To ask the Prime Minister whether there were any (a) apprenticeships and (b) advanced apprenticeships in 10 Downing Street in the most recent year for which figures are available. (206794)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband) on 2 June 2008, Official Report, column 616W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what investigations his Department has initiated on (a) the opening of confidential correspondence from a constituent of the hon. Member for West Chelmsford to the Pension Service in Burnley by the Royal Mail, (b) the circumstances in which the confidential information enclosed in the correspondence was returned to the sender enclosed with confidential information relating to other individuals and (c) the manner in which the information was returned to the sender; and if he will make a statement. (200965)

[holding answer 24 April 2008]: Royal Mail is working as part of contracted arrangements with the Department to open the post received by the Pension Service. The correspondence that was sent in error to a member of the public, was recovered by the Department immediately the incident was reported, and the small number of affected customers were contacted and an apology given to them. The necessary action has been taken to protect the personal data involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008, Official Report, column 42W, on fraud, how many staff of his Department were responsible for each instance of fraud or attempted fraud (a) against the benefits system and (b) in other areas in each year since 2003. (204238)

The figures given in the answer of 28 April 2008, Official Report, column 42W, on fraud related to the number of cases investigated. In each case the investigation identified a single member of staff. The following table shows the number of cases of attempted or actual fraud where the Department's investigation was completed in the year stated. This analysis is consistent with the way in which the Department reports to HM Treasury on internal fraud.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008, Official Report, column 42W, on fraud, what estimate he has made of the losses from (a) the benefits system and (b) other areas from fraud committed by staff of his Department in each year since 2003. (204239)

Information is not available in the exact format requested from 2003 as the estimated losses can only be broken down into the specified categories from April 2005. Overall estimated totals are given for 2003-04 and 2004-05. The following tables show the estimated losses arising from attempted or actual fraud where the Department's investigation was completed in the year stated. This analysis is consistent with the way in which the Department reports to HM Treasury on internal fraud.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008, Official Report, column 42W, on fraud, how many staff in his Department who defrauded or attempted to defraud (a) the benefits system and (b) other areas worked in (i) his Department's offices at Westminster, (ii) Jobcentre Plus offices, (iii) the Pension Service, (iv) the Disability and Carers Service, (v) benefits delivery centres, (vi) the Child Support Agency and (vii) other offices operated by his Department in each year since 2003. (204241)

Information is not available in the exact format requested. We are able to provide the numbers of staff in 2003-04 and 2004-05 as set out in the following table. The table shows the number of cases of attempted or actual fraud where the Department's investigation was completed in the year stated. This analysis is consistent with the way in which the Department reports to HM Treasury on internal fraud. From 2005-06 onwards HM Treasury reporting requires details at departmental level only. In aggregate for 2005-06 there are 170 staff committing fraud and for 2006-07 the corresponding figure is 144.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what volume of work was processed at the Swansea Pension Centre in each month in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) the first quarter of 2008. (201211)

The information is in the following tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what types of personal information required to support claims for (a) pension credit, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit will not be required in the future; and what assessment he has made of the effects of a reduction in the volume of information required on the time taken to (i) process such claims and (ii) clear the backlog in claims processing. (204950)

We have already reduced duplication in the provision of personal information for people claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit over the phone with pension credit. The Pension Service fill in a short claim form on the customer's behalf and the income and savings information supplied for the pension credit application is used for the housing benefit and council tax benefit claim.

And from October 2008, we are proposing to further streamline this claims process, so that no claim form for housing benefit or council tax benefit will be required. The housing benefit and council tax benefit information will be collected by the Pension Service and automatically passed to the relevant local authority to assess entitlement.

There are no proposals to change the types of personal information that are required to process claims for pension credit, housing benefit or council tax benefit. However, the types of personal information required to process claims to pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit are kept under review to ensure that where possible requirements are simplified relieving the burden on customers, whilst continuing to protect public funds.

To ask the Leader of the House (1) how many copies of the Draft Legislative Programme 2008-09 have been provided gratis; to whom; at what cost; and if she will make a statement; (207189)

A total of 2,000 copies of the Draft Legislative Programme were provided gratis to all Members of both Houses and key stakeholders at a cost of approximately £24,000. A full 12-week consultation period on the draft programme is in progress until 6 August after which we will respond in the autumn and comments made will be taken into account in considering the content of the next Queen's Speech. The changes from the DLP and the final programme are a matter of public record and are set out on pages 7-8 of the Government's Draft Legislative Programme—Taking a Wider View (Cm 7248) which was published in November.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether arrangements will be put in place to screen mail whose senders are unidentifiable and which is received at hon. Members' home addresses, consequent on the release of such addresses under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. (207906)

All incoming mail for hon. Members will continue to be comprehensively screened prior to arrival at the House. Any additional screening would incur some extra cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer of 21 May 2008, Official Report, column 315, how many tanks will be sent to Afghanistan; by when these tanks will be delivered into theatre; how they will be delivered into theatre; at what cost; and when the policy to deploy tanks in Afghanistan was approved. (208084)

The Secretary of State announced the deployment to Afghanistan of Warrior armoured fighting vehicles on 26 February 2007, Official Report, column 619 and they were deployed on schedule last autumn. We have no plans to deploy Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks to that theatre.

