To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made to establish the British Consulate Office in Jallander, Punjab. [12540]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 31 October 2001, Official Report column 667W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for a visa to visit family members in the UK were refused in each month since 1 October 2000. [13056]

Statistical information on the number of family visit applications refused on a monthly basis is only available from those posts that provide monthly statistical information (107 largest posts in 2000 and 110 in 2001). These figures are as follows:

Month	Received	Refused
2000
October	11,850	2,022
November	14,334	1,897
December	12,470	1,283
2001
January	13,612	2,276
February	16,182	1,775
March	20,811	4,205
April	22,486	3,978
May	32,143	5,177
June	32,168	5,610
July	36,866	5,870
August	28,820	5,129
September	15,737	3,225
Total	257,479	42,447

The remaining posts submit information on an annual basis, which is not broken down into months. To answer this question for all 165 posts we would have to ask those additional posts manually to extract the information requested. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial commitments the Government have made to the New African Initiative; and if he will make a statement. [13120]

The New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD—formerly known as the New African Initiative) will require a broad international response, ranging from support to some of NEPAD's programmatic elements to action in the EU, OECD, UN and other international forums. No specific financial commitments have yet been made.The Prime Minister has appointed Baroness Amos as his Personal Representative in developing a G8 Action Plan for Africa to be adopted at the 2002 G8 Summit in Canada. The first meeting of G8 Heads of State Personal Representatives was held in London on 17–19 October. They agreed to consult widely with other development partners, with the private sector, civil society and international organisations. They have further meetings planned which will include dialogue with African partners. The elements in the Action Plan will be evolved in the context of these meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has (a) received and (b) made concerning the number of suicides among Afghan women. [13121]

Although we have received no specific representations on this issue, we have, through our High Commission in Islamabad, made numerous and regular representations to the Taliban on women's rights in Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are being made to publicise the United Kingdom's policies on international humanitarian law, with particular reference to the International Criminal Court. [13195]

On 4 October the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a publication entitled "United Kingdom and International Humanitarian Law", whose appearance was timed to coincide with United Kingdom ratification of the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court. The publication, which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, describes the United Kingdom's policy regarding the International Criminal Court itself, in addition to a number of other important areas of international humanitarian law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the proportion of total education spending on primary and secondary education delivered through (a) Education Standard Spending assessment allocations and (b) other central Government funding streams for each of the last five years. [10820]

The table provides the information requested. It compares funding through the primary, secondary and post-16 sub-blocks of Education Standard Spending with DfES grant funding through the Standards Fund (DfES revenue grant only), School Standards Grant, Teachers' Pay Grants, Education Action Zone programme, School Budget Support Grant and Education Budget Support Grant.

Percentage
Year	Primary, secondary, and post-16 ESS sub-blocks	DFES grant funding
1997–98	99	1
1998–99	98	2
1999–2000	96	4
2000–01	91	9
2001–02	88	12

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 26 October 2001, Official Report column 456W, on education spending, what proportion of total spending on education was devolved to schools and colleges in each of the past 10 years. [12163]

The information requested is not available on a comparable basis across this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost of performance-related pay is to date, divided between (a) payments to staff and (b) administration costs; how many teachers have received performance-related pay; how many teachers who applied for performance-related pay failed to meet the necessary criteria; and if she will make a statement. [11486]

Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals in grammar schools and other maintained secondary school by government office region—January 2001
Grammar schools				Other maintained secondary schools
Number of schools	Day pupils	Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals	Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals	Number of schools	Day pupils	Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals	Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals
England	159	141,478	3,393	2.4	3,322	3,085,495	506,283	16.4
North East
Darlington	0	0	0	0.0	7	6,009	949	15.8
Durham	0	0	0	0.0	36	32,158	5,762	17.9
Gateshead	0	0	0	0.0	10	12,043	2,606	21.6
Hartlepool	0	0	0	0.0	6	6,679	1,726	25.8
Middlesbrough	0	0	0	0.0	11	8,572	3,070	35.8
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	0	0	0	0.0	21	18,071	4,573	25.3
North Tyneside	0	0	0	0.0	20	14,174	2,498	17.6
Northumberland	0	0	0	0.0	60	30,478	3,693	12.1
Redcar and Cleveland	0	0	0	0.0	13	10,352	2,361	22.8
South Tyneside	0	0	0	0.0	11	10,508	2,535	24.1
Stockton-on-Tees	0	0	0	0.0	13	12,793	2,557	20.0
Sunderland	0	0	0	0.0	17	10,837	5,956	30.0
North West
Blackburn with Darwen	0	0	0	0.0	9	9,501	2,469	26.0
Blackpool	0	0	0	0.0	8	7,824	1,721	22.0
Bolton	0	0	0	0.0	16	19,145	2,973	15.5
Bury	0	0	0	0.0	14	11,731	1.754	15.0
Cheshire	0	0	0	0.0	45	46,239	4,605	11.0
Cumbria	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—
Halton	0	0	0	0.0	9	8,688	2.083	24.0
Knowsley	0	0	0	0.0	11	10,240	4.612	45.0
Lancashire	4	3,995	117	2.9	85	70,819	11,065	15.6
Liverpool	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—
Manchester	0	0	0	0.0	23	23.477	10,286	43.8
Oldham	0	0	0	0.0	15	16,825	3,693	21.9
Rochdale	0	0	0	0.0	14	14,154	3,565	25.2

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: Over 200,000 teachers in England applied to cross the performance threshold in the first round, some 80 per cent. of those who were eligible to apply. Of these, nearly 195,000 were assessed as meeting the threshold standards and are now receiving over £400 million per year in associated pay increases.The Department has contracts with Cambridge Education Associates (CEA) for the provision of threshold assessors and external advisers to governing bodies on heads' performance and with the Centre for British Teachers (CfBT) for training in threshold assessment and performance management. For the first round CEA contract costs have been around £22 to £24 million and CfBT contract costs about £12 to £14 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in each local authority which retains grammar schools, what proportion of children received free school meals (a) in that local authority as a whole, (b) in each grammar school within the authority and (c) in other secondary schools within the authority, at the latest date for which figures are available. [11627]

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: Information showing free school meals figures for grammar schools and other secondary schools for each local education authority is contained in the following tables.It is not departmental policy not to release individual school data unless the school has had the opportunity to check it. Schools have not had the opportunity to check their free school meals data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many employees of (a) her Department and (b) agencies sponsored by her Department work in (i) London, (ii) areas benefiting from EU Objective 1 status, (iii) areas with Objective 2 status and (iv) other areas. [12244]

[holding answer 2 November 2001]: The number of permanent employees in the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) who work in:

(a) London is 2,037;

(b) areas benefiting from EU Objective I status is 1,134;

(c) areas with Objective 2 status is 129;

(d) other areas is 972.

711 permanent staff also employed by DfES work throughout the Government office network. A breakdown into the above categories could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.DfEs has no agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how she will monitor expenditure on rewarding high quality teaching over the next three years; and if she will publish the results. [12310]

We are currently providing funding to support teachers' performance pay through special grants paid to local authorities. A requirement of special grants is that they are fully and properly audited. Auditors appointed by the local authority make certain that the funds are spent for the purposes for which they are paid. Local authorities are required to provide me with copies of these audits. The new special grant, providing £250 million to support performance pay across the period April 2002 to 2004, will be subject to these same audit requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in the (a) Department for Education and Employment and (b) Department for Education and Skills since 1 May 1997. [12333]

The overseas visits undertaken by Ministers since 1 May 1997 are as follows:

• Department for Education and Employment—Secretary of State: 18:
• Ministers of State for Employment: 48;
• Ministers of State for school standards: 5;
• Minister of State for education and employment in the Lords: 41;
• Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State for school standards:4;
• Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State for employment and equal opportunities: 11;
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for lifelong learning: 17;
• Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State for learning and technology: 4.
• Department for Education and Skills—Minister of State for lifelong learning and higher education: 1;
• Minister for school standards: 1.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what minimum level of qualifications is required for teachers without qualified teacher status in maintained schools. [12365]

