CDC visits focused on environmental issues in 1999 and 2002 as well as a number of general monitoring visits by other CDC staff. There have been two visits by the PRPOL Board including its non-executive directors and by PRPOL's environmental manager.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the criteria for deciding whether CDC/Actis Capital investments are considered of(a) high, (b) medium and (c) low environmental risk; and who performs environmental studies of (i) high, (ii) medium and (iii) low risks. [188972]

    Hilary Benn
    CDC's practice has been to rate investments as high, medium or low environmental risk in accordance with a matrix similar to that used by the International Finance Corporation.

    High risk activities are those which, due to their type, scale or location have the potential for substantial adverse impact on the environment surrounding the facility and/or globally.

    Medium risk activities are those which could cause adverse impacts but these are unlikely to be irreversible or persistent. Remedial measures can more easily be implemented, and the impacts are not as diverse or sensitive as in the high risk category.

    Low risk activities are those which typically have minimal impact.
    1708W
    For investments involving high risk to the environment, a formal environmental assessment by an external consultant is required. Where the environmental risk is rated medium, an environmental appraisal by an in-house specialist is required. In investments where the environmental risk is low, a routine environmental appraisal is carried out. Going forward, CDC will require Actis and other fund managers it uses to apply similar procedures and maintain similar standards.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many CDC/Actis Capital investment projects have been terminated on grounds of(a) environmental risk and (b) labour conditions. [188973]

    Hilary Benn
    Since 1999, there have been no occasions when environmental risks and/or labour conditions have forced an early exit from an investment.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the institutional investors in CDC/Actis Capital by contribution(a) amount and (b) proportion. [189053]

    Hilary Benn
    There are no institutional investors in either CDC or Actis.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what CDC/Actis Capital's policy is towards initial public offerings as a method of attracting private capital, broken down by sector. [189054]

    Hilary Benn
    Initial public offerings (IPOs) are a well-established method of attracting private capital. CDC does not seek to influence Actis or other fund managers it may employ in determining the suitability of an IPO in particular cases, whether by sector or any other criterion.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list CDC investment programmes aside from Actis Capital.[189055]

    Hilary Benn
    In addition to funds managed by Actis, CDC has funds under management with Aureos Capital, a fund specialising in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. Aureos is owned 50:50 by Act is and NorFund.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International an Development if he will list by(a) country, (b) sector, (c) amount and (d) proportion CDC/Actis Capital investments in (i) SME firms and (ii) funds that invest in SME firms. [189056]

    Hilary Benn
    CDC does not invest directly in Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) but invests in them through Aureos Capital. Data on these investments are not classified by sector. Data on amount, country and the proportion of CDC's investment devoted to SMEs in the relevant country are as follows:
    1709W

    CDC investments held through Aureos funds

    Country

    Amount (£00O)

    Proportion (Percentage)

    Acacia fund

    Kenya

    1,533

    25

    Aureos Capital fund

    n/a

    1,368

    50

    Aureos Central America fund

    Costa Rica

    2,187

    28

    Aureos East Africa fund

    East Africa

    1,099

    20

    Aureos South Africa fund

    South Africa

    307

    28

    Aureos West Africa fund

    West Africa

    857

    36

    Ayojana fund

    Sri Lanka

    902

    50

    Central America Venture fund

    Costa Rica

    6,154

    38

    Fedha fund

    Tanzania

    1,019

    31

    Ghana Venture Capital fund

    Ghana

    839

    34

    Indian Ocean Regional fund

    Mauritius

    2,802

    39

    Kula fund

    Papua New Guinea

    1,707

    32

    Mauritius Venture Capital fund

    Mauritius

    307

    20

    Mozambique Investment Company

    Mozambique

    894

    26

    NDBVI fund

    Sri Lanka

    925

    50

    Takura Investment fund

    Zimbabwe

    11

    31

    Tanzania Venture Capital fund

    Tanzania

    896

    33

    Zambia Venture Capital fund

    Zambia

    1,592

    20

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received regarding CDC/Actis Capital investment in Iraq. [189057]

    Hilary Benn
    I have received no representations about either CDC or Actis in respect of Iraq. There are currently no CDC investments in that country.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources CDC/Actis Capital(a) has directed and (b) will direct to small and medium enterprises in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [189058]

    Hilary Benn
    CDC has directed no resources towards Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in either Iraq or Afghanistan. It will consider propositions to do so in future on their merits.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received from Rwandan officials regarding the transfer of its equity interest in the Commercial Bank of Rwanda to CDC/Actis Capital. [189060]

    Hilary Benn
    The Rwandan Minister of Finance, Dr. Donald Kaberuka, made an oral request at the UK—Government of Rwanda Partnership Talks, 1-2 May 2003, that DFID finance a forensic audit of the

    £000

    December 2002

    December 2003

    June 2004

    (a) Funds solely managed by Actis

    Commonwealth Africa Investment Fund

    13,873

    13,873

    13,873

    South Asia Regional Fund

    31,965

    31,603

    24,784

    Nandi

    18,566

    10,050

    3,695

    Actis Fund 1

    1,203,583

    1,239,787

    1,163,623

    Actis Fund 2

    —

    —

    988

    (b) Funds jointly managed by Actis with No fund

    Aureos SME Funds

    27,002

    24,029

    25,400

    (c) Fund investments managed by Actis on behalf of CDC

    Capital Alliance Private Equity

    1,887

    2,340

    2,340

    Gujarat Venture Capital

    1,296

    1,243

    1,216

    H&Q Asia Pacific

    3,877

    3,854

    3,811

    Nusantara Investment Fund

    3,025

    3,025

    3,025

    1710W
    sale of Banque Commerciale du Rwanda (BCR). The sale had not been advertised at that time and CDC was not mentioned as a potential bidder.

    Minister Kaberuka wrote to DFID in July 2004 after CDC were selected as the preferred bidder and requested that the forensic audit be carried out. DFID is currently carrying out a limited tender for the work and exploring options to ensure that the audit will be seen as properly independent.

    The successful bid for an equity interest in BCR by Actis (having now taken over this function from CDC) was entirely independent of any contacts between DFID and Rwanda officials. It is not our policy to intervene or interfere in any way with the commercial judgment of Actis.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list CDC/Actis Capital holdings in funds(a) solely managed, (b) joint managed and (c) not managed by CDC/Actis Capital; and how much capital has been in each fund since 2002. [189062]

    Hilary Benn
    CDC invests all its funds through fund managers, whose performance it directs and monitors; to that extent, all CDC's investments are solely managed. The following data, which are at cost, relate exclusively to Actis:
    1711W

    £000

    December 2002

    December 2003

    June 2004

    Praxis Active Equity Fund

    3,316

    3,431

    3,489

    South Africa Franchise Equity Fund

    421

    460

    460

    Total invested portfolio at cost

    1,308,810

    1,339,630

    1,246,702

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the status is of CDC/Actis Capital's Aureos investment; and what its returns have been since 2001. [189063]

    Hilary Benn
    Aureos is a fund jointly established by CDC and Norfund (the Norwegian Government's investment fund). CDC's investments under management with Aureos Capital amount to £25 million. As Aureos has attracted some 50 other investors into its funds, it would be a breach of their commercial confidentiality to disclose return rates on these investments.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the status of CDC/Actis Capital's partnership with CGU in China is; and if he will list its(a) holdings, (b) projects and (c) quarterly returns since 1997. [189064]

    Hilary Benn
    CDC operates an investment partnership in China with Aviva, as CGU is now known. The holdings, projects and returns of that partnership are a matter of commercial confidentiality.

    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what debt is owed to CDC/Actis Capital. [189065]

    Hilary Benn
    Total debt owed to CDC at cost as at 30 June 2004 was £411 million. The breakdown by borrower and amount of this debt is commercially sensitive information.

    Iraq
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote economic development in Basrah. [188345]

    Hilary Benn
    Iraq's economic growth will depend not only on extensive reconstruction to make good the dilapidation of infrastructure under Saddam-Hussein, but also on wide-ranging economic reforms to promote private sector growth. We are encouraging the Iraqi Interim Government to agree an IMF programme, and debt reduction through the Paris Club.

    The international community pledged over US$32 billion for reconstruction at the Madrid Donors' Conference in October 2003. The UK and the US are also leading the G7 in pushing for generous relief of Iraq's debt. Iraq's oil revenues, currently estimated at over $20 billion per year (and with the capacity to rise substantially in the future) will, of course, be a major source of finance for growth. The Interim Government have asked for help with public administration and economic policy reform and DFID is helping with both. The aim is to strengthen planning and budgeting and to plan economic reforms that will help all of Iraq, but particularly the poorer areas such as Basra.
    1712W
    In southern Iraq, DFID has funded an Emergency Infrastructure Programme that has helped to stabilise and improve infrastructure. We are starting to implement a £20.5 million project for Capacity Building for Southern Iraq Governorates (including Basra). The project will focus on strengthening planning and budgeting in the governorates so they are better able to support to the local economy and community. We are also funding a £16.5 million programme to promote employment and sustain infrastructure.

  TRANSPORT

    A13
    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects road works on the A13 at Pitsea in Essex to be completed and diversions removed. [189303]

    Mr. Jamieson
    This section of the A 13 is the responsibility of Essex county council, the local highway authority. The council is carrying out the repair works which are scheduled for completion by the middle of November 2004.

    Ambulances
    Lembit Öpik
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many road traffic accidents involving Mercedes Sprinter style ambulances there were in the last two years in England; and if he will make a statement; [188376]

    (2) how many of the total ambulance accidents in the last two years in England were attributed to (a) driver error and (b) mechanical failure; and if he will make a statement; 188377]

    (3) how many road traffic accidents involving Mercedes Sprinter ambulances in the last two years in England were attributed to (a) driver error and (b) mechanical failure; and if he will make a statement. [188378]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The information requested is not held centrally.

    Council of Ministers
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a Written Ministerial Statement outlining the key points on the agenda for each of the Council of Ministers' meetings at which his Department is represented in advance of each meeting; [188192]

    (2) if he will make a Written Ministerial Statement outlining for each meeting of the Council of Ministers at which his Department is represented as soon as is practicable following that meeting (a) the key items of discussion, (b) the positions of the Government on those items, (c) the key positions taken by other member states

    1713W
    that Ministers consider should be noted by hon. Members and (d) any preliminary discussion on the timing and the agenda of the following meeting. [188193]

    Mr. Jamieson
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 13 September by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Official Report, column 1451W.

    Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles
    Mr. Greg Knight
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage the greater use of electrically assisted pedal cycles in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [188577]

    Mr. Jamieson
    [holding answer 15 September 2004]: Electrically assisted pedal cycles complying with the requirements in The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Construction and Use Regulations 1983 are able to use facilities provided for ordinary bicycles. The Government are committed to encouraging more cycling as a healthy, useful and enjoyable means of travel.

    Our White Paper, "The Future of Transport", confirmed our long-term aim to increase levels of cycling and followed the publication in June of "Walking and Cycling: an action plan". That plan includes more than 40 practical actions from across Government to encourage and promote walking and cycling through improved facilities, training, education and promotion.

    Electronic Consultation Papers
    Mr. Gray
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his recent consultation paper, Driving at Work, is available in paper as well as electronic versions; how many pages long it is when printed out; and if he will issue a printer friendly version of this and other electronic consultation papers. [188496]

    Mr. Jamieson
    "Driving at Work" is a guidance leaflet published by the Department and the Health and Safety Executive in September 2003. It is available in paper form from HSE Books and can be printed from the electronic version at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg382.pdf. Both versions are 24 pages long.

    The Department's consultation papers are available in hard copy from and can also be printed from our web-site using the PDF and Word format icons at the top of each document.

    Eurostar
    Mr. Yeo
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what free capacity will be generated by the relocation of Eurostar services from Waterloo station. [186724]

    Mr. Darling
    Any relocation of Eurostar services from Waterloo station is a matter for Eurostar. The most effective use of track capacity is kept under review by the rail industry.

    Farnborough Airfield
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Farnborough Airfield will be included in his strategy for dealing with the future needs of airport capacity in the UK. [189116]
    1714W
    Charlotte Atkins
    The White Paper "The Future of Air Transport" recognises the potential of small airports, including Farnborough Airfield, to cater for business aviation demand, which is necessary due to capacity constraints at the main South East airports.

    However, it is for the operator of Farnborough Airfield to bring forward any development plans, which will need to be considered through the planning system in the normal way.

    Highways Agency
    Ann Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of the Highways Agency's four-stage complaints procedure; and what plans he has to review its structure and operation.[188802]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Highways Agency is conducting a review of its complaints procedure that is due to be completed during the current financial year.

    Oxford/Cambridge Motorway
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the need for a motorway between Oxford and Cambridge.[189246]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Secretary of State has made no assessment of the needs for a motorway between Oxford and Cambridge.

    Ports
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the outstanding UK deep sea container terminal development applications(a) which have been referred to his Department prior to formal planning applications being submitted in the form of HRO, HEO, TWAO or a standard planning application, (b) which have been subject to a scoping study and are awaiting or in the process of a public inquiry and (c) for which he has received the inspector's report following a public inquiry; and in each case when he (i) received the report and (ii) expects to announce his decision. [189097]

    Mr. Jamieson
    There are three outstanding applications for deep sea container terminal developments requiring approval by the Secretary of State. The positions on each are as follows:The inspector's report into P&O's application for a Harbour Empowerment Order to construct a port at Shellhaven (London Gateway) was received in the Department on 26 February 2004. A decision will be announced when Ministers have completed their consideration of the report and all relevant issues.
    The application by Hutchison Ports to construct a port at Bathside Bay is currently at a public inquiry which I understand is due to close this week.
    The application by Hutchison Ports for a further container terminal at Felixstowe South is due to be considered at a public inquiry starting on 26 October.

    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects the proposals for major container port developments at Hunterston and Scapa Flow to be taken through the decision process by the
    1715W
    autumn 2005 deadline set out in paragraph 7.28 of the Government's White Paper entitled the Future of Transport: A network for 2030. [189098]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The timing of these decisions is a matter for the Scottish Executive, to whom the applications for approval would be made.

    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's interpretation is of the alternative test required by the Habitats Directive when assessing environmental damage that may be created by a deep sea container terminal development proposal. [189105]

    £million

    Transport Policies and Programme/ Local Transport Plan Capital Funding

    Rural Bus Subsidy Grant

    Rural Bus Challenge

    Countryside Agency

    Strategic Rail Authority

    1996–97

    3.340

    0

    0

    0

    0

    1997–98

    2.212

    0

    0

    0

    0

    1998–99

    1.127

    0.073

    0.180

    0

    0

    1999–2000

    1.983

    0.073

    0

    0

    0

    2000–01

    2.262

    0.073

    0.236

    0

    0

    2001–02

    5.995

    0.093

    0

    0

    0

    2002–03

    6.155

    0.107

    0

    0.007

    0

    2003–04

    7.881

    0.109

    0

    0.044

    0

    2004–05

    6.302

    0.123

    0

    0.041

    1.600

    Total

    37.257

    0.651

    0.416

    0.092

    1.600

    Notes:

    1. The Transport Policies and Programme/Local Transport Plan Capital Funding covers all aspects of transport (e.g. maintenance, road safety and public transport). There is no specific allocation within these figures for public transport; it is for the local authority to set priorities and allocate funds accordingly from its Single Capital Pot budget.

    2. The Rural Bus Subsidy Grant, Rural Bus Challenge, Countryside Agency and Strategic Rail Authority monies are all allocated solely to public transport.

    3. In addition, the local authority receives Revenue Support Grant (RSG) from the Government each year. This is a block allocation for all council services, which includes support for public transport. However, it is not possible to identify any specific allocations for public transport from within the RSG allocation.

    Royal Train
    Mr. Greg Knight
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many journeys were made by the Royal Train in each of the last five years.[189218]

    Mr. McNulty
    During the last five years, the Royal Train has made the following number of journeys:

    1999–2000: 24

    2000–01: 17

    2001–02: 15

    2002–03: 19

    2003–04: 18

    More detailed information about these journeys is published in the Annual Reports on the Grant-in-Aid for Royal Travel by Air and Rail. Copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

    Transport-related Emissions
    Adam Price
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the percentage contribution of transport-related emissions to overall UK greenhouse gas emissions. [188478]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The precise percentage contribution of transport-related emissions to overall UK greenhouse gas emissions depends on how broadly transport-related emissions are defined. In particular, it varies according
    1716W
    Mr. Jamieson
    In line with the European Commission's methodological guidance on the assessment of plans or projects significantly affecting Natura 2000 sites we take the view that consideration of alternatives is not confined to alternative local sites.

    Public Transport (York)
    Hugh Bayley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government have provided to City of York Council in grants and other funding for public transport in each year since the unitary council was formed.[188950]

    Charlotte Atkins
    The table as follows details the funding City of York Council has received for all transport related issues in each year since the formation of the unitary council in April 1996.

    to how emissions from domestic and international aviation are treated, and whether, on the rail side, a share of the total emissions from power stations is included. The Government regularly publish estimates of the breakdown of greenhouse gas emissions between sectors. The most definitive source of this information is the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (available at www.naei.org.uk), which estimates that in 2002 (the most recent year for which data are available) some 20 per cent. of total UK greenhouse gas emissions came from the transport sector. Details of how this figure was calculated are set out in the NAEI.

    Type Approval
    Ann Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's process of Type Approval; and what assessment he has made of the recent EU judgment on its operation. [188803]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Following the European Commission reasoned opinions the agency is producing new performance specifications for self-certification as part of an established programme for traffic control equipment Type Approval.

  TRADE AND INDUSTRY

    Doorstep Cold Calling
    Mr. Truswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to achieve a cross-departmental approach to combat crime and unscrupulous trading associated with doorstep cold calling. [189179]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry launched a public consultation on the market study report by the Office of Fair Trading on 14 July. Consultees include relevant Government Departments and enforcement authorities.

    We have proposed a cross-departmental ministerial group to encourage a more joined-up approach. Ministerial colleagues take this matter very seriously and will be meeting at the earliest opportunity

    The result of the public consultation will inform consideration of the issues by the group.

    Post Office Closures
    John Barrett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many urban post offices have closed in the last 12 months. [189180]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    I understand from Post Office Ltd. that in financial year 2003–04 there were a total of 1,129 urban post office closures, including 1,109 under the urban network reinvention programme. In the first quarter of this financial year, to the end of June, there were 246 urban post office closures. 206 of those closures were under the urban network reinvention programme.

    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received on the sub-post office urban closure programme. [189183]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    DTI Ministers and officials regularly receive representations on a wide range of postal services issues, including the urban network reinvention programme.

    Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Post Office branches have been proposed for closure by the Post Office under the Post Office reinvention programme; and how many have been subsequently confirmed for closure after the consultation process has been completed. [187843]

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

    EU Emissions Directive
    Mr. Illsley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to minimise any adverse impact of the EU Emissions Directive on industry. [189181]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    The EU emissions trading scheme is a cost effective and market friendly way of reducing CO2 emissions. Industry's views have been taken at
    1718W
    every stage of the process; there have been five consultations so far. The plans for implementation are well developed and will be finalised shortly.

    Mass Marketing Scams
    Mr. Blizzard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will ask the Office of Fair Trading to investigate mass marketing scams. [189182]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) does investigate mass marketing scams. Most mass marketing scams operate from outside the UK. The OFT works with the network of enforcement agencies called ICPEN (International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network) to investigate and take action against cross-border scams.

    The OFT have taken a lead within Europe in taking action against scam mail under new powers provided by the Injunctions Directive and the Enterprise Act 2002 ('Stop Now Orders').

    Offshore Wind Farms
    Mr. Chaytor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the development of offshore wind farms. [189185]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    The UK has some of the best wind resources in the world. It is important that these resources are properly utilised to ensure that the United Kingdom's targets for generating electricity from renewable energy sources can be met. The development of offshore wind farms can potentially provide a major contribution to those targets and the Government are committed to ensuring that the right framework is in place to enable projects to proceed where an assessment of their impacts indicates they are acceptable.

    There have been two competitive rounds of site leasing for offshore wind farms. Round 1 has resulted in 11 projects receiving development consents with two of these generating electricity and another at an early stage of construction. Government was able to announce last December that Round 2 will involve projects of a much bigger scale with the potential to provide electricity for up to £4 million homes. The developers of Round 2 projects are currently undertaking the assessment work necessary prior to submission of consent applications.

    Business Support (London)
    Linda Perham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance her Department provides to businesses in London. [189186]

    Jacqui Smith
    Assistance to business is delivered via a number of different agencies, including the London Development Agency (LDA). In financial year 2003–04, Business Link for London exceeded its key performance targets set by the DTI/Small Business Service, achieving:Market Penetration—82,915 businesses assisted/advised;
    Customer Satisfaction—86 per cent.;
    Intensive Assistance—5,160 businesses intensively supported.

    The DTI's Grant for Research & Development (GranD) is aimed at individuals planning to start-up businesses in England and at small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) already operating in England. The

    1719W
    grants are offered at the discretion of Government, to help businesses carry out research and development work that will lead to technologically innovative products or processes.

    During 2003–04, the DTI/Small Business Service made offers of grant to 145 London start-ups/SMEs. This represented funding in total of just under £9.5 million.

    The planned restructuring of business support arrangements in London, that includes the transfer of BL4L contract management and direct delivery of GranD to the London Development Agency from April 2005, will further improve DTI services to customers within the Capital.

    In 2003—04, the LDA, which is primarily funded by the DTI:
    Created or safeguarded 18,017 jobs (including those attributable to foreign direct investment and regional selective assistance);
    Set up or attracted 1,333 businesses to London;
    Provided support or advice to 26,937 businesses; and
    Created 26,683 learning opportunities

    In 2003–2004 the LDA invested over £350 million to create jobs, get people into work, support new and existing businesses and create space for businesses, homes and community facilities.

    London businesses can also access a small suite of grants, loans guarantees and subsidised consultancy to address a range of business issues provided by the DTI. These include:

    Succeeding through innovation:

    Providing practical support for the key stages of innovation or research and development. Initiatives include the Technology Programme, which provides some funding and shares some of the risks in taking new technologies to market.

    Raising finance:

    Supporting small or high growth companies to obtain investment through the Small Firms loan Guarantee, which guarantees loans from banks and other institutions for small businesses with viable proposals. London businesses can access £50 million via the Regional Venture Capital Funds (RVCFs) o provide risk capital finance in amounts up to £500,000 to Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) who demonstrate growth potential.

    Regional investment:

    Encouraging investment in specific areas of England to promote economic regeneration. Selective Finance for Investment is designed for businesses that are looking at the possibility of investing in assisted areas. The programme is discretionary and invariably takes the form of grants or occasionally a loan.

    The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in London offers an integrated service providing free information and advice for manufacturers large and
    1720W
    small, although diagnostic services undertaken by highly professional MAS practitioners will be targeted on small and medium sized firms.

    Renewable Energy
    Mr. Ben Chapman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Renewables Obligation Order 2005. [189187]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    The Government last week published a consultation paper proposing a number of detailed changes to improve its operation. These include increasing the level of the obligation in the period between 2010–11 and 2015–16. Following the current consultation, the Government plan to lay an order before Parliament early next year.

    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the contribution of renewable energy to UK energy needs; and if she will make a statement. [189184]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    Renewable energy will make a significant contribution to our energy mix. We have a target for 10 per cent. of our electricity to come from renewable sources by 2010, and our aspiration is to have 20 per cent. of electricity from renewables by 2020.

    Age Discrimination
    Mr. Woodward
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate the Government have made of the cost of age discrimination to the UK economy in each year since 1997. [186927]

    Jacqui Smith
    The DTI has not made an estimate of the cost of age discrimination to the UK economy. A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) accompanied the July 2003 'Age Matters' consultation on proposals for legislation to outlaw age discrimination in employment and vocational training. It estimated that, excluding the positive impact of a likely increase in the labour supply, the economy would benefit by about £600 million over the first 10 years of the legislation taking effect. The RIA is available on: www.dti.gov.uk/er/equality/age.htm As far as the impact of an increase in the labour supply is concerned, "Winning the Generation Game" (Performance and Innovation Unit, April 2000, www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation/2000/wirining/generation.pdf) on the impact of ageing on the economy put the cost of early and involuntary exit from the labour market at about £16 billion each year. Some of this is attributable to age discrimination.

    Agency Workers Directive
    Mr. Bellingham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Agency Workers Directive. [186338]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    Our position on the Agency Workers Directive remains that we support the principle of the directive but the text needs to be changed to meet the concerns of all member states. We are committed to using our best endeavours to reach an early settlement.

    Airbus
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of support by the UK Government for the Airbus family of projects in each year since 1997–98(a) gross and (b) net after loan repayments. [188599]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Government are a strong supporter of Airbus and have provided financial support in the form of launch investment since 1984.

    The payments by HMG to Airbus arid receipts from Airbus to HMG since 1997–98 are set out as follows:

    (£ million actual)

    Payments

    Receipts

    1997–98

    0

    85.4

    1998–99

    0

    134.6

    1999–2000

    0

    167.4

    2000–01

    0

    119.7

    2001–02

    136

    103.4

    2002–03

    139

    88.7

    2003–04

    255

    78.3

    Coalminers' Compensation Scheme
    David Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to reach the last decile of registered coal compensation claims for(a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) vibration white finger for former miners or their widows or families in the east Midlands.[189188]

    Nigel Griffiths
    The Department is currently holding detailed discussions on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and plans to report progress to Sir Michael Turner, the judge who oversees the respiratory scheme, later this month when he visits the DTI's claims handlers. On claims for VWF, the Department aims to have completed all general damages offers by the end of 2004, and to have all claims settled by the end of 2005.

    Consumer Codes
    Mr. Oaten
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many consumer codes are awaiting approval by(a) her Department and (b) the Office of Fair Trading. [R] [188823]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    The DTI has no role is the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Consumer Codes Approval System.

    We are advised by the OFT that six codes have completed the first stage of the process and are working towards OFT approval. In addition, OFT have received approaches from a further 40 organisations and of these 13 have already made formal applications.

    Cross-channel Ferries
    Mr. Laurence Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent investigations have been carried out into the competitive nature of cross-channel ferries; and if she will make a statement. [188910]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    The European Commission is conducting an investigation info cross-channel transport services, to ascertain whether there is:1722W
    evidence of suspected cartel agreements and related illegal practices concerning fixing of prices and trade conditions for cross-channel transport services; and evidence of suspected market sharing agreements in relation to the provision of ferry services to and from the UK.

    It is for the independent competition authorities in the UK, and for the European Commission if there is an effect on inter-state trade, to investigate competition in markets and the effects of mergers on competition in markets.

    Export Support
    Mr. Arbuthnot
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the lowering of the target rate in the public service agreement indicator for UK Trade and Investment to show positive assistance to new-to-export firms indicates a decreasing level of support to such businesses; and if she will make a statement. [189294]

    Mr. Alexander
    The target has been raised not lowered. A new PSA indicator, agreed in the recent Spending Review, requires at least 40 per cent. of new to export firms funded by UK Trade and Investment to improve their business performance within two years. The previous target was 30 per cent. Although the overall level of resources being allocated to trade development will be reduced following the spending review, UK Trade and Investment is committed to increasing by 30 percentage points the proportion to trade development resources focused on new to export firms.

    Mr. Arbuthnot
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why her Department has lowered the minimum target rate to be achieved in 2004–06 from that most recently achieved by UK Trade and Investment in assisting new-to-export firms to improve their business performance. [189315]

    Mr. Alexander
    The target rate has been raised not lowered for the 2005–06 to 2007–08 period.

    Foreign Direct Investment
    Mr. Arbuthnot
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which(a) five countries and (b) industries accounted for the greatest amount of foreign direct investment in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years. [188921]

    Mr. Alexander
    [holding answer 14 September 2004]: According to figures recorded by UKTI the five countries that accounted for the greatest amount of foreign direct investment in the United Kingdom in the last five years is:
    1723W

    1999–2000

    2000–01

    2001–02

    2002–03

    2003–04

    1.

    US

    US

    US

    US

    US

    2.

    Germany

    Germany

    Japan

    Canada

    France

    3.

    Japan

    Canada

    Canada

    Germany

    Japan

    4.

    Canada

    Japan

    France

    Japan

    Canada

    5.

    France

    France

    Germany

    France

    Germany

    According to figures recorded by UKTI the five industries that accounted for the greatest amount of foreign direct investment in the United Kingdom in the last five years is:

    1999–2000

    2000–01

    2001–02

    2002–03

    2003–04

    1

    IT, internet and e-commerce

    IT, internet and e-commerce

    Software

    Software

    Software

    2

    Automotive

    Software

    IT, internet and e-commerce

    IT, internet and e-commerce

    IT, internet and e-commerce

    3

    Electronics

    Electronics

    Automotive

    Automotive

    Electronics

    4

    Engineering

    Automotive

    Electronics

    Electronics

    Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

    5

    Telecoms

    Telecoms

    Telecoms

    Finance

    Management

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

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

    Mr. Arbuthnot
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which 10 foreign companies invested the greatest amount directly in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.[188993]

    Mr. Alexander
    [holding answer 14 September 2004]Individual statistical returns companies make to the Office for National Statistics and other Government organisations for all surveys, including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), are confidential, and therefore the information cannot be published.

    Insolvency
    Sir Michael Spicer
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the appointment of the insolvency adjudicator. [189153]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    Dame Barbara Mills DBE QC was appointed to act as the Independent Complaints Adjudicator for The Insolvency Service from 1 April 2003.

    Dame Barbara will consider complaints about the way in which The Insolvency Service has dealt with its users including bankrupts, directors of failed companies and creditors. She will consider whether the complaint is justified and recommend what, if anything, The Insolvency Service should do to put things right.

    The Adjudicator's recommendations are independent and her services are free to complainants.

    Dame Barbara also investigates complaints about the Inland Revenue, HM Customs and Excise, and the Public Guardianship Office.

    Sir Michael Spicer
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost has been of the review of insolvency practitioners regulations. [189154]
    1724W
    Mr. Sutcliffe
    The current review of insolvency practitioners regulations commenced in November 2003 and is on-going.

    The cost to date is estimated to be in the region of £7,367.

    International Atomic Energy Agency
    Llew Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals the United Kingdom ambassador to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plans to make to the next annual general conference of the IAEA; whether the United Kingdom will be participating in the scientific forum being held as part of the IAEA general conference, on 21 to 22 September; and who the members of the UK delegation to the conference will be. [189109]

    Nigel Griffiths
    The UK will, as usual, be represented at the Agency's General Conference by a team of officials from different Government Departments, led by the UK's Governor to the IAEA. Throughout the week the UK will be negotiating and working with other member states on a wide range of issues relevant to the Agency's activities: these include nuclear safety and security, nuclear verification safeguards, and promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and technology. Copies of the UK's statement to the Plenary and resolutions, which have been agreed at the conference, will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

    At present, the UK has no plans to participate in the scientific forum being held on 21–22 September, as part of the IAEA General Conference.

    Marine Aggregates
    Adam Price
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the amount of marine aggregates in cubic metres dredged off the British coast in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [188480]

    Keith Hill
    I have been asked to reply

    The Crown Estate has provided the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with the following figures for the

    1725W
    extraction of aggregates from British waters over the past 10 years:

    Tonnage extracted

    Cubic metres extracted1

    1994

    22,064,768

    13,374,690

    1995

    26,122,576

    16,068,640

    1996

    26,613,578

    16,496,250

    1997

    24,876,508

    15,301,780

    1998

    22,866,580

    13,928,970

    1999

    23,678,572

    14,442,100

    2000

    23,656,885

    14,042,140

    2001

    22,689,280

    13,771,780

    2002

    21,875,086

    13,273,720

    2003

    22,226,070

    13,525,340

    1Approximate conversion.

    Parental Leave
    Mr. Bellingham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans her Department has to increase paid parental leave; and if she will make a statement. [186334]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    The Government introduced a substantial package of laws for working parents in April 2003, including increasing paid maternity leave, and a new right to paid paternity and adoption leave.

    The Government are committed not to make any changes to the laws for working parents before 2006, after the impact of the existing legislation has been reviewed.

    The DTI is taking forward a programme of work to explore what additional support could be provided to people balancing work and caring responsibilities, in ways that meet both individual and business needs. The work has included a series of round tables in England, Scotland and Wales and a Citizens' Jury.

    Post Office Card Accounts
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what revised guidance has been issued to post offices on the marketing of Post Office Card Accounts during the last three months. [188452]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    Guidance and training for subpostmasters on the procedures associated with the Post Office Card Account (POCA) are operational matters for Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to respond directly to the hon. Member.

    Postal Services
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints she has received in the last 12 months regarding the postal service in postal districts RM1, RM2, RM5, RM7, RM11 and RM12; and what the figures are for at other London postal districts. [187732]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    Complaints regarding the postal service are an operational matter for Royal Mail Group and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

    Proposed EU Patentability Directive
    Mr. Arbuthnot
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the differences are between current UK copyright law and the draft of the proposed EU directive on software patentability for which the Minister of State for Industry and the Regions voted at the EU Competitiveness Council meeting on 17-18 May. [189316]

    Ms Hewitt
    Present UK copyright law protects an original computer program that has been recorded in some form, but does not protect the idea behind the program. The current draft of the directive does not alter copyright protection, but confirms that innovators can gain patent protection for inventions involving the use of computer programs, providing they meet existing patentability requirements, which include making a technical contribution.

    Research Councils
    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the proportion of Research Council grants that will go to staff costs when research councils move to funding the full economic costs of research. [189031]

    Ms Hewitt
    On currently available data, Research Councils estimate that staff costs, including staff directly employed on the grant such as research assistants, make up approximately 40 per cent. of the Full Economic Cost (FEC) of current grants. Permanent academic staff (Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators) represent approximately one third of this figure.

    The Government have allocated an additional £200 million per year from 2007–08 (£120 million from 2005–06) to pay more for each Research Council project. As stated in the "Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004–14", the Government intends that Research Councils should pay close to 100 per cent. of the FEC of their grant funded research, taking account of capital funding streams, by the beginning of the next decade.

    Science Budget
    Hugh Bayley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money from the Government's science budget had been spent(a) in total, (b) in Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) in the City of York in each year since 1997. [188951]

    Ms Hewitt
    Total science budget expenditure in each year from 1997–98 to 2002–03 was as follows:

    Science budget (£ million)

    1997–98

    1,331

    1998–99

    1,334

    1999–2000

    1,394

    2000–01

    1,514

    2001–02

    1,707

    2002–03

    2,032

    Research Council grants allocated to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Yorkshire and

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    Humber and the City of York from 1997–98 to 2002–03 were as follows:

    £million

    Total UK Research Council grants

    Yorkshire and Humber

    York

    1997–98

    534

    39.6

    6.5

    1998–99

    560

    44.1

    7.1

    1999–2000

    604

    50.2

    7.4

    2000–01

    695

    57.1

    8.7

    2001–02

    805

    65.0

    10

    2002–03

    820

    66.5

    11.6

    Source:

    Higher Education Statistics Agency—Resources of Higher Education Institutions

    In addition, over this period, HEIs in Yorkshire and Humber received £117 million (of which £31 million went to the City of York) in infrastructure and knowledge transfer support, which was co-funded from the DfES and the OST science budget.

    Small Mines (Compensation)
    Mr. Dalyell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government's claims handlers expect to settle outstanding issues in relation to small mine employment and occupational respiratory disease issues. [189156]

    Nigel Griffiths
    Following agreement in principle in February 2004 good progress has been made in operational planning for the issuing of offers to small mines claimants. Software development scheduled for completion toward the end of September will allow the calculation of full and final offers to commence.

    Sunday Trading
    Ms Coffey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to deregulate Sunday trading. [188757]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    [holding answer 13 September 2004]: We have no plans to do so.

    Tissue Products
    Sir Nicholas Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the cost to public service provider purchasing departments of inaccurate labelling of tissue products in the last year for which figures are available. [188105]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    None.

    Trading Standards
    Mr. Blizzard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support she will give to local trading standards authorities seeking to protect the public from mass marketing scams. [188450]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    We have provided funding to Trading Standards to support and encourage more joined up effective enforcement; the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has also assisted Trading Standards Departments by providing training to around 2,500 Trading Standards Officers over the past year.
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    Most mass marketing scams operate from outside the UK. The OFT works with the network of enforcement agencies called ICPEN (International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network) to investigate and take action against cross-border scams.

    UK Trade and Investment Website
    Mr. Arbuthnot
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce(a) new and (b) increased charges for information, advice or assistance obtained by British businesses through the website of UK Trade and Investment. [189317]

    Mr. Alexander
    Arising from the Spending Review 2004 settlement, UK Trade and Investment are seeking to achieve efficiency gains through consideration of greater cost recovery for its services. Officials are considering options on how best to achieve this.

    Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971
    Brian Cotter
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been made under the terms of the Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971(a) since the introduction of the Act and (b) in each of the last five years. [188663]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    [holding answer 13 September 2004]: The Department of Trade and Industry does not collect statistics relating to the number of complaints made under the Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971.

    Local authority trading standards departments are responsible for enforcement of the Act and will each record their own complaints data.

    Working Hours
    Denzil Davies
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the percentage change in the hours worked per capita in the UK in(a) 1970 to 1980, (b) 1981 to 1997 and (c) 1998 to the latest available year. [184353]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    The information is as follows:

    (a) Unfortunately no data for this time period is available on the Labour Force Survey.

    (b) The Labour Force Survey reweighted data starts from 1992. The change in hours worked (that is total hours worked and excluding overtime) from spring 1992 to spring 1997 is 0.08 per cent.

    (c) The change in hours (that is total hours worked and excluding overtime) worked from spring 1998 to spring 2004 is 0.59 per cent.

  WORK AND PENSIONS

    Children in Poverty
    Mr. Woodward
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate the Government have
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    made of (a) how many and (b) what percentage of children lived in poverty in (i) St. Helens and (ii) the UK, broken down by region, in each year since 1997; [186825]

    (2) what estimate the Government have made of (a) how many and (b) what percentage of children lived in low-income households in (i) St. Helens and (ii) the UK, broken down by region, in each year since 1997; [186824]

    (3) what the Government's performance has been against each of its child poverty reduction targets in (a) St. Helens and (b) the UK, broken down by region, since 1997. [186806]

    Mr. Pond
    Poverty and social exclusion are complex and multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of peoples' lives—including their living standards, health, housing, the quality of their environment—and not just low income. The sixth annual "Opportunity For All" report (Cm 6329) sets out the Governments strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy.

    Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain and the United Kingdom is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2002—03". Data are not available below regional level.

    "Measuring Child Poverty", published in December 2003, outlines the Government's measure of UK child poverty for the long term. This new measure will begin from 2004–05.

    All publications listed are available in the Library.

    Benefit Claimants (Faversham)
    Hugh Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people in Faversham are claiming(a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) incapacity benefit or their equivalents; and how many were doing so in 1997; [189333]

    (2) how many people in the Faversham and Mid-Kent constituency are claiming (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) incapacity benefit or their equivalents; and how many were doing so in 1997. [189334]

    Mr. Pond
    The available information is in the tables.

    Incapacity benefits claimants: May 1997 and May 2004

    Thousand

    May 1997

    Great Britain

    2,739.3

    Swale local authority

    4.3

    Faversham and Mid-Kent parliamentary constituency

    2.5

    May 2004

    Great Britain

    2,708.7

    Swale local authority

    5.1

    Faversham and Mid-Kent parliamentary constituency

    3.1

    1. "Incapacity benefits claimants" includes all incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants, including those receiving national insurance credits only.

    2. Figures are shown in thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.

    Source:

    IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. samples.

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    Jobseeker's allowance claimants: May 1997 and May 2004

    Swale local authority

    Faversham and Mid-Kent parliamentary constituency

    May 1997

    3,508

    1,715

    May 2004

    1,450

    634

    Source:

    Count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems.

    Benefits
    Mr. Frank Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost of benefits paid was in(a) 1997–98 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available. [188592]

    Mr. Pond
    The total benefit expenditure for Great Britain, in nominal terms, in 1997–98 was £93,342 million; in 2002–03 it was £110,282 million.

    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have(a) nominated agents to collect state benefits on their behalf and (b) made formal appointments for third parties to receive and handle the administration of benefits on their behalf on account of their lack of mental capacity. [188231]

    Mr. Pond
    The only information available is for pension credit and income support.

    In Great Britain, as at February 2004, there were 100,400 pension credit claimants and 53,200 income support claimants with an agent.

    In Great Britain, as at the end of February 2004, there were 174,700 pension credit and 118,200 income support claimants with appointees.

    It is not possible to state how many people have appointees in cases of lack of mental capacity as this information is not collated centrally.

    Bereavement Benefits
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the operation of the bereaved parents allowance. [188405]

    Mr. Pond
    Bereavement benefits were introduced on 9 April 2001, and for the first time extended support to both widows and widowers following the death of a spouse. These new benefits concentrate the help available where it is most needed; on immediate needs and on families with children.

    Widowed parent's allowance is a weekly benefit payable to widowed parents who satisfy the qualifying conditions. The bereavement payment is a lump sum payment of £2,000 payable immediately to help with costs arising on bereavement. In addition, bereavement allowance is a weekly benefit payable, for 52 weeks following widowhood, to widows and widowers aged 45 and over without dependant children.

    We have no plans to change these arrangements.

    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will provide a Written Ministerial Statement outlining the key points on the agenda for each of the Council of Ministers' meetings at which his Department is represented in advance of each meeting; [188202]
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    (2) if he will provide a Written Ministerial Statement outlining for each meeting of the Council of Ministers at which his Department is represented as soon as is practicable following that meeting (a) the key items of discussion, (b) the positions of the Government on those items, (c) the key positions taken by other member states that Ministers consider should be noted by hon. Members and (d) any preliminary discussion on the timing and the agenda of the following meeting. [188203]

    Mr. Pond
    I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on 13 September 2004,Official Report, column 1451.

    Mrs. Dean
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training is provided to staff of his Department to enable them to give sufficient advice to those who are bereaved on what benefits are available to them. [188268]

    Maria Eagle
    Staff who deal with bereavement benefits claims have extensive technical training on those benefits before commencing their job. The training includes both classroom lessons and computer based material. Although primarily aimed at staff who process benefit claims, the training can also assist Personal Advisors and Financial Assessors in gaining a comprehensive understanding of these benefits.

    Additionally, further computer-based learning on the availability of bereavement benefits can be accessed by all staff who are likely to come into contact with, and give advice to, recently bereaved customers.

    All staff dealing with customers have access to benefit guides, including guides on bereavement benefits.

    Canteen Facilities
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of running his Department's canteen facilities was in(a)1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.[185529]

    Maria Eagle
    DWP was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security (DSS), and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) including the Employment Service. The first year for which figures for the cost of running the former DSS canteen facilities are available is the financial year 1998–99 for which the cost was £2.7 million. The most recent figures available for DWP are for the financial year 2003–04 for which the cost was £3.7 million. Information is not available centrally for the former DfEE.

    Child Support
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets his Department has set for the number of errors reported in Child Support Agency cases next year. [187944]

    Mr. Pond
    The Child Support Agency's targets are published within its annual Business Plan.

    The target for the current year is that by 31 March 2005 accuracy on the last decision for all maintenance calculations checked to be correct to the nearest penny in at least 90 per cent. of cases.
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    Mr. Frank Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will make arrangements to pay the money owing to Jennifer Oakes of Noctorum Avenue, Birkenhead, paid to him in error by the Child Support Agency.[189282]

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

    Letter from Mike Isaac to Mr. Frank Field, dated 16 September 2004:

    In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As he is currently on leave I am replying on his behalf.

    You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will make arrangements to pay the money owing to Jennifer Oakes of Noctorum Avenue Birkenhead paid to him in error by the Child Support Agency.

    As individual cases are confidential, I will write to you separately about this case. This is in line with paragraph 12, part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the change in the number of errors reported under the new Child Support scheme. [187943]

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

    Letter from Mike Isaac to Anne McIntosh, dated 16 September 2004:

    In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As he is currently on leave I am replying on his behalf.

    You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on the change of the number of errors reported under the new Child Support Scheme.

    In the year to 31 March 2003 the Agency's accuracy rate in calculating child maintenance assessments was 83.8 per cent. against a target of 80 per cent. This tested that the assessment was accurate to the nearest penny. In the year to 31 March 2004 the accuracy rate was 85.7 per cent. for old scheme cases against a target of 82 per cent. and 82 per cent. for new scheme cases against a target of 90 per cent. The new scheme was only introduced on 3 March 2003.

    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures his Department is taking to ensure that the number of Child Support Agency cases containing errors is reduced. [187945]

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

    Letter from Mike Isaac to Miss McIntosh, dated 16 September 2004:

    In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As he is currently on leave I am replying on his behalf.

    You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures his Department is taking to ensure that the number of Child Support cases containing errors is reduced.
    1733W
    The Agency has processes in place to regularly check the accuracy of its work. The teams responsible for that activity provide regular feedback to its operational teams so that they can learn from and remove identified causes of error. This is reinforced by a continuing education programme and regular team meetings at which quality is discussed.

    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to assess all Child Support Agency cases under the new criteria. [187963]

    Mr. Pond
    I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave him on 18 December 2003,Official Report, column 1092W.

    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the operation of the Child Support Agency's computer systems. [187971]

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

    Letter from Mike Isaac to Mr. Bob Spink, dated 16 September 2004:

    In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As he is currently on leave I am replying on his behalf.

    You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement about the operation of the Child Support Agency's computer systems.

    Mr. Smith has made regular reports to Parliament on the implementation of Child Support Reform on the 16 July 2003, 18 November 2003, 12 February 2004, 21 April 2004 and 22 July 2004.

    The Agency is currently supported in i is work by two computer systems: CSCS which is supported and maintained by EDS; and CS2 which is provided as a managed service by EDS. CSCS provides support to those clients whose applications were received before March 2003. CS2 provides support in handling both clients whose applications were received after 3 March 2003 or whose cases are in some relevant way linked to applications made after that date. EDS is meeting its contracted levels of service for CSCS. However, there are well documented defects within CS2 that have caused difficulties for clients. We are consequently withholding a proportion of the monthly payments for the service offered by CS2, under the terms of our contract with EDS. EDS is currently part way through a recovery programme intended to remove those defects.

    Mr. Best
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether his Department has set a timetable for the transfer of existing child support agency customers to the new system; [188427]

    (2) when existing Child Support Agency claimants will be transferred to the new system for calculating child maintenance; and if he will make a statement. [188444]

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

    Civil Service Recruitment
    Mr. Best
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact on services of the proposals to reduce civil service jobs in his Department. [189128]
    1734W
    Maria Eagle
    The Department's plans to reduce its staffing levels are part of a four year programme of modernisation made possible by a significant investment of public money. The investment has enabled the Department to streamline its processes, modernise its IT and improve its service to customers as a result. The first phase of these plans designed to increase the efficiency of benefit processing was announced to the House on 29 June. The latest phase of the Department's continuing modernisation programme was announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State in a written ministerial statement earlier today.

    CSA
    Bob Spink
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects all absent parents to be assessed under the same criteria for Child Support Agency payments; and if he will make a statement. [186530]

    Mr. Pond
    I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 18 December 2003,Official Report, column 1092W.

    Departmental Expenditure
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department and its predecessor Department spent on(a) mobile phone costs, (b) hospitality and (c) taxi costs in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. [185530]

    Maria Eagle
    The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security (DSS), Employment Service (ES), and parts of the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) were added in 2002–03.

    Information is not available in the format requested. Expenditure on taxis is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available on: (a) mobile phones; and (b) hospitality is set out in the following table:

    £million

    (a) Mobile phones

    1996–971

    1.258

    2003–04 (DWP)

    3.769

    (b) Hospitality

    1996–972

    0.147

    2003–04 (DWP)

    0.123

    1Figures available for former DSS only.

    2All DWP components.

    Departmental Staff
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed in the Department in each of the last three years; and how many were employed on short-term contracts in each year. [188983]
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    Maria Eagle
    Information on the number of staff awarded short term contracts within a given period is not held. Information on the number of staff employed on short term contracts at specific dates over the last three years is in the table.

    At 31 March

    Number of staff

    2002

    4,206

    2003

    2,788

    2004

    4,621

    Notes:

    Figures are point in time at the date shown.

    Figures are expressed in headcount terms.

    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the turnover rate of staff in the Department and each of its agencies was in the last year for which figures are available. [188984]

    Maria Eagle
    Information on turnover in the Department and each of its Agencies for the year ending 31 March 2004 is in the following table.

    Turnover Rate (percentage)

    Appeals Service

    6.0

    Child Support Agency

    8.9

    Jobcentre Plus

    5.7

    The Pension Service

    7.6

    The Department

    4.4

    Total Department for Work and Pensions

    6.1

    Destination of Benefit Leavers Survey
    Mr. Laurence Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost is of carrying out the Destination of Benefit Leavers Survey; what information he expects to obtain from it; and if he will make a statement. [188912]

    Mr. Pond
    The 2004 Destination of Benefit Leavers Survey is currently being carried out. The estimated cost of the survey is £488,000. Plans are in place to publish the key findings from the 2004 Destination of Benefit Leavers Survey in early 2005.

    The research aims to collect information on the immediate destinations of around 20,000 income support, incapacity benefit or jobseeker allowance (JSA) unknown destination benefit leavers. Specifically, we are looking to obtain information on why the claimant has left benefit (for example, they have moved into work, training or education); details of hours worked and earnings (if the destinations is into work); current activity (at the time of interview); and demographic information not already held administratively by the Department.

    This is a repeat of the 2003 survey. A copy of the report (2003 Destination of Benefit Leavers in-house research report No. 132) is available in the Library.

    At present, comprehensive information on immediate destinations is collected for JSA recipients only. The information gathered via the destination survey is, therefore, an important and significant development to the Department's analytical evidence base and will
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    enable the Department to monitor and evaluate the number of claimants flowing off benefits and into work from the three key working age benefits.

    The survey is part of a wider package of work that is being carried out to improve our information and is an interim measure for collection of destinations data until future income support and incapacity benefit administrative solutions are introduced in late 2004/early 2005.

    Disability Living Allowance
    Mr. Laurence Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has to allow people to claim disability living allowance if they become ill after the age of 65; and if he will make a statement; [188903]

    (2) what the upper age limit is for claiming disability living allowance; for what reason (a) there is an upper age limit and (b) the limit is set at that age; and if he will make a statement. [188904]

    Maria Eagle
    It is normal for social security schemes to contain different provisions for people at different stages of their lives, and we have no plans to change the rules which preclude people aged 65 or over from entitlement to disability living allowance unless they claimed and qualified for it before reaching that age. This is because the benefit is focussed on providing help with the disability-related extra costs of people who are severely disabled early, or relatively early, in life. Help with those costs for people for whom the onset of disability comes with old age is provided by attendance allowance as part of the wide range of support that the Government make available to older people so that they can have a decent and secure income in retirement and share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country.

    Disabled People
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the major initiatives since 1997 that the Government has taken to(a) advance the cause of disabled people and (b) highlight disability, especially with regard to overcoming discrimination. [188327]

    Maria Eagle
    Since 1997, we have introduced a wide range of significant measures that have improved civil rights and opportunities for disabled people, including:

    Major initiatives

    December 1997

    The Government set up the Disability Rights Task Force to consider how best to secure our 1997 Manifesto commitment to look at comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people.

    December 1998

    Employment provisions of Disability Discrimination Act extended to employers with 15 or more employees (previously 20 or more).

    January 1999

    All new rail vehicles have to comply with Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998

    June 1999

    "See the person" information campaign which aimed to challenge negative stereotypical thinking about disability and disabled people, to raise awareness of the DDA requirement (coming into effect from October 1999) on service providers to consider reasonable adjustments to the ways they deliver services.

    July 1999

    Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 gains Royal Assent.

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    Major initiatives

    October 1999

    Further DDA rights of access to goods and services came into force, meaning service providers have to alter a policy, practice or procedure which prevents a disabled person accessing a service, or to provide an auxiliary aid or service, or provide a service by a reasonably alternative marts.

    February 2000

    Direct Payments were extended to older disabled people.

    April 2000

    Disability Rights Commission commenced activity.

    June 2000

    Attendance Allowance and the care component of Disability Living were extended to an estimated 2,000 self-funders in local authority owned/managed residential care homes.

    June 2000

    The day of discharge from hospital has been treated, for the purpose of payments of Attendance Allowance and the Disability Living Allowance care component, as being a day out of hospital. This is benefiting an estimated 50,000 people per year.

    September 2000

    Department of Health began to undertake a project to Modernise Hearing Aid Services. In the first 18 months, 20 sites piloted provision of a service which assessed patients' more thoroughly, providing binaural aids where indicated, and digital hearing aids where this provides the best solution to the patient.

    October 2000

    Government agrees the EU Article 13 Employment Directive to combat discrimination in employment and vocational training on grounds of disability, age, religion/belief, sexual orientation.

    October 2000

    The "What have you got to offer?" campaign which targeted SME business sect or in particular, and used straightforward examples of the kinds of changes under the DDA, which make services accessible to disabled customers.

    December 2000

    Public Service Vehicle Regulations 2000 became applicable to all new buses and coaches with more than 22 passengers used on local and scheduled services.

    March 2001

    Regulations introduced requiring licensed taxi drivers to accept assistance dogs and to carry them free of charge.

    March 2001

    'Valuing People' was published. This is the first White Paper on learning disability for thirty years.

    April 2001

    Launch of WORKSTEP programme providing support in jobs for disabled people.

    April 2001

    The Disability Living Allowance higher rate mobility component was extended to severely disabled three and four year old children who are unable, or virtually unable, to walk. This change provides extra help worth £41.05 a week to the families of over 7,000 severely disabled children.

    May 2001

    Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA) gains Royal Assent. The Act brings within scope of the DDA's discrimination provisions, disabled pupils and students.

    June 2001

    Introduced statutory minimum requirement for concessionary travel, ensuring that certain groups of disabled people have access to half-fares on local buses.

    July 2001

    National Extension of New Deal for Disabled People.

    August 2001

    'Valuing People' Implementation Guidance was published.

    December 2001

    The Learning Disability Task Force held their first meeting. The Learning Disabilities Taskforce is a team of academic experts, representatives of voluntary organisations, health and a social care professionals, family carers and people with learning difficulties charged with finding ways to turn the ideas in Valuing People, into reality.

    December 2001

    The Mencap helpline was launched. It is funded by the Department of Health and Mencap. They offer advice on learning disability issues.

    January 2002

    The "Open to Change" campaign which was aimed at encouraging SMEs to find out more about what reasonable adjustments should be made under the DDA, to ensure their services were available to disabled customers.

    February 2002

    The Valuing People Support Team became fully operational. The team works to improve services for people with learning disabilities through regional programmes of events, networks and support to groups and partnership boards.

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    April 2002

    The Learning Disability Development Fund (LDDF) was introduced. It provides central support for key aspects of 'Valuing People.'

    September 2002

    First duties of SENDA came into force in September 2002.

    October 2002

    The Direct Payments Development Fund (DPDF) was announced, to encourage investment in direct payments support services. This money (£9 million over the next three financial years) is being targeted at national, regional and local voluntary organisations, in partnership with local councils, to enable them to play a significant role in the development and promotion of direct payments.

    November 2002

    The Wheelchair Collaborative was launched to bring about significant improvements in services. It was developed in partnership with the NHS Modernisation Agency, the Department of Health and the Audit Commission.

    December 2002

    Department of Health Ministers appointed a multidisciplinary External Reference Group to provide advice on issues which the National Service Framework for Long-Term Conditions should cover. This National service Framework focuses on improving the standard and quality of services for people with neurological conditions and addressing some of the common issues that can promote independence for people with long term conditions, like information and support for families and carers, and access community equipment and wheelchairs.

    October 2002

    Legislation requiring drivers of regulated buses and coaches to provide reasonable assistance to disabled people.

    2001–2003

    Produced a series of TV 'fillers' to tackle discrimination by using positive portrayals of disabled people in a range of roles and settings. These have generated millions of pounds worth of coverage.

    January 2003

    Government announced intention to publish a draft Disability Discrimination Bill.

    March 2003

    Regulations introduced requiring licensed private hire vehicle operators and drivers to accept assistance dogs and to carry them free of charge.

    April 2003

    The Disability Discrimination (Blind and Partially Sighted Persons) Regulations 2003 came into force. People who are certified as blind or partially sighted, or registered as blind or partially sighted by a local authority, automatically deemed disabled for DDA purposes.

    April 2003

    Regulations came into force requiring councils to offer direct payments to people using community care services who can choose to have them.

    July 2003

    DDA 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 approved by Parliament. These include significant measures that will bring over one million additional employers, and a further seven million jobs, within the scope of the DDA. Measures come into effect in October 2004. They implement disability provisions of the Article 13 Employment Directive.

    October 2003

    Start of the first three Pathways to Work pilots.

    November 2003

    Began public consultation on setting an end date for rail vehicle accessibility and for refurbishment of rail vehicles.

    November 2003

    Laid Regulations to give effect to the Article 13 Directive's requirements as they affect occupational pension schemes for disabled employees. Measures come into effect in October 2004.

    December 2003

    Draft Disability Discrimination Bill published.

    April 2004

    Information campaign to tell Small to Medium Sized Enterprises about the changes they need to consider under the new October 2004 duties of the DDA. The campaign used Direct mail, radio, press and email to communicate with businesses.

    May 2004

    The disabled people and carers section of the new Direct.gov site, provides information of practical, personal relevance to disabled people including information on government services, and steps to find out more about those services.

    May 2004

    The draft bill underwent a thorough pre-legislative scrutiny process by a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament. The Committee published its response to Government on 27 May, containing 75 recommendations.

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    Major initiatives

    July 2004

    The Government's response to the Scrutiny Committee's recommendations published. The Bill will further extend disabled people's civil rights in respect of the public sector, transport, premises, private clubs and the definition of disability.

    We have also announced future measures to improve and broaden civil rights for disabled people:

    Major initiatives

    October 2004

    Final rights of access to goods and services in DDA come into effect, which mean that service providers have to, where reasonable, remove, alter or avoid physical features which act as barriers to disabled people accessing their services.

    September 2005

    SEN DA duty to remove or alter physical features in post-16 education sector comes into force.

    January 2005

    New buses up to 7.5 tonnes and coaches will have improved access for wheelchair users.

    January 2015

    All buses up to 7.5 tonnes will be fully accessible.

    January 2016

    All full size single deck buses over 7.5 tonnes will be fully accessible.

    January 2017

    All double deck buses will be fully accessible.

    January 2020

    All coaches will be fully accessible.

    Exceptions Service
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance is given to local job centre offices on responding to inquiries made by recipients of benefits and retirement pension who wish to continue collecting their payments by cash rather than direct payment; what the eligibility criteria will be for those who wish to join the Exceptions Service; and if he will make a statement. [189127]

    Mr. Pond
    Direct payment is now the normal method of payment. The Department provides Jobcentre Plus staff with the factual information they need to give to customers, in order for customers themselves to choose the account which best meets their needs and circumstances.

    All existing customers, not yet paid by direct payment, are being contacted to invite them to provide account details. Customers who advise the Department that they are unable to open or manage an account will be paid by cheque payment.

    The cheque payment is only intended for those customers who we cannot pay by direct payment; it is not an alternative payment option.

    Hepatitis C
    Annabelle Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2004,Official Report, columns 1337–9W, on Hepatitis C, whether the proposed housing benefit and council tax benefit regulations to which he referred have been laid before Parliament. [189321]

    Mr. Pond
    The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 (Statutory Instrument 1141 of 2004) were laid before Parliament on 21 April 2004 and came into force on 12 May 2004.
    1740W
    As a result, payments made under the Hepatitis C Ex-Gratia Payment Scheme to people who are infected with Hepatitis C are now disregarded fully when calculating entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit.

    Housing and Council Tax Benefits
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the value of housing and council tax benefit fraud and error detected in(a) each local authority and (b) total in 2002–03. [189122]

    Mr. Pond
    [holding answer 15 September 2004]The information is not currently available. The Department is currently developing a methodology that will enable us to produce robust estimates of the value of fraud and error detected.

    However, the latest report on estimated Fraud and Error in Housing Benefit, April 2002 to September 2003, was published on 12 August. The findings about the overall levels of housing benefit (HB) fraud and error, in 2002–03, are that around £550 million (5.0 per cent.) of HB expenditure within the scope of the Housing Benefit Review (HBR) sample is estimated to have been overpaid due to fraud or error; and a further £150 million is estimated, via the use of a rough extrapolation, to have been overpaid in HB expenditure outside the scope the HBR sampling.

    Copies of the report are available in the Library.

    Laryngectomies
    Mrs. Helen Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the classification of disabled people who have had laryngectomies. [188887]

    Maria Eagle
    People who have had laryngectomies can qualify for the full range of social security benefits and pensions if they satisfy the rules which govern entitlement. They can also be disabled persons for the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 if they experience a long-term substantial adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

    Means-tested Benefits
    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of(a) households and (b) people in receipt of means-tested benefits [186545]

    Mr. Pond
    The information is in the table.