Each Warrior costs approximately £85,500 to ship to Afghanistan via commercial heavy air lift. I am withholding the number of Warrior deployed in Afghanistan, as this information would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether measures are in place to ensure service personnel are offered (a) priority and (b) first refusal in buying (i) their accommodation and (ii) other service accommodation that is being sold off; (203981)

The majority of service family accommodation properties in England and Wales are owned by Annington Homes Ltd. (AHL) and leased by the Department until there is no longer a defence use for them, when they are handed back to AHL for disposal on the open market. While there is no obligation on AHL to offer discounts to current or former service personnel when selling its properties, it has in the past offered certain incentives, concessions or priority to personnel voluntarily. We understand that between 25 and 30 per cent. of properties have been sold in this way.

Surplus non-AHL residential properties in the United Kingdom are normally sold on the open market through competition in accordance with Treasury guidance in order to achieve the maximum receipt for the tax-payer. For these reasons, the Department is not able to offer priority, first refusal or discounts to service personnel. However, potential options are currently being explored to determine whether greater assistance might be given to service personnel. Currently, we are mindful of local needs and accordingly properties may be sold either individually or, in some cases, in bulk to local authorities or other registered social landlords as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel were diagnosed with mental health problems in each year since 1997. (208058)

The information for each year since 1997 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) has published two armed forces psychiatric morbidity reports which provide figures for the periods January to March 2007 and April to June 2007, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Kings college, London also publishes papers on military health research, which include mental health issues, and these can be obtained at the following link:

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/kcmhr/information/publications/publications.html#stress_ptsd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the results and findings of the Trauma Risk Management pilot. (205132)

The study is currently being written up by the Kings Centre for Military Health Research for submission to peer-reviewed academic journals. Once this process is successfully completed copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether EUFOR Tchad/RCA has reached full operational capability; (208163)

The deployment of the EU military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic is progressing on schedule and there are now over 2,500 troops in theatre. Initial operating capability was achieved on 15 March and the operation commander intends the operation to reach full operational capability by the end of June 2008.

The increasing presence of EUFOR troops on the ground has been broadly welcomed by international NGOs and UN agencies and the EUFOR mission is continuing to establish effective liaison with the UN on the parallel deployment of the UN policing mission (MINURCAT).

A joint EU/UN Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) will take place in June 2008. This will feed into the UN Secretary-General’s mid-mandate report on EUFOR in September, which will identify follow-on options. This review process will provide a formal assessment of progress that has been made under EUFOR Tchad/RCA so far.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies have spent on (a) locating, (b) recovering and (c) identifying the information held on lost or stolen (i) electronic equipment, (ii) documents and (iii) other data storage means in each of the last 12 months. (205516)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2008, Official Report, column 179W, on departmental equality, what percentage of (a) senior civil service and (b) top management positions in his Department were held by women; what percentage of senior civil service positions were held by black and minority ethnic employees; what percentage of positions were held by black and minority ethnic employees in his Department as a whole; what percentage of senior civil service positions were held by disabled employees; and what percentage of positions were held by disabled employees in his Department as a whole. (208116)

[holding answer 2 June 2008]: As at April 2008:

the percentage of women in the core of our senior civil service was 12.2 per cent. If we include positions, such as MOD medical staff, who hold the equivalent grade, this figure is 14.5 per cent.;

the percentage of women in top management positions is 10.4 per cent.;

the percentage of senior civil service core positions that are held by black and minority ethnic employees is less than 1 per cent.;

3.1 per cent. of positions are held by black and minority ethnic employees in the Department as a whole;

4.2 per cent. of our core senior civil service positions are held by disabled employees (this percentage is based upon known records only, i.e. where individuals have declared what their disability status is); and

5.5 per cent. of positions within the Department as a whole (with known disability) are held by disabled employees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months. (205141)

Based on the Ministry of Defence's available records since May 2006, there were 109 official Defence bookings at a cost of £30,425.99.

A monthly breakdown of official usage, with cost (inclusive of value added tax) is given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on the UK nuclear deterrent programme, including the Atomic Weapons Establishment, in each year from 1998 to 2008, expressed in cash terms. (208183)

The annual expenditure for capital and running costs of the UK nuclear deterrent programme, including the costs of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, in each year from 1998 to 2008 is shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) estimate he has made of the volume and (b) assessment he has made of the types of outputs that arise from treatment by pyrolysis of wastes from Royal Navy vessels at sea; how these outputs are treated; and if he will make a statement. (207512)

A development programme for installing pyrolysis systems on to Royal Navy vessels,to process food and general waste, including paper, cardboard, tin cans, and plastic, is currently under way. During a successful period of shore-based testing, waste volume reductions in excess of 85 per cent. and mass reductions of 50 per cent. have been achieved.

Starting later this year, the pyrolysis system will begin a 12-month sea trial onboard HMS Ocean and it is anticipated that the typical daily volume of general waste produced on the vessel could be reduced by up to half. If the sea trials are successful, there are plans to fit the system to the other vessels in the Fleet.

There are two by-products of the pyrolysis process, a solid residue and waste gas. The solid residue cannot be discharged into the sea under MARPOL regulations so it will be sealed in steel pails and stored on board the vessel until it can be removed to landfill sites. The gas produced is well within the requirement of MARPOL regulations and the on-board processing unit will further refine it to bring it well within the parameters of more stringent land-based regulations, before release.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) assessment he has made of the types and (b) estimate he has made of the volume of residues from the treatment of wastes which were discharged at sea by Royal Navy vessels in each of the last five years. (207513)

Records of discharges of wastes from Royal Navy vessels are retained on board. The RN does not routinely collate or estimate the total volumes of waste streams which are discharged at sea. Wastes are discharged in accordance with IMO Marine Pollution regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will introduce legislation to give bank depositors the right to (a) appoint auditors, (b) receive accounts and (c) elect directors of a bank in which they hold deposits. (207899)

I have no plans to do so. As outlined in the recent Draft Legislative Programme, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Darling) intends to bring forward legislation later this year to strengthen depositor protection, and deal with banks in difficulty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of consumers of working age experiencing difficulties gaining access to consumer credit, excluding mortgages, from mainstream providers as a result of the state of the credit market. (206699)

We do not have specific statistics relating to estimates of working age consumers experiencing consumer credit difficulties.

However, the Bank of England reports total debt write-off for 2007 of £6,807 million, a small increase on 2006 (£6,749 million). In the last quarter of 2007 (latest data available), a total of £1,616 million debt was written off compared to £1,986 million in quarter 4 2006.

We remain very concerned to help those suffering from debt problems. In the last spending period, over £50 million was spent on face-to-face debt advice, for those experiencing difficulties with consumer credit, by BERR and MOJ. This will increase to £90 million in the period April 2005 to March 2011. Help is aimed at the financially excluded, of whatever age, and so far around 120,000 over-indebted clients have been helped, up until the end of March. BERR and MOJ will also support the National Debtline this year with grants of £1.75 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (208132)

My Department’s food waste is 3 per cent. of turnover and has been budgeted at this level for the last five years. We monitor this by good ordering practices and portioning control when cooking and serving up.

Our caterers, Baxter Storey, constantly look at ways of reducing our waste. On 14 April 2008, we introduced a new waste system at our headquarters building, 1 Victoria street, which has been trialled and which involves all food waste being collected in bins, to be picked up weekly, and taken for composting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department provides health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the statement by the Minister of State, Department of Health, in the Health and Social Care Bill Committee, of 17 January 2008, Official Report, column 327. (200220)

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform does not provide health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Health, in the Health and Social Care Bill Committee, of 17 January 2008, Official Report, column 327.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company. (208526)

Our records give no analysis by destination of our mail, but no more than a handful of letters will have been sent overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether rates collected from owners of commercial buildings in Wales left unoccupied for more than six months are hypothecated for use in Wales. (207832)

All business rates liable on commercial property in Wales are collected and paid in to the Assembly's non-domestic rates pool. They are then redistributed back to local authorities as part of the local government revenue settlement each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will complete the work on producing codes of conduct governing the advertising and promotion of unhealthy foods to children online or via mobile telephones, as outlined in the Prime Minister's speech of 7 January 2008. (207791)

Both the Government and industry recognise that the advertising regulatory system must remain effective in the digital age.

The advertising industry has therefore set up a Digital Media Group to develop proposals for extending the remit of the self-regulatory system, which currently has robust rules governing food advertising to children, to all types of mobile and online advertising.

The Government have committed to reviewing the work of the Digital Media Group in spring 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) whether he plans to ask Ofcom to strengthen its restrictions on adverts on television for foods high in fat, sugar and salt which appear adjacent to programmes produced for children; (207792)

As set out in the “Public Health White Paper” and the recent obesity strategy, the Government are committed to reviewing the food advertising regulations across all media. Furthermore, in July 2008 Ofcom will begin its own review of the impact of the current broadcasting restrictions on food promotion to children.

The findings of these reviews into the effectiveness of the food advertising codes will be taken into account in formulating and enforcing revised codes, if so needed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the results of Ofcom's review of the advertising of unhealthy foods to children; and whether he is considering further restrictions in this area. (207796)

Both the Government and Ofcom are committed to reviewing the impact of the current restrictions on food promotion to children. Ofcom will begin its own review in July 2008 and will report its early findings as soon as possible. The findings of these reviews into the effectiveness of the food advertising codes will be taken into account in formulating and enforcing revised codes, if so needed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times the maximum fine was levied against a licensee for persistently selling alcohol to under-age people in each of the last two years. (193464)

I have been asked to reply.

The offence of persistently selling alcohol to children under section 147a of the Licensing Act 2003 was commenced in 2006. As yet there are no data available for this offence.

The following table covers the offence of selling etc. intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list (a) his Department's non-departmental public bodies and (b) those non-departmental public bodies for which his Department has agreed new funding agreements for the next (i) year and (ii) three years. (207783)

[holding answer 2 June 2008]: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is directly responsible for 54 non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), of which there are 42 executive NDPBs, 11 advisory NDBPs and one tribunal NDPB. These are as follows:

Executive NDPBs

Arts Council England

Big Lottery Fund

British Library

British Museum

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment

Culture East Midlands

Culture North East

Culture Northwest

Culture South East

Culture South West

Culture West Midlands

English Heritage

Football Licensing Authority

Gambling Commission

Geffrye Museum

Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust

Horserace Betting Levy Board

Imperial War Museum

Living East

Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

National Gallery

National Heritage Memorial Fund

National Lottery Commission

National Maritime Museum

National Museum of Science and Industry

National Museums Liverpool

National Portrait Gallery

Natural History Museum

Olympic Delivery Authority

Olympic Lottery Distributor

Public Lending Right

Royal Armouries

Sir John Soane's Museum

Sport England

Tate

UK Film Council

UK Sport

Victoria and Albert Museum

VisitBritain

Wallace Collection

Yorkshire Culture

Advisory NDPBs

Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites

Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships

Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection

Advisory Council on Libraries

Legal Deposit Advisory Panel

Public Lending Right Advisory Committee

Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art

Spoliation Advisory Panel

Theatres Trust

Treasure Valuation Committee

VisitEngland

Tribunal NDPB

Horserace Betting Levy Appeal Tribunal for England and Wales

We share responsibility for the Design Council with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).

Most of these executive NDPBs will be required to have a funding agreement. Work is well in hand to finalise the drafts. The majority should achieve formal signature soon. The British Library, Gambling Commission, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and the Public Lending Right have already finalised their agreements. These four are all for three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the introduction of Freesat on the level of the take-up among consumers of Freeview services. (206972)

Freesat is available to 98 per cent. of UK households and may enable those who experience difficulty in receiving Freeview service, to access subscription-free digital television. Some consumers may also install Freesat to access subscription-free high definition TV. However, it is too early to say what impact Freesat take-up will have on that of Freeview.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with (a) television broadcasters and (b) Ofcom on recent cases of television broadcaster misconduct in the use of premium rate telephone services in viewer competitions and voting; and if he will make a statement. (205794)

I have had no recent discussions on this issue. However, there have been previous discussions with television broadcasters and Ofcom regarding the regulation of these services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which organisations receive funding from the licence fee; and how much they each receive. (207381)

[holding answer 2 June 2008]: The BBC is the only organisation that receives direct funding from the licence fee. Licence revenue for 2008-09 is estimated at £3.5 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed by TV Licensing; and at what cost. (207384)

[holding answer 2 June 2008]: This is a matter for the BBC. I have, therefore, asked the BBC's Head of Revenue Management to write to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey direct. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) companies and (b) individuals have been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted of an offence under the Building Act 1984, broken down by (A) offence and (B) local authority, in each of the last five years for which information is available. (207192)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she has issued guidance to staff in her Department to switch off personal computers when not in use; and if she will make a statement. (208171)

Communities and Local Government issues guidance to all staff to switch off their personal computers when not in use as part of the Department’s wider carbon reduction strategy. The Department’s Sustainable Operations Policy states that:

Staff are expected to switch off monitors when leaving desk areas for more than five minutes and to ensure that all PCs, printers, photocopiers and other office equipment are switched off at the end of each day.

This guidance is also contained within staff induction material.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate she has made of the number of fire and rescue authority staff on enhanced pensions who are to be made redundant as a result of the implementation of the FiReControl project; what estimate she has made of the cost of meeting the pension contribution top-up costs of these staff; and if she will make a statement; (205341)

The employment of staff after the transfer is a matter for the Local Authority Controlled Companies (LACCs) that have been established to run the RCCs. Under TUPE arrangements existing members of Fire and Rescue Authority (FRAs) control rooms will transfer to the new Regional Control Centres (RCCs). Some staff subsequently could be made redundant—either because there is no suitable alternative post for them, or because it is unreasonable for them to transfer to the new location.

