To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's official estimates are for the total of UK carbon dioxide emissions in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002; what proportion of each total is attributable to emissions from the domestic sector, as defined in the UNECE definitions of end user groups; and whether the Government has made an estimate of what those levels will be in 2003. [100878]

[holding answer 6 March 2003]: The most recent UK carbon dioxide emissions data, published in March 2002 show that total UK carbon dioxide emissions were 152.1 million tonnes of carbon per year (MtC/yr) in 2000. Provisional data suggest that while emissions were around 3.4 MtC higher in 2001 than in 2000, they declined between 2001 and 2002. Final data for 2001 will be available later this month.Data based on the UNECE classification are available for 2000. This classification includes coal, oil and gas delivered for combustion in dwellings. The use of these fuels produced emissions of around 23 MtC/yr in 2000. In addition, approximately 18 MtC/yr were emitted from power stations, refineries and other energy industries serving the domestic sector. End user data for 2001 based on the UNECE classification will be available in April 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many properties have been compulsorily purchased by the British Waterways Board in each year since 1999. [101817]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy for it to be possible for correspondence between hon. Members and Ministers to be carried out electronically. [95021]

A great deal of progress has been made recently on tackling the significant difficulties experienced by DEFRA on dealing effectively with Member's correspondence since it's formation in June 2001 and the situation continues to improve. I have asked officials in DEFRA to look at how we might introduce an electronic correspondence system with Members. However, as our highest priority on correspondence at the moment is to ensure that we continue to improve Departmental performance under the existing system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets were set by her Department for the number of inspections carried out by the Environment Agency in each year since 1997; what percentage were met; and if she will make a statement. [93708]

Operational decisions are delegated to the Environment Agency. Although the Agency publishes a number of output and performance statistics, the departmental requirement upon the Agency is that they should assign resources to inspections that address environmental risk.The Agency makes information about its regulatory inspection activity available in its published Corporate Plans. These record the Agency's performance against its internally-generated targets. The Agency has recorded the following statistics for its planned inspections for each year ending 31 March as follows:

Year	Waste target	Percentage achieved	Percentage industries target	Percentage achieved
1998	171,940	82	3,998	80
1999	180,000	83	4,342	76
2000	150,000	84	4,835	79
2001	125,000	96	4,227	70
2002	125,000	81	4,276	84

The Agency only sets targets for inspecting waste and process industries. Other inspections are not "planned" and therefore do not have targets set for them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts which her Department and its agencies signed with companies to incinerate animal carcases under the over thirty months scheme have been cancelled since 1996; and if she will list the reasons for those cancellations. [101265]

24 contracts for the incineration of over thirty month scheme animal carcases have been cancelled since 1996. The reasons for cancellation, are as follows:

One contract was terminated for failure to comply with a contractual requirement to commence full operations, Eighteen contracts were terminated at the end of their term, with new contracts being introduced following a competitive tendering exercise; Five contracts terminated following the cessation of the foot and mouth emergency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she will support the 18 applications for marketing consents for GM crops and foods under consideration by the European Commission. [100867]

The United Kingdom has not yet reached an opinion on any of the 19 applications to place GMOs on the market under EU directive 2001/18. Each application is considered initially by the member state where the GMO is to be placed on the market for the first time. Once the lead member state is satisfied that the application complies with the directive it is passed to the other member states with an assessment report. The UK will consider each application on its own merits on a case-by-case basis using the criteria laid down in the EU legislation. The Government's view will be informed by the advice of its relevant independent expert groups, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, together with advice from the statutory nature conservation bodies, the Food Standards Agency and the Health and Safety Executive. If the UK has comments or reasoned objections to the placing on the market of the GMO in question these will be forwarded to the European Commission. A collective decision will then be taken by member states as to whether or not the GMO in question should be placed on the market in accordance with the provisions of the Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the public debate on genetically modified organisms will be concluded. [100868]

The Public Debate Steering Board is due to submit its report on the debate to Government by the end of September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she estimates the cut in greenhouse gas emissions in the UK between 1990 and 2010 will be, relative to the target of 12.5 per cent. [101731]

[holding answer 7 March 2003]: The UK published its Climate Change Programme in 2000. It contains an integrated package of policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the UK economy. The programme estimates that these policies and measures could reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 23 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010, and could reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 19 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. A formal review of the Climate Change Programme will take place in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her written ministerial statement of 3 March 2003, Official Report, column 71WS, for what reason domestic legislation was introduced to protect the ruddy duck population. [101380]

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, all wild birds, as defined by Section 27(1), are protected. As ruddy ducks have been present in this country in the wild since 1953, the Department considers that they fall within this definition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her written ministerial statement of 3 March 2003, Official Report, column 71WS, on ruddy duck culling, whether those ruddy ducks culled under the control scheme will be made available for human consumption. [101621]

All recovered carcases of ruddy ducks are subject to post-mortem examination to determine age and sex of the animals. This information is used to help assess the consequences of control on population growth rates and productivity. The Department has no plans to make ruddy duck carcases available for human consumption.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of her Department's officials have been seconded to (a) British Energy, (b) BNFL and (c) other (i) companies and (ii) NGOs involved in the nuclear sector since 1 January 2002; and on what areas of policy seconded individuals have worked. [101701]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much compensation from the European Union her Department has received for the incineration of tallow produced under the over thirty months scheme since its inception. [101263]

Compensation paid to producers under the OTMS scheme is funded approximately 70 per cent. by the EU and 30 per cent. by HM Treasury. Of the element that can be reimbursed by the EU, 80 per cent. is payable at the time animals are rendered, and the remaining 20 per cent. after the Meat and Bone Meal (MBM) and Tallow produced by the rendering process have both been incinerated.To date,£106,057,555 has been reimbursed following the incineration of MBM and Tallow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) incinerators and (b) waste to energy plants handle waste collected by local authorities in the UK; and where they are located. [100473]

There are sixteen facilities which burn municipal waste in the UK at the following locations.

• Bolton (Manchester)
• Cleveland (Billingham)
• Coventry
• Dundee
• Dudley
• Edmonton (North London)
• SELCHP (Lewisham, London)
• Tyseley (Birmingham)
• Kirklees
• Lerwick (Shetlands)
• Nottingham
• Sheffield
• Stoke
• Wolverhampton
• Isle of Wight (PDF)
• Pebsham (RDF)

They all generate power and/or heat. The last two plants on the list burn refuse derived fuel (RDF) prepared from municipal waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many waste incinerators are planned by waste disposal authorities; what the capacity is of each incinerator planned; and what information she collates on the contractual arrangements for waste disposal. [99675]

Operator	Location	Size/tonne/yr	Planning status	Permit status
NEWLINCS Developments	Grimsby	56,000	Granted	PPC application to be submitted
Onyx	Portsmouth	165,000	Granted after appeal	PPC application expected this year
Onyx	Marchwood, Southampton	160,000	Granted	PPC application being determined
Surrey Waste Management	Capel, Surrey	116,000	Permit withdrawn after JR. New application expected	PPC permit issued
Grundons	Slough	400,000	Granted	PPC application being determined
Onyx	Chineham, Surrey	110,000	Granted	PPC permit issued
HLC Waste Management Services	Neath, Port Talbot	85,000	Granted	PPC permit issued
Waste Recycling Group	Hull	150,000	Application refused. Planning appeal in progress	PPC permit issued
Kent Enviropower	Maidstone, Kent	500,000	Granted	PPC permit being determined
Riverside Resource Recovery	Bexley, London	580,000 nominal capacity	Application submitted; public enquiry pending	PPC application pending
Brightstar Environmental	Derby	55,000 up to 222,000	Granted	PPC application to be submitted '03
Onyx	Sheffield	225,000	Granted	PPC application determined
County Environment Services	Roche, Cornwall	64,000	Application submitted	No application

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that there are markets for waste electrical equipment diverted from landfill. [101691]

I have been asked to reply.Markets already exist for many of the materials arising from waste electrical equipment and there is also a wide spread reuse and refurbishment market for specific products such as mobile telephones or washing machines. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, due to be transposed next year, is likely to result in an increase in the availability of materials and components arising from WEEE although the additional tonnages will not be large relative to other sources of these materials.There will, however, be a need to encourage some new market applications where, for example, materials are contaminated or market prices are very low. The DTI will be working with Defra, WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) and business to help address this.

