To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish the Wales Office Annual Report 2008. (280207)

The Wales Office Annual Report 2009 was published on 12 June 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what (a) private meetings and (b) public engagements Ministers in his Department have attended at which representatives from the think-tank Demos were present in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. (279488)

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has any contracts with the think-tank Demos. (279489)

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what training courses have been attended by special advisers in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what cost. (279389)

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many companies in Wales provided services or products to the automotive industry in each year since 1997. (280141)

The automotive industry has remained relatively stable in Wales since 1997 with around 200 companies in the direct supply chain, currently employing 20,000 people. This includes two engine plants owned by volume vehicle manufacturers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which local authorities have obtained a licence for a (a) small and (b) large casino; and when each such casino (i) opened or (ii) is planned to open. (280198)

The Gambling Act 2005 (Geographical Distribution of Large and Small Casino Premises Licences) Order 2008 came into effect on 20 May 2008. This order specifies which licensing authorities may issue large and small casino premises licences. It is up to the individual licensing authorities to decide when they will invite and consider applications for the new premises licences. None of them have yet done so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to publish the results of the consultation on the World Heritage for the Nation: Identifying, Protecting and Promoting our World Heritage document. (279114)

[holding answer 12 June 2009]: We will shortly be concluding our analysis of the results of the World Heritage Policy Review. We will publish the results in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) UK Sport, (b) Sport England and (c) Arts Council England spent on media monitoring services in each of the last three years; what proportion of such expenditure by each body was drawn from its Exchequer funding in each such year; and which organisations provided those services. (279940)

The following figures have been provided by the bodies requested. They include subscriptions to bespoke media monitoring services and the cost of press cuttings. They do not include the costs of any transcripts or recordings, fees to the Newspaper Licensing Authority, or analysis of press coverage. All figures include VAT.

Sport England have been unable to provide figures within the given timeframe. I have asked the chief executive to write when figures are available and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) his Department, (b) English Heritage, (c) the Heritage Lottery Fund and (d) the Big Lottery Fund spent on media monitoring services in 2008-09; and which organisations provided those services. (279941)

The following figures include subscriptions to bespoke media monitoring services and the cost of press cuttings. They do not include the costs of any transcripts or recordings, fees to the Newspaper Licensing Authority, or analysis of press coverage. All figures are inclusive of VAT.

The requested bodies advise the following figures, which like the DCMS figures, include subscriptions to bespoke media monitoring services and the cost of press cuttings. They do not include the costs of any transcripts or recordings, fees to the Newspaper Licensing Authority, or analysis of press coverage. They are inclusive of VAT.

The Big Lottery Fund has been unable to provide the requested information in the given timeframe. I have asked the chief executive to write when figures are available, and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals are delivered to the private office of each Minister in his Department; and at what cost in the latest period for which figures are available. (279419)

The Secretary of State receives the following papers and periodicals:

Papers

Daily Express

Daily Mail

Daily Mirror

Daily Telegraph

Evening Standard

Financial Times

Guardian

Independent

Sun

Times

Periodicals

Economist

New Statesman

Spectator

Tribune

The Minister for Sport receives no periodicals, but does receive the following papers:

Daily Express

Daily Mail

Daily Mirror

Daily Telegraph

Evening Standard

Financial Times

Guardian

Independent

Racing Post

Sun

Times

Yorkshire Post

The Minister for Culture and Tourism receives the following papers and periodicals:

Papers

Daily Mail

Evening Standard

Times

Periodicals

Caterer Hotel Keeper

Music Week

Stage

The Minister for Creative Industries and the Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting do not receive any publications.

The total cost for these over the period 1 May 2009 to 31 May 2009 is £283.51. All publications are cancelled on Fridays and during recess. All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on reaching agreement on a UK-Israel Film Co-production Treaty. (279751)

We have completed the substantive negotiations with Israel on a film co-production agreement. There are some minor elements to be finalised, but we expect to be able to announce arrangements for the signing of this treaty soon.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics what her most recent estimate is of the cost of hosting the London 2012 Olympics beach volleyball event at Horse Guards Parade. (278655)

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has responsibility for staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games at existing venues. The direct costs associated with staging the events at existing venues come from LOCOG's revenues which are primarily derived from commercial sponsorship, broadcast rights, ticket sales and merchandising/licensing—not from the public purse.

