To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment she has made of the adequacy of pension provision for women. [97718]

The Green Paper takes a comprehensive look at the issue of women, work and pensions.It recognises that it is often harder for women to build up state and private pensions rights than it is for men. This is because of a combination of factors including shorter working lives, lower pay and lower occupational pensions coverage among part-time workers. The Green Paper also recognises that the current generation of female pensioners are over represented in those groups of pensioners with low incomes.We have already taken action to address these issues.The introduction of the State Second Pension, from April 2002 provides extra help to those on low or moderate earnings, to certain carers and to certain people with long-term illness and disability.The Government have enabled some low paid workers to get national insurance benefits without paying contributions. From April 2000, the start point of national insurance contributions was separated from the lower earnings limit (LEL) for employees and aligned with the personal allowance for income tax. From April 2002–03, national insurance contributions

Age	Gross income(£ per week)	Deduction per £1	Net increase in income per £1	Description
60-64	88.75–103.60	1.00	0.00	Pension credit [guarantee only] + 10 per cent. tax
65-74	127.10–140.40	0.46	0.54	Pension credit [savings credit] + 10 per cent. tax
75+	129.25–140.20	0.46	0.54	Pension credit [savings credit] + 10 per cent. tax

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners collect benefits from only become payable on earnings from £89 a week whereas entitlement to national insurance benefits start accruing at £75 a week. This has benefited around half a million women.The Government have also already taken action to support the labour market position of women through, for example, the introduction of the national minimum wage and additional investment in child care.And many current female pensioners should benefit from the introduction of the pension credit in October 2003. Just over half of those entitled to the pension credit are single women. Two-thirds of those entitled to the pension credit will be women, and half of these women will be aged 75 or over.Finally, we are engaging in a wide-ranging consultation on proposals made within the Green Paper. In this document, we state our commitment to providing pensions information for everyone, but we recognise that this is particularly important for women.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the combined deduction of taxation and pensions credit for an extra £1 of income to a pensioner paying tax and receiving pensions credit. [90660]

The combined deduction of taxation and pension credit for an extra £1 of income will depend on the individual characteristics of the person, such as age, family status, eligibility for additional amounts and income level.The table shows an example of the deductions for a single person receiving pension credit and paying income tax, according to their gross income and age, assuming no additional amounts in payment.Deduction of tax and pension credit for a single person paying tax and receiving Pension Credit [with no additional amounts].Post offices in

The number of pensioners as at 28 December 2002 in the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden and the East Riding of Yorkshire receiving their benefits by a method of payment collectable at a post office is shown in the table. Included in these figures are customers paid by giro cheque. Giro cheques are encashable either at a post office, or they can be paid into a bank or building society account.

	Number of pensioners
Haltemprice and Howden	9,107
East Riding of Yorkshire	37,916

Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at post offices through network banking arrangements at the Post Office. There is no data available on the number of benefit claims collected in this way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners have migrated from over-the-counter benefit payments to direct bank transfer in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire. [96708]

The number of pensioners receiving DWP benefits (including War Pensions) who have migrated from payments collectable at the post office to payments direct into a bank or building society account is 43 in Haltemprice and Howden, and 159 in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The figures are as at 28 December 2002 compared with the same records from four weeks earlier.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of the minimum income guarantee and pension credit for each year from 1997–98 to 2004–05 (planned). [97365]

The information is shown in the table below:

	Cash terms£million	Real Terms (02/03 prices) £million
1997/98 out turn	3,773	4,249
1998/99 out turn	3,619	3,967
1999/00 out turn	3,781	4,046
2000/01 out turn	4,095	4,288
2001/02 estimated out turn1	4,486	4,598
2002/03 plans	4,470	4,470
2003/04 plans2	5,287	5,171
2004/05 plans	6,231	5,945
Notes:
All estimates are consistent with the PBR2002 forecasts
1Expenditure for 2001/02 reflects the latest estimate of out turn for the year and not the amounts voted by Parliament.
2Pension Credit is introduced in October 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners collected benefits from post offices in the parliamentary constituency of Bury St. Edmunds. [97390]

The percentage of pensioners receiving DWP benefits (including war pensions) collectable at post offices in the Bury St. Edmunds constituency was 48 per cent. of all pensioners as at 28 December 2002. This figure includes benefits paid by giro cheque which can also be paid into a bank or building society account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many pensioners in the London Borough of Southwark claim (a) the minimum income guarantee and (b) attendance allowance; and if he will make a statement; [96844](2) what the average take-up rate is of

In August 2002, there were approximately 7,900 customers receiving the minimum income guarantee in the London Borough of Southwark and approximately 3,200 receiving attendance allowance.The information regarding the average take-up rate of minimum income guarantee for 1999–2000, the latest financial year for which estimates are available, can be found in the DWP publication, "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 1999–2000". A copy is placed in the Library.The next edition of the report containing estimates for 2000–01 will be released on 27 March 2003.Our fundamental priority is to put money in the pockets of pensioners who need it. The MIG take up campaign has put an average £20 a week extra in the pockets of 144,000 elderly people who would not have received it otherwise. These people would have lost out so the campaign undoubtedly achieved value for money.Because the MIG is more generous and the limits on capital have been increased, there has been a natural increase in the number of people who could claim. Our overall policy is, and will continue to be, that we will get as many eligible pensioners as possible to claim their entitlement to the MIG.Pension credit will be introduced in October 2003 and we have developed a strategy to ensure maximum take-up.First, we will transfer existing MIG recipients to pension credit ready for payments to be made from October 2003;Second, we will run mass advertising (TV and Press) from September 2003 to launch pension credit and advise pensioners and their friends and family of how The Pension Service and partner organisations can support them to consider and take-up entitlement;Third, we will write to all pensioners not already receiving MIG over the take-on period (through to October 2004) to help them consider any entitlement to pension credit and encourage those likely to be eligible to apply; and

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason benefits are uprated by (a) RPI and (b) the Rossi index. [97681]

