14. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made in discussions on revising the EU grading rules for fruit and vegetables. (219300)

The June 2007 Agriculture Council agreed to a package of reforms to the CAP fruit and vegetables sector, since when the European Commission have been taking forward the implementation of the new regime. This includes revised rules on marketing standards which are currently under discussion in the Fruit and Vegetables Management Committee.

15. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make funding available for environmental projects for the Upper River Ray catchment area in Oxfordshire. (219301)

Funding has been available for environmental projects within the Upper River Ray catchment area for over 10 years through various agri-environment schemes.

16. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the likely effects on trends in the theft of agricultural equipment and red diesel of rising world oil and metal prices. (219303)

The Secretary of State has not had any discussion with the Home Secretary on the theft of agricultural equipment and red diesel. Farm security is a matter for individual farms to address, with advice from the police if necessary.

I sympathise with farmers who have been victims of crimes, but crime is the remit of the Home Office, and not this Department.

17. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals for incentives to encourage manufacturers of chewing gum to create a biodegradable product. (219304)

Manufacturers assure us that they continue to put significant resources into developing less adhesive products, while retaining their marketability and safety. Additional tax relief is already available to companies incurring expenditure on qualifying research and development activities.

18. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to seek reductions in food prices. (219305)

High food prices are a global issue requiring coordinated action. The G8 recently agreed to invest $10 billion to address short-term humanitarian needs and to improve food security over the longer term. Rising food prices have an impact at home and abroad—particularly for the poorest—and today my Department has published a discussion paper which sets out what we consider necessary to ensure UK food security in a globalised world.

19. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on making consumer products more energy efficient. (219308)

The publication of the Progress Report on Sustainable Products and Materials was agreed by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Energy and Environment. Regular meetings have also been held with industry stakeholders such as retailers and manufacturers.

20. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Consumer Council for Water; and what matters were discussed. (219310)

Ministers and DEFRA officials are in regular contact with the Consumer Council for Water on a range of issues.

21. To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the UK fishing industry. (219311)

Information of the performance of the UK fishing industry is published annually by the Marine and Fisheries Agency in: ‘United Kingdom Sea Fisheries Statistics’. The document includes information on the size of the UK fishing fleet, the number of fishermen, key economic indicators, and the quantity and value of sea fish landings, imports and exports. Comparisons are made with the fishing industries in Europe and the rest of the world.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the Rural Payments Agency's performance against its targets in delivering the single payment scheme. (219296)

The Rural Payments Agency met all of their payment targets for the 2007 Single Payment Scheme. This demonstrates a continued improvement in RPA performance and is another important step towards the agency again providing an acceptable level of service to its customers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps he has taken to safeguard marine habitats; and if he will make a statement. (219297)

The Government are committed to establishing (by 2012) a network of well managed marine protected areas that will conserve the richness of our marine environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the global economic situation on individual consumers’ carbon footprints. (219302)

In the short-term, high fossil fuel prices and the global downturn could lead to slightly reduced demand for fuel and energy, and thus slightly lower carbon emissions in the economy as a whole, as people reduce their demand for fuel and energy.

If fossil fuel prices remain high in the long run, we expect producers and consumers to adapt and consume less fossil-fuel based energy, leading to reduced carbon emissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 7 May 2008, Official Report, column 905W, on environment protection: housing, whether the carbon footprint regarding the 60 per cent. reduction target relates to housing only. (219021)

The Green Neighbourhoods project aims to retrofit up to one hundred selected neighbourhoods across England, with concentrations of hard-to-treat homes, with energy saving, microgeneration and water efficiency measures that would aim to reduce the carbon footprints of their homes by at least 60 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the Government abstained from the vote on the proposed Pesticides Directive in the Council of Ministers in respect of changing approval of pesticides from risk-based to hazard-based examination. (219447)

The UK abstained on this issue as we remained concerned that no proper assessment of the potential impact of the proposals on agriculture in the Community, or of their benefits for consumers, had been presented to member states. We could not support measures which would have significant adverse impacts on crop protection and secure no significant health benefits for consumers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of progress against his Department’s objective of achieving fair access to public services for rural communities. (219307)

DEFRA’s new departmental strategic objective, which is based on outcomes rather than inputs, is “Strong Rural Communities”. Progress against this DSO, published on the DEFRA website, is assessed quarterly against a range of indicators which show, in the main, a very positive picture.

In addition, the Commission for Rural Communities published its “State of the Countryside” report yesterday, in which the accessibility of services for rural communities is discussed in detail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which make and model of car he has chosen as his Ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency. (217750)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 16 July 2008, Official Report, column 414W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff in his Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years. (218972)

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many working days have been lost due to sickness amongst employees for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997. (218041)

The following table details the number of working days lost due to sickness among employees in the Northern Ireland Office in each year from 2000. Details are unavailable prior to 2000. The figures prior to 2004-05 do not include Home Civil Servants (HCS staff); however, they are included in figures from 2004-05 onwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what procedures are in place to identify (a) mental health problems, (b) learning difficulties and (c) addictions among those entering young offender centres in Northern Ireland; (218760)

All young offenders coming into prison undergo a health care committal screen on the first night. They are asked questions about mental health problems, drug and/or alcohol use or misuse and if they have any particular literacy problems. All inmates are also seen, on initial committal, by Opportunity Youth to identify any alcohol or substance misuse problems. If specific mental health problems are identified then they would receive onward referral to mental health support within health care.

The first assessment will be carried out by a mental health nurse who will provide basic support but, if required, a further referral will be made to another specialist, such as cognitive behavioural therapists, Opportunity Youth or psychiatrists.

A health care induction programme, aimed at providing inmates with information regarding the health services available to them whilst in custody, has been produced and is being delivered twice a week to all new committals. Inmates are informed of the clinics and support services available to them and how to access them. All staff, including the dental team, deliver the induction programme on a rotational basis.

Wider research in the UK suggests that approximately 60-70 per cent. of prisoners have some mental health problem but detailed analysis has not yet been undertaken specifically in relation to the young offender centre population.

Inmates are also given an education assessment within 20 days of committal which assesses literacy and numeracy ability and also tests for dyslexia. They are also asked to make the assessor aware of any other known learning difficulties, in particular ADHD.

In the last three years 31 per cent. of male young offenders have shown some indicators for dyslexia, (this compares with a figure of approximately 10 per cent. in the general population). A pilot is under way to assess better learning difficulties among the young offenders and in particular ADHD, which will also develop and pilot appropriate interventions.

At present, education staff are able to assess but not formally diagnose specific learning difficulties, although they can and do identify indications for certain conditions and plan and deliver lessons accordingly. Prison Service will also consider a diagnosis of dyslexia, which is a more formal process than assessment and must be carried out by a suitable qualified individual, as part of the pilot.

The Prison Service does not routinely have access to the academic, social care and other records of individuals before they come into custody. However, our own assessments on committal show that around 70 per cent. have literacy and numeracy skills below level 1, which is comparable to that of an 11-year-old.

Finally, the hon. Gentleman will be aware that lead responsibility for the provision of prison health care was transferred to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 1 April 2008 and therefore I have copied these questions and my response to the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey MLA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of those detained in young offender centres have been at any time a looked-after child or otherwise in the care of the state. (218802)

The Prison Service does not record the information requested in Northern Ireland. However, research in England and Wales suggests about one in three have been in care as a child.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of children who have (a) been arrested, (b) appeared in court, (c) gone through youth conferences and (d) been imprisoned in young offender centres or prison in each of the last 10 years spent time in state administered care. (218834)

Information in the format requested for (a), (b) and (d) is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Information available on (c) covers the proportion of initial admissions to the Juvenile Justice Centre, Northern Ireland, received from care homes:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department had with (a) the organisers of Formula 1, (b) Milton Keynes Council and (c) other interested parties on the proposed move of the British Grand Prix from Silverstone to Donington Park; and on what dates each such discussion took place. (219455)

The decision to move the British Grand Prix from Silverstone to Donington is a commercial matter for Formula One Management (FOM) and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).

I have not had any direct discussions with any party about this decision.

However, my officials and I have met regularly with representatives of Motor sport Development UK (MDUK), The British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) and colleagues from Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to discuss the current redevelopment plans of the Silverstone circuit.

I also met with Bernie Ecclestone on the 18 March 2008 to discuss the British Grand Prix.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many working days have been lost due to sickness amongst employees for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997. (218043)

Sickness absence figures are contained in the annual report ‘Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service’, published by the Cabinet Office. Website at

http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp

The sickness absence reports on the Cabinet Office website date back to 2004. DCMS only holds sickness absence data dating back to 2003.

The Department's sickness absence policy provides guidance to employees on the procedures to following in dealing with sick absence. It also details responsibilities of individuals, line managers and human and business resources in monitoring and dealing with sickness absence and encouraging return to work—which includes guidance on making reasonable adjustments for employees.

As part of the Department's attendance, health and well-being programme for employees, there are also policies covering a range of flexible work patterns such as part-time/job share, flexible working hours and working from home to support work-life balance. There is support for employees who may wish to take a career break and/or special leave.

The Department also has an employee assistance programme, which is free to employees (their families and friends) and offers advice and counselling on both personal and work related issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings the Gambling Commission has held with (a) Gala Coral, (b) William Hill and (c) Ladbrokes or their representatives on betting shops in the last 12 months; what matters were discussed; what the outcomes were of the discussions; and if he will make a statement. (219544)

As part of its work in regulating the gambling industry the Gambling Commission has various meetings with representatives of the gambling industry, including Gala Coral, William Hill and Ladbrokes.

These meetings can form part of a formal consultation process, formal liaison with the industry and compliance work. A wide range of regulatory matters have been discussed at the meetings which form part of the Commission's work to ensure effective regulation of the betting industry is maintained. Apart from the normal licensing processes and compliance visits to the operators' premises, the only specific meetings on betting shops with any of the companies have been induction visits for Commissioners and staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of funding from the Reaching Communities Scheme has gone to projects in (a) rural areas and (b) urban areas. (213450)

The fund does not distinguish between urban and rural areas in awarding and recording these grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance is provided on funding of programmes in rural areas when deciding on grants from the Reaching Communities Scheme. (213451)

Reaching Communities is managed by the Big Lottery Fund, which does not provide any specific guidance to applicants in rural areas but does work with partner or helper organisations to ensure that those groups who experience barriers to participation will be able to develop projects for funding from the programme. Regional information is also provided to committee members who are involved in considering applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department has provided to (a) amateur sports clubs and (b) sport in schools in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency since 1997. (218397)

Departmental and Lottery funding to promote and invest in grassroots and community sport is allocated via Sport England. They hold information according to local authority rather than parliamentary constituency, and have itemised the following investment since 1997 in clubs and schools projects within the London borough of Bexley:

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the opportunities for people completing apprenticeships to achieve higher education qualifications; and if he will make a statement. (219127)

In World-class Apprenticeships we highlighted the need for clear progression routes for apprenticeships to maximise the apprenticeship experience, including higher education. Sector Skills Councils are developing a strategy for Level 4 Apprenticeships, enabling progression to higher education, including Foundation Degrees. They are mapping all apprenticeship frameworks to see where Level 4 apprenticeships may be required. Arrangements are already in place for apprentices who complete an engineering or e-skills apprenticeship to have their learning recognised through UCAS points to progress to higher education. A further eight frameworks are expected to be recognised by 2010.

We expect the number of opportunities to progress to higher education to rise once the planned mapping has been completed and the responsibility for maintaining progress will lie with the new National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) when it is operational in April 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what percentage of staff in his Department and its predecessor have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years. (218716)

Since the Department was formed in the 28 June 2007 machinery of government changes, 56 staff have had more than two periods of sickness of less than five days. This applies from the date of establishment of the Department to 31 March 2008 (the latest information available). This equates to 6.8 per cent. of current staffing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many staff in his Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days since establishment. (218982)

Since the Department was established in the 28 June 2007 machinery of government changes, 10 staff have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days. This applies from the date of establishment of the Department to 31 March 2008 (the latest information available). This represents of 1.2 per cent. of DIUS staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many home information packs have been commissioned by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies to market a residential property; for which properties; at what cost; and whether a voluntary home condition report was purchased as part of the packs. (219013)

This Department has not commissioned any home information packs. An answer in respect of all our agencies could be given only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Leader of the House (1) how many and what percentage of staff in her office have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years; (218713)

Data held by the Cabinet Office indicated that in 2007 there were no staff in the Leader's Office who had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days.

The number of staff with periods of sick absence lasting less than five days for the calendar year 2006 is already a matter of public record.

Sickness absence information for the previous years is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission how much the Electoral Commission has spent on (a) its own voter registration campaigns and (b) voter registration campaigns run by non-governmental organisations in each of the last 10 years. (218986)

The Electoral Commission informs me that its public awareness campaigns both encourage voter registration and provide information about how to take part in elections, including different methods of voting and voting systems. The Commission is therefore not able to separate out its expenditure on voter registration specifically, from its expenditure on wider campaign activity.

The following table shows the total expenditure on the Commission’s campaign activity in each of the past four years for which the relevant financial records are readily available. Equivalent information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The costs include advertising costs, and expenditure on other campaign activity such as research, call centres, websites and publications.

Section 13 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 gives the Commission power to make grants to other bodies to promote public awareness. I am informed that since 2002 the Commission has awarded grants to organisations for projects that raise awareness of the democratic process, including but not limited to promoting voter registration. The following table shows the total grant funding awarded to non-governmental organisations in each year:

The grants scheme is now closed to new applications and all funded projects will end by 31 March 2010.

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission how much the Electoral Commission spent on voter registration advertising in each of the last five years; and what assessment the Commission has made of the effectiveness of that advertising in increasing voter registration. (218989)

The Electoral Commission informs me that its advertising campaigns both encourage voter registration and provide information about how to take part in elections, including different methods of voting and voting systems. The Commission is therefore not able to separate out its expenditure on voter registration advertising from its wider voter information advertising.

The following table shows the total expenditure on all such advertising in each of the past four years for which the relevant financial records are readily available. Equivalent information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

A report to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission by the Comptroller and Auditor General, published in 2006 and entitled “Is the Public Aware of Democracy?” concluded that the Commission had used its resources in raising public awareness in general effectively, when judged by measures such as recall rates and other industry measures for its advertising, and that there appeared to have been an overall positive effect on voter registration.

To ask the Solicitor-General what the hourly charging rates of staff of the Treasury Solicitor’s Department were in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08. (217289)

For those staff of the Treasury Solicitor’s Department who are charged for on an hourly rate, the figures were:

To ask the Solicitor-General what steps she plans to take following the publication in June 2008 of the final report on the review of the Serious Fraud Office; which organisations will be consulted on the report; and if she will make a statement. (215311)

I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement on 10 June 2008, Official Report, column 12WS. The review by Jessica de Grazia provided helpful insights into the work of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) based on comparisons with US prosecutors.

The new Director of the SFO has found her recommendations on the internal workings of the SFO valuable background for his change programme. We are considering her recommendations on the wider environment in the context of a range of proposals we are already taking forward to strengthen the response to fraud, which is a cross-Government programme of work.

To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions the Attorney-General has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Justice and (b) the Home Secretary on the Final Report on the review of the Serious Fraud Office published in June 2008. (215312)

The Attorney-General shared Jessica de Grazia’s report with the Secretary of State for Justice and the Home Secretary as it was published, and our officials were then and have since been in contact with officials in both Departments and in the prosecuting Departments to consider the recommendations.

To ask the Solicitor-General what plans there are to enhance co-operation between the Serious Fraud Office, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office. (216029)

The Serious Fraud Office works closely in collaboration with the other Law Officer Departments and the Attorney-General’s Office on a variety of issues. To ensure her Departments work closely together at a strategic level, my noble Friend the Attorney-General chairs a strategic board on which the directors are represented, which meets quarterly.

To ask the Solicitor-General with how many external contractors the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has contracts; what estimate she has made of the average annual cost to the public purse of such contracts; and how many such contractors have held contracts with the SFO in each of the last 10 years. (215314)

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) does not keep records of the number of external contractors it employs. The cost of all non-permanent staff employed at the SFO (including external barristers) for each of the last 10 years is as follows:

To ask the Solicitor-General what the cost of running the Serious Fraud Office was in each of the last 10 years. (215316)

The cost of running the Serious Fraud Office for each of the last 10 years was as follows:

To ask the Solicitor-General what plans there are to increase the Serious Fraud Office’s investigatory powers; and whether these plans have been amended to take account of the findings in the Final Report on the review of the Serious Fraud Office published in June 2008. (215307)

At present, there are no plans to extend the investigative powers of the Serious Fraud Office beyond those which were recently provided through the Serious Crime Act 2007.

To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions were initiated by the Serious Fraud Office in each of the last 10 years; and what the conviction rate from such prosecutions was in each year. (215322)

The Serious Fraud Office has brought prosecutions against the following number of defendants in each of the last 10 years; and the conviction rates arising from these prosecutions are as follows:

To ask the Solicitor-General in what proportion of Serious Fraud Office prosecutions was pre-trial abuse claimed by the defence in each of the last 10 calendar years. (216028)

The Serious Fraud Office does not centrally maintain statistics about applications made to a judge to stop a trail from proceedings on the basis of allegations of abuse of process.

The SFO holds post-case reviews on conclusion of each case, which provides an opportunity for the case team to discuss and record the successes of the investigation, as well as any lessons learned from issues encountered (and resolved) for the future. This information is shared across the office to ensure that best practice is adopted throughout the organisation.

To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Attorney-General plans to issue guidance to the Serious Fraud Office on its recruitment practices, with particular regard to recruitment of former police officers. (216032)

No.

To ask the Solicitor-General what reasons were given to the Attorney General for the resignation of the former Chief Executive of the Serious Fraud Office. (216030)

The head of the Serious Fraud Office is the Director. The previous Director, Robert Wardle, was appointed on the basis of a fixed term contract which ended on 20th April 2008.

To ask the Solicitor-General whether the (a) targets and (b) priorities of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) are to be reviewed following the review of the SFO Final Report published by the Attorney General in June. (214971)

The SFO is currently involved in a fundamental review as a result of the arrival of a new Director on 21 April 2008 and the publication of Jessica de Grazia’s Report on the Serious Fraud Office published in June 2008.

As part of this review the Director has already made a number of changes designed to strengthen the leadership team, improve staff training and to shorten the time it takes to get SFO cases into Court. The recommendations made in Jessica de Grazia’s report which relate to the operation and management of the SFO are currently being considered very carefully as part of this, and further developments to build on the performance of the SFO will be introduced over the coming year.

To ask the Solicitor-General whether there are proposals to (a) improve the Serious Fraud Office’s case management procedures and (b) seek efficiency savings in Serious Fraud Office investigations and prosecutions. (215315)

The recently appointed director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has already stated on several occasions that one of his priorities is to enable cases to be brought to court more quickly.

In addition, in March 2007 the SFO established the Case Management Reform Programme (CMRP), which is a business change programme designed to contribute to the strategic aims and objectives of the SFO. In particular, the CMRP aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of SFO casework processes, thus increasing the probability that cases will withstand procedural challenge and be concluded within much shorter time frames.

To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment she has made of the findings in the recent final report on the Serious Fraud Office on its working culture; and if she will make a statement. (216033)

The Attorney-General and I are aware that the new Director of the Serious Fraud Office has taken account of Jessica de Grazia’s findings and his own assessment since arrival and that he is taking forward a programme of change within the SFO, including of communication and ways of working. This is a welcome approach. In this he will be building on the good work of very many staff in the SFO, which was also acknowledged by Jessica de Grazia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what regulations and guidelines govern the participation of children in care in drug trials. (218463)

I have been asked to reply.

Clinical Trials in the European Union are undertaken in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2001/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the European Council on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states relating to implementation of good clinical practice in the conduct of clinical trials on medicinal products for human use. The Directive provides for the protection of clinical trial subjects, including minors, and sets out requirements for the ethical review of clinical trials. The Directive provides for a general rule that minors may only be included in a clinical trial if the informed consent of the parents or legal representative has been obtained.

The Directive was transposed into United Kingdom legislation as the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations on 1 May 2004. Two further Commission Directives setting out the detailed principles and guidelines of good clinical practice have been agreed and implemented into UK law. On 1 May 2008 the Government amended UK legislation, following a public consultation, to allow minors to be entered into a trial prior to consent having been obtained from a person with parental responsibility or legal representative in trials of emergency medicines where and while certain conditions are met.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) new builds and (b) major refurbishments were completed by his Department for a cost in excess of £0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if he will make a statement. (213692)

The Department for Children, Schools and Families was created on 28 June 2007 and has not completed any new builds since that time. Since 2007, the Department has undertaken one major refurbishment with a value in excess of £0.5 million where BREEAM is applicable. The work is ongoing and a BREEAM assessment will be undertaken once the refurbishment has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on developing the ‘Build your PlaySpace’ on the departmental website; and if he will make a statement. (217673)

The Department developed the ‘Build your PlaySpace’ interactive tool to engage children and young people in the fair play consultation in a fun and interactive way. The tool is one strand of a wider consultation strategy that includes an activity poster/competition for children and young people, live events to encourage local dialogue with children, young people, their families and practitioners and written consultation.

The cost of developing the ‘Build your PlaySpace’ tool was £50,000 plus VAT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people have used the ‘Build your PlaySpace’ on his Department's website; and if he will make a statement. (217674)

The Department developed the ‘Build your PlaySpace’ interactive tool to engage children and young people in the fair play consultation in a fun and interactive way. The tool is one strand of a wider consultation strategy that includes an activity poster/competition for children and young people, live events to encourage local dialogue with children, young people, their families and practitioners and written consultation.

The number of people who have used the ‘Build your PlaySpace’ tool as at 16 July 2008 is 9,286. The interactive tool will be available until 18 August 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on hospitality in the last 12 months. (219696)

The purchase of hospitality is recorded under the general heading of Meeting Refreshments. Details of expenditure on hospitality incurred by the Department over the last 12 months and recorded in the Department's Integrated Financial Information System are set out:

Financial Year 2007-08: £ 357,260.54

DCSF was established under Machinery of Government Changes on 28 June 2007. The response also covers those areas of responsibility held by its predecessor, the Department for Education and Skills (DFES).

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been paid in bonuses to staff of each non-departmental body for which his Department has responsibility in the last 12 months. (219282)

The Department does not hold information on the bonuses paid to NDPB staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many young offenders were assessed on reception into custody as having literacy and numeracy skills below level one at each young offender institution in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement; (219242)

The following table gives the number of young offenders who were assessed on reception into custody as having literacy and numeracy skills below level one (those assessed at Pre-entry Level, Entry Level 1, Entry Level 2 and Entry Level 3) at each Young Offender Institution in the last 12 months:

The following table gives the number of juvenile young offenders assessed for literacy and numeracy skills on entry to custody in YOIs (data prior to 2003/04 are not available):

Data from the Learning and Skills Council’s (2006-07) initial literacy assessments on for juveniles in YOIs is as follows (data prior to 2006/07 are not available):

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many hours per week of education young people in young offender institutions received on average in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement; (219246)

The following table shows the average number of hours of education, training and personal development activity received by juvenile offenders in young offender institutions (YOIs) for all the years that YJB data are available:

The following table gives the attendance rates per establishment in 2006/07:

Data on the proportion of juvenile offenders supervised by YOIs who are in full-time education, training or employment are not collected in the format requested. Under the Offenders Learning and Skills Service (OLASS), each young offender has an entitlement to 25 hours of education, training and personal development activity per week. The Youth Justice Board collect data on the average number of hours delivered across YOIs and the latest figures are shown above.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what targets his Department has set to improve the educational provision and performance of young offender institutions; what progress has been made towards meeting these targets; when each such target is to be met; and if he will make a statement. (219247)

The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not set central targets to improve the educational provision and performance of young offender institutions. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) sets and monitors the following performance indicators for education in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs):

Assessment: All young people entering a secure facility are assessed for literacy and numeracy.

Progression: 80 per cent. of young people must improve by one skill level or more in literacy and/or numeracy from the level of need set out in the individual learning plan. In YOIs this indicator relates to young people on DTOs of 12 months or more.

Training plans: All young people entering a secure facility must have a training plan developed and subsequently reviewed in accordance with the “YJB’s National Standards for Youth Justice Services”.

Hours of education and training: to ensure that young people in YOIs receive an average of 25 hours training and personal development activity per week.

The following table shows the performance against these YJB targets for the years for which data are available:

We have published proposals to improve the education and training young offenders receive in the Youth Crime Action Plan on 15 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many foster carers received fixed penalty notices for non-attendance of children in their care at school in each of the last five years. (219482)

Information on the number of foster carers who received fixed penalty notices for non-attendance of children in their care at school in each of the last five years is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on implementation of (a) the Healthy Schools initiative and (b) the Sustainable Schools framework in each year since 2004; and what forecast expenditure on such activities is for (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. (219401)

The National Healthy Schools Programme is jointly funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Health. The following amounts have been allocated for each financial year since 2004:

£13.2 million provisional funding has been allocated through the area based grant for each year over the next three financial years 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11, with the option of adding more funds in each financial year. We have added £3 million to this financial year bringing the total to £16.2 million for 2008-09.

The Sustainable Schools programme began in May 2006 and the Department has

spent to date:

We have forecast to spend in 2008-09 and 2009-10:

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils attending pupil referral units were (a) convicted of a criminal offence and (b) received an official police caution in the school year 2006-07. (219263)

The requested information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent discussions the Youth Sport Trust has had with the Association for Physical Education on the delivery of the National Schools Sports Strategy. (217525)

Through their joint membership of the consortium contracted to deliver the PE and Sport Professional Development Programme, a workstrand of the PE and Sport Strategy for Young People, the YST routinely meet with AFPE. The last such meeting was held on 12 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) officials in his Department and (b) employees of (i) agencies and (ii) other bodies reporting to his Department were (A) dismissed and (B) disciplined for matters related to their conduct in the last two years. (217604)

According to centrally held records in the Ministry of Justice (former DCA), including HMCS, OPG, Tribunals Service, Wales Office, Scottish Office and MOJ HQ, 40 members of staff were dismissed for matters relating to conduct in the period April 2006 to the end of March 2007, and 53 members of staff were dismissed for the period April 2007 to the end of March 2008.

The former DCA does not hold the information on the number of staff disciplined for matters related to their conduct centrally in the format requested. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The only information of this type held is on the Prison Service.

According to centrally held records in the public sector Prison Service, 130 members of staff have been dismissed, and a further 587 members of staff have been formally disciplined, for matters relating to their conduct in the period 1 July 2006 through 30 June 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of staff of his Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years. (217416)

The core Ministry of Justice employs staff previously employed on several sets different terms and conditions, each with their own legacy arrangements for bonus payments.

The information provided as follows relates to former DCA senior civil service (SCS) and grades below SCS. The data exclude payments to magistrates courts staff (who became civil servants within this Department in April 2005 and whose terms and conditions did not normally allow for payment of performance or special bonuses) and staff in the Tribunals Service who joined the former DCA on 1 April 2006 about whom information is not available to us prior to 2007.

Proportion of staff below the SCS who did not receive the maximum special bonus amount during the past two years.

Special bonuses are paid to staff ‘in year’ for exceptional contribution over and above that normally expected during the performance year. Awards are benchmarked locally and there is ‘no maximum’ amount payable.

HM Prison Service. HM Prison Service became an Executive agency of the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007.

In 2006-07, no member of staff employed by HMPS was awarded the maximum bonus available.

In 2007-08, two members of staff received this bonus. The total number of staff in post at this time was 51,239, therefore as a proportion more than 99.99 per cent. of staff did not receive the maximum possible bonus.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions there were for offences connected to domestic violence in each of the last three years, broken down by criminal justice area. (218749)

Convictions for offences involving domestic violence cannot be identified from the information held on the court proceedings database as the circumstances behind each offence are not collected centrally by my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions for offences related to driving without insurance there were in each police force area in each of the last 10 years; and what the average penalty imposed in each year was. (219058)

The available information relates to the offence of ‘use of a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks’. Tables A and B provide data on prosecutions, convictions (findings of guilt) and court imposed fines from 1997 to 2006 (latest available). Table C covers fixed penalty notices issued from 1 June 2003 to 2006. Data for 2007 will be available later this year.