To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for UK aviation security policy differing from that aviation security policy recommended by the EU; and if she will make a statement. (155137)

The UK is required to implement the measures mandated in European aviation security legislation, which also acknowledges member states' freedom to set more stringent requirements where they judge this to be warranted. The UK aviation security regime reflects the Government's assessment of the measures appropriate in this country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been appointed to her Department outside civil service grades in the last 30 days. (153214)

In the period 27 June to 26 July, the Department for Transport appointed one non-executive director, who does not have a civil service grade, in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

In addition, the Department publishes information annually on appointments for which it is responsible in its annual report. The 2007 annual report was published in May 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Gateway reviews were undertaken by her Department in each of the last five years. (155153)

The Department for Transport was formed in the summer of 2002. Information on DFT projects is only held from that point in time.

The Department for Transport can confirm that the following number of Gateway Reviews have been carried out since summer 2002:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the Highways Agency's regional directorates over-spent on their budgets in each of the last five years. (154925)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The agency's two major spending directorates, Traffic Operations and Major Projects, include several regional-based operating units. The numbers of units have changed as the agency has developed. The following table summarises the position:

Similar performance data are not available for 2002-03 and 2003-04.

Budgets are set prior to the beginning of each financial year and are not adjusted in year. The agency actively manages the budget by reallocating resources where necessary to deal with new pressures and changing priorities to ensure that the overall budget is fully utilised. Hence there are managed over and under-spends against budget at lower levels. In each of the three years in the previous table the agency has utilised over 99 per cent. of its overall budget, with no overall overspends:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on each of the 21 projects listed currently as on hold on the Highways Agency website. (154926)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The 21 projects listed as “on hold” on the Highways Agency website comprise eight major schemes which were being prepared to enter the Government's national roads programme and 13 route management strategies.

The major schemes and their respective expenditure are as follows:

Following the regional funding allocations (RFA) announcement in July 2006, the above schemes were not prioritised for funding by the relevant regions.

The remaining 13 listed as on hold are studies known as route management strategies (RMSs). The strategies were intended to develop route based plans for future investment in the maintenance, operation and improvement of the network. With the growing emphasis on regional planning, transport decisions are linked to regional objectives and priorities. In response to this the Highways Agency is developing its forward planning on a regional basis through the recent publication of the regional network reports (RNRs) available on the Highway Agency website. A total of £301,712 has been spent on RMSs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many recorded accidents there were on the A264 between Lington Green and Rusthall in each of the last 10 years. (155197)

The number of reported personal injury road accidents on the A264 between Langton Green (at the junction with The Green) and Rusthall (at the junction with Rusthall Road) are given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations he has received from teaching unions on his Department’s academies programme; and if he will make a statement. (155251)

The Secretary of State has received a number of representations from the teaching unions on a range of subjects including the academies programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research he has commissioned into the impact of assessments and testing on children’s future engagement with education. (155166)

The Department for Education and Skills part-funded a review by the EPPI-Centre on the impact of summative assessment and testing on students’ motivation for learning. The review’s report was published in 2002 and can be accessed at www.eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms/

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to his answer of 2 August 2007 to question 152922, on City Academies, when officials from his Department first discussed with Essex local education authority the possibility of establishing city academies in (a) Essex and (b) Colchester. (155301)

Officials first met with officers from Essex county council on 18 March 2005 to discuss the vision of establishing an academy within Essex. The first meeting to discuss an academy in Colchester was on 5 January 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of (a) beef, (b) sheep meat, (c) pork and (d) dairy products used in his Department in the most recent period for which figures are available were imported products. (150798)

For the period 1 January to 30 June 2007 the percentage of imported beef, sheep meat, pork and dairy products used within DCSF Headquarters buildings was 84 per cent. of beef, 93 per cent. of lamb, 76 per cent. of pork and 7 per cent. of dairy products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of staff formerly employed by the Department for Education and Skills are now employed by his Department. (153471)

84 per cent. of staff in the former Department for Education and Skills are now employed by my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students in Tamworth claimed education allowance in each year since it was introduced, broken down by ward of residence. (148792)

This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold the information about take-up and payments under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the Council’s Chief Executive, has written to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 20 July 2007:

I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question 148792 that asked; “How many students in Tamworth claimed education allowance in each year since it was introduced, broken down by ward of residence.”

Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received education maintenance allowance (EMA) is available at local authority level, but not at ward level. EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.

EMA take-up for Staffordshire local authority area during each academic year since inception is as follows:

2004/05—3,632

2005/06—6,393

2006/07—7,803 (to end of June)

EMA Take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05,2005/06 and to date in 2006/07 is now also available on the LSC website, at the following address:

http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/learner/EMA_take_up.htm

I hope you find this information useful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what evaluation he has made of the policies of schools on entering students to GCSE examinations other than English and Mathematics. (155331)

Schools take decisions on GCSE entries based on the individual circumstances of pupils, in discussion with them and parents as appropriate. Schools need to ensure that each pupil’s ability is properly assessed and recognised in the areas of the Key Stage 4 curriculum that they have chosen, or are obliged, to study. This summer’s results show that the number of GGSE entries overall continues to increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research he has commissioned into the effectiveness of (a) state pre-school education and (b) privately funded pre-school provision in raising pupil attainment in the short and long term. (155167)

To assess the benefits of funded early education, delivered in a wide range of maintained and private, voluntary and independent settings, my Department commissioned the Effective Pre-school and Primary Education 3-11 (EPPE 3-11) study. This study, which began in 1997, followed 3,000 children from the age of three to the end of Key Stage 2 (at age 11) and will continue to do so until the end of Key Stage 3 at age 14. So far, the study has demonstrated that children who attend pre-school are better prepared for school, have better cognitive and social development at age six and seven (Key Stage 1), with benefits strongest for those who attended high quality pre-school for a longer duration. It has also shown high quality pre-school experience continues to have a positive impact on children’s all round development at age 10.

The EPPE study has also shown it is the quality, rather than ownership of pre-school provision that is most important for improving children’s attainment and that while good quality provision is found across all sectors the maintained sector provides the highest quality provision overall. We want to see quality improve across all types of pre-school provision, and we have reflected this aim in draft statutory guidance to local authorities on the duty in the Childcare Act 2006 to improve outcomes for all children and reduce inequalities between them. The guidance requires local authorities actively to engage with the Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) sector to improve quality. We have also provided dedicated resource (through the Transformation Fund between 2006-08 and the Graduate Leader Fund from 2008-09) to support the development of graduate leadership in the PVI sector, focusing on full day care settings.

Finally, my Department has also commissioned a number of evaluation studies that will continue to explore the relationship between different types of pre-school provision and child development outcomes including the National Evaluation of Sure Start, a study of child care quality experienced by children in the Millennium Cohort Study, and an evaluation of free child care provision for disadvantaged two-year-olds. Findings from these studies will be published by the Department later in 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of state primary schools in England offer teaching in a modern foreign language other than French. (155252)

There are no national data available on the total number of primary schools offering modern foreign languages. However, in the autumn term of 2006, the National Foundation for Educational Research carried out research on the Department’s behalf, based on a nationally representative sample of 8,000 primary schools in England. The response rate was 48 per cent. The results showed that 81 per cent. of schools were providing primary languages within class time. As it was recognised that schools already delivering primary languages might be more likely to respond, data were collected from all schools within a representative sub-sample of 500 schools from the original 8,000 primary schools. The results showed that 70 per cent. of schools in this sub-sample were providing primary languages within class time.

Figures for which languages were provided are available only for the larger sample. Of the 3,336 schools in the survey that were teaching primary languages in class time, 91 per cent. of these schools offered French. Other languages were offered by the following proportions of schools in this sample. Percentages do not add up to 100 per cent. as some schools offer two or more languages:

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to address school uniform shop monopolies, including shops run by (a) schools and (b) external enterprises. (155171)

The Office of Fair Trading have indicated that schools or retailers that have expensive exclusive contracts with suppliers may, in principle, be subject to enforcement action under Chapter 1 of the Competition Act 1998, on the grounds that these exclusive agreements restrict competition between retailers to supply uniform.

The Schools Admissions Code will also tackle covert selection methods by ensuring that other school policies (such as the uniform policy) do not discourage parents from applying to the school of their choice.

The Department plans to publish updated guidance on school uniforms and related policies next month. This guidance will provide schools with advice on how to develop fair and reasonable school uniform policies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of teachers of modern foreign languages in state secondary schools have a degree level qualification in the languages they teach. (155254)

The following table provides the number of full-time teachers employed in maintained secondary schools by the highest post A level qualification held in the subjects they teach.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations he has received on teachers’ pay since his appointment; and if he will make a statement. (155136)

Since his appointment my right hon. Friend has received some correspondence relating to teachers’ pay and had meetings with unions and others, in which a variety of issues have been discussed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the savings accrued as a consequence of the Pan-Government Office solutions tender earlier this year; and if he will make a statement. (155232)

I have been asked to reply.

The savings estimated by the Office of Government Commerce for the Pan-Government solutions tender is £100 million spread over the four year period of the contract. The contract commences on 1 October 2007.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes in his Department’s practice have resulted from the signing of the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme. (151272)

Signing up to the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme has enabled the Cabinet Office to identify a more strategic, structured and long term approach to energy management and awareness raising practices. For example, the Cabinet Office has begun a programme of works to install passive infrared lighting controls (PIRs).

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of people employed by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies are disabled. (153599)

The latest available data on the disability status of civil servants in Departments and agencies are as at 30 September 2006 and are published in “Civil Service Statistics 2006” at table P. This document is produced by the Office for National Statistics and can be accessed from the following website addresses.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899&Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=422

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006CivilServiceStatistics.pdf

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many press officers are employed by his Department. (152991)

The Cabinet Office currently employs six press officers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the savings accrued as a consequence of the use of reverse auctions as a procurement mechanism by his Department; and if he will make a statement. (155235)

Reverse auctions have not been used so far as a procurement mechanism in my Department.

Due to the nature of the Cabinet Office’s procurement, the scope for exploiting the benefits of reverse auctions is limited. Where suitable opportunities arise, and the benefits would outweigh the costs, a reverse auction would be employed as the procurement mechanism.

The Cabinet Office makes extensive use of collaborative frameworks set up by other Departments where reverse auctions have been used. This will enable the Department to derive the benefits of savings in future.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the Cabinet Office departmental report 2007 Making Government Work Better cost to design, produce and publish. (155196)

The cost of designing, producing and publishing the Cabinet Office departmental report 2007 in print and on-line was £50,299.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what criteria are used to determine whether to use (a) preferred suppliers or (b) reverse auctions in Government procurement projects; and if he will make a statement. (155231)

I have been asked to reply.

The Government do not have preferred suppliers. The Government's policy is that public procurement decisions are to be based on value for money. Public procurers must also adhere to EU procurement rules, based on principles of non-discrimination, transparency and competitive procurement. Within this legal and policy framework, it is possible to set up framework agreements, with particular suppliers, following an appropriate competitive exercise in line with EU rules.

E-auctions (or reverse auctions) are just one of a number of procedures and techniques available to public procurers under the public procurement rules. It is ultimately for contracting authorities to decide which procurement approach, including the use of e-auctions, is appropriate on a case-by-case basis, taking into account their obligations to deliver the best value for money for the taxpayer.

The Government are determined to improve public procurement as set out in ‘Transforming Government Procurement’, published in January this year. It defines the vision for an improved Government procurement service, has led to the establishment of departmental procurement capability reviews and has led to the introduction of a new major projects review group in the Treasury.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he plans to increase the use of reverse auctions as a procurement mechanism for Government (a) projects and (b) supplies; and if he will make a statement. (155234)

I have been asked to reply.

Government Departments are responsible for choosing the procurement procedures and techniques they consider most appropriate, including electronic (reverse) auctions, taking into account their obligations to achieve value for money for the taxpayer.

Many procurements are subject to the requirements of the EU procurement rules. These include specific requirements for the setting up and running of e-auctions. The Government have put in place a framework agreement to enable public authorities to choose providers to run e-auctions for them, consistent with those rules.

The Government are determined to improve public procurement as set out in ‘Transforming Government Procurement’, published in January this year. It defines the vision for an improved Government procurement service, has led to the establishment of departmental procurement capability reviews and led to the introduction of a new major projects review group in the Treasury.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many nights Ministers have stayed at (a) Chevening, (b) One Carlton Gardens, (c) Hillsborough Castle and (d) Lord Chancellor’s Apartments since 27 June. (152454)

Official residences are assigned to Ministers by the Prime Minister either on grounds of security or in order to allow them to perform better their official duties. The number of nights Ministers stay in official residences is a matter for the individual Minister, the information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will undertake an assessment of the attributes of successful social enterprise models; and if he will make a statement. (151337)

The Government’s Social Enterprise Action Plan, published in November 2006, recognised the need for further research on social enterprises. The Office of the Third Sector is currently engaging with academic organisations, the Social Enterprise Coalition, and other third sector partners to design an appropriate programme of original and useful research which is reflective of the needs of the sector as well as Government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what use will be made of the former Deputy Prime Minister’s offices. (153528)

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 12 July 2007, Official Report, column 1641W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any staff from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office will be made redundant. (153529)

No staff from the former Deputy Prime Minister’s Office have been made redundant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on (a) first class and (b) business class flights in the last 12 months. (153250)

In the past 12 months my Department has spent £4,440 on first class flights and £2,946.50 on business class flights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he and his predecessors sent in each of the last five years. (153445)

Before 2006 the Wales Office systems recorded total correspondence sent, but without details of sender. Information for that period could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

In 2006 I sent 383 letters.

The Wales Office publishes correspondence statistics in its annual report and for the Cabinet Office for the annual report to Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of people employed by his Department are disabled. (153601)

The Wales Office has a few staff with disabilities. For reasons of privacy no details are given, in line with Cabinet Office guidance.

The latest available data on the disability status of civil servants in Departments and agencies are as at 30 September 2006 and are published in “Civil Service Statistics 2006” at table P. This document is produced by the Office for National Statistics and can be accessed from the following website addresses.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899&Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=422

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006CivilServiceStatistics.pdf

Declaration of a disability is voluntary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on flowers in the last 12 months. (153251)

In the last 12 months my Department spent £40 on flowers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to review the appearance and content of the Wales Office website. (153452)

The Wales Office website is now regularly reviewed and was updated in July with the latest information on legislation, including the Government of Wales Act.

A project is under way to review the current site design and functionality and management processes, bearing in mind the stakeholders the Wales Office needs to reach. A new site will be established, contracts willing, before the end of 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have been appointed to his Department outside civil service grades in the last 30 days. (153280)

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press officers are employed by his Department. (153282)

Three.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the name is of each special adviser in his Department. (153281)

The Wales Office special advisers are Dr. Andrew Bold and Mr. Joe Carberry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on newspapers and magazines in the last 12 months. (153248)

The Wales Office does not record expenditure on newspapers and magazines separately from that on other publications, so the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on first class train tickets in the last 12 months. (153249)

The Wales Office expenditure on first class rail tickets for the last 12 months was £72,142.82.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on redundancy payments in the last 12 months. (153243)

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on taxis in the last 12 months. (153252)

In the last 12 months my Department has spent £2,548.87 on taxis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on staff away days in the last 12 months. (153244)

In the last 12 months my Department has spent £15,109.04 on staff away days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on (a) staff training and (b) communication training in the last 12 months. (153245)

Records for training budgets are only kept in financial year.

For 2006-07 my Department spent:

(a) on staff training £13,032.66

(b) on communication training £975.

For 2007-08 the current spend to June is:

(a) on staff training £3,610

(b) communication spending nil.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months. (153246)

Nil.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether a referendum to give primary law-making powers to the National Assembly for Wales would be subject to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. (155211)

Yes. Section 103 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 provides for holding a referendum, subject to the provisions in Schedule 6 to that Act. Schedule 6 describes the procedure for holding such a referendum and sets out the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 which apply to different aspects of the referendum, including the referendum question itself and the process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government on the role of quangos in Wales; and if he will make a statement. (152761)

I have regular discussions with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government on a range of issues.

The merger of quangos into the Welsh Assembly Government in 2006 has streamlined structures and processes, simplified decision making and allowed public services to become more flexible and responsive to the needs of businesses and learners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many projects for which the UK Government are responsible have been built in Wales under the private finance initiative. (151854)

The Wales Office does not hold this information. HM Treasury publish information on their website on all PFI projects at:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_partnerships/ppp_pfi_stats.cfm

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the (a) capability and (b) membership of the Afghan police force and the Afghan armed forces; and if he will make a statement. (155062)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The strength of the Afghan National Army (ANA) on 1 August 2007 was 40,360 against a target figure of 70,000. The reason for this disparity is because the ANA has had to be recruited and trained from an almost non-existent base since 2001. The ANA is a key ally in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) campaign, and is proving itself to be increasingly capable of conducting operations alongside ISAF partners.