Information on the number of waste incinerators which are subject to planning applications determined by local planning authorities is not held centrally.Information is available, however, from the Environment Agency on the number and status of proposed new Municipal Waste Incineration Plants in England and Wales and is set out in the following table. The data are based on information shared with the Environment Agency by prospective applicants for Pollution Prevention and Control permits which are needed before a new plant starts operations. There may be other planning applications or amendments which have been submitted to local authorities on which the Agency has not been consulted. The planning status may have changed since the data were supplied.My Department does not routinely collect information on contractual arrangements for waste disposal which is the responsibility of waste disposal authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria will be adopted for the funding of waste minimisation and recycling schemes when changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme are introduced. [98526]

[holding answer 24 February 2003]: The precise arrangements for the administration of the new public spending programme to encourage sustainable waste management, which will replace parts of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS), are still under development but are unlikely to include a grant scheme for which criteria would need to be drawn up. Details will be set out alongside the Government's response to the Strategy Unit Report "Waste Not Want Not", which we aim to publish in the spring.For the period prior to 1 April 2004, my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced on 3 February 2003,

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if, when drafting the secondary legislation for the Export Control Act 2002, she will extend the licensing regime for extraterritorial controls on brokered arms deals to cover all types of military and security equipment brokered by UK nationals to any destination, wherever they conduct their activities; [101338](2) if she will extend the provisions in the Export Control Act 2002 to include the licensing of all brokered activities, including the provision of financial services to those involved in the arms trade. [101340]

The consultation document published on 30 January 2003 sets out the draft secondary legislation to implement the Export Control Act 2002 and explains what brokering activities are proposed to be licensed. Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Final decisions on drafting the secondary legislation will not be taken until after the consultation closes on 30 April 2003 and all the responses have been carefully considered. The current consultation reflects the conclusions reached in the light of the earlier consultations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the number of litres of bottled (a) sparkling and (b) still water consumed in the United Kingdom in each year since 1992; and what percentage was supplied in (i) plastic, (ii) glass and (iii) other materials. [99291]

I have been asked to reply.The Government do not themselves gather data to this level of detail. However, industry market intelligence data available to us show the following:

UK bottled water consumption
Litres (million)
	Still	Sparkling
1992	315	180
1993	330	200
1994	350	250
1995	440	288
1996	430	270
1997	495	279
1998	550	285
1999	696	300
2000	862	283
2001	990	270
2002	1,080	300

In addition, the data available reveal that in 2002, 81 per cent. of bottled water was supplied in plastic, nine per cent. in glass and 10 per cent. in other materials.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the number of litres of chilled water cooler water supplied to homes and businesses in the United Kingdom each year since 1992; and what proportion of this water is classified as mineral water. [99292]

I have been asked to reply.The Government do not themselves gather data to this level of detail. However, industry market intelligence data available to us show the following:

UK water cooler water supplies
Litres (million)
1992	33
1993	43
1994	57
1995	76
1996	95
1997	124
1998	153
1999	205
2000	265
2001	335
2002	390

In addition, the data available reveal that in 2002, mineral water accounted for 27.4 per cent. of total water volume supplied.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the planned 2002–03 allocation of resources to the broadband category listed in the Better Regulation Section on page 123 of the Department of Trade and Industry's Expenditure Plans 2002–03 to 2003–04, Cm 5416. [100149]

The £15 million listed represents the 2002–03 allocation from the £30 million UK Broadband Fund given to the Regional Development Agencies and the devolved Administrations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures her Department is taking to promote access to broadband in rural areas. [100342]

DTI has established the UK Broadband Task Force to look at the aggregation of public sector broadband demand and it is envisaged that this will help extend broadband availability into rural areas. Projects funded through the £30 million UK Broadband Fund are seeking to develop broadband networks, often in rural and remote areas, and spread best practice from these throughout the country. DTI works closely with DEFRA on rural broadband issues and will continue to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what incentives the Government have offered to encourage (a) BT and (b) other suppliers to provide affordable broadband in rural communities. [100343]

The Government's policy is not to subsidise service providers to roll out broadband but to stimulate a competitive market through fair regulation to provide consumer choice at low prices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the economic impact on areas where people are unable to access broadband in the next three years. [100344]

No such assessment has been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what projections her Department has made of the level of access to broadband by the beginning of next year. [100345]

DTI does not make detailed forecasts of levels of access to broadband. Currently, broadband is available to just over 70 per cent. of the UK population and it is anticipated that this will rise substantially in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of broadband coverage in Liverpool; and if she will make a statement. [101420]

The Government has made no specific assessment of broadband coverage in Liverpool. In the UK as a whole, 71 per cent. of the population has access to a broadband service.A map showing geographical availability of broadband services can be found in the UK Online Annual Report 2002, available at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/oee/oee.nsf/ sections/esummit-ukoannrep/$file/indexpage.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what records she holds of offsets arranged by UK companies as part of the conditions of sale of controlled goods to overseas buyers; and if the details of these offsets are publicly available; [101710](2) what records she holds of arrangements entered into by UK companies to license the production overseas of controlled goods; and whether the details of these arrangements are publicly available. [101711]

Since information is held only if it was contained in documents provided in support of an export licence application. Such documents are not normally publicly available.An export licence is not a requirement from the Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation to manufacture items outside the UK. However, where the product to be manufactured under commercial licence has a potential military use, the UK exporter might require an export licence before the goods and technology necessary for the establishment and operation of the licensed production facility can be supplied from the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the matters upon which her Department and the public bodies sponsored by her Department have obtained recent advice from Deloitte & Touche. [100523]

Deloitte & Touche have provided advice to the Department and its NDPBs on the following issues:

• Tax advice to various NDPBs
• Audit work for various NDPBs
• Risk management
• Management information system
• Electronic submission framework
• Administration strategy
• Wind up of the Pension scheme of Inward
• Access to Finance—SMEs
• Data Protection Act review and Performance Management Framework
• Work-Life Balance Challenge Fund
• Royal Mail including the Post Office network
• National Debtline pilot evaluation
• BNFL PPP Advisors
• Financial Systems development
• Inward Investment Overseas and in UK

The Department's Executive Agencies will be responding directly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to paragraph 2.27 of the Energy White Paper, Cm 5761, what areas of liaison she expects to develop with the European Parliament to implement the proposals on emissions trading. [100079]

I have been asked to reply.The Department takes the lead in negotiations on the EU Emissions Trading Directive. Political agreement was reached on the proposed Directive at Environment Council on 9 December 2002. The European Parliament will begin its second reading shortly. Officials from my Department have had meetings with the rapporteur for the Directive in the European Parliament and a number of Members of the Parliament to discuss the agreement reached in Council and the prospects for the Parliament's second reading. I expect further discussions with the European Parliament to take place during the second reading process. The trading scheme is due to begin in 2005. There is provision for the European Commission to bring forward proposals to amend the scheme, including extending its scope to cover other sectors and gases, before the start of the second phase in 2008. Any proposals would be subject to agreement between Council and Parliament, and I would expect these to lead to further discussions with the European Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage improvement in energy efficiency would be required to deliver from the household sector the (a) 5 MtC saving between 2002 and 2010 and (b) the 6 MtC saving between 2010 and 2020 identified in the Energy White Paper. [100783]

I have been asked to reply.Assuming continuation of past trends for the growth in household demand for energy, an additional annual saving of 5 MtC by 2010 would correspond to an energy efficiency improvement of approximately 20 per cent. relative to the year 2000. This represents broadly a doubling of the average rate of improvement seen in the 1990s.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what conditions were attached to the recent licence for the export of HMX to Iran; and if she will make a statement. [101298]

There were no special conditions attached to the licence since the Government is satisfied that the HMX pellets, specifically designed for cutting collars and perforating tubes, are intended for only legitimate purposes as part of the process of drilling oil and gas wells.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it a requirement for the internet sites of companies registered in the United Kingdom to carry the registered address of their company. [101337]

In June 2002, the European Commission published a proposal to update the First Company Law Directive, which sets out basic safeguards for the protection of shareholders, creditors and other third parties dealing with limited companies, to reflect technological developments since the Directive was originally agreed in 1968.A provision within the Commission proposal was that companies should be required to include basic statutory information, including information sufficient to identify the public file relating to the company and the location of its registered office, in electronic documents and on any company website. The UK supports this proposal as an important protection for those dealing with companies via the internet.It is hoped that agreement to the final text can be achieved in the near future. Early consideration of the legislative steps necessary to achieve the objectives of the Directive in the UK will then take place

