To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military actions HM forces conducted over northern Iraq on 19 June; and if he will make a statement. [386]

On 19 June, coalition aircraft conducted routine patrols over the Northern No-Fly Zone over Iraq. During these patrols, aircrews came under multiple attack by Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. On this occasion, no coalition ordnance was released in self-defence. In fact, all coalition aircraft involved in the patrols returned to base safely and all of their ordnance has been accounted for.Saddam Hussein's propaganda machine yet again has made completely false claims. The Iraqis have asserted that, during these patrols, coalition aircraft attacked civilian targets when in fact, the evidence suggests that his own air defence system was responsible. The US Defence Department has stated that it has good reason to believe that one of the missiles fired at coalition aircrew may have returned to earth in the area where the casualties are alleged to have occurred.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress of the review of British Forces Post Office, Mill Hill. [56]

The review of the BFPO at Mill Hill has now been completed, but no firm decision has yet been taken. I understand fully the need to bring this issue to closure as quickly as possible and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as a decision is made.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek an explanation from the Secretary of State for Health for not fulfilling his undertaking of 11 May to reply to letters to him from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. E. Graal and Mrs. E. Jones. [399]

I understand that my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Health and the Lord Chancellor have replied to my right hon. Friend's letters.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to refer all recommendations for a peerage to the House of Lords Appointments Commission; and if he will make a statement. [260]

It is my normal policy to do so. However, we have always made it clear that in relation to party political peers, the Appointments Commission was taking over the role formerly fulfilled by the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee. It was never the custom that appointments to the Lords to enable someone to take up ministerial office should be subject to scrutiny by that Committee. I have also decided, after consultation with the House of Lords Appointments Commission, that a limited number of holders of very high office may be recommended direct to the Queen by me.

To ask the Prime Minister what additional projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit; and if he will make a statement. [975]

I have asked the Performance and Innovation Unit to undertake a review of the strategic issues surrounding energy policy for Great Britain.The review will be set within the context of meeting the challenge of global warming, while ensuring secure, diverse and reliable energy supplies at a competitive price.The aim of the review will be to set out the objectives of energy policy and to develop a strategy that ensures current policy commitments are consistent with longer-term goals. The findings will also inform the Government's response to last year's report from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution "Energy—the changing climate".The work the PIU has already started, on resource productivity and renewable energy, will be an important input into this project. This review will work closely with the resource productivity team and the main Whitehall Departments, as well as business, international institutions, other Government and non-governmental organisations.The Minister for Industry and Energy will chair an advisory group for this project, which will report by the end of the year. Other Ministers on the advisory group include the Minister for the Environment and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

To ask the Prime Minister, in respect of the Government's intention to introduce a new tax credit for families with children, if he will make a statement on the future of the administrative arrangements for the Child Benefit Centre in Great Britain. [1062]

The new tax credit will build on the foundation of universal child benefit. I have decided that responsibility for child benefit in Great Britain will transfer to Inland Revenue so that when the new credit is introduced in 2003, Government support for children will be administered by one Department. Until the transfer takes place, child benefit will remain the responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the bombing of a football game in Northern Iraq on 19 June. [387]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence today, Official Report, column 17W.

To ask the President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to establish a departmental Select Committee to scrutinise the work of the Lord Chancellor's Department. [353]

The Lord Chancellor's Department has been scrutinised by the Home Affairs Committee in the past, and this arrangement is likely to be appropriate in the future. The Lord Chancellor's Department's new responsibilities have largely been transferred from the Home Office.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans there are to improve the provision of, and access, to videoconferencing facilities for hon. Members. [833]

This is a matter on which the Information Committee's advice would be sought. I hope that, together with other Select Committees, the Information Committee will soon be appointed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers are available to local authorities to compel private landowners to clear up derelict sites. [23]

Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 gives local planning authorities a discretionary power to require private landowners to clear up sites if they are adversely affecting the condition of land or amenity in their area.If owners do not comply with a notice served under s215, local planning authorities have the power under s219 to enter the land to carry out the specified work and recover the costs incurred from the landowner.The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions last September published research on "Derelict Land and Section 215 Powers" which included a number of practical suggestions to facilitate its use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in what circumstances he (a) requires and (b) expects an environmental impact assessment in support of an application for permission for development. [21]

The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 give effect to the requirements of Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. The regulations apply to categories of projects specified in schedules 1 and 2 of the regulations. For development listed in schedule 1 of the regulations, environmental impact assessment is always required before planning permission may be granted. For development listed in schedule 2, an assessment is required if the project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature, scale or location.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on plans his Department has to tighten planning controls on mobile phone masts. [419]

We propose to bring forward shortly changes to the current planning rules and guidance for telecommunications mast development in order to:

strengthen public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below

increase the time for an authority to deal with prior approval applications to 56 days

underline that school governors must be consulted on all proposals for new masts on or near a school or college; and

increase fees to enable authorities to carry out full public consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures he proposes to take to reduce the incidence of high hedges overshadowing or encroaching on people's property; and if he will make a statement. [37]

The Government are committed to introducing legislation that would give local authorities in England and Wales powers to deal with complaints about problem high hedges, as soon as there is space in the parliamentary timetable.Where these hedges encroach on people's property, they already have rights to cut overhanging branches back to the boundary—unless any trees in the hedge are protected by a tree preservation order or the people live in a conservation area. In such cases, people should check with their local council before carrying out any works on the hedge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects legislation to be introduced to deal with high boundary hedges and trees in residential gardens; and if he will make a statement. [7]

