To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many residential properties his Department owns; how many of these are vacant; and how many of these have been vacant for longer than (a) three, (b) six and (c) 12 months. (192993)

None.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether there is a duty on each Equality and Human Rights Commission Commissioner to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people’s rights. (189617)

There is a statutory duty on the Equality and Human Rights Commission to promote equality of opportunity, including the right of persons not to be discriminated against on the grounds of their sexual orientation or gender re-assignment. Each Commissioner is subject to a code of practice which makes them collectively liable/responsible for the decisions of the Commission, including giving full effect to the statutory duties of the Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contribution she expects BAA to make towards Crossrail if permission (a) is and (b) is not given for a third runway at Heathrow. (192365)

The Department and BAA are negotiating the terms of a suitable contribution by BAA towards the construction of Crossrail. There is no linkage between this negotiation and the Department’s consideration of the case for a proposed third runway at Heathrow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of sickness pay to staff within her Department was in the most recent year for which figures are available. (187512)

The notional cost of paid sickness absence in DfT for the financial year 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 was £15.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008, Official Report, column 154W, on the Ministerial car fleet, to whom the cars in bands F and G have been allocated. (188825)

Of the 30 cars in VED band F, 13 are allocated to Secretaries of State and the remaining 17 are allocated to other Ministers. The one car in VED band G is allocated to a Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will ensure that revenue from the fine imposed on Network Rail for delays in December 2007 and January 2008 is spent on the rail network. (192715)

This is a matter for the independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), whose investigation has concluded that the problems experienced over the new year were part of a continuing breach by Network Rail of its network licence. The ORR is now consulting on its response.

I understand that Network Rail is exploring urgently with passenger and freight operators and user representatives the option of funding a package of customer improvements worth £14 million. If agreement can be reached by the end of the month, the ORR could decide to endorse this rather than imposing its proposed penalty on Network Rail for breaching its licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents occurred in Parliament Square in each year since 2001; how many (a) involved and (b) were caused by persons taking part in public demonstrations opposite Carriage Gates; and if she will make a statement. (192438)

The numbers of reported personal injury road accidents in Parliament Square in 2001 to 2006 are shown in the following table.

Information on the number of accidents involving or caused by persons taking part in public demonstrations opposite Carriage Gates is not collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the approved capacity for the number of prisoners to be held at Chelmsford Prison is; and how many prisoners were held there on (a) 1 January, (b) 1 February and (c) 1 March 2008. (192350)

The operational capacity at Chelmsford prison is 695. Prisoners unlocked were as follows (a) 684 (b) 692 (c) 692.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many prisoners committed suicide in Chelmsford Prison in each of the last 10 years; and how many have committed suicide in 2008; (192347)

The number of self-inflicted deaths at Chelmsford prison in each of the last 10 years, and to 4 March 2008, is provided in the following table:

Of the 138 safer cells installed at Chelmsford prison (some of the older of which are on the maintenance database for refurbishment), 12 were installed in 1996 and 126 in 2006. There are no plans to install additional safer cells at Chelmsford prison during 2008.

None of the self-inflicted deaths at Chelmsford Prison since 1998 have occurred in safer cells.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to bring (a) London councils, (b) regional assemblies and (c) the Local Government Association within the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as public authorities. (192190)

London local authorities including the Common Council of the City of London are already covered by the Freedom of Information Act and listed in Part II of Schedule 1.

The Government announced last year that Regional Assemblies in their current form and function would not continue. Their regional planning functions will in due course be transferred to the Regional Development Agencies, which are already public authorities within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Act.

The Local Government Association is not currently subject to the Act. The Government have just concluded a consultation on whether to extend coverage to organisations that carry out public functions and are not currently subject to the Act. The Government aim to publish its response to this consultation in May 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were resident in open prisons who were deemed unsuitable for release on temporary licence in each of the last 12 months. (191903)

Release on temporary licence is the mechanism that enables prisoners to participate in necessary activities, outside of the prison establishment, that directly contribute to their resettlement into the community and their development of a purposeful law abiding life. The eligibility requirements are set out in Prison Service Order 6300 Release on Temporary Licence, which is available on the Prison Service website. Eligible prisoners must pass a rigorous risk assessment before temporary release is granted.

