To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee how many barrels of Carlsberg Lager and Carlsberg Export Lager were sold by the House of Commons Refreshment Department in 2000. [14139]

It is difficult to give a precise answer to my hon. Friend's question, as figures are not kept in the form requested. However, I am able to inform him that in the 12-month period from April 2000 until March 2001, the House of Commons Refreshment Department purchased 210 11-gallon barrels of Carlsberg Lager. Barrels are purchased in response to demand, and it is reasonable to assume that the number of barrels sold is similar to the number purchased.The Commons Refreshment Department does not sell draught Carlsberg Export Lager.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much money is owed to his Department by Walton Group Plc in respect of Exchange Flags Liverpool; and if he will make a statement. [12620]

The Department is pursuing a civil claim against the Walton Group plc and Todd and Benn (Contractors) Ltd. to recover the full city grant value of £4,444,782. In addition, it is seeking interest totalling £2,603,062 as of 9 November 2001, and a claim for legal fees, costs and expert fees that are estimated at 8 November 2001 to be £280,000 (inclusive of VAT).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what plans he has to extend the yellow school bus pilot; and if he will make a statement; [12305](2) what research has been conducted

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the pilot project for the introduction of yellow buses for home-to-school transport. [12317]

My Department has facilitated the introduction of American-style yellow school buses by agreeing to grant exemption from some of the provisions of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations to enable pilot schemes to operate. The first such scheme is expected to start in Calderdale in the new year. My Department will collect base line data near the start of pilot schemes, and will evaluate them, probably after about a year's operation. The results of the evaluations will be published. The Department has incurred no costs so far other than staff time in considering the case for exemptions from regulations. Future costs will be staff time plus consultancy fees for data collection and evaluation. The level of these costs will depend on the number of pilot schemes, which will be a matter for agreement between local authorities and operators.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish the amended version of the PowerShift Register to incorporate the extension of the LPG conversion grant scheme to include vehicles up to five years old; and if he will make a statement. [12093]

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: The PowerShift programme is administered on behalf of my Department by the Energy Saving Trust. The updated version of the PowerShift Register, now covering vehicle models up to five years old, is available on the Trust's website at www.est-powershift.org.uk. Grants for these vehicles are now available and the website provides full information on how they can be claimed. Information is also available on the Trust's telephone hotline on 0845 602 1425.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for a further round of New Deal for Communities funding to assist the regeneration of post-industrial areas of intense social deprivation. [13673]

There are no plans for a third round of New Deal for Communities (NDC) funding. The Government are fully committed to the NDC programme and to tackling multiple deprivation in some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country, including many in post-industrial areas, to bridge the gap between these neighbourhoods and the rest of the country.The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit is in the process of rolling out a range of programmes that will build on the lessons learned through NDC and strengthen and improve core public services in deprived areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent meetings he has had with representatives of coach operators to discuss proposals for a half-fare concessionary scheme for pensioners on long distance coach journeys; and if he will make a statement. [13684]

We announced on 5 November our approval in principle of a proposal from the Commission for Integrated Transport under which coach operators would offer half-price fares to older and disabled passengers on long distance scheduled coach services in England. In return operators would—for the first time—receive Fuel Duty Rebate.My Department has already had initial discussions with the Confederation of Passenger Transport about this proposal and we look forward to further discussions with them shortly on the details of its implementation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 24 October 2001, Official Report, column 228W, on best value, how many building direct labour organisations transferred to the private sector have been given admitted-body status to the local government pension scheme; and what pension provision will be made for those which will not remain in the LGPS. [13811]

Information about the transfer of building direct labour organisations (DLOs) to the private sector is not held centrally. When a local authority function is outsourced and the new contractor chooses not to seek admitted-body status within the local government pension scheme, transferred employees should be offered broadly comparable pension arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to reform local government final salary pension schemes. [14696]

There are no plans to change the current benefit package provided by the local government pension scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the total cost of local government final salary pensions in the last financial year. [14697]Dr. Whitehead: In 2000–01, pensions paid to members of the local government pension scheme totalled £3.5 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the projects which have been considered as potential public-private partnerships since 1997 which have not been undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value than the public private partnership proposed; and if he will make a statement. [13455]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 607W. There are 16 no cases of potential PPP projects within my department, or the former DETR, not being undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport. Local Government and the Regions what the scale of English Partnerships land holdings is; and which proportion is earmarked for new housing in (a) Telford and (b) England. [13462]

In September 2001, English Partnerships owned a total of 5,700 hectares of land in England, 820 hectares (14 per cent.) of which was in Telford.Of the overall total, 970 hectares (17 per cent.) is designated for housing in planning terms (ie it either has specific planning consent or is designated as such in the local plan). In Telford, 216 hectares (3.8 per cent.) were designated for housing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the average period for a planning application from date of application to decision by the local authority over the last five years. [R] [13596]

The information available from the Department is the percentages of applications for planning permission and related consents which are decided within eight weeks, between eight and 13 weeks and in more than 13 weeks. These are shown in the table.