The Government are committed to introducing legislation that would give local authorities in England and Wales powers to deal with complaints about problem high hedges, as soon as there is space in the parliamentary timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will set out the timetable for the sale of the dome. [108]

There is no firm deadline for the sale. We are, through the on-going market testing, exploring all avenues, and the aim is to secure a sale as quickly as possible. However, it is important that all diligence is done both in the market testing and the assessment of on-going process issues, in order that the process—and the continued regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula—is not undermined. We will make an announcement as soon as possible, consistent with independent professional advice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the estimated market value of the dome site (a) with the dome in place and (b) with the dome removed. [111]

A pre-sale valuation of the dome site has been undertaken in the context of the process to secure a sustainable long-term use for the dome. This valuation and Government appraisals of the financial value of the site are commercially confidential while the process continues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the proceeds from the future sale of the dome will be returned to national lottery funds. [112]

The allocation of proceeds from the sale of the dome is set out in a legal agreement between English Partnerships and the New Millennium Experience Company. This was signed on 12 January 2001 and announced to Parliament on 17 January 2001, Official Report, column 258W.After deduction of competition, decommissioning and other costs from the sale proceeds, half will be paid to English Partnerships as owners of the land and half to the New Millennium Experience Company as builders, owners and operators of the dome structure. Once NMEC has been wound up, it is intended that any remaining share of the proceeds will pass to the Millennium Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the submission by Redhill Aerodrome Ventures Ltd. to his Department's consultation on airport capacity in the south-east was confidential. [148]

We received a submission from Redhill Aerodrome Ltd. in response to "The Future of Aviation" consultation document. Redhill Aerodrome Ventures Ltd. asked that its response be kept confidential. We have not yet issued a consultation document on airport capacity in the south-east and east of England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what target he has set the Strategic Rail Authority for completing its feasibility study on the Central Railway proposal; when he expects to receive the SRA's report; and if he will make a statement. [379]

No target has been set. I understand that the Strategic Rail Authority has just received its consultants' high-level review of the Central Railways proposal and will be advising on its conclusion in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards a final decision on the award of the rail franchise for the Chiltern Line. [380]

The Strategic Rail Authority signed heads of terms with M40 Trains Ltd. on 10 August 2000 and expects to sign a new franchise agreement in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made by his Department in extending the concessionary bus travel scheme to men between the ages of 60 and 65 years. [451]

As announced in the Gracious Speech on 20 June 2001, Official Report, column 33, we intend to bring forward a Bill during the present Session to amend the relevant legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the class sizes for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools were in (i) North Yorkshire and (ii) the City of York local education authorities on 1 May 2001 and projected for 1 May 2002. [5]

The available data are shown in the table.

Average class size—position in January each year
	North Yorkshire	City of York	England
Primary schools
20001	25.8	26.4	27.1
2001	25.3	25.9	26.7
Secondary schools
20001	21.1	21.5	22.0
2001	21.1	21.1	22.0
1Provisional

The size of average primary classes has fallen nationally from 27.7 in 1998 to 26.7 in 2001; by September 2001 we expect that no infant class will have more than 30 pupils. Secondary class sizes nationally rose from under 20 in 1989 to 21.7 in 1997. Since then the growth has slowed and has remained at 22 for two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include NHS scientific laboratory staff in the NHS pay review. [349]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my predecessor gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Mr. Austin) on 23 October 2000, Official Report, columns 80–81W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals had to sell a property to finance their (a) residential and (b) nursing care, within local authorities prior to the local authority becoming responsible for funding their care; and if he will make a statement. [182]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) residential and (b) nursing placements were being funded at the end of 2000–01. [181]

The table shows the number of local authority supported residents in residential or nursing care at 31 March 2000, the latest year for which information is available.

Rounded number
England1	Supported residents
Residential care homes2	193,100
Nursing care homes3	74,400
Total number of residents	267,500
1As at 31 March 2000
2Includes local authority staffed, voluntary and private homes and small or unstaffed homes
3Independent general and mental nursing homes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of assessment is undertaken by social services when a client is vulnerable and self-funding but has no partner or advocate; and if he will make a statement. [183]

Under Section 47 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 local authorities have a duty to give a community care assessment to anyone, who, in their view, might be in need of community care services. This duty applies irrespective of the person's means and whether or not the person has a partner or advocate. The content of the assessment is a matter for the local authority to decide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require the General Social Care Council to develop an interim register that covers all unqualified social care workers employed by local authorities and in the independent sector. [185]

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) will register social care workers who hold the appropriate level of qualification for the job that they do, and who satisfy the requirements as to conduct and competence. Registration will begin with social workers, most of whom ate qualified. Other early groups for registration will be residential child care workers and managers of care homes. The GSCC will set out the timescales for registering the remainder of the workforce.The GSCC will publish codes of practice for social care workers and other employers. All social care workers will be expected to abide by these codes, whether or not they are registered with the GSCC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the General Social Care Council will play in regulating health support workers. [186]

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) will be responsible for regulating social care workers. There are no plans for it to regulate health support workers. The social care workforce in England comprises over a million workers, and the GSCC will concentrate on introducing regulation in this new area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) consultants and (b) general practitioners were working for the NHS in July 2000. [390]

The Department collects information about the number of consultants and general practitioners working for the National Health Service as at 30 September each year. Information is not available for July 2000.As at 30 September 2000 (headcount) there were 24,300 consultants and 28,590 general practitioners working for the NHS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were working for the NHS in (a) July 2000 and (b) June 2001. [391]

The Department of Health workforce censuses collect the number of nurses working in the National Health Service in England as at 30 September each year.On 30 September 1999 there were 329,640 (headcount) nurses employed in the NHS. On 30 September 2000 there were 335,950.

To as the Secretary of State for Health if he will specify the remuneration of each culinary adviser involved in the improvement of hospital food. [435]

National Health Service dietitians, catering managers, nurses and patients, along with Mr. Loyd Grossman and his team of seven leading chefs, all contributed towards the development of the better hospital food initiative, including the development of a new NHS recipe book and menu. Launched on 8 May, it includes new dishes which have been specially designed for modern tastes.Loyd Grossman and the chefs provided their services free of charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients are suspended from waiting lists; and how many were suspended from waiting lists on 1 March. [428]

Statistics for suspended patients are published by the Department of Health every quarter. At the end of March 2001 (the most recent data available) 76,734 patients have been suspended from the inpatient waiting list during the last quarter of 2000–01.The National Health Service data manual gives clear guidance that patients should only be suspended from the waiting list if they are medically unfit for the operation, or for other impelling reasons i.e. where a patient is unavailable for admission because of family commitments, holidays or other reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the areas of responsibility that have been transferred (a) from his Department to other Departments and (b) to his Department from other Departments since 8 June. [433]

No areas of responsibility have been transferred either to or from my Department since 8 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which countries overseas nurses are employed by the NHS; and how many nurses are employed from each country. [431]

This information is not held centrally. Information on applications from nurses outside the United Kingdom for registration to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) can be found in the UKCC annual statistical analysis of the UKCC professional register. Information on the number of work permits issued to employers is available from work permits UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from foreign Governments in connection with the employment of overseas nurses since May 2000. [423]

Over the last year we have received representations from the Spanish Government about recruiting doctors and nurses from Spain to work in the National Health Service.An Inter-Governmental agreement was achieved with Spain in November 2000 to promote closer working between the two countries. As part of this agreement, the first 63 nurses arrived in the north-west of England from Spain on 19 January 2001 to work in four NHS trusts and have now been joined by another 57. Following this successful recruitment, the initiative is being extended to medical staff through a pilot project also being led by north-west region.I am also aware that the Department has received representations over the last year from:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) consultant posts and (b) nursing posts are currently vacant; and how many posts in each category have been vacant for more than three months. [426]

The Department of Health vacancy survey for 2000 collected only the number of vacancies which have lasted for three months or more as at 30 March. These figures are given in the table.Results from 2001 vacancy survey are not yet available.

Department of Health Vacancies Survey three month vacancy figures1 for Consultants and Nursing staff as at 31 March 20002
	Number
All consultants	600
General medicine group of specialities	90
Paediatrics	40
Accident and emergency	30
Surgical group of specialities	60
Obstetrics and gynaecology	10
Anaesthetics	30
Radiology group of specialities	70
Clinical oncology	10
Pathology group of specialities	50
Psychiatry group of specialities	190
Dental (hospital or public health)	20
All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff	10,110
Acute, elderly and general care	6,390
Paediatrics	620
Learning difficulties	310
Psychiatry	1,440
Midwives	510
District nurses	150
Health visitors	190
Other qualified nurses	490
1Posts that had been vacant for three months or more as at 31 March 2000.
2Figures are different from those previously published due to the discovery of figures for four trusts, which had not given detailed breakdown of vacancies within staff groups, being excluded altogether from the results.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients were treated by the private sector during the last quarter (a) in total and (b) broken down by specialty. [424]

At present this information is not centrally recorded. We are currently exploring as part of the Concordat with the private sector what additional data collection may be necessary and desirable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the medical conditions which warrant exemption from prescription payments. [430]

The medical conditions conferring exemption from prescription charges are:

(1) permanent fistula (including caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy, or ileostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance;

(2) the following disorders:

forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential

• diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism
• diabetes mellitus—except where treatment is by diet alone
• hypoparathyroidism
• myasthenia gravis
• myxoedema

(3) epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy;

(4) a continuing physical disability which prevents the patient from leaving his residence without the help of another person.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delayed discharges there were of NHS patients on (a) 1 January, (b) 1 February, (c) 1 March, (d) 1 April and (e) 1 May; and how many NHS patients on each of those dates there were whose discharge had been delayed but who had fully funded social services packages arranged. [429]

Information on delayed discharges of patients aged over 75 years in England is collected centrally on a quarterly basis. In December 2000 the number of over-75s whose discharge was delayed was 5,801 and in March 2001 this figure was 5,938. In December 2000, 35 per cent. of the people whose discharges were delayed were awaiting placement in a residential care or nursing home or awaiting arrangement of a package of care to allow them to return to their own home. In some cases patients will be exercising their right to await a place in a home of their choice. No information is collected on the funding arrangements for these packages. For March 2001 this figure was 37 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of acute hospital beds which are unavailable to incoming patients as a result of their occupation by patients needing accommodation in a nursing home. [835]

Information is not available centrally in the form requested. Information is collected for England on the number of people aged over 75 whose discharge is delayed awaiting a care home placement (residential care homes and nursing homes are not separately distinguished). In the last quarter of 2000–01 (the latest figures available), there were 1,703 such people. Some of these people will be exercising their right to await a place in a home of their choice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to assess the feasibility of setting up demonstration plants for cleaner coal power generation technology. [974]

I can announce that a new review will commence this month and is expected to report its findings at the end of the year.Its Terms of Reference are:To assess the value of a cleaner coal demonstration plant from four key perspectives:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many outlets sell ultra-low sulphur petrol in (a) the UK and (b) England. [757]

The latest estimates available are that, as of mid-June 2001, over 98 per cent. of the more than 13,000 retail sites in operation in the UK were selling ultra-low sulphur petrol, and virtually all deliveries of premium grade petrol for consumption in the UK are now ultra-low sulphur. There are no separate estimates available for England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the areas where consultation between workers and employers would be obligatory under implementation of the EU Information and Consultation Directive. [299]

A political agreement was reached at the Employment and Social Policy Council on 11 June on a Presidency compromise text. The text gives employees in the undertakings covered a right to be informed about the undertaking's economic situation, informed and consulted about employment prospects, and to be consulted with a view to reaching agreement about decisions likely to lead to substantial changes in work organisation or contractual relations, including redundancies and transfers. Employers and employees may agree on different arrangements than those prescribed in the directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on future ownership arrangements for (a) Consignia and (b) its constituent parts. [297]

The future ownership arrangements for Consignia and certain of its subsidiaries are governed by Part IV of the Postal Services Act 2000. In accordance with sections 65 of the Postal Services Act, no shares in the Post Office company (i.e. Consignia Holdings plc) may be issued or disposed of to anyone other than the Treasury or the Secretary of State (or their nominees) without authority from Parliament in accordance with section 67 of the Act. The Act also prohibits the issuing or disposal of shares in any "relevant subsidiary" of the Post Office company to anyone other than the Treasury or the Secretary of State (or their nominees) or the Post Office company or any other appropriate relevant subsidiary (or their nominees) without parliamentary authority in accordance with section 67. Consignia plc— the wholly-owned principal operating subsidiary of Consignia Holdings falls within the definition of a "relevant subsidiary".The future ownership of subsidiaries other than Consignia plc and other "relevant subsidiaries" is a commercial matter for Consignia Holdings plc (or the member of the group who owns the subsidiary), in accordance with the commercial freedom given the company under the Post Office reform package.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions her Department has had at EU level concerning liberalisation of energy markets; and if dates for completion of the single market in this area have been set. [755]

In March 2001, the Commission proposed a new Directive to amend the existing rules on electricity and gas liberalisation. The Commission also proposed a Regulation on cross-border electricity trading. The new Directive includes the date of 2005 for full liberalisation of the EU electricity and gas markets. These proposals were discussed at the Stockholm European Summit. Discussions of the proposals are continuing in the Council Energy Working Group. UK officials are also actively engaged in a number of bilateral discussions with other member states and representatives from the Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will outline her plans for reducing the administrative burden on business; and what quantifiable targets she has for measuring progress. [740]

The DTI will continue to ensure that administrative burdens associated with necessary regulation to protect the interests of consumers and citizens and to provide decent minimum standards for workers are minimised. The regulatory impact appraisal (RIA) process was changed in 2000 to require that administrative and policy costs should be separately identified, enabling us to concentrate on minimising the cost of the administration associated with regulation. Where it is shown to us that administration is excessive, we will reduce it, as we did with the Working Time Regulations in 1999.The new Regulatory Reform Act will play a vital role in the Government's drive to reform outdated, overlapping and over-burdensome regulation. The Labour Party's Business Manifesto commits the Government to use the new Order-making power in the Act to bring forward a programme of regulatory reform initiatives involving all the key Government Departments. A list of 51 examples of reforms that could be achieved by this means is available from the Libraries of the House, and on the Cabinet Office website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress the Small Business Service has made in establishing an Index of Regulation; and if its operational target date has been met. [743]

In line with the principles set out in "Think Small First" published in January the SBS remains committed to obtaining a detailed picture of the impact of regulation and is considering the best way to proceed on this important issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce longer lead-in times and consultation periods for new regulations. [747]

The new Consultation Code requires that public consultations should last at least 12 weeks except in clearly defined circumstances, or where Ministers judge that the particular circumstances require a shorter consultation period. The new procedures for guidance for business on new regulations mean that where new regulations require action from business, guidance should be issued at least 12 weeks before the entry into force of the regulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which regulations implemented since 1997 her Department is planning to review the working and impact of. [754]

We keep the regulatory framework under constant review, assessing the impact of regulations made before 1997 and since. We are also carrying out the following specific reviews.The Government have appointed the independent Low Pay Commission to monitor and review the impact of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 and accompanying regulations. The LPC is to be established as a permanent body, continuing to advise on the national minimum wage and carrying out associated research.We are currently reviewing whether the Timeshare Regulations 1997 and Price Marking Order 1999 should be amended in the light of their operation.We will also comprehensively modernise company law, following the final report of the independent Company Law Review, to be published this summer.The forthcoming White Paper on the reform of the competition regime will address aspects of that regime dating from before May 1997, as well as those introduced since.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to conduct an audit of EU Directives transposed into UK law since 1997 to determine what use has been made of protective provisions for small businesses. [746]

The Government have consulted fully on the implementation of all EU Directives since 1997, taking account of the needs of small businesses. We have no current plans to conduct an audit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many tourism businesses have (a) applied for and (b) received loans under the Business Loan Guarantee Scheme in connection with the impact of foot and mouth disease. [134]

No information is available on the number of businesses that have approached lenders.Of the new loans that have been guaranteed by the Small Business Service, where the application forms identify that the businesses have been affected by foot and mouth disease, four of them are considered to be tourism related.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to tackle the level of pay for women relative to men. [464]

The Government have an extensive programme of action to reduce the pay gap between men and women. This gap has reduced from 37 per cent. when the Equal Pay Act was introduced in 1970, to 18 per cent. now. We are taking steps to make the legislation work better, by making equal pay claims quicker and easier. We are working with the Equal Opportunities Commission, employers and trade unions to develop voluntary equal pay reviews. The EOC has received an extra £100,000 to take this forward. The Government are committed to equal pay for its own staff. All Departments and Government agencies must undertake reviews and prepare equal pay action plans within two years. We are introducing Castle Awards to recognise employers' excellence in promoting equal opportunities and pay, and have appointed fair pay champions from a range of backgrounds to promote the issues. We also have a number of initiatives in place to address the underlying causes of the pay gap. These include tackling gender stereotyping in education, removing barriers to women's employment in traditionally male industries such as ICT and encouraging employers to take measures which allow parents to combine work and raising a family. In April of this year, the Government appointed Denise Kingsmill to lead an independent review into Women's Employment and Pay. This review will report in the autumn, and the Government will then consider what additional action is required to make further progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the bombing of a football game in northern Iraq on 19 June; and if he will make a statement. [385]

None. Iraq's claim that a football match was bombed by allied aircraft is completely false. Although allied aircraft were patrolling the No-Fly Zones on 19 June and came under attack from Iraqi anti-aircraft and missile fire, they did not fire back.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultations are planned with pensioner groups and groups representing older people on claims procedures envisaged under the new pension credit. [460]

Over 400 responses were received to the formal consultation exercise [Cm4900, November 2000], many welcoming our proposals. We will continue to consider views and work closely with groups representing older people to deliver a modernised and dedicated service to meet pensioner needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the introduction of the pension credit. [465]

The pension credit forms a key part of the Government's overall strategy for tackling pension poverty, ensuring that no pensioner need live on less than £100 a week and no pensioner couple need live on less than £154 a week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reform housing benefit. [463]

Following years of neglect by the opposition, improving administration is the biggest challenge facing the Housing Benefit system.We published our strategy to achieve this in December and we are working with local authorities to drive up standards of service, tackle fraud and error and promote work incentives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action the Government propose to take to ensure that individuals are able to make appropriate provision for their retirement. [469]

The Government are encouraging people to save for their retirement in a variety of ways. We have introduced stakeholder pensions, a new low cost safe, flexible pension option for moderate and high earners who do not have access to a good occupational scheme. We are also providing better information, through leaflets and in time combined pension forecasts, to help people make choices about the most appropriate provision for their retirement. And we continue to work closely with the pensions industry to seek ways of making the regulatory system simpler and easier to operate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on encouraging employees to contribute to private pension plans. [470]

The Government attach great importance to providing better information to help people make informed decisions about saving for their retirement. We have already greatly improved the general pension information available by actively promoting our series of pension education guides. And we are working in partnership with employers and pension providers to introduce new pension forecasts giving both state and private pension details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on the impact of means testing on applications for the Minimum Income Guarantee. [471]

The link between the intrusive and complex nature of means testing and non take-up of the minimum income guarantee by some pensioners has been established. A key objective of the Pension Credit is to tackle pensioner poverty and by 2003 no pensioner will have to live on less than £100 per week and couples no less than £154. It will reduce complexity, by modernising processes and removing outdated rules and reduce intrusiveness by, for example, abolishing the weekly means test.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what are the most recent estimates of increased take-up of the Minimum Income Guarantee as a result of the pensioner take-up advertising campaign. [474]

Over 110,000 additional awards of the Minimum Income Guarantee had been made by the end of May 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in North-West Leicestershire who are entitled to the minimum income guarantee but who are not receiving it. [475]

Estimates of the number of pensioners entitled but not claiming the minimum income guarantee are not available below national levels. Around two million of the poorest pensioners are now receiving MIG. While over 110,000 additional awards had been made by the end of May 2001, generated by the take-up campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of pensioners in Wales have taken up the Minimum Income Guarantee. [476]

Estimates of take-up and non take-up of MIG are not available below national levels. However, over 20,000 additional pensioners in Wales have been awarded MIG during the period of the take-up campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the service provided to ethnic minority communities by social security offices. [472]

The Benefits Agency holds both an annual benefits forum and an annual ethnic minority forum. These present an opportunity for representatives of ethnic minority groups to address any problem areas. As a result of the last ethnic minority forum, held in February 2001, the Benefits Agency policy on provision of interpreting and translation services is being reviewed.The Benefits Agency is committed to providing a service, which is fair and accessible to all members of the community. Local managers are responsible for ensuring that the level of service is of an acceptable standard. This commitment is also stated in the Customer Charter, which was published in November 1999. The standards in the Customer Charter are measured annually by a range of internal checks and customer satisfaction surveys. An analysis of the results informs service improvement action plans. All complaints received by the Agency are recorded and the data analysed centrally. The monthly reports produced are also used to inform service improvement plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his policy towards UK pensioners living overseas. [473]

UK pensions are paid to anyone who satisfies the qualifying conditions, wherever they live.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reform the regulations governing compulsory annuities for pensioners. [477]

I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer given to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) earlier today, Official Report, column 382.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress is being made in tackling pensioner poverty. [479]

I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave the hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Sir R. Smith) earlier today, Official Report, column 373.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on pensioner poverty. [459]

Tackling pensioner poverty is a priority for this Government and we have already made a significant impact on the lives of our poorest pensioners by ensuring that no pensioner has to live on less than £92.15 a week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level was of social security fraud in 2000–01. [468]

We are getting to grips with Social Security fraud, tightening up the system and making sure that from the very first claim, the right benefits are going to the right people.Between 1998 and 2000 we have already made a 6.7 per cent. reduction in the level of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance. We have conducted further exercises to measure the level of fraud and error, the results of which will be published later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the measures he proposes to take to assist people receiving benefits to find appropriate employment. [448]

Today, there are record numbers of people in work. Labour Market Statistics show that the number of unemployed people is below one million. But we must continue to help those who can work to move off benefit and into productive work.The creation of the new Department and the Jobcentre Plus, launched later this year, are significant immediate steps. But we are also introducing a Welfare Reform Bill which will extend the scope and flexibility of our welfare to work programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the take-up of stakeholder pensions. [449]

There are now 47 registered providers offering stakeholder pensions. Early indications are that they are attracting considerable interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when (a) she and (b) the Minister for Sport last attended a horse race meeting in their official capacity. [187]

Neither I nor my right hon. Friend have attended a horse race meeting since our recent appointment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to bring forward legislation for the deregulation of pub licensing. [188]

We remain fully committed to bringing forward legislation to reform the alcohol and public entertainment licensing laws as soon as parliamentary time permits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what additional funding for marketing she expects to provide to the English Tourism Council and regional tourist boards in response to the foot and mouth disease crisis. [190]

The Government made £3.8 million available for PR and marketing at national and regional level. This timely action did much to kick start the domestic tourism season. I have no plans for further national marketing, but the Government have funded the Regional Development Agencies who are now providing further help to promote tourism. The launch of the Devon marketing plan last week was an example.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she will take to promote a London bid to host the Olympic Games. [782]

The decision on whether or not to launch a UK bid to host the Olympic Games is a matter for the British Olympic Association. The Government will take a view on what steps they might take to promote any bid in the event the BOA decides to make a bid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress the Government have made in reviewing the options for a national stadium. [973]

My right hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) explained to the House on 2 May 2001, Official Report, column 852W, that the Government would review options for a National Stadium in the light of the Football Association's announcement on 1 May that it could not deliver its plans for a new National Football and Rugby League Stadium at Wembley. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced on 8 May that the Government had asked Patrick Carter, a non executive member of the Strategy Board for Correctional Services, to analyse the alternative ways forward for the project. This work was delayed because of the general election but is now under way. The terms of reference for Mr. Carter's work are:

In the light of the FA's announcement on 1 May 2001 about the project to develop a new English National Stadium at Wembley for Football and Rugby League, to examine if the project can be funded and managed at Wembley, or if that proved impractical, at another location in England. The review should report to the Government within eight weeks.

Mr. Carter will consult interested parties in reaching conclusions.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made with the pilot project for sight-impaired people acting as Justices of the Peace. [928]

I am pleased to announce that the pilot project assessing the feasibility of sight-impaired people acting as magistrates has been completed. It has been a great success. Nine sight-impaired people were recruited as Justices of the Peace to the Commission areas of Leicestershire, Devon, North East London, Wiltshire, Humberside and Manchester. Each was appointed after having met the normal selection criteria and completed the training. The responses from those who have worked with the sight-impaired magistrates have shown that each one of them has made a positive and valuable contribution to the work of their Benches. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is therefore removing, forthwith, the bar to appointment of sight-impaired applicants as Justices of the Peace.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many warrants have been issued by (a) Sevenoaks Magistrates Court and b Dartford Magistrates Court in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many are outstanding in each case. [264]

Detailed information of this nature is not held centrally, and could be obtained locally only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) asylum cases and (b) other immigration cases are now awaiting consideration by the Independent Appellate Authority. [164]

At the end of May 2001, the Immigration Appellate Authority had 18,145 outstanding asylum cases and 3,230 outstanding other immigration cases awaiting final determination.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to repeat cross-departmental reviews as part of the 2002 Spending Review. [1063]

The 2002 Spending Review will roll forward existing spending plans and set budgets and outcome targets for Departments up to 2005–06. The aim of the Review will be to determine how best Departments' programmes can contribute to the Government's priorities of:

• delivery of high quality, efficient and responsive public services;
• raising productivity, in the public sector and outside, through improved skills, research and infrastructure;
• spreading opportunity and prosperity more widely, and tackling child poverty and social exclusion;
• improving the quality of life in both urban and rural areas; and
• securing a modern international role for Britain through co-operation with our European and international partners.

The Review will conclude by the summer of 2002.The Review will take a thorough look at all programmes to ensure that the new plans fully reflect the Government's priorities and the scope for greater efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.The Review will include a number of cross-departmental studies, to look systematically at issues that cut across departmental boundaries. The initial cross cutting reviews will cover:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the effects of the climate change levy on business. [293]

As with all taxes, the climate change levy will be kept under review as part of the normal Budget process.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of Working Families Tax Credit on employment patterns in high cost areas. [466]

Inland Revenue has embarked on a comprehensive programme of evaluation of the impact of the Working Families Tax Credit and the Disabled Persons Tax Credit. The programme of work spans several years and comprises qualitative and quantitative research and analysis. It will be a number of years before the programme of work is completed and such an assessment can be made.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to ask the National Audit Office to evaluate the content and use of regulatory impact assessments, including public consultation. [744]

I understand that the National Audit Office have already begun a study examining the regulatory impact assessment process. They expect to report later this year.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many special advisers (a) resigned and (b) remained in office following the announcement of the general election. [381]

Following the announcement of the general election 62 special advisers resigned and 14 remained in post.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much severance pay was paid to special advisers following the announcement of the general election; and how much is due to be repaid by special advisers following their reappointment. [382]

The rules on severance payments for special advisers are the same as those that have applied under previous Administrations. Under the terms of the Model Contract for Special Advisers, any special adviser who receives severance following the announcement of an election but who is subsequently re-appointed is only entitled to retain severance pay of an amount equivalent to the pay that they would have received during the period of the gap between the two periods of employment.Ministers are currently in the process of appointing their special advisers, so it is not possible to determine the overall cost of severance until this process is completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about levels of (a) violent and (b) other crime in Surrey. [147]

The table shows recorded violent crime (violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery) and other crime statistics in Surrey for the 12 months to September 2000.

Offence	Number
Violence against the person	6,594
Sexual offences	590
Robbery	342
Burglary	7,576
Theft and handling	22,045
Fraud and forgery	4,272
Criminal damage	10,189
Drug offences	1,727
Other offences	844
Total	54,179

The recorded crime statistics for the 12 months to March 2000 show that Surrey had the second lowest number of crimes per 100,000 population in England and Wales. However, a boundary change involving Surrey and Metropolitan police forces took place on 1 April 2000, when Surrey took on some areas from the Metropolitan police. Figures for Surrey before and after that date are therefore not directly comparable. By excluding the boundary effect (i.e. by assuming these areas were policed by the Metropolitan police throughout the period), the increase in overall crime in Surrey in the 12 months to September 2000 compared with the 12 months to September 1999 is an estimated 3 per cent. The Government are committed to reducing all crime, including violent crime, and to tackling the causes of crime, ensuring proper punishment of those who break the law and providing the resources necessary to tackle crime. Although there continues to be an increase in the number of violent crimes recorded by the police, the rate of increase is slowing down and crime overall has fallen under this Government. The British Crime Survey, which is widely accepted as the most authoritative source of information on the real rates of crime, indicates that violent crime has been falling since 1995, and reduced by 4 per cent. between 1997 and 1999, the latest date for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he takes to ensure that responsibility placed on MI5 to protect the economic well-being of the country is not discharged in such a way as to (a) benefit big business at the expense of small business and (b) undermine the rights of pressure groups and individuals to pursue peacefully their political ends. [215]

The Security Service carries out its functions in accordance with the relevant legislation. Section 1(3) of the Security Service Act 1989 requires the Service to safeguard the economic well-being of the United Kingdom against threats posed by the actions or intentions of persons outside the British Islands. Section 2 (2) (b) places a duty on the Director General to ensure that the Service does not take any action to further the interests of any political party.Anyone who is aggrieved by anything they believe the Service has done to them or their property may complain to the independent Tribunal (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the plans for a European Public Prosecutor. [245]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the previous Minister of State at the Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), to the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring) on 1 November 2000, Official Report, column 529W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost is of holding a prisoner in (a) male local prisons, (b) male remand centres, (c) open prisons, (d) closed training prisons, (e) open young offender institutions,(f) closed young offender institutions and (g) female establishments; and if he will make a statement. [243]

During the financial year 2000–01 the average cost per prisoner place for each of the above categories are listed in the table.

£
Category	Cost per place (cash)
Category B	21,674
Category C	17,765
Dispersal	33,804
Female closed	25,123

£
Category	Cost per place (cash)
Female local	30,412
Female open	17,399
Male closed YOI	23,063
Young Offender Institution (YOI) Male juvenile	44,668
Male local	25,733
Male open	14,733
Male open YOI	21,628
Male remand centre	35,174
Total	22,890

Figures for cost per place reflect establishment costs only and do not include headquarters overheads. These figures are not comparable with the Prison Service cost per place Key Performance Indicator. The establishments that comprise these functions are categorised by their main role only. Establishments that have more than one role have been placed under the category that represents the primary or predominant function of the establishment. These data will shortly be published in the Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the Government's plans for the former Department of the Environment buildings at Marsham street; [238](2) what the proposed capacity is of the planned development on the site of the former Department of the Environment buildings at Marsham street. [237]

Proposals to proceed with the relocation of the Home Office, including the Prison Service, to a new development on the site of the former Department of the Environment offices at Marsham street, where outline planning consent exists for a mixed office, residential and commercial development, were announced in July last year. Contract negotiations for developing the Marsham street site as a public-private partnership project are currently in progress with Anne's Gate Property plc, the preferred bidder.The City of Westminster resolved in February to grant detailed planning consent subject to completion of a planning agreement. That has been successfully negotiated and the formal agreement was signed earlier this month. Provided detailed contract terms can be agreed between the Home Office and the preferred bidder, a start on demolishing the old Department of the Environment offices is planned for later this year. The new development is intended to house the majority of Home Office and Her Majesty's Prison Service staff currently based in central London.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his plans to provide additional secure training places; and when he estimates the places will become available for use. [151]

The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales commissions and purchases secure accommodation for remanded and sentenced young people. Over the next four years the Youth Justice Board plans to purchase an additional 400 independent sector Secure Training Centre (STC) places to replace Prison Service accommodation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the Criminal Justice System Reserve has been (a) allocated and (b) spent to date; and if he will make a statement about his plans to allocate the reserve in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [2441]

Of the £100 million Criminal Justice System Reserve in 2001–02, £85 million has been allocated to date. Further allocations will be made during the year. Information on spend to date on approved initiatives is not currently available as it is in the process of being collected from the three Criminal Justice System Departments. Future allocations from the Criminal Justice System Reserve require the joint agreement of the Home Secretary, Lord Chancellor and Attorney-General. The approval of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury is also required prior to the release of money from the Reserve. It is expected that bidding guidance for the Criminal Justice System Reserve for 2002–03 and 2003–04 will be issued to the three Criminal Justice System Departments in August 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to exclude from the home detention curfew scheme offenders convicted of violence against public servants; how many such offenders have been released on the scheme to date; and if he will make a statement. [242]

No. Home Detention Curfew was not intended by Parliament to work in this way. It is a risk-based scheme. The statute lists several groups of prisoner who are ineligible for Home Detention Curfew. All of these are concerned with risk to the public or risk of breaching the curfew. In respect of all other offences, offenders can be released on Home Detention Curfew only if they have passed a rigorous individual risk assessment.Assault on a public servant is not a separate category of offence and separate figures are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ensure that victims are informed when a prisoner is released on the home detention curfew scheme; and if he will make a statement. [226]

Provisions in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 introduced a statutory duty on local probation boards to consult and inform victims of offenders sentenced to 12 months or more for a sexual or violent offence about the conditions of release. These came into force on 1 April 2001. Prior to a prisoner's release, the victim may opt to make representations about whether the offender should be subject to any licence conditions and to receive information about any conditions which are imposed and are relevant to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to require sentencers to state when passing sentence (a) the existence of and (b) the potential effect on the date of earliest release of the home detention curfew scheme; and if he will make a statement. [225]

The Government are committed to ensuring that the implications of sentencing are explained in open court. The then Lord Chief Justice issued a practice direction in January 1998 requiring a court imposing a custodial sentence to explain the practical effect of that sentence for the benefit of the defendant, any victim and members of the public. Although the practice direction was issued before home detention curfew became available, it makes clear that any future changes to early release arrangements should be reflected in the court's explanation. We will consider whether any legislative requirement is necessary in the context of proposals emerging from the review of the Sentencing Framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders he estimates will be released on the home detention curfew scheme over each of the next five years. [222]

The number of prisoners released on Home Detention Curfew over the next five years will depend upon how many prisoners are eligible and of these how many pass the very rigorous risk assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the home detention curfew scheme. [221]

Home Office Research Study 222, "Electronic Monitoring of Released Prisoners: an evaluation of the Home Detention Curfew (HDC Scheme)", published March 2001, examined in detail the operation of the HDC scheme in its first 16 months of operation. It noted that the scheme was one of the largest electronic monitoring schemes in the world. Among its findings were that:

The scheme had helped to provide prisoners with a managed transition between custody and living in the community.

The risk assessment process had worked well, with only 9 per cent. of those released on HDC re-offending within six months of release, compared with 40 per cent. of those not granted HDC.

HDC had generated large savings (£36.7 million in the first year) when compared with the cost of keeping curfewees in prison.

The report concluded that,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for the period between the commencement of the home detention curfew scheme and 31 May inclusive (a) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, (b) the number of prisoners convicted of each offence who were released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, including offences committed by prisoners normally classified under the categories (i) other homicide and attempted homicide, (ii) other violence against the person, (iii) drug offences, (iv) assaults and (v) other offences, including a breakdown of the prisoners normally classified in the sub-category of other offences called other offences, (c) the average sentence (A) received and (B) served, and the average period spent on the scheme, in respect of each offence, (d) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, who (1) breached the conditions of the curfew, (2) disappeared and were recaptured, (3) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (4) had their licences revoked with reasons, (e) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme while on the scheme, including offences committed, by prisoners who committed more than one offence and (f) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted, including offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement [223]

I shall write to the right hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff there are in his Department, broken down by directorate. [239]

The available information is set out as follows:These figures take account of staff changes arising from the recent changes in the machinery of government. Some minor adjustments to the staffing numbers may arise as a result of the final arrangements agreed between my Department and the other Departments involved. Figures for the non-Agency Home Office and the Forensic Science Service have been taken from the central personnel database. Figures for the United Kingdom Passport Agency and Prison Service have been provided by their personnel units.

Home Office	Staff1
Non-Agency Home Office
Communications Directorate	144
Constitutional and Community Policy Directorate	185
Corporate Development and Services Group	795
Criminal Policy Group	372
Immigration and Nationality Directorate	9,651
Legal Adviser's Branch	59
Ministerial Secretariat	81
Organised and International Crime Directorate	175
Planning Finance and Performance Group	197

Home Office	Staff1
Policing and Crime Reduction	1,125
Research Development and Statistics	314
Staff on loans or secondments	126
Home Office Agencies	—
Forensic Science Service	2,351
United Kingdom Passport Agency2	2,778
Prison Service3	43,897
Total	62,250
1Permanent non-industrial staff, being paid as at 22 June 2001
2Includes 100 staff at the Criminal Records Bureau
3'Staff in post at 1 June 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates of the European Union meetings attended by Ministers in his Department from 1 January onwards and the issues that were discussed at each meeting. [150]

There have been two formal Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Councils and one informal JHA Council since 1 January. All three Council were attended by my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), the then Home Secretary, and my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche).The informal JHA Council took place on 8–9 February 2001. The formal JHA Councils took place on 15–16 March and 28–29 May. I am placing the agendas of the formal council meetings in the Library. The Government reported the outcome of these meetings to the European Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the usual arrangements. The issues discussed at the informal Council were: a review of progress on implementing the Tampere European Council Conclusions; JHA aspects of EU enlargement; illegal immigration via the Western Balkans; EU Common Asylum policy; trafficking in human beings, including women and children; and mutual recognition of civil law decisions.In addition, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) attended a Youth Council meeting on 28 May to discuss the proposal for a Commission White Paper on youth issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the police establishment is for the West Kent and North Kent police areas; and how many officers are serving in these areas. [266]

The powers of the Home Secretary to set police establishment levels for each force were removed under the Police and Magistrates Courts Act 1994. It is for the chief officer to determine staffing levels within the overall resources available.I have been informed by the Chief Constable that the establishment level set by the force, and the actual numbers of officers serving in West Kent and North Kent police are as in the table.

	North Kent	West Kent
Force establishment	352	250
Actual	349	254

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the responses to his Department's consultation on the draft Proceeds of Crime Bill (Cm 5066). [194]