[holding answer 13 February 2003]: The levels of all benefits and their components are reviewed annually. Contributory benefits and noncontributory benefits are uprated by the Retail Prices Index to meet the statutory requirement to increase them in relation to the general level of prices. Income-related benefits are uprated by the Rossi index which is based on the Retail Prices Index less housing costs. This index most clearly reflects the cost of living increases for recipients of income-related benefits since housing costs are separately provided for, for example by Housing Benefit for rent. Uprating benefits in line with prices maintains their value in real terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many CSA cases were referred to the Independent Case Examiner in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire in each year since 1997; what the average time taken to determine each case was; and how many complaints were upheld. [96706]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many CSA cases were referred to the Independent Case Examiner in Portsmouth, South in each year since 1997; what the average time taken to determine each case was; how many complaints were upheld; and if he will make a statement. [97279]

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the change in the level of expenditure on council tax benefit if the average level of council tax (a) rose by £100 and (b) fell by £100; and if he will make a statement. [97021]

An increase of £100 a year in the average level of council tax would result in an estimated annual increase of up to £600 million in council tax benefit expenditure. This figure includes the cost of increased payments to people already receiving council tax benefit as well as people who would become eligible for the benefit because of the council tax increase. An equivalent decrease would reduce expenditure by an estimated £500 million a year.Note:Figures are rounded to the nearest £l50 million.Source:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what equipment was stolen from his Department in 2002; what the approximate value of each item was; and if he will list items valued at more than £50 stolen or lost from his Department in 2002. [88509]

The DWP employs over 130,000 staff operating from 1,500 different locations and deals with over one million customers per day. Losses from theft are low.In total there have been 708 items of equipment recorded as stolen from the Department during 2002, with an approximate total value of £556,674.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what his estimate is of the real growth of planned total expenditure by his Department for each year from 2002–03 to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement; [97351](2) what estimate he has made of the change in real spending on total administration costs for gross controlled areas for each year from 1998–99 to 2003–04 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [97347]

The Department for Work and Pensions came into being on 1 April 2001. Consequently there are no comparable figures prior to this date. The final provision for 2002–03 has yet to receive parliamentary approval and therefore a comparison with actual expenditure for 2001–02 or planned expenditure for 2003–04 cannot be made. The current expenditure plans of the Department for Work and Pensions are contained in Tables 1–11 of the departmental report: The Government expenditure plans 2002–03 to 2003–04, Command 5424.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of his Department's total budget as a share of total public spending in each year from 1979–80 to 2003–04, planned. [96813]

The Department for Work and Pensions came into being on 1 April 2001. Consequently there are no comparable figures prior to this date. The final provision for 2002–03 has yet to receive Parliamentary approval and therefore a comparison with expenditure for 2001–02 or planned expenditure for 2003–04 cannot be made. The current expenditure plans for the Department are contained in Tables 1–11 of the Departmental Report: The Government expenditure plans 2002–03 to 2003–04, Cm 5424.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed in each of the last four years for which figures are available by (a) his Department and its predecessor and (b) local authorities in connection with the administration of (i) housing and (ii) council tax benefit. [94006]

The overall strategy of our wide-ranging package of reforms for housing benefit (HB) announced on 17 October 2002, is to improve administration, promote choice and responsibility, enhance work incentives and reduce levels of fraud and error in the system. We provide help, guidance and support to local authorities to assist them in achieving these goals.The number of people currently employed by the Department identified as working exclusively on various aspects of housing benefit and/or council tax benefit (CTB) is 340. These figures are liable to fluctuation throughout the year as particular aspects of work expand and contract. In addition there are a number of officials whose cross cutting responsibilities include these benefits to a greater or lesser extent. Figures for earlier years are not available.Local authorities have responsibility for the day to day administration of HB and CTB. The number of full-time staff or full-time equivalents employed by local authorities in Great Britain to administer HB and CTB in the last four years for which figures are available is in the table.

	Annual average number of full-time staff or full-time equivalents employed on HB/CTB administration
1998–99	16,000
1999–2000	16,000
2000–01	17,000
2001–02	17,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what studies he has made of the evolution of pension policies in other European Union countries; and what steps he has taken to reflect the findings of these studies in his policy on pensions provision. [98329]

The United Kingdom has contributed to the voluntary exchange of information and good practice by EU Member States within a framework of common objectives on pensions covering adequacy, financial sustainability and modernisation agreed during the Swedish Presidency of the EU.As part of this process the European Commission published a draft joint report on adequate and sustainable pensions in December 2002 based on national contributions. The draft report recognises that Member States have pension systems that have developed in very different ways and do not conform to one single model of provision. A major theme in the draft report is the need for urgent reform in many public pension systems to ensure they are financially sustainable in the future. This concurs with the UK's position that financial sustainability is a prerequisite for the adequacy of public pension provision. The UK public pension system is one of those found to be financially sustainable in the long term.The draft report concludes that the major challenge for the UK system is ensuring that there is increased access to occupational and personal pension provision and people are encouraged to save enough to meet their expectations in retirement. These same issues are addressed by the proposals set out in the Green Paper published in December 2002 on which we are currently consulting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners there are in Nottingham, North; how many qualify for a free TV licence; and how many get the minimum income guarantee. [98323]

The information is not available in the format requested. However such information as is available shows that in the parliamentary constituency of Nottingham, North:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action the Department is taking to co-ordinate housing benefit anti-fraud work with the Inland Revenue's work on tax credit fraud; whether a working group has been established to consider this; and how many joint local authority and Inland Revenue fraud prosecutions have occurred. [91969]

A working group, whose members include representatives from the Inland Revenue and local authority associations, has been meeting to consider all the implications for local authorities of the introduction of new tax credits.Information is not available on the number of joint local authority and Inland Revenue fraud prosecutions that have occurred.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to publish Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-Up 2000–01; and for what reason it has been delayed. [92154]

Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up 2000–01 will be published on 27 March 2003. This has been pre-announced in Updates—the ONS diary of statistical releases. The forthcoming statistics will incorporate findings from research commissioned to improve the precision and accuracy of MIG take-up estimates; this addition has extended the production process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost per claimant of administering the minimum income guarantee. [96505]

Information is not currently available in the format requested. The Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure by Strategic Objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements (PSA), and by individual Requests for Resources (RfRs), as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether all pensioners newly entitled to the pension credit will be able to claim the money in October. [99068]

Yes

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners draw their retirement pensions at (a) post offices, (b) banks and (c) building societies in the Portsmouth, South constituency; and if he will make a statement. [98099]

The number of pensioners in receipt of Retirement Pensions collectable at Post Office in the Portsmouth, South constituency was 7,886 at 28 December 2002. This figure includes payments by giro cheque, which can also be paid into a bank or building society account. The number of pensioners in receipt of Retirement Pension paid directly into a bank or building society was 6,373 as at 28 December 2002. Information to differentiate between payments into bank and building society accounts is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners draw their retirement pensions at (a) post offices, (b) banks and (c) at building societies in the Easington constituency. [97158]

The number of pensioners in receipt of retirement pension collectable at post offices in the Easington constituency was 9,939 at 28 December 2002. This figure includes payments by giro cheque, which can also be paid into a bank or building society account. The number of pensioners in receipt of retirement pension paid directly into a bank or building society was 2,853 as at 28 December 2002. Information to differentiate between payments into bank and building society accounts is not available.Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at post offices through network banking arrangements at the Post Office. There are no data available on the number of benefit claims collected in this way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners have migrated from over-the-counter benefit payments to direct bank transfer in Portsmouth, South; and if he will make a statement. [97274]

The number of pensioners in Portsmouth, South constituency that have migrated from payments collectable at post offices to payment into a bank or building society account is 50 as at 28 December 2002, compared with the same records from data available four weeks earlier.

New registrations/change of scheme status
	Open		Closed		Frozen
	Number of schemes	Number of members at registration date(thousand)	Number of schemes	Number of members at effective date of status change(thousand)	Number of schemes	Number of members at effective date of status change(thousand)
1 April 1998–31 March 1999	111	25	103	180	41	11
1 April 1999–31 March 2000	86	16	115	54	52	8
1 April 2000–31 March 2001	97	59	161	94	87	113
1 April 2001–31 March 2002	78	32	263	560	65	45
1 April 2002–31 March 2003	22	19	198	146	65	41

There are some important points to note with regard to the data in the table:'Open' schemes are those that had a registerable date on to the Pensions Scheme Registry during the year in question, and were also recorded as being open on 10 February 2003. This does not represent the total number of schemes that were open in the year in question. Figures in the table refer to the 'flow' of new open schemes in each particular year, rather than the `stock' of all open schemes. Because of the way scheme-status changes are recorded on the Registry, it is not possible to identify the stock of all those schemes that were open at a particular point in time prior to the

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners collect benefits from post offices in Portsmouth, South; and if he will make a statement. [97277]

The number of pensioners receiving DWP benefits (including war pensions) collectable from post offices in Portsmouth South is 10,034 as at 28 December 2002. This figure includes benefits paid by giro cheque, which can also be paid into a bank or building society account.Some customers who are paid direct into an account can also collect their benefit in cash at post offices through network banking arrangements at the Post Office. There are no data available on the number of benefit claims collected in this way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many defined benefit schemes are (a) open, (b) closed to new members and (c) closed to further contributions from existing members, giving for each type of scheme the estimated number of members, in each of the past five years. [90827]

The information requested is not available. However, the Pensions Scheme Registry that is administered by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority contains some relevant data that are shown in the table.Defined Benefit Occupational Pension schemes, 1998–99 to 2002–03current date. Furthermore, scheme trustees have 12 months to notify OPRA of any change to the status of an open scheme, and so some schemes currently included in the table as open may since have changed status.'Closed' schemes are those that have become closed to new members during the year in question and remain closed as at 10 February 2003. Existing members in these schemes can continue to accrue additional pension rights. 'Frozen' schemes are those that have become closed to new accruals during the year in question and remain frozen as at 10 February 2003. The dates used for closed and frozen scheme figures relate to the effective date of change as notified by schemes and recorded by the Registry. In some cases, schemes do not supply an effective date and where this has occurred the date of inputting the change onto the Registry database has been used.Data for closed and frozen schemes refer only to the number becoming closed or frozen in the year in question, and do not represent the stock of the total number of schemes that were closed (previously closed plus newly closed in that year).The table updates previous information used to answer earlier PQs. As referred to above, the Registry system holds information on the most recent change in scheme status and the effective date of the change. Because of the way the data are held a later change will overwrite an earlier change, so data for earlier years become increasingly inaccurate. Trustees are required to report changes within 12 months so there could be a lag between the closure or freeze of a scheme and trustees informing the Registry that the scheme has actually closed or frozen. The table reflects the most up to date data available.Scheme members are those individuals that have accrued pension benefits and do not include those receiving pensions in payment. An individual may have pension benefits accrued in, and therefore may be a member of, more than one scheme.Membership figures for open schemes are given at the date of registration. Membership figures for closed or frozen schemes are given at the effective date of change of status.

Cost of increasing the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension by £5,£lO,£15 and £20 per week in 2003–04
£
	£5 per week	£10 per week	£15 per week	£20 per week
All pensioners	1.5 billion	3 billion	4.6 billion	6.2 billion
Pensioners aged 75 and over	800 million	1.5 billion	2.3 billion	3 billion
Pensioners aged 80 and over	400 million	800 million	1.2 billion	1.6 billion

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what specialist training is given to those working in Pension Service call centres. [98107]

Training for staff in the new Pension Service Pension Centres is designed to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills needed to provide a high-quality service to Pension Service customers. The training covers various themes, depending on each individual member of staff's role, including: customer service, IT/telephony, business procedures and management.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of increasing the basic state pension by (a) £5 per week, (b) £10 per week, (c) £15 per week, (d) £20 per week, and (e) to £100 per week, for (i) all pensioners, (ii) pensioners of age 75 and over, and (iii) pensioners of age 80 and over. [97366]

The information requested is set out in the tables.4. For modelling purposes, pension credit is assumed to be in place throughout 2003–04. In fact, Pension credit will begin in October 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the basis for the calculation of page 5 of the Green Paper "Simplicity, Security and Choice", that the simplification proposals in the Green Paper could save employers £150-£200 million per year. [90825]

The basis for the calculation can be found on page 129 of the green paper "Simplicity Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement."

