Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 22 November 2001

Defence

Overseas Entertainment

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision has been made for UK forces' overseas entertainment in the current financial year; and if he will give equivalent figures for each of the past five financial years. [16205]

[holding answer 19 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 November 2001, Official Report, columns 525–26W.

"Rapid Effects"

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place a copy of the Director of Land Warfare's "Rapid Effects" paper in the Library. [15514]

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: The paper "A Rapid Effect Capability for the Future Army" was produced for internal discussion purposes. It has been used subsequently to inform wider force development work. It has also contributed to other work to determine the optimum balance of future United Kingdom land forces.A version of the paper, which omits sensitive material, has been prepared and I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

Raf Bases

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are based at (a) RAF Lyneham and (b) RAF Brize Norton. [17042]

On 1 November there were 2,469 RAF personnel based at RAF Lyneham and 3,113 RAF personnel based at RAF Brize Norton.

Raf Lyneham

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will guarantee the long-term future of RAF Lyneham; and if he will make a statement; [17155](2) if he will provide an assurance that he has no plans to close RAF Lyneham. [15228]

There are currently no plans to close RAF Lyneham. The hon. Member is aware however that a study has been commissioned as part of the Ministry of Defence's normal planning process, to consider the future roles of RAF Lyneham, RAF Brize Norton and RAF St. Mawgan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medically downgraded personnel are serving at RAF Lyneham; if they may be deployed in the Falklands; and how that policy of deployment differs from that of the (a) Army and (b) Royal Navy. [15232]

There are 818 medically downgraded personnel serving at RAF Lyneham. Of these, 238 are fit for detachment to the Falkland Islands. The policy for deployment of service personnel to the Falkland Islands is centrally set by the Surgeon General's Department. It is designed to prevent risk to individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. Royal Naval personnel who are graded fit for service worldwide but subject to a specific medical condition may be deployed to the Falkland Islands if their condition permits. Army personnel must be employable on full combatant duties. RAF personnel must be fit for the full ground duties of their branch or trade, including all general service duties.

Helicopters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Army's Lynx AH7 helicopters will be withdrawn from service. [16555]

Under current plans the majority of the Lynx AH7 fleet will reach the end of their service life towards the end of this decade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Army's Gazelle helicopters will be withdrawn from service. [16554]

Under current plans the Army's Gazelle fleet will be withdrawn from service towards the end of the next decade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the oldest airframes of the (a) Sea King HC4, (b) Sea King HAR3 and (c) Puma HC1 operational with Her Majesty's forces. [16552]

The information requested is in the table.

Helicopter	Serial number	Entered service
Sea King HC Mk4	ZA291	1979
Sea King HAR 3	XZ585	1978
Puma HC 1	XW198 and XW199	1971

Warship Deployment (Caribbean)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which warships will be in the Caribbean on anti-drugs patrol from mid-November to mid-February. [16549]

Counter-drugs patrols in the Caribbean theatre of operation are undertaken by the RN as one task of the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) duty ship.As is standard operating procedure, no RN ship will be deployed to the Caribbean between mid-November and mid-February although a ship will be held in the UK on reduced notice to deploy to the Caribbean area of operations. Royal Fleet Auxiliary Gold Rover will, however, remain in the region throughout this period and will provide additional presence and assistance to ships of other nations in the Caribbean involved in the counter-drugs effort.

Hms Cromer

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons HMS Cromer has been decommissioned; and what plans there are to dispose of her. [16548]

The decision to decommission HMS Cromer on 23 November 2001 was taken as a result of the policy-led Strategic Defence Review. The Review recognised the reduced requirement for mine clearance in home waters and concluded that a balanced force of 22 Sandown and Hunt class minehunters would be sufficient to meet envisaged levels of threat, operational tasking and commitments rather than the 23 previously planned. Plans for her disposal, including alternative Ministry of Defence use or sale, are currently under consideration.

Racial Discrimination

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of racial discrimination have been brought against the (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Navy in the last 12 months. [17204]

The numbers of formal complaints of racial discrimination from Service personnel in the last 12 months are shown in the table.

Year/Service	Number of formal complaintsof racial discrimination
1 November 2000–31 October 2001
Naval Service	0
Army	10
1 November 2000–30 September 2001
RAF¹	3
¹ RAF figure for October is not yet available

Medical Downgrading

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel who have been medically downgraded (a) have continued to be and (b) have subsequently been employed in operational areas in the last 12 months. [14269]

[holding answer 21 November 2001]: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel were medically downgraded in each service in each month of the last 12 months. [14268]

[holding answer 21 November 2001]: The information requested is given in the table for the Army and RAF. The figures requested are not available for naval personnel. As at 20 November 2001, there were 3,678 trained naval personnel in a medically downgraded category.

Date	Army¹	RAF²
November 2000	9,284	3,772
December 2000	9,369	3,801
January 2001	9,431	3,813
February 2001	9,529	3,907

Date	Army ¹	RAF ²
March 2001	9,595	3,860
April 2001	9,365	3,888
May 2001	9,674	3,893
June 2001	9,675	3,869
July 2001	9,700	3,873
August 2001	9,718	3,871
September 2001	9,788	3,867
October 2001	9,837	3,888
¹ The figures for medically downgraded Army personnel comprise personnel at all levels of medical downgrading below fully fit. Of these, some two thirds are able to be deployed on military operations but not at the front line. The figures comprise trained personnel only.
² The figures for medically downgraded RAF personnel comprise personnel who are considered unfit for any type of deployment. The figures comprise trained and untrained personnel.

Hercules Aircraft

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air-to-air refuelling probes have been purchased for the C130J; and how many aeroplanes will be operational by 1 January 2002. [15141]

Nineteen air-to-air refuelling probes have been purchased for the C130J fleet. Full operational air-to-air refuelling capability is planned for late 2002. This will be achieved incrementally in accordance with an agreed Flight Clearance programme

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Defensive Aids Suite capabilities on the C130K Hercules aircraft; how it compares with the US equivalent; and what plans he has to install it on the C130J. [15223]

The capability of the C130K Defensive Aids Suite was assessed as part of the installation development and acceptance programme, based on system requirements arising from detailed threat and countermeasure evaluation. The C130K Defensive Aids Suite will not be fitted to the C130J as Lockheed Martin is currently working to finalise an installation concept for a higher performance defensive system.The capabilities of systems operated on US aircraft are a matter for the US authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to acquire a secure communications system for the C130J. [15224]

The operational advantages of secure communications systems are well recognised and the capability is already fitted to some aircraft and others are due to be fitted. As with any defence equipment capability, decisions have to be made about priorities. A secure communications capability is not currently planned to be fitted to the Hercules C130J aircraft as we have higher operational priorities

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of (a) the fulfilment by Lockheed Martin of the terms and conditions of the contract for the supply of C130J spares and (b) the likelihood that the terms of that contract provide sufficient spares support to achieve 80 per cent. serviceability of the aircraft once fully trained crews are available. [15225]

Lockheed Martin is currently meeting the terms and conditions of the contract for the supply of C130J spares.The generation of serviceable C130J aircraft is not solely dependent on spares supplied by Lockheed Martin but also on the provision of spares from other sources and a number of other factors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence until what date a Defensive Aid Suite was designated as essential for deployments of Hercules aircraft in the middle east; and for what reason this designation was downgraded to desirable. [15226]

I am withholding details about the defensive measures associated with aircraft deployments in accordance with Exemption la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when 16 Air Assault Brigade last exercised with Hercules aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [15230]

16 Air Assault Brigade last exercised with Hercules aircraft during Exercise Eagles Eye—an aviation battlegroup exercise that took place between 29 October and 9 November 2001. One Hercules aircraft supported the exercise on the morning of Friday 2 November 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) personnel and (b) tonnes of freight have been carried by Hercules aircraft from RAF Lyneham in the last 12 months. [15140]

In the last 12 months Hercules aircraft have carried (a) 38,721 personnel and (b) 10,144 tonnes of freight to and from RAF Lyneham.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the operations upon which Hercules aircraft have been deployed over the last 12 months; and what assessment he has made of the performance of (a) the aircraft and (b) service personnel of RAF Lyneham. [15139]

The operations upon which Hercules aircraft have been deployed over the last 12 months are: Operation Agricola, Operation Banner, Operation Basilica, Operation Bolton, Operation Deliberate Forge, Operation Palatine, Operation Warden, Operation Engadine, Operation Silkman, Operation Contravene, Operation Resinate North, Operation Resinate South,

	Medical officers			Dental officers
Year	Intake	Trained outflow	Net difference	Intake	Trained outflow	Net difference
2000–01	68	59	9	22	17	5
1999–2000	76	71	5	19	26	-7
1998–99	71	75	-4	30	25	5
1997–98	62	83	-21	16	23	-7
1996–97	86	160	-74	19	39	-20
1995–96	64	170	-106	14	37	-23
1994–95	51	120	-69	13	37	-24
1993–94	35	78	-43	19	34	-15
1992–93	72	80	-8	25	31	-6

Notes:

1. The figures in the table include transfers between the services, re-entrants and transfers from medical specialties to dentistry.

2. It is not possible to identify the exact intake dates of army medical and dental officers. The Army intake figures included in the table have been calculated by taking the difference in strengths at the beginning and the end of the year plus the outflow.

3. The intake figures comprise former medical and dental cadets and, in the RAF, former bursars plus direct entrant qualified doctors and dentists.

Falkland Islands, Operation Bessemer and Operation Veritas. Both the Hercules C130J and C130K have consistently met operational requirements. Personnel at RAF Lyneham have continued to perform to the very high standards typical of the armed services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the serviceability in percentage terms is of the RAF fleet of Hercules (a) C130Hon. and (b) C130J; and if he will make a statement outlining the restricting factors on performance. [15138]

In answering this question it has been assumed that C130H should read C130K.In performance terms, the operational performance, or operability, of the C130J, when compared to the C 130K, is as follows:

Range (without external fuel tanks): 15 per cent. further
Operating ceiling: 20 per cent. higher
Normal speed: 13 per cent. faster
Fuel economy at operating ceiling: 20 per cent. better
Field length at take off: 30 per cent. less required
Field length at landing: 10 per cent. less required
Much reduced running costs.

Although in all other respects the two aircraft have similar levels of performance, there are at present certain temporary limitations on the C130J's operation. These issues are being addressed and operational clearances will proceed incrementally. Full clearance is planned by the end of 2002.

Defence Medical Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many clinicians have (a) joined and (b) left the Defence Medical Services in each of the last 10 years. [14304]

The numbers of trained medical and dental officers joining and leaving the Defence Medical Services (DMS) in the last nine financial years are provided in the table. No figures are available before financial year 1992–93. Trained medical officers have completed a medical degree, finished a year as a pre-registered medical practitioner and undertaken their initial officer training.Trained dental officers have completed a dental degree and their initial officer training. The intake figures include those who have completed their medical or dental training under DMS sponsorship.

Territorial Army

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the changes he is making to the advertising account for the Territorial Army. [R] [17079]

Following a restructuring of the external marketing operations of the Army Training and Recruiting Agency's recruiting division, the decision has been taken to seek a re-tender for the national advertising contract for both the Territorial and the Regular Armies. The requirement will be re-tendered over the next few weeks and it is hoped to identify the successful tenderer in mid-December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 November 2001, Official Report, column 250W, on the Territorial Army, if he will make a statement about the reasons for which those members of the Territorial Army unfit for role have been so categorised. [14377]

The Ministry of Defence does not specifically categorise members of the Territorial Army (TA) as unfit for role.As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member on 7 November 2001,

Official Report, column 250W, members of the TA are considered fit for role when they have completed two phases of training which will vary in length depending on an individual's role and trade, given that the fit for role numbers are based on 100 per cent. of deployable establishments, the majority of those who have not yet achieved fit for role status are undergoing their required training.

The Strategic Defence Review concluded that, in the light of the likely warning time for any large deployment, just over half the TA strength should be fit for role at any

Exercise name	Dates	Location	Reason for cancellation
(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
Tartan Eagle	January-September 2000	UK/USA	Americans reduced annual commitment to one reciprocal exercise a year. Two exercises, one in the UK and one in the USA, were cancelled as a result.
Aswex 00	10–21 January 2000	South western approaches	Lack of funding
Winter Deployment 00	January-March 2000	Norway	Lack of funding
Hairspring 00	March 2000	Norway	Lack of funding
JTFEX 1/00	3–15 April 2000	USA	UK assets withdrawn and re-programmed to another exercise
Dynamic Mix 00	20 May-10 June 2000	Med	Operational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Sharem 133	11–18 June 2000	Med	Operational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Entgrou 2/00	25 September-5 October 2000	France	UK assets withdrawn and re-programmed to another exercise
Unified Spirit 00	5–27 October 2000	USA	Operational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Niriis 00	20–30 November 2000	Greece	UK assets withdrawn and re-programmed to another exercise
Joint Winter 01	5–16 March 2001	Norway	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Hairspring 01	5–18 March 2001	Norway	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Tradewinds 01	1 April-31 May 2001	Caribbean	Lack of funding
Rolling Deep 01	8–21 May 2001	UK	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Dynamic Mix 00	20 May-10 June 2000	Med	Operational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Burmese Chase 01	June-July 2001	USA	RAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Final Nail	July 2001	UK	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Joint Spirit	1–30 September 2001	USA	Events of September 11^th
Tartan Eagle	September 2001	USA	Operational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Sea Dagger	September 2001	UAE	Events of September 11^th
Ursa Minor 01	October 2001	Bulgaria	RAF Air Transport unavailable due to other other operational and exercise tasking

one time and as I explained in my answer on 26 October 2001, Official Report, columns 403–04W, to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) the TA is very close to meeting that requirement.

Unlike the Regular Army, the TA holds its untrained soldier strength against its deployable establishment and in order to replace the TA wastage of 25–30 per cent. per year, equivalent numbers of personnel must be recruited and trained to the required standard.

Military Exercises

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many exercises involving tactical air transport have been (a) cancelled and (b) reduced over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [15229]

Since 1 April 2000 when records on the cancellation of exercises involving the tactical air transport element began, 10 exercises have been cancelled. Records were not maintained before this date. The cancellation of these exercises has had no impact on our ability to conduct operations. Records of exercise reduction are not maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military exercises that have been cancelled in the last 24 months together with the reason for cancellation. [14470]