    Income related benefit recipients, Great Britain: May 2002

    Income-related benefit recipients

    Claimants

    6,250,000

    Total adult beneficiaries

    7,440,000

    Total beneficiaries

    10,330,000

    Notes:

    1. The figures are based en 1 per cent. and 5 per cent. samples and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.

    2. Due to the procedure used to remove overlaps between the figures, the figures are rounded to the nearest ten thousand.

    3. Council tax benefit data excludes any Second Adult Rebate cases.

    1741W

    4. Housing benefit data excludes any Extended Payments.

    5. Income related benefits are classed as income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

    6. "Claimants" are benefit units in which the customer and/or partner are in receipt of income related benefits.

    7. "Total adult beneficiaries" refers to the sum of all customers and partners in receipt of income related benefits.

    8. "Total beneficiaries" refers to the sum of all customers, partners and dependants in receipt of income related benefits.

    9. Benefit units may be a single person, couple or family.

    10. Overlaps between benefits have been removed.

    Source:

    Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2002. DWP Information Centre, per cent., sample (IS/JSA).

    Myasthenia Gravis
    Mr. Caton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on benefit entitlement for those diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. [188633]

    Mr. Best
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on benefit entitlement for individuals diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. [189132]

    Maria Eagle
    We do not pay benefits based on medical diagnosis.

    Incapacity benefit is intended to provide a source of income for sick and disabled people of working age who are unable to work.

    Entitlement to disability living allowance is based on walking difficulties and/or the need for personal care which results from severe disability. The customer's medical condition is not, necessarily, the key factor. Rather it is the disablement that results from it and the effects of that disablement.

    We are ensuring that the benefit system encourages and promotes work where possible. However, we recognise that those with the most severe conditions may never be able to work, and benefits provide security for those for whom work is not an option.

    New Deal for Disabled People
    Mr. Goodman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether organisations who have contracts to help deliver the New Deal for Disabled People will be paid for getting unemployed disabled people into work above the targets which those of organisations have been set for so doing. [188597]

    Calls to pension credit application line, April 2003 to August 2004

    Calls received by application line(total)

    Calls in which an application was taken over the line

    Calls in which the customer asked for a paper application form

    Other calls

    2003

    April

    20,810

    6,110

    170

    14,530

    May

    32,750

    11,630

    460

    20,660

    June

    60,240

    29,790

    850

    29,600

    July

    118,220

    60,180

    2,050

    55,990

    August

    181,860

    87,460

    4,730

    89,670

    September

    427,900

    140,430

    17,570

    269,900

    October

    482,780

    146,680

    31,240

    304,860

    November

    318,280

    94,630

    21,060

    202,860

    December

    193,560

    57,600

    14,130

    121,830

    1742W
    Jane Kennedy
    Target levels for organisations supporting the delivery of the New Deal for Disabled People are agreed and specified within the Department's contracts with them. Any variation of those contracts is at the discretion of the Department and subject to our agreement through contract re-negotiation.

    Pension Collection (Giros)
    Mr. Frank Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will arrange for those pensioners who continue to draw their pensions by way of Giros to have the option of having the Giros sent to the local Post Office where they will be cashed. [189281]

    Mr. Pond
    Under normal arrangements when customers are paid by cheque, payment is sent to their home address.

    Cheques can be paid into bank/building societies as well as being cashed at Post Offices; however, all cheques over the value of £350 have to be paid into a bank/building society account.

    Sending cheques directly to the Post Office does not provide the same opportunity for casual agent encashment.

    There are no plans in place to change these existing arrangements.

    The same outcome would be achieved if customers choose to have their pension or benefit paid by Direct Payment into an account which is accessible at the Post Office. Many current accounts, basic bank accounts as well as the Post Office Card Account offer this facility.

    Payment by Direct Payment would also provide customers with additional benefits. Depending on the account they choose, customers will be able to take advantage of all financial services available including:
    discounts on some bills paid by direct debit;
    a cheque-book and a debit card;
    and they will be able to withdraw as much or as little of their money as they want at any one time.

    Pension Credit
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many inquiries have been received by the pension credit application line in each calendar month since creation. [188683]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The number of calls to the application line in each month between April 2003 and July 2004 is shown in the table.
    1743W

    Calls to pension credit application line, April 2003 to August 2004

    Calls received by application line (total)

    Calls in which an application was taken over the line

    Calls in which the customer asked for a paper application form

    Other calls

    2004

    January

    495,560

    138,870

    26,140

    330,550

    February

    433,790

    136,980

    11,420

    285,390

    March

    430,070

    136,310

    13,400

    280,360

    April

    346,890

    105,380

    12,630

    229,150

    May

    234,580

    37,780

    9,640

    187,160

    June

    315,200

    60,220

    9,960

    245,020

    July

    239,990

    28,880

    8,910

    202,200

    August

    151,540

    53,210

    6,420

    91,910

    Notes:

    1. Numbers of calls are rounded to the nearest 10.

    2. 'Other calls' include a small number which received the engaged tone or a recorded message.

    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of residents of Dumfries and Galloway are in receipt of pension credit. [188684]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The number of individual recipients of pension credit in Dumfries and Galloway at the end of August represented approximately 7.1 per cent. of the total population and 27.2 per cent. of the population aged 60 or over.

    Pension Service
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local pension centres there are; and how many staff are employed in each. [188982]

    Mr. Pond
    There are currently 26 pension centres in addition to the centre at Tyne View Park which comprises of the National Pensions Forecasting Telephone Centre, the International Pension Centre and the National pension centre.

    Details of staffing are set out in the table.

    August 2004

    Pension Centre

    Number of staff

    Bath PC

    400

    Birmingham PC

    366

    Blackpool PC

    187

    Burnley PC

    506

    Cwmbran PC

    238

    Dearne Valley PC

    372

    Derby PC

    290

    Dundee PC

    494

    London PC (Glasgow)

    484

    Leicester PC

    280

    Liverpool PC

    253

    Motherwell PC

    499

    London PC (Newcastle)

    584

    Norwich BH PC

    255

    Norwich KH PC

    308

    Nottingham PC

    238

    Plymouth PC

    360

    Seaham PC

    371

    Stockport PC

    688

    Stockton PC

    317

    Swansea PC

    529

    Walsall PC

    253

    Warrington PC

    483

    Wolverhampton PC

    378

    Wrexham PC

    382

    York PC

    285

    Pension Centres Total

    9,800

    IPC

    997

    NPC

    986

    NPFTC

    700

    1744W

    August 2004

    Pension Centre

    Number of Staff

    Tyne View Support Team

    123

    Management and Support

    19

    Tyne View Park Total

    2,825

    Total Pension Centres

    12,625

    Notes:

    1. Tyne View Park (Newcastle) is often considered as one Pension Centre incorporating National Pension Centre, International Pension Centre and National Pension Forecasting Telephone Centre. However for the purpose of this response a breakdown of these areas, in addition to Management and Support staff is provided.

    2. The table shows the number of core processing and Management and Support staff in post at the end of August 2004. Staff working on Local Services, Projects and Central Functions are not included.

    Pensioners
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask he Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on home visits to pensioners; and how many home visits were carried out in each quarter since the introduction of pension credit. [188988]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The Local Service of The Pension Service aims to provide a home visit if a pensioner requires one. The vast majority of queries can be dealt with quickly and effectively by a telephone call to a pension centre or to the pension credit application line. Those receiving home visits are typically the most vulnerable and the Local Service aims to provide help for such pensioners when they need it. During a home visit, the Local Service will offer information on pension credit and other entitlements and on other social care issues. The number of home visits carried out since April 2003 is set out in the table.

    Home visits by The Pension Service, April 2003 to August 2004

    Quarter

    Number of visits

    2003

    April to June

    67,464

    July to September

    92,557

    October to December

    112,183

    2004

    January to March

    148,033

    April to June

    131,491

    July to August1

    83,504

    1Latest available.

    1745W
    Siobhain McDonagh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Mitcham and Morden received the higher rate of winter fuel allowance for over 80s in winter 2003—04. [189349]

    Mr. Pond
    In winter 2003—04, the number of pensioners in Mitcham and Morden who received the higher rate winter fuel payment for those aged 80 or over was 2,895.

    Note:

    Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

    Source:

    IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

    Siobhain McDonagh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Mitcham and Morden received winter fuel allowance in winter 2003—04. [189350]

    Mr. Pond
    The number of pensioners in Mitcham and Morden who received a winter fuel payment in winter 2003—04 was 14,220.

    Note:

    Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

    Source:

    IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

    Siobhain McDonagh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Mitcham and Morden are receiving an additional £100 in 2004—05 to help pay for increases to council tax. [189357]

    Mr. Pond
    The information requested is not available. For winter 2003—04, there were 7,915 pensioners aged 70 or over in Mitcham and Morden who received a winter fuel payment. We expect a similar number to benefit from the one-off 70+ payment.

    Note:

    Figures are rounded to the nearest five

    Source:

    IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. simple.

    Pensions
    Llew Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment has been made by(a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department of the research published by the TUC in June on pension take-up, with particular reference to Wales. [189107]

    Mr. Pond
    The TUC has published new research showing which groups of employees have been the most likely to lose membership of a pensions scheme. We welcome the research that the TUC has undertaken on membership of occupational pensions. This draws substantively on data produced by the Government and underscores the importance of the measures we are taking forward through our pension reforms.

    The Pensions Bill will rebuild confidence in occupational pensions, it will strengthen the partnership between employers, individuals and the state in pension provision. The introduction of the Pension Protection Fund (supported by a Pensions regulator) will enhance protection for pension scheme members. The Bill also protects employees transferring from one employer to another with a minimum level of pension provision. In
    1746W
    addition it will encourage individuals to build up pension savings by offering a cash transfer sum when leaving a pension scheme.

    Through our informed choice agenda we will work with our pension partners to explore and test different approaches aimed at maximising membership of employer-provided schemes. One of these is automatic enrolment where new employees automatically become members of their employer's pension scheme unless an individual opts out.

    The TUC research does not contain specific information relating to Wales. However, based on the data that is available, Wales does not appear to be significantly different to the rest of the United Kingdom in terms of trends in occupational pensions.

    Mr. Best
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the operation of the new direct payment scheme for pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [189134]

    Mr. Pond
    Independent research commissioned by DWP which is soon to be published shows that there are very high levels of satisfaction among benefit and pensions customers who have transferred to direct payment and those who have started claiming and chose to receive direct payments. Overall 91 per cent. of customers were happy with the process of setting up direct payments (the figure for pensioners was 88 per cent.). Similarly, overall 93 per cent. of customers were happy with the process of having payments made into an account (the figure for pensioners was 92 per cent.).

    The main benefits of direct payment were seen to be the increased convenience and security. Some people also feel it helps them manage their money more effectively. Most customers felt there were no disadvantages to receiving their benefit or pension by direct payment.

    The full research report will be published shortly.

    Chris Ruane
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are being made to ensure that carers with an existing power of attorney may continue to withdraw pensions from the Post Office. [188004]

    Mr. Pond
    [holding answer 13 September 2004]: Payment direct into a bank or building society account including Post Office card account is the normal method of payment for benefits, pensions and allowances.

    The Post Office has arrangements with a wide variety of banks and building societies and depending on the account held, customers including those with power of attorney, are able to withdraw money across the counter at any post office branch.

    The Post Office card account is also available for the payment of pensions but does not support power of attorney. A power of attorney is unable to open a card account in their own name to receive pensions. However they can make use of the DWP appointee procedure to obtain pension as the carer.

    The Department is in the process of contacting all customers, including those with an existing power of attorney, who have not provided account details and asking them to do so. Customers including those

    1747W
    holding power of attorney are being provided with all the information they need on all of their account options, including which accounts can be used at post office branches. It will be for them to decide which type of account best suits their individual needs and circumstances.

    Post Office Card Account
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process pension payments through the use of the Post Office card account is. [188609]

    Mr. Pond
    Information is not available in the format requested.

    Payments made through the Post Office card account use the same process as all payments direct to bank accounts. Payments are sent to BACS Ltd. in advance of the relevant three-day payment cycle. The process is designed to ensure that a payment is available for collection; in the case of the Post Office card account, by 9.00 am on the date it is due.

    Statutory Appointees for State Benefits
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what formal obligations are imposed on statutory appointees for state benefits to act in the best interests of those entitled to them; and what sanctions are taken against those who fail to meet those obligations. [188230]

    Mr. Pond
    Applicants to become an appointee are interviewed and are required to sign a declaration (on form BF56).

    This requires them to spend any money they receive from social security benefits, pensions and allowances and Inland Revenue tax credit, on behalf of, and in the interests of the benefit customer.

    They are required to sign that they have read, understood and accept the conditions of being an appointee.

    If the appointment is confirmed, the appointee is given form BF57 which repeats the message given in the BF56.

    If an appointee fails to meet their obligations, the Secretary of State may, in addition to any further action that might be appropriate, revoke the appointment.

    Transitional Protection Scheme
    Mr. Purchase
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2004,Official Report, column 725W, on the Transitional Protection Scheme, whether local authorities will be provided by 1 January 2005 with (a) an estimate at an individual local authority level, based upon local authority certified estimate returns submitted to the Department by 31 August, of the likely financial consequences in the current financial year of the impact of the Transitional Protection Scheme and (b) estimates at an individual local authority level of the potential financial implications for the 2005—06 and 2006—07 financial years of the impact of the Transitional Protection Scheme. [188780]
    1748W
    Mr. Pond
    The amount of transitional protection to be provided to local authorities will not be known until after the end of the financial year when authorities have their subsidy claims audited.

    Further advice and information has been issued to local authorities enabling them to estimate the potential gains/losses under the new subsidy system and consequently whether they may be affected by the transitional protection arrangements. HB/CTB circular S11/2003 gave further detailed information specifically on the transitional protection scheme. HB/CTB S2/2004 notified local authorities of the change to the transitional protection scheme which increased the level of protection for local authorities. Copies of both circulars are available in the Library.

    Officials will be consulting shortly with local authority representatives to progress the details of how the transitional protection scheme will operate in practice.

  HEALTH

    Ambulances
    Ann Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to commission an independent inquiry into the operation of the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service. [188806]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The Department has no plans to commission an independent inquiry into the operation of the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service.

    Ann Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources his Department provides to regional ambulance services; and what assessment he has made of current levels of demand on regional ambulance services. [188807]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    There are 31 national health service ambulance trusts in England. Primary care trusts (PCTs) commission health services to meet the needs of their local population, in partnership with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and other local stakeholders. In line with "Shifting the Balance of Power", it is the responsibility of PCTs to determine how best to use their overall allocations to meet national and local priorities. In calculating overall budget allocations for PCTs, the Department takes into account a range of factors, including changes in demand-led activities such as ambulance journeys.

    The annual number of incidents attended by ambulance services increased by seven per cent., in 2003—04. As part of the review of ambulance policy and services currently underway, we are examining the possible reasons for this increase.

    Ann Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the(a) performance and (b) emergency response provision of the Merseyside Regional Ambulance Service; [188808]

    (2) what progress has been made by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service in achieving national performance targets; and if he will make a statement. [188809]
    1749W
    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The information requested on performance of the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service can be found in the statistical bulletin, "Ambulance Services, England": 2003—04. A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and can also be found on the Department's website at www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0411.htm.

    Asperger's Syndrome
    Jonathan Shaw
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to review the practice guidelines for assessing the ability of people with Asperger's syndrome to live independently; [188883]

    (2) what assessment he has made of the reasons a low percentage of adults with Asperger's syndrome are living fully independent lives; [188884]

    (3) what assessment he has made of the assistance people with Asperger's syndrome need to live fully independent lives; [188885]

    (4) for what reason people with Asperger's syndrome are referred to as presenting a low risk to independence in the Department's publication Fair Access to Care 2003.[188886]

    Dr. Ladyman
    There are no plans to review the "Fair access to care services" practice guidance, which was updated in March 2003.

    It is a matter for social services to assess the needs of people including those with Asperger's syndrome. Each individual, regardless of any underlying condition is assessed on individual need and in the light of local eligibility criteria.

    The example in "Fair access to care services" does not mean that everyone with Asperger s syndrome has low support needs.

    Breastfeeding
    Ms Drown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will raise with(a) Cow & Gate and (b) Milupa Department of Health guidance on breastfeeding to prevent encouragement of weaning before six months. [188455]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The Department has widely published advice on ideal ways of weaning. However, current European legislation, implemented in the United Kingdom, provides that weaning foods may be labelled as suitable for infants from four months of age. The European Commission has indicated that it intends to review the labelling of these foods. When this review takes place, the Department and the Food Standards Agency will work closely to ensure that the labelling of weaning foods supports the Department's advice.

    Carers
    Bob Spiny
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further assistance and sources of advice he intends to provide for carers; and if he will make a statement. [189072]
    1750W
    Dr. Ladyman
    This Government are the first ever to recognise the contribution and concerns of carers. It developed the national carers' strategy in 1999 with carers and the organisations that represent them.

    The carers grant was introduced in 1999 to support councils in providing breaks and services for carers in England. The grant has been increased annually and has provided an extra £325 million over the last five years. It is worth £125 million this year and will continue at least until 2005–06, by which time it will be £185 million.

    The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act received Royal Assent on 22 July 2004. The Act will ensure that carers are able to take up opportunities which those without caring responsibilities take for granted.

    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister launched the Beacon Council scheme on 7 July 2004. Supporting carers is one of the themes for the forthcoming round.

    To support carers' access to information the Department is funding Carers UK to provide advice and information in a variety of formats.

    Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many employees the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health has; and when their contracts will end. [188108]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) has a full staffing complement of 197 whole-time equivalent (wte) posts. At present, the CPPIH has 141.5 wte posts and 40.5 posts filled by temporary staff, including individuals on fixed term contracts and agency staff.

    The impact of the abolition of the CPPIH on staff contracts will be assessed on an individual basis with staff, as the details of the new arrangements are developed.

    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on offices for the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health(a) in total and (b) broken down by region. [188109]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    During the 2003—04 financial year, the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health spent £1.1 million on accommodation.

    The following table shows a breakdown of costs by region.

    £

    National centre

    338,779

    North East regional office

    71,302

    North West regional office

    70,999

    Yorkshire regional office

    80,579

    East Midland regional office

    61,025

    London regional office

    125,282

    South East regional office

    126,562

    South West regional office

    53,928

  Community Health Councils
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who devised the community health councils' replacement systems. [188238]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The arrangements that have replaced community health councils were developed by the Government in consultation with the public, parliamentarians, the national health service, the voluntary sector and many more interested stakeholders.

  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish an assessment of the benefits of replacing community health councils. [188239]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There are no plans to publish an assessment of the benefits of replacing community health councils.

  Number of people receiving continuing NHS healthcare

  Strategic Health Authority:

  2002–03

  2003—04

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority

  927

  741

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority

  700

  830

  Birmingham and the Black Country Strategic Health Authority

  1,165

  1,107

  Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority

  1,084

  1,074

  County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority

  904

  1,374

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Strategic Health Authority

  561

  690

  Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority

  343

  376

  Essex Strategic Health Authority

  834

  698

  Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority

  1,039

  984

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority

  673

  530

  Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority

  770

  770

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health Authority

  137

  215

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority

  127

  435

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority

  410

  705

  North Central London Strategic Health Authority

  294

  320

  North East London Strategic Health Authority

  812

  733

  North West London Strategic Health Authority

  500

  1,468

  Northumberland, Tyne and W ear Strategic Health Authority

  461

  1,081

  Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority

  673

  663

  Somerset and Dorset Strategic Health Authority

  94

  241

  South East London Strategic Health Authority

  635

  580

  South West London Strategic Health Authority

  232

  433

  South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority

  239

  516

  South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority

  216

  192

  Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority

  1,047

  719

  Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority

  259

  632

  Trent Strategic Health Authority

  509

  928

  West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority

  1,374

  688

  England

  17,019

  19,723

  Source:

  Service and Financial Framework Return, Local Delivery plan Return.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices in East Lancashire have(a) wholly private, (b) wholly NHS and (c) mixed lists. [188568]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department does not collect information on dentists with wholly private lists, nor on the private work of dental practices doing national health service work.

  The number of general dental service (CDS) and persona; dental service (PDS) practices in the East Lancashire area is shown in the table.

  Primary care trust

  Number of CDS and PDS dental practices

  Blackburn with Drawen

  25

  Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

  44

  Continuing Care
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received fully funded NHS continuing care in each year since 1997, broken down by strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement. [185996]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [put swam to his reply, 7 September 2004, Official Report, c. 1072W]: I regret that my previous reply was incorrect. It should read as follows:

  The number of people receiving national health service continuing care in 2002–03 and 2003–04, broken down by strategic health authority (SHA), is shown in the following table. The move to SHA took place in 2002. Therefore, it is not possible to provide data broken down by SHA preceding this date.

  Primary care trust

  Number of CDS and PDS dental practices

  Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

  22

  Source:

  Department of Health statistics.

  Digital Hearing Aids
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in providing the latest digital hearing aids in Essex; and if he will make a statement. [189071]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Since September 2000, the modernising hearing aid services project has been retaining audiologists and generally modernising services in a
  1753W
  phased way to enable them to offer digital hearing aids to people who would benefit from them. The roll-out will be complete by April 2005.

  Digital hearing aids require different service delivery models as they incorporate information technology-based assessment and fitting procedures. A total of £30.75 million was made available from 2000 to 2003 for this project and a further £94 million will be available from 2003 to 2005.

  I am informed that the audiology department at Southend Hospital National Health Service Trust is now fully funded and up and running. All new patients are fitted with digital hearing aids. There is a programme in place for patients who have an analogue hearing aid to have appointments to have the digital aid fitted if they want one.

  Food Labelling
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ask the Food Standards Agency to publish good practice guidelines for the use of the term, suitable for vegetarians, on food labels and menus. [188055]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 15 September 2004,Official Report, columns 1643–44W.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to prevent the inclusion in foods labelled as vegetarian of processing agents derived from animals. [188056]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  On 24 September, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) plans to hold a stakeholder meeting to discuss the labelling of vegetarian products.

  General medical practitioners (excluding registrars retainers and locums)1 who work full-time for Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority by primary care trust

  Number (headcount)

  1997

  1998

  1999

  General medical practitioners (excluding registrars, retainers and locums)1

  Of which: full-time

  General medical practitioners (excluding registrars, retainers and locums)1

  Of which: full-time

  General medical practitioners (excluding registrars, retainers and locums)1

  Of which: full-time

  Surrey and Sussex SHA

  1,412

  1,200

  1,432

  1,190

  1,431

  1,180

  Of which:

  Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT

  5L8

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Bexhill and Rother PCT

  5FH

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Brighton and Hove City PCT

  5LQ

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Crawley PCT

  5MA

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT

  5KP

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  East Surrey PCT

  5KQ

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Eastbourne Downs PCT

  51R

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Guildford and Waverley PCT

  5L5

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Hastings and St. Leonards PCT

  5FJ

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Horsham and Chanctonbury PCT

  5MC

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mid–Sussex PCT

  5FK

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  North Surrey PCT

  5L6

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Sussex Downs and Weald PCT

  5LT

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Western Sussex PCT

  5L9

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Woking PCT

  5L7

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1754W
  The meeting will consider whether establishment of FSA advice for industry and enforcement authorities on use of the terms 'vegetarian' and 'vegan' would be helpful.

  The Food Safety Act 1990 and the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 already contain provisions outlawing false or misleading labelling. The FSA considers that the presence of processing agents derived from animals in a food labelled as 'suitable for vegetarians' would contravene this legislation, which is enforced by local authorities.

  Forum Support Organisations
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to continue support for individual health forums currently provided by forum support organisations. [188395]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We will shortly be consulting with patients' forums about the nature of the support provided to them in the future. The details of the future arrangements will be developed after this consultation has taken place.

  General Practitioners
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time general practitioners were working for the NHS in each primary care trust in the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority in each year since 1997. [188176]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The number of full-time general practitioners working for the national health service in each primary care trust in the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
  1755W

  2000

  2001

  2002

  General medical practitioners (excluding registrars, retainers and locums)1

  Of which: full-time

  General medical practitioners (excluding registrars, retainers and locums)1

  Of which: full-time

  General medical practitioners (excluding registrars, retainers and locums)1

  Of which: full-time

  Surrey and Sussex SHA

  1,442

  1,176

  1,455

  1,163

  1,483

  1,140

  Of which:

  Adur. Arun and Worthing PCT

  5L8

  n/a

  n/a

  123

  103

  126

  104

  Bexhill and Bother PCT

  5FH

  n/a

  n/a

  47

  41

  46

  42

  Brighton and Hove City PCT

  5LQ

  n/a

  n/a

  155

  117

  154

  114

  Crawley PCT

  5MA

  n/a

  n/a

  59

  53

  61

  52

  East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT

  5KP

  n/a

  n/a

  152

  110

  153

  112

  East Surrey PCT

  5KQ

  n/a

  n/a

  80

  63

  83

  65

  Eastbourne Downs PCT

  5LR

  n/a

  n/a

  93

  80

  93

  77

  Guildford and Waverley PCT

  5L5

  n/a

  n/a

  143

  102

  151

  97

  Hastings and St. Leonards PCT

  5FJ

  n/a

  n/a

  48

  44

  51

  43

  Horsham and Chanctonbury PCT

  5MC

  n/a

  n/a

  53

  40

  54

  36

  Mid-Sussex PCT

  5FK

  n/a

  n/a

  75

  64

  79

  61

  North Surrey PCT

  5L6

  n/a

  n/a

  113

  90

  115

  89

  Sussex Downs and Weald PCT

  5LT

  n/a

  n/a

  82

  67

  84

  67

  Western Sussex PCT

  5L9

  n/a

  n/a

  123

  100

  126

  93

  Woking PCT

  5L7

  n/a

  n/a

  109

  89

  107

  88

  2003

  General medical practitioners (excluding registrars, retainers and locums)1

  Of which: full-time

  Surrey and Sussex SHA

  1,514

  1,125

  Of which:

  Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT

  5L8

  125

  100

  Bexhill and Rother PCT

  5FH

  45

  39

  Brighton and Hove City PCT

  5LQ

  153

  110

  Crawley PCT

  5MA

  66

  50

  East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT

  5KP

  161

  110

  East Surrey PCT

  5KQ

  88

  66

  Eastbourne Downs PCT

  5LR

  95

  78

  Guildford and Waverley PCT

  5L5

  153

  99

  Hastings and St. Leonards PCT

  5FJ

  50

  41

  Horsham and Chanctonbury PCT

  5MC

  55

  39

  Mid-Sussex PCT

  5FK

  82

  63

  North Surrey PCT

  5L6

  115

  86

  Sussex Downs and Weald PCT

  5LT

  84

  66

  Western Sussex PCT

  5L9

  135

  90

  Woking PCT

  5L7

  107

  88

  n/a = Not available.

  1 All practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums) include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors, (Para 52 SFA), PMS other and flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.

  Note:

  Data as at 1 October 1997–99 and 30 September 2000–03.

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners have(a) been recruited into and (b) retired from working for the NHS in each primary care trust in the Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority in the last five years. [188177]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  General Medical Practitioners within Surrey and Sussex SHA by age band as at 31 March 2004

  Number (headcount)

  All General Medical Practitioners1

  Under 30

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  50–54

  55–59

  60–64

  65–69

  70–and over

  Surrey and Sussex SHA

  1,842

  72

  242

  333

  371

  328

  246

  159

  71

  18

  2

  5L8

  Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT

  155

  6

  23

  27

  37

  29

  20

  12

  1

  —

  —

  1756W
  Sue Doughty
  To ask Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners(a) will reach retirement age and (b) are expected to retire from working for the NHS in each primary care trust in the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority over the next five years.

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The number of general practitioners broken down by age, for each of the Primary Care Trusts in the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority area is shown in the table.
  1757W

  General Medical Practitioners within Surrey and Sussex SHA by age band as at 31 March 2004

  Number (headcount)

  Number (headcount)

  All General Medical Practitioners1

  Under 30

  30–34

  35–39

  40–44

  45–49

  50–54

  55–59

  60–64

  65–69

  70–and over

  5FH

  Bexhill and Rother PCT

  55

  1

  4

  6

  14

  12

  7

  6

  4

  1

  —

  5LQ

  Brighton and Hove City PCT

  172

  2

  19

  38

  38

  23

  20

  18

  11

  3

  —

  5MA

  Crawley PCT

  77

  4

  7

  12

  20

  11

  12

  6

  3

  2

  —

  5KP

  East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT

  195

  8

  23

  45

  34

  33

  28

  11

  10

  2

  1

  5KQ

  East Surrey PCT

  122

  7

  22

  22

  19

  22

  18

  7

  3

  1

  1

  5LR

  Eastbourne Downs PCT

  106

  5

  9

  14

  29

  16

  16

  11

  6

  —

  —

  5L5

  Guildford and Waverley PCT

  203

  6

  32

  37

  42

  35

  32

  15

  2

  2

  —

  5FJ

  Hastings and St. Leonards PCT

  53

  1

  5

  5

  5

  11

  14

  3

  6

  3

  —

  5MC

  Horsham and Chanctonbury PCT

  61

  3

  5

  12

  11

  14

  8

  6

  2

  —

  —

  5FK

  Mid Sussex PCT

  104

  3

  15

  24

  25

  22

  7

  8

  —

  –

  —

  5L6

  North Surrey PCT

  126

  4

  16

  22

  23

  23

  17

  17

  3

  1

  —

  5LT

  Sussex Downs and Weald PCT

  110

  7

  13

  19

  23

  17

  17

  8

  4

  2

  —

  5L9

  Western Sussex PCT

  165

  8

  30

  28

  25

  29

  19

  15

  11

  –

  —

  5L7

  Woking PCT

  138

  7

  19

  22

  26

  31

  11

  16

  5

  1

  —

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

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Persona] Medical Services Statistics.

  Health Forums
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reform the procedures for the selection and appointment of members to health forums. [188390]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We intend that responsibility for making appointments to patients' forums will be transferred to the NHS Appointments Commission (NHS AC). We will be working with the NHS AC, patients' forums, the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health and other interested parties to consider the detail of future selection and appointment procedures.

  Health Services (Teesside)
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of Slate for Health whether the University hospital of Hartlepool is compliant with the European Working Time Directive; and what steps are being taken to ensure it is compliant. [188815]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 14 September 2004]: The Working Time Directive (WTD) is a legal requirement on which implementation is being taken forward locally.

  Validated information relating to individual trusts is not collected centrally. The WTD is a regal requirement and strategic health authorities are working with their trusts to support delivery.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has(a) received and (b) reconsidered the draft consultation document on the future of North Tees and Hartlepool Hospital Services produced by the Tees Services Review; [188816]

  (2) whether the University Hospital of Hartlepool at Holdforth Road will continue to provide (a) in-patient paediatrics, (b) consultant-led obstetric deliveries, (c) emergency surgery and (d) accident and emergency services for trauma and major injuries after the implementation of the Tees Services Review; [188817]

  (3) what terms of reference he has issued to Professor Dargi regarding the planned review of hospital services by the Tees Health Services Review. [188818]
  1758W
  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 14 September 2004]: I am aware of the thinking emerging from the Tees Services Review. The Department has asked Professor Ara Darzi to carry out a further review, working with the County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority. Professor Darzi's terms of reference are:
  To consider how the fullest possible range of services can be maintained at Hartlepool Hospital, taking into account work already undertaken in the course of the Tees Services Review and the wider context of proposed provision of primary and secondary care services, both north and south of the Tees; to report by the end of October 2004.

  Proposals for the future of health services in the Tees Valley will be developed further in the light of Professor Darzi's work. This will include detailed proposals for services to be provided at Hartlepool Hospital. Consultation of the public and patients will then follow.

  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already confirmed—8 June 2004, Official Report,column 132—Hartlepool will still have a full and proper hospital service after the review has taken place.

  Health Services (Torbay)
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients were registered with GPs in the Torbay Primary Care Trust area in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [188135]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The number of national health service patients registered with general practitioners in the Torbay Primary Care Trust area for the last five years is shown in the table.

  Patients of Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs)1 for Torbay Primary Care Trust Group

  Number

  Torbay PCT

  Torbay PCG

  5CW

  4FC69

  1999

  n/a

  137,830

  2000

  n/a

  137,613

  2001

  140,471

  n/a

  2002

  140,790

  n/a

  2003

  142,209

  n/a

  n/a = not available.
  1759W
  1UPEs include general medical service unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted GPs and PMS salaried Gps.

  Notes:

  Data as at 1 October 1999 and 30 September 2000–03.

  2003 patient data has been revised from previously published figures.

  Source:

  Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics.

  Healthy Living Centres
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Exchequer funding has been received by healthy living centres since 1999, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement. [188744]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Healthy living centres (HLCs) are funded by the Big Lottery Fund programme and do not receive funding from the Department. Many HLC plans included funds from statutory bodies, including the national health service and local authorities. The amounts actually provided and the regional distribution are not held centrally.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many healthy living centres have(a) opened, (b) closed and (c) have discussed the possibility of closure with his Department since 1999; and if he will make a statement. [188745]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  257 Big Lottery Fund healthy living centres have opened in England. One has closed and two have discussed the possibility of closure with their regional director of public health.

  Hospices
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much financial support(a) adult and (b) children's hospices have received in the past three financial years from social services departments. [188572]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department does not centrally collate information on about how much financial support hospices received from social services departments.

  The latest estimate we have available (from 2000) is that, on average, the national health service funds 28 per cent. of adult and 5 per cent. of children's hospice costs. However, this predates the allocation of an additional £50 million per annum for adult palliative care, which began in 2003–04, representing an increase of about 40 per cent. Funding the services provided by hospices is a matter for negotiation between the hospice concerned and the NHS primary care trusts to which the hospice provides a service. There are no limits to the amount of funding which may be provided; this is for local decision.

  Knowledge Management System
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to maintain the knowledge management system when the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health is wound up. [188389]
  1760W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We are working with the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) to identify ways of utilising the knowledge management system once the CPPIH has been abolished.

  Lymphoedema Clinics
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what access then is to lymphoedema clinics in each primary care trust in the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire strategic health authority area. [188393]

  Ms Rosie winterton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to commission services to meet the health needs of their local communities.

  Military Low Flying
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of military low flying on(a) hearing and (b) other long-term health issues. [188582]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department has not funded any research or assessment of the effects of military low flying on hearing and other long-term health issues.

  Myasthenia Gravis
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to increase the numbers of consultants and doctors qualified to diagnose myasthenia gravis; [188630]

  (2) what plans his Department has to increase the number of nurses qualified to care for patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. [188631]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of consultants, doctors and nurses specifically qualified to diagnose and treat myasthenia gravis is not collected centrally.

  As at March 2004, there were 427 consultants in neurology. Since September 1997, numbers have increased by 149, or 54 per cent., and we are working towards increasing their numbers further.

  We are encouraging more doctors to practise neurology by expanding the number of specialist registrar (SpR) opportunities in the specialty.

  In 2003–04, central funding was distributed to support the implementation of 10 additional SpR posts in neurology. All the posts have now been implemented. Trusts also have the opportunity to create up to 20 locally funded SpR training opportunities. Trusts were surveyed in February 2004, when six locally funded opportunities had been implemented, with the remaining 14 planned to have been implemented by August 2004.

  In 2001–05, neurology has been allocated a further two centrally funded posts and strategic health authorities have been given freedom to agree as many

  1761W
  additional SpR training opportunities as are necessary to achieve Working Time Directive compliance, subject to obtaining educational approval.

  The number of nurses overall employed in the national health service has increased by 77,500 since 1997 and we are increasing the number of training places for nurses and midwives. Between 1996–97 and 2003–04, the number of students entering training to become a nurse or midwife has increased by 9,300, or 62 per cent.

  NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what long-term plans he has for the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency. [187118]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Proposals for the reconfiguration of the National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) are outlined in a report, "Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arm's Length Bodies", published on 22 July 2004. It is proposed that NHS PASA will be reshaped as part of a major programme to support the NHS in handling purchasing and supply more effectively. The Department's commercial directorate has developed plans to streamline the supply chain in the NHS. As these plans are implemented, a transformed NHS PASA will play a crucial role in applying procurement best practice to maximise savings. NHS PASA should be able to take on procurement and contracting functions from other arm's length bodies (ALBs), helping to reduce the cost of the ALB sector.

  Osteoporosis
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the national screening committee plans to review its advice on osteoporosis screening; [188182]

  (2) what plans he has to introduce screening for osteoporosis by means of DEXA scan for those who have specified risk factors for osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement. [188183]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The United Kingdom national screening committee (NSC) advises Ministers about all aspects of screening policy. The NSC assesses proposed new population screening programme against a set of internationally recognised criteria covering the condition, the test, the treatment options and effectiveness and the acceptability of the screening programme.

  The current NSC policy is that there is insufficient evidence to offer population screening for osteoporosis. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has however commissioned a clinical guideline on the prevention, treatment and assessment of osteoporosis for those who have risk factors. The NSC will review its policy on population screening when NICE has published its clinical guideline.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer questions(a) 187359, (b)1762W
  and (c) 187361 tabled by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on 22 July for answer on 7 September. [189269]

  Mr. Hutton
  I replied to my hon. Friend on Tuesday 14 September 2004.

  Personal Social Services
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average standard spending assessment/formula spending share funding per head has been for personal social services in(a) England and (b) North Somerset in each year since 1997. [188661]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The personal social services average standard spending assessment/formula spending share (SSA/FSS) allocation per head of total population is shown in the table.

  £

  England

  North Somerset

  1997–98

  152

  127

  1998–99

  160

  135

  1999–2000

  169

  139

  2000–01

  177

  146

  2001–02

  181

  150

  2002–03

  186

  155

  2003–04

  224

  187

  2004–05

  246

  208

  Note:

  The figures are based on the latest available national and sub-national population estimates, which are derived from the 2001 census.

  The comparison shows that North Somerset's funding is always less than the England average. Each authority's SSA/FSS allocation depends on a number of factors including whether it has a large or small population, and whether it suffers from relatively high levels of need and deprivation. As a result an authority with a large population and much deprivation receives a far higher funding share than a smaller authority that has relatively low levels of need and deprivation.

  Private Sector Treatment
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are medical conditions which the national health service will not treat if the patient has previously paid for the same treatment in the private sector. [188932]

  Mr. Hutton
  The national health service would generally pay for any treatment that a patient had previously received as a private patient, so long as it is a treatment normally provided by the NHS and there is appropriate clinical approval.

  Specialist Drug Support
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are to be introduced to allow general practitioners easier access to specialist drug support for their patients. [182292]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The National Treatment Agency (NTA) for substance misuse has introduced a number of measures to allow general practitioners easier access to specialist drug support for their patients.
  1763W
  The NTA issued guidance to local drug treatment commissioners to ensure that enough drug treatment places are commissioned in line with the NTA guidance "Models of Care" and that each local area has identified referral criteria and routes between primary care and drug treatment specialist services.

  Since the introduction of the new general practitioners' contractual arrangements in April 2004, the NTA regional teams have worked hard to ensure that most drug action teams have in place a range of contractual arrangements which specify partnership and support arrangements between primary care and specialist drug treatment services. These include nationally enhanced service contracts and local enhanced service contracts.

  The Royal College of General Practitioners also has a range of training courses funded by the Department to train GPs to properly identify, refer and provide treatment for drug misusers.

  Temporary Clerical and Administration Staff
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 1 September 2004 to question reference 185185, on temporary clerical and administration staff, if he will list the benefits to hospital and primary care trusts of using the national framework agreement when hiring temporary clerical and administration staff. [188005]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 13 September 2004]: The use of national framework agreements (NFAs) brings a number of benefits to the national health service, for example:
  Competitive commission rates.
  Ensuring competitive pay rates for all temporary workers.
  The individual trusts no longer have to go through their own tender exercise.
  It ensures vetted and verified quality procedures for all agencies.
  It provides pre-written specifications and terms and conditions.
  The NFA continues to allow trusts the flexibility to form local service level agreements to ensure local variations are accounted for.
  The availability of individual trust management information, enabling identification and management of expenditure.
  The independent monitoring and review of the NFA and agencies by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency.
  A choice of nine quality providers offering a comprehensive service and assistance with contract administration.
  The assurance that all European Union procurement legislation has been complied with.

DEFENCE

  C17
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours the lease contract provided for the Royal Air Force to operate fleet of C17s in each year; and how many flying hours the fleet flew in each six monthly period since it entered service with the Royal Air Force. [188462]
  1764W
  Mr. Ingram
  The lease contract for the RAF's four C-17 aircraft does not restrict the number of flying hours. However, the support arrangements were initially based on an assumed annual fleet usage rate of 3,000 hours; this has been increased to 5,800 hours per annum in response to operational demands.

  The C-17 fleet entered Royal Air Force service in September 2001. Since that time, the fleet has flown in excess of 17,000 hours, broken down as follows:

  Flying hours

  September 2001 to February 2002

  2,159

  March 2002 to August 2002

  3,089

  September 2002 to February 2003

  2,374

  March 2003 to August 2003

  3,586

  September 2003 to February 2004

  2,788

  March 2004 to August 2004

  3,073

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost, including the lease, support, manpower and fuel, of operating the fleet of leased C17s was for each six monthly period since it entered service with the Royal Air Force; and what the budgeted cost of each six monthly period was when the lease contract was agreed. [188466]

  Mr. Ingram
  The following information on the lease and support costs is taken from the Major Project Report (MPR). Information about the lease contract is not recorded historically on a six monthly basis:

  £million

  2001–02

  88

  2002–03

  104

  2003–04

  102

  Over the same period, the total manpower and fuel costs to operate and support the fleet are 21 million and 31 million respectively, broken down as follows:

  £million

  Manpower

  Fuel

  September 2001 to February 2002

  3.4

  3.5

  March 2002 to August 2002

  3.5

  5.2

  September 2002 to February 2003

  3.5

  4.2

  March 2003 to August 2003

  3.6

  7

  September 2003 to February 2004

  3.9

  5.2

  March 2004 to August 2004

  3.9

  6.6

  I am withholding details of the lease costs and underlying aircraft price in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code Practice on Access to Government Information as they are commercially sensitive.

  Coastal Protection (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs were of coastal protection vessels in Northern Ireland waters in each year since 1997. [187418]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Northern Ireland patrol ships do not have distinct, identifiable budgets and the figures could only be collated at a disproportionate cost.

  Defence Aviation Repair Agency
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce tilt final decision on the end-to-end review as it relates to the Defence Aviation Repair Agency. [189318]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I made earlier today to the House, on the outcome of the Air Depth Support Investment Appraisal work.

  European Defence Policy
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on how much(a) manpower and (b) finance of the UK's national defence will be tied into the European defence policy. [188795]

  Mr. Hoon
  Under the Helsinki Headline Goal, the United Kingdom has offered up to 12,500 troops, 18 warships and 72 combat aircraft to EU operations. However, these national forces are made available to EU operations on a voluntary, case-by-case basis, as for NATO or UN operations. UK contributions to such operations are provided from within existing forces.

  European Rapid Defence Force
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what forward level of(a) manpower and (b) financial commitment has been assigned to the European Rapid Defence Force. [188792]

  Mr. Ingram
  There is no European Rapid Defence Force. National forces declared under the Helsinki Headline Goal are made available to EU operations on a voluntary, case-by-case basis, as for NATO or UN operations. UK contributions to such operations are provided from within existing forces.

  Fishery Protection Vessels
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will propose a plan of renewal for Royal Navy fishery protection vessels. [188800]

  Mr. Ingram
  At present, I have no plans for such a proposal.

  Future Aircraft Carrier
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his written statement of 19 July 2004,Official Report, column 1WS, on the Future Aircraft Carrier, what role his Department will play in the proposed alliance on the CVF Programme; and what proportion of the risk he estimates his Department will assume. [186642]

  Mr. Hoon
  Discussions continue with a view to agreeing the roles and responsibilities of Alliance participants, including the risk and reward share arrangements. These are progressing well, the outcome will be announced in due course.

  It is planned that an Alliance Management Board (AMB) comprising the leaders of each participant organisation, will lead and collectively manage the project. As in commercial alliancing, the AMB will be led by the MOD as the client.

  Iran
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department is taking to ensure the return of the Royal Naval marine equipment and weapons held by the Iranian authorities. [188352]

  Mr. Ingram
  Ministry of Defence Ministers, FCO Ministers and officials continue to press the Iranian authorities to return the boats and equipment, which they hold. Any significant developments will be announced in the House in the usual way.

  Iraq
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to ensure the safety of United Kingdom personnel in Iraq following the transfer of sovereignty. [188318]

  Mr. Ingram
  United Kingdom military personnel are thoroughly trained before deployment to Iraq and appropriately equipped to allow them to perform the tasks expected of them in theatre.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the required numbers of Iraqi(a) armed forces, (b) police, (c) civil defence corps and (d) border police. [188353]

  Mr. Ingram
  We are working with the Multinational Security Transition Command (MNSTC) and the Iraqi authorities to review the required future manning levels for the Iraqi security forces. The MNSTC currently assesses that the future strength of the Iraqi armed forces will be approximately 100,000; of the police, 135,000; of the Iraqi national guard, 62,000; and of the Department for Border Security, 32,000. These figures remain under regular review.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase assistance by his Department to the Government of Iraq in its efforts to improve security. [188357]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are currently no plans to increase the substantial support that the Department is providing to the Iraqi Interim Government in its efforts to improve security, although we keep the situation under constant review.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether at any stage during June, July or August he imposed a ban on press access to or news coverage of British forces serving in the Iraq theatre of operations. [188594]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 13 September 2004]The Ministry of Defence has not banned access to, or news coverage of, British forces in Iraq. Sponsored media representatives accompanying British forces in Iraq have, on occasion, had temporary restrictions placed upon their movement, either for their own safety and that of the forces protecting them or because their reporting could put our personnel at risk.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi detainees are held by British troops. [189325]

  Mr. Ingram
  As at 14 September 2004, there were no detainees, although 26 internees were being held by British troops in Iraq.

  Mess Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce mess services common to all ranks; and if he will make a statement. [188570]

  Mr. Ingram
  Although there are initiatives exploring the possibilities of combining the catering support facilities on bases, there are no plans to introduce messes common to all ranks. The separate messes for officers, senior non-commissioned officers and junior ranks allow individuals to relax and interact within their respective peer groups, and they remain an integral feature of Service life.

  Scottish Regiments
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) establishment, (b) funded liability and (c) actual strength is of (i) the Highlanders, (ii) the Black Watch, (iii) the Royal Scots, (iv) the Royal Highland Fusiliers, (v) the King's Own Scottish Borders, (vi) the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, (vii) the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and (viii) the Scots Guards. [183824]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 13 July 2004]: Funded liabilities are not broken down below Intermediate Management Group (IMG). The establishment and actual strength of each of the Scottish Regiments, are as follows:

  2004

  Establishment

  Trained strength

  Highlanders1

  625

  525

  Black Watch2

  675

  635

  Royal Scots

  620

  555

  Royal Highland Fusiliers

  620

  580

  Kings Own Scottish Borderers

  670

  585

  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  615

  570

  Royal Scots Dragoon Guards1

  500

  490

  Scots Guards

  625

  600

  F Coy Scots Guards

  110

  110

  1Strength totals for 2004 exclude Gurkhas attached to the regiment. There were two in January 2004.

  2Black Watch totals exclude BW LAD REME.

  3RSDG totals exclude RSDG LAD REME.

  Notes:

  1. The figures are at 1 January 2004.

  2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

  3. Totals are for Regular Army officers and soldiers.

  4. FTRS have been excluded.

  5. Totals include members of other cap badges, including those of arms/services attached to the unit, but exclude the two REME LADs attached to BW and SDG.

  6. Establishment and strength figures refer to the respective units*and do not include cap badge strength permanently employed elsewhere within the Army.

  *That is 1st Battalion The Highlanders, 1st Battalion The Black Watch, 1st Battalion The Royal Scots, 1st Battalion The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 1st Battalion The Kings Own Scottish Borderers, 1st Battalion The Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, 1st Battalion the Scots Guards and F Company Scots Guards.

  Service Deployment
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of(a) Royal Navy and Royal Marines, (b) Army and (c) Royal Air Force trained
  1768W
  strength was deployed on operations and other military tasks for (i) the final quarter of financial year 2003–04 and (ii) the first two quarters of financial year 200–05. [188463]

  Mr. Ingram
  Information on trained strength deployed on Operations and other Military Tasks is produced quarterly, in arrears, as part of the Ministry of Defence's assessment of performance against Spending Review 2002 Public Service Agreement targets. It is published on the MOD website (www.mod.uk) following review by the Defence Management Board, and on the Treasury Public Service Performance Reporting website (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/performance/MOD.cfm). Quarter 4 data for 2003–04 (January to March 2004) is given in the table (and is available on the MOD and HMT websites):

  Percentage of trained strength deployed on operations and other military tasks

  2003–04

  Q4

  Navy/Marines

  17.7

  Army

  22.6

  RAF

  12.1

  Note:

  Percentages exclude those either preparing for, or recovering from, deployments and are quarterly averages. A list of Military Tasks can be found on the Department's website (http://www.mod.uk).

  Quarter 1 data for 2004–05 (April to June 2004) is currently being collected, and will be published at the end of September. We expect to publish Quarter 2 data for 2004–05 (July to September 2004) at the end of November.

  Territorial Army Personnel
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what pension provision is made for Territorial Army personnel who are away from their civilian work for periods of six months or longer.[188801]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Ministry of Defence has arrangements in place to ensure that reservists who are called-out for active service with the armed forces, including those called out for periods of six months or longer, are not disadvantaged in pension terms. Individuals may have a number of pension options dependent on their personal circumstances:those individuals who wish to remain in their civilian pension scheme during the it period of called-out service can do so and the MOD will meet the cost of the employer contribution to that scheme; or
  individuals may opt to have their period of called-out service covered by MOD's Full Time Reserve Service pension arrangements; or
  they can opt to be contracted-in to the state pension arrangements (State Second Pension).

  Those individuals who have previous service that gave them pension rights from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) may alternatively opt for an enhancement to their AFPS pension rights.

  Trooper David Clarke
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in the investigation of the
  1769W
  death of Trooper David Clarke; what communications he has had with the family of Trooper David Clarke about the progress of the investigation; and if he will make the results of the investigation public. [188585]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch (SIB) have completed an investigation into the incident in whim Trooper (Tpr) Clarke and his colleague Corporal Allbutt died. An Army Board of Inquiry (BOI) is ongoing.

  It is not departmental policy to release publicly copies of either SIB or BOI reports. However, regular contact is being maintained with Tpr Clarke's family, who are informed of all significant developments on the various processes under way. The family will receive a copy of the final BOI report when this becomes available.

  Vaccination
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the simultaneous administration of anthrax and pertussis vaccine following the letter from Dr. Metters of 21 December 1990; and if he will make a statement. [174196]

  Mr. Caplin
  Research into the simultaneous administration of anthrax and pertussis vaccines is being addressed as part of the Ministry of Defence's Vaccines Interactions Research Programme, which is overseen by an independent research panel. The Programme includes a study by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) which has specifically attempted to address and extend tests that NIBSC carried out using anthrax and pertussis vaccines in 1990, and which led to the communication from Dr. Metters.

  The preliminary results from the NIBSC study have been published and are available on our website at http://www.mod.uk/issues/gulfwar/research/interact.htm. The final results are being submitted for publication in peer reviewed scientific Literature.

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq
  Adam Price
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he authorised British military personnel to commence meetings with US personnel to plan an invasion of Iraq in mid 2002. [188706]

  The Prime Minister
  As set out in the Butler Report, the UK and US Governments had frequent discussions about Iraq.

  However, the decision to resort to military action to ensure that Iraq fulfilled its obligations imposed by successive UN Security Council Resolutions was taken only after other routes to disarm Iraq had failed. I decided to commit UK forces after securing the approval of the House in the vote on 18 March 2003.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Prime Minster (1) pursuant to paragraph 404 of the Butler Report, on what(a) operational, (b) security and c other basis the Government decided against favouring sources
  1770W
  regarded as reliable by the intelligence services that tended to present a less worrying view of Iraqi chemical and biological weapons capability; [188622]

  (2) at what point he was informed that two thirds of the total amount of intelligence about Iraqi deception and concealment activities came from a single source; [188623]

  (3) at what point he was informed that over four fifths of the intelligence about Iraqi deception and concealment activities came from two sources; [188624]

  (4) at what point he was informed that human intelligence sources regarding the evidence of Saddam Hussein on weapons of mass destruction were not extensive; [188625]

  (5) whether he had been informed prior to September 2002 of the reliability of the sub-sources who provided the information that Iraq could use chemical and biological weapons of some sort within 45 minutes;[188635]

  (6) on which parts of the Joint Intelligence Committee assessments from or prior to March 2002 his statement on 3 March 2002 that Iraq was trying to accumulate weapons of mass destruction was based; [188636]

  (7) on which parts of the Joint Intelligence Committee assessments from or prior to March 2002 his statement on 11 March 2002 that there was a threat from Saddam Hussein was based; [188637]

  (8) on which parts of the Joint Intelligence Committee assessments from or prior to March 2002 his statement on 11 March 2002 that there was no doubt at all that Saddam Hussein had acquired weapons of mass destruction was based; [188638]

  (9) on which parts of the Joint Intelligence Committee assessments from or prior to April 2002 his statement on 3 April 2002 that Iraq had stockpiles of major amounts of chemical and biological weapons was based; [188639]

  (10) whether Joint Intelligence Committee assessments from March and April 2002 made definitive claims on the (a) existence of stockpiles of weapons and (b) development of weapons with regard to Iraq; [188640]

  (11) what assessments were provided to him before or during March 2003 from UNMOVIC which suggested that Iraq had far-reaching plans to weaponise VX after 1991; [188846]

  (12) what intelligence assessment was available to him on (a) 30 May 2003 and (b) 2 June 2003 which indicated that trailers found in Iraq were used for the production of biological weapons; [188847]

  (13) when he was informed of the content of the overall summary provided by the Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC to the Security Council on 7 March 2003 regarding the extent of Iraq's co-operation with the UN inspectors; [188848]

  (14) when he was informed that UNMOVIC had been able to obtain information on Iraq's past mycotoxin programme; [188858]

  (15) whether the UNMOVIC Clusters document of March 2003 suggested that Iraq had far-reaching plans to weaponise VX in any period after 1991; [188859]
  1771W
  (16) what assessment was made of the possibility that stocks of growth media which UNSCOM had reported as still unaccounted for in its final substantive report of January 1999 still existed; [188867]

  (17) at what point he became aware (a) that the Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC had told the Security Council that Iraqi scientists had agreed to be interviewed in private and (b) that the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency had been successful in conducting interviews with Iraqi scientists in private; [188868]

  (18) when he became aware of the contents of the Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC's briefing to the Security Council of 14 February 2003 which stated that the Government of Iraq had encouraged interviewees not to request the presence of Iraqi officials nor to require interviews to be taped; [188869]

  (19) when he became aware that UN weapons inspectors had confirmed that evidence had been provided for the prior destruction of chemical and biological warfare agents in (a) November 2002, (b) December 2002 and (c) February 2003; [188870]

  (20) which parts of the Joint Intelligence Committee intelligence assessments led him to state on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 11, that Iraq posed a threat to the wider world; [188871]

  (21) when British intelligence experts investigated the two trailers found in Iraq; [188873]

  (22) when intelligence findings were circulated regarding the two trailers found in Iraq; [188874]

  (23) when weapons inspectors found live anthrax in Iraq as referred to in his article in the Independent on Sunday of 2 March 2003; and what evidence he had to confirm that discovery; [188875]

  (24) when he was informed that the factory at which anthrax had been produced before 1991 to which he refers in his article in the Independent on Sunday of 2 March 2003 had been under UN monitoring since October 1991; [188876]

  (25) whether, prior to the war, Iraq's intention to use nuclear, biological and chemical weapons outside its borders, either by the Iraqi armed forces or through the supply of such weapons to non-state actors, prior to any military attack, had been investigated by the British intelligence service; [188902]

  (26) what assessment he made of whether to inform Parliament prior to March 2003 of Hans Blix's report to the Security Council of 14 February 2003, on access to Iraqi sites; [188938]

  (27) when he became aware of Hans Blix's report to the UN Security Council on 14 February 2003 on access to Iraqi sites; [188939]

  (28) pursuant to paragraph 405 of the Butler Report, when he became aware that in July 2003 the Special Intelligence Service had withdrawn two reports from a new source on trial because the source had by then been discredited; [188940]
  1772W
  (29) when he became aware of UNMOVIC's conclusions on (a) the fate of the castor oil extraction plant at Fallujah III in 1998 and (b) the extent of production of castor oil in July 2001; [188965]

  (30) when he became aware of UNMOVIC's conclusions on the operability of the chlorine plant at Fallujah II, following Visits between 9 December 2002 and 2 March 2003; [188989]

  (31) when he became aware of the extent to which UNMOVIC has visited the Fallujah II plant between 9 December 2002 and 2 March 2003; [188990]

  (32) what intelligence material was available to him to cast doubt upon Dr. Blix's statement on the usefulness of the Iraqi declaration of 8 December 2002; [188998]

  (33) how many days it took the Defence Intelligence Staff to complete their initial assessment of the 12,000 page Iraqi declaration of 8 December 2002; [188999]

  (34) whether he was aware that drafted statements which conveyed that Iraq would only be likely to use chemical and biological weapons during an invasion were removed from the September 2002 dossier; [189001]

  (35) on what evidence he based his claims in the September dossier that the production of nitric acid in the al-Sharqat complex was being used for the purification of uranium; [189004]

  (36) what assessment he made of the report by the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency to the Security Council on 7 March 2003 on whether there was an indication of resumed nuclear activity in Iraq; [189005]

  (37) when he became aware of the views of the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency on the level of nuclear activity in any of the sites inspected as passed to the Security Council on 7 March 2003; [189006]

  (38) when he was made aware that the statements in the September dossier on Iraq about mobile biological laboratories were based upon evidence from one defector; [189007]

  (39) when he became aware of the results of the findings by UNMOVIC following examination of the sites named in the September dossier, with regard to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programmes; [189008]

  (40) pursuant to paragraph 403 of the Butler Report, when he became aware that the Secret Intelligence Service had raised serious doubts about the reliability of reporting of the sub-source who provided information about Iraqi chemical and biological programmes and intentions; [189009]

  (41) on what evidence he based his statement on 2 June 2003 that he stood by the evidence presented to the public on Iraq's weapons programme; [189010]

  (42) on what grounds he based his statement to the Liaison Committee on 8 July 2003 that he stood by the evidence put forward in the September dossier; [189011]

  (43) on what evidence he based his views, expressed to journalists in his monthly press conference on 30 July 2003, that he believed the intelligence he had received prior to the war regarding Iraq was correct; [189012]
  1773W
  (44) whether he was aware on 25 January that MI6 had withdrawn key reports on Iraq's weapons; [189013]

  (45) on what evidence he based his statement in an interview with The Observer on 25 January that he believed that the intelligence regarding Iraq was correct; [189014]

  (46) when he became aware that Hussein Kamel had claimed in 1995 that there were no remaining stockpiles of agents in Iraq; [189015]

  (47) at what point he became aware that the interim report of the Iraqi Survey Group published on 2 October 2003 had not come to a conclusion regarding the purpose of the clandestine laboratories and safe houses within the Iraqi Intelligence Service; [189016]

  (48) when he became aware that an e-mail had been sent from the then chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee to the head of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG), with suggestions for the ISG report; [189017]

  (49) pursuant to Joint Intelligence Committee assessments, when he became aware that British Intelligence assessments prior to March 2003 stated that a collapse of the Iraqi regime would increase the risk of chemical and biological warfare technology or agents finding their way into the hands of terrorists; [189018]

  (50) whether there was an assessment of the validity of the material in the dossier of September 2002 between November 2002 and March 2003;[189019]

  (51) pursuant to the inter-departmental advice available to Ministers in early March 2002, what intelligence assessments were available to him in (a) April 2002 and (b) September 2002 that showed that Iraq posed a threat not just to its neighbours but to the wider world;[189020]

  (52) whether intelligence assessments relating to Iraq in 2002 and 2003 made reference to air intention by Iraq to use nuclear, biological and chemical weapons outside its borders (a) by the Iraqi aimed forces and (b) through the supply of such weapons to non-state actors even if Iraq itself was not attacked; [189021]

  (53) whether, prior to the war on Iraq, intelligence assessments confirming Iraq's intention to use nuclear, biological and chemical weapons existed that did not relate to Iraq's likely response if it were invaded; [189022]

  (54) whether any Joint Intelligence Committee assessments prior to March 2003 asserted that Iraq had the intention to use nuclear, biological and chemical weapons outside its borders, with the exception of the circumstance of a US-led attack; [189023]

  (55) prior to March 2003 and pursuant to the Joint Intelligence Committee assessment of 9 September 2002, what assessment the British intelligence service
  1774W
  made of the possibility of Iraq threatening to use weapons of mass destruction against other states other than in the context of a US-led invasion; [189024]

  (56) what assessments were made by the British intelligence services of whether Iraq sought nuclear, biological and chemical weapons for the purpose of external aggression; [189025]

  (57) pursuant to his statement at the TUC conference on 10 September 2002, whether assessments had been made of the possibility that stocks of growth media that UNSCOM had reported as still unaccounted for in its final substantive report of January 1999 no longer existed in usable form; [189026]

  (58) pursuant to his speech at the Azores summit on 16 March 2003, when he was informed that UN weapons inspectors had confirmed that evidence had been provided for the prior destruction of chemical and biological warfare agents in (a) November 2002, (b) December 2002, (c) February 2003 and (d) March 2003;[189027]

  (59) when he was informed that assessments were available before March 2003 which demonstrated that there was a distinction between the materials that UNMOVIC found to be unaccounted for and what was known to exist in Iraq; [189028]

  (60) what part of the Joint Intelligence Committee intelligence assessments led him to state on 3 September 2002 that Iraq posed a threat to the security of the world; [189029]

  (61) on what evidence it was stated in the September dossier that Iraq was conducting an illicit chemical weapons programme at the Fallujah II plant; [189030]

  (62) pursuant to his statement of 18 March 2003, Official Report, columns 760–74, on Iraq, with particular reference to the Iraqi declaration of 8 December 2002, whether he made an assessment of the merits of requesting that Defence Intelligence staff make a full assessment on the Iraqi declaration before making further comment upon it; [189041]

  (63) whether the new sub-source referred to in paragraph 403 of the Butler Report was the source for the claim made in the September 2002 dossier that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction could be deployed in 45 minutes. [189296]

  The Prime Minister
  These matters have been examined during the course of the Butler Review and other inquiries, and covered during debates and statements on Iraq and in briefings by my Official Spokesman. All relevant information has been placed in the public domain insofar as that could be done without prejudicing national security.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Resources for Children and Learners
  The Secretary of State for Education and Skills (Mr. Charles Clarke)
  In his Budget in March, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer outlined continued growth in investment in education and children's services up to 2007–08; showing again the priority the Government give to children and learners.