Under new burdens principles, funds will be available to meet the costs of redeployment, retraining and where necessary redundancy costs.

Until the TUPE process takes place, it is not possible to identify which individuals might have to be made redundant, and hence whether they are entitled to enhanced pensions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to paragraphs 6.62 to 6.64 of her Department's Annual Report for 2008, Cm 7394, what steps she plans to take following the failure to meet the Government's target on the area of disputed green belt land in each region over the period 2003 to 2007. (207739)

Responsibility for creating and amending the area of green belt lies with regional planning bodies and local planning authorities. Proposals to make changes to green belt must be put forward in draft development plans, which are subject to public consultation and then to independent examination.

National policy on green belts is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2, ‘Green Belt’. This makes clear that permanence is the essential characteristic of green belt and that their boundaries should be altered only exceptionally. If such alterations are proposed, the Secretary of State in her role as consultee on the draft development plan will wish to be satisfied that the authority has considered opportunities for development within the urban areas contained by and beyond the green belt.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the permanent mooring of a houseboat requires planning permission; what permitted development rights exist; and what national planning guidance has been issued by her Department on houseboats or riverside development. (208099)

Houseboats fall outside of planning control unless moored for so long in the same place that they can be regarded as bringing about a material change of use of land. The permanent mooring of a boat for residential purposes where there was not one previously is likely to be a material change of use of land and planning permission would, therefore, generally be required. Similarly, works associated with the mooring of the boat might require planning permission if they amount to operational development. Ultimately, it is for the local planning authority to decide whether planning permission is required.

There are no specific permitted development rights for houseboats. No specific national planning policy guidance has been published in respect of houseboats or riverside development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the correlation between housing conditions and the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued to residents; and if she will make a statement. (207291)

Neither my Department, nor the Home Office who lead on antisocial behaviour orders, has commissioned or evaluated research on the correlation between housing conditions and the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued to residents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) wholly private, (b) part rented/part purchased, (c) local authority and (d) housing association new dwellings were completed in the Borough of Islington in each of the last three years; and how many of each she expects to be completed in 2008-09. (207685)

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was taken from Leeds City Council in negative housing subsidy in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08. (207506)

No money has been taken from Leeds city council in negative housing revenue account subsidy in (a), (b), or (c).

Leeds is a net recipient of subsidy and received the following sums in each of the years shown as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will introduce measures to require all landlords letting residential property to register with their local authority. (207453)

We commissioned an independent review of the private rented sector in January. This is being carried out by Julie Rugg and David Rhodes of the Centre for Housing Policy at York university and will report in October. The review is looking at all aspects of the sector, including measures to raise standards and encourage the delivery of professional housing management. It would therefore be inappropriate to express any views at this stage that may pre-empt the findings of this review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what projects or research have been commissioned from the Institute for Public Policy Research by her Department and its agencies in the last 12 months; and on what topics. (207558)

Communities and Local Government has not commissioned any research projects from the Institute for Public Policy Research in the last 12 months.

Details of research projects commissioned by Communities and Local Government are available from our research database (RD) at:

http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk/

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning regulations and directives protect the great crested newt. (208094)

The great crested newt is listed on Annexes II and IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the habitats directive). It is protected under schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1994 and schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Administrative guidance on the application of the law relating to planning and nature conservation is contained in the Government circular: ‘Biodiversity and Geological Conservation—statutory obligations and their impact within the planning system’.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy. (208096)

As stated in our publication on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) published on 24 January, subject to Parliament’s decisions on the primary legislation (the Planning Bill), Communities and Local Government aims to formally consult on the draft CIL regulations in autumn 2008, with a view to finalising them in spring 2009.

The 24 January CIL publication “The Community Infrastructure Levy” is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the requirement for planning permission to pave over a front garden will be retrospective. (207560)

There will be no retrospective element. Where work has been commenced before the law is changed it will be able to be completed. Similarly, existing paved gardens will not be affected by the amended regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what the estimated average cost of a planning permission application for a typical household is likely to be under the requirement for a planning permission to pave over a front garden; (207566)

It is expected that most people who want to pave over their front gardens will continue to do so without having to submit a planning application. As long as the area to be paved over remains permeable an application for planning permission will not be required. Where an application is required, the householder will have to pay the normal fee for a planning application, currently £150.

Based on an initial impact assessment, we estimate that between 120 and 1,200 householders a year will opt for impermeable surfacing for which they will require planning permission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the consultation document on Planning Policy Statement 6 will be published; what the timetable for the consultation exercise will be; and if she will make a statement. (207838)

We intend to publish a consultation document on revisions to Planning Policy Statement 6 this summer. The consultation will be conducted in accordance with the Department's usual procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to bring about convergence in public and private sector rents; and if she will make a statement. (207289)

We have no plans to bring about convergence between social sector rents and those of the private rented sector. Government policy is that social sector rents should be at sub-market rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether arm’s-length management organisations will be able to access the fund to purchase unsold new houses and rent them to social tenants. (208152)

The £200 million announced on 14 May will be used by the Housing Corporation to fund RSLs and others to purchase new properties from house builders.

We are allowing the Housing Corporation flexibility to take advantage of opportunities offered by the current housing market to fund RSLs and others to buy unsold stock from developers at competitive rates with a view to provision of either social rent or low cost home ownership. This will enable RSLs and others to take advantage of the competitive rates offered by the current market as well as helping developers at a challenging time in the new build market.

Some arm’s-length management organisations are already able to bid to the Housing Corporation for funding in competition with other bidders as part of the regular market engagement process through which the affordable housing programme is being allocated. If ALMOs consider they can take advantage of the availability of grant to purchase new properties, the Housing Corporation would consider their applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward proposals to prevent estate agents from retaining the interest arising from tenant deposits over the period of a tenancy; and if she will make a statement. (207140)

We have no plans for further legislation on the holding of tenants’ deposits. The Tenancy Deposit Protection measures introduced by the Housing Act 2004 are designed to safeguard the interests of both landlords and tenants and to promote good practice in deposit handling. There are two types of schemes available to landlords. There is a “custodial” scheme under which the landlord hands over the deposit for the duration of the tenancy. Where the deposit is returned to the tenant at the end of the tenancy interest is paid to the tenant. If the landlord chooses to use one of the two “insurance-based” schemes, under which the landlord retains the deposit and takes out insurance that will cover repayment to the tenant, the payment of any interest is for negotiation between the tenant and the landlord.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what restrictions exist on building Traveller camps on (a) green belt, (b) Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and (c) Sites of Special Scientific Interest. (208095)

The same requirements apply to Gypsies and Travellers as to the settled community when seeking to build on the green belt. Planning permission is likely to be needed. Every planning application is decided on its merits in the light of local plan policies, but, under Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 on green belts, there is a general presumption against inappropriate development in the green belt. Inappropriate development should not be approved, except in very special circumstances, and it will be for the applicant to show why permission should be granted.

In Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, planning policies and development control decisions should give great weight to the conservation of the natural beauty of the landscape and countryside. Planning Policy Statement 7, “Sustainable development in rural areas”, states that major developments should not take place in these designated areas, except in exceptional circumstances. Whether a Traveller camp is considered a major development would be a matter for the planning authority.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest are protected by law, and Planning Policy Statement 9, “Biodiversity and Geological Conservation”, requires a high degree of protection to be given to SSSIs under the planning system. Where a proposed development is likely to have an adverse effect on an SSSI, planning permission should normally not be granted. If a particular activity on a site is listed on the SSSI notification as likely to damage features of special interest, the person wishing to carry out that activity must apply to Natural England for consent under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If Natural England has not given consent for such works it is an offence under that Act to carry them out. This protection is enforced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many looked-after children there were on the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by local authority. (208126)

Information on the number of looked-after children at 31 March 2003-07 broken down by local authority has been placed in the House of Commons Library (Table LAA1).

Table LAA1 is taken from the Statistical First Release entitled “Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007”, which is located at http://www.dcsf. gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml and table LAA1 can be found within the first set of 10 additional tables supplementing SFR27/2007 on the website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government have taken to improve the quality of services provided to disabled children. (207423)

In May 2007 the Government announced Aiming High for Disabled Children which is now a joint delivery programme between DCSF and Department of Health. DCSF are investing £430 million over this CSR period to transform short break services, improve accessible childcare for families with disabled children and improve the transition of disabled young people from child to adulthood.

Recent achievements include:

21 short break pathfinder areas announced in January 2008

10 childcare accessibility pilot sites announced on 15 May 2008;

£8.4 million additional funding to enable the Family Fund Trust to provide grants to 16 and 17-year-old severely disabled young people from low income families announced in the Children's Plan in December 2007

Publication on 15 May 2008 of the National Core Offer setting out national expectations of how services are delivered for disabled children, young people and families, and supporting materials to help LAs and PCTs implement the Core Offer locally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government have taken to assist parents by increasing access to childcare for disabled children. (207425)