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the basis of the calculation given in the Green Paper on pensions "Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement", that there has been a 40 per cent. increase in pension contributions since 1997. [90826]

The increase in pension contributions since 1997 was calculated using the estimated value of contributions to private pension schemes from the Office for National Statistics, and deflating by the Retail Prices Index (RPI).The data used for the calculation are set out in the table.

	Estimated contributions to private pension schemes1	RPIX index(13 January 1987 equals 100.0)	Estimated contributions to private pension schemes2
1997	33.1	157.5	36.4
1998	37.3	162.9	39.7
1999	42.3	165.4	44.3
2000	47.5	170.3	48.3
2001	49.93	173.3	49.93
1 £ billion, current prices.
2 £ billion, 2001 prices.
3 Provisional.

Contributions to private pension schemes have been calculated using the methodology outlined in the letter from the National Statistician to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr.Jack) on 29 October 2002, PQ 77826,

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the guidance which he gives on funding for personal pension plans. [98061]

As the Green Paper 'Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement' (CM 5677) states that the decisions over how much pension an individual should have depends on their individual preferences and circumstances. Therefore, it is not appropriate for the Government to seek to stipulate the level of income that any particular person will need in retirement, and consequently the additional saving any one individual should make.We are committed, however, to actively encouraging people to consider their pension saving options early so that they have as clear a view as possible of their own pension funding needs. The Green Paper, sets out the Government's proposals to work with employers and the financial services industry to provide:A simple framework to help people understand their choices; Financial education and awareness to navigate the system, including access to generic financial advice for the mass market; Personalised information tailored to individual circumstances, so people can make informed choices; and a choice of suitable products.We are already running a pension education publicity campaign to make people aware of the importance of saving for retirement. The campaign is supported by a range of guides that provides information on pensions options. The current phase of activity started on 8 February 2003. In time, we plan to move the campaign forward from awareness so that it is more focused on taking action.In addition, we have already introduced measures to inform individuals of the level of pension they can expect when they save in a personal pension. New regulations that come into force in April require money purchase pension schemes(occupational, personal and stakeholder) to give members an annual illustration of what their pension might be when they require. This will give them important information about how their pension plan is progressing.The Green Paper, therefore, sets out proposals for building on work that has already been done, as well as identifying new initiatives, in order to provide a coherent education and information effort. This will enable individuals to make choices as to the level of funding for their personal pensions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of benefit fraud in the East Riding of Yorkshire. [96711]

Our most recent estimate is that £2 billion is lost annually through benefit fraud in Great Britain. This estimate cannot be broken down for individual areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the issue of personal invitation documents to benefits customers in respect of Post Office card accounts; why the issue of personal invitation documents was delayed from 5 January 2003 until 24 March; and what estimate he has made of the likely impact of the delay on the number of benefits claimants signing up to card accounts in time for the launch on 1 April. [97373]

[holding answer 11 February 2003]: The Government has made clear that we will only accept the Post Office card account service once further testing and proving has shown that the Post Office can provide a reliable and robust system delivering high levels of customer service. We have been continually reviewing and refining our plans to issue Personal Invitation Documents, and will gradually start to issue them once we are sure the Post Office can deliver the required level of service.None of this affects people's choices. Customers will choose the account that best meets their needs and circumstances. The arrangements for issuing Personal Invitation Documents will not affect this choice—customers opting for a card account will simply be kept on their current method of payment (order book or giro) until they have been issued a Personal Invitation Document and then successfully opened a card account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of how housebound pensioners and others will be able to use a Post Office card account without giving their PIN to a carer. [97669]

Customers with a Post Office card account can, if they wish, nominate someone else to have permanent access to their account and collect their money for them. In these cases a second card with a separate PIN will be issued for use by the person nominated by the customer. The Post Office card account is not the only option available. Some housebound pensioners may find that a bank account, which may offer services such as phone or Internet banking, may be better to meet their personal needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on allowing civil servants to retire at the age of 65. [90029]

The Government has already begun to address the social and economic consequences of demographic change in its role as employer. One of the recommendations of Winning the Generation Game was that public sector employers should review their retirement ages and examine the case for allowing those who want to work on to age 65 to do so. Already 75 per cent. of civil servants now have the option to retire at 65 and the numbers able to serve beyond 60 are expected to increase.All staff in the Department for Work and Pensions, below the Senior Civil Service, are able to choose to remain in employment beyond the age of 60 for any period of time up to the age of 65.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what IT qualifications each of the senior civil servants within his Department possesses. [98109]

Information on IT qualifications held by each senior civil servant is not held centrally. Senior civil servants are encouraged to gain IT skills through a range of internal and external training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanism exists to co-ordinate benefit awarded by his Department and those paid by the War Pensions Agency. [96952]

It has been a long-standing principle of the benefits system that it should not provide more than one benefit to cover the same contingency. While income from a War Pension is often disregarded for benefit purposes, there are certain circumstances where the award or cessation of a War Pension or supplementary allowance will necessitate an adjustment to the amount of benefit in payment.We have measures in place to ensure that benefits paid by this Department are co-ordinated with those paid by the Veterans Agency (formerly the War Pensions Agency), and that any appropriate adjustments to benefit claims are made in the normal course of events.Prior to the award of a Social Security benefit, a person must make a declaration of their circumstances, including details of the benefits they receive or have claimed. Once benefit is in payment, the recipient is advised to report any changes in their circumstances, including for example, the award or cessation of another benefit. Claims are also reviewed periodically by the Department to ensure their accuracy.In addition, all claims to benefit are recorded on a computer system to which our agencies and the Veterans Agency have access, enabling the relevant agencies to share information where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2003, ref: 90125, what the reasons are for the assumption in the Green Paper on Pensions that spending on winter fuel payments will remain at their current level of £200 up until 2051–52; and, on the basis of the projections of spending given in the Green Paper, what the value of the winter fuel allowance will be in real terms in (a) 2011–12, (b) 2021–22 and (c) 2051–52. [93940]

The current amount of the Winter Fuel Payment of £200 will continue to be paid to each eligible household for the rest of this parliament. The rate will be kept under review. However, for the purposes of the projections in Annexe 3 of the Green Paper 'Simplicity, security and choice'(Cm 5677),it was necessary to make a modelling assumption about the value of winter fuel payments. Modelling assumptions should not be interpreted as statements of policy. It will be for future Governments to decide what the rate of Winter Fuel Payments should be for future years.The following table shows the projected future value of the winter fuel payment in 2002–03 prices on the assumption that it remains at its current cash value of £200 and that inflation remains constant at 2.5 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners received winter fuel payments in the financial year 2001–02 in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) Northern Ireland; and what the total payment was in each. [97265]

Most people aged 60 and over, who normally live in Great Britain are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment. There is no need to be in receipt of a State Pension. Information based on the number of people who received a payment is given in the table below.Benefits in Northern Ireland are normally the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency (NISSA). However, the following figures are available as this Department processes Winter Fuel Payment's on behalf of NISSA. In winter 2001/2, 269,289 payments were made, totalling £42,152,400

Total number of recipients of a Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 2001/2002
	Thousands Total number of recipients	Millions Total amount paid
Great Britain	11,201.9	1,680.6
England	9,585.8	1,435.9
Scotland	996.4	151.9
Wales	619.7	92.8

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the amount of unclaimed winter heating allowance for each year from 1999–2000 to 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [97357]

Most eligible people receive their winter fuel payment automatically, without the need to claim. Over 11 million payments have been made this winter.We are unable to provide any reliable estimate of the amount of unclaimed Winter Fuel Payments because some people aged 60 and over are excluded, others may choose not to claim and payments are based on household composition.Where a person needs to claim, it is up to them whether they do so, and we publicise the availability of these payments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the change in real spending on the winter heating allowance between 2000–01 and 2003–04 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [97358]

In 2002–3 price terms, expenditure of winter fuel payments was £1.83 billion in 2000/1 and it is estimated it will be £1.68 billion in 2003/4. These figures are based on the standard winter fuel payment being 200 for each year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of illegal narcotics on UK streets he estimates originated from Burma in 2002; [97224](2) what

Burma is known to be a source of two of the narcotics that would be considered illegal if trafficked into the UK—heroin and methamphetamine. However there was no evidence in 2002, either from Customs and Excise intelligence or from analysis of samples of seized drugs, that any of these narcotics on the UK streets could be traced back to Burma.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much aggregates tax revenue has been collected in Northern Ireland to date against that which would have been expected; and what is the estimated cost to date of implementing the tax in Northern Ireland; [97014](2) what research Customs and Excise have carried out into the amount of illegally imported aggregate from the Republic of Ireland; [97007](3) how he proposes to remove the incentive for people

The Government has designed the aggregates levy to protect the international competitiveness of aggregates businesses by applying the levy to the commercial exploitation of all virgin aggregate used in the UK and by exempting exports. The Government has also recognised the unique position of the Northern Ireland processed products sector, those producing concrete, mortar and asphalt, by introducing a transitional relief scheme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of burglary offences to the British insurance industry each year between 1995 and 2002. [98137]

I have been asked to reply.The Government do not make any estimates of the cost of burglary offences to the insurance industry. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) publish annual information in their "Insurance Statistics Yearbook" on total UK claims for property damage due to theft.The Home Office has published estimates of the economic and social costs of crime (Home Office Research Study 217). This study includes the cost of "insurance administration", that is the resources used in administering and processing premiums and claims, based on information in the ABI "Yearbook". The study estimates the total cost to society of insurance administration in England and Wales in 1999–2000 was £140 million for burglary in a dwelling and –50 million for burglary not in a dwelling.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to (a) improve, (b) extend and (c) update statistics for five year survival rates for common cancers; and what programme of development work in such health statistics is under way.[99099]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings (a) he and his Ministers, (b) Treasury special advisers and (c) Treasury officials have had with Capita employees and members of the Capita Board since May 2001; what the purpose of each meeting was; and if he will make a statement. [98570]

As with previous Administrations, and in line with Exemption 7 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", it is not this Government's normal practice to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code", the "Civil Service Code", and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists". Copies of these documents are available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total budgetary provision is for the introduction of the new Child Tax Credit in each of the first three years of its operation, broken down by (a) the budgetary provision for payment of the estimated sums due to recipients, (b) the promotional and advertising costs associated with the Child Tax Credit and (c) the publishing costs of documentation sent to potential applicants.[97915]

[holding answer 13 February 2003: The answer is as follows.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the tax regime pertaining to the Crown Estate. [97904]

There are no plans to change these arrangements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with developing countries on (a) the future of debt relief and (b) the proposed international finance facility. [98259]

The UK remains at the forefront of the international debate on debt relief and continues to promote the implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. The Chancellor discusses debt relief issues in a wide range of international meetings with representatives of developing countries. For example, on 24–26 September 2002 the UK hosted the Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting that included a Commonwealth HIPC ministerial forum. Debt relief and the HIPC initiative will also be discussed at the forthcoming spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank.On 27 November 2002 the Chancellor announced in his pre-budget report that he had written as Chairman of the International Monetary and Finance Committee to all fellow Finance Ministers, and to the World Bank and United Nations about the international finance facility.On 23 January 2003 the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for International Development published a document on the UK's proposal for the international finance facility. The Chancellor and Secretary of State have written to their counterparts in developing countries enclosing a copy of the proposal document.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it compulsory for departmental annual reports to include a full statement of accounts. [98123]

Under the Government Resource and Accounts Act 2000, the Treasury must lay departmental resource accounts before the House of Commons no later than 31 January of the financial year following that to which they relate. Departments are currently required to publish their accounts either on the day their accounts are laid or as shortly as possible thereafter. There are no plans to reproduce the accounts in the spring departmental reports.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which computer systems within his Department use XML. [98112]

The following live computer systems make use of XML:In HM Treasurya) The departmental finance and purchasing system (name of system is ABACUS)b) The main Treasury website.In the Office for National Statisticsc) The Business Surveys sub-system that handles faxed replies from contributors.d) The system which supplies information to the TSO for the government wide 'Information Asset Register'e) The English Housing Conditions Survey system.In the Inland RevenueFor external (customer) and Inter-governmental communications in these systemsf) New Tax Creditsg) Corporation Taxh) PAYEi) Self Assessmentj) Government Gateway Authentication and Communicationk) NIRSAnd for internal communication and storage in:1) Self Assessmentm) New Tax Creditsn) NIRSo) Software Frameworksp) Call Centre Programmeq) GovRulesr) IR IntranetIn the HMCEFor communication with the Government Gateway in the following systemss) Trader Registrationt) New Export System and in the following other systems:u) e-aggregatesv) Climate Change levyw) CHIEF printingx) New Computerised Transit System

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals have been made by the European Commission to harmonise the taxation of diesel fuel for transport by all modes; whether that includes marine use at sea, in estuaries, on rivers and canals, for both commercial and leisure use; what consultations have taken place with interested persons or bodies; what reports have been published by the Government; and whether a decision in the Council of Ministers is by two-thirds majority vote. [98476]

The only European Commission proposal for full harmonisation of duty rates for diesel fuel used in transport relates to diesel fuel used by lorries over 16 tonnes, buses and coaches. The proposal is that member states should bring their duty rates for such diesel closer together to reach a harmonised rate by 2010 of 350 per 1,000 litres, although that rate would be uprated in line with inflation. The Government have submitted an Explanatory Memorandum on this proposal (reference 11571/02 dated 26 September 2002), which set out our opposition to it. That opposition is shared by nearly all member states, so the directive cannot be adopted in its present form, as any decisions taken by the Council of Ministers on matters of taxation have to be unanimous.The only European Commission proposal relating to duty on diesel fuel for marine use is the proposed directive on taxation of energy products. This would generally continue the existing duty treatment of diesel fuel for marine use in the mineral oils structures directive. It provides for a compulsory exemption for diesel fuel used for navigation in Community waters (although it would allow member states to limit the exemption to international and intra-Community transport) and for an optional exemption for diesel fuel used for navigation in inland waterways. In both cases, private pleasure craft are excluded from these exemptions, but the United Kingdom's derogation from the existing directive, allowing the United Kingdom to exempt fuel for private pleasure craft until 31 December 2006, will be unaffected. The Government have submitted a supplementary Memorandum on the latest version of the proposal (reference 13422/02, FISC 266, dated 26 November 2002). This directive will support efforts to deal with the significant environmental problems arising from global warming, which requires cross-border action. This proposal also cannot be adopted in its present form without unanimous agreement by the Council of Ministers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many customs officials have been (a) investigated and (b) interviewed regarding their participation in duty diversion fraud for each year from 1994 to 2002. [97367]

The Internal Investigation Division [IID] is responsible within HM Customs and Excise for staff irregularity matters. The division was created in the autumn of 2000. From that date the IID has held all central records relating to investigations of staff irregularity matters. Prior to the establishment of the IID, no central records were held.As at 11 February 2003, its records show no customs officials as having been investigated and/or interviewed, by the police or internally, regarding their participation in duty diversion fraud.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce enhanced capital allowances to encourage the purchase of (a) the most efficient domestic central heating systems and (b) energy saving products by (i) registered social landlords and (ii) energy service companies. [98667]

Budget 2001 introduced 100 per cent first-year enhanced capital allowances (ECAs) for designated energy-saving plant and machinery. The ECA scheme enables businesses to write-off the whole cost of their investment in designated energy-saving equipment against the taxable profits of the period during which the investment is made.Registered Social Landlords are non profit-making organisations and as such will not be able to claim capital allowances.In the commercial sector, energy service companies can claim ECAs on their spending on qualifying equipment and special rules enable them to claim allowances where, as part of a comprehensive energy services agreement, they provide equipment that becomes a fixture on another person's land in which they have no interest.The Government's Affordable Warmth Programme supports the installation of modern energy efficient central heating systems in low-income homes, including registered social landlord homes. The equipment is leased to the landlord and where the equipment is designated energy-saving equipment, special rules enable the lessor to claim the enhanced capital allowances. The benefit can be passed on in the form of lower rentals.The Government consulted on economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency during 2002 and a summary of responses has been published on the HMT website. PBR 2002 stated that the Government would consult further on specific measures to promote greater energy efficiency by households, once the responses to the initial consultation have been fully considered.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the price in real terms paid by the domestic consumer has changed since 1997 for the purchase of (a) domestic electricity and gas, (b) insulation materials, (c) high efficiency boilers, (d) draught-proofing, (e) double glazing and (f) low energy light-bulbs. [98666]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2003, Official Report, column 991W, on the euro, whether the issue of single European currency has been discussed during meetings between Government officials and representatives of Gibraltar; which Government officials are responsible for liaison with officials from Guernsey; what issues have been discussed by Government officials with representatives of Jersey; and when the most recent discussion between Government officials and representatives of the Isle of Man was. [98482]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on 30 January 2003, Official Report, column 991W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations his Department is undertaking into the five tests for the euro. [98898]

The 6 September 2002 Paper for the Treasury Committee set out that a number of supporting studies will be published alongside the assessment of the five tests. On 12 February 2003, Official Report, column 884, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear that an additional four studies will be published.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the meetings he has had with the Prime Minister (a) in the last month and (b) regarding the UK's entry into the Euro currency zone in the last month. [99024]

The Chancellor meets regularly with the Prime Minister to discuss a wide range of issues.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to promote Fair Trade Fortnight. [98900]

My right hon. Friend strongly supports the work of the Fair Trade Foundation in helping the poorest people in developing countries to benefit more from trade. The range of fair trade beverages already on offer in the Treasury's Restaurant and Coffee Shop will be extended during Fair Trade Fortnight, and fair trade confectionery products will also be available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether minutes of meetings between his Department's officials and representatives from Gibraltar are published. [99109]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 114–15W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 607W, on gross domestic product, if he will publish the research used to make the assumption that trend output growth is ¼ percentage point lower than the Government's neutral view. [99125]

The Treasury's analysis of the rate of trend growth in output is set out in "Trend Growth: Recent Developments and Prospects" (HM Treasury, April 2002), which is available online at www.hmtreasury.gov.uk.For the purposes of the public finances projections the Government adopt a deliberately cautious assumption for trend growth that is ¼ percentage point below its neutral view. In the interests of stability and robust, medium-term fiscal planning, this strikes the right balance between being a reasonable and a cautious assumption.As set out in paragraph B20 of the 2002 pre-Budget report, over the period to 2006–07 this gives rise to an assumed rate of 2½ per cent: the Comptroller and Auditor General has audited this assumption and concluded that it is "reasonable and cautious".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Ministers in his Department have met nonprofit distributing health cash plan providers to discuss the recent decision of the Inland Revenue to change the tax treatment of health cash plan providers; what changes in the constitutional governance and trading practices of such providers gave rise to the change in their assessed status; and when those changes arose. [96778]

Ministers have had no meetings to discuss the tax treatment of health cash plan providers.The Inland Revenue's inquiries into the tax returns of non-profit distributing health cash plan providers concluded that they were not meeting all the conditions for mutual trading and their mutual status for tax purposes was not justified. However, the Inland Revenue did not consider any changes of the sort described.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of how many individuals make contributions to health cash plans operated by non-profit-distributing organisations; and what assessment he has made of the impact on the charitable giving policies of such funds of recent changes in their tax treatment. [97606]

Inquiries by the Inland Revenue discovered that health cash plan providers were not meeting all the conditions for mutual trading and their mutual status for tax purposes was not justified.No estimate has been made of the number of contributors.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the impact on NHS projects that have previously received donations from not-for-profit providers of health cash plans of the changes resulting from the proposed introduction of corporation tax on operating surpluses; [98605](2) if he will make a statement on what assessment he has made of the impact on those individuals who are contributing towards health cash plans of the proposals of the Treasury to impose corporation tax on operating surpluses. [98606]

Health cash plan providers were exempt from corporation tax as they were regarded formally as trading mutually.Following a review in 2000, the Inland Revenue concluded that these organisations did not meet all the conditions for mutual trading and their exemption was therefore withdrawn for the future. However, individual providers had the option of changing their rules so that they could continue to benefit from the tax exemption. Where organisations have taken this option, the Revenue has accepted them as being mutual throughout.No assessment has been made of the impact of these changes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on why the Treasury launched a review of the tax treatment of health cash plans; and how he estimates this will impact on (a) policy holders and (b) recipients of charitable donations from those plans. [98607]

The Inland Revenue has a right to inquire into any Self Assessment return, including those of health cash plan providers.An inquiry into one of these organisations discovered that the conditions of mutual trading were not being met and therefore their mutual status was not legally valid and had to be withdrawn for tax purposes.Further inquiries were subsequently carried out into the tax returns of other such organisations by the Inland Revenue. The Treasury conducted no review.The Inland Revenue has to apply the law as it stands to ensure that organisations do not have favoured treatment to which they are strictly not entitled.No assessment has been made of the impact of these changes, which depend largely on decisions taken by individual health cash plan providers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether representatives from the Treasury met representatives of the health cash plan industry to discuss the impact of proposed changes in health cash plans which will involve the introduction of corporation tax on their operating surpluses. [98603]

Neither Ministers nor officials from the Treasury have held such a meeting. However, Inland Revenue officials have met with the British Health Care Association.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the NHS projects that have received donations from not-for-profit providers of health cash plans in the latest year for which figures are available. [98604]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many low earning income tax payers in Nottingham have benefited from the 10 per cent. starting rate of income tax. [98253]

In Nottingham, it is estimated that 15,000 taxpayers now pay tax at the starting rate of 10 pence. However all income tax payers with taxable earnings will have benefited from the 10 per cent. band.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what research he has commissioned into professional indemnity insurance requirements of independent financial advisers beyond 2003; and if he will make a statement; [99027](2) pursuant to his answer of 10 February,

The Financial Services Authority tell me that they are continuing to monitor the market for professional indemnity insurance for independent financial advisers.The results of the FSA work to date are set out in their Consultation Paper 169, "Professional Indemnity Insurance for personal investment firms—consultation on rule changes; and discussion of other policy options", which they issued on 3 February 2003.Practitioners, and others with views, should respond to the FSA consultation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with the Ministry of Defence on (a) the duration of a possible war in the Middle East and (b) its effects on (i) the performance of the UK economy and (ii) the public sector finances. [94401]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial provision he has made for the costs of UK participation in military action against Iraq. [98955]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) and my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 20 February.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and by how much Government Departments have overspent on their IT contracts since 1997. [98124]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list IT contracts in his Department above £50 million in each of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been. [99005]

Of the Chancellor's Departments, only the following have let IT contracts above £50 million in the last 10 years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, columns 611–13W, on Lisbon and Stockholm objectives, whether officials in his Department expressed an opinion on proposals for reforms of listing rules in such discussions; and if he will make a statement. [99130]

The Financial Services Authority (FSA), in its role as United Kingdom Listings Authority, has sole responsibility for setting the listing rules under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The FSA are currently conducting a review of the listings rules. To help with this process, it has established a consultative committee, made up of representatives of companies and City bodies and institutions. The Treasury is represented on this committee with observer status.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, columns 609–11W, on Lisbon and Stockholm objectives, whether he will include in the next progress report on developments in European economic reform a section listing the progress made in meeting the Lisbon and Stockholm objectives. [99131]

The progress report on European economic reform, 'Meeting the Challenge; Economic Reform in Europe', was published on 17 February 2003, and describes progress made in meeting the Lisbon and Stockholm objectives.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 February, Official Report, columns 609–11W, on Lisbon and Stockholm Objectives, when he will publish a progress report on developments in European economic reform. [99132]

The progress report on European economic reform, 'Meeting the Challenge; Economic Reform in Europe', was published on 17 February 2003. Copies are available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether minutes of meetings between his Department's officials and representatives from the Isle of Man are published; [98219](2) whether meetings between officials for his Department and representatives of Jersey are held on Jersey; [98217](3) how often Treasury officials meet representatives from Gibraltar; and whether meetings are held purely when deemed necessary; [98215](4) what his Department's policy is regarding consultation with representatives of Guernsey on economic decisions that could potentially affect Guernsey. [98216]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 114–15W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Nottingham, North are on the minimum wage. [98322]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many mobile phones have been used and at what cost by(a) himself and Ministers in his Department, (b) Special Advisers in his Department and (c) his departmental officials in each year since 1997;[98577](2) how many mobile phones used by

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will impose a special tax on special purpose vehicles sold by tax advisers for tax avoidance purposes. [98427]

The Government have demonstrated their strong commitment to combating tax avoidance by countering it with legislation on over 40 separate occasions since 1997. They continue to keep the tax system under review and have already announced their intention to legislate to counter a number of tax avoidance schemes in the forthcoming Finance Bill.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update Table 1.3, page 16, of the 2002 Spending

Comprehensive information about mobile phone costs is not available in the form requested.Information on thefts of mobile phones is not disaggregated, although the global costs to the Treasury of theft and fraud for the last five years were given in my answers of 21 January 2002,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 651W, whether discussions with the Law Society about the new money laundering regulation, and the EU second money laundering directive, have taken full account of the matters raised in the solicitors tribunal hearing in the matter of Sir Gerrard Anthony Neale on October 2002. [98410]

The Treasury have been in consultation with the Law Society about the form of the proposed money laundering regulations 2003, which will implement the second EU directive on money laundering. The Treasury understand that the Society has already issued interim guidance to solicitors and is in the process of preparing detailed guidance on the application of the new regime to solicitors.This case did not feature in the Law Society submissions or discussions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals are loaned to HM Treasury from private accounting firms; how long the secondment is of each one; and what their responsibilities are. [99026]

There are currently three people seconded into HM Treasury from private accounting firms.Review (Cm. 5570) to show changes to budgets and expenditure allocations made since the publication of this document; and if he will make a statement. [98431]

Table B15 in the pre-budget report shows equivalent information. An updated table B15 will be published in this year's financial statement and budget report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce the results of the next spending review; which years that will cover; and if he will make a statement. [98432]

Spending plans for the financial years 2003–4 to 2005–6 were set out in the July 2002 Spending Review White Paper. Spending reviews are normally held every two years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many university students his Department and associated agencies have supported or sponsored with a work placement in the last year; what his policy is on work placements; what plans he has to develop such schemes; and what his policy is on paying their university fees. [98537]

A total of 104 university students undertook a work or training placement in one of the Chancellor's Departments and agencies in the last year¹.Under the Civil Service Commissioners Code, policies and plans on recruitment and work placements are delegated to individual departments and agencies. For example, these range from a plan by HM Treasury to continue to provide 'sandwich' work placements for students studying for economics or IT degrees, and to offer two summer development training placements in 2003; to plans by the Inland Revenue to offer up to 40 summer development training placements, four Windsor Fellowship placements, two placements for disabled students, and 10 internship placements this summer.The Chancellor's departments and agencies do not contribute towards university fees, but provide paid work placements instead.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 607W, what plans he has to make forecasts of total tax revenues associated with GDP growth rates which fall outside his Department's GDP growth forecasts made in the pre-Budget report. [99126]

In accordance with the requirements of the Code for Fiscal Stability, an interim forecast update, including projections for current revenues, was presented in the 2002 pre-Budget report. Projections will also be published in the forthcoming Budget.There are no plans to make forecasts for total tax revenues associated with GDP growth rates that fall outside the forecast range. However, as set out in paragraph B17 of the 2002 pre-Budget report, if GDP growth were one percentage point higher than assumed over the coming year, public sector net borrowing might be approximately 0.5 percentage points lower in the current year and a further 0.2 percentage points lower in the following year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the potential loss in tax revenue resulting from lower telephone call prices following the Competition Commission Report on mobile termination charges. [94393]

It is not possible to estimate the impact for the Exchequer as this will depend on the commercial decisions of the companies affected.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change there has been in the unemployed totals in Nottingham, North since June 1997. [98320]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Dewsbury area (a) are eligible for the working family tax credit and (b) have benefited from the working family tax credit in the last year for which figures are available. [98319]

Information about the numbers eligible for working families tax credit (WFTC) is not available by constituency or by local authority.The number of recipients of WFTC and disabled person's tax credit in each local authority and in each constituency are shown in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses" for each quarter. Copies are on the Inland Revenue website, www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) families and (b) individuals in Nottingham benefit from the working families tax credit. [98255]

The number of families with children in each local authority receiving Working Families Tax Credit or Disabled Person's Tax Credit in each quarter is shown in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics: Geographical analyses", which is available on the web site www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk. This also shows how many of these families are headed by lone parents, the rest being headed by couples, and the number of dependent children in the families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what priority is being given to upgrading the A2 between Carrickfergus and Jordanstown, Co Antrim; and if he will make a statement. [98817]

I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter is attached and will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 681W, on airport police, if he has taken into account his powers under Article 19 of the Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 in relation to the Government's consideration of the contents and recommendations of Sir John Wheeler's report into policing at UK airports. [98622]

Sir John's report acknowledges the powers that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has in terms of authorising an airport operator to appoint constables at an airport, and cites Belfast International Airport as an example of this. We await the initiatives that emerge from the outworking of Sir John's findings and recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland plans to fund concerning the causes and appropriate policy response to the employment and unemployment differential between Catholics and Protestants.[98212]

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland plans to fund research in 2003–04 into economic activity given the evidence in the Labour Force Survey of differential rates of activity of Protestants and Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland.The commission plans to utilise the results of the 2001 Population Census to review the comparative labour market position of Protestants and Roman Catholics in terms of:employment/unemployment/economic inactivityoccupation andindustrial sector.This research will be carried out following release of cross tabulations of Census data by the Department of Finance and Personnel. Release of the census data is expected by March 2003 (approximately) and the review will be completed by March 2004.The Equality Commission has also been encouraging employers to make use of the facility provided by the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 to recruit from those not in employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is funding concerning the effectiveness of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998; and what proportion this represents of the total research budget of the commission for 2002–03. [98209]

The commission is currently undertaking research which will consider:patterns and trends in employment;effectiveness of the affirmative action provisions in the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998; andthe contextual framework e.g. feminisation of workforce, increased flexible working arrangements and changing educational outcomes.These research findings will be published in June 2004.The costs of this project, including publication of the results, will be spread across 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05. A significant element of the research has or will be undertaken without charge to Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Therefore, reflecting the proportion of the commission's research budget invested in the project is not appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many investigations the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is undertaking that concern compliance with the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998; and what proportion this represents of the total investigations budget of the Commission for 2002–3. [98210]