To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of the budget from his Department for the home energy efficiency scheme in 2000–01 has been allocated; and what difficulties have been encountered by managers of the scheme in meeting the target number of homes due to be assisted. [156558]

For the 2000–01 financial year the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) in England had a total budget of £121.8 million. This was for the final months of the old scheme and for the new HEES scheme, which started on 1 June 2000. The total amount allocated for the year was £113.1 million. Of this, £77 million was paid on the receipt of satisfactory invoices. The balance of £36.1 million represents work orders yet to be completed or for which invoices have not yet been submitted.The new public spending framework introduced in the Comprehensive Spending Review gives the Department freedom to carry forward unspent grant provision from one year to the next, within a three-year budget cycle.

£ million
Nature of funding	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–021
High Peak borough council
Revenue support grant	1.993	2.186	2.122	2.001	2.235
Income from national non-domestic rates	2.790	2.829	3.043	3.384	3.353
Housing investment programme	0.894	1.036	1.103	2.732	23.817
Capital receipts initiative	—	0.685	0.671	—	—
Housing revenue account subsidy (management and maintenance allowance)	3704.69	3702.92	3709.44	3733.63	3732.81
SRB funding4	0.340	0.332	1.260	0.463	3.500
ERDF funding5	0.269	0.176	0.655	0.132	—
Capital challenge (supplementary credit and basic credit approvals)	0.340	0.398	0.500	—	—
Derbyshire county council6
Transport supplementary grant	1.008	1.060	1.132	—	—
Transport annual capital guideline	1.008	1.060	1.132	—	—
Transport block supplementary credit approval	0.970	0.891	2.371	5.939	18.008
Rural bus challenge grant (from 1999–2000)	—	—	0.800	0.155	0.600
Rural bus subsidy grant (from 1998–99)	—	0.714	0.714	0.714	0.912
1Where known
2Includes major repairs allowance
3Per property
4SRB schemes include a five-year industrial development and enterprise training project, a five-year community-led project to improve social well-being in the most deprived area in the High Peak and a five-year project to develop Buxton. There is no SRB expenditure in that part of Derbyshire Dales district which falls within the High Peak constituency.
5Includes expenditure in Derbyshire Dales district which falls within the High Peak constituency.
6Figures for Derbyshire county council exclude funds allocated for the Derby local transport plan area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer on 27 March 2001, Official Report, column 568W,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effects on the High Peak constituency of his Department's policies and actions since May 1997. [156781]

The principal funding that this Department has provided to High Peak borough council and Derbyshire county council between 1997–98 and 2001–02 is shown in the table. This includes grants and borrowing approvals for revenue and capital expenditure.It is not possible to determine how much of this money Derbyshire county council has spent on High Peak constituency. It is for the local authority to decide where within its boundary these resources are applied.

The contents of the Housing Corporation's new regulatory code are a matter for the Housing Corporation. The Corporation issued a draft regulatory code on 12 January 2001 for consultation and has received a number of representations in respect of the contents of the code.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 March 2001, Official Report, column 568W, what plans he has for the Housing Corporation's draft revised Statutory Housing Management Guidance to contain strengthened guidance on the obligations on registered social landlords to provide accommodation for households with priority under local authority allocation schemes. [156850]

Under S36 of the Housing Act 1996, guidance to registered social landlords is issued by the Housing Corporation. The Corporation plans to issue for consultation a draft of its revised Statutory Housing Management Guidance in May. The Secretary of State will not approve guidance under S36(4) unless he is satisfied with its requirements in relation to the provision of accommodation for households with priority under local authority allocation schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he intends to proceed with the East London Line extension to (a) Croydon, (b) Wimbledon and (c) Clapham Junction. [156738]

The proposals to extend the East London Line to West Croydon and Wimbledon form part of the Transport and Works Act 1992 application submitted last year by London Underground Ltd. The Secretary of State is considering the Inspector's report.The Strategic Rail Authority are looking into the possibility of a third extension to Clapham Junction as part of their Orbirail study.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for a London Orbital Rail Network. [156739]

The Strategic Rail Authority are actively working on developing the Orbirail concept as a major part of their aspirations to enhance rail services in London. The Government support these aspirations, but no commitments can be made at this stage while the proposals are still under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what role the Children's Commissioner for Wales will have in respect of matters that are not devolved to the National Assembly for Wales. [157049]

The Commissioner's core functions under the Bill rightly focus on matters that come within the Assembly's wide fields of responsibility. However, the Government have carefully considered the points made in debate here and in another place about the Commissioner needing to have a role in matters not devolved to the Assembly. We therefore intend amending the Bill to empower the Commissioner to consider, and make representations to the Assembly about, any matter affecting the rights and welfare of children in Wales.

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Haze1 Grove constituency, the effects on Hazel Grove of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [156185]

In November 1999, in line with national policy the Stockport/Sale branch of the Crown Prosecution Service introduced procedures based upon the Narey proposals. It did this in liaison with the Greater Manchester police and the Stockport magistrates court.All adult defendants charged with a criminal offence now make the first appearance before Stockport magistrates court within 96 hours. The present figures suggest that between 40 per cent. and 45 per cent. of all defendants have their case finalised more quickly than previously was the case.In January 2001, in line with national policy and new legislation, the CPS and the magistrates court started sending the most serious (indictable) cases to the Crown court within one week of the first appearance in the magistrates court. Henceforth, Crown court judges will monitor the progress of these cases and it is anticipated that they should also be finalised more quickly than previously.So far as youth offenders are concerned, the CPS—together with the police, the magistrates courts and the local youth offending team—have agreed procedures designed to bring persistent youth offenders before the court much more quickly. They are working towards the Government's 71-day target for disposing of such cases. Protocols have also been designed to bring all youth offenders before the Crown court much more quickly.All these changes illustrate the Government's successful policy of speeding up the criminal justice system.Since May 1997, the Stockport team of the Stockport/Sale branch has successfully prosecuted a number of high-profile cases, including several murders, attempted murders and drug-related offences. On Friday 23 March 2001, a 16-year-o1d youth was found guilty of attempted murder and aggravated burglary on 87-year-old, Miss Edith Champman, of Hazel Grove. The defendant has been remanded in secure accommodation for reports to be prepared before he is sentenced. In October 2000, Ian Morrison was found guilty of the attempted murder of his ex-wife and two police officers and attempted wounding with intent of a third police officer. He was sentenced to a total of 16 years' imprisonment.Actions and policies of the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Serious Fraud Office do not directly affect the hon. Member's constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact on individual businesses of the transfer from Government onto individual businesses of the responsibility for insuring workplaces against injury. [148018]

[holding answer 30 January 2001]: This Department has made no such assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001 on recruitment company products; [156843]

(2) what assessment he has made of the impact of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001 on (a women returning to work, (b) ethnic minorities, (c) work experience students and (d) improving the skill of women in the workplace; [156847]

(3) how many recruitment companies and agencies made representations to the Department during the consultation on the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001; [156842]

(4) what representations he has received from the Inland Revenue regarding the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001; and if he will place these in the Library; [156846]

(5) how many requests for a meting he received from recruitment companies regarding the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001; [156844]

(6) what discussions he has had with (a) women's groups, (b) representatives of ethnic minority groups and (c) student groups regarding the implications of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001; [156848]

(7) if he will list those recruitment agencies and companies that he has met regarding the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001, indicating (a) those companies which requested the meeting and (b) those which he invited to a meeting without a request; [156845]

(8) what discussions he had with (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) the Better Regulation Task Force regarding the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement. [156849]

A summary of responses to consultation on revisions to the Regulations, which includes a list of respondents, has been placed in the Library of the House. I have had meetings with a number of these, though most contacts have been with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and other trade bodies rather than with individual agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if charities and political think-tanks are considered political organisations for the purposes of Part IX of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. [157023]

Part XA of the Companies Act 1985 as inserted into that Act by Part IX of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 implements the recommendation by the Committee on Standards in Public Life that companies intending to make a donation to a political party or organisation should be required to have the prior authority of their shareholders. An organisation is to be considered "political" for the purposes of Part XA of the Companies Act if it carries on, or proposes to carry on, activities which are capable of being reasonably regarded as intended to affect public support for a political party or to influence voters in a referendum.The Government considered the definition carefully, and continue to believe that a test based on an organisation's intent to affect support for a political party or to influence the outcome of a referendum is both appropriate and proportionate. At the same time, the Government are concerned that the definition should not be interpreted so widely as to affect the funding of organisations which could not reasonably be regarded to show such intent. The Government do not believe, for example, that charities which campaign on issues of general public interest or political think-tanks whose publications and events are aimed at informing public opinion generally are likely to be caught by the definition if their activities would not appear, on any reasonable assessment, to be aimed at promoting a political party or to form an active part of a referendum campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets he has set his Department's Radiocommunications Agency for 2001–02. [157021]

I have set the Radiocommunications Agency the following quality of service targets for 2001–02 in respect of its licensing and enforcement activities, and correspondence. These are in addition to achieving on overall efficiency improvement of 3 per cent. over 2000–01.

Licensing Targets

Category A

Licences that involve no frequency assignment, site clearance or international co-ordination: 100 per cent. of applications for new or varied services to be awarded or rejected (with explanation) within five working days.

Category B

Licences that involve frequency assignment but no site clearance or international co-ordination: 90 per cent. of applications for new or varied services to be awarded or rejected (with explanation) within 15 working days; the remainder to be awarded or rejected within 25 working days or an explanation of the delay to be given.

Category C

Licences that require frequency assignment and site clearance and/or international co-ordination: 90 per cent. of applications for new or varied services to be awarded or rejected (with explanation) within 40 working days; the remainder to be awarded or rejected within 60 working days or an explanation of the delay to be given.

Enforcement

100 per cent. of safety of life services reports of interference to be investigated within 24 hours.

98 per cent. of business customers reports of interference to be investigated within five working days; the remainder within a further five days.

98 per cent. of domestic customers reports of interference to be investigated within one month; the remainder within a further month.

Glasgow
Date of hearing	Case number	Applicant	Respondent
November 2000
6 and 7	S/102120/2000	Mr. J. Burns	The Royal Bank of Scotland
8	S/100197/2000	Mr. D. Bryson	Leihcrest Ltd.
9	S/102361/2000	Mr. R. McCambley	William Grant and Sons Ltd.
16	S/102561/2000	Mrs. L. Wynne	Michael Curran
16	S/102534/2000	Mrs. I. Kerr	Chungwa Pictures Tubes UK Ltd.
22	S/100623/2000	Mr. D. Walker	Douglas Guest t/a Douglas Guest Associates
22	S/103957/2000	Mr. D. Duncan	Mick MacKenzie
23	S/100854/2000	Mr. S. Strang	Duncan and Co. (Scotland) Ltd.—in liquidation
24	S/103024/2000	Mr. D. Cunningham	Stone 3 Ltd.
24	S/102961/2000	Mr. S. Patterson	SCI Communications
27	S/102499/2000	Mr. J. Taylor	A. E. Transport
29 and 30	S/102798/2000	Mr. S. Morgan	Iceland Frozen Foods Ltd.
December 2000
4 and 5	S/102896/2000	Mr. G. White	Blackbaud Europe Ltd.
6	S/101487/2000	Mr. D. Tagg	Mrs. Mary Eeles t/a Express Packaging Supplies
11	S/101473/2000	Mr. D. Jess	West of Scotland Water
12	S/102258/2000	Mr. N. C. Bannerman	Guardion Security
14	S/103212/2000	Mr. S. Varney	Stan Lavelle
18	S/103341/2000	Mr. Y. Masih	Mr. Rehmat Ali and Family
19	S/103111/2000	Ms L. England	D. O. Stevenson Ltd. (t/a Nova Bathrooms)

Dundee
Date of hearing	Case number	Applicant	Respondent
December 2000
7	S/300260/1998	Mr. D. J. Gahan	Greenfield Homes (Scotland) Ltd.
7	S/300026/2000	Mrs. F. Gillespie	Envirosafe (Scotland)
20	S/300620/2000	Mrs. C. Bennett	Frasers Studio
22	S/300468/2000	Mrs. A. Brown	Mr. and Mrs. P. Nimmo t/a Peacehaven Residential Care Home

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department each year from 1993 to 1998, inclusive. [156524]

The number of Statutory Instruments laid before Parliament by the Department of Trade and Industry from 1993 to 1998 are as follows:

Year	Number of Statutory Instruments laid before Parliament
1993	64
1994	126
1995	89
1996	102
1997	121
1998	117

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effects of abolishing Advantage West Midlands on businesses in Shrewsbury and Atcham. [156502]

This Government are about ensuring that all regions of the country are given the opportunity to reach their full potential. It is the task of Government to ensure that the right framework is in place for regional economies to flourish.This is why we established Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)—to improve the economic performance of the English Regions. In the short period of their existence, the RDAs have emerged as the strategic drivers of economic development in the English regions—mirroring the success of their counterparts in Scotland and Wales.The RDAs have already made a considerable impact. They brought local partners on board to produce Regional Strategies. They have provided a focal point for regional economic development, and they have already established a track record in creating and saving jobs. RDAs have also had a key role in defining the skills needs in their regions in the context of their Regional Strategies.Our confidence in RDAs is shown in their increased budgets for the new financial year 2001–02. The £1.7 billion they will have by 2003–04 is almost double the amount they inherited in 1999.Shrewsbury and Atcham companies have already received funding from Advantage West Midlands (Advantage). Companies within the Shrewsbury area have been directly assisted with Rover funding totalling £130,000. I hope that Shrewsbury and Atcham will benefit from the development of the Wolverhampton-Telford high technology corridor, which Advantage is exploring. The Rural Regeneration Zone to the south of the district will, I feel sure, provide much needed support to businesses and communities in the vicinity, improving the local economy and indirectly helping businesses in the Shrewsbury area.Advantage is working with partners and leading on information, communications and technology (ICT), with a major emphasis on rural areas and market towns. It has taken the initiative and set up a Task Force to assess and address the social and economic impact of the foot and mouth outbreak in the region.It has approved expenditure of £230,000 for a Regional Organics Centre on the Battlefield Enterprise Park at Shrewsbury.It has taken an early opportunity to assist the Shropshire Local Learning and Skills Council by allocating a notional £450,000 for 2001–02 for skills development. Companies in Shrewsbury and Atcham, as elsewhere, will benefit from improving the skills of the workforce.It has made a very significant financial commitment of £2.8 million to restore Flax Mill, a Grade 1 listed building with the objective of providing employment and substantial tourism.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the average change in prices for (a) gas and (b) electricity to the average consumer in Shrewsbury and Atcham since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [156501]

Average annual domestic bills¹ for customers paying by quarterly credit for (a) gas and (b) electricity in cash terms in the West Midlands region² for 1997 and 2000 are as follows:

	1997	20003	Difference4
Gas5	£329	£297	-10
Electricity6	£283	£245	-13
1 Averages are weighted by customer numbers and based on all companies operating in the region.
2Figures are those for the Midlands Electricity distribution area and the West Midlands Transco distribution zone.
3Provisional.
4Per cent. change.
5Annual consumption level of 18,000kWh has been assumed.
6An annual consumption level of 3,300kWh has been assumed. Customers with electric central heating are likely to consume considerably more electricity

Average bills on a regional basis have been published annually since 1999 in the Department's annual "Digest of UK Energy Statistics" and in the "Energy Report".

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets he has set his Department's Insolvency Service Executive Agency for 2001–02. [157022]

The Insolvency Service's planning assumption is that compulsory insolvencies will total 26,500 in the year to 31 March 2002. On that basis and with the resources allocated to it, I have set the following performance targets:

To complete sufficient bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation case administrations so that the number of open current cases at 31 March 2002 are no more than 16,775 cases—that is equivalent to no more than eight months new case input; with no more than 2.5 per cent. of those cases being more than 36 months;

to maintain in real terms the unit cost of administering bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation cases over the period 1999–02 at the level of 1998–99, taking account of additional shorter-term cost of its new IT infrastructure and the delivery of improvements in its services to users;

to reduce in real terms the unit costs of its investigation of bankruptcy and liquidation cases by 10 per cent. over the period 1999–02, also taking account of the additional shorter-term costs of its new IT;

to continue to achieve the level of disqualification proceedings and orders against unfit directors as in 2000–01;

to continue to submit reports of criminal misconduct at a level consistent with the Service's investigative case load and resources;

to report to creditors on assets and liabilities within eight weeks in at least 98 per cent. of all cases; and within 12 weeks in 99 per cent. of all cases;

to hold the initial meetings of creditors within 12 weeks in 97 per cent. of all appropriate cases, and within four months in 99 per cent. of all appropriate cases;

to submit disqualification reports within 12 months in at least 65 per cent. of cases and within 15 months in at least 80 per cent. of cases where there is evidence of unfit conduct by directors;

to reduce the average time from a company's insolvency to conclusion of disqualification proceedings from 28 months to 26 months; and to increase the percentage of disqualification cases concluded within 30 months from 68 per cent. to 72 per cent; and within 24 months from 42 per cent. to 45 per cent.; and

to check and action at least 98 per cent. of Insolvency Service's Account payment requisitions within four days or by the due date.

The Service is expected to action 100 per cent. of invoices for payment within 30 days of receipt and 90 per cent. within 20 days of receipt. The Agency Chief Executive is expected to reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.I have asked Agency Chief Executive to continue to work on the development of outcome based targets for the Service's activities; and to continue to review and to seek to improve its quality of service performance in the light of his experience of its new IT infrastructure and the views of its users.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the arrangements formulated to protect employees' jobs in the Corus firm can be applied to employees' jobs in the former BSK factory in Llanidloes; and if he will make a statement. [156517]

I am disappointed to learn of the planned closure of BSK Ltd. with the loss of over 200 jobs. I have considerable sympathy with the individuals and local community affected by this decision. I understand that the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Development Agency are making every effort to mitigate the losses and are exploring options to retain a foundry operation in the area. Similarly the Government are seeking to minimise job losses at Corus. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has urged Corus to reconsider its decision to make 6,050 job cuts and has pressed the company to engage in constructive dialogue to identify a better way forward. I am pleased that a dialogue involving Corus, the Trade Unions and Government are now underway and hope this will alleviate the impact of the large scale redundancies proposed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Hazel Grove constituency, the effects on Hazel Grove of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [156186]

The Department does not maintain statistical information at constituency level.The hon. Gentleman's constituents, like many others throughout Greater Manchester, will have benefited from my Department's Employment Rights policies which include National Minimum Wage, Working Time Directive, Part-Time Working Regulations and improved Maternity Leave.In the North West region, my Department's policies have contributed to growth in employment by 107,000 and a fall in unemployment by 63,000; reductions in youth unemployment by 75 per cent. and long-term unemployment by 54 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what progress has been made in re-siting the Meteorological Office; [155992](2) if he will review the decision to re-site the Meteorological Off ice. [156019]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he ms reviewed the United States Aegis (SM2 BLOCK IV and SM3 missile version) air defence and anti-ballistic missile defence system as the possible basis for ground-based theatre defence for deployed forces; and if he will make a statement; [156729]

The UK's Pre-feasibility Study undertaken in 1994–96 reviewed all Government sponsored anti-ballistic missile systems either under development or expected to evolve into development programmes. The guidance from this study contributed to the decision, as part of the Strategic Defence Review, to embark on the Technology Readiness and Risk Assessment Programme, which has continued to monitor developments both in the threat and in the technologies available to counter it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is committed to the NATO summit decision to recognise the need for extended theatre defence against ballistic missiles for deployed forces; and what steps he intends to take to address this threat. [156678]

The UK is firmly committed to the implementation of the Defence Capabilities Initiative, which was launched at the last NATO summit in Washington DC in April 1999. Since 1998, we have contributed to NATO analysis of how best to defend deployed NATO forces against ballistic missiles, including preparatory work for feasibility studies on Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence. We expect these studies to start later this year. Nationally, we continue to assess the potential role of ballistic missile defence systems in countering missile attacks. We monitor developments closely, but it remains our position that it would be premature to decide to acquire a ballistic missile defence for either UK territory or forces deployed overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the operational status of HMS Brean. [156674]

I assume the hon. Member is referring to HMS Ocean.HMS Ocean is currently undergoing a period of planned maintenance in Devonport. On current plans she will return to sea for trials, commencing in May 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are (a) the estimated total costs, (b) the amounts expended so far and (c) the estimated in-service dates in relation to (i) Type 45 destroyer, (ii) Future Aircraft carrier, (iii) Astute class SSN, (iv) Auxiliary Oiler, (v) Landing Platform Dock, (vi) Future Afloat Support, (vii) Strategic Sea Lift ROROs, (viii) Alternate Landing Ships Logistic, (ix) Primary Casualty Receiving Ships, (x) Type 23 Frigate, (xi) Sandown Class Single Role Minehunter, (xii) Fishery Protection replacement, (xiii) Future MCM Capability, (xiv) Nato submarine rescue system, (xv) Multi role survey ships, (xvi) Mark 8 Lynx conversion and rotorhead, (xvii) Merlin ASW helicopter, (xviii) Future Organic AEW aircraft, (xix) Future Carrier Borne Aircraft, (xx) Support and Amphibious Battlefield Rotorcraft, (xxi) Future Air to Surface Guided weapon, (xxii) Stingray life extension programme, (xxiii) Goalkeeper successor system, (xxiv) Sea Dart Extension programme, (xxv) Sea Wolf MLU, (xxvi) Spearfish heavyweight torpedo, (xxvii) ASRAAM, (xxviii) 114mm Gun update, (xxix) Harpoon successor system, (xxx) PAAMS, (xxxi) Swiftsure/Trafalgar sonar update, (xxxii) Sonar 2087, (xxxiii) Sonar 2193, (xxxiv) JTIDS, (xxxv) SAWCS, (xxxvi) Surface Torpedo Defence System, (xxxvii) Co-operative Engagement Capability, (xxxviii) Active Offboard Decoy system, (xxxix) Type 675 jammer successor, (xl) Electric Ship Technology Demonstrator and (xli) Combined Aerial Target Service. [156676]

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if HMS Invincible is being used in the Landing Platform Helicopter role; and if he will make a statement. [156677]

Operating as a Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) is a secondary role for an aircraft carrier and is exercised on a periodic basis. HMS Invincible is currently preparing for her next refit. She was last employed in the LPH role between 19 February and 22 March 2001, during Exercise Tartan Relief. HMS Illustrious assumed Fleet Flagship duties on 23 March and in this capacity would be used as the LPH if required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the request for retrospective consideration of military decorations for servicemen in respect of action in Burma during the Second World War. [156736]

The Interdepartmental Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals for the 1939–45 war decided in 1946 that no further awards would be given for wartime operations. It would not be appropriate to attempt to review events which happened more than 50 years ago with a view to altering contemporary decisions made by those closely involved at that time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 9 February 2001, Official Report, column 764W, what nominal rate of interest additional to that supplied in his answer would be required to allow the raising of the income threshold for repayment to £20,000 per annum; and if he will make a statement. [150665]

In 1999–2000 there were an estimated £982 million of income contingent loans issued in England and Wales, with an income repayment threshold of £10,000 per annum. If the income repayment threshold were raised to £20,000 per annum, an estimated nominal rate of interest of 15 per cent. would be required to increase the net present value of these loans by £0.7 billion over their current net present value.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if write-offs of student loan debts initiated by his Department for trainee teachers are planned to be taxable. [155872]

[holding answer 28 March 2001]: Detailed proposals for the write-off of student loans are still being developed by my Department. As part of this process, we are discussing the tax position with the Inland Revenue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what further financial incentives he plans to introduce to encourage 16-year-olds to stay on in school. [154618]

[holding answer 29 March 2001]: We are committed to encouraging more students to continue in school, further education or training, and to raising attainment levels. Therefore we are developing a suite of measures to offer young people incentives and support while they stay in learning.Discretionary student support for further education and sixth form students will increase to £115 million in 2001–02, a rise of 16 per cent. on the 2000–01 allocation. This includes £62 million for further education access funds, up from £54 million in 2000–01, and over £10 million for access funds for sixth form students. The access funds are used to help pay for transport, books, equipment, and other expenditure associated with remaining in education, such as residential charges and childcare costs.We will continue to make Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) available in 56 of the most deprived LEA areas, covering approximately 30 per cent. of England by population. EMAs are a weekly allowance paid to the student or in some cases to the student's family, in return for the student's continuing attendance of an education programme. They aim to encourage young people to remain in full-time education and complete their courses successfully. Payments are means tested on the basis of parental income. Evaluation of the first year of the EMA scheme showed that EMAs lead to a significant increase in the numbers of 16 year olds deciding to remain in full-time education. The Government are considering the case for introducing a national EMA scheme.We are also introducing the Connexions Card, which will be available to all young people aged 16–19. It will provide a range of incentives to stay in learning, ranging from help with transport costs to discounts on the sorts of goods and activities which young people value. The benefits attached to the Card will be earned through regular attendance and effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of those who applied for teacher training courses started a teacher training course within 12 months in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [155647]

[holding answer 29 March 2001]: Information on the numbers of teacher trainees that start a teacher training course within 12 months of applying as a proportion of the total number of applicants is not collected centrally. Applications to courses leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) can be made at both postgraduate and undergraduate level. Prior to the current applications cycle, information on numbers of applications to ITT courses can be presented only on an England and Wales basis; not for England only. The following tables contain the total numbers of applications that were received for postgraduate and undergraduate initial teacher training (ITT) courses for providers in England and Wales starting in academic years 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01:

Postgraduate applications to initial teacher training (ITT) 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01
	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
England and Wales	31,638	33,056	34,860

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many applicants there were for teacher training courses in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [155648]

[holding answer 29 March 2001]: Applications to initial teacher training (ITT) courses leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) can be made at both postgraduate and undergraduate level. Prior to the current applications cycle, information on numbers of applications to ITT courses can be presented only on an England and Wales basis; not for England only. To allow a comparison of the latest figures with those of earlier years, the figures presented are for England and Wales combined. The tables show the numbers of applications that have been received up to the start of March for postgraduate and undergraduate ITT courses for providers in England and Wales starting in academic year 2001–02 with figures for comparable dates for the previous two years (courses starting in 1999–2000 and 2000–01):

Latest postgraduate applications to initial teacher training (ITT) 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02, England and Wales
Year	Number
1999–2000 (up to 3 March 2000)	22,522
2000–01 (up to 1 March 2000)	19,981
2001–02 (up to 2 March 2001)	23,699

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about take-up of education maintenance allowances in Stoke-on-Trent. [155909]

I am pleased to say that the take-up rate of Education Maintenance Allowance in Stoke-on-Trent is high. There are currently 2,267 young people in receipt of an allowance. Recent published evaluation reports show that EMAs are making a positive difference to young people's lives. On average in the pilot areas there is an increase of five percentage points in the number of eligible 16 and 17-year-olds staying in education in the pilot areas because of EMA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of full-time students stayed in education in the Hazel Grove constituency after the age of (a) 16 and (b) 18 years in (i) 1992, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2001. [156177]

At the heart of our drive to improve participation and attainment is the new Connexions Service which we will be phasing in from April this year. The service will provide information, advice, support and access to personal development opportunities for all 13 to 19-year-olds, whatever their needs and circumstances, to keep them learning. Latest figures show that the numbers of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training in England fell by 28,000 from 185,000 in 1998 to 15,000 in 1999.Data on the percentage of students continuing in post-compulsory education at age 16 are not calculated for areas smaller than LEAs. Participation rates by LEA for 16 and 17-year-olds are published in "Statistical Bulletin 11/00: Participation in education and training by young people aged 16 and 17 in each local area and region, England, 1994–95 to 1998–99".The percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education for Stockport LEA, which includes the constituency of Hazel Grove, was 75 per cent. in 1992–93, 66 per cent. in 1997–98 and 67 per cent. in 1998–99, the latest year for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will provide the most recent data on the outcomes of those people who had their initial New Deal interview in January 1998. [156271]

[holding answer 30 March 2001]: While we do not track people in the longer term once they have left the New Deal programme, we do keep details of their immediate destination on leaving. Of the 4,032 young people who had their initial interview in January 1998, 39 per cent. left New Deal for unsubsidised employment, 10 per cent. transferred to another benefit, 25 per cent. left for another known destination, and 24 per cent. left to an unknown destination.Comprehensive surveys have shown that 56 per cent. of those young people who are recorded as having left for an unknown destination are likely to have entered employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to change the year of calculation of education development plans to a financial year basis. [156442]

Local education authorities' targets for raising pupil attainment are the key elements of an education development plan. These targets are necessarily related to schools' academic years. Information about an authority's planned expenditure in support of their EDP is already included in the plan on a financial year basis. New regulations and guidance will be required for the next generation of EDPs from 2002, which are under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those Beacon schools which have received a second Ofsted inspection and those which have received Beacon status following a second inspection. [156475]

[holding answer 2 April 2001]: Inspection evidence is an important factor in the award of Beacon status and in the process of validating a school's continuing operation as a Beacon, but it is not the sole determining criterion. Consistently high performance in relation to school circumstances and the capacity, experience and willingness to build partnerships with other schools are also key factors that are taken into account. We have no record of how many inspections a school may have received prior to being awarded Beacon status. However, 111 Beacon schools have received an Ofsted inspection since becoming a Beacon:

• Aboyne Lodge Junior Mixed and Infant School
• Ashton on Mersey School
• Birkdale High School
• Bishop Luffa Church of England School
• Black Horse Hill Junior School
• Blackfriars School
• Broad Oak Primary School
• Broughton Infant School
• Carwarden House Community School
• Christ Church Church of England Primary School
• Clifton Hill School
• Colleges Nursery School
• Coulsdon Nursery School
• Cunningham Hill Infant School
• Dixons City Technology College
• Downe Manor Primary School
• Dunmore Junior School
• Eglingham Church of England First School
• Enfield County School
• Etchingham Church of England Primary School
• Exhall Grange School
• Fair Oak Junior School
• Garden Suburb Infant School
• Grange Lane Infant School
• Habergham High School
• Haggerston School
• Hartwell Church of England Primary School
• High Greave Junior School
• High Storrs School
• Highburton Church of England Voluntary Controlled First School
• Hillborough Junior School
• Hilton Lane Primary School
• Hummersknott Community School
• King David High School
• Kirk Hallam Community Technology College
• Knowle Church of England Primary School
• La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School
• Linden Bridge School
• Loose Infant School
• Lytham Hall Park Primary School
• Margaret McMillan Nursery School
• Mary Elliot School
• Meadowhead School
• Merrivale Nursery school
• Montrose School
• Newchurch-in-Pendle St. Mary's Church of England School
• North Nibley Church of England Primary School
• Northview Primary School
• Notre Dame Catholic Primary School
• Notre Dame Roman Catholic Girls' School
• Orleton Church of England Primary School
• Our Lady and St. Philomena's RC Primary School
• Our Lady's Convent Roman Catholic High School
• Pennywell Nursery School
• Pensby High School for Girls
• Penwortham Girls' High School
• Pownall Green Primary School
• Priory School
• Ranelagh Church of England School
• Redhill Primary School
• Reynalds Cross School
• Riverhead Infant School
• RNIB New College
• Robin Hood Junior and Infant School
• Rodborough School
• Sacred Heart High School
• Saint Gregory's Catholic Comprehensive School
• Scarcroft Primary School
• Shaldon Primary School
• Sharnbrook Upper School and Community College
• Silverdale School
• Sir John Cass's Foundation Primary School
• St. Angela's Ursuline Convent School
• St. Anne's Nursery School
• St. Antony's RC Primary School
• St. Brigid's Catholic Primary School
• St. Catherine's RC Primary School
• St. Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School
• St. Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School
• St. Gregory's RC Voluntary Aided Primary School
• St. Helen's Primary School
• St. Joan of Arc Catholic Primary School
• St. Joseph and St. Theresa Catholic Primary School
• St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wetherby
• St. Joseph's RC Voluntary Aided Comprehensive
• St. Julie's Catholic High School
• St. Mary's RC Junior School
• St. Nicholas Catholic Primary School
• St. Philip's Church of England Primary School, Atherton
• St. Thomas' Church of England Primary School
• Stockcross Church of England School
• Sutton in Craven Church of England Voluntary Controlled Swanshurst School
• The Ecclesbourne School
• The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls
• The Grey Coat Hospital
• The Grove Special School
• Thomas Telford School
• Trinity Catholic High School
• Tubbenden Infant School
• Ubley Church of England Primary School
• Urchfont Church of England Primary School
• Walkden High School
• West Oaks School
• Westborough High School
• Wimbledon Chase Middle School
• Windlesham Village Infant School
• Winklebury Infant School
• Woodhouse Primary School
• Yealand Church of England Primary School
• Yerbury Primary School.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent by schools on (a) literacy and (b) numeracy in Shrewsbury and Atcham (i) in May 1997 and (ii) on the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [156492]

The Department does not collect information on the level of spending by individual schools on particular areas of expenditure. In 1997–98, Shropshire LEA received £233,000 for books for schools. Since 1998–99, Shropshire LEA has been allocated total funding of £3,846,472 to support the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies in primary schools, including funding for books for schools. This also includes the allocations now made for 2001–02 of £619,405 for literacy and £669,904 for numeracy. For 2001–02, Shropshire has also been allocated funding of £399,823 for the English and mathematics strands of the Key Stage 3 Strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of 11 year-olds in Shropshire attained marks above the national average in (a) English and (b) mathematics (i) in May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [156644]

The percentage of eligible pupils attaining level 4 or above in the English and mathematics Key Stage 2 assessment tests for 1997, 1998 and 2000 in the Shropshire local education authority are shown in the table;

Percentage
	English		Mathematics
Year	Shropshire	England	Shropshire	England
1997	162	63	161	62
1998	69	65	64	59
2000	79	75	77	72
11997 figures for Shropshire relate to the local education authority prior to the local Government re-organisation of April 1998.

The Government have set themselves the target of 80 per cent. of 11 year-olds reaching the expected level in English and 75 per cent. reaching the expected level in mathematics by 2002.In 2000, the percentage of children reaching level 4 in English rose by 4 per cent. from 71 to 75 per cent., building on the previous year's 6 per cent. increase. This means that there has been a 10 percentage point rise since 1998. In mathematics, the percentage of children achieving level 4 has risen by 3 per cent. from 69 to 72 per cent. This means that there has been a 13 percentage point rise since 1998. In Shropshire, between 1998 and 2000, the increase in performance of pupils in both English and mathematics was the same as the national rate.The results show teachers and pupils are firmly on track to meet the targets. There is also more evidence beneath the headline figures of the success of the literacy and numeracy strategies. The results show that standards are also being raised in the earliest years of primary education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students in Shrewsbury and Atcham have benefited from the disabled students' allowance; how much has been spent in total on these students; and if he will make a statement. [156507]

Data are only available by local education authority, not by constituency area. Shropshire LEA paid out in disabled students allowances (DSAs) in academic year 1998–99 as follows:

£
DSAs	Students	Expenditure
General allowance	16	2,255
Non-medical personal help	42	52,654
Specialist items of equipment	40	58,364
Total	98	113,273

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list each school in Shrewsbury and Atcham that has been awarded Beacon status, indicating the size of grant given to each; and if he will make a statement. [156513]

There is one Beacon school in Shrewsbury and Atcham—The Grange Junior School. The school receives additional funding of £39,000 a year for the dissemination of good practice. It is one of a national network of 587 Beacon schools that are helping to raise standards by building partnerships with others, sharing expertise and providing professional support to teachers across the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will include Reading in the list of pilot areas for Ambition:IT. [156525]

[holding answer 30 March 2001]: Ambition:IT will run in five pilot areas to be announced later in the Spring. A short list of areas for the pilot has already been announced: they are London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, South Yorkshire, Liverpool, Tyneside, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Edinburgh and the Forth area. Areas have been selected on the basis of strong employer demand and high local levels of unemployment; both criteria had to be met for an area to be considered. On objective grounds, Reading does not meet both these criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many training places are available in Manchester for work-based learning for adults; and what the ratio is of adult unemployed to these training places for (a) Manchester and (b) England and Wales. [156648]

[holding answer 2 April 2001]: At 24 December 2000 (the latest date for which data are available), there were 623 people in Government-supported training on work-based learning for adults in the Manchester Training and Enterprise Council area and 16,359 adult unemployed, approximately one person in training to every 26 unemployed. Comparative figures for England and Wales are: 32,509 in training, 646,340 adult unemployed, approximately one person in training to every 20 unemployed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the (a) educational SSA, (b) grants and (c) capital allocation in Newcastle upon Tyne for 2001–02. [156659]

[holding answer 2 April 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the letter sent to him by the Secretary of State on 16 February. National increases of £100 million in both the School Standards Grant and the devolved New Deal for Schools capital grant were announced in the Budget on 7 March. Newcastle upon Tyne's share of the increase in the Schools Standards Grant will total £0.5 million; its share of the additional New Deal for Schools capital grant will also total £0.5 million.In addition, since 16 February, further allocations have been made to Newcastle upon Tyne from the Standards Fund. Recurrent allocations to the authority now total some £13.1 million for 2001–02. Capital allocations for 2001–02 have also been announced, and Newcastle upon Tyne will be receiving £4.3 million, including the addition for New Deal for Schools capital mentioned above. The capital figures may be altered slightly in May, when allocations of New Deal for Schools Condition funding will be adjusted if appropriate to take account of additional data submitted by the authority.As a result of these increases, total funding allocated for Newcastle upon Tyne in 2001–02 is:

	£ million
Education SSA	118.0
Grants	14.0
Capital	4.3

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the subjects to be made available as vocational GCSEs from September 2002. [156667]

[holding answer 2 April 2001]: From September 2002, vocational GCSEs will be available in the following subject titles: Art and Design, Business, Engineering, Health and Social Care, Information and Communication Technology, Leisure and Tourism, Manufacturing and Science.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy to extend eligibility for individual learning accounts to include those aged 18 and studying part-time. [156669]

[holding answer 2 April 2001]: There are no current plans to change the age criteria for Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) which are available to anyone aged 19 or over. Account holders can use their ILAs for full or part-time courses as long as the learning is eligible for the ILA incentives. The vast majority of education and training is provided free to people aged under 19. Currently some people aged 18 have to pay for certain types of learning themselves. My Department has addressed this issue and from September of this year no 16 to 18-year-olds undertaking part-time learning will be charged tuition fees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy to require Oxford and Cambridge universities to provide his Department with the information they collect in respect of admissions to constituent colleges categorised by previous educational establishment for each of the last five years; and if he will publish this information. [156670]

[holding answer 2 April 2001]: Cambridge and Oxford University have published information on admissions for entry in 2000 from both the maintained and independent sector, disaggregated by college. The

Cambridge University-Entry 2000: Undergraduate applications and acceptances
Percentage
	Applications from maintained sector		Acceptances from maintained sector
College	Entry 2000	Entry 1999	Entry 2000	Entry 1999
Christ's	55	55	37	49
Churchill	75	78	68	76
Clare	56	56	55	46
Corpus Christi	49	49	39	39
Downing	51	51	41	46
Emmanuel	61	56	54	42
Fitzwilliam	71	73	66	67
Girton	61	65	61	58
Gonville and Caius	48	46	48	39
Jesus	57	53	54	49
King's	84	86	77	79
Madalene	42	46	36	50
New Hall	59	62	58	59
Newnham	58	60	49	51
Pembroke	55	58	50	53
Peterhouse	52	53	43	40
Queen's	60	61	55	57
Robinson	65	62	56	58
Selwyn	58	50	49	41
Signey Sussex	55	48	45	43
St. Catherine's	58	58	52	63
St. John's	52	58	45	55
Trinity	56	53	48	43
Trinity Hall	55	56	47	46
All standard colleges	59	59	52	53
Mature student colleges (Hughs Hall, Lucy Cavendish, St. Edmunds and Wolfson)	86	89	87	83

Oxford University Entry 2000: Undergraduate Offers
Undergraduate	Percentage to those from the state sector	Percentage to those from the independent sector
Balliol	56.1	43.9
Brasenose	44.2	55.8
Christ Church	47.2	52.8
Corpus Christi	55.6	44.4
Exeter	59.8	40.2
Harris Manchester1	100	0
Hertford	61.3	38.7
Jesus	56.5	43.5
Keble	65.3	34.7
Lady Margaret Hall	47.3	52.7
Lincoln	46.4	53.6
Magdalene	46.2	53.8
Mansfield	74.6	25.4
Merton	61.4	38.6
New	47.6	52.4
Oriel	40.4	59.6
Pembroke	44.9	55.1
Queen's	53.3	46.7
Somerville	59.6	40.4
St. Anne's	60.7	39.3
St. Catherine's	55.9	44.1
St. Edmund Hall	42.2	57.8
St. Hilda's	53.0	47.0
St. Hugh's	49.6	50.4
St. John's	69.9	30.1

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, (1) pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 334W, what representations (a) he and (b) his officials received from trades unions representatives on the future National Training Organisation representation for the telecoms industry, indicating the dates of meetings and their outcome; [156840]

(2) pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 334W, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have held with e-skills and EMTA—the Engineering and Marine Training Authority—on the future National Training Organisation representation for the telecoms industry; [156838]

(3) pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 334W, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have held with the NTO National Council on the future National Training Organisation representation for the telecoms industry, indicating the dates of the meetings and their outcome; [156839]

(4) pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 334W, how many organisations have been sent the consultation paper by his Department on the future National Training Organisation representation for the telecoms industry; and if he will list them; [156836]

(5) pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 334W, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have held with board members of the former NTO-telecom on the future National Training Organisation representation for the telecoms industry, indicating the dates of meetings and their outcome; [156841]

(6) pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 334W, how many replies have been received in response to the consultation exercise undertaken by his Department on the future National Training Organisation representation for the telecoms industry. [156837]

The consultation paper has been sent to a total of 2,330 organisations, a list of which has been placed in the Library. The document has also been made available on the internet. The Department's Consultation Unit has received 143 replies.This Government are committed to a strong network of employment led National Training Organisations (NTOs). As part of the consultation process, Ministers and officials have discussed with senior employer representatives from the telecommunications and call handling sector future NTO arrangements for the industry.No discussions have been held, by Ministers or officials, with the NTO National Council or with trades unions representatives on the future NTO representation for the telecoms industry. Ministers have however received correspondence from trade union representatives on this matter.Officials held discussions with the Chairman and Acting Chief Executive of nto tele.com on 16 August 2000. The Chief Executive of EMTA was also present at that meeting. No other discussions have been held with e-skills NTO and EMTA on the future NTO representation for the telecoms industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for each school which has received an improvement award for 1997 and 2000 the key stage test or GCSE/GNV results and the ranking of the differences between the two years. [154743]

[holding answer 20 March 2001]: The schools that received an improvement award based on their 1997 and 2000 pupil performance data are contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made with setting up and activating the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme in response to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement. [157025]

The Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme as announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture in his statement to the House on 27 March 2001, Official Report, columns 827–31, has already opened to applications. First payments are due to be made before Easter.Parliamentary approval for additional resources for this new service will be sought in the 2001–02 Summer Supplementary Estimate for the Intervention Board Executive Agency. Pending that approval urgent expenditure estimated at £240 million will be met by a repayable cash advance from the Contingencies Fund.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a breakdown of sheep journeys in February by (a) movements direct to aggregation facilities prior to export, (b) live exports, (c) movements from farm direct to slaughter, (d) movements from farm to livestock markets, (e) movements from livestock markets direct to abattoirs, (f) movements from livestock markets to farms, (g) movements between farms arising from private sales, (h) movements between parcels of land in same ownership, (i) movements from winter keep to the home farm and (j) other movements. [156660]

[holding answer 2 April 2001]: The full information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. But 118 consignments of sheep were exported to other member states during February.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the names of the persons who are entitled to receive compensation from Her Majesty's Government as a result of the Factortame judgment, with the amount of entitlement in each case. [155130]

Agreement has been reached out of Court with all bar two of the 93 applicants in the Factortame litigation in full and final settlement of their claims against the United Kingdom Government. Full details of the settlements are set out in the table. The two exceptions, Parafleet Ltd. and Presslake Ltd., have appealed against the decision of the Court to strike out their claims in respect of two additional vessels. Those appeals are expected to be heard later this year.

£
Claimant	Amount
Agegate Ltd.	501,360
Alabau Ltd.	519,730
Anglebusy Ltd.	11
Anglo Spanish Fisheries Ltd.	66
Astonquest Ltd.	267,062
Baladome Ltd.	66
Baomar UK Ltd.	55

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will undertake studies of the causes of floods since October 2000 in Colnbrook, Slough. [156238]

Responsibility for such studies rests with local flood defence operating authorities, such as the Environment Agency and local councils, and other bodies, such as water companies. I understand from the Environment Agency that the flooding experienced at Colnbrook was due to a combination of factors, with prolonged and exceptional rainfall exceeding the capacity of local watercourses and surface water drains, and giving rise to high groundwater levels. For its part, the Agency is investigating the feasibility of flood alleviation measures for County Ditch.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on flooding in Mozambique. [156539]

The situation in Mozambique is stabilising and is showing some signs of improvement but remains serious. The continued effective management of the dam discharge rates has helped to alleviate the effects of the seasonal rains on the lower Zambezi. The wet season is now drawing to a close reducing the threat of further flooding.Government of Mozambique reports continue to describe some 494,500 people in the Zambezi Valley as being affected by the current flooding. The Government of Mozambique estimate that some 204,130 are now accommodated in 77 temporary accommodation centres in the four flood affected provinces of Sofala, Tete, Manica, and Zambezia. As floodwater in the eastern part of Zambezia Province recedes, some of the displaced population are leaving the temporary accommodation centres and returning to their homes.Following the immediate relief operation in response to last year's catastrophic floods in Mozambique, my Department has remained engaged in rehabilitation as well as in developing new measures, via the United Nations system, to strengthen both UN and Government of Mozambique contingency arrangements for future disasters. Over the past few months DFID, FCO, MOD, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the UK Fire Service have been working together to prepare contingency plans for different emergency scenarios. In addition we have continued to work closely with the Government of Mozambique's National Directorate of Water to set up early warning flood systems with the UK Met Office.Following the onset of the current floods, we switched gear to immediate response operations deliberately aimed at 'preventative' rescue and relief, i.e. extricating people before the worst hits them and there is substantial loss of life and suffering. In addition to contributing £250,000 to the Red Cross and £160,000 to Food for the Hungary's appeal for Mozambique, we funded two Puma helicopters to move people from the riskiest areas and transport urgent relief supplies; provided three logisticians to the World Food Programme to assist in its operational response; and provided a humanitarian specialist in Beira to reinforce DFID presence on the ground and conduct field assessments.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list those countries for which her Department provides aid for the development of policies relating to the accessibility of clean water supplies. [156702]

The countries in which my Department supported development of policies, at either local or national level, relating to the accessibility of clean water supplies are listed. This relates to financial year 1999–2000.

• Afghanistan
• Angola
• Bangladesh
• Brazil
• Burkina Faso
• China
• Congo, Democratic Republic
• Czech Republic
• Egypt, Arab Republic
• El Salvador
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Gambia, The
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Honduras
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Kenya
• Kyrgyzstan, Republic of
• Laos
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Macedonia
• Madagasar
• Malawi
• Moldova, Republic of
• Montserrat
• Mozambique
• Nepal
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Russian Federation
• Rwanda
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa, Republic of
• Sri Lanka
• St. Helena
• St. Lucia
• Sudan
• Swaziland
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Uganda
• Ukraine
• Vietnam
• West Bank and Gaza
• Yugoslavia
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe.

:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what requests he has received to provide information to the independent commission of inquiry established by the Irish Government into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings; and what has been his response. [155971] [155972]

I have received a request from Mr. Justice Henry Barron, the Independent Commissioner of Inquiry into the Dublin, Monaghan and Dundalk bombings, for all relevant information held by the UK Government relating to these incidents. This request has been shared with all relevant Government Departments and Agencies, including the Ministry of Defence, who are currently researching archived records to establish what information they hold. I have assured Judge Barron that I will respond substantively as soon as I am in a position to do so.I am replying on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence of whom this question has also been asked but who has not received a separate request from the Independent Commission of Inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received concerning the holding of an inquiry into a controversial death at the same time as (a) the continuation of a police investigation, (b) the continuation of an inquiry by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman and (c) the continuation of a coroner's inquiry; and if he will place a copy of this advice in the Library. [156538]

I have received a range of representations concerning the holding of inquiries in such a case. I am not legally precluded from establishing a public inquiry in advance of the conclusion of any criminal investigation. However, I believe that to do so would carry the significant risk of prejudicing the outcome of any investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the EU Commissioner's meetings with Chairman Arafat with particular reference to (a) violence and (b) corruption. [155758]

The EU Troika of Anna Lindh, the Swedish Foreign Minister, Commissioner Patten and Miguel Moratinos (the EU's Special Envoy to the MEPP) visited Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt on 12 and 13 March. They met with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon, Israeli Foreign Minister Peres, President Arafat, Egyptian President Mabarak and Egyptian Foreign Minister Moussa. The visit went well. The Troika delivered strong messages to the Israelis and the Palestinians, including on the need to end the violence. The Troika urged the Israelis to end the economic siege of the Palestinians and resume the transfer of customs revenues due to the Palestinian Authority.The Palestinians have, since the visit, written to Commissioner Patten accepting the EU requests that they work up an austerity budget and improve the transparency and accountability of their financial management.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to Chairman Arafat about the actions which he has taken against the Tanzim. [156067]

The Government expect both the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel to insist on restraint and disciplined behaviour by their military and security personnel, and to restrain extremism. We are in regular contact with both parties, and urge them to take immediate parallel steps to address the current crisis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a formal response from the Turkmen authorities to the demarche issued in February concerning the continuing incarceration of Shageldy Atakov. [156086]

The Turkmen Foreign Minister undertook to respond formally to the EU/US demarche in February but has not yet done so. We intend to remind the Turkmen authorities of our concern within the next week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkmen authorities about their obligations in respect of the Shageldy Atakov case under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. [156087]

On 23 February, EU Partners and the US issued a demarche to the Turkmen Foreign Minister regarding Shageldy Atakov's detention. We used this opportunity to remind the Turkmen Government of their international human rights commitments, which include those under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. We will continue to remind the Turkmen Government of their legal obligations in future representations regarding Mr. Atakov.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts he has made to ensure that arms sales to Syria do not fall into the hands of (a) Hizbullah, (b) Hamas and (c) Islamic Jihad. [155995]

As for all other countries, we consider all applications for licences to export military equipment to Syria on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, taking careful account in case of the nature of the equipment and the proposed end-use and end-user. If there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression, external aggression or diverted to an undesirable end-user the licence is refused.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1 May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned. [155662]

[holding answer 28 March 2001): I refer the hon. Member to the answer which the then Minister of State, Mr Fatchett, gave to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan), on 2 April 1998, Official Report, column 630W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European colleagues regarding the inter-ballistic missile capability of Iran; and if he will make a statement. [156068]

I have not recently raised Iran's ballistic missile capability with European colleagues, but we remain concerned by Iran's development and testing of the Shabab-3 ballistic missile which has a range of 1,300 kms. We regularly engage the Iranian authorities on non-proliferation issues, and have urged Iran to refrain from the further development of such missiles, while understanding Iran's legitimate security concerns. We continue to work with our European partners on missile proliferation issues through the Missile Technology Control Regime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Chinese Government about its attitude towards practitioners of Falun Gong. [156408]

We take every appropriate opportunity to raise with the Chinese authorities our concerns about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners. I did so with the Chinese Ambassador on 30 November 2000. During the sixth round of the UK/China human rights dialogue held in Beijing on 12–14 February, we pressed the Chinese Government to cease actions against Falun Gong adherents which contravene international human rights standards including the excessive use of force, and of administrative detention and psychiatric institutions.I also spelt out the UK's concerns on human rights in China, including the treatment of Falun Gong adherents, in my address at the UN Commission on Human Rights on 22 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Lebanese Prime Minister on the planned conference by the Institute of Historical Review on 31 March regarding Holocaust denial. [156440]

The conference has been banned by the Lebanese Government, following representations by the EU, and will not now take place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will publish his review of the sanctions imposed on Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [156775]

We continue to discuss Iraq policy with the US, other key partners and countries in the region. We wish to ensure the most effective policy to prevent Iraq from re-equipping its armed forces and re-building its WMD while minimising the effects of UN controls on the Iraqi people. Any adjustments to our policy would of course be announced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if (a) he, (b) the Permanent-Under Secretary and (c) the Director for the Public Departments was notified (i) orally and (ii) in writing about the Minister for Europe's decisions to reverse visa refusals. [156530]

[holding answer 2 April 2001]: I have overturned visa refusals only at the request of right hon. and hon. Members, if I am satisfied that the applicants qualify under the Immigration Rules. In such cases the Joint Entry Clearance Unit notifies in writing relevant parts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the right hon. or hon. Member is notified in writing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the effectiveness of the work of entry clearance officers, with particular reference to the refusal of visa applications. [156528]

[holding answer 2 April 2001]: No, I am very satisfied with the practices and procedures which have been in place over tile last four years.The work of entry clearance officers is kept under constant review by entry clearance managers, who have a specific responsibility for reviewing all visa refusals.Visa refusals either carry a right of appeal to the Independent Appellate Authority or are subject to scrutiny by the Independent Monitor appointed under the Immigration Appeals Act 1993 to monitor refusals with no right of appeal. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office Joint Entry Clearance Unit carries out regular reviews of Entry Clearance Sections overseas.