The Afghan national police (ANP) is the primary law enforcement body within Afghanistan and receives training and mentoring from international donors, including through the US-led police training programme Combined Strategic Transition Command Afghanistan (CSTC-A) and the EU policing mission. The latest assessment by the CSTC-A estimates that there are around 76,000 members of the ANP drawn from all regions of Afghanistan. Our assessment is that the ANP requires further mentoring in order to be capable of conducting operations independently. Capability in policing functions is supplemented by the specialist skills of the counter narcotics police of Afghanistan, the Afghan border police and the Afghan national civil order police.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what targets have been set for reform of policing in Afghanistan; what progress has been made towards reaching these targets; and if he will make a statement. (155063)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The main Afghan national police (ANP) training programme is run by the US-led Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan (CSTC-A). The CSTC-A programme's target is for the ANP to be capable of operating effectively without international support, except in extremis, by December 2012. Support in meeting this target is provided by the EU policing mission launched in June, with the aim of improving the quality of the ANP. The latest assessment by the CSTC-A estimates that there are around 76,000 members of the ANP drawn from all regions of Afghanistan. The agreed policing structure, signed by the Afghan Government in 2007, anticipates growth of the ANP to reach a total of 82,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the UK Government have made of the impact of the changes in recent years in Iran's treatment of Baha'is in respect of higher education; and if he will make a statement. (155356)

We remain concerned about the treatment of religious minorities in Iran and discrimination against the Baha'i community in particular. Denial of access to higher education has been a long-term problem for Baha'i students.

After the removal of religious identification from the national university entrance examination in 2006, a number of Baha'i students sat the exam for academic year 2006-07. Although over 250 Baha'i students were admitted to various campuses across Iran last autumn, reports suggest that at least 120 were subsequently expelled as universities became aware of their religion. We are concerned that more Baha'i students may be expelled in the future.

We recently received reports that students applying for places in technical and vocational institutions for the forthcoming 2007-08 academic year have been required to complete a form which asks them to state their religion. The minority religion options listed are Christian, Zoroastrian or Jewish and the form explains that if no box is marked the applicant will be considered to be Muslim. This is a worrying return to the earlier position whereby applicants had to state their religious affiliation. We wait to see whether there will be a similar change in admission procedures for university entry this academic year.

We take this issue seriously and will continue to monitor the situation and take action as required. We have pressed the Iranian authorities on many occasions, bilaterally and through the EU, to address the discrimination against Iranian Baha'is. The EU did so most recently on 1 September, raising specific concerns about access to education. We also take action at the UN and in December 2006, we along with all EU countries, co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Iran which expressed serious concern at

“the increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against members of the Baha'i Faith, including [...] the denial of access to higher education”.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been (a) received and (b) made by the UK Government regarding the effects on Baha'i students of religious requirements introduced for entry to Iran's technical and vocational institutes. (155357)

The Government received reports last month from the National Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom about a change in the application procedure for Iran's technical and vocational institutes. Students applying for places at these institutions for academic year 2007-08 have been required to complete a form that asks them to state their religion. The minority religion options listed are Christian, Zoroastrian or Jewish, and the form explains that if no box is marked the applicant will be considered to be Muslim. Baha'i students are effectively excluded from studying in these institutes unless they deny their faith by having it incorrectly recorded on official forms. This is a worrying new example of systematic discrimination against members of the Baha'i minority in Iran, who have long faced restrictions on access to higher education.

We continue to raise our concerns about the treatment of the Iranian Baha'is with Iran, bilaterally and through the EU. In a meeting with the Iranian authorities on 1 September, the EU, with strong UK support, condemned such discriminatory measures used against the Baha'i community, and pressed Iran to uphold their international human rights commitments to freedom of religion and to ensure that Baha'is are given the same rights as other Iranian citizens including access to education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with his US counterpart about extending (a) financial, (b) trade and (c) travel sanctions against Iran. (155186)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary maintains regular contact with his US counterpart and other key allies on the situation in Iran. Discussions are also taking place at senior official level within the E3+3 process (UK, France, Germany, US, Russia and China) about the next stages of the international community's response to Iran's failure to respect its international obligations. This process includes discussion of possible further restrictive measures against Iran. The Government and the US administration are united in the belief that Iran must realise that its continued defiance of the UN Security Council will not be cost free.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs following the UN Security Council's passing of Resolution 1769, authorising the deployment of 26,000 peacekeepers to Darfur, (a) what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other countries, (b) when these discussions were held, (c) what actions have been taken to date and (d) what future actions are planned to ensure the success of the mission. (155179)

The UK is working closely with both the African Union (AU) and the UN to support the effective deployment of the AU-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). We are in regular contact with the UN's Department for Peacekeeping Operations, which is responsible for generating the forces required. At their request, we have lobbied widely for UN member states to provide the necessary capabilities. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, have been in contact with several existing and potential troop contributors. Lord Malloch-Brown is currently visiting Sudan where he is raising the need for speedy deployment of the force with the Sudanese Government.

At a meeting with the AU and UN on 7 September in Addis Ababa, the UK pressed for speedy deployments and effective integration of partner support to the AU Mission into UNAMID. We are also providing planning support to the mission. We will continue to work closely with the AU, UN and international partners to support its successful deployment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will seek to obtain from the chairman of British Gas replies to letters sent to him on 23 July, 23 August and 31 August by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. S. Stephenson. (155261)

My right hon. Friend will understand that, as an independent company, British Gas is responsible for dealing with its own correspondence. However, I understand that, in this case, British Gas has now replied to my right hon. Friend and his constituent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what percentage of staff in his Department were over 60 years of age in each of the last three years. (145688)

The percentage of staff over 60 years of age in each of the last three years is as set out in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to which periodicals his Department subscribes. (153127)

The information relating to this question is not held centrally within my Department. To collate this would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the average annual domestic electricity bill for a typical consumer in (a) Cheltenham constituency and (b) each region was in each year since 1998. (155303)

Average domestic electricity¹ bills are published for the 15 Public Electricity Supply areas in the UK. Cheltenham is contained in the West Midlands supply region, the average bill for this region will be representative of the average price for households in Cheltenham. The data presented are for standard credit customers in cash terms, they have not been adjusted for inflation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region export goods and services. (155274)

HM Revenue and Customs publish details of the UK Regional Trade in Goods Statistics on a quarterly basis.

In figures published on 6 September 2007 the total number of companies in the Yorkshire and Humber region exporting in the year ended March 2007 has been recorded by HM Revenue and Customs at 5,591.

HM Revenue and Customs provisional data for the first two quarters of the year 2007-08 record 4,303 companies in the Yorkshire and Humber region exporting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much foreign investment was received in (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) the City of York in each year since 2003; and what estimate he has made of the number of jobs generated from it. (155275)

A total of 137 foreign direct investments have been recorded in Yorkshire and the Humber since 2003, of which 13 were in the City of York.

Since 2003 the number of foreign direct investments per year is:

It is estimated that the total number of new jobs created in Yorkshire and the Humber since 2003 is 7,349.5 of which 169.5 were in the City of York. The total number of jobs saved in Yorkshire and the Humber since 2003 is 3,722 of which three were in the City of York.

Since 2003 the number of jobs generated is:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to ensure that the cost of gas and electricity is affordable to fuel-poor households; and if he will make a statement. (155225)

BERR continues to work with the industry, OFGEM, Energywatch and the voluntary sector to ensure that fuel poor households are aware of, and take advantage of, the significant reductions that can be made in energy bills by transferring supplier, using the cheapest and simplest payment methods, installing energy efficiency measures and accessing Government and industry social and fuel poverty programmes.

In the Energy White Paper, we welcomed initiatives announced by energy companies that help their vulnerable customers to cope with high prices, and we continue to encourage more companies to take action in this area. We see the provision of assistance to help their most vulnerable customers as a key part of each company's corporate social responsibility programmes, and will be looking for each company to put in place a proportional programme of assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which miners' compensation claims are to be outsourced to India; and when they were first registered with his Department. (154937)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: No claims will be outsourced to India. Capita's operation in Mumbai will handle some routine administration work on the coal health compensation schemes. None of the work will be customer facing. Nor will it involve interaction with solicitors or claimants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what restrictions there are in his Department's contract with Capita in relation to the outsourcing of miners' compensation claims to India. (154942)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The Department's contract with Capita does not restrict the transfer of work to India. The decision to offshore is ultimately a commercial decision. The Department supported this decision to help manage risks including those associated with staff retention in the period until completion of the coal health compensation schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many miners' compensation claims remain unsettled in (a) Bassetlaw and (b) nationally. (155117)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The numbers of outstanding claims are as follows:

(a) In Bassetlaw, there are 1,187 respiratory disease claims and 411 Vibration White Finger claims outstanding; and

(b) Nationally, there are 119,800 respiratory disease claims and 16,270 Vibration White Finger claims outstanding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the average annual domestic gas bill for a typical consumer in (a) Cheltenham constituency and (b) each region was in each year since 1998. (155304)

Average domestic gas bills are published for the 12 local distribution zones in Great Britain. Cheltenham is contained in the West Midlands region, the average bill for this region will be representative of the average price for households in Cheltenham. The data presented are for standard credit customers in cash terms, it has not been adjusted for inflation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many regional development agencies have offices in Boston, Massachusetts. (155236)

The information is as follows.

AWM and EMDA have a joint office in Boston under the ‘British Midlands’ banner.

NWDA and One NorthEast have a joint office in Boston under the ‘North of England’ banner.

SEEDA has an office in Boston.

EEDA, LDA, SWRDA and Yorkshire Forward have no offices there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what percentage of energy produced in the UK between 1 January and 30 June came from renewable sources. (154820)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The latest available data are for 2006 as a whole and show that energy produced from renewable sources in the UK amounted to 3,933 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent. Total indigenous production of energy in the UK in 2006 amounted to 196,668 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent, so in percentage terms UK renewable sources accounted for 2 per cent. In 2006, 4.6 per cent. of the electricity generated in the UK was from renewable sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel have lost limbs during operations in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq. (154946)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The Complex Rehabilitation and Amputee Unit (CRAU) at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), at Headley Court in Surrey became fully operational on 1 June 2006. Between that date and 6 September 2007, it has treated 24 casualties from Iraq and 12 from Afghanistan.

Prior to 1 June 2006, comprehensive information on the number of military personnel who have suffered amputations as a result of wounds received on active service was not held centrally. To provide this information would require the examination of the individual medical records of each patient who has been classified as very seriously injured or seriously injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. These records can only be viewed for non-clinical reasons with the express consent of each individual concerned, to protect patient confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to reimburse Royal Mail to enable parcels to be posted free of charge to military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq; and if he will make a statement. (155204)

On 25 August the Ministry of Defence and Royal Mail Group announced that a free postage scheme would operate between 3 September and 7 December inclusive, and that further negotiations would take place on how to extend the scheme beyond this date.

These discussions are currently under way and it would not be appropriate to speculate on their outcome at this time. A statement on the future of the free postage scheme will be made once negotiations have been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces approaching retirement had applications for extension of service declined in each year since 2000. (154932)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The majority of the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Data are available, however, for Royal Navy Ratings between 2000 and 2005 and are shown as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role and function the future utility vehicle under the Future Rapid Effect System programme will play in counter-insurgency. (148569)

The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) will deliver a fleet of wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles capable of operating across the spectrum of operations and protect against the most likely threats. The FRES utility vehicle operating alongside more specialist Protected Patrol Vehicles such as Mastiff could carry out a variety of tasks during counter insurgency operations including patrols and the movement of personnel and equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests his Department has received from the US Department of Justice for assistance with its investigation into BAE Systems; and if he will make a statement. (155029)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 July 2007, Official Report, column 1132W, to the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire (Mr. Knight).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from (a) hon. Members, (b) members of the public and (c) campaign organisations on his written ministerial statement of 25 July 2007, Official Report, columns 71-2WS, on ballistic missile defence. (155194)

As of 10 September, I have received 10 letters from MPs (all but one of them forwarding correspondence from constituents), and 17 letters from members of the public (two of which were on behalf of Quaker meetings), relating to my written ministerial statement on ballistic missile defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure on his Department’s communications and media personnel was in 2006-07. (153322)