  On 8 July, we published our five year strategy for children and learners, setting out how the Government will use new forms to build on substantial improvements in every stage of education and children's services since 1997—from the early years of a child's life to lifelong learning and adult skills.

  Today I am giving more detail of how the additional investment announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor will support the reforms set out in the five year strategy.

  Early Years and Children's Services

  Investment in early years and childcare will increase £769 million between this year and 2007–08. The Government will announce a 10-year childcare strategy in the pre-Budget report when more detailed plans will be published. The broad areas to be covered will include:
  By 2008, there will be up to 2,500 children's centres;
  Bringing education and childcare together into a single integrated offer for pre-school children; and
  Developing a year round, 8am-6pm, child care offer in many primary schools; with secondary schools offering a range of "things for young people to do".

  Investment in children's services will increase by almost £1 billion by 2007–08 compared with 2004–05. We will use this investment to start taking forward key areas of reforms set out in "Every Child Matters" to achieve better opportunities and outcomes for children, young people and their families. We will provide support in the following areas:
  Increase the information available to parents and carers.
  Ensure that the professionals working with children have the right skills and competencies to support children and their families more effectively.
  Improve support to looked alter children by enhancing the provision of mentoring to this group and improve support to tester carers in order to increase recruitment and retention.
  Improve early identification and protection of vulnerable children by supporting a common assessment framework and developing arrangements for sharing information between agencies to prevent any child slipping through the net.

  We are committed to rationalising funding streams to local authorities and the voluntary sector and reducing the number of processes. We will discuss with partners how resources can be delivered to ensure funding can be flexibly deployed at the front-line where delivery of services impact most.
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  Schools

  We will increase revenue funding for schools by some £3.5 billion overall between 2005–06 and 2007–08. That means that we will have increased revenue funding for schools by about £1,300 per pupil or 45 per cent. in real terms in the years since we took office.

  Our twin aims are to make the quality of teaching even better than it is now with schools driving their own and others improvement and to widen opportunities for pupils and teachers through enriching the curriculum. Specific examples of additional investment include:
  The budget for specialist schools will increase by over £100 million by 2008 to help all schools that meet the standard to become specialist;
  There will be an extra £30 million by 2008 for our leading schools which will be expected to work together with other schools to raise standards everywhere;
  There will be an extra £65 million a year for our primary and secondary strategies that have helped to increase pupil attainment since 1997, with resources targeted on those schools that need the greatest support;
  There will be continuing support for schools in areas served by the "Excellence in Cities Programme" which has helped to improve exam results at a faster rate than the national average;
  We will be making additional resources to the teacher training agency to improve the supply of high quality maths and science teachers and support the professional development of teachers: and
  To help schools enrich the curriculum, the budget for sport will increase by over £30 million by 2007–08 and there will also be more resources for music, modern foreign languages and for partnerships between schools and the arts.

  We look forward in the months ahead to discussions with schools and local education authorities on the best way to deliver all the resources that support schools. We will have a new ring-fenced budget for schools from 2006–07 and are committed both to delivering three-year budgets for schools and to rationalising the existing funding streams.

  Capital investment in schools will increase by £750 million to £6.3 billion by 2007–08 including ICT and PFI credits to support further improvements to all schools and allowing every secondary school to he refurbished or rebuilt to a modern standard over the next 10 to 15 years.

  14–19. Further Education (FE) and Skills

  Total funding for FE, skills and to develop the 14–19 phase will rise by £1.5 billion by 2007–08 compared to 2004–05, taking the Government's total expenditure on post-16 (excluding Higher Education (HE) to £11 billion.

  This is a substantial overall investment, building on the increases in funding in the three years up to 2005–06, which will allow the sector to meet growth in 16–19 participation and enable progress to be sustained on two key agendas: delivering success for all to continue to drive up quality, and reshaping the sector to become more demand led as set out in the Skills Strategy.

  We will provide greater freedom for colleges and training providers through a new delivery structure. This will be based on autonomy and independence for good colleges and providers, backed up by a risk-based approach to lighter touch inspection but tougher sanctions on poor quality.
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  This will enable colleges to engage more effectively with employers by offering the training that they need, and to increase employer and individual co-financing of training in line with the benefits they receive. This is important for the sustainability of the sector and future expansion. We want all colleges to be put on a secure financial footing to deliver the important challenges that we have set out in our five-year strategy. Under the new delivery arrangements, successful colleges will be able to grow and prosper.

  The settlement includes funding to continue the development of a transformed 14–19 phase of education, in the light of the commitments made in the Department's five-year strategy. The working group on 14–19 reform, chaired by Mike Tomlinson, will issue its final report this autumn making proposals for a radical reshaping of the 14–19 phase. The Government have set out the five tests that will shape its response to the proposals, but whatever the response, the direction of travel is clear. We are therefore allocating funds to build on the work over the last few years to improve this phase of education, including workforce training and spreading good practice from the 14–19 pathfinders.

  We must support colleges in making the transition to a more demand-led approach in which greater funding comes from employers and individuals, because the training they get is designed and delivered in a way that better meets their needs. We will be looking carefully at how we can best do that. As set out in the five-year strategy, we are committed to incorporating the principles of the employer training pilots within mainstream funding for adults, as a way of promoting a more demand-led approach. We will also continue to use the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) annual business cycle to allocate public funds in a way that better matches our national skills priorities, including through the new Level 2 entitlement.

  We will continue our drive to upgrade facilities in further education and training with an increase of 31 per cent. in capital funding between 2004–05 and 2007–08. We will also bring local decision-making and allocations for 16–19 capital provision into alignment. Working with the Department and other partners, the LSC will establish a single capital budget for new 16–19 provision across schools and FE.

  The achievements of learners depend on the quality of the teaching and learning they receive, and the way in which their teachers and trainers are themselves trained, managed and supported. We will increase by £70 million by 2007–08 our investment in initial training and continuous professional development, for teachers, trainers, leaders and managers in colleges, work-based learning and adult and community learning.

  Higher Education (HE)

  Government expenditure on higher education will increase by around £2 billion between 2004–05 and 2007–08, taking total investment to almost £9.5 billion. This builds on the significant increases from 2002 spending review, and it confirms our commitment to stand by HE in future spending reviews, made in the White Paper and repeated during the discussions on the HE Bill.

  We will increase the HEFCE grant to allow for further increases in student numbers while maintaining the level of student funding per head in real terms.
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  HE institutions will also benefit from increases in research funding: DfES recurrent funding for research will increase from £1.236 billion in 2005–06 to over £1.4 billion in 2007–08—around 9 per cent., in real terms. Our contribution to total UK science spending, together with the contribution from the Office of Science and Technology, will exceed £5 billion by 2007–08.

  On top of all this, HE institutions will receive in full the extra income they generate from charging variable fees—in steady state (ie by 2010) this will be around £1.2 billion extra.

  HE institutions will start to receive this extra income in academic year 2006–07. We expect the first tranche to be paid in two instalments—one half in early 2007, and the other before the end of the academic year.

  Full time students will benefit from an enhanced student support package:
  An HE grant of up to £2,700 for the poorest new students;
  Enhanced bursaries, paid from HEIs' new fee income stream;
  Fee loans from 2006, both for existing and new students;
  A maintenance loan increased to the level of average student expenditure on essential items, both for existing and new students;
  Affordable repayments for student loans—9 per cent. of salary above £15,000, for all students after April 2005. So students will make a contribution towards the cost of their higher education, but only when they can afford to do so;
  And for new students, a loan write off alter 25 years-that will particularly help those graduates who choose low paid work.

  Part time students will also benefit from an enhanced package from this autumn. Grants for will replace loans, and a new statutory fee grant will replace the old discretionary scheme. The poorest students will get £825 in grants for fees and course costs.

  Overall, this spending review will help to put excellence in HE on a sustainable footing and will secure world-class standards through:

  increased teaching funding;

  increased research funding;

  increased fee income; and

  better support for students.

  This will enable us to make a significant impact on the funding gap we know exists, and to continue expansion on a sensible, properly funded basis.

  Value for money and efficiency

  The total investment in education and training is much larger than the figures presented here. Families have always invested and will continue to invest in their children's care and development. Employers invest in the training and development of their workforce. Support for education-in cash and in kind-is growing. We expect co-funding to grow over the spending review period, as individuals and employers become readier to invest in better education and training that meets their needs.

  We must ensure that we get maximum value from every pound of additional investment for children and learners. Enabling people across the children, education and skills system to get better value for money from our investment in public services is our aim in the Efficiency Review. We have identified ways to achieve gains in value for money of £4.3 billion over the Spending Review period. For example, we will

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  reduce the number of civil service posts in the DIES and OFSTED by 1,960;
  enable front-line professionals in schools, colleges and higher education institutions to use their time more productively, enabling institutions to achieve more with their resources; for example through workforce reform, investment in ICT and reducing administrative burdens;
  improve procurement of goods, services and new school building, using a new Procurement Centre of Excellence to strengthen procurement practice across the education and children's services sectors:
  streamline the delivery system for each sector through improvements in policy, funding and regulation, such as the lighter touch process for OFSTED inspection, streamlined data collection and reduced reporting and monitoring requirements introduced in the New Relationship with Schools.

  In conclusion, this statement sets out how we will use the additional resources for children and learners over the next three years to deliver the ambitious programme set out in the five-year strategy. I will be vigilant in ensuring that they are used efficiently and effectively. If resources are not being used to best effect. I will not hesitate to ensure they are switched to where they are most needed, and I will inform Parliament of any significant movements.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Fast Track Asylum and Detention Policy
  The Minister for Citizenship and Immigration (Mr. Desmond Browne)
  A key element in the Government's strategy to speed up the processing of asylum claims has been the introduction of the fast track asylum processes operated initially at the Oakington reception centre and now also at Harmondsworth removal centre and other locations. The use of detention to fast track suitable claims under these processes is necessary to achieve the objective of delivering decisions quickly. This ensures, among other things, that those whose claims can be quickly decided can be removed as quickly as possible in the event that the claim is unsuccessful.

  The lawfulness of detaining asylum claimants for the sole purpose of deciding their claims quickly was upheld by the Court of Appeal and by the House of Lords in the case of Saadi.

  When we began the fast track process we said that it was our intention to detain asylum claimants suitable for a quick decision for a period of about seven to 10 days. If we could not decide the claim within that time scale, the claimant would be released or moved to another place of detention with the facilities to support people detained for longer periods. In the vast majority of cases, we have been able to do exactly that. However, the need to ensure a really sharp focus on quality decision making, including for example in non-suspensive appeal (NSA) cases the need for a second pair of eyes, means we cannot always make decisions and serve them on claimants within the original seven to 10 target time scale. While we are able to do this in over 95 per cent. of non-NSA Oakington claims, our experience has shown us that NSA claims take slightly longer, with the majority of decisions being made and
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  served within 14 days. The purpose of this announcement is to set out our revised fast track process detention policy.

  The fast track process has scheduled days set aside for specific activities (interviewing, serving the decision etc. but we intend this to be a guide as to how the process will generally operate. There will always be occasions when for operational or other reasons it is not possible to undertake certain activities. This may be because the claimant is temporarily unwell, there is an interpreter problem, the claimant requires longer to obtain further evidence or wishes to submit late representations for example. The process must be flexible enough to accommodate such circumstances. We would not necessarily release people from detention or from the process or move them to another place of detention simply because the timetable cannot be adhered to, if the indications are that we can make and serve a decision within a reasonable time-scale. However, the period of detention for making a quick decision will not be allowed to continue for longer than is reasonable in all the circumstances. We will aim to make decisions within 10 to 14 days, but there will be occasions where it is quicker—for example, at Harmondsworth or a non-NSA decision at Oakington. However, we will continue to detain for the purpose of deciding the claim quickly, even beyond the 10 to 14 day time scale, unless the length of time before a decision can be made looks like it will be longer than is reasonable in all the circumstances. Continued detention may also be merited in some cases irrespective of decision time scale, where our general detention criteria apply. We may also detain claimants after we have made and served a decision in accordance with our general detention criteria.

  Applicants with dependants may be detained for the purposes of making a quick decision on their claim, but there may be operational constraints on who can be detained from time to time. For example, the acceptance of families or pregnant females into Oakington may be halted temporarily if there is an illness circulating which might be harmful to them—chicken pox for example. The criteria for acceptance are applied equally to those entering the Oakington and Harmondsworth processes. The principal difference is that at Oakington, individuals with dependants on their asylum claims can be detained at the centre and at Harmondsworth they cannot. Separating dependants on a claim from the claimant can present operational difficulties and for that reason and the fact that it has no female or family accommodation, Harmondsworth will, in general, only accept male claimants who have no dependants on their claims. That is not to say that, at Oakington or Harmondsworth or any other location where fast tracking is carried out, we will never detain a claimant who has dependants on their claim, even where it is not possible to detain the dependants with the claimant. There may be occasions when we believe it is necessary and right so to do.

  When deciding whom to accept into fast track processes, account is taken of any particular individual circumstances known to us, which might make the claim particularly complex, or unlikely to be resolved in the time scales, however flexibly applied. The existence of UK based family ties—such as a spouse, partner or child—would not automatically exclude a claimant

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  from the process as some issues, such as article 8 family life ones, can be relatively easy to decide quickly given the case law and the individual's actual circumstances.

  We will continually review how our fast track processes are operating, the criteria for acceptance into them and the indicative process time scales we aim for. This will apply equally to those we are presently operating and to any we may seek to introduce as part of our overall strategy of speeding up the asylum process and making it more effective.

  Joseph Scoles
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Paul Goggins)
  The coroner for the mid and north division of the county of Shropshire wrote to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, on 5 May, recommending a public inquiry into certain issues arising from the inquest into the death of John Peter Joseph Scoles (known as Joseph) at Stoke Heath young offenders institution on 24 March, 2002.

  The Treasury solicitors wrote to the legal representatives for Joseph's family to seek their comments on what the coroner had recommended. Having received and considered their comments, together with the coroner's recommendation, I am now able to announce the measures I have taken and am taking to ensure that the matters arising from Joseph's tragic death and the coroner's recommendations are properly considered.

  The issues fall into three broad categories. They are: the appropriateness of the sentence Joseph received; the effectiveness of relevant operational procedures in identifying, placing and safeguarding vulnerable young people in custody; and whether the juvenile secure estate has adequate accommodation to meet the needs of vulnerable young people.

  The steps I am taking to deal with these are as follows:
  I have referred the circumstances in which Joseph received a custodial sentence on three counts of attempted robbery to the Sentencing Guidelines Council, requesting it to take this case into account in its current work to draw up guidelines on sentencing for robbery;
  I have appointed David Lambert, a former Assistant Chief Inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate, to examine the operational issues raised by this case, including through the coroner's inquest. I have also asked him to provide a summary account of all investigations that have been conducted into Joseph's death;
  I have asked the Youth Justice Board, which is preparing proposals for its vision for the future juvenile custodial estate, to take full account of the points made by the coroner on the adequacy of custodial provision for vulnerable young offenders.

  I consider that the above measures are the most effective means of addressing the matters the coroner has drawn to the Home Secretary's attention and what lessons should be learned from Joseph's death. I am grateful to the coroner, and to Joseph's family, for highlighting the issues that are of concern to them. Nothing can bring Joseph back, but I do want to ensure that everything is done to prevent the repetition of such a tragic event.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Paul Murphy)
  The chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland, Mr Denis Stanley, is responsible for all aspects of electoral administration in Northern Ireland, including the conduct of all elections and referendums; and for electoral registration. In accordance with section 14 of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962, the chief electoral officer is required to submit an annual report to the Secretary of State.

  I am pleased to announce that the annual report of the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland for the year 2003–04 has been laid before Parliament. Copies are available in the Library.

  Compensation Agency
  The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. John Spellar)
  The compensation agency will publish today its corporate plan for 2004–07 and business plan for 2004–05. I have set the agency the following key performance targets for 2004–05:

  Claims under the Criminal Damage (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977

  1. Maintain average time taken to reach decisions at 18 weeks for claims received from 1 April 2004.

  2. Reduce by 85 per cent. the number of claims in hand at 31st March 2004 on which no decision has been reached; and

  3.* Process claims under the Criminal Damage and Terrorism Act schemes at a combined average unit cost of £310.

  Claims under the Terrorism Act 2000

  4. Reach decisions on claims in 70 days for claims received from 1st April 2004;

  5. Reduce by 90 per cent. the number of claims in hand at 31st March 2004 on which no decision has been reached; and

  3.* Process claims under the Criminal Damage and Terrorism Act schemes at the combined average unit cost of £310.

  * This unit cost target relates to claims under the Criminal Damage and Terrorism Act schemes. The work involved in processing these claims is carried out in a single organisational unit within the agency so the efficiency of this element of the agency's operations is measured by reference to a combined unit cost target.

  Claims under Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988

  6. Reduce by 45 per cent. the number of claims in hand at 31st March 2004.

  Claims under the Criminal Injuries Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (Tariff)

  7. Decide 50 per cent. of all applications within twelve months of receiving the application.

  8. Reach decisions on applications at an average unit cost of £280.

  Compliance with Legislation/Standards of Adjudication—All Schemes

  9. The agency's standards of adjudication are appropriate; which will be confirmed by the Department's internal audit branch through random sampling of claims.

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  Value for Money—All Schemes

  10. Manage the workload in 2004–05 within a running costs budget (to cover salaries and administrative expenditure) to financial limits agreed with the Department (including in-year adjustments).

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Green Belt Statistics
  The Minister for Housing and Planning (Keith Hill)
  On 29 March this year I announced the release of new statistics on the change in the amount of green belt in England between 1997 and 2003. This showed an increase of around 25,000 hectares in the amount of green belt identified in adopted local and unitary development plans.

  It was subsequently pointed out to me that the published figures contained errors, notably a significant transcription error effecting Bolsover's figure for 2003 and minor errors for three other authorities. Correcting for these errors meant that the correct figure for the increase in Green Belt in England between 1997 and 2003 should have been around 19,000 hectares and not the 25,000 figure published in March.

  I apologised to the House for these errors during the town planning debate on 26 May and said that I had publicised the 19,000 hectares figure in my reply on 10 May to a parliamentary question from the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker). However, I assured the House during the Town Planning debate that further work was being carried out on checking the figures to ensure that they are robust. This involved an independent internal audit of how the statistics were compiled and confirmation by local authorities that the change recorded for their areas was correct.

  I am pleased to tell the house that the internal audit did not find any further errors and that only minor revisions have been made as a consequence of consulting with local authorities. The statistical release with the corrected figures has been reissued today and copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses. The re-issued statistics confirm the earlier estimate of a net increase of around 19,000 hectares in the extent of green belt in England between 1997 and 2003.

  I apologise to the House for the errors in the first place and on the length of time it has taken to re-issue the correct statistics.

  Planning Fees Consultation
  The Minister for Housing and Planning (Keith Hill)
  In my statement to the House of Commons on 20 January 2004,Official Report, column 55WS, on publication of "The Planning Service: Costs and Fees", I said that that research would be followed up with full consultation on bringing further resource into the planning service.

  I have today issued a consultation document. "Changes to the System of Planning Fees in England". This sets out in detail our proposals to improve the resourcing of planning so that it can deliver better services to the community and to business.
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  The proposals include raising planning fees by an average of 17 per cent. This is intended to help authorities recover more of the costs of handling planning applications. In many cases, especially for the larger applications, the current fee falls far short of the handling costs.

  The increases are designed to fall differentially on applicants. For example a small business which acquired a new property and needed to apply for a change of use permission would see a fee increase from £220 to £240. Major developers and larger applicants will be asked to pay more—the maximum fee for a major development will rise from £11,000 to £28,000.

  I am also consulting on the introduction of a performance relationship, the first time this has happened in relation to fees increases. Those authorities that meet Government targets for handling major applications will be allowed to increase the application fee they charge by up to 10 per cent. to help them meet more of the costs of handling these large and often complex applications. This will encourage authorities to work harder to meet our targets. Authorities that offer the facility for applications to be made online will also have the option to reduce those fees to encourage the submission of online applications and greater efficiency in the system.

  In all, the proposed increases are expected to raise around £30 million for the planning service. Next year we will also be considering the need to look at widening the scope of planning fees, and the need for further regular increases in fees to ensure that costs in providing a planning service are being fully covered. In the meantime, I consider that the rises proposed are a sensible increase, which together with the continuing planning delivery grant, is helping to provide sustained and much-needed resource to improve planning services.

  The document is available on the ODPM website copies are also available in the Libraries of both Houses. The consultation period ends on 6 December.

  Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders and Elected Regional Assemblies
  The Minister for Local and Regional Government (Mr. Nick Raynsford)
  The Government intend to pass responsibility for housing market renewal pathfinders to elected regional assemblies, in those regions that vote for them. The first region to hold a referendum over an elected regional assembly will be the north-east and the referendum will be on 4 November 2004. Housing market renewal pathfinders are responsible for tackling low housing demand and we think that this responsibility would sit well with elected assemblies' strategic housing powers. My right hon. Friend Lord Rooker will be writing shortly to the Chairs of the housing market renewal pathfinders so that we can take into account their views.

DEFENCE

  Suez Canal Zone Medal/Ministry of Defence Medal Office
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Ivor Caplin)
  During defence questions on 19 July 2004, I gave an undertaking to the House to
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  make a statement about progress made during the summer in the issuing of the Canal zone medal to Suez veterans.

  As at the week ending 10 September 2004, 41,314 applications had been received and acknowledged, and 14,761 medals dispatched. The Royal Navy is now assessing applications as they are received (5 February 2004 as at 19 July 2004), the Royal Air Force is assessing applications received on 30 December 2003 (26 November as at 19 July), and although the army medal office is still assessing applications from 31 October 2003, this is due to some 4,300 applications being received during that week. This peak in applications, which occurred following my statement to the House on 23 October, is nearly cleared and the assessment of applications received during November will begin very shortly.

  While this significant army backlog remains, a number of measures implemented by the joint personnel administration team responsible for setting up the MOD medal office at RAF Innsworth are already bringing tangible benefits. A new medal laser engraving facility has recently been installed at Innsworth. This is currently being used solely to engrave Iraq medals and over 6,000 have been produced during its first four weeks of operation. This has allowed the engraving facility at the army medal office to concentrate its efforts on the Suez Canal zone medal and as a result, the engraving backlog of some 1,800 medals has been cleared during the last month. Improvements to the information systems used by the army medal office, the facility to work overtime and the diversion of staff to Suez Canal zone medal processing are helping to improve matters further. These measures, coupled with the concerted efforts of army medal office staff have brought about an increase of approximately 30 per cent. in the army assessment rate during recent weeks.

  This increase in output has resulted in an average of some one hundred and twenty more applications per week being assessed since July.

  I can also announce that with effect from 1 October 2004 the armed forces personnel administration agency will assume full responsibility for the management of medal output, target setting and performance monitoring. This will allow many of the benefits of a single MOD medal office, such as common procedures based on single Service best practice, to be introduced prior to its actual formation date next spring.

  Following these initial changes, I now anticipate that the backlog should be cleared by January 2006 and I hope this can continue to be improved upon. I should like to pay tribute to the staff of the single service medal offices for their part in bringing about this improvement.

  End-to-End Business Process Review of Disposal Activity in the MOD
  The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr. Adam Ingram)
  I have today agreed that the Ministry of Defence should retain its in-house disposal expertise and that the two in-house disposal organisations, the Disposal Services Agency and Head of Specialisation (Disposal and Sales) of the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), should merge under the ownership of the DLO with effect from 1 April 2005,164WS
  retaining agency status and where appropriate relocating. The relocation will form part of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to the Government's Independent Review of Public Sector Rationalisation, the "Lyons Review". I have directed work to begin on implementing the review's recommendations, and I will make arrangements to place a copy of the review in the Library of the House.

  End-to-End Logistics Implementation: Air Depth Support
  The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr. Adam Ingram)
  Following extensive work to identify the best way forward for military aircraft support, I am announcing today my preferred option, subject to trades union consultation.

  In 2003 the Ministry of Defence undertook an end-to-end review of the logistics process from the front line to industry. This review, the results of which I announced on 10 September 2003, concluded that there was a need, and substantial scope, for improvement in all areas of military air systems support—in industry, the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) and the services front line commands alike.

  The review recommended that on-aircraft depth support—deep repair, scheduled maintenance and modification of aircraft—could best be rationalised by concentrating at main operating bases (MOBs), and that this conclusion should be tested in an investment appraisal.

  The investment appraisal identified three broad options—to concentrate forward support of certain air platforms to MOBs, to concentrate backwards the same platforms to Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) sites and where appropriate industry sites, or a hybrid solution with some platforms concentrated forward and others back.

  In order not to prejudice the in-service date of the upgraded Harrier GR9 of 2006, I have already announced that Harrier support will concentrate forward to the MOB at RAF Cottesmore.

  The wider investment appraisal and subsequent affordability analysis has demonstrated that concentrating support of the Tornado GR4 aircraft forward at the MOB at RAF Marham would provide best value for money compared with the alternative of concentrating backward on the DARA site at St. Athan.

  Conversely, the work has demonstrated that it would not be cost-effective to concentrate the Tornado F3 aircraft either forward or back, given that it will soon be replaced by Typhoon. The work has also shown that it would provide better value for money to concentrate depth support for Lynx, Chinook and Sea King back to DARA Fleetlands.

  My preferred way ahead is consistent with the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 21 July this year, which set out the need for the armed forces and their associated support functions to evolve in order to meet the demands of a changing world.

  The streamlining of our logistic and support functions, such as those which flow from the end-to-end logistics review, will help the Department meet its targets under the efficiency review. In conjunction with

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  the £3.7 billion increase to the defence budget, it will enable us to continue to modernise our armed forces, tailoring our military capability to meet the challenges of the future.

  Our preferred way forward has implications for our military and civilian work-force, as well as for our partners in industry who undertake depth support of military aircraft.

  Concentrating support for rotary aircraft at DARA Fleetlands offers the opportunity to exploit fully the economies of scale that may be achieved by collocating these platforms at a single centre. Sufficient defence work would remain at DARA St. Athan to enable continued operations there until 2008–09.

  We will explore with other Government Departments alternative options for St. Athan after 2009, although the migration of work and the withdrawal from service of some platforms means that 500 redundancies would be needed there in 2005. In the longer term, failure to win alternative work would result in the closure of St. Athan.

  The application of end-to-end principles will ensure that the MOD works smarter and will improve efficiency by adopting modern best practice in supporting our military aircraft. It will lead to reductions of some 1,500 RAF uniformed personnel, which form part of the overall reductions of 7,500 set out in the 21 July announcement on force structure changes and defence change and modernisation programmes.

  There would also be modest reductions in MOD civilian posts and contractor staff posts at RAF Lossiemouth, RAF St. Mawgan and Wattisham and RNAS Yeovilton. Other service personnel would be transferred to the new depth support locations.

  A formal consultation period of 30 working days will now begin with the trades unions. Once a final decision has been taken detailed consultation on the implementation of it will follow.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Rural Post Offices
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Patricia Hewitt)
  The performance and innovation unit report on modernising the post office network, published in June 2000, recommended that the Government should support the rural network in the first instance to 2006. It also recommended that the postal services commission, Postcomm, should advise the Government on options for the rural network after 2006. I have received that advice and have considered it very carefully.

  The Government are fully committed to supporting the Post Office's strategy for creating a viable and vibrant post office network that meets changing customer needs, providing reasonable access to services in rural communities.

  My hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services announced in the House on 2 December 2002 the Government's decision to make £450 million available to support the rural post
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  office network through from 2003 to 2006. That three-year package was intended as a transitional measure, designed to help rural post offices through the changes in the network's business between 2003 and 2006.

  At this point in the transition rural post offices continue to face real challenges and a large part of the rural network continues to be unsustainable commercially. For many post offices the number of customers they serve is simply too small to make the business attractive or sustainable. With the prospect of customer numbers continuing to fall as people access services in different ways it is clear that there are challenges ahead and that new ways to deliver services more efficiently and effectively are needed.

  How and where people access services is changing. It is not clear that the present network best meets those changing needs, or whether because of that the current shape and scale of the rural network is a viable long-term prospect. A solution for the longer-term will need to take these changes fully into account.

  Against this background Postcomm has advised the Government to review the reasons for and nature of our support of the rural network in the longer term. They advise that the nature of that support may need to change substantially.