The table covers those exercises from the Ministry of Defence's Defence Exercise Programme (which lists some 350 exercises each year), the exercise programmes of the Front Line Commands, the Permanent Joint HQ and the Defence Logistic Organisation HQ which have been cancelled in the last 24 months. It does not include unit-organised exercises, details of which are not held centrally and which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Exercise name	Dates	Location	Reason for cancellation
(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
Spirochaete	8–26 October 2001	UK	UK assets withdrawn and re-programmed to another exercise
Highport	10 May 2001	Scotland	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Lonestar	31 May 2001	Scotland	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Lion Sun 15/99	October/November 1999	Cyprus	Lack of funding
Ferro Ariete/Iron Ram	November 1999	UK/Italy	Operational commitments (Kosovo)
Cossak Steppe	November 1999	Poland	Operational commitments (Kosovo)
Winged Star	December 1999	UK	Operational commitments (Kosovo)
Gobi Dust	November 1999	USA	Operational commitments (Kosovo)
Druids Dance 8/99	November/December 1999	UK	Operational commitments (Kosovo)
Rhino Charge	6–22 January 2001	Germany	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Snow Shoe	January-March 2000	Canada	To reduce unit commitment
Thor/Odin	Two 2-week reciprocal exercises March-December 2000	Denmark	Cancelled by Host Nation
Ferro Ariete/Iron Ram	March 2000	UK/Italy	Operational commitments (Kosovo)
Marble Tor 2/00	29 April-13 May 2000	Gibraltar	RAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Ponte Vehio 00	Two weeks April-November 2000	Italy	Cancelled by Host Nation
Asterix Sapper	Two weeks April-November 2000	France	Cancelled by Host Nation
Gaulish Star 2/00	May 2000	France	Operational commitments (Kosovo)
Pond Jump West 2/00	11 July-23 August 2000	Canada	Operational commitments (Kosovo)
Lion Sun 03/01	4 February-4 March 2001	Cyprus	RAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Lion Sun 3/01	5 February-5 March 2001	Cyprus	RAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Ponte Vecchio/Tower	Never confirmed	Italy	Cancelled by host nation
Bridge 00
Ponte Vecchio/Tower	Never confirmed	Italy	Cancelled by host nation
Bridge 01
Iron Ram/Ferro Arriete 01	Never confirmed	Italy	Cancelled by host nation
Roman Eagle 01	Never confirmed	Italy	Cancelled by host nation
Arrcade Guard	March 2001	GE	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Adventure Express 01	March 2001	Albania	Cancelled due to concerns over force protection
Swabian Crusade	12–20 March 2001	Germany	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Premier Link	19 March-1 April 2001	Germany	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Thor/Odin	Two reciprocal exercises March-December 2001	Denmark	UK assets withdrawn and re-programmed to another exercise
Arrcade Guard 01	18–30 March 2001	Germany	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Artful Image	12–16 March 2001	Germany	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Gobidust/Steerspike	n/a	USA	Cancelled by host nation
Pacific Kukuri 1/01	2 April-7 May 2001	Hawaii	Cancelled by host nation
Cobb Ring	1–23 April 2001	USA	RAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Cygnet Vine	April/May 2001	Cyprus	RAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Medicine Man 1	22 April-16 May 2001	Canada	Operational commitments (Bosnia)
Rhino Charge	April 2001	Germany	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Ardent Ground 01	15 April-18 May 2001	Poland	Cancelled by host nation
Druids Dance 3/01	14 May-3 June 2001	UK	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Active Improvement	7–18	Germany	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Cygnet Virgin	May/June 2001	British Virgin Islands	RAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Gaulish 3	21 May-3 June 2001	France	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Asterix 3	21 May-3 June 2001	France	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Pondjump West 1/01	30 May-11 July 2001	Canada	Operational commitments (Kosovo)
Gloworm/Rattlesnake	9–23 June 2001	USA	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Mulberry Tree/Prickly	2–15 June 2001	USA	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Pear
Orient Express 1/02	30 June-13 July 2001	Belgium	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Paper Chase	19–30 July 2001	Germany	Cancelled by host nation
Rhino Spear 01	1–15 July 2001	Germany	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Orient Express 2/02	14–28 July 2001	Belgium	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Lion Sun 10/01	23 July-20 August 2001	Cyprus	Operational commitments (Bosnia)
Asterix 4	July 2001	France	Cancelled by host nation
Lion Sun 12/01	20 August-17 September 2001	Cyprus	Operational commitments (Bosnia)
Wet Gap	1–15 October 2001	Germany	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Britannia Way/Iberian	15–26 October 2001	Spain	Cancelled by host nation
Focus 01
Hard Flint	13 May-8 June 2000	Canada	Operational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Collective Training 00	27 September-5 October 2000	UK	National fuel crisis-uncertainty of impact on fuel reserves prevented deploying forces to exercise area

Exercise name	Dates	Location	Reason for cancellation
(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
Snow Falcon	25 September-6 October 2000	Norway	Operational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Jagged Corse	16–27 October 2000	Corsica	Operational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Sqn Bilat 5/00	30 October-3 November 2000	Slovakia	Operational commitments (Sierra Leone)
Ample Train	March 2001	Europe	RAF Air Transport unavailable due to other operational and exercise tasking
Collective Training 01	12–24 May 2001	UK	Foot and mouth disease restrictions
Chef de Mission	24 September-5 October 2001	France	Operational commitments (Veritas)

Combat Effectiveness

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what physical tests were included in the combat effectiveness gender study; and if he will publish the (a) male and (b) female failure rates. [14471]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 November 2001, Official Report, column 767W.

Somme Battlefields

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has collated on proposals to exhume British and Commonwealth war dead and clear cemeteries in the Somme battlefields in connection with major construction proposals. [16819]

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for the care and maintenance of the graves of all British and Commonwealth war dead who fell in the two World Wars and the memorials to those who have no known grave. Neither the Ministry of Defence nor the Commission have received proposals about major construction projects on the Somme which could require the exhumation and relocation of war graves.

Air-To-Air Refuelling

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to bring in air-to-air fuel replenishment for special forces helicopters. [15231]

The hon. Member will be aware that it is our long-standing policy not to comment on matters relating to the operational capability of the UK special forces. I am therefore withholding this information under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information whose disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations.

Tactical Air Transport

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual allocation of hours for tactical air transport training; and what is the actual number of hours training achieved in the last 12 months. [15227]

From 1 November 2000 to 31 October 2001, 3,827 hours were allocated for tactical air transport training. Of these, 2,910, or 76 per cent. were achieved. This type of training is very dependent on weather conditions. Restrictions imposed by foot and mouth disease and additional operational tasking also contributed to the shortfall in training hours. Despite, this, crews have met their Basic Training Requirements.

Absence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been absent without leave in each of the last 10 years, broken down by service. [14376]

The numbers of service personnel recorded as being absent without leave, by individual service, during each of the last 10 years up to 31 December 2000, are shown in the table.

Service year	Royal Navy	Royal Marines	Army¹	Royal Air Force	Total
1991	74	16	2,228	125	2,443
1992	75	23	2,093	95	2,286
1993	53	15	1,776	72	1,916
1994	57	25	1,548	35	1,665
1995	37	12	1,211	36	1,296
1996	45	10	1,189	36	1,280
1997	32	10	1,181	23	1,246
1998	29	6	1,385	26	1,446
1999	34	9	1,537	34	1,614
2000	57	²10	1,917	27	2,011
¹ Army personnel can be formally reported as absent without leave immediately, the Royal Navy and RAF only initiate formal reporting procedures after the seventh day of absence
² Figure includes two Army personnel serving with the Royal Marines

Reservists

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the most recent figures, by service, for those reservists on full-time reserve service. [14469]

The most recent figures, by service, for those reservists on full-time reserve service as at 1 October are:

Naval service (inc. RM): 619
Army: 812
RAF: 284.

These figures are contained in Tri-Service Publication 2 (Tri-Service Personnel Strengths and Trained Requirements), a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The publication can also be viewed on the internet at www.dasa.mod.uk.

C-17S

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had about the effectiveness of the C-17; whether he has considered buying the four C-17s which are leased; what plans he has to expand 99 Squadron, using further C-17s; and if he will make a statement. [16262]

The C-17s, which achieved their in-service date three months ahead of schedule, have fully met our expectations and performed well in Operation Essential Harvest and Exercise Saif Sareea 2. We have no current plans to purchase the leased C-17 aircraft or to expand 99 Squadron using further C-17s. The current arrangements meet the Short Term Strategic Airlift requirement and are expected to continue until the A400M enters service.

F35

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to sponsor trials of the F35 in connection with developing UK requirements; what trials of the aircraft will take place in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [16558]

In order to avoid unnecessary duplication and cost, a dingle integrated Future Joint Combat Aircraft/F35 test programme with our US partner is being considered. Under this strategy, the work would be undertaken primarily in the US. UK Test and Evaluation personnel from the Ministry of Defence and QinetiQ would be integrated into the joint test activities.Examination of test programme options reflects best practice under Smart Acquisition in delivering defence programmes to performance, time and cost.In any event, the Joint Strike Fighter prime contractor will be required to demonstrate that the aircraft is compatible with UK aircraft carriers and support infrastructure. This may involve UK based trials.

Afghanistan

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries, and the number of troops they have promised, as part of their commitment to the international coalition's actions in Afghanistan. [15823]

[holding answer 20 November 2001]: The following countries have promised military assets as part of their commitment to the international coalition against terrorism: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.The Ministry of Defence does not hold records of the number of personnel that each country has offered.

Ss Somali

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if diving operations have been (a) carried out and (b) authorised by the Ministry on the wreck of the SS Somali since 1971; and if he will give details of the purpose and results of any such operation. [16860]

The SS Somali was a British merchant ship and as such is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence. Responsibility for merchant vessels lies with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Mod Police

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what statutory powers govern the operation of the Ministry of Defence Police Service's Police Committee. [16830]

The Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987 provides the statutory basis for the Ministry of Defence Police Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to ensure that the MOD police receive training in dealing with members of the public. [17077]

The Ministry of Defence police undertake the same basic recruitment and continuation training as their Home Department police colleagues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is (a) the establishment and (b) the current strength of the MOD police. [17080]

On 31 October 2001 the total authorised complement of the Ministry of Defence police was 3,437 and the strength 3,354, including 63 officers currently serving overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms exist for measuring the efficiency and performance of the MOD police. [17078]

The Ministry of Defence police (MDP) is subject to efficiency and performance targets set by MOD. As with all next steps agencies, the MDP are set annual key targets which are published in the House of Commons Official Report. The chief constable's accounts are audited by the National Audit Office and published in his annual report which is laid before Parliament. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary undertakes periodic inspections of the MDP. The MOD Police Committee, during its quarterly meetings, review aspects of MDP performance.

Nato

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the UK pays to NATO as its share of NATO's overall costs, broken down into budget headings. [16778]

In financial year 2000–01, the Ministry of Defence contributed £42.915 million (net of receipts) to the capital costs covered by the NATO Security Investment Programme. It also contributed £58.301 million to the Military Budget which funds NATO's military command structure and its associated programmes. Finally, £15.600 million (£15.404 million from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and £0.196 million from the Ministry of Defence) was paid to NATO's Civil Budget which funds NATO's Headquarters and associated programmes.

Osama Bin Laden

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent discovery of notes for the design of nuclear weapons in houses captured from al-Qaeda in Kabul. [16422]

I have been asked to reply.

There is no evidence of a specific nuclear threat. We know that Osama bin Laden has sought to acquire weapons of mass destruction, but we do not believe that he has the capability to deliver them. We have no doubt that Osama bin Laden would have no moral compunction about using weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, if he could.

Transport; Local Government And The Regions

Train Operating Companies

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations have been received from train operating companies about the conditions imposed by rolling stock manufacturers on holders of short-term franchises. [12741]

I am aware that representations have been made by one train operator for which a franchise extension is being considered. The Strategic Rail Authority is not aware that any proposal to enter into a lease has been refused. In the event of such difficulty, the Authority has powers available to assist with procurement arrangements.

Rail Freight

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 1 November 2001, Official Report, column 782W, on rail freight, if the Draft Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority specifically mention the 50 per cent. target for freight. [14679]

No, because the target is 80 per cent.

London Underground

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which members of the London Transport or London Underground boards have at any time within the period since 1990 (a) served on the board of, (b) been employed by and (c) had a material connection to any of the companies which make up the consortiums which have been accorded preferred bidder status for the Public-Private Partnership for London Underground. [14591]

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: Balfour Beatty is a member of the Metronet consortium, which has preferred bidder status for the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines infrastructure contract (BCV) and the sub-surface lines infrastructure contract (SSL). Sir Malcolm Bates served on the board of BICC plc (as a non-executive director) from 8 July 1997 to 31 January 1999, at which time Balfour Beatty was a wholly owned subsidiary of BICC plc. At no time did Sir Malcolm have a material connection with Balfour Beatty. Sir Malcolm resigned his appointment as a non-executive director of BICC plc immediately prior to accepting the office of Chairman of London Transport which he took up on 11 February 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many escalators on the London Underground system are out of service; where they are located; and for how long they have been non-operational. [15568]

This is an operational matter for London Underground, who have provided the table. They point out that escalators out of service include those subject to planned replacement or refurbishment programmes, and that the table represents a snapshot in time, reflecting the situation on 15 November 2001. The escalator situation can change rapidly.

Escalators out of service at 15 November 2001
Station	Escalator reference number	Date taken out of service
Manor House	2	6 April 2001
Embankment	7	21 May 2001
Charing Cross	11	26 May 2001
Bond Street	4	28 May 2001
Marble Arch	3	3 June 2001
Euston	2	2 July 2001
Rotherhithe	1	12 July 2001
Heathrow 1, 2, 3	6	19 August 2001
Notting Hill Gate	1	30 August 2001
Holborn	6	10 September 2001
Liverpool Street	8 and 9	3 October 2001
Kilburn Park	1	7 October 2001
Heathrow 1, 2, 3	5	9 October 2001
Bank	2	15 October 2001
Kings Cross	5	27 October 2001
Kings Cross	4	29 October 2001
Bethnal Green	3	6 November 2001
Clapham South	3	9 November 2001
Holborn	5	14 November 2001
Earl's Court	1 and 2	23 November 2001
Tottenham Court Road	4	16 December 2001

Standards Board For England

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of all guidance so far issued by the Standards Board for England. [14544]

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: The Standards Board has published the following guidance:

Guide to Part III of the Local Government Act 2000: Local Authorities;

Guide to Part III of the Local Government Act 2000: Police, Fire, National Parks and other authorities;

Guide to Part III of the Local Government Act 2000: Parish and Town councils.

I have placed copies of these documents in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the criteria by which he selected people to be appointed members of the Standards Board for England. [14551]

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: The Board members were appointed by Ministers of the then Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions on the 7 February 2001, 22 March 2001 and on the 3 May 2001. I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State on 7 February 2001, Official Report, column 535W; on 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 292W; and the answer given on 3 May 2001, Official Report, column 753W.The published criteria were:

commitment to the value of local democracy;
unimpeachable integrity
significant achievement in any field;
tact and discretion;
the ability to act as a team member;
proven strategic and communication skills commensurate with the board of a national body.
candidates must not be holders of national elected office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) remuneration and (b) superannuation is paid to board members of the Standards Board for England. [14552]

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the then Under-Secretary of State on 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 292W and on 3 May 2001, Official Report, column 753W.The Chair is paid £50,000 a year for working two and a half days per week. The Deputy Chair is paid £7,500 a year for working two days a month. The Members of the Board are paid £6,800 a year for working two days a month.None of the posts is pensionable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was the cost of the establishment of the Standards Board for England; and what is its continuing operating cost. [14553]

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: My Department spent £111,234 on recruitment exercises for the board members and chief executive. Preparatory work for the establishment of the Standards Board for England was also carried out by officials in my Department.Since the establishment of the Board in March 2001, it has been paid a further £935,384 in grant-in-aid to fund its establishment and running costs.The allocation made for the Standards Board for England for this year in the Department's request for resources was £7.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the Code of Conduct signed by the board members of the Standards Board for England, giving the dates on which each board member signed it. [14548]

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: I have today placed in the Library, the Code of Conduct adopted by the Members of the Standards Board for England. This code was adopted by all board members on 8 August 2001. It is based on the draft Model Code of Conduct for Councillors, adapted to reflect the differing nature of the Board and the local authorities for which the model code was designed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who are the board members of the Standards Board for England; and what are their relevant (a) experience and (b) qualifications. [14549]

[holding answer 13 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the then Under-Secretary of State on 22 March 2001, Official Report, column 292W and on 3 May 2001, Official Report, column 753W.Tony Holland, a solicitor, was Principal Ombudsman to the Personal Investment Authority Ombudsman Bureau Ltd., 1997–2000. In 2000 he was appointed to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel and made Chairman of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission.Patricia Hughes was Chief Executive of the London borough of Sutton from 1990 until February 2001. From 1987 to 1990 she was deputy Chief Executive and Borough Solicitor to the London borough of Islington.Alan Doig is Professor of Fraud Management at Teeside Business School. He is author of numerous publications on ethics, conflict of interest, fraud and corruption. He works with a number of bodies involved with ethics and public office both in the UK and overseas, including the Council on Europe.John Bowers QC is a barrister specialising in employment law, human rights and pensions. He is author of books on whistleblowing, human rights and employment law.Margaret Pratt is a management consultant in local and central Government and district, metropolitan and county councils. A past president of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), she sits on the Audit Committee of University College, Northampton.Roger Taylor is a solicitor and was Chief Executive of Manchester City council from 1984 to 1988 and Chief Executive of Birmingham City council from 1988 to 1994. He is currently Managing Director of JSSPinnacle Consulting, a Government Research, PFS/PPP and non-health consultancy.Paul Sabapathy OBE is Pro Chancellor and Deputy Chairman of University of Central England. A past President of Walsall Chamber of Industry and Commerce, he has served on the boards of both the Black County Development Corporation and Birmingham Heartlands Development Corporation.Celia Cameron CBE is leader of Norfolk county council and has been Leader of the Labour Group on Norfolk county council since 1990. Since November 1999 she has been Chair of the county council's Cabinet and the Executive, Services Development and Investment Committees.Peter Chalke CBE is Leader of Wiltshire county council. He has been a county councillor since 1982 and Leader of the Conservative Group on Wiltshire county council since 1986. He is also Deputy Leader of the LGA Conservative Group and the LGA Conservative Education Spokesman.

Rail Services (Scotland)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many railway stations were opened in Scotland in each year between 1992 and 1999. [15875]

The new stations opened in Scotland between 1992 and 1999 include those shown in the table.

Year	Station
1999	Drumfrochar
1998	Dalgety Bay
1994	Prestwick International
1994	Camelon
1994	Sanquhar
1994	Wallyford
1993	Maryhill
1993	Summerston
1993	Lambhill
1993	Possilpark and Parkhouse
1993	Ashfield
1993	Kirkwood
1993	Baillieston
1993	Mount Vernon
1993	Carmyle
1992	Whifflet
1992	Glenrothes with Thornton
1992	Bentley

Route Management Strategies

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list (a) route management strategies under way and (b) those which are planned to commence. [15730]

The following route management strategies are under way:

A1 (London to Peterborough)
A1 (Peterborough to Blyth)
A168/A19 (A1 Dishforth to Gateshead)
A35/A31/A30 (Southampton to Exeter)
A417/A419 (Swindon to Gloucester)
A421/A428 (M1 to Cambridge)
A49 (A40 to A5)
A64 (A1 to Scarborough)
A69 (Newcastle to Carlisle)
M180/A180/A160 (M18 to Grimsby)
M20/M26/A20 (London to Dover)
M4 (J1–15) (London to Swindon)
M5 (J21–31) (Weston to Exeter excluding Junction 21)
M53/A55/A483 (Birkenhead to Welsh Border)
M55 (Blackpool to M6)
M6 (Junction 20–44)/A74 (Warrington to Scottish Border)
M6/A45 and M45/A46/A5 (M1 to Birmingham Corridor)
M62/A63/A1033 (Liverpool-Hull).

The following route management strategies have yet to commence:

A1 (Blyth to South of Gateshead (A194M))
A11 (M11 to Norwich)
A120 (Bishops Stortford to Al2)
A13 (London to Tilbury)
A19/A194M (South of Gateshead to North of Newcastle)
A2/M2 (London to Dover)
A21 (London to Hastings)
A249 (M2 to Sheppey)
A27/A259/M27(J4–12) (Southampton to Folkestone)

A3/A3M (London to Portsmouth)
A30 (Penzance to Exeter)
A303/A30 (M3 to Honiton)
A34 (M3 Junction 9 to M40 Junction 9)
A38 (Exeter to Bodmin)
A404/A404(M) (Windsor to Beaconsfield)
A43/A45 (Bicester to Thrapston)
A46 (M5 Junction 9 to A45 at Coventry)
A46 (Leicester to Lincoln)
A47/Al2 (Peterborough to Lowestoft)
A5 (Dunstable to M1 Junction 18)
A50/A500 (Nottingham to Stoke)
A52/A453 (Derby to A1)
A590 (Barrow to M6)
A66/A174/A595 (Middlesbrough to West Cumbria)
M1/M10 (London to M6)
M1 Junctions 19–30
M1 Junctions 30–42
M1-A1 Link
M11 (London to Cambridge)
M18 (M1 to M62)
M23/A23 (London to Brighton)
M25 London Orbital North
M25 London Orbital South
M3(J1–13)/M27(J4–1)/M271 London to Southampton
M4/M32/M48/M49 (Swindon to South Wales)
M40 (London to Birmingham)
M42/M5/M6 Birmingham Box (including M6 to Junction 10a)
M5 Junctions 4a-15 (Birmingham to Bristol excluding Junction 15)
M5 Junctions 15–21 (Bristol-Weston including Junctions 15 and 21)
M50/A40 (M5 to Welsh Border)
M54/A5/A483/A458/A449/A5 (M6 to Welsh Border)
M56/A5117/A550 (Manchester to Welsh Border)
M57/M58/A5036 (M6 to Liverpool to M62)
M6 Junctions 10a–20
M60/M502/A663/A627(M) Manchester Ring Road
M61 (M6 to Manchester)
M65/A56/M66 (M6 to Burnley to M62)
M67/A628/A616 (Manchester to M1)
M69 and M42/A42 (Birmingham-Nottingham) and A38 (Birmingham-M1).

The Highways Agency intends to have a route management strategy in place by March 2004 for each of the routes comprising the core trunk road network. The agency is currently revising the timing and boundaries of individual route management strategies yet to commence, to ensure that they dovetail with the multi-modal and roads-based studies.

Roads (Surrey)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much his Department has spent on roads in Surrey in each of the past seven years. [16174]

The provision made for capital expenditure on local major road schemes and maintenance of local roads and bridges in Surrey in the period 1995–96 to 2001–02 is set out in the table:

Type of road spend
£ million
Year	Capital maintenance of roads and bridges	Major road schemes¹	Totals
1995–96	7.619	17.164	24.783
1996–97	4.114	9.680	13.794
1997–98	4.580	3.500	8.080
1998–99	4.400	0.800	5.200
1999–2000	5.742	1.500	7.242
2000–01	6.972	0	6.972
2001–02	11.763	0	11.763
¹ Individual schemes with a gross cost in excess of £2 million (£5 million since 2000–01)

The revenue funding provided for structural and routine maintenance of non-principal roads and routine maintenance of principal roads in Surrey in that period is set out in the table.

Structural and routine maintenance
Year	£ million
1995–96	42.07
1996–97	41.11
1997–98	39.93
1998–99	40.76
1999–2000	41.67
2000–01	43.33
2001–02	44.56

Surrey county council may also have chosen to make additional amounts of capital and revenue available for expenditure on roads and road related schemes. Information on expenditure on the trunk road network is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Urban Bus Challenge

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will announce the criteria and timetable for the Urban Bus Challenge; and if he will make a statement. [16050]

The first Urban Bus Challenge competition was held earlier this year. Criteria were sent to local authorities in June with a closing date for bids of 31 August. The criteria are available on my Department's website. The outcome of the competition was announced on 2 November 2001, Official Report, columns 921–22W. It is envisaged that the timetable for next year's Urban Bus Challenge competition will be similar.

