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Written Answers

Volume 449: debated on Wednesday 19 July 2006

Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 18 July 2006

Scotland

Carbon Emissions

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement. (81054)

The Scotland Office subscribes to the energy efficiency policies adopted by the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Bridget Prentice), on 10 July 2006, Official Report, column 1615W.

Departmental Travel

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that all flights undertaken by Ministers and officials in his Department are carbon neutral; and if he will make a statement. (81381)

The Scotland Office subscribes to the principles of environmental performance adopted by the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Bridget Prentice), on 6 July 2006, Official Report, column 1344W.

Environmental Management

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department (a) is committed to the achievement of environmental management to ISO 14001 standard and (b) has been externally certified as in compliance with that standard; and if he will make a statement. (81189)

The Scotland Office subscribes to the environmental management principles adopted by the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Bridget Prentice), on 13 July 2006, Official Report, column 1992W

Private Members’ Bills

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Private Members' Bills were drafted by his Department in each session since 1997; and which subsequently received Royal Assent. (78840)

Since the Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999, one private Member’s Bill has been drafted and has subsequently received Royal Assent—my Sunday Working (Scotland) Act 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those Private Members' Bills in respect of which his Department has adopted a policy of neutrality in each session since 2001-02; and if he will make a statement. (72484)

The Scotland Office has not adopted a policy of neutrality on any of the private Members' Bills since session 2001-02 for which it had the lead interest.

Scottish Affairs Select Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action has been taken by his Department to implement Scottish Affairs Select Committee recommendations since the 2001-02 session; and if he will make a statement. (78843)

The Government have responded to the Scottish Affairs Select Committee's recommendations in the period in question in the following published memoranda:

Session 2001-02

The Drinks Industry in Scotland: Response by the Government and the Scottish Executive (HC 696), published on 18 March 2002.

Customs Services in Scotland: Response by the Government (HC 1287), published on 5 November 2002

Session 2002-03

Employment in Shipbuilding on the Clyde: Response by the Government (HC 199), published on 19 December 2002

Homeworkers in Scotland and the Minimum Wage: Response by the Government (HC 816), published on 19 June 2003

Session 2003-04

The Coincidence of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in Scotland and the Consequences of Change: Response by the Government (HC514), published on 7 April 2004

The Proposed Whisky Strip Stamp: Response by the Government (HC 822), published on 5 July 2004

Session 2005-06

Meeting Scotland's Future Energy Needs: Government Response (HC 579), published on 24 October 2005

Each memorandum stated whether the Government accepted the recommendations in the relevant report.

Northern Ireland

Access to Work Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many disabled staff in his Department received support through the Access to Work scheme (a) in each of the last five years and (b) in 2006-07. (82231)

The table provides information on the numbers of NIO staff with disabilities for whom NIO requested support through the Access to Work scheme. This relates to the provision of workplace assessments to identify individual needs and recommend special aids and equipment and, where applicable, the provision of assistance with the cost of providing reasonable adjustments. While the scheme also assists with the cost of travel to work, the Department has no knowledge of assistance provided for NIO staff, as individuals must apply direct to the scheme.

Number

2001-02

2

2002-03

2

2003-04

2

2004-05

4

2005-06

1

2006-07

11

1 To date.

Building Regulations

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to assess compliance with building regulations in Northern Ireland. (80954)

Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments do not hold this information. Enforcement of building regulations is the responsibility of district councils. Having written to district councils I can confirm that Building Control employ professionally qualified and trained staff to carry out independent and impartial plan assessments and detailed inspection of all sites to ensure compliance. Applicants must notify Building Control at various stages of projects, and if remedial action is necessary, it is always carried out prior to the issue of the completion certificate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homes built in the last 10 years in Northern Ireland do not comply with environmental building regulations. (80953)

Northern Ireland civil service departments do not hold this information. Enforcement of building regulations is the responsibility of district councils. Having written to district councils I can confirm that no homes built in the last 10 years contravene the environmental building regulations.

Further Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision for those with (a) mental health difficulties and (b) learning disability is offered by further education colleges in the Province. (83728)

The Department for Employment and Learning is unable to provide the information in the format requested but can confirm that in 2004-05, the last year for which figures are available, further education colleges in Northern Ireland enrolled 14,231 students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities on a range of mainstream courses and, where more appropriate, on courses designed specifically for students with learning difficulties. FE colleges have also been provided with additional resources to make such physical adjustments as may be required to assist those with disabilities and learning difficulties.

Prisons

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of providing assistance to prisoners in Northern Ireland to cease smoking in each of the last three years. (78738)

The information requested is not available for 2003 and 2004.

In 2005 the cost of providing nicotine replacement patches under prescription to prisoners was £12,082.09 and for the period 1 January to 31 May 2006 the cost was £4,692.45.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners have absconded from custody in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. (80444)

The Northern Ireland Prison Service undertakes a thorough risk assessment prior to decisions being taken in respect of prisoner release, and has a low incidence of absconds.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service classifies absconds as prisoners released from lawful custody under Rule 27(2), who are accompanied outside the confines of the prison establishment.

Numbers of prisoners absconding from custody - 2001 to date

Maghaberry

Magilligan

Hydebank Wood

2001

1

1

1

2002

2

1

1

2003

2

1

1

2004

1

2005

1

2006

2

1

Total

9

4

3

Road Improvements

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what improvements are planned for the A26 road between Ballymena and Coleraine over the next two years. (85725)

The Acting Chief Executive of Roads Service, Mr. Geoff Allister, has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.

Letter from Geoff Allister, dated 18 July 2006:

You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding what improvements are planned for the A26 road between Ballymena and Coleraine over the next two years.

As this issue falls within my responsibility as Acting Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.

I have to advise that there are no planned improvements for the A26 between Ballymena and Coleraine over the next two years.

Statutory Instruments

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what occasions a statutory instrument sponsored by his Department has been reported by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments as defective since October 2005. (85180)

Two statutory instruments sponsored by my Department since October 2005 have been reported by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments as defective. Details are as follows:

(a) The Prison and Young Offenders Centre (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 2005/153). See the Fourth Report of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments for session 2005-06, published on 19 October 2005; and

(b) The Pollution Prevention and Control (Amendment) and Connected Provisions (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 2005 No. 285). See Sixth Report of the JCSI for 2005-06, published on 26 October 2005.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Avian Flu

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2006, Official Report, column 1341W, on avian influenza, when and in what manner the discussion took place between a departmental official with Mr. Steve Moon at which an offer was extended to Mr. Moon, or another representative of the Association of Local Government Ecologists, to participate in the avian influenza stakeholder group; and who the official was. (81142)

There appears to have been some misunderstanding over this matter. A Defra official has written to Mr. Moon to express regret for this. I have also written to the Secretary of the Association of Local Government Ecologists inviting the association to participate in the AI Stakeholder Group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the vaccination of domestic birds against avian influenza; and if he will make a statement. (85232)

The advice from the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) is that we should not vaccinate poultry in advance of an avian influenza outbreak, or as an immediate disease control response. Although currently available vaccines are able to reduce mortality, it is possible that some vaccinated birds would still be capable of transmitting the disease if they become infected, but might not display symptoms of disease. This would increase the time taken to detect and eradicate the virus. High standards of surveillance and biosecurity, early reporting of suspect cases and culling remain the most effective ways of preventing avian influenza and tackling an outbreak.

However, as I informed the House on 11 July, in order to be fully prepared we have invited tenders to supply us with a further 10 million doses of avian influenza vaccine for potential use in poultry and other captive birds. This is not a change in policy. The CVO has recommended this step as part of sensible contingency planning in the light of uncertainties about the future spread and nature of the virus, and the possibility of as yet unforeseen circumstances. The vaccine would only be used if a risk assessment and scientific evidence indicated it would help to prevent disease spread.

Fisheries

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the status is of the investigation into possible blackfish landings of pelagic fish. (86438)

This is an issue for the Scottish Executive. As it is an ongoing investigation we are unable to comment.

Fly-tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fly-tipping incidents were recorded by Flycapture in 2004-05, broken down by local authority area. (85710)

Data on fly-tipping incidents recorded by each local authority on the Flycapture database between April 2004 and March 2005 have been placed in the Library of the House.

Waste

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will estimate how many (a) mobile telephones and (b) printer cartridges were (i) recycled, (ii) reused overseas and (iii) disposed of within the waste stream in the last 12 months. (84068)

This Department does not collect information on the recycling or reuse of mobile phones or printer cartridges. The mobile phone industry estimates that 18 million handsets are replaced every year and that in 2003 and 2004, about five million handsets were collected by mobile phone recycling and refurbishment companies in the UK. The industry estimates that about 60 per cent. of these were refurbished and the remaining 40 per cent. were sent for materials recycling.

Trade and Industry

Administrative Savings

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what administrative savings have been made by his Department in each of the last eight years. (34937)

The Department's annual reports contain information on departmental management and public service delivery, including on measures taken to improve efficiency and value for money.

For the years 1997-98 and 1998-99, value for money and efficiency savings were not reported separately in the Department's annual reports but were contained within the chapters on the management of the Department.

During the period covered by the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review (1999-2002), the Department had a strategic efficiency target to achieve savings of 2.5 per cent. of its running costs each year. In 1999-2000 DTI achieved a saving of 2.6 per cent. of running costs (£10.6 million on projected costs of £406.6 million); and in 2000-01 a saving of 4.6 per cent. (£19.3 million on projected costs of £418.8 million).

The CSR98 efficiency target was replaced for the 2000 Spending Review period (2001-04) by a Public Service Agreement Target to “achieve value for money improvements of 2.5 per cent. a year across the Department”, which was carried over into the 2002 Spending Review (2003-06). In 2001-02 value for money improvements under this target amounted to 3.79 per cent. (£16 million on projected costs of £422.3 million); and in 2002-03 amounted to 4.5 per cent. (£20.2 million on projected costs of £449.9 million).

Value for money improvements related to administration under the SR2002 PSA12 value for the money target amounted to £35.4 million in 2003-04 and £351.7 million in 2004-05. The Department's performance for 2005-06 against this PSA target will be covered in the 2006 departmental report, which was due to be published in spring 2006.

In the 2004 Spending Review the Department committed to achieve annual efficiencies of at least £380 million by 2007-08. The 2005 Autumn Performance Report, published last December, provides the most recent assessment of the Department's performance against this target. £27.97 million efficiency gains related to administration spend were achieved by the end of Quarter 2.

Airbus

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government grants were awarded to BAE Systems for the purchase of shares in Airbus in 1979. (82416)

The Department has no record of grants being given to either British Aerospace or its successor BAE Systems for the purchase of shares in Airbus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost (a) gross and (b) net after loan repayments was of support by the UK Government to Airbus programmes in each year since 1985. (83570)

Launch investment is a risk-sharing Government investment in the design and development of civil aerospace projects in the UK. It is not a loan. The investment is repayable at a real rate of return, usually via levies on sales of the product.

The amounts paid to Airbus in launch investment and the amounts received from Airbus in repayment of launch investment in each of the years from 1984-85 to 2005-06 inclusive are set out in the following table, with the net figures (Receipts-Payments) in the final column.

£ million

Payments

Receipts

Net

1984/85

46.5

0.0

-46.5

1985-86

73.0

0.0

-73.0

1986-87

86.0

0.0

-86.0

1987-88

44.5

0.0

-44.5

1988-89

87.8

0.0

-87.8

1989-90

122.5

10.0

-112.5

1990-91

134.0

34.0

-100.0

1991-92

73.5

55.4

-18.1

1992-93

28.6

40.9

12.3

1993-94

0.0

29.4

29.4

1994-95

0.0

19.2

19.2

1995-96

0.0

29.3

29.3

1996-97

0.0

42.7

42.7

1997-98

0.0

85.4

85.4

1998-99

0.0

134.6

134.6

1999-2000

0.0

167.4

167.4

2000-01

0.0

119.7

119.7

2001-02

136.0

103.4

-32.6

2002-03

139.0

88.7

-50.3

2003-04

255.0

78.3

-176.7

2004-05

0.0

91.7

91.7

2005-06

0.0

110.5

110.5

Total

1,226.4

1,240.5

14.1

Businesses (Peterborough)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in (a) Peterborough constituency and (b) the Peterborough city council area (i) started up and (ii) ceased trading in each of the last nine years; and if he will make a statement. (85970)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 June 2006, Official Report, columns 1484-85, which contains data for each year starting nine years ago up to the latest available.

Canatxx

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether (a) he has and (b) Ministers in his Department have received official hospitality from Canatxx Ventures Ltd and Canatxx UK and its associated companies in the last four years. (85272)

No DTI Ministers have received official hospitality from Canatxx UK Ltd, Canatxx Energy Ventures Ltd or any of its associated companies in the last four years.

Civil Service Secondees

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the civil service in his Department in each of the last three years. (48412)

The DTI has had and continues to have people seconded who have science and technology backgrounds. Where an S and T background is an essential requirement for a secondment we will take the appropriate steps to check the applicant’s qualifications.

The DTI has had a number of people seconded from science and technology backgrounds in the last three years, although we do not hold this information centrally. As the Department dedicated to maximising the contribution of the science and technology fields to the UK’s economic development—and the quality of our lives—we are delighted to have such expertise within the DTI.

Miners’ Compensation

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which solicitors have received payments under the (a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease conditional fee agreement for coal health compensation claims for claims registered by claimants living in Leicester, South constituency; and whether Vendside Ltd has received any payment from his Department for coal health compensation claims registered by claimants living in that constituency. (84113)

Conditional fee agreements do not form part of either the vibration white finger (VWF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) schemes. Solicitors are paid according to a tariff set out in the respective Claims Handling Agreement. The tables list the solicitors, including Vendside/UDM, that have received payments in accordance with those tariffs for representing claimants from the Leicester, South constituency:

VWF

Solicitor

Costs paid (£)

Ashton Morton Slack Solicitors

757

Beresfords Solicitors

470

Moss Solicitors

4,678

Oxley and Coward Solicitors

2,697

Vendside / UDM

1,351

Watson Burton LLP

737

Total

10,690

OPD

Solicitor

Costs paid (£)

Ashton Morton Slack Solicitors

1,770

Atteys

3,393

Avalon Solicitors

10,495

Beresfords Solicitors

8,543

Blackett Hart and Pratt Solicitors

1,223

BRM Solicitors

4,175

Browell Smith and Co.

6,059

Delta Legal

2,586

Bac Solicitors

2,977

Dodds and Partners

2,888

Gorman Hamilton Solicitors

5,451

Hugh James

15,562

Irwin Mitchell Solicitors

2,079

Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors

1,834

Mark Gilbert Morse

9,066

Marrons Solicitors

1,090

Moss Solicitors

46,148

O. H. Parsons and Partners Solicitors

3,055

Proddow and Mackay Solicitors

2,963

Raleys Solicitors

1,792

Thompsons Solicitors

5,659

Vendside Ltd

10,557

Watson Burton LLP

23,393

Wilson Browne incorp. Holyoak and Co.

3,055

Total

175,814

In addition, Vendside have been paid an additional £2,333 in costs for handling claims for Industrial Deafness for Leicester, South constituents which are dealt with under common law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which mining contractors have signed the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims handling agreement with his Department. (85431)

[holding answer 14 July 2006]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 12 May 2006, Official Report, columns 576-77W.

Departmental Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent in each year since 1997 by his Department on salaries paid to civil servants. (41589)

The Department's expenditure on civil servants' salaries for 1998-99 to 2004-05 is detailed as follows. Figures from 1999-2000 are taken from the Department's Resource Accounts, which are published annually by the Stationery Office. Total resource budgets for 2002-03 and 2003-04 included exceptional provisions to reflect accounting adjustments in respect of the Department's liabilities. Prior to 1998-99, figures were not produced on the same basis and comparable figures are not available other than at disproportionate cost.

Financial year

£000

Percentage of total resource budget

1998-99

198,857

7.0

1999-2000

197,643

7.0

2000-01

211,943

4.8

2001-02

207,108

4.8

2002-03

217,359

3.0

2003-04

243,155

2.2

2004-05

232,200

4.6

Energy Review

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which external consultants were contracted to process submissions to the energy review; what criteria were adopted in choosing the consultants; whether the contract was subject to competitive tender; what the total value was of each contract; what responsibility each consultant was given; and what the length was of each contract. (85540)

AEA Technology Environment were contracted, by competitive tender, to support the analysis of the submissions to the Energy Review consultation exercise.

Their report is on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file31631.pdf

Enterprise

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his oral statement of 4 May 2006, Official Report, column 537WH, on Enterprise, on what date the manufacturing day during enterprise week will be held. (85684)

Enterprise Week is to be held from 13 to 19 November 2006. On 14 November there will be a strong focus on the manufacturing sector, with regional events taking place led by industry.

Enterprise Insight

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in which local authorities Enterprise Insight will be establishing local campaign hubs; on what basis these areas were selected; and how other local authorities can apply for campaign hubs to be based in their locality. (85679)

Local Enterprise Campaign Hubs are being set up in Coventry, Liverpool, Lowestoft, Tees Valley and Wakefield. The local authorities looking after these areas are Coventry city council, Liverpool city council, Waveney district council, Redcar and Cleveland borough council and Wakefield metropolitan district council respectively.

These areas were selected as they have low levels of entrepreneurial activity, and high levels of deprivation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what independent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of money spent by the Enterprise Insight campaign. (85682)

Enterprise Insight employs a variety of monitoring tools to assess the effectiveness on the campaign.

These include an annual survey that monitors young people's attitudes across the country and tracks changing levels of awareness of the campaign.

Enterprise Insight is currently commissioning an independent organisation to develop monitoring and evaluation systems for each enterprise campaign hub as it is rolled out. In early 2008, this organisation will produce an evaluation that will assess the impact of the campaign hubs.

Enterprise Insight has put in place a number of more specific monitoring tools that:

(a) Capture through on-line reporting all the events taking place during Enterprise Week.

(b) Independently, through ‘Growth from Knowledge—National Opinion Polls', run a post Enterprise Week survey of all organisations that ran activities during Enterprise Week.

(c) Independently monitor the level and range of media coverage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) salary and (b) benefits are paid to the Chief Executive of Enterprise Insight; and what salary was advertised when this position was last vacant. (85683)

Enterprise Insight is an independent organisation, founded and run by the four main business organisations (Institute of Directors, British Chambers of Commerce, CBI and Federation of Small Businesses), with support from DTI.

The DTI’s Small Business Service co-funds Enterprise Insight, but the Enterprise Insight Board independently determines its staff remuneration levels.

Equal Pay

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) women and (b) men are employed in the Department; what the average pay was for (i) women and (ii) men in the Department in (A) 1997 and (B) 2006; what women’s average pay is as a percentage of men’s average pay; and how many (1) women and (2) men the Department employed in each of the last five years, broken down by grade. (67780)

The Cabinet Office collects and publishes annually statistical information on the civil service by Department. This includes data on the employment of men and women. Information on the numbers of women and men employed in the civil service broken down at 31 December 2005 is available in the Libraries of the House and on the civil service website at:

www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/employment/index.asp

It should be borne in mind that the figures for DTI published by Cabinet Office include additional staff such as those employed in Executive agencies.

The Department of Trade and Industry (including UK Trade and Investment and Small Business Service, but excluding Executive agencies) employs (a) 1,682 women (1,596.3 full-time equivalent) and (b) 2,176 men (2,165.3 full-time equivalent) at 9 November 2005.

DTI measures equal pay for those not in the senior civil service as part of a regular and ongoing equal pay review programme. Equal pay is measured for the senior civil service by the Cabinet Office.

The average pay was for (i) women and (ii) men in the Department in (A) 2000-01 and (B) 2005-06 and what women’s average pay is as a percentage of men’s average pay are shown in the following table.

2000-01 is the earliest period for which an accurate comparison can be provided.

2005-06

2000-01

Women

25,740

20,011

Men

29,070

24,968

Women’s pay as percentage of men’s

88.5

80.2

The number of (1) women and (2) men the Department employed in three of the last five years, broken down by grade, is shown in the following table. Data for 2001, 2003 and 2005 are readily available having previously been used for other purposes. Data for 2002 and 2004 can be provided, but at disproportionate cost.

Permanent staff by responsibility level and gender: 2001, 2003 and 2005—Department of Trade and Industry (core staff including UKTI and SBS)

Headcount: Full-time staff

Responsibility level1

Male

Female

Total

Percentage female staff

1 February 2001

All non-industrial staff

2,374

1,537

3,911

39.3

SCS level

134

39

173

22.5

All staff below SCS level

2,240

1,498

3,738

40.1

Grades 6/7

543

184

727

25.3

SEO/HEO level

856

354

1,210

29.3

EO level

409

349

758

46.0

AO/AA level

432

611

1,043

58.6

3 April 2003

All non-industrial staff

2,446

1,717

4,163

41.2

SCS level

156

73

229

31.9

All staff below SCS level

2,290

1,644

3,934

41.8

Grades 6/7

548

245

793

30.9

SEO/HEO level

951

435

1,386

31.4

EO level

390

385

775

49.7

AO/AA level

401

579

980

59.1

Unknown

13

6

19

31.6

10 November 2005

All non-industrial staff

2,140

1,414

3,554

39.8

SCS level

136

46

182

25.3

All staff below SCS level

2,004

1,368

3,372

40.6

Grades 6/7

592

268

860

31.2

SEO/HEO level

844

441

1,285

34.3

EO level

307

307

614

50.0

AO/AA level

261

352

613

57.4

Headcount: Part-time staff

Responsibility level1

Male

Female

Total

Percentage female staff

1 February 2001

All non-industrial staff

33

246

279

88.2

SCS level

4

14

18

77.8

All staff below SCS level

29

232

261

88.9

Grades 6/7

4

51

55

92.7

SEO/HEO level

8

48

56

85.7

EO level

12

32

44

72.7

AO/AA level

5

101

106

95.3

3 April 2003

All non-industrial staff

46

301

347

86.7

SCS level

All staff below SCS level

46

301

347

86.7

Grades 6/7

14

63

77

81.8

SEO/HEO level

12

62

74

83.8

EO level

10

60

70

85.7

AO/AA level

10

116

126

92.1

Unknown

1

1

100.0

10 November 2005

All non-industrial staff

36

268

304

88.2

SCS level

4

11

15

73.3

All staff below SCS level

32

257

289

88.9

Grades 6/7

10

68

78

87.2

SEO/HEO level

12

62

74

83.8

EO level

6

38

44

86.4

AO/AA level

4

89

93

95.7

Full-time equivalent2

Responsibility level1

Male

Female

Total

Percentage female staff

1February 2001

All non-industrial staff

2,395.8

1,702.5

4,098.3

41.5

SCS level

137.2

49.4

186.7

26.5

All staff below SCS level

2,258.6

1,653.1

3,911.6

42.3

Grades 6/7

545.9

219.8

765.7

28.7

SEO/HEO level

861.3

386.6

1,247.8

31.0

EO level

415.5

370.7

786.2

47.2

AO/AA level

435.9

676.0

1,111.9

60.8

3 April 2003

All non-industrial staff

2,553.7

1,929.2

4,482.9

43.0

SCS level

156.6

69.8

226.4

30.8

All staff below SCS level

2,397.1

1,859.4

4,245.4

43.7

Grades 6/7

630.3

302.0

932.2

32.4

SEO/HEO level

962.9

476.8

1,439.7

33.1

EO level

395.7

426.6

822.3

51.9

AO/AA level

408.3

653.9

1,062.2

61.6

Unknown

13.0

6.7

19.7

34.0

10 November 2005

All non-industrial staff

2,165.3

1,596.3

3,761.6

42.4

SCS level

138.8

53.5

192.3

27.8

All staff below SCS level

2,026.5

1,542.8

3,569.2

43.2

Grades 6/7

599.6

316.2

915.8

34.5

SEO/HEO level

852.8

485.0

1,377.7

36.3

EO level

310.2

334.0

644.2

51.8

AO/AA level

263.8

407.7

671.5

60.7

1 This table shows staff in their substantive responsibility level, and therefore ignores the effect of temporary promotions. 2 Part-time staff are recorded according to the proportion of full-time hours worked.

Fuel Bills

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) mean and (b) median household (i) gas and (ii) electricity bill was in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will estimate the bill paid at each decile of income distribution in each case. (84736)

The Expenditure and Food Survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics showed that in 2004-05 the mean amount spent on gas was £287 per annum, while the mean amount spent on electricity was £313.

The median spend on gas was £271, while the median spend on electricity during 2004-05 was £276.

The amount of spend for the top of each decile in the distribution is shown for both gas and electricity in the table:

£

Annual spend on fuel according to position in spend decile (2004-05)

Decile (top of):

Gas

Electricity

1

0

44

2

0

156

3

130

199

4

221

241

5

271

277

6

325

317

7

373

373

8

445

456

9

577

574

Source: Office for National Statistics

Those in the lowest deciles of gas spend will pay nothing for their fuel due to a lack of connection to the gas network.

The amount spent on gas and electricity by each decile in the income distribution is as follows:

£

Annual spend on fuel per income decile1

Income decile

Gas

Electricity

Lowest

177

219

Second

219

250

Third

240

266

Fourth

266

287

Fifth

287

308

Sixth

292

318

Seventh

308

344

Eighth

339

360

Ninth

349

370

Tenth

417

428

1Source: Family Spending: A Report on the 2004-05 Expenditure and Food Survey (ONS: 2005)

Fuel Poverty

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to eliminate fuel poverty in vulnerable households in England by 2010. (85461)

Responsibility for tackling fuel poverty in England is shared between the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Following the Energy Review, we will be taking forward work with energy suppliers and other key players to examine how the continuing challenge of fuel poverty can be best addressed. The Energy Review also commits us to looking hard at how we can maximise the contribution made by our existing schemes. The Department of Trade and Industry will play an important role in this analysis.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs leads on the Warm Front scheme in England. The Warm Front scheme has resulted in improvements to the energy efficiency of the housing of those on a range of qualifying benefits and has provided assistance to over a million vulnerable households since 2000.

The Department of Trade and Industry itself has a number of policies to tackle the issue of fuel poverty. It has liaised closely with energy suppliers on the development of the Home Heat Helpline, which provides vulnerable customers and their representatives with a central point of information relating to the help available from their energy supplier and Government. It has encouraged the introduction of social tariffs and price freezes for fuel poor and low income customers.

The Department's Design and Demonstration Unit is a team of private sector secondees that works in support of Energy White Paper objectives. As part of the Unit's work, it has designed and delivered projects to provide gas connections to deprived communities, and it is now developing community projects utilising renewable technologies.

Fuel Prices

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his estimate is of the difference in the average price of a litre of petrol in rural and non-rural areas in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. (85880)

I am not aware of any data source that provides information on rural and non-rural petrol prices. There is anecdotal evidence that petrol prices in rural areas are likely to be higher than non-rural areas.

There are a variety of reasons why this is likely to be the case. These include:

Fuel throughput, in that the higher the throughput the lower the retail margin required to give a return on the investment. Rural garages are likely to have lower throughputs.

Bulk delivery charges, many sites have relatively small storage tanks since they are cheaper to install. However, they require more frequent replenishment and this results in some sites paying higher delivery charges. Again smaller tanks are likely to be more prevalent is smaller, rural petrol stations.

Competition; large, particularly supermarket sites in close proximity to one another in urban areas do tend to lead to lower prices.

Regional petrol prices are available on the AA website at http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuel/index.html.

Home Computing Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with representatives of the home computing industry about the consequences of the abolition of the Home Computing Initiative. (63837)

I would like to apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in replying to the matter raised. In response to his query I can confirm that the DTI has regular discussions with the industry on all matters of concern relevant to their sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the Home Computing Initiative was made available to staff in his Department; and how many staff had (a) applied for and (b) expressed interest in the scheme before the Budget. (63838)

The Home Computing Initiative was made available to staff in DTI and Insolvency Service (an executive agency of DTI that is participating in the DTI scheme) on 15 March 2006 as part of a wider scheme incorporating computers, childcare and bikes.

Over 400 staff in DTI expressed an interest in the scheme when it was initially contemplated in mid-2005.

Sixty-four people had registered for computers in the period 15 to 22 March (Budget day) and approximately 240 had registered by the computer closing date of 30 March. These figures include staff from DTI and Insolvency Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library the communications from his officials to HM Treasury on the home computing initiatives relating to the abolition of the tax exemption in the Budget. (66512)

I would like to apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in replying to the matter raised. In response to his query I can confirm that the DTI have regular discussion with the Treasury on budgetary initiatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of setting up his Department's Home Computing Initiative scheme, including consultancy and administrative costs. (66513)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire (Mr. Gauke) on 20 April 2006, Official Report, column 762W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he was first informed by the Treasury of the withdrawal of the tax exemption for loaned computer equipment under the Home Computing Initiative Scheme. (64166)

[holding answer 18 April 2006]: I would like to apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in replying to the matter raised. In response to her query the DTI have regular discussions with the Treasury on budgetary issues.

Home Working

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in his Department have been enabled to work from home in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. (67998)

All members of staff with an appropriate job are allowed to work from home subject to their line manager's approval. Laptops have been provided to staff that allow access to the Department’s IT Systems. Many of these were configured to allow staff to share them.

2003-04

1,400 Laptops were in use for secure remote access. The shared facility enabled up to 2,200 staff to use these machines if approved to do so.

2004-05

1,550 Laptops were in use for secure remote access. The shared facility enabled 2,550 staff to use these machines if approved to do so.

2005-06

1,550 Laptops were in use at the start of the year but this reduced to 1,200 by end-March 2006, as a consequence of the efficiency programme and reduction in staff numbers. A corresponding reduction in shared usage was applicable.

Ministerial Visits

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions he has visited each region in an official capacity in the last 12 months. (84009)

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has visited the North West twice and the North East, South East and East Midlands once.

Nuclear Energy

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to paragraph 5.134 of the Energy Review, Cm 6887, whether the Environment Agency will be able to recover (a) in full and (b) in part from any company putting forward proposals to build new nuclear plants the costs of the pre-licensing work. (86082)

Paragraph 5.9 of the Environment Agency submission to the Energy Review stated that:

“We will need to recover the costs associated with pre-authorisation/licensing assessments. There are legal provisions in the EA 95 to enable our costs to be recovered.”

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is his policy to replace those nuclear stations that he identifies in the Energy Review as coming to the end of their operational lives. (86114)

Any new power stations would be proposed, developed, constructed and operated by the private sector. It is for the private sector to make judgements on the future relative costs of different generating technologies, within the market framework established by Government. Developers will make their proposals for new generating capacity based on these judgments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the level of government subsidies likely to be required to stimulate the commissioning of new nuclear generating stations by energy companies. (85568)

It will be for the private sector to initiate, fund, construct and operate any new nuclear power station, and also meet full decommissioning costs and their full share of long term waste management costs.

Nuclear Materials (Transportation)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether vessels transporting nuclear material are escorted by the Royal Navy. (84866)

[holding answer 13 July 2006]: All shipments of civil nuclear material on a UK flagged vessel are carried out in accordance with the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations (NISR) 2003 which are administered and enforced by the Government's independent security regulator, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS). Before any shipment can commence, OCNS must be satisfied that the overall security measures are adequately robust to prevent the theft or sabotage of the material being transported.

British flagged transport vessels carrying nuclear material are not routinely escorted by the Royal Navy, but, where appropriate, prior coordination with the Royal Navy will be an important factor in the assessment of a Transport Security Plan. The ships will carry an escort unit of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary's (CNC) Marine Escort Group, which provides armed security for nuclear materials in transit. The Marine Escort Group has been specially trained to a high standard by the Royal Navy.

Offshore Transmission Regime

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to paragraph 5.57 of the Energy Review, what the scope is of the work being conducted on developing an offshore transmission regime; and if he will make a statement. (85723)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: Following my announcement on 30 March 2006 that the Government had decided to extend the regulated price control model to offshore transmission, DTI and Ofgem are working with industry to develop that new regime.

Ofgem issued a scoping document setting out the main issues that need to be considered on 3 April 2006. The document can be found at:

http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/temp/ofgem/cache/cmsattach/14533_6006.pdf

Further information about the project to deliver the new regime including project structure, governance and timetable can be found at:

http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/policy/offshore-transmission/page28604.html

and

http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/policy/offshore-transmission/offshore-transmission-experts-group/page28711.html

Post Office Closures

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the closure of the Shrewsbury post office. (85484)

I understand that the directly managed office in Shrewsbury is to be relocated to premises 50 yards away under a franchising agreement and customers will benefit from extended opening hours and have access to the same full range of services. Decisions on individual offices are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. The 500 directly managed post offices made combined annual losses of some £50 million in 2005-06 and Post Office Ltd are seeking more cost-effective ways of providing main post office services to the public.

Recruitment

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on recruitment, search and selection agencies in each of the last five years. (68337)

Expenditure on recruitment for the past three financial years has been extracted from the Department’s finance system. Information for the other years requested is not readily available on a consistent basis and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

The following table shows the breakdown on recruitment, search and selection agencies by DTI and its agencies.

Financial year

Expenditure on recruitment, search and selection agencies (£000)

2003-04

1,427

2004-05

784

2005-06

1,009

Renewable Energy

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made when benchmarking UK performance of the proportion of (a) energy and (b) electricity in other EU countries which is supplied from renewable sources. (84956)

According to data published by Eurostat in 2004 the United Kingdom ranked 17th of the 25 member states of the EU in terms of the share of electricity from renewable energy to gross electricity consumption. In 1995 the UK ranked 19th and if all countries meet their 2010 targets the UK will move up to 15th. It should be noted that the countries that rank highest (Austria, Latvia and Sweden) have significant and well developed hydro resources and plentiful supplies of biomass (mainly wood).

The International Energy Agency (IEA) produces statistics that exclude hydro generation from the renewables share of electricity production, but this is available for only 19 of the 25 EU member states that are also IEA members. On this basis the UK ranked 13th out of 19 in the latest available year (2003) with Denmark the highest ranking because of its well-developed wind power sector.

The IEA also produces statistics on the contribution of renewable sources to total primary energy supply for the 19 EU member states. Here the UK ranked 17th out of 19 in 2003.

The spring 2006 edition of the “Ernst and Young Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices”, which provide scores for national renewable energy markets, support mechanisms, renewable energy infrastructures and their suitability for individual technologies, placed the UK fifth most attractive in the world (third in Europe) of all countries http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsif/International/ECU_Library

The UK has a target that by 2010, 10 per cent. of all UK electricity produced will come from renewable sources. It was recently announced in the Energy Review (2006) that, in order to further boost investors’ confidence, the Renewables Obligation would be extended to 20 per cent.

Restriction of Hazardous Substances

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances regulations from small business and sole traders; and if he will make a statement. (85583)

The DTI consulted on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive on three separate occasions before the regulations were laid before Parliament. On each occasion we received representations from a wide range of stakeholders including small businesses, sole traders and trade bodies representing these interests.

Russia

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much gas his Department estimates the UK will import from Russia in (a) 2006, (b) 2010 and (c) 2020, (i) as a percentage of total consumption and (ii) in cubic metres; and what percentage of that gas his Department estimates will be (A) produced by Gazprom and (B) transported through Gazprom's pipeline network; (85082)

(2) what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the security of gas supply to the UK of the law passed by the Russian State Duma on Gazprom's control of gas exports from Russia;

(3) what his assessment is of the impact on UK businesses of the proposed amendments to Russia's Subsoil Law on foreign participation in Russian oil and gas projects;

(4) what his assessment is of the impact on security of energy supplies to the UK of the Russian Federation's (a) level of compliance with the provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty and (b) policy on the Transit Protocol to the Energy Charter Treaty;

(5) what assessment his Department has made of the impact on UK investments in Russia of the Russian Federation's level of compliance with the Energy Charter Treaty;

(6) what plans he has to make representations to his Russian counterpart about the proposed amendments to Russia's Subsoil Law on foreign participation in Russian oil and gas projects.

The UK's gas import dependence is set to rise to 80-90 per cent. by 2020, of which a significant proportion is expected to be imported from the European mainland through existing and planned interconnection capacity. The International Energy Agency forecast that the EU will import 25 per cent. of its gas needs from Russia by 2030. It is, therefore, possible that some Russian gas will be imported into the UK, albeit indirectly and commingled with gas from other sources (such as Norway, the Netherlands and LNG from outside Europe) as part of the European gas system.

The contractual origin of imports into the UK is a decision for companies operating in the UK's liberalised gas market, taking into account elements such as cost, reliability, availability and the need for a diverse range of sources to provide security of supply. Given that there is no direct physical interconnection capacity with Russia and contractual flows do not necessarily follow physical flows, estimates of the type requested are not made.

Given that the UK does not import directly from Russia, any impact on the UK from Russia's legislation or compliance with international agreements such as the Energy Charter Treaty will be felt most directly through its effect on European markets. As such, the UK will continue to press for open, competitive and liberalised European energy markets.

In the short term, we expect the Russian gas export laws to have very little real effect on European security of supply, as Gazprom's already holds a defacto monopoly on exports by virtue of their network ownership. Longer-term effects are unclear; however, should gas transit through Russia become too commercially unattractive, Caspian and Central Asian producers will begin to seek alternative supply routes for their products to European and global markets.

The proposed legislative changes surrounding Russia's subsoil law continue to be subject to discussion in the Russian government. The DTI and FCO are in contact with UK businesses involved in the Russian Energy market, in order to remain updated on the impact that any final series of laws may have.

The UK, with other EU member states, will continue to encourage Russia to liberalise its domestic markets and provide fair and open access to its resources and pipelines in order to foster further competition in energy supplies into Europe and to ensure best use is made of its finite resources.

The UK, with other G7 members, has encouraged Russia to move forward during its G8 presidency and ratify the Energy Charter Treaty, of which it is already a signatory and applies on a provisional basis. We would envisage that these Global Energy Security discussions will continue during the Russian presidency of the G8.

Russia has called for the negotiations on the Transit Protocol to be completed before it can ratify the full Treaty. Through the EU, we continue to work with Russia towards an agreed text for the Transit Protocol while at the same time emphasising to Russia the importance of open, transparent, efficient and competitive markets at all stages of the energy supply chain as the key to global energy security..

Whilst the absence of ratification may bring some uncertainty to the rights of both foreign and domestic investors, it is important to note that the UK has a separate bi- lateral investment Treaty with Russia that protects the investment of UK firms.

Sir Alistair Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Sir Alistair Graham was appointed to the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of the Telephone Information Services; when he took up his position; and what his rate of remuneration is. (85541)

Sir Alistair Graham was appointed as Chairman of ICSTIS on 2 February 2006. Sir Alistair took up his appointment on 1 June 2006 and he receives an annual salary of £45,000.

Small Change Big Difference

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department and its agencies have taken following the launch of the Government's Small Change Big Difference Campaign. (72015)

None specifically. The Department already promotes healthier lifestyles by providing its employees with gym facilities; healthier eating choices and fresh fruit are always available in the staff canteen.

Staff Development

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost was of (a) staff away days and (b) staff team building exercises in his Department in each of the last three years. (69005)

Uranium

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what analysis his Department has undertaken of the security and sustainability of the UK's supply of uranium for civil use. (85462)

In addition to responses to the Energy Consultation the Department analysed the following:

OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, “Uranium 2005—Resources, Production and Demand”. OECD Publications, Paris, June 2006.

OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, “Uranium 2003—Resources, Production and Demand”. OECD Publications, Paris, July 2004.

Sustainable Development Commission, “The role of nuclear power in a low carbon economy—Paper 8: Uranium Resource Availability”. March 2006.

Morgan Stanley, Supply/Demand Outlook: Uranium Oxide—Inventory Cycle Coming to an End, “Basic Materials: Global Insights”. December 15, 2004, pp 47-52

Morgan Stanley, Uranium Oxide—Gaining Momentum on a Forecast Supply Deficit, “Metals & Mining: Global Insights”—April 6, 2005 pp 16-19

TradeTech, LLC's Uranium Information web site: http://www.uranium.info/ind.ex.html

World Nuclear Association, Resources and Uranium Market: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/info.htm#resourcesumarket

Welsh Energy Policy

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which aspects of energy policy in Wales are (a) devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government and (b) reserved matters for the United Kingdom Government. (86423)

In energy policy the Welsh Assembly Government are responsible for the areas of fuel poverty, energy efficiency and some aspects of planning.

The Energy Review document, “The Energy Challenge” provides detail about which areas of planning are devolved, and which are reserved.

This information can be found on pages 138-141 of the above document, which can be accessed on the DTI website: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review.

FIFA World Cup

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complimentary tickets his Department has received for games taking place at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany. (63907)

We have not been notified of any employees receiving complimentary tickets for World Cup matches that took place in Germany this summer.

Communities and Local Government

Local Government Projects

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding her Department provided to 4ps in each of the last five years; and how much funding has been allocated for 2006-07. (86252)

The Government paid the following amounts of Revenue Support Grant to the Public Private Partnerships Programme:

£

2001-02

1,109,000

2002-03

1,250,000

2003-04

2,875,000

2004-05

2,947,000

2005-06

3,947,000

2006-07

4,447,000

In addition, the Department's predecessors paid the 4ps the sum of £80,250 for the development of a procurement pack for Joint Service Centre PFI projects, of which £35,250 was paid in 2002-03 and £55,000 in 2003-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role 4ps has in the decision-making process during procurement; and if she will make a statement. (86253)

Subject to their legal duties, including the duty of best value and public procurement law, local authorities are responsible for taking their own decisions on procurement. In conjunction with other change agents, such as the regional centres of excellence, 4ps offers support to local authorities, including through the national efficiency and strategic procurement skills programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to 4ps about its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to make available, on request, its reports on projects which it has considered. (86254)

4ps is an independent company owned by the Local Government Association. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), alongside other bodies, provides 4ps with funding to meet the capacity building needs of local authorities. DCLG has not issued guidance to 4ps on its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Consultation Papers

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to what extent her Department stores responses to consultation papers (a) electronically and (b) solely in hard copy. (85707)

Where responses to consultation papers are received electronically, they are stored in that format, but they are made available in hardcopy where requested. Where responses are received as hardcopy we do not normally convert to electronic format, although the need to do so may be considered on a case by case basis.

The Department for Communities and Local Government welcomes consultation responses in any format as consultation is a key part of the policy making process. All public consultations are subject to the Consultation Code of Practice.

Council Tax

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate the Government has made of the proportion of an average Band D council tax bill in England that funds (a) domestic waste collections and (b) domestic waste disposal. (85714)

It is not possible to say how much of council tax income can be attributed to pay for any particular service. This is because it is not possible to say whether any item of revenue expenditure is funded from council tax or from the government grants and business rates that also finance revenue expenditure.

Domestic waste collection and disposal costs for local authorities in England in 2004-05 are estimated at £1.3 billion and £1.4 billion respectively. This is 1.4 per cent. and 1.5 per cent. respectively of net current expenditure by local authorities in England.

Source:

2004-05 Revenue Outturn (RO) forms

Departmental Website

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what internet domain names her Department owns; and for what purpose they were purchased. (83102)

The following domain names are owned by DCLG:

Domain name

Purpose

bmespark.com

Black Minority Ethnic Supporting people web site

bmespark.co.uk

Alias of bmespark.com

bmespark.org.uk

Alias of bmespark.com

bvpi.gov.uk

Best value performance indicators website

cleanersafergreener.gov.uk

Best practice website on building cleaner safer greener communities

communities.gov.uk

Corporate DCLG web presence

community-fire-safety.co.uk

Alias of firekills.gov.uk

community-fire-safety.org.uk

Alias of firekills.gov.uk

dclg.gov.uk

Alternative corporate website address—redirects to communities.gov.uk

fire.gov.uk

Fire gateway website

firekills.gov.uk

Fire safety website

firekills.co.uk

Alias of firekills.gov.uk

fire-kills.co.uk

Alias of firekills.gov.uk

firelink.org.uk

National Wide Area Radio system for the fire and rescue service website

firesafetytoolbox.org.uk

Fire safety campaigning material for fire service

firesafetytoolbox.co.uk

Alias of firesafetytoolbox.co.uk

futureleadership.gov.uk

Management development programme for local authorities

getfirewise.com

Children’s fire safety guidance

getfirewise.co.uk

Alias of getfirewise.com

getfirewise.gov.uk

Alias of getfirewise.com

homeinformationpack.gov.uk

Website providing details of new home information packs

homeinformationpacks.gov.uk

Alias of homeinformationpack.gov.uk

iggi.gov.uk

Intra Governmental Group on Geographic Information website

info4local.gov.uk

Provides local authorities with quick and easy access to information from central Government

irfs.org.uk

Independent review of the fire service website—now defunct

localegov.gov.uk

Local egovernment programme website

local-egov.gov.uk

Alias of localegov.gov.uk

mapsontap.gov.uk

Information and mapping service for government

mycouncil.gov.uk

Directs public to direct.gov.uk/mycouncil

neighbourhood.gov.uk

Neighbourhood renewal unit website

neighbourhoods.gov.uk

Alias of neighbourhood.gov.uk

neighbourhoodrenewal.gov.uk

Alias of neighbourhood.gov.uk

nlud.org

National Land use database website

odpm.gov.uk

Former corporate web presence—redirects to communities.gov.uk

planningportal.gov.uk

Online planning and building regulations resource

propertylicense.gov.uk

Alias of propertylicence.gov.uk

propertylicence.gov.uk

Direct public to information on mandatory licensing for landlords of homes in multiple occupation

renewal.net

Neighbourhood renewal guidance website

spdirectory.org.uk

Supporting People Programme Directory of Services

spkweb.org.uk

Supporting People programme for vulnerable people—website

togetherwecan.info

Together we can campaign website

womenandequality.gov.uk

Women and equality unit website

Departmental Websites

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what websites come under her Department’s responsibility; and what the (a) cost and (b) number of visitors to those sites were in 2005-06. (83099)

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry) on 4 July 2006, Official Report, column 958W for the list of websites under the Department’s responsibility and the cost of those sites. Visitor figures are shown as follows for DCLG sites April 2005-March 2006. DCLG websites are hosted on a number of platforms with different methodologies for evaluating usage. I have listed those sites for which visitor figures are available. Where estimated, figures are based on averages or projections of available data where hosting arrangements changed during the year.

Visitor figures

Main corporate site (odpm.gov.uk and subdomains)

12,271,208

Planning portal (planningportal.gov.uk)

834,432

Renewal net (renewal.net)

752,190

Women and equality unit (womenandequality.gov.uk)

1272,400

Info4local (info4local.gov.uk)

246,500

Neighbourhood renewal unit (neighbourhood.gov.uk)

164,137

Supporting people (spkweb.org.uk)

137,579

Fire Kills (www.firekills.gov.uk)

316,813

Other DCLG sites for which statistics are available

246,714

1 Estimated

Employment Opportunities (Ethnic Minorities)

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps are being taken to promote opportunities for (a) women and (b) men of ethnic minority origin to gain employment in (i) Coventry, South and (ii) the West Midlands. (83418)

I have been asked to reply.

We are committed to helping all those who may be disadvantaged in the labour market. Specifically, we have a public service agreement target to

‘Increase the employment rate of ethnic minorities and significantly reduce the difference between the overall employment rate and that of ethnic minorities’.

Support for people from ethnic minorities is provided locally through Jobcentre Plus, which offers employment services to all people of working age. For those furthest from the labour market and who are not using Jobcentre Plus services, our Ethnic Minority Outreach programme also offers the opportunity for people to find and keep work. Since its introduction Ethnic Minority Outreach has achieved over 10,000 successful job outcomes.

On 11 July we announced the launch of a new independent body to help ethnic minorities find work. The Ethnic Minority Advisory Group, which is made up of 22 representatives from across the ethnic community, has been set up as part of the Government’s welfare reform agenda to boost employment opportunities for ethnic minorities.

The new advisory group will be a way of getting to the heart of the community and finding out the best ways to close the employment gap. To do this, we will work in partnership, focussing on what will work for local communities.

Housing Act

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she next plans to discuss the operation of section 21 (4a) of the Housing Act 1988 with local authority representatives. (82709)

My Department has never received any requests from local authorities or their representative bodies to discuss with them section 21 (4a) of the Housing Act 1988. This is the section that allows private landlords, by giving two months notice, to regain possession of their property following the end of a contracted fixed term or during a periodic tenancy provided it is six months after the start of the original tenancy.

Swindon Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the meetings held by officials from her Department with Swindon borough council in 2004 and 2005 to improve the performance of the councillors running Swindon borough council. (86001)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: Meetings between officials from the then ODPM and Swindon borough council during 2004 and 2005 were intended to encourage a sustained focus by the Council on overall improvement of its performance. By December 2005, Swindon had improved from a Comprehensive Performance Assessment rating of “poor” to achieve a rating of two stars and “improving well”. In the light of this improved performance, ODPM’s close engagement with Swindon borough council ceased in early 2006 as it was considered to have achieved its objectives. Swindon continues to receive support, where necessary, from the Government Office for the South West.

Education and Skills

Autism

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance is given to local authorities to assist them in developing best practice on the disabled children’s module of the National Service Framework 2004 when identifying autistic spectrum disorder; and if he will make a statement. (85008)

Standard 8 of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, targeted at local authorities and others, is for disabled children and young people and those with complex health needs. Children and young people receive co-ordinated, high-quality child and family-centred services that are based on assessed needs, promote social inclusion and, where possible, enable them and their families to live ordinary lives.

The NSF has been supported by a number of exemplars, including one on autism. This sets out an optimal pathway for a boy with autism, beginning at the age of three, from initial concern and contact with primary care, through a developmental and a multi-agency assessment, the drawing up of a family support plan and early educational intervention and on to the transitions between primary and secondary school and secondary school and adult life.

Local authorities have a duty under the Education Act 1996, where necessary, to identify, assess and make suitable provision for children with special educational needs (SEN), including those with autistic spectrum disorders. When doing so, local authorities have to have regard to the SEN Code of Practice. “Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Good Practice Guidance” (2002, Department for Education and Skills and Department of Health) is also available for local authorities. It includes pointers to good practice on identification.

Buddhism

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Department's list of organisations consulted on religious issues affecting matters concerning his Department, what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Network of Buddhist Organisations is representative of that faith's adherents; and if he will make a statement. (86280)

The DfES has made no such assessment. The Network of Buddhist Organisations is one of the organisations that the Department consults on relevant issues.

Bullying

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the incidence of bullying in schools was in each of the last three years. (86419)

We are unable to provide this information as we do not collect these data centrally. However, in our anti-bullying guidance, we encourage all schools to record incidents of bullying and there is a requirement to record all racist incidents.

CAFCASS

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many private law cases were completed by CAFCASS in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06; (83252)

(2) what the average yearly work load was for a guardian ad litem in each of the last five years.

These are matters for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, CAFCASS. Anthony Douglas, the chief executive, has written to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 14 July 2006:

Parliamentary Questions Concerning CAFCASS

I am writing to you in response to the two parliamentary questions that you tabled recently.

PQ83252—how many private law cases were completed by CAFCASS in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06.

Private law reports completed by CAFCASS were as follows:

Number

2004-05

29,761

2005-06

25,290

PQ83256— what was the average yearly workload for a Guardian ad Litem in each of the last five years.

CAFCASS practitioners cover public and private law cases. Some other work, such as adoption cases, can be the subject of either a public or a private law case.

Based on previous years calculations, the average workload for each individual practitioner at any one time is as follows:

Number

Care (public)

10

8

6

4

0

Other non-care (private)

0

6

13

20

26

The duration for each care case (from application to final order) will affect the number at any one time. For the purpose of this comparison, a care case is assumed to take 52 weeks. The Public Law Judicial Protocol aims to see all cases completed within 40 weeks, and this target will be supported by the recommendations of the recent review of Care Proceedings, once implemented.

Average workloads in CAFCASS are changing considerably due to changes in working practices underway, such as the rapid rise in the amount of practitioner time going into dispute resolution work in private law cases. Other reforms, such as writing shorter more analytical reports, also aim to increase productivity and the number of cases a practitioner can deal with at any one time within a reasonable caseload.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what staff redundancies in the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service are projected during 2006-07; (83057)

(2) what savings the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service will be making during 2006-07; and what assessment has been made of the impact of these savings.

[holding answer 6 July 2006]: These are matters for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, CAFCASS. Anthony Douglas, the Chief Executive, has written to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 14 July 2006:

I am writing to you in response to the two parliamentary questions that you tabled recently.

PQ83057—what staff redundancies in CAFCASS are projected during the current financial year.

CAFCASS has no plans for redundancies in the current financial year. I anticipate that savings targets can be achieved through increased productivity and efficiency savings.

PQ83058—what savings CAFCASS will be making during the current financial year; and whether there has been an assessment of the impact of these savings.

CAFCASS’s budget in the current financial year has the same baseline as last year. Savings of £4.5 million will need to be made to balance the budget. We have received an extra £4.7 million funding from DfES for this financial year only, to help with our change programmes. This will help us to develop our IT systems, to roll out our new case management information system across all our offices, and to reform our working practices where this is needed. The bulk of savings will be made through efficiency measures, such as procurement savings and more efficient working of cases.

The impact of savings targets and measures is being kept under constant review, both at Board and Executive level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what plans he has to upgrade IT systems within the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in 2006-07; (83403)

(2) what plans he has for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service training budget for 2006-07;

(3) what the average time taken to complete a Section 7 report in private law was in the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in the latest period for which figures are available;

(4) how many cases are on the waiting list in public law in the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, broken down by region;

(5) what average length of time was taken to complete a Section 7 case with private law in the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in each of the last 12 months.

[holding answer 10 July 2006]: These are matters for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, CAFCASS. Anthony Douglas, the Chief Executive, has written to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 14 July 2006:

Parliamentary Questions Concerning CAFCASS

I am writing to you in response to the five parliamentary questions that you tabled recently.

PQ83403—what plans he has to upgrade IT systems within the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in 2006-07.

During 2006/07 CAFCASS will be upgrading its IT network and moving to a more up to date Internet Protocol Over Virtual Private Network system which will improve functionality and allow for further development across a range of IT-enabled initiatives. This will support the roll out of our new Case Recording System, document management systems and will support mobile/flexible working. This is a major development programme with a detailed implementation plan. Completion of all programmes is expected by April 2007.

PQ83404—what plans he has to freeze the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service training budget for 2006-07.

An additional £500,000 has been put into the CAFCASS training budget in 2006-07, thereby increasing spend on training to £1.22 million. This does not include staff time, which is an additional support at both the national and regional levels.

PQ83405—what the average time taken to complete a Section 7 report in private law was in the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in the latest period for which figures are available.

This figure is not kept as a statistic or performance indicator. The notional average for purposes of workload calculation is 25 hours, though with the complexity of cases increasing, this is likely to be an underestimate. A great number of cases that were once the subject of s7 reports are now dealt with earlier and quicker in our dispute resolution programmes. This in turn means the fewer cases subject to s7 reports are those much harder to resolve, and consequently, they take longer. In practice, the variation in cases is large, between 20 hours at the lower end and over 100 hours for the hardest cases.

PQ83521—how many cases are on the waiting list in public law in the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, broken down by region.

Our latest figure for this, at the end of May 2006, was as follows:

CAFCASS Public Law Unallocated Cases Snapshot, End May 2006

Region

Public Law Unallocated Cases

Total Workload

Percentage of Total Workload

East Midlands

0

621

0.0

Eastern

30

962

3.1

Greater London

89

2,358

3.6

North East

32

663

4.8

North West

21

1,444

1.5

South East

42

838

5.0

South West

6

989

0.6

Southern

6

868

0.7

West Midlands

37

1,289

2.9

Yorkshire and Humberside

11

1,301

0.8

National Total

274

11,333

2.4

Our Key Performance Indicator for this is that no more than 3% of public law cases should be unallocated at month end.

PQ83522—what average length of time was taken to complete a Section 7 case with private law in the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in each of the last 12 months.

In respect of cases received and completed during the period 1 January 2006 to 31 May 2006, the average duration of a s7 Report (working days) by regions was as follows:

Region

Number of Days

East Midlands

75

Eastern

65

North East

63

North West

45

South East

68

South West

58

Southern

90

West Midlands

71

Yorkshire

64

Giving a National Average of 63 days.

We do not keep statistics of how many weeks or months these days represent. Cases vary in the length they take for a range of reasons, such as their complexity, and the requirements of all the other cases an individual practitioner holds on their caseload at any given time.

Child Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost of the Child Care Affordability Programme (CCAP) has been in each year of its existence; and what estimate he has made of the cost of the introduction of the CCAP to all other local authorities. (85795)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: The Childcare Affordability Programme launched in November 2005 is jointly funded by the London Development Agency (£22 million over 2005-08) and the DfES (£11 million over 2006-08). The DfES contribution is £5 million for 2006-07 and £6 million for 2007-08. DfES is also funding the evaluation of the Programme at a cost of £300,000.

It is too early in the Programme to consider its extension to other local authorities.

Disability Awareness

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provision is made within the school curriculum for awareness of physical, medical and mental disabilities; and if he will make a statement. (86346)

There are many opportunities in the school curriculum for raising awareness of physical, medical and mental disabilities. Through the non-statutory Personal, Social and Health Education framework and statutory National Curriculum Citizenship Education, pupils are taught that differences and similarities between people arise from a number of factors, including disability, and about the need for mutual respect and understanding. Pupils are encouraged to reflect on spiritual, moral, social, and cultural issues, using imagination to understand other people’s experiences. They are taught about the causes, symptoms and treatments for stress and depression, and to identify strategies for prevention and management and how to seek professional advice confidently and find information about health. National Curriculum Science also examines how human health is affected by a range of environmental and inherited factors.

Examiners

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people are employed as (a) GCSE and (b) A-level examiners in England. (86432)

No central database is kept of examiner numbers. However, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) estimates that the three English-based unitary awarding bodies (AQA, OCR and Edexcel) contracted approximately 56,000 people as examiners and moderators for GCSEs, A-levels and related qualifications in 2005/06.

GCSEs

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students achieved five or more GCSEs grade A*-C in rural comprehensive secondary schools of (a) fewer than 100 students, (b) 100-199 students, (c) 200-299 students, (d) 300-399 students, (e) 400-499 students, (f) 500-599 students, (g) 600-700 students and (h) over 700 students in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. (85972)

The information requested can be found in the following table:

GCSE and equivalent achievement of pupils1 at the end of Key Stage 4 by the end of 2004/052 in comprehensive schools3, by size of school

Total number of pupils in school

Number of pupils at end of Key Stage 4

Number of pupils at end of Key Stage 4 achieving 5+ A*-C at GCSE or equivalent

Percentage of pupils at end of Key Stage 4 achieving 5+ A*-C at GCSE or equivalent

(a) <100

9

2

22.2

(b) 100-199

319

155

48.6

(c) 200-299

474

233

49.2

(d) 300-399

1,493

539

36.1

(e) 400-499

5,599

2,398

42.8

(f) 500-599

14,043

6,621

47.1

(g) 600-699

20,568

10,323

50.2

(h) >=700

480,379

265,650

55.3

1 Number of pupils on roll at the end of Key Stage 4 in the 2004/05 academic year. 2 Includes achievements by these pupils in previous academic years. 3 Including City Technology Colleges and Academies.

Pupils' Travel

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what average distance a pupil travels to school in (a) rural and (b) non-rural areas; what steps the Government have taken to lower the cost of travel to school for students in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. (85943)

The Department does not routinely collect information on the average distance pupils travel to school, and an answer to this question could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, data derived from pupil level annual school census returns in 2005 showed the following pattern in secondary schools by region1.

1 Source PLASC 2005. Includes pupils aged five to 15 attending maintained secondary schools (excluding middle deemed), CTCs and academies. Distances are measured on a straight line basis.

Region

Distance (Miles)

North East

1.53

North West

1.60

Yorkshire and Humberside

1.69

East Midlands

1.99

West Midlands

1.64

East of England

2.14

London

1.55

South East

2.13

South West

2.17

England

1.83

The Education and Inspections Bill includes provisions that extend entitlement to free home to school transport for low-income families, and will enable a small number of local authorities to propose pathfinder schemes to test innovative arrangements supporting choice, and increasing the proportion of pupils travelling by sustainable means.

SATS

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance his Department offers schools on (a) the allocation of extra time for certain pupils in the SATS testing regime and (b) the criteria which should be applied in such cases; how the allocation of extra time across the country is monitored and assessed; and if he will make a statement. (86273)

Additional time is among the access arrangements available in the National Curriculum tests to enable children to take those tests on an equal footing. The circumstances in which pupils may be allowed additional time are set out in the “Assessment and reporting arrangements” booklets published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. These are sent to schools in October each year and are available from the website www.naa.org.uk/tests. The arrangements are monitored through the requests for permission for allowing additional time made by schools to local authorities and the National Assessment Agency, and in the routine monitoring of test administration undertaken by local authorities and the National Assessment Agency.

School Premises

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total area of land was taken up by school premises in England in each year since 1996. (86434)

Data on areas of school sites were supplied to my Department by local education authorities in 2001 and 2003. However, the completeness and quality of the data is not good enough to accurately assess the total area of land taken up by school premises.

Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many international students participated in the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme in 2005; and what estimate he has made of the number of international students who will participate in the scheme in 2006. (83158)

I have been asked to reply.

2,889 international students participated in the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme in 2005.

Between 1 January 2006 and 30 June 2006 a total of 2,000 international students participated in the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme. On that basis it is estimated that this figure will rise to over 4,000 before the end of 2006.

This information has not been quality assured, and is not a National Statistic. It should be treated as provisional management information and may be subject to change.

Student Funding

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average amount of funding per student is in comprehensive secondary schools of (a) fewer than 100, (b) 100-199, (c) 200-299, (d) 300-399, (e) 400-499, (f) 500-599, (g) 600-700 and (h) over 700 students in (i) rural areas and (ii) non-rural areas in 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. (85948)

The available information is contained within the following table:

Comprehensive secondary budgeted expenditure1 per pupil2 in urban and rural schools3 by school size in England during the 2006-07 financial year.

Size of school

3Urban schools

3Rural schools

(a) less than 100 pupils

4,790

(b) 100 up to, but not including, 200

4,700

6,340

(c) 200 up to, but not including, 300

5,580

5,830

(d) 300 up to, but not including, 400

5,150

4,320

(e) 400 up to, but not including, 500

4,990

4,220

(f) 500 up to, but not including, 600

4,790

3,990

(g) 600 up to, but not including, 700

4,590

3,810

(h) 700 and above

4,120

3,830

All school sizes

4,170

3,850

1 Budgeted expenditure includes total budget share plus Schools Standards Grant, School Development Grant, Other Standards Fund Allocation, Devolved School Means grant, Threshold and performance pay and Support for schools in financial difficulty. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. This is drawn from the 2006-07 Section 52 Budget Statement (Table 2). Schools that are proposed to close according to Edubase (the DfES database of educational establishments) in the 2006-07 financial year have been excluded.

2 Pupil numbers are taken from Table 2 of Section 52 Budget, FTE Pupils (including LSC pupils).

3 The urban/rural classification is drawn from the Edubase.

4 No schools.

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 13 July 2006.

2. Data remain provisional and are subject to change by local authorities.

Teachers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the availability of trained specialist school teachers in (a) English, (b) mathematics, (c) science, (d) modern languages and (e) information and communication technology in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. (84746)

The information is not available in the format requested.

The following tables provide the information available on the recruitment, training and teachers in service by subject specialism. This information is not available for rural areas only.

Table 1 provides the number of students recruited to initial teacher training courses by phase and subject for academic years 2001/02 to 2005/06.

Table 1: Recruitment to initial teacher training courses1, 2—Academic years 2000/01 to 2005/06 by phase and subject specialism, England

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

Percentage increase 2004/05 to 2005/06

Actual

Places

% difference +/-

Primary and secondary

Undergraduate

8,100

7,830

7,790

7,850

8,250

8,170

-1

Postgraduate

19,620

21,260

23,370

25,780

25,860

25,250

-2

Of which:

School centred/ other non-HEI

1,060

1,190

1,420

1,540

1,720

1,740

1

Total

27,720

29,090

31,160

33,630

34,110

33,410

34,300

-3

-2

Fast Track3

n/a

110

120

300

400

420

Grand total

27,720

29,190

31,280

33,930

34,520

33,830

Primary

Undergraduate

6,580

6,390

6,490

6,600

7,030

6,960

-1

Postgraduate

6,590

6,720

8,000

8,980

9,420

9,060

-4

Of which:

School centred/ other non-HEI

510

590

740

810

890

910

2

Total

13,170

13,110

14,490

15,580

16,450

16,020

15,800

1

-3

Fast Track3

n/a

30

30

60

90

90

Grand total

13,170

13,140

14,520

15,640

16,540

16,110

Secondary

Undergraduate

1,520

1,440

1,300

1,260

1,220

1,210

-1

Postgraduate

13,020

14,530

15,370

16,790

16,440

16,190

-2

Of which:

School centred/ other non-HEI

550

600

680

730

830

840

0

Total

14,540

15,980

16,670

18,050

17,670

17,390

18,500

-6

-2

Fast Track3

n/a

80

90

240

310

320

Grand total

14,540

16,060

16,760

18,290

17,980

17,720

Secondary by subject

Mathematics

1,290

1,550

1,670

1,940

2,030

2,010

2,350

-14

-1

English (inc. drama)

2,030

2,220

2,480

2,420

2,380

2,110

2,200

-4

-11

Science

2,410

2,590

2,700

2,870

2,830

2,930

3,225

-9

4

Modern foreign languages

1,640

1,710

1,730

1,820

1,620

1,560

1,900

-18

-4

Technology4

1,860

2,160

2,400

2,670

2,610

2,570

2,890

-11

-2

History

910

920

990

1,000

910

850

810

5

-7

Geography

900

1,030

950

990

900

820

925

-12

-10

Physical education

1,210

1,330

1,330

1,590

1,530

1,530

1,450

6

0

Art

850

840

890

930

860

780

800

-3

-10

Music

560

650

600

620

600

650

690

-5

8

Religious education

570

590

580

590

630

670

730

-8

7

Citizenship5

0

150

190

220

240

230

240

-5

-3

Other6

320

230

170

230

250

360

290

26

46

Vocational subjects7

n/a

n/a

n/a

160

280

330

18

Total

14,540

15,980

16,670

18,050

17,670

17,390

18,500

-6

-2

Fast Track3

n/a

80

90

240

310

320

Grand total

14,540

16,060

16,760

18,290

17,980

17,720

n/a = not available.

1 Recruitment figures for 2005/06 are provisional and are subject to change. 2 Includes Universities and other HE institutions, SCITT and OU, but excludes employment based routes. Recruitment numbers shown are rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages have been calculated on the actual figure, rather than the rounded. 3 2001/02 was the first year of Fast Track recruitment. 4 Technology includes design and technology, information and communications technology, business studies and home economics. 52001 /02 was the first year of recruitment for citizenship. 6 Other includes classics, dance, economics, media, performing arts and social studies. 7 Vocational subjects includes applied ICT, applied science, applied business, engineering, manufacturing, and health and social care. 2003/04 was the first year of recruitment for these subjects. Source: TDA's ITT Trainee Numbers Census 2000/01 - 2005/06 Available places—DfES.

Table 2 provides the number of teachers gaining qualified teachers status by qualification and phase of training in academic years 2001/02 to 2003/04.

Table 2: Teachers gaining qualified teacher status1 in academic years 2001/02 to 2003/04—Qualification by phase of training, England

2001/02

2002/03

2003/04

UG

PG

Total

UG

PG

Total

UG

PG

Total

Primary and secondary

6,340

16,940

23,280

6,250

19,180

25,430

5,880

21,460

27,340

Primary

5,110

5,610

10,720

5,140

6,800

11,930

4,890

7,580

12,470

Secondary

1,220

11,330

12,550

1,110

12,380

13,490

990

13,880

14,870

Of which:

Mathematics

120

970

1,090

120

1,140

1,270

100

1,420

1,520

English (inc. drama)

70

1,730

1,800

70

2,000

2,070

60

2,110

2,170

Science

120

1,910

2,030

120

2,030

2,140

90

2,230

2,310

Modern foreign languages

20

1,330

1,340

10

1,340

1,350

10

1,440

1,450

Technology2

270

1,270

1,540

260

1,600

1,850

240

1,810

2,060

History

790

790

840

840

850

850

Geography

20

780

810

20

770

800

10

840

850

Art and design

10

630

630

10

720

720

810

810

Music

20

450

470

20

440

460

10

500

510

Religious education

440

440

10

430

440

450

460

Physical education

580

690

1,270

480

700

1,180

470

930

1,390

Other3

360

360

390

390

480

480

1 Includes those trained through SCITTs, but excludes completers through employment based routes. 2 Technology includes Business Studies, Information and Communications Technology and Design and Technology. 3 Other includes Citizenship, Citizenship and Business Studies, Citizenship and History, Social Studies, Classics and Ecc. Note:

“UG” equals Undergraduate, “PG” equals Postgraduate. Source: TDA Performance Profiles.

Table 3 provides the number of teachers teaching by subject in maintained secondary schools and the highest post A-level qualification held in the subject taught.

Table 3: Full-time teachers in maintained secondary schools—Highest post A-level qualification1 held in the subjects they teach2 to year groups 7-13, England

Percentage

Degree3

BEd

PGCE

Cert Ed

Other Qual.

No Qual.

Total teachers (Thousand)

Mathematics

42 ± 3

15 ± 2

9 ± 2

7 ± 1

2 ± 1

24 ± 2

28.2

English

51 ± 3

15 ± 2

7 ± 1

6 ± 1

1 ± 1

20 ± 2

29.4

Combined/General science

62 ± 3

12 ± 2

10 ± 2

4 ± 1

1 ± 1

11 ± 2

28.3

Biology4

71 ± 5

7 ± 3

11 ± 4

3 ± 2

- ± 1

7 ± 3

5.6

Chemistry4

72 ± 5

6 ± 3

12 ± 4

1 ± 1

1 ± 1

7 ± 3

5.2

Physics4

63 ± 6

11 ± 4

15 ± 4

3 ± 2

- ± -

8 ± 3

4.7

Other sciences4

10 ± 6

4 ± 4

5 ± 4

- ± -

- ± -

80 ± 8

1.6

French

54 ± 3

7 ± 2

10 ± 2

3 ± 1

2 ± 1

23 ± 3

16.0

German

47 ± 5

6 ± 3

13 ± 4

1 ± 1

2 ± 1

30 ± 5

6.9

Spanish

37 ± 7

8 ± 4

19 ± 6

- ± -

3 ± 2

33 ± 7

3.6

Other modern languages

18 ± 8

- ± -

9 ± 7

- ± -

3 ± 4

71 ±10

1.4

Design and technology5

26 ± 3

20 ± 3

7 ± 2

21 ± 3

2 ± 1

24 ± 3

20.9

ICT5, 6

13 ± 2

6 ± 1

8 ± 2

2 ± 1

3 ± 1

69 ± 3

18.9

Other/Combined technology5

30 ± 10

13 ± 8

16 ± 7

18 ± 9

2 ± 3

20 ± 9

1.6

Business studies

30 ± 5

11 ± 4

9 ± 3

4 ± 2

3 ± 2

43 ± 5

6.5

Classics

33 ± 7

- ± -

2 ± 4

2 ± -

- ± -

63 ± 7

1.0

History

57 ± 4

9 ± 2

6 ± 2

6 ± 2

- ± -

23 ± 3

13.7

Religious education

22 ± 3

8 ± 2

8 ± 2

4 ± 1

2 ± 1

57 ± 4

14.2

Geography

53 ± 4

9 ± 2

6 ± 2

5 ± 2

1 ± 1

25 ± 3

13.7

Other social studies

35 ± 5

6 ± 3

2 ± 2

2 ± 1

- ± 1

54 ± 6

4.9

Combined arts/humanities/ social studies

5 ± 3

4 ± 2

7 ± 3

1 ± 1

1 ± 1

83 ± 5

5.3

Music

59 ± 5

15 ± 4

5 ± 2

6 ± 3

2 ± 2

13 ± 4

6.3

Drama

25 ± 4

10 ± 3

12 ± 3

6 ± 2

2 ± 1

45 ± 5

8.1

Art and design

54 ± 4

10 ± 3

7 ± 2

9 ± 3

1 ± 1

20 ± 4

9.3

Physical education

25 ± 3

31 ± 3

6 ± 2

13 ± 2

2 ± 1

22 ± 2

21.4

Careers education

2 ± 2

1 ± 2

3 ± 3

4 ± 4

3 ± 4

87 ± 7

1.5

PSHE6

1 ± -

1 ± -

2 ± 1

1 ± -

- ± -

95 ± 1

61.4

General studies

1 ± 1

2 ± 1

1 ± 1

- ± 1

- ± -

95 ± 2

7.1

Citizenship

2 ± 1

1 ± 1

2 ± 1

- ± 1

- ± -

94 ± 2

9.0

Other

32.8

Total2, 7

33 ± -

10 ±-

7 ± -

5 ± -

1 ± -

44 ± -

388.4

‘-’ = zero or less than 0.5.

1 Where a teacher has more than one post A-level qualification in the same subject, the qualification level is determined by the highest level reading from left (Degree) to right (Other Qual.). For example, teachers shown under PGCE have a PGCE but not a degree or BEd in the subject, while those with a PGCE and a degree are shown only under Degree.

2 Teachers are counted once against each subject which they are teaching.

3 Includes higher degrees but excludes BEds.

4 Teachers qualified in combined/general science are treated as qualified to teach biology, chemistry, or physics. Teachers qualified in biology, chemistry or physics are treated as qualified to teach combined/general science.

5 Teachers qualified in other/combined technology are treated as qualified to teach design and technology or information and communication technology. Teachers qualified in design and technology or information and communication technology are treated as qualified to teach other/combined technology.

6 Information and Communication Technology is abbreviated as ICT and Personal, Social and Health Education is abbreviated as PSHE.

7 ‘Other’ not included in total percentages.

Source:

Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) vacancies and (b) temporary replacements there are for head teachers in (i) rural and (ii) non-rural areas; and if he will make a statement. (84747)

The information is not available in the format requested.

The following table provides the number of full-time head teacher vacancies and temporarily filled vacancies in January 2006 (provisional), the latest information available.

Full-time head teacher vacancies and full-time temporarily filled head teacher posts in local authority maintained schools in England, January 20061All maintained schoolsMaintained secondary schoolsFull-time head teacher vacancies18030Full-time temporarily filled head teacher posts2660801 Provisional. 2 Temporarily-filled full-time permanent appointments. The definition used is wider than the vacancy definition (bullet points b and c below are in addition to the normal vacancy definition). A post is included in this row of the table: a. where there is no incumbent who is expected to return to the post; b. whether or not filled on a temporary basis, i.e. either without a contract or on a contract of less than one year; c. whether or not advertised; d. where an appointment has been made but not yet taken up. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, (618g).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacancies there were for (a) infant, (b) primary and (c) secondary school (i) teachers and (ii) head teachers in (A) Greater London and (B) the London borough of Bexley in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available. (85987)

The following table provides the number of full-time primary and secondary school vacancies for head and other teachers in the London Government Office Region and Bexley local authority in January 2005. Vacancies are those that existed at the survey date and not for the full 12 month period. Infant school vacancies are included with primary schools and are not available separately.

Vacancy information for 2006 at local authority and regional level by phase of education will be published in September.

Full-time vacancy1 numbers in London government office regions and Bexley local authority by grade and phase of education, January 2005

Nursery and primary

Secondary

London

Head teachers

14

11

Other teachers2

233

357

Total

247

368

Bexley

Head teachers

0

2

Other teachers2

17

21

Total

17

23

1 A vacancy refers to full-time appointment of at least one term’s duration that, on the survey date in January, had been advertised but not filled. Vacancies include those filled on a temporary basis unless filled by someone with a fixed term contract of one term or more. 2 Includes vacancies for deputy and assistant head teachers, ASTs and post threshold and other qualified classroom grade teachers. Source: Annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, (618 g)

Venture Capital Funds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many locally based venture capital funds have been set up since 1999. (84790)

I have been asked to reply.

DTI does not operate locally based venture capital funds. To discover the number of funds run by others, including local authorities, would incur disproportionate cost.

The Small Business Service has invested in nine Regional Venture Capital Funds and three Early Growth Funds with a regional focus.

Minister for Women

Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force

To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what progress has been made with the work of the Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force. (82484)

I have been asked to reply.

The Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force (EMETF) has met regularly since its inception in 2003. Details of its work to fulfil the recommendations of the Strategy Unit's report, “Ethnic Minorities and the Labour Market” (March 2003), have been presented annually to the Economic Affairs, Productivity and Competitiveness (EAPC) by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and are available at www.emetaskforce.gov.uk and copies have been placed in the Library.

In 2005, the Task Force was also given responsibility for taking forward the main conclusions of the National Employment Panel's report: “Enterprising People: Enterprising Places” (May 2005). Current priorities include work on the City Strategy; developing an outreach service to focus on non-working ethnic minority partners in low income households; expanding the data and research evidence base; and developing the opportunities presented by the Olympics to raise ethnic minority employment.

The third EMETF annual report will be published later this year and will include the findings of the independent review to be undertaken in the Autumn. The EMETF is supported and advised by the Ethnic Minority Advisory Group (EMAG) which has a membership comprising members of the ethnic minority voluntary, business and training sectors, faith groups, academics and its chair sits on the EMETF.

Constitutional Affairs

Biometrics

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance the Information Commissioner has given to (a) local education authorities and (b) local authorities on the collection and the use of biometric identification, including fingerprint recognition, for the provision of local authority services. (85547)

I understand that the Information Commissioner has received inquiries from a range of public authorities about the use of biometrics for the delivery of services, and that he has provided guidance in response to the specific inquiries. He has not issued generic guidance on the use of biometric identification.

Care Cases

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps her Department is taking to increase the proportion of care cases being completed in the courts within 40 weeks by 10 per cent. by 2009-10. (85456)

DCA is working with DfES, the Welsh Assembly, the judiciary, local authorities and other delivery agencies to increase the proportion of cases completed in 40 weeks by implementing the recommendations of the “Review of the Child Care Proceedings System in England and Wales” (published May 2006). This work seeks to reduce delay by focusing on seven key areas:

Ensuring families and children understand proceedings

Exploration of safe and appropriate alternatives to court proceedings

Improved consistency and quality of s 31 (care proceedings) applications to court

Improved case management

Inter-agency working/communications

Judicial allocation/use of court facilities

Experts

Revised statutory guidance for local authorities and new practice directions/protocols for courts will underpin case management processes.

Actions in the past year which are expected to affect the proportion of cases completed in 40 weeks include;

installation of video conferencing equipment in care centres enabling experts to give evidence remotely,

establishment of local family justice councils who have held conferences to identify how local agencies can best work together to reduce delay

piloting of family courts centres (co-located county court and family proceedings courts) allowing for the more efficient management and allocation of court business at local level

piloting the use of case progression officers in family courts

allowing nominated recorders and district judges (county courts) to hear care cases.

Chelmsford Court (PFI)

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the status is of the Chelmsford magistrates/coroner’s court private finance initiative scheme; when she expects work (a) to commence and (b) to be completed on the building project; and if she will make a statement. (84847)

The Essex magistrates court scheme, of which Chelmsford is part, continues to be within the programme of new court projects. My Department is still finalising investment plans, as part of the development of a Business and Estates Strategy for Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS). A further announcement will be made once spending plans have been agreed with Treasury. In March 2006 HMCS purchased a site for the new courthouse in Chelmsford and outline planning approval has been obtained.

Disputes Resolution

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps her Department is taking to increase the advice and assistance available to help people resolve their disputes earlier and more effectively. (85455)

In line with the strategy set out in the recent “Getting Earlier, Better Advice to Vulnerable People” document my Department is encouraging closer working among advice leads across Whitehall. This will ensure more effective referral networks are in place so that people get the service they need regardless of their point of access to the system.

My Department is supporting the Legal Services Commission as it implements its new community legal service strategy. In 2005-06 over 708,000 new civil legal aid cases were started by the Legal Services Commission, the highest at any point since 2000.

The DCA also provides funding to the LawWorks project, which aims to increase the delivery of free legal advice to individuals and communities in need.

Incapacity Benefit

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2006, Official Report, column 970W, what assumption for planning purposes she has made of the number of incapacity benefit appeal cases (a) by the end of 2006-07 and (b) in each of the subsequent two years. (83882)

The latest work load forecasts for incapacity benefit appeals are as follows. The Government have recently announced plans to replace incapacity benefit through measures in the Welfare Reform Bill currently before Parliament which could have an impact on those figures.

Intake

2006-07

63,698

2007-08

62,149

2008-09

61,714

Special Advocates

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many statements have been made on behalf of (a) murder and (b) manslaughter victims by special advocates. (84527)

The scheme applies to such cases where a charge is brought on or after 24 April 2006 in one of the five pilot areas. None has yet come to trial or resulted in a guilty plea.

Culture, Media and Sport

Slave Trade

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to commemorate in Liverpool the bicentenary of the Act to abolish the British slave trade. (86289)

My Department is committing £250,000 per year towards the running costs of National Museums Liverpool's new International Slavery Museum, which will open on 23 August 2007. National Museums Liverpool is a partner in the understanding slavery initiative museums education project, which supports the teaching of slavery in the classroom. National Museums Liverpool are part of the cross government advisory group on the bicentenary, which is chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Gambling

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to take steps to (a) regulate and (b) place advertising restrictions on betting operators not licensed in the UK; and if she will make a statement. (86105)

The Advertising Standards Authority is working with the Gambling Commission to draw up new codes for gambling advertising, on which it will begin consulting shortly. The Secretary of State also has reserve powers under the Gambling Act 2005 to make regulations with regard to the form, content, timing and location of gambling advertising. She will not hesitate to use these powers if it becomes clear that self-regulation is not sufficient to protect children and vulnerable people from exploitation. Both the ASA codes and any Secretary of State regulations will apply to all non-broadcast advertising by gambling operators, wherever they are licensed.

Ofcom will continue to set, review and revise standards for broadcast advertising by gambling operators. In doing so Ofcom must consult with the Gambling Commission, and reflect any relevant regulations made by the Secretary of State.

Under the Gambling Act 2005 the Gambling Commission has the power to attach a condition to the licences it issues making provision for how gambling facilities may be advertised or described.

In addition, Section 331 of the Gambling Act prohibits any gambling operator based outside the European Economic Area or Gibraltar from advertising in the UK unless a specific exemption has been made for that jurisdiction under sub-section 331(4).

Historic Environment Sites

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made towards increasing the numbers visiting designated historic environment sites by 3 per cent. by 2008. (85457)

We are working closely with English Heritage, the National Trust and others on a broad range of policies and programmes to increase participation in the historic environment by the priority groups.

Performance is measured by the “Taking Part” survey and interim results indicate that currently 47 per cent. black and minority ethnic people, 58 per cent. of people with limiting disabilities and 57 per cent. of people from lower socio-economic groups have visited at least one type of historic environment site during the past year. Final baselines will be available at the end of the year, but performance against the target will not be assessed until the end of the target period in 2008.

Libraries

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made since the wider efficiency review into libraries carried out by the accountants and consultants PKF in June 2005. (86216)

The PKF report recommended that there were particular efficiencies to be found within the stock procurement systems. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) therefore commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to undertake a detailed study of the potential for efficiencies in this area and to develop a model to realise them. PwC will report on its proposals shortly. Work will then follow to implement its proposed model.

We envisage that the work on stock procurement will provide lessons that could be transferred to other areas of public library management and service delivery—for example, in increased joint working and procurement of services such as marketing materials and reading promotions.

PKF also recommended that library authorities should review staff management and staff structures towards optimum efficiency. Although this recommendation was directed at individual authorities, MLA is seeking to encourage the adoption of efficient working practices through current programmes such as peer reviews and through a number of proposed activities in the new 2006-08 “Framework for the Future” action plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the funding of public libraries was spent on books in the last period for which figures are available; and what the planned figure is for 2006-07. (86217)

According to the Public Library Statistics for 2004-05, published by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), the 149 library authorities in England spent £69,010,676 on books and pamphlets and a further £6,201,131 on newspapers, periodicals and magazines out of total revenue expenditure of £912,620,958. These are the latest “actuals” figures available.

Planned expenditure figures for 2006-07 are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the role of the Advisory Council for Libraries will differ from that of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. (86219)

The Advisory Council on Libraries (ACL) is currently being re-constituted. When this process is complete there will be an equal number of serving public librarians and non-librarians with knowledge or expertise relevant to the work of public libraries. The ACL will advise DCMS Ministers and officials, and also Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) officials, on a range of public libraries issues. The ACL will meet two or three times a year.

The MLA also advises DCMS and its Ministers as the full-time lead strategic agency for museums, libraries and archives. Working in partnership with its nine regional agencies, the MLA works to improve people's lives by building knowledge, supporting learning, inspiring creativity and celebrating identity. The MLA Partnership acts collectively for the benefit of the sector and the public, leading the transformation of museums, libraries and archives for the future.

Current improvement programmes for public libraries include the various work strands of the Framework for the Future Action Plan, such as the leadership programme, peer reviews and the stock procurement project. It is also leading on work to review the Public Library Service Standards and Impact Measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the planned annual budget of the Advisory Council for Libraries. (86220)

The Advisory Council on Libraries (ACL) is currently being re-constituted. When this process is complete there will be 12 members with an equal number of serving public librarians and non-librarians with knowledge or expertise relevant to the work of public libraries.

The ACL will not have an annual budget as its members will be unremunerated, receiving only reasonable travelling and subsistence expenses. These will be paid from DCMS running costs.

London Olympics

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in what ways she expects Northern Ireland to benefit from the 2012 Olympic Games. (85441)

The Government are determined that the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland, can contribute to and benefit from the games in 2012.

Anticipated benefits include: increased interest and participation in sport, employment and business opportunities generated by hosting pre-event training camps, volunteering opportunities, an increase in tourism throughout the whole of the UK and the cultural festivities relating to the Cultural Olympiad.

A Nations and Regions Group (NRG), has been established to provide leadership and strategic direction in ensuring that the whole of the UK is engaged with these benefits. Each nation and region, including Northern Ireland, is represented on the NRG and has been tasked with developing a delivery plan to ensure that the many opportunities are realised for their nation or region.

Northern Ireland has established its own task force to drive forward this agenda. The group chaired by the permanent secretary of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), includes representation from sport, culture, tourism, Invest NI, local government and other interested bodies who will be responsible for delivering the benefits for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the number of tourists visiting the South West region during the 2012 Olympics. (86098)

My Department has made no estimate of the number of tourists who will visit the South West region during the 2012 Olympics.

Public Appointments

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public appointments are within her patronage; what (a) salary and (b) other emoluments are attached to each; and what the comparable figures were in (i) 1976, (ii) 1986 and (iii) 1996. (83190)

Details of public appointments to public bodies sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) can be found in Public Bodies, copies of which are in the Library. Public Bodies has been published annually since 1980 and the most recent edition provides figures for 2005. Public Bodies includes remuneration levels for all public appointments between 1980 and 2001, and remuneration levels for chairs for 2002-05.

Information for 1976 in respect of bodies now sponsored by DCMS, and additional information on remuneration and emoluments which is not contained in the most recently published version of Public Bodies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Small Businesses

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2006, Official Report, columns 719-20W, on advertising expenditure, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the information campaign targeted at small independent businesses. (84670)

In early June 2005, my Department launched a licensing communications campaign including PR, advertising and direct mail which targeted small independent businesses. The awareness-raising campaign proved highly effective and, together with the efforts of local authorities, trade associations and other stakeholders, helped increase the overall rate of applications from less than 5 per cent. in May 2005 to an estimated 98 per cent. of expected applications having been made by the time the new regime came into effect on 24 November.

Swimming Pools

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many 50 metre swimming pools there are in England; and where each is located. (85991)

There are currently 37 50 metre swimming pools in England. The table details where they are located:

Location

North West

Indoor

Manchester (two)

Stockport

Wigan

East

Indoor

Norwich

Outdoor

Cambridge

South East

Indoor

St. Michael School, Sevenoaks

Crawley

High Wycombe

Aldershot

Outdoor

Guildford

Chalfont, Buckinghamshire

Portsmouth

Oxford

Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Letchworth, Hertfordshire

Newbury

East Midlands

Indoor

Loughborough

Outdoor

Peterborough

South West

Indoor

Bath

Millfield

Outdoor

Penzance

Plymouth

Torbay

Cheltenham

Lymington Spa

London

Indoor

Crystal Palace

Ealing

Outdoor

Brockwell

Charlton

Haringey

Parliament Hill

Tooting Bec

Royal Parks (Serpentine)

West Midlands

Indoor

Coventry

Yorkshire

Indoor

Leeds

Sheffield

A further three 50 metre indoor pools are under construction and another is at the planning stage.

Theatre Funding

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the grant-in-aid to Arts Council England was allocated to theatre in each year from 1997 to 2005. (85331)

The following figures supplied by Arts Council England provide a breakdown of the information requested.

Arts Council England grant in -aid funding—theatre

£000

1996-97

47,899

2001-02

58,612

2002-03

71,669

2003-04

85,501

2004-05

90,692

2005-06

94,937

Prior to the merger of the Arts Council of England and the regional Arts Boards, funding for theatre was distributed nationally by the Arts Council and regionally by the Arts Boards. For this reason it is not possible to provide an accurate figure for overall national funding for theatre before 2002-03. Figures for 1996-97 and 2001-02 are therefore indicative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the Arts Council England allocation to subsidised theatre in each year from 1997 to 2005 was paid to (a) actors, (b) musicians and (c) writers. (85332)

Arts Council England does not analyse expenditure by subsidised theatre organisations in the detail requested.

However, Arts Council England's 2004-05 annual survey of regularly funded organisations provides information about income and expenditure on artistic programme costs and staff.1

In 2004-05, £152.7 million was spent on artistic programme costs, including £67.5 million (44 per cent.) on artistic staff including actors, musicians and writers.

During this period, theatre organisations employed 805 permanent artistic staff and 7,825 freelance/contractual staff.

1 In 2004-05, valid survey returns were received from 216 theatre organisations, representing approximately 80 per cent. of Arts Council England's full theatre portfolio. Data from the 2004-05 survey are currently unpublished.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from (a) theatre managers, (b) orchestras and (c) entertainment trade unions on the impact on theatre of the comprehensive spending review for 2008 and 2011. (85333)

Arts Council England (ACE), in its role as lead body for the arts in England, has consulted the wider arts sector in formulating its contribution to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) process to date. I have also met with representatives from the theatre and orchestral unions to discuss potential impacts of the CSR.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Afghanistan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2006, Official Report, column 1150W, on Afghanistan, what the (a) name and (b) job description is of each of the UK-funded advisers who are members of the Provisional Reconstruction Team. (85425)

The UK is funding the provision of advisers working in the fields of governance, police reform and justice/rule of law to the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province. All will work to promote the development of effective and transparent provincial governance in line with the Afghan Government’s administrative reform processes. This will include helping to build capacity to plan, co-ordinate and implement the provision of basic public services and to exercise the rule of law. It will focus on helping local governance institutions, including the governor’s office, provincial departments of line Ministries, the Provincial Council and Provincial Development Committee, to design and deliver the activities required to fulfil their mandates. The advisers will seek to facilitate the roll-out of current programmes from the national level to Helmand.

The governance adviser will aim to strengthen provincial public administration and representative and planning institutions. The police adviser will co-ordinate UK activities in southern Afghanistan in support of the Afghan police, building contacts with and the capacity of provincial and district police chiefs. The justice/rule of law adviser will aim to strengthen the criminal justice system, identifying ways to address linkages between informal and formal justice sector institutions, and to strengthen dispute-resolution mechanisms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) UN and (b) EU officials are based in the Provisional Reconstruction Team in Helmand Province; and what the purpose is of each. (85473)

There are no UN or EU officials currently based in the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand Province.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 5 July 2006, Official Report, column 1150W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking to promote the equal application of law to women and men in Afghanistan; and what assessment she has made of women’s access to legal representation in Afghanistan. (86483)

The Afghan constitution states that “the citizens of Afghanistan have equal rights and duties before the law”. The “Justice for All” Action Plan provides the basis for the reform of the Afghan justice sector over the next 12 years. The Plan is divided into five areas of activity: law reform, institution building, and access to justice programs, traditional justice and co-ordination. The Global Conflict Prevention Pool (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development funded) has provided US $500,000 in support of this Action Plan. In addition, the FCO, through the Global Opportunities Fund is sponsoring a number of projects specifically designed to increase women’s access to justice, improve their living standards, promote women’s equal participation in governance, create a professional network of women’s rights organisations and promote access to information through the radio.

The UK fully supports the equal application of law in Afghanistan to women and men.

BBC World Service

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the UK Government have made to the Chinese Government regarding transmission to China of the BBC World Service websites and broadcasts. (85036)

The Government are concerned about restrictions on media freedom in China. We regularly raise our concerns with the Chinese Government about China's jamming of BBC World Service broadcasts in Chinese and blocking of the BBC World Service website; most recently our Ambassador in Beijing raised this with the State Council Information Office on 11 July. The then Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, South (Ian Pearson), raised this issue with the Chinese Government on 7 April. The Government are in regular contact with the BBC over this issue and have expressed their wish to see this issue resolved prior to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

British Prisoners

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens imprisoned abroad are (a) awaiting trial and (b) serving a custodial sentence. (85953)

On 31 March 2006, British Consular officials were aware of 2,255 British Nationals detained in overseas prisons. This includes those awaiting trial as well as those serving custodial sentences. We do not maintain separate records of the numbers of British nationals awaiting trial or serving custodial sentences. As information on British nationals in prison overseas is held on case files, it would incur disproportionate cost to provide this information.

Burma

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) Tanzania, (b) Ghana and (c) Republic of Congo in their capacity as members of the Security Council regarding United Nations resolutions on Burma. (85891)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 26 June 2006, Official Report, column 172W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the government of (a) France, (b) Austria, (c) Germany, (d) Italy and (e) Spain regarding investments in Burma. (85892)

We have made no such representations to the governments of these countries. The EU Common Position on Burma prohibits investment by EU member states in listed state-owned companies with links to the Burmese military. All EU member states are bound by the Common Position.

The latest EU Common Position, agreed on 27 April 2006, can be found on the EU website at:

http://europa.eu.int/eurlex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_116/1_11620060429en00770097.pdf

I shall arrange for a copy of the EU Common Position to be placed in the Library of the House and for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the government of Burma on (a) the Karen people in Eastern Burma and (b) other issues relating to Burma; and if she will make a statement. (86015)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the Government of Burma.

On 15 June, I summoned the Burmese Ambassador to raise our concerns about the human rights abuses suffered by ethnic groups, including the Karen; forced labour; restrictions on religious freedom; the use of sexual violence and the exploitation of children. I also repeated our call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and that of all other political prisoners held in Burma.

On 5 July, I wrote to the Burmese Foreign Minister, reiterating the points I made to the Burmese Ambassador. I shall arrange for a copy of my letter to be placed in the Library of the House and for a copy of the letter to be sent to the hon. Member.

We shall continue to take every opportunity to express the Government's concern to the regime and its representatives.

Darfur

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on progress with the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement. (80225)

[holding answer 27 June 2006]: The Darfur Peace Agreement was signed on 5 May. Implementation has been slow. There has been less fighting between the two parties to the agreement: the Sudanese government and the main rebel faction. But overall levels of violence in Darfur remain high. We are providing practical support to the African Union and the parties to help them with implementation. And we are encouraging those who have not yet signed the agreement to support it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the allegation that Chinese-supplied weapons have been discovered in Darfur; and if she will make a statement. (80521)

[holding answer 27 June 2006]: We are aware of reports that Chinese weapons have been found in Darfur. The UN has an arms embargo on the Darfur region, which prohibits the movement of arms into Darfur unless specifically authorised by the UN beforehand. We are also actively encouraging China to support work towards an arms trade treaty which would end the irresponsible trade in conventional arms.

I have raised with the Chinese ambassador the huge challenges that Africa must meet in terms of peace and stability, sustainable development and good governance and encouraged China to play a positive role as a responsible and leading member of the international community.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has held with the governments of (a) Rwanda, (b) Uganda, (c) Congo Brazzaville and (d) Angola on (i) the security situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo and (ii) the presence of non-Congolese irregular forces; and if she will make a statement. (84947)

The security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains fragile, especially in the east and north-east. Officials from our missions in the Great Lakes region regularly discuss the security situation in the DRC and its border areas with the governments to which they are accredited.

We continue to remind regional governments of the need to respect Congolese territorial sovereignty and to work together to resolve the issue of the foreign armed groups in the region. We underline that there must be no external support for Congolese armed groups that try to disrupt the peace process and that the DRC must take action to deal with the armed groups on its soil. UN Security Council Resolution 1653 reinforced this message. We support the US-facilitated Tripartite Plus Commission which brings Ugandan, Rwandan, Burundian and Congolese Foreign Ministers together to find solutions to issues affecting the region.

Energy Charter Treaty

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans she has to make representations to her Russian counterpart on the provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty; (85079)

(2) what plans she has to make representations to her Russian counterpart on the Transit Protocol of the Energy Charter Treaty;

(3) what assessment her Department has made of the impact on the likelihood of the Russian Federation signing the Transit Protocol of the Energy Charter Treaty of the law passed by the Russian State Duma on Gazprom's control of gas exports from Russia;

(4) what assessment her Department has made of the Russia Federation's progress towards compliance with the Energy Charter Treaty; [85116]

(5) what recent representations the British Government have made to the Russian Federation on its compliance with the Energy Charter Treaty;

(6) what recent representations the British Government have made to the Russian Federation on the Transit Protocol of the Energy Charter Treaty.

I have been asked to reply.

The UK, with other G7 members, has encouraged Russia to move forward during its G8 presidency and ratify the Energy Charter Treaty, of which it is already a signatory and applies on a provisional basis.

We would envisage that these Global Energy Security discussions will continue during the Russian presidency.

The UK is concerned that the proposed Russian Gas Export law would appear to contradict several of the major provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty, including the provisions on Transit. Through the EU, we continue to work with Russia towards an agreed text for the Transit Protocol while at the same time emphasising to Russia the importance of open, transparent, efficient and competitive markets at all stages of the energy supply chain as the key to global energy security.

Engaging with the Islamic World Group

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is reponsible for the policy of the unit Engaging with the Islamic World in relation to radical Islam. (86291)

The Engaging with the Islamic World Group in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office reports to me, as the Minister responsible for our relations with the Muslim world.

Eritrea

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the human rights situation in Eritrea. (85329)

The UK remains deeply concerned about Eritrea’s human rights record. The detention without charge by the Eritrean government of members of minority religious groups, journalists, leading political figures and members of civil society is unacceptable and contravenes international human rights agreements to which Eritrea is a party. We raise our concerns with the Eritrean government at every suitable opportunity. Our new Ambassador in Asmara has done so during his introductory meetings with the Eritrean authorities since his arrival in April 2006. We also work with our EU partners in reminding Eritrea of its human rights obligations including through the ongoing EU/Eritrea Political Dialogue.

Extradition Treaty

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey), of 28 June 2006, Official Report, column 435W, on the Extradition Treaty, if she will place a copy of the reply in the Library. (85646)

The US Secretary of State has not replied formally to my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary's letter of 20 April.

Gaza

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action she has taken in response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza following the recent Israeli military action. (84958)

We have serious concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Restoring electricity and water supplies and access for humanitarian organisations are a vital priority. On 25 June and 6 July, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about the current situation with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and Palestinian President Abbas. On 10 July, our Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised our concerns about the destruction of infrastructure with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert’s Foreign Policy Advisor. We have also raised this with the Israel Defence Force.

The Israeli Cabinet agreed on 2 July to take steps to ease the humanitarian situation, including by opening the Karni commercial crossing point between Gaza and Israel for 150 trucks a day carrying food, fuel and medical supplies, and providing power through Israeli grids. We urge Israel to take further such action and allow the full provision of basic services to the Palestinian people.

Haiti

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the human rights situation in Haiti. (85328)

We have a number of concerns about the human rights situation in Haiti, many of which are linked to the political instability and violence that the country has experienced in recent years. Several of the allegations of abuse relate to actions by the police and the judicial system. These include excessive use of force, involvement in kidnappings, detainment without trial, existence of political prisoners and violence against women. Supporting the reform of the police, prisons and judicial system is therefore a major priority for the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti. The determination expressed by the recently elected President Préval to tackle human rights problems in Haiti has been encouraging.

Mexico

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what observation of the recent elections in Mexico was undertaken by her Department (a) directly and (b) through the EU; what the cost was of (i) the observation and (ii) the UK contribution to it; where the observers were deployed; and what conclusions were reached. (84945)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not been involved in formal election observation of the recent elections in Mexico, although 10 officials from our embassy in Mexico City and one from our consulate in Monterrey registered as Foreign Visitors with the Mexican Federal Electoral Institute. They did not observe any significant irregularities.

The EU undertook a formal Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to Mexico for the recent elections. They had around 80 observers from 21 members states (including one from the UK). The EU observers were deployed to 31 states and the federal district in Mexico. The EOM issued a preliminary declaration on 3 July and a press statement on 7 July which, among other things, makes clear the electoral institutions in Mexico have behaved with professionalism, transparency and independence. The EOM will remain in Mexico until 20 July and will then produce a final report. The budget allocated to this EOM to Mexico under the European Initiative for Democratisation and Human Rights (EIDHR) budget is €2,474,034. The UK contribution to the EIDHR budget is approximately 17 per cent.

Middle East

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK plans to participate in the United Nations fact-finding mission headed by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories which was agreed at the UN Human Rights Council on 6th July. (85874)

The UN Secretariat will assist the fact-finding mission being carried forward by John Dugard, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories. As the mission will not be an intergovernmental process, the UK will not be participating.

North Korea

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the recent missile testing by North Korea. (84969)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) on 14 July 2006, Official Report, columns 2138-39W.

Sierra Leone

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the human rights situation in Sierra Leone. (85327)

In the fragile peace following its brutal civil war, the human rights situation in Sierra Leone is slowly improving. However, many of the root causes of conflict, including abject poverty, corruption and a lack of access to justice remain. These continue to have an impact on the spectrum of human rights.

The government continue to rebuild its institutions and UK programmes to retrain and restructure the armed forces and police have made a big impact on security, to the extent that UN peacekeepers left at the end of 2005. But Sierra Leoneans are still denied many basic rights, notably in the justice sector, which is inefficient and corruptible. We support a Justice Sector Development Programme aiming to tackle this and an Anti-Corruption Commission to tackle wider malfeasance. There is a free press, but the government can still react harshly to criticism.

We worked hard, with other partners, to achieve the transfer of Charles Taylor to the Special Court for Sierra Leone, which is a major success for defending human rights and ending impunity in the region. We want to ensure that the trial continues to have wide coverage in Sierra Leone so that the people feel that they retain ownership of the process.

The democratic principles of the government will be put to the test by the run-up to 2007 elections, which the UK will both help prepare for, through a UN basket fund, and assist in monitoring.

Somalia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of Somali people living in exile in (a) Ethiopia and (b) Kenya. (84950)

Estimates are difficult because both Kenya and Ethiopia have large indigenous Somali speaking populations and many unregistered Somali exiles in addition to registered refugees. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates for Somali refugees in Kenya in 2005 were around 160,000, plus 30,000 to 50,000 unregistered, and in Ethiopia around 12,000, plus 15,000 to 40,000 unregistered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held with the Somali Transitional Government on recognition and diplomatic support; and if she will make a statement. (85005)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met President Yusuf at the African Union Summit in Banjul on 1-2 July. With the rest of the international community we are engaging with the Transitional Federal institutions as the best process for restoring stability and good governance in Somalia.

The latest fighting in Mogadishu and more widely undermines efforts to restore peace and stability. We call on all parties immediately to end fighting and observe fully the ceasefire agreed between representatives of the Transitional Federal Government and the Islamic Courts in Khartoum on 22 June. We urge the Transitional Federal Government and the Islamic Courts’ Union to engage constructively in the next round of talks in Khartoum on 15 July.

Statutory Instruments

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions a statutory instrument sponsored by her Department has been reported by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments as defective since October 2005. (85187)

Uganda

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the need for (a) a special envoy and (b) a panel of experts on Northern Uganda. (85342)

On 26 April the UN Secretariat briefed the UN Security Council on the threat posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Along with Security Council and EU partners we welcomed the initial recommendations made. These included encouraging the Government of Uganda to accept the appointment of a Special Envoy with a regional focus and establishing a panel of experts to look at the sources of LRA funding. The UN Secretariat is now preparing a written report.

We think these proposals could support wider efforts to end the long-running conflict in northern Uganda and we look forward to receiving the written report shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she plans to issue a response to the publication of the UN Secretary General’s report to the UN Security Council on the conflict in Northern Uganda. (85343)

The UN Secretary General’s report pursuant to resolutions 1653 (2006) and 1663 (2006) on how the UN agencies and missions could more effectively address the problem of the Lord’s Resistance Army is expected to be issued shortly.

We will then consider the recommendations and discuss with other members of the UN how best to take them forward.

Xu Shuang fu/Li Maoxing/Wang Jun

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the Chinese government on the cases of (a) Xu Shuang fu, (b) Li Maoxing and (c) Wang Jun. (85140)

Xu Shuangfu, Li Maoxing and Wang Jun are members of an unconventional underground Christian group, the Three Grades of Servants, who have been accused of murdering 20 leaders from a rival religious group. The information we have from non-governmental organisations gives a cautious assessment of the group’s activities and status. We continue to monitor developments closely, but are unable to make representations to the Chinese Government on these cases until we receive evidence that their convictions are based on false grounds.

The Government have lobbied the Chinese Government in general terms to limit, and ultimately abolish, their use of the death penalty, and improve its provision of proper legal defence in criminal trials.

Zimbabwe

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the United Nations Secretary General's withdrawal as a peace-broker within Zimbabwe. (85037)

We welcomed the UN secretary-general's willingness to visit Zimbabwe to address the gathering crisis there. We regret Mugabe's apparent rejection of this offer. Zimbabweans are suffering, and urgently need their government to undertake significant economic and political reform. We will continue work with our international partners, including at the UN, to ensure effective international pressure on the Mugabe regime.

Defence

Afghanistan

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the frequency, scale and sophistication of Taliban attacks on British forces in Helmand Province. (84562)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent assessment is of the (a) strength and (b) fighting capability of (i) the Taliban and (ii) other illegal armed groups in Afghanistan. (84896)

We continuously monitor and assess all known threats to our forces. The frequency and scale of attacks against our forces has increased as we have deployed the Helmand Taskforces to the south of Afghanistan. These attacks vary in sophistication. However, disclosure of details would, or would be likely to, prejudice the security of the armed forces. Neither the Taliban, nor the range of illegally armed groups, currently pose a threat to the long-term stability of Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the average extra flying hours for (a) attack and (b) support helicopters in Afghanistan since flying hours were extended; and by what methods these increased flying hours were achieved. (85110)

Flying hours are allocated on a monthly basis and were first extended in June. The increased hours are achieved by servicing the aircraft more frequently.

Hours have been increased by up to 39 per cent. depending on aircraft type. It would not be appropriate to go into the detail of how many hours this constitutes as to do so would give unnecessary advantage to enemy forces and put the lives of our personnel at risk.

As I announced on 10 July, a further uplift in both fixed wing and helicopter support is planned. There are a number of other helicopter assets operating in Southern Afghanistan, including Helmand province that the UK can draw on for support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) ISAF and (b) British forces have (i) provided intelligence for specific anti-narcotics operations in Afghanistan, (ii) air-lifted and provided secure transport for Afghan forces taking part in anti-narcotics operations and (iii) provided protective cordons for Afghan forces taking part in anti-narcotics operations. (85754)

A key element of both the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) mission is to support the Government of Afghanistan and its security forces. British forces, along with ISAF forces operating in other parts of Afghanistan, have and will continue to support the Afghan forces in a number of ways. As well as the ongoing mentoring process, this includes the sharing of intelligence, provision of transport and protective cordons where appropriate.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms are in place for evaluation of the armed forces compensation scheme; and what evaluation is made of this scheme in relation to patients suffering from mental health issues. (85113)

The armed forces compensation scheme was introduced on 6 April 2005 to provide compensation for personnel injured, made sick or killed through service on or after that date. An evaluation of the first year of operation is currently being carried out involving interested parties, including ex-service organisations and the three services. The evaluation will be in the light of experience and evidence of cases arising so far, including those who have suffered from mental health issues and will include discussions with charities which operate in this arena.

Armed Forces Doctors and Dentists

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to implement the pay award for armed forces doctors and dentists recommended by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. (86031)

The Government are currently considering the recommendations of the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body’s 2006 supplementary report on the pay of service medical and dental officers. We hope to make an announcement soon.

Armoured Vehicles

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many tanks were in service in each year since 1997. (84543)

The following table provides details of the numbers of Main Battle Tanks in-service with the armed forces during the period 1997-2006:

Equipment

Challenger 1 (CR1 MBT)

Challenger 2 (CR2 MBT)

1997

426

47

1998

426

131

1999

412

237

2000

338

309

2001

248

386

2002

160

386

2003

64

385

2004

11

385

2005

3

385

2006

3

385

BL755 Cluster Munition

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports (a) he and (b) his Department has received which indicate that the BL755 failure rate may be higher than 6 per cent. in actual combat use. (83985)

No reports have been received which suggest that the BL755 cluster bomb failure rate increases when deployed on operations.

Broadcasting

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of (a) Services Sound and Vision Corporation and (b) its subsidiary British Forces Broadcasting Service in each of the last six years. (85019)

The Ministry of Defence has a number of contracts with the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC), which provide services to the armed forces ranging from the broadcasting of British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) Television overseas to operating the British Defence Film Library (BDFL). BFBS is the designation of some of the services operated on behalf of the MOD by SSVC.

Costs (£ million)

2000-01

17.86

2001-02

21.10

2002-03

25.16

2003-04

27.17

2004-05

28.48

2005-06

31.04

Challenger Tank

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the 14 allocated days have been used in training for the firing of the 120 mm Challenger tanks at the Warcop range in each year since 2001. (85383)

None of the allocated days have been used for firing of the Challenger tank 120 mm guns since 2001. However, as there are only two other ranges suitable for main battle tank (MBT) use—Lulworth and Castlemartin—and given the critical requirement for MBT crews to fire during pre-deployment training, the Warcop facility remains a strategic reserve asset for use in the event of one of the other ranges being unusable.

Combat Stress/Mental Illness

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel who served in the 1991 Gulf War have been diagnosed with mental illnesses in each year since that conflict; and how many were referred to (a) Combat Stress and (b) NHS mental health services. (84855)

Information on mental illnesses reported by veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict while still serving is not held centrally. The Ministry of Defence does not hold records of mental illnesses reported after an individual has left the services. The NHS is responsible for the health care of ex-service personnel but information on referrals of Gulf veterans is not available. For those Gulf veterans still serving, Defence Medical Services are responsible for providing treatment for all medical conditions, including mental health problems but again we do not hold referral information according to the operations on which personnel were deployed.

Combat Stress have received 853 patient referrals who served in the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, but the same patients may have served in other deployments, so the origin of the mental health problem may not be clear.

Defensive Aids Suites

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2006, Official Report, column 704W, on defensive aids suites, when the infra red counter measure was discontinued as a defensive aid suite; on what basis the decision was made; and if he will make a statement. (84420)

Forces (Discharges)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people discharged before January 2000 from (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the RAF because of their sexual orientation are awaiting compensation payments; how many people have received compensation payments in each of the last six years; what the (i) average, (ii) minimum and (iii) highest payments made in these cases has been; how many former servicemen and women have rejected payments offered; and if he will make a statement. (85917)

There are 62 claims against the Ministry of Defence from ex-service personnel who allege that they were dismissed from the armed forces as a result of their sexual orientation that remain to be settled. Of these 27 are ex-Army, 19 ex-RAF and 16 ex-Royal Navy personnel. Initial offers of compensation have been made in 29 of these cases, but rejected; negotiations are ongoing.

The following table shows that 24 claims were settled over the last six years. The highest settlement figure was £115,405 and the lowest settlement figure was £10,000. The average settlement award of £35,435.

Financial year

Claims settled

Compensation/legal costs paid (£)

2006-07 (to date )

4

119,000

2005-06

3

52,000

2004-05

0

0

2003-04

9

192,350

2002-03

5

370,860

2001-02

3

116,250

Helicopters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) actual and (b) required figures are for helicopter crew personnel for each relevant squadron of the (i) Fleet Air Arm and (ii) Royal Air Force. (84544)

The actual and required figures for helicopter crew personnel (excluding ground crew) for each relevant squadron of the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force are shown in the following tables:

Fleet Air Arm

Squadron (Sqn)

Actual (held)

Required (establishment)

Sea King Mk 4

845 Naval Air Squadron (NAS)

49

45

Sea King Mk 4

846 NAS

48

45

Sea King Mk 4

848 NAS

29

33

Lynx AH7

847 NAS

15

18

Lynx Mk 3/8

702 NAS

22

24

Lynx Mk 3/8

815 NAS

60

70

Merlin Mk 1

700 NAS

9

11

Merlin Mk 1

814 NAS

32

33

Merlin Mk 1

820 NAS

29

33

Merlin Mk 1

824 NAS

48

72

Merlin Mk 1

829 NAS

19

21

SKASaC Mk 7

849 NAS

15

15

SKASaC Mk 7

849 A Flt

14

15

SKASaC Mk 7

849 B Flt

13

15

Sea King Mk 5 Search & Rescue

771 Sqn

42

42

Sea King Mk 5 Search & Rescue

GANNET

20

20

Royal Air Force

Squadron

Actual (held)

Required (establishment)

Chinook HC2

7 Sqn

43

46

Chinook HC2

18 Sqn

96

95

Chinook HC2

27 Sqn

60

59

Puma HC1

230 Sqn

56

54

Puma HC1

33 Sqn

84

77

Merlin HC3

28 Sqn

88

102

Sea King HAR 3/3A Search & Rescue

22 Sqn

54

58

Sea King HAR 3/3A Search & Rescue

202 Sqn

57

59

Sea King HAR 3A Search & Rescue

203(R) Sqn

20

20

Twin Squirrel

32 Sqn

3

3

Griffin HAR2

84 Sqn

11

11

Squirrel HT1, Griffin HT1

60(R) Sqn—Defence Helicopter Flying School

47

46

Interpreters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many interpreters are employed by the UK military in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan. (85018)

As at 1 July 2006, the UK military employed 476 interpreters in Iraq (of which 116 are administered on behalf of Australian forces) and 156 interpreters in Afghanistan.

Iraq

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the level of violence being carried out by militia groups in Multi-National Division South East; and if he will make a statement. (84561)

I receive regular assessments of the level of violence in Multi-National Division South including that carried out by militia groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2006, Official Report, column 1321W, on Iraq, whether progress has been made on resuming full co-operation between Maysan Provincial Council and multi-national forces. (85621)

We continue to make progress towards resumption of formal co-operation with the Maysan Provincial Council with a number of positive developments in recent weeks. Co-operation with the provincial authorities has continued at working level and the Maysan Battlegroup has trained and mentored the Iraqi Security Forces throughout this period.

Merlin Helicopters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what future roles are planned for the 12 Royal Navy Merlin helicopters not included in the scheduled Lockheed Martin upgrade programme; and what the scheduled out-of-service dates are for these helicopters. (85381)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: There are 12 Royal Navy Merlin Mkl helicopters not currently included in the Lockheed Martin upgrade programme (known as the Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme). A decision is currently expected to be made in late 2008 as to whether to add 8 of these 12 to the programme. Should a decision be taken not to add these aircraft to the programme they would remain in the RN Merlin fleet and a decision would be taken on their out-of-service date around 2015. Inclusion in the programme would extend their out-of-service date to 2029.

There are no plans to add the other four RN Merlin Mkl helicopters to the Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme. These are currently used as trials aircraft either based at Agusta Westland Ltd. at Yeovil, Somerset or at RNAS Culdrose. A decision on the out-of-service date of these four aircraft is also expected to be taken around 2015.

Military Vehicles

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) RG-31 vehicles, (b) mine-protected vehicles and (c) Cougar vehicles, and variants thereof, are in service; and where they are based. (81599)

There are no RG-31 vehicles currently in service with UK forces. There are eight of the current Mine Protected Vehicle in service, which is based on an early version of the Force Protection Inc. Cougar, including a number in Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether the improvised explosive device attack at Haditha, Iraq in 2006, on the amphibious assault vehicle operated by the US Marine Corps has implications for (a) the design of British armoured personnel carriers and (b) other British Army force protection measures. (82513)

We have established links with coalition partners in Iraq to exchange details of terrorist incidents, successful or otherwise, in order to identify lessons for tactics, platform design and capability development. We do not comment publicly on specific incidents or conclusions for reasons of operational security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken since September 2004 to enhance the provision of electronic counter measures for military vehicles operating out-of-base in Iraq or Afghanistan. (84534)

The threat from Improvised Explosives Devices is constantly evolving and responding to it is one of our highest priorities. Over the past two years we have spent £120 million on protection for ground forces in Iraq, including on electronic counter measures. In addition, the British Army constantly reviews its training, tactics and procedures to minimise the risks to which our troops are exposed. It would not be appropriate to comment on the details as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the effectiveness and security of the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken since September 2004 to enhance ballistic protection to side doors, footwells and forward bulkheads of Snatch vehicles deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. (84542)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 June 2006, Official Report, column 624W.

Non-Combat Deaths

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-combat army deaths there have been in the British armed forces in each year since 1997; how many were firearms-related in each year; and if he will make a statement. (82250)

[holding answer 6 July 2006]: Details on annual non-combat army deaths in each year since 1997, including firearms-related deaths, are shown in the following table.

Deaths in the regular armed forces (Army only): showing non-combat and firearms-related deaths, 1997-2005

Non-combat injury related deaths

of which: Non-combat firearms related deaths

All

590

40

1997

68

3

1998

70

1

1999

62

3

2000

68

7

2001

61

7

2002

73

7

2003

55

5

2004

74

5

2005

59

2

Nuclear Deterrent

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department has (a) incurred and (b) approved in respect of the upgrading or replacement of the UK's nuclear deterrent; and if he will make a statement. (83969)

[holding answer 12 July 2006]: It is not practicable, except at disproportionate cost, to assess historic expenditure on upgrading or replacing the UK's nuclear deterrent since its inception in the 1950s.

We routinely undertake work to maintain the capability of our existing nuclear deterrent system over its current planned design life. The cost of this work is included within the overall running costs of the Trident system, which have varied between three and 4.5 per cent. of the defence budget since it came into service, up to and including 2005-06.

In terms of expenditure in support of the possible retention by the UK of a nuclear deterrent capability beyond the planned life of the current system, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 22 May 2006, Official Report, column 1322W. In addition to the expenditure referred to in that answer, we have previously spent a total of around £9 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure has been incurred on research into a new generation of nuclear warheads in each of the last five years. (85534)

There is no programme to develop a new United Kingdom nuclear warhead. As was stated in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, we retain a minimum capability to design and manufacture a new warhead, should one be required. It is not possible precisely to distinguish between expenditure to support retention of that capability and that required to support the current warhead.

Overseas Operations

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the British armed forces are serving on operations overseas. (83116)

Location statistics may be compiled based on posted location or deployed location. Posted location is where an individual is permanently based. Deployed location is where an individual is physically located at a particular point in time and is typically used for short tours of duty.

The numbers of personnel posted to each location abroad are shown in Tri Service Publication 6, Global Location of UK Regular Forces (TSP 6). Copies of TSP 6 are held in the House of Commons Library and are also available at www.dasa.mod.uk.

Figures for the number of Regular and Reserve Service personnel deployed on operations are shown in the following tables, as is the percentage of deployed personnel against the total UK Regular and Reserve Force.

Number and percentage of UK Regular Forces1 deployed at 1 May 2006

All Services

Naval Service

Army

RAF

Total trained strength

2176,490

234,760

296,660

245,080

Total deployed3

16,330

2,570

11,740

2,030

Percentage deployed

29.3

27.4

212.1

24.5

1 Figures are for trained UK Regular Forces, and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full-Time Reserve Service personnel, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, mobilised reservists and Naval Activated Reservists. 2 Denotes provisional. Naval Service trained and untrained split, and Army Officer figures are provisional pending investigation. Due to the introduction of a new Personnel Administration System for RAF, all RAF data from 1 April 2006 are provisional and subject to review. 3 Figures for deployment are shown at the 2 May 2006. Note:Data are rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent disclosure of sensitive information. Percentages are calculated from unrounded figures.

Source: DASA (Tri-Service).

Number and percentage of trained UK Reserve Forces mobilised at 1 May 2006All ServicesNaval ServiceArmyRAFTotal Reserve strength1,2,3,4,5,686,54012,77064,2209,550Regular Reserve1,2,3,4,550,57010,40032,0608,100Volunteer Reserve1,3,4,635,9702,36032,1501,450Total mobilised Reserves7Number71,480301,340110Percentage7,91.7%0.2%2.1%1.1% Mobilised Regular Reserve7Number72609—2609—Percentage70.5%9—0.8%9—Mobilised Volunteer Reserve7Number71,220301,090110Percentage73.4%1.2%3.4%7.4%1 Reserve strength figures are at 1 April 2006. 2 Figures exclude full-time Reserve Service personnel. 3 Naval Service excludes University RN units. Army excludes non-regular permanent staff, Officer Training Corps and full-time Reserve Service. RAF excludes University Air Squadrons. 4 It is not possible to identify whether Volunteer Reserves are trained, hence figures show total Volunteer Reserve. 5 It is not possible to identify from central sources which reserves are mobilised overseas. Consequently figures show all mobilised reservists, irrespective of location, including those on pre-deployment training and post-operational leave. 6 Percentage of total Reserve strength. 7 Percentage of Regular Reserve strength. 8 Percentage of Volunteer Reserve strength. 9 Denotes zero or a percentage rounded to zero. Note: Data are rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent disclosure of sensitive information. Percentages are calculated from unrounded figures. Source: DASA (Tri-Service).

Premature Voluntary Releases

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many premature voluntary release exits there were from the (a) Army, (b) Navy, (c) Royal Marines and (d) Royal Air Force in each year since 1997. (85759)

Voluntary Outflow figures are published in Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 5—UK Regular Forces Outflow from Trained Strength to Civil Life.

TSP 5 is published monthly; the most recent publication shows the numbers of service personnel at 1 May 2006.

Copies of TSP 5 are held in the House of Commons Library and are also available at www.dasa.mod.uk.

TSP 5 includes data for the naval service as a whole. The breakdown between Royal Navy and the Royal Marines is shown in the following table:

Naval service voluntary outflow from trained strength to civil life

Number

Financial year

Royal Navy

Royal Marines

1996-97

1,690

320

1997-98

1,650

280

1998-99

1,450

420

1999-2000

1,610

300

2000-01

1,240

250

2001-021

1,780

420

2002-03

1,400

350

2003-04

1,510

340

2004-05

1,640

380

2005-06

1,460

430

1 For all naval service VO applications received on or after 1 June 2000, the maximum time period between date of application and exit was reduced from 18 months to 12. This effectively compressed 18 months of exits into the financial year 2001-02. Notes: 1. The term premature voluntary release (PVR) has been changed to voluntary outflow (VO) although the methodology remains the same. 2. VO is defined as all applications and exits from trained personnel which are generated by the individual before their time expiry. 3. Figures show all trained voluntary outflow from the naval service including recalled reservists. 4. Figures have been rounded to nearest 10. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Source: DASA (Tri-Service)

Royal Air Force

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving (a) engineers and (b) medical personnel there are in the Royal Air Force; and what the requirement is for each category. (85752)

The most recent available figures are:

Requirement

Trained strength

Engineer

20,630

21,360

Medical

1,765

1,520

Notes: 1. As at 6 March 2006. 2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. 3. Figures include officers and non-commissioned personnel. 4. Medical figures exclude dentists and dental trades.

Strathmore Estates

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments have been made to the Strathmore Estates for training use of their land within the Warcop byelawed area in each year since 2001. (85384)

Payments are made by this Department to the Strathmore Estate according to the licence agreement, and reviewed every three years. I am unable to provide the amounts as this would prejudice our position commercially with other landowners in the area with whom we have similar agreements.

UK Bases

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules govern the use of UK bases at (a) Diego Garcia and (b) RAF Fairford by the United States to launch military action against a sovereign state. (85506)

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

Her Majesty's Government have to be fully consulted and agree before any UK-based US forces are deployed operationally. The Joint Churchill-Truman Communiqué of January 1952 stated:

“Under arrangements made for the common defence, the United States has the use of certain bases in the United Kingdom. We reaffirm the understanding that the use of these bases in an emergency would be a matter for joint decision by H. M. Government and the U.S. Government in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time.”

The use of the US military facility at Diego Garcia is governed by an Exchange of Notes between the US and UK which requires the US to seek prior approval for any operations that they wish to undertake from Diego Garcia.

Veterans

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government regarding housing for veterans; and what plans he has to improve access to housing for (a) single veterans and (b) veterans with families. (84830)

There have been no recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government about housing for veterans. However, frequent contact is maintained between officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Communities and Local Government regarding veterans housing matters. Our main focus is on improving access to housing for Service personnel while they are still serving or are at the point of leaving the Service. This applies to both single Service personnel and those with families, and is intended to facilitate a smooth transition to civilian life. Measures already in place to assist all personnel leaving the Services include the provision of comprehensive information and advice on housing options and the MOD Nominations Scheme, which facilitates access for Service leavers to housing with 43 registered social landlords and councils across the UK. In recognition of their specific needs, the Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services provides an advice and placement service for single Service leavers.

Through the Veterans Agency helpline and website, liaison with the ex-Service charities and other agencies, and various communications initiatives, we aim to increase awareness among veterans of the support available and improve access to help on housing and other matters. We also support a number of initiatives to prevent and tackle homelessness among existing veterans.

Treasury

Bank Accounts

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of adults in (a) Beverley and Holderness and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire who do not have access to a bank account are over the age of 65; and if he will make a statement. (86333)

The most recent data available that allow assessment to be made of the number of households with no access to a bank account are to be found in the Family Resources Survey from 2002-03. This indicates that 8 per cent. of households in the United Kingdom had no bank account of any kind. This equated to 1.9 million households containing around 2.8 million adults. The data are broken down to Government office regional level. This shows 9 per cent. of households in Yorkshire and the Humber were unbanked. The data can also be broken down by the age of the household reference person (the owner of the household or the one with the highest income). This shows that 27 per cent. of unbanked households had a household reference person over the age of 65.

In December 2004, the Government and the banks agreed to work together towards the goal of halving the number of adults in households with no access to a bank account of any kind and of making significant progress within two years. The Financial Inclusion Taskforce has been asked to monitor progress. The taskforce recently made its first annual report, which concluded that steady progress has been made towards the goal but also encouraged banks to continue to address the difficulties faced in opening a bank account.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of people living in Scotland had a bank account in each of the last five years; what steps he is taking to increase the number of people with bank accounts; and if he will make a statement. (86408)

The most recent data available that allows assessment to be made of the number of households with no access to a bank account are to be found in the Family Resources Survey from 2002-03. This indicates that 8 per cent. of households in the United Kingdom had no bank account of any kind. This equated to 1.9 million households containing around 2.8 million adults. The data are broken down to Government office regional level. This shows 8 per cent. of households in Scotland were unbanked. The figures for previous years are: 2001-02—9 per cent.; 2000-01—14 per cent.; 1999-2000—13 per cent.; 1998-99—14 per cent.

In December 2004, the Government and the banks agreed to work together towards the goal of halving the number of adults in households with no access to a bank account of any kind and of making significant progress within two years. The Financial Inclusion Taskforce has been asked to monitor progress. The taskforce recently made its first annual report, which concluded that steady progress has been made towards the goal but also encouraged banks to continue to address the difficulties faced in opening a bank account.

Benefit Fraud

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the conclusions were of the Taskforce on Benefit Fraud announced in the 1999 Pre-Budget Report; what the recommended plan of action consisted of; and what progress has been made with its implementation. (84819)

I have been asked to reply

In 1999, Lord Grabiner QC, was asked to chair a task force bringing together the Treasury, the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, the Department of Social Security and the Employment Service to conduct an investigation into the informal or hidden economy. His report, "The Informal Economy—A Report by Lord Grabiner QC", was published in March 2000 and is available in the Library. DWP has successfully acted on all the key recommendations applicable to this Department.

Business Secondment (Schools)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of businesses have been seconded to schools in each year since 1997; and how much tax relief employers claimed in respect of such secondments in each year. (85554)

I have been asked to reply.

No information is available on employees of businesses who have been seconded to schools and on the tax relief claimed by employers in respect of employees seconded to schools.

We welcome links between schools and businesses and the Government make available £25 million a year through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to promote closer links between schools and business.

Child Benefits

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether copies of birth certificates are valid for parents registering for child tax credit and child benefit. (85721)

[holding answer 14 July 2006]: Child benefit office and tax credit office will accept copies of birth certificates only if the original has been seen and the copy certified as a true copy by two officers of HM Revenue and Customs, or the Department of Work and Pension or the Department for Social Development.

Disabled People

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the overall approach to reinvestment of future savings in the benefits budgets and growth in revenue resulting from increased participation of disabled people in the workforce; what agreements have been reached in principle; and if he will make a statement. (84349)

We expect the Pathways to Work programme to generate significant long-term benefit savings.

As the savings and effectiveness of the Pathways to Work programme are demonstrated, we will consider additional funding for the Department for Work and Pensions for further welfare reform measures. Any such funding will be allocated in the light of potential value for money, including future Exchequer benefits.

ECOFIN

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 6 July 2006, Official Report, column 1283W, on the ECOFIN meeting, on what date his diary secretary was informed that he would be attending the ECOFIN meeting on 7 June. (85906)

Education and Training Expenditure

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what cash figures were used to calculate spending on education and training as a percentage of GDP in Table 3.4 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005 for (a) schools, (b) tertiary education and (c) other training programmes for England. (86433)

Table 3.6 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2005 presents UK Total Expenditure on Services (TES) by sub-function for 1999-2000 to 2004-05, consistent with Table 3.4. The sub-functions presented include schools, tertiary education and training spending. For earlier years we do not hold a consistent series with Table 3.4 at the detailed sub-function level and so the information is not available. The methodology used to produce the high-level functional series back years in Table 3.4 is available on the HMT website at:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/777/D4/historical_funtion_series_method_note.pdf

Total Expenditure on Services by country and region is available in chapter 8 of PESA 2005 (chapter 7 of PESA 2006). These regional spending statistics use the concept of ‘identifiable’ spending where Government spending is allocated to the region or country that benefits from the spending. Some spending cannot be allocated to a region or country as it is for the benefit of the UK as a whole (e.g. defence spending). Tables 8.5 to 8.10 present England spending on Education and Training for 1999-2000 to 2004-05 on this identifiable, who benefits, basis. We do not currently produce these regional analyses at a sub-function level, although it is something we are considering for the future. Paragraph 3.59 of the response to the PESA reader consultation published this year sets this out:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/finance_spending_statistics/pes_publications/pespub_consult.cfm

The GDP figures used to produce Table 3.4 are as stated in footnote 1 to the table.

Inheritance Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the effect on income from inheritance tax would be if the threshold for payment was raised to (a) £500,000, (b) £1 million and (c) £2.5 million. (85375)

[holding answer 14 July 2006]: Raising the inheritance tax threshold with effect from 2007-08 would have the following effect on forecast revenue:

£ billion

Reduction in receipts from raising threshold to

(a) £500,000

(b) £1 million

(c) £2.5 million

2007-08

0.7

1.2

1.6

2008-09

1.6

2.7

3.4

2009-10

1.7

3.1

3.8

2010-11

1.8

3.3

4.1

Local Government

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions are planned between officials of the Office for National Statistics and those of the Department for Communities and Local Government on the local government financial settlement for 2007-08, in relation to population changes caused by immigration from EU accession countries; and if he will make a statement. (85007)

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 July 2006:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what discussions are planned between officials of the Office for National Statistics and those of the Department for Communities and Local Government on the local government financial settlement for 2007-08, in relation to population changes caused by immigration from EU accession countries. (85007)

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and ONS are in regular contact at a working level to discuss a range of statistical issues around population. None of these discussions will be about the local government financial settlement which is the responsibility of DCLG and not a matter for ONS. In addition the ONS’ National Statistics Centre for Demography hosts the Central and Local Government Information Partnership (CLiP) Population Subgroup. This is the forum ONS uses to discuss statistical issues pertaining to the estimation of population with central and local government. DCLG are represented on this group.

ONS produces the mid year population estimates on a consistent basis, for all local authorities in England and Wales. These are the best available estimates at the time of their publication. They are based on the UN definition of a long term migrant i.e someone who changes their country of usual residence for a period of at least a year. The 2005 Mid Year Estimates, due to be published on 24 August 2006, will include an estimate of the number of long term immigrants from the EU accession countries.

Network Banking Scheme

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which banks have signed up to be part of the network banking scheme with the Post Office. (85137)

I have been asked to reply.

Network banking constitutes commercial arrangements between Post Office Ltd and high street banks allowing their current account customers to access their accounts at post office branches. Currently customers of Alliance and Leicester, Bank of Ireland, Barclays (England and Wales only), Clydesdale Bank, The Co-operative Bank, Lloyds TSB (England, Scotland and Wales only) and Nationwide Building Society can access their current accounts at post offices. Current accounts of the Internet banks Cahoot, First Direct (Scotland only) and Smile are also accessible at post offices.

In addition to the commercial network banking arrangements, universal banking services at post offices were introduced on 1 April 2003 to enable those who wish to do so to continue to access cash and benefits at post office counters following the migration from order books to direct payment. Under these arrangements, The Abbey, Alliance and Leicester, Bank of Ireland, Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Clydesdale Bank, The Co-operative Bank, First Trust Bank, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds-TSB, Nationwide Building Society, Natwest, Northern Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank and Yorkshire Bank each have a basic bank account product accessible at post offices.

Registration On-line Computer System

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to date has been of the purchase and installation of the Registration on-line computer system at registry offices. (86034)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 July 2006:

As Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the cost to date of the purchase and installation of the Registration ON-line computer system at registration offices. (86034)

Central government expenditure on the purchase and installation of the Registration ON-line computer system for the period to the end of June 2006 is £5,108,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to extend the implementation of the Registration on-line computer system at registry offices across England and Wales. (86035)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 July 2006:

As Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary question asking what plans the Government have to extend the implementation of the Registration ON-line computer system at registry offices across England and Wales. (86035)

The Registration ON line (RON) system currently used by registrars in England and Wales to record civil partnership registrations will be extended later this year to include birth and death registrations. RON will first be piloted in four registration districts in November, and then extended to a further nine areas in December. Subject to both pilot phases proceeding successfully, RON for births and deaths will be rolled out across England and Wales in February 2007. The roll-out of the marriages module will follow as soon as possible thereafter.

Sunglasses

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Treasury would be of reducing the rate of VAT to (a) 5 per cent. and (b) 0 per cent. on (i) children’s sunglasses and (ii) all sunglasses. (85969)

HM Revenue and Customs does not have sufficient data to estimate the cost of a reduced or zero rate of VAT for these products.

Tax Credits

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many disputed tax credit overpayment requests have been received in each quarter since April 2004; how many requests have been upheld; and if he will make a statement; (75746)

(2) how many overpayments of tax credits have been written off due to acceptance by his Department of official error since April 2003; and if he will make a statement;

(3) how many tax credit claimants have (a) returned form TC 846 and (b) otherwise been recorded as requesting the write-off of their overpayments on grounds of official error for each month since April 2003; and if he will make a statement;

(4) what his latest estimate is of the proportion of tax credit overpayments due to official error in each year since 2003-04; and if he will make a statement;

(5) how many people have appealed against tax credits overpayments recovery in each month since April 2003; how many appeals have been successful; and if he will make a statement;

(6) what proportion of tax credits overpayments have been written off for (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06.

For the number of disputed tax credit overpayments the Tax Credit Office (TCO) received, and the number written off between May 2004 (when the Department began recording disputes received) and January 2006, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 1 March 2006, Official Report, column 727W and the answers I gave him on 19 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1496-97W and 6 July 2005, Official Report, column 437W.

The TCO received around 39,000 disputed overpayments in February 2006, around 33,000 in March 2006 and around 26,500 in April 2006.

The number of overpayments where the overpayment was successfully disputed, that is, where the overpayment was written off in full or in part by the TCO because of official error, was around 2,000 in February 2006, around 1,500 in March 2006 and around 100 in April 2006.

The figures for overpayments written off do not directly relate to those disputes that were received in the same month.

The figures for May 2006 are not yet available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many compensation payments have been made by the tax credits section of his Department in each reporting period since April 2003; what the value of each payment was; and if he will make a statement; (75769)

(2) how many compensation payments for maladministration and poor service have been made by the tax credits section of his Department for each month from April 2003 to May 2006; and if he will make a statement.

The circumstances in which the former Inland Revenue and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs will make compensation payments to its customers are explained in the Department's code of practice 1, “Putting Things Right', which is available at:

www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/cop1.pdf

The Department will pay compensation for reasonable costs incurred as a direct result of their mistakes or delays and to recognise worry and distress caused by those mistakes and delays. A breakdown of the reasons why payments are made is not available.

For 2003-04, 2004-05 and the period April to September 2005 inclusive, I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 7 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1244-45W and 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1212W. A monthly breakdown for the period April to December 2003 is not available.

The number of payments made in each month from October 2005 and May 2006 (inclusive) were:

Number

2005

October

1,099

November

1,087

December

1,218

2006

January

1,240

February

1,012

March

884

April

366

May

661

Information about the value of each payment is available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost of the £2,500 tax credits income disregard in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. (75780)

Estimating the cost of the disregard would require estimates of behavioural effects associated with the disregard and estimates of the cost of the recovery of the additional overpayments that would have been incurred in the absence of the disregard. Neither of these are available.

However, as stated in the NAO Standard Report of the HM Revenue and Customs 2005-06 Accounts Trust Statement we estimate that the final aggregate entitlement to child and working tax credits for 2004-05 would have been about £700 million lower without the £2,500 income increase disregard.

No reliable equivalent estimate for 2005-06 is yet available, as most 2005-06 tax credit awards have not yet been finalised.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff there were in the Tax Credits Directors Complaints Team in each quarter since April 2003. (76470)

Separate information on the number of staff that worked on the Tax Credits Director's Complaint's Team is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit awards were terminated as a consequence of couples separating in each quarter since April 2003; and if he will make a statement. (76870)

By 3 April 2006, 435,000 tax credit awards had ceased as a result of couples reporting a separation. The analysis by each quarter is as follows:

Quarter in which separation occurred

Number of awards ceased as at 3 April 2006 (Thousand)

6 April 2003 to 5 July 2003

28

6 July 2003 to 5 October 2003

36

6 October 2003 to 5 January 2004

32

6 January 2004 to 5 April 2004

30

6 April 2004 to 5 July 2004

30

6 July 2004 to 5 October 2004

40

6 October 2004 to 5 January 2005

42

6 January 2005 to 5 April 2005

47

6 April 2005 to 5 July 2005

36

6 July 2005 to 5 October 2005

42

6 October 2005 to 5 January 2006

38

6 January 2006 to 3 April 2006

34

Total

435

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions HM Revenue and Customs have intervened where they suspect a claim by an individual from another EU country claiming tax credits in the UK may be (a) wrong and (b) fraudulent. (77591)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of (a) tax credit overpayments to migrant workers who have returned to their home country and (b) the proportion of these monies which will be recovered; and if he will make a statement. (78153)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of tax credit fraud on the basis of non residency have been uncovered in each of the last five years; what the cost has been in each year of this fraud; what estimate his Department has made of the extent of undiscovered fraud of this kind; and if he will make a statement. (80559)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether child tax credit call centres are obliged to inform claimants that they need to complete an application form in order to have their change of circumstances logged; whether staff at child tax credit call centres automatically send the relevant application form to claimants who call in order to have their circumstances changed; if he will take steps to enable child tax credit claimants who did not receive the tax credit due to not being informed by the call centres that they needed to complete an application form to claim their full tax credit; and if he will make a statement; (77661)

(2) if he will take steps to enable child tax credit claimants who did not receive the benefit due to not being informed by the call centres that they needed to complete an application form to claim their full benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Tax credits claimants are encouraged to notify changes in their circumstances by providing details over the phone to the tax credits Helpline although changes may also be notified in writing to the Tax Credit Office. No prescribed form is required.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many tax credit awards were made to (a) people subject to immigration control, (b) asylum seekers, (c) foreign students, (d) illegal immigrants and (e) foreigners on expired visas in each quarter from April 2003 to June 2006; what the cost of these awards was in each case; and if he will make a statement; (77895)

(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of the easement of tax credit verification rule 12 Residency Criteria not met between March 2003 and December 2004; and if he will make a statement;

(3) how many tax credit applications failed verification rule 12 Residency Criteria not met but were allowed to proceed to being processed in each month from April 2003 to January 2005; and if he will make a statement;

(4) in how many tax credit cases failures of verification rule 12 Residency Criteria not met were (a) investigated and (b) not investigated in each month since December 2004;

(5) which categories of tax credit claimant fail verification rule 12 Residency Criteria not met; and if he will make a statement;

(6) how many applications for tax credits failed verification rule 12 Residency Criteria not met between April 2002 and April 2003; and if he will make a statement;

(7) how many tax credit claims failed verification rules in each (a) month and (b) quarter since April 2002; and if he will make a statement;

(8) which (a) Minister and (b) official (i) recommended and (ii) approved the easement of tax credit verification rule 12 Residency Criteria not met in 2003; for what reasons it was introduced; and if he will make a statement;

(9) if he will place in the Library copies of each HM Customs and Revenue newsboard item relating to tax credits; and on what date each was posted;

(10) how many tax credit verification rules have been (a) suspended and (b) eased since August 2002; and for what (i) reasons and (ii) period in each case;

(11) whether the easement of tax credit verification rule 12 (residency criteria not met) meant that the provisions in the Tax Credit (Immigration) Regulations 2003 were not implemented; and if he will make a statement;

(12) what factors were taken into account when deciding not to investigate cases where tax credit verification rule 12 Residency Criteria not met was failed;

(13) whether an assessment of the (a) cost and (b) staffing levels required to meet the volumes of claims failing verification rule 12 Residency Criteria not met was made prior to the decision to ease the rule from April 2003 to December 2004; and if he will make a statement;

(14) how many awards of tax credits to people failing residency rules between April 2003 and December 2004 have been (a) recovered and (b) written off;

(15) what advice he received on the easement of tax credit residency rules; and on what dates the advice was given.

Tax credits follows the policy set by the Home Office, that those who have not established their right to remain permanently in the UK should not have welfare provision on the same basis as those whose citizenship or status here gives them an entitlement to benefits and assistance when in need.