Information on those considered unsuitable for release under temporary licence is not centrally available, would require manual inspection of individual prisoners’ records and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were resident in open prisons who had not completed relevant offender management or treatment programmes in the closed estate in each of the last 12 months. (191904)

Prior to allocation to an open prison, prisoners are assessed to ensure that the level of risk that they present can be safely managed in open conditions. The assessment will take account of a range of factors including participation in activities such as offending behaviour and treatment programmes where appropriate. However, some programmes are also delivered in open prisons. This information is therefore currently not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were released on end of custody licence from prisons in Essex on 1 January 2008. (191228)

Prisoners are not released on end of custody licence at weekends or public holidays. If the ECL eligibility date falls on a weekend or public holiday release is deferred to the next working day. Therefore, no prisoners were reported to have been released on ECL on 1 January 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) whether any probation areas have advised the relevant courts that (a) unpaid work, (b) domestic violence programmes, (c) alcohol programmes, (d) sex offender programmes and (e) accredited programmes are unavailable; (192721)

The information requested is not collected centrally. I will make inquiries of probation areas and write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many trainee probation officers who qualified in 2007 have not been offered permanent jobs as probation officers. (192723)

464 trainee probation officers qualified in 2007 of which 60 (13 per cent.) have not been offered permanent jobs as probation officers. Of the 60 trainee posts, 35 have been offered a variety of roles including fixed term PO contracts, PSO roles pending a PO vacancy or other roles within the service and 25 have left the service (some by their own volition).

A further 10 TPOs who qualified were originally offered temporary PO contracts which have now been made permanent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he intends to establish restorative peer panels in Essex. (191229)

The Government are currently evaluating the Lancashire Peer Panel Pilot Scheme and no decision will be made on extending the scheme to other parts of the country, until that evaluation is complete.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has discussed his proposals on capital gains tax and second homes with the Government's rural affairs adviser Dr. Stuart Burgess. (192695)

Treasury Ministers and officials discuss a wide variety of issues with numerous organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further steps he plans to take to extend international debt relief. (191840)

The UK welcomes the recent agreements at the international finance institutions to finance Liberia's arrears clearance. This paves the way for Liberia to enter the HIPC initiative and receive debt relief. We will continue to support further eligible countries to achieve debt cancellation under the HIPC and multilateral debt relief initiatives. The UK also continues to provide debt relief to low-income countries not eligible for HIPC and that can use the savings for poverty reduction.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on public awareness media advertising in the last 12 months. (190644)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson) by the then Financial Secretary (John Healey) on 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 374W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has encourage charitable trusts of financial institutions to contribute to good causes; (190063)

It is the responsibility of the Charity Commission, as the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, to ensure that grant-giving charitable foundations, including those set up by financial institutions, operate according to their founding charitable purposes.

The FSA is responsible for the regulation of financial institutions in the UK. The Government do not hold data on individual institutions' charitable giving.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2008, Official Report, column 753, to the hon. Member for Peterborough, on inward migration, what the figure was for (a) inward migration and (b) net migration in each year since 1997. (190860)

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 7 March 2008:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question concerning what the figure was for (a) inward migration and (b) net migration each year since 1997. (190860)

The estimates of immigration and net migration for the UK are presented in the table below.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on mineral water in each of the last three years. (187673)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on bottled water in the latest year for which figures are available. (189798)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many litres of bottled water were purchased by his Department in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. (191248)

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to the Member for Warley (Mr. Spellar) by the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (Mr. John Healey) on 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 302W. Total costs for meeting refreshments were £223,619 in 2006-07 and £243,129 in 2005-06.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of unemployed people live in (a) council properties, (b) housing association properties, (c) private rented accommodation and (d) owner-occupied properties; and if he will make a statement. (192697)

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

Letter from Dennis Roberts, dated 7 March 2008:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question what proportion of unemployed people live in (a) council properties, (b) housing association properties, (c) private rented accommodation and (d) owner-occupied properties; and if he will make a statement. I am replying in her absence. (192697)

The attached table gives the ILO unemployment number and percentage for the categories requested for the three month period ending December 2007. People aged 16 and over are classed as unemployed by the Labour Force Survey if they are without a job, are available to start work in the next two weeks, who want a job, have been seeking a job in the last 4 weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained.

As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made for underage drinking in (a) Cornwall, (b) the South West and (c) England in each year since 1979. (191880)

The information requested is not collected centrally. The arrests collection undertaken by the Ministry of Justice provides data on persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only. Summary offences of consumption of alcohol by persons aged under 18 are not included within this category.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual running costs were of (a) the Assets Recovery Agency and (b) the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in each of the three years for which figures are available. (191397)

[holding answer 3 March 2008]: Net expenditure by the Assets Recovery Agency for the last three years for which figures are available is as follows:

SOCA’s resource funding in 2006-07 was £391.6 million, its first year of operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent assessment is of the prevalence of crystal meth usage in England. (192600)

Indications suggest that there is very low use of methamphetamine among the general population and also among drug misusing offenders who regularly come into contact with the criminal justice system. From April this year, questions on the use of methamphetamine will be included in the British Crime Survey to monitor trends in usage among the general population. My Department is also looking at ways in which different sources of data can be reviewed to ensure that any increase in the prevalence of methamphetamine use is identified early.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions she has had with UEFA officials on the violence during the Bolton Wanderers versus Atletico Madrid football match in Madrid on 21 February; (190042)

