To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans the Government have to improve adult literacy and numeracy skills in England. [152260]

The standard of literacy and numeracy skills in England has been too poor for too long. Claus Moser's report found that up to 7 million adults in England have weak literacy and numeracy skills. This is disastrous for the individuals concerned, weakens business competitiveness and places a huge burden on society.The Government will shortly launch their strategy to tackle this problem. Our priority is to improve the skills of those groups where literacy and numeracy needs are greatest and where we can make most impact. We will spend £1.5 billion over the next three years and focus the work of all relevant organisations on ensuring that 750,000 adults improve their literacy and numeracy by 2004, and that we reach the literacy and numeracy levels of our international competitors.Our strategy will deliver radical quality improvements. New national standards, a common core curriculum and National Tests will make sure that best teaching and learning practice is adopted across the country. And we are training teachers, establishing a research centre and introducing more rigorous national inspections so that standards remain highThe Government themselves will be setting an example with my Department working with other Government Departments and agencies such is the MOD and the Prison Service to bring about radical improvements in standards of adult skills.Our literacy and numeracy strategy will mark a decisive step in addressing this country's poor literacy and numeracy skill levels and will give adults the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to participate in modern society.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people have found employment through the New Dell in (a) the north-west region and (b) Lancashire. [150650]

Figures to the end of November 2000 show that the following numbers of young people have found employment through New Deal in the north-west region and Lancashire:

	North-west region	Lancashire
Total jobs	39,666	5,171
of which are sustained	30,132	3,894
Other	9,534	1,277

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what his most recent estimate is of the take up of the New Deal for (a) young people, (b) lone parents, (c) people with disabilities and (d) older people in Copeland; and if he will make a statement on its operation. [150684]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: Latest figures, to the end of November 2000, for Copeland parliamentary constituency show the following take-up of the New Deal:

	Numbers starting New Deal
New Deal for young people	1,375
New deal for lone parents	234
New deal for 25+	1,103

Statistics on New Deal for People with Disabilities are not available at constituency level. To date the New Deal for Disabled People has operated only in a limited number of locations, not including Copeland. 24 innovative schemes have been testing new ways of helping disabled people into work and 12 Personal Adviser pilots have helped disabled people to overcome their particular barriers to work.The New Deal for Disabled People will be extended on a national basis, with services for disabled clients beginning from July 2001.The approach which underpins the New Deal programmes is one which links equality of opportunity and investment in skills to economic prosperity and labour market expansion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the IT projects currently undertaken in his Department; and if he will state the (a) expected completion date and (b) cost of each project. [151501]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: The tables list IT projects currently undertaken within DETR(C) and its agencies where costs are estimated to be equal to or exceed £50,000.Small projects where the total cost falls below £50,000 have not been listed as the collection of information and collation of these projects could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if local authorities can bid for additional funding to that in their full local transport plan in their first annual progress reports for (a) major road schemes, (b) major public transport schemes and (c) integrated transport packages. [151556]

Authorities may bid for additional major road, public transport or integrated transport schemes as part of the process of submitting their first annual progress reports (APRs) on their local transport plans. In certain circumstances, authorities will also be able to bid for additional funding for smaller-scale integrated transport schemes. Details will be provided in the guidance on APRs that we will issue to authorities shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on reform of the planning appeals process contained in DETR circular 05/200 relating to rights of third parties to see and comment on the submissions of others made to the Planning Inspectorate. [151607]

Five representations have been received.Following public consultation streamlined statutory procedures for handling planning appeals—on which guidance is given in DETR Circular 5/2000—were introduced last year. These require third parties to submit their comments or statements of case to the Secretary of State on the same timescale as that for local planning authorities and appellants. Thus third parties have the opportunity at both planning application stage and at planning appeal stage to comment on the proposed development.The operation of the new procedures is being monitored and we shall review them in the light of experience, taking account of representations received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of waste was recycled in (a) Great Britain and (b) each local authority in 2000. [151299]

[holding answer 27 February 2001]: Recycling levels in Scotland are a matter for the Secretary of State for Scotland. The Department collects information on waste management and recycling from local authorities in England and Wales on an annual basis through the Municipal Waste Management Survey. National and regional level information for the financial year 1998–99 was published in the Municipal Waste Management 1998– 99 Bulletin in September 2000. We expect to publish provisional results for 1999– 2000 in early April 2001 and a more detailed analysis later in the year. We intend to publish figures showing the percentage of household waste recycled by individual local authorities in England during the financial year 1998– 99 shortly in the "Guidance on Municipal Waste Management Strategies".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made following the closure of consultation on the regulation of mobile telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement. [151612]

The consultation exercise seeking views on possible changes to the planning laws relating to mobile phone masts and associated guidance ended on 31 October 2000. The Department is currently analysing the responses. We shall announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many grants have been awarded under the home energy efficiency scheme in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne since 2000– 01; and what was (a) the total and (b) the average value of such grants. [151835]

The number of grants and their total value and average value for the City of Newcastle upon Tyne for 2000–01 is as shown.

Period	Number of grant	Average value of grant (£)	Total value of grants (£)
April-May 20001	597	175	104,523
June 2000-February 2001	1,455	2439	638.102
March 20013	168	2297	44,189
Total for 2000–01	2,220	354	786,814
1 The previous HEES scheme (which started in 1991) continued to run for the first two months of 2000–01. Only one 'main' measure was offered up to a grant limit of £315.
2 The average value of grant has increased substantially in the current year following the launch of the new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) for England on 1 June 2000. It replaced the more basic scheme that operated since 1991. HEES provides packages of insulation and heating measures, linked to the condition of the property and the type of householder. The grant maximum increased from £315 up to £2,000.
3 Projection based on orders placed with installers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the inspector's report on the public inquiry into the Halewick Lane waste transfer station at Sompting, West Sussex. [151677]

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions will publish the inspector's report when he determines the planning application for a waste management centre at Halewick Lane, Sompting, West Sussex. This decision will be issued as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he intends to agree the request for the raised bog sites at (a) Hatfield Moor, (b) Thorne Moor, (c) Bolton Fell Moor, (d) Solway Moor and (e) Wedholme Flow to be designated special areas of conservation under the habitats and species directive. 1151382]

In August 2000, English Nature began public consultations on proposals for new and amended Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Those proposals included new SACs at Bolton Fell Moss, Solway Moss and Hatfield Moor, boundary amendments to the existing candidate SACs at Thorne Moor and South Solway Mosses, plus the addition of a new qualifying interest on the site encompassing Wedholme Flow. English Nature is currently considering the scientific justification for each new or amended site. The Government will consider their recommendations as soon as they are made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the 24 GM sugarbeet trials scheduled for this year involve expenditure by the Government. [151543]

There will be up to 26 fields of beet taking part in the Farm Scale Evaluations of herbicide tolerant GM crops this spring. As was the case last year, the Government will pay only for the ecological studies associated with the evaluations. It is expected that, for the beet sites, this will cost approximately £445,000 this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the analysis of responses to the local government finance Green Paper. [152126]

An analysis of the 16,321 responses we received will be posted on the DETR website at www.local.detr.gov.uk/greenpap/analysis/index.htm on Monday 5 March. Copies of the analysis will also be placed in the Library.We were very pleased with the excellent response to consultation. We are carefully considering the responses and will publish our decisions in a White Paper later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking to ensure payments for management agreements on sites of special scientific interest are directed towards conservation and enhancement of the special features of these sites. [152127]

Tomorrow, together with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, we shall be issuing new guidance on management agreement payments in England to replace that in DOE/MAFF Circular 4/83. English Nature will use the guidance to determine the amount of payment under a management agreement.The guidance reflects the substantially strengthened powers to protect and manage SSSIs introduced by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. It will emphasise the future priority for agreements to be directed at positive management designed to bring the special features of sites into favourable condition. It will also ensure that agreements are in line with the European Rural Development Regulation.Copies of the Guidelines will be freely available and will be placed in the House Libraries.

To ask the Secretary A State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 523W, on organ parts, if he will list the specimens held; and for what purposes they are kept. [150814]

Pursuant to my answer of 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 523W, further investigation has revealed that the Defence Secondary Care Agency holds approximately 60 pathological specimens relating to 26 patients, rather than "26 specimens '. These specimens are all held at the Royal Hospital Haslar and for each, patient consent has been given for organ retention for both diagnostic and medical research purposes. In total there are 14 organs and approximately 46 tissue samples:

	Number
Brain	4
Heart	0
Lungs	4

Deaths of armed forces personnel in on duty due to injury: 1991 to 2000
	Navy death	Navy married	Army total	Army married	RAF total	RAF married	Tri-service total	Tri-service married
1991	5	3	64	23	14	1	83	27
1992	3	2	35	9	9	2	47	13
1993	13	6	22	5	11	3	46	14
1994	5	2	39	19	9	2	53	23
1995	7	1	20	8	12	5	39	14
1996	3	2	12	5	4	1	19	8
1997	5	2	8	2	3	0	16	4
1998	4	1	30	7	6	2	40	10
1999	2	1	23	8	6	0	31	9
2000	4	1	15	8	1	1	20	10

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the terrorist threat to the Royal Ordnance sites at (a) Bridgwater, (b) Chorley, (c) Glascoed, (d) Nottingham and (e) Radway Green; and if he will make a statement. [151589]

	Number
Other organs'	5
Body Parts	0
Stillbirths or pre-viable foetuses	1
Tissues2	46
Total	60
1 Not include above
2 Approximate

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) men and (b) women serving in (i) the Army, (ii) the Royal Navy and (iii) the Royal Air Force have died in active service in each month over the past 10 years; and how many of those listed were married at the time of death. [151011]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: The term "active service" is used wildly in connection with the Services, with various meanings in different contexts. However the Service Discipline Act contains specific definitions for the purposes of that legislation. In order to avoid a more restrictive interpretation than may be intended by the question, we set out figures based on a wide range of deaths on duty. The circumstances covered by the figures are explained more fully immediately after the table.Between 1 January 1991 and 31 December 2000 there have been 394 service personnel who have died of injuries sustained on duty. Out of this total, 132 were married at the time of death. The table provides details of thasa deaths for each service;

A comprehensive assessment of the threat to security at the Royal Ordnance sites was undertaken. It is not the practice to discuss threat assessments publicly for reasons of national security, but the threat assessment was taken fully into account in reaching the decision to withdraw Ministry of Defence police officers from Royal Ordnance sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost per annum to Royal Ordnance is of employing Ministry of Defence Police at (a) Bridgwater, (b) Chorley, (c) Glascoed, (d) Nottingham and (e) Radway Green; and if he will make a statement. [151590]

I am withholding details of the sums paid by Royal Ordnance to the Ministry of Defence for the services of the MOD police under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information as they are a matter of commercial confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence Police are deployed at the Royal Ordnance sites in (a) Bridgwater, (b) Chorley, (c) Glascoed, (d) Nottingham and (e) Radway Green; what plans there are to withdraw cover and on what dates; and if he will make a statement. [151591]

There are 15 Ministry of Defence police (MDP) posts complemented at each of the five RO sites. MDP officers will be withdrawn from RO Bridgwater, Chorley, Glascoed and Radway Green on 31 May 2001. MDP officers will be withdrawn from RO Nottingham when the MOD weapons have been removed from the Pattern Room, which is currently expected to take place in February 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the proposed withdrawal of Ministry of Defence police at Royal Ordnance sites will result in (a) compulsory and (b) voluntary redundancies within the Ministry of Defence police; and if he will make a statement. [151592]

It is very unlikely that the withdrawal of the Ministry of Defence police (MDP) from the five RO sites will lead to any compulsory redundancies, unless officers substantiate a case for a Limited Mobility Waiver, and there are no other employment opportunities with the MDP in the local area. We anticipate that all will be offered alternative postings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what powers private security companies will have to (a) patrol beyond perimeters and (b) carry weaponry at Royal Ordnance sites once Ministry of Defence police protection is withdrawn; and if he will make a statement. [151593]

Once Ministry of Defence police protection is withdrawn, the deployment of company guards will be the responsibility of the Royal Ordnance. The guards will not have constabulary powers.Private security company guards will not be armed. Section 54 of the Firearms Act 1968 limits the authority to carry firearms on duty to Crown Servants (which includes Service personnel and the Ministry of Defence police). The Firearms Act Amendment 1997 lists pistols as prohibited items, the carriage of which requires a personal licence issued by the local Chief Constable; no such licences are issued to private security companies. Home Department police will provide an armed response force, as required, at the RO sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what obligations service units have to implement Child Support Agency instructions for attachment of earnings in relation to Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel. [149480]

[holding answer 8 February 2001]: Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations, the Ministry of Defence will, at the request of the Child Support Agency, make appropriate deductions from pay to meet the maintenance obligations of Service personnel. Deductions are made in full, except in less than 1 per cent. of cases where this would breach minimum rates of pay set in Ministry of Defence legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of the armed forces deployed on Operation Palliser are in a medically downgraded category; what percentage of forces deployed on Operation Palliser this represents; and if he will make a statement; [147562](2) how many members of the armed forces who serviced on Operation Palliser are categorised as medically downgraded; and if he will make a statement. [148377]

[holding answer 2 February 2001]: Some 4,500 armed forces personnel deployed to Sierra Leone on Operation Palliser. It is not possible to identify, from the information currently available, the number of Royal Navy personnel who deployed on any operation to Sierra Leone who are currently medically downgraded. However, of the approximate 2,100 Army and RAF personnel who deployed to Sierra Leone at the time of Operation Palliser, 54 are currently medically downgraded. This represents 2.5 per cent. of the Army/RAF personnel who deployed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many widows of former Japanese prisoners of war have claimed their compensation entitlement. [150627]

I have been asked to reply.The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available as at 19 February shows that 8,272 claims under the ex-gratia payments scheme had been received from widows and widowers of deceased ex-far east prisoners of war.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to reassess her aid programme to Tanzania following recent unrest in Zanzibar. [151588]

The Government of Tanzania, as part of their qualification for HIPC debt relief, are pursuing a broad-based national poverty reduction strategy and are in receipt of UK development assistance. We do not believe that the poor of Tanzania should suffer because of the abuse of human rights in Zambia. However, Her Majesty's Government have made clear to the Government of Tanzania UK concerns following the recent unrest in Zanzibar. Sir John Vereker recently visited Dar es Salaam and discussed these concerns directly with President Mkapa.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts regarding EU funding for aid programmes in Tanzania since the Zanzibar elections in 2000. [151587]

There have been no high-level discussions related to EU development assistance to Tanzania since the national elections last November although I have discussed the situation with my Utstein group colleagues.EU development assistance to Tanzania is under review following the conclusion of the Cotonou agreement last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects her Department supports in Tanzania. [151586]

Our development assistance to Tanzania last year was £65 million. This included £40 million to support pro-poor sectors of the national budget and reward the maintenance of continued macro economic stability. We are also funding projects in health, education, improved public sector management and public sector reform. In addition, we are undertaking initiatives to strengthen civil society and encourage pro-poor growth and private sector development.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. [151585]

Afghanistan is suffering its worst drought in 30 years, which has combined with continuing conflict to lead to a dramatic deterioration in the humanitarian situation. At least 12 million people are affected, 3–4 million of them seriously, and the number of displaced Afghans seeking relief from drought and conflict is now over 500,000. Winter weather conditions are reported to be severe, and a shortage of food, shelter and clothing has led to an increase in mortality rates.We remain extremely concerned about the situation in Afghanistan. This financial year, DFID has provided over £7.5 million of humanitarian assistance to Afghans through UN agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs. As well as drought relief assistance, this includes a regular programme of longer-term humanitarian assistance to the Afghan population—both in Afghanistan and to Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries.In addition, due to the severity of conditions in Afghanistan, DFID has recently agreed a further £3 million for the provision of drought relief and emergency relief goods to displaced people. This will be channelled through UN agencies and the Red Cross.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the extent of fees being charged to pupils attending schools in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. [151665]

We believe that primary education should be free and that no child should be denied access to a basic education because the costs, direct or indirect, cannot be met by the household. School fees are an example of a direct cost, but there may be indirect charges for books, uniforms and exams which can make education unaffordable to many.The equitable financing of education is a key issue for achieving universal primary education by 2015. Accordingly, assessments are made by DFID at country level of the extent to which fees or indirect costs are charged to primary school pupils. Support for the planned transition to free primary education is a priority for us. We have seen some progress. In Zambia, the Government have recently announced the abolition of fees for primary school children, including those for examination entry. Tanzania has committed to abolishing primary school fees by 2001, but there are still significant challenges. In Malawi, for example, primary schooling is nominally free but there are still hidden costs which need to be addressed. In Kenya parents do not pay primary school fees, but instead must pay for books, school levy, uniforms and examination fees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Tooting parliamentary constituency, the effect of his Department's policies and actions since 1 May 1997. [149867]

The parliamentary constituency of Tooting, Wandsworth has benefited from a range of initiatives since 1 May 1997. Direct business advice and support to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has been provided by the DTI through core programmes and the Business Links. While my Department does not collect detailed statistical information on a constituency basis, over 5,800 requests for advice, information and support from SMEs in Tooting, Wandsworth have been handled by the Business Links since May 1997. During the same period, grants totalling over £300,000 have been awarded to SMEs for innovation and technology development under the Smart scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent consideration he has given to the accreditation and the status of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service; and if he will make a statement. [151629]

[holding answer 28 February 2001]: During the course of 2000, my noble Friend the Minister for Science reviewed the Department's existing policy on accreditation. He decided to re-confirm the existing policy of recognition for the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) as the sole national body for the accreditation, against the recognised international standards, of testing and calibration laboratories and certification and inspection bodies. He confirmed the terms of the memorandum of understanding which my Department, on behalf of the Government as a whole, has with UKAS and which sets out the activities for which UKAS is recognised along with a number of rights and obligations on both parties.While my noble Friend concluded that no major structural changes to the UK accreditation system were desirable, he did agree that there would be benefit in a well-targeted, UKAS-driven publicity campaign to raise the profile of UKAS accredited conformity assessment to ensure that the benefits of using UKAS accredited conformity assessment services are properly understood.Accreditation by UKAS ensures that conformity assessment bodies have been independently assessed to agreed international standards of competence and impartiality by a body which is itself subject to regular assessment and to oversight by Government. For these reasons, while there is no legal requirement for the providers of conformity assessment services to be accredited, the Government recommend the use of UKAS accredited conformity assessment wherever this is an option. The Government also advise purchasers to look for the National Accreditation Marks, which UKAS and UKAS accredited organisations are able to use under a licensing agreement with my Department, as a sign of Government recognition.My Department and a number of other Government Departments are therefore supporting the UKAS Accreditation Awareness Campaign which was launched by my noble Friend on 27 November 2000. The campaign is expected to run for the next 18 months and is aimed at increasing the understanding of accreditation within Government itself and, through a series of briefings aimed at business support agencies, within the business community in general and SMEs in particular.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the decision by Corus to cut jobs and close plants in the UK; what estimate his Department has made of the effect on local employment that the closures will have; and what measures he is taking to support the steel industry in the UK. [151673]

Summary of notifications of withdrawals from safeguards (January 2000 to February 2001)
Number of withdrawal notifications (by type of nuclear material involved1)	Reason for withdrawal
Two notifications involving plutonium (Pu), mg quantities	Material to be used for analytical purposes (eg samples, standards/tracers and/or in instrument calibration)2 (from NPL Teddington)
One notification involving depleted natural and low enriched uranium (DNLEU), mg quantities
Three notifications involving thorium (Th), mg quantities
1 The tabulated information covers advance notifications of withdrawal approved by DTI and which resulted in the eventual withdrawal of nuclear material from safeguards.
2 There are no facilities outside safeguards which manufacture material in such quantities and forms, and defence establishment requirements for these specialist materials have therefore been met by supply from civil organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to determine the accuracy of the annual returns made in

I have received representations from a variety of sources, including from many Members of Parliament, trade unions and members of the public about the implications of Corus's announcement on 1 February.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has urged Corus to reconsider its decision and pressed the company to engage in a constructive dialogue to identify a better way forward. I am pleased to say that Corus is now talking to the trade unions about their plans.If Corus proceed with the job cuts announced on 1 February then the Government and the National Assembly for Wales will not walk away from the innocent victims. We are assessing the possible consequences on a contingency basis and will provide help to any individual affected and to the communities in which they live. This will include new job opportunities, retraining and economic regeneration.The steel industry is a vital part of UK manufacturing and the Government will continue to work closely with all parts of the industry to help ensure its future competitiveness. We and the National Assembly for Wales stand ready to work alongside Corus, other steel companies and the trade unions to identify a way forward that builds on the strengths of the industry and secures its long-term future in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many withdrawals of nuclear materials from safeguards applied under the tripartite UK-Euratom-IAEA Voluntary Safeguards Agreement there have been since 1 February 2000; and if he will indicate the number which were permanent. [151600]

Information on advance notifications of withdrawals from safeguards made since the start of 2000 is contained in the following table. Data are shown in the same format as in the paper provided on 28 July 2000, Official Report, column 1094W. The withdrawals involved only very small quantities of material to be used for analytical purposes and are all regarded as permanent. Annual updates of information on withdrawals in future years will be made available on the non-proliferation section of the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk/non-proliferation.each of the last six years by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Ltd., Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 Registration No. 28488 R. [151267]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of Companies House. I have asked him to reply direct to the hon. Gentleman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Lord Chancellor about re-examining the role of the courts in relation to the black-listing of in individuals by credit companies. [150853]

I have not had any discussion with my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the contracts that exist between Serco and the Department, its executive agencies and associated public bodies; and if he will list those which have existed in the last three years. [151346]

The Department has a contract with NPL Management Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco, to operate the National Physical Laboratory. Serco is also a partner in Laser (Teddington II) Ltd., the consortium who will be providing serviced accommodation for the National Physical Laboratory, under a PFI arrangement.Information on contracts with suppliers is not held centrally, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.I have asked the Chief Executives of our Executive Agencies and associated public bodies to reply separately to this question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will undertake an inquiry into the practice of companies importing manufactured ceramic products from outside the EU, decorating such products and adding to them a made in England back stamp; and if he will make a statement. [151544]

It is already a criminal offence under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 for a person in the course of a trade or business to apply false or misleading statements to goods, including statements about the origin of those goods. For the purposes of the Act goods are deemed to have been manufactured or produced in the country in which they last underwent a treatment or process resulting in a substantial change. The Act is enforced by the local authorities' trading standards service and any instances of false or misleading back-stamping should be brought to their attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decisions on the proposals by Dalkia Services plc to build combined heat and power stations at the Zeneca Agrochemicals works at Huddersfield and the AstraZeneca works at Macclesfield. [152259]

I have today given clearance under section 14(1) of the Energy Act 1976 to Dalkia Utilities Services plc to build a 20 megawatt gas-fired combined heat and power station at the Zeneca Agrochemicals works at Huddersfield and a 13 megawatt gas-fired combined heat and power station at the AstraZeneca works at Macclesfield.Combined heat and power plants are designed to produce both electricity and usable heat. They have environmental benefits due to their high levels of energy efficiency.The decision demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to promote CHP, wherever practicable, and our commitment to reduced emissions of carbon to fulfil the promises we gave at Kyoto.Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department has provided export credits for the Trans-Balkan oil pipeline. [151583]

ECGD has not been approached for support and no export credits have been provided for this project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom support for regional peacekeeping training in Southern Africa. [152324]

In view of the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) for Southern Africa will relocate from Harare to the UK at the end of March 2001. The team has played an important role in enhancing the capacity of the countries of the Southern Africa Development Community to contribute to international peace support operations. We will continue to look for alternative locations from which the team can carry on this work with the countries of the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts concerning the Trans-Balkan oil pipeline; and if he will make a statement. [151584]

The Foreign Secretary has had no discussions on this matter with EU or other colleagues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions took place between his Department and the United Nations in New York concerning the granting of UK arms export licences for the refurbishment of guns situated in Western Sahara; on what date; and who took part in the discussions; [148691](2) if the mandate of MINURSO includes a duty to oversee the refurbishment of Moroccan guns in Western Sahara; and what discussions his Department has had on this subject with

[holding answer 5 February 2001]: Foreign and Commonwealth Office and United Nations officials routinely discuss a wide range of issues relating to Western Sahara in New York and the region.As set out in the Secretary of State's evidence to the Quadripartite Committee on 30 January, in 1998 a British company applied for an export licence in order, inter alia, to refurbish Moroccan guns in Western Sahara.In late 1998, as a result of contacts between Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and MINURSO in the region, Ministers came to the preliminary view that, if Moroccan guns were refurbished, this would not violate the terms of the UN-sponsored cease-fire between Morocco and the Polisario Front which has been in place since 1991. The UN told FCO officials in April 1999 that refurbishment could be considered as neutral. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials also understand that, under the terms of the Military Agreement signed between MINURSO and Morocco and MINURSO and Polisario, MINURSO would play a role in monitoring the process of refurbishing the guns.In discussions between Foreign and Commonwealth Office and United Nations officials in New York this subject was referred to on 1 February 1999, 16 February 1999, 23 February 1999, 3 March 1999, 21 and 28 May 1999 and 21 June 1999.On 21 June 1999, the United Nations Department for Peace Keeping Operations in New York confirmed that refurbishment of the guns would not be in breach of the existing military arrangements between MINURSO and the two parties; and that, in accordance with these arrangements, MINURSO would be in a position to monitor the procedure of the refurbishment of the Moroccan guns on the ground. This is set out in Military Agreement between the two parties and MINURSO of 1997.It is not for the United Nations to object or not to any refusal by HMG of an arms export licence. The United Nations role is to monitor the cease-fire between the two parties.We are not aware of any direct approaches from the UK arms manufacturers to the United Nations concerning refurbishment of Moroccan guns in Western Sahara. However, in their letter of appeal of 1 October 1998, the applicant asserted that refurbishment did not contravene the cease-fire and that MINURSO could monitor any refurbishment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what events were organised as part of the "Bridges into the Future" strategy in 2000; and what events are planned for 2001. [148885]

The FCO organised over 20 promotional events around the country in 2000 targeted on visible minority ethnic communities as part of its Minority Ethnic Strategy, "Bridges into the Future". We also hosted events in the Foreign Office main building, took part in careers fairs and organised a work shadowing scheme targeted on young members of minority ethnic communities. A similar programme of events is being organised this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to publicise the UNESCO Clarification of 15 September 2000 relating to allegations of sexual abuse involving youths and children at the ashram of the Sathya Sai movement in Puttaparthi, India. [51562]

The text of the UNESCO Clarification can be found on the UNESCO website at: http://unesco.org/education/highlights/media—advisory.htm, and can be made available to Members through the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates representations were made by the European Union to the Government of Israel in the context of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, on human rights related issues since the start of the Al Aqsa intifada; and what responses have been received. [151136]

The European Union delivered demarches to the Government of Israel on Israeli obstacles to humanitarian assistance (5 February) and on the Israeli policy of targeted physical eliminations (21 January). The EU made a further statement on 13 February which deplored the practice of eliminations or extra judicial killings of Palestinians by the Israeli security forces. The General Affairs Council has repeatedly called for closures to be lifted, most recently on 26 February. Within the framework of the EU-Israel dialogue on the Palestinian economy, the EU has also urged Israel to lift the closures and resume the payment of revenues withheld from the Palestinian Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for the period between the commencement of the Home Detention Curfew scheme and 31 January 2001 inclusive (a) the total number of prisoners released on the scheme, (b) the number of prisoners convicted of each specific offence who were released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, including specific offences committed by prisoners normally classified under the categories (i) other homicide and attempted homicide, (ii) other violence against the person, (iii) drug offence, (iv) assaults and (v) other offences, including a breakdown of the prisoners normally classified in the sub-category of other offences called other offences, (c) the average sentence (i) received and (ii) served, and the average period spent on the scheme, in respect of each specific offence, (d) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, who (i) breached the conditions of the curfew, (ii) disappeared and were recaptured, (iii) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (iv) had their licences revoked, and for what reasons, (e) a breakdown of the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme while on the scheme, including all offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence and (f) a breakdown of the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted, including all offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement. [148089]

[holding answer 1 February 2001]: I have written to the right hon. Member, and placed a copy of the letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value was of (a) the Government's financial settlement for the South Yorkshire Police Authority and (b) additional Government support for crime reduction in the Doncaster borough in each year since 1995–96. [149065]

Central Government supported funding for South Yorkshire Police Authority in each year since 1995–96 is shown in the table.

	£ million (cash terms)
1995–96	147.2
1996–97	154.7
1997–98	158.8
1998–99	165.4
1999–2000	171.3
2000–01	177.2
2001–02	184.8

In addition in 2000–01 South Yorkshire will receive a total of £984,978 from the Crime Fighting Fund. For 2001–02, the Authority will receive a total of £2,538,000. (All Crime Fighting Fund allocations are provisional and dependent on forces meeting recruitment targets).Projects to the value of £2,050,997 are currently being funded under the Government's Crime Reduction Programme. Three types of project are being funded, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and Reducing Burglary schemes (over the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02) and a Neighbourhood Wardens Scheme (for the period 2001–02 to 2002–03). £1.395 million is being invested in CCTV, £0.607 million in Reducing Burglary and £0.049 million in the Neighbourhood Warden Scheme.Several smaller sums have been provided for the Doncaster Community Safety Partnership and the New Deal for Communities Partnership. Doncaster Regeneration Partnership has also invested in crime reduction projects via its Single Regeneration Budget Schemes.Records are not maintained of funding which has contributed specifically to crime reduction in Doncaster prior to the launch of the Crime Reduction Programme in 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2001, Official Report, column 72W, to the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Ms Shipley) if he will express the percentage change in funding allocation to each police authority per head of resident population in each police authority. [149180]

The percentage change in funding allocation for 2001–02 compared with 2000–01 to each police authority per head of resident population is given in the table.

	Funding per head
	2000–01 (£)	2001–02 (£)	Percentage change
Avon and Somerset Police	116.69	120,84	3.56
Bedfordshire Police	114.98	120.95	5.19
Cambridgeshire Police	107.26	112.15	4.57
Cheshire Police	113.69	120.71	6.18
City of London	10,825.34	9,555.52	-11.73

	Funding per head
	2000–01 (£)	2001–02 (£)	Percentage change
Cleveland Police	152.24	159.73	4.92
Cumbria Police	126.20	131.76	4.41
Derbyshire Police	108.65	114.06	4.98
Devon and Cornwall Police	114.77	119.71	4.30
Dorset Police	104.74	108.30	3.39
Durham Police	138.05	144.21	4.47
Dyfed-Powys Police	110.98	117.13	5.54
Essex Police	108.87	114.55	5.22
Gloucestershire Police	113.95	119.23	4.63
Greater Manchester Police	149.80	156.96	4.78
Gwent Police	129.03	134.92	4.56
Hampshire Police	114.46	120.10	4.93
Hertfordshire Police	113.39	117.83	3.92
Humberside Police	132.37	137.37	3.77
Kent Police	121.43	128.71	6.00
Lancashire Police	129.87	135.39	4.25
Leicestershire Police	113.71	118.44	4.16
Lincolnshire Police	104.95	109.13	3.98
Merseyside Police	171.92	179.96	4.68
Metropolitan Police	241.04	250.42	3.89
Norfolk Police	109.46	114.88	4.96
North Wales Police	117.88	125.13	6.15
North Yorkshire Police	107.35	112.36	4.66
Northamptonshire Police	109.94	114.14	3.82
Northumbria Police	153.21	160.44	4.72
Nottinghamshire Police	126.02	131.79	4.58
South Wales Police	135.24	141.79	4.84
South Yorkshire Police	135.88	141.89	4.43
Staffordshire Police	110.06	114.65	4.18
Suffolk Police	105.65	111.17	5.23

Street crime in Wandsworth
Number of offences
Period	Street crime1 in Wandsworth involving the theft of telephone equipment (including mobile phones)
Other street crime in Wandsworth	Total street crime1 in Wandsworth
January to March 1999	57	182	239
April to June 1999	70	224	294
July to September 1999	79	255	334
October to December 1999	90	288	378
January to March 2000	151	231	382
April to June 2000	149	236	385
July to September 2000	162	214	376
October to December 2000	165	200	365
1 The Metropolitan police define street crime as robberies and thefts from the person.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide for a memorial day in recognition of the Armenian massacre in the early 20th century. [151438]

The British Government have always condemned the appalling massacre of Armenians in 1915–16. Armenians already commemorate that tragic episode in their history on 24 April each year. This is not a national memorial day throughout Britain and we have no plans to make it one but this should not be seen as failing to acknowledge and sympathise with the victims and descendants of that atrocity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will re-classify grandchildren as family members for the purposes of the regulations governing visits to prisoners. [151442]

	Funding per head
	2000–01 (£)	2001–02 (£)	Percentage change
Surrey Police	106.36	102.96	-3.20
Sussex Police	115.01	120.00	4.34
Thames Valley Police	110.40	115.82	4.91
Warwickshire Police	107.16	112.22	4.73
West Mercia Police	103.14	108.98	5.66
West Midlands Police	149.42	155.99	4.40
West Yorkshire Policy	140.59	146.83	4.44
Wiltshire Police	110.15	113.71	3.23

Resident population is one of a number of indicators used in the calculation of the police funding formula. Details of the indicators and their value in determining the allocation for individual forces are set out in The Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2001–02, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of street robberies which (a) involved and (b) did not involve the theft of a mobile phone for every quarter since 1999 in Battersea; and if he will make a statement. [151150]

The information in the table has been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, and represents the details for Wandsworth borough of which area Battersea forms a part.

Prison Service guidance on visits does not define the term "family member", although it lists family members who should be regarded as "close relatives", whose visits to a prisoner should be refused only in exceptional circumstances. The position of grandchildren and grandparents, who do not currently fall within this definition, is being considered as part of the Prison Service's current review of visits policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the amounts of annual payments for 2000–01 made to police authorities will be published. [150686]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: I understand that the hon. Member's question relates to the payments made to police authorities for the additional policing costs incurred by forces as a result of the fuel distribution emergency last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, dated 27 December 2000, with regard to Mrs. Vida Obiri (Vida Obiri Yeboah-Burgess). [151278]

I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 16 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 606W, on passport fraud, in how many cases of fraudulent issuing of British passports his Department's staff were involved. [151357]

The statistics provided in my answer of 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 606W, on passport fraud related to customer frauds only and did not include cases in which members of staff were complicit.From 1991 to 2000, eight members of Passport Agency staff were convicted for fraudulently issuing passports. A further five members of staff were subject to internal disciplinary procedures as a result of their involvement in passport fraud. The Passport Agency's records indicate that these cases involved the fraudulent issue of 117 passports in total.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the future funding of the community relations councils in Scotland. [151555]

Race Equality Councils (REC's) are co-funded by the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), local authorities and other bodies. I understand that the CRE is consulting with REC's in Scotland as elsewhere about how to improve delivery of race equality.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on the Norwich, North constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [151142]

The Home Office is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals, families and communities are properly balanced, and the protection and security of the public are maintained. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office annual reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office Annual Report 1999–2000, is available in the Library. Information on recorded crime and policing is also published. 'Recorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to September 2000' and 'Police Service Strength England and Wales, 30 September 2000' can be found in the Library. The recorded crime statistics include information on recorded crime by Basic Command Unit and Crime and Disorder partnerships.The impact of Home Office policies and actions is not normally examined by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects, such as recorded crime, cannot be matched in the way requested although set out are examples relating to the Norwich, North constituency or the immediate locality:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish the rules which operate within prisons with regard to smoking by (a) prisoners and (b) prison officers on duty; [151163](2) what arrangements are made to prevent prisoners from being exposed to tobacco smoke against their will. [151162]

The policy on smoking in Prison Service premises is set out in "Instruction to Governors 16/1996", issued on 21 March 1996 (a copy of which can be found in the Library). It seeks to ensure that prisoners are not exposed to tobacco smoke against their will.In particular, smoking is banned in all visits areas and governors are asked to consider bans in other communal areas and make arrangements to prevent smoking in consulting rooms in health care centres. There should also be provision for prisoners who smoke to smoke away from non-smoking prisoners within patient areas. So far as is reasonably practicable, non-smoking prisoners are not expected to share a cell with smokers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were charged with cruelty to animals in England and Wales in each of the last three years. [151015]

Information on the number of persons charged with an offence is not collected centrally.However, information taken from the Home Office's Court Proceedings Database showing the number of persons prosecuted and convicted of offences relating to animal cruelty during the period 1997–99 is given in the table.The policy is under review and it is expected to follow that of health authorities which are required to operate a smoking cessation service to support those who want to give up.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the economic benefits to Peterborough from the siting of a new prison in the city in terms of (a) direct and (b) indirect employment. [151567]

The assessment made in 1997 and reiterated at the public inquiry into the new prison in 1998 was that it would create an estimated 400 direct and 440 indirect jobs during construction and 350 direct and 190 indirect jobs once the prison opens. However, these can only be indicative estimates and precise staffing figures will be dependent on the design and operational policies of the contractor selected to design, build and run the prison.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of serving police constables who are in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit. [151238]

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: I have made no such estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on agreeing Service Level Agreement standards for Prison Service establishments; and if he will make a statement. [151623]

Service Level Agreements (SDAs) have been developed and piloted during this financial year. The purpose of the SDA is to provide three year business plan agreements between the Area Manager and Governor of a prison, and to integrate Prison Service Performance Standards into the business planning process.SDAs covering all prison establishments are scheduled to be agreed by the end March for 2001–02.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reconviction rates were for (a) all prisoners, (b) male prisoners and (c) young offenders for each year from 1992 to 2000; and if he will make a statement. [151762]

Two year reconviction rates for standard list offences following release from prison between 1992 and 1997 are shown in the tables. Figures for subsequent years are not yet available. Changes in the standard list of offences recorded are estimated to have increased the 1994 figure by about 1 per cent., the 1995 figure by about 1.4 per cent. and the 1996 and 1997 figures by about 1.9 per cent.

Table 1—two year reconviction rates for all prisoners
Year of discharge from prison	Percentage reconvicted
1992	51
1993	53
1994	56
1995	58
1996	57
19971	57
1 First quarter

Table 2—two year reconviction rates for male prisoners
Year of discharge from prison	Percentage reconvicted
1992	52
1993	54
1994	56
1995	58
1996	58
19971	57
1 First quarter

Table 3—two year reconviction rates for young offenders (aged 20 or under at time of sentence)
Year of discharge from prison	Percentage reconvicted
1992	71
1993	74
1994	75
1995	76
1996	75
19971	74
1 First quarter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers there were for each function in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [151763]

The numbers of immigration officers for each function (Ports and Enforcement) are set out in the table.

	Immigration officers involved in enforcement activities	Immigration officers involved in activities at ports locations	Total immigration officers
April
1992	116	1,670	1,786
1993	177	1,625.5	1,802.5
1994	248.5	1,869	2,117.5
1995	272	1,831	2,103
1996	257.5	1,834.5	2,092
1997	240	1,836.4	2,076.4
1998	233	1,758.8	1,991.2
1999	219.7	1,640.5	1,860.2
2000	248.2	1,657.5	1,905.7
2001	425.7	1,971.6	2,397.3

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many safe cells have been installed since 7 July 2000; [151825](2) how many people have committed suicide since 7 July 2000; how many of them were

No safer cells have been installed since 7 July 2000, but 1,000 are planned in the three years from April 2001. Rye Hill prison which opened in January this year and Dovegate prison (which will open later this year) will have over 1,000 cells in which elements of the safer cell are incorporated.My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 5 February a new three-year strategy to reduce prisoner suicide and self-harm in prisons. One strand of the strategy will be physical improvements to reception and induction areas, including the creation of more safer cells, crisis suites and gated cells that enable staff to watch closely at-risk prisoners.There have been the following numbers of self-inflicted deaths since 7 July 2000:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requirements he sets for the accurate monitoring of DNA testing. [151681]

The DNA database is a national database which currently holds details of individuals suspected, cautioned and convicted of a recordable offence, together with their DNA profiles.The Home Office Circular 16/95: National DNA Database sets out the general conditions relating to the establishment and use of the National DNA database.DNA profiling technologies have developed rapidly over the last 10 years. Significant advances have been made resulting in improved sensitivity and these enable DNA to be extracted from increasingly smaller crime scene stains. The current technique, FSS SGMplus

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communications related to the immigration and nationality status of the Hinduja family the Home Office has received from (a) Conservative and (b) Liberal Democrat Members of either House as well as other (i) elected representatives and (ii) office holders of each party; and if he will make a statement. [149114]

[holding answer 7 February 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 24 January that he had asked former Treasury Solicitor, Sir Anthony Hammond QC, to review the full circumstance surrounding approaches to the Home Office in connection with the possibility of an application for naturalisation by Mr. S. P. Hinduja in 1998. Sir Anthony started his review on Thursday 25 January. After an initial reading of the papers, Sir Anthony decided that, in order to fulfil the terms of reference of his review of the application for naturalisation of S. P. Hinduja, it is appropriate for him to look at the circumstances of the granting of naturalisation in respect of G. P. Hinduja because the circumstances of both applications are closely related. For the same reason, he also decided that it is appropriate for him to look at the circumstances surrounding the inquiries about naturalisation in respect of Prakesh Hinduja. I understand that Sir Anthony hopes to complete his review shortly. The report will be published and copies will be placed in the Vote Office and the Library. It would be inappropriate for me to pre-empt the outcome of this review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the granting of exceptional leave to remain for asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo. [151268]

Each asylum application is considered individually on its merits. In cases where asylum has been refused, exceptional leave to remain may be granted on a discretionary basis in individual cases. Exceptional leave may be granted to a person for a wide number of reasons, but it is most usually granted for compassionate or humanitarian reasons, or to protect from ill treatment a person who does not otherwise qualify for asylum under the terms of the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention.