To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Procurement Agency for the financial year 2001–02. [159240]

Five key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency for the financial year 2001–02.The first key targets apply to projects covered by the Major Projects Report which have passed their main gate approval. Key targets 2 and 3 are consistent with targets set in the Department's 1999–2002 Public Service Agreement (PSA), adapted to cover cumulative performance. The fourth key target relates to improvement in DPA customer satisfaction and the fifth to a reduction in the cost of running the agency. Key target 5 exceeds the target featured in the PSA. The key targets are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the quinquennial review of the Ministry of Defence Police Agency will take place; and what (a) the aim of, and (b) the arrangements for, the review will be. [159534]

The quinquennial review (QQR) of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) will begin in April 2001. The review will examine the role, operations and organisation of the MDP with a view to establishing the requirement for its services in the future, and how these can best be delivered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when Tornado GR4s will be given Military Aircraft Release; when the first GR4s will be deployed on operations; and if he will make a statement; [157588](2) what effect there will be on the United Kingdom's commitments to the Joint Rapid Reaction Force of delay in achieving Military Aircraft Release for the Tornado GR4; and if he will make a statement. [157640]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: The Tornado GR4 achieved an initial Military Aircraft Release (MAR) in July last year and has been used extensively in training since. I refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Wright) on 24 November 2000, Official Report, column 334W.In my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 25 April 2001,

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change there has been in the number of UK nuclear devices since May 1997. [158785]

In line with Government intentions set out in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, the UK now has a stockpile of less than 200 operationally available warheads.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of road accidents during each of the last five years in which driver tiredness was (a) the cause and (b) a contributing factor. [158740]

Statistics on the main contributory factors in road accidents are not available. Research on behalf of the Department indicates that for car drivers in particular, driver fatigue may have been a principal factor in around 10 per cent. of accidents across the road network in Great Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of research into tiredness as a cause of road accidents. [158741]

The Department began its research programme on fatigue in December 1992 and research work continues. Data from the programme have greatly improved our understanding of the effects of fatigue on driving. The results have been developed into recommendations to drivers that have been incorporated into the Highway Code. In addition, the Department launched last August a long-term programme of publicity and advice on measures to counter driver fatigue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Tiredness Kills notices; [158405](2) how many Tiredness Kills signs there are on UK motorways; and where they are located. [158242]

I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made since May 1997 on introducing minimum fuel efficiency standards for all vehicles. [158660]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: The UK played a leading role in the development of the voluntary agreement between the European Commission and European car manufacturers, secured in 1998. This commits manufacturers to improve the sales-weighted average fuel efficiency of new passenger cars by 25 per cent. on 1995 levels by 2008. Similar agreements have been reached between the European Commission and the Japanese and Korean car manufacturers' associations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to restrict future fare increases by train operating companies. [158419]

Key fares are already capped at 1 per cent. below the rate of inflation and this will continue for replacement franchises. Train operators are free to price other fares according to market demand and competition from other forms of transport. But we expect train operators to bear in mind the need to increase passenger numbers when considering whether to increase unregulated fares.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the change in the level of public subsidy on rail fares. [158418]

No explicit assessment has been made. Subsidy levels were agreed at the time of franchising after a competitive bidding process. Franchising agreements protect key rail fares so that their prices are restricted by a cap that rises by PRI-1 per cent. annually. The key fares include all Saver tickets, or unrestricted standard returns where no Saver exists, and all standard weekly season tickets. Further regulation applies to London commuter fares, linking performance to the permitted increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is asking the Commission for Integrated Transport to take to implement the findings of the CPRE report 'Running to Stand Still' on the effectiveness of the 10-year plan in reducing congestion. [158409]

The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) was established to provide independent advice to Government on the implementation of integrated transport policy and to review progress towards meeting the Government's objectives. Although the Government have not specifically asked CfIT to comment on the CPRE report, the commission has been asked to report on progress against the objectives and outcomes of the 10-year plan (including the target to reduce road congestion) and to advise on further policy measures. We are committed to periodic review of the 10-year plan and will pay close attention to CflT's advice in doing so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take measures to require at least half of all new housing developments in London to be for affordable rented property. [158981]

The Mayor is expected to publish his initial proposals for the Spatial Development Strategy for London shortly. The Government's planning policy on the provision of affordable housing is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 and Circular 6–98. The Secretary of State will consider the Mayor's proposals in the light of this and other relevant guidance.