Greater Manchester police participated in the pre-match UEFA hosted security meeting for the match in Madrid. The Home Office is awaiting police and other reports on the incident. The outcome will be taken fully into account in taking forward the EU work programme on minimising safety and security risks at football matches with an international dimension. Home Office and other UK football safety and security experts have played a leading role in developing this work programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will provide funding for (a) legal aid and (b) safe accommodation for women with undecided immigration status who are victims of domestic violence or abuse while their immigration status is being assessed. (190052)

Victims of domestic violence with undecided immigration status are eligible to apply for legal aid. All cases are judged on individual circumstances and are measured against the criteria set out in the Legal Services Commission Funding Code.

Victims of domestic violence with undecided immigration status can also access services funded by the Supporting People grant, which provides support to vulnerable people in refuges, hostels and supported accommodation, or in their own home.

In addition, the Home Office announced on 6 March a new scheme where victims of domestic violence who have made successful applications for indefinite leave to remain, may qualify for a contribution towards their housing and living costs.

We recognise the need to find a permanent solution to this issue and are working across Government to achieve this.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much financial support was given to Neighbourhood Watch in each of the last 10 years, including 2007-08; and how much is proposed to be given in 2008-09. (187946)

[holding answer 21 February 2008]: The Neighbourhood Watch Movement has received no direct financial support from the Home Office in the past 10 years. Instead, the Home Office supports the Movement through provision of a dedicated liaison post, and by publishing materials and promotional literature for the Movement’s use. Since 2004, the Home Office has chaired the National Strategy Group for Watch Issues, maintained a website and administered use of the Neighbourhood Watch logo. In 2005, the Home Office began funding annual public liability insurance for Movement members, and since 2007 has hosted quarterly national meetings of volunteers’ representatives. The Home Office has committed to providing this range of support in 2008-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much each police force in England and Wales spent on border security and enforcement in each of the last three financial years; (186421)

This information is not held centrally in the form requested. In general the Government allocate funding to police force areas as a whole rather than to specific locations or functions. The actual deployment of police officers at ports and their costs is an operational matter for individual Chief Officers. In the case of London, the Counter Terrorism Command is responsible for the policing of the border within the Metropolitan police force area (especially Heathrow and London City airports).

Airport operators reimburse police authorities for the costs of uniformed police officers at airports designated under section 25 of the Aviation Security Act, such as Heathrow. At other ports, such as London City airport, police officers are funded wholly or partly by the police authority, or by other means, including voluntary contributions by airport operators. These amounts are determined locally.

Additional funding for Special Branch officers at ports is provided by the Home Office through Dedicated Security Post (DSP) grants which go towards the police costs of specific security functions. The grants paid to police forces towards the costs of funding their Special Branch officers at ports in financial years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 were £70.6 million £71.4 million and £72.6 million respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what licensing conditions apply to door staff working after midnight at licensed premises. (191902)

[holding answer 6 March 2008]: Under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 an individual who carries out manned guarding activities, such as guarding premises or property, in relation to licensed premises, requires a door supervisor’s licence from the Security Industry Authority. Further, where the activities in question are undertaken in relation to licensed premises as defined in the Act and under certain conditions, the requirements are that the activity takes place at or in relation to times when the premises are open to the public, and alcohol is being supplied for consumption on the premises or regulated entertainment is being provided. The requirement for a door supervisor’s licence is not affected by the time of day when the activity takes place. It applies whether the individual is employed on contract or “in-house”.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests there were for shoplifting in each of the last three years; and what proportion of those arrested tested positive for illicit drugs. (191382)

Data on arrests collected by the Ministry of Justice provide information on persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences), aggregated by main offence group, i.e. violence against the person, sexual offences, robbery, burglary, etc. More detailed data about specific offences such as shoplifting do not form part of this collection. In the light of that, the data are not available in the requested format.

Since 2003, drug testing of offenders for specified class A drugs (heroin, cocaine/crack cocaine) in some police custody suites has operated as part of the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP). Under DIP, offenders who are arrested/charged with a trigger offence (including ‘theft’ offences, which also includes shoplifting offences) in DIP intensive areas (those areas with high levels of drug-related crime) are required to undergo a drug test.

The proportion of individuals who tested positive for heroin and/or crack cocaine following arrest/charge for ‘theft’ offences (including shoplifting) as part of the DIP programme in the last three years for which we have data are shown as follows:

It should be noted that the reduction in the positive test rate reflects the introduction of the power to test on arrest rather than just at the charge stage. Data is not available for all illicit drugs as DIP only tests for specified CLASS A drugs (heroin, cocaine/crack cocaine) and that only some custody suites have drug testing.

Where individuals test positive for heroin and/or cocaine/crack cocaine, they are required to undergo an assessment of their drug use and treatment needs with a drug worker. Failure to attend can result in a criminal charge. Since 2003, more than 115,000 drug misusers have entered treatment through DIP.

Figures from a voluntary survey of police arrestees (the Arrestee Survey, Home Office Statistical Bulletin 12/07 (2007)), show that 54 per cent. of those reporting regular (weekly) use of heroin or crack cocaine (HC) reported shoplifting in the four weeks prior to arrest. Among those arrested for shoplifting, 37 per cent. self-reported weekly use of HC.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to raise public awareness of the risk of theft of laptop computers from cars through the use of devices to detect laptop signals from outside the car. (191413)

The Home Office has produced a wide range of information for the public aimed at informing them what they can do to reduce the risk of being victims of crime. In relation to theft from vehicles, there is general advice on not leaving any item on display in vehicles, regardless of its value, in our “Steer Clear of Car Crime” leaflets. We would encourage local police and other agencies to make use of and add to these messages.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time wildlife crime officers there were in each police force in each year since 1997, broken down by rank; and if she will make a statement. (188574)

The requested information on the number of full-time wildlife crime officer, is not collected centrally.

Decisions on how wildlife crime is addressed, including decisions on resources and staffing, are matters for the police service. These decisions will be made by the chief constable in the light of the competing demands on the force and the priorities of the local communities.

The work of wildlife crime officers in forces is supported by a National Wildlife Crime Unit, which covers both England and Scotland; and the Home Office has recently announced that it will be providing funding for each of the next three years to support the work of this unit.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will place in the Library a copy of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority Governance Review produced by Deloitte and Touche. (184428)

The review of governance of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) was undertaken by Deloitte on behalf of the LVRPA. The authority is currently considering recommendations resulting from the review, and the policy options available to it. The Deloitte report and associated material are, therefore, still subject to LVRPA scrutiny and are not publicly available at this time.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps have been taken to ensure that objects of historic value identified during the construction process for the 2012 Olympics are protected. (189601)

Since 2003 the Museum of London Archaeological Service and Pre-Construct Archaeology (MoLAS-PCA), has worked in partnership to provide archaeological services to the London Development Agency (LDA) regarding the Olympic Park, and now continue to do so for the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).

As a part of the planning application process it is incumbent upon the ODA to fund an archaeological assessment of the proposed development site, and to undertake measures to either preserve in situ or record any archaeological remains found within the designated footprint.

Furthermore MoLAS-PCA are in regular contact with English Heritage's Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service (GLAAS), who also provide advice to the five host boroughs and the ODA Planning Decisions Team.

Interesting remains will either be photographed and recorded or removed to form part of the Museum of London's collection, and in the coming weeks the ODA will be announcing a programme of events involving schools and local communities that is based upon the artefacts excavated from the Olympic site to date.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with officials from the British Olympic Association on freedom of speech for British athletes participating in the Olympic Games in Beijing. (192072)

[holding answer 6 March 2008]: The rules governing British athletes participating in the Olympic Games in Beijing are a matter for the British Olympic Association (BOA), which is independent of Government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consultancy firms the Cabinet Office has contracted to provide advice relating to property and estates in the last 12 months. (191023)

In the financial year 2006-07, the following consultancy firms were contracted by the Cabinet Office to provide advice relating to property and estates management.

Drivers Jonas

Feilden and Mawson

GVA Grimley

Macintyre Hudson

Stephenson and Son

Humberts

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) which recommendations of the 2005 report on data security by Dr. Mark Walport of the Council for Science and Technology the Government adopted; (191013)

I have been asked to reply.

There was no formal Government response to the Council for Science and Technology’s 2005 report and the Government have not specifically implemented the recommendations. However, the report has been a valuable source of information in developing its thinking on how information is used and protected.

On 25 October, the Prime Minister asked Dr. Mark Walport and the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, to carry out an independent review of the use and sharing of personal information in the public and private sectors. The Ministry of Justice are currently considering how the programme should be structured to deliver service transformation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many regulatory impact assessments his Department has conducted in the last 12 months. (191275)

Information on the final regulatory impact assessments published between 1 January and 30 June 2007 can be found in Command Paper 7297, available at:

http://bre.berr.gov.uk/regulation/ria/regulatory_reporting/index.asp

None are listed for the Cabinet Office.

Departments are in the process of identifying the final regulatory impact assessments published between 1 July and 31 December 2007.

From April 2008, all final impact assessment will be published on a central website.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2008, Official Report, column 2178W, on electronic mail, if he will place in the Library a copy of the sections of the Cabinet Office's protective security policy on the use of email. (191038)

For security reasons, it would not be appropriate to make public the precise internal security arrangements for Government Departments.