Gner

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason he rejected the advice of the SRA to grant a 20 year franchise to GNER. [R] [16032]

The SRA may only award a franchise to a person who has submitted a tender in response to an invitation to tender under section 26 of the Railways Act 1993 unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs. Such a direction is required if the SRA plans to replace a franchise before its expiry.When considering whether to grant a direction, the Secretary of State has to decide whether the benefits offered outweigh the desirability of a franchise being subject to the tendering process under sections 26 to 26C.The Secretary of State did not give a direction in relation to the Inter City East Coast franchise. He noted that better terms were more likely to be achieved nearer the expiry of the current franchise when the infrastructure upgrade for the East Coast Main Line would be better defined.

Railtrack

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the (a) procedure and (b) timetable for consideration of the bids for Railtrack; and what is the cut-off date for bids to be considered. [15802]

These are matters for the Administrator to determine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what financial guarantees the Administrator of Railtrack plc has sought from the Government concerning new investment projects. [16366]

The Government's Loan Agreement with the Administrator, copies of which have been placed in the House Library, means that Government will provide sufficient funding to continue on a 'business as usual' basis—including investment expenditure decisions—during the administration period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory redundancies planned by Railtrack in administration. [16361]

There are no plans for redundancies as a result of Administration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much of the financial guarantee to Railtrack in administration represents cash spent; and how much remains as a facility to draw down. [16379]

The £800 million loan instalment has been fully drawn down. It represents part of the loan agreement entered into with the Administrator—copies of which have been placed in the House Library—in order to enable Railtrack plc (in administration) to continue trading and to repay financial creditors as they become due. The loan is to be repaid either as or before Railtrack plc moves out of administration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the investment projects over £5 million in value awaiting decision by the administrator of Railtrack plc. [16357]

All planned investment projects by Railtrack were outlined in its Network Management Statement published in May 2001. Government have committed to provide the Administrator with access to sufficient funding to continue on a 'business as usual' basis—including investment expenditure decisions—during the administration period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many separate rail investment projects are awaiting decision by the administrator of Railtrack; and what their combined value is. [16358]

All planned investment projects by Railtrack were outlined in its Network Management Statement published in May 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which (a) creditors and (b) contractors of Railtrack plc have approached the Government for (i) letters of comfort and (ii) guidance concerning payments for work done for Railtrack. [16367]

No. For the Government's intentions with regard to creditors I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, on 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 671W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the time Railtrack plc will stay in administration. [16380]

This is a matter for the Administrator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which investment projects have been approved by the administrator since taking over Railtrack plc. [16365]

This is a matter for the Administrator. Government have committed to provide the Administrator with access to sufficient funding to continue on a 'business as usual' basis—including investment expenditure decisions—during the administration period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when bids will close for the (a) assets and (b) liabilities of Railtrack plc in administration. [16370]

This is a matter for the Administrator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he has taken with respect to the plan to cut costs at Railtrack plc drawn up by the board before the company was put into administration. [16371]

The running of the company during administration is a matter for the Administrator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the forecast is of the investment expenditure of Railtrack in administration and its successor for (a) the period from being placed in administration to 31 March 2002 and (b) the 2002–03 financial year. [16362]

While Railtrack plc is in railway administration, the day-to-day expenditure decisions are a matter for the Administrator. The Government's Loan Agreement with the Administrator, copies of which have been placed in the House Library, means that Government will provide sufficient funding to continue on a 'business as usual' basis during the administration period. Investment decisions in future years will be a matter for the successor company to Railtrack plc.

Railways (Consultants)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the external (a) consultants and (b) advisers which the Government have used in the last year on railway matters. [16374]

My Department has, over the last year, used the following consultants and advisers on national railway matters:

AEA Technology Rail
Allen and Overy
AON
Arthur Andersen
Booz Allen and Hamilton
Clifford Chance
CMS Cameron McKenna
Deloitte and Touche
Ernst and Young
Eversheds
KPMG
MDS Transmodal
Mercers Management Consulting
Mott Parsons Gibb
NERA
Oscar Faber
Peter Davidson Consultancy
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Saunders and Dolleymore
Saxton Bampfylde Hever
Schroder Salomon Smith Barney
SEMA Group UK
United Kingdom Accreditation Service.

Aviation Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had since 11 September with the European Commission on state aid to airlines to compensate for (a) the four day closure of United States' air space and (b) insurance cover premiums. [15805]

The European Commission set out guidelines on emergency aid measures in its Communication on the repercussions of the terrorist attacks in the United States on the air transport industry, which was endorsed by the EU Transport Council on 16 October. The Government are considering whether to provide compensation to UK airlines for the four days closure of US airspace, and will notify the Commission if any such aid is forthcoming. In relation to insurance premiums, we have informed the Commission of the arrangements made to provide temporary third party war risk insurance cover for UK airlines and ground service providers. We introduced our scheme on 24 September, for 30 days in the first instance. On 22 October HM Treasury announced that the scheme would continue for a further 30 days until midnight on 24 November. A further announcement will be made shortly on the future operation of the scheme. We are also participating in the Commission's Ad Hoc Insurance Group that has been established to discuss a common approach to resolving the present difficulties in the light of the Council Conclusions on state aid agreed on 16 October.

Evergreen Hedges

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what action the Government proposes to take in response to the final report of the Building Research Establishment and Tree Advice Trust on evergreen hedges; and if he will make a statement; [16413](2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the final report of the Building Research Establishment and Tree Advice Trust about evergreen hedges. [16414]

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) and Tree Advice Trust were commissioned by my Department to develop an objective method for assessing whether high evergreen hedges block too much daylight and sunlight to adjoining properties, and to provide guidance on hedge heights to alleviate these problems.We expect to publish the final report of their work shortly and will ensure that copies are then placed in the Libraries of both Houses.We will also be considering what is the best way of presenting this information to the public, so that people are encouraged to apply the formula to their problem hedge and to use the results to try to settle matters with their neighbours amicably.

Health And Safety Laboratory

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Health and Safety Laboratory intends to publish its annual report and accounts for 2000–01. [17389]

The Health and Safety Laboratory has published the 2000–01 annual report and accounts, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Birmingham Northern Relief Road

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Birmingham Northern Relief Road will be opened to the public; and what toll charges will be made for its use. [16823]

The Birmingham Northern Relief Road is expected to be open to traffic in January 2004. The level of tolls to be charged for the use of the road is a matter for the concessionaire, Midland Expressway Ltd. I understand that they have yet to decide on the toll levels but expect to do so closer to the opening date.

Local And Regional Airports (Security)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what additional security measures have been (a) implemented at and (b) recommended to local and regional airports since 11 September. [17126]

My Department lays down the security requirements for the operators of public transport aircraft, both passenger-carrying and all-cargo, and the managers of the aerodromes they operate from. Following the attacks of September 11 these requirements have increased and their scope extended to general aviation. To divulge details of them would undermine their effectiveness. DTLR inspectors monitor compliance.

Dibden Bay

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many representations have been made to his Department (a) in favour of and (b) in opposition to the building of a container port at Dibden Bay. [R] [17097]

In response to the advertisements placed by Associated British Ports Ltd. in respect of their proposal, the Secretary of State received 175 representations in favour of the proposal and 6,189 opposed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action his Department intends to take in respect of the petition to Parliament from residents of the New Forest, East constituency concerning the Dibden Bay Public Inquiry venue. [R] [17098]

We will respond to the petition in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposal to hold the public inquiry into the application for permission to build a container port at Dibden Bay (a) in premises owned by the applicant company and (b) outside the area which would primarily be affected by the building of such a port. [R] [17095]

In the circumstances following the withdrawal of the original venue for the inquiry we considered all the representations made to us about a new venue and accepted the offer from Associated British Ports of the use of the Ferry Terminal Building at Southampton Port. Alternative venues considered were either unsuitable for staging an inquiry of the size and length that the Dibden inquiry is likely to be or would result in too long a delay in getting an inquiry under way.We have recognised the concerns of local residents about the choice of venue and have asked the inquiry Secretariat to hold the first week's session in Hythe and to arrange for some further sessions to be held in the local area provided suitable locations can be found.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will require the public inquiry into the application for permission to build a container port at Dibden Bay to be held on premises within the area which would primarily be affected by the building of such a port. [R] [17096]

The Dibden Bay public inquiry will be held at the Ferry Terminal at Southampton Port. The first week's proceedings will be held at the Appledore Centre, Hythe and the inquiry Secretariat have been asked to arrange some other sessions at venues in the local area, provided suitable venues can be found.