There will be attributable costs to the public purse, for example in respect of the security and transport functions associated with the venue. However these costs have not yet been identified separately for individual venues, but they will form part of the overall security and transport budgets.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding the Government have provided for the training of African peacekeepers since 2005; how many new peacekeepers have been trained as a result; and if he will make a statement. (279077)

Since 2004-05 the UK Government have allocated £80 million to Peace Support Operation (PSO) Projects in Africa. This has supported the training of approximately 12,000 African peacekeepers.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consultations have been carried out by his Department since July 2007; and at what cost. (279343)

Details of consultations carried out by the Department for International Development (DFID) are available on the DFID website:

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/consultations

Information on expenditure on public consultation is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what training courses have been attended by special advisers in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what cost. (279396)

The Department for International Development's (DFID) special advisers have not attended any training courses in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the Independent Evaluation Group report on improving effectiveness and outcomes for the poor in health, nutrition and population; and what steps his Department plans to take in response to the report. (279862)

The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the main findings of the Independent Evaluation Group which provide the World Bank with clear directives on how it can improve the quality of its work in health, nutrition and population.

The World Bank has committed to refocus its capacity and support behind health system strengthening, especially in Africa. This is reflected in its health, nutrition and population strategy. DFID will continue to press for full and accelerated implementation of this strategy and has agreed to fund regional posts in health systems strengthening under the International Health Partnership.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much financial aid the Government have provided to support projects in Kenya in each of the last five years. (280163)

Full details of UK aid expenditure by country are contained in the Department for International Development's (DFID) publication ‘Statistics on International Development’. This publication is available from the Library and online at:

www.dfid.gov.uk

Relevant figures are reproduced in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of (a) children and (b) girls enrolled in (i) primary, (ii) secondary and (iii) tertiary education in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. (279608)

The table provides the most recent World Bank data on net enrolment rates in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Kosovo for the year 2005-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the availability and standard of supply of (a) electricity and (b) water in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. (279607)

The most recent data available are provided by the World Bank from the year 2005-06 and show that 97.9 per cent. of the population in Kosovo has access to electricity. Data on overall access to water are not collected.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners whether the Church Commissioners have a policy on mobile phone masts (a) on church property and (b) inside church spires. (279560)

The decision to host mobile phone telecommunication equipment on a church spire is a matter for the relevant parochial church council. Any installation would be subject to the requisite secular and ecclesiastical permissions being obtained, following public consultation, and each case is decided on its own merits.

As for property owned by the Commissioners, standard form leases are offered to telecom operators for masts on properties in the Commissioners' rural portfolio.

In the rest of the Commissioners' portfolio there are only a very small number of masts and these installations are dealt with case by case.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many churches in each diocese have reported an increase in their water bills as a result of the new surface water charges. (279561)

Water charges are the responsibility of the Parochial Church Council of the particular church and such data are not held centrally.

However, as churches were previously exempt from water rates, in areas where surface water and highways charges have begun to be phased in, all those with connections to the public drains face increases. In many cases these will be substantial, with annual increases ranging from a few hundred pounds for a small church to several thousand pounds for large churches. If applied nationally, this would result in estimated charges of £5 million for surface water drainage and £10 million for highways drainage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has any contracts with the think-tank Demos. (279493)

The Scotland Office has no contracts with the think-tank Demos.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what training courses have been attended by special advisers in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what cost. (279392)

Special advisers receive training as appropriate to enable them to fulfil their duties and responsibilities as set out in the “Model Contract for Special Advisers”. In the last 12 months, no training courses have been attended and no costs have been incurred.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission (1) when the House's catering staff will receive their increases in pay arising from their pay settlement effective in April 2008; (279629)

The pay settlement for catering and retail staff for 2008-09 has yet to be agreed. However, the trade unions representing catering staff (GMB and PCS) have agreed to recommend acceptance of an improved offer made by management for a three-year pay settlement. The unions are balloting their members on management's revised offer and if both unions' members accept, staff will receive their pay increases and arrears with their July salaries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the service family accommodation rented by his Department from (a) councils and (b) registered social landlords by standard of condition. (280195)

No service family accommodation is rented from councils or registered social landlords.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training courses have been attended by special advisers in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what cost. (279402)

Special advisers receive training as appropriate to enable them to fulfil their duties and responsibilities as set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. The only training undertaken by the MOD special advisers in the last 12 months has been theatre pre-deployment training. This in-house training includes the mandatory briefings on safety and security and survival, evasion, resistance and extraction prior to visiting operational theatres.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what stage the EU Battlegroup roster has reached. (279966)

The current EU Battlegroup roster forecasts commitments to 2013, and is shown in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effects on levels of (a) recruitment of Gurkhas and (b) resettlement of former Gurkhas in the UK if his Department were to apply its policies on former UK service personnel to former Gurkha soldiers. (280396)

Since 2004, Gurkhas who served on or after 1 July 1997 have had the right to settle in the UK on discharge and the majority have done so. Some Gurkhas who retired before 1 July 1997 were given settlement under discretionary arrangements and the Government have recently extended these arrangements to include all those who retired before 1 July 1997 with four or more years service.

There is no evidence that these changes will have any impact on the recruitment of Gurkhas—recruiting is now under way for the 2010 intake and the quality and quantity of applicants in Nepal is as high as ever. Levels of resettlement of former Gurkhas in the UK are expected to increase and further work is being undertaken across Government to assess what the effects of this might be. The MOD will continue to monitor these issues to ensure that force structures and operational effectiveness are sustained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) tax and (b) other payments Gurkhas who retired before 1997 were required to make during their service to the Government; and if he will make a statement. (279747)

Before 1 July 1997 the Brigade of Gurkhas was based in the far east. Only those soldiers who came to the United Kingdom on a tour of duty and those commissioned through the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst paid tax.

Other payments made from a Gurkha's pay may have included recovery of debts including military fines and forfeitures of pay, overpayments, debit balances, payment of civil fines and judgment debts.

Voluntary payments may also have been made for allotments to family members in Nepal, savings and insurance schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Orpington of 7 May 2009 to his Department on the Spitfire and Hurricane gate guardians at the entrance to St. George's Chapel, Biggin Hill. (279639)

I replied to the hon. Member on 15 June 2009, advising that I would write to him with a substantive reply within the next few weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on research on reducing (a) carbon dioxide, (b) methane and (c) nitrous oxide emissions from domestic agriculture in the last five years. (278988)

DEFRA’s Farming and Food Science research programme in the period 2004-05 to 2008-09 has included a number of projects aimed at reducing carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from domestic agriculture. Expenditure has been as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the average cost to a farmer of constructing a winter slurry storage silo. (279909)

[holding answer 15 June 2009]: We do not hold figures for the cost to individual farmers of constructing a winter slurry store. In any event, an average figure could be misleading owing to the different sizes of farm holdings. The Department can confirm that the estimated costs to the sector of constructing additional storage facilities to comply with the storage capacity requirement are between £12.8 million and £16.5 million per annum. This was outlined in the Department's Impact Assessment of proposals to revise the Nitrates Action Programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the effectiveness of the provisions of the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 in ensuring the maintenance of animal welfare standards; and if he will make a statement. (279089)

As well as being covered by the 1925 Act, performing animals are protected by provisions laid down in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. We are currently in the process of reviewing the welfare standards of performing animals, and will consider the need for any further controls in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the allocation of additional funding for research into bee colony collapse announced on 17 June 2008 on bee health; and if he will make a statement. (278817)

[holding answer 10 June 2009]: Analysis of the results of this research within the Food and Environment Research Agency's National Bee Unit shows that the most important risk factor in the mortality or weakening of colonies is Deformed Wing Virus, a virus transmitted by the parasitic Varroa mite, clearly indicating failed or unsuccessful treatments of mite infestations.

This highlights the importance of improving standards of husbandry and is in agreement with results from earlier studies investigating abnormal colony losses in 2007. The impact of mite infestations was exacerbated by the unfavourable weather conditions over the last two years which did not allow colonies to prosper.

The weather conditions experienced so far in 2009 have led to far fewer losses. A final report with the results from the investigations into abnormal colony losses will be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate his Department has made of the population of each species of bird of prey in the UK. (279086)

The population of most species is assessed periodically by species-specific surveys of breeding numbers. The frequency of surveys varies between species. The latest available results from these, together with the years of survey, are provided in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has allocated to the Overseas Territories Environment Programme in each of the last five years. (279090)

The Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) is jointly funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. DEFRA sits on the assessment panel that considers which projects OTEP should support, but DEFRA does not provide funding to OTEP.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the percentage change in levels of (a) tuna and (b) cod stocks in UK waters in each year since 1997. (279353)

Tuna stocks are distributed throughout the Atlantic. No stocks of tuna are found exclusively within UK waters. Only a small percentage of the distribution of the northern albacore and the east Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna stocks are located within UK waters—to the west of Scotland and in the Celtic sea.

Tuna stocks are assessed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). ICCAT have not published absolute values for the stock biomass so that comparisons with historic estimates cannot be made. However, ICCAT does classify stock biomass levels relative to internationally agreed sustainable targets for biomass (BMSY—biomass at maximum sustainable yield) and exploitation rate (FMSY—fishing mortality at maximum sustainable yield).

For Northern albacore tuna, the most recent ICCAT assessment of stock status for northern albacore tuna was conducted in 2007¹. ICCAT considers that spawning stock size in 2005 was about one quarter of the peak levels estimated for the late 1940s. The analysis indicated that in 2005 the stock has rebuilt to 20 per cent. below the biomass expected at the optimum level for exploitation, compared to 50 per cent. below in 2000.

For East Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna, the most recent ICCAT assessment of stock status for the east Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna stock was conducted in 2008². Analysis indicates that recent (2003-07) spawning biomass is less than 40 per cent. of the highest estimated levels.

Cod stocks are distributed throughout the North East Atlantic in the waters that surround the UK. No stocks of cod are found exclusively within UK waters. The stocks are considered separate biological units and are usually referred to by geographic region; North sea Skagerrak and eastern English channel, West of Scotland, Rockall, Irish sea, Celtic sea and western English channel.

Cod stocks are assessed annually by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The most recent ICES advice was issued in 2008. For each cod stock the change in the level of spawning biomass in each year since 1997 is presented in table 1:

¹ http://www.iccat.int/Documents/SCRS/ExecSum/ALB_EN.pdf

² http://www.iccat.int/Documents/SCRS/ExecSum/BFT_EN.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department has allocated for the support of fishermen in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point in each year since 1997. (279330)

Data on the bids and allocations for support to fishermen are not held in a form that is easily accessible and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Some examples of work carried out by DEFRA in Essex and Castle Point in 2008-09 include the Environmentally Responsible Fishing Pilot Scheme, and funding for decommissioning of some ‘under 10 metre vessels’.

Since 2000, we have allocated over £170 million of funding to the fishing industry in the UK as a whole¹. This has consisted of structural funds, including the FIFG (Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) and European Fisheries Fund (EFF), and a range of national schemes to help support development and sustainability of the UK fishing fleet.

Some £67 million² (including national match funding) is now available under the EFF, for projects in England. As part of this, during the past year, we have announced a package of support measures for the industry, amounting to around £5 million³ worth of funding.

¹ Figures provided by Marine and Fisheries Agency.

² Ibid.

³ Ibid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) postal address and (b) budget for 2009-10 of each Forestry Commission regional advisory committee is. (279922)

The Forestry Commission’s nine regional advisory committees can be contacted through the Commission’s regional offices.

North West England Office

Forestry Commission

Peil Wyke

Bassenthwaite Lake

Cockermouth

Cumbria

CA13 9YG

North East England Office

Forestry Commission

1, Walby Hill

Rothbury

Morpeth

Northumberland

NE65 7NT

Yorkshire and The Humber Office

Forestry Commission

Wheldrake Lane

Crockey Hill

York

YO19 4FF

East Midlands Office

Forestry Commission

Edwinstow

Mansfield

Nottinghamshire

NG21 9JL

West Midlands Office

Forestry Commission

Government Buildings

Block B

Whittington Road

Worcester

WR5 2FR

East England Office

Forestry Commission

Santon Downham

Brandon

Suffolk

IP27 0TJ

South West England Office

Forestry Commission

Mamhead Castle

Mamhead

Nr Exeter

Devon

EX6 8HD

South East England Office

Forestry Commission

Alice Holt

Wrecclesham

Farnham

Surrey

GU10 4LF

London Office

Forestry Commission

Government Office for London

Riverwalk House

157-161 Millbank

London

SW1P 4RR

The regional advisory committees do not have their own budgets. The chairs of the committees receive an annual payment, currently £2,545 per annum, and the members are unpaid. The chair and members receive reimbursement of expenses in accordance with Forestry Commission rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the six-day rule for fallen livestock; and whether he plans to end the rule. (279828)

The six-day standstill rule applies only to movements of live animals, not to fallen livestock. Fallen livestock must be taken to or collected by an approved knacker, hunt kennel, incinerator or renderer, either by private arrangement, or under the National Fallen Stock Scheme, following the usual strict biosecurity protocols.

Maintenance of the six-day standstill rule for the movement of live animals is essential in reducing the spread of livestock disease between the time of infection and the time the disease becomes evident. There are therefore no plans for its abolition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of recent representations by staff of the New Forest National Park Authority on the administration of the Park; and if he will make a statement. (279305)

On 8 June DEFRA's Permanent Secretary received an anonymous letter which made allegations about the management of the New Forest National Park. The issues outlined in the letter are matters for the National Park Authority to consider. However, DEFRA will be looking to the authority for reassurance that the issues raised in the letter are investigated and addressed, as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many convictions for offences related to birds were made under Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in each of the last five years. (279087)

The number of defendants found guilty at all courts for bird-related offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, in England and Wales, 2003 to 2007 (latest available figures) are shown in the following table:

These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom bird-related offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government’s wildlife crime priorities are for 2009-10, with particular reference to species subject to illegal trade. (279088)

The Government’s wildlife crime priorities for 2009-10, agreed by senior Government and enforcement officers, are badger persecution, bat persecution, species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), freshwater pearl mussels, poaching, and raptor persecution.

The CITES species issues currently being focused on are caviar, ivory, ramin timber, tortoises and traditional medicines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the effectiveness of the National Protocol for Cooperation on Rodent Control 2000 in meeting its objectives. (278977)

DEFRA has no plans to review the effectiveness of the National Protocol for Cooperation on Rodent Control 2000. The protocol provides a mechanism for improved communication and co-ordination between local authorities and sewerage undertakers on the control of rats in sewers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which species of flora and fauna will be considered as features that will be protected by the proposed network of Marine Conservation Zones. (279914)

[holding answer 15 June 2009]: The Marine and Coastal Access Bill provides for the designation and protection of marine conservation zones (MCZs) to conserve rare and threatened species and representative habitats and species in English and Welsh territorial waters and UK offshore waters. All categories of flora and fauna can therefore be considered for protection within MCZs. MCZs, together with marine protected areas designated under existing legislation, will form an ecologically coherent network of sites. The features protected by this network will represent the range of features present in the UK marine area including seabirds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Sir Don Curry on the introduction of a voluntary approach to set-aside. (279605)

Sir Don Curry and the High Level Set-Aside Group have been closely involved in considering how to re-capture the environmental benefits of set-aside. In his current advisory role to DEFRA, Sir Don Curry holds regular discussions with the Secretary of State and other Ministers, including in relation to the proposed voluntary approach to set-aside.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2009, Official Report, columns 1256-57W, on Special Areas of Conservation: Cumbria, what assessment his Department has made of the recent effect of peat extraction on the Bolton Fell Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest on the site’s candidature for designation as a Special Area of Conservation. (278948)

Continued peat extraction over the longer term would have a negative impact on the nature conservation interests at Bolton Fell Moss. Natural England is currently in discussion with the company that owns the peat extraction rights over the measures needed to secure the future protection of the site, and it is hoped that an agreement on this will be reached in the next few months. Natural England’s current assessment is that damage caused by peat extraction can be reversed and the nature conservation interest fully restored.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department allocated for the preservation of trees in (a) Mid Bedfordshire and (b) the East of England in each year since 1997. (278589)

I have been asked to reply.

Local planning authorities are responsible for making and administering tree preservation orders. Funding for this function is contained in the Revenue Support Grant and is not ring-fenced. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what voluntary contributions have been made by the Government to fund projects which fall under the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Indian Ocean and South East Asia in each year since its inception. (279091)

Since the UK signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South East Asia (IOSEA) in 2002, my Department has contributed £150,000 towards its implementation. Our funding has supported a number of projects, including £10,000 in 2003 for the enhancement of sea turtle conservation in Kenya, £30,000 in 2005 for a survey of leatherback turtle populations in the Indian Ocean and other IOSEA-related projects, and £10,000 in 2006 for the satellite tracking and genetic study of turtles in the British Indian Ocean Territory and Indian Ocean.

A further £15,000 will be paid later this year towards the running costs of the MoU’s Secretariat.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made on the Wave Dragon project off the coast of Milford Haven; and if he will make a statement. (279456)

An application under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct and operate a 7MW offshore wave device, known as ‘Wave Dragon’, was made by Wave Dragon Wales Ltd on 26 April 2007 which is currently under consideration, pending further information from the application. It is departmental policy not to comment on the merits of applications under consideration, and a decision will be taken on the application in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) boilers and (b) full central heating systems have been installed through the Warm Front Scheme in each of the last three years. (279062)

The following tables detail the number of (a) boilers and (b) full central heating systems installed by Warm Front in each of the last three scheme years and the current year to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much expenditure was incurred by her Department in respect of the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009. (273935)

For information relating to the Cabinet and public engagement event held in Glasgow on 16 April, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 June 2009, Official Report, column 487W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of carer's allowance in (a) Tameside and (b) Stockport. (279758)

The information is in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will assess the appropriateness of the threshold for cold weather payments in respect of those diagnosed with certain medical conditions or taking certain medications whose conditions may be exacerbated by cold weather conditions. (279126)

Cold weather payments help vulnerable groups on low incomes with the extra heating costs which result from periods of very cold weather that last, or are forecast to last, for seven days.

They are paid to people awarded pension credit or income-related employment and support allowance that includes a work-related activity or support component when the temperature criteria is met for their area. Those awarded income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance or income-related employment and support allowance in the assessment phase, and who have a pensioner or disability premium or have a child who is disabled or under the age of five are also eligible to receive payments.

There are no plans at the present time to change the qualifying criteria for cold weather payments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the budget under each budget sub-heading is of each of her Department’s employment programmes for (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. (276439)

[holding answer 19 May 2009]: The following table shows the budgets for the Department of Work and Pensions employment programmes, by sub-heading, for 2009-10 and 2010-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Forest of Dean constituency and (b) Gloucestershire who receive disability living allowance gave a visual impairment as the primary reason for claiming that allowance; and if she will make a statement. (277223)

[holding answer 1 June 2009]: The available information is in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what activities have been undertaken by her Department’s Euro Minister in that capacity. (277168)

Euro Ministers are responsible for euro preparations in their Department and attend Euro Ministers steering group meetings. Meetings are held only when necessary to discuss practical preparations to ensure a smooth changeover.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each age group have been placed in employment by Jobcentre Plus in the last six months. (278263)

[holding answer 8 June 2009]: The available information is in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who have completed a work trial placement in the last six months are in employment. (278880)

[holding answer 10 June 2009]: The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employers have (a) received and (b) accepted one or more applications for employment under the work trial scheme in each of the last six months. (278972)

[holding answer 12 June 2009]: The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the money allocated by her Department to assist people unemployed for six months, as announced on 12 January 2009, will be classified as (a) Jobcentre Plus and (b) employment programme spending for the purpose of her Department’s three-year business plan. (278086)

[holding answer 4 June 2009]: In the Department’s three-year business plan, the total allocation to assist people unemployed for six months as announced on 12 January 2009 is £430 million. Of this, £69 million is allocated to Jobcentre Plus and £361 million is allocated to employment programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what percentage of funding from the Future Jobs Fund has been allocated for jobs in culture, music and the creative industries. (277276)

[holding answer 1 June 2009]: Bidding criteria for the Future Jobs Fund were published on 13 May and are available on the Department for Work and Pensions website. The fund will operate as a “challenge fund” to which organisations can bid for funding to create new jobs. The fund will create 150,000 new jobs; 100,000 of these will contribute to a guaranteed offer of a job, training or meaningful activity for all young people who are approaching 12 months on jobseeker's allowance. As such, the funding is not allocated to individual sectors or industries. The Government would welcome bids from all industries, including the culture, media and creative industries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps she has taken to ensure that Jobcentre Plus staff are signposting people in urgent need of assistance to foodbanks and other community and charitable organisations which provide assistance for those in financial hardship. (278615)

[holding answer 8 June 2009]: Making sure people get the help they need is at the heart of Jobcentre Plus business. A key part of this involves working closely with local partner organisations and signposting people to appropriate sources of help, including charitable organisations and others that provide support services for people experiencing financial hardship.

As part of this Jobcentre Plus is currently developing an additional process for signposting Social Fund customers, who have been refused a crisis loan for living expenses, to relevant local organisations that are willing to provide assistance. To facilitate this process, Jobcentre Plus is identifying and collating details of these organisations to make sure Jobcentre Plus officers are able to signpost people to appropriate sources of help.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what contingency plans her Department has in place for a commencement date for the Flexible New Deal after October 2009; what the latest date is upon which a decision to invoke such plans could be made in order to prevent disruption in service delivery; and if she will make a statement; (277072)

[holding answer 1 June 2009]: The Government remain committed to bringing in the Flexible New Deal phase 1 from October 2009. None of the bids received from shortlisted suppliers in the Flexible New Deal competition have indicated they could not start up by the expected date.

If a provider is unable to start delivery in October, suitable contingency arrangements will be agreed for each Jobcentre Plus district involved. Customers will continue to receive support from Jobcentre Plus and have access to the additional support at six months, until the provider is ready to accept referrals. The timing of decisions to invoke contingency arrangements would vary according to individual circumstances, but all phase 1 contract areas will be kept under continuous review before launch to ensure that any required action is identified at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements her Department has made to compensate unsuccessful bidders for Flexible New Deal phase 1 contracts for the costs of the preparations for delivery of the contract from October 2009 they have incurred in advance of the successful bidders being notified; and if she will make a statement. (278171)

[holding answer 8 June 2009]: Consistent with Office of Government Commerce guidelines, the Department has made it quite clear in the Flexible New Deal Invitation to Tender documentation that it does not compensate either successful or unsuccessful bidders for any costs incurred with the preparation or submission of bids.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department is taking to ensure that former Woolworth employees are helped back into work. (279102)

[holding answer 11 June 2009]: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Mel Groves:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about what steps are being taken to ensure that former Woolworth employees are helped back into work. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

Staff in almost all of Woolworths' 800 stores were offered support through our Rapid Response Service before the stores closed. This support included:

job search information, advice and guidance, supplemented by a comprehensive job kit, which covers, for example, how to find work, CV writing and interview preparation;

one to one and group advice on jobs available in the local labour market and on training opportunities to equip them to compete in sectors that are recruiting; and

practical advice on the benefits available while looking for alternative work, which included the issue of over 8,000 clerical claim packs to speed-up the claims process.

For those who claimed Jobseeker's Allowance, a new jobseeker interview was undertaken with an adviser to discuss and agree some realistic and achievable job goals and jobsearch activities that offered the best chance of success. As part of this, the adviser provided information about access to jobs and a range of recently enhanced opportunities to help improve job prospects and overcome things that may be making it harder to find work. This includes:

jobsearch support for people who are ready for work, but lack recent experience of current jobsearch channels and methods of recruitment;

similar support for customers with a professional or executive background, but provided by a specialist organisation offering expertise in white collar recruitment;

extra help for those people who need more intensive jobsearch support, for example individually tailored help with CVs, interview skills and job applications; and access to resources such as stationery and the Internet;

skills screening and access to provision where appropriate;

extra help through Personal Adviser caseloading for customers who are particularly disadvantaged in the labour market and unlikely to find work without more intensive support;

discretionary funding to help overcome immediate barriers to work;

access to vacancies made available through local employment partnerships;

help to pay costs for travelling to interviews; and

extra help for people with a health problem or disability, for example Access to Work, Work Step, Work Preparation and Job Introduction Scheme

Following the new jobseeker interview, ongoing support is provided through fortnightly jobsearch reviews, which are used to discuss what the customer is doing to find work and to see what further help, if any, is needed.

Even in the current economic climate, over three quarters of people leave Jobseeker's Allowance within six months. For those who do not, we provide more help through the recently announced six-month offer, which includes regular and frequent contact with a personal adviser to help plan and follow-though a course of action that will increase the chances of finding and keeping work. As part of this, the customer has access to a range of employment-related opportunities, including a job subsidy, help for those wishing to become self-employed, volunteering placements and full-time training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the function rooms in 1 Carlton Gardens have been used for (a) drinks receptions and (b) dinners since July 2007. (279644)

Since July 2007 the function rooms in 1 Carlton Gardens have been used for 26 dinners and 14 drinks receptions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 May 2009, Official Report, column 505W, on British Overseas Territories: nature conservation, which projects in the British Overseas Territories have been in receipt of the funding granted since 2006. (279074)

I have been asked to reply.

The following Main-Round Darwin projects have been granted funding under the Darwin Initiative since 2006:

a cross-Caribbean Overseas-Territories project, starting in 2009, aiming at building civil-society capacity for conservation in the Caribbean UK Overseas Territories. The UK institution running this project is the Commonwealth Foundation, and total funding commitment amounts to £262,755;

a project in Tristan da Cunha, starting in 2007, aiming to enable the people of Tristan to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity in the marine environment. This is being carried out by the RSPB, and amounts to £75,971; and

a project in Montserrat to reduce the impact of feral livestock in and around the Centre Hills. This project is being carried out by the RSPB, and amounts to £144,236.

The following Scoping Project awards have been granted in the current round:

a project in the Falkland Islands aiming at scoping the development of conservation strategies for Falkland Islands freshwater-fish biodiversity. The project is being led by the University of Wales, and will amount to £2,962;

a project in St Helena scoping work in St Helena's Millennium Forest, taking account of conservation, evolution and a changing climate. This is being led by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and will amount to £3,000;

a project in Bermuda to assess and conserve critical pollinator communities in Bermuda. This is being led by the University of Leeds, and will amount to £2,200; and

a project in the Falkland Islands to scope the development of a biodiversity and conservation inventory in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. This is being led by the Wales Environment Research Hub, and will amount to £3,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many of the personal records held on the Overseas Territories Regional Crime Intelligence System relate to persons aged 16 years and under; (279058)

The Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System (OTRCIS) is a networked computer system set-up in 1996 at the office of the Overseas Territories Law Enforcement Adviser, British Consulate General, Miami. OTRCIS provides the police, customs and immigration departments of the UK’s Caribbean Overseas Territories with a crime intelligence and information analysis secure data system. Similar systems are used by the US Military, US State Law Enforcement Agencies, UK, Australian and European local and national law enforcement agencies. There are 1,406,891 records stored on the Overseas Territories Regional Crime Intelligence System.

The number of records on the Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System that relate to persons aged 16 and under is 2,578.

There are no records of DNA profiles held on the Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department last commissioned a staff survey; and which organisation was engaged to conduct that survey. (279804)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office last commissioned a staff survey in 2008. The period during which the survey was available for staff to respond to was 24 November to 12 December 2008.

ORC International were contracted to conduct the survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether power generation from renewable energy sources has been trialled in Gibraltar. (279092)

This is a matter for the Government of Gibraltar. The request for information may be directed to the Government of Gibraltar office in London in the first instance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of (a) Orthodox churches in Kosovo which have been destroyed or damaged since the entry of the NATO Kosovo Force into that country, (b) perpetrators which have been arrested and (c) convictions of persons held responsible. (279920)

Records produced by the Serbian Orthodox Church, compiled using information from UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) reports from the time, show that 76 Orthodox churches were destroyed or damaged during the conflict in 1999, and 30 during riots in March 2004. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and UNMIK estimate that, since 1999, a total of 155 Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries, 250 cemeteries, and approximately 6,750 gravestones have been destroyed or damaged.

Exact figures for the number of perpetrators arrested for acts committed in 1999 are not available, as all damage was recorded as common crime. According to the UNMIK Department of Justice and the Kosovo Judicial Council, during the period December 2005 to March 2006 local prosecutors brought charges against 206 defendants for the destruction of churches in 2004. Of these, 150 were convicted in either municipal or district courts. Separately, international judges and prosecutors handled seven cases relating to destruction of churches in 2004, involving 18 defendants. Of these, 17 were convicted and one acquitted, with sentences ranging from 21 months to 16 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of Lord Davies of Abersoch's time devoted to ministerial duties is spent on matters relating to his Department. (279805)

Lord Davies of Abersoch is the Minister for Trade, Investment and Business. He is a Minister for both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Lord Davies is responsible for: UK Trade and Investment (reporting jointly to my noble Friend the Business Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary); advising the Secretary of State and the Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills (Pat McFadden) on overall business policy; working on specific business issues alongside the Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform (Ian Lucas); the work of the Exports Credits Guarantee Department; Public Service Reform; trade policy; and Europe.

Lord Davies meets regularly with the Foreign Secretary, the ministerial team and the FCO Permanent Under-Secretary, as well as travelling extensively around the overseas network. With such a wide remit it is impossible to apportion the time the Minister spends attending to the work of one Department or another; this is dictated by the priorities of the business of any given day.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Lord Davies of Abersoch has an office in his Department. (279806)

Lord Davies of Abersoch does not have a designated office in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time equivalent members of staff in (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies are working on projects relating to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games; how many of them are working on (i) project management, (ii) legacy planning, (iii) project oversight and (iv) financial oversight; and what plans he has for future staffing levels in each case. (279820)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently has seven full-time equivalent members of staff based in the UK working on projects related to the London 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games. Of these, project management accounts for four and a half full-time equivalent posts. Legacy planning, project oversight and financial oversight jointly account for the remainder. A small number of full-time equivalent staff overseas will be working on a UK 2012 Public Diplomacy Campaign from this autumn.

The FCO envisages that by 2012, a full team of staff will be working on London 2012 projects including security, protocol, and public diplomacy. However it is difficult to predict at this stage how many staff might be involved in this work.

The British Council currently has 19 full-time equivalent members of staff working on projects related to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. Of these, project management accounts for 13 full-time posts, all of which are overseas. Legacy planning, project oversight and financial oversight jointly account for six full-time posts, all of which are in London. From 2009 to 2013, on existing programmes, the British Council will have a maximum of up to 20 full-time posts working on project management and six full-time posts working on legacy planning, project oversight and financial oversight.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) reports that Eritrea is arming and supporting Islamic insurgents within Somalia and (b) Eritrea’s observance of UN resolutions on Somalia. (279785)

[holding answer 15 June 2009]: We are concerned by reports that Eritrea has supplied weapons to insurgent groups in Somalia in contravention to UN Security Council Resolution 733 (1992) on Somalia.

We believe that the issue should be dealt with through existing UN mechanisms and urge any evidence be presented to the UN Sanctions Committee. The UN Sanctions Monitoring Group is due to present its findings on this issue in the coming weeks.

We continue to support the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia and deplore any attempts to disrupt the reconciliation process and undermine efforts towards peace and stability in the country.