For this reason, apart from specified circumstances set out in the Tax Credits (Immigration) Regulations 2003, persons subject to immigration control are not eligible for tax credits.

The cost of the easement is included within tax credit remissions disclosed in HMRC's published accounts. Where the department has identified payments made in error, it has terminated the award so there will be no future payments.

Code of practice 26 sets out HMRC’s established practice not to recover amounts paid out due to official error where the claimant could reasonably have assumed the payment was correct.

The remaining information requested could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what difference the latest changes in the disregard for increases in income will make in tax credit entitlement of a family whose income has risen by (a) £2,500 and (b) £25,000; and what the criteria are for allowing the respective disregards. (80067)

From 2006-07, a family’s annual income can rise up to £25,000 between one year and the next without affecting their tax credit entitlement in the first year of increase.

The previous income disregard amount was £2,500.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's targets for tax credit administration were (a) met and (b) not met in each reporting period from 2003-04 to 2006-07; and if he will make a statement. (82831)

HM Revenue and Customs reports its performance against targets annually. Details can be found in the Board's Annual Reports for the relevant year. These are available at:

www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/reports.htm

Indicative results for 2006-07 will be available in the spring Report which will be published in 2007.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many recipients of tax credits in West Lancashire constituency are involved in disputes relating to overpayment; (83459)

(2) whether the tax credits MPs' hotline is able to make outgoing calls on request to contact constituents who are suffering problems with their tax credits; and how many cases of disputed tax credit payments there have been in West Lancashire since tax credits were introduced.

For information about the hon. Members' hotline I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 16 November 2005, Official Report, column 1237W.

Information about disputed tax credit payments and overpayments are not held at constituency level.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the level of fraud in the tax credit system in the last 12 months. (84929)

[holding answer 13 July 2006]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 11 July 2006, Official Report, columns 1281-2. Also to the HMRC publications “Child and Working Tax Credits: Error and fraud statistics 2003-04” and “Tackling error and fraud in the Child and Working Tax Credits” available on the HMRC website at:

www.hmrc.gov.uk/news/index.htm

Unemployment Statistics

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of (a) male and (b) female unemployment is in new towns in the United Kingdom. (85392)

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 18 July 2006:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in all the new towns in the United Kingdom. (85392)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment for local areas from the Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, data are not available for towns. Table 1, attached, shows the unemployment rates, for males and females aged 16 and over, resident in the local authorities in Great Britain which contain recognised New Towns for the 12 months ending December 2005.

These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). Table 2, attached, shows the proportions of males (aged 16 to 64) and females (aged 16 to 59) of working age, resident in local authorities in the United Kingdom which contain recognised New Towns, claiming JSA in June 2006.

Table 1: Male and female unemployment rates; 12 months ending December 2005

Percentage

Unemployment rate

New town

Local authority

Male

Female

England

Aycliffe

Sedgefield

5.7

5.2

Basildon

Basildon

4.9

4.0

Bracknell

Bracknell Forest

5.6

3.5

Central Lancashire

Preston

9.3

6.0

Chorley

4.2

3.7

South Ribble

2.0

2.3

Corby

Corby

5.8

3.2

Crawley

Crawley

6.6

5.9

Harlow

Harlow

9.5

3.7

Hemel Hempstead

Dacorum

1.9

3.8

Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes

3.2

7.0

Northampton

Northampton

5.1

4.2

Peterborough

Peterborough

5.2

4.1

Peterlee

Easington

5.8

4.5

Redditch

Redditch

4.7

2.8

Runcorn

Halton

4.9

5.5

Skelmersdale

West Lancashire

5.1

3.0

Stevenage

Stevenage

5.9

1

Telford

Telford and Wrekin

5.6

2.4

Warrington

Warrington

3.7

2.7

Washington

Sunderland

7.3

5.4

Welwyn and Hatfield

Welwyn and Hatfield

6.0

2.6

Wales

Cwmbran

Torfaen

7.1

5.1

Newtown

Powys

2.8

2.8

Scotland

Cumbernauld

North Lanarkshire

8.3

5.3

East Kilbride

South Lanarkshire

5.5

4.5

Glenrothes

Fife

5.7

4.1

Irvine

North Ayrshire

8.3

4.8

Livingston

West Lothian

6.0

3.0

1 Sample size disclosive.

Note:

Estimates are subject to sampling variability.

Source:

Annual Population Survey

Table 2: JSA claimants as a proportion of resident working age population;Males and females; June 2006

Percentage

Proportion of resident working age1 population

New town

Local authority

Male

Female

England

Aycliffe

Sedgefield

3.6

1.4

Basildon

Basildon

3.1

1.4

Bracknell

Bracknell Forest

1.9

0.7

Central Lancashire

Preston

4.2

1.3

Chorley

2.1

0.9

South Ribble

2.0

0.8

Corby

Corby

4.5

1.7

Crawley

Crawley

2.4

1.0

Harlow

Harlow

4.0

1.8

Hemel Hempstead

Dacorum

2.7

1.2

Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes

3.2

1.2

Northampton

Northampton

3.7

1.5

Peterborough

Peterborough

4.6

1.8

Peterlee

Easington

3.7

1.3

Redditch

Redditch

3.5

1.5

Runcorn

Halton

5.2

1.7

Skelmersdale

West Lancashire

4.1

1.4

Stevenage

Stevenage

3.3

1.2

Telford

Telford and Wrekin

3.6

1.3

Warrington

Warrington

2.9

1.0

Washington

Sunderland

5.2

1.6

Welwyn and Hatfield

Welwyn and Hatfield

2.6

1.1

Wales

Cwmbran

Torfaen

3.8

1.3

Newtown

Powys

2.3

1.1

Scotland

Cumbernauld

North Lanarkshire

4.7

1.7

East Kilbride

South Lanarkshire

3.6

1.3

Glenrothes

Fife

5.2

1.9

Irvine

North Ayrshire

6.7

2.5

Livingston

West Lothian

3.5

1.3

Northern Ireland

Antrim and Ballymena

Antrim

2.4

1.0

Ballymena

2.8

1.2

Craigavon

Craigavon

2.8

1.1

Derry

Derry

7.7

2.3

1 Males aged 16 to 64 and females aged 16 to 59.

Source:

Jobcentre Plus administrative systems.

Valuation Office Agency

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which companies and organisations have supplied the Valuation Office Agency with geographic data in the last three years. (83009)

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) receives geographic data from Ordnance Survey through its membership of the Pan Government Agreement on Mapping Products. In addition it takes ‘X-Y Co-ordinates’ from the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG).

Information received but neither incorporated into the VOA database nor used in VOAs Automated Valuation model are flood plain “polygons” from the Environment Agency and ACORN™ data from CACI™ Information Solutions.

Venture Capital Funds

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been allocated to regional venture capital funds in each year since 1999; and on what basis such allocations were made. (84791)

I have been asked to reply.

Allocations to the Regional Venture Capital Funds were £37.375 million in the financial year 2001-02, £31 million in 2002-03 and £6 million in 2003-04. The allocations were made as a result of a competitive bidding exercise in each English region.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £20 million fund allocated to aid the start-up of high tech venture capital funds has been spent in each year since 1999; and if he will make a statement. (84794)

I have been asked to reply.

The Government's total investment commitment to the UK High Technology Fund was drawn down in the financial year 2000-01 (£12 million in 2000 and a further £8 million in early 2001).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much high tech venture capital funds have been set up in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 1999 as a result of the start-up funding announced in the 1999 Budget. (84795)

I have been asked to reply.

The UK High Technology Fund was established in 1999 and has invested in nine existing high technology-based venture capital firms based in the UK. All of these funds can invest across the UK.

Health

Health Inequalities

15. To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in tackling health inequalities and variations in life expectancy. (85853)

Life expectancy is improving across England for all but is currently improving more slowly in the spearhead areas with the worst deprivation. Some spearhead areas are on track to meet the 2010 health inequalities target and we are working to ensure this best practice is spread not only to enable more people to live longer but to narrow the health inequalities gap.

Waiting Times

16. To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients normally resident (a) in England, (b) in Wales and (c) elsewhere have been waiting more than six months for an NHS in-patient operation at English hospitals. (85854)

The following table details the number of patients who had been waiting more than six months for in-patient admission within English national health service provider trusts at the end of May 2006. The data are split to show the country in which the patient's general practitioner practice is located.

Number

Total

862

Of which:

England

34

Wales

825

Guernsey

3

Colchester General Hospital

17. To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will visit Colchester to discuss the provision of health facilities at Colchester General Hospital. (85855)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no immediate plans to visit Colchester general hospital. However, should the chair of the hospital board wish to invite a Minister to visit it would be given due consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 26 June 2006, Official Report, columns 221-2W, on Colchester general hospital, whether discussions have taken place with (a) the Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust and (b) the private sector partner since that date; and if she will make a statement. (86161)

To date no discussions have taken place between the Department, the Essex Rivers healthcare national health service trust and the former preferred private finance initiative bidder.

Mental Health Institutions

18. To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place to ensure the safety of female patients in NHS mental health institutions. (85857)

There have been increasing steps to improve the safety and privacy of women when they are admitted to in-patient units, and there are now more acute in-patients services that provide either self-contained women-only wards, or solely single-sex wards, reflecting the clear preference of the majority of women service users.

Mental Health Services

19. To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on mental health services in the West Midlands. (85858)

Total investment in mental health services within the new West Midlands strategic health authority has increased to over £499 million in 2005-06. This represents an increase of 5.1 per cent. from the £475 million investment in the three former strategic health authorities in 2004-05.

Eastbourne District General Hospital

20. To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the delivery of services by the Eastbourne district general hospital. (85859)

The Eastbourne district general hospital, part of the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, provides a full range of acute services for the residents of Eastbourne and the surrounding areas.

Mesothelioma

21. To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s recent decision regarding the provision of Alimta for people with mesothelioma. (85860)

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its final appraisal determination on pemetrexed disodium (Alimta) for mesothelioma on 26 June. Consultees were given until 10 July to lodge an appeal against NICE’s determination. NICE will not issue final guidance to the NHS until any appeals have been heard.

Alzheimer's Disease

23. To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she next expects to meet representatives of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to discuss drugs for people with Alzheimer’s disease. (85862)

I have no meetings planned with representatives of NICE on this issue. I am due to meet with the chair and chief executive of NICE on 20 July for a general discussion about the Institute’s work.

Community Hospitals

24. To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contribution she expects community hospitals to make to the provision of patient care closer to where they live. (85863)

I expect community hospitals to make a significant contribution to the provision of convenient, high quality and local care for patients. As such we are evaluating the contribution community hospitals can make to shifting care as part of the Care Closer to Home Demonstration Project. Furthermore “Our Health Our care Our Community: Investing in Community Hospitals and Services” set out our programme for the future of community hospitals and their role in the provision of local and convenient patient care.

Assisted Reproductive Technology

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies have been born in each region in England through assisted reproductive technology in each year since 1997. (85321)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: The information requested is not collected centrally. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) does collect data on live births reported to it by HFEA licensed clinics resulting from treatment cycles involving in vitro fertilisation and donor insemination. Data, by region, are shown in the table.

Live births resulting from in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and donor insemination (DI) treatment cycles from 1997 to 20041

District2

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

East Midlands

892

717

840

763

789

782

738

786

East of England

563

510

539

577

628

621

777

727

London

2,631

2,751

2,801

3,115

3,197

2,838

3,359

3,205

North East

300

323

352

412

360

450

334

409

North West

758

789

767

892

893

867

1,013

1,151

South East

758

651

772

702

639

764

805

768

South West

429

445

403

458

443

489

516

582

West Midlands

849

905

843

770

777

900

851

937

Yorkshire and Humber

809

908

1,065

898

879

945

910

1,045

1 2004 is the most recent year for which information is available.

2 The table identifies the total number of babies born according to their date of birth. HFEA has used the “Patients Guide To Infertility” of regions, which relates to the location in which the IVF or DI treatment took place. This is not necessarily the location of the birth or the place of residence of the patient.

Source:

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

Canary Wharf Walk-in Centre

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the total value is of the contract awarded to Atos Origin to run the NHS walk-in centre at Canary Wharf; and what the cost is in each of the five years of the contract; (82638)

(2) whether the value of the contract for the walk-in centre at Canary Wharf changes according to throughput; whether it is (a) a fixed price block contract, (b) a cost and volume contract and (c) a payment by results contract with a fixed sum per case seen;

The value of the contract depends on use of the service as the contract price is a combination of fixed cost elements and a price per patient. The total value of the contract is commercial in confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Tower Hamlets primary care trust will have to fund the contract for the walk-in centre at Canary Wharf. (82639)

This national health service walk-in centre is intended to provide services for commuters and local people. It is now funded centrally by the Department and our intention is that, in time, it should be funded locally, with costs shared between the primary care trusts whose patients use it. That is not possible yet and we have guaranteed central funding for at least three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been seen in each week since the walk-in centre at Canary Wharf was opened; and how many of those seen were (a) Tower Hamlets residents and (b) those who commute into the area to work. (82641)

Information on the weekly number of episodes of care provided at the Canary Wharf national health service walk-in centre is shown in the following table.

Week commencing

Episodes of care

2006

17 April

6

24 April

69

1 May

97

8 May

171

15 May

173

22 May

184

29 May

177

5 June

250

12 June

272

19 June

316

26 June

272

Notes: 1. The Canary Wharf walk-in centre commenced services on 21 April 2006. 2. Data for April and May, the latest available, indicates that 58 per cent. of the people using the service are local to the area of Tower Hamlets primary care trust.

Carbon Emissions

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the carbon emissions of her Department; what commitment she has made to reducing such emissions; and if she will make a statement. (81058)

In 2004-05, the Department’s estimated carbon emissions from the buildings on its London administrative estate were 1,916,133 kilogrammes of carbon (kgC) (weather corrected). Our estimated emissions from cars used for official business was 31,397 kgC.

The Department is committed to reducing its carbon emissions. We have a policy to renew plant and equipment with more energy efficient models. We also purchase energy from renewable sources wherever possible. The Carbon Trust has recently undertaken an energy survey of our three main London buildings, and we will seek to implement its recommendations where practicable.

We have also taken steps to reduce the requirement for staff to travel to meetings, by providing video conferencing facilities in all our buildings. We have also recently terminated the contract for a shuttle bus that provided staff transport between buildings, saving London mileage of 90 miles per day. Staff are now being encouraged to use public transport, or to walk.

Chlamydia Screening

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of primary care trusts offer chlamydia screening as part of the national chlamydia screening programme; (84012)

(2) what percentage of primary care trusts is participating in the chlamydia screening programme; and when she expects 100 per cent. geographical coverage to be achieved.

By the end of June, 36 per cent of primary care trusts were offering chlamydia screening as part of the national chlamydia screening programme (NCSP).

The White Paper, “Choosing Health: Making healthier choices easier”, a copy of which is available in the Library, announced an accelerated timetable to achieve national roll out of the NCSP by March 2007.

The Health Protection Agency is now leading the roll out of the programme and is supporting local areas to drive up the number of people screened.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will reply to the letters of 30 (a) March , (b) May and (c) June 2006, from the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent, about a constituent, Mrs. Maton. (85374)

[holding answer 14 July 2006]: We have no record of receiving the letters of March and May. The letter of June 2006 was replied to on 14 July 2006.

Credit Unions

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department will provide information and membership forms for credit unions to its employees. (79939)

The Government welcome the contribution made by the various savings institutions in providing for greater choice and diversity in the financial services sector.

The Government’s guiding principles are to ensure impartiality and to help create a level playing field for all providers of financial services in order that their specific attributes can be properly harnessed.

It would therefore be inconsistent for a Government Department to favour credit unions above other financial institutions.

Employees are of course free to join in credit unions if they meet their relevant membership criteria and Departments may provide appropriate levels of support if employees wish to set up a credit union.

Dentistry

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to facilitate the transition of denturists from a system of self-regulation to one of licensed regulation with the General Dental Council, following the Dentists Act 1984 (Amendment) Order 2005. (86160)

Individuals who have been practising denturism in the United Kingdom (UK) have been doing so illegally and therefore there cannot be transitional provisions which allow them to enter the register on the basis of their UK experience. The legislation just approved allows them to practice legally in future if they now qualify.

Individuals who wish to register as clinical dental technicians (CDTs) will need to undertake a General Dental Council (GDC)-approved CDT qualification unless they already hold a qualification comparable to the ones the GDC will now recognise.

Departmental Travel

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ensure that all flights undertaken by Ministers and officials in her Department are carbon neutral; and if she will make a statement. (81407)

All central Government ministerial and official air travel is being offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.

Carbon emissions from all of the Department’s official air travel are included in the Government’s carbon offsetting commitment. Carbon emissions from flights taken after 1 April 2006 will be recorded and offset.

Diamorphine

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure adequate supplies of diamorphine to hospitals. (86154)

The Department is working closely with the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) and the manufacturers to manage the shortage of diamorphine injection. We continue to monitor the supply situation closely.

NHS PASA provides updates on the supply situation to hospital procurement pharmacists. The Department issued guidance in December 2004 to prescribers and other healthcare professionals to ensure supplies are used effectively.

Food Standards Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what programme of consumer education the Food Standards Agency is planning to implement to support the multiple traffic light food signposting scheme. (83885)

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published information aimed at raising consumer awareness and understanding of traffic light colour coded signposting on its website at www.eatwell.gov.uk and will be developing this advice further over coming months.

The FSA is also working closely with businesses who are using traffic light coloured signposting schemes and consumers and public health groups to ensure that clear and consistent advice is available to consumers to help them use signpost information to make healthier choices about the food that they buy.

Foundation Trusts

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how (a) employees and (b) elected representatives of NHS foundation trusts can obtain information concerning staff discipline. (83222)

National health service foundation trusts have independent status within the NHS. They are free from Secretary of State’s powers of direction and can determine their own human resources (HR) policy and procedures to facilitate the innovative development of the work force. Specific aspects concerning HR policy will be available from the respective organisations.

General Food Regulations

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prosecutions there have been under the General Food Regulations 2004 for not informing the competent authorities of non-compliance with food safety requirements set out in article 14 of the EC regulations 180/2002; how many of these have resulted in convictions; what penalties have been imposed; which competent authority brought each case; and if she will make a statement. (84991)

I am advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that the information requested is not available centrally.

The latest available information on food law enforcement by local authorities is for the financial year 2004-05. For that year, local authorities have reported to the FSA that, across all of the United Kingdom, they took 902 prosecutions against 570 food establishments. 458 of those 570 food establishments were convicted.

Health Trusts

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2006, Official Report, column 1548W, on health trusts (Hampshire), what the 2005-06 provisional out-turn was for (a) Salisbury Health Care Trust, (b) Frimley Park Hospital and (c) Royal Surrey County Hospital. (79876)

The table shows provisional out-turn for the financial year 2005-06 of Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust and Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust.

Organisation name

2005-06 provisional out-turn under/(over) spend (£000)

Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust

0

Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust

276

I am informed by the chairman of Monitor (the statutory name of which is the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts) that Frimley Park Foundation Trust achieved an unaudited £3.5 million surplus in 2005-06 and that audited accounts for each NHS foundation trust for 2005-06 are due to be laid before Parliament this summer.

Healthcare Commission

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases submitted to the Healthcare Commission have waited longer than 12 months before the investigation started; and in how many cases submitted the investigation has not yet started; (84679)

(2) how long on average has elapsed between a case being submitted to the Healthcare Commission and the investigation starting.

I understand from the chairman of the Healthcare Commission that the Commission does not collect information in the format requested.

The Healthcare Commission assumed responsibility for the independent review of national health service complaints at the end of July 2004. Between then and 14 July 2006, the Commission received 15,765 requests for review. Of these, 5,615 were closed within six months and 3,670 within 12 months, with a further 1,310 taking over 12 months. Of the remainder, 2,141 have yet to be allocated to a case manager. Of these, 1,041 are over six months old; none are over 12 months old. Of cases currently under review, 882 are over six months old and 805 over 12 months old.

Independent Providers (Elective Procedures)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has made an assessment of the extent to which primary care trusts have paid independent providers of elective procedures for services which (a) were not provided in 2005-06 and (b) have not yet been provided in the first quarter of 2006-07. (81953)

Individual contracts’ performances are monitored to ensure facilities are utilised. Providers are not paid for activity that they do not deliver, but under the terms of the contract may receive payments when referrals are lower than expected to ensure a continuity of service.

The Department expects that over the life of the contract we will achieve the full value; it is therefore too early to suggest any money has been lost. A final reconciliation of payments and activity will take place at the end of the contract to ensure that providers have delivered the full value of activity specified in their contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of whether the independent healthcare provider Capio has been paid by the NHS for operations and procedures which have not taken place. (81954)

Capio and national health service sponsors are working to ensure that the full value of activity is delivered over the contract period. The Department expects that over the life of the contract we will achieve the full value; it is therefore too early to suggest any money has been lost. Contract utilisation is monitored on a monthly basis; a final reconciliation of payments and activity will take place at the end of the contract.

Neonatal Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to increase the level of recruitment of neonatal nursing staff; and if she will make a statement. (85731)

The national health service ensures the maintenance of adequate staffing levels through local delivery plans. “Delivering the NHS Improvement Plan: the Workforce Contribution” highlights strategic work force issues, which primary care trusts and strategic health authorities are asked to ensure are considered in their local delivery plans. This includes maintaining adequate staffing levels as well as achieving greater productivity. It is for local hospital trusts to ensure that there are appropriate nursing levels within neonatal units.

New Hospitals

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the proportion of (a) multi-bed and (b) single-bed wards is in new build hospitals (i) constructed since 2000 and (ii) proposed in the next five years. (85141)

The data for multi-bed and single-bed wards are not collected in the format requested.

The Department collects bed data retrospectively across the existing estate by national health service trust, not by individual hospital. Based on 2005-06 data 74.2 per cent. of beds are in multi bedrooms and 25.8 per cent. in single bedrooms.

Newham PCT

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) by how much Newham Primary Care Trust was under its weighted capitation target in each financial year between 1997-98 and 2005-06; and by how much she expects it to be under its weighted capitation target in financial year 2006-07; (82067)

(2) when she expects Newham Primary Care Trust to reach its weighted capitation target; and if she will make a statement.

Revenue allocations were first made to primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2003-04, prior to this funding was allocated to health authorities. The distances from target for Newham PCT for the period 2003-04 to 2007-08 are provided in the table.

Newham PCT—distances from target (DFT) 2003-04 to 2007-08

Distances from target

2003-04

-8.7

2004-05

-8.0

2005-06

-6.0

2006-07

-3.2

2007-08

-3.2

Revenue allocations to PCTs are made on the basis of a weighted capitation formula, which directs funding to those areas of greatest need.

The weighted capitation formula calculates a PCTs’ target share of available resources. Once the target is set by the formula, the speed at which PCTs reach their target is determined by the pace of change policy.

For the 2006 to 2008 revenue allocations, the policy is to move PCTs more quickly towards their target share of funds. In 2003-04, the most under target PCT was 22 per cent. target and by the end of 2007-08, no PCT will be more than 3.5 per cent. below its fair share.

NHS Beds

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) bed occupancy rates and (b) bed availability numbers for England for (i) all bed types (ii) general and acute beds, (iii) acute beds, (iv) geriatric beds, (v) mental illness beds, (vi) learning disabilities beds and (vii) maternity beds were in each year since 1988. (84027)

The information requested is shown in the tables.

Average daily number of available beds and bed occupancy rates, by sector, England, 1987-88 to 2004-05

All specialties (excluding day only)—available

All specialties (excluding day only)—occupied

All specialties (excluding day only) —occupancy rate (percentage)

General and acute —available

General and acute —occupied

General and acute —occupancy rate (percentage)

1987-88

297,364

180,889

1988-89

282,918

174,491

1989-90

270,301

169,901

1990-91

255,479

162,691

1991-92

242,677

157,247

1992-93

232,201

153,208

1993-94

219,476

147,153

1994-95

211,812

144,803

1995-96

206,136

142,624

1996-97

198,848

161,744

81.3

140,515

113,591

80.8

1997-98

193,625

156,549

80.9

138,047

111,112

80.5

1998-99

190,006

156,669

82.5

136,426

112,486

82.5

1999-2000

186,290

154,137

82.7

135,080

112,279

83.1

2000-01

186,091

156,290

84.0

135,794

114,982

84.7

2001-02

184,871

157,330

85.1

136,583

117,437

86.0

2002-03

183,826

156,933

85.4

136,679

118,278

86.5

2003-04

184,019

157,984

85.9

137,247

119,312

86.9

2004-05

181,784

154,868

85.2

136,123

117,164

86.1

Acute available

Acute occupancy rate (percentage)

Geriatric —available

1987-88

127,616

53,273

1988-89

123,450

51,041

1989-90

121,170

48,731

1990-91

116,788

45,902

1991-92

115,140

42,107

1992-93

112,862

40,346

1993-94

109,713

37,440

1994-95

108,008

36,795

1995-96

108,296

34,328

1996-97

108,869

78.9

31,646

1997-98

107,807

78.9

30,240

1998-99

107,729

80.8

28,697

1999-2000

107,218

81.5

27,862

2000-01

107,956

83.1

27,838

2001-02

108,535

84.5

28,047

2002-03

108,706

85.3

27,973

2003-04

109,793

85.6

27,454

2004-05

109,505

84.8

26,619

Source:

Department of Health form KH03

Published data

Geriatric —occupancy rate (percentage)

Mental illness —available

Mental illness —occupancy rate (percentage)

Learning disability —available

Learning disability occupancy rate (percentage)

Maternity —available

Maternity —occupancy rate (percentage)

1987-88

67,122

33,421

15,932

1988-89

63,012

30,048

15,367

1989-90

59,288

26,406

14,706

1990-91

55,239

23,379

14,170

1991-92

50,278

21,383

13,770

1992-93

47,308

18,519

13,167

1993-94

43,532

16,269

12,521

1994-95

41,827

13,211

11,971

1995-96

39,477

12,676

11,358

1996-97

87.4

37,640

86.9

9,693

88.3

11,000

625

1997-98

86.2

36,601

86.5

8,197

88.1

10,781

609

1998-99

88.8

35,692

87.5

7,491

86.1

10,398

62.7

1999-2000

89.3

34,173

87.1

6,834

85.4

10,203

612

2000-01

90.7

34,214

87.4

6,316

87.1

9,767

60.3

2001-02

91.8

32,783

88.6

5,694

86.8

9,812

60.2

2002-03

91.4

32,753

87.5

5,038

85.6

9,356

60.8

2003-04

92.2

32,252

88.0

5,212

84.1

9,309

633

2004-05

91.3

31,667

87.9

4,899

84.4

9,095

631

NHS Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on how the market forces factor formula is used in determining payments to hospital trusts; what assessment she has made of its appropriateness; and whether she plans to review its operation. (82346)

For activity within the scope of payment by results, national health service trusts are paid by their commissioners according to the national tariff. These payments are adjusted by the relevant market forces factors (MFF). The MFF is intended to reflect unavoidable variations in costs directly related to location.

The MFF is kept under constant review, and its development has been overseen by the advisory committee on resource allocation (ACRA). As part of its work for the Department, ACRA will review the MFF and make recommendations to Ministers in 2007-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which variables are included in the weighted capitation formula for primary care trust allocations; and from what data sources figures for each variable are determined. (84026)

“Resource Allocation: Weighted Capitation Formula (Fifth Edition)” lists the variables included in the weighted-capitation formula and their data sources. A copy of this document is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest forecast year-end gross NHS deficit is for 2006-07. (85856)

The 2005-06 provisional outturn is the most recently published data on the national health service financial position. This data shows that provisionally the NHS reported a gross deficit of just under £1.3 billion, and a net deficit of £512 million. I intend to publish the first quarterly finance report for the NHS for 2006-07, on 11 August 2006.

NHS Performance

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures her Department plans to take in respect of those primary care trusts which (a) failed to achieve in 2005-06 and (b) fail to achieve in 2006-07 the proposed target of the purchase of 15 per cent. of the budget for all planned elective procedures from the private and independent sector. (81980)

The figure of 15 per cent. is not a target but a level of service that the independent sector might be providing by 2008. The number of procedures in any one year will vary depending on the actual case mix that is required by the local national health service. Contracts are designed to allow for this flexibility and therefore no action is required by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her oral statement of 7 June 2006, Official Report, column 264, on NHS performance, what assessment she has made of the impact on primary care trusts (PCTs) of (a) social and economic deprivation, (b) the proportion of elderly people living in the community, (c) the demands of a rural economy and (d) the market forces factor where each factor has the greatest (i) positive and (ii) negative impact; and what assessment she has made of the average impact of each element on PCTs. (82500)

Our initial analysis on a range of factors relating to the 2005-06 financial positions of national health service organisations has shown that there is no strong relationship between NHS financial performance and any single factor.

Oakhill Secure Training Centre

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what access young offenders at Oakhill Secure Training Centre in Milton Keynes have to a clinical psychologist; and whether she expects this level of access to change when the full-time posts have been disestablished. (85597)

I have been asked to reply.

Health care services at Oakhill are provided by Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust under contract to the centre’s operator, Group 4 Securicor. The primary care trust currently employs a clinical psychologist and an assistant at the centre. Psychology provision at the centre is currently being reviewed by the primary care trust and a 30-day consultation period with holders of the psychology posts at Oakhill is in progress. The consultation period ends on 27 July. The Youth Justice Board is monitoring developments closely. The level of service that the board requires at Oakhill has not changed and the board will monitor performance to ensure that that level of service continues to be delivered.

Obstetrics (Insurance Costs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department collects on the cost of insurance as a proportion of the tariff for (a) a normal birth, (b) a delivery with complications and (c) a caesarean section; what allowance is made for the cost of the insurance premium in allocating tariffs for obstetrics; and if she will make a statement. (81531)

The national tariffs for a normal birth, a delivery with complications and a caesarean section are calculated from data on the average costs of these services as reported by NHS trusts, foundation trusts and primary care trusts, which are used to inform the reference cost index. The reference costs collection is based on a full absorption costing methodology and therefore includes the cost of insurance. However, the cost of insurance is not separately identifiable within the tariff.

We do, however, recognise that insurance premiums are proportionately high for maternity services, which is why we have made it clear in our reference costs guidance ‘Reference costs 2006 collection: Costing and activity guidance and requirements’ that trusts should reflect this in the relevant cost pool(s) when determining the unit costs of all types of maternity activity. This guidance is available on the Department’s website at www.dh.gov.uk/PbR

Osteoporosis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what submissions her Department received on the inclusion of osteoporosis indicators in the quality and outcomes framework of the GP contract which came into effect in April 2006; (81596)

(2) why indicators for osteoporosis were not included in the quality and outcomes framework of the GP contract which came into effect in April 2006; and if she will make a statement.

As part of the negotiations for the new general medical services contract for April 2006 an expert panel was engaged by NHS Employers to receive and review submissions on clinical areas for possible inclusion in the quality and outcomes framework (QOF). The number of submissions to the panel for the inclusion of osteoporosis totalled seven out of 514. All submissions were considered and the expert panel produced reports which have been published on the University of Birmingham website.

During the negotiations many clinical conditions were considered. The key criteria for inclusion in QOF were:

an evidence base for the effectiveness of intervention in primary care;

the health benefits likely to result from improved primary care; and

Government health priorities for investment through the contractual arrangements with general practitioners.

Due to technical problems with the proposed indicators and the degree of priority attached to other changes to the QOF, the proposals for osteoporosis were not taken forward for the 2006 contract changes. As part of the continuing development of the framework, indicators will be reviewed in the light of emerging evidence and in terms of value for money.

Premature Babies

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to review the policy of not centrally collating information on the movement between neonatal networks of premature babies; and if she will make a statement; (85686)

(2) what action she is taking to reduce the incidence of closure to admissions of level three intensive care units for neonatal care of premature babies; and if she will make a statement.

The Department has supported the development of 24 neonatal managed clinical networks to provide the safest and most effective service for mothers and babies. Since April 2003 over £70 million additional funding has been made available to support the development of networks. The closure to admissions of level three neonatal intensive care units is a matter for local networks. It is for networks to ensure there are appropriate levels of care available to meet prevalent local demand.

The Department has no plans to review the policy of not centrally collating information on the movement of babies between neonatal networks for the reasons outlined in my reply to the hon. Member on 2 June 2006, Official Report, column 22W.

Primary Care Trusts

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) overall cost and (b) cost per head of population in each area is of the reorganisation of the primary care trusts in (i) Hampshire and (ii) England; whether this cost is to be met from (A) existing budgets and (B) new allocations; and if she will make a statement. (84881)

The costs of the changes that were announced on the 16 May will depend on a number of factors, including the location of new organisations being created, the number of people in the new organisations, and new pay ranges for very senior managers as well as changes in estate costs following reconfiguration.

These arrangements are currently being worked up and discussed with trade unions and staff. Until those discussions have been concluded and the detail of new arrangements agreed it is not possible to confirm or accurately forecast costs.

“Commissioning a patient-led NHS” is designed to deliver at least £250 million savings from administration costs through streamlining for reinvestment in frontline services. The savings are expected to be realised by the end of 2007 and then every year for reinvestment beginning in 2008-09.

Private Finance Initiative Projects

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of private finance initiative projects for which her Department is responsible has been completed (a) over budget and (b) late in each of the last five years. (79612)

Information on completed private finance initiative (PFI) projects which have gone over budget or opened late is not routinely collected centrally. To provide such information for each of the past five years would incur disproportionate costs.

A key aspect of PFI is the transfer of risk of projects going over budget. Therefore, any cost overruns will be borne by the private sector provider, not the public sector. The private sector is only paid once the facility is built and operational to the agreed standard and is subject to penalties and deductions if services falls below agreed standard.

Smoking

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to make regulations concerning the prohibition of smoking in enclosed public places; and if she will make a statement. (86006)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: The Department published a consultation on proposed regulations to be made under part one, chapter one of the Health Bill titled “Smoke-free premises and vehicles: Consultation on proposed regulations to be made under powers in the Health Bill” on 17 July 2006. Copies of the consultation document are available in the Library, or on the Department’s website at: www.dh.gov.uk/consultations/liveconsultations.

The “Smoke-free premises and vehicles” consultation will run between 17 July and 9 October 2006. Regulations will be laid after the consultation has ended and responses considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will undertake an assessment of the safety implications for health service staff arising from the recently introduced ban on smoking on health service property. (85330)

In the “Choosing Health” White Paper published in 2004, we set out our decision that national health service buildings would be smoke-free by the end of 2006, ahead of the requirements set out in the Health Bill, which will see virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces become smoke-free from summer 2007.

The removal of smoking from NHS buildings will not only result in protection from the harms associated with secondhand smoke for staff, patients and visitors to NHS buildings, but will result in greater safety, for example, by the reduction in the danger of fire. Consideration of the detailed safety implications at individual NHS properties will be for local managers.

The safety benefits of the smoke-free provisions of the Health Bill are referred to in the regulatory impact assessment published alongside the Bill, on its website at: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Legislation/RegulatoryImpactAssessment/RegulatoryimpactAssessmentArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4121917&chk=sUauD/

Telephones (Hospitals)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines her Department provides to hospital trusts on charges for (a) outgoing and (b) incoming telephone calls from hospital bedside units; (82271)

(2) what the average cost per minute for (a) outgoing and (b) incoming telephone calls from hospital bedside units in each hospital trust was in each year since 1997;

(3) what assessment her Department has made of the financial impact of telephone charges from bedside units on patients.

Three private companies are licensed to provide bedside entertainment systems in England. These are hospital telephone services (HTS), Patientline and Premier Managed Payphones. Patientline was the only supplier of the service prior to the NHS Plan announcement in 2000 and subsequent licensing of the suppliers.

The cost of outgoing calls has remained constant at 10 pence per minute (minimum 20 pence), for local and national calls.

The incoming call charges have remained constant for Patientline and Premier at 39 pence per minute off peak and 49 pence per minute peak.

HTS charges per minute were; 14 pence in 2002, 17 pence in 2003, 20 pence in 2004 and they currently charge 35 pence.

International calls and calls to mobile phones vary.

The licence documentation contains guidance on acceptance charging strategies within the national health service.

No assessment has been made of the financial impact of telephone charges from the bedside units on patients.

Bedside telephones represent an enhanced service, providing additional choice for patients. Patients not wishing to use these services remain free to use hospital payphones as they have always been able to in the past.

Veterans (Health Care)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that NHS employees are informed of the health needs of (a) war pensioners and (b) veterans. (84825)

When a member of the armed forces with a current and ongoing health problem prepares to re-enter civilian life, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to engage with the primary care trust of future residence as early as possible to ensure the seamless transfer of care from the Defence Medical Services to the national health service. Thereafter, it is the duty of the attending NHS clinician to asses the changing health needs of the individual taking account of all relevant factors, including occupation and associated exposures and experiences.

Standing guidance on arrangements between the MOD and the NHS, as well as guidance on the right of war pensioners to generally receive priority treatment in NHS hospitals in respect of the condition or conditions for which they receive a pension or received a gratuity, is published on the Department’s website at www.dh.gov.uk.

Work and Pensions

50-plus Workers

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of people in work aged 50 years and over in Yeovil constituency. (82190)

Like all other customers, people aged 50 and over can benefit from the range of services provided by Jobcentre Plus, including access to jobs and help and support to find work.

Additional help is provided to older people who do not find work quickly. New deal 50 plus is a voluntary programme that provides people with advice and guidance from personal advisers, and access to in-work financial help through the 50 plus element of the working tax credit. Since April 2000, the programme has been successful in helping more than 150,000 older workers into employment, including 200 people in Yeovil. Once in work, new deal 50 plus customers can claim a training grant of up to £1,500 for training of which up to £300 can be used for life-long learning.

People aged 50 and over, including those in Yeovil, are also eligible for help from new deal 25 plus. People who have been claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) for 18 months and who have not previously participated on new deal 25 plus, are already required to attend the gateway stage of the new deal 25 plus programme. This is a period of up to four months of intensive job search and specialist help and support to improve job prospects. This is followed by the intensive activity period (IAP) which is currently voluntary for people aged 50 and over. The IAP provides further support and pre-work training to help people return to work.

Since April 2004, we have been piloting mandatory participation in the New deal 25 plus IAP for people aged 50-59 who have been claiming JSA for 18 months. Yeovil was included in the pilot which offered people in this age group more extensive help back to work. Interim results are positive and, as announced in our Welfare Reform Green Paper, we intend to commence a phased national rollout.

Between 1979 and the mid 1990s, the number of people on incapacity benefits trebled. Since then, growth in the caseload has since slowed significantly and, in November 2005, there were 2.71 million people claiming incapacity benefits, a fall of 61,000 over the year. 46 per cent. of those claiming incapacity benefits are aged between 50 and state pension age although, between 2000 and 2005, the number of people in this age group fell by 52,000. This has contributed to the overall reduction in the incapacity benefits case load.

We still clearly have more work to do and, like other age groups, people aged 50 and over will be able to benefit from the rollout of the successful Pathways to Work service across the whole country which will be completed by 2008. Pathways offers new incapacity benefit (IB) customers early support from skilled personal advisers and direct access to a ‘Choices Package’ of employment programmes and clear financial incentives to make work pay. Any IB customer will be able to access the support and help available on a voluntary basis. Pathways has already begun helping people in the Yeovil area, having rolled out there in April 2004.

Through our Age Positive Campaign we are working with employers and others to promote the business benefits of an age diverse workforce and best practice on age in recruitment, training and promotion. In May 2005 we launched the ‘Be Ready’ national information campaign to raise employer awareness of, and ability to adopt, flexible employment and retirement opportunities to support the recruitment and retention of older workers in advance of age legislation due in October 2006.

Access to Work

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid from the Access to Work scheme to other Central Government Departments for adjustments for disabled workers in each of the last five years, broken down by Department. (85802)

The information is not available broken down by employer and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Action for Employment Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 10 July 2006, Official Report, columns 1565-66W, on Action for Employment Ltd., whether the fee paid to Action for Employment Ltd. per customer was the same in the case of a customer choosing a post office card account and bank account. (85890)

Action for Employment Ltd. received a single fee for the completion of outreach work, regardless of whether the customer chose a post office card account or a bank account.

Average Income

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average household income for (a) retired and (b) unemployed households was in (i) the UK as a whole and (ii) each parliamentary constituency in each of the last eight years. (85471)

Specific information regarding median incomes for Great Britain is available in “Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 1994/95-2004/05”, available in the Library. The main source for HBAI is the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The information shown is for Great Britain only.

Average household income is defined as median household income which is the main measure used in HBAI.

The data source does not allow us to provide robust estimates at a parliamentary constituency level. Information for the UK is not available for the last eight years.

The following tables show the median income in Great Britain in each of the last eight years for (A) retired households and (B) unemployed (workless) households.

Table A: Median household income for the retired1 in each year's prices, Great Britain, 1997-98 to 2004-05

£ per week equivalised

Before housing costs

After housing costs

1997-98

215

193

1998-99

221

201

1999-2000

235

213

2000-01

244

224

2001-02

257

238

2002-03

267

247

2003-04

279

258

2004-05

300

276

1 Retired is defined as individuals who are state pension age or above (females aged over 60 and males aged over 65). This category also includes individuals in a couple where one is below and one above state pension age.

Source:

FRS

Table B: Median household income for workless households1 in each year's prices, Great Britain, 1997-98 to 2004-05

Working-age adults: £ per week equivalised

Before housing costs

After housing costs

1997-98

157

111

1998-99

164

116

1999-2000

174

123

2000-01

179

130

2001-02

190

138

2002-03

194

144

2003-04

202

147

2004-05

212

158

1 Workless households are defined as households where all individuals, of working age, that are eligible for employment are not in employment.

Source:

FRS

Child Support Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what arrangements the Child Support Agency has for ensuring the prompt payment of child support recovered by bailiffs to its outsourced finance handling company Liberata; (83837)

(2) what Liberata’s target is for the time taken to make payments collected from bailiffs to parents with care; and in what percentage of cases Liberata has met this target.

The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.

Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 18 July 2006:

In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

You also asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what Liberata’s target is for the time taken to make payments collected from bailiffs to parents with care; and in what percentage of cases Liberata has met this target.

The Department of Work and Pensions contract with Liberata requires the Agency to utilise their services for the payment of invoices, court charges and some manual payments to clients.

Liberata do not deal with the payment of child support monies collected by a bailiff company. This is solely an Agency function.

I hope this information is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what bonuses relating to performance were paid to staff managing the EDS contract at the Child Support Agency in each of the last four years for which figures are available. (77970)

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Hilary Reynolds, dated 18 July 2006:

In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As he is out of the country, I am responding on his behalf.

You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what bonuses relating to performance were paid to staff managing the EDS contract at the Child Support Agency in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

All people employed by the Department for Work and Pensions may qualify for performance related pay. The performance related pay arrangements operate on a sliding scale with over 90% of employees receiving a payment at the end of the performance year.

In addition, the Department operates a “Special Bonus” scheme, which rewards employees for exceptional achievements outside the requirements of their key work objectives.

The table below shows special bonus payments paid to people involved in managing the EDS contract. However, managing the EDS contract forms only part of their roles and responsibilities.

These payments arose from when the new child support computer system went live in March 2003.

Financial year

Amount of payment (£)

2003-04

1,600.00

2004-05

0

2005-06

500.00

I hope you find this response helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Child Support Agency cases have been dealt with as clerical cases due to administrative errors on the part of his Department since January 2005. (81998)

The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.

Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 18 July 2006:

You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Support Agency cases have been dealt with as clerical cases due to administrative errors on the part of his Department since January 2005.

Cases are taken off the new computer system (CS2) and progressed clerically if a technical fault occurs and the case cannot be progressed on the system.

If an administrative error is found to have occurred, then Agency staff will look to resolve that error while the case is still being operated on CS2. The case would only be progressed clerically if a technical fault subsequently occurred.

The total volume of cases being clerically progressed in each month from March 2005 to March 2006 is available in table 19 of the latest edition of the Agency's Quarterly Summary of Statistics (QSS), a copy of which is available in the House library, as well as on the internet at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/csa.asp.

For convenience, these figures are attached.

I recognise that the figures given here differ from those given in response to PQ 21451. This is due to improvements in management information which now allows us to provide a more accurate picture of the Agency's clerical caseload.

I hope you find this helpful.

Volume of cases being progressed clerically in each month from the CS2 system

Number of new system clerical cases

2005

March

10,000

April

11,000

May

12,000

June

13,000

July

13,000

August

14,000

September

14,000

October

15,000

November

16,000

December

16,000

2006

January

17,000

February

17,000

March

19,000

Notes:

1. The above figures show the number of new and old scheme cases from CS2 that were being processed clerically, in the main due to technical IT problems that prevented them from being progressed on the CS2 system itself.

2. Note that the figures for later months are provisional, and may be subject to minor retrospective revisions.

3. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

4. Due to limitations in management information, we are unable to include the number of cases that are being progressed clerically off the old system (CSCS).

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on the assessment of student grants; (81931)

(2) when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on non-biological parents being assessed for the student grant loan of a biological child of their partner.

The Department wrote to the hon. Member on 28 June advising him that the matters raised in his letter are the responsibility of the Department for Education and Skills, that his letter had been passed to that Department and that they would reply to the hon. Member directly.

Environmental Management

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department (a) is committed to the achievement of environmental management to ISO 14001 standard and (b) has been externally certified as in compliance with that standard; and if he will make a statement. (81179)

The Department is committed to the achievement of environmental management to ISO 14001 and has in place an environmental management system, based on this standard, which covers the Department and its agencies, business impacts, staff and buildings. An Environmental Management System certified to ISO 14001-2004 run by the Department's facilities management provider, Land Securities Trillium, covers the estates impacts of the Department.

In addition, Jobcentre Plus South East operates an Environmental Management System externally certified to ISO 14001 since 13 January 2004, covering 85 sites and 5,262 staff. The Health and Safety Executive, an executive agency for which the Department has responsibility, has an Environmental Management System certified to ISO 14001 that covers 38 sites.

The Department will continue to operate its Environmental Management Systems in line with the new sustainable operations targets that were launched on 12 June 2006.

Ethnic Minority Outreach

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the merits of (a) provider and (b) Job Centre Plus-led ethnic minority outreach activities in Liverpool; and if he will make a statement. (73206)

[holding answer 23 May 2006]: The Ethnic Minority Outreach (EMO) programme is delivered by private or voluntary and community sector providers on behalf of Jobcentre Plus. It is not, therefore, possible to assess the merits of Jobcentre Plus-led ethnic minority outreach activities in Liverpool, or elsewhere. We have, however, evaluated the programme nationally to assess the merits of voluntary/community sector-led EMO. These included:

success in engaging with ethnic minorities who otherwise may make little use of mainstream Jobcentre Plus services and in helping them into employment;

close links with the ethnic minority communities they are attempting to help;

specialist knowledge of the employment issues faced by people from ethnic minorities.

a highly personalised service and intense level of support;

working in ways which respected cultural sensitivities; and

provision available in the places where ethnic minority communities lived and socialised and in non-threatening and user-friendly venues.

Fuel Direct

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many successful applications there were to each energy supplier for Fuel Direct for (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) each region of England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales in the last full year for which figures are available. (84380)

The information is not available in the format requested. A breakdown by supplier is not available. Information for the number of instances where Fuel Direct deductions were being made from income support, jobseeker’s allowance or pension credit claimants in each quarter during 2005 have been placed in the Library.

Household Incomes

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) median and (b) mean household income was in each London borough in each of the last five years. (83677)

The data source does not allow us to provide robust income estimates below a regional level. Therefore we do not produce information for individual London boroughs.

Information is presented in the table for London as a whole. This is consistent with the latest publication of the ‘Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2004-05’.

The data are from Households Below Average Income (HBAI). The main source for HBAI is the Family Resources Survey (FRS).