	2000 December	January	2001 February	March	Total
Passengers	2	0	7	1	10
Railway staff	0	0	4	0	4
Other members of public	0	2	1	1	4
Trespassers and suicides	23	22	20	21	86
Total	25	24	32	23	104

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries have been caused by people drunk in charge of pleasure craft on British waterways in the last five years. [159010]

The information requested is not available centrally, although the indications are that few injuries were caused by people drunk in charge of pleasure craft on British waterways. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a small and irresponsible minority of those in charge of such craft pose a risk to safety by choosing to navigate while under the influence of excessive amounts of alcohol.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what (a) increases in fares and (b) increase in passenger ridership on the London Underground are assumed in the financial projections upon which the London Underground PPP is based. [159006]

The financial projections London Underground and their advisers have carried out for the PPP assume that:

(a) London Underground fares will do no more than keep pace with inflation once the PPP is in place.

(b) Annual passenger ridership on the London Underground will increase by 20 per cent. over the next 10 years, with the main growth in ridership expected to be off-peak and in the 'shoulders' of the peak. The additional capacity and improved reliability that the PPP will bring should enable this growth in demand to be accommodated safely.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people have died in air accidents on British internal carrier flights in each of the last four months. [158865]

Two people have died in air accidents on British internal carrier flights in the last four months. Both men were on board the mail flight that crashed into the Firth of Forth on 27 February 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people died on the railways in each of the last four months. [158866]

The Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate reports that 104 people have died on the railways in Great Britain in the period 1 December 2000 to 31 March 2001. A breakdown of this data are provided in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports he has had on the incident on a British European BAe 146 flight from Paris to Birmingham on 5 November 2000; and if he will make a statement. [159121]

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is currently still investigating the exact cause of this incident. Research has been commissioned to establish whether, among other possibilities, engine oil fumes leaking into the cabin air released hazardous vapours, which could have contributed to the severity of this incident.As a precaution, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive that mandates inspections and remedial actions designed to reduce the likelihood of engine oil leaks into the cabin air supply. Instructions to flight crews have also been issued for measures to be taken to mitigate any potential effects should they experience or suspect contamination of the air supply.Once the AAIB report has been published, the CAA will be able to determine whether further action needs to be taken to minimise the risk of such an incident occurring again.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the environmental assessments of (a) fuels submitted to the Green Fuels Challenge and (b) lead replacement petrol. [159247]

Yes. We are making arrangements to publish the environmental assessments on the DETR website. I have also placed copies of the assessments in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish his response to the recommendations of the panel that conducted the public examination of draft Regional Planning Guidance for the north-east; and if he will make a statement. [159666]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is today publishing for public consultation proposed changes to the draft Regional Planning Guidance for the north-east (RPG1). They are largely based on the recommendations of the independent panel that held a public examination into the draft RPG1 last summer.Since then my right hon. Friend has published a number of new Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Notes, which have been taken into account in preparing the proposed changes. Important issues for the region to take forward are also contained in the Urban and Rural White Papers issued last November.Draft RPG was prepared by the Association of North East Councils (ANEC). Its overall strategy aims to create a more sustainable region and achieve urban and rural renaissance by focusing development in the region's main towns and cities making best use of previously developed land. We support this and, as recommended by the panel, we are proposing changes to ensure that the strategy is more clearly expressed and relates more clearly to the policy chapters. It is important that the implications for development plans and other strategies are clear in order to make a real difference on the ground.A key issue for the region is to stem population decline by encouraging economic growth and regeneration in a sustainable way. To achieve this we are proposing changes which identify four priorities for regeneration: to accelerate the renaissance of the Tyne, Wear and Tees conurbations; to provide job opportunities and support communities in the former coalfield areas; to adapt and revitalise the region's town and city centres; and secure rural regeneration to combat social exclusion, improve access to jobs and services, and sustain viable communities.We propose a review of the existing employment land allocated in development plans in the region to ensure that the north-east has a robust portfolio of sites in terms of size, quality and distribution in the most sustainable locations. In this context we would particularly welcome views during the consultation on the proposal to reduce the number of proposed new greenfield strategic employment sites from four to one. We propose to accept the panel's recommendation on this matter against the background of an over-provision of employment land in the region, and concern about the loss of greenfield sites. ANEC is committed to preparing an overall review of RPG1 in 2002–03, which will provide them with the opportunity to establish the need for additional strategic employment sites and set out their broad location or location criteria.We are proposing a modest reduction in the amount of additional housing in the region, as recommended by the panel. By reducing the need for additional greenfield housing allocations, it will help to concentrate house building more on areas where sites are already available particularly on previously-developed land. The new proposal is to provide 5,000 dwellings per year for the first half of the guidance period (1996–2006) and 6,000 per year for the period 2006–16. The distribution of housing is also proposed to change to reflect the strategy aim to locate the majority of new development in the region's conurbations to avoid unnecessary development in the countryside, and help to create a better balance between where people live and work. 4,000 of the proposed housing provision will be distributed as part of the early review of RPG1 in 2002–03 pending the completion of urban housing capacity studies by the constituent authorities in the region's conurbations.We also propose to set the region a challenging target of 65 per cent. of this additional housing to be provided on previously developed land and by reusing existing buildings.