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress in reinstating pension rises for miners sacked as a result of the 1984 industrial dispute. [101812]

Following my announcement in December 2001, a scheme was launched in April 2002 to handle applications from those miners dismissed in connection with the 1984–85 strike, and not subsequently re-employed by British Coal.The closing date for the scheme was 31 December. The Department is currently assessing the applications which have been received, and we hope to be able to inform those who are eligible for the enhancement of their pension in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the operation of the renewables obligation certificate trading system; and if she will calculate the effect of every certificate holder being able to realise the full value by having the right to cash out. [101286]

The renewables obligation certificate trading system is working smoothly and well. The obligation is a market based mechanism and the value of certificates is established in contracts between generators and suppliers or third party traders. The terms of these contracts are a matter for the parties concerned, renewables obligation certificates are trading at a high value at present reflecting the shortage of renewables electricity in the early years of the obligation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many UK companies are operating in the oil sector in Sudan. [101585]

As the Department is not active in promoting trade with or investment in Sudan, our information on the number of UK companies operating in the oil sector in the country is limited. To our knowledge, no UK companies have any direct investment in the upstream oil sector in Sudan.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what financial provision is being made for an expansion in the number of ordinands. [101632]

The Church of England has always made financial provision for all those who have been recommended for ordination training. In 2003 this will cost in the region of £9 million.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will make a statement on the ability of the Church of England pension fund to meet its future liabilities. [101634]

Clergy pensions earned on service before 1998, for which the Commissioners are responsible, are covered more than twice over by the Commissioners' assets. Those on service from 1998 are met from the new scheme administered by the Church of England Pensions Board and funded by contributions from parishes. Actuaries provide regular advice on the financial position in both cases.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what income has been derived from the Commissioners' estate at Bishopstone, Wiltshire, in each of the past five years. [101635]

The income for the Bishopstone estate has fallen by just over 14 per cent. during the last five years as a result of the general downturn in agricultural incomes. The Commissioners, in common with other large estate owners, do not publish precise income figures for their estates, as this information is commercially sensitive.

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what recent discussions the Commission has had with the Scottish Executive regarding proportional representation in Scotland. [101633]

I have been asked to reply.I understand that Commissioners and staff regularly meet members and staff of the Scottish Executive. However, no discussions have taken place on the subject of proportional representation in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Department's strategy is for improving youth fitness. [101467]

The Government's £459 million investment over the next three years in PE and sport in schools will increase youth participation and fitness.Game Plan recommends that participation needs to rise to improve the fitness of the whole population. We are working with the Department of Health to deliver this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she proposes to give greater access to (a) ballet and (b) classical music concerts to persons in social classes C1 and C2. [101468]

In our latest funding allocation to the Arts Council of England, we have asked the Arts Council to put strategies in place to ensure that world class art is accessible to as many people as possible. This will be reflected in the Funding Agreement which is currently being negotiated with the Arts Council. It will now be for the Arts Council to develop measures to address these issues, building on the success of initiatives like Creative Partnerships, the New Audiences Programme and the National Touring Programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who will fund the proposed Stonehenge visitor centre. [101469]

The new Stonehenge visitor centre will be primarily funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, DCMS and English Heritage. English Heritage will conduct a fund-raising campaign to cover part of the cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of sites for sailing events for a bid to hold the Olympics in London. [101470]

The Arup report on the costs and benefits of staging the Olympic Games in London in 2012 considers a number of venues that will be required should we win the right to stage the games. Some of the venues, including a venue for sailing, will be located outside the London area. All the venues will be subject to further assessment if the Government decide to support a bid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to simplify the application process for lottery grants; and if she will make a statement. [101471]

As part of the Lottery Funding Review, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering a number of proposals further to simplify application processes and will make an announcement in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on bringing international sporting events to the United Kingdom. [101472]

The Government remains committed to attracting more international sporting events to the UK. The Department will take forward the recommendation of the Strategy Unit to create a strategy for bidding for mega events. We will consider with UK Sport how best to assist organisations at the bidding, delivery and evaluation stages of major sporting events.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what reports she has received from the independent expert panel who will judge Liverpool's bid to be designated European Capital of Culture. [101473]