Security procedures for the use of electronic mail, along with other protective security measures, are based on the policy and procedures within the Government Manual of Protective Security (MPS).

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library copies of the Cabinet Office staff magazine from the last 12 months. (191125)

I refer the hon. member to the answer given by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office my right hon. Friend the Member for North West Durham (Hilary Armstrong), on 26 March 2007, Official Report, column 1348W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the inquiry into the covert recording of the hon. Member for Tooting, whether the Wilson Doctrine forbids surveillance or interception of hon. Members' use of (a) personal digital assistants, (b) mobile telephone texts, (c) voice over internet protocol systems, (d) internet browsers and (e) email. (191035)

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor Mr. Blair to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 1 February 2007, Official Report, column 464W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the scope and purpose of the Government Security Zone project is. (191126)

The Government Security Zone (GSZ) designates that area of central London containing major government and public buildings. The GSZ programme consists of a linked series of projects to enhance security within the zone. The main project is the “Whitehall Streetscape Improvement” project which is a partnership between Westminster city council and central Government. This project involves major renovation of Whitehall incorporating new security features.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times British forces have jammed mobile telephone networks in Afghanistan. (191130)

I am withholding detailed information on operational tactics and procedures as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance exists for compensation for armed forces personnel who are injured in armed combat; and if he will make a statement. (192157)

[holding answer 6 March 2008]: Upon the launch of the armed forces compensation scheme on 6 April 2005, every member of the armed forces (including reserve forces) was sent a copy of a booklet entitled 'Your Compensation Scheme Explained'; moreover, all service recruits who have joined since that date have received a copy. In addition, details of the compensation scheme are available to all members of the armed forces via the internet (www.veterans-uk.info), updates to the scheme are notified by way of Defence Internal Briefings which are available to all personnel via their chain of command and Intranet. Articles about the scheme have appeared in the in-house service periodicals (Navy News/Soldier Magazine and the RAF News).

Detailed information is held in all Ship/Unit Administrative Offices in the form of booklets and tri fold leaflets. In addition, all personnel have access to the Joint Service Publication 765 'The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for Injury, Illness and Death Due to Service' either via the MoD Intranet or from their Administrative Offices. Staff at all Service Medical facilities (including the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak and the Medical Rehabilitation Unit at Headley Court) are aware of the scheme and able to advise patients of the process for making a claim. Finally, details of the scheme and how to make a claim are held by Ship/Unit welfare staff and ex-service charities.

The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency who administer the scheme have a Free phone helpline (0800 169 2277) which personnel can access to seek specialist assistance with making a claim.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the RAF's project evaluation in respect of the relocation of the Joint Service Gliding Centre and the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association Centre from RAF Bicester to RAF Halton. (191928)

[holding answer 6 March 2008]: Yes. I will place a copy in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the joint service publications (a) JSP 463, (b) JSP 468, (c) JSP 469 and (d) JSP 471. (175422)

The information is as follows:

(a) JSP 463 (Procedures for Project Sponsorship of Staff Targets and Requirements (The Purple Book)) is not a current publication and no copy of it could be located.

I have placed (b) JSP 468 (Joint Service Manual for the Loan and Secondment of Personnel to Commonwealth and Foreign Forces) and (c) JSP 469 (Service Code of Practice for Custody and Detention) in the Library of the House.

(d) JSP 471 (Defence Nuclear Accident Response) is available on the MOD website at the following address:

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/HealthandSafetyPublications/JSP471/

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost of (a) service dress, (b) blues and (c) mess dress is for each regiment; and how much service personnel receive towards the costs of each. (191447)

The average cost, at public expense, for all three Services for parade wear (service dress) is £100 and blues is £190. Mess dress for the RN and RAF is £135. Army officers are given an allowance to purchase all of their uniform requirements and this varies from regiment to regiment. The majority of grants are around £2,100, but it is not possible to separate out the cost of each dress uniform from this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in recruitment to fill manning shortfalls in the Defence Medical Service. (183133)

We accept that manpower shortfalls remain in some key specialties, including some consultant cadres and specialist nurses. These shortfalls have never resulted in the Defence Medical Services being unable to meet operational commitments. We manage medical deployments on a tri-service basis, allowing the work load to be shared more evenly and maximising capabilities. In addition we make use of reserves and civilian agency contractors and work closely with allies to ensure appropriate medical support is in place.

To encourage the recruitment of certain specialities within the Defence Medical Services, where there are the most severe shortfalls, the Department pays “Golden Hellos”. Golden Hellos are currently paid to General Medical Practitioners, and certain specialist consultants and nurses.