To ask the President of the Council when she will announce the company appointed by the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit Ltd. to operate the televising of Parliament following the expiry of the current contract. [159365]

With the agreement of the appropriate Committees of both Houses the PARBUL operating and maintenance contracts for the five years from 1 August 2001 have been awarded to Bowtie Television Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what new proposals he has to improve consultation between employees and employers. [157938]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced to the House on 18 January plans for a review of UK arrangements affecting collective redundancies. The review, which is ongoing, is examining how current provisions have operated in practice and whether more should be done to promote effective consultation with employees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when payments will be made under the compensation scheme for former Icelandic-water trawlermen; and if he will make a statement. [158768]

Over, 1,200 payments have already been made. I expect the bulk of the claims to be dealt with by the end of July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 22 March to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and which was passed on to his Department. [158857]

I have answered the letter today.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the policy announcements since March 2000 which have been subject in advance to an assessment of their impact on the regions. [158497]

(holding answer 23 April 2001]: I have been asked to reply.The Regional Co-ordination Unit (RCU) was established in April 2000 as the centre of operations for the Government Offices for the Regions. A key role of the RCU is to consider proposals for new or extended area based initiatives. Formal arrangements for assessing the impact of such policies on the regions came into force in November 2000. Since then the following initiatives have been subject to the 'double key' assessment involving both the RCU and the Government Offices: Children's Fund, Creative Partnerships, Neighbourhood Management, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, Playing Fields and Community Green Spaces, Safer Communities Initiative and Sports Action Zones. The RCU has also considered a large number of other initiatives not subject to the full 'double key' procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's Annual report for 2000 will be published. [157484]

[holding answer 9 April 2001]: The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's (BFI) spending for 1999–2000 and expenditure plans for 2000–01 were included in figures reported in the Department of Social Security's Departmental Report published in April 2000.The BFI's priority is to deliver reports following inspections of individual local authorities and DSS Agencies. The BFI is nearing completion of its phase 5 programme of inspections. This is a key phase which covers the 30 local authorities with the highest spend on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Once the BFI has published the last of these reports, it will be in a position to provide a comprehensive report on its work to March 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) for what reason the National Benefit Fraud Hotline number was not included in Level 1 of the current Targeting Fraud advertising campaign; how long each level will run for; and if the campaign will continue during a dissolution of Parliament; [157079](2) if he will break down the costs of the Targeting Fraud advertising campaign into

[holding answer 9 April 2001]: The Government are committed to cracking down on benefit fraud. In his report "The Informal Economy", Lord Grabiner recommended testing the use of advertising as a tool for changing public attitudes. The North West Pilot Campaign was developed during 2000 in line with this recommendation.The overall objectives of the campaign, were to positively reinforce honest behaviour, to create a climate of intolerance to benefit fraud and to undermine the social acceptability of it. It was designed to work on two levels: Level 1, to make 'fiddling' harder to justify by showing that fraud is unfair; and Level 2, to create a climate of unease by using facts to build a fear of detection. Considerable development work was undertaken and the evaluation indicated that the campaign was effective in changing public attitudes towards benefit fraud. In taking the campaign to a national audience as part of a long-term public information programme, only minor refinements were considered necessary.The national TV advertising did not include the hotline number because it was aimed at a wide audience and was designed to change public attitudes about the social acceptability of fraud (ie a Level 1 objective). Other material did include the hotline number because it was intended to create unease among fraudsters (ie a Level 2 objective).The first phase of the national information campaign concluded on Saturday 31 March. The campaign will not run in the event of Parliament being dissolved under the normal rules relating to Her Majesty's Government advertising.So far, the costs of the Targeting Fraud information programme have been £2.2 million for the north-west pilot, including production, media buying, website development and research. The costs for the March phase of the national campaign are £3.2 million for TV advertising, £0.6 million for radio advertising, £0.7 million for press advertising, and £0.2 million for other costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what publicity campaigns his Department plans to run in the current financial year. [158713]

Plans are in place to continue the anti-fraud campaign, following on from the start of the national activity in March. We also plan to continue the pensions education advertising campaign which began in January.The Department also has a number of advertorials booked, which will explain the new bereavement benefits available to men.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the last Benefit Fraud Investigation Service annual report was published; and when the next one is due to be published. [158690]

The Benefit Fraud Investigation Service does not publish a separate annual report. Sections on safeguarding Social Security are included in both the Benefits Agency annual report, due to be published in July 2001, and the Departmental annual report which was published on 30 March 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make copies of the latest edition of the Benefits Information Guide available to hon. Members. [158689]

The latest edition of the Benefits Information Guide is available in the Library. The 2001–02 edition will be available shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners receive (a) a partial basis state pension, (b) basic state pension increments, (c) a basic state pension increase for dependent child, d) a graduated retirement benefit and (e) SERPS. [158675]

The information is in the table.

Retirement pensioners resident in Great Britain and overseas at 30 September 2000
Thousand
	All pensioners
In receipt of partial Basic State pension	2,941.6
In receipt of Basic State pension increments	1,156.4
In receipt of Basic State pension	—
Increase for dependent child(ren)	18.1
In receipt of Graduated Retirement Benefit	8.690.3
In receipt of SERPS	6,389.9

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the way pension funds handle grievances. [159151]

Occupational pension schemes are required to have a two-stage internal dispute resolution procedure, which they must make known to members. The second stage written decision by the trustees or managers of the scheme must include statements about the roles of the Office for Pensions Advisory Service (OPAS), to whom they can go for assistance, and the Pensions Ombudsman, to whom they can refer grievance if they remain dissatisfied.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to require pension trusts to give reasons for refusal (a) to reward a disability pension and (b) of arbitration following such refusal; [159054](2) if he will make a statement on pension trusts' refusal to divulge the reason for rejecting ill-health pension applications; [159052]

Occupational schemes are not required to pay pension benefits before the normal pension age for the scheme. Some scheme rules do provide for pension benefits to be paid earlier for reasons such as ill-health. This is usually at the discretion of the scheme trustees and there is no legal requirement for them to provide reasons where they reject an ill-health pension application, although many schemes regard it as good administrative practice to do so.Where an ill-health pension application has been rejected, the member can ask for the matter to be reconsidered under the scheme's internal dispute resolution procedure, and can seek assistance from the Office for Pensions Advisory Service (OPAS). If he remains dissatisfied he can make a complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to require contributors to occupational pension schemes to have the rights of appeal following an ombudsman's determination. [159049]

Determinations by the Pensions Ombudsman can be appealed against to the High Court on a point of law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to ensure that members of pension trusts have a right to be consulted before (a) trusts are restructured and (b) members are transferred to other schemes. [159053]

Employers who provide occupational pension schemes do so voluntarily and, ultimately, they decide the nature of the scheme and its benefit structure. Trustees are required to provide extensive information to members about the scheme and their rights to pension benefits.Generally, members must consent to a transfer of their accrued pension rights to another pension scheme. When employers are taken over, merge, or restructure their pension provision a consequent bulk transfer of members' accrued rights can be made without consent, provided that an actuary certifies that the rights to be acquired in the receiving scheme are broadly no less favourable than the rights to be transferred.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the rules governing occupational pensions schemes and the way they are vetted to protect contributors. [159050]

The framework of legislation governing occupational pension schemes is intended to provide protection for members without imposing undue burdens on employers who provide those schemes. Pension schemes also have their own rules which have to satisfy certain requirements for tax purposes. They may contain discretionary provisions which are exercised by the trustees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library up-dated versions of tables 1 to 11 at the back of the 2000 Departmental Report (Cm 4614); and if he will reintroduce these tables in future departmental reports. [158693]

Following the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting (RAB) there have been a number of changes to the core tables produced in line with Treasury guidance and contained in all departmental reports. The aim of the tables is to provide an analysis of departmental expenditure plans. These are presented in the 2001 Departmental Report (Cm 5115) in resource terms, showing resource consumption and capital investment; Voted and Non-Voted expenditure and the plans agreed in the Spending Review for Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) and Annually Managed Expenditure (AME).The format of the published Core Tables and Main Estimate Tables is intended to anticipate, as far as possible, the format of the Resource Accounts that will be published next year in respect of 2001–02. As in previous years the published departmental report includes key information on local authority expenditure (Table 8), administration costs (Table 9) and staff numbers (Table 10). Departmental Expenditure Limits, in cash terms are set out for the years 1995–96 to 2000–01 in Table 11. Detailed plans are set out in Table 4 and a high level summary provided in Table 1.We are currently considering what further information might be provided and the most effective way of communicating it. We hope to make an announcement in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security to what extent his target of having 85 per cent. of customers having benefits paid into their bank by 2005 is consistent with the Government's plan to complete the transition to ACT by 2005; and if he will make a statement on his plans for those customers who do not receive payment by ACT by 2005. [159166]

These two aims are entirely consistent. Payment directly into bank or building society accounts will become the normal method of payment for benefits and pensions starting in 2003 and completing in 2005.We have always recognised that there will be some people who we will be unable to pay directly through bank or building society accounts, and some payments that cannot be made this way. This is reflected in our Public Service Agreement target of 85 per cent. of our customers having their benefits paid into bank or building society accounts by 2005. For those payments which we cannot make directly into bank or building society accounts, we are considering what alternative simple electronic money transmission system, which could also be accessed at post offices, will be commercially available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what progress he has made on reducing his Department's sickness absence rates; what baseline figure was used to assess his Department's compliance with its PSA target on reducing sickness rates; what the Department's actual figure for 2000 was; and if he will make a statement. [159168]

The Department's PSA targets are to achieve a reduction on sickness absence rates of 20 per cent. by the end of 2001 and 30 per cent. by the end of 2003. The targets are measured against the 1998 baseline figure of 12.1 average working days lost per person.All appropriate recommendations of the Cabinet Office report "Working Well Together" have been introduced and action plans are in place across the Department to improve performance in managing attendance.Performance for the year 2000 was 12.6 average working days lost. Performance was adversely affected at the start of the year by the influenza outbreak which was higher than normal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what sanction has been applied to his Department in cases where it has failed to meet its public service agreement targets. [159167]

The purpose of the Public Service Agreement is not to set sanctions. It is to set high level objectives and challenging targets which can be properly measured and monitored.The Department's performance against its 1998 Public Service Agreement targets was set out in the Social Security Departmental Report (Cm 5115, March 2001). This shows that the majority of the targets have been met or are on course to be met. Only one target had not been met—that relating to payment for goods and services within 30 days of receipt.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the administrative cost of allowing pensioners a choice between receiving the Winter Fuel Payment and free television licence or a higher rate of state retirement pension. [159665]

The estimated costs are in the table.

£ million
Cost category	Year one cost	Annual cost thereafter1
System changes2	6.0	0.0
Sending out mail-shot to 10.5 million pensioners3	9.0	9.0
Processing the responses to the mail-shot4	89.0	89.0
Totals	104.0	98.0
1 The costing assumes that pensioners would be assessed annually.
2 This cost covers the IT changes to DSS computer systems which would need to be made in order to give pensioners the option of how the payments were made to them. Several different computer systems would need to be partially recoded. The cost here relates mainly to man hours dedicated to recoding. We have assumed that

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's total gross running costs were for travel, including fares, subsistence, accommodation and other expenses met from public funds but excluding such costs for journeys and stays exclusively within the United Kingdom (a) in the three years ending on 30 April 1997 and (b) in the 12 months ending 30 April 1997. [157626]

The Department spent £499,905 in 1995–96 and £540,380 in 1996–97 on overseas travel and subsistence. Prior to this information was not gathered on a similar basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total gross running costs were to his Department in the 12 months ending 31 December 1996 of entertaining by Ministers and officials. [157625]

The Department does not collect the information in the form requested. Expenditure on hospitality for 1996–97 financial year amounted to £105,192.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many visits abroad have been made by officials on departmental business in the (a) three years ending 30 April 1997 and (b) 12 months ending 30 April 1997. [157624]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS acute trusts which have NHS CT scanners, indicating for each trust the ratio of beds to scanners. [157016]

[holding answer 9 April 2001]: The following data for numbers of acute hospital beds in trusts come from the National Health Service Executive 1999–2000.The numbers of CT scanners is derived from a survey carried out in 2000.The information in the table is correct as of 1 April 2001. Statistical information is updated on a monthly basis and is available at www.canceruk.net.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what standards are applied to determine the number of NHS CT scanners per head of the population for each NHS region. [157017]

[holding answer 9 April 2001]: The provision of diagnostic CT scanners is decided locally in the context of regional capital investment plans.The NHS Cancer Plan announced new investment of £570 million, which will address inequalities in access to services for cancer, including the provision of diagnostic CT scanners.For funding of CT scanners we have produced a database of the numbers of CT scanners per head of population and have calculated the number of additional machines required in order to bring up the numbers in those regions which currently have a short-fall compared to the mean number of CT scanners per head of population nationally.This equates to:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio of population to the number of CT scanners is in each NHS region. [157018]

[holding answer 9 April 2001]: Data for population estimates have been obtained from the Office for National Statistics. Data for the numbers of CT scanners have been derived from a survey of trusts carried out in 2000. Data correct as at 1 April 2001. More detailed information is available at www.canceruk.net, where the statistical information is updated on a monthly basis.

Region	CT scanners per region	Population	Population per CT scanner
London	58	7,285,045	125,604
Northern and Yorkshire	41	6,335,729	154,530
North West	44	6,595,330	149,894
South West	21	4,935,669	235,032
West Midlands	29	5,335,597	183,986
South East	40	8,698,745	217.469
Trent	26	5,147,851	197,994
Eastern	22	5,418,898	246,313

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of epilepsy have been recorded between 1 November 1999 and 28 February 2001 related to yellow cards submitted in connection with meningitis C injections; [157552](2) what research is being conducted into the incidence of cases of epilepsy which may be related to meningitis C injections. [157549]

On 1 November 1999, a national immunisation campaign commenced to vaccinate all children under 18 years with one of the new meningococcal C conjugate vaccines. The campaign finished at the end of January 2001. As of 16 February 2001, 18.5 million doses of meningitis C vaccine had been distributed.The Medicines Control Agency and the Committee on Safety of Medicine (CSM) has received three Yellow Card reports of suspected epilepsy following vaccination with the meningococcal C conjugate vaccines. A total of 291 reports of suspected seizures have been reported in association with the meningococcal C conjugate vaccines. CSM has concluded that there have been very rare reports of seizures following meningitis C vaccination and individuals have usually rapidly recovered. A significant number of the reported seizures are thought to have been faints.A report of a particular suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it has been caused by the drug. The Yellow Card data can not be used to calculate the incidence rate of a particular suspected adverse reaction, nor can it be used to measure changes in the rate against time.The Medical Research Council has research programmes looking into epilepsy and meningitis, but no program that is examining the incidence of epilepsy after meningococcal C conjugate vaccination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research he is conducting into the incidence of cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity syndrome which may be related to meningitis C injections; [157550](2) what change there has been in recorded cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder between 1 November 1999 and 28 February 2001; [157554](3) how many cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder have been recorded between 1 November 1999 and 28 February 2001, which are related to yellow cards submitted in connection with meningitis C injections. [157551]

The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicine (CSM) has received one report through the Yellow Card Scheme of hyperactivity aggravated in a child with a history of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in association with the meningitis C vaccines. There have been no reports of Hyperkinetic Disorder or any other term related to ADHD.ADHD is being increasingly recognised in the United Kingdom as a significant mental health problem among children and adolescents and to a lesser extent, among adults. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has estimated that approximately 1 per cent. of all school-aged children (about 69,000 six to 16-year-olds in England) met the diagnostic criteria for Hyperkinetic Disorder, the more severe type of ADHD. The prevalence of all types of ADHD is considerably higher, around 5 per cent. of school-aged children (345,000 six to 16-year-olds in England). There are no data on the change in recorded cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder between 1 November 1999 and 28 February 2001 as this information is not collected centrally.No research is currently being conducted into the incidence of cases of attention deficit and hyperactivity syndrome which may be related to meningitis C injections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire (a) dated 6 February and 19 March regarding Miss Holland of Doveridge in Derbyshire, (b) dated 26 February regarding the treatment and diagnosis of bowel cancer, (c) dated 5 February and 7 March regarding the funding of hospices and (d) dated 26 February and 20 March regarding synthetic treatment for haemophiliac patients. [158074]

[holding 23 April 2001]: A reply to the hon. Member's letter of 26 February regarding the treatment and diagnosis of bowel cancer was sent on 11 April. Replies to the hon. Member's letters of 5 February and 7 March regarding the funding of hospices was sent on 11 April. A reply to the hon. Member's letters of 26 February and 20 March regarding synthetic treatment of haemophiliac patients was sent on 9 April.Unfortunately, the Department did not receive the original copies of the hon. Member's letters of 6 and 19 February regarding his constituent Miss Holland. Copies have been requested and a reply will be provided as a matter of urgency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the use of children of compulsory school age in undertaking test purchasing on behalf of local trading standards departments during school hours; and if he will make a statement. [158491]

Children below the minimum school leaving age who may be asked to assist trading standards officers in the execution of their statutory duties are deemed not to be employed, and child employment legislation does not apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent on sustained and co-ordinated health education campaigns aimed at reducing smoking in England in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01; what the figure will be for 2001–02; and if he will reconcile these figures with those in paragraph 6.38 of the 1998 White Paper, "Smoking Kills". [158351]

[holding answer 23 April 2001]: The information requested is as follows:

	£ million
1996–97	6.5
1999–2000	15.9
2000–01	13.73
2001–02	1—
1 Yet to be finally determined

The 1998 White Paper "Smoking Kills" set out an overall strategy on tobacco control including expenditure of some £50 million on health education and up to £60 million on cessation services.Since "Smoking Kills" the Government have made first Buproprion (Zyban) and more recently all nicotine replacement therapy products available on National Health Service prescription and appropriate increases have been made in the unified budgets to meet the expected cost of these developments.The overall sums devoted to tackling tobacco will comfortably exceed the sums committed in "Smoking Kills".

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the list of medical conditions for which Viagra is prescribable on the National Health Service. [158474]

On 11 December 2000 we commenced an eight-week period of consultation about the operation of the current policy. We are now considering carefully all comments and views received during the consultation period and will make a decision about the operation of the current policy in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [158106]

We are committed to equality of opportunity and to increasing the diversity of those appointed to public bodies. There are no age limits for public appointments to National Health Service trusts, health authorities, primary care trusts, special health authorities or Department of Health executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies. Currently the youngest board member is aged 26, and the oldest 86.Appointments to the Mental Health Review Tribunal, the National Health Service Tribunal, the Protection of Children Act Tribunal and the Registered Homes Tribunal are subject normally to a lower age limit of 35 and an upper age limit of 62. The age limits are applied flexibly and are based on advice from the Lord Chancellor. They are made clear in any advertisements for such posts. The lower age limit is intended to give the public the confidence that those appointed have sufficient experience and maturity to fill the different roles involved appropriately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made as to the additional costs for hospices arising from extra regulations his Department has introduced for palliative care; [159042](2) if he will make a statement on the reluctance of public bodies to fund the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice; [159041](3) if he will estimate the savings to health and social services budgets arising from the service provided by the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice; [159041](4) what is the level of public funding for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice as a percentage of its revenue costs; [159040](5) what funding is available to hospices from his Department; and what guidelines he has issued concerning the percentage of revenue costs that should be met by local health authorities. [159039]

It is for the National Health Service locally to make arrangements for financial support for hospices, given the extent of local diversity both of the services provided and of alternative sources of local support. Accordingly, we have issued no guidance specifying a set percentage of hospice revenue costs that individual health authorities and primary care groups should meet.We are, however, committed to increased investment in palliative care services overall. The NHS Cancer Plan set out one commitment to increase NHS investment in specialist palliative care by £50 million by 2004, to end inequalities in access to care and enable the NHS to make a realistic contribution to the cost hospices incur in providing agreed levels of service. As a first step, the NHS Plan Implementation Programme for 2001–02 requires all cancer networks, in partnership with voluntary organisations, to develop and begin implementing costed strategic plans for palliative care. This is the context within which the NHS contribution to individual hospices such as the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice will be considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the occasions on which (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have met the Commissioner for Public Appointments in the last year to discuss her recommendations for the reform of appointments to NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities. [159011]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State did not meet the Commissioner for Public Appointments in the course of the last year. I met the commissioner on 29 November 2000 specifically to discuss her recommendations on appointments to National Health Service boards. Officials met the commissioner on numerous occasions during the year in the course of which her recommendations were discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what undertakings he has given to the Commissioner for Public Appointments regarding appointments to NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities. [159015]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State informed the Commissioner for Public Appointments in July 2000 of his intention to establish an independent appointments commission with responsibility for all non-executive appointments to National Health Service boards. The National Health Service Appointments Commission was established on 1 April 2001 under the chairmanship of Sir William Wells, and will begin to make appointments shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the occasions in the last year on which hon. Members have made representations on particular appointments to (a) NHS trusts, (b) primary care trusts and (c) health authorities, giving in each case the date the representation was received, the name of the hon. Member and the name of the candidate. [159016]

Until last year the practice followed by the Government and under the previous Administration was that hon. Members were automatically consulted by the regional chair on all non-executive appointments to National Health Service boards before recommendations were made to Ministers. In response to the recommendations contained in the report of the Commissioner for Public Appointments on appointments to National Health Service boards, the practice of consulting hon. Members was discontinued in September 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued to NHS trust chief executives in respect of public statements by doctors working for trusts. [157904]

On 25 September 1997, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, then Minister of State for Health, wrote to National Health Service trusts and health authorities reinforcing guidance issued in Executive Letter (93)51—"Guidance for staff on relations with the public and the media". In his letter my right hon. Friend said that he wanted to ensure that any member of staff working in the NHS feels able to raise concerns about health care matters in a responsible manner without fear of victimisation.The Department of Health issued further guidance to all NHS trusts and health authorities on 27 August 1999, following the coming into force of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. Health Service Circular 1999/198—"The Public Interest Disclosure Act"—states that every NHS trust and health authority should have in place policies and procedures which comply with the provisions of the Act. A copy of HSC 1999–198 is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue a definition of reasonable charges in respect of local authorities and home care for persons in receipt of moneys from the Independent Living Fund. [158979]

The Department's draft guidance 'Fairer Charges for Home Care and other Non-Residential Social Services', was issued for consultation on 3 January. It includes proposed guidance on assessment of charges for people receiving care jointly agreed by local councils and the independent living funds. Final guidance will be issued in the summer.My Department is working closely with the Department of Social Security in developing proposals for the future of the independent living funds following the end of the consultation period for the quinquennial review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Hull, North constituency, the effects on Hull, North of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150619]

[pursuant to his reply, 6 April 2001, c. 333–34W]: Detailed information on the impact of Department of Health policies nationally is set out in the Department of Health Annual reports "Department of Health—Government Expenditure Plans 2000–01". A copy of the most recent report is available in the Library and on the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/dhreport.The impact of policies are not examined by constituency and statistics collected centrally by the Department are not collected on a constituency basis.My hon. Friend's constituency falls within the geographical area covered by East Riding and Hull health authority and Kingston-upon-Hull social services authority.Increases in allocations between 1996–97 and 2001–02 for East Riding and Hull health authority are shown in the table.

Increases in allocations between 1996–97 and 2001–02
	Increase
£ million (cash)	113.3
£ million (real terms)	72.6
Percentage (cash)	38.73
Percentage (real terms)	22.92