The independent Advisory Panel, chaired by Sir Jeremy Isaacs, considered all 12 bids carefully and thoroughly against the criteria laid down by the ED and the Government. The panel thought that all the bids were of a very high standard but the six shortlisted bids are those which the panel considered to be the strongest overall. As my hon. Friend knows, Liverpool's bid has been shortlisted.The Panel will now consider the shortlisted bids in more detail. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will wait for further advice and recommendations from the panel before reaching any conclusions about which city should be the UK's nomination for European Capital of Culture 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she is taking to ensure that internet access in public libraries can be by broadband. [101461]

The £100 million, Lottery funded, People's Network programme has enabled internet connections to 99 per cent. of UK libraries so far. It was a condition of the funding that broadband connections should be made, where possible. Through business plans received from library authorities, Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, estimate that around 85 per cent. of our libraries will have broadband internet connectivity of 2 mega-bytes or more. The remaining 15 per cent. of libraries are in areas where it is very difficult to install broadband currently.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government contracts for (a) translation and (b) interpreting services are put out to tender. [101579]

The information is not held centrally.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many accidental deaths there were in Wales in each of the last 20 years. [101239]

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) pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2003, Official Report, column 302W, on the private finance initiative, what assessment he has made of the performance of the Accountancy Standards Board; [101191](2) what plans he has for his Department to issue accounting standards in relation to

The issue of accounting standards is a matter for the Accounting Standards Board (ASB), not for HM Treasury.HM Treasury does not assess the performance of the ASB. The ASB is an independent body, a company limited by guarantee, which is formally a subsidiary of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). A full report of the ASB's activities is set out each year in the FRC's Annual Review.HM Treasury has observer status on the Accounting Standards Board and Treasury officials have regular contacts with the Board on a range of issues.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he has made to the recommendation from the Financial Services Consumer Panel that the Government should consider establishing an independent charitable trust charged with offering consumers free advice on the purchase of annuities. [101333]

The Pensions Green Paper, "Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement" (Cm 5677), made clear the Government view that compulsory independent financial advice would not be appropriate at this stage. Reforms to the market for financial advice and sales look likely to increase both consumer choice and the availability of low-cost financial advice.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will create a CAT standard annuity. [101332]

There are no plans to introduce a CAT standard for annuities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance the Centre for Non-Residents has issued for British nationals (a) returning from countries neighbouring Iraq and (b) otherwise affected by Foreign Office advice on safety, concerning their tax liability and legal residency for financial year 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [101781]

The tax position of those returning to the UK from countries neighbouring Iraq on the basis of advice on safety from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is as set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 4 March 2003, Official Report, column 919W. Staff at the Inland Revenue's Centre for Non-Residents are advising taxpayers accordingly. They have taken appropriate steps to ensure that their contact telephone number (0151 472 6196) is widely available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if lone parents will be able to claim the new child care tax credit for a period of time before returning to work. [101049]

The new Working Tax Credit, including the child care element, can be claimed by lone parents who are in qualifying remunerative work for at least 16 hours a week. To meet that test, the person has either to be working 16 hours a week at the date of claim or to have accepted an offer of work at that date and the work is expected to start within 7 days.People who are on paid maternity leave, paid adoption leave or paid paternity leave, and who met the Working Tax Credit remunerative work requirement before their leave started, will be able to claim during their leave for child care costs for the children in the family they were responsible for before the arrival of their new child.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the change in Government financial support for children since 1997. [101364]

From this April, the introduction of the new tax credits, the Working Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, will provide more generous support for families with children—with more for those on lower incomes.The Child Tax Credit combined with Child Benefit will deliver up to £54.10 a week in support for first child, compared to £27.70 a week in April 1997.Under the new tax credits:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 653W, on computer misuse, how many Inland Revenue staff have been (a) dismissed and (b) prosecuted as a result of misuse of its computer systems. [101141]

The information, for each of the last five years, is as follows.