In addition the single services’ medical directorates have their own locally driven policies to improve recruitment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many consultants his Department employed in (a) 2005, (b) 2006 and (c) 2007; and at what cost in each year. (192643)

Specific data on the number of consultants employed by the Ministry of Defence are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

However, MOD expenditure on external assistance, which includes management and other types of consultancy, has been reported to Ministers since 1995-96: summaries are available in the Library of the House.

Furthermore, information on organisations, including consultancy firms, paid £5 million or more by the MOD in each financial year is published in the UK defence statistics. Copies are also placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on pot plants in each of the last five years. (192056)

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the policy of British jobs for British workers will affect his Department’s recruitment policy. (179880)

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 3 March 2008, Official Report, columns 2206-07W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current percentage shortfall is in spares for the (a) Harrier and (b) Typhoon aircraft. (190636)

The information is not held in the format requested.

Aircraft spares for the Harrier aircraft fleet are partly provided direct from industry. Spares demands satisfied from MOD stocks average 90 per cent. Spare parts availability for the Harrier fleet has been sufficient to meet its operational commitments.

Aircraft spares for Typhoon are partly provided direct from industry and partly by the MOD through an international contract. These arrangements are being built up as the RAF fleet grows and demands satisfied from MOD stocks average 68 per cent. Spare parts availability for the Typhoon fleet has been sufficient to meet its operational commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he expects UK troops deployed in Iraq to be reduced to 2,500; and if he will make a statement. (191331)

UK force levels in southern Iraq currently stand at around 4,100. In keeping with the plans my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out to Parliament on 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 23W, we continue to plan to be able to reduce UK force levels in southern Iraq to around 2,500 from this spring. Final decisions however will, as always, be based on the advice of our military commanders and conditions on the ground at the time. Work continues on the details in consultation with our coalition partners and the Government of Iraq.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost is per capita per diem of feeding British troops on operations in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan; and what percentage of the total cost is attributable to (i) transport, (ii) storage, (iii) catering and (iv) food. (191342)

Based on actual food and storage and distribution costs, and forecast personnel numbers for March 2008, the average cost per capita, per diem, of food, and the storage and distribution of food, for troops and civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan is as follows:

The ratio between fresh food and operational ration pack elements of the cost varies between the operational needs in each environment. Equally, the storage and distribution requirements for each operational theatre vary, and hence the proportion of overall cost attributable to each is different.

In Afghanistan, there are additional storage and distribution costs in meeting the demands of that operational environment, for example military charter flights and convoys to support the forward operating bases, and these cannot be broken down.

Catering costs in both theatres would include: capital costs of kitchens and dining rooms; maintenance of catering infrastructure; civilian contracts in support of catering. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints (a) his Department and (b) the RAF received in (i) 2003, (ii) 2004, (iii) 2005, (iv) 2006 and (v) 2007 about flying activities at RAF Halton. (191929)

[holding answer 6 March 2008]: The number of complaints received is as follows:

The information comes from three sources—statistics held by RAF Halton; correspondence directed towards headquarters personnel and training command (before April 2007) and headquarters air command (after April 2007) and written complaints directed towards the Ministry of Defence. There is a possibility that there may be a small amount of duplication between these sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to mark the role played in the defence of the UK by the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve in its centenary year. (190610)

[holding answer 29 February 2008]: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces made on 12 June 2007, Official Report, column 41WS, and the reply I gave, as current hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces, on 17 September 2007, Official Report, column 2176W, to the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison).

I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the events that are planned to mark the role played by the Territorial Army in the very near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with counterparts in NATO countries on the United States' plan to site nuclear missile bases in the Czech Republic and Poland. (192485)

The UK knows of no US plans to site nuclear missile bases in the Czech Republic and Poland. US plans to base conventional ballistic missile defence assets in these countries are discussed regularly in NATO.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will extend the Wilson Doctrine to cover the communications of elected local councillors with their constituents. (191658)

I set out the position on the Wilson Doctrine on 12 September 2007, Official Report, column 2103W.

To ask the Prime Minister what recent consideration he has given to returning powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament to the United Kingdom Parliament. (190948)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice on 31 January 2008, House of Lords Official Report, column WA145. In addition, I refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my spokesman on 18 February 2008. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page14595.asp

and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2008, Official Report, column 1343W, on efficiency in public services review: written questions, what assessment he has made of the compliance of (a) the Home Office, (b) the Ministry of Defence and (c) other Government departments with the guidance to officials on drafting answers to parliamentary questions in responding to parliamentary questions on redundancies and related costs arising from the conclusions of the Gershon Review; and if he will make a statement. (191517)

All Departments, including the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office, publish performance against their Gershon targets in detail in their annual reports. Copies of these reports and further mid-year departmental reports are available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit the Farnborough Air Show. (192001)

I have no current plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister what proportion of food served in 10 Downing Street was of British origin in (a) 2005, (b) 2006 and (c) 2007, broken down by food type; and what proportion was sourced from countries outside the EU in each case. (192006)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my predecessor, the right hon. Tony Blair, on 31 January 2007, Official Report, column 303W.

