To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on training courses for staff in the last (a) 12 months and (b) five years. (210569)

The staff in the Scotland Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice; both Departments provide access to training and development opportunities. The office incurred the following direct expenditure:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what training courses were (a) available to and (b) taken up by civil servants in his Department in the last 12 months. (210584)

The Scotland Office encourages all staff to undertake learning and development activities. The majority of opportunities are provided through the Scottish Executive and the Ministry of Justice; but where the training need is still not available within central Government, external training courses may be considered.

The Office does not maintain a central record of all training courses attended by staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of the National Air Traffic Services proposals on air space changes on the British thoroughbred breeding industry. (210936)

It is not for the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss airspace change proposals which are subject to consultation.

Airspace planning and regulation is the responsibility of the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The process for making changes to airspace is governed by the CAA's airspace change process. Under this process it is for airspace change sponsors, for example NATS, to develop and consult upon proposals. Detailed guidance is given on what impacts are to be taken into account, how they should be measured and who should be consulted. Informed by the consultation, the sponsor submits the proposal to the CAA's directorate of airspace policy for assessment against regulatory requirements. In determining whether to accept or reject a proposal, the CAA's process reflects the Secretary of State's directions and guidance to the CAA on the exercise of its statutory duties and environmental objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned by her Department on the environmental effects of gases discharged from aircraft engines. (210896)

The Department for Transport funds work on aviation related climate change research at Manchester metropolitan university worth about £350,000 per annum. This includes collaborative domestic and international projects on the climate science of aviation emissions and co-leading a major international workshop to assess aviation's environmental impacts.

The Government are supporting project OMEGA, a grouping of seven universities, co-ordinating UK research and dissemination of a wide range of aviation environmental issues in partnership with stakeholders.

The Department also supports a PhD studentship at Oxford university investigating the microphysics and aviation induced cirrus cloud.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what issues have been considered by the Aviation Health Working Group since its inception in March 2001; and if she will make a statement. (206137)

The Aviation Health Working Group (AHWG) has considered a wide range of subjects, in varying detail, since its inception. These include: Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), cabin air quality, medical equipment on board aircraft, toilet facilities, flying when pregnant, cockpit light levels, seat pitch, cosmic radiation, aircraft filtration and fitness to fly travel advice. Notes of the relevant meetings are available on the Department for Transport website.

The AHWG, through the Department for Transport, co-funded the Wright research project into DVT with the World Health Organisation and European Commission, and has commissioned research in cabin air “fume events” which is currently under way. The House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology said in 2007:

“in general the AHWG has been well received by the industry, unions the regulatory authorities and passenger representatives".

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her Department's projections of UK biofuel consumption in millions of litres are for (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. (208502)

The renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) came into effect on 15 April 2008. In simple terms, it requires suppliers of fossil-based road transport fuels in the UK to ensure that a specified percentage of their total road transport fuel sales are made up of renewable transport fuels. The level of the RTFO is 2.5 per cent. in 2008-09, and this is due to rise to 3.75 per cent. in 2009-10 and 5 per cent. in 2010-11.

In broad terms, it is likely to equate to around 1.25 billion litres of biofuel being consumed in the year from 15 April 2008 to 14 April 2009, rising to around 1.9 billion litres in 2009-10 and around 2.5 billion litres in 2010-11.

The Renewable Fuels Agency will be publishing details of UK biofuel sales on a regular basis via its website at

http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/.

Monthly data in respect of all UK road transport fuel sales are also available via the HM Revenue and Customs website at:

http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulloil.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the effect of global food price rises on the Government's biofuels policy. (211982)

The Government take very seriously concerns over rising global food prices. A large number of factors, including biofuel demand, may be contributing to the situation. The Secretary of State for Transport has asked Professor Ed Gallagher, Chairman of the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA), to lead a review into the indirect effects of biofuels production, including on global commodity and food prices. It is due to report at the end of June. The review's findings will inform the development of the Government's biofuel policies and targets.

Further details are available on the RFA's website at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/reportsandpublications/reviewoftheindirecteffectsofbiofuels.cfm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times she has asked (a) BA and (b) BAA for a report on security at Heathrow Terminal 5 in the last 12 months. (209267)

The Department for Transport works closely with industry to ensure that security measures set out on the National Aviation Security Programme are delivered. The Department monitors the level of compliance through its inspectors who undertake announced and unannounced inspections and audits, and seek corrective action from industry where appropriate. We have worked particularly intensively with BA and BAA at Heathrow both prior to and since the opening of T5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has had discussions with National Express on measures to reduce congestion on the Liverpool Street to Chelmsford line. (211244)

Following the publication of the White Paper, and as part of the intention to introduce additional capacity across the network, I can confirm that discussions have been held with National Express East Anglia (NXEA), Network Rail and the Department for Transport and that NXEA is developing the detail of its proposals for further discussion with the department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which operators of heavy goods vehicles registered outside the UK were issued with prohibition notices by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency for (a) mechanical defects, (b) drivers' hours offences and (c) overloading in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07, broken down by country of registration; and if she will make a statement. (211497)

The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many foreign-registered (a) cars, (b) vans and (c) heavy goods vehicles have been found unroadworthy after entering the UK in each of the last three years; (210732)

The number of foreign vehicles found by our Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to be unroadworthy were:

Our understanding is that the police do not keep a central record of the nationality or country of residence of offenders, and so there are no statistics available relating to foreign vehicle offences which they process.

No vehicle will have been prevented from entering the UK because it was unroadworthy. What happens—irrespective of the location—is that a dangerous vehicle is simply prohibited from further use until the defects have been rectified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected change in numbers of flights (a) to and (b) from Newcastle Airport by 2018 is; what percentage of flights through Newcastle Airport were domestic in the latest period for which figures are available; and what percentage she expects to be domestic in 2018. (211342)

CAA's airport statistics show that the domestic share of terminal passengers at Newcastle in 2007 was 30 per cent.

The most recent Department for Transport forecasts of passenger demand at UK airports were reported in 'UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts', November 2007, available at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/environmentalissues/ukairdemandandco2forecasts/.

Table G5 shows the central forecast of terminal passengers at Newcastle airport in 2015 and 2030, split between domestic, short-haul, and long-haul, along with outturn for 2005. Owing to the tolerance with which the iterative forecasting model works, detailed results are rounded and presented at no less than five-yearly intervals. These are repeated in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what files are held by her Department on the Newly Qualified Drivers Bill of Session 1993-94; and if she will make a statement. (210527)

The Department for Transport's records for the period in question do not show files specifically relating to this Private Member's Bill. Papers may be included in general policy files from that period, which could be established at only disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations govern the advertisement of rail services by train operating companies prior to the grant of regulatory approval for these services. (210926)

There are no specific regulations that govern the advertising of rail services by train operating companies prior to the grant of regulatory approval for their services. Such advertising is regulated by the normal law on consumer protection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with (a) the Association of Train Operating Companies and (b) Transport for London in the last 12 months in relation to the re-zoning of overground train stations in Greater London; and if she will make a statement. (209916)

Ministers and officials in the Department have regular discussions with the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and Transport for London on London issues.

In the last 12 months there has been one item of correspondence with ATOC on station re-zoning. This was to agree to move three stations: Hampstead Heath from zone 3 to zone 2, Acton Central from zone 2 to zone 3 and Willesden Junction from zone 3 to the boundary of zone 2 and 3. These stations are all served by the London Overground Rail Concession.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) men and (b) women were killed in car accidents in the Humberside police authority area where at least one driver involved was aged 21 years or under and (i) male and (ii) aged 21 years or under female in each year since 2000. (211846)

The numbers of (a) male and (b) female fatalities in reported road accidents involving at least one (i) male and (ii) female car driver aged 21 years or under in the Humberside police force in 2000 to 2006 are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the level of demand for the services provided by (a) her Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental bodies to be provided in the Welsh language; and if she will make a statement. (210539)

Demand for Welsh language publications is low across the Department for Transport and Executive Agencies.

Our policy is adherence to the Welsh Language scheme and to that of the Welsh Language Act 1993 and we have liaised with the Welsh Assembly Government on the delivery of publicity and advertising in media in Wales.

We also publish bilingual documents. For example the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's major documents and bulk outputs (vehicle registration documents, driving licences, vehicle excise reminders) are already supplied in bilingual or Welsh and English format to postcode addresses in Wales. This of course serves to reduce individual requests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many left-hand drive (a) cars and (b) vans have been found abandoned in each of the last three years. (210731)

DEFRA does not hold data on the number of abandoned vehicles that are left hand drive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2008, Official Report, column 919W, on abandoned vehicles, if he will provide the information on abandoned vehicles, broken down by (a) vehicle type and (b) scenario as defined by the Home Office Crime Reduction and Community Safety Group. (211657)

DEFRA does not routinely collect detailed information about the type of vehicles that are abandoned nor the scenarios of their abandonment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many new entrants there were to farming in (a) upland and (b) lowland areas in each of the last five years. (210078)

Information on the number of new entrants to farming is not collected.

The following table shows the number of principal farmers, spouses and business partners, split by those inside and outside the hill and upland areas which have been designated as Less Favoured Areas (LFAs), on 1 June in England in each of the last five years. These figures indicate the net change in the number of farmers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will investigate the case of K E Lyons and Son, Sandhurst, Gloucester and their submission of field codes to the Rural Payments Agency. (211231)

The case of K. E. Lyons is subject to ongoing investigations by the Rural Payments Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the safety of the re-introduction of meat and bone meal into animal feed. (210742)

The Food Standards Agency has funded research to assess the oral transmissibility of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) to pigs and poultry (research transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food’s portfolio). The European Commission has funded research on prion disease in fish.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published opinions on the residual BSE risk of meat and bone meal (The EFSA Journal (2005) 257, 1-30); on feeding fish meal to ruminants (The EFSA Journal (2007) 443, 1-26); and on feeding animal proteins to farm animals (The EFSA Journal (2007) 576, 1-41).

In December 2007 the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) considered the potential for TSE risks associated with future options for permitting processed animal protein (PAP) into livestock feed, arising from the European Commission’s TSE Roadmap. The scientific papers are available on SEAC’s website. SEAC is preparing a statement for publication.