The Government’s Aiming High for Disabled Children programme, announced in May 2007, included additional funding of £35 million for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 to develop projects to improve access to childcare for disabled children and young people and to reduce the attitudinal barriers which inhibit the take-up of such childcare. 10 local authorities have been selected as the first wave of pilots in the Disabled Children's Access to Childcare programme, and will begin work in autumn 2008. Emerging best practice identified from these pilots will be rolled out more widely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding was allocated to Warrington Borough Council for children’s centres in each year since their inception. (207458)

The information requested is given in the following tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether any officials in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies were disciplined or dismissed for (i) breaches of data protection requirements and (ii) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in each of the last three years for which figures are available. (205902)

No officials in the Department were disciplined or dismissed for alleged breaches of data protection requirements or for the inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in 2005, 2006 or 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was paid in end-of-year performance bonuses to (a) all staff and (b) staff at senior civil service level in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many payments were made. (207467)

The Department has used delegated powers to introduce more extensive non-consolidated performance pay to reward for the most effective and best performers. Performance bonus rewards are based on a judgement of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. The top 20-25 per cent. performers receive the highest bonus payment. During 2007, 50 per cent. of staff received a bonus worth between 2 per cent. and 4 per cent.

The breakdown of bonuses for the senior civil service for the 2007-08 financial year is set out in the following table:

The breakdown of bonuses for all other staff is set out in the following table:

The Department has no executive agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether any officials in his Department were disciplined or dismissed for illicit drug taking in each of the last five years. (205912)

No officials in the Department were disciplined or dismissed for illicit drug taking over the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on (a) procuring and (b) distributing to schools in England the (i) Passport to the European Union and (ii) “The EU: what's in it for me” booklets, produced by the European Commission. (205644)

These booklets are produced and distributed on request by the European Commission Representation in the UK. This Department has not incurred any expense in their procurement or distribution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many times his Department hired VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months. (205144)

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has no record of hiring VIP facilities or of making any payments to (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c)Luton and (d) Stansted airports in each month since May 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of schools in (a) England, (b) the East Midlands and (c) Leicestershire have disposed of playing fields since 1998. (206168)

[holding answer 16 May 2008]: Since 1998 the proportion of schools that have had applications approved to sell school playing fields in (a) England has been less than 1 per cent. (b) the East Midlands, less than 1 per cent. and (c) Leicestershire, less than 1 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children in young offender institutions has (a) special educational needs and (b) a special educational needs statement; and if he will make a statement. (207502)

The information is as follows.

(a) The Department does not collect information centrally on the numbers of children in young offender institutions (YOIs) who have special educational needs (SEN).

However, an analysis by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) of 2006 ASSET data—the individual assessment tool for young offenders used by Youth Offending Teams—found that 25 per cent. of young offenders had special needs identified. This figure covers young offenders both in custody and the community.

(b) The Department does not collect information centrally on the numbers of children in YOIs who have a SEN statement. Local authorities do not have a duty to maintain SEN statements for young people in custody. Instead support is provided within the custodial institution by special educational needs coordinators and learning support assistants. However, the YJB analysis of 2006 data showed that of the 25 per cent. of young offenders (in custody or in the community) who had SEN, just over 60 per cent. had a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it his policy to support further development of the Skill Force charity’s work in schools. (207884)

We value the contribution made by Skill Force and other organisations in helping to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our schools. It is the responsibility of local authorities and schools to commission high quality and effective alternative provision that assists children and young people to maximise their potential.

We have recently published a White Paper “Back on Track” which sets out our strategy to transform alternative provision into a vibrant and successful part of the whole education system. We expect better and more strategic commissioning of alternative provision to help generate the conditions in which an effective market can operate, helping new providers to enter it and the better providers to expand their offerings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to encourage other countries to protect refugees from violence and inhuman treatment. (207871)

The Government use every appropriate opportunity to advocate the ratification of the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (Refugee Convention) by all countries. The Refugee Convention guarantees the right of a person who is a refugee within the meaning of the Convention not to be returned to a country or territory where they are at risk of persecution. The Government support the work of the Office of the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), the UN agency mandated to protect refugees. The UK is the seventh largest donor to the UNHCR (USD 52 million, 4.8 per cent. of contributions to the agency in 2006). The UK also contributes to operations on the ground to develop the capacity of countries hosting refugees to meet their obligations, for example, in Chad through the EU European Security and Defence Policy mission to protect internally displaced persons and refugees from Darfur.

In addition to the Refugee Convention, the UK advocates the ratification by all countries of the main international human rights instruments, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, which provide the obligations to protect all individuals on their territory including refugees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to protect the safety of Burmese refugees in states neighbouring Burma. (207870)

The Office of the UN high commissioner for refugees is leading assistance to refugees from Burma, with support from international donors. The Thai Government are also engaged on the issue of Burmese refugees in Thailand.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development visited the Thailand-Burma border in January to see at first hand the plight of Burmese people who have been forced to flee from their country's repressive regime and the work being done by the international community to help them.