	Dismissals	Prosecutions
1998	1	0
1999	7	0
2000	8	0
2001	6	0
2002	3	0

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent research he has commissioned into the level of consumer confidence in the UK economy; and if he will make a statement. [101274]

The Government's Fiscal Statement and Budget Report, to be delivered on 9 April 2003, will include a full assessment of developments in the UK household sector including consumer confidence.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in corporation tax revenue resulting from the introduction of the congestion charge. [101076]

No estimate has been made of the impact of the congestion charge on corporation tax receipts. But estimating its impact would not be straightforward as companies may feel benefits as well as the more obvious costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's forecast is of the average economic growth rate in the EU from 2000 to 2010. [101606]

[holding answer 7 March 2003]: In line with the practice of previous Governments, we do not publish growth forecasts for the EU. Growth forecasts for the G7 aggregate are published in the Pre-Budget and Budget Reports.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent (a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations he has received from (i) the Bank of England, (ii) representatives of business and (iii) employees representatives on the assessment of the five tests for euro entry. [101863]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 104–05W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the (a) terms of reference and (b) guidance issued to the review of the implications for UK statistics of joining the euro. [101275]

The Chancellor has asked Christopher Allsopp to undertake a wide-ranging review of the informational and statistical requirements for monetary and wider economic policy-making, following the end of his term as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England.The terms of reference and other details of the review were published in a press notice on 27 February 2003, available on the Treasury's website: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent proposals he has made to the European Union on increasing the rate of its economic reform. [101864]

The Government's proposals for increasing the rate of EU economic reform are set out in "Meeting the Challenge; Economic Reform in Europe", published on 17 February 2003.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 217W, on Lisbon and Stockholm objectives, if he will (a) make a statement and (b) publish a document listing progress towards each objective listed in Appendix A of the European Economic Reform White Paper 2002. [102048]

Progress towards the Lisbon and Stockholm objectives is described in the progress report on European economic reform, 'Meeting the Challenge; Economic Reform in Europe', and in 'Structural Indicators of European Economic Reform; Measuring Europe's Progress', both published on 17 February 2003.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 30W, whether the FSA will continue the advertisement complaints procedure to its conclusion in cases in which the offending advert has been removed. [101396]

Decisions about the action to take in response to complaints about advertisements, and when and how to bring that action to a conclusion, are a matter for the FSA, taking into account the circumstances of each case.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions for tax fraud the Inland Revenue's special compliance office has pursued in each year since 1997; and how many of these prosecutions resulted in convictions. [102005]

Statistics on prosecutions and convictions by the Inland Revenue are published each year in their Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the House Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment HM Treasury has made regarding the level of house price inflation in the UK economy. [101698]

The Government's Fiscal Statement and Budget report to be delivered on 9 April will include an assessment of recent house price developments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce the level of household debt as a percentage of disposable income in the UK. [101053]

Within a sound financial framework, the Government believe that households are best placed to decide on the level of debt that they should hold. Growth in household debt reflects strong fundamentals with a robust labour market, low interest rates and strong gains in housing wealth.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the inflation rate was for (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector in each of the last 12 months. [101280]

Public and private sector inflation, as measured by the implied Government and private consumption deflators respectively, are not available on a monthly basis as they are derived from quarterly nominal and real consumption data. The latest data were published by the Office for National Statistics in the First Release on UK output, income and expenditure for the fourth quarter of 2002 on 26 February 2003.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions officials from his Department have had with representatives of (a) employers and (b) employees concerning the cost of insurance premiums. [101700]

Officials from HM Treasury and other Government Departments have meetings with a wide range of representative groups on issues related to insurance, including the cost of insurance premiums.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what revenue has been received from Insurance Premium Tax in each year since 1997; [101704](2) what plans he has to provide business with a rebate from Insurance Premium Tax revenues. [102117]

The total amount of insurance premium tax collected in the UK can be found on the HM Customs and Excise website: www.hmce.gov.uk/about/ reports/ann-report/n2.pdf.As with all taxes, Insurance Premium Tax is kept under review and any changes would be announced in the annual Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people aged 16 to 21 there were in low rates of pay in Wales for each of the last 20 years; [101241](2) how many people aged 16 to 21 were unemployed in Wales in each of the last 20 years. [101243]

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the prospects for the United Kingdom meeting the Maastricht criteria relating to budget deficits. [101645]

I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 2.61 of the 2002 pre-Budget report. A copy can be found in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the increase in spending on the national health service announced in the Budget Statement 2002 in relation to (a) productivity, (b) efficiency and (c) savings due to economies of scale. [101278]

The health settlement announced in the 2002 Budget Statement, which covers the period from 2003–04 to 2007–08, is linked to a programme of reform to deliver the NHS Plan. Progress against this will be assessed and reported regularly by the Department of Health in their annual Departmental Report and in their Autumn Performance Report, both of which are available on the Department of Health website.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2003, Official Report, column 769W, on national insurance contributions, what assessment his Department has made in recent economic forecasts of the effect that the increase in national insurance in April will have on (a) disposable income, (b) consumer spending as a percentage of GDP, (c) personal borrowing levels and (d) the savings ratio. [101911]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given him by my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General on 28 February 2003, Official Report, column 769W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he has made to the European Commission on its inquiry into whether UK pensions tax rules meet EC requirements. [101362]

In common with all other member states, the UK was asked to provide details of existing tax rules for pension schemes, and whether any changes to those rules were contemplated. The response was a factual description of the reliefs and tax treatment currently available. Reference was also made to the pensions simplification review then under way.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of total personal sector wealth was owned by the wealthiest half of the adult population in each year since 1997. [102112]

The available information which relates to the distribution of UK marketable wealth, including that owned by the wealthiest half of the adult population, is given in Table 13.5 of Inland Revenue Statistics 2003 which is available at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/ index.htm.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish Treasury investment appraisal guidance used to construct Public Sector Comparators; and if he will make a statement. [101759]

Guidance on Public Sector Comparators is set out in Treasury Taskforce Technical Note 5, "How to Construct a Public Sector Comparator".Work is currently under way to assess how guidance might be updated to reflect recent changes in the 2002 Green Book.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the contribution Public Service Agreements will make to the Government's sustainable development strategy. [101506]

Public Service Agreements make a significant contribution to the delivery of the Government's sustainable development strategy. The Spending Review 2002 required each Department with its own Public Service Agreement to produce a Sustainable Development Report, explaining the sustainable development implications of its policy priorities. Further information on the specific contribution Public Service Agreements make can be found in the 2002 Spending Review White Paper and in the Government 2002 Annual Report on sustainable development, "Achieving a Better Quality of Life".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 33W, on revenue qualifying regimes, whether changes to the qualifying regime will be subject to an assessment of the likely impact to those on low incomes. [101810]

I confirm that in considering changes to the qualifying policy regime the Government will assess the likely impact of those changes on those on low incomes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 220W, on secondments, from which private accounting firms the three people are seconded; how long the secondment is of each; and what their responsibilities are. [102046]

The information is as follows:Deloitte Touche—24.9.01–23.09.03

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides of those aged 15 to 24 there were in Wales in each of the last 20 years. [101244]

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 his answer to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) of 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 604W, how much each mailshot to potential new tax credit claimants has cost. [100764]

The answer I gave to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) referred to a reminder mailing in November and a further mailing in February. The approximate costs for these mailings are as follows:

£
Date	Print and production	Postage
November	299,000	588,000
February	70,000	364,000

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Northampton, South will be entitled to the new Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit; and of these, how many (i) have applied for them and (ii) have returned their claim form. [100788]

Six million families in the United Kingdom are expected to benefit from the new tax credits in 2003–04, including 1.3 million families with children who receive Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance and who will receive the additional support through those benefits until they move into the Child Tax Credit itself in 2004. By the end of February we had already received over three million claims. Numbers for Northampton South are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the rate of prosecution for tax evasion. [102012]

The Revenue tackle fraud, error and avoidance using civil investigation and settlement, and applying financial penalties where appropriate. The Revenue also operates a selective prosecution policy intended to bolster the overall enforcement strategy. The focus is on cases where prosecution will do the most to promote compliance by deterring tax, contribution and tax credit fraud.Statistics on prosecutions and convictions by the Inland Revenue are published each year in their Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the House Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 222W, on tax revenue forecasts, what estimate he has made of the effect on public sector net borrowing (a) this year and (b) next year if GDP growth were 1 per cent. lower than assumed over the coming year. [102047]

I refer the hon. Member to paragraph B17 of the 2002 Pre-Budget Report (Cm 5664), where the estimates are set out.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of lower than forecast manufacturing growth on total tax revenues; [102118](2) if he will make a statement on the strength of the growth of tax revenues. [102107]

Consistent with the Code for Fiscal Stability, projections for the public finances, including tax revenues, will be set out in the Budget to be presented to the House on 9 April 2003.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many births there were to girls conceiving under the age of 16 in Wales for each of the last 20 years. [101240]

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