  Postcomm's advice recognises that such changes must be well informed and that further work will be necessary. Pilot activity by the Post Office, funded by the Government, to test new ways of ensuring access to post office services in rural areas is under-way. The lessons that will emerge from these trials over the next 12 to 18 months will be crucial in informing longer-term decisions about the future shape of the rural post office network. At this stage it is simply too early to draw conclusions.

  The Government have, therefore, concluded that now is not the right time to take decisions about the long-term future of the rural network.

  It is, however, vital that we continue to support the network through this continuing difficult period. The Government are committed to ensuring reasonable access for rural communities to postal and other services. It is also clear from Postcomm's advice to us that without Government funding much of the current rural network would face closure.

  I am, therefore, pleased to announce that the Government have decided, subject to securing any further necessary state aid clearance from the European Commission, to extend its transitional financial facility for rural post offices for two further years from 2006 until 2008.

  The Government will make available up to a maximum of £150 million a year until 2008 to enable Post Office Ltd. to continue to meet the cost of maintaining the non-commercial part of the rural post office network and to pilot new ways of delivering services. Pilot activity is a key element of the current funding package—we have already allocated £25 million to fund pilots. Our intention is that this will continue to be a key element of the package going forward.
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  The funding will ensure that Post Office Ltd. will have money to test new ways of delivering services and will not be forced to close unprofitable rural post offices because of a lack of funding.

  Current funding is from the gilts—Government money previously received as dividends from the company and made available back to the company for certain specific uses—and it is our intention that the further funding to April 2008 will also come from these gilts. The detailed mechanism, sums of money and timing of payments will be subject to further detailed discussion with the company, as well as being subject to state aid clearance.

  The PIU report recommended that the Post Office should be required to prevent avoidable closures of rural post offices, in the first instance to 2006. Postcomm has advised us that it is concerned that this policy can lead to post offices being saved or reopened where it is clear that customer numbers have dwindled to levels far below what is sustainable. Furthermore they have recommended that this policy should not be extended beyond April 2006.

  The Government's direction to Post Office Ltd. to maintain the network and do all they can to prevent avoidable closures remains in place. There is no question of them being able to initiate the closure of offices. However, in response to Postcomm's immediate concern I propose to amend the definition of what is unavoidable so that when Post Office Ltd. is responding to a closure—for example when a sub-postmaster decides to retire—it takes into account circumstances where there is no prospect of a viable future for a post office because of a collapse in demand for services in a particular location. The intention will be to ensure that Post Office Ltd. is focused on maintaining access to services in rural areas fully taking into account local circumstances. These changes, yet to be worked up in detail, will be published.

  I believe that we will be better placed to take a decision on the longer-term future of the rural network, including whether the current policy on avoidable

  Applicant/Production Unit

  Project Description

  Period 1 Award

  Period 2 CIA Sought

  Period 2 Award

  Tonnes Secured Mt

  Jobs Secured/Created

  Eckington Colliery Partnerships, S Yorks

  Extension of main drift to access two new areas of reserves; acquisition of coal handling and other equipment

  £0.063m

  £0.014m

  £0.014m

  0.3

  25/6

  Energybuild, Aberpergwm, S Glamorgan

  Recovery of cross-measure drifts to access reserves through fault; upgrade of coal preparation plant & surface/admin facilities. Purchase of rail head.

  £1.1m

  £2.76m

  £2.42m

  20.0

  78/100

  Hatfield Colliery, S Yorks

  Develop access to Barnsley Main seam

  £15.0m

  £33.28m

  £0.0m

  100

  Tower Colliery, Mid Glamorgan

  Development of replacement panels

  £2.2m

  £3.5m

  £0.0m

  3.5

  420/0

  UK Coal plc, Ellington, Northumberland

  Development of replacement panels, purchase of new face equipment

  £2.1 m

  £2.9m

  £0.0m

  2.1

  360/0

  UK Coal plc, Daw Mill, W Midlands

  Strategic development to access reserves in Warwickshire Thick seam; coal face mechanisation programme including purchase of set of powered roof supports; 3D surface seismic survey & surface boreholes

  £9.6m

  £2.72m

  £1.26m

  32.8

  543/0

  UK Coal plc, Harworth, S Yorks

  Development driveage to access 2 areas of Deep Soft reserves; purchase of new face equipment

  £4.6m

  £4.8m

  £1.72m

  10.4

  511/0

  UK Coal plc, Kellingley, N Yorks

  Strategic driveage to access the Silkstone seam to the south of current workings and Beeston seam to the east; purchase of new face equipment; upgrade of No. 2

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  closures should continue beyond April 2006, when we have feedback from the pilot activity now being undertaken by the Post Office.

  I propose therefore to ask Post Office Ltd. for a full report on pilot activity and its implications for future access to post office services by the end of 2005. I will then review the policy on avoidable closures beyond April 2006 at that point.

  Coal Investment Aid
  The Minister for Energy and E-Commerce (Mr. Mike O'Brien)
  Following the acceptance of awards worth £41 million in the first of three planned CIA application periods, up to £19 million was available when bids in the second application period were invited in April 2004.

  When the deadline for applications passed on 1 June, 12 applications had been received for a total of £94.6 million. All but one were for projects at mines which are already eligible for support following awards in Period 1.

  On review, the one new application was found to be incomplete. The applicant was given an opportunity to submit additional information but was unable to do so. This application therefore could not be considered for an award.

  Two further applications were for further support for projects which had already received substantial awards in Period 1 and for which further awards could not be justified on value for money grounds.

  The nine remaining applications have been assessed and awarded further support worth a total of £16.42 million. Most of this is expected to be drawn down by 31 March 2006. These offers leave a balance of around £2.5 million for further awards and to meet CIA administration costs.

  A summary of the Period 2 awards is given below. More details will be published shortly on the DTI Energy Group website.
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  Applicant/Production Unit

  Project Description

  Period 1 Award

  Period 2 CIA Sought

  Period 2 Award

  Tonnes Secured Mt

  Jobs Secured/Created

  winders

  £7.2m

  £8.0m

  £2.27m

  19.15

  630/0

  UK Coal plc, Maltby, S Yorks

  Strategic driveage to access reserves in Parkgate seam; provision of development & face machinery

  £2.4m

  £7.53m

  £2.71m

  9.03

  528/0

  UK Coal plc, Rossington, S Yorks

  Strategic driveage to access reserves in Barnsley/Dunsil seam to the east of current workings; infrastructure improvements; 3D surface seismic survey

  £3.2m

  £3.54m

  £1.39m

  15.6

  386/0

  UK Coal plc, Thoresby, Notts

  Development driveage to access reserves in Parkgate seam; purchase of new face and heading machinery and conveyor system.

  £2.9m

  £15.0m

  £2.09m

  16.5

  509/0

  UK Coal plc, Welbeck, Notts

  Development driveage to access reserves in Deep Soft seam; infrastructure improvements; upgrade of ROM handling plant

  £5.2m

  £10.66

  £2.54m

  8.0

  528/0

  Total

  £40.7m

  £94.6m

  £16.42m

  131.8

  3738/106

  1Award was not taken up.

  2 Included revision of project covered by Period 1 award.

  NB No Period 2 application was received from J Flack & Sons Ltd for Hay Royds Colliery, W Yorks, which received an award of £140,000 in Period 1.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Hurricane Ivan
  The Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn)
  On 14 September 2004, I provided the House with an oral statement on the impact that Hurricane Ivan was having on a number of islands in the Caribbean. I would like to update the House today, in advance of the recess, on the latest situation and the international relief effort being undertaken. I will provide a further written statement following the return of the House.

  Hurricane Ivan has now passed through the Caribbean and is in the gulf of Mexico. It was downgraded to a category four hurricane and made landfall along the United States coast on 15 September. It took one week, from 7 to 14 September, for the hurricane to travel from Grenada, to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and finally western Cuba, causing over 60 deaths and severe damage along its way.

  The situation in Grenada continues to be serious. The latest reports from the island indicate that 37 people died and over 300 were injured as a result of the hurricane. Two thirds of the population (60,000 people) are reportedly affected and it is estimated that between 4,000 and 8,000 people are living in shelters. The range of figures reflects that many of these shelters are private houses of which there are up to 200. Electricity supply continues to be a problem and piped water is only available to about a third of households across the island. In the meantime water tankers are operating, but fuel is in short supply. This is hampering both transport and emergency electricity generation. The main hospital is working and sustained only minor damage. Drugs are in short supply as the main stock was destroyed. Other hospitals on the island suffered more extensive damage. There is a dawn to dusk curfew following the looting that occurred immediately after the hurricane had hit the island.
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  The relief operation is scaling up quickly but continues to face problems with coordination and communications. The emergency operation centre building was destroyed in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane but was brought back into operation by the efforts of HMS Richmond. It is now fully operational with assistance from the regional Caribbean disaster emergency response agency and a recently arrived United Nations disaster assessment and coordination team. Roads and airports are now open. Distribution of food and other relief items is proceeding slowly, in part due to fuel shortage and in part due to the scale of properly assessing where need is greatest. The United Nations team will help in prioritising the delivery of supplies. Communicating with the population is also a constraint. There are only FM broadcasts operational, and these do not reach the whole island. The two dependencies of Carriacou and Petit Martinique have yet to be assessed.

  As I reported to the House on 14 September, the Department for International Development delivered plastic sheeting for 1,400 families and water containers for 11,000 people on 11 September and made an immediate contribution of some £83,000 to the Pan American Health Organisation. We have since made a contribution of £132,000 to the preliminary appeal for Grenada of the International Federation of the Red Cross. The Pan American Health Organisation and the International Federation of the Red Cross are both active in Grenada. The Pan American Health Organisation has deployed medical personnel and vaccines. The International Federation of the Red Cross has sent a number of relief flights with basic relief items, including shelter materials. The Department for International Development are continuing to monitor the situation closely, in particular the level of medical supplies on the island, and will consider providing further relief assistance as needs become clearer. We are in daily contact with the Pan American Health Organisation concerning health needs.
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  The United States Agency for International Development has provided plastic sheeting for 25,000 people and other relief items in Grenada. The Canadian International Development Agency have approved support of £211,100 and the European Community's humanitarian office have approved an allocation of £1.03 million for Grenada. The bulk of this allocation will go towards the Red Cross operation and Oxfam who are assisting with emergency water and sanitation work. The United Kingdom's share of this European Community support is about £200,000.

  The two-person humanitarian assessment team sent to the region by the Department for International Development arrived in Kingston, Jamaica on 13 September. On 14 September, they met with representatives from the Government of Jamaica, national and international organizations, and other donors. They report good coordination between the Government's Office for Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the Jamaican Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the United Nations disaster assistance and coordination team. Joint rapid assessments are underway with several areas of the island already identified as the most severely affected. These areas include Westmoreland, Claredon, Morant Bay, May Penn and the northeast Blue Mountains. It is not thought that there is widespread devastation but there are a number of pockets of devastation.

  Until the assessments are completed, exact figures are difficult to come by but there are reported to be 200 to 245 shelters open, serving between 4,000 to 13,000 residents across the island. Water is the key issue in many of the hardest hit communities. Food stocks in the Blue Mountain region were reported as running low. Heavy flooding in the surrounding area is delaying assessments. As an interim measure, the Government of Jamaica through its defence forces has airlifted an initial stock of food to the region. The Red Cross has also delivered relief supplies. Although most of the hospitals are operational, they report a lack of power and water supplies with much of the ground water contaminated. The Pan American Health Organization is working with the Ministry of Health to identify specific needs in the health sector and resolve these problems. A number of non-governmental organisations have undertaken preliminary assessments to address short-term relief needs. The Department for International Development has received requests for funding support from Save the Children, Oxfam and ADRA. These proposals are being urgently considered.

  The Department for International Development assessment team arrived on the Cayman Islands, from Jamaica on 15 September. They are assisting the Government in undertaking urgent humanitarian needs assessments, which will determine what further urgent supplies are required. Initial estimates indicate 15–20 per cent. of residential houses completely destroyed and 20 per cent. with major damage. The Department for International Development had already responded to an earlier request for assistance by procuring 3 million water purification tablets, 50 chainsaws, 500 camp cots for children and 5,000 pieces of plastic sheeting. These supplies are on their way to the island, with our first relief flight arriving today. The International Federation of the Red Cross is also planning a relief flight.
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  The Governor is concerned about maintaining security on the islands and is looking to obtain additional security support. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is considering the request. The Governor is not aware of medical supply problems but the assessment being undertaken will confirm these and other needs. The main concern appears to be water supply and the need to deliver water purification tablets, which the Department for International Development is supplying. A water trucking system is being set up. HMS Richmond sent a 17-person party on shore on 14 September. They have repaired generators, attended to damaged buildings and have been providing food distributions. Of a population of 42,000, approximately 3,000 people remain in shelters. Food supplies are being delivered to all shelters. The airport on the island is now fully operational and busy with both passenger and cargo aircraft. This has enabled 30 dialysis patients needing emergency dialysis and ongoing care to be airlifted to the United States by Cayman Airways. Shops have reopened. The Caribbean Utilities Company will support restoration of power supplies.

  Ivan swung past the western edge of Cuba late on 13 September as a category five hurricane. One and a half million people had been evacuated from the area by the Cuban authorities, with 300,000 people placed in shelters. The western area of Cuba is sparsely populated and there have been no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or serious damage to buildings. It is mainly a tobacco growing area but planting does not begin till next month so limited damage is expected on tobacco crops. Its impact on agricultural installations and housing in coastal areas is to be reported. Airports have reopened and children are expected to return to school this week.

  The Ministry of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation are forming an assessment team to inform the Government of needs. Cuba prepared itself well ahead of the hurricane and fortunately appears to have been spared the full force of the hurricane, and national emergency services have mobilised rapidly to distribute food and non-food items to displaced people.

  Whilst Hurricane Ivan has passed out of the Caribbean, hurricane warnings remain in place for the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Residents and tourists have been evacuated from areas likely to be affected by strong winds and waves. No reports are yet available on the impact on the Yucatan peninsula but damage is likely to be contained.

  Further information on the continuing relief effort to affected islands will be made available via the Department for International Development website http://www.dfid.gov ulc/.

  This will include details of how concerned members of the public could help via relief agencies.

  Iraq (Reconstruction)
  The Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn)
  I visited Baghdad and Basra from 31 August to 1 September to learn for myself about progress with reconstruction on the ground. I met Prime Minister Allawi, development Ministers, representatives from the United Nations, civil society and the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, and representatives from local government.
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  The interim Iraqi Government is now clearly in charge, although recent events in Najaf have dominated its first months in power. The difficult security situation has inevitably slowed down the reconstruction effort of not just the UK, but also of other donors and the multilateral agencies. However, it was clear that progress is still being made. Some 45 km of water pipes have been laid in Basra since my last visit in February and electricity distribution is now more equitable across the national grid. Partially due to these efforts, the riots that happened in Basra last summer because of the lack of basic services have not reoccurred this year.

  While in Iraq I announced a number of new UK bilateral projects, focusing on building the capacity of the Iraqi Administration, and promoting employment creation, in southern Iraq. These projects mark an important step forward in our reconstruction efforts in southern Iraq as we move from meeting short-term humanitarian and immediate infrastructure rehabilitation needs towards addressing longer-term development challenges. Southern Iraq should receive massive reconstruction funds over next two to three years from a range of sources, including the USA, Japan and the World Bank and UN trust funds. One of DFID's aims is to help the Iraqi administration to ensure that this money is spent quickly and well, and that the benefits of reconstruction are widely shared across the population. We are investing £20.5 million in strengthening local management, planning and financial capacity in the four southern governorates of Basra, Muthanna, Dhi Qar and Maysan, including £15 million for projects developed by the Governorates. We have also started a new £16.5 million programme to finance employment programmes and further emergency infrastructure repairs.

  DFID has committed £331 million to humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq since March 2003. Of this total £78 million has been allocated to bilateral reconstruction projects in southern Iraq; £19 million to support for the new interim Iraqi Government, the justice sector, independent media, civil society and political participation; and £28 million for consultants and secondments to the Coalition Provisional Authority while it was in office up to 28 June. £70 million has been paid into the trust funds managed by the United Nations and the World Bank, to be spent primarily on health, education, water and sanitation projects, assistance for refugees and strengthening governance; and nearly £12 million has been committed to IMF and international finance corporation programmes for economic governance support and small business development. Updates on DFID's programmes can be found on the internet at www.dfid.gov.uk, as well as in the House Library.

  As on my previous two visits to Iraq, I was impressed by the extraordinary courage and commitment of all the people, both international and Iraqi, who are working to help the new Iraqi Government and the people of Iraq to build the better future that they deserve.

  Post Conflict Reconstruction Unit
  The Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn)
  Together with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Defence, I wish to inform Parliament of the Government's intention to improve the United Kingdom's capacity to 174WS
  deal with immediate post conflict stabilisation, including by integrating civilian and military policy, planning and operations. In recent years, the United Kingdom, with the international community, has been increasingly involved in helping countries to stabilise after conflict. We need to deal better with conflict and instability, learn lessons and improve our capability to respond. Within this broader context, there is particular scope to improve the way in which we deal with immediate post conflict situations, especially those which include military and civilian components. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development are working closely to develop the capabilities that are needed. The Foreign Secretary will chair a new Cabinet sub-committee on post conflict reconstruction. My right hon. Friends and I expect to be in a position formally to establish an inter-departmental post conflict reconstruction unit later this year to lead this work. It will have a policy and operational role. In spring 2005 we anticipate being able to inform Parliament about its initial capabilities. Meanwhile, my right hon. Friends and I have placed a note in the House of Commons library which provides more detail about the Government's aims and plans.

  Pakistan
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Gareth Thomas)
  On 15 September 2004, the Secretary of State for International Development wrote to Shaukat Aziz, Pakistan Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to notify him that DFID has now cancelled Pakistan's ex-CDC debt amounting to £19 million.

  The outstanding loans made by the former Commonwealth Development Corporation to public sector bodies in developing countries were removed from the newly formed CDC Capital Partners balance sheet on 31 August 2000 and transferred to DFID. In the case of Pakistan, the loan concerned was to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

  The only other inter-governmental debt between the UK and Pakistan relates to export credit guarantees. Following the Paris Club Agreement, this debt was rescheduled and is now valued at only £9 million.

  In 2001 DFID agreed to cancel the ex-CDC debt, subject to Pakistan completing the second review of the Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF) with the International Monetary Fund. In the interim, the debt was suspended with no interest payments required from Pakistan to DFID. On 23 June 2004 the IMF Executive Board successfully completed the second annual review of Pakistan's PRGF, implying the ex-CDC debt can now be cancelled.

  The Pakistan programme continues to be a high priority for DFID. As announced to the House in March 2003, during 2003 DFID provided Pakistan with £55 million to cancel debt held with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Over the next two years (2004–05 and 2005–06), DFID's assistance to Pakistan will be £70 and £74 million respectively. This will support the

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  Government of Pakistan achieve the millennium development goals through the implementation of their poverty reduction strategy (published in December 2003), Priorities for DFD3 are increasing the incomes of poor people, improving service delivery to poor people and increasing accountability of the state to poor people.

HEALTH

  Continuing Care
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Dr. Stephen Ladyman)
  I am reporting on progress with investigations into cases where individuals may have been inappropriately denied fully funded National Health Service care since 1996. These cases relate only to matters of past financial injustice and all claimants had access to care services and NHS treatment.

  The majority of strategic health authorities (SHAs) have made considerable progress since December in the process of remedying any consequent financial injustice to patients (or the estates of such patients) who had wrongly been made to pay for the cost of their continuing care. In December, just over 22 per cent. of cases received had been completed. Between December and March a substantial number of additional cases had been reported and by the end of March 57 per cent. of cases had been completed. A percentage completion rate of pre-March 31 cases of more than 85 per cent. in July reflects the amount of work undertaken by all NHS and local authority personnel involved.

  Figures for progress with restitution cases in continuing care

  At Dec 03

  At Dec 03

  At March 04

  At March 04

  At July 04

  At July 04

  Strategic health authority (SHA) name

  Number of cases

  Percentage completed

  Number of cases

  Percenatage completed

  Percantage completed*

  Cases eligible for payment**

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA

  512

  2.3

  651

  43.2

  91.8

  72

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA

  216

  13.0

  212

  48.1

  59.5

  38

  Essex SHA

  6

  0.0

  172

  84.9

  97.7

  15

  North West London SHA

  146

  28.8

  372

  48.7

  98.0

  108

  North Central London SHA

  121

  5.0

  125

  51.2

  74.8

  14

  North East London SHA

  148

  3.4

  180

  93.9

  98.8

  19

  South East London SHA

  30

  0.0

  273

  67.0

  91.4

  165

  South West London SHA

  190

  6.8

  215

  90.2

  96.1

  69

  Northumberland, Tyne & Wear SHA

  275

  2.9

  298

  42.3

  73.7

  113

  County Durham and Tees Valley SHA

  226

  7.5

  226

  21.3

  96.0

  79

  North & East Yorkshire & North Lincs SHA

  286

  44.4

  359

  74.1

  96.3

  52

  West Yorkshire SHA

  156

  28.9

  349

  37.3

  79.7

  59

  Cumbria and Lancashire SHA

  250

  14.4

  340

  45.3

  88.2

  41

  Greater Manchester SHA

  292

  22.3

  342

  29.8

  74.1

  63

  Cheshire & Merseyside SHA

  400

  0.0

  1,196

  64.7

  97.7

  130

  Thames Valley SHA

  299

  52.2

  383

  47.3

  63.9

  44

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA

  387

  59.2

  507

  76.1

  97.7

  40

  Kent and Medway SHA

  277

  49.1

  230

  80.9

  94.8

  36

  Surrey and Sussex SHA

  964

  13.7

  875

  1.7

  37.7

  69

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA

  698

  45.4

  961

  63.7

  100.0

  131

  South West Peninsula SHA

  458

  10.9

  553

  78.3

  95.8

  144

  Dorset and Somerset SHA

  425

  27.8

  915

  49.0

  95.4

  49

  South Yorkshire SHA

  138

  38.4

  241

  67.6

  96.9

  43

  Trent SHA

  400

  0.0

  315

  74.9

  86.2

  23

  Leics, Northants and Rutland SHA

  38

  21.1

  224

  90.2

  89.6

  30

  Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA

  406

  39.7

  431

  95.6

  99.1

  40

  Birmingham and the Black Country SHA

  157

  14.7

  286

  74.5

  85.7

  77

  West Midlands South SHA

  193

  21.2

  424

  55.9

  98.9

  33

  Total

  8,094

  22.6

  11,655

  57.0

  86.1

  1,796

  Note:

  * The percentage of cases completed at July refers only to cases received up to and including 31 March 2004.

  ** The cases eligible for payment at July refers to all cases investigated up to and including 31 July 2004.

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  The NHS has stressed the importance of all cases being investigated thoroughly and accurately and as such is committed to reviewing each application on its own merits. The process involved in undertaking an in-depth review involves contact with many health and social care organisations and bodies, and as such there have been considerable delays in obtaining all the relevant records and patient data. In some cases data and information from aged cases has been lost and, wherever possible, it must be gathered from alternative sources.

  Delays should not automatically be attributed to the SHAs involved in particular cases; occasionally it is the claimant themselves who are responsible for the delay. Many SHAs are now exceeding 95 per cent. completion. In some cases, however, progress has been unsatisfactory, and the Department will take up the matter directly with those SHAs.

  In total, almost 20 per cent. of cases have been granted recompense. As stated previously, the NHS expects to pay a total of £180 million when all the cases received by the end of March 2004 have been completed.

  Approximately 1,600 cases remain outstanding, which is unacceptable. However, I am assured that all cases relating to living people have been prioritised, and that new applications for NHS continuing care are being dealt with in a timely fashion. My Department will be liaising with all SHAs to ensure appropriate procedures are now in place and that outstanding cases are resolved as quickly as possible.

  The proportion of completed cases by SHA is shown in the table.

  Health Committee's Report
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Miss Melanie Johnson)
  The Government's response to the Health Committee's Fourth Report of Session 2003–04 on palliative care, Cm 6327, has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Benefit Fraud Inspectorate Phase 10 Work Programme
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Chris Pond)?
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the benefit fraud inspectorate (BFI) has today announced its phase 10 work programme.

  BFI will be undertaking shorter inspections focused on the areas of poor local authority performance in the administration of housing benefits. Inspections focusing on the time taken to process benefit claims will be undertaken at Mid-Suffolk district council and Flintshire county council. Inspections focusing on the adequacy of councils' counter-fraud arrangements will be undertaken at a number of authorities including Gravesham borough council, south Buckinghamshire district council and south Cambridge district council.

  BFI will undertake full inspections on four local authorities whose benefits administration has been identified as poor or fair under the comprehensive performance assessment regime. These include Castle Point borough council, Mansfield district council and south Northamptonshire council. A full inspection of Bromsgrove district council's benefits service will be made with the agreement of a Government monitoring board which has been set up by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

  BFI will also undertake a full inspection of Newport city council whose benefits service performance has been identified as a significant risk following assessment under the Wales programme for improvement.

  BFI is an independent unit within the Department for Work and Pensions that inspects and reports directly to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the standard of benefits administration and counter-fraud activity in local authorities and the Department itself.

  Liverpool City Council
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Chris Pond)
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the benefit fraud inspectorate (BFI) inspection report on Liverpool city council was published today and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Following the housing Green paper "Quality and Choice: A Decent Home for All", published in April 2000, the Department for Work and Pensions developed a performance framework for housing benefits. The "Performance Standards for Housing Benefits" allow local authorities to make a comprehensive self-assessment of whether they deliver benefit effectively
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  and securely. They are the standards that the Department for Work and Pensions expects local authorities to aspire to and achieve in time.

  In 2002–03, Liverpool city council administered some £237.1 million in housing benefits, 21.69 per cent. of its gross revenue expenditure.

  BFI inspected Liverpool city council in July 2000 and identified significant weaknesses in its provision and management of benefit and counter fraud services.

  The second inspection report finds that since July 2000 the council had initiated a major business transformation programme to address the issues and recommendations in BFI's first report. These included the:
  re-engineering of its business processes;
  establishment of a joint venture with a major private contractor to provide essential business services to improve its benefits and counter fraud services, including a customer contact centre and one stop shops;
  implementation of a document management system in January 2003;
  full implementation of the verification framework in April 2003;
  replacement of its benefits and council tax IT systems in October 2003.

  The report finds that the council had a clear vision for its benefits service supported by policies covering the full range of benefit administration activities. However, IT problems led to a backlog of work and the council had consistently failed to meet best value performance indicators for speed of processing claims. Delays in processing claims were undermining most aspects of the benefits service. New claim customers had to wait an average of 143 days for a claim to be processed and delays in processing reported changes of circumstances had resulted in overpayments being incurred unnecessarily by the council, representing a loss of public funds.

  BFI had serious concerns about the total level of overpayment debt at the council, and an estimated £3.5 million of outstanding debt had not been transferred from its old benefits IT system.

  BFI commend internal audit for its support of the benefits management team in addressing areas of weakness identified.

  The counter fraud service was very effective and made use of the full range of sanctions available. The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to further improve the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit, as well as counter-fraud activities.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the BFI's findings and recommendations.

  Departmental Efficiency
  The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Alan Johnson)
  On 29 June, following on from the announcements in the Budget, my predecessor gave an update to the House on the progress of the DWP efficiency programme which will reduce my Department's workforce by 30,000 by 2008.
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  The June statement highlighted that Jobcentre Plus was reviewing the scope to increase the efficiency of its benefits processing by reducing the number of sites in which this work is carried out. He also announced that, as part of their programme to modernise benefit processing and contact centre operations, Jobcentre Plus will take on six pensions centres.

  I can today announce that:
  Subject to further detailed planning benefit processing will be centralised in 81 sites by 2008. I would like to make it clear that 37 sites will cease to be viable and will close altogether as a direct consequence of centralisation. Not all jobs will go with many transferring elsewhere. In those sites not named for closure there is continued Jobcentre Plus activity and their future will be determined in the normal way as part of the rollout of the Jobcentre Plus network.
  As part of the Jobcentre Plus roll-out strategy Jobcentre Plus Direct (which provides an initial telephone contact service for customers) will deliver services through 23 contact centres by 2006. This will involve moving work from a number of existing locations within the Jobcentre Plus network and will result in the closure of three sites where contact centre work is currently undertaken; Provan, Banbury and Milton Keynes.
  In line with the Lyons Review, which recommended relocating some public sector activities away from London and the South East, Employer Services Direct will close two of its 11 Employer Direct sites, in Portsmouth and Bromley, by Summer 2005. Work will be moved to other sites.

  Staff in all affected sites are being briefed by their managers today. We continue to consult with the trade unions. We have already outlined to them our policy proposals for handling these changes.

  The changes I am announcing today are the latest component of our continuing modernisation programme that will lead to more efficient and effective services for our customers.

  Benefits centralisation sites

  Region

  Processing sites

  Site closures

  East of Engalnd

  Basildon, Great Oaks House Bury St. Edmunds, St. Andrews House Luton, Cheviot House Norwich, Baltic House
  Peterborough, Clifton House Watford, Exchange House

  Braintree, Panfield Lane Southend, Victoria House Stevenage, Brickdale House SSO

  East Midlands

  Chesterfield Jobcentre Derby, Becket Street Leicester, Wellington Street Lincoln, Orchard House SSO Mansfield SSO Nottingham Pension Centre Wellingborough SSO

  Worksop, Crown House

  North East

  Newcastle, Cobalt House Stockton Pension Centre Sunderland, Wearview House

  Bishop Auckland SSO

  North West

  Liverpool, Belle Vale Birkenhead, Horden House Blackpool, Marton Mere Bolton, Elizabeth House Burnley, Brun House Carlisle, Rufus House Chester, Chantry Chorlton Huyton, Edendale House Hyde, Beech House Oldham, Phoenix House Preston, Barry House St. Helens, Gregson House

  Bury, Humphrey House SSO Kirkby, Webster House SSO Rochdale, Newgate House Salford, Aldine House SSO Salfrod, Baskerville House SSO

  Scotland

  Bathgate SSO Clydebank SSO Coatbridge SSO Glasgow (site tbc) Greenock Jobcentre Plus

  Coatbridge Jobcentre Hamilton SSO Kircaldy SSO Perth SSO

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  Inverness SSO Kilmarnock SSO Springburn SSO

  South East

  Broadstairs Canterbury Cosham Dover Hastings Child Support Agency Centre Milton Keynes Newport (IoW) Ramsgate Totton SSO

  Ashford, Kent House Jobcentre Chatham, Brook House Jobcentre Sittingbourne Jobcentre Tunbridge Wells SSO

  South West

  Bournemouth, Cotlands Road Bristol East, Lodge House Chippenham, St. Pauls Gloucester, Cedar House Plymouth St. Austell, Carlyon House

  Bath, somerset Hall Jobcentre Bristol, St. Catherine's House SSO Cheltenham SSO Trowbridge SSO Weston Super Mare, Carlton House

  Wales

  Caerphilly, Crown Buildings Llanellie, Crown Buildings Myrthyr Tydfil. Block 3 Abermorlais Newport, Sovereign House Swansea, Oldway House Wrexham Pension Centre

  Aberystwyth SSO Barry SSO Cardiff, Eastgate House Carmarthen, John Street SSO Neath, Percival House SSO Rhyl SSO Wrexham DMO

  West Midlands

  Cannock SSO Handsworth Hanley SSO Perry Barr SSO Ravenshurst SSO Wolverhampton Pension Centre Worcester

  Dudley SSO Longton Jobcentre Northfield SSO Shrewsbury, Whitehall SSO Walsall, Glebe Street SSO Washwood Heath SSO West Bromwich SSO

  Yorkshire & Humberside

  Barnsley SSO Bradford East SSO Doncaster SSO Halifax, Crossfield House Hull, Oriel House Leeds, Eastgate House Sheffield, Hartshead Square York SSO

  London

  Balham Belfast Benefit Centre Glasgow Benefit Centre Hackney Ilford Makerfield Benefit Centre Stratford

  Notes:

  SSO—Social Security Office.

  DMO—District Management Office.

  Pension Protection Fund/Pension Regulator
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Chris Pond)
  Improving member protection is a Government priority. The Pension Protection Fund and the Pensions Regulator form the basis of providing such protection and successful introduction of both organisations is a priority of this Government.

  As the Pensions Bill is continuing its passage through the House there has been cross-party support for the principles behind both the Pension Protection Fund and the Pensions Regulator and the desire to provide protection for individuals as soon as possible.

  The intention, subject to parliamentary approval, is to achieve successful introduction of both organisations by April 2005. This timetable is very challenging and in

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  order to make this date a reality it is necessary for the Department for Work and Pensions to carry out essential activities in advance of the legislation receiving Royal Assent.

  Therefore, Parliamentary approval for additional resources of £477,000 for these new services will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the Department for Work and Pensions as soon as legislation is passed. Pending that approval, this urgent expenditure will be met by repayable cash advances from the contingency fund.

  In addition, although no cash advance is required, the Department for Work and Pensions will be agreeing to contractual and lease arrangements in respect of accommodation in Croydon, where the staff of the Pension Protection Fund will be located. These negotiations are ongoing, however the Department will endeavour to keep resource consequences to a minimum. When these costs are known the Department will inform the House.

  Croydon was chosen as it met the three key criteria, essential to ensure that the Pension Protection Fund can operate with optimum effectiveness and efficiency, within the required deadline. These key criteria are: achieving successful implementation—which includes direct links and proximity to both the Pension Regulator in Brighton and key stakeholders in London: ability to recruit the right staff and value for money.

  London Borough of Enfield
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Chris Pond)
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) inspection report on London Borough of Enfield Council was published today and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Following the housing Green Paper "Quality and Choice: A Decent Home for All", published in April 2000, the Department for Work and Pensions developed a performance framework for housing benefits. The "Performance Standards for Housing Benefits" allow local authorities to make a comprehensive self-assessment of whether they deliver benefit effectively and securely. They are the standards that the Department for Work and Pensions expects local authorities to aspire to and achieve in time.

  In 2002–03, London Borough of Enfield Council administered nearly £123 million in housing benefits, representing some 17.5 per cent of its gross revenue expenditure.

  The report concludes that the council had made sustained improvements in some important areas since the initial inspection of the benefits service in September 2002.

  Between September 2002 and March 2004 it had reduced its backlog of work of some 6,800 items to 1,882 and made significant improvements in processing new benefit claims, reducing the time taken to determine claims from 67 days on average in 2002–03 to 41 days by February 2004.
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  The council had made organisational changes to strengthen its stand against benefit fraud. It had increased the number of investigators, leading to improvements in the quality of investigative work and the number of sanctions being applied to fraudsters.

  However the council needs to improve the identification, classification and recovery of benefit overpayments.

  The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to further improve the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, as well as counter-fraud activities.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the BFFs findings and recommendations.

  Teesdale District Council
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Chris Pond)
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) inspection report on Teesdale district council was published today and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Following the housing Green Paper "Quality and Choice: A Decent Home for All", published in April 2000, the Department for Work and Pensions developed a performance framework for housing benefits. The "Performance Standards for Housing Benefits" allow local authorities to make a comprehensive self-assessment of whether they deliver benefit effectively and securely. They are the standards that the Department for Work and Pensions expects local authorities to aspire to and achieve in time.

  In 2002–03, Teesdale district council administered nearly £4.56 million in housing benefits, about 43.3 per cent. of its gross revenue expenditure.

  BFI's report identifies a number of significant concerns. Some strategic management policies were lacking and this meant that managers and staff did not have a clear understanding of what was essential to deliver a high quality service.

  Below this, a lack of procedural guidance hindered benefits administration and counter-fraud work. Processes were based on custom and practice, which meant that staff had no reference materials and there was no assurance safeguards for new staff. Despite the lack of documented policies and procedures, the standard of work in many areas was generally good and the report notes the improvement in claims processing times which were just outside the upper quartile performance for all local authorities in the United Kingdom.

  Particular weaknesses were found, however, in customer services. A best value benefits satisfaction survey that was due in 2003 had not been undertaken. There had been no measurement of customer waiting times or assessment of the telephone service provided.

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  No formal take-up strategy was in place and BFI concluded that the council was not providing adequate information to current or potential customers.

  The report found that informal working relationships between departments in the council had resulted in poor communications that were detrimental to benefits service customers. The housing unit had sent repossession notices to council tenants with rent arrears even when the arrears were due to benefit claims not having been processed.

  The report raises concern that there had been little work undertaken to recover overpayments. This had resulted in an accruing debt and consequential loss of available funds to the council. Although it was still to achieve its first successful prosecution, the application of other sanctions was an encouraging sign that the council was establishing an effective counter-fraud operation.

  The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to further improve the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit, as well as counter-fraud activities.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the BFI's findings and recommendations.

  Inspection Report of the Benefit Fraud inspectorate in Respect of Swindon Borough Council
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Chris Pond)
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) inspection report on Swindon Borough Council was published today and copies of the report have been placed in the Library. Following the housing Green Paper "Quality and Choice: A Decent Home for All", published in April 2000, the Department for Work and Pensions developed a performance framework for housing benefits. The "Performance Standards for Housing Benefits" allow local authorities to make a comprehensive self-assessment of whether they deliver benefit effectively and securely. They are the standards that the Department for Work and Pensions expects local authorities to aspire to and achieve in time.

  In 2002–03, Swindon Borough Council administered some £34 million in housing benefits, about 13 per cent. of its gross revenue expenditure.

  The report concludes that the council had made sustained improvements in some important areas since the current contractor took responsibility for the Benefits service in August 2002.

  Between August 2002 and January 2003 it had cleared its backlog of work of some 9,400 cases and made significant improvements in processing new benefit claims, reducing the time taken to determine claims from 89 days on average in 2002–03 to 59 days in 2003–04.

  It had also carried out a number of good quality fraud investigations, prosecuting eight benefit fraudsters during 2003–04.
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  However, the council needs to develop a strategic management infrastructure to enable effective management and monitoring of the benefit service. This will also provide senior managers and elected Members with assurance that recommendations from auditors and other regulators are implemented.

  The council also needs to do more to process claims accurately, prevent and deter benefit fraud and recover the £2.58 million of housing benefit debt outstanding.

  The council have asked for help from the BFI's performance improvement action team.

  The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to further improve the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit, as well as counter-fraud activities.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the BFI's findings and recommendations.

  Housing Benefit Quarterly Performance Statistics
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Chris Pond)
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions I am announcing the publication of performance statistics for local authority administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit (HB and CTB) for the first quarter of 2004–05. A copy of the quarterly statistics for all local authorities in Great Britain has been placed in the Library and has been published on the Department for Work and Pensions website at:http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/other_stats.html.

  Publishing these statistics is part our strategy for reforming housing benefit and for ensuring that local authorities are accountable for their performance in administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  Housing benefit and council tax benefit performance statistics show that in the first quarter of 2004–05, authorities that returned data reported that:
  new claims were processed in an average of 50 days, compared to 52 days in the first quarter of 2003–04
  some 146 authorities had met the performance standard for processing new claims, compared to 103 in the same quarter of 2003–04
  change of circumstances were processed in an average of 14 days, compared with 16 days in the first quarter of 2003–04
  some 40 authorities met the performance standard for processing change of circumstances, compared to 113 in the same quarter of 2003–04.

  The statistics are un-audited and are provided quarterly by local authorities to my Department.

  The most recent audited Best Value performance information for English local authorities for 2002–03 was published by my right hon. Friend the Deputy

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  Prime Minister on 18 December 2003 on the Best Value Performance Indicators website at: http://www.bvpi.gov.uk/home.asp. A copy is available in the Library.

  The most recent corresponding data for local authorities in Wales is also for 2002–03.This is published on the Audit Commission website at http://www.lgduwales.gov.uk/eng/Project.asp?id = SX99A1-A77F4BA8. A paper copy of the relevant extract from this site is available in the Library.

  The most recent corresponding data for local authorities in Scotland are also for 2002–03 and are in the Accounts Commission publication "Performance Indicators 2002–03: Benefits, Finance and Corporate Issues", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Pension Credit
  The Minister for Pensions (Malcolm Wicks)
  I can now provide the latest monthly progress report on the take-up of pension credit, which became payable on 6 October 2003.

  There are now 2.61 million pensioner households (3.17 million individuals) being paid pension credit, an increase of 25,000 households (31,000 individuals) during August. As at 31 August, there are 1.94 million households (2.36 million individuals) now receiving more money as a result of the introduction of Pension Credit, gaining by an average £16.33 a week. The average pension credit award is £41.71 per week.

  There is plenty of time for pensioners to apply for pension credit. To ensure that people do not lose out, customers whose applications are successful in the period up to October 2004 will have their payment backdated to 6 October 2003 (or to the date of entitlement if this is later). The 2004 Budget statement confirmed that backdating arrangements will continue beyond October 2004. This means that anyone eligible applying after October 2004 will see their payment backdated by up to 12 months.

  I am placing in the Library a report showing progress so far, including regional breakdowns of the number of pension credit households and accompanied by tables showing the numbers of pension credit awards in Parliamentary constituencies in Great Britain. Copies of the report and the tables are also available for hon. Members in the Vote Office.

PRIME MINISTER

  House of Lords Appointments Commission
  The Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair)
  I have today placed the House of Lords Appointments Commission annual report for 2003–04 in the Libraries of the House.

  I am grateful to the members of the commission for the report and the work that has gone into preparing it.

  Official Histories of Privatisation and the D-Notice System
  The Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair)
  I have appointed Professor David Parker, Professor of Business Economics and Strategy at Cranfield University, to write "The Official History of Privatisation". I have also appointed Rear Admiral Nick Wilkinson, who will 186WS
  shortly be succeeded as Secretary of the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee, to write "The Official History of the D-Notice System".

  Chief Surveillance Commissioner/Surveillance Commissioner
  The Prime Minister (Mr. Tony Blair)
  I am pleased to announce that I have approved the re-appointment of the right hon. Sir Andrew Legatt as chief surveillance commissioner and the appointment of the noble Lord Coulsfield as a surveillance commissioner under the terms of section 91 of the Police Act 1997.

  Both appointments commenced on 1 July 2004 and are until 30 June 2007.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH

  North Korea
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Bill Rammell)
  I visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or north Korea) from 11 to 14 September. It was the first ever visit by a British Minister. I undertook the trip because the north Koreans had agreed, for the first time, to substantive discussions on the nuclear issue and human rights. I met Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun, Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly Chae Thae Bok, Human Rights Minister Choe Su Hon and Kim Gye Gwan, head of the DPRK's delegation to the six-party talks on dismantling north Korea's nuclear programme.

  I stressed to Foreign Minister Paek and Chief Negotiator Kim Gye Gwan the importance which the UK and the international community attach to the continuation of the Six Party Talks. For some time, it has been clear that the north Koreans might not proceed with the scheduled fourth round of talks by the end of September. The Foreign Minister restated the DPRK's commitment to the talks process, but admitted the DPRK's reluctance to meet again in September. I also impressed the need for the DPRK to admit its Uranium Enrichment Programme, and encouraged the regime to look to the example of Libya.

  Before my visit the FCO delegation consulted on the human rights situation with three leading NGOs—Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Christian Solidarity World-wide. Armed with detailed information on individual cases, I was able to hand to Human Rights Minister Choe Su Hon a list of 18 named individuals, and asked for a full written response. In particular, I raised the cases of two south Korean pastors reportedly abducted to the DPRK from China whose details we learned about from Christian Solidarity World-wide. I handed over satellite photographs of what appear to be a number of large prison camps in the DPRK and asked for both an explanation and for access to them by diplomats resident in Pyongyang. I also pressed for the north Koreans to allow visits, so far barred, by the recently appointed UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in

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  the DPRK and by other thematic UN human rights Special Rapporteurs; and further visits by Foreign Office Human Rights experts. I hope to hear more about this at the UN General Assembly next week when I will meet Choe Su Hon again to continue our discussions. I repeatedly made the points that blanket denials by the north Koreans of alleged human rights violations were simply not credible.

  My visit coincided with reports of a large explosion in the north of the country. Having asked for an explanation, Foreign Minister Peak said it was a planned explosion of a mountain for the construction of a hydro-electric power plant. He agreed to my request that diplomats might visit to see for themselves. The
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  arrangements are now in hand. The British Ambassador visited the blast site today; I have asked for an urgent report on the visit.

SOLICITOR GENERAL

  Treasury Solicitor
  The Solicitor-General (Ms Harriet Harman)
  The Treasury Solicitor's annual report and accounts 2003–04 have today been published and laid before Parliament.

  Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Incident in Commons Chamber
  The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)
  The House will wish to know that, after consultation through the usual channels, I have today sent the following letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons:

  "On behalf of the whole House of Lords, I write to let you know that we utterly condemn the invasion yesterday of the Chamber of the House of Commons.

  Please be assured of this House's full co-operation in considering the implications of this incident for the security of Parliament. I look forward to continuing to work with you and others on this.

  The House of Lords is fully committed, with you and the House of Commons, to maintaining the parliamentary process in the face of disorder and disruption".

  Hurricane Ivan
  Baroness Amos
  My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Hilary Benn) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

  On 14 September 2004 I provided the House with an oral Statement on the impact that Hurricane Ivan was having on a number of islands in the Caribbean. I would like to update the House today, in advance of the recess, on the latest situation and the international relief effort being undertaken. I will provide a further Written Statement following the return of the House.

  Hurricane Ivan has now passed through the Caribbean and is in the Gulf of Mexico. It was downgraded to a category 4 hurricane and made landfall along the United States coast on 15 September. It took one week, from 7 to 14 September, for the hurricane to travel from Grenada, to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and finally western Cuba, causing over 60 deaths and severe damage along its way.

  The situation in Grenada continues to be serious. The latest reports from the island indicate that 37 people died and over 300 were injured as a result of the hurricane. Two-thirds of the population (60,000 people) are reportedly affected and it is estimated that between 4,000 and 5,000 people are living in shelters. The range of figures reflects that many of these shelters are private houses of which there are up to 200. Electricity supply continues to be a problem and piped water is available to only about a third of households across the island. In the mean time water tankers are operating, but fuel is in short supply. This is hampering both transport and emergency electricity generation. The main hospital is working and sustained only minor damage. Drugs are in short
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  supply as the main stock was destroyed. Other hospitals on the island suffered more extensive damage. There is a dawn to dusk curfew following the looting that occurred immediately after the hurricane had hit the island.

  The relief operation is scaling up quickly but continues to face problems with co-ordination and communications. The emergency operation centre building was destroyed in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane but was brought back into operation by the efforts of HMS "Richmond". It is now fully operational with assistance from the regional Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency and a recently arrived United Nations disaster assessment and co-ordination team. Roads and airports are now open. Distribution of food and other relief items is proceeding slowly, in part due to fuel shortage and in part due to the scale of properly assessing where need is greatest. The United Nations team will help in prioritising the delivery of supplies. Communicating with the population is also a constraint. There are only FM broadcasts operational, and these do not reach the whole island. The two dependencies of Carriacou and Petit Martinique have yet to be assessed.

  As I reported to the House on 14 September, the Department for International Development delivered plastic sheeting for 1,400 families and water containers for 11,000 people on 11 September and made an immediate contribution of some £83,000 to the Pan American Health Organisation. We have since made a contribution of £132,000 to the preliminary appeal for Grenada of the International Federation of the Red Cross. The Pan American Health Organisation and the International Federation of the Red Cross are both active in Grenada. The Pan American Health Organisation has deployed medical personnel and vaccines. The International Federation of the Red Cross has sent a number of relief flights with basic relief items, including shelter materials. The Department for International Development is continuing to monitor the situation closely, in particular the level of medical supplies on the island, and will consider providing further relief assistance as needs become clearer. We are in daily contact with the Pan American Health Organisation concerning health needs.

  The United States Agency for International Development has provided plastic sheeting for 25,000 people and other relief items in Grenada. The Canadian International Development Agency has approved support of £211,100 and the European Community's Humanitarian Office has approved an allocation of £1.03 million for Grenada. The bulk of this allocation will go towards the Red Cross operation and Oxfam who are assisting with emergency water and sanitation work. The United Kingdom's share of this European Community support is about £200,000.

  The two-person humanitarian assessment team sent to the region by the Department for International Development arrived in Kingston, Jamaica on 13 September. On 14 September, they met with representatives from the Government of Jamaica, national and international organizations, and other donors. They report good co-ordination between the

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  Government's Office for Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the Jamaican Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the United Nations disaster assistance and co-ordination team. Joint rapid assessments are under way with several areas of the island already identified as the most severely affected. These areas include Westmoreland, Claredon, Morant Bay, May Penn and the north-east Blue Mountains. It is not thought that there is widespread devastation but there are a number of pockets of devastation.

  Until the assessments are completed, exact figures are difficult to come by but there are reported to be 200 to 245 shelters open, serving between 4,000 to 13,000 residents across the island. Water is the key issue in many of the hardest hit communities. Food stocks in the Blue Mountain region were reported as running low. Heavy flooding in the surrounding area is delaying assessments. As an interim measure, the Government of Jamaica through their defence forces have airlifted an initial stock of food to the region. The Red Cross has also delivered relief supplies. Although most of the hospitals are operational, they report a lack of power and water supplies with much of the ground water contaminated. The Pan American Health Organisation is working with the Ministry of Health to identify specific needs in the health sector and resolve these problems. A number of non-governmental organisations have undertaken preliminary assessments to address short-term relief needs. The Department for International Development has received requests for funding support from Save the Children, Oxfam and ADRA. These proposals are being urgently considered.

  The Department for International Development assessment team arrived on the Cayman Islands, from Jamaica, on 15 September. They are assisting the Government in undertaking urgent humanitarian needs assessments, which will determine what further urgent supplies are required. Initial estimates indicate 15–20 per cent of residential houses completely destroyed and 20 per cent with major damage. The Department for International Development had already responded to an earlier request for assistance by procuring 3 million water purification tablets, 50 chainsaws, 500 camp cots for children and 5,000 pieces of plastic sheeting. These supplies are on their way to the island, with our first relief flight arriving today. The International Federation of the Red Cross is also planning a relief flight.

  The Governor is concerned about maintaining security on the islands and is looking to obtain additional security support. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is considering the request. The Governor is not aware of medical supply problems but the assessment being undertaken will confirm these and other needs. The main concern appears to be water supply and the need to deliver water purification tablets, which the Department for International Development is supplying. A water trucking system is being set up. HMS "Richmond" sent a 17-person party on shore on 14 September. They have repaired generators, attended to damaged buildings and have been providing food distributions. Of a population of 42,000, approximately 3,000 people remain in shelters.
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  Food supplies are being delivered to all shelters. The airport on the island is now fully operational and busy with both passenger and cargo aircraft. This has enabled 30 dialysis patients needing emergency dialysis and ongoing care to be airlifted to the United States by Cayman Airways. Shops have reopened. The Caribbean Utilities Company will support restoration of power supplies.

  Ivan swung past the western edge of Cuba late on 13 September as a category 5 hurricane. One and a half million people had been evacuated from the area by the Cuban authorities, with 300,000 people placed in shelters. The western area of Cuba is sparsely populated and there have been no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or serious damage to buildings. It is mainly a tobacco-growing area but planting does not begin till next month so limited damage is expected on tobacco crops. Its impact on agricultural installations and housing in coastal areas is to be reported. Airports have reopened and children are expected to return to school this week.

  The Ministry of Foreign Investment and Economic Co-operation is forming an assessment team to inform the Government of needs. Cuba prepared itself well ahead of the hurricane and fortunately appears to have been spared the full force of the hurricane, and national emergency services have mobilised rapidly to distribute food and non-food items to displaced people.

  While Hurricane Ivan has passed out of the Caribbean, hurricane warnings remain in place for the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Residents and tourists have been evacuated from areas likely to be affected by strong winds and waves. No reports are yet available on the impact on the Yucatan Peninsula but damage is likely to be contained.

  Further information on the continuing relief effort to affected islands will be made available via the Department for International Development website www.dfid.gov.uk. This will include details of how concerned members of the public could help via relief agencies.

  Iraq: Reconstruction
  Baroness Amos
  My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development has made the following Statement.

  I visited Baghdad and Basra from 31 August to 1 September to learn for myself about progress with reconstruction on the ground. I met Prime Minister Allawi, development Ministers, representatives from the United Nations, civil society and the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, and representatives from local government.

  The interim Iraqi Government are now clearly in charge, although recent events in Najaf have dominated their first months in power. The difficult security situation has inevitably slowed down the reconstruction effort of not just the UK, but also other donors and the multilateral agencies. However, it was

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  clear that progress is still being made. 45 kilometres of water pipes have been laid in Basra since my last visit in February and electricity distribution is now more equitable across the national grid. Partially due to these efforts, the riots that happened in Basra last summer because of the lack of basic services have not reoccurred this year.

  While in Iraq I announced a number of new UK bilateral projects, focusing on building the capacity of the Iraqi administration, and promoting employment creation, in southern Iraq. These projects mark an important step forward in our reconstruction efforts in southern Iraq as we move from meeting short-term humanitarian and immediate infrastructure rehabilitation needs towards addressing longer-term development challenges. Southern Iraq should receive massive reconstruction funds over next two to three years from a range of sources, including the USA, Japan and the World Bank and UN trust funds. One of DFID's aims is to help the Iraqi administration to ensure that this money is spent quickly and well, and that the benefits of reconstruction are widely shared across the population. We are investing £20.5 million in strengthening local management, planning and financial capacity in the four southern governorates of Basra, Muthanna, Dhi Qar and Maysan, including £15 million for projects developed by the governorates. We have also started a new £16.5 million programme to finance employment programmes and further emergency infrastructure repairs.

  DfID has committed £331 million to humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq since March 2003. Of this total £78 million has been allocated to bilateral reconstruction projects in southern Iraq; £19 million to support for the new interim Iraqi Government, the justice sector, independent media, civil society and political participation; and £28 million for consultants and secondments to the Coalition Provisional Authority while it was in office up to 28 June. £70 million has been paid into the trust funds managed by the United Nations and the World Bank, to be spent primarily on health, education, water and sanitation projects, assistance for refugees and strengthening governance; and nearly £12 million has been committed to IMF and International Finance Corporation programmes for economic governance support and small business development. Updates on DfID's programmes can be found on the Internet at www.dfid.gov.uk, as well as in the House Library.

  As on my previous two visits to Iraq, I was impressed by the extraordinary courage and commitment of all the people, both international and Iraqi, who are working to help the new Iraqi Government and the people of Iraq to build the better future that they deserve.

  Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit
  Baroness Amos
  My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development has made the following Statement.

  Together with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Defence, I wish to
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  inform Parliament of the Government's intention to improve the United Kingdom's capacity to deal with immediate post-conflict stabilisation, including by integrating civilian and military policy, planning and operations. In recent years, the United Kingdom, with the international community, has been increasingly involved in helping countries to stabilise after conflict. We need to deal better with conflict and instability, learn lessons and improve our capability to respond. Within this broader context, there is particular scope to improve the way in which we deal with immediate post-conflict situations, especially those which include military and civilian components. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development are working closely to develop the capabilities that are needed. The Foreign Secretary will chair a new Cabinet Sub-Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction. My right honourable friends and I expect to be in a position formally to establish an inter-departmental Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit later this year to lead this work. It will have a policy and operational role. In spring 2005 we anticipate being able to inform Parliament about its initial capabilities. Meanwhile, my right honourable friends and I have placed a note in the House of Commons Library which provides more detail about the Government's aims and plans.

  Pakistan: Cancellation of Ex-CDC Debt
  Baroness Amos
  My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Gareth Thomas) has made the following Statement:

  On 15 September 2004, The Secretary of State for International Development wrote to Shaukat Aziz, Pakistan Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, to notify him that DfID has now cancelled Pakistan's ex-CDC debt amounting to £19 million.

  The outstanding loans made by the former Commonwealth Development Corporation to public sector bodies in developing countries were removed from the newly formed CDC Capital Partners balance sheet on 31 August 2000 and transferred to DfID. In the case of Pakistan, the loan concerned was to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

  The only other inter-governmental debt between the UK and Pakistan relates to export credit guarantees. Following the Paris Club agreement, this debt was rescheduled and is now valued at only £9 million.

  In 2001 DfID agreed to cancel the ex-CDC debt, subject to Pakistan completing the second review of the poverty reduction growth facility (PRGF) with the International Monetary Fund. In the interim, the debt was suspended with no interest payments required from Pakistan to DfID. On 23 June 2004 the IMF executive board successfully completed the second annual review of Pakistan's PRGF, implying the ex-CDC debt can now be cancelled.

  The Pakistan programme continues to be a high priority for DfID. As announced to the House in March 2003, during 2003 DfID provided Pakistan

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  with £55 million to cancel debt held with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Over the next two years (2004–05 and 2005–06), DfID's assistance to Pakistan will be £70 million and £74 million respectively. This will support the Government of Pakistan in achieving the millennium development goals through the implementation of their poverty reduction strategy (published in December 2003). Priorities for DfID are increasing the incomes of poor people, improving service delivery to poor people and increasing accountability of the state to poor people.

  Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland: Annual Report 2003–04
  Baroness Amos
  My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has made the following Ministerial Statement.

  The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland, Mr Denis Stanley, is responsible for all aspects of electoral administration in Northern Ireland, including the conduct of all elections and referendums; and for electoral registration. In accordance with Section 14 of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962, the Chief Electoral Officer is required to submit an annual report to the Secretary of State.

  I am pleased to announce that the annual report of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland for the year 2003–04 has been laid before Parliament. Copies are available in the Library.

  Compensation Agency: Corporate Plan for 2004–07 and Business Plan for 2004–05
  Baroness Amos
  My right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Northern Ireland Office has made the following Statement.

  The Compensation Agency will publish today its corporate plan for 2004–07 and business plan for 2004–05. I have set the agency the following key performance targets for 2004 to 2005:

  Claims under the Criminal Damage (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977

  1. Maintain average time taken to reach decisions at 18 weeks for claims received from 1 April 2004.

  2. Reduce by 85 per cent the number of claims in hand at 31 March 2004 on which no decision has been reached; and

  * Process claims under the Criminal Damage and Terrorism Act schemes at a combined average unit cost of £310.

  Claims under the Terrorism Act 2000

  4. Reach decisions on claims in 70 days for claims received from 1 April 2004;

  5. Reduce by 90 per cent the number of claims in hand at 31 March 2004 on which no decision has been reached; and
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  * Process claims under the Criminal Damage and Terrorism Act schemes at the combined average unit cost of £310.

  * This unit cost target relates to claims under the Criminal Damage and Terrorism Act schemes. The work involved in processing these claims is carried out in a single organisational unit within the agency so the efficiency of this element of the agency's operations is measured by reference to a combined unit cost target.

  Claims under Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988

  6. Reduce by 45 per cent the number of claims in hand at 31 March 2004.

  Claims under the Criminal Injuries Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 (Tariff)

  7. Decide 50 per cent of all applications within 12 months of receiving the application.

  8. Reach decisions on applications at an average unit cost of £280.

  Compliance with Legislation/Standards of Adjudication—All Schemes

  9. The agency's standards of adjudication are appropriate; which will be confirmed by the department's Internal Audit Branch through random sampling of claims.

  Value for Money—All Schemes

  10. Manage the workload in 2004–05 within a running costs budget (to cover salaries and administrative expenditure) to financial limits agreed with the Department (including in-year adjustments).

  Treasury Solicitor: Annual Report and Accounts 2003–04
  The Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith)
  The Treasury Solicitor's annual report and accounts 2003–04 have today been published and laid before Parliament. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  North Korea
  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)
  My honourable friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Bill Rammell) visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) from 11 to 14 September. It was the first ever visit by a British Minister. He undertook the trip because the North Koreans had agreed, for the first time, to substantive discussions on the nuclear issue and human rights. He met Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun, Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly Chae Thae Bok, Human Rights Minister Choe Su Hon and Kim Gye Gwan, head of the DPRK's delegation to the six-party talks on dismantling North Korea's nuclear programme.

  Mr Rammell stressed to Foreign Minister Paek and chief negotiator Kim Gye Gwan the importance which

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  the UK and the international community attach to the continuation of the six-party talks. For some time, it has been clear that the North Koreans might not proceed with the scheduled fourth round of talks by the end of September. The Foreign Minister restated the DPRK's commitment to the talks process, but admitted the DPRK's reluctance to meet again in September. Mr Rammell also impressed the need for the DPRK to admit its uranium enrichment programme, and encouraged the regime to look to the example of Libya.