To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) letters and (b) postcards he has received since July from (i) members of the public, (ii) hon. Members and (iii) members of the House of Lords on (A) the creation of human/animal hybrids and (B) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill; how many and what percentage (I) supported and (II) opposed each; and if he will make a statement. (190872)

Since July my Office has received approximately 5,800 letters about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. Given the volume of correspondence I receive, thousands of letters each week covering a broad spectrum of issues, my Office records letters by subject rather than by view expressed.

To ask the Prime Minister how many special advisers he employs; and how much each of them is paid. (191973)

I refer the hon. Member to my written statement on 22 November 2007, Official Report, columns 147-150WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) reports and (b) studies on post-abortion syndrome have been considered by his Department since January 2006; and if he will make a statement. (190792)

The Department considered all of the information on the issue of the mental health risks of induced abortion which was submitted to the recent House of Commons Science and Technology Committee inquiry on the scientific developments relating to the Abortion Act 1967.

We have commissioned the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to review all evidence relating to induced abortion, to update its 2004 clinical guideline on “The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion”.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients attending accident and emergency (A&E) departments were subsequently admitted to hospital via A&E in each quarter since January 2003. (192421)

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 28 February 2008, Official Report, column 1878W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what legal advice his Department has received on the compatibility of the ban on gay men giving blood with anti-discrimination legislation; and if he will make a statement. (190213)

In April 2007, the Government introduced the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 (Statutory Instruments No. 1263). During the drafting of these regulations, consideration was given to the matter of blood donation from gay men. This led to specific provision being made in the regulations.

The aim of donor selection criteria is to protect the health of the population and current arrangements have proved to be an essential element in reducing transfusion-transmitted infections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is available to people who are trying to stop using cannabis. (191617)

In each local authority area, a commissioner with responsibility for specialist substance misuse will specify and commission a range of drug treatment services based on a needs assessment. Within any local drug treatment system, we would expect appropriate specialist treatment provision for people whose primary problem is cannabis, as well as for those people whose primary problem is with another drug who also experience problems with cannabis use.

The latest evidence-based approaches to treating problematic cannabis use in both adults and young people are outlined in the recently updated clinical guidelines, “Clinical Guidelines on drug misuse and dependence (2007)”, and within the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines on psychosocial interventions in drug misuse¹. There is an expectation that treatment provided will be in line with these guidelines.

Information for young people and their families/carers is also available through Frank, the Government’s drugs information campaign launched in May 2003. Frank provides a 24-hour a day helpline staffed by a team of trained advisers who can provide information and advice on any issue relating to drugs, including cannabis, as well as making referrals to local agencies when a caller requires face-to-face help and support. Frank also provides a website, talktofrank.com, which is a comprehensive source of information and advice on drugs.

¹ NICE clinical guideline 51—drug misuse: psychosocial interventions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2007, Official Report, column 1377W, on Chlamydia: screening, what steps have been taken to work with the strategic health authorities which are not reaching the 15 per cent. screening target. (190862)

The National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) is managed by the Health Protection Agency. The NCSP Team and regional facilitators are working with all programme areas to support them in reaching the target. The Department is working through performance management routes to increase screening volumes and the National Support Team for sexual health is supporting the areas finding it most challenging to meet their targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payments his Department and its agencies have made to communications consultancy, Clear; and for what purpose. [Official Report, 2 June 2008, Vol. 476, c. 7MC.] (191086)

The Department paid invoices to Clear totalling £4,230.00 between May and June 2004. Records do not show the purpose of these invoices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of his Department’s civil servants were (a) suspended and (b) dismissed for accessing (i) obscene and (ii) other prohibited material on work computers in each of the last five years. (188784)

No civil servants have been dismissed or suspended for accessing obscene or other prohibited material in the two years since January 2006. Before that date, information is not available without recourse to individual personnel records and would entail disproportionate costs to collect.

To ensure acceptable use of information technology (IT) all permanent and temporary members of staff have to actively agree a reminder on the subject every time they log on to the Department’s IT network. Frequent communications on IT security and acceptable use of IT are distributed to system users, notably on the departmental intranet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2008, Official Report, column 1690W, on departmental standards, which financial control total each East of England trust listed in the document placed in the Library did not meet in 2006-07; and by how much the control total was not met by each trust. (188378)

The following table shows the 14 trusts (primary care trusts (PCTs) and national health service trusts) that failed to meet their financial plan target as agreed between the strategic health authority and themselves and by how much.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases there were of (a) mumps, (b) rickets, (c) whooping cough, (d) scarlet fever, (e) cholera, (f) diphtheria, (g) leprosy, (h) botulism, (i) gout, (j) impetigo, (k) scurvy, (l) listeria, (m) tuberculosis, (n) polio, (o) typhus and (p) typhoid in England in each of the last five years, broken down by strategic health authority. (187203)

Information on rickets, gout, impetigo and scurvy is not held centrally.

Such information as is available has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility his Department has for Government policy on the effects of salt intake on health. (190216)

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommended that a reduction in the average population salt intake would proportionally lower population average blood pressure levels and confer significant public health benefits by contributing to a decrease in the burden of cardiovascular disease. The Department prioritised salt reduction in its White Paper “Choosing Health—Making healthy choices easier”, in which it committed to having discussions with industry to increase opportunities for people to make healthy choices in what they eat.

The Department and the Food Standards Agency have been working in partnership to deliver the SACN recommendation and reduce the average population salt intakes to six grams, as set out in the Department’s “Food and Health Action Plan” and the agency’s “Strategic Plan” up to 2010.

Reducing the rising burden of lifestyle diseases is also one of the high-level priorities that the Department will have a particular focus on for 2008-09, with the Department having a leading role working with partners across the public and private sectors, nationally and regionally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many attendances at (a) walk-in centres, (b) minor injuries units and (c) type 1 accident and emergency departments there were in each quarter since January 2003. (192420)

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 28 February 2008, Official Report, columns 1876-78W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the policies of EU Member States in respect of reimbursement of patient expenditure on (a) biological treatments and (b) abatacept; and if he will make a statement. (189627)

The Department has made no such assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research the Government has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of climate change on public health in the last 10 years. (189983)

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 26 February 2008, Official Report, column 1460W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new diagnoses of hepatitis C there were in each of the last 10 years. (191384)

The information requested is available in the Health Protection Agency's annual report, “Hepatitis C in England, the Health Protection Agency Annual Report 2007”, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure the NHS incurred on average on the treatment and care of a patient with HIV in each of the first five years from diagnosis. (187862)

Costs of treating people with HIV vary depending on the severity of symptoms and level of immune suppression. Estimated annual costs of HIV treatment, including the costs of combination antiretroviral therapies range between £12,000-£19,000 per person. Total national health service expenditure on HIV treatment in 2006-07 was £497 million. This was the first year these data have been collected since HIV treatment and care budgets were placed into the NHS baselines in 2002-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) letters and (b) postcards he has received since July from (i) members of the public, (ii) hon. Members and (iii) members of the House of Lords about (A) the creation of human/animal hybrids and (B) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill; how many and what percentage (1) supported and (2) opposed each; and if he will make a statement. (190790)

The Department has received two relevant postcard campaigns since July 2007. We have received 6,093 postcards on a campaign organised by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, which we started receiving in September 2007, part of which expresses opposition to any Bill that could lead to admixed embryos. We have also received 1,461 postcards issued by the All Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, which we started receiving in February 2008, asking hon. Members to vote against the creation of admixed embryos.

In addition to these campaigns, the Department has received a large volume of correspondence on issues surrounding embryos research, however due to the way in which correspondence is recorded the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many human embryos were (a) lost, (b) damaged and (c) destroyed due to accidents at fertility clinics in each year since 2000; what steps he has (i) taken and (ii) plans to take to prevent such accidents; what guidance on the matter he has (A) issued and (B) plans to issue in the next 12 months to fertility clinics; and if he will make a statement. (190791)

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has informed the Department that it does not require clinics to submit the information requested as part of its routine data collection. However, incidents involving loss, damage or accidental destruction of embryos should be notified to the HFEA in accordance with the requirement to report adverse incidents that occur in licensed establishments.

The HFEA uses the adverse incident reporting system to help clinics learn from mistakes and to develop control measures to reduce the risk of incidents reoccurring. Information about risk control measures is issued to clinics in the form of HFEA alerts and patient safety notices. Past alerts have included guidance on transportation of embryos and associated risks and risks involving power supply and critical equipment. The HFEA’s Code of Practice also makes clear that where adverse incidents occur, clinics are expected to review relevant procedures to minimise the risk of any reoccurrence of the incident and inform the HFEA of the revised procedures.

The HFEA has advised the Department that it intends to continue the development of its systems for improving risk management in clinics and dissemination of critical information in response to individual incidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many births were the result of IVF or donor insemination between 2002 and 2007. (191285)

The information requested is shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pensioners aged 65 and over received free influenza inoculations in (a) Bexley and (b) London in each year since they became available. (191000)

The information requested is shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) abattoirs and (b) meat processing plants are subject to inspection by the Meat Hygiene Service. (191202)