There is also an EU-coordinated test development project (SAFEED-PAP) under way to develop and validate official testing methods capable of reliably identifying PAP from different species in feed samples. Such tests may provide the necessary control tools to allow consideration of future proposals to use non-ruminant-derived PAP in the feeding of non-ruminant livestock. Improved testing methods will also support EU-wide monitoring for compliance with the current controls. DEFRA is contributing to SAFEED-PAP through the funding of research at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (SE1797) and the Central Science Laboratory (SE1798).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans there are for his Department to deal with more than one animal disease outbreak occurring at the same time. (210823)

DEFRA’s generic Contingency Plan for Exotic Animal Diseases for England is reviewed and amended annually (as required under the Animal Health Act 2002) and covers arrangements for dealing with a range of exotic animal diseases. The Contingency Plan was used for the response to the simultaneous outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease, Bluetongue and Avian Influenza in 2007 and would be used if there are simultaneous outbreaks of different exotic animal diseases in the future.

The Contingency Plan is subject to ongoing revision based on the latest scientific advice, developments in policy and comments from stakeholders and operational partners together with lessons identified from disease outbreaks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations are in place to govern the treatment of animals during religious ceremonies. (210049)

The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 2005 (as amended) prohibit religious slaughter (slaughter without prior stunning) outside a slaughterhouse. This helps protect the welfare of animals slaughtered for consumption during Muslim or Jewish religious ceremonies, or festivals. In addition the Animal Welfare Act 2006, makes it an offence to cause an animal under the control of man unnecessary suffering. In addition, the Act places a ‘duty of care’ on any owner or keeper to ensure that the welfare needs of their animals are met. Meeting the needs of animals includes the provision of a suitable environment (place to live); a suitable diet; ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns; to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable); and to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Office of Environmental Policy in the US on the causes of colony collapse disorder. (211241)

In May, DEFRA officials met with colleagues from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exchange views on colony losses. The USDA are continuing their investigations into the causes of colony losses, which may be the result of a combination of factors, rather than a single cause. Contributory factors being considered by the USDA include varroa, poor nutrition, pesticides and secondary viruses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his German counterpart on (a) the suspension of the registration of eight insecticidal seed treatment products manufactured by Bayer and (b) the collapse in bee populations in Baden-Wurttemberg. (211067)

There have been no ministerial discussions on this issue. However officials in the UK Pesticides Safety Directorate are in close contact with relevant officials in Germany.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what roll-out strategy his Department has adopted for vaccination against BTV8. (210046)

In accordance with the strategy for rolling out vaccination across England, which has been developed with a core group of industry stakeholders, the protection zone is being expanded at regular intervals over the summer, enabling vaccination to take place on a progressive basis. The strategy, which splits England into priority areas, is designed to be flexible, taking into account the delivery of vaccine, take-up in the existing protection zone, epidemiological information and the location of new disease, when it recurs. The strategy is available on the DEFRA website.

So far, over nine million doses of vaccine have been made available and the protection zone has been expanded accordingly. Initial indications suggest a good response to the availability of vaccine, and the take-up of vaccine is high.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of supply of doses of the BTV-8 vaccine to Cumbria in the period up to the end of July 2008. (211025)

[holding answer 13 June 2008]: In accordance with the strategy for rolling out vaccination across England, which has been developed with a core group of industry stakeholders, the protection zone will be expanded at regular intervals over the summer, enabling vaccination to take place on a progressive basis. The strategy, which splits England into priority areas, is designed to be flexible, taking into account the delivery of vaccine, take-up in the existing protection zone, epidemiological information and the location of new disease, when it recurs.

Under the order with Intervet, vaccine will arrive in regular deliveries until the end of August. Intervet is currently ahead of schedule. We cannot specify at this stage when vaccination will be rolled out into Cumbria. However, on 11 June, we announced that we are placing an order with Merial for 13 million doses, eight million for England and five million for Wales. Merial anticipate delivering vaccine in regular batches over the summer, which, alongside DEFRA's existing contract with Intervet, will ensure that sufficient doses are available for vaccination to be rolled out across England and Wales by September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2008, Official Report, column 1070W, on bovine tuberculosis, in how many of the parishes in (a) England and (b) Wales where incidents of bovine tuberculosis took place in each year since 1997 had no cases of bovine tuberculosis been confirmed in the preceding four years. (210829)

Animal Health only hold data for the seven years prior to an exercise carried out in 2004. Consequently, they do not hold bovine tuberculosis data prior to 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are used to calculate the value of cattle with bovine tuberculosis in England; and what information he holds on measures used in Wales. (210943)

In England compensation for TB affected cattle has, since February 2006, been determined primarily through table valuations. Within this system 47 cattle ‘categories’ are used. These categories are based on the age, gender, type (dairy or beef) and status (pedigree or non-pedigree) of animals. Table values are a true average of contemporaneous prices achieved for same category, but healthy, animals at a large number and wide range of cattle sales. If insufficient sales data are collected for a particular category, compensation is determined either by using a previously determined sales average or through individual valuation.

Responsibility for bovine TB in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly. A system of individual valuations is used in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider a trial cull of badgers in Cornwall as a measure against the spread of bovine tuberculosis. (211672)

Ministers are considering all the evidence in relation to badgers and bovine TB in cattle before making a decision on badger culling in England. There is a great deal of complex evidence to consider and the matter is receiving our urgent attention. There is no confirmed timetable for a decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much he has allocated to the green homes service for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. (211018)

Government will be providing over £100 million in the next three years to the Energy Saving Trust to develop a proactive green homes service, based on the Act on CO₂ advice line and a regional network of one stop shops. In this year alone, DEFRA is providing the Energy Saving Trust with £35.2 million, £24.5 million of which will be specifically for the Act on CO₂ advice line and the roll out of the regional advice centres. Funding for 2009-10 and 2010-11 has yet to be confirmed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. (210490)

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 3 June 2008, Official Report, column 854W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each of the last five years. (210124)

The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, in England and Wales, for the years 2002 to 2006 is in the following table.

Charging data are not held by the Ministry of Justice. Information on numbers proceeded against has been provided in lieu of charging data. These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with.

Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the index of exempted dogs to owner-led applications will be re-opened. (211196)

No. There are no plans to amend the dangerous dogs legislation to allow owner-led applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) original target and (b) actual reduction in (i) staffing numbers and (ii) associated expenditure in his Department was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (208188)

This Department had an obligation under the SR2004 spending settlement, with the Treasury, to reduce the numbers of staff it employs by 31 March 2008. The original target was agreed as reductions in the overall headcount of 2,400 full-time equivalents (FTEs) across DEFRA and its agencies by 31 March 2008. DEFRA used the target to reshape the Department as well as resize, and implemented an organisation design that allows DEFRA to deliver its objectives.

The majority of these reductions were to have come via scaling down of the operation of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), which was to have contributed 1,600 posts to the overall total. However, problems with implementation of the scheme for making single payments to farmers meant that it was not possible for RPA to make these savings. A revised target was agreed, with Treasury Ministers, in June 2007 to achieve reductions, in DEFRA and the agencies, totalling 1,400 FTEs by 31 March 2008.

The reduction from the previous years staffing numbers in each year from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2008 and the costs of early departures were as follows:

The baseline against which the Department’s performance in respect of the SR04 reduction target is measured is an FTE figure, as originally agreed with HMT, of 13,650 FTEs. Machinery of government changes, definitional changes in the treatment of maternity leave for FTE reporting purposes and transfers to and from elsewhere in the public sector led to adjustment of the baseline to 12,898. For the purposes of measuring performance against the SR04 reduction target, and with the inclusion of 135 DEFRA FTEs operating within the Government offices for the regions, DEFRA’s total FTE on 31 March 2008 was 10,775. Therefore, the overall reduction measured against the baseline is 2,123 FTEs.

DEFRA has achieved its reduction target through a combination of natural wastage, controls imposed on external recruitment and two voluntary early departure schemes open to applicants within the core-Department between December 2006 to July 2007 and September 2007 to January 2008 with provision set aside in the 2007-08 financial year for any payments to retirees, consequent on their departure under this scheme, which might fall in future years. The total 2004-08 early departure cost of £83.89 million (above) includes all of early departures including those in association with the earlier periods and ill health. During financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 this Department spent £14.8 million and £49 million respectively, on the funding of voluntary early departures under the two voluntary early departure schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of his Department’s employees are (a) male, (b) female, (c) from an ethnic minority, (d) disabled and (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement. (208391)

The latest available data on the disability status and ethnic background of civil servants in Departments and agencies are as at 30 September 2006 and are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as Civil Service Statistics 2006. Information can be accessed from the following websites:

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

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

Declaration of ethnic background and disabled status is voluntary.

The latest available data on the gender of civil servants are as at 31 December 2007 and are also published by ONS, as part of their wider Quarterly Public Sector Employment Statistics (QPSES). Information can be accessed via the following website:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=13615

Information on civil servants’ sexual orientation is not currently collected or published.

In 2005 the civil service 10-point diversity plan was launched. The plan aims to make the civil service representative of the population it serves. The 10-point plan is currently being revised and DEFRA will align its strategy accordingly. DEFRA will develop an inclusive approach which will aim to increase diversity at all grades within the organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. (207465)

The following table shows details of end-of-year performance bonuses awarded to SCS and non-SCS staff in DEFRA and its agencies in the 2007-08 financial year. For DEFRA, the data relates to staff in core-DEFRA, Animal Health, Government Decontamination Service, Marine and Fisheries Agency, Pesticides Safety Directorate and Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

Bonuses are used to reward excellent performance during the year and are based on a judgment of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. Performance related pay schemes encourage high attainment because bonuses have to be earned each year. They help drive high performance in Departments and agencies and support better public service delivery.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were (a) male, (b) female, (c) from an ethnic minority, (d) disabled and (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement. (208381)

The number and proportion of employees who received an annual performance bonus in 2007 were as follows:

The percentages shown are the proportions of the 627 staff who received bonuses in 2007. The data on bonuses includes SCS and non-SCS staff in DEFRA, Animal Health, Government Decontamination Service, Marine and Fisheries Agency, Pesticides Safety Directorate and Veterinary Medicines Agency.

Bonuses are used to reward excellent performance during the year, and are based on a judgment of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. Performance related pay schemes encourage high attainment because bonuses have to be earned each year. They help drive high performance in Departments and agencies and support better public service delivery.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company. (208514)

DEFRA came into being in June 2001. The core-Department uses ‘Royal Mail’ and ‘Amtrak’ as delivery companies for overseas postal services. Information prior to 2006 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

For the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 the requested information is as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on training courses for staff in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years. (210559)

We do not have a historic record of spend on training for the last five years, however DEFRA had a corporate learning and development budget of £1.2 million last year. DEFRA does not hold information centrally on what its agencies spent on training courses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when each of his Department’s and its agencies’ green transport plans were introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such plan. (209415)

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (formerly the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) introduced green travel plans in 1999 as part of the MAFF greening operations strategy. This strategy was revised in 2001 to reflect cross Government targets and the organisational changes which resulted from the creation of DEFRA.

It is not possible to place copies of individual green travel plans in the Library as they are site specific, subject to local review and therefore change according to each site’s local circumstances and requirements. Facilities managers at each site are responsible for developing and maintaining them. This activity is checked at all sites covered under the Department’s Environmental Management System (EMS) ISO14001, during internal audit of the sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to develop the brownfield skills strategy; and what recent discussions he, other departmental Ministers and his officials have had with the Academy for Sustainable Communities on the development of environmental decontamination skills. (209971)

I have been asked to reply.

The draft Brownfield Skills strategy has been developed by English Partnerships and the Academy for Sustainable Communities. It was published on 4 March 2008 following extensive research and consultation surrounding the barriers that prevent or hinder the reuse of brownfield land, including those relating to environmental decontamination. The skills strategy is an important element in the implementation of the wider National Brownfield strategy and was available for public consultation between 4 March and 10 June 2008. The responses to the consultation will now be analysed by English Partnerships and the Academy for Sustainable Communities prior to the publication of a final strategy document later this year. Communities and Local Government Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the Academy for Sustainable Communities on a range of issues including the developing Brownfield Skills strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times the maximum fine for dog-fouling offences was ordered in Wirral West constituency in each year since 2005. (211262)

DEFRA does not collect information on the number of fixed penalty notices issued, which carry the maximum fine possible for dog fouling offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has given consideration to introducing a national dog micro-chipping scheme. (210047)

The Government do not plan to introduce mandatory micro-chipping for all dogs. We support voluntary identification, where dog owners voluntarily undertake to have their pets permanently identified and registered on nationwide databases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dead dolphins have been found on Cornwall's beaches in each year since 1979. (211014)

The UK Government has funded the UK Cetacean Strandings Scheme since 1990. Prior to 1990 there was no such scheme and strandings were recorded by the Natural History Museum on an ad hoc basis. The following table details recorded strandings, taken from the UK Cetacean Strandings Scheme database. Data on strandings recorded before 1989 have been taken from the Cornish Wildlife Trust Database¹.

¹ We are currently awaiting data from NHM for cetacean strandings data prior to 1989 and as such the figures provided above may differ from those in the NHM database, but it is unlikely they will differ significantly.

The increase in numbers of strandings presented in the table in part reflects the increase in reporting effort with the operation of the Strandings scheme. It would therefore not be meaningful to compare stranding numbers collected before 1990 (which were ad hoc reports) with those collected since the scheme started. A very active cetacean strandings volunteer group also operates in the south-west which has increased effort into reporting of cetacean strandings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will establish an investigation into the animal welfare implications of breeding techniques for domestic animals. (211197)

The Government have no proposal to establish an investigation into breeding techniques for domestic animals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons his Department stopped providing funding for the Atmosphere, Climate and Environment Information Programme in 2005. (207608)

The project was unsuccessful in obtaining Environmental Action Fund (EAF) grant for 2005-08 because it no longer fitted sufficiently within the EAF grant regime. The priority for this round was to fund Sustainable Consumption projects and DEFRA received many applications which fitted the eligibility and thematic criteria completely. The EAF was highly competitive, with 36 of the 250 applications being successful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications there were to the (a) entry level and (b) higher level of the environmental stewardship scheme in (i) lowland areas and (ii) upland areas in each of the last five years; and how much was claimed in each of those years. (210077)

The number of applications received under Entry Level Stewardship and Higher Level Stewardship in upland and lowland areas in each year since the scheme was launched in 2005 are set out in the following table:

The amounts of grant aid paid on agreements in the above categories in each year since payments began in 2006 are set out in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the renewal rates were for (a) classic schemes and (b) environmental stewardship schemes in each of the last five years for which figures are available. (210079)

The 'classic' agri-environment schemes (notably Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas) closed to new applications in 2004, so any remaining "live" schemes will have the option of moving into Environmental Stewardship (ES) only. Natural England estimates that a minimum of 32 per cent. of expiring classic agreements were renewed directly into Environmental Stewardship between 2004 and 2007.

Environmental Stewardship was introduced in 2005. Agreements under the scheme have a duration of at least five years, so the earliest renewals will not be due until 2010. However, there were 249 'pilot' Entry Level Stewardship agreements which were set up in advance of the launch of the main scheme and which expire this year. All 249 pilot agreement holders have been invited to submit applications to renew by 15 July and Natural England is providing support and advice in the form of farmer workshops and some 1:1 site visits . We do not yet know what the final number of renewals will be.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis de minimis grants may be made to the fishing industry under EU rules; whether he plans to provide as such funding to the English fishing industry; and what the limit is of such funds that can be paid to fishing enterprises. (209724)

State aid can be paid to fisheries enterprises without notification to the EU Commission provided such payments fall below the “de minimis” threshold. This is currently €30,000 per enterprise over any three year period. I have no plans to provide further grants to the fishing industry beyond that already provided for under the European Fisheries Fund. For the English fishing industry this amounts to £71 million of EU and public funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records he holds on the level of de minimis funding given to the (a) French fishing industry, (b) Spanish fishing fleets and (c) fishing fleets of other EU member states. (209588)

Neither the Government nor the EU Commission holds records of the amount of state aid falling below the de minimis level paid by member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Surrey County Council on lessons learnt from the Pirbright foot and mouth disease outbreak. (210824)

Officers at DEFRA’s Animal Health Divisional Office, in Reigate, Surrey have held several meetings with representatives of Surrey County Council Trading Standards and Emergency Planning Departments to discuss a range of contingency planning issues including lessons identified from the foot and mouth outbreak in 2007. This dialogue is part of regular and continuing liaison.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will reverse his decision to exclude disadvantaged land from the hill farm allowance scheme for 2008. (210075)

No. The Hill Farm Allowance will only be paid on land in the ‘Severely Disadvantaged Areas’ (SDA) from 2008. This decision was taken following a public consultation in 2006 on the future of uplands support, in which the majority of respondents on this issue were in favour of restricting the hill farm allowance to the SDA only. Land in the ‘Disadvantaged Areas’ (DA) is generally more accessible, higher grade agricultural land with more options for diversification. The model of the single payment scheme adopted in England will also, over time, tend to favour DA farmers in comparison to those in the SDA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on his Department's funding for the hill farm allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement. (210076)

We receive representations on a range of issues relating to the Hill Farm Allowance, including funding, from various stakeholders. As at 10 June, the Rural Payments Agency had made payments totalling £22.9 million for 2008 Hill Farm Allowance claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on implementation of the EU Landfill Directive; (211440)

The requirements of the Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) and Council Decision (2003/33/EC) have already been fully transposed into national legislation. The measures were variously introduced in regulations in 2002, 2004 and 2005 and these provisions have been consolidated through the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007.

Article 5.2 of the directive has been transposed through the Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 and Landfill Allowances and Trading Scheme (England) Regulations 2004.

I have not held any discussions with the EU since the implementation of the Landfill Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what penalties may be imposed upon livestock owners who do not register livestock with his Department as required. (210044)

Cattle are the only livestock whose birth, movements and death must be individually registered by their keepers. In English law the requirement to register is set out in the Cattle Identification Regulations 2007 (as amended). If a case is heard in a magistrates court the penalty for failing to comply with the provisions of these regulations is a maximum fine of £5,000 or three months in prison or both. If the case is heard in a Crown court offenders may receive a sentence of up to two years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to investigate pet vending regulations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. (210183)

The timetable of proposed secondary legislation to be made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, including that which regulates the selling of pet animals, was recently reviewed. While it remains our intention to review this legislation/we will not be able begin the process during the current financial year.

A wide consultation on any government proposals will form part of any such review prior to any decisions being made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage people to recycle more materials. (211240)

Waste Strategy for England 2007 has a range of initiatives to encourage recycling, including the need to focus on the key waste materials where diversion from landfill could realise significant further environmental benefits, which have been identified as paper, food, glass, aluminium, wood, plastic and textiles.

In 2004, DEFRA funded the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) launched Recycle Now, with key objectives to change behaviour and encourage more of us to recycle more things, more often. Recycle Now encompasses an integrated mix of national advertising website support, and an integrated, broad-based national and regional PR campaign. 90 per cent of local authorities in England are now using the Recycle Now identity.

According to WRAP'S research, the campaign has had a significant impact and more than six out of every 10 people (61 per cent. or 25.5 million) in England were committed recyclers by 2007. The equates to 16 per cent. more people (8.5 million) being committed recyclers, compared to when the Recycle Now campaign was launched in England in September 2004, when the number of committed recyclers stood at 45 per cent.

Local authorities are responsible for the collection of recycled materials by their residents. The Government do not specify what materials local authorities must collect for recycling. However, Government initiatives such as performance indicators, local area agreements and the landfill allowance trading scheme should encourage local authorities to provide schemes that will increase recycling among their residents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to respond to the recent report by the Government’s Rural Advocate on the potential for boosting the rural economy. (210825)

I welcome this important report which demonstrates the huge contribution made by businesses in rural areas to the national economy. The report rightly stresses the importance of recognising this contribution at all levels in Government and the private sector, and the breadth of interest in rural economic development across Government at local, regional and national levels. DEFRA will work closely with colleagues across Government to reflect upon the report and take forward action in response to its recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which rivers in the South West and southern areas host populations of (a) predominantly native and (b) predominantly American crayfish; and which rivers host significant populations of both species. (210702)

Populations of native crayfish can be found in river catchments such as the Alien, Culm, Great Stour and Thames, although the situation is continually changing. Across the region American signal crayfish are abundant in river catchments such as the Somerset Tone, Hampshire Avon, Windrush and Eden.

Many native crayfish catchments also contain signal crayfish, for example the Bristol Avon, but the two species rarely co-exist for long. American signal crayfish are now more widely distributed across South West and Southern rivers compared with native species.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's personnel are assigned to the British Provincial Reconstruction Team in Lashkar Gah. (210503)

The UK employs a broad range of staff in support of the Government of Afghanistan to help develop a stable and secure Afghanistan. Over 100 civilian staff in Kabul and over 40 staff in Helmand are employed from across the Government, including the Stabilisation Unit, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Afghanistan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit. Their roles include work in governance, stabilisation, reconstruction and development, security sector reform and counter narcotics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had with representatives of Burma's democracy movement in the last 12 months. (208464)

As the Minister responsible for Burma, I have held a number of meetings with representatives of Burma's democratic movement over the last year, including Maung Maung, General Secretary of the Federation of Trade Unions Burma on 7 February; Dr. Sein Win of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma on 30 October; and Bo Kyi, Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, Burma, on 15 November 2007.

I chaired two of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's four meetings over the past year with a range of stakeholders with an interest in Burma. These have involved UK-based non-governmental organisations and representatives of the Burmese exile community, Burma's ethnic groups and the Burmese Buddhist community.

During my visit to Thailand in February, I also met representatives of Burmese exile groups there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will send a representative of his Department to attend the parole hearing for Mr. Craig Alden in Brazil on 26 June 2008. (211284)

[holding answer 17 June 2008]: Consular staff do not normally attend court hearings. Consular staff are not legally trained and cannot, therefore, comment on proceedings. In certain exceptional cases our officials may consider attending a court hearing, purely as observers. Should a British detainee or a member of their legal team ask for a representative from one of our embassies or consulates to attend a parole hearing, we will consider the request.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were (a) male, (b) female, (c) from an ethnic minority, (d) disabled and (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement. (208380)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not yet determined performance-related bonus payments for the reporting year 2007-08. The following data give a breakdown for the appraisal period ending 2006-07:

2,902 (51.36 per cent. of the total number of staff who received a bonus were male);

1,984 (35.12 per cent. of the total number of staff who received a bonus were female);

406 (7.19 per cent. of the total number of staff who received a bonus were from an ethnic minority);

207 (3.66 per cent. of the total number of staff who received a bonus were disabled); and

we do not collect data on the sexual orientation of staff.

Staff declaration of ethnic background and disabled status is voluntary.

The Office of National Statistics publish data on the gender, disability status and ethnic background of civil servants in Government Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the (a) observations and (b) recommendations of the report on Indonesia of the United Nations Committee against Torture; if he will make representations to the government of Indonesia on the Committee's observations and recommendations; and if he will make a statement. (208769)

We welcome the report on Indonesia by the UN Committee against Torture's observations and recommendations on Indonesia. The Committee welcomed Indonesia's accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 2006. It also welcomed the visit to Indonesia by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Dr Manfred Nowak, in November 2007 as well as visits by the former UN Special Representative for Human Rights Defenders and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.

However, the Committee expressed concerns about abuses in a number of areas, including allegations of torture and ill-treatment of suspects in police custody, the disproportionate use of force by the security forces and the harassment of human rights defenders. It puts forward a number of recommendations and Indonesia has been asked to respond to some of these recommendations within a year. We look forward to seeing the response from the Indonesian authorities.

Our Embassy in Jakarta monitors closely the human rights situation in Indonesia and we continue to raise issues of concern with the Indonesian authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Human Rights Report for 2007 sets out our concerns on the human rights situation in Indonesia, including reports of threats against human rights defenders. The full report can be found at:

www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/publications/annual-reports/human-rights-report

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the treatment of members of the Baha'i community in Iran. (211363)

[holding answer 17 June 2008]: The Government are deeply concerned by the overall human rights situation in Iran, including the treatment of the Baha'i community. The Baha'i faith is not officially recognised as a minority religion and consequently Baha'is are subject to institutional discrimination and persecution, for example restrictions on employment and education, anti-Baha'i propaganda campaigns in the state-run media and arbitrary arrests. We are particularly concerned that all the members of the informal group which co-ordinates Baha'i activities in Iran were arrested last month and we understand that further arrests of Baha'is have taken place in Esfahan and Ghaemshahr. The Government urges the Iranian government to address human rights concerns and uphold the international human rights standards that it has signed up to freely and regularly raises concerns about the treatment of the Baha'is with the Iranian authorities both bilaterally and through the EU. We have done so at least five times already this year. Most recently, following a recommendation by the UK, the EU issued a public declaration on 21 May expressing serious concern about the treatment of the Baha'is in Iran and calling for the release of the detained individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on private contractors providing protection services for his Department in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in 2007. (210498)

The information is as follows:

The information in the table covers contracts put in place by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London with private security companies and reflects the contract values concerned and not the actual spend. All of these contracts cover other Government Departments, with the costs thereof being shared out accordingly.

The FCO ensures that all contracts are subject to a rigorous selection process so that we obtain best value for money. Any company engaged by the FCO needs to pass through a stringent and transparent procurement process in line with public procurement guidelines and best practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what private contractors provided protection services for his Department in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan in 2007. (210499)

In Iraq, Control Risks have provided mobile security and GardaWorld static security since both contracts were re-tendered in early 2006.

In Afghanistan, Armorgroup have provided both static and mobile security since the contract was re-tendered in late 2006.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) ensures that all contracts are subject to a rigorous selection process so that we obtain best value for money. Any company engaged by the FCO needs to pass through a stringent and transparent procurement process in line with public procurement guidelines and best practice.

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 Kibbutz Nirim by the Izz al-Din and al-Qassam brigades; and if he will make a statement. (210508)

We have made clear on a number of occasions, including at the UN, that we condemn all rocket attacks into Israel and we will continue to do so. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv has condemned this specific attack.

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) governments of Arab states and (ii) the Government of Israel on rocket attacks on Israel by (A) the Izz al-Din and (B) al-Qassam brigades; what response was received from each; and if he will make a statement. (210509)

Rocket attacks against Israel, including those by this group, are a regular part of our dialogue with the Government of Israel and Arab states. This includes at ministerial level at the recent Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meetings in London on 1 May and 2 May and during my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's recent visit to the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of (a) men, (b) women and (c) children in Israel who have been (i) killed and (ii) injured by rocket attacks from (A) Gaza and (B) the Lebanon in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (210510)

We do not keep a breakdown of the number of Israelis killed and injured by rocket attacks. However, we understand from the Israeli Government that in the last five years 14 Israelis have been killed and 638 Israelis injured by rockets fired from Gaza.

The vast majority of rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel came during the Israel/Hezbollah conflict which ran from 12 July 2006 to 14 August 2006 and, according to Israeli Government figures, resulted in 44 Israeli civilians being killed and hundreds being injured. There have been other incidents of rocket fire from Lebanon into Israel during the last five years, but we do not have detailed figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of South Africa on attacks on immigrants and refugees in South Africa. (209302)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not to date discussed this specific issue with the Government of South Africa. However, he plans to visit the country soon and will do so then during discussion on a wide range of bilateral and other issues.

In a speech made on 5 June in South Africa, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development condemned the violence and announced a £500,000 (7.5 million Rand) funding package to provide assistance to migrants in temporary shelters affected by the recent violence. The money will be split between the South Africa based Treatment Action Campaign in the Western Cape, which will receive £200,000 and Oxfam's programme in Gauteng, which will receive £300,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to encourage EU and UN targeted sanctions against Sudanese officials responsible for Sudan's non-co-operation with the International Criminal Court. (207150)

The UK continues to press the Government of Sudan to comply with the requirements of the International Criminal Court (ICC). We have raised Sudanese compliance with the ICC with the Government of Sudan and with UN and EU partners, including in the UN Security Council. The UK has regularly raised with partners the need to be prepared to impose further sanctions where the relevant criteria are met. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, raised the need for Sudan to comply with the ICC in their meetings with the Sudanese Foreign Minister and other Sudanese officials on 28 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) representations and (b) requests for assistance his Department has received from the European Commission on the activities of British financial institutions in Zimbabwe. (210477)

We have received no representations or requests for assistance from the European Commission on the activities of British financial institutions in Zimbabwe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted of (i) assault and (ii) sexual assault on teachers in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. (211345)

The information as requested is not available. Assault or sexual assault on teachers in Northern Ireland do not constitute separate offences in legislation and court proceedings and sentencing data do not currently record the relationship between those who have been convicted of these offences and their victims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what proportion of his Department's employees are (a) male, (b) female, (c) from an ethnic minority, (d) disabled and (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement. (208398)

Within the Northern Ireland Office, as at the end of April 2008, the number of (a) male staff was 800 and the number of (b) female staff was 1,288.

Declaration of ethnic background and disabled status is voluntary. The number of staff recorded by the Northern Ireland Office as having declared that (c) they are from an ethnic minority is 18, and, (d) they have a disability is 80.

Sexual orientation is not currently monitored in the Northern Ireland Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decisions were taken at the meeting held on 30 January 2008 between the organiser of the Belfast Pride parade and the Parades Commission. (207675)

I am informed that the Parades Commission undertook to continue to liaise with the parade organiser and other stakeholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were convicted of racially-motivated crimes in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) police command unit and (b) council district. (211338)

The information requested is not available. Legislation for racial hatred is provided for by way of The Criminal Justice (No.2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004. Under this Order, penalties for conviction for specified violent offences can be increased by the court if racial hatred, sexual orientation, gender or disability was an aggravating factor. Court conviction datasets do not contain background information in relation to the commission of an offence and it is therefore not possible to separate out convictions for offences with a racial motivation.

Information on the incidence and impact of hate incidents and crimes is collected and is available from PSNI statistics at

http://www.psni.police.uk/3. hate_incidents_and_crimes-4.pdf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of his Department’s budget was spent on adult education and training in Merseyside in 2007. (211263)

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has responsibility for the funding of providers of post-16 further education (FE) and training.

Around £77 million was spent on adult participation programmes in Merseyside for the financial year 2007-08. This includes expenditure on FE participation, work based learning/adult apprenticeships, Train to Gain and Adult Safeguarded Learning.

Total departmental spend on adult participation spend for 2007-08 is not yet available. However as set out in the 2008-09 LSC Grant Letter (published November 2007) the comparable budget for adult participation through the LSC for 2007-08 was £2.84 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company. (208518)

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created as a result of Machinery of Government changes in June 2007. The Department does not hold records at this level of detail. To provide accurate details of spend on sending mail overseas, broken down by delivery company, would be at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many residents of (a) Cleethorpes constituency, (b) North East Lincolnshire and (c) North Lincolnshire entered higher education in each of the last 10 years; and how many of those were (i) mature and (ii) part-time in each of those years. (211849)

The latest available information is shown in the table. Comparable figures for the 2007/08 academic year will be available in January 2009.