Local authority performance: England, 1996–97 to 2000–01
Percentage
	Decisions within eight weeks	Decisions in eight to 13 weeks	Decisions exceeding 13 weeks
1996–97	64	21	15
1997–98	62	22	16
1998–99	62	21	17
1999–2000	63	21	16
2000–01	63	20	17

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the latest annual figures for the number of planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in England and Wales by (a) region, (b) the number of applications passed, (c) the number sent to appeal and (d) the number of successful appeals; and if he will provide the same figures for the previous 10 years. [R] [13595]

The information for England is in the table. Figures for Wales are not held centrally on a consistent basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the average period for the consideration of an appeal to a planning application, up to a refusal to grant consent, under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 over the last five years. [R] [13593]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average cost is to the Government of hearing planning appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990; and what is the (a) maximum and (b) minimum cost, for each of the last five years. [R] [13594]

The Planning Inspectorate has calculated the average unit cost of processing a section 78 inquiry by written representation in each of the last five financial years to be as follows:

Year	£
2000–01	1,188
1999–2000	1,047
1998–99	854
1997–98	669
1996–97	635

The Inspectorate also effects section 78 appeals through hearings and inquiries. Unit costs for these activities have only been calculated for the previous two financial years, and are as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which local authorities do not have (a) speed cameras and (b) plans for their early introduction. [13494]Mr. Jamieson: The numbers and locations of speed cameras in police force areas are not held centrally. A funding system is now available nationally that covers the

Lead agency	Bid area
Successful bids
Bury MBC	Whitefield
Chester Community Safety Partnership	Blacon and Lache
City of Salford	Winton and Little Hulton
Collingwood Housing Association	Spath Lane and Knowle Park
Congleton BC	Alsager
Derwent and Solway Housing Association	Workington
Hyndburn FIRST	Hyndburn
Initiative Burnley	Burnley
Irwell Valley Housing Association	Sale West and Manor Avenue Estates
Lancaster City council	Morecambe
Liverpool Housing Trust	Windmill Hill, Runcorn
New East Manchester Ltd.	Ancoats and Miles Platting
Preston council	Callon, St. Matthews and Ribbleton
Riverside Housing Association	Palacefields, Murdishaw, Halton Brook and Halwood Park. Runcorn
South Liverpool Housing	Speke and Garston
Stockport MBC	Stockport borough
Tameside MBC	Tameside
Trafford MBC	Lostock, Sale Moor, Broomwood
Vale Royal BC	Vale Royal
Unsuccessful bids
Blackpool BCI	Grange Park, Mereside and George St./Caunce St.
Bolton Town Centre Ltd.	Bolton
Bury MBC	Huntley/Topping Fold
Carlisle City council	Botcherby, Raffles and Petterill Bank
CDS Housing Association	Castlefields, Runcorn
Chester Community Safety Partnership	Chester
Copeland BC	South Whitehaven
Eden BC	Eden
Fylde BC	St. Annes, Lytham and Kirkham
Groundwork Blackburn	Blackburn
Home Housing Association	Maryport
Impact Housing Association	Workington
Knowsley MBC	Kirkby
Liverpool City council	North Liverpool
Macclesfield BC	Knutsford, Macclesfield and Wilmslow
Manchester City council	Manchester
Manchester Housing	Cheetham
Metropolitan borough of Wirral	Bidston, Hoylake and Rockferry
Oldham council	Oldham
Poynton and Worth parish council	Poynton
Riverside Housing Association	Linacre
Rochdale MBC	Rochdale, Middleton, Heywood and Pennines
South Ribble BC	South Ribble
St. Helens BC	West Sutton, Parr and Hardshaw and Grange Park
Tranmere Housing Regeneration Partnership—Maritime Housing Association	Tranmere
West Lanes DC	West Lanes
Wigan MBC	Wigan and Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which local authorities in the north-west of England were successful in bidding for Street Warden funding; and which were unsuccessful. [13647]Ms Keeble: The Government office for the north-west received 46 Street Warden bids. Nineteen bids, totalling more than £2.9 million and benefiting each of the region's five counties, received approval.Organisations other than local authorities, eg housing associations, were eligible to apply under this DTLR-funded pilot scheme. The table shows the successful and unsuccessful bids, the lead agency and the bid area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will review the advice to returning officers regarding conduct at polling stations to accommodate the beliefs of members of the Assembly of Yahweh. [13522]