  Before the visit, the FCO delegation consulted on the human rights situation with three leading NGOs—Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Christian Solidarity World-wide. Armed with detailed information on individual cases, Mr Rammell was able to hand to Human Rights Minister Choe Su Hon a list of 18 named individuals, and asked for a full written response. In particular, he raised the cases of two South Korean pastors reportedly abducted to the DPRK from China whose details we learnt about from Christian Solidarity World-wide. He handed over satellite photographs of what appear to be a number of large prison camps in the DPRK and asked for both an explanation and access to them by diplomats resident in Pyongyang. He also pressed for the North Koreans to allow visits, so far barred, by the recently appointed UN special rapporteur for human rights in the DPRK and by other thematic UN human rights special rapporteurs; and further visits by Foreign Office human rights experts. Mr Rammell hopes to hear more about this at the UN General Assembly next week when he will meet Choe Su Hon again to continue discussions. He repeatedly made the points that blanket denials by the North Koreans of alleged human rights violations were simply not credible.

  Mr Rammell's visit coincided with reports of a large explosion in the north of the country. Having asked for an explanation, Foreign Minister Peak said it was a planned explosion of a mountain for the construction of a hydro-electric power plant. He agreed to the request that diplomats might visit to see for themselves. The arrangements are now in hand. The British Ambassador visited the blast site today, we have asked for an urgent report on the visit.

  Asylum Claimants and Detention Policy
  The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)
  A key element in the Government's strategy to speed up the processing of asylum claims has been the introduction of the fast-track asylum processes operated initially at the Oakington Reception Centre and now also at Harmondsworth Removal Centre and other locations. The use of detention to fast-track suitable claims under these processes is necessary to achieve the objective of delivering decisions quickly. This ensures, among other things, that those whose claims can be quickly decided can be removed as quickly as possible in the event that the claim is unsuccessful.

  The lawfulness of detaining asylum claimants for the sole purpose of deciding their claims quickly was
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  upheld by the Court of Appeal and by the House of Lords in the case of Saadi.

  When we began the fast-track process we said that it was our intention to detain asylum claimants suitable for a quick decision for a period of about seven to 10 days. If we could not decide the claim within that timescale, the claimant would be released or moved to another place of detention with the facilities to support people detained for longer periods. In the vast majority of cases, we have been able to do exactly that. However, the need to ensure a really sharp focus on quality decision making, including for example in non-suspensive appeal (NSA) cases the need for a second pair of eyes, means we cannot always make decisions and serve them on claimants within the original seven to 10 day target timescale. While we are able to do this in over 95 per cent of non-NSA Oakington claims, our experience has shown us that NSA claims take slightly longer, with the majority of decisions being made and served within 14 days. The purpose of this announcement is to set out our revised fast-track process detention policy.

  The fast-track process has scheduled days set aside for specific activities (interviewing, serving the decision etc) but we intend this to be a guide to how the process will generally operate. There will always be occasions when for operational or other reasons it is not possible to undertake certain activities. This may be because the claimant is temporarily unwell, there is an interpreter problem, the claimant requires longer to obtain further evidence or wishes to submit late representations for example. The process must be flexible enough to accommodate such circumstances. We would not necessarily release people from detention or from the process or move them to another place of detention simply because the timetable cannot he adhered to, if the indications are that we can make and serve a decision within a reasonable timescale. However, the period of detention for making a quick decision will not be allowed to continue for longer than is reasonable in all the circumstances. We will aim to make decisions within 10 to 14 days, but there will be occasions where it is quicker, for example at Harmondsworth or a non-NSA decision at Oakington. However, we will continue to detain for the purpose of deciding the claim quickly, even beyond the 10 to 14-day timescale, unless the length of time before a decision can be made looks as if it will be longer than is reasonable in all the circumstances. Continued detention may also be merited in some cases irrespective of decision timescale, where our general detention criteria apply. We may also detain claimants after we have made and served a decision in accordance with our general detention criteria.

  Applicants with dependants may be detained for the purposes of making a quick decision on their claim, but there may be operational constraints on who can be detained from time to time. For example, the acceptance of families or pregnant females into Oakington may be halted temporarily if there is an illness circulating which might be harmful to them—chicken pox for example. The criteria for acceptance are applied equally to those entering the Oakington

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  and Harmondsworth processes. The principal difference is that at Oakington, individuals with dependants on their asylum claims can be detained at the centre and at Harmondsworth they cannot. Separating dependants on a claim from the claimant can present operational difficulties and for that reason and the fact that it has no female or family accommodation, Harmondsworth will, in general, only accept male claimants who have no dependants on their claims. That is not to say that, at Oakington or Harmondsworth or any other location where fast-tracking is carried out, we will never detain a claimant who has dependants on their claim, even where it is not possible to detain the dependants with the claimant. There may be occasions when we believe it is necessary and right so to do.

  When deciding who to accept into fast-track processes, account is taken of any particular individual circumstances known to us which might make the claim particularly complex or unlikely to be resolved in the timescales, however flexibly applied. The existence of UK-based family ties (such as a spouse, partner or child) would not automatically exclude a claimant from the process as some issues, such as Article 8 family life ones, can be relatively easy to decide quickly given the case law and the individual's actual circumstances.

  We will continually review how our fast-track processes are operating, the criteria for acceptance into them and the indicative process timescales we aim for. This will apply equally to those we are presently operating and to any we may seek to introduce as part of our overall strategy of speeding up the asylum process and making it more effective.

  Suez Canal Zone Medal
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)
  My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ivor Caplin) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

  During Defence Questions on 19 July 2004, I gave an undertaking to the House to make a Statement about progress made during the summer in the issuing of the Canal Zone Medal to Suez veterans.

  As at the week ending 10 September 2004, 41,314 applications had been received and acknowledged, and 14,761 medals dispatched. The Royal Navy is now assessing applications as they are received (5 February 2004 as at 19 July 2004), the Royal Air Force is assessing applications received on 30 December 2003 (26 November as at 19 July), and although the Army Medal Office is still assessing applications from 31 October 2003, this is due to some 4,300 applications being received during that week. This peak in applications, which occurred following my Statement to the House on 23 October, is nearly cleared and the assessment of applications received during November will begin very shortly.
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  While this significant Army backlog remains, a number of measures implemented by the joint personnel administration team responsible for setting up the MoD Medal Office at RAF Innsworth are already bringing tangible benefits. A new medal laser engraving facility has recently been installed at Innsworth. This is currently being used solely to engrave Iraq medals and over 6,000 have been produced during its first four weeks of operation.

  This has allowed the engraving facility at the Army Medal Office to concentrate its efforts on the Suez Canal Zone Medal and as a result, the engraving backlog of some 1,800 medals has been cleared during the last month. Improvements to the information systems used by the Army Medal Office, the facility to work overtime and the diversion of staff to Suez Canal Zone Medal processing are helping to improve matters further. These measures, coupled with the concerted efforts of Army Medal Office staff have brought about an increase of approximately 30 per cent in the Army assessment rate during recent weeks. This increase in output has resulted in an average of some 120 more applications per week being assessed since July.

  I can also announce that with effect from 1 October 2004 the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency will assume full responsibility for the management of medal output, target setting and performance monitoring. This will allow many of the benefits of a single MoD Medal Office, such as common procedures based on single service best practice, to be introduced prior to its actual formation date next spring.

  Following these initial changes, I now anticipate that the backlog should be cleared by January 2006 and I hope this can continue to be improved upon. I should like to pay tribute to the staff of the single Service medal offices for their part in bringing about this improvement.

  Ministry of Defence: Disposal Activity
  Lord Bach
  My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Defence (Mr Adam Ingram) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

  I have today agreed that the Ministry of Defence should retain its in-house disposal expertise and that the two in-house disposal organisations, the Disposal Services Agency and Head of Specialisation (Disposal and Sales) of the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), should merge under the ownership of the DLO with effect from 1 April 2005, retaining agency status and where appropriate relocating. The relocation will form part of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to the Government's independent review of public sector rationalisation, the Lyons review. I have directed work to begin on implementing the review's recommendations, and I will make arrangements to place a copy of the review in the Library of the House.

  Coal Investment Aid
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)
  My honourable friend the Minister for Energy and E-commerce (Mike O'Brien) has made the following Statement.

  Following the acceptance of awards worth £41 million in the first of three planned CIA application periods, up to £19 million was available when bids in the second application period were invited in April 2004.

  When the deadline for applications passed on 1 June, 12 applications had been received for a total of £94.6 million. All but one were for projects at mines which are already eligible for support following awards in period 1.

  Applicant/Prod
  uction Unit

  Project Description

  Period 1 Award

  Period 2 CIA Sought

  Period 2 Award

  Tonnes Secured Mt

  Jobs Secured/Created

  Eckington Colliery Partnerships, S Yorks

  Extension of main drift to access two new areas of reserves; acquisition of coal handling and other equipment

  £0.063m

  £0.014m

  £0.014m

  0.3

  25/6

  Energybuild, Aberpergwm, S Glamorgan

  Recovery of cross-measure drifts to access reserves through fault; upgrade of coal preparation plant & surface/admin facilities. Purchase of rail head.

  £1.1m

  £2.76m

  £2.42m

  20.0

  78/100

  Hatfield Colliery S Yorks

  Develop access to Barnsley Main seam

  £15.0m1

  £33.28m

  £0.0m

  100

  Tower Colliery, Mid Glamorgan

  Development of replacement panels

  £2.2m

  £3.5m

  £0.0m

  3.5

  420/0

  UK Coal plc, Ellington, Northumberland

  Development of replacement panels, purchase of new face equipment

  £2.1m

  £2.9m

  £0.0m

  2.1

  360/0

  UK Coal plc, Daw Mill, W Midlands

  Strategic development to access reserves in Warwickshire Thick seam; coal face mechanisation programme including purchase of set of powered roof supports; 3D surface seismic survey & surface boreholes

  £9.6m

  £2.72m

  £1.26m

  32.8

  543/0

  UK Coal plc, Harworth, S Yorks

  Development driveage to access 2 areas of Deep Soft reserves; purchase of new face equipment

  £4.6m

  £4.8m

  £1.72m

  10.4

  511/0

  UK Coal plc, Kellingley, N Yorks

  Strategic driveage to access the Silkstone seam to the south of current workings and Beeston seam to the east; purchase of new face equipment; upgrade of No. 2 winders

  £7.2m

  £8.0m

  £2.27m

  19.15

  630/0

  UK Coal plc, Maltby, S Yorks

  Strategic driveage to access reserves in Parkgate seam; provision of development & face machinery

  £2.4m

  £7.53m

  £2.71m

  9.03

  528/0

  UK Coal plc, Rossington, S Yorks

  Strategic driveage to access reserves in Barnsley/Dunsil seam to the east of current workings; infrastructure improvements; 3D surface seismic survey

  £3.2m

  £3.54m

  £1.39m

  15.6

  386/0

  UK Coal plc, Thoresby, Notts

  Development driveage to access reserves in Parkgate seam; purchase of new face and heading machinery and conveyor system.

  £2.9m

  £15.0m2

  £2.09m

  16.5

  509/0

  UK Coal plc, Welbeck, Notts

  Development driveage to access reserves in Deep Soft seam; infrastructure improvements; upgrade of ROM handling plant

  £5.2m

  £10.66

  £2.54m

  8.0

  528/0

  Total

  £40.7m

  £94.6m

  £16.42m

  131.8

  3738/106

  1 Award was not taken up.

  2 Included revision of project covered by period 1 award.

  NB: No period 2 application was received from J Flack & Sons Ltd for Hay Royds Colliery, W Yorks, which received an award of £140,000 in period 1.
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  On review, the one new application was found to be incomplete. The applicant was given an opportunity to submit additional information but was unable to do so. This application therefore could not be considered for an award.

  Two further applications were for further support for projects which had already received substantial awards in period 1 and for which further awards could not be justified on value for money grounds.

  The nine remaining applications have been assessed and awarded further support worth a total of £16.42 million. Most of this is expected to be drawn down by 31 March 2006. These offers leave a balance of around £2.5 million for further awards and to meet CIA administration costs.

  A summary of the period 2 awards is given below. More details will be published shortly on the DTI energy group website.

  Rural Post Offices
  Lord Sainsbury of Turville
  My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Hewitt) has made the following Statement.

  The Performance and Innovation Unit report on modernising the post office network, published in June 2000, recommended that the Government should support the rural network in the first instance to 2006. It also recommended that the Postal Services Commission, Postcomm, should advise the Government on options for the rural network after 2006. I have received that advice and have considered it very carefully.

  The Government are fully committed to supporting the Post Office's strategy for creating a viable and vibrant post office network that meets changing customer needs, providing reasonable access to services in rural communities.

  My honourable friend the then Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services announced in the House on 2 December 2002 the Government's decision to make £450 million available to support the rural post office network through from 2003 to 2006. That three-year package was intended as a transitional measure, designed to help rural post offices through the changes in the network's business between 2003 and 2006.

  At this point in the transition rural post offices continue to face real challenges and a large part of the rural network continues to be unsustainable commercially. For many post offices the number of customers they serve is simply too small to make the business attractive or sustainable. With the prospect of customer numbers continuing to fall as people access services in different ways it is clear that there are challenges ahead and that new ways to deliver services more efficiently and effectively are needed.

  How and where people access services is changing. It is not clear that the present network best meets those changing needs, or whether because of that the current shape and scale of the rural network is a viable long-term prospect. A solution for the longer-term will need to take these changes fully into account.

  Against this background Postcomm has advised the Government to review the reasons for and nature of our support of the rural network in the longer term. They advise that the nature of that support may need to change substantially.

  Postcomm's advice recognises that such changes must be well informed and that further work will be necessary. Pilot activity by the Post Office, funded by the Government, to test new ways of ensuring access to post office services in rural areas is under way. The lessons that will emerge from these trials over the next 12 to 18 months will be crucial in informing longer-term decisions about the future shape of the rural post office network. At this stage it is simply too early to draw conclusions. The Government have therefore concluded that now is not the right time to take decisions about the long-term future of the rural network.
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  It is, however, vital that we continue to support the network through this continuing difficult period. The Government are committed to ensuring reasonable access for rural communities to postal and other services. It is also clear from Postcomm's advice to us that without government funding much of the current rural network would face closure.

  I am therefore pleased to announce that the Government have decided, subject to securing any further necessary state aid clearance from the European Commission, to extend the transitional financial facility for rural post offices for two further years from 2006 until 2008.

  The Government will make available up to a maximum of £150 million a year until 2008 to enable Post Office Ltd to continue to meet the cost of maintaining the non-commercial part of the rural post office network and to pilot new ways of delivering services. Pilot activity is a key element of the current funding package—we have already allocated £25 million to fund pilots. Our intention is that this will continue to be a key element of the package going forward.

  The funding will ensure that Post Office Ltd will have money to test new ways of delivering services and will not be forced to close unprofitable rural post offices because of a lack of funding.

  Current funding is from the gilts (government money previously received as "dividends" from the company and made available back to the company for certain specific uses) and it is our intention that the further funding to April 2008 will also come from these gilts. The detailed mechanism, sums of money and timing of payments will be subject to further detailed discussion with the company, as well as being subject to state aid clearance.

  The PIU report recommended that the Post Office should be required to prevent avoidable closures of rural post offices, in the first instance to 2006. Postcomm has advised us that it is concerned that this policy can lead to post offices being saved or reopened where it is clear that customer numbers have dwindled to levels far below what is sustainable. Furthermore it has recommended that this policy should not be extended beyond April 2006.

  The Government's direction to Post Office Limited to maintain the network and do all it can to prevent avoidable closures remains in place. There is no question of it being able to initiate the closure of offices. However, in response to Postcomm's immediate concern I propose to amend the definition of what is unavoidable so that when Post Office Ltd is responding to a closure (for example when a sub-postmaster decides to retire) it takes into account circumstances where there is no prospect of a viable future for a post office because of a collapse in demand for services in a particular location. The intention will be to ensure that Post Office Ltd is focused on maintaining access to services in rural areas fully taking into account local circumstances. These changes, yet to be worked up in detail, will be published.

  I believe that we will be better placed to take a decision on the longer-term future of the rural network, including whether the current policy on avoidable closures should

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  continue beyond April 2006, when we have feedback from the pilot activity now being undertaken by the Post Office.

  I propose therefore to ask Post Office Ltd for a full report on pilot activity and its implications for future access to post office services by the end of 2005. I will then review the policy on avoidable closures beyond April 2006 at that point.

  Children and Learners: Resources 2005–06 to 2007–08
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Filkin)
  My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (Mr Charles Clarke) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

  In his Budget in March, my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer outlined continued growth in investment in education and children's services up to 2007–08, showing again the priority the Government give to children and learners.

  On 8 July, we published our five-year strategy for children and learners, setting out how the Government will use new reforms to build on substantial improvements in every stage of education and children's services since 1997—from the early years of a child's life to lifelong learning and adult skills.

  Today I am giving more detail of how the additional investment announced by my right honourable friend the Chancellor will support the reforms set out in the five-year strategy.

  Early Years and Children's Services

  Investment in early years and childcare will increase by £769 million between this year and 2007–08. The Government will announce a 10-year childcare strategy in the Pre-Budget Report when more detailed plans will be published. The broad areas to be covered will include:

  By 2008, there will be up to 2,500 children's centres;

  Bringing education and childcare together into a single integrated offer for pre-school children; and

  Developing a year round, 8am-6pm, childcare offer in many primary schools; with secondary schools offering a range of "things for young people to do".

  Investment in children's services will increase by almost £1 billion by 2007–08 compared with 2004–05. We will use this investment to start taking forward key areas of reforms set out in Every Child Matters to achieve better opportunities and outcomes for children, young people and their families. We will provide support in the following areas:

  Increase the information available to parents and carers.

  Ensure that the professionals working with children have the skills and competencies to

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  support children and their families more effectively.

  Improve support to looked-after children by enhancing the provision of mentoring to this group and improve support to foster carers in order to increase recruitment and retention.

  Improve early identification and protection of vulnerable children by supporting a common assessment framework and developing arrangements for sharing information between agencies to prevent any child slipping through the net.

  We are committed to rationalising funding streams to local authorities and the voluntary sector and reducing the number of processes. We will discuss with partners how resources can be delivered to ensure funding can be flexibly deployed at the front-line where delivery of services impact most.

  Schools

  We will increase revenue funding for schools by some £3.5 billion overall between 2005–06 and 2007–08. That means that we will have increased revenue funding for schools by about £1,300 per pupil or 45 per cent in real terms in the years since we took office.

  Our twin aims are to make the quality of teaching even better than it is now with schools driving their own and others' improvement and to widen opportunities for pupils and teachers through enriching the curriculum. Specific examples of additional investment include:

  The budget for specialist schools will increase by over £100 million by 2008 to help all schools who meet the standard to become specialist;

  There will be an extra £30 million by 2008 for our leading schools which will be expected to work together with other schools to raise standards everywhere;

  There will be an extra £65 million a year for our primary and secondary strategies which have helped to increase pupil attainment since 1997, with resources targeted on those schools which need the greatest support;

  There will be continuing support for schools in areas served by the Excellence in Cities programme which has helped to improve exam results at a faster rate than the national average;

  We will be making additional resources to the Teacher Training Agency to improve the supply of high quality maths and science teachers and support the professional development of teachers; and

  To help schools to enrich the curriculum, the budget for sport will increase by over £30 million by 2007–08 and there will also be more resources for music, modern foreign languages and partnerships between schools and the arts.

  We look forward in the months ahead to discussions with schools and local education authorities on the best way to deliver all the resources which support

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  schools. We will have a new ring-fenced budget for schools from 2006–07 and are committed both to delivering three-year budgets for schools and to rationalising the existing funding streams.

  Capital investment in schools will increase by £750 million to £6.3 billion by 2007–08 including ICT and PFI credits to support further improvements to all schools and allowing every secondary school to be refurbished or rebuilt to a modern standard over the next 10 to 15 years.

  14–19, Further Education (FE) and Skills

  Total funding for FE, skills and to develop the 14–19 phase will rise by £1.5 billion by 2007–08 compared to 2004–05, taking the Government's total expenditure on post-16 (excluding higher education (HE)) to £11 billion.

  This is a substantial overall investment, building on the increases in funding in the three years up to 2005–06, which will allow the sector to meet growth in 16–19 participation and enable progress to be sustained on two key agendas: delivering success for all to continue to drive up quality, and reshaping the sector to become more demand-led as set out in the skills strategy.

  We will provide greater freedom for colleges and training providers through a new delivery structure. This will be based on autonomy and independence for good colleges and providers, backed up by a risk-based approach to lighter touch inspection but tougher sanctions on poor quality.

  This will enable colleges to engage more effectively with employers by offering the training that they need, and to increase employer and individual co-financing of training in line with the benefits they receive. This is important for the sustainability of the sector and future expansion. We want all colleges to be put on a secure financial footing to deliver the important challenges that we have set out in our five-year strategy. Under the new delivery arrangements, successful colleges will be able to grow and prosper.

  The settlement includes funding to continue the development of a transformed 14–19 phase of education, in the light of the commitments made in the department's five-year strategy. The working group on 14–19 reform, chaired by Mike Tomlinson, will issue its final report this autumn making proposals for a radical reshaping of the 14–19 phase. The Government have set out the five tests which will shape their response to the proposals, but whatever the response, the direction of travel is clear. We are therefore allocating funds to build on the work over the past few years to improve this phase of education, including workforce training and spreading good practice from the 14–19 pathfinders.

  We must support colleges in making the transition to a more demand-led approach in which greater funding comes from employers and individuals, because the training they get is designed and delivered in a way that better meets their needs. We will be looking carefully at how we can best do that. As set out in the five-year strategy, we are committed to incorporating the principles of the employer training
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  pilots within mainstream funding for adults, as a way of promoting a more demand-led approach. We will also continue to use the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) annual business cycle to allocate public funds in a way that better matches our national skills priorities, including through the new level 2 entitlement.

  We will continue our drive to upgrade facilities in further education and training with an increase of 31 per cent in capital funding between 2004–05 and 2007–08. We will also bring local decision making and allocations for 16–19 capital provision into to alignment. Working with the department and other partners, the LSC will establish a single capital budget for new 16–19 provision across schools and FE.

  The achievements of learners depend on the quality of the teaching and learning they receive, and the way in which their teachers and trainers are themselves trained, managed and supported. We will increase by £70 million by 2007–08 our investment in initial training and continuous professional development for teachers, trainers, leaders and managers in colleges, work-based learning and adult and community learning.

  Higher Education ( HE)

  Government expenditure on higher education will increase by around £2 billion between 2004–05 and 2007–08, taking total investment to almost £9.5 billion. This builds on the significant increases from 2002 Spending Review, and it confirms our commitment to stand by HE in future spending reviews, made in the HE White Paper and repeated during the discussions on the HE Bill.

  We will increase the HEFCE grant to allow for further increases in student numbers while maintaining the level of student funding per head in real terms.

  HE institutions will also benefit from increases in research funding: DfES recurrent funding for research will increase from £ 1.236 billion in 2005–06 to over £1.4 billion in 2007–08— around 9 per cent in real terms. Our contribution to total UK science spending, together with the contribution from the Office of Science and Technology, will exceed £5 billion by 2007–08.

  On top of all this, HE institutions will receive in full the extra income they generate from charging variable fees—in steady state (ie by 2010) this will be around £1.2 billion extra.

  HE institutions will start to receive this extra income in the academic year 2006–07. We expect the first tranche to be paid in two instalments—one half in early 2007, and the other before the end of the academic year.

  Full-time students will benefit from an enhanced student support package:

  An HE grant of up to £2,700 for the poorest new students;

  Enhanced bursaries, paid from HEIs' new fee income stream;

  Fee loans from 2006, for existing and new students;

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  A maintenance loan increased to the level of average student expenditure on essential items, for existing and new students;

  Affordable repayments for student loans—9 per cent of salary above £ 15,000, for all students after April 2005. So students will make a contribution towards the cost of their higher education, but only when they can afford to do so;

  And for new students, a loan write-off after 25 years —that will particularly help those graduates who choose low-paid work.

  Part-time students will also benefit from an enhanced package from this autumn. Grants for fees will replace loans and a new statutory fee grant will replace the old discretionary scheme. The poorest students will get £825 in grants for fees and course costs.

  Overall, this spending review will help to put excellence in HE on a sustainable footing and will secure world class standards through:

  increased teaching funding;

  increased research funding;

  increased fee income; and

  better support for students.

  This will enable us to make a significant impact on the funding gap we know exists, and to continue expansion on a sensible, properly funded basis.

  Value for money and efficiency

  The total investment in education and training is much larger than the figures presented here. Families have always invested and will continue to invest in their children's care and development. Employers invest in the training and development of their workforce. Support for education—in cash and in kind—is growing. We expect co-funding to grow over the spending review period, as individuals and employers become readier to invest in better education and training that meets their needs.

  We must ensure that we get maximum value from every pound of additional investment for children and learners. Enabling people across the children, education and skills system to get better value for money from our investment in public services is our aim in the efficiency review. We have identified ways to achieve gains in value for money of £4.3 billion over the spending review period. For example, we will:

  reduce the number of Civil Service posts in the DfES and Ofsted by 1,960;

  enable front-line professionals in schools, colleges and higher education institutions to use their time more productively, enabling institutions to achieve more with their resources; for example through workforce reform, investment in ICT and reducing administrative burdens;

  improve procurement of goods, services and new school building, using a new procurement centre of excellence to strengthen procurement practice across the education and children's services sectors;

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  streamline the delivery system for each sector through improvements in policy, funding and regulation, such as the lighter touch process for Ofsted inspection, streamlined data collection and reduced reporting and monitoring requirements introduced in the new relationship with schools.

  In conclusion, this Statement sets out how we will use the additional resources for children and learners over the next three years to deliver the ambitious programme set out in the five-year strategy. I will be vigilant in ensuring that they are used efficiently and effectively. If resources are not being used to best effect, I will not hesitate to ensure they are switched to where they are most needed, and I will inform Parliament of any significant movements.

  Palliative Care
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)
  My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health has made the following Written Ministerial Statement today.

  The Government's response to the Health Committee's fourth report of Session 2003–04 on palliative care, Cm 6327, has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  NHS Continuing Care
  Lord Warner
  My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Community (Dr Stephen Ladyman) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement today.

  I am reporting on progress with investigations into cases where individuals may have been inappropriately denied fully funded National Health Service care since 1996. These cases relate only to matters of past financial injustice and all claimants had access to care services and NHS treatment.

  The majority of strategic health authorities (SHAs) have made considerable progress since December in the process of remedying any consequent financial injustice to patients (or the estates of such patients) who had wrongly been made to pay for the cost of their continuing care. In December, just over 22 per cent of cases received had been completed. Between December and March a substantial number of additional cases had been reported and by the end of March 57 per cent of cases had been completed. A percentage completion rate, of pre-31 March cases, of more than 85 per cent in July reflects the amount of work undertaken by all NHS and local authority personnel involved.

  The NHS has stressed the importance of all cases being investigated thoroughly and accurately and as such is committed to reviewing each application on its own merits. The process involved in undertaking an in depth review involves contact with many health and

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  social care organisations and bodies, and as such there have been considerable delays in obtaining all the relevant records and patient data. In some cases data and information from aged cases have been lost and, wherever possible, they must be gathered from alternative sources.

  Delays should not automatically be attributed to the SHAs involved in particular cases. Occasionally the claimant themself is responsible for the delay. Many SHAs are now exceeding 95 per cent completion. In some cases, however, progress has been unsatisfactory, and the department will take up the matter directly with those SHAs.

  In total, almost 20 per cent of cases have been granted recompense. As stated previously, the NHS

  Figures for progress with restitution cases in continuing care

  Strategic health authority (SHA) name

  At Dec 03 Number of cases

  At Dec 03 Percentage completed

  At March 04 Number of cases

  At March 04 Percentage completed

  At July 04 Percentage completed*

  At July 04 Cases eligible for payment**

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA

  512

  2.3

  651

  43.2

  91.8

  72

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA

  216

  13.0

  212

  48.1

  59.5

  38

  Essex SHA

  6

  0.0

  172

  84.9

  97.7

  15

  North West London SHA

  146

  28.8

  372

  48.7

  98.0

  108

  North Central London SHA

  121

  5.0

  125

  51.2

  74.8

  14

  North East London SHA

  148

  3.4

  180

  93.9

  98.8

  19

  South East London SHA

  30

  0.0

  273

  67.0

  91.4

  165

  South West London SHA

  190

  6.8

  215

  90.2

  96.1

  69

  Northumberland, Tyne & Wear SHA

  275

  2.9

  298

  42.3

  73.7

  113

  County Durham and Tees Valley SHA

  226

  7.5

  226

  21.3

  96.0

  79

  North & East Yorkshire & North Lincs SHA

  286

  44.4

  359

  74.1

  96.3

  52

  West Yorkshire SHA

  156

  28.9

  349

  37.3

  79.7

  59

  Cumbria and Lancashire SHA

  250

  14.4

  340

  45.3

  88.2

  41

  Greater Manchester SHA

  292

  22.3

  342

  29.8

  74.1

  63

  Cheshire & Merseyside SHA

  400

  0.0

  1,196

  64.7

  97.7

  130

  Thames Valley SHA

  299

  52.2

  383

  47.3

  63.9

  44

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA

  387

  59.2

  507

  76.1

  97.7

  40

  Kent and Medway SHA

  277

  49.1

  230

  80.9

  94.8

  36

  Surrey and Sussex SHA

  964

  13.7

  875

  1.7

  37.7

  69

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA

  698

  45.4

  961

  63.7

  100.0

  131

  South West Peninsula SHA

  458

  10.9

  553

  78.3

  95.8

  144

  Dorset and Somerset SHA

  425

  27.8

  915

  49.0

  95.4

  49

  South Yorkshire SHA

  138

  38.4

  241

  67.6

  96.9

  43

  Trent SHA

  400

  0.0

  315

  74.9

  86.2

  23

  Leics, Northants and Rutland SHA

  38

  21.1

  224

  90.2

  89.6

  30

  Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA

  406

  39.7

  431

  95.6

  99.1

  40

  Birmingham and the Black Country SHA

  157

  14.7

  286

  74.5

  85.7

  77

  West Midlands South SHA

  193

  21.2

  424

  55.9

  98.9

  33

  Total

  8,094

  22.6

  11,655

  57.0

  86.1

  1,796

  Note:

  * The percentage of cases completed at July refers only to cases received up to and including 31 March 2004.

  ** The cases eligible for payment at July refers to all cases investigated up to and including 31 July 2004.
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  expects to pay a total of £180 million when all the cases received by the end of March 2004 have been completed.

  Approximately 1,600 cases remain outstanding, which is unacceptable. However, I am assured that all cases relating to living people have been prioritised, and that new applications for NHS continuing care are being dealt with in a timely fashion. My department will be liaising with all SHAs to ensure appropriate procedures are now in place and that outstanding cases are resolved as quickly as possible.

  The proportion of completed cases by SHA is shown in the table.

  Figures for progress with restitution cases in continuing care