Gas Explosion (Newton Heath)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received on the promptness of the response of the Health and Safety Executive following the gas explosion in Newton Heath, Manchester on Saturday 17 November; and if he will make a statement. [17148]

None.

Trade And Industry

Consignia

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of Consignia's profits will be paid to the Government this financial year. [13732]

No decision has been taken.

Nuclear Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much BNFL paid the UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary for the police it provided to protect the MOX fuel exported to Japan. [15852]

The costs of security arrangements associated with transporting MOX, including the costs associated with the role of the UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary, are a commercial matter for the companies involved.

Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken since 11 September to guard against a terrorist attack on the Hartlepool AGR nuclear power station; and if she will make a statement. [16186]

Robust security arrangements were already in place at Hartlepool power station before the events of 11 September. The UK's civil nuclear sites apply stringent security measures regulated by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), the security regulator. The security regulator works closely with the Health and Safety Executive, the safety regulator, which provides advice on the safety implications of events, including external hazards such as plane crashes, at nuclear installations.Security and safety precautions at nuclear sites are kept under regular review. Both regulators are reviewing all relevant precautions in the light of the recent terrorist attacks in the USA. It is not Government policy to disclose details of security measures taken at civil nuclear sites.

Miners' Compensation

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total amount of interest paid to sick miners and their dependants who have experienced delays in the payments of the amounts awarded them under the terms of the respiratory disease scheme; and whether the (a) Department and (b) the appointed claims handlers will be responsible for these interest payments. [16660]

Under the claims handling agreement, signed by the Department and the solicitors acting for the claimants, interest on general damages is payable by the Department from the date of the receipt of the letter of claim. On special damages, interest is payable from either the date the loss occurred, or in some cases the date of receipt of the letter of claim. Loss of earnings are calculated at the appropriate court rate, and other heads of special damages are calculated at a reduced rate, reflecting the fact that these are assessed at present day values. Since interest runs to the date an offer is accepted and forms part of the offer, a separate figure is not recorded by the claims handlers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former miners from the north Somerset coalfield have (a) applied for and (b) received compensation awards. [16321]

In relation to respiratory disease, in the constituency of Somerton and Frome, IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered 25 claims. Nine individual payments have been made to date, amounting to £33,139.With regard to vibration white finger, there are two claimants in this region, of whom one has received a payment of £3,113.

Miners' Pension Schemes

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage increases have been awarded annually to pensioner beneficiaries under the (a) mineworkers' pension scheme and (b) British Coal staff superannuation scheme; and what has been their total value annually at constant prices. [16662]

Since 1994 MPS and BCSSS members have received around a 30 per cent. increase by way of valuation surplus bonuses. This is made up of:

MPS: 20 per cent. from 1997 and approximately 9 per cent. from 2000

BCSSS: 6.7 per cent. from 1996, 10.8 per cent. from 1998, and 11 per cent. this year.

Payments of bonus increases to pensioners have been provided by the trustees and are as follows (excludes the 11 per cent. BCSSS increase for which figures are not yet available).

£ million
Year	MPS¹	BCSSS²
1997–97	23	29
1997–98	69	29
1998–99	76	66
1999–2000	82	78
2000–01	119	76
Total	369	278
¹ Year to end September
² Year to end March

In addition to these bonuses, MPS and BCSSS members have also received annual inflation-linked increases to maintain the real level of their pension.

Percentage
Year	MPS	BCSSS
1995	3.5	2.6
1996	2.1	3.1
1997	2.9	2.7
1998	3.7	3.7
1999	1.3	3.0
2000	3.3	1.4
2001	1.9	3.2

Fuel Cells

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what incentives the Government are providing for the expansion of energy generation from fuel cells; and if she will make a statement. [16741]

The Department has been supporting fuel cells research and development for many years, through the DTI Sustainable Energy Programme and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council. Since 1992 the DTI has supported 147 fuel cell projects with a total DTI spend of £11.8 million. The current DTI Programme is spending about £2 million per annum, with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) spending about the same on basic research related to fuel cells.The DTI is currently supporting the first UK demonstration of a 200 kW fuel cell combined heat and power unit at Woking borough council. Although there are a number of different fuel cell technologies, significant cost reductions will be necessary before they will be fully commercial for electricity generation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets she has set for the use of fuel cells. [16742]

Fuel cells are not yet fully commercial for electricity generation, and I have not yet set any targets for their use. The Energy Review presently being conducted by the Performance and Innovation Unit is considering the role of new technologies including fuel cells, in conjunction with other energy matters, as part of its review of strategic issues surrounding energy policy. It is due to report to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister by the end of the year.Fuel cells may also be used to replace or supplement the internal combustion engine in vehicles. The Government will shortly be issuing a consultation draft of their "Powering Future Vehicles" strategy for promoting the development, introduction and take-up of hybrid, fuel cell and other low-carbon vehicle technologies.

Renewable Energy

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the NETA in assisting the suppliers of renewable energy; and if she will make a statement. [16725]

On 1 November 2001, I issued a consultation document in response to Ofgem's reports "The New Electricity Trading Arrangements—Review of the First Three Months" and "Report to the DTI on the Review of the Initial Impact of NETA on Smaller Generators" of 31 August 2001. I have placed copies of the consultation document in the Libraries of the Houses.The Government recognise the issues faced by smaller generators, including renewables, under NETA and are committed to ensuring that our renewables targets are not prejudiced. The Government's key proposals are, broadly,

To ensure imbalance prices are genuinely cost reflective; and
To ensure that effective consolidation services emerge.

The Government are also inviting views on other proposals put forward by industry.

The Government believe that in some circumstances consolidation services are vital in order to establish and foster smaller generation plant, including assisting suppliers of renewable energy. While consolidation services are now starting to emerge in the market, the Government believe action may be necessary to address the lack of consolidation services to date. The Government have proposed establishing a working group of smaller generators, the National Grid Company, BSC (Balancing and Settlement Code) participants, Ofgem, the DTI and DEFRA to look urgently at possible structural or regulatory obstacles to consolidation, including the likely timescale on which competitive consolidation services will emerge. The Government will ask this group to provide an interim report by 24 December 2001, and a final report by 31 January 2001.

The consultation document is available at www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/. The consultation closes on 1 December 2001.

Departmental Review

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on the review of her Department. [17451]

I am announcing today a series of reforms to the structure and operation of my Department to improve the way it serves business, employees and consumers. The DTI has a vital part to play in helping to drive up UK competitiveness and productivity (including resource as well as labour productivity) and I want it to fulfil that role as effectively as possible.The changes will clarify my Department's role and strategy to focus sharply on customer needs. They will also simplify the support the Department provides for business and make that support easier to identify and to access. The Department's strategic priorities—reflected in its new structure—will be to promote innovation, spur enterprise and build competitive frameworks, including support for workplace standards and partnership.The changes will also include the creation of a new strategy board and other boards involving Ministers, senior officials and non-executive directors; significantly greater involvement of business-people and others in the Department's strategy development and greater interchange between the Department and the private and social enterprise sectors. We will maintain an emphasis on better regulation, particularly for small businesses; deliver more consistent, streamlined advice for consumers; and have clearer roles for the Department's work in the English regions.