Money values for the median and mean of household income distribution in average 2004-05 prices: London

£ per week equivalised

1998-99 to 2000-01

1999-2000 to 2001-02

2000-01 to 2002-03

2001-02 to 2003-04

2002-03 to 2004-05

Before housing costs

Median

352

368

383

389

387

Mean

475

507

528

532

527

After housing costs

Median

278

294

307

315

314

Mean

385

416

439

443

443

Note:

Figures are provided using three-year moving averages, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year on year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time.

Source:

Family Resources Survey

Housing Benefits

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of housing benefit claimants with non-dependant deductions who are (i) elderly and (ii) disabled. (85607)

The most recent available information is in the following table:

Housing benefit households with non-dependant deductions by client type: Great Britain: May 2004

Number

Proportion of client type (Percentage)

Aged 60+ and disabled

1

1

Aged 60+ and not disabled

59,000

3.8

Aged under 60 and disabled

27,000

3.1

1 Denotes nil or negligible.

Notes:1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

2. Figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.

3. HB figures exclude any extended payment cases.

4. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

5 “disabled” means one of the disability premiums has been awarded.

Source:

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has commissioned to establish whether changes have occurred in the level of the shared room rate available to under 25 year olds in the local housing allowance Pathfinder areas. (85608)

The Department has commissioned a comprehensive and independent evaluation of the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Pathfinders that will include consideration of any changes in the LHA rates in the Pathfinder areas over the two year Pathfinder period. This includes an assessment of the LHA shared room rate.

Four interim evaluation reports have already been published and copies are available in the Library. The final evaluation reports are expected to be published between the autumn of this year and spring of next year.

Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2006, Official Report, column 235W, on pensions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the advice he has received attributing £60 million of this increase in the Pension Protection Fund levy to changes in the level of schemes' assets, together with the effect of changes to the relevant market interest rates on the liabilities and £220 million to changes in the mortality assumptions which reflected similar changes to the assumptions used by insurance companies when setting buy-out terms, together with the detail of the assumptions, including mortality tables and interest rates, used in making that attribution. (73779)

There has been no increase in the PPF levy estimate. We cannot provide all the details requested on the increase in the estimate produced by the Government Actuary's Department (GAD). I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 2 May 2006, Official Report, columns 1528-529W, which set out the difficulties of doing so. However, a summary of the GAD update will be placed in the Library shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to fully compensate, with index-linking, all former Allied Steel and Wire workers who lost occupational pension savings; and if he will make a statement. (78293)

The estimated cost of compensating all ASW scheme members in full is £250—£450 million in cash terms and £120—£210 million in net present value, based on limited information on the ASW scheme

Personal Capability Assessment

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Department proposes to pilot the proposed new Personal Capability Assessment referred to in the Green Paper “A new deal for welfare”; and if he will make a statement. (75385)

We will not use formal ‘piloting’ powers for the revised PCA. However, we are committed to testing the new regime by running it in parallel with the current assessment to compare outcomes—we are calling this ‘dummy runs’ of the revised PCA using live assessments. This will play no part in deciding entitlement to incapacity benefit, but will allow us to test the new assessment and make any subsequently required adjustments.

Retirement

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assumptions were made about the employment rate for (a) men and women between the ages of 20 and 64, (b) men and women between the ages of 20 and 68 and (c) the state pension age in (i) 2010, (ii) 2020, (iii) 2030, (iv) 2040 and (v) 2050 in calculating the old-age dependency ratio for the chart on page nine of the pension White Paper, Security in Retirement. (85838)

The chart on page nine of the pensions White Paper: “Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system” does not make assumptions about the employment rate or changes in state pension age.

Home Department

Antisocial Behaviour

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were found guilty of (a) drunken and disorderly behaviour and (b) drunken and aggravated disorderly behaviour in (i) England, (ii) Peterborough constituency and (iii) the Peterborough city council area in each year since 1997. (76623)

Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of offenders found guilty for drunkenness with aggravation (which includes drunk and disorderly) in England, and Peterborough Local Justice Area, 1997—2004 are given in the following table. It is not possible to identify those convicted in Peterborough constituency, or Peterborough city council, as the data are not collected at this level of detail. Court statistics for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.

In addition to this, the penalty notice for disorder scheme was brought into effect in all police forces in England and Wales during 2004. Under the scheme the police are able to issue persons committing specified minor offences with a fixed penalty notice. No admission of guilt is required and payment of the penalty discharges all liability for the offence. In 2004 25,591 penalty notices were issued in England for the offence of being drunk and disorderly. Provisional data for 2005 show that 34,238 penalty notices were issued in England for this offence. It is not possible to identify the number of penalty notices issued in Peterborough as centrally held data are not collected at that level of detail.

Number of offenders found guilty at all courts for offences relating to drunkenness in England 1997 to 20041,2Drunkenness with aggravation4199722,474199823,864199922,7642000322,078200121,468200222,741200323,893200417,550 1 These data are on the principal offence basis.2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, police forces and other agencies. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.3 Staffordshire police force were only able to supply a sample of data for magistrates courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Estimates based on this sample are included in the figures, as they are considered sufficiently robust at this high level of analysis.4 Includes the offence of “drunk and disorderly” [Criminal Justice Act 1967 s4c.91] and other miscellaneous offences of drunkenness with aggravations.Source:Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in (a) Stoke-on-Trent and (b) England. (85267)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: The number of ASBOs, as reported to the Home Office by the court service, where restrictions are imposed in the local authority area of Stoke-on-Trent city council, from 1 June 2000 to 30 September 2005 (latest available) is 54. The number issued in England during the same period is 6,922.

Appointments Booking System

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the Appointments Booking System software has been modified to prevent counter officers by-passing the normal process; whether override audit trails are maintained and checked; and if he will make a statement. (73712)

I am advised that the Appointments Booking System software was upgraded on 6 April. The software has been specifically designed to prevent staff from overriding the system without management approval. An audit trail is maintained and is checked on a daily basis.

Asylum/Immigration

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the (a) opposition to and (b) potential impact of the extension of the voucher system for asylum seekers. (71888)

Vouchers are used to support failed asylum seekers under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 who would otherwise be destitute and for whom there is a temporary barrier to leaving the UK.

Officials, through the NASS Forum, National Consulting Group and Voluntary Sector Chief Executives’ group have discussed impacts. These have been considered carefully and taken into account. The Commons Clearance of Lords’ Amendments stage of the Bill also provided an opportunity to debate their use.

This is a rightly limited form of support, which should not act as an incentive for asylum seekers to remain in the UK once they have exhausted their appeal rights.

Section 43(7) of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 does not extend the voucher system, but ensures flexibility to meet additional needs of those supported under section 4. This is a new provision which should be welcomed.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety (Mr. McNulty) asked officials to review longer term impacts, which they are currently in the process of doing with interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the use of luncheon vouchers for the purposes of support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; how many such vouchers were issued to residents of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne in each of the last four quarters of 2005-06; and what the total value was of the vouchers so issued. (75212)

Where support under section 4 is provided in self-catering accommodation, vouchers to the value of £35 per week are issued to purchase food and essential toiletries. The type of voucher issued is not a matter of policy. The vouchers issued by accommodation providers are primarily luncheon vouchers, supermarket payment cards and supermarket vouchers.

Information on the number and types of voucher issued is not recorded centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who have been given indefinite leave to remain in (a) the past 12 months and (b) the past five years have served a prison sentence in the UK while waiting for a decision on their application to stay in the UK. (75365)

The information requested is not collected centrally and would require an examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who have spent time in detention have been granted temporary release in each of the last five calendar years. (75787)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2006, Official Report, column 71W, on asylum/immigration, how many of the applicants had their last known address in Northamptonshire. (73415)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 282W, on asylum/immigration, what definition his Department uses of a particularly serious crime. (75349)

Article 33(2) of the Refugee Convention allows an asylum seeker or recognised refugee to be removed even if they have a well-founded fear of persecution, where they represent a threat to national security, or where, having been convicted of a particularly serious crime, they constitute a danger to the community.

Section 72 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 provides an interpretation of Article 33(2) of the 1951 Convention and defines the term ‘particularly serious crime’ for the purposes of Article 33(2) as one for which the person concerned has received a sentence of imprisonment of at least two years, or has been convicted of an offence specified by order of the Secretary of State, whatever the length of sentence imposed. An automatic presumption is made, which is rebuttable, that such a person poses a danger to the community.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2006, Official Report, columns 1666-68W, on asylum/immigration, how many individuals were held in each immigration holding, reception and removal centre in each year since 2004-05. (82699)

Quarterly snapshots are published by the Immigration Nationality Directorate's (IND's) Research, Development and Statistics (RDS) Directorate in the quarterly asylum statistics bulletin showing the number of people detained on the last Saturday of each quarter under Immigration Act powers in immigration removal centres.

Citizenship

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a mother can require a DNA test to be undertaken to prove the paternity of her child in relation to citizenship. (84295)

[holding answer 11 July 2006]: There are no powers in the nationality legislation to this effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a British father is required to supply his details to enable his child to be registered as a British citizen where the mother wishes this to happen. (84296)

[holding answer 11 July 2006]: Where an application for citizenship is based on a parent's nationality or immigration status, the Home Secretary has to be satisfied on a balance of probabilities about the child's parentage and that the relevant parent has the appropriate status. In some cases there is also a statutory requirement, or an expectation, that both parents will indicate their consent to the child being registered as a British citizen. There is no power under nationality legislation, however, for the Home Secretary or one parent to compel the provision of certain information or consent by the other.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sherwood dated 28 April about the immigration status of Josephine Mundirwa. (81048)

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Immigration will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Woking of 28 June 2006 concerning a constituent, Mr. C. Imran Ali (Home Office Ref: H/65545/98/PR). (83443)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to the letter of 6 June 2006 from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on behalf of Mohammed Kashif Zahoor (Home Office reference Z1040405, acknowledgement reference B14821/6). (83891)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 31 May from the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding a constituent, reference M13279/6. (84302)

Custodial Education

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of education was for children and young adults in custody in each of the last 30 years; what proportion of the total cost of their detention was represented by spending on their education in each such year; and what was the per capita spending on education in each such year. (86204)

Custody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the merits of establishing a public inquiry into (a) the deaths of children in custody and (b) the role of sentencing policy in such cases; and if he will make a statement. (86229)

Any death of a child or young person in custody is thoroughly investigated. (Fortunately such deaths are comparatively rare.) The main form of public inquiry into any death is the inquest. Developments in case law in recent years have greatly extended the scope of inquests into deaths in custody, so that they can now inquire into a wide range of possible contributory factors (although sentencing policy will rarely, if ever, be a directly contributory factor to a death in an individual case). In addition, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman conducts his own independent inquiry into any death of a young person in a young offender institution or a secure training centre; and the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board is likely to commission a serious case review under Part 8 of the joint Department for Education and Skills/Home Office/Department of Health guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999). Many of the young people who become involved in serious or persistent offending are at risk of self-harm, whether or not they are in custody. It is not possible to quantify how many young people’s health, including mental health, has been positively assisted by care received while in custody. There is no reason to believe that sentencing policy is increasing the rate of mortality of young people under 18.

Departmental Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals work for his Department in the UK. (73625)

The Home Office, which includes the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and the Prison Service but not its other Agencies, is currently employing one foreign national under the terms of the 1955 Aliens’ Employment Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff changes there have been in the private offices of Departmental Ministers of State in each year since 1999. (73672)

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2006, Official Report, column 732-34W, on departmental staff, how many staff in his Department have had two or more periods of sick leave of less than five days in two or more of the years for which he has provided figures. (84036)

I am advised that the number of staff in his Department that have had two or more periods of sick leave of less than five days in two or more years are show in the following table.

Staff who have taken two or more periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last three years

Number of staff

Home Office (including Immigration and Nationality Directorate)1

2002-03

5,515

2003-04

7,180

2005-06

6,113

Identity and Passport Service2

2003-04

1,438

2004-05

1,389

2005-06

1,463

HM Prison Service3

2003-04

10,756

2004-05

9,950

2005-06

9,438

1 Data are provided on the basis of staff having on average* two or more days per spell of sickness. The figures for 2002-03 and 2003-04 are based on calendar days, those for 2005-06 on working days.

2 IPS figures show periods of less than five working days.

3 HMPS figures show periods of less than five calendar days.

* ‘On average’ indicates a spell which includes staff who had a mean average of two days sick and not just two or more days in (each and every) spell of sickness in the period provided.

Note:

Because the material needed to be provided from archived reports run across the periods concerned on a particular basis (that of average values across the period) it was not possible to answer the question in the more precise form without disproportionate cost, in the time scale available.

Deportations

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he issues to staff escorting deported foreign nationals back to their country of origin on the way in which these deportees are (a) handled and (b) treated; and if he will make a statement. (68798)

Staff escorting deported foreign nationals back to their country of origin are certificated Detainee Custody Officers, who are fully trained in the appropriate handling and treatment of those detainees in their care.

The conduct of the escorts is governed by the contractor’s own operating procedures. These are approved by the Contract Monitor, a Crown Servant, who closely reviews the contractor’s performance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign criminals undergoing consideration for deportation require a translator; and at what cost. (69563)

The information as requested in each answer is not currently available in the format requested and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EU Legislation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what EU legislation the UK has opted (a) out of and (b) into in the areas of (i) asylum, (ii) legal migration, (iii) visa and border controls and (iv) civil law under the rules governing Title IV of the Treaty establishing the European Community. (73168)

For legislation opted into in the areas of asylum and immigration, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Des Browne) gave to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory), on 7 March, 2005, Official Report, column 1596W, and to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire, South (Mr. Alexander) gave to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 737W.

Since 1 December 2005 the UK has opted into the following two measures in asylum: a recommendation for a council decision authorising the Commission to negotiate a readmission agreement between the European Community and Russia; and a proposal by the Council establishing a Mutual Information Procedure. The UK has not opted into the following proposals in the area of Civil Law: proposal for a Council Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations; and a proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation on the law applicable to contractual obligations.

There has been no legislation to decide to opt into since 1 December 2005 in legal immigration or visa and border controls.

Failed Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those local authorities who have withdrawn support and accommodation from failed asylum seeker families in addition to those councils piloting implementation of section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration Act (Treatment of Claimants etc.) 2004. (79292)

Support may have been withdrawn by local authorities supporting families under the Interim Provisions where the authority identified that a family had been granted indefinite leave to remain (ILR) under the Family ILR concession or had otherwise been granted leave to remain; mainstream support is available in such cases. There have been no withdrawals of asylum support under section 9 since December 2005 when the pilot commenced its evaluation phase.

Foreign Criminals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many foreign national offenders there were in UK prisons in each year since 1997; and what percentage this represents of the total prison population; (68720)

(2) how many offenders whose nationality is unknown are in UK prisons; and how many offenders whose nationality was unknown there were in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004 and (e) 2005;

(3) how many foreign national offenders there are in UK prisons; what their country of origin is; and for what offences they are imprisoned.

Information on the population in prison establishments by nationality is published in annual and quarterly Home Office statistical publications. The figures have been drawn from the prisons administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.

Information on the number of foreign nationals and those with nationality not recorded, for the years 2001 to 2005, held in prison establishments in England and Wales is given in table 8.4 and 8.4a of Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2004.

Information on the nationality of foreign nationals held in prison establishments in England and Wales is given in table 2.14 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics Quarterly Brief October to December 2005.

The number of sentenced foreign nationals in prison establishments in England and Wales for each offence group is given in table 8.29 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2004.

Information from these tables is given as follows.

Information on Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my colleagues in the Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Office.

Population in prison establishments1 by nationality, England and Wales as at 30 June each year

Number of persons

2001

2002

20032

2004

20053

20064

Males and females

All nationalities

66,403

71,218

72,286

74,488

76,190

77,677

British nationals

58,732

62,553

62,417

64,379

65,670

65,907

Foreign nationals

6,926

7,719

8,728

8,941

9,651

10,834

Percentage of total population

10

11

12

12

13

14

Unrecorded nationality5

745

946

1,142

1,168

869

936

1 Excludes police cells. Includes Immigration Removal Centres at Dover, Haslar and Lindholme managed by the Prison Service on behalf of IND. Includes remand, sentenced and non criminals.

2 As at 28 February 2003.

3 Further quality assurance of the population data was undertaken in 2005 resulting in revised figures from June 2005 onwards. This has affected the statistics on nationality. The number with unrecorded nationality has decreased by 400, the number of British nationals has increased by 300 and the number of foreign nationals has increased by 100 from previously published figures.

4 As at 31 May 2006.

5 0.3 per cent. of the immediate custodial sentenced population has an unrecorded nationality.

Sources:

The figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, and so is not necessarily accurate to the last whole number as shown here.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign prisoners who have served custodial sentences and who have been recommended for deportation were held in immigration detention centres on 20 June 2006. (83092)

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate does not collate information in the format requested and it could only be produced in the format requested at disproportionate cost. However, I am able to advise the hon. Member that 469 former prisoners who had completed their sentence were detained in immigration detentions centres, pending deportation, on 17 June 2006. This figure rose to 497 on 24 June 2006.

Foreign Students

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a sponsors register for academic institutions to allow foreign students to come to the UK to study. (83087)

We intend to introduce a register of sponsors for academic institutions as part of Tier 4 of the Points-Based System for Managed Migration.

HM Prison Service

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of senior operational managers in HM Prison Service in each area achieved an exceed rating on their staff performance and development record in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (85479)

The following table shows information from the Corporate Database on the proportion of performance levels recorded as “exceeded” for senior operational managers in each year from 2001-02 to 2004-05. Comprehensive information on performance levels for 2005-06 is not yet available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Performance levels recorded for senior operational managers

Percentage

Area

2004-05

2003-04

2002-03

2001-02

High Security Prisons

61

71

79

78

East Midlands

75

61

65

56

Eastern

47

14

33

58

Kent

36

45

56

47

London

86

58

50

67

North East

91

50

44

38

North West

77

44

57

70

South West

64

57

87

72

Surrey and Sussex

40

43

63

50

Thames Valley and Hampshire

64

77

52

50

Wales

67

80

50

57

West Midlands

36

63

56

71

Yorkshire and Humberside

86

77

83

78

HQ

54

52

56

43

Total

60

56

59

56

Note:

Senior operational managers are senior manager grades A to D. Percentages are calculated as proportion of all recorded SPDR markings for those grades. Where no marking is recorded the data are omitted.

Identity Checks (Licensed Premises)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the risk of identity theft when identity is requested and taken by door staff at licensed premises; and if he will make a statement. (79529)

No assessment has been made of this specific risk. However, since 11 April 2005 all door supervisors working on licensed premises have been required to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority. This requires them to undertake training and a criminality check from the Criminal Records Bureau. If an applicant is found guilty of identity theft it is highly likely that he will be refused a licence. If a licensed door supervisor is subsequently found guilty of identity theft then it is also highly likely that his licence will be revoked.

Illegal Immigrants

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have been employed on Home Office premises in each of the last five years. (77073)

I am advised that of such records that are held locally, two members of staff were detected as not having valid leave to remain in the United Kingdom at the time of their employment. One in 2004, and one in 2005.

In addition, 12 contracted workers have been identified as having worked on Home Office premises illegally: eight this year, two in 2005, one in 2004 and one in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of foreign-born prisoners who (a) entered and (b) remained in the UK illegally. (64268)

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate does not currently record the information requested. The provision of this information could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners who (a) entered and (b) remained in the UK illegally have been recommended for deportation on completion of their sentences. (64269)

The provision of this information could only be obtained through review of individual case files and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department provides to police forces on processing illegal immigrants when an Immigration Service official is unable to attend; and if he will make a statement. (84092)

Police will be provided with advice by the relevant local enforcement office in the event that resources do not permit attendance in person by an Immigration Service official.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the past 12 months his Department has received information pertaining to illegal residency in the UK; and on how many occasions such information led to a deportation. (84253)

Data on the number of separate pieces of information about illegal residency received by the Home Office are not currently recorded centrally and therefore not available.

Immigration (EEA) Regulations

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the ways in which the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006 (a) impact on the deportation of (i) European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and (ii) members of EEA nationals' extended families and (b) change the relevant processes in place previously. (73427)

EEA nationals and their family members may be deported if their removal is justified on the grounds of public policy, public security or public health. The principles to be applied to such deportation cases are set out in regulation 21 of the 2006 Regulations. The deportation provisions in the 2006 Regulations will only apply to an "extended family member" of an EEA national if the United Kingdom has issued entry or residence documentation to the extended family member under the Regulations.

The deportation provisions in the 2006 Regulations are in most respects similar to those in the previous Regulations but introduce different tests for deportation where EEA nationals and their family members have acquired permanent residence in the UK or where an EEA national has resided in the UK for at least 10 years or is under 18. The 2006 Regulations also update the list of diseases relevant to deportation decisions taken on public health grounds and provide some opportunity for a person to leave voluntarily when facing deportation.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many case files have been lost by the Immigration and Nationality Department (a) temporarily and (b) permanently in each of the past five years. (63967)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there are at the Immigration and Nationality Department. (73621)

There are currently 427 (2.4 per cent.) posts in the Immigration and Nationality Department that are vacant, according to the figures reported on the computerised resource reporting system called Adelphi.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will lead the inquiry into the allegations made in The Observer on 21 May regarding malpractice in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; when the inquiry will report; if the report will be published; what the terms of reference are; from whom the inquiry will take evidence; and if he will make a statement. (73687)

An internal disciplinary investigation has taken place, as a result of which a member of IND staff has been dismissed. A criminal investigation continues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate compiled an action plan to take forward the recommendations made by Mr. Gbedemah; and if he will place a copy in the Library. (73688)

I am advised that an action plan was initiated immediately upon the publication of Mr. Gbedemah's report. The action plan is an internal working document and as such it would not be appropriate to place it in the public domain.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action he has taken against officials in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate following Mr. Gbedemah’s report. (73689)

I am advised that 13 separate disciplinary investigations were commissioned following Mr. Gbedemah’s report. Disciplinary action has been completed in respect of seven members of staff and is ongoing in respect of the remaining six.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people referred to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate by the Department for Work and Pensions for having suspect immigration documents in (a) the last six months, (b) the last 12 months and (c) each of the last five years have been (i) investigated and (ii) prosecuted. (75704)

This information could be obtained only by individually searching IND databases for the outcome of each referral received, which would have significant resource implications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department plans to reduce the charges for leave to remain applications once the deficit identified by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate associated with the processing of chargeable applications during 2003-04 and 2004-05 has been recovered. (76924)

The fees for leave to remain are set to recover the full costs of the leave to remain service. These include not only the recovery of past deficits but also the direct and indirect costs associated with processing the application, including overheads and appeal costs. Our fees are set at a level appropriate for the costs of managing the service in an area of fluctuating volumes and we will continue to review this in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what point he expects the deficit identified by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate which occurred in processing chargeable applications for leave to remain during 2003-04 and 2004-05 to have been recovered as a result of increases to leave to remain fees from 1 April 2005. (76925)

Deficits identified by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are being recovered through the fee for leave to remain in 2005-06. The accounts for the financial year 2005-06 are still being finalised and are yet to be audited by the National Audit Office. Until these accounts have been finalised I am unable to state whether the deficits referred to have been recovered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total running costs were of the Department that handles further leave to remain charges within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each year since their introduction. (76926)

The published resource accounts for the fiscal year 2003-04 show that full costs of service provision for leave to remain applications totalled £44.985 million.

The published resource accounts for the fiscal year 2004-05 show that full costs of service provision for leave to remain applications totalled £74.588 million.

The resource accounts for the financial year 2005-06 are still being finalised and are yet to be audited by the National Audit Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was raised through further leave to remain charges in each year since their introduction. (76927)

The resource accounts for the fiscal year 2003-04 show that £44.157 million were received as income from leave to remain charges.

The resource accounts for the fiscal year 2004-05 show income of £60.927 million in respect of fee income from leave to remain charges.

The resource accounts for the financial year 2005-06 are still being finalised and are yet to be audited by the National Audit Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for which projects external consultants were hired for work for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in the last financial year; who the consultants were in each case; and how much was paid in each case. (77071)

Detailed information in the format requested is not available centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In 2005-06 a total of £20.1 million (subject to audit) was spent by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate on all external professional services, including consultancy support for projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid to external consultants for work for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each year since 1997. (77072)

I am advised that IND's expenditure on all external professional services comprising payments made to management, IT and accommodation consultants in the last three years was as follows:

£ million

Payments to external consultants

2005-061

20.1

2004-05

17.7

2003-04

32.7

1 Provisional figures, subject to audit.

Figures for earlier years are not available on a comparable basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent guidance he has issued to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Security and Anti-Corruption Unit on developing a more proactive strategy for combating fraud and corruption. (73709)

One of the recommendations in Tim Gbedemah's report on the investigation into the Public Enquiry Office (PEO) in Croydon was that the IND should consider giving its Security and Anti- Corruption Unit (SACU) sole responsibility for investigating allegations of corruption across the whole of IND and tasking the unit with developing a more proactive strategy for combating fraud and corruption. Ministers accepted all of the recommendations in the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Security and Anti-Corruption Unit is responsible for investigating allegations of corruption across the whole of the IND; and when it was given this role. (73710)

IND's Security and Anti-Corruption Unit was given sole responsibility for investigating allegations of corruption made against all IND staff on 1 April 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are employed in the Immigration and Nationality Directive at (a) senior management and (b) junior management level. (77403)

I am advised that IND records show the number of people employed by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in senior, middle and junior management grades are shown in the following table:

FTE

Headcount

Junior Manager

Immigration Officer

3,439

3,562

Executive Officer

2,683

2,831

Higher Executive Officer

1,542

1,606

Chief Immigration Officer

813

847

Total

8,477

8,846

Middle Manager

Senior Executive Officer

616

641

Grade 7

374

387

Grade 6

98

99

Immigration Inspector

212

Total

1,300

1,347

Senior Manager

Senior Civil Servant

45

45

Total

45

45

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees from an ethnic minority the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has, broken down by category of staff. (77397)

The information requested is presented in the following table. The collection of diversity data is intended to enable IND to monitor the effectiveness of its HR policies and processes. The provision of such data by employees is voluntary and information is held currently for just under 60 per cent. of our staff. Specific activities are under way to increase this figure to help ensure robust monitoring.

Ethnic minority staff employed in IND by grade—number and percentage

Number

Percentage

SCS

0

0

G6/G7

27

8.08

SEO

69

15.40

HEO

234

22.12

EO

624

33.58

HMI

16

10.74

CIO

68

12.78

IO

453

23.72

AO

717

36.60

AIO

147

41.18

AA

278

39.15

Other

96

33.90

Total ethnic minority staff employed in IND—number and percentage

Total number of ethnic minority staff

2,729

Total as percentage of IND staff

28.25

Notes:

1. The figures are based on a 59.79 per cent. data set. We are taking active steps to improve these data; one Directorate specific manual exercise has been undertaken recently, these data returns will be reflected in the June 2006 figures and a small self-service electronic pilot exercise will be completed by September 2006 for inclusion in that quarter's figures.

2. The category “other” includes research officers and librarians.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers employed by his Department were born outside the UK, broken down by country of origin. (77398)

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

Immigration Cases

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responsible for immigration matters will respond to the representations of the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Matthew Pretorius, on permanent settlement status. (83526)

Juvenile Custody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff were employed in the (a) private and (b) public sector in the care of vulnerable and at-risk children and young adults in custody in each of the last 20 years. (86384)

This information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

London Bombings

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value was of each payment which (a) has been made and (b) is planned by the Government to (i) survivors and (ii) families of those affected by the London bombings on 7 July 2005; and to whom each payment was made. (76981)

Applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) are confidential as between the claimant and the Authority and no details of a claim can be released to any third party without the consent of the claimant.

CICA are, however, able to provide some details of claims lodged and payments made provided this does not enable individual claimants to be identified.

On this basis, information about numbers of final awards offered and accepted up to 30 June is given in the following table. This shows the tariff level for the main injury suffered.

Some of the award recipients may have received compensation over and above the tariff level indicated because they received tariff compensation for a second or third injury under the serious multiple injury formula, and/or additional compensation for loss of earnings and special expenses.

A number of substantial interim awards have also been made to seriously injured victims where the final prognosis for recovery is unclear and where CICA still have to make a final assessment of a claim for financial loss.

Many victims will also have received substantial payments from the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund, to which the Government donated a further £2.5 million in June 2006. Payments from the Fund, in the form of charitable grants, are made at the discretion of the Fund’s trustees.

London Bombings—Final awards offered and accepted (to 30 June 2006)

Tariff band/level

Tariff amount (£)

Number of final awards offered and accepted

1

1,000

79

2

1,250

11

3

1,500

3

4

1,750

4

5

2,000

4

6

2,500

10

7

3,300

5

8

3,800

6

9

4,400

27

10

5,500

49

12

8,200

13

13

11,000

2

15

16,500

3

17

22,000

1

Total

217

Manor Lodge, Berkshire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders living at Manor Lodge Approved Premises, Old Windsor, Berkshire are sex offenders. (84937)

[holding answer 13 July 2006]: As I have previously advised the hon. Member, the number of sex offenders accommodated at any one time in any approved premises, (formerly bail and probation hostels) varies. Statistical information about the type of offences committed by offenders residing at an approved premises at any one time is not collected centrally.

National Asylum Support Service

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens from each of the countries which joined the EU in May 2004 are being supported by the National Asylum Support Service. (79017)

I am advised that the information available is set out in the table.

Number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported by NASS from countries that joined the EU in May 2004 as at the end of March 2006

Nationality

Subsistence only

In dispersed accommodation

Total

Cyprus

Estonia

Hungary

Latvia

*

*

Lithuania

5

5

Malta

Poland

5

5

Slovakia

Slovenia

Czech Republic

10

10

Total

10

10

20

‘*’= 1 or 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 and may not sum due to rounding.

NASS provides this support only to EU nationals who are, or have been, asylum seekers, whose claim is either outstanding or their circumstances are such that they are at present neither able to work nor to return home.

New Criminal Offences

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his Department since April 2005, broken down by Act. (76910)

Home Office legislation since 1 April 2005 contains 50 criminal offences, tabled as follows:

Act

Number

Drugs Act 2005

2

Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005

26

Identity Cards Act 2006

6

Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006

6

Terrorism Act 2006

8

Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006

2

Non-custodial Sentences

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2006, Official Report, columns 880-82W, on non-custodial sentences, for what reasons reparation is not included in orders other than the action plan order and the reparation order. (86415)

The table referred to in my answer of 3 July 2006, Official Report, columns 880-82W, gave general descriptions of the community sentences available for dealing with young offenders. Reparation, victim awareness and repairing the harm caused by offending are common threads running throughout the community sentencing framework. In practice all community orders offer the sentencer the flexibility to attach elements of reparation either within the order itself or in combination with another order.

Passports (Secure Storage)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent instructions he has issued to ensure that (a) passports and (b) other key documents are never left unsupervised and are always held in secure storage. (73704)

Instructions were issued to all asylum staff in February of this year in relation to retaining documents. The relevant instruction is APN 02/2006 and can be found on the IND external website.

Police Stations

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many holding cells there are in police stations in each London borough; and how many of these cells are closed for refurbishment. (84663)

The provision and closure of cells are operational matters for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police, the Metropolitan Police Authority and the City of London.

Prisons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who have been released on licence from each prison on the Isle of Wight are no longer in touch with the authorities monitoring their whereabouts. (67931)

[holding answer 4 May 2006]: The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost.

All offenders released on licence are subject to six standard licence conditions: three of which require them to ‘keep in touch with your supervising officer’, ‘permanently to reside at an address approved by your supervising officer’ and ‘notify him or her in advance of any proposed change of address or proposed stay (even for one night) away from that approved address’. In the event that any such licence conditions are breached, the offender is liable to be recalled to prison upon the recommendation of the probation officer in order to protect the public. Once the licence is revoked and the offender recalled, the police are notified, in order to ensure a swift return to custody.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new places in (a) closed prisons and (b) young offender institutions his Department is planning to bring onstream during the 2006-07 financial year; and if he will make a statement. (74796)

300 additional places in closed adult male establishments are planned for delivery in 2006-07 under the National Offender Management Service building programme.

In addition, the Youth Justice Board has commissioned and funded a 14-place juvenile unit at Her Majesty’s prison Foston Hall which will shortly be available for use.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign prisoners are detained in open prisons. (77121)

Towards the end of May 2006 there were around 300 prisoners in open prisons in England and Wales with a foreign nationality. The figures have been drawn from the prisons’ administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.

Foreign nationals are subject to the same risk assessment process as any other prisoner before allocation to open conditions. The overriding purpose of the security classification must be to ensure that prisoners are retained in custody with a level of security that is consistent with the need to protect the public. Following a review of the criteria for the categorisation of foreign national prisoners and their allocation to open conditions in May 2006, the Prison Service concluded that no changes were required of the policy. However, Governors have been instructed to take into account the impact of recent public statements regarding the likelihood of deportation on the risk of absconding when considering foreign national prisoners for Category D status and allocation to open conditions.

All life-sentenced foreign nationals and those sentenced for serious offences were returned from open conditions to closed during May and have been subject to an individual risk assessment in consultation with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate before a final decision as to whether or not they are suitable to return to open conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2006, Official Report, column 819W, on prisons, what category of offences had been committed by each of the non-foreign national prisoners who absconded from Ford prison in 2006; what the term of the prison sentence was in each case; on what date each escaped; and whether the prisoner remains at large in each case. (77859)

[holding answer 15 June 2006]: The detailed information requested may be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However, I can advise that, as at 18 July, only two of the non-foreign national prisoners who absconded from Ford open prison in 2006 remain unlawfully at large.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2006, Official Report, column 1623W, to the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) on prisons, when the report on reconviction analysis being conducted by the Research, Development and Statistics Unit will be published. (84673)

The report will be published on the RDS website (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/onlinepubs1.html) by the end of 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget is per person per day for meals for prison inmates. (85100)

There is no set budget for prisoner meals. Governors have the freedom to decide what proportion of the budget allocated to them should be spent on food for prisoners. For 2004-05, the latest period for which data is available, the average public sector Prison Service daily food cost was £1.87.

Private Security Industry Act

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department made of the number of people that might request each type of licence under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 prior to the start of applications. (76850)

As stated in the Government’s White Paper (Proposals for Regulation of the Private Security Industry in England and Wales, CM 4254) in March 1999, accurate statistics on the size of the private security industry have always been difficult to obtain. The most recent estimate contained in the White Paper was that in 1994 there were 162,000 licensable people, based on research by the Policy Studies Institute.

In their 2004-05 business plan the Security Industry Authority (SIA) estimated that the total licensable population was just over 221,000. The SIA has continued to update its estimates in the light of operational experience and the current estimate is that about 183,000 individuals require a licence. The majority of this change is due to the revision of the estimated size of the door supervisor sector. A breakdown of these figures by each type of licence is in the following table.

Sector

2004-05 business plan estimates

Latest estimate

Door supervisors

95,000

62,000

Security guards

125,000

120,000

Vehicle immobilisers

1,200

1,200

Total

221,200

183,200

Probation Service

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be in a position to introduce legislation to reform the probation service. (86353)

We set out our plans for the probation service in “Working with probation to protect the public and reduce re-offending” which was published on 30 March. We will introduce the necessary legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Public Enquiry Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent instructions he has issued for CCTV coverage of the Public Enquiry Office counter to be improved. (73706)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken since the publication of the report on investigations into allegations about the Public Enquiry Office in Croydon to find out the views of asylum applicants on the allegations made by Mr. Pamnani. (73696)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he issued to Mr. Tim Gbedemah concerning the persons from whom he should take evidence during the investigation into allegations about the Public Enquiry Office in Croydon. (73698)

I am advised that Mr. Gbedemah's terms of reference are set out at paragraph two of his report. No specific guidance was given to Mr. Gbedemah as to whom he should and should not interview.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a new code of conduct for PEO staff; when he will publish it; what (a) training and (b) guidance has been given to PEO staff on the new code; to what extent the Immigration and Nationality Directorate’s Security and Anti-Corruption Unit is delivering the training; and what guidance the code will contain on non-work related contact with applicants. (73711)

The recent investigation into events at the PEO, carried out by David Stephens and Tim Gbedemah, made a number of recommendations, including that consideration be given to putting in place a code of conduct for PEO staff.

This recommendation was accepted, and is currently being acted upon. We hope to have a draft code of conduct available for consultation with staff in July. The document will contain guidance on non-work related contact with applicants. The detail is currently being developed.

IND’s Security and Anti-Corruption Unit and PEO managers will jointly deliver the training to new and existing staff.

Road Accidents (Mobile Telephones)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) deaths, (b) serious incidents and (c) other accidents have been caused by persons driving while using hand-held mobile telephones since 1 December 2003, broken down by police force area. (83519)

I have been asked to reply.

The information available relates to factors that are judged by the police as having contributed to a road accident in which someone was injured. The table shows the number of personal injury road accidents reported to the police in 2005 that have “Driver using mobile phone” assigned as a contributory factor, broken down by severity, as well as the resulting fatalities. This information is not available for earlier years.

Fatalities in, and the number of, accidents where “Driver using a mobile phone” was reported as a contributory factor: 2005

Fatalities

Fatal accidents

Serious accidents

Slight accidents

Metropolitan police

0

0

6

47

Cumbria

2

2

2

3

Lancashire

1

1

1

8

Merseyside

1

1

1

10

Greater Manchester

0

0

1

18

Cheshire

0

0

1

6

Northumbria

0

0

1

4

Durham

0

0

0

5

North Yorkshire

0

0

2

4

West Yorkshire

0

0

4

5

South Yorkshire

0

0

2

3

Humberside

0

0

1

8

Cleveland

0

0

0

2

West Midlands

0

0

1

21

Staffordshire

1

1

4

11

West Mercia

1

1

3

8

Warwickshire

0

0

1

9

Derbyshire

0

0

0

4

Nottinghamshire

0

0

1

6

Lincolnshire

0

0

0

4

Leicestershire

1

1

0

10

Northamptonshire

0

0

1

4

Cambridgeshire

0

0

0

9

Norfolk

0

0

2

4

Suffolk

0

0

1

2

Bedfordshire

0

0

0

4

Hertfordshire

0

0

0

7

Essex

0

0

3

11

Thames Valley

2

2

1

26

Hampshire

0

0

1

18

Surrey

0

0

1

6

Kent

0

0

2

13

Sussex

1

1

3

13

City of London

0

0

0

1

Devon and Cornwall

1

1

0

10

Avon and Somerset

1

1

0

6

Gloucestershire

0

0

0

5

Wiltshire

0

0

0

4

Dorset

0

0

0

0

North Wales

0

0

1

3

Gwent

0

0

1

2

South Wales

0

0

0

5

Dyfed-Powys

0

0

0

4

Northern

1

1

0

0

Grampian

0

0

0

0

Tayside

0

0

0

2

Fife

0

0

1

0

Lothian and Borders

0

0

0

0

Central

0

0

0

0

Strathclyde

0

0

2

9

Dumfries and Galloway

0

0

0

0

Total

13

13

52

364

Road Safety

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists have (a) three, (b) six and (c) nine penalty points on their licences. (82442)

The information is not collected by my Department.

I have been advised that it is available only at disproportionate cost from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Schlumberger Sema Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times his departmental officials have met Schlumberger Sema Ltd. (11150)

Departmental officials in the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and Schlumberger Sema Ltd have had a series of commercial relationships since 1996.

Security Industry Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the number of unregistered door supervisors and security guards operating in (a) each English region and (b) the Tees Valley. (63132)

It is not possible to calculate the numbers of licensed or unlicensed security guards and door supervisors on a regional basis. The national figures for England and Wales are as follows. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) estimate that there are about 183,000 people who require a licence to work in the private security industry. As of 5 July, the SIA had accepted 162,452 complete applications, granted 119,653 licences, and refused 4,231. The remaining 38,568 applications were in the SIA’s processing system. On that date there were also 213 companies with Approved Contractor status legally able to deploy about 15,450 of their staff while their licence applications were being processed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the number of people employed and working in the security industry who have not yet received a Security Industry Authority licence. (71953)

The Security Industry Authority’s (SIA’s) most recent estimate is that about 183,000 individuals require a licence to work in the private security industry. As at 5 July, the SIA had accepted 162,452 complete applications, granted 119,653 licences, and refused 4,231. The remaining 38,568 applications were in the SIA’s processing system. On that date there were also 213 companies with Approved Contractor status legally able to deploy about 15,450 of their staff while their licence applications were being processed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Security Industry Authority in awarding licences to security personnel; and if he will make a statement. (74129)

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) estimate that there are about 183,000 people who require a licence to work in the private security industry. As of 5 July, the SIA had accepted 162,452 complete applications, granted 119,653 licences, and refused 4,231. The remaining 38,568 applications were in the SIA’s processing system. On that date there were also 213 companies with Approved Contactor status legally able to deploy about 15,450 of their staff while their licence applications were being processed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of contracted security guards that are currently working without licences. (79301)

[holding answer 21 June 2006]: The Security Industry Authority’s (SIA’s) most recent estimate is that about 183,000 individuals require a licence to work in the private security industry. As at 5 July, the SIA had accepted 162,452 complete applications, granted 119,653 licences, and refused 4,231. The remaining 38,568 applications were in the SIA’s processing system. On that date there were also 213 companies with Approved Contractor status legally able to deploy about 15,450 of their staff while their licence applications were being processed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time taken to process licence applications for operatives working in the private security industry was from the date the application was submitted to the date the licence was issued, in each month since April 2005. (79304)

[holding answer 21 June 2006]: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) do not calculate the average processing times for applications. Some, such as those involving overseas criminal records checks, unavoidably take a considerable time. The SIA have a published target of processing 80 per cent. of all applications within six weeks, measured from the date that a properly completed application enters the processing system to the date that a licence is issued.

Since September 2005, there has been a backlog of applications that have been waiting to enter the system. These have added an additional time of between four and six weeks to the process, so it is now taking up to 12 weeks to process most applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the licence applications submitted by operatives working in the private security industry (a) are currently being processed, (b) have been granted and (c) were returned to the applicants because they were completed incorrectly. (79305)

[holding answer 21 June 2006]: On 5 July, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) had 38,568 applications in their processing system, and had granted 119,653 licences. Over the past six months, the average monthly number of incomplete applications returned to applicants has been about 2,800.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licence applications were held for processing by the Security Industry Authority on 1 March. (62302)

23,413 licence applications were held in the Security Industry Authority’s processing system on 1 March 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time taken was to process applications for Security Industry Authority licences in the latest period for which figures are available. (82490)

[holding answer 4 July 2006]: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) do not calculate the average processing times for applications. Some, such as those involving overseas criminal records checks, unavoidably take a considerable time. The SIA have a published target of processing 80 per cent. of all applications within six weeks, measured from the date that a properly completed application enters the processing system to the date that a licence is issued.

Since September 2005, there has been a backlog of applications that have been waiting to enter the system. These have added an additional time of between four and six weeks to the process, so it is now taking up to 12 weeks to process most applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for Security Industry Authority licences are being processed. (82491)

[holding answer 4 July 2006]: As of 5 July, the Security Industry Authority had 38,568 applications in its processing system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to allow applicants for Security Industry Authority licences to work if the processing of their licences is delayed. (82492)

[holding answer 4 July 2006]: Applicants who have been trained and whose applications are being processed by the Security Industry Authority can be legally deployed under the Licence Dispensation arrangements available to approved contractors. On 5 July there were approximately 15,450 people who could be legally deployed under Licence Dispensation.

Somalia

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Somali nationals arriving on flights from (a) Nairobi and (b) Addis Ababa claimed asylum at Heathrow in 2005. (84813)

Only locally collated management information, which might be subject to change and does not represent national statistics, is available.

In 2005, a total of 29 persons claiming to be Somali nationals arrived at Heathrow and claimed asylum, of whom 25 travelled to the United Kingdom from Nairobi and four travelled from Addis Ababa.

Staff Discipline

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in his Department (a) have been suspended, (b) have been dismissed and (c) have had their responsibilities significantly changed in each of the last three months. (77076)

The data available in respect of (a) and (b) are set out in the following table. Data for (c) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

2006

Suspended

Dismissed

April

4

7

May

8

12

June

2

3

Figures are as of 14 June 2006 and include staff in the central Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

The figures for HMPS could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

Staff Misconduct

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many allegations of staff misconduct have been (a) received and (b) investigated in each directorate of his Department in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. (76919)

I am advised that available figures are as follows:

Directorate

Central HO

IND

HMPS

1997

n/a

n/a

n/a

1998

n/a

n/a

n/a

1999

n/a

n/a

n/a

2000

1

n/a

n/a

2001

14

n/a

1,174

2002

15

n/a

1,373

2003

18

n/a

1,475

2004

13

n/a

1,393

2005

6

114

1,360

2006

10

47

317

Student Visas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas student visa holders there were in the UK in each of the last five years; and in how many cases in each year the student (a) (i) did not register and (ii) failed to attend a course and (b) worked more than 20 hours a week. (75224)

Superannuation Liability

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what total amount of employers’ normal contributions accruing superannuation liability charge has been accounted for by his Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. (61364)

The amount of employers’ accruing superannuation liability charges (ASLC) in respect of members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme is detailed as follows, for the last four years. The figures represent the total ASLC paid by the Home Office, its agencies, non-departmental public bodies and all other public bodies on the Home Office payroll.

The Home Office changed its payroll system during the 2001-02 financial year. To collate ASLC figures for this year would require more manual checking and verification using paper records from the previous payroll system. The information for this year could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

£

2005-06

236,044,265.37

2004-05

236,043,234.83

2003-04

226,228,555.12

2002-03

205,645,836.05

Note:

From 1 October 2002 new entrants have been able to opt for a partnership pension account, a stakeholder arrangement with an employer contribution element. Employers’ contributions to partnership pension accounts are not included in the above figures.

Translation Services

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of translation and interpreting services for foreign nationals (a) in prisons in England and Wales and (b) supervised by the probation service. (77415)

Neither the Prison Service nor the probation service separately record this category of expenditure.

Worker Registration Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2006, Official Report, column 1280W, on the Worker Registration Scheme, how many workers from EU accession countries are legally working in the UK, without being registered under the Worker Registration Scheme. (75813)

Nationals of the EU accession countries (other than Cyprus and Malta) are not working legally in the UK unless they are registered under the Worker Registration Scheme or are exempt from the requirement to do so. They are exempt if, for example, they have been working legally in the UK for 12 months or if they are working in a self-employed capacity, or are working for less than 30 days.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many workers from EU accession countries have (a) applied and (b) been accepted under the Worker's Registration Scheme since 1 May 2004. (77602)

The latest published Accession Monitoring Report covers the period May 2004 to March 2006 and sets out the number of citizens from the EU Accession countries (A8 nationals) who have applied to register with the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) during this period. This report is available on the Home Office website at:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/accession_monitoring_report

World Cup Tickets

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been in relation to the touting of tickets to England World Cup 2006 matches (a) in England and Wales and (b) via internet sites based in England and Wales; how many of these have resulted in convictions; and if he will make a statement. (84971)

This information is not available centrally. Arrest data for ticket-touting offences during 2005-06 football season are currently being collated and will be published later this year. Measures within the Violent Crime Reduction Bill will extend coverage of ticket touting offences to the internet when the unauthorised sale of tickets for a regulated football match takes place within England or Wales.

Young Offenders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many young people aged 15 to 18 years are in young offender institutions because of breach of an antisocial behaviour order, broken down by institution; (76021)

(2) how many 15 to 18-year-olds are in each young offender institution as a result of breaching an antisocial behaviour order.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2006, Official Report, column 1066W, on young offenders, what mechanisms he uses to assess the progress of arrangements within young offender institutions designed to promote family contact. (84672)

Key policy requirements in relation to maintaining family contact through social visits, correspondence and by telephone are subject to review through local and national audit processes. In addition, establishments are, on occasion, subject to thorough inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons. Independent monitoring boards are also able to highlight good practice or areas of concern in their annual reports to the Secretary of State. Units accommodating under 18-year-olds are subject to monitoring by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.

Detailed information on the arrangements made by individual young offender institutions to promote and evaluate family contact is not held centrally.

Youth Offending Initiatives (Funding)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much of the £500,000 allocated in June 2005 to fund individual support orders has been spent; (78400)

(2) how many youth offending teams have submitted plans to the Youth Justice Board for 2006-07 which include provision for individual support orders in the budget; and what guidance he plans to issue to the Youth Justice Board on plans which do not include such provision.

[holding answer 21 June 2006]: The £500,000 allocated in June 2005 was available to the Youth Justice Board (YJB) until 31 March 2006 to fund individual support orders (ISOs) delivered by local youth offending teams (YOTs) to support juveniles with antisocial behaviour orders. 31 applications for funding in respect of ISOs have been received by the YJB for a total of £62,000 to 31 March 2006.

As part of their plans for using the £45 million prevention budget for the period to March 2008, seven YOTs have included specific schemes for ISO interventions. All YOTs, however, are required to support interventions in support of ISOs whether or not there is a specific scheme. Such support may be delivered through another programme being funded through an allocation from this budget, such as a youth inclusion programme or a youth inclusion and support panel, or it may be provided through an existing programme. The use of ISOs is being actively promoted by the YJB and the Home Office, as an aid to helping YOTs fulfil their role in tackling antisocial behaviour, and action is in hand to ensure a better uptake.

Youth Rehabilitation Programmes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department’s budget is for rehabilitation programmes for youth offenders in 2006-07. (84889)

In 2006-07 the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) will receive a total of £96 million from the Home Office to be directed towards rehabilitation programmes. This sum comprises £34 million for intensive supervision and surveillance programmes (ISSP) and intensive fostering, £19.5 million for substance misuse programmes, £8.5 million for community education programmes and approximately £34 million for education programmes across the whole of the custodial estate.

Youth offending teams (YOTs) are primarily funded locally by their statutory partners as well as by the YJB and a proportion of that local funding will also be directed to rehabilitation programmes.

Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 19 July 2006

Leader of the House

House of Lords

To ask the Leader of the House on how many occasions the Government were defeated in the House of Lords during this Session; on how many occasions the effect of defeats involving legislation were reversed by this House; and if he will make a statement. (85391)

There were 51 such occasions up to 14 July in the current Session. This figure covers Divisions in which Government Tellers were appointed.

There is no clear definition of a reversal of the effect of a defeat, since the response from this House, as well as outright acceptance or rejection of a Lords amendment, includes a range of possibilities such as partial acceptance or related amendments elsewhere in the Bill.

Parliamentary Answers

To ask the Leader of the House what steps he has taken since his appointment to improve the (a) timeliness and (b) content of parliamentary answers; and what information he collects on the percentage of answers which are given later than (i) the day named and (ii) the conventional deadline for written questions. (86593)

Since my appointment I have made clear to the House the importance I attach to the timeliness and quality of responses to parliamentary questions tabled in the House. As I have indicated to the House, I have raised the matter directly with ministerial colleagues.

Ministers recognise their obligation under the ministerial code to give accurate and truthful information to Parliament and to be as open as possible with Parliament. Ministers also recognise the requirements that a written question tabled for a named day should receive an answer on that day and an ordinary written question should receive a substantive response within a working week of it being tabled.

My office offers guidance to other Departments about the handling of responses to parliamentary questions. Departments are responsible for keeping their own records on the timeliness of answers and provide this information to the House when requested by the Select Committee on Public Administration or through Members’ questions. I also intend regularly to monitor these statistics from the start of the next Session.

Short Money

To ask the Leader of the House (1) how many members of staff are paid for out of Short money on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition; how many staff were paid for from this allowance in each of the previous four years; and if he will make a statement; (86152)

(2) for what purposes Short money may be used; and if he will make a statement.

Short money is given to Opposition parties to help them to carry out their parliamentary business. This can include research associated with Front-Bench duties, developing and communicating alternative policies to those of the Government and shadowing the Government’s Front Bench. There is specific provision for meeting costs necessarily incurred in running the office of the Leader of the Opposition. Each Opposition party has to provide a certificate from an independent auditor each year to the effect that all the expenses claimed were in respect of the party’s parliamentary business. No information is available to me about the number of staff employed by the Leader of the Opposition who are paid from Short money.

House of Commons Commission

Parliamentary Website

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will ensure that the parliament.uk website advanced search function displays all document types that have been published since May; and what steps are being taken to remedy technical problems with the site. (85659)

As the advisory notice on the advanced search page makes clear, accurate searches of all document types since May cannot currently be guaranteed, although the general search facility is fully operational. Only the content of the Official Report is affected, and remedial work is under way to restore full functionality to the advanced search function in the near future.

World Squares for All Group

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission on what basis staff from the Parliamentary Works Directorate sit as members of the client team of the World Squares for All group; what remit staff have been given in connection with this work; and under whose authority staff are members of the group. (85958)

The World Squares for All steering group overseeing the feasibility study on Parliament Square includes representatives from a number of bodies who have an interest in Parliament Square and its environs. All the bodies are represented by officials rather than elected members.

Those represented include Westminster City Council, the Greater London Authority, English Heritage, the Royal Parks Agency, the Parliamentary Estate, Transport for London, the Cabinet Office and Westminster Abbey.

The Director of Estates represents the Parliamentary Estate on the World Squares for All steering group. His role is to act as liaison between the parliamentary authorities and the steering group. He ensures that the steering group is made aware of the impact of any proposals or potential issues and their impacts and effects on the Parliamentary Estate, ensuring these are fully understood by the group and their consultants.

Transport

Biofuels

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support his Department is making available for home-grown biofuel production in Swindon. (86293)

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 27 June 2006, Official Report, columns 257-8W.

Diesel Spills

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with oil companies and retailers measures that could be taken to reduce the risk of diesel spills to motorcycle users. (86274)

The Government’s Motorcycling Strategy sets out how we are working closely with a range of interested organisations to develop a clear understanding of the road safety risk of diesel spillage and to develop solutions. This is being taken forward in the Motorcycle Technical, Engineering and Environmental task group and the Traffic Management, Planning and Transport Policy task group, within which motorcycle users are already involved. I would welcome the involvement of oil companies and retailers and will ask the groups to see how this could be encouraged.

Driving Standards Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department has issued to the Driving Standards Agency in the last two years. (85808)

The Department for Transport has given guidance on the following topics to the Driving Standards Agency within the last two years:

Business Planning

Performance Management

Risk Management

Value for Money

Legal advice

Driving Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) original estimate was and (b) most recent estimate is of the cost of the planned driving test supercentres. (85823)

The costs of the Multi-Purpose Test Centres project were originally estimated at £60 million; the latest version of the business case shows that they have reduced to £55 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the programme of new driving test supercentres; how many are planned; how many are open; in which locations; and what the timetable is for future sites for which land purchases are required. (85824)

A total of 68 Multi-Purpose Test Centres (MPTCs) are planned throughout England, Wales and Scotland. To date, sites have been acquired for seven new MPTCs at Shrewsbury, Newport, East Lothian, Gloucester, Ipswich, Upminster and Swansea.

Nineteen sites are forecast to become operational before 31 March 2007. None of the new test centres has yet opened, but the centre at Quedgeley in Gloucester will become operational during September 2006.

All the remaining sites are planned to be operational by October 2008. This will meet the implementation date of the European Community Directive 2000/56/EC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test appointments were (a) kept, (b) cancelled by the test centre and (c) cancelled by those taking the test in each of the last five years (i) in total and (ii) broken down by (A) region and (B) test centre. (85811)

The following table shows the number of driving test appointments kept and cancelled by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) for the last five years, for each DSA region and nationally. We do not hold records of volumes of tests cancelled at test centre level or those cancelled by customers.

Applications

Cancelled

Kept

2001-02

Nationally

1,504,892

21,469

1,483,423

London

359,256

7,018

352,238

Midlands

396,310

6,307

390,003

Wales

264,601

3,215

261,386

Northern

365,006

3,964

361,042

Scotland

120,042

965

119,077

2002-03

Nationally

1,633,249

32,404

1,600,845

London

375,495

5,783

369,712

Midlands

436,990

14,211

422,779

Wales

295,995

4,371

291,624

Northern

396,944

6,811

390,133

Scotland

127,825

1,228

126,597

2003-04

Nationally

1,483,423

56,222

1,427,201

London

352,238

12,134

340,104

Midlands

390,003

21,461

368,542

Wales

261,386

7,116

254,270

Northern

361,042

13,826

347,216

Scotland

119,077

1,685

117,392

2004-05

Nationally

2,019,042

50,921

1,968,121

London

449,034

20,390

428,644

Midlands

546,874

13,411

533,463

Wales

362,470

5,261

357,209

Northern

518,532

11,144

507,388

Scotland

142,132

715

141,417

2005-06

Nationally

2,184,289

43,391

2,140,898

London

490,474

18,733

471,741

Midlands

585,842

10,233

575,609

Wales

399,346

6,441

392,905

Northern

548,673

6,737

541,936

Scotland

159,954

1,247

158,707

All test types are included, except for 2003-04 and 2005-06 when Approved Driving Instructor qualifying tests are excluded. This is because DSA’s targets for keeping appointments did not distinguish between test types in the other years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the costs associated with the cancellation of a driving test appointment. (85812)

During the year 2005-06, the average compensation payment made by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) for cancelling a car test was about £35. The total paid in compensation was some £311,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Driving Standards Agency on the hazard perception test; and if he will place in the Library copies of correspondence with the agency in relation to this issue. (85807)

Department for Transport Ministers have frequent meetings with Driving Standards Agency officials, as with officials from other parts of the Department, to discuss a range of issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has conducted into the effectiveness of the hazard perception test as part of the driving test. (85809)

In advance of the introduction of the hazard perception test the Department commissioned extensive research, including the following:

1998—The effects of hazard perception training on the development of novice driver skills. DETR Road Safety Research Report No. 4.

2000—Novice drivers’ safety. DETR Road Safety Research Series No.2.

2002—The development of hazard perception testing. TRL Report TRL558.

Copies of the two DETR reports have been placed in the Libraries of the House. All reports are available from the DfT website (www.dt.gov.uk).

The Department is currently conducting further research which will evaluate the effectiveness of the hazard perception test.

Eurostar

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport where the unused regional Eurostar trains are stored; and what the cost to public funds has been of the unused trains. (82342)

The regional Eurostars are not in store. Five are in the course of modification and the other two are being used for testing of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Hastings to Bexhill Link Road

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the proposed Hastings to Bexhill link road. (86516)

All major schemes are assessed against the Government’s five overarching objectives of safety, environment, economy, integration and accessibility. The environmental impact of this scheme was considered before provisionally approving the Bexhill to Hastings link road in the December 2004 local transport capital settlement.

Overseas HGVs

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the number of heavy goods vehicles from overseas using roads in England and Wales. (86120)

Estimates of the number of foreign registered heavy goods vehicles on roads in Britain are not available. However, estimated numbers leaving the UK are published in table 1 of the quarterly bulletin, “Road Goods Vehicles Travelling to Mainland Europe”. A copy of this bulletin is available on the DFT website at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstats/documents/page/dft_transstats_611744.hcsp

Transport Operational Command Unit

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many arrests by the Metropolitan Police’s Transport Operational Command Unit have led to successful prosecutions. (85475)

I have been asked to reply.

An accurate figure showing the number of successful prosecutions resulting from Transport Operational Command Unit (TOCU) specific arrests is not available.

The TOCU covers all London boroughs. In the 2005-06 planning year TOCU police officers arrested 7,952 suspects. They were all processed through one of the 32 Borough Operational Command Unit criminal justice units covering the areas of arrest.

Railways

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which stations will have fewer stopping services (a) under new franchise agreements completed by his Department since it took over responsibility for franchising from the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) under the specifications for new franchise agreements which are currently subject to a tendering process. (82308)

The Department for Transport completed franchise agreements for the Great Western, Thameslink/Great Northern and Integrated Kent franchises in December 2005.

Present service levels are contained in the National Rail timetable published by Network Rail. Service levels to be provided under the Greater Western franchise with effect from December 2006 are set out in the consultation timetable published by First Great Western in January 2006, as amended by the operator in announcements on 3 April and 15 June 2006. No changes to Thameslink/Great Northern services are proposed. Future changes to services in the Integrated Kent franchise are set out in briefing documents published on the Department's website.

The South Western franchise tenders have been received. The detailed specification for this is available on the Department's web site.

The specification for the new Cross Country, West Midlands and East Midlands franchises is still being prepared and will not be finalised until October 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age is of the rail rolling stock operated by each train operating company. (85564)

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 24 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1990-2W to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen). The average age has not changed materially since this date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the potential total saving from the Government’s decision to specify a reduction in the number of services on some lines and to some stations in the First Great Western franchise area as part of the franchise renewal process. (85569)

The subsidy/premium profile for the Greater Western franchise has been published on the Department’s website. This can be compared with the subsidy and premiums associated with the former constituent franchises (First Great Western, First Great Western Link and Wessex Trains) in 2005-06, published by the Office of Rail Regulation in its document “National Rail Trends Yearbook” and is available on its website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of trains in each franchise were delayed in the last year for which figures are available; and what average number of trains per day were delayed in each franchise. (85804)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) incidents there were of and (b) prosecutions there were for (i) vandalism and (ii) trespass on railway lines in each British Transport police area in relation to (A) adults and (B) juveniles in each of the last five years. (85814)

This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Information relating to vandalism and trespass on railway lines is held by the British Transport police who can be contacted at: British Transport police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN, e-mail: general.enquiries@btp.pnn. police.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of arson on the railways there have been since April 2003, broken down by (a) train operating company and (b) route. (85815)

This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Information relating to arson on the railways is held by the British Transport police who can be contacted at: British Transport police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN, e-mail: general.enquiries@.btp.pnn.police.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) incidents there were of and (b) prosecutions there were for (i) criminal damage and malicious mischief and (ii) trespass on rail lines in relation to (A) adults and (B) juveniles in each of the last five years, broken down by region. (85816)

This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Information relating to criminal damage and trespass on railway lines is held by the British Transport police who can be contacted at: British Transport police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN. E-mail: general.enquiries@btp.pnn.police.uk.

Road Safety

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road deaths there have been in the Leicester city council area in each of the last five years. (86141)

The number of fatalities in personal injury road accidents in the City of Leicester in each year from 2001 to 2005 is shown in the following table.

Fatalities in City of Leicester: 2001-05

Number

2001

10

2002

4

2003

7

2004

11

2005

10

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras there are in (a) the Leicestershire county council area and (b) in Leicester city. (86142)

The table shows the number of speed camera sites, broken down by type, which are operated by the Leicestershire Safety Camera Partnership.

Leicestershire

Leicester city

Total

Fixed

8

7

15

Mobile

43

22

65

Total

51

29

80

There may be several camera housings contained within one site. The police have the discretion to enforce speed limits outside the national safety camera programme, and this could happen anywhere on the road network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were (a) killed and (b) injured in road traffic accidents in (i) the London borough of Bexley and (ii) Greater London in each of the last five years. (86223)

The number of (a) fatalities and (b) injuries in (i) the London borough of Bexley and (ii) Greater London resulting from personal injury road accidents reported to the police1 in each of the last five years is given in the following table.

Number of fatalities and injuries in personal injury road accidents1 in Bexley and Greater London: 2001-2005

Bexley

Greater London

Fatalities

Injured2

Fatalities

Injured2

2001

8

892

300

44,322

2002

8

976

281

41,227

2003

4

762

272

38,205

2004

2

730

216

34,365

2005

6

660

214

31,691

1 Reported to the police

2 Includes serious and slight injuries.

Street Lighting

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned on the impact on road safety of removing or restricting the use of street lighting in rural and semi-rural areas. (85886)

Research has not been undertaken or commissioned by this Department specifically on the impact on road safety of removing or restricting the use of street lighting in rural or semi-rural areas.

The Highways Agency is currently reviewing the technical standard that sets the criteria for provision of road lighting on the strategic road network, including the road safety benefits.

Train Overcrowding

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce overcrowding on trains; and if he will make a statement. (77469)

We are currently seeing huge growth in the railways, with more than 1 billion passengers carried last year, and this is set to continue. To help meet this challenge we are investing record amounts in the network.

Focus is being given to improving timetabling, infrastructure maintenance and renewals and other factors that can impact on reliable delivery of train services, which in turn will impact on crowding levels. We are also considering different measures to increase the capacity of the network, from train layout and length, turnaround times and infrastructure improvements. Major investment programmes such as the West Coast Main Line modernisation project have already seen capacity improvements.

It is for the train operating companies to take decisions about the deployment of rolling stock. We will continue to review train counts and train plans to assess whether resources are being deployed effectively.

Transport Innovation Fund

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role the Transport Innovation Fund will play in generating sustainable increases in national productivity. (84375)

Through its productivity strand the Transport Innovation Fund will support national, inter-regional, regional, inter-urban (and exceptionally local) transport schemes which are expected to make a substantial and sustainable contribution to national productivity.

Wide Loads

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what guidelines his Department has issued to (a) police constabularies and (b) the Highways Agency regarding the movement of wide loads on roads; (86124)

(2) if he will introduce guidelines to police constabularies and the Highways Agency that wide loads should not be moved during peak times on motorways and major trunk roads.

The Department has not issued any specific guidelines.

We have published a code of practice on the self-escorting of abnormal loads, prepared jointly by the Department, the Highways Agency, the police and haulage associations. It encourages scheduling movements at off-peak times when there is less traffic.

The Highways Agency and the police would normally restrict the movement of wide loads that have a significant impact on other road users to times which cause minimum disruption. However, disruption to other road users is not the only consideration. Other factors, such as safety, security and environmental issues (such as noise and disturbance in residential areas) can influence the timetabling of movements.

As there is already a general acceptance that loads should be moved at off-peak times I do not feel that there is a need to issue any specific guidelines. However, this remains under review.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Welfare

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria he has agreed with the greyhound racing industry in order to allow it to self-regulate in terms of animal welfare; and if he will make a statement. (86588)

DEFRA has set up a Greyhound Working Group to examine the welfare aspects of greyhound racing and to offer advice to Ministers and officials on future regulations and a code of practice.

The group has yet to make any recommendations. Our preference is that, whenever possible, welfare standards should be regulated by the industry. Self-regulation must be open and auditable, with the standards set and the effectiveness of the enforcers monitored by central Government.

Diversity Action Plan

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on the Countryside Agency’s Diversity Review; how much he expects the consultation “Outdoors for All?” draft diversity action plan will cost; and how much has been allocated to the running costs of the diversity action plan for each year of its planned duration. (85470)

Between 2002 and 2005 the Countryside Agency spent some £1.74 million on the diversity review. In 2006-07 spending on the consultation exercise on the draft diversity action plan is expected to be in the region of £1 million.

No firm figures are available on costs from 2007 onwards. A draft action plan is currently the subject of a public consultation exercise, and until that has been completed no conclusions can be reached about the activities to be undertaken during the 10-year life of the plan or their cost. The agency has estimated that the cost of pursuing the draft action plan might be in the region of £25 million over its 10-year life.

Energy Efficiency

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the effect on energy consumption of energy efficiency measures over the last 10 years. (79694)

Figures for the effect on energy consumption within the UK by energy-saving measures for this particular period are not readily available. However, for the climate change programme review, we prepared estimates of the effects on carbon emissions for the household sector in the 1990s and separately for the present decade.

The Government estimate that energy efficiency improvements in the household sector in the 1990s would have contributed around 4.5 million tonnes of carbon (MtC) of emissions reductions, that is, some 12 per cent. of 1990 emissions. At the same time, growth in demand for underlying energy services—warmer homes, hot water—would have increased emissions by 11.5 MtC; the increase in the use of gas for generating electricity instead of coal in the 1990s, which reduced emissions from power stations, and so reduced the associated emissions from electricity use in homes, businesses, etc, would have decreased emissions by 8 MtC; and smaller factors, mainly fuel switching by householders and changes to external temperatures, would have contributed a further 1 MtC of reductions. The overall effect on emissions was a net reduction of around 2.5 MtC.

In the present decade, before the effects of policies are included, we estimate that background energy efficiency would save a further 4.5 MtC. Increasing demand for energy services, together with the effects of the other factors described earlier, means that the net overall reduction in this period would be approximately 0.3 MtC.

The estimated effect of all the energy efficiency policies for households set out in the new UK climate change programme 2006, is an additional reduction of 4.8 MtC by 2010. Most of these savings are expected to be delivered between 2005 and 2010, through tighter building regulations and further activity under the energy efficiency commitment.

Data are not available to conduct similar analyses for the industry and service sectors, but the contribution of energy efficiency is expected to be similar in percentage terms.

Environment Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Environment Agency's outstanding borrowing is under sections 48 to 50 of the Environment Act 1995; and how much of that borrowing is in relation to meeting obligations related to its navigation responsibilities. (86362)

The Environment Agency has no outstanding borrowing. Its financial memorandum is very restrictive as to the circumstances under which its borrowing powers can be exercised and those powers have not been exercised. Therefore, there is no outstanding borrowing relating to the agency's navigation function.

Fisheries

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the Environment Agency has reduced the fish movement enforcement budget. (84680)

The fisheries grant in aid was increased by £3 million a year from 2002, and since 1997 the Government have given around £60 million to the Environment Agency to support its fisheries activities. At present, every Government Department is under instructions to make efficiency savings. This generally involves a fundamental review of the work to be done, and a reprioritisation of our responsibilities and how we manage them. Consequently, the Environment Agency GIA was reduced this year by £400,000.

Of the £5.8 million in GIA, £600,000 is spent on compliance checking and enforcement of fish movements. A reduction in GIA therefore necessitated a reduction in funding for work in this area by £150,000. If sales of rod licences are above target this year the agency may be able to make good part or all of this cut.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the Environment Agency has reduced funding for the salmonid improvement project. (84677)

The fisheries grant in aid was increased by £3 million a year from 2002, and since 1997 the Government have given around £60 million to the Environment Agency to support its fisheries activities. At present every Government Department is under instructions to make efficiency savings. This generally involves a fundamental review of the work to be done, and a reprioritisation of our responsibilities and how we manage them. As a result the Environment Agency has had its fisheries grant in aid (GIA) reduced this year by £400,000.

Consequently, since the majority of the £5.8 million GIA is spent on salmonid work, a reduction in GIA necessitated a reduction in work in this area and the agency reduced its salmonid improvement project by half, to £250,000.

Recreational Boaters

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which recreational users receive services provided by the Environment Agency on its inland and coastal waterways. (86361)

In line with the Government's policies on health, recreation and social inclusion the Environment Agency has a duty to have regard for all recreational users.

Waste Incineration Directive

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance he has issued to the Environment Agency concerning the enforcement of the Waste Incineration Directive in relation to the burning of tallow; and if he will make a statement. (86399)

[holding answer 18 July 2006]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 13 July 2006, Official Report, column 1956W.

General guidance on the waste incineration directive's scope, regulatory and technical requirements was updated in June this year and is available at the following address:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/wasteincin/pdf/wid-guidance-edition3.pdf.

Water Companies

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the projected rate of return on capital allowed under agreed plans for 2005-10 with Ofwat is for each water company; and what rate of return on capital was achieved by each company in each of the last five years. (81090)

Ofwat publishes pre-tax rates of return—measured as operating profit as a percentage of regulatory capital value—in its annual report “Financial performance and expenditure of the water companies in England and Wales”. Post-tax returns have not previously been published. The figures in the table have been calculated as operating profit less current tax, as a percentage of regulatory capital value.

At the 2004 price review, Ofwat set a real terms post-tax return of 5.1 per cent. When comparing this to actual returns the comparable rate is the “Vanilla WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital)”. This is on a real basis and assumes a pre-tax cost of debt and post-tax cost of equity—on this basis the return that Ofwat set was 5.8 per cent.

Water only companies were allowed a premium on the return of 0.3—0.9 per cent.

At price limits, Ofwat takes companies’ particular levels of debt into account before allowing for tax.

Post tax return

Percentage

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

Anglian

5.1

6.2

4.0

6.4

5.5

Dwr Cymru

5.4

5.9

4.6

4.1

4.6

Northumbrian

5.9

6.3

5.2

4.6

5.6

Severn Trent

7.0

6.9

6.1

6.1

5.9

South West

6.7

6.5

6.5

6.2

4.8

Southern

6.1

5.2

5.1

4.2

5.0

Thames

3.4

6.7

6.3

5.4

5.6

United Utilities

5.7

6.0

5.7

6.0

6.5

Wessex

6.9

6.7

9.1

7.7

7.1

Yorkshire

5.6

6.4

5.9

5.4

6.0

Bournemouth and West Hampshire

4.8

5.5

4.7

4.7

5.2

Bristol

6.4

6.4

6.6

6.1

4.0

Cambridge

5.5

6.4

7.4

23.0

9.0

Dee Valley

8.4

8.4

5.1

7.2

8.6

Folkestone and Dover

9.4

9.3

8.1

6.3

7.4

Mid Kent

5.9

6.9

3.1

6.9

6.4

Portsmouth

9.8

8.6

6.4

6.6

6.3

South East

6.8

6.5

6.3

5.1

2.5

South Staffordshire

7.1

6.6

7.5

6.5

6.8

Sutton and East Surrey

6.3

9.9

10.9

6.6

9.6

Tendring Hundred

6.4

6.9

5.9

6.6

6.7

Three Valleys

6.1

6.3

5.1

3.8

6.3

Industry

5.6

6.3

5.7

5.7

5.7

Solicitor-General

Departmental Publications

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list in date order the (a) Green and (b) White Papers produced by the Law Officers’ Departments since October 2005. (81643)

Identity Theft

To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2006, Official Report, column 1602, on identity theft, what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the prosecution of cases of identity theft. (73782)

Trade and Industry

Carbon Capture

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what research he has commissioned on advanced coal technologies and carbon capture and storage since 1997; and what the cost was of such research. (85228)

The UK's Cleaner Coal Technology programme started in 1999. Under this programme we have supported 48 collaborative R and D projects on advanced coal technologies through four calls to the value of £13 million as well as a significant number of small R and D projects in collaboration with British Coal Utilisation Research Association for which some £150,000 per year was allocated. In all 174 Cleaner Coal projects have been supported to date, with an additional £3.5 million provided for collaborative Cleaner Coal Technology projects with the USA since then. Under the Department’s New Technology programme (the successor to the Cleaner Coal programme) £3.5 million was set aside for carbon abatement (including carbon capture and storage) R and D projects during 2005-06.

We published two reports produced internally investigating carbon capture and storage and the results of these can be found in “The Review of Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK” and “The Carbon Abatement Technology (CAT) Strategy for Fossil Fuel Use”, both of which can be found in the Libraries of the House. Both reports can also be found on the DTI Website at

http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/cfft/co2capture/review.pdf

http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/cfft/cct/pub/catreportlinked.pdf.

Coal Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what opportunities will be available via the Coal Forum proposed in the Energy Review to discuss development and export opportunities for clean coal and carbon capture from coal-fired generation. (86420)

As stated in the “Energy Review Report” further information about the Forum’s remit and particulars will be announced shortly. We will need to take views on how the participants in the Coal Forum will wish to address the clean coal and CCS part of their remit.

Departmental Redundancies

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory redundancies in his Department during the (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08 financial years; what discussions he has had with the Treasury about providing funding for this; what discussions he has had with trade unions representing officials in his Department about such redundancies; how many officials in his Department have (A) taken voluntary severance and (B) been made redundant in each month since January, broken down by (1) Directorate and (2) grade; what discussions he has had with the Treasury about head count reduction in his Department; when he expects to reach agreement with the Treasury about the next Comprehensive Spending Review; if he will place in the Library copies of advice his Department provides to officials on taking voluntary redundancy; and if he will make a statement. (81239)

This answer applies to the “core” DTI and excludes UKTI and all Executive agencies. The Department has just completed a voluntary early severance/retirement scheme and is currently considering whether any further schemes may be needed in the future to support further reductions in posts.

No formal discussions have been held with HM Treasury about funding of redundancy schemes.

The Department holds regular meetings with the departmental trade union side to discuss potential staff surpluses and proposals for early severance schemes and is currently discussing with the unions implications for staff of meeting the Department’s reduced administration budget.

The following table sets out the number of officials who have taken voluntary severance/retirement and compulsory redundancy since January 2006:

2006

Grade

Voluntary early severance or retirement

Redundancy

January

Range 5 (Executive Officer)

1

February

Range 3 (Administrative Officer)

1

Range 6 (Executive Officer)

1

Range 10 (Grade 7)

1

March

Range 2 (Administrative Assistance)

4

Range 3

1

Range 4 (Administrative Officer)

2

Range 5

2

Range 6

1

15

Range 7 (Higher Executive Officer)

3

Range 8 (Higher Executive Officer)

2

1

Range 9 (Senior Executive Officer)

2

Range 10

3

1

Range 11 (Grade 6)

1

April

Senior Civil Service

1

June

Range 2

1

Range 3

2

Range 4

1

Range 9

1

Total

29

19

Group

Voluntary severance/retirement

Compulsory redundancy

Business/Innovation

13

19

Energy

3

Services

7

Fair Markets

1

Legal

3

UKTI

2

Total

29

19

The Department is working closely with HMT colleagues on preparations for the next Comprehensive Spending Review which should be resolved by summer 2007. Early discussions with the Treasury have focused on how the Department can make savings across all its budgets, including in the administration of the Department.

Staff considering voluntary early departures are able to access the Cabinet Office pensions website which explains the benefits available under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, and those accepting are invited to attend either a pre-retirement course or a course covering job search, setting up a business and pursuing self-employment.

Droit de Suite

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the total sum to be paid in 2006 to (a) artists and (b) artists' families as a result of the Droit de Suite law. (85365)

Artist's resale right is a new right in the UK and it is not possible accurately to predict the amount of royalties that will be paid this year. However, a study conducted before the directive was implemented, based on 2001-02 figures, estimated that, had the right existed during this period, approximately £1.8 million would have been paid to artists for sales of their works. A later study based on the period of March 2003 to February 2004 indicated that the total would be approximately £1.4 million.

In 2006 no money will be paid to the families of artists as the UK has used a derogation within the directive and the right does not currently apply to works where the artist is deceased.

Ethnic Diversity

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to promote ethnic diversity in the workplace. (85492)

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has a public service agreement (shared with the Department for Work and Pensions) to significantly increase the employment rate of ethnic minorities. DTI is part of the Ethnic Minority Employment Task force—the Government-wide group tasked with increasing ethnic minority employment.

The DTI also brought in regulations outlawing workplace discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief.

DTI funds ACAS and BusinessLink who both provide advice to businesses on equality issues and increasing ethnic diversity in the workforce.

FIFA World Cup

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which matches (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in their ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations. (83631)

Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor any of the Ministers in his Department attended FIFA World Cup 2006 matches in Germany.

Fuel Poverty

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households in (a) rural and (b) non-rural areas were classified as being in fuel poverty in each year since 1997; and what each figure represents per 1,000 total households. (85941)

The numbers of urban, suburban and rural households in fuel poverty in England are presented for all available years since 1996 using the current fuel poverty methodology. The analyses for the years 2003 and 2004 have been done using the respective combined years’ datasets of the English House Condition Survey.

Note that all figures are quoted to the nearest 100,000 households. Because of rounding, totals may not sum to the official fuel poverty statistics. Small inter-year variations may also be due to rounding and may not be statistically significant.

Number of fuel poor households

Thousand

1996

2001

2003

2004

Urban

1200

500

400

300

Suburban

3000

800

500

600

Rural

1000

500

300

300

Number of fuel poor households per 1000 total households

1996

2001

2003

2004

Urban

282

93

70

68

Suburban

253

72

48

50

Rural

258

110

76

74

National Grid

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) Ofgem and (c) the National Grid company regarding undersea connector cables linking Orkney and Shetland to the National Grid; and when he anticipates these connections being in place. (86410)

None.

The provision of a cable connection to the Orkneys and the Shetland Islands is a matter for the transmission licensee for the relevant area—in this case Scottish and Southern (SHETL). It is the responsibility of Ofgem to ensure that any expenditure incurred in constructing the cable is economically and efficiently incurred.

Officials from this Department have held discussions with the Scottish Executive and Ofgem on the most appropriate way of facilitating those connections.

Nuclear Power

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations his Department has received from commercial energy companies regarding (a) whether Government subsidies would be required to make the construction and operation of new nuclear generating stations viable and (b) the level of subsidy which would be required per nuclear generating station. (85593)

All responses to the energy review consultation exercise, which closed on 14 April 2006, have been posted on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review/consultation-submissions/page27883.html.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to discuss with directors of (a) the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and (b) the Office for Civil Nuclear Security the adequacy of safety and security inspectors in the event that private operators come forward with proposals to build new nuclear power plants. (86088)

Issues relating to the allocation of existing regulatory staff, or the recruitment of additional staff to deal with proposals for new nuclear power plants, will be a matter for the directors of the respective independent regulators.

The availability of regulatory resources is one issue amongst many that would feature in any future discussions that the Department held on such proposals.

Postal Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the Post Office network. (86227)

The DTI is backing the efforts of the management of Post Office Ltd. to turn the business around and create a network appropriate for the 21st century. We have invested over £2 billion in total since 1999 to help them to do so.

We want to see a Post Office network that meets the needs of today and the future and not those of 20 or 30 years ago. The DTI are discussing with other Government Departments and Post Office Ltd. how we can best achieve this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on employment in (a) Blaenau Gwent and (b) other local economies of the closure of local post offices. (84952)

The Government are committed to a viable Post Office network and have invested more than £2 billion to help maintain it. We continue to support the rural post office network with annual Social Network Payments of £150 million until 2008 and the policy of preventing avoidable closures of rural post offices remains in place. The Department is in discussion with Post Office Ltd. and other Government Departments about the future of the network. Decisions will be taken after proper consideration of all the issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place between (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department and Royal Mail on the new pricing system due to be introduced on 21 August; and if he will make a statement. (85769)

None. This is a matter for Postcomm, the independent regulator for postal services.

Postcomm's decision to introduce pricing in proportion followed extensive consultations and detailed discussions with Royal Mail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the Post Office on the accuracy of post box collection times; and how many (a) early and (b) late collections were recorded in the latest period for which figures are available. (85914)

None. This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. Adam Crozier, the Chief Executive of Royal Mail has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Royal Mail

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place between Royal Mail and officials from his Department about the percentage of shares to be retained by the Government after the proposed employee share scheme. (86225)

Royal Mail has submitted proposals on an employee share ownership scheme and these proposals are currently under consideration by the Department. Ministers and officials meet Royal Mail representatives on a regular basis and have discussed these proposals with them. No decisions have been made on whether to introduce a share scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions have taken place between his Department and Royal Mail on possible job losses in the Royal Mail group. (86226)

The Government have given the Royal Mail group greater commercial freedom and have established an arm’s length relationship so that the board can operate the business as it decides best to meet the challenges of market development and changing customer needs.

The Department has held discussions with Royal Mail about its plans to modernise the business through the introduction of new technology and equipment. It is for the Royal Mail management to decide on the appropriate size of the Royal Mail work force as a result of this modernisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Government funding has been provided to the Royal Mail in each of the last five years; and how it has been allocated. (86228)

Government support has been provided by permitting Royal Mail and POL to utilise accumulated profits held in reserves on the Royal Mail balance sheet and direct funding from Government. These amount to £2 billion since 1998. The direct funding related to the urban reinvention programme and Your Guide were provided as follows:

£000

Urban Reinvention

Your Guide

2001-02

2002-03

10,896

25,000

2003-04

72,359

2004-05

72,812

2005-06

17,869

In 2003, loan facilities amounting to £1,044,000 were put in place but Royal Mail has not drawn down on these.

Small Arms Trade

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward legislation to control the overseas brokering of small arms by UK citizens and UK registered companies. (86375)

Controls on the trafficking and brokering of military goods were introduced in 2004. Trafficking and brokering of small arms done overseas by UK persons already requires a UK trade licence when the goods are being transferred to an embargoed destination (and a licence would normally be refused).

I am planning next year to review the effectiveness of the controls introduced in 2004 and would be happy at that stage to consider the scope of their application.

South East England Development Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual expenditure of the South East England Development Agency in each (a) county and (b) unitary authority in the south-east of England was in each year since its inception. (86258)

I refer the hon. Member to the question answered on 17 July 2006, Official Report, Columns 43-44W.

Culture, Media and Sport

Slave Trade

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had on establishing a national slavery memorial day. (86345)

There is already a UN International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition on 23 August. Some cities in the UK, such as Liverpool, already mark this with a significant range of events and activities. With the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade approaching in 2007, some members of the Deputy Prime Minister's Advisory Group, and others, have asked for a memorial day specific to Britain. There are differences of opinion about which date is most appropriate, and whether the focus should be on a day or other commemorative activities. Our aim is to ensure that all communities are able to mark this important event in ways that they feel are most appropriate.

Tourism (South West)

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourists have visited the South West region in each year since 1997. (86096)

[holding answer 18 July 2006]: The following tables set out the number of visits to the South West region from (i) overseas and (ii) the UK where this included an overnight stay. Information is provided between 2000 and 2005; equivalent data prior to this period are not available.

Inbound visits to the South West by year

Visit (all)

2000

2,042

2001

1,689

2002

1,852

2003

1,885

2004

2,033

2005

12,137

1 2005 data are provisional. Source: International Passenger Survey (ONS).

Domestic overnight trips to the South West by year

Visit (all)

2000

24,700

2001

25,200

2002

26,000

2003

22,800

2004

120,500

2005

221,280

1 VisitBritain believes the old UKTS methodology significantly underreported 2004. 2 In 2005 an improved methodology was introduced for UKTS so direct comparison with previous years is not appropriate. Source: UK Tourism Survey (National Tourist Boards)

In addition, the South West region receives a substantial number of day visitors; the last Leisure Day Visitors Survey in 2002-03 recorded a total of 48 million day visitors to the region.

International Development

Burma

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian aid his Department is providing to people displaced from eastern Burma; and if he will make a statement. (86016)

There are three types of internally displaced people (IDPs) in eastern Burma. These are (with the latest available numbers, from October 2005): (i) people in temporary settlements in ceasefire areas administered by ethnic nationalities (340,000); (ii) villagers who have been evicted by the Burmese Government and moved into designated relocation sites (108,000); and (iii) civilians hiding from the Burmese Army in areas most affected by armed conflict (92,000).

The recent military offensive against the Karen people has swelled the number of civilians hiding in conflict areas by at least 15,000. DFID's approach to providing emergency assistance to these IDPs has been to work through local community groups inside Burma. This is a complementary approach to the use of relief teams operating cross-border from Thailand, and it enables access to IDPs who would not be reached by any other means, and through a mechanism which is much less-well supported by other donors. The development of civil society within the country is also a fundamental step in a successful transition to democracy.

The number of IDPs that we can reach from inside the country is limited. Access is difficult, and the small local groups with whom we are working do not currently have the capacity to deliver greater volumes of emergency relief—although we are working to strengthen their ability to do more. Those delivering assistance to IDPs cross-border from Thailand face similar challenges. Therefore, we recognise the importance of maintaining co-ordination with all donors (both those delivering assistance cross border, and those working inside the country) to ensure that together we manage to reach as many IDPs as possible.

DFID also provides support to IDPs in temporary settlements in ceasefire areas in eastern Burma through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to which we provide £500,000 a year, of which approximately 75 per cent. is attributable to work with displaced people in this area.

In addition, our health, education and rural livelihood projects provide assistance in eastern Burma, and support internally displaced people in temporary settlements and designated relocation sites there, as well as other vulnerable people.

DFID is also providing support to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working among displaced Burmese people in the refugee camps on the Thai side of the Thai-Burma border—as a grant to the Thai Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) of £1.8 million over three years. In addition, the UK contributes approximately the same amount again as its share of the EC's support to the TBBC. The British Embassy in Bangkok advocates on behalf of Burmese refugees living in Thailand through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve the situation in the refugee camps in Thailand and to bring about a relaxation of the regulations prohibiting freedom of movement and employment outside the camps.

In parallel, the Government fully support international efforts, particularly through the UN, to bring about tangible progress in restoring democratic freedoms and full respect for human rights. The UK has co-sponsored successive highly critical UN resolutions on Burma and played a leading role in drafting the resolution most recently adopted at the UN General Assembly in December 2005. This expressed grave concern at the attacks by military forces in violation of cease-fire agreements and called on the regime to end the systematic violations of human rights, including enforced displacement.

UN Security Council members last discussed the situation in Burma on 16 December under ‘Any Other Business'. In this discussion, the UK highlighted the on-going human rights abuses, the detention of political prisoners, internal conflicts and the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Though there was no consensus to issue a presidential statement or other formal report, the discussions reflected the concern felt in many parts of the international community over the regime's failure to make progress towards democracy and to respect international human rights norms. At present there is no agreement within the Security Council, including among the permanent members, to add Burma to the Council's formal agenda, but the UK, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will continue to co-ordinate closely with the UN and partners in the Security Council and the region in considering how best to maintain pressure for positive change in Burma.

Child Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the extent of the use of child labour in (a) Tunisia, (b) Cameroon and (c) Tanzania. (86022)

DFID has not carried out assessments in these countries but helps to support the work of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the leading international body which sets and monitors labour standards including child labour. In their global report on child labour published in May this year, the ILO reported an 11 per cent. fall in child labour globally since 2000. However, progress has been slowest in sub-Saharan Africa where 26 per cent. of children are economically active.

In its national strategy for growth and poverty reduction, the Government of Tanzania identifies child labour as a key challenge. DFID is providing over £110 million this year to support implementation of the overall national strategy. In addition, DFID is supporting multilateral organisations such as the ILO and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as well as civil society organisations to reduce and prevent child labour in Tanzania.

DFID does not have a programme in Tunisia and only a limited programme in Cameroon, which is focused on forestry.

Hospices

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has (a) taken and (b) plans to take to help improve access to hospice and palliative care in resource-poor countries; and if he will make a statement. (85396)

The UK is committed to the development of health services that respond to the broad health needs of the population, and palliative care clearly has a vital place in this. DFID support is largely directed at countries where the health spend is less than $10 per person per year and often far less. The public spend in the Congo is $2, in Ethiopia $1.50 and in Burundi $0.70. Clearly these countries are not able to deliver the range of services that they would wish and realistically are unlikely to invest significant public budgets in palliative care. We support countries to deliver their health programmes and the priority interventions defined in their national health plan. Increasingly we provide resources through various forms of flexible budget support.

DFID officials have met staff from the hospice community on a number of occasions, most recently during a public consultation on a revised DFID health strategy. Many committed groups lobby DFID to make greater efforts on what they see as neglected areas in the international health response. Recent communications have challenged DFID to do more on palliative care, cancer services, neglected tropical diseases, blindness, disability, malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. DFID accepts that palliative care services need to be better reflected in national health plans and budgets and that realistically support needs to be provided through home-based rather than institutional settings.

Iraq

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to provide emergency medical supplies for children in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. (86007)

The Iraqi health care system faces enormous challenges which long pre-date the 2003 conflict. In the early 1980s, Iraq enjoyed some of the best health care in the Middle East. However, by 2000, international health indicators for Iraq were comparable with some of the poorest countries in Africa. Under-five mortality had increased from 50 per 1,000 in 1990 to 133 in 2001. One in four children under five were chronically malnourished. Hospitals, clinics and water and sanitation plants suffered from chronic lack of maintenance.

DFID has given most of its assistance to the Iraqi health sector through financial contributions to international organisations that have particular expertise in health. These contributions include:

£5 million to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has helped to fund the delivery of emergency medical supplies, supported clinics and hospitals in Baghdad and Basra, and supports the Iraqi Government's Health Sector Working Group. More information can be found at http://www.who.int/en.

£32 million to the International Red Cross for immediate humanitarian assistance

£70 million to the United Nations and World Bank multi-donor trust funds for Iraq. These trust funds finance reconstruction in a number of areas including health. The UN trust fund has approved 10 health and nutrition projects, in total valued at $96 million. The World Bank trust fund also has a $25 million health rehabilitation project which finances priority emergency services, including basic medical equipment and essential drugs. More information on both trust funds can be found at http://www.irffi.org

However, many challenges still remain and DFID and the international community will continue to work with the Iraqi authorities to help them to rebuild the health sector.

Important progress has been made: health care spending across Iraq is up more than 30 times on pre-war levels; 5 million children have been vaccinated, and diseases such as polio, measles and malaria have declined; 240 hospitals and 1,200 primary health centres are functioning; and 20 hospitals are being rehabilitated and a paediatric hospital is being built in Basra.

Education and Skills

Child Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the total cost of allowing close relatives to become registered under the childcare approval scheme so that working parents would then be entitled to (a) working tax credit and (b) employer assisted childcare; and if he will make a statement. (85796)

I have been asked to reply.

The information requested is not available without incurring disproportionate cost.

Children with Difficulties

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in (a) West Sussex and (b) Mid Sussex are classified as having emotional, social or behavioural difficulties. (85834)

Maintained primary and secondary and all special schools1,2: number and percentage of pupils at School Action Plus or with statements of SEN who are classified as having emotional, behavioural and social difficulties3,4,5. January 2006: West Sussex local authority and Mid Sussex parliamentary constituencyWest Sussex local authorityMid Sussex parliamentary constituencyNumberPercentage6NumberPercentage6Maintained primary77516.89920.1Maintained secondary1,24132.110922.4All special schools21914.84415.8 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital school. 3 Pupils at School Action Plus and those pupils with a statement of SEN provided information on their primary need and, if appropriate, their secondary need. Information on primary need only is given here. Data are not collected on pupils at School Action. 4 Excludes dually registered pupils. 5 There are a number of sensitivities about categorising pupils by their type of need. It is important that anyone using the data should be aware of the concerns and also understand the limitations of the data’s reliability and validity. There are a range of factors which may affect the data recorded: (i) definitions of each type of need are necessarily limited in scope and some are more difficult to establish; (ii) many children have a number of needs and it is sometimes difficult to decide which is the major need; (iii) professionals from education and health fields may classify some children differently and there is some evidence that parental background may sometimes affect diagnosis; (iv) the levels of identification of SEN and the levels of School Action, School Action Plus and statementing within SEN are very varied between local authorities—this is likely to affect some types of need more than others; (v) in some authorities funding policies may effect SEN identification. 6 Number of pupils with emotional, behavioural and social difficulties expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils at School Action Plus or with a statement of SEN. Source: Schools Census

Departmental Chief Accounting Officer

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) name, (b) professional and academic qualifications and (c) relevant experience are of the chief accounting officer of his Department. (76793)

The chief accounting officer of the Department for Education and Skills is the Permanent Secretary, David Bell.

Mr. Bell has a Master of Arts and a Master of Education (Glasgow), and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (Jordanhill College of Education).

He began his career in teaching where he became a primary head teacher in Essex. He has also held the posts of Director of Education at Newcastle city council and chief executive of Bedfordshire county council, before being appointed Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools by Her Majesty in Privy Council. He became chief inspector in 2002. David took up his current post on 1 January 2006.

The role of accounting officer is one that the Permanent Secretary combines with his personal responsibility for the overall organisation, management and staffing of the Department and for Department-wide procedures in financial and other matters.

The accounting officer is assisted in the discharge of these duties by suitably qualified and experienced senior managers, such as the Director General of Finance.

Departmental Staff/Teacher Numbers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the percentage change in (a) his Department’s staff and (b) the number of teachers was in each year since 1997. (84258)

The information is set out in the following tables:

(a) Departmental staff

Year1

FTE staff numbers

Percentage change

1997

4,480

1998

4,500

+0.4

1999

4,560

+1.3

2000

4,970

+9

2001

5,430

+9.3

2002

4,820

-11.2

2003

5,020

+4.1

2004

5,130

+2.2

2005

4,550

-11.3

20062

4,166

-8.4

1 The numbers recorded are from April in each year. 2 At 1 July 2006

The information for 1997 to 2001 relates to the former Department for Education and Employment.

(b) Teachers

Year1

FTE teacher numbers (thousand)

Percentage change

1997

399.2

1998

397.7

-0.4

1999

401.2

+0.9

2000

404.6

+0.9

2001

410.2

+1.4

2002

419.6

+2.3

2003

423.6

+0.9

2004

427.7

+1.0

2005

431.9

+1.0

2006 (provisional)

435.4

+0.8

1 The numbers recorded are from January in each year.

Early-years Provision

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) nursery, (b) playgroup and (c) day-care providers charged a fee in 2005-06 to make up the difference between the money received from Government to fund provision for three and four-year-olds and the cost of provision. (86389)

The information requested is not collected centrally.

The entitlement should be made available free at the point of delivery. It is not acceptable for parents to have to pay a fee or for there to be any conditions attached to the free entitlement. This would restrict the choice of provider for some families and, in some cases, deny children access to the free entitlement. Charges for care beyond the hours of the free entitlement are a private matter between the provider and parent.

From April 2006, funding for the free nursery education entitlement to local authorities has been provided through the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). Local authorities have discretion over the rate at which they fund settings for delivery of early years provision.

The code of practice on the provision of free nursery education places for three and four-year-olds says that local authorities should fund provision delivered in different sectors on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account local needs and circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are (a) taking up and (b) eligible for the free (i) nursery, (ii) playgroup and (iii) day-care provision for three and four-year-olds in 2006-07. (86390)

The information is not collected in the form requested.

Since April 2004 all three and four-year-olds have been entitled to a free, good quality, part-time early education place. The free entitlement consists of a minimum of 12.5 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year and will be extended to 15 hours a week by 2010. By that time, parents who wish to do so will also be able to access the free entitlement flexibly across a minimum of three days.

Some local authorities may additionally offer subsidised childcare places but information on this is not collected centrally.

The available information on the number of three and four-year-olds taking up free early education places is shown in table 1.

Provisional figures for January 2006 show that all four-year-old children receive some form of free entitlement. The figure for three-year-olds is 96 per cent. This covers all maintained, private, voluntary and independent providers and represents 538,800 three- year-olds and 558,200 four-year-olds.

The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release 17/2006 “Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2006 (provisional)” in April, which is available on my Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.

Final figures for January 2006 will be published in Statistical First Release “Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2006 (final)” at 9:30 am on 31 August 2006, which will also be made available on my Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.

Table 1: Number of three and four-year-olds taking up nursery education places1, 2, 3 by type of early education provider, England 2002-064,position in January each year

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006 provisional

Private and voluntary providers5

Number

379,800

428,600 6

445,300 6

432,800 6

431,000 6

Percentage of population7

32

37

39

39

38

Number taking up free places

274,0008

365,1006, 8

388,6008

396,7006, 8

397,1009, 10

Percentage of population7

23

31

34

35

35

Independent schools11

Number

56,800

55,800

54,700

52,000

48,100

Percentage of population7

5

5

5

5

4

Number taking up free places

31,900 8

40,500 6, 8

38,400 8

39,200 6, 8

38,300 9, 10

Percentage of population7

3

3

3

3

3

Maintained nursery and primary schools:

Number

701,200

690,900

676,500

663,800

658,000

Percentage of population7

59

59

59

59

59

Nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools

Number

341,400

331,300

320,200

312,300

312,800

Percentage of population7

29

28

28

28

28

Infant classes in primary schools12

Number

359,900

359,500

356,300

351,500

345,200

Percentage of population7

30

31

31

31

31

Special schools 13, 14

Number

4,800

4,400

4,100

3,700

3,600

Percentage of population7

All providers15

Number

1,142,700

1,179,700 6

1,180,500 6

1,152,400 6

1,140,800

Percentage of population7

96

101

103

103

102

Number taking up free places

1,012,000

1,100,9006, 8

1,107,5008

1,103,400 6, 8

1,097,000 9, 10

Percentage of population7

85

94

97

98

98

— = less than 0.5 per cent. 1 Headcount of children aged three and four at 31 December in the previous calendar year, rounded to the nearest hundred. 2 Numbers of three and four-year-olds in schools may include some two-year-olds. 3 Any child attending more than one provider may have been counted twice. 4 Provisional 5 Includes some Local Authority providers (other than schools) registered to receive Nursery Education Grants; excludes independent schools and providers not registered to receive nursery education grants. 6Scaled up from the data as returned by providers to all providers of early years education. 7 Numbers of three and four-year-olds taking up places expressed as a percentage of the three and four-year-old population. 8 Providers returned the number of places for three and four-year-olds for which they had received or expected to receive funding. 9 Local Authorities returned the number of funded three and four-year-olds for which they expected to receive funding. 10 Scaled up from the data as returned by Local Authorities to all providers of early years education. 11 Includes direct grant nursery schools. 12 Includes reception and other classes not designated as nursery classes. 13 Includes general hospital schools. 14 Excludes pupils who are also registered elsewhere. 15 Rounding of components may cause discrepancies in totals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what the total budget is in 2006-07 for the free (a) nursery, (b) playgroup and (c) day-care provision for three and four-year-olds; (86391)

(2) what average funding his Department provided per head to local authorities for free (a) nursery, (b) playgroup and (c) day-care provision for three and four-year-olds in 2005-06.

For 2005-06, funding for children under five within the total of Schools Formula Spending Shares (FSS) was £2,886 million and the average unit of funding was £3,220 across all settings. From 2006-07, Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) replaced Schools FSS: £82 million was added to the total of DSG for 2006-07 to fund the expansion of the early years entitlement from 33 weeks to 38 weeks per year. Funding for under fives is not identified separately within DSG, and there is a single guaranteed unit of funding for each authority, the average of which is £3,640.

Extended Hours

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have indicated they intend to operate extended hours from the start of the 2006 autumn term in (i) each London borough and (ii) each region of England; (86158)

(2) how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each London borough operate extended hours;

(3) how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools operate extended hours in each region of England;

(4) what guidance he has issued to schools on the charges they can make to pupils for attending extended school hours.

[holding answer 18 July 2006]: We have a target for 2,500 schools to be providing a core offer of extended services by September 2006. This includes access to a varied menu of activities, parenting support, childcare 8am to 6pm, swift and easy referral to specialist services and wider community access. Currently, we have over 9,000 schools engaged with their local authority on the extended schools agenda with a representative split of primary and secondary schools. This is encouraging progress against our September target. We do not currently have data on the total number of schools operating extended hours broken down by borough or region. However, we do have data from a baseline survey of maintained schools published in September 2005. This survey showed that 61 per cent. of secondary schools and 40 per cent. of primary schools offer childcare or activities before school. The survey suggested that more schools offered activities after school hours—a total of 87 per cent. of primary, and 95 per cent. of secondary schools. In future we will be able to draw on data from the school census, which will include information about the extended services that schools are providing.

This Government have published guidance for schools and local authorities on planning and funding extended schools, including charging for extended opportunities, on 5 June 2006. It is intended to help schools plan and fund their extended opportunities in ways that will best support children, young people and their families; reflect local needs and circumstances; and build on existing provision offered by the voluntary and private sectors.

The guidance includes advice on what schools may and may not legally charge for. It describes some typical extended activities and how they might be funded. The guidance emphasises the need for schools to ensure free access to extended activities for the most disadvantaged children and young people.

Institutes of Enterprise

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent in each year since 1998 to encourage Institutes of Enterprise; how many new institutes were endowed in each year; how many students attended institutes in each year; and if he will make a statement. (85553)

I have been asked to reply.

Science Enterprise Centres (SECs)—sometimes known as Institutes of Enterprise—were created under the Science Enterprise Challenge Programme. The first round, which covered the academic years 1999/2000 and 2000/01, allocated £28,900,000 to fund the creation of 12 SECs across the UK. The second round, for academic years 2001/02, 2002/03, awarded £14,500,000, as continuation funding to six of the existing SECs and to create one further SEC, brining the total number of SECs to 13.

Student attendance for the four years of the Science Enterprise Challenge Programme is as follows1:

Number

1999-2000

2,923

2000-01

11,998

2001-02

11,975

2002-03

24,397

1 One of the SECs reported its student numbers as a percentage of the total student body, rather than as an absolute figure, these percentage figures are not included in the above totals.

After 2003 enterprise education became a devolved matter and, in England, was subsumed into the Higher Education Innovation Fund, under which individual HEIs have the choice where to focus their activities.

Language Learning

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many GCSE pupils in (a) England and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire studied a foreign language in each of the last nine years; and if he will make a statement; (81445)

(2) how many A-level pupils in (a) England and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire studied a foreign language in each of the last nine years; and if he will make a statement.

Figures for the number of pupils who were entered for a GCSE foreign language in (a) England and (b) East Riding of Yorkshire in each of the last nine years are given in the following table.

15-year-old pupils1 entered for a GCSE foreign language2

Number

England

East Riding of Yorkshire

1996/97

434,054

3,471

1997/98

442,130

3,427

1998/99

499,897

3,325

1999/2000

454,574

3,530

2000/01

468,487

3,588

2001/02

456,805

3,547

2002/03

449,376

3,551

2003/04

430,397

3,429

2004/05

365,320

2,854

Figures for the number and percentage of pupils who achieved grade A*-C in a GCSE foreign language are given in the following table.

15-year-old pupils1 achieving grade A*-C in a GCSE foreign language2

England

East Riding of Yorkshire

Number

Percentage

Number

Percentage

1996/97

201,266

46

1,420

41

1997/98

204,683

46

1,559

45

1998/99

219,314

44

1,504

45

1999/2000

220,544

49

1,661

47

2000/01

231,884

49

1,700

47

2001/02

228,372

50

1,621

46

2002/03

214,336

48

1,342

38

2003/04

218,039

51

1,359

40

2004/05

210,895

58

1,653

58

Figures for the number and percentage of pupils who achieved grade A*-G in a GCSE foreign language are given in the following table.

15-year-old pupils1 achieving grade A*-G in a GCSE foreign language2

England

East Riding of Yorkshire

Number

Percentage

Number

Percentage

1996/97

418,977

97

3,337

96

1997/98

434,701

98

3,379

99

1998/99

445,061

89

3,288

99

1999/2000

447,319

98

3,478

99

2000/01

460,725

98

3,554

99

2001/02

449,451

98

3,497

99

2002/03

439,066

98

3,502

99

2003/04

421,496

98

3,379

99

2004/05

360,528

99

2,828

99

1 Pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August. 2 Maintained institutions only.

2004/05 GCSE examinations saw the first pupils for whom modern foreign languages were not compulsory.

Figures for the number of pupils who were entered for an A-level foreign language in (a) England and (b) East Riding of Yorkshire in each of the last nine years are given in the following table.

Pupils entered for an A-level foreign language

Number

England1

East Riding of Yorkshire2

1996/97

41,750

181

1997/98

36,568

155

1998/99

34,484

145

1999/2000

30,997

142

2000/01

30,905

123

2001/02

28,252

116

2002/03

27,475

91

2003/04

27,052

85

2004/05

26,665

98

Figures for the number of pupils who achieved an A-E grade in at least one A-level foreign language are given as follows, and are given as a proportion of all candidates entered for an A-level foreign language.

Pupils entered for an A-level foreign language

England1

East Riding of Yorkshire2

Number

Percentage

Number

Percentage

1996/97

37,200

89

151

83

1997/98

33,606

92

131

85

1998/99

31,883

92

118

81

1999/2000

28,763

93

120

85

2000/01

28,673

93

103

84

2001/02

27,439

97

113

97

2002/03

26,848

98

87

96

2003/04

26,540

98

81

95

2004/05

26,222

98

98

100

1 All schools. 2 Maintained institutions only.

School Sports

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking (a) to increase participation in sporting activities at schools and (b) to widen the number of sporting activities that are available to pupils while at school. (86418)

The Government are investing over £1.5 billion (including lottery funding) in the five years to 2008 to implement the national school sport strategy. The Departments for Education and Skills and for Culture, Media and Sport share a public service agreement target to increase the percentage of five to 16-year-olds who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality physical education and school sport to 75 per cent. by 2006 and 85 per cent. by 2008. The long-term ambition—by 2010—is to offer all children four hours of sport. Spearheading action is the creation of a national network of sports colleges and school sport partnerships.

Good progress is being made. Currently 80 per cent. of schools in England are within a school sport partnership and all schools will be by September 2006. The 2004/05 school sport survey found that 69 per cent. of pupils in schools within a partnership were spending at least two hours in a typical week on high quality physical education and sport, an 11 per cent. increase on 2003/04. The survey also found that partnership schools offer on average almost 15 different sports. Copies of the 2003/04 and 2004/05 survey reports have been placed in the House Library.

Slave Trade

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on including teaching on the slave trade as part of the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement. (86344)

Members of the Deputy Prime Minister's Advisory Group on the 2007 Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade have raised this issue on a number of occasions. I am also aware that there have been a large number of letters on the issue addressed to the lead officers at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority who are responsible for developing the national curriculum. Although we are reducing the amount of detailed prescription in the national curriculum, I am keen to see what can be done to ensure that this important part of our nation’s history is properly understood. The £910,000 of funding that my Department is providing for the understanding slavery initiative (www.understandingslavery.com), in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, is an important part of this.

Special Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice his Department provides to local education authorities on the role of special schools in the teaching of students with (a) special educational needs and (b) behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. (86011)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: Our SEN strategy “Removing Barriers to Achievement” makes clear that we see a vital and continuing role for special schools. The Government believe that special schools have an important role to play within the overall spectrum of provision for children with special educational needs—educating some children directly and sharing their expertise with mainstream schools. We are promoting the participation of special schools in the Department’s diversity programmes, including the Specialist Schools Programme, to make the most of the skills and expertise in the special sector, by promoting collaboration, outreach, training and other activities.

Special schools are specially organised to make provision for pupils with special educational needs, so all special schools will teach pupils with special educational needs. There is a wide spectrum of special educational needs that are frequently inter-related. Needs fall broadly into four areas: communication and interaction; cognition and learning; behaviour, emotional and social development; and sensory and/or physical.

The Department through its National Primary and Secondary Strategies provides materials designed to raise standards in teaching and learning for both special and mainstream schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the work of special schools; and what role he plans for such schools in the provision of education for children with special needs. (86417)

In 2003 we published the ‘The Report of the Special Schools Working Group’ which mapped out a future programme for the special schools sector. The report proposed that special schools should increasingly cater for the population of children with severe and complex needs; that they should be outward-looking centres of expertise and work more collaboratively with mainstream schools.

Our SEN strategy “Removing Barriers to Achievement” made it clear that we see a vital and continuing role for special schools. Special schools have an important role to play within the overall spectrum of provision for children with special educational needs educating some children directly and sharing their expertise with mainstream schools. We are promoting the participation of special schools in the Department’s diversity programmes, including the Specialist Schools Programme, to make the most of the skills and expertise in the special sector, by promoting collaboration, outreach, training and other activities.

Statutory Instruments

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on what occasions a statutory instrument sponsored by his Department has been reported by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments as defective since October 2005. (85185)

Statutory instruments produced by the Department for Education and Skills were reported by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments for defective drafting on six occasions during the period in question.

Sure Start

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have participated in Sure Start in Leicester South constituency since its introduction. (86143)

Three Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) covering 1,640 children under four and their families were set up in the Leicester South constituency between 2000 and 2003. All SSLPs are becoming Sure Start children’s centres and will offer services to children under five years of age and their families. There are three Sure Start children’s centres up and running in the Leicester South constituency covering 2,0501 children under five and their families. Two of these centres build on existing SSLPs.

1 2,050 children include 771 children previously served by the two SSLPs that have become children’s centres.

Northern Ireland

Abortion

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to publish the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s guidance on abortion in Northern Ireland; which (a) individuals and (b) organisations were involved in drawing up the draft guidance; what the timetable is for the consultation; and if he will make a statement. (85219)

The aim is to publish guidance on abortion in Northern Ireland early next year. In developing the guidance the Department has taken on board the views of representatives from a wide range of professional and specialty backgrounds including nursing and midwifery, obstetrics and gynaecology, public health, psychiatry, clinical genetics, family planning doctors and general practitioners. It is proposed to issue draft guidance to interested parties for consultation in September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who the members of the working party on guidance on abortion in Northern Ireland are; what relevant specialist qualifications each holds; what the career of each has been to date; what criteria were used in selecting them; how many and what percentage are on the public record as (a) supporting and (b) opposing abortion; when the working party has met; what the (i) location and (ii) duration of each meeting was; whether a record of each meeting was kept; who attended each meeting; if he will list public meetings organised by the working party; who addressed each meeting; at what cost; who attended each public meeting; whether a record of each public meeting was kept; what the cost was of each public meeting, broken down by (A) administrative costs, (B) costs of refreshments and (C) other costs; and if he will make a statement. (85222)

Members of the working party were not asked about their personal views on abortion as the intention was that the working party should comprise individuals from a wide range of professional and specialty backgrounds including nursing and midwifery, obstetrics and gynaecology, public health, psychiatry, clinical genetics, family planning doctors and general practitioners.

The working party has met twice. The first time was 4 May 2005 at The Mount in Belfast and the second time was on 19 December 2005 at Castle Buildings, Stormont. The meeting on 4 May was exploratory in nature, and to enable a free and frank exchange of views no formal record was taken. Minutes of the meeting on 19 December at Castle Buildings will be placed in the Library. This document includes details of members of the working party.

No public meetings have been held by the working party.

Adoption

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the decision to allow civil partnership couples the right to adopt children in Northern Ireland. (85090)

No one has the “right” to adopt and the proposed new legislation will continue to uphold this principle. However, the law must establish basic criteria which a person must satisfy in order to be eligible to apply to adopt. Under Northern Ireland’s existing adoption legislation, the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987, a single person of either sex, irrespective of their sexual orientation, may apply to adopt a child. Only married couples may apply to adopt a child jointly. Civil partners, however, are unable to adopt either jointly or singly.

On 4 July I launched a public consultation “Adopting the Future”, which outlines a proposed strategy for adoption services in Northern Ireland. One of the proposals designed to increase the opportunities for children to be adopted is that civil partners and unmarried couples (whether of different sexes or the same sex) living as partners in an enduring family relationship should be eligible to adopt jointly.

As is currently the case, where persons are eligible to adopt, they will be required to undergo a rigorous assessment of their suitability before any placement or adoption can take place. Every child deserves a safe and happy childhood. Where this is not possible within their own family or extended family, it is essential that every effort is made to secure permanence for the child as early as possible. If a couple in an enduring partnership can demonstrate that they can provide a child with a secure and happy home, where that child can thrive and be cared for into adulthood and beyond, the law should at least allow the couple to be assessed.

I am aware that this is a sensitive issue and would reiterate that these proposals are part of a consultation process. Everyone who has a contribution to make is welcome to do so and all views will be taken into consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what precautions will be put in place by social services when children are placed for adoption in civil partnership settings. (85091)

In order to be approved as adoptive parents, any prospective adopter or couple is required to undergo a stringent assessment process carried out by an adoption agency over a period of several months. The assessment includes:

Checks on medical history and police checks

Current conditions in the applicant’s lives

Relationship stability

Motives for adoption

Knowledge and experience of children

Capacity for the parenting role

Expectations concerning the child

Identity and culture

Relations and other social networks

Personality and interests

Religion and attitude to life

Openness to individual difference

Proper assessment is the key to ensuring that only suitable people are ultimately able to adopt. There is a range of qualities a single person or a couple need to demonstrate before they can be approved as adoptive parents.

Where an adoption agency has decided that adoption of a child by a particular person or couple would be in that child's best interests, social services are required to monitor the placement and ongoing support is available until an adoption order is made. Ultimately, the court will decide whether or not to make the adoption order.

Arson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many arson attacks have been recorded on (a) homes, (b) commercial premises and (c) industrial premises in each of the last three years. (78505)

The information requested is contained in the following table:

Dwelling premises1

Commercial premises2

Industrial premises3

2003-04

637

173

45

2004-05

538

167

34

2005-06

686

212

46

1 Dwelling includes houses (occupied and unoccupied) and caravans used as dwellings. 2 Commercial premises include buildings such as shops, banks, licensed premises, restaurants, and petrol stations. 3 Industrial premises include buildings such as factories, warehouses, and haulage depots.

Incapacity Benefit Recipients

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Department of Social Development has taken to assist those receiving incapacity benefits to get back into work in rural areas in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. (86305)

The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) helps employers fill vacancies and assists jobseekers to find employment through a network of 35 Jobs and Benefits offices (JBOs) and JobCentres located in towns and cities throughout Northern Ireland.

Within the JBOs, personal advisers carry out ‘work-focused interviews’ to help those on working age benefits, including incapacity benefit (IB), identify any barriers to work and encourage them to address these, assess ‘job-readiness’ and assist clients into work or training programmes or towards other support which will improve their options and capability for work. The process has recently been improved through the introduction of action plans for people who are ill, have a disability or are lone parents.

The Department has been piloting the Pathways to Work initiative in three areas (Ballymoney, Lurgan and Magherafelt) since 3 October 2005 and in Newtownabbey, Enniskillen and Newry since April 2006. The initiative builds on existing provision and offers early, sustained support from specially trained personal advisers with the aim of helping IB recipients consider a return to work. The support package includes innovative health rehabilitation programmes with a work focus, to help clients understand and manage their health condition. New financial incentives include a £40 a week return to work credit to help “make work pay” for those moving into a job paying less than £15,000 per annum.

The pilot will be expanded to a further four offices by the end of 2006, covering 30 per cent. of clients making a fresh claim to incapacity benefit. The choice of pilot locations has taken account of the rural/urban mix and the potential impacts on the client group in rural areas. It is recognised that the costs of attending mandatory interviews are likely to be greater for those living in rural areas so travel costs are paid and interviews are arranged at a time to suit the client.

Beta Blockers

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is taking (a) to inform users of beta blockers of the proposed gradual withdrawal of this drug without causing distress or anxiety and (b) to ensure that general practitioners withdraw beta blockers gradually from patients with high blood pressure. (84941)

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently produced clinical guidelines on the management of high blood pressure in adults; this includes new guidance relating to the use of beta-adrenoceptor blockers. Beta blockers are also used for a number of other clinical conditions. Beta blockers are not being withdrawn and remain a licensed medicine for use in Northern Ireland.

I recently announced the establishment of a formal link between NICE and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and will shortly confirm the arrangements for determination of the applicability of NICE guidelines to the HPSS in Northern Ireland. The Department will give specific consideration to the communication of information contained in this particular guidance

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people prescribed beta blockers in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months have ailments other than high blood pressure. (84974)

Information is only available on the total number of beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug items dispensed in primary care in the past 12 months. Information is not available on the actual number of individuals that this relates to or the ailment for which the drug has been dispensed.

Table 1: Number of beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs dispensed

2005

907,553

Source: Prescription cost analysis, Central Services Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients prescribed beta blockers for high blood pressure in Northern Ireland are over the age of 55; and if he will make a statement. (84975)

The information is not available for the clinical condition of high blood pressure or for the age group requested but only on the total number of beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug items dispensed in primary care in the past 12 months.

Number of blocking beta-adrenoceptor drugs dispensed

2005

907,553

Source:

Prescription Cost Analysis, Central Services Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland were prescribed beta blockers for high blood pressure in the last 12 months, broken down by board area. (84976)

Information is only available on the total number of beta-adrenoceptor drug items dispensed in primary care in the past 12 months. This information is not readily available by health board area, nor is information available on the actual number of individuals that this relates to.

Number of beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs dispensed

2005

907,553

Source:

Prescription Cost Analysis, Central Services Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost has been of beta blockers in the Northern Ireland health budget in each of the last three years. (84977)

The information is shown in the following table:

Total ingredient cost for beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs

(£)

2003

6,451,614

2004

6,879,635

2005

6,806,766

Notes:

1. Total ingredient cost refers to gross cost before discount, except for drugs listed in the Northern Ireland drug tariff that have already had discount applied.

2. The costs provided only cover drugs dispensed in primary care. Costs of drugs prescribed and dispensed in hospital cannot be captured central due to the use of different hospital IT systems.

Source:

Prescription Cost Analysis, Central Services Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the potential effects on costs arising from the transfer of patients from using beta blockers to other drugs available for high blood pressure; and how long the transfer will take to implement. (84978)

Information is not available for the clinical condition of blood pressure. It is anticipated that pharmacological costs may rise due to the transfer of patients from beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs to ACE inhibitors. Cost impact assessments made by NICE indicate however that full implementation of the NICE guideline achieved over a number of years might produce some savings as a result of reduced numbers of strokes and ischaemic heart disease. No estimate has been made of possible corresponding savings that might occur in Northern Ireland.

The timescale for implementation of this change is dependent upon the needs of individual patients. It is particularly important that patients do not stop using their medication without seeking professional advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have experienced (a) side effects and (b) life-threatening side effects as a direct result of being prescribed beta blockers for high blood pressure in each of the last five years, broken down by board area. (84979)

As beta-adrenoceptor drugs can be prescribed for a number of conditions it is not possible to tell from existing information if a person was prescribed beta blockers for high blood pressure. As with other medicines, there are a number of known side effects with beta blockers. All serious adverse drug reactions suspected to be related to any medicine, or combination of medicines, should be reported directly to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

The Department has no data on admission to hospital as a direct result of side effects/life threatening side effects as a result of the providing of beta blockers for high blood pressure.

Brothels

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many brothels he estimates there are in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) each police district command unit. (83913)

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has advised that it would be inappropriate to disclose the number of brothels they believe to be active as this could compromise ongoing operations aimed at disrupting such activities and bringing about successful prosecutions.

The PSNI continues to gather intelligence and information about such activities across Northern Ireland.

In September 2005 South Belfast DCU set up a drugs and vice team after analysis indicated problems related to sex crimes. In that DCU the PSNI have successfully closed down 20 brothels and charged 12 persons in connection with offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Dangerous Dogs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there has been a review of the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 since the legislation was implemented; and whether there are plans to review (a) the legislation and (b) enforcement of it. (86576)

The Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 has not been formally reviewed. However, on 19 May 2006 the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development wrote to all district councils seeking their views on the operation of the legislation with particular emphasis on any difficulties preventing effective enforcement.

The Department is currently considering the responses from councils and will meet in the near future with council representatives and other interested organisations to discuss the issues raised.

Departmental Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2006, Official Report, column 1009W, on departmental expenditure, what accounted for the increases in expenditure by (a) employment and learning, (b) health, social services and public safety and (c) the Northern Ireland Office on advertising between 2003-04 and 2004-05; and if he will take steps to reduce the amount spent on advertising. (77217)

Further to my answer of 17 May 2006, Official Report, column 1009W, I have informed the hon. Member in writing that figures provided for four Departments in 2004-05 were incorrect. This answer is based on the corrected figures given on 4 July 2006.

The increase in expenditure by (a) employment and learning is accounted for by the Essential Skills Campaign to address the problems of literacy and numeracy. The corrected figures show that spending by (b) health, social services and public safety decreased during the period. The increase in expenditure by (c) the Northern Ireland Office was due to the recruitment advertising of NIO posts locally and nationally. The corrected figures also show that expenditure by environment increased during the period. This is due to additional funding for newly launched road safety campaigns in respect of motorbikes, speeding and drugs and to increase airtime for the anti-drink driving campaign at certain times of the year such as Christmas and bank holidays.

Steps have already been taken to reduce the amount spent on advertising. A fundamental review of how Government procure and manage advertising has been completed. The review report, published in April 2006 and available in the House of Commons Library, sets out a series of recommendations which will contribute to an overall reduction in the amount spent on advertising and an increase in effectiveness.

Fertility Treatment

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many women over the age of 55 years are undergoing IVF treatment on the NHS in Northern Ireland; and if he will estimate the average cost of each programme of treatment. (85050)

There are no women over the age of 55 years undergoing IVF treatment on the NHS in Northern Ireland. In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is only available to couples where the female partner has not passed her 38th birthday.

The Royal Group of Hospitals estimate the current cost for a cycle of IVF treatment to be £2,875. This includes the cost of outpatient attendances, drugs, scans and consultant time.

Festivals

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which 10 community festivals in Northern Ireland received the most public funding in each of the last two years. (82878)

The 10 community festivals which received the most public funding in each of the last two years are shown in the following tables:

2004-05

Festival

Funding provided (£)

Feile an Phobail

360,037.95

Maiden City Festival

82,700.63

Ardoyne Fleadh Cheoil

75,080

Greater New Lodge

43,110

Tommy Makem International Festival of Song

23,000

Belleek and Fiddlestone Arts and Cultural Festival

15,783.19

William Kennedy Piping Festival

15,000

The Hills above Drumquin Townlands Festival

14,914.81

Armagh City and district council Mall Events Project

14,900

Living History Festival

13,097.40

2005-06

Festival

Funding provided (£)

Feile an Phobail

273,768.01

North West Rural Development Maritime Festival 2006

101,681

Maiden City Festival

84,150

Ardoyne Fleadh Cheoil

66,405

Greater New Lodge

36,660

Panarts (Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival)

18,500

Armagh Festival of International Folk and Song

17,500

William Kennedy Piping Festival

15,000

Country Comes to Town

12,000

The Irish Country Lifestyle Festival

11,113.17

Notes:

For the purpose of this answer, a community festival is defined as follows:

“a concentrated and orchestrated series of events with a common theme and within a defined period”

This definition is taken from the ‘Community Festivals Fund Policy and Guidance Framework’ launched in February 2006.

The answer does not include information on funding allocated to speciality arts and sports festivals.

Fuel Poverty

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in (a) rural and (b) non-rural areas in Northern Ireland are estimated to be living in fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement. (86316)

The 2004 Interim House Condition Survey collected fuel poverty information on a household and not an individual basis and has indicated that the number of households in fuel poverty in rural areas of Northern Ireland is 61,470 and the number in non-rural areas is 92,060.

The Department for Social Development, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and all the public, voluntary and community organisations concerned with fuel poverty will continue to bring forward and promote a range of measures to address this important issue, particularly in vulnerable households.

Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of (a) house prices and (b) trends in social housing stock in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to assist first-time buyers in Northern Ireland. (85436)

The Department for Social Development publishes information on houses prices and trends in social housing in its Northern Ireland Housing Statistics report. The following tables from the 2004-05 report set out the relevant information:

Table 1: Estimated median house price and percentage increase by purchasing group, October to December 2003 to October to December 20051

Purchasing group

Period October to December

Estimated median house price (£)

Percentage increase

First Time Buyers

2003

66,666.67

38.1

2005

92,076.40

Home Movers

2003

94,366.20

37.9

2005

130,136.99

1 Estimate derived from data provided to DSD, Statistics and Research Branch by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

Table 2: Trends in social housing stock 2002-05

Thousand

NIHE stock

Housing Associations stock

Total stock

2002

113.4

19.7

133.1

2003

105.8

20.5

126.3

2004

94.6

21.0

115.6

2005

96.6

121.3

1117.9

1 The figure for 2005 is currently provisional.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive also annually publishes a report on the Northern Ireland Housing Market—“Review and Perspectives”. The report covering the period 2006-09, which provides a range of housing statistics and analysis, was published in February 2006. A copy is available on its website at www.nihe.gov.uk and can be found under the Publications/Reports/ Housing Market Reviews. I will arrange to have a copy placed in the Library.

The review indicates that since 1979 the Housing Executive has sold more than 110,000 dwellings to sitting tenants accounting for almost a quarter (24 per cent.) of the owner-occupied sector and 16 per cent. of the housing market as a whole. The 2001 House Condition Survey provided the first reliable estimate of what proportion of these had been resold on the open market. In March 2001, some 94,000 dwellings had been sold and approximately 18,000 (19 per cent.) of these had been resold on the open market: two thirds to new owner-occupiers and the remaining one third to private landlords, reflecting the fact that they generally provide a good source of high-quality affordable homes, particularly for first-time buyers and landlords who see them as a sound investment. Between 2000 and 2004 the annual house sales figure remained at over 5,000 but in 2004-05 the number of dwellings sold fell by 24 per cent. to 3,135. The reduction reflected the introduction of major revisions to the House Sales Scheme and it is envisaged that house sales will remain at between 2,500 and 3,000 over the next three year period. Annual research carried out by the University of Ulster in relation to sold Housing Executive dwellings confirms that they continue to perform well on the open market.

The co-ownership shared equity scheme remains the Department's main measure for providing assistance to first time buyers experiencing affordability problems. The scheme has been very successful assisting over 19,000 households since 1978. In recognition of this success, Government increased their funding by £23 million over the 3-year period to 2008 to provide almost £39 million and this will help support around 2,400 applicants over this period. A series of changes to the scheme have also just been introduced to make it more accessible for people on lower incomes: the basis of calculation of the co-ownership rental charge will reduce from 3.5 per cent. to 2.75 per cent. As a result a typical co-ownership home buyer with a £100,000 property on a 50:50 basis will see their monthly rental reduce from £160 to £126. The professional fees associated with buying a home through co-ownership are also being reduced from £400 to £250.

Given the sharp increase in house prices, the value limits that apply to properties eligible for purchase through co-ownership have been reviewed. The limit for the greater Belfast and Derry city council areas has increased from £115,000 to £135,000 and from £102,500 to £115,000 elsewhere.

The Department has also been examining recent initiatives which were introduced to address affordability in the rest of the UK. The Chancellor, in his last budget, announced an increase in the stamp duty threshold to £125,000, and this will specifically assist first-time buyers.

Illegal Dumping

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in deterring illegal dumping in Northern Ireland, with particular reference to border areas; and if he will make a statement. (86299)

The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) continues to work closely and successfully with other enforcement agencies, including those in the Republic of Ireland. This has resulted in improved communication and intelligence, allowing joint action to tackle serious incidents and serious offenders.

EHS, through its environmental crime team, has disrupted the activities of those engaged in the illegal waste trade. As a result, large illegal dump sites are being discovered less frequently. Officers are also discovering increasing amounts of shredded material, treated in this way to mask the point of origin.

On the evidence provided by EHS, the Public Prosecution Service took 47 successful prosecution cases to the end of June 2005, compared with 58 for all of 2005, and 24 in 2004. The 129 successful prosecutions to date have generated fines in excess of £210,000. Around 100 further cases have been scheduled for hearing in the courts.

Jobcentres

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobcentres are operating in (a) non-rural and (b) rural areas of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. (86318)

Maria Eagle: The Department helps employers fill their vacancies and assists jobseekers to find employment through a network of 35 offices (25 Jobs and Benefits offices, JBOs where a joint work-focused service is provided with the Social Security Agency, and 10 jobcentres) located in towns and cities throughout Northern Ireland.

There are eight offices serving the city of Belfast, two in Londonderry, and one each in the cities of Armagh, Lisburn and Newry. The remaining 22 offices are located in each of the main rural towns of Northern Ireland.

In order to deliver the Government's policy on welfare-to-work the Department is working in partnership with the Social Security Agency to provide a joined-up work-focused jobs and benefits service. Some 25 of the planned 35 offices have been rolled out as JBOs. It is expected that rollout of the remaining 10, Andersonstown, Ballymena, Ballynahinch, Bangor, North Belfast, Cookstown, Downpatrick, Newcastle, Newtownards and Strabane, will be complete by March 2008.

MI5 Headquarters

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what costs have been incurred for the new MI5 headquarters in Northern Ireland; what the projected total cost is; and to which budget the funding has been allocated. (85444)

I have been asked to reply.

It has been the established policy of successive Governments not to comment on such matters.

Police

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers are allocated to the Ards area of Strangford. (85089)

The police strength for Ards DCU is as follows:

Regular—143.75

Full-Time Reserve—20

Part-Time Reserve and Con part-time combined—56

Public Appointments

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many public appointments are within his patronage; what (a) salary and (b) other emoluments are attached to each; and what the comparable figures were in (i) 1976, (ii) 1986 and (iii) 1996. (83169)

Details of the public appointments to public bodies sponsored by the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland departments can be found in “Public Bodies”, copies of which are in the Library. “Public Bodies” has been published annually since 1980 and the most recent edition provides figures for 2005. Each edition of “Public Bodies” contains details on the number of public appointments and remuneration details for that particular year. Comparable information for 1976 in respect of the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland departments could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

More detailed information about the chairs and members of Northern Ireland Office public appointments is published each year in the NIO departmental report. Similar information for those sponsored by Northern Ireland's eleven government departments is published in their annual public appointments annual report. Copies of the latest versions of both these reports are available from the Library of the House and can be found on the internet at:

www.nio.gov.uk/nio_departmental_report_2006.pdf and www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/public-appointments .

Rape Crisis Centre

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure the continued operation of the Rape Crisis Centre in Belfast; and if he will make a statement. (86319)

Government are committed to funding high-quality services which provide the best possible support for victims of rape and sexual violence in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has previously highlighted to the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre (NI) Ltd. concerns regarding the failure of the organisation to comply with the terms and conditions of grant funding. These concerns included the keeping of proper records, sound financial accountability and proper corporate governance arrangements.

The latest financial verification report indicates a continuing failure to address the long-standing issues raised and the Department has now advised the organisation that it is mindful to cease funding and invited any comments it wishes to make on this matter within 14 days.

The decision to cease funding for any organisation which provides a service to vulnerable people is never taken lightly. However, in view of the continued failure of this organisation to meet Government accounting requirements, the Department has been left with no other option but to cease funding.

The funding that would have been directed to the Rape Crisis Centre will be allocated to other support services for victims of rape and sexual violence.

Road Maintenance

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motorists have submitted claim forms for damage done to their vehicles due to pot holes on roads in the last three years; and how many received compensation for damages. (86388)

The number of vehicle damage compensation claims related to potholes received by the Department for Regional Development over the last three years and the number for which vehicle compensation was paid are set out in the following table.

Pothole claims received

Compensation paid

2003-04

940

586

2004-05

667

429

2005-06

668

364

Sexual Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department gave to the Belfast Brook Advisory Centre in each year since its opening; and what the rates of sexually transmitted infections were in Northern Ireland in each year over the same period. (85221)

Information is only available from 1997. Health and Social Services Boards have provided the following funding to Brook in each year since 1997.

£

1997-98

52,702

1998-99

52,596

1999-2000

62,786

2000-01

83,356

2001-02

75,112

2002-03

79,347

2003-04

88,961

2004-05

107,469

2005-06

107,831

In addition the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has provided one-off funding to the organisation as follows.

£

1997-98

nil

1998-99

1,875

1999-2000

10,000

2000-01

6,450

2001-02

9,000

2002-03

4,000

2003-04

nil

2004-05

nil

2005-06

nil

The incidence rates of sexually transmitted infections is not available. However, information is available on the total number of episodes (for selected diagnoses of sexually transmitted infection), seen for care at GUM clinics, in Northern Ireland since 1995. This is shown in the following table.

Calendar year

Number of sexually transmitted infections

1995

2,076

1996

1

1997

1

1998

2,650

1999

3,118

2000

3,504

2001

3,494

2002

3,741

2003

3,873

2004

3,930

2005

4,393

1 Incomplete dataNotes:Figures represent new treatment episodes of sexually transmitted infections occurring in the specified age groups, and not individual people. An individual may have contributed more than one episode of a particular diagnosis and to more than one diagnosis. Selected diagnoses for 1995 are: Postpubertal uncomplicated Chlamydia; Postpubertal uncomplicated gonorrhoea; Infectious syphilis; Anogenital herpes simplex (first attack) and Anogenital warts (first attack). Selected diagnoses and codes for 1998 and onwards are: Uncomplicated genital Chlamydia; Uncomplicated gonorrhoea; Primary and secondary infectious syphilis; Anogenital herpes simplex (first attack) and Anongenital warts (first attack). Source: KC60 return, Genito-Urinary Medicine clinics.

Speed Cameras

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which areas will be targeted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to test the SPECS3 cameras to apprehend speeding cars; and if he will make a statement. (85052)

The cameras are to be trialled on the Kempstones Road between Dundonald and Newtownards. This is for the purposes of scientific testing only.

Stephen Murtagh

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Stephen Murtagh case. (85057)

My hon. Friend the Member for St. Helens, South (Mr. Woodward), met Stephen Murtagh in April and decided that a review of the published papers associated with the circumstances leading to the death of Mr. Murtagh’s wife, Janine, would be appropriate. The Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is conducting the review and will report to me in the autumn.

Street Lighting

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department of Regional Development has plans to remove restrictions on the number of street lights in rural areas. (86303)

The Acting Chief Executive of Roads Service (Mr Geoff Allister) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.

Letter from Mr Geoff Allister, dated 19 July 2006:

You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding whether the Department of Regional Development has plans to remove restrictions on the number of street lights in rural areas.

As this issue falls within my responsibility as Acting Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.

The main criterion for providing street lighting in rural areas is based on the density of housing although we also take cognisance of night time injury accident statistics which indicate that the provision of lighting would contribute to a reduction in such accidents.

In June 2006, Roads Service Board agreed an extension to the rural lighting criteria to ensure a consistent approach to the lighting of important junctions on the strategic network. This additional criterion will apply when new junctions are provided, and existing junctions that meet the criterion shall be lit retrospectively over a number of years subject to the availability of funds.

However, in the course of its considerations, Roads Service has to seek a balance on the demand for additional lighting against the effects of increased urbanisation of the countryside and the environmental impact on wildlife, flora and the night sky.

Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time students resident in the Irish Republic attended (a) further and (b) higher education colleges in Northern Ireland in 2005; at what total cost to the education budget in that year; and what proportion of this cost was paid by the Government of the Irish Republic. (84934)

The number of full-time students resident in the Irish Republic attending further education colleges in Northern Ireland in the 2004-05 academic year was 1,010. The cost of this to the further education budget in that year was in the region of £3.5 million. No element of the cost of the further education budget was paid by the Government of the Irish Republic.

The number of full-time students resident in the Irish Republic attending higher education colleges in Northern Ireland in the 2004-05 academic year was 2,249. The approximate cost of this to the higher education budget in that year was £7.8 million. No element of this cost was paid by the Government of the Irish Republic.

Suicide

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision he has made to assist families affected by suicides within the (a) East Belfast, (b) North Down and (c) Ards/Castlereagh area of Strangford; and if he will make a statement. (85051)

The Ulster Community and Hospitals Health and Social Services Trust provides a range of mental health intervention and strategies to support the families of suicide victims, including counselling for bereavement in conjunction with specialised agencies such as CRUSE.

Since February 2004, the Trust has been operating a Crisis Response and Home Treatment Team, which is available 365 days per year to provide an appropriate response to individuals who have attempted self-harm or are suicidal.

In addition to this service, members of this team assess any patient who presents to the A&E department of the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, suffering from mental health problems. Furthermore, the Trust has recently trained three staff in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training and arrangements are presently being made for suicide awareness sessions in local sports and community clubs.

South and East Belfast Trust offer the primary care route of referral for assessment of mental health and will offer bereavement counselling through Community Psychiatric Nursing and Social Work services. They can also offer to support families in a crisis through involvement with their Crisis Response and Home Treatment Team. South and East Belfast Trust also signpost individuals and families to voluntary organisations such as CRUSE who offer straightforward bereavement counselling.

Regionally, a Families Forum is to be established. This forum will nominate representatives to sit on the forthcoming Suicide Strategy Implementation Body and will allow those bereaved by suicide to have a major say in the implementation of the Strategy.

Vaccination

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the most recent take-up rate is of MMR vaccine, broken down by council district in Northern Ireland. (85729)

Information on the take-up of MMR vaccine broken down by council district area is not collected centrally. However, the Department collects information from health and social services (HSS) boards on the immunisation status of each board’s resident children with regard to several conditions including MMR.

The latest available information on MMR immunisations by HSS Boards is detailed in the following table, which shows the percentage of children resident in each board’s administrative area that completed a primary course of MMR immunisations at any time before their second birthday, which occurred during the year ending 31 March 2005.

Board of Residence

MMR (Percentage)

Eastern

86.2

Northern

89.3

Southern

90.1

Western

88.2

Northern Ireland

88.4

Valuation and Lands Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 21 June 2006, Official Report, column 1872W, on the Valuation and Lands Agency, when the documentation will be placed in the Library. (85448)

Wind Turbines (Hospitals)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2006, Official Report, column 216W, on wind turbines (acute hospitals), whether other acute hospitals have expressed an interest in having a wind turbine constructed at their sites in the next 12 months. (85727)

Causeway Hospital, Coleraine, has expressed an interest in developing a wind turbine installation on the site within the next 12 months.

Prime Minister

G8 Summit

To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise the issue of the Russian Federation’s level of compliance with the Energy Charter Treaty and its transit protocol with President Putin at the forthcoming G8 Summit in St. Petersburg. (85092)

Honours

To ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure that (a) individuals who use tax havens and (b) directors whose firms are involved in (i) exploitation of cheap labour at home or overseas, (ii) tax avoidance or price fixing and (iii) health and safety violations are not considered for honours. (83379)

Guidance for nominating potential recipients of honours and the criteria for consideration for awards of honours are available on the Cabinet Office website (www.honours.gov.uk) and in the Library of the House.

Ministerial Behaviour

To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with Sir John Bourn on matters concerning the behaviour of Ministers; and if he will make a statement. (85015)

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Maldon and Chelmsford East (Mr. Whittingdale) during my evidence to the Liaison Committee on 4 July.

Work and Pensions

Atos Medical Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to review (a) the contract with Atos Medical Services as part of the Welfare Reform Programme and the Disability Equality Duty scheme and (b) the training requirements for Atos medical staff. (84388)

[holding answer 12 July 2006]: The contract between the Department and Atos Origin is reviewed on an on-going basis to ensure it delivers services that are fully compliant with all current relevant legislation.

Each year a programme of continuing medical education is agreed with Atos Origin that identifies training need priorities for all Atos medical practitioners. Participation is mandatory and ensures medical knowledge and expertise is kept up to date. Implementation is monitored through an established governance framework. Any changes or amendments to the contracted service arising from changes in business requirements include a review of the training requirements for doctors.

Benefit Claimants

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to tackle the perceived stigma of claiming benefits by people in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. (84955)

The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) is currently undertaking its annual monitoring of the rural proofing of Government policy. The CRC has appointed a team of consultants who will be interviewing officials from each Government Department on selected subjects. One subject selected for the DWP is the payment of benefits. The interviews are expected to take place this month.

The Department also produces an internal annual Rural Proofing Report for the Countryside Agency; this includes examples of how the Department has addressed service delivery issues in rural areas. A copy of the Countryside Agency’s Rural Proofing Report for 2004-05 is available in the Library.

A fundamental element of our plans for the future is the need to transform the way customers access and use the services of Jobcentre Plus so we can release resources to focus on customers who need more help. Customers are no longer required to attend our offices to make claims for benefits, undertake jobsearch activities or to enquire about their benefit payments. As we transform our services, other more efficient channels are now available to our customers, such as Jobseeker Direct, Interactive TV, or the Jobcentre Plus website, and these new options will greatly assist our customers living in rural areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely impact in each region of introducing a lower rate of benefit for young people under the age of 25 claiming the proposed employment and support allowance. (78108)

The proposal in the Green Paper was to align the basic rate of the employment and support allowance with jobseeker’s allowance basic rates. In the main phase, a work-related activity component or support component would be added on top.

During the consultation period, stakeholders raised concerns that this would penalise disabled young people. Therefore, in our consultation report we announced that we will not proceed with plans for a young person’s rate during the main phase. Claimants will get the same benefit rate, regardless of age, once on the main phase of the benefit. We believe that this provides the best balance between aligning rates until the medical assessment is completed, and making sure we provide an appropriate level of support for all people with health conditions or disabilities.

The Green Paper consultation report (CM6859) is available in the Library.

Incapacity Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which local authorities had an increase in the numbers of incapacity benefit claimants between 2001 and 2005. (86398)

Job Vacancies (Hartlepool)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies were listed at Jobcentre Plus in Hartlepool constituency in each year since 1997. [77176]

[pursuant to the reply, 26 June 2006, Official Report, column 54W]: Information on Jobcentre Plus vacancy data at parliamentary constituency level is only available from April 2004 and is set out in the following table.

Hartlepool Parliamentary Constituency

Period

Vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus

Average number of 'live' unfilled vacancies on any given day

2004 (from April)

5,040

1,150

2005

5,080

1,120

Source: Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System

Pensioners

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the amount spent by his Department, including the costs spent on administration costs, responding to requests from pensioners who live abroad and have their pensions frozen in each year since 2001-02; and if he will make a statement. (83378)

Information that is available is in the following tables. We are unable to provide costs prior to 2004-05.

Costs for 2004005 and 2005-06

£million

2004-05

2005-2006

Total

Frozen state pension paid to pensioners living abroad

870.58

900.17

1770.75

Direct costs to administer frozen state pensions for pensioners who live abroad.

3.6

3.8

7.4

Total

874. 18

903.97

1778.15

Costs For The First Three Months Of The Financial Year 2006-07

£million

2006-07

Frozen state pension paid to pensioners living abroad

232.69

Direct costs to administer frozen state pensions for pensioners who live abroad.

1.0

Total

233.69

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what pilot projects have been funded as part of the initiative announced in the 1997 pre-Budget report to encourage the improved take-up of benefits by pensioners; how many projects were given long-term funding; and how many pensioners were involved in the pilot projects. (85560)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2006, Official Report, column 1754W, on pensions reform, if he will add a column to the table provided in the answer showing comparable data assuming the Pension Commission’s proposals were implemented in total. (86518)

The figures presented in the 11 July 2006, Official Report, column 1753W refer to people reaching state pension age. They consequently will not be affected by including the assumption of the full implementation of the Pensions Commission proposals—i.e. to include the payment of a full basic state pension to all people aged 75 and over.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of (a) state pension and (b) pension credits in each nation and region of the UK; and what total spending was on each benefit in the latest period for which figures are available. (86512)

Information that is available relating to the state pension caseload and number of individual beneficiaries of pension credit in Great Britain on 31 November 2005 is in the following table. Information relating to Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Government office region

State pension caseload

Pension credit—individual beneficiaries

North East

481,080

193,790

North West

1,252,520

432,360

Yorkshire and the Humber

926,680

321,090

East Midlands

799,720

241,310

West Midlands

990,990

345,030

East of England

1,052,410

274,090

London

950,070

344,550

South East

1,520,840

336,510

South West

1,073,570

273,700

Wales

588,310

197,990

Scotland

942,970

337,800

Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

The total estimated spending on state pensions and pension credit in 2005-06 is in the following table.

£ million, nominal terms, estimated outturn

Basic state pension

43,029

Additional state pension

8,243

Non-contributory state pension

31

Total state pension expenditure

51,303

Pension credit - guarantee credit

5,402

Pension credit - savings credit

1,019

Total pension credit expenditure

6,420

Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and some additional disclosure control has been applied. 2. Expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest million pounds. 3. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 4. The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners. Source: DWP Expenditure tables

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of total spending on the (a) basic state pension and (b) pension credit in each (i) country and (ii) region of the UK in (A) 2024, (B) 2034 and (C) 2044 (1) under the current arrangements and (2) under the Government’s proposed pension reforms. (86514)

The information is not available in the format requested. Tables 1 and 2 show the total expenditure on basic state pension and pension credit respectively for the UK.

Under our reforms, more people will be getting state pensions based on their national insurance records, and there will be a more generous basic state pension due to the restoration of the earnings link. This provides a solid foundation for private saving. Incentives are further enhanced by reducing the growth of the savings credit.

Increase in the basic state pension leads to higher incomes for pensioners and as a consequence reduces the spending on pension credit. The reduction in pension credit as a result of the overall reform package can be seen in table 2. Column 2 of the table shows the level of spending without the White Paper reforms while column 3 shows spending after reforms.

Table 1 shows total expenditure under current basic state pension policies, and under the proposed reforms.

Table 1: Expenditure on basic state pension

£ billion, 2006-07 prices

Without reform

With reform

2024

62.5

77.5

2034

75.9

109.7

2044

81.0

137.7

Table 2 shows total expenditure under different pension credit policies, all of which assume the stated policy of uprating the standard guarantee with earnings until 2008: the current system projected forward with the standard guarantee uprated by prices after 2008; the same scenario but with the standard guarantee uprated with earnings after 2008; and the projected outcomes under the White Paper reforms.

Table 2: Expenditure on pension credit

£ billion, 2006-07 prices

Without reform, standard guarantee price-linked from 2008

Without reform, standard guarantee earnings-linked from 2008

With reform

2024

1.9

13.0

5.9

2034

1.1

21.2

3.8

2044

0.9

36.1

4.6

Notes: 1. Costs or savings presented in the table are based on long-term projections of United Kingdom benefit expenditure consistent with the Budget report 2006, and estimated expenditure effects of the proposed reforms. 2. Table 2 estimates of expenditure are dependent on projections of numbers receiving pension credit in the future. These projections are subject to a range of uncertainties and a number of factors including policies on uprating different benefits and assumptions on rates of take-up. The assumptions applied here are consistent with those that underpin published long-run expenditure projections. 3. Table 1 includes, in the ‘With reform’ column, earnings uprating the basic state pension, improving coverage, and the effects of state pension age increases. 4. Table 2 includes, in the ‘With reform’ column, continued earnings uprating of the standard guarantee; the savings credit maximum is uprated by earnings from 2008 and then by prices from 2015; earnings uprating of the basic state pension from 2012; measures to improve coverage of the basic state pension and reforms to the state second pension described in the White Paper. 5. Figures exclude the effect of personal accounts. 6. Figures include the effects on expenditure on the basic state pension and on pension credit arising from increases in the state pension age as set out in the White Paper.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Afghanistan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2006, Official Report, column 1716W, on Afghanistan, how many (a) ministerial and (b) official-level meetings on Afghanistan have taken place between the three Departments since January. (81738)

There are regular ministerial and official meetings on Afghanistan. Since January, seven ministerial meetings and 16 senior official meetings specifically on Afghanistan have been held. At the official level there is daily contact between Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence personnel.

Brazil

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she had with the Brazilian Government regarding (a) human and animal health, (b) human rights and (c) environmental issues relating to Brazilian beef imports during her recent official visit. (84359)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did not discuss these issues in detail during her recent visit to Brazil. However, we regularly raise such matters with the Government of Brazil, bilaterally and with our European partners.

Recently, at the Human Rights Council, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs discussed with Paulo Vannuchi, Brazilian State Secretary for Human Rights, ways in which our countries could deepen co-operation. In April, on his visit to Brazil, my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, also raised human rights with Paulo Vannuchi and agreed that the protection of human rights defenders was one of the key areas in which Brazil and the UK could co-operate.

Animal health is an issue taken seriously by the UK and the EU. In August last year, the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office sent an inspection mission to Brazil. The findings were discussed in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health in Brussels and the committee was satisfied that no additional restrictions on imports were justified at that stage.

The UK has initiated a high-level dialogue on sustainable development with the Brazilian Government to promote action on sustainable development challenges—including deforestation, whether it is caused by soya production or cattle farming. The Government actively supports efforts in Brazil to promote agricultural practices that reduce environmental impact and levels of deforestation. For example, the UK, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Global Opportunities Fund, is supporting an Amazon Deforestation Soya Certification Project which aims to combat deforestation by developing and implementing an independent certification scheme for “forest-friendly” soya.

Burma

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of investment channels through British Overseas Territories to Burma. (85893)

We have made no such assessment, however, Overseas Territories are required to give effect to the EU Common Position on Burma sanctions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the European Union on securing a United Nations resolution on the Government of Burma. (85894)

The proposal for a UN Security Council Resolution on Burma was raised at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 12 June. All EU member states represented on the Security Council gave their support for a debate and resolution on Burma.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Government of India regarding its trade and investment policy towards Burma. (85895)

We have not made any specific representations to the Government of India regarding trade and investment in Burma. We do, however, have dialogue with the Indian Government about their policy towards Burma and have highlighted international concern about human rights and democracy in that country.

In my discussions with the Indian Deputy Foreign Minister in the margins of the Human Rights Council on 20 June, I asked the Government of India to use its influence to encourage the Burmese Government to respect human rights and bring about political change.

Colombia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of proposals for demobilisation of paramilitaries and guerrillas in Colombia. (75044)

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council Conclusions of October 2005 made it clear that we and other EU member states consider that the effective and transparent implementation of the Law on Justice and Peace will have a positive impact on peace-building in Colombia.

On 18 April, the Government announced the completion under this law of the formal process of paramilitary demobilisation which saw over 30,000 paramilitaries demobilise. The challenge now for the Government of Colombia is to reintegrate the ex-combatants successfully into society, while addressing the rights of the victims of the internal armed conflict to truth, justice and reparation.

The Colombian Government is also actively involved in talks with the National Liberation Army, a left-wing guerrilla group. The latest round of talks took place in Cuba in April. The Colombian Government’s recent efforts to begin preliminary talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the country’s biggest illegal guerrilla group, have been consistently rejected by the guerrillas. We continue to monitor the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Government of Colombia on the impact on political stability of reductions in the international drugs trade. (75045)

We have regular discussions with the Colombian Government at official level over our counter-narcotics co-operation. This co-operation is ongoing and is part of our commitment, together with international partners, to help the Government of Colombia tackle the scourge of drug production and drug trafficking which have such a devastating impact on many thousands of innocent Colombians. Clearly, we also have a strong interest in helping Colombia fight the illegal drugs trade, not least because an estimated 80 per cent. of the cocaine coming into Britain originates from Colombia. All the three major illegal armed groups in Colombia have been proven to be actively involved in the illegal drugs trade which fuels the internal armed conflict in the country, undermines political stability and contributes to human rights abuses. Furthermore, the vast international income from cocaine leads to extensive money laundering. Corruption and intimidation backed up by violence is rife in Colombia.

With international assistance, Colombia is taking great steps towards tackling the international trade in drugs and other associated crimes. The counter-narcotics strategy adopted by the current Government seeks to reinforce existing judicial measures to hit drug traffickers and confiscate assets, and tackles the interconnected problems of violence, social and economic inequality, and abuse of human rights.

Conscription (Children)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the United Nations about child conscription into state armies in developing countries. (84469)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has identified child rights as one of its top three human rights priorities. One important focus for this work is addressing the issue of children affected by armed conflict, including the recruitment of children into armed forces and armed groups. The UK has supported the establishment of a UN monitoring and reporting mechanism on this issue and is actively involved in the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict to ensure that action is taken to follow up reports from this mechanism. The UK welcomes the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict to advocate the rights of children affected by armed conflict. The UK also promotes ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict through its network of diplomatic posts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of children conscripted into armies for military action in (a) Asia, (b) Africa and (c) Latin America. (84470)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made no estimate of the number of children recruited by armed forces and armed groups in these countries. A number of studies exist in this area, including some by non-governmental organisations, as well as statistics on the numbers of children involved in disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes. The picture of the numbers affected is complicated by the many ways in which children can be affected by conflict, for example as porters, messengers, spies or cooks, as well as active combatants. The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict said in a report to the General Assembly in September 2005 that over 250,000 children continue to be exploited as child soldiers. The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers estimated in its 2004 Global Report that up to 100,000 children in Africa remained involved in hostilities and also provided estimates for situations in specific countries in Asia and Latin America. This report is accessible most easily at the following website:

http://www.child-soldiers.org/resources/global-reports

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the number of children conscripted into armies in (a) Sierra Leone, (b) the Philippines, (c) Colombia, (d) Burundi, (e) Democratic Republic of Congo, (f) Liberia, (g) Somalia, (h) Afghanistan, (i) Burma and (j) Uganda; what recent representations she has made on the conscription of children into the army of each country; and if she will make a statement. (84497)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made no estimate of the number of children recruited by armed forces and armed groups in these countries. A number of studies exist in this area, including some by non-governmental organisations, as well as statistics on the numbers of children involved in disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes. The picture of the numbers affected is complicated by the many ways in which children can be affected by conflict, for example as porters, messengers, spies or cooks, as well as active combatants. One helpful source in this area is the Child Soldiers Global Report 2004, produced by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers which provides estimates for the countries listed. This document is accessible most easily at the following website:

http://www.child-soldiers.org/resources/global-reports

Ministers and officials have made representations on this issue. For example, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade has raised our concerns on a number of issues in Burma including the recruitment of child soldiers with the Burmese ambassador in London, and in writing to the Burmese Foreign Minister. During 2005, officials were active in a series of EU démarches in countries where the use of child soldiers is a particular problem. Démarches were conducted in Burundi, Colombia, Côte d’lvoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Nepal, Sudan and Uganda. The UK has also sought to ensure that disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes are sustainable and make appropriate provision for the particular needs of children. This has included specific assistance in a number of the countries listed, for example the Ministry of Defence’s assistance in reforming recruiting practices in the Sierra Leone army.

Departmental Emissions

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the carbon emissions of her Department; what commitment she has made to reducing such emissions; and if she will make a statement. (81059)

In 2004-05, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) carbon emissions from energy on the UK estate totalled 3,374 tonnes. We are committed to reducing our emissions and are taking the following actions:

we are in the process of implementing the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme to help us identify opportunities to reduce our use of energy;

we are upgrading the energy control systems at Hanslope Park, our rural site in Buckinghamshire, and in our Main Building. We have commenced a programme of replacing inefficient light fittings across the estate;

we monitor our performance against targets for energy reduction, among other environmental issues, through an externally certified Environmental Management System, in line with the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government estate;

we apply the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), which includes forecast energy consumption, to new builds and major refurbishments;

we actively encourage staff and contractors to follow good practice in using energy efficiently and effectively through, for example, an Energy and Recycling Campaign in February 2006;

we are installing software on the next generation of the FCO’s global IT network, due to start roll out early in 2007, to power down workstations automatically out of hours.

In addition, the FCO is offsetting the carbon dioxide and other emissions generated by the air travel of Ministers and officials based in the UK starting with our 2004 emissions—one year ahead of the requirement of Government Departments to offset air travel by April 2006. We encourage our posts to apply good environmental management and are running a pilot project on environmental management at nine posts to determine how best we might introduce the principles of formal environmental management to our wider network.

Departmental Publications

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list the Unnumbered Command Papers produced by her Department in each Session since 1976; by what means (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public can (i) inspect and (ii) obtain copies; and if she will make a statement. (81303)

A list of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Unnumbered Command Papers since 1992 can be obtained from the Library of the House and I will arrange for a copy of the list to be sent to the hon. Member. Previous years could be listed only at disproportionate cost.

Copies of unnumbered Command Papers from the 2001 and 2005 Parliaments are available to hon. Members via the Library of the House and to members of the public via the Public Record Office.

Diplomatic Service (School Fees)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the policy of her Department is on the payment of school fees for the children of staff employed in the diplomatic service abroad when those children attend (a) international schools abroad or (b) fee-paying schools in the UK. (86064)

It is a condition of their employment that members of the diplomatic service must be prepared to serve anywhere in the world at any time during their career, sometimes at very short notice. Those with children also have a legal obligation as parents to ensure that their children receive full-time education from the age of five years. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) therefore helps staff meet these potentially conflicting obligations in two circumstances:

Children who accompany their parents on postings overseas are expected to use free state schooling if it is available locally and is of a suitable standard. At posts where no suitable schooling is available free-of-charge locally, the FCO refunds the cost of local school fees to enable children to receive the level of education to which they would be entitled in the UK.

Staff are liable to move at regular intervals, every 12-48 months, often to locations where schools offering English language education are unavailable or inadequate. Providing continuity of education can therefore pose real problems, particularly during the important examination years. The FCO therefore provides an accountable allowance to enable children to board at school in the UK, while their parents remain subject to the worldwide mobility obligation.

Dr. Laurence Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will take urgent steps to enable Dr. Laurence Jones to return to the UK from Australia; for what reason his retrieved passport could not be temporarily validated for travel back to the UK; for what reason his replacement passport was not issued within the initial 20-day period; and for what reason it was not issued within the subsequent two-week period of which notice was given by her Department. (86162)

[holding answer 18 July 2006]: We regret the inconvenience caused to Dr. Jones and apologise for the delay to the issue of his passport, which was caused by an unfortunate administrative error. The passport was despatched to him by courier on 17 July from our high commission in Canberra. It is expected to be delivered to him in Darwin on 19 or 20 July. The passport section in our high commission in Canberra has advised Dr. Jones of this development directly. He has also been informed that we will reimburse all telephone expenses incurred by him with regard to his application.

Export Licences

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for a standard individual export licence were referred to her Department by the Export Licensing Organisation (ELO) in 2005; how many of these applications were considered by the Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance Group; in how many of these applications the Group initially advised against the granting of a licence; how many were the subject of written submissions from the Group; and in how many cases where an initial recommendation for refusal was issued by the Human Rights, Democracy and Good Governance Group her Department recommended to the ELO refusing that licence. (86519)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office received 7,381 standard individual export licence applications in 2005. It is not possible to give a further breakdown of departmental assessment of applications since this information is not recorded. All applications are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria, including against criterion 2, which deals with human rights concerns. Should there be a clear risk that the equipment on the application is a risk to human rights in the recipient country, the licence will not be issued. Human Rights, Democracy and Governance Group are asked to advise on applications where specific human rights concerns arise. Ministerial decisions are sought for finely balanced cases.

Extradition Treaties

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which countries the UK has extradition treaties; how many people were extradited (a) to each country from the UK and (b) to the UK from each country in the latest year for which figures are available. (83822)

I have been asked to reply.

The Extradition Act 2003 divides the UK's extradition partners into two categories. Part 1 territories are those EU member states who, like the UK, operate the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) procedure. These are:

Austria; Belgium; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; the Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; and Sweden

Part 2 territories include those Members of the Council of Europe who are not in the EU and are party to the European Convention on Extradition; Commonwealth territories; and bilateral extradition treaty partners, such as the United States. These are:

Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Armenia; Argentina; Australia; Azerbaijan; The Bahamas; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belize; Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei; Bulgaria; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Cook Islands; Croatia; Cuba; Dominica; Ecuador; El Salvador; Fiji; The Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Haiti; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region *; Iceland; India; Iraq; Israel; Jamaica; Kenya; Kiribati; Lesotho; Liberia; Liechtenstein; the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mauritius; Mexico; Moldova; Monaco; Nauru; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Norway; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Romania; Russian Federation; Saint Christopher and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; San Marino; Serbia and Montenegro; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Solomon Islands; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Swaziland; Switzerland; Tanzania; Thailand; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Turkey; Tuvalu; Uganda; Ukraine; United States of America; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Western Samoa; Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In 2005, under the EAW procedure, the UK extradited 77 people to other EU member states and had 66 people returned to this country. Under part 2 of the 2003 Act, the UK extradited 62 people last year and had 11 people returned to this country.

This information is shown in the following table:

UK extradition statistics for 2005

Part 1

Country

Surrendered by UK

Returned to UK

Austria

0

0

Belgium

8

1

Cyprus

0

1

Czech Republic

0

0

Denmark

3

0

Estonia

0

0

Finland

2

0

France

4

7

Germany

8

6

Greece

0

4

Hungary

0

0

Ireland

11

4

Italy

0

1

Latvia

0

1

Lithuania

27

0

Luxembourg

0

0

Malta

0

0

Netherlands

3

10

Poland

4

0

Portugal

3

1

Slovakia

0

0

Slovenia

0

0

Spain

3

29

Sweden

1

1

Part 2

Country

Surrendered by UK

Returned to UK

Albania

1

0

Australia

2

0

Canada

2

1

Cayman Islands

0

1

Croatia

1

0

Czech

4

1

Republic1

Estonia1

1

0

France1

6

0

Germany1

7

1

Grenada

1

0

Hungary1

1

0

Italy1

5

0

Jamaica

0

2

Lithuania1

3

0

Monaco

1

0

Norway

1

1

Poland1

1

0

Portugal1

1

0

Romania

2

0

Serbia & Montenegro

0

1

Slovakia1

2

0

South Africa

1

0

Spain1

3

2

Switzerland

1

0

Turkey

1

0

USA

14

1

1 Indicates an EU member state where all or some of the extradition requests were made/received before the date the State began operating the Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant.

Human Cloning

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2006, Official Report, columns 1519-20W, on human cloning, if she will place in the Library copies of the instructions sent to the UK delegation; if she will list the (a) Departments, (b) organisations and (c) individuals (i) she consulted and who (ii) made representations to her Department; if she will place in the Library copies of any representations received; and if she will make a statement. (86126)

As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member on 10 July 2006, Official Report, columns 1519-20W, the instructions sent to the UK delegation covered a range of options for possible votes on different draft resolutions or motions. Publication of instructions to Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) posts could be damaging to our international relations. It would not therefore be appropriate to place a copy in the Library of the House. The FCO consulted the Department of Health, which takes the lead on the issue, the Office of Science and Technology, as it then was, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Medical Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Royal Society. We lobbied other governments in capitals and in New York and received a range of views in response. These discussions were held in confidence. We do not have copies of oral representations received from others. The chief executive of the British Bioindustry Association wrote to my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary on 12 October 2004, strongly supporting the UK position. Copies of this letter and my right hon. Friend’s reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

The Government’s views were set out in New York on several occasions, including in statements by the UK Permanent Representative to the UN General Assembly in October 2004 and March 2005. Copies of these statements will also be placed in the Library of the House. I will also send the hon. Member copies of the letters and statements to be placed in the Library of the House.

Israel (F16 Military Aircraft)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations (a) she and (b) her officials have undertaken into the use of F16 Israeli military aircraft during airstrikes into (i) Gaza since the start of May 2006 and (ii) Lebanon since 12 July 2006; and what the results of those investigations have been. (86515)

Our embassy in Tel Aviv is monitoring the situation closely. It has confirmed reports that Israel is using F16s in its incursions into Gaza and Lebanon.

Middle East

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received from the EU Commissioner for External Relations regarding the outcome of her recent visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories; and if she will make a statement. (81730)

I have had no specific discussions with EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner regarding the outcome of her visit, but we have remained in close contact with the European Commission on a number of issues relating to her visit, such as the temporary international mechanism.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 1003W, on the Middle East, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of existing security arrangements in the Gulf; and if she will make a statement. (84141)

Security of the Gulf is vital to our interests. We support a number of initiatives in the region, such as the International Institute of Strategic Studies' regional “Gulf Dialogue”. Cabinet level delegations have attended the two conferences in Bahrain in 2004 and 2005. If any initiative is to be successful, leadership must come from the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations she is undertaking to ascertain whether military equipment or components supplied directly or indirectly from the UK are being used by Israel in the military action it has been taking inside Lebanon since 12 July. (86592)

In common with all of our diplomatic posts, our Embassy in Tel Aviv monitors local developments closely and notes any information which comes to light that military equipment supplied by the UK has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. The Government will take this into consideration when assessing any future export licence applications. The Government may also revoke relevant licence(s) and ask the authorities in the country concerned to investigate.

All export licence applications from the UK are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria, taking full account of the prevailing circumstances at the time of application.

Nomenclature

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her Department’s policy is on changes in nomenclature of foreign place names in official documents following linguistic revisions by foreign governments, with particular reference to (a) India, (b) Burma and (c) China; and if she will make a statement. (84234)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) consults the Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (PCGN) on issues concerning foreign geographical names. The PCGN is an interdepartmental body, whose principal function is to advise the Government on policies and procedures for the proper writing of geographical names for places and features outside the United Kingdom, excluding those of the Antarctic. The final decision on the appropriate name to use, however, rests with the lead section on geographical names within the FCO.

The policy for the application of geographical names is to follow the practice of the supreme administering authority of the country concerned. It is the FCO’s policy to recognise changes of geographical name where these fall within the sovereign competence of a particular foreign government. For example, in India the name change from Madras to Chennai has been made according to due processes within the Government of India and requires appropriate acknowledgement within the FCO. The name Madras would therefore now be considered a former name for this city, in the same way that Salisbury is a former name for Harare.

However, there will be a number of occasions where a geographical name within the sovereign competence of a particular foreign government is already known in a traditional form in the English language and it would not be unusual for this form to be used within the FCO for ease of recognition. For example, the Burmese geographical name Yangon has long been known in the English language as Rangoon, and that form continues to be acceptable today. However, the use of English-language terms can also alter over time. This could be considered to have occurred in the case of Beijing, where the name Peking is today rarely encountered as the English-language name.

North Korea

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her assessment is of the effectiveness of efforts to limit the illicit flow of nuclear material to North Korea; and if she will make a statement. (81729)

We are not aware of any flow of illicit nuclear material. North Korea's graphite-moderated reactor at Yongbyon has been fuelled using indigenously produced natural uranium fuel.

Pakistani scientist Dr. A. Q. Khan has admitted to having supplied uranium enrichment technology to North Korea, although North Korea denies having a uranium enrichment programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the potential for proliferation of (a) nuclear weapons material and technology and (b) missile technology from North Korea to state or non-state actors. (81731)

North Korea's willingness to supply to others ballistic missile systems and technology is well established. Given the complexity of ballistic missiles and the necessary support systems, we believe it is extremely unlikely any non-state actor would seek to procure them.

While North Korea might be willing in principle to supply nuclear weapons material and technology to others, we do not currently assess this to be a significant risk. We and our allies, however, are monitoring continuously for any indication North Korea might be considering such a transfer.

Pastor Zhang Rongliang

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she intervened in the case of Pastor Zhang Rongliang, sentenced to imprisonment in China. (85128)

The Government are very concerned about human rights abuses in China. We have raised the case of Pastor Zhang Rongliang with the Chinese Government on a number of occasions, including at the last round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 3 July. The Chinese Government gave no new information about Pastor Zhang and we have received no official confirmation of recent reports of his sentencing. We will continue to raise our concerns about the harassment and imprisonment of religious practitioners in China and to closely monitor Pastor Zhang’s case.

Public Appointments

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many public appointments are within her patronage; what (a) salary and (b) other emoluments are attached to each; and what the comparable figures were in (i) 1976, (ii) 1986 and (iii) 1996. (83180)

Details of the public appointments to public bodies sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) can be found in “Public Bodies”, copies of which are in the Library of the House or at the following website:

www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies “Public Bodies” has been published annually since 1980 and the most recent edition provides figures for 2005. Each edition of “Public Bodies” contains details on the number of public appointments and remuneration details for that particular year. Comparable information for 1976 in respect of the FCO could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

A summary of the FCO’s latest information on public appointments to public bodies is as follows:

Diplomatic Service Appeal Board

Chair: Vacant

Remuneration: £0

Deputy Chair: Diana Ratzer

Remuneration: £0

Notes:

Remuneration is only paid when the Board meets. The Board last sat in 2004.

The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine

Chair: Sir David Wright

Remuneration: £0

Secretary: Robert Alexander

Remuneration: £0 Civil Servant

Notes:

None

Wilton Park Academic Council

Chair: Dr Farhan Nizami

Remuneration: £0

Secretary: Jane Rawbone

Remuneration: £0 Civil Servant

Notes: The Wilton Park Academic Council (WPAC) oversee the conference themes and academic independence of Wilton Park Conferences, an Executive Agency of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Wilton Park is responsible for organising WPAC meetings and members are unremunerated.

British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

Chair: The right hon. Lord Radice

Remuneration: £0

Director: Nicholas Jarrold

Remuneration: £48,000 per annum

Notes: The Chair is appointed by the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe with the approval of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

The British Council

Chair: Lord Kinnock

Remuneration: £0

Chief Executive: Sir David Green

Remuneration: £149,576

Notes:

None

Great Britain-China Centre (The)

Chair: Peter Batey, OBE

Remuneration: £0

Notes:

The Chair is elected by the Executive Committee, with the approval of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. All new members of the Executive Committee are elected by the Executive Committee.

Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

Chair: Jonathan Taylor

Remuneration: £0

Executive Secretary: Dr John Kirkland

Remuneration: £0

Notes:

None

Westminster Foundation for Democracy (The)

Chair: Hugh Bayley, MP

Remuneration: £0

Chief Executive: David French

Remuneration: £99,066 per annum

Notes:

Government funding is by FCO Grant in Aid. Other expenditure is from special purpose grants.

BBC World Service (Including BBC Monitoring) (BBCWS)

Director BBCWS: Nigel Chapman

Remuneration: £228,000 per annum

Chairman:

Remuneration: £0

Notes:

Chair, Deputy and members are the same as those for the BBC, and are listed only under that body (Department for Culture, Media and Sport Public Corporation) to avoid double-counting. The total gross expenditure figure shown above is gross expenditure from WS accounts plus BBCM accounts.

Foreign Compensation Commission

Chairman (part-time): Dr John Barker

Remuneration: Fee-paid on a daily basis. Budget allocation is £20,000 per annum

Secretary and Chief Examiner (part-time): Barrie England

Remuneration: £11,200 per annum

Notes:

None.

Ad Hoc Advisory Groups

All of the information that follows refers to Boards chaired by Officials or Ministers:

Caribbean Board

Chair: Colleen Harris and Pat Ramsey/Marilla Logan (job-share)

Notes:

The Caribbean Board provides advice and runs projects.

Consular Strategy Board

Chair: Rob Macaire, Director of Consular Services

Notes:

The aim and remit of the Board is to develop the Consular Strategy: In partnership, to investigate and debate the key challenges identified in that Strategy and the National Audit Office report on Consular Services, and to help Consular Directorate identify emerging trends and advise on potential difficulties of any proposed policies.

Public Diplomacy Strategy Board

Chair:

Notes:

This group ceased operation on 30 January 2006 following Lord Carter's review of Public Diplomacy and was replaced by new Public Diplomacy Board, with the same status but different membership (see below).

Public Diplomacy Board

Chair: Lord Triesman

Notes:

The aim of the Public Diplomacy Board is to improve public diplomacy effectiveness by:

Setting the strategic direction of UK public diplomacy;

Monitoring and evaluating the outcomes;

Making recommendations on resource allocation.

Travel Advice Review Group

Chair: Rob Macaire, Director of Consular Services

Notes:

The Travel Advice Review Group (TARG) was set up at the request of my right hon. Friend the former Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) following completion of the Review of FCO Travel Advice in 2004. The group comprises mainly the stakeholders to the review, i.e. those from all walks of the travel and tourism industry as well as insurance, airlines, non-governmental organisations, the Confederation of British Industry and travel publications. The purpose of the TARG is to discuss issues relating to FCO travel advice that are of common interest.

UK India Round Table

Chair: Right hon. Lord Barnes CH

Notes:

Members of the UK India Round Table are invited by my right hon. friend the Foreign Secretary to become members. Current members are:

Sir Tim Lankester

Bryan K. Sanderson CBE

Professor Dame Sandra Dawson DBE

Sir Mark Tully

Ms Patience Wheatcroft

Karan F. Bilimoria CBE DL

Richard Lambert

Dr Tidu Maini BSc ACGI DIG PhD

Nick Pearce

Jon Snow

Malcolm Chalmers

Members receive no remuneration apart from expenses.

Sudan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role her Department has played in engaging the international community to provide additional support to the African Union force in Darfur; what progress has been made; and what contribution the UK has made to the provision of such support. (84213)

The UK has played a leading role in supporting the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). We have committed £20 million for this financial year, bringing our total contribution to AMIS since its inception to £52 million. The money has provided vehicles, logistical support and other practical assistance.

We are also playing a leading role in efforts to secure further support for AMIS. We regularly lobby our EU and other international partners to provide additional assistance. The US, the EU and certain other donors have already made substantial contributions. We expect further pledges to be made at the forthcoming AMIS Donors Conference in Brussels on 18 July.

Treaties

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by how many international treaties the United Kingdom is bound; and if she will make a statement. (85390)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) treaty records, which began in 1835, list 6,826 bilateral and multilateral treaties to which the United Kingdom became party and which entered into force for the United Kingdom. The authoritative “Index of British Treaties”, published by HM Stationery Office in 1970, contains 1,498 such treaties for the period 1101 to 1835, thus giving a total of 8,324 treaties to-date.

This figure relates to treaties that have not been expressly terminated or otherwise recorded as no longer in force for the United Kingdom. FCO treaty records are held in electronic format and comprise both modern elements and information derived from 19th century records. The number of treaties stated above is the most accurate figure possible based on the finding-aids available.

UN Conference on Small Arms

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of why it was not possible to get an agreement on stricter controls at the UN Conference on Small Arms; what opportunities there are for revisiting this issue; and if she will make a statement. (86517)

It was very disappointing that the UN Small Arms Review Conference failed to agree an outcome document, particularly as the UK had succeeded in agreeing a consensus text on the need for work at the national, regional and global levels to strengthen transfer controls. Fortunately, as the achievement of a consensus text indicates, all countries now recognise the need to address the issue of transfer controls within the UN Programme of Action. Over 100 states at the Review Conference expressed support for strengthening transfer controls. The UK will continue to work with all states to build support for agreement on common guidelines for small arms and light weapons transfers, building on the progress made at regional level in the past three years under the UK’s Transfer Controls Initiative. The UK is also keen to work with Canada on its proposal for an informal meeting of states in 2007 focused on transfer controls.

Defence

BL755 Cluster Munition

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of (a) the failure rate of the BL755 cluster munition and (b) its reliability for use in combat situations; (83981)

(2) by what method his Department assesses BL755 failure rates; and if he will make a statement;

(3) whether the classified reports which support the Department's assessment of the failure rate for the BL755 cluster munition contain evidence derived from combat use;

(4) whether an assessment has been made of the failure rate for the BL755 cluster munition based solely on evidence from combat use.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 March 2006, Official Report, column 2515W, to my hon. Friend for Stroud (Mr. Drew).

Information on the failure rate of the BL755 cluster bomb used by the RAF is collected during regular in-service surveillance trials. These trials are carried out by the Design Organisation (Lockheed Martin UK Insys Ltd.) on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

The results of these trials are used to confirm the reliability of the BL755 cluster bomb for operational use. Some analysis of the accuracy and performance of BL755 cluster bombs used during operations has been undertaken; however, the reliability of individual weapons was not specifically addressed as part of this analysis.

Efficiency Savings

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force, (c) Army and (d) Defence Procurement Agency will meet the 2.5 per cent. reductions as part of the Ministry of Defence’s 2.5 per cent. departmental efficiency savings. (87042)

The Ministry of Defence’s 2.5 per cent. efficiency savings target equates to a total of £2.8 billion of annual efficiency gains across the department by the end of the three-year Spending Review 2004 period. A breakdown of how the MOD intends to achieve this target can be found in the MOD efficiency technical note, which is published on the Department’s website at www.mod.uk.

Gulf War Illnesses

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) former and (b) serving British soldiers have been diagnosed with Gulf war-related illnesses. (85951)

Information on all the illnesses reported by veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict while still serving is not held centrally, as the Ministry of Defence does not hold records of all medical conditions reported after an individual has left the services. The NHS is responsible for the health care of ex-service personnel but information on diagnoses does not differentiate Gulf veterans. For those Gulf veterans still serving, Defence Medical Services are responsible for providing treatment for all medical conditions. We do not, however, hold diagnostic information specific to the operations on which personnel were deployed.

Helicopters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) medium and (b) heavy lift helicopters are in service with the (i) Royal Air Force and (ii) Army, broken down by make. (85793)

[holding answer 17 July 2006]: The numbers of medium and heavy lift helicopters, in service in the Forward Fleet as at May 2006, broken down by type, are given in the following table:

Medium Lift

Type

Number in service

Puma HC1

26

Sea King Mk 3/3a

17

Merlin Mk 3

14

Heavy Lift

Type

Number in service

Chinook Mk2/2a

28

All medium and heavy lift helicopters in service in the Forward Fleet are owned by the Joint Helicopter Command. There are no medium and heavy lift helicopters operated by the Army. In addition to the figures shown in the table, the Royal Navy operate 30 Sea King Mk 4 medium lift helicopters.

Iraq

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which occasions Ministers in his Department have (a) met the bereaved families of British soldiers killed in Iraq and (b) visited in hospital British soldiers wounded in Iraq. (86416)

Defence Ministers frequently visit members of the armed forces injured in Iraq. Since February, Defence Ministers have visited injured personnel on the following occasions:

Secretary of State:

Visited the Field Hospital at Shaibah Logistics Base in Iraq on 17 May 2005

Visited the Field Hospital at Shaibah Logistics Base in Iraq on 2 December 2005

Visited Headley Court and Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 20 January 2006

Visited the Field Hospital at Shaibah Logistics Base in Iraq on 18 March 2006

Visited the Field Hospital at Shaibah Logistics Base in Iraq on 18 May 2006

Minister for the Armed Forces:

Visited the Field Hospital at Shaibah Logistics Base in Iraq on 6-9 March 2005

Visited Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 14 June 2005

Visited 7th Armoured Brigade in Germany on 8-9 May 2006

Visited Headley Court on 10 July 2006

Minister for Defence Procurement:

Visited the Field Hospital at Shaibah Logistics Base in Iraq on 7 July 2005

Visited Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 18 November 2005

Under Secretary of State:

Visited Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 21 February 2005

Visited Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 8 September 2005

Visited Royal College of Defence Medicine at Selly Oak on 16 June 2006

For details of visits prior to those above, I refer the hon. Member to an answer given by my predecessor, the then Secretary of State for Defence, on 2 February 2005, Official Report, column 899W, to the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart).

Relatives of personnel killed in Iraq have also met the Defence Secretary at a repatriation ceremony at RAF Lyneham on 8 February 2005 and at a Remembrance Service at Salisbury Cathedral on 20 May 2005. The Minister for the Armed Forces attended a repatriation ceremony on 18 May 2006 at RAF Brize Norton.

In addition to the specific visits identified above, Ministers have on numerous occasions visited personnel in Iraq and in the UK once they have returned from operational duty. On some of these occasions, Ministers will have met with personnel and their families. As it was not the main focus of these visits, the exact details have not been recorded.

Military Equipment

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the level of stocks of surplus clothing held by each of the armed forces was in each of the last five years. (85775)

The armed forces hold sufficient stocks of clothing to meet their requirements as determined by Defence Planning Assumptions. Any surplus clothing (e.g. due to a change in the requirement) is disposed of through the Disposals Services Agency. Information on surplus clothing stock levels is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Armoured Vehicles

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will reconsider the purchase of the armoured Pinzgauer vehicles on order for troops in Afghanistan; (82515)

(2) what the performance specifications are of the new patrol vehicle Vector; what type of vehicle it is; and how its armour protection compares with the (a) Snatch Land Rover and (b) RG-31;

(3) what assessment he has made of the level of protection afforded to troops by the (a) RG-31 vehicle and (b) Snatch Land Rover.

Vector is the name of the programme to buy a new, Pinzgauer based, protected patrol vehicle to supplement the current Land Rover Snatch vehicle. The programme is on contract for delivery of vehicles in 2007. The key performance requirements for Vector are improved mobility, payload and capacity compared to Snatch. We do not comment on levels of armour protection, as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the security of our armed forces.

Nuclear Test Veterans

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with representatives from (a) the USA, (b) Canada, (c) Australia and (d) New Zealand on nuclear test veterans and sharing of best practice. (86144)

I have had no discussions with these countries on nuclear test veterans and sharing of best practice. MOD officials maintain contact with these countries on a wide range of veterans’ issues, mainly under the auspices of the Senior International Forum. We are of course aware of the recent Australian and New Zealand Reports on the health of nuclear test veterans. We are studying these carefully and have been in touch with officials from both countries with respect to their findings.

Operation Mountain Thrust

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) NATO commanders and officials and (b) British (i) commanders and officials and (ii) Ministers were consulted by (A) US commanders and (B) the US Administration before Operation Mountain Thrust in Afghanistan. (82854)

[holding answer 6 July 2006]: I can confirm that NATO/UK commanders and officials, and British Ministers, discussed Operation Mountain Thrust with US commanders and the US Administration.

Veterans

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the possible barriers that veterans face when attempting to access (a) housing and (b) employment on leaving the armed forces. (84858)

We are working closely with the Department for Committees and Local Government to enable service personnel to qualify under the “local connection” provisions of the Housing Act 1996, in order to overcome the barriers common to both servicemen and their civilian counterparts in access to affordable or social housing. The Joint Service Housing Advice Office offers advice and information about mortgages and affordable home ownership solutions including shared equity schemes. For those single personnel in danger of homelessness, it can facilitate access to temporary accommodation.

The success of Service leavers who use the career transition partnership as part of their resettlement preparation in securing employment after discharge—over 50 per cent. within one month of discharge, rising to over 95 per cent. six months after departure—suggests that there are few barriers to employment of most service personnel. Coaching provided by the Partnership often gives service leavers a competitive edge over other candidates and many of the personal attributes inherent in service culture are highly prized by civilian employers.

The Career Transition Partnership has an effective marketing arm that carefully targets prospective employers who can offer quality jobs to service leavers. Its marketing strategy includes dispelling negative misconceptions about service personnel and their ability to adapt to the civilian workplace. Employers who engage service leavers are seldom disappointed and tend to seek more when vacancies arise.

Individuals who depart under early service leaver arrangements may face more of a challenge. Those that discharge from recruit and basic professional training establishments before completing courses of instruction are unlikely to have gained the transferable competencies and professional qualifications of those service personnel who have entered productive military service. They therefore are more likely to have to contend with the same barriers to employment as confront civilians with a comparable lack of marketable skills. However, on discharge all ex-regular military personnel, regardless of age, have immediate access to the Department of Work and Pensions new deal, which includes occupational and basic skills training.

Health

Acute Hospital Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has accepted the recommendations of the 2002 Royal College of Physicians working party on isolated acute medical services. (85594)

[holding answer 14 July 2006]: At the time of publication, the Government noted this report, which was based on a survey conducted in spring 2001 and made a valuable contribution to the development of best practice in this area.

Advertising Campaigns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advertising campaigns her Department has run since July 2004; and what the (a) date and (b) cost was of each. (81924)

The table sets out the advertising campaigns commissioned by the Department’s communications directorate since July 2004, showing the date and cost.

2004-05

Campaign

Date

Advertising cost (£ million)

Drugs (joint campaign with the Home Office)

July, December 2004 February, March 2005

0.99

Flu

October, November 2004

1.50

NHS including nurse recruitment

September 2004 February 2005

5.84

Sexual health

January, February 2004

1.26

Social care/worker recruitment

January, March 2005

2.14

Smoking testimonial campaign

July to September, November 2004

7.90

Emotional consequences and local NHS Stop Smoking

January to March 2005

8.75

Second hand smoke - children

Motivations that matter - young adults (smoking)

Second hand smoke - adults

Local NHS stop smoking

Testimonials and local NHS Stop Smoking

Winter (Get the right treatment)

November 2004

0.59

E111

April 2004 until March 2005

0.32

2005-06

Campaign

Date

Advertising cost (£ million)

Drugs (joint campaign with the Home Office)

October, December 2005 February, March 2006

1.70

Flu

October, November 2005

1.85

NHS including nurse recruitment

September 2005

0.24

Sexual health

0.00

Social care/worker recruitment

February, March 2006

2.44

Smoking testimonial campaign

December 2005

0.56

Emotional consequences and local NHS Stop Smoking

Second hand smoke - children

May to June 2005

4.90

Motivations that matter - young adults (smoking)

July to August 2005

4.32

Second hand smoke - adults

September to October 2005

4.25

Local NHS stop smoking

September to November 2005

0.79

Testimonials and local NHS Stop Smoking

February to March 2006

5.53

Winter (Get the right treatment)

October, November 2005

0.59

E111

May 2005 to March 2006

1.37

Alliance Medical

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress in reviewing the scans carried out by Alliance Medical. (85465)

Scan quality is independently audited every six months by the clinical guardian of the contract, Professor Adrian Dixon, national health service sponsors and Alliance Medical Ltd.’s head of clinical governance. In addition, two audits have been produced by the Royal College of Radiologists in conjunction with the Department. The audits are available at the Royal College of Radiologists website at:

www.rcr.ac.uk/docs/radiology/pdf/MR_CG_Audit_Apri!2006.pdf

and at:

www.rcr.ac.uk/docs/newsroom/pdf/MRI_AUDIT_REPORT_FINAL_17505.pdf

The second audit, which was published in April 2006, again found that there was little overall difference in the clinical opinion between independent service provider (Alliance Medical Ltd.) and the NHS reports and, that there was little overall difference in the technical quality of the magnetic resonance examinations between the two services overall.

Quality is monitored consistently throughout the contract as an integral part of the clinical governance framework. Any discrepancies or concerns are audited on a case by case basis by the clinical guardian of the contract.

Alzheimer's Disease

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the likely effect on costs to (a) local authority social services and (b) the NHS of caring for patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s proposal to restrict treatment for such patients. (86973)

No such estimate has been made. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisal of these drugs has not yet concluded. Until NICE issues revised guidance to the national health service, its original guidance issued in 2001 continues to apply.

Social Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that voluntary, private and public providers of care receive the same levels of fee and remuneration for publicly-funded care places. (85864)

The principles for contracting for care services set out in “Building Capacity and Partnerships in Care” include fairness to all service providers and the encouragement of fair competition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people employed in the care of elderly and vulnerable people in West Lancashire have subsequently been found to have criminal records and to be unsuitable for such employment; and what steps she has taken to remedy this situation; (83460)

(2) what steps her Department takes to ensure that private companies providing care in West Lancashire for (a) the elderly and (b) vulnerable adults ensure that all their employees are checked by the Criminal Records Bureau before commencing employment.

I understand from the Criminal Records Bureau that figures for people with criminal records found to be unsuitable for employment in the care of elderly and vulnerable people specifically in West Lancashire are not available.

The Criminal Records Bureau estimates that in 2005 some 25,000 unsuitable people were prevented from working with children and vulnerable adults as a direct result of Criminal Record Bureau checks.

All care homes, domiciliary care agencies, adult placements schemes and nurses agencies in England are regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), which is the independent regulator for social care. The CSCI is responsible for registering and inspecting the regulated social care sector in accordance with statutory regulations and national minimum standards to ensure consistency and improve the quality of life and level of protection for the most vulnerable people in society.

Regulated social care providers are required to conduct rigorous pre-employment checks on prospective staff including obtaining a Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure. Since 26 July 2004, there has also been a requirement for prospective employees in these areas to be checked against the protection of vulnerable adults list before starting work.

The CSCI takes appropriate enforcement action where there is a breach of the regulations.

Information about the reasons for enforcement action by the CSCI is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to ensure that people who have (i) multiple sclerosis and (ii) other long-term and fluctuating conditions receive access to social care at an early stage in the progression of their condition. (86235)

The national service framework for long-term conditions, published in March 2005, has as a key quality requirement the need to ensure people living with long-term conditions are offered a timely integrated assessment of their individual health and social care needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of the uniformity of access to social care in different parts of the country. (86238)

The Department has not made any recent assessment of the uniformity of access to social care in different parts of the country. Fair access to care services (FACS) is designed to deliver uniformity of access within council areas, not between councils. Decisions about eligibility for services are made by individual councils in response to local need and according to criteria set out in the FACS guidance “Fair Access to Care Services Guidance on Eligibility Criteria for Adult Social Care”. The guidance is contained in local authority circular (2002)13 and available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/01/96/41/04019641.pdf

A copy has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will increase the amount spent on equipment used by social care workers to care for individuals with (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) other conditions resulting in mobility problems. (86239)

It is for primary care trusts and councils to decide, locally, how best to allocate resources and provide appropriate mobility equipment for their population.

Central Budget Review