To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further initiatives she intends to introduce to encourage more environmentally friendly agriculture. [R] [4678]

The Government are committed to developing a more sustainable agricultural industry. Improving the environment is one element of sustainable agriculture and we have an expanding programme of measures in place.We know there is more to do and expect that the independent Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food will propose new and innovative ideas to develop a more sustainable agricultural industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many compensation claims for foot and mouth disease are outstanding in respect of farmers in Chorley. [4679]

The Department has no outstanding claims for compensation for slaughtered livestock from farmers in Chorley.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the foot and mouth crisis. [4684]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on foot and mouth disease [4699]

For almost two months, cases of foot and mouth disease have continued to occur but have been confined to two "hotspots" in Cumbria and Northumberland. However there is no room for complacency and farmers should continue with the biosecurity measures issued by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the long-term economic impact of the foot and mouth outbreak on mid-Wales farming and other rural businesses in mid-Wales. [4689]

The outbreak is having a considerable impact on farming and a range of industries throughout the UK and this is certainly reflected in the impact in mid-Wales. It is not possible, at this stage, to make a reliable estimate of the longer-term economic consequences. Work is in hand to complete a national assessment, the details of which will be made available to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the impact of foot and mouth disease on rural small businesses. [4694]

Foot and mouth disease has had a massive impact on the rural economy including tourism and other non-farm businesses, even in areas with few FMD cases. The Rural Task Force was set up to advise on the impact of foot and mouth disease on the rural economy and the report reflects the way in which a variety of interests have been willing to work together to tackle the problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on her Department's handling of the foot and mouth epidemic. [4695]

The Department has received representations from an extremely wide range of interested parties on all aspects of the foot and mouth outbreak. Since the start of the outbreak, we have regularly consulted a wide range of stakeholders and worked closely with them in the development of our disease control polices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the economic impact of foot and mouth disease. [4703]

I am very much aware that the outbreak is having a considerable impact on farming and a range of industries throughout the UK. However, it is not possible, at this stage, to make a reliable estimate of the longer-term economic consequences. Work is in hand to complete a national assessment, the details of which will be made publicly available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many footpaths have been re-opened since the outbreak of foot and mouth. [7698]

The precise success in re-opening footpaths has been measured in percentage terms rather than in terms of the number of footpaths, which is less meaningful and could be established only at disproportionate cost. The latest available figures from the Countryside Agency (11 October) show that 92 per cent. of the footpath network in England is open again. This corresponds to over 109,000 miles out of a total of 118,248 miles. A list breaking down by local authority the progress made in re-opening footpaths since early July has been placed in the Library of the House.Most of the remaining closures are in the Infected Areas in the north of England where foot and mouth disease is still active, and where farms are subject to restrictions for disease control purposes. Elsewhere in the country, individual paths may remain closed across farmland that is still subject to "Form A" restrictions, until full cleansing and disinfection procedures have been completed and clearance to re-stock has been given. There may also be a few paths closed where there is assessed to be a greater risk from foot and mouth disease, such as pig units, or for the protection of specific rare breeds of susceptible animals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support her Department is giving to the Youth Hostels Association consequent upon the restrictions on countryside access imposed to combat the spread of foot and mouth disease. [8179]

We are well aware of the impact that foot and mouth disease and the measures to control it have had on the Youth Hostels Association's finances. I have met representatives of the YHA to discuss their difficulties and possible sources of help, and the Minister responsible for tourism is due to meet them shortly. We are considering, in the light of the recommendations of the Rural Task Force published yesterday, what further help might be made available to the YHA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the cost of hiring privately owned land to incinerate slaughtered livestock during the foot and mouth crisis. [7760]

The cost of hiring privately owned land which has been used, at least in part, for incineration of slaughtered livestock during the foot and mouth epidemic is £741,905. Some of this was farmland with payment to the farmer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to place further restrictions on the transportation of live animals. [4680]

There are extensive controls on the transport of livestock. Any further restrictions must be developed and applied on an EU-wide basis. We are pressing the Commission to bring forward proposals for further improvements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regional issues are her responsibility. [4681]

DEFRA sponsors the Regional Development Agencies' rural programme, which this year is contributing £75 million to the rural economy of the English regions, including £39 million to help deal with the effects on rural businesses of foot and mouth disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received from North-East Bedfordshire in respect of the Rural White Paper. [4685]

The Department has not received any representations recently from North-East Bedfordshire in respect of the Rural White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she proposes to retain and enhance hedgerows. [4686]

The current combination of expanded agri-environmental incentives, good conservation advice and legal protection for important hedgerows is intended to ensure that we increase and improve our stock of these valuable countryside features.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tons of fruit and vegetables were disposed of in the EU in the last financial year; and what the totals were for each item. [4687]

Provisional figures indicate that some 1.3 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables were withdrawn from the EU market between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001. Just under 10,000 tonnes of this were withdrawn in the UK, 10 per cent. of which was distributed free or used for animal feed. Information on the quantity of individual products will be placed in the Library of the House.

Product	Tonnes withdrawn in EU	Tonnes withdrawn in UK
Cauliflowers	47,777	7,779
Tomatoes	153,717	—
Apples	269,145	161
Grapes	59	—
Apricots	15,043	—
Nectarines	118,354	—
Peaches	255,628	—
Pears	91,082	1,977
Aubergines	1,802	—
Melons	14,435	—
Water melons	10,610	—
Oranges	229,980	—
Mandarins	3,562	—
Clementines	90,595	—
Satsumas	6,663	—
Lemons	9,474	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work programme she has approved for the forum on non-food crops. [4690]

The forum on non-food uses of crops has been set up to provide strategic advice to Government and industry. Its current work programme is focusing on case studies including biopackaging, fibre for the car industry and wool. Full details are on the forum's website www.defra.gov.uk/farm/gifnfc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the United Kingdom targets for packaging recycling. [4691]

The Government are currently consulting on recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce measures to discourage the transport of waste to landfill sites and incinerators. [4693]

The proximity principle set out in the Waste Strategy 2000 and Planning Policy Guidance Note 10 requires that waste should generally be disposed of as near as possible to its place of production, because transporting waste itself has an environmental impact.The Waste Strategy 2000 also sets out the many steps Government are taking to encourage diversion of waste to recycling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take further steps to encourage the market in meat produced to high standards of animal welfare. [4698]

The Government recognise the importance of standards of production for consumers and the market. We therefore welcome all industry initiatives to enhance further welfare standards and to highlight those standards to consumers. Financial assistance towards such initiatives is available through the England Rural Development Programme. It includes schemes which assist improved processing and marketing of quality products from welfare friendly systems, and related training for farmers

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her plans to minimise animal welfare problems in south Cumbria. [7517]

Our priority is to win the battle against foot and mouth disease. But we have provided for various animal movements schemes in order to overcome welfare problems. And in extreme cases, the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme remains in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the change in farmers' average incomes since 1997. [4701]

Average total income from farming per average full-time person engaged in agriculture has fallen by 41 per cent. in real terms from 1997 to 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to ensure the future sustainability of the fishing industry in England. [4704]

It is a key DEFRA objective to promote the sustainable use of fish resources. We will do this in particular by improving the management of fish stocks and by bringing the capacity of the fleet into better balance with fishing opportunities. We will play a full role, in partnership with the industry, in the forthcoming EU review of the Common Fisheries Policy and in further work on stock recovery plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the European Commission Green Paper on the reform of the common fisheries policy. [4705]

We welcome the analysis contained within the Commission Green Paper. The Commission correctly identifies many of the significant weaknesses in the current operation of the CFP; sets out those existing elements of the policy, such as relative stability and access restrictions in the six-twelve mile zone, which should be continued; establishes a convincing case for revising the objectives of the CFP; and outlines a number of useful new ideas which must be carefully examined in the course of the Review. Our formal response is available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to offer compensation to farmers who have lost their income from grass lets. [4706]

My officials are in touch with the Arthur Rank Foundation and with industry bodies about the work of the ARF's National Fodder Bureau and Government match funding for this charitable work. This involves the purchase of farmers' surplus fodder and brokerage to those with more animals than anticipated (due to foot and mouth disease movement restrictions).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her participation in international negotiations on climate change. [4707]

I attended the resumed Sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bonn in July and I will be attending the Seventh Conference of the Parties to be held in Marrakesh in November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to reintroduce the High Hedges Bill. [8219]

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) on 15 October 2001,

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for reducing the waste produced from salmon farming; and if she will make a statement. [5282]

[holding answer 19 July 2001]: I have been asked to reply.This is predominantly a matter for the devolved Administration in Scotland. I understand however that a range of initiatives are underway to ensure that salmon farming is undertaken sustainably, with regard both to economic benefit and effect on the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the report of the rural taskforce will be published. [9041]

The report is being published today. Arrangements have been made for copies to be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to promote renewable forms of energy in the United Kingdom in the last three years; and if she will make a statement. [8085]

I have been asked to reply.In the last three years my Department has taken a number of steps to promote renewable forms of energy in the United Kingdom. Renewable sources of energy have received support of around £208 million over the last three years under the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) arrangements. As of 31 March 2001, 366 NFFO projects had been commissioned, representing an installed capacity of around 934 MW (declared net capacity). In addition, my Department's Sustainable Energy Programme has invested a further £36.9 million into R&D activities. Indeed, the period from 1998–2001 saw my Department's budget for renewables rise from £9.7 million to £18 million in the current financial year.We are now looking to continue to accelerate the development of renewables across a wide range of sources and technologies. We are about to introduce the new Renewables Obligation which will oblige all licensed electricity suppliers to supply a specified and growing proportion of their electricity from renewable sources. Our target for the Obligation is that 10 per cent. of licensed electricity supplies will be generated from eligible renewable sources by 2010.The introduction of the Renewables Obligation will create a long-term market expected to be worth over £1 billion per year by 2010. Direct government funding for the financial years 2001–2004 will be worth over £260 million and will fund a range of initiatives including my Department's R&D programme, extensive capital grants for offshore wind and energy crops, and a photovoltaic demonstration programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve flood defences; and if she will make a statement. [7772]

I plan to reduce risk of flooding by investing in effective flood warning arrangements and in flood defences in the highest risk areas. Funding for the Department's programme is increasing from £66 million in 2000–01 to £114 million in 2003–04.This Department provides funding to the Environment Agency, local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards for capital flood and coastal defence works that meet certain criteria. Responsibility for deciding which projects to promote and their timing rests with the operating authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on farmers access to funding when they present their land for use with flood alleviation. [8538]

This Department encourages a strategic approach to management of flood risk through the preparation of Shoreline Management Plans for the coastline and Catchment Flood Management Plans for rivers. These enable the identification of sustainable flood management options, including the possible use of farmland for flood alleviation purposes. In circumstances where quantifiable beneficial use arises, for example acquiring land for the construction or maintenance of defences, payment of compensation is possible. In specified circumstances land may be considered for payment under agri-environment schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress towards flood alleviation in the lower Severn area, with specific reference to the introduction of the new computer model to assess risk. [8535]

We understand that the Environment Agency's Severn Estuary computer model is essentially complete, except for verification of results and some refinement to assets options for flood defences at Gloucester. The initial results are confirming the previous understanding of the levels of protection provided by existing defences. The results will be used to develop the Agency's Tidal Severn Strategy and to feed into feasibility studies foe any proposed flood defence works.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the proposal made in the latest report of the Independent Scientific Group on bovine tuberculosis regarding a suggest on that farmers should be seeking insurance against bovine tuberculosis breakdowns. [8542]

The third report of the Independent Scientific Group noted both compulsory insurance and compulsory levies as two possible future policy options available for transferring the cost of disease compensation from the public purse to the livestock industry. Neither was a proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if there is a wider application for the introduction of a tendering process for farmers who wish to plant woodlands, as currently exists in the national forest. [8537]

The tendering approach used in the National Forest Tender Scheme has already been applied to other challenges run under the Woodland Grant Scheme including the South West Forest, new native woodlands in national parks, and reversing the fragmentation of ancient woodland.The Forestry Commission and DEFRA are currently conducting a review of woodland creation grants and will consider as part of this whether the tendering and challenge approach should be used n more widely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce a waterways agency in her review of waterways management to improve accountability. [8211]

The review under way covers the navigation responsibilities of the Environment Agency. The Agency, British Waterways and the Broads Authority manage nearly three-quarters of the navigable inland waterways and are already publicly accountable bodies. There are no plans to review the status of the remaining navigation authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in reviewing the structure of the management of waterways; and when she plans to report on the review. [8210]

Following the publication of the report of Stage 1 of the Environment Agency Financial Management and Policy Review, I have met the Chairmen of the Agency and British Waterways to discuss the future of the Agency's navigation responsibilities. A decision will be announced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the waste incineration directive on the UK biomass industry, with particular reference to the thermal recycling market. [2537]

A series of Regulatory and Environmental Impact Assessment reports on the then proposed Waste Incineration Directive were commissioned from consultants. Copies of the reports (dated 1999 and 2000) are available in the Library of the House and were circulated to the industry associations which were consulted during the seven years of the Directive negotiations. These reports include assessments of the estimated costs of compliance with the Directive relating to the waste biomass combustion industry.The following figures (including the footnote) are taken from various parts of the October 2000 consultants' report.

£000/per annum
Plant type	Number of plants operating or under construction in the UK	Number of plants surveyed by consultant	Estimated costs of compliance1
Poultry litter and straw	5 IPC Part A	2	50–355
	22000+ others	—	—
Coffee grounds	1	1	26
Waste-refuse derived fuel	3	2	150–1,000
Paper and board	1 IPC Part A	1	30
	No data on others	—	—
Wood	23,350	0	3—
1 1998 prices
2 Estimate
3 In this sector, companies burning treated wood are expected to respond to the proposed Directive by switching away from combustion and towards disposal e.g. to landfill. Negligible cost impacts are expected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were prosecuted in each of the last five years for litter offences. [8328]

Details of the number of people prosecuted in each of the last five years for which figures are available in England and Wales for litter offences are given in the table. Details for 2000 are not yet available.

Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates court and convicted at all courts in England and Wales for litter, 1996–99
Offence	Year	Prosecutions	Convictions
Environmental	1996	626	468
Protection Act 1990	1997	505	352
Section 87	1998	494	377
Depositing litter	1999	501	390

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution nuclear power has made in helping the United Kingdom meet its targets under the Kyoto Protocols; and what meetings she has had with representatives of the nuclear industry on the matter. [6629]

Nuclear output was about one third higher in 2000 than in 1990. Because of this increase, UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2000 were between about

Percentage
	Target
Quality
Percentage of single Employment Tribunal cases to a first hearing within 26 weeks of receipt	75
Minimum to be achieved by all offices in relation to above target	65
Percentage of Employment Tribunal decisions issued within four weeks of the final hearing	85
Percentage of Employment Tribunal users satisfied with the service offered by ETS	85
Percentage of appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal registered for a preliminary hearing ready for listing within six weeks	90
Efficiency
Real terms reduction in Employment Tribunal administrative costs	5

The first two figures represent a slight reduction (10 per cent.) on last year's targets. I have made this reduction in recognition of the Service's resources and the anticipated demands on the Service to be made this year.The targets will be published on the ETS website www.ets.gov.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the effectiveness of the Code of Practice on the relationships between supermarkets and farms. [4692]

The Director General of Fair Trading consulted with the major supermarkets and over 100 representatives of suppliers on the drafting of the Code of Practice on supermarkets' relations with their suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the outcome of the consultation on the changes to parental leave. [9360]

We received 46 responses to the consultation, all of which supported our proposals to extend the entitlement to parental leave. I am today publishing the Government's response to the consultation and will place copies in the Libraries of the House and on the Department's website and lay the amending regulations before the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what performance targets she has set for the Employment Tribunals Service for 2001–02. [9361]

I have set the Employment Tribunals Service the following performance targets for 2001–02:My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has also received representations from supermarkets and supplier organisations on the draft Code. She is currently considering the Director General's advice on the draft Code.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money the Government spent on promoting the generation of electricity using wind power in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; and how much it plans to spend in the current financial year. [7327]

The table shows spending on wind power through the Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO), the Scottish Renewables Order and the DTI's Sustainable Energy Programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish a response to the Small Business Council's annual report. [8278]

The Government will be responding to the Small Business Council later this year and will make their response public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what help she makes available to manufacturing industry in rural areas. [8581]

Manufacturing companies in rural areas benefit from the policies we are pursuing to help the manufacturing sectors. The Department's support is wide-ranging: from schemes to t encourage technology transfer and collaboration with the science base, to work with specific sectors on targeted programmes to enhance their competitiveness, to providing exporting services and regional and local assistance. In certain circumstances it is also possible for manufacturing companies in rural areas to benefit, along with other sectors, from the Regional Development Agencies' Rural Development Programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the proposed de-merger of BT with MmO2 and BT wireless. [8582]

The corporate structure of BT is a matter for the company and their shareholders and not for the Government. However the DTI and the Radiocommunications Agency remain in close touch with BT on the proposals and any regulatory concerns that may emerge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the proposed roll-out of broadband into rural areas. [8583]

The Government are working to ensure that broadband services are available in all parts of the country. To this end we are developing a strategy together with all interested parties. The £30 million fund for regional Development Agencies and the devolved Administrations is focused on extending broadband networks to those who are not offered access by the market, including in rural areas. The Countryside Agency also included broadband access and demand in its "healthchecks" on 100 market towns, while the devolved Administrations are carrying forward their own work on broadband in rural areas with our support and assistance.In addition, we are examining the scope for aggregating public sector demand in order to speed up the roll-out of broadband services to individuals and businesses in rural and other areas that service providers currently see as uncommercial.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints her Department has received (1) about (a) The Mortgage Group, (b) i group and (c) Ocwen. [6635](2) about the company trading as Crazy Georges. [6633]

Under Exemption 4 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, the Department does not comment on whether or not it has received complaints about individual companies.This is because to do so could prejudice the outcome of any investigation into a complaint and any legal proceedings which might result from an investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 584W, to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson), on energy, if she will ask the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets to compile a report on the doorstep selling practices of gas and electricity suppliers. [8075]

The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) monitors the performance of gas and electricity suppliers in all areas of marketing and sales, including doorstep selling. Where necessary it will take formal action against individual suppliers. However, in comparison with the high volume of transfers, consumer complaints about direct selling are relatively low. Between January and June 2001, the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council—Energywatch—received an average 0.67 per cent. complaints per 1,000 gas supply transfers and 0.63 per cent. per 1,000 electricity supply transfers. Nonetheless, given the distress that mis-selling can cause, I will shortly write to gas and electricity suppliers setting out my concerns about the negative impacts that mis-selling can have, both on individual customers and on the competitive market as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to inform Parliament about the Government's future negotiating position on the General Agreement on Trade in Services. [R] [6471]

Parliament approved the objective of sustainable development through progressive liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services as part of its support for the results of the Uruguay Round. The DTI has been consulting on the current GATS negotiations since 1998. Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise the results of negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms in the Hull area have received SMART development money over the past five years; and if she will indicate the companies concerned and the amounts involved. [7099]

The following businesses in the Hull Travel-to-Work Area have been offered Smart or SPUR awards since 1 April 1996:

Financial year/name of business	Type of award	Value of grant offer (£)
1996–97
Ion Coat Ltd.	SMART1	45,000
Newlands Technology Ltd.	SMART	45,000
Nucleus	SMART	45,000
Electronic Automation Ltd.	SPUR2	123,985
Colt Industrial Services Ltd.	SPUR	22,500
1997–98
Applied Analysis Ltd.	Smart	43,890
Flexible Fabric Consulting	Smart	45,000
Smart Solutions	Smart	37,145
KTP Ltd.	SPUR3	74,900
1998–99
Colt Industrial Services Ltd.	Smart	96,177
Commercial Systems Ltd.	Smart	45,000
Ebortec Ltd.	Smart	44,880
Eurosere UK Ltd.	Smart	45,000
Ion Coat Ltd.	Smart	88,390
Scope Engineering Ltd.	Smart	21,565
Essential Nutrition Ltd.	SPUR3	89,250

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the areas in receipt of assisted area status may be changed through the Assisted Areas Order 2000 prior to the expiry of that Order in 2006. [6646]

As I told the hon. Member on 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 326W, the Government are not planning to review the assisted areas until it is necessary to develop proposals for the period after 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money (a) Yorkshire Forward, (b) One North East, (c) East of England, (d) South West of England, (e) South East of England, (f) East Midlands, (g) Advantage West Midlands and (h) North West Development Agency have made available to the tourism industry. [7630]

[holding answer 15 October 2001]: The tourism industry benefits substantially from spending all of the Regional Development Agencies' main programmes including SRB and Rural Regeneration. It is also a particular focus of the Business Recovery Fund for foot and mouth disease established by the RDAs largely with extra resources. With an increasing budget, greater flexibility and increased economic focus, the RDAs can continue to build on their support for the tourism industry. Figures for the total spending on the tourism industry are not available because records are maintained on a programme rather than business sector basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will estimate the number of staff employed by her Department by region and nation of the UK; and if she will make a statement. [6822]

The Department for International Development currently employs 796 permanent staff in London and 483 in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will estimate total annual staff costs for her Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if she will make a statement. [6823]

Within the UK, DFID staff are located in London and Scotland only. In 2001–02, we estimate we will spend approximately £28 million on the pay and related costs of staff based in London; and approximately £10 million on the equivalent costs of staff in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what proportion of each Civil Service grade in her Department is located in each region and nation of the UK; what the average salary is for each grade; and if she will make a statement. [6826]

The Department for International Development currently employs 796 staff in London and 483 staff in Scotland. The table gives the detailed information requested.

Grade equivalent	Number1	Proportion of those in grade	Average salary2 (£)
London
SCS	54	91.5	64,187
G6	128	96.97	47,443
G7	188	90.38	37,617
SEO	60	60.6	28,492
HEO	143	70.1	24,238
HEO(D)	52	94.55	23,773
EO	144	51.99	18,747
AO	153	47.52	15,489
AA	54	52.43	12,763
Scotland
SCS	5	8.5	62,589
G6	4	3.03	44,430
G7	20	9.62	33,952
SEO	39	39.4	25,985
HEO	61	29.9	21,577
HEO(D)	3	5.45	20,434
EO	133	48.01	16,893
AO	169	52.48	13,083
AA	49	47.57	9,986
1 The figures include 180 of our overseas staff who are normally UK-based and are paid London salaries which cannot be disaggregated in our calculations
2 These figures are for August 2000 salaries. The pay award for August 2001 has yet to be finalized

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will estimate the total value of London weightings and London living allowances for her Department; and if she will make a statement. [6824]

On 1 April 1996, following annual pay negotiations with Trade Union representatives and a ballot of staff, London Weighting was fully consolidated into pay for all permanent staff below the Senior Civil Service. For the Senior Civil Service, with the agreement of all those involved, London Weighting was fully consolidated into pay on 1 January 1999.It is not however possible to estimate the total value of this in current salaries. Individual salaries are based on a number of factors, including performance year on year. Therefore, although the average salary is higher in London at all grades, the difference cannot be fully attributed to the element previously paid separately as London Weighting Allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will estimate the total running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by her Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by her Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK. [6825]

The estimated total annual costs of our accommodation in our two UK locations, central London and East Kilbride, are as set out in the table. These costs include rent (applicable in the case of central London but not East Kilbride), rates, utilities, service charges, maintenance and minor works, cleaning and security.

£
Location	Total running costs	Cost per sq m
Central London	7,500,000	504
East Kilbride	840,000	81
Overall	8,340,000	330

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total amount of spending by her Department was in each nation and region of the UK, in the last year for which figures are available; what proportion of her Department's total spending this constitutes; and if she will make a statement. [6827]

The vast majority of DFID's expenditure is targeted at or in aid recipient countries, with very limited expenditure occurring in the UK, which we are unable to identify separately let alone split between regions and nations. However, the total cost of administering the UK's development assistance programme from DFID's HQs in London and Scotland was estimated at £80 million in 2000–01, the latest year for which such figures are available. This figure comprises salary costs and associated overheads and represents almost 3 per cent. of the Department's total spending in 2000–01. We estimate that this is split in a ratio of 3:1 between London and Scotland ie at 2 per cent. and 0.7 per cent. respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers were employed (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) on a contract basis by her Department in each year since 1992. [6929]

At any one time since 1997, two special advisers have been employed full-time. None were employed before that date, or on a part-time or contract basis since then.Four full-time press officers have been employed since 1996. We do not have records which enable us to provide accurate information before that time.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) on how many occasions in each year since 1992 non-commercial flights were used by ministers in her Department for official overseas visits; what the (a) destination, (b) ministers involved, (c) cost and (d) reason for use of non-commercial flights were on each occasion; and if she will make a statement; [6932](2) if she will list all official overseas visits undertaken by ministers in her Department in each year since May 1997, indicating

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 823W.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what was, for each year since 1995, the average response time for providing a substantive answer to (a) hon. Members' correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) Commons and (ii) Lords; [7031](2) if she will place in the Library for each year since 1995 the total number of

The effective handling of correspondence and PQs is an issue to which we attach great importance.General information on the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall and on overall performance is published by the Cabinet Office. Figures for 2000 were published on 6 April 2001,

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what money the European Union intends to make available for Afghan refugees who are (a) outside and (b) within Afghanistan; and when the funding will be made available. [7678]

The EC has disbursed €45 million (UK share £8.5 million) of humanitarian and food aid during 2001 to Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons, most of this before 11 September. A further €8 million (UK share £1.5 million) of food aid has been pledged to the World Food Programme but not yet delivered. A further €25 million (UK share £4.7 million) has been pledged by the Commission and should be disbursed later this month. Most of this is channelled through UN agencies and the ICRC, the rest through NGOs.€22.5 million (UK share £4.4 million) of separate funds will shortly be available for longer term support for refugees in the region, which the Commission aims to disburse in January 2002. This will also be channelled through UN agencies and NGOs.The Commission is reviewing its plans for 2002. My Department will stay in close touch with them as part of our effort to ensure that the international response to the crisis is Afghanistan is as closely co-ordinated and effective as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the amount of aid required to prevent starvation in Afghanistan; how much aid has been sent into that country; and if she will make a statement. [8198]

The World Food Programme (WFP) is responsible for overseeing food aid assistance on behalf of the international community. It estimates that some 52,000 metric tonnes of food are required each month for the 7.5 million most vulnerable Afghans. Since 11 September, WFP has made some progress, having distributed around 15,000 metric tonnes of food inside Afghanistan. However more needs to be done to provide for the Afghan people and lay down stores for the winter.As I announced last week, we are setting aside £40 million for immediate assistance to the people of Afghanistan. As part of our strategy, we continue to support the WFP and its implementing partners in trying to overcome a number of operational constraints on delivering assistance to Afghans in need. This includes £3 million for the WFP to support its operations in the region.

To ask the Solicitor-General if she has provided advice on the legality of each target in Afghanistan which has been bombed since 7 October. [8208]

As chief legal advisers to Her Majesty's Government, the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General are available to advise the Government on all questions of international and domestic law. In this capacity the Law Officers have been asked to advise, from time to time, on legal issues relating to the use of force. This has included the right of self-defence as recognised in Article 51 of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. There is a long-standing convention that neither the substance of the Law Officers' advice, nor the fact that they have been consulted, is disclosed outside Government.The Campaign Objectives on defeating international terrorism, placed in the Library of the House of Commons, make clear the Government's commitment to acting in conformity with international law, including the UK Charter and international humanitarian law.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps the Commission is taking in respect of the expiration of the current term of appointment of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in February 2002. [9039]

The appointment of the current Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Mrs. Elizabeth Filkin, ends in February 2002. The House of Commons Commission has considered how best to fill the post for the future. It has decided that there should be an open competition through advertisement in the national press as part of the overall selection process. As a result of the sifting and initial interview process, a shortlist will be drawn up for final interview. The Commission hopes to be able to make a recommendation to the House early in 2002. The competition will be organised to meet the appropriate standards for senior appointments, including equality of opportunity and selection on merit.The competition will be open to existing members of staff, including Mrs. Filkin, as well as to external applicants. In the event of Mrs. Filkin wishing to enter the selection process, she would take part in the final short list stage when candidates were interviewed by the Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects a new Chief Executive to be appointed to English Heritage. [6062]

English Heritage advertised for a new chief executive on 9 September and are considering the applications they received. They plan to hold interviews in mid-November and hope to make an appointment at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, Carole Souter has been appointed as Acting Chief Executive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what briefings she has received on the progress of the Croydon Employment Tribunal case involving her, the Royal Parks Constabulary and WPC Kaur; [7407](2) if she will estimate the cost to her Department's budget of preparing for and the hearing of the employment discrimination case of WPC Kaur; [7408](3) if she will make a statement on

Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, William Weston. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how much has been invested by the Government in the promotion of grassroots football in the years (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; [7838](2) if she will make a statement on the Government's support for the promotion of grassroots football. [7837]

Support for grassroots sport is a Government priority. As the nation's most popular participatory sport, football has a vital role to play in increasing levels of participation. The Government's support for grassroots football has been channelled through the Football Foundation since July 2000. In 2000–01, the Foundation received £7 million in Lottery funding from Sport England and £3.4 million from the Reduction in Pools Betting Duty, and the majority of this went to funding the sport at the grassroots. A further £30 million has been ring-fenced for football in the New Opportunities Fund's PE and school sport programme.Prior to 2000–01, grants of Lottery funding to the Football Association's youth development programmes were made by Sport England, and totalled £20 million between 1995 and 1999. Children's and recreational football also benefited during this period from substantial Sport England Lottery funding for multi-use capital projects, and the financial benefits to grassroots football cannot be quantified.Additional, direct Government funding for the FA's grassroots work totalled £165,000 in 1998–99 and £144,000 in 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with representatives of the Nationwide Conference League on its proposal to increase the number of teams promoted into the football league. [8549]

This is a matter for the football authorities. However, I met the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nationwide Conference on 16 July to discuss a range of non-league football matters including the proposal for an additional promotion and relegation place to and from the football league. My officials have also discussed the progress of negotiations with the Conference over recent months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on Government support for the distribution of UK-produced films. [8053]

As part of its objective to help develop a sustainable -British film industry, the Film Council is looking at the question of support for the UK film distribution sector. The Film Council currently invests in individual film productions which can, on a case-by-case basis, include support for the distribution of that film in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many British-made films have benefited from EU funds in the last five years; and if she will make a statement; [8055](2) if she will list the films produced in the UK in the last five years which have received EU funds, stating the sum involved in each case. [8057]

EU funding for film over the last five years was discharged through the MEDIA II programme. The MEDIA programme is intended to encourage the development of European films and the distribution of films around Europe. The total funding awarded by MEDIA II to UK films in the last five years was approximately 14 million euros (approximately £8.8 million at today's rates) for film development and approximately 38 million euros (approximately £23.9 million at today's rates) for theatrical film distribution. The distribution figure was the sum awarded outside the UK for distribution of British films in Europe.I am placing more detailed information on the MEDIA II Programme and the awards made in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate total annual staff costs for her Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if she will make a statement. [6775]

My Department's estimated total costs are £20.97 million—London: £20.58 million, Regions: £0.39 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received on the financial loss being experienced by the Youth Hostel Association; if she will introduce grant aid; and if she will make a statement. [8129]

We have received a number of representations on the Youth Hostel Association's financial losses. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Rural Affairs has met representatives of the YHA to discuss their difficulties and possible sources of help. I am also due to meet them shortly. The Minister for Rural Affairs is currently considering, in the light of the recommendations of the Rural Task Force published yesterday, what further help might be made available to the YHA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the 2001 Super League Grand Final. [8434]

I was at Old Trafford for the Grand Final and enjoyed watching a tremendous game with the Bradford Bulls playing superb rugby.I was pleased to be part of the presentation party presenting the winners trophy to Bradford Bulls Team Captain Robby Paul and reiterate my congratulations to the whole team.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance she has provided to the Rugby Football League to persuade the Australian Rugby League authorities to continue with the tour of Great Britain. [8431]

My right hon. Friend has had no direct involvement with the Rugby Football League on this matter. However, I have been in regular contact with the RFL.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding she makes available to local authorities to establish tourism officers. [8439]

Funding is allowed for tourism as part of the Environmental Protective and Cultural Services block of the Rate Support Grant and it is up to individual local authorities to allocate their funds in accordance with statutory requirements and local needs and priorities. We are keen that local authorities both recognise the true significance of tourism to their local economies and community well-being and also ensure that they have Ifpsufficient data to make informed decisions about allocating their resources, whether in relation to provision of tourism infrastructure, services, personnel or marketing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to promote rural tourism. [4688]

At the regional, national and international level, new tourist websites and visitor hotlines have provided exposure and a clear picture of what rural Britain can offer. Leaflet information has also been used successfully. Much of the £18 million in additional funding provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to the British Tourist Authority (BTA) and English Tourism Council (ETC) has been used in a strategic advertising and marketing campaigns to motivate potential customers and provide information on what is available. Furthermore, DCMS Ministers attended a number of high profile domestic events to increase rural tourism's exposure and encourage visitors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to make tourist boards co-terminous with regional areas. [8548]

It is not within Government's powers to direct the Regional Tourist Boards (RTBs) on this issue as they are not public bodies—almost all are private companies limited by guarantee. While they do receive some public funding from this Department (via the English Tourism Council), they are funded primarily by their members and from their commercial activities. Thus they need valid commercial reasons to choose to change their boundaries to be in line with other regional partners. In principle we would like to see all RTBs having the same boundaries as the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and closer alignment is happening in many regions, although in some cases two RTBs share one RDA area or vice versa.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 17 July 2001, Official Report, column 151W, on tourism, which representatives of the (a) Scotland Office, (b) Scottish Executive and (c) Scottish Tourist Board attended the United Kingdom summit on tourism on 6 March. [R] [7100]

Alasdair Morrison MSP, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Gaelic in the Scottish Executive, who attended in March 2000, was invited to the second annual Tourism Summit 6 March 2001, but was unable to attend due to prior commitments on that date. A draft report of the Summit was circulated to Ministers for clearance, including Alasdair Morrison, prior to its publication on the DCMS website (www.culture.gov.uk).

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what help her Department makes available to small municipal museums. [8550]

My Department provides annual funding to Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, which acts as a strategic champion for the museums sector. Resource in turn funds Area Museum Councils in each of the English regions to provide advice and assistance to museums of all types.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals she has to strengthen the regional structures of Sport England. [8551]

In terms of delivering and supporting sport development through revenue programmes, guidance and advice, Sport England regional offices are well placed to take a strategic lead locally. DCMS is currently engaged in the second stage of a quinquennial review of Sport England, which includes a specific element relating to Sport England's regional role and structure. I expect the review to be completed early in the New Year, at which point I will discuss its findings with the new chief executive of Sport England, who is currently being recruited, and with Sport England's Council members, with a view to implementing the recommendations on Sport England's regional presence as promptly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the impact has been of the foot and mouth outbreak on walking holidays in this year's tourist season. [4702]

No specific figures on the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak on walking holidays are available. Our best estimate to date is that the loss of revenue in 2001–02 by the English tourist industry is likely to be about £3.3 billion in "value added" terms over the eight month period under consideration (March to October). We will continue to revise the model on which this estimate is based in the light of the latest available data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of pupils in state maintained schools who were given lessons in playing a musical instrument without parental contribution to the cost in the last 12 months; and what percentage this represents of the total number of children receiving such tuition in maintained schools. [7485]

[holding answer 15 October 2001]: The Department does not collect this information centrally. It is up to each LEA to devise its own policy on whether to charge for instrumental music tuition provided outside of the National Curriculum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if a new vocational GCSE in engineering will be offered from 2003. [7803]

The new GCSE in engineering will be introduced from September 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have sold off playing fields each year since 1991. [8578]

Before October 1998 there was nothing to prevent a local authority selling a school playing field if it wanted to. Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was introduced in October 1998 to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields. Local authorities and governing bodies of all maintained schools are now required to obtain the Secretary of State's consent before disposing of playing fields or any part of a playing field.Since October 1998, 101 applications to sell areas equal to, or larger than, a sports pitch have been approved. These approved applications can be broken down for each year since the law was changed as follows:

Year	Approved applications
1998	7
1999	44
2000	31
2001	19

Applications to sell school playing fields are approved only where it is clear that any proceeds will be used to improve or enhance school sports provision or education facilities. All applications made since mid-July this year are scrutinised by the independent School Playing Fields Advisory Panel to make sure that they conform to published criteria. The Panel comprises representatives from the National Playing Fields Association, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, the education organisation Learning through Landscapes, the National Association of Head Teachers and the Local Government Association.40 per cent. of approved applications were in respect of sports pitches at closed or closing schools. In 67 per cent. of cases at operating schools, the sale proceeds have been used to provide new or enhanced sports facilities, including sports halls, all-weather pitches or improved grass pitches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the future of student tuition fees and loans. [8421]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the Government's proposals for student maintenance in higher education. [8579]

We are currently reviewing the student funding arrangements. We need to ensure that we have an appropriate balance between the contribution made by students, their families and the state to support our ambitions to widen access to and participation in higher education. A range of policy options is being considered. No decisions have been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on funding arrangements for staff in FE, with special reference to pay and enhanced training. [8580]

The total funding allocated for further education this year is just over £4 billion, rising to £4.3 billion in 2002–03. Colleges make their own arrangements for staff pay and conditions within the funding available to them from the Learning and Skills Council and other sources.We are investing £300 million in the Teaching Pay Initiative (TPI) over the next three years to allow colleges to reward high-quality teaching. An additional £5 million is available for TPI in 2002–03 to support modernising pay arrangements. Payments under TPI are separate from any general pay rise a teacher may receive.£80 million is available to colleges (including sixth form colleges) this year from the Standards Fund, and £90 million next year, to support the professional development of existing staff and for the initial training of unqualified new entrants to the profession.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) number and (b) proportion of further education colleges employ lecturing staff on banded pay scales that prevent progress to the top of the main grade lecturer scale. [6669]

The Department does not collect this information.FE sector colleges are run by independent corporations established under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and there is no national pay structure in place. Colleges are free to establish banded pay scales where these meet their needs and can be agreed with their staff. We continue to encourage employers and unions to work together to offer further education staff reasonable pay within the substantial extra funding that has been made available for the FE sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills wit-ten she will bring forward a revised draft code of practice for special educational needs; and if she will make a statement. [6754]

[holding answer 15 October 2001]: A revised draft Code of Practice will be laid before the House as soon as possible. It will contain revised wording on the quantification of provision in statements of special educational needs and, subject to parliamentary approval, is planned to take effect from January 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list each school that has been granted specialist college status in the years (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 and list for each the sources of sponsorship to meet the sponsorship criteria. [7688]

Detailed information on the sources of sponsorship can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Sources of sponsorship may be categorised as follows:

(a) large national organisations (companies and company or other charitable foundations) usually donating through the Technology Colleges Trust;

(b) local businesses from large to very small, usually donating direct to the school;

(c) school foundation funds;

(d) donations from individuals;

(e) parent teacher association fundraising;

(f) public-private partnership arrangements;

(g) profits from formally constituted school trading companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in rural areas have been closed each year since 1991. [8577]

The Department does not have reliable data on a year-by-year basis on the number of rural schools closed between 1991 and 1997. We estimate that in the period 1983 to the beginning of 1998 around 450 rural primary schools closed. Since we introduced our current policy, with a presumption against the closure of rural schools, in February 1998, the number of rural schools approved for closure has been as follows.

1997: 4

1998: 5

Number of three-year-olds1,2,3 by type of early years education provider in England 1997–2001—position as at January each year
	1997	1998	1999	2000	42001
Private, voluntary and independent providers5
Number of three-year-olds	6—	6—	6—	294,700	312,300
of which:
Number of funded places7	6—	6—	6—	39,500	123,000
Maintained schools8
Number of three-year olds	217,000	224,600	228,200	232,200	229,100
1 Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year
2 Rounded to the nearest hundred
3 Any child attending more than one provider may have been counted twice
4 Provisional
5 Includes Independent schools
6 Information was not collected for Providers other than Independent schools
7 Children aged three with providers who claim Nursery Education Grant. Figures include independent schools
8 Includes maintained nursery, primary and special schools. Places are all funded