Guidance to returning officers on electoral procedures is now a matter for the Electoral Commission. In addition to voting at polling stations any elector may now vote by post and we are inviting local authorities at the May 2002 local elections to pilot such innovations as voting by telephone or on line.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on homelessness in west Wiltshire. [13680]

332 households in west Wiltshire were accepted as being homeless in 2000–01. As at 31 March 2001, there were 90 households in temporary accommodation and 15 households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to give local people stronger powers to block the inappropriate siting of mobile phone masts. [13862]

The changes to the planning procedures and guidance for telecommunications mast development which we introduced on 22 August this year greatly strengthen public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below (subject to a process of prior approval by Local Planning Authorities) so that they are the same as for planning applications. This gives local people a much better opportunity to have a say on mast proposals. Local Planning Authorities already have the ability to turn down mast applications where the do not consider amenity aspects have been adequately addressed. Our guidance also advises telecommunications operators to consult local people and Local Planning Authorities before submitting applications for masts of any size.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the implications of the findings of the National Joint Council on Formby Fire Station for that at Heswall. [13871]

The Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority's application for my right hon. Friend's approval, under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, to change the duty system at Heswall Fire Station remains under consideration. He will not grant approval unless he is satisfied that the Authority has consulted and, on advice from HM Fire Service Inspectorate, that national standards of fire cover will be maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when work will begin to improve the electricity supply to allow 12-car trains to run on the North Kent rail lines. [13982]

Railtrack is undertaking a review of Power Supply capability for the Southern Region and is in discussions with the Strategic Rail Authority to address the issue in relation to Mark 1 replacement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the railway stations in the North Kent lines that need to be lengthened to accommodate 12 car trains; and when this work will be carried out. [13981]

Stations on the North Kent line which would require platform lengthening include Abbey Wood, Deptford, Erith, Gravesend, Greenhithe, Greenwich, Higham, Maze Hill, Northfleet, Plumpstead Rochester, Slade Green, Strood, Swanscombe, Westcombe Park, Woolwich Arsenal, and Woolwich Dockyard. The work to lengthen platforms is primarily dependent on the implementation of Thameslink 2000 and discussions with the incumbent franchisee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will arrange for every registered keeper of a motor vehicle to be invited to take part in consultations in respect of future motorway building, improvement and widening schemes. [14045]

There are a number of opportunities for registered keepers of vehicles and other road users and interested parties to take part in consultations on motorway building, improvement and widening. Public consultation takes place during studies such as the multi-modal and road-based studies, and prior to a preferred route announcement, and on the publication of draft orders. We do not propose to consult on a national scale with registered keepers of vehicles as this would not be cost effective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the cost is of the consultation taking place on the future of the M1 motorway; who is carrying out the consultation process; and what safeguards are in place to ensure that the views of road-users are heard. [14044]

A number of Multi-Modal Studies and Roads-Based Studies are currently being carried out which include sections of the M1 motorway within their remit. Consultation is undertaken at key stages of the studies to ensure that the views of road users, local public, businesses, environmental interests, transport users, operators and other regional interests are taken into account. The consultation process is overseen by the Study Steering Groups and carried out by the appointed consultants for each study. These arrangements ensure that road users and other interests have the opportunity to express their views.Final figures for the costs of consultation will not be available until the studies are completed. However, the average total cost of a study, including the cost of consultation, is approximately £1.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what monitoring arrangements are in place to ensure that his Department and its agencies give prompt and proper attention to inquiries received from members of the public. [14047]

The centre of the Department and each of its agencies have set targets for each of the "Six Service Standards for Central Government". Performance against these targets is monitored annually and published in a Cabinet Office report (copies are available in the Libraries of the House).Additionally, a quarterly report is presented to the Board of the Department detailing performance in handling correspondence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish the results of research by Heriot-Watt University into the effectiveness of the Government office guidance on managing unauthorised camping by travellers; and when he will publish revised guidance. [13864]