Northern Ireland

Plastic Baton Round

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in phase II of the research programme to find alternatives to the plastic baton round; what the estimated cost is of phase II; if he will place its findings in the Library; and at what stage he intends to open out to competitive tender or introduce an independent element into the research programme. [7112]

Phase II of the research programme has now been completed and I will shortly place a copy of the Steering Group's report in the Library of the House. The report will outline our priorities for further research. To date costings for the research programme are approaching £1. million. Arrangements will be made to ensure close liaison between the Policing Board and the Steering Group leading the research programme.

Abortion

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many organisations made submissions to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission calling for the right to access to abortion to be included in a Bill of Rights; and what assessment he has made of how many people each of those organisations represent; [11987](2) how many individuals made submissions to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission calling for the right to access to abortion to be included in a Bill of Rights; [11988](3) how many organisations made submissions to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission calling for the protection of the right to life for the unborn child to be included in a Bill of Rights; and what assessment he has made of how many people each of these organisations represents; [11989](4) how many individuals made submissions to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission calling for the protection of the right to life for the unborn to be included in a Bill of Rights. [11990]

These are matters for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will announce the new appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and when he will announce whether or not the existing commissioners are to be re-appointed. [17453]

The Secretary of State announced today the appointment of four new Commissioners following an open competition:

Lady (Christine) Eames;
Dr Christopher McGimpsey;
Mr. Kevin McLaughlin; and
Mr. Patrick Yu.

The new Commissioners will take up their appointments on 1 December.

The Secretary of State also confirmed the reappointment of eight of the existing Commissioners, including the Commission's chair, Professor Brice Dickson. The remaining member of the existing Commission, Professor Christine Bell, is currently on maternity leave. A decision on her position has, at her request, been deferred until after she returns to work.

Departmental Events

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) national and (b) international awareness events his Department has participated in since June 1997 in the form of (i) sponsorship, (ii) departmental attendance, (iii) similar departmental activities and (iv) a message of support. [5038]

This information is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Culture, Media And Sport

Heritage Lottery Fund

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many churches in the Buckingham constituency have (a) applied for and (b) received awards from the Heritage Lottery Fund in each year since the National Lottery began. [16165]

Five churches in the Buckingham constituency have sought funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund since the National Lottery began.In 1995 three churches applied and one—All Saints. Middle Claydon—was awarded a grant for bell repairs. One church applied in each of the years 1997 and 1998 but in both cases the application was unsuccessful. No subsequent application has been made. Since 1999 the Heritage Lottery Fund's published policy for the Joint Places of Worship scheme has been to give priority to economically and socially disadvantaged areas.

Ageism

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action her Department has taken to tackle discrimination against older people. [16329]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's equal opportunities policy proscribes discrimination based on age as well as that based on gender, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, disability or sexual orientation. A number of DCMS policies are specifically aimed at ensuring older people enjoy equality of access to the nation's cultural and sporting heritage. These include an entitlement to a free television licence for everyone over the age of 75; significantly higher statutory targets for subtitling provision on digital terrestrial commercial television; the training of around 8,000 older people to be coaches, administrators, officials, leaders and mentors to youngsters through the Volunteering in Sport project; the People's Network Initiative, linking all public libraries to the internet and, as part of the UK Online programme, increasing the use of information and communication technology leisure and lifelong learning by elderly people. In addition, DCMS is represented on the Inter-Ministerial Group on Older People, which is designed to develop a joined-up approach to older people's issues and co-ordinate Government policy for older people.

English Tourism Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the English Tourism Council spent on marketing when it harmonised the grading standards in 1999. [16383]

The budget for marketing and promotion of the new quality assurance scheme in the financial year 1999–2000 was £250,000 and this was spent on a variety of activities, including: media and industry launches, promotion to the industry at travel fairs and via videos and presentations, mailings to the travel trade, distribution of consumer leaflets and promotion to the media via fact packs.The Government remain firmly committed to the voluntary scheme and have encouraged the ETC to identify some funds for consumer promotion. This is now likely to take place next financial year, when the ETC's baseline budget will have been increased by 20 per cent. and taking measures to improve quality in the tourism industry is one of its core priorities.

Film Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Film Council will be made subject to the (a) rules and (b) methods of accountability of the civil service. [16647]

The Film Council is already a non-departmental public body, accountable to Parliament and my Department. The Chief Executive of the Film Council is appointed as accounting officer by my Department's Permanent Secretary, and acts in accordance with Treasury requirements to ensure propriety and high standards of financial management. The Chair and Board appointments are made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The Department's relationship with the Film Council is governed by a financial memorandum which allows the National Audit Office to inspect the Film Council's accounts, and a funding agreement which identifies what the Council must deliver in return for the funding it receives. Expenditure of lottery money is subject to policy and financial directions issued by my Department.

Press Complaints Commission

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to assess the operation of the Press Complaints Commission. [17202]

The Government support an effective system of self-regulation for the newspaper industry, with a Code of Practice overseen by the Press Complaints Commission (PCC). We recognise that, as with any regulatory system, there is always room for improvement. My Department, therefore, continues to monitor the effectiveness of the industry's self-regulatory system, both in terms of the provisions contained in the Code of Practice and the PCC's operations, and my ministerial colleagues and I have no hesitation in suggesting improvements to the industry, as and when appropriate.

Television Licences (Residential Homes)

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to amend the regulations governing the Accommodation for Residential Care Concessionary Television Licence Scheme to preserve the rights of beneficiaries of the concessionary scheme who remain in a sheltered housing complex or residential home provided or managed by a local authority, a housing association or a development corporation when the social mix or the level of warden cover change. [16875]

Consultations between officials and the BBC about the necessary amendments to the television licence fee regulations are currently under way. We intend to bring forward these amendments as soon as we can but it is important that in doing so we do not create any new anomalies or unnecessary administrative burdens.

Sports Administration

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the objectives are of (a) the regional Sport England bodies and (b) the regional New Opportunities Fund for Sport bodies; and if she will make a statement. [16870]

The role of Sport England's nine regional offices is to deliver, in partnership with a range of statutory, voluntary and commercial agencies concerned with sport and recreation, Sport England's national programmes for the development and promotion of sport.The New Opportunities Fund is the body designated in the National Lottery Act 1998 to distribute Lottery funds to initiatives concerned with health, education and the environment. The role of the New Opportunities Fund's regional representatives is to help deliver the overall objectives of the fund. The vision for the new opportunities for PE and the sport in schools programme is laid out in the fund's recently published document "Building for Tomorrow".

Public Accounts Commission

National Audit Office

To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what resources of the NAO are directed to the follow-up of qualifications to (a) agency and (b) departmental accounts; and if he will make a statement. [15246]

It is the responsibility of the management of the Department or agency whose accounts have been qualified to take the necessary corrective action. The NAO will provide appropriate advice and assistance to support the body in this regard. The nature of the support and the resources directed will depend on the underlying reason for qualification in each case. For example, the Comptroller and Auditor General qualified his audit opinion on the Child Support Agency's Client Funds Account for 2000–01 for the seventh consecutive year in the light of high error rates in maintenance assessments made by the agency. The National Audit Office plans to spend some £120,000 on its audit of the 2001–02 account. The examination will check a sample of maintenance assessments to estimate the effect of any errors on outstanding maintenance balances.The National Audit Office will also monitor the agency's progress towards its target of implementing the new assessment system from April 2002. This system of child support was introduced by legislation in 2000 and is aimed at simplifying the rules for maintenance assessments. This is closely linked with modernisation of the Agency's operational processes and the introduction of a new computer system. This is intended to promote increased accuracy in maintenance awards and improved payment compliance. In evaluating progress the National Audit Office will assess the evidence from its own audit work, and a range of other sources including reviews by the internal audit service of the Department for Work and Pensions. The Comptroller and Auditor General will report his findings with the 2001–02 account.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Fco Advice

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will introduce legislation to ensure that British companies seeking to send workers abroad inform employees of relevant Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice; and if he will make a statement. [16962]

Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice