To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on shackling female prisoners. [155153]

I have written to the hon. Member.

To ask the secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits abroad were made by him and his Ministers on departmental business in the (a) three years ending 30 April 1997 and (b) 12 months ending 30 April 1997. [157617]

Departmental records contain the following information:

(a) between 1 May 1994 and 30 April 1997 Home Office Ministers made 66 overseas visits on departmental business, 44 of which were within the European Union.

(b) between 1 May 1996 and 30 April 1997 Home Office Ministers made 23 overseas visits on departmental business, 13 of which were within the European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which citizens advice bureaux have been invited to join one of the National Asylum Support Service's regional stakeholder groups; and on which dates the invitations were sent to the bureaux concerned. [157974]

Regional Consortia, grant funded by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), have been established to help deliver support at the local level. It is part of their remit to have strategies and procedures in place to co-ordinate services at both regional and local levels. They manage regional stakeholder groups and accordingly are responsible for membership. The groups should include the full spectrum of organisations and agencies involved and may include the Citizens Advice Bureau.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the net income from fees for family visit appeals has been since 2 October 2000; and what proportion of this net income relates to appeals which are currently outstanding. [157973]

We calculate that the net income from fees for family visitor appeals in the period 2 October to 11 April 2001 is about £60,000. Of this, 40 per cent. relates to appeals which are currently outstanding and which may result in further refunds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many advanced fee fraud letters he estimates have come to the UK from (a) overseas and (b) Nigeria in each of the last five years; and what powers he has, in the case of operations known to the police, to intercept such letters before they reach their intended recipients. [158356]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: Figures for the number of advance fee fraud letters which arrive in the United Kingdom are not held centrally.Under section 5 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the Secretary of State may authorise the interception of postal items where this is necessary in the interests of national security; for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime; or of safeguarding the economic well-being of the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) of 16 March 2001, Official Report, column 768W, if the Government intend to petition the House of Lords for leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal's judgment in the case of Bajram Zeqiri. [158744]

The Government's petition for permission to appeal against the Court of Appeal judgment in the case of Bajram Zeqiri was lodged with the House of Lords on 12 April 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Cleveland on the amount of time he has spent on (a) Operation Lancet, (b) Operation Dallas and (c) Operation Eagle since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [158131]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: No, it would not be appropriate to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports Lord Birt has submitted to him in his capacity as an adviser on crime; and if he will make a statement. [158236]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Taunton (Jackie Ballard) on 27 March 2001, Official Report, column 594W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in producing draft regulations to ensure that registered political parties, elected representatives and candidates receive copies of updates of the electoral register. [158794]

We have decided to bring forward self-contained regulations for this purpose and a draft was laid yesterday.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the use of the Biffa waste disposal site in Abbey Village, Chorley for animals slaughtered under the welfare slaughter scheme.[157194]

The Environment Agency has identified licensed landfill sites which are suitable for the disposal of carcases from the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme. I understand that uninfected sheep and pig carcases from the scheme are being disposed of at this site under a contract agreed between the site operators and the Intervention Board Executive Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which rail projects listed in the Strategic Rail Authority's plans have a start date; and if he will make a statement. [157195]

The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Agenda identified a range of potential investment projects for the development of the rail network. The stage of development of these projects varies depending on their origins; but some are already under way. The authority is reviewing the future rail investment programme and expects to provide more information in its strategic plan about costs and timings of projects to be taken forward. The strategic plan is expected to be published in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of coach operators in meeting transport needs in rural areas. [157196]

We fully appreciate that coach operators have a significant role to play in helping to meet the transport needs of those living in or wishing to visit rural areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the need for further discussions on the Kyoto protocol following President Bush's decision to withdraw from it. [157197]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with his US counterparts regarding the Kyoto protocol. [157198]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on discussions between his Department and the US Administration concerning the Kyoto climate change agreement. [157205]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of the Kyoto protocol. [157215]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policies for future climate change negotiations. [157216]

The Kyoto protocol is an important step in setting the framework for dealing with climate change. We will continue to work for an agreement at the next round of talks in July which will enable us and others to ratify Kyoto, with the aim of bringing it into force by 2002. We are also keen to continue a constructive dialogue with the US as it is important that they remain engaged in global efforts to tackle climate change.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to implement the recommendations of the Stewart report on mobile phone masts. [157200]

On 16 March 2001 I announced a series of important changes to the planning system on the siting of mobile phone masts that significantly strengthen public consultation requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will discuss rail procurement with Railtrack. [157201]

The spending plans set out in our 10-year plan, together with the post-Hatfield re-railing programme, should mean that there is no shortage of demand for rail. Procurement decisions are commercial matters for Railtrack.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce licences for private landlords. [157202]

We set out in the Housing Green Paper, "Quality and choice: a decent home for all", a proposal to introduce licensing of the whole private rented sector in limited areas of low demand for housing in England. Following a positive response, we intend to consult further later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the locating of park and ride schemes on green belt sites; and if he will make a statement. [157203]

Revised policy in respect of proposals to locate park and ride schemes on green belt sites is set out at paragraph 62 and at Annexe E to Planning Policy Guidance Note 13: "Transport", which was issued on 27 March. It provides that, in some circumstances, park and ride schemes may be permissible in the green belt where assessment shows such locations to be the most sustainable of the available options. A draft of PPG13 was issued for consultation in October 1999 and the majority of respondents commenting on the proposed changes were supportive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Environment Agency's priorities for the disposal of foot and mouth infected carcases. [157204]

It is essential that appropriate use is made of all the available options to dispose of the substantial number of carcases from the current epidemic. The priority in each case is to prevent the spread of the disease and to minimise the risk to public health and the environment. In broad terms, the preferred hierarchy of disposal options is rendering for all carcases; incineration in authorised facilities for all carcases; disposal in licensed landfill sites for sheep, pigs and, with the agreement of the licence holder, cattle born after 1 August 1996; burning for all carcases; and burial of sheep, pigs and cattle born after 1 August 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he took of the need to minimise the possibility of spreading foot and mouth disease in deciding to authorise two sites in West Sussex for disposal of animals culled as part of the exercise to control that disease. [158342]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: The Environment Agency has identified a number of licensed landfill sites which are suitable for the disposal of animal carcases. The carcases consigned to these sites are those which MAFF authorise for disposal under Article 5(2) of the Animal By-Products Order 1999. The objective of the authorities responsible for the disposal arrangements is to ensure that carcases are transported for disposal (a) within infected areas or (b) within non-infected areas—but not from one area to another unless necessitated by factors such as the location of abattoirs or landfills.I understand that landfill sites at Small Dole and Warnham in West Sussex have been identified by the Environment Agency as suitable for carcases disposal but, in the event of their being used, only carcases from the local area will be consigned to them. Any such disposal of carcases will be carried out on the basis of a Best Practice Document (the Protocol) agreed between the Environment Agency, MAFF and the Environmental Services Association (ESA). A copy has been placed in the Library and is available on the Agency's website: http:// www.environment-agency.gov.uk/envinfo/fmd/protocol.pdf.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the owners of holiday units available to rent will be eligible for rate relief under the Government's measures to help businesses affected by foot and mouth disease. [158265]

Owners of any business paying rates, including holiday units available to rent, are able to apply for hardship rate relief. A hardship rate relief scheme, where local authorities are able to grant discretionary rate relief of up to 100 per cent. to any business suffering hardship, can be made available by any authority. However, as a consequence of the current foot and mouth disease outbreak, we have now extended the central Government contribution to the cost of the relief from 75 per cent. to 95 per cent. in cases where the business is located in one of the 151 eligible rural districts and has a rateable value of £12,000 or less. This higher rate of support is available initially for three months to 30 June 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to visit Montgomeryshire to discuss the effects of the foot and mouth outbreak with local business people. [158682]

I have no plans to visit Montgomeryshire. The National Assembly and the Wales Office are represented on the Rural Taskforce and the National Assembly is leading on monitoring the impact of foot and mouth disease and action to alleviate it in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how much trade has been lost, in total, by individuals and organisations as a result of foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement; [158680](2) what assessment he has made of the amount of financial support that would be required to prevent the closure of 5 per cent. of businesses which have been affected by the foot and mouth outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [158681]

It is clear that the crisis has adversely affected many organisations and individuals and we have already announced a number of measures to alleviate their difficulties. We do not at present have comprehensive information about the scale and scope of the impact on individuals and organisations, the losses they have sustained and the number of businesses which may have to close directly as a result of foot and mouth disease, although we have been actively seeking it. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has, however, estimated that the cost to English tourism is currently around £140 million per week.We are collecting further data and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations he has had with Mid-Wales farmers and businesses regarding the degree of compensation required to support the region without business closures during the foot and mouth outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [158685]

The National Assembly for Wales is leading on monitoring the impact of foot and mouth disease and action to alleviate it in Wales. Farmers and businesses in Wales also benefit from UK-wide initiatives such as measures allowing the deferment of tax and National Insurance contributions and the extension to the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme. In addition the National Assembly and the Wales Office are represented on the Rural Taskforce.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with insurance companies to ensure fast payment of claims arising as a direct result of the foot and mouth outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [158724]

I plan to meet representatives of the insurance industry to discuss the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he has taken to provide information on a daily basis to individuals and firms who are not farmers but whose livelihoods are directly affected by the foot and mouth infection; and if he will make a statement. [158683]

Information is being provided daily through Government websites such as the National Co-ordination Centre website at www.co-ordination.uk together with those at my Department, the Countryside Agency, DCMS, MAFF, DfEE and DSS.In addition information for small firms is available through the Small Business Service (SBS) and the network of Business Links, and a rural helpline—0845 600 9006—is operational. The Government have issued a number of newspaper advertisements and radio fillers and has leafleted Post Offices, tourist offices and many major visitor attractions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to promote the reopening of wildlife parks which have been closed as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. [158229]

The Government have taken every opportunity to make clear that the countryside is open for business. A list of those zoos and wildlife parks that are open to the public has been posted on the DETR website, which is updated weekly. The address is www.wildlifecountryside.detr.gov.uk/ruraltf/zoos/index.htm. MAFF have provided advice to zoos on the precautions to be taken to reduce the risk of susceptible animals catching the disease, details of which can be found at www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/animals.htm. Members of the public can also contact a telephone hotline (08456 071071) to discover what attractions are open or visit the open Britain website (www.openbritain.gov.uk). Finally, an extra £6 million has been made available to promote tourist attractions, which will include zoos and wildlife parks.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if wildlife parks are eligible to claim for the foot and mouth preliminary financial compensation package, as announced by the Minister for the Environment on 20 March 2001, Official Report, columns 191–210. [158230]

Wildlife parks, like other businesses affected by foot and mouth disease, may apply for assistance under the measures to help rural businesses that I announced on 20 March and subsequently, and for the extended Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme announced on 6 April, where they meet the qualifying criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes in planning guidance and planning law he is planning with regard to land drainage; and if he will make a statement. [157206]

The Government have recently consulted on a revised draft of the new Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 "Development and flood risk" and intend to issue the PPG in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase the supply of affordable housing in the south-east.[157207]

We have made available additional public investment and fiscal instruments to help increase the provision of affordable housing. In particular, we have almost doubled funding to the Housing Corporation through its approved development programme and have set up the Starter Homes Initiative. Furthermore, Regional Planning Guidance for the south-east (RPG9) sets out ways in which local authorities can identify and respond to local housing need.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future arrangements for air traffic control. [157208]

As announced on 27 March 2001, the Government have selected the Airline Group as their strategic partner in the public-private partnership for National Air Traffic Services. Subject to certain conditions, including clearance under the European Commission Merger Regulation, our aim is for the Airline Group to take operational control of NATS on 1 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the total value of the capital projects which have been funded by private finance arrangements since May 1997. [157210]

My Department has signed or provided financial support to private finance contracts with a capital value of £1,045 million since May 1997. In addition DETR has allocated PFI credits with a value of £1,112 million to 56 local authority PFI projects in this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the estimated cost is to public funds of a road crash involving (a) a fatality, (b) serious injury and (c) slight injury. [157211]

The values attributed in 1999 to the avoidance of road accidents are (a) fatal £1,089,130, (b) serious £146,890, and (c) slight £14,540. These amounts are the values to be used in cost benefit analysis. They take account of medical costs, lost production, human costs based on willingness to pay for reduction of risk, the costs of police and courts, insurance administration, and property damage. Included in these values are the sums of £5,970, £10,380, and £890 for fatal, serious and slight accidents respectively, for the cost to public funds for hospital and ambulance costs and the costs of police and courts. The lost production element includes social security costs but these are not separately estimated. Further information is available in Highways Economic Note No. 1 "1999 Valuation of the Benefits of Prevention of Road Accidents and Casualties" a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment has been made of the benefits of increasing the number of council tax band rates.[157212]

We believe that the council tax is working well as a local tax. In our Green Paper on modernising local government finance, which we published in September 2000, we explained that the banding system makes tax bills predictable and stable. A number of respondents to the Green Paper proposed that additional council tax bands should be created. We are considering what they had to say in the context of preparing a White Paper on local government finance, which we intend to publish later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the change in band D council tax in the last year. [157218]

The average increase in band D council tax in England between 2000–01 and 2001–02 was 6.4 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the resources allocated in 2001–02 for the maintenance of the Runcorn-Widnes bridge. [157213]

I announced in November 2000 that as part of the local transport plan allocation for Halton borough council for 2001–02, £1 million is being made available towards maintenance of the Runcorn-Widnes bridge. Further funding will be provided during the period of the local transport plan to meet in full the maintenance scheme for this bridge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money was requested by the London borough of Southwark for housing capital works in the year 2001–02; and how much has been allocated. [157214]

The London borough of Southwark has been allocated £52,920,634 for housing in 2001–02 under the Housing Investment Programme and the Major Repairs Allowance. It is for the local authority to decide how this funding is prioritised. A further £1,225,554 housing capital funding has been allocated under SRB, through Peckham Partnership.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the line refurbishment works being undertaken by Railtrack and the Strategic Rail Authority. [157217]

Railtrack has nearly completed its programme of replacement of rail and points in line with its national recovery plan. The company is separately taking forward a series of enhancement projects to increase the capacity of the network, including the west coast route modernisation. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 2 April that future major enhancement projects would be taken forward through public-private partnerships involving the Strategic Rail Authority and third parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the regeneration projects funded by his Department in the Falmouth and Camborne constituency. [157219]

The Department is contributing funds to a wide range of projects in the Falmouth and Camborne constituency. Camborne, Pool and Redruth is the South West Regional Development Agency's first priority area for regeneration in Cornwall. Current RDA commitments in the constituency total nearly £18 million of investment, including in a new Tolvadden Energy Park, in transformation of derelict buildings at West End Stores and Alma Place in Redruth into social housing and a new Cornish Studies Centre, and in the Falmouth Maritime project. My Department has awarded a total of £7.8 million in Single Regeneration Budget funding in Rounds 4 to 6 to schemes in west Cornwall that include the Falmouth and Camborne constituency. In October 2000, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced that Kerrier District is one of four areas in the south-west that will benefit from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to help improve housing, raise school standards, reduce crime and improve health in our most deprived communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to review the local government standard spending assessment formula. [157209]

We received over 16,000 responses to last September's Green Paper on modernising local government finance. A White Paper setting out our decisions on the future of the revenue grant distribution system will be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes there have been to the volume of road traffic in England since May 1997. [158471]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: The annual percentage changes to the volume of road traffic in England since 1997 are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the grant given by the South West Development Agency to Business Links to combat the effects of foot and mouth disease in the region is for (a) grants and (b) loans to businesses; and what the deadline for its distribution is. [158588]

The £3.5 million package of support announced by the South West Development Agency on 9 April included assistance for Business Links organisations to provide enhanced advice and guidance to businesses. Other RDAs have taken similar measures. To supplement these I announced on 11 April a further £15 million funding package for RDAs to expand existing programmes so as to provide additional short term practical help to business in the worst affected areas and in particular Devon, Cumbria and parts of the north-east and Welsh borders. This additional aid will be split between the RDAs for these areas with the south-west and north-west RDAs each receiving £5 million and the North East and West Midlands RDAs each receiving £2.5 million. This support can be used to provide a wide range of direct and indirect assistance, including grants to help sustain business by supporting marketing, reskilling and other activities, promotional campaigns, and regeneration projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase opportunities for a wider range of people to sit on rent tribunals. [158731]

All appointments to rent tribunals are now made following advertising and open competition. Advertisements encourage women and members of ethnic minorities to consider applying for appointment. Since the last general election, we have appointed 52 lay members to sit on rent tribunals in England, 10 of these are from ethnic minorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he (a) has had and (b) is planning with refugee organisations and others about acceptable evidence of identity for asylum seekers applying for a driving licence. [158462]

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has been in correspondence with the Commission for Racial Equality and the Refugee Council regarding applications for photocard driving licences from asylum seekers. DVLA will shortly write again to these organisations to explain revised arrangements for those asylum seekers who cannot produce a passport, birth certificate or Home Office documentation to support their application for a photocard driving licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evidence of identity is acceptable for asylum seekers applying for a driving licence. [158461]

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will accept a passport, birth certificate or Home Office issued travel document or naturalisation papers in support of an application for a photocard driving licence. If none of these documents is available, DVLA will consider whatever alternative evidence of identity an individual can submit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many appeals were made to the Planning Inspectorate against local authority planning decisions in each of the last five years; and how many were successful. [158458]

The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of planning appeals decided (a) by hearings, (b) by inquiries and (c) by written representations have been determined within (i) 22, (ii) 26 and (iii) 30 weeks for each year since 1996–97 in (A) England and Wales and (B) the Yorkshire and Humber Government Office region. [158275]

The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports he has received about the impact on safety of the grades of steel used in railway tracks since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [158248]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: This is an operational matter for Railtrack. I understand from Railtrack that the choice of the grade of steel to be used in railway tracks has not changed for many years and certainly not since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to require commercial property owners to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. [157107]

Achieving greater energy efficiency in commercial buildings was the subject of an Adjournment debate on 24 January. My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment represented the Government on that day. My right hon. Friend will be writing shortly to my hon. Friend to follow up the debate and to set out his plans in this respect. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about anticipated increases in container port capacity in Harwich, Felixstowe and on the Shell Haven site in Essex. [157108]

The three cases, and any others, are or are likely to be subject to formal public inquiries before they are decided by the Secretary of State. On the general question of container port capacity, I refer to my answer to the hon. Member on 13 February 2001, Official Report, column 141.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when men aged over 60 years will be able to benefit from the national half-fare scheme. [157199]

As soon as we are able to amend the relevant legislation, which currently links entitlement to travel concessions to the state pension age.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to allow licensed minicabs to use bus lanes. [158748]

It is for the relevant highway authority, usually the local authority, to decide what classes of vehicles, if any, other than buses should be allowed to use bus lanes.My Department provides guidance for local authorities on bus priority measures in Local Transport Note 1–97 "Keeping Buses Moving". The use of bus lanes by licensed minicabs is not recommended. When a wide range of vehicles are allowed access, enforcement can be more difficult and the benefits to buses reduced. In particular, where licensed minicabs do not have obvious features to identify them as minicabs, it is difficult to distinguish them from private cars and this can encourage more widespread violation as other cars follow them into a bus lane.Local highway authorities would need to consider these issues, in liaison with the police, in deciding whether to allow licensed minicabs to use a particular bus lane.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he intends Transport for London to assume full responsibility for London Underground before 7 June. [157182]

It is the Government's intention to transfer London Underground to the control of Transport for London once the framework is in place to deliver the massive long-term investment that the Underground requires. Our view is that the best way to do this is through the PPP. London Underground is making every effort to conclude the PPP as speedily as possible, consistent with the paramount requirement to maintain and improve safety and deliver best value, but it will be some months before contracts can be signed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many full-time equivalent staff have been employed as environmental health inspectors in British (a) airports and (b) ports in each of the last 10 years. [157032]

I have been asked to reply.Responsibility for employing environmental health officers at airports and ports rests with the local authorities which have responsibilities for the ports' health work. The number of enforcement officers is determined by the local authorities. The numbers of such officers are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assumptions have been used for growth in electricity demand in table 1 on page 53 of Climate Change, The UK Programme. [157606]

I have been asked to reply.The energy projections which underlie the UK's Climate Change Programme were published as Energy Paper 68 in November 2000. Energy Paper 68 presents baseline energy demand projections. These do not take account of measures set out in the Climate Change Programme.The growth in electricity demand between 2000 and 2010 is projected to be around 1 per cent. per annum, before taking account of measures in the Climate Change Programme. Further details are given in chapter 5 of Energy Paper 68. Energy Paper 68 is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to the Treasury of uprating the basic state pension by (a) £5 per week for a single pensioner and (b) £8 per week for a pensioner couple. [158765]

I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 30 January 2001, Official Report, columns 138–39W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the percentage was of average income paid in Council Tax by Londoners (a) in 1996 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available. [157894]

[holding answer 10 April 2001]: The information that is available is as follows:

Average net Council Tax bill as a percentage of average gross household income
	London (per cent.)
1996–97	1.9
1999–2000	2.0

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the contractors for each London borough who are responsible for the administration of Housing Benefit; how many complaints have been received in the past year about each contractor; and what inspections he has authorised. [158653]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: The administration of Housing Benefit is the responsibility of local authorities, regardless of whether or not it is contracted out.From May, we will be collecting information on local authorities who contract out Housing Benefit work.The following table represents, to the best of our current knowledge, the London boroughs that currently contract out this work and the contractors (two are in-house). The table also shows the number of written complaints we have received about the contracting-out of the administration of Housing Benefit in these boroughs, but not all specifically mention the contractor.

London borough	Contractor	Number of complaints
Bexley	Capita	0
Brent	EDS	0
Bromley	Capita	0
Croydon	CSL	0
Ealing	Vertex Datasciences Ltd.	0
Hounslow	ITNet	0
Islington	ITNet	2
Lambeth	Capita	3
Lewisham	In-house	0
Newham	CSL	0
Southwark	CSL	1
Tower Hamlets	In-house	0
Waltham Forest	ICL	1
Westminster	Capita	4

We also received two complaints relating to the administration of Housing Benefit in Hackney by ITNet (the contract was terminated on 31 March 2001).All of the boroughs in the table except Bexley and Hounslow have been inspected by the Benefits Fraud Inspectorate (BFI). These inspections were undertaken as part of a programme of inspections in England, Scotland and Wales which included local authorities which have contracted-out the administration of Housing Benefit and those which have not.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans his Department has to introduce a more rigorous assessment procedure on the part of the Child Support Agency. [158125]

Our reforms of the child support system will make both assessment and collection procedures more clearly focused on the needs of children and their parents—and on ensuring that maintenance due becomes maintenance paid. We intend to introduce the reformed scheme for new cases by April 2002, with existing cases transferring once the new system is shown to be working well.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's research on businesses' understanding of stakeholder pensions which he referred to on BBC Radio on 6 April. [158686]

The 2000 Survey of Employers' Pension Provision commissioned by the Department will be completed and published later this year. However, initial findings into employer awareness of stakeholder pensions show that 90 per cent. of firms with more than 12 employees were aware of stakeholder pensions, 60 per cent. of firms with between five and 12 employees were aware, as were more than 50 per cent. of firms with fewer than five employees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the results of the pension credit consultation will be placed in the Library. [158691]

We will be announcing our response to the pension credit consultation in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of newly eligible men who made a successful claim for the 2000–01 Winter Fuel Payment by 30 March. [157055]

The administration of benefits is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Alexis Cleveland. She will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to her oral answer of 5 April 2001, Official Report, column 502, what the source was of the information pertaining to the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton and Honiton (Mrs. Browning); and if she will make a statement. [158344]

Information was provided by the Labour party.

To ask the Prime Minister what age limit is placed on appointments to public bodies in his Department; if this limit is mentioned in advertisements for such posts; and what the basis for this limit is. [158115]

I refer my hon. Friend to then answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office on Monday 23 April, Official Report, columns 120–21W.

To ask the Prime Minister when he will make an announcement about the continuing implementation of the recommendations contained within the "Successful IT: Modernising Government in Action", report. [158890]

I have decided that ministerial and official responsibility for continuing the implementation of these recommendations will move to HM Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce. This will provide greater synergy with the work that OGC already does with Departments on IT-enabled projects.It should be clear that both ministerial and official responsibility for the performance of individual projects remains with each Department.

To ask the Prime Minister how many reports Lord Birt has submitted to him in his capacity as an adviser on crime; and if he will make a statement. [158280]

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Home Secretary to the hon. Member for Taunton (Jackie Ballard) on 27 March 2001, Official Report, column 594W.

To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions, and on what dates, he has met Lord Birt in his capacity as an adviser on crime; and if he will make a statement about the contribution of Lord Birt to Government policy on crime. [158240]

As part of his work, Lord Birt has met Ministers and officials from relevant Departments, including myself. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide precise details of all such meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many childminders were registered with English local authorities in each year since 1995. [157282]

I have been asked to reply.The information about registered childminders is shown in the table. Over the same time period the number of registered day nurseries has increased from 4,800 to 7,100, the number of registered holiday schemes from 2,900 to 9,300 and the number of registered out of school clubs from 1,300 to 3,700.

Number1 of registered childminders for children under eight: 1995–2000
	Number of registered childminders2
March 1995	96,000
March 1996	101,300
March 1997	97,100
March 1998	93,300
March 1999	80,000
March 2000	74,800
1These figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
2Excluding childminders provided by the local authority.

The responsibility for day care provision transferred from the Department of Health to the Department for Education and Employment in March 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further action he plans to take to ensure that specified risk material does not enter the domestic food chain from abroad. [155834]

[holding answer 27 March 2001]: Under European Union single market rules only meat which has been produced in accordance with relevant EU meat hygiene and BSE protection rules may be marketed for human consumption within the EU. These rules include European Commission Decision 2000/418/EC, which requires the removal of specified risk material (SRM) from cattle and sheep carcases at the slaughterhouse. Single market rules do not permit border controls at points of entry in respect of meat imported from other EU member states, although random checks at points of destination are permissible. The importation of fresh meat containing SRM into the United Kingdom from third countries is prohibited by virtue of the SRM Order 1997. Meat imported directly into the UK from a third country is subject to official checks at the border inspection post to ensure that it complies with all relevant EU and national public and animal health requirements.In the UK such checks have shown that the vast majority of consignments of meat imported from other EU member states have complied with the relevant EU rules. A small number of consignments, however, have been found to contain carcases with small pieces of SRM still attached. The majority of these consignments (12 out of 14) were destroyed with the remaining two returned to the export approved plat in January 2001.As a result of these findings, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has, in each case, taken up the matter vigorously with the national Government of the exporting country concerned and with the EC. The FSA has also put in place risk-based enhanced checks on meat imported from other EU member states. The Meat Hygiene Service, and its equivalent in Northern Ireland, has been instructed to check all consignments of imported carcase beef originating from those slaughterhouses which have previously exported carcases with SRM still attached. Since half of the findings of SRM have involved meat imported from Germany, the FSA has instructed that every consignment of carcase beef imported from Germany arriving at a licensed meat plant in the UK must be checked by the relevant authority for the presence of SRM. Local authorities throughout the UK have been advised to make extra checks at meat plants under their supervision known to receive imports of carcase beef, and to check every consignment of carcase beef imported from Germany for the presence of SRM.In addition, because of the disruption of British meat supplies arising from the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, enforcement authorities have been instructed by the FSA to step up levels of inspection of all types of imported meat, on a risk assessment basis, in order to ensure that all relevant public health requirements are met.The enhanced checks on meat imported from other EU member states, and the enhanced level of inspection of all imported meat, will be maintained for as long as the FSA considers such measures to be justified. The FSA will continue to monitor the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend exemption from prescription charges to patients who have had an organ transplantation and require lifelong medication. [158069]

People including those recovering from organ transplants are entitled to free prescriptions if they are aged under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education, or are aged 60 or over, or they (or their partner) are receiving Income Support, income based Jobseeker's Allowance or full tax credit (with net income up to £11,543). They may also claim help under the National Health Service low income scheme. We have no plans to change these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to provide free prescription charges for people on Incapacity Benefit. [158234]

No. Incapacity Benefit is not income related and it would not, therefore, be appropriate to extend automatic exemption from prescription charges to recipients of this benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the definition is of orphan medicinal products referred to in Chapter 20 of the statement of revenue and expenditure of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products for 2001. [158355]

An orphan medicinal product is one used to treat a rare disease. A rare disease is defined by the Regulation (EC No. 141–2000) as one affecting not more than five people per 10,000 in the European Community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has collated on the effectiveness of the investment of smoking cessation services set up following the White Paper, "Smoking Kills". [158353]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) on 5 April 2001, Official Report, column 267W.Nicotine replacement therapy, as announced on 14 March, is now available on National Health Service prescription from 17 April in England. This fulfils our commitment made in the NHS Plan last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding has been allocated for (a) nicotine replacement therapies and (b) bupropian (Zyban), for (i) 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02. [158343]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) on 26 March 2001, Official Report, column 452W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list cases of honey sold in the United Kingdom found to contain GM pollen. [158503]

I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it is not aware of any cases of honey containing genetically modified (GM) pollen on sale in the United Kingdom. Research commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has shown that GM pollen, if present, would represent no more than 0.00000000003g to 0.000000005g in a 500g jar of honey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish guidance on the public health aspects of disposal of carcases of animals slaughtered as a result of the foot and mouth disease epidemic. [158892]

I have today published guidance on measures to minimise the risk to public health from the slaughter and disposal of animals. The guidance will be issued to Regional and Health Authority Directors of Public Health, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and military personnel responsible for implementing the policy on slaughter and disposal.Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools were misinformed by his Department about school achievement awards in England (a) in total and (b) in each local education authority. [157309]

[holding answer 6 April 2001]: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answers of 20 March 2001, Official Report, column 160–64W, on school achievement awards, which of the schools have since been found not to have been entitled to awards and which schools have been added to the list; and if he will make a statement. [157098]

[holding answer 5 April 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Laura Moffatt) on 30 March 2001, Official Report, column 842W. The information requested has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of appointees to (a) each Learning and Skills Council and (b) Learning and Skills Councils in total have declared political activity for (i) the Labour party, (ii) the Conservative party, (iii) the Liberal Democrats and (iv) other parties. [157508]

[holding answer 9 April 2001]: Appointments to the LSC and its local arms have been made through fair and open competition, in accordance with guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner

English region/local LSC area	Labour	Conservative	Liberal Democrat	Others
North East
County Durham	1 (7%)	—	—	1 (7%)
Northumberland	1 (9%)	—	—	—
Tees Valley	4 (33%)	1 (8%)	—	—
Tyne and Wear	3 (21%)	—	—	—
East Midlands
Derbyshire	6 (46%)	—	—	—
Leicestershire	2 (17%)	1 (8%)	—	—
Lincolnshire and Rutland	1 (7%)	—	1 (7%)	1 (7%)
Northamptonshire	2 (15%)	1 (8%)	—	—
Nottinghamshire	2 (17%)	—	—	—
Yorkshire and Humberside
South Yorkshire	4 (31%)	—	—	—
North Yorkshire	—	2 (15%)	—	—
Humberside	2 (14%)	—	—	—
West Yorkshire	3 (25%)	—	—	—
West Midlands
Birmingham and Solihull	4 (31%)	—	—	—
The Black Country	2 (15%)	—	—	—
Coventry and Warwickshire	3 (25%)	—	—	—
Herefordshire and Worcestershire	2(18%)	—	—	—
Shropshire	2(17%)	—	1(8%)	1(8%)
Staffordshire	4(27%)	—	—	—