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: Decisions on the suitability of the qualifications held by applicants for employment as teachers in maintained schools are matters for the professional judgments of head teachers taking into account the legal requirements of the Education (Teachers' Qualifications and Health Standards) (England) Regulations 1999 as amended.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have (a) opened and (b) closed sixth forms since 1997. [12403]

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: Since 1997 proposals have been approved to open 27 school sixth forms and close 13 school sixth forms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many sixth forms have closed since 1997. [12973]

Thirteen proposals for the closure of school sixth forms have been approved since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people, with respect to Annexe A of her Department's press release "Recruitment to Teacher Training Hits Seven Year High" of 1 November, are already registered; and what estimate she has made of how many will be registered in the rest of the year. [13106]

The figures published on 1 November comprised the results of the Teacher Training Agency's annual survey of training providers. As in previous years, these included both the numbers of trainees recruited to courses up to and including 11 October 2001, and providers' estimates of the numbers expected to start training later in the 2001–02 academic year. The Agency's survey showed 28,966 recruits to training, including 1,719 people expected to begin their courses in the spring and summer 2002 terms.The estimate of recruitment for 2000–01 that my right hon. Friend published on 20 November 2000 was 0.25 per cent. lower than final recruitment for that year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft her Department recorded in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001; and on how many occasions in those years computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (A) within and (B) outside her Department. [13143]

There have been no detected cases of computer hacking, either by insiders or by persons outside of the Department in either 2000 or 2001. There were four cases of insider fraud in each of the years in question. There were three cases of theft of IT equipment by insiders from Departmental offices in 2000 and one case in 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will reduce the level of detail required in the annual reports produced by school governors. [13252]

Yes, we shall. Earlier this year we consulted on reducing the requirements within both governor's annual reports and school prospectuses, and on the possibility of schools combining these two documents. Following that consultation, we are proceeding with streamlining the requirements and making it easier for schools that choose to do so to combine the two documents. We aim to amend the relevant regulations and send revised guidance to schools early in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what stocks of (a) antiques, (b) paintings and (c) fine wines are held by her Department; if she will list such assets sold over the last three years together with the sale proceeds from such transactions; what plans she has to sell further such assets over the period of the current Comprehensive Spending Review; and if she will make a statement. [10847]

[holding answer 31 October 2001]: The stocks of antiques, paintings and fine wines held by the Department are as follows: There have been no assets sold over the last three years and there are no plans to sell further such assets over the period of the current Spending Review.

• Site: Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith street, London.
• Assets: Suite of Cuban mahogany furniture, inlaid with holly, currently on loan to "The Lake District Art Gallery and Museum Trust" to provide conference room and office furnishings for Blackwell
• Value: Insurance value of £5,000
• Site: Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith street, London.
• Assets: Six antique clocks, currently in secure storage.
• Value: £500 each
• Site: Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith street, London.
• Assets: 40 paintings and prints, currently on display throughout the building.
• Value: Total value of £7,000
• Site: Caxton House, Tothill street, London.
• Assets: 118 paintings (mainly student works), currently on display throughout the building.
• Value: Total value of £19,451.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in the borough of Bromley had individual learning accounts; how many account holders were the victims of fraud; and what plans there are to allow Beckenham account holders to complete the training plans they had begun. [12697]

On the basis of the recorded postcode information available, by 31 October 2001, 12,015 people in the borough of Bromley had opened an individual learning account through the national framework launched on 4 September 2000.The police have made 30 arrests in England involving four individual learning account (ILA) providers registered at the ILA centre. No allegations of fraud have yet been brought to court.The individual learning account centre will continue to accept and process bookings for learning up until 7 December 2001, for all present members. The learning start date to which the bookings relate must be within six months of the date of booking. Learners do not have a deadline in which to complete an episode of learning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if depleted uranium has been used by (a) US and (b) British forces in Afghanistan. [12694]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 5 November 2001, Official Report, columns 27–28W, to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Pete Wishart).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the pension paid is to (a) a retired Gurkha and (b) a similar ranking British ex-service man, in money terms and as a percentage; [13013](2) if he will make a statement on how pensions are paid to retired Gurkhas. [13012]

Because of their different engagements and career structures, comparing Gurkha and British solider pensions in this way is particularly difficult. 87 per cent. of Gurkhas are discharged in Nepal after 15 years' service and receive an immediate pension. British soldiers discharged at this time would receive no pension until they reached the age of 60.The only British and Gurkha rank likely to be discharged at the same point of service is a Warrant Officer Class 1 after 22 years. In this instance, a Gurkha receives an immediate annual pension of £1,672, or 16 per cent. of the £10,283 paid to comparable British ex-servicemen. The difference reflects the Tripartite Agreement between the Governments of the United Kingdom, Nepal and India, and the cost of living in Nepal, where all Gurkhas are discharged. In the Nepalese economy, Gurkha pensions now compare favourably with professional salaries.The way in which Gurkha ex-service men receive their pensions depends upon the region in which they live. Those based to the main population centres in Nepal are able to receive their pension either directly into bank accounts or from one of the three Pension Paying Offices in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Itahari. These are manned on a full-time basis and the majority of ex-Gurkhas opt to receive their pension this way.Nepal has poor communications, however, and we recognise that the arrangements above do not cater for residents of the more rural and remote areas. For this reason, Gurkha pensions are also paid quarterly, in cash, via Area Welfare Centres. There are 24 of these located throughout Nepal, but concentrated near the main ex-Gurkha populations centres where there are often no banking facilities. Nepal's topography, inclement weather and poor infrastructure, means that it is inevitable that some pensioners will still have to undertake long journeys in order to collect their pension. These difficulties are minimised as far as possible and, where necessary, special arrangements are put in place to enable pensions to be collected on behalf of the sick or infirm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the withdrawal by Italy from the A400M project will mean a change in contribution from the UK; and if he will make a statement. [12913]

[holding answer 6 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 November 2001, Official Report, column 130W. If Italy stands by the decision it took last month not to continue with the A400M programme at present, the total number of aircraft in the initial order will fall from 212 to 196.The final price of the A400M aircraft has yet to be agreed with the contractor. While it is reasonable to assume that such a reduction in overall aircraft numbers will increase our contribution to programme costs, reductions achieved in other aspects of the price negotiation may counterbalance that increase. Accordingly, we do not expect to identify a discrete cost increase associated with Italian withdrawal, should that be confirmed in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much extra funding is needed for the next phase of the UK's Future Aircraft Carrier programme; and if he will make a statement. [11783]

We are currently discussing the CVF procurement strategy with both candidate prime contractors, BAE Systems and Thales Naval Ltd. We hope to be in a position to make an announcement about the way forward in the next few weeks. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment on funding for the programme at this time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the compensation he proposes to pay to (a) Army pensioners, (b) Army widows and (c) estates which have wrongly had income tax deducted by his Department from their invalidity pensions. [13141]

Individuals wrongly taxed receive a refund of tax and an extra amount as compensation for the delay. The Inland Revenue calls this additional payment a repayment supplement. The Income Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (Section 824) governs the way the Inland Revenue calculates the repayment supplement. The precise formula is set out in Statutory Instrument No 1297 of 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he will take to identify (a) Army pensioners, (b) Army widows and (c) estates which have wrongly had income tax deducted by his Department from their invalidity pensions. [13140]

Following the discovery of a taxation error affecting Army invaliding pensions in 1998, we have manually trawled through individuals' pension files, including widows and dependants, and publicised the matter through the ex-service organisations and the War Widows Association. This publicity has included articles in their journals and circulars. All those identified as being incorrectly taxed, except a small number currently under investigation, have received a full refund with compensation. The Ministry of Defence has no plans to undertake further action on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he uses to determine whether Territorial Army personnel are fit for role. [13142]

Individual members of the Territorial Army (TA) are considered fit for role when they have completed two phases of training. Phase 1 is recruit training, which is either delivered in a two-week package or over a series of weekends. Phase 2 is to prepare them to a standard at which they can train with their unit, and this phase will vary in length depending on an individual's role and trade.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library documents relating to studies concerning the lowering of VAT for home repairs and renovations undertaken by his Department in the last five years. [13058]

It would be inappropriate to publish research relating to internal policy analysis, in accordance with exemption 2 of the code of practice on access to government information.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of offences concerning excise duties in the single market how many people were sentenced; what were the total of sentences passed, broken down by months; what the total sum of (a) court fines and costs and (b) compound settlements was; how many vehicles were seized; and how much was paid for restoration in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 to date. [11172]

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: For vehicle seizures in 1999–2000, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the Paymaster General gave on 15 January 2001, Official Report column 125W, and for 2000–01 and 2001–02, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 30 October 2001, Official Report column 624W. Information for 1999–2000, in relation to excise duties or the single market, on how many people were sentenced, what the total of sentences passed was, broken down by months, what the total sum of fines, costs and compound penalties were is contained in the Customs and Excise annual report for 1999–2000, presented to Parliament in March 2000. The same information for 2000–01 will be published in the Customs and Excise annual report for 2000–01, which will be published shortly. The figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of strategic exports to (a) strategic and (b) other destinations were detected by HM Customs and Excise in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 to date. [11163]

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: The number of detections of strategic and proliferation goods to sensitive and other destinations during the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 were as follows:

	Number
To sensitive destinations
1999–2000	238
2000–01	188
To other destinations
1999–2000	245
2000–01	232

The figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were searched by HM Customs and Excise officers under section 164 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date. [11176]

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: Figures for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are not yet available. In 1999–2000, HM Customs and Excise conducted 19,246 searches under section 164 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of exports involving breaches of UN sanctions were detected by Customs and Excise in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 to date. [11164]

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: The number of exports in breach of UN sanctions detected by HM Customs and Excise during the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 were 27 and 38 respectively. Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of revenue evasion (a) generally, (b) of customs duties and (c) of common agricultural policy export refunds, that were prevented by HM Customs and Excise in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02. [11124]

The total VAT and excise revenue evasion prevented by Customs and Excise in 1999–2000 was published in the Customs and Excise annual report. For the year 2000–01, the figure will be published in the Customs and Excise annual report that will be published in due course.HM Customs and Excise does not calculate the revenue evasion prevented for customs duties and common agricultural policy export refunds.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) people were sentenced and (b) prison sentences were passed, broken down by month and what was the total of (i) court fines and costs and (ii) company settlements in respect of Customs and Excise non-fiscal prohibitions and restrictions in (1) 1999–2000, (2) 2000–01 and (3) 2001–02. [11131]

This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what (a) proportion and (b) amount of all spending by Departments on the action against terrorism he forecasts will be met in the current financial year from funds in the reserves; [10258](2) if he will provide a breakdown of the costs which he forecasts will arise over the current financial year as a direct result of the war on terrorism for each Department directly affected. [10294]

[holding answer 26 October 2001]: It would be inappropriate to forecast the costs of operations and other related activities at this stage.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the loss to UK pension funds of the suspension of shares in Railtrack. [8394]

The value of Railtrack shares at the time of administration was around £1.5 billion, and no institutional investor held more than 5 per cent. of the shares at the time of administration.The Government are actively working with the board of Railtrack Group to assist shareholders in achieving fair value for assets they hold.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he was told that a decision had been taken that Railtrack was to go into administration. [8395]

The Chancellor was informed of the decision that Railtrack would go into administration on Friday evening, 5 October.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional expenditure he plans to make to support the work of the new asset tracking unit; how many staff it will have; and when it will be operational. [11268]

The costs of the terrorist finance unit will be met from within existing spending plans. It will initially have eight staff and is expected to become fully operational by 30 November 2001.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) persons registered for VAT, (b) repayment traders, (c) new VAT registrations and (d) VAT deregistrations there were and what the net increase or decrease in the register was in the financial years 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02 to the most recent date for which information is available. [11376]

The data for the information requested for the year 1999–2000 can be found in Customs and Excise annual report. Figures for 2000–01 will be published in Customs and Excise annual report in November 2001.The latest information was placed in the House of Commons Library in September 2001 in the form of a VAT fact sheet, which is produced every four months.