My Department published a summary of the research findings on 2 November. A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House. We plan to publish a revision of the current Good Practice Guide on Managing Unauthorised Camping by Gypsies and Travellers early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the safety risks posed by overcrowding on trains. [13917]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Department's advisers on railways safety matters, have advised that all rolling stock is designed to operate safely even when fully loaded, and passenger loading does not affect the train's stopping performance or its structural integrity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many offences were recorded on trains from Preston to Blackpool in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how many of those were alcohol related. [13919]

The British Transport Police, who are responsible for policing the railways, have provided me with the following figures. In the period between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001, a total of 354 offences were recorded on the railway routes between Preston and Blackpool and at least 19 of these were alcohol related. These figures include offences committed on the trains and at the stations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the need to control drunkenness on trains. [13918]

We recognise the effect that anti-social behaviour, including drunkenness, can have on both train staff and other passengers' perceptions of their personal security. We are working with transport operators, local authorities, the police and others to improve personal security on transport, through such means as publishing good practice guidance and improving the ability of the British Transport Police (BTP) and train operators to deal with crime and anti-social behaviour. The BTP work closely with the train operators to identify hot spots of disorder. If necessary measures such as increased patrolling and special operations will be undertaken to control the problem.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce a mandatory requirement for highway authorities to publish a winter plan listing the roads it intends to keep clear of ice and snow. [13992]

The Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July already strongly recommends that highway authorities should publish a winter service operational plan after consultation with users and key stakeholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether highway authorities in England and Wales will continue to hold responsibility for keeping roads safe in winter through pre-salting and snow clearance. [13995]

The House of Lords judgment last year in the case of Goods v. East Sussex was that there was no duty on local highway authorities under the Highways Act 1980 to prevent ice from forming on highways. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend highway authorities in England to implement winter service provisions on their roads in accordance with the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July.Guidance to highway authorities in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will issue guidance to highway authorities in England and Wales on the importance of pre-salting roads in winter. [13991]

Guidance on pre-salting roads in winter is contained in the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July.Guidance to highway authorities in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with highway authorities to take reasonable steps to pre-salt roads in winter and clear snow. [13993]

Highway authorities throughout the United Kingdom participated in producing the guidance on winter service contained in the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management "Delivering Best Practice in Highway Maintenance" published on 10 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) when Ernst and Young LLP was approached about the possibility of giving advice on Railtrack; [13996](2) if he will list the

The possibility of Ernst and Young LLP giving advice on Railtrack was first discussed at a meeting on 23 August. They were appointed on 24 August. On engagement, their remit was to provide advice on the general process of administration; and accountancy advice on possible options for Railtrack.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will deposit in the Library a list of all the stations owned by Railtrack and their estimated value. [14783]

My Department does not hold this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he ordered the drafting of legislation (a) prior to and (b) following his meeting with the Rail Regulator on 5 October to remove the power from the Regulator to hold an interim financial review. [14785]

Details of internal communications are exempt from disclosure under section 2 of Part II of the code of practice on access to government information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when, after 1 August, his Department received advice from the Treasury that it was unlikely that additional public funding for Railtrack would be approved. [13471]

[holding answer 9 November 2001]: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 13 November 2001, Official Report, columns 723–35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many instances there have been in each year since 1991 of (i) commercial and (ii) privately operated aircraft accidentally breaching no-fly zones over (a) nuclear power plants, (b) nuclear reprocessing plants, (c) nuclear fuel production plants, (d) uranium enrichment plants and (e) military nuclear plants. [14262]

Since 1991, there have been four reported breaches of the restricted airspace around military nuclear plants (one in each of 1993, 1995, 1996 and 2000). There have been also two reported breaches of the restrictions around Sellafield (one in 1993 and 1999), which is both a nuclear reprocessing and fuel production plant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much has been raised in each year since 1998 from the first licence fee payable at the first registration of a new car. [14014]

The fee for the first registration of vehicles in the UK was introduced on 1 April 1998. The amounts raised each year since 1998 are £67,654k, £68,573k and 70,503k respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will call for a report from Her Majesty's Fire Services Inspectorate on management practices in the Merseyside Fire Authority and their impact on the delivery of fire services. [14274]

HM Fire Service Inspectorate has recently conducted an inspection of the Merseyside Fire Service. The report will be published in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the recommendations in the National Joint Council report on the staffing arrangements proposals put forward by Merseyside Fire Authority. [14273]

The National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades' Scheme of Conditions of Service provides for consideration of proposed changes in duty systems at fire stations. This is a separate procedure to the requirements of section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947 in respect of variations to a fire authority's establishment. My right hon. Friend will, however, wish to consider the implications of the recent adjudication in respect of Formby Fire Station.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library the report he received from the Strategic Rail Authority on the proposed lorries-on-trains freight railway put forward by Central Railway plc. [14707]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 200W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the events of 11 September on insurance premiums to be paid by local authorities. [13898]

[holding answer 12 November 2001]: We are working with local government in assessing all new and increasing pressures on local authorities as part of SR2002. The LGA has identified insurance premiums as an area which it wants, to look at during the review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if London Underground is a member of the COMET international metro benchmarking network; and what are the rules under which information the network collects can be published. [14598]

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: I understand that London Underground is a member of the COMET international metro benchmarking network. The rules under which it collects and publishes information are a matter for COMET.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the average rate of staff absenteeism among London Underground (a) drivers and (b) station staff in each year from 1991. [14605]

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: London Underground has provided the following information showing the percentage absenteeism rate:

Calendar year	Train staff1	Station staff
1991	5.39	10.13
1992	5.09	7.94
1993	6.60	7.23
1994	5.61	6.36
1995	5.41	7.16
1996	5.16	6.15
1997	5.64	6.71
1998	5.22	6.43
1999	5.83	6.39
2000	7.23	7.17
1 Includes guards

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the next issue of the Bus Quality Indicators Bulletin will be published. [14547]

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: My Department intends to publish the next issue of the Bus Quality Indicators Bulletin in January 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what are the terms of the brief given to the Finsbury Public Relations firm in relation to his Department's relations with the City; [14460](2) when he decided

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: Finsbury Public Relations are not employed by DTLR.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many council tenants in England have taken advantage of cash incentive scheme payments in order to buy a home in the private sector in 2000–01; what restrictions there are on the amount of grant that may be made available in (a) Poole and (b) London and the South East; and what the maximum amount of grant allowed is, as a proportion of average house prices in (a) and (b). [14375]

827 Cash Incentive Scheme grants have been made to council tenants in England in 2000-01 to buy their own home.The maximum grant in Poole is £10,000 which equates to around 7 per cent. of average house prices in the area.The maximum grant payable in London and the south east is 80 per cent. of the average Right to Buy Discount in the authority in question. The limit on the overall RTB discount in those regions is £38,000. 80 per cent. of the £38.000 is £30,400. This equates to around 20 per cent. of average house prices in London and the south east.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency regarding planning policy guidance on building in areas subject to flooding. [14839]

The Chairman and Chief Executive of the Environment Agency have had three recent meetings with Ministers in this Department that included discussion of a range of issues, including planning and flooding.In addition, officials meet and discuss regularly with their colleagues in the Environment Agency the implementation and effectiveness of the planning policy guidance on "Development and flood risk" published in July 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what criteria he uses to determine the calling in of planning applications, with specific reference to development in the flood plains. [14838]

My right hon. Friend's policy on calling in planning applications remains as stated by the then Minister for Planning on 16 June 1999, Official Report, column 138W. His policy is to be very selective about calling in planning applications. He will, in general, only take this step if planning issues of more than local importance are involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the reasons for the decision not to call in the planning application of Ebley Wharf in Stroud. [14840]

No. The Government's policy is not to give reasons for decisions in cases where the Secretary of State has declined to intervene in particular planning applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what level of social housing provision there was in each of the last 10 years. [14837]

Estimates of the stock of social housing in England in the latest 10 years for which data are available are given in the table. Social dwellings include houses and flats owned by registered social landlords and by council.

Numbers of social dwellings
Thousand
Year	Social dwellings
1 April 1991	4,507
1 April 1992	4,490
1 April 1993	4,474
1 April 1994	4,445
1 April 1995	4,421
1 April 1996	4,412
1 April 1997	4,390
1 April 1998	4,358
1 April 1999	4,340
1 April 2000	4,290

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the minutes of his meeting with the Rail Regulator on 5 October. [14784]

Details of internal communications are exempt from disclosure under section 2 of Part II of the code of practice on access to government information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made on the transfer of the functions of the Local Government Commission for England to the Electoral Commission; and if he will make a statement.[15463]

I have today laid a draft of an Order which, subject to parliamentary approval, I intend to make under section 18 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act to provide for the transfer of functions of the Local Government Commission for England, together with the associated functions of the Secretary of State on electoral arrangements, to the Electoral Commission with effect from 1 April 2002. Our aim is to secure a well, planned transfer which avoids any disruption to the current programme of periodic electoral reviews being undertaken by the LGC or to the work programme of the Electoral Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure was on (a) advertising, (b) polling, (c) focus groups, (d) design consultants, (e) caterers., (f) production of departmental publications and (g) photographs/photographers by his Department for each year since 1995 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; what was (A) the annual percentage increase in spending on each category and (B) spending on each category as a percentage of the total departmental running costs; and if he will make a statement. [6938]

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I am therefore unable to provide a substantive answer under the terms of exemption 9 (voluminous and vexatious requests) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.However, a breakdown of the Ministry of Defence's public relations' expenditure is published in the annual Departmental Performance Report, broken down into categories of RN, Army, RAF and civilian recruitment, PR, marketing and business support services, Chief of PR, sales promotion, scholarships and National Employers' Liaison Committee.The Government are committed to using only whatever channel is judged to be the most cost-effective way to deliver the publicity necessary to support the implementation of policy. Paid advertising is resorted to only after careful consideration of the cost benefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make statement on the quinquennial review of Defence Medical Services. [13701]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1224W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Wright). A quinquennial review of the Defence Medical Agencies and some other aspects of defence medical arrangements is currently under way. The first phase of the review has been completed and a summary has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Brigadier Tim Taylor's report on Deployable Medical Capability will be complete; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [13702]

We are currently, as part of our normal routine, undertaking work to develop options on how to provide and deliver an effective and efficient future medical capability required to deploy in support of operations. A report on this work will be produced for internal planning purposes during autumn next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place a copy of the report, "Defence Medical Services, Strategy for the Future", in the Library. [13703]

The work undertaken, in the wake of the Strategic Defence Review, on a strategy for resolving problems facing the Defence Medical Services, constitutes internal discussion and advice and is withheld from publication under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. A summary of the findings entitled "The Defence Medical Services—A Strategy for the Future" was placed in the Library of the House in December 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the strategic role of Gibraltar. [14293]

Gibraltar has been and continues to be an important overseas base for the British Armed Forces, and contains valuable support, logistic, communications and training facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with English Heritage over conferring listed status to the former Government' s nuclear control and operations bunker in the Cotswolds. [14681]

I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he made of the effect of the removal of the cannon from the Eurofighter on the RAF's future capability to deter civilian aircraft from hazardous flight paths; and if he will make a statement. [14821]

Eurofighter will be equipped with highly capable air-to-air missiles. We do not consider that the absence of a cannon from Eurofighter will have any material effect on the ability of the RAF to deter civilian aircraft from hazardous flight paths.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military airlift provision is directed to delivering aid to Afghanistan. [14624]

Three coalition C-17 aircraft are directed to delivering aid to Afghanistan. They have been flying nightly since the start of the campaign and, so far, have delivered approximately 1.3 million humanitarian daily rations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to provide search and rescue services through a private finance initiative when the helicopters used in SAR operations are replaced. [14623]

The existing Sea King fleet (which includes the Search and Rescue aircraft) is due to be replaced in 2010–15. A full range of potential strategies are being evaluated to meet the search and rescue requirement, one of which is the potential for Public-Private Partnership/Private Finance Initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the annual report on the implementation of the EU joint action, of 17 December 1998, on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons (199/34/CFSP) and the EU programme on illicit trafficking in conventional arms of June 1997. [14259]

I have been asked to reply.The Government had an opportunity to comment on the draft of the annual report on the implementation of the EU joint action, of 17 December 1998, on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons (1999/34/CFSP) and the EU programme on illicit trafficking in conventional arms of June 1997, as did all other EU member states. The report is entirely consistent with the Government's policy on Small Arms and Light Weapons. It provides a detailed account of action taken by EU member states at the national level and in international forums to combat the dangerous proliferation of small arms. The report also sets out priorities for a more systematic approach to EU assistance in this crucial area of work. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office submitted the report for parliamentary scrutiny on 14 June.The Government are committed to tackling the scourge of small arms proliferation. The need to eradicate the illicit trade in small arms has a particular urgency in the context of the war against terrorism. The annual report predates the first ever UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York in July 2001. The Conference adopted a Programme of Action which commits States politically to put in place export control mechanisms, measures to ensure small arms traceability and to control brokers, and to destroy surplus weapons. There will be a Review Conference in 2006. It is vital that countries sustain the political momentum built up at the Conference to implement the programme of Action. The UK will continue to co-operate with our EU partners, within the framework of the EU's Joint Action on Small Arms and the EU Programme on Illicit Trafficking, to address these issues as a matter of priority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe about terrorist acts against landowners. [13400]

We regularly raise our concerns with the Government of Zimbabwe on continuing rural violence and the breakdown in the rule of law. At Abuja on 6 September, the Government of Zimbabwe made a commitment to end occupations of farm land and to remove illegal occupiers. My noble Friend Baroness Amos accompanied Commonwealth partners to Zimbabwe on 25–26 October, to assess implementation of the Abuja Agreement and to urge the Government to abide by their commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of sanctions which could be imposed by (a) the UK and (b)the Commonwealth against the Zimbabwe Government. [13398]

The UK introduced a national arms embargo on Zimbabwe in May 2000. The UK is working closely with EU partners on Zimbabwe. At the 29 October General Affairs Council, EU Ministers decided to open Article 96 consultations with the Government of Zimbabwe. This gives Zimbabwe 60 days to address EU concerns. Any action by the Commonwealth is a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has given to the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague in connection with the recent trials of Bosnian Serbs. [13401]

The Government are committed to assisting the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in its aim of bringing justice and stability to the peoples of the region. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office contributes through the United Nations to the running expenses of the Tribunal and, together with other Government Departments, provides practical assistance in personnel and expertise. Where we provide material or witnesses in connection with a trial, this is done in accordance with established standards and practices agreed between the Government and the Tribunal.The Government provide assistance to the Tribunal in all cases, regardless of the ethnicity of the accused.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether British-made components are being used in the Israeli-occupied territories by the Israeli Defence Force on (a) Apache helicopters, (b) Merkava tanks, (c) Huey helicopters, (d) armoured personnel carriers and (e) F16 jets; and if he will make a statement. [13669]

We have no evidence that equipment or components manufactured in the UK and licensed for export by this Government have been used by Israeli forces against civilians in the occupied territories during the recent and continuing violence. We would be concerned if such evidence came to light.We look at all export licence applications to Israel on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated National and EU criteria, taking careful account in each case of the nature of the equipment and the proposed end-use and end-user in light of the circumstance prevailing at the time. This means inter alia we will not issue licences where there is a clear risk that the equipment might be used in internal repression, international aggression, adversely affect regional stability or prolong internal conflict. We are keeping the situation under close review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the system for monitoring the end-use of British-made military components and equipment exported to Israel. [13668]

We are keeping the situation under close review. We have no evidence that equipment manufactured in the UK and licensed for export by this Government has been used by Israeli forces against civilians in the occupied territories during the recent and continuing violence. We would be concerned if such evidence came to light.We use information supplied by a number of sources to check that British equipment is not being used against Palestinians in the occupied territories, including information gathered by our embassy and non-Governmental organisations, among others. We have received an assurance from the Israeli Government that no UK manufactured equipment or components are used against Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which overseas territories have agreed to offer reciprocal rights for UK citizens to work and reside in UK territories. [13915]

None. The grant of British citizenship to British Dependent Territories citizens from qualifying Territories who do not already enjoy it, will be on a non-reciprocal basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK nationals detained in overseas prisons have been repatriated to the UK in the last 12 months. [13928]

Since 1 November 2000, 38 British nationals detained in prisons overseas have been repatriated to the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to provide economic compensation to surviving family members of non-combatant civilians killed by accident by allied munitions used in the conflict in Afghanistan. [14260]

UK military operations are conducted in accordance with international law. Compensation for any casualties as a result of action undertaken in accordance with those requirements would be inappropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resolution he proposed on Afghanistan at the session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday 13 November. [14858]

On 13 November, a UK/French draft Security Council resolution on the future of Afghanistan was circulated among Security Council members. The draft will be discussed in informal consultations of the Security Council today. We hope the resolution will be adopted by the Security Council as soon as possible. A copy of the agreed resolution will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent decision by the EU to lift the arms embargo on the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan. [14415]

The EU (Common Position 96/746/CFSP) imposed an embargo on the export of arms to Afghanistan. In December 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1333, which imposed a mandatory arms embargo only on the territory of Afghanistan under Taliban control. On 5 November the EU embargo was brought into line with the mandatory UN embargo (Common Position 2001/771/CFSP).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the case of Miss Truong Vy Pham, Hanoi (Ref. P402281). [13904]

It is not our policy to comment on individual visa cases in a public forum. 1 will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what his Department's policy is on the establishment of national oversight mechanisms for (a) security and (b) genetic engineering of pathogenic organisms; [13947](2) what plans he has with regard to the development of a code of ethical conduct for bioscientists; [13946](3) what United Nations procedures exist for investigating

These are among a number of new ideas intended to complement the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). We have been discussing these and other options with other States Parties since the end of the negotiations on a BWC Protocol in August. All are at an early stage of development. We expect them to be further discussed at the 5^th Review Conference of the BWC in Geneva (19 November to 7 December). We welcome proposals that have been made for practical and effective measures to meet the biological weapons threat. We hope that these can be agreed at the Conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with its United States counterparts with regard to the United States' recent proposals to strengthen the biological and toxic weapons convention. [13945]

We are in frequent contact with the United States, and other States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, on our respective ideas for strengthening the Convention. The Foreign Secretary discussed the subject with the US Secretary of State during his visit to Washington in October.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy at the forthcoming biological and toxic weapons convention Review Conference; [13951](2) what steps he will take to ensure that international progress towards the strengthening of the biological and toxic weapons convention is sustained following the BTWC Review Conference. [13950]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham Deptford (Joan Ruddock) on 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 668W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the number of bottles of (a) wine and (b) other alcoholic beverages contained within the Government wine cellar, managed by his Department; what his estimate is of the value of the Government wine cellar; and if he will make a statement. [13517]

The Government Wine Cellar contains a mixture of fine wines, reception or drinking wines and spirits and liqueurs. Stock levels vary according to the number of Government functions at any given time. Generally the cellar contains approximately 37,000 bottles, the majority of which are wine. The value of the stock is subjective, depending on the vagaries on the wine market, and bears no relation to the purchase costs. The current value is estimated to be in the region of £1.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the most recent projection of the number of jobs that would be created by the completion of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick airport is. [9200]

[holding answer 22 October 2001]:NATS staff will transfer from the existing centre at Prestwick to the new centre when it is completed. It is not anticipated that any new jobs will be created by the completion of the project. There will be some additional short-term employment opportunities during the construction and commissioning phase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the projected capital cost of the proposed new air traffic control centre at Prestwick airport is; and how much of this budget had been spent as at 16 October.[9201]

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: Although construction of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick is being deferred, contracts for the design of the building and initial site works are in progress and will be completed. The value of these contracts is a commercial matter between NATS and the contractors. Construction of the building and the design and installation of equipment systems will be subject to a competitive procurement process, which will determine the total costs of the new centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance the Government allocated for the building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick airport (a) before and (b) following the confirmation of a delay. [11243]

The Government have not made any allocation of financial assistance for the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment the Government have made of the delay in building the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick on (a) Ayrshire's economy and (b) local unemployment. [11247]

Recent changes to airline operations and consequent reductions in air traffic has led to temporary deferral of work to create the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick. Air traffic control services for Scottish and North Atlantic airspace will continue to be provided by NATS staff from the existing centre at Prestwick. The main effect on the local economy of deferring work on the new centre will be to delay creation of short-term employment opportunities on the construction and commissioning of the new centre. The Government remain closely in touch with the industry with a view to securing the shortest possible delay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings she has had with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions regarding the delay in building of the new air traffic control centre at Prestwick. [11244]

I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on a wide range of transport issues which affect Scotland, including matters relating to the new air traffic centre at Prestwick.My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scotland Office will shortly meet the Minister for Transport to discuss a number of items including the new NATS centre at Prestwick.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her policy is regarding consultations prior to the publication of proposals involving the transfer of powers to the Scottish Executive by (a) primary legislation and (b) order in Council. [13818]

Any transfer of powers to the Scottish Executive takes place following agreement between the Administrations. If conferred by primary legislation, by convention the Scottish Executive first seeks the approval of the Scottish Parliament. If by secondary legislation, the order follows the procedures set out in the Scotland Act, such orders require approval by both Houses of Parliament and also the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements are in place for the al-Jazeera television station to be broadcast in this country with English subtitles; and if she will make a statement. [12257]