The Department for International Development is providing £1.8 million over three years to groups which provide assistance to Burmese refugees in Thailand as well as to internally displaced persons inside Burma. We also provided £400,000 last year to support basic health, livelihoods and education to displaced communities within Burma.

The UK is providing financial and political support for the work of the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) to address the needs of Burmese Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, including the current provision of €1.5 million by ECHO to move around 10,000 unregistered refugees out of a makeshift camp and into newly-built dwellings. We continue to emphasise to the caretaker Government of Bangladesh the importance of a longer-term resolution of the Rohingya issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether mechanisms are in place to monitor the extent to which his Department's (a) internal and (b) external (i) correspondence and (ii) distribution of publications is carried out electronically. (199185)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not have a central mechanism in place to monitor the extent to which the FCO's internal and external correspondence and distribution of publications is carried out electronically.

To retrieve and collate the information needed from all of the departments within the FCO, and all overseas posts, would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on Ethiopia's involvement in human rights abuses in Somalia. (207314)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is aware of allegations of human rights abuses by Ethiopian troops in Somalia and has told Ethiopia, including at high level, that we expect them to adhere fully to international humanitarian law in Somalia. UN Security Council Resolution 1814, adopted unanimously on 15 May, calls on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law. The International Contact Group on Somalia issued a communique on 30 April which also raised concern for all human rights abuses in Somalia. We unreservedly condemn all proven incidents of human rights abuse and expect those responsible to face justice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's response was to the European Commission's proposal to extend to 15 June 2008 the deadline for member states to make proposals for reform of the EU Budget; and what discussions he has had with the Commission on its proposal. (207850)

The Government welcome the EU Budget Review and look forward to playing an active role in the debate. The extension to the deadline by three months for contributions to the EU Budget Review public consultation is a matter for the European Commission, but we welcome efforts by the Commission to ensure a comprehensive consultation process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the (a) arrest and charging of six members of the leadership of the Iranian Baha'i community and (b) the detention of other members of the group in Evin prison; and if he will make a statement. (207292)

We are aware of reports that, in the early hours of 14 May, six members of the seven-person group that co-ordinates Baha'i activities in Iran had their homes raided and searched by Ministry of Intelligence officers. They were subsequently taken to Evin prison in Tehran where they remain detained. The seventh member of the group has been detained since March. We do not know the grounds for their arrests or if they have been charged yet. This is not the first time that the leadership of the Iranian Baha'i community has been targeted and formal Baha'i administrative bodies have been banned since the early 1980s. We remain deeply concerned by the Iranian Government's refusal to respect the right of their citizens to freely adopt and practise a religion of choice and the ongoing systematic persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran in particular and we regularly raise our concerns with the Iranian authorities, bilaterally and through the EU. Following a recommendation by the UK, on 21 May the EU issued a public declaration expressing serious concern about the treatment of the Baha'is in Iran and calling for the release of these individuals. We will continue to raise this issue with the Iranian authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take at the United Nations with regard to the rocket attack on Ashkelon by the Jabril Front and the Popular Resistance Committees; and if he will make a statement. (207184)

We condemn the continuing rocket attacks on Israel, including that on Ashkelon, by militants from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. These are unacceptable and serve only to increase the suffering of ordinary Palestinians and Israelis. We have no specific plans to raise the Ashkelon attack at the UN but will continue to work with the Quartet, the UN and others in the international community to prevent all such attacks in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take at the United Nations with regard to the rocket attack on Yesha by the al-Quds Brigades; and if he will make a statement. (207185)

We condemn the continuing rocket attacks on Israel, including that on Yesha, by militants from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. These are unacceptable and serve only to increase the suffering of ordinary Palestinians and Israelis. We have no specific plans to raise the Yesha attack at the UN but will continue to work with the Quartet, the UN and others in the international community to prevent all such attacks in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have had with (i) Arab states and (ii) the Government of Israel on rocket attacks by (A) the Jabril Front and the Popular Resistance Committees and (B) the al-Quds Brigades; what response was received from each; and if he will make a statement. (207186)

We continue to be deeply concerned about rocket attacks against Israel. We have not raised the attacks by the Jabril Front and Popular Resistance Committees and the al-Quds Brigades specifically with either Arab or Israeli Governments. We do, however, condemn the continuing rocket attacks on Israel. We raise these issues with international partners and urge all to use their influence to prevent attacks in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met with the Slovakian Foreign Minister to discuss arms sales to non-EU countries. (207211)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary meets his Foreign Minister counterparts regularly at EU General Affairs and External Relations Councils and discusses various subjects. No specific discussions have taken place about arms sales to non-EU countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to secure targeted sanctions against the Government of Sudan in relation to improving respect for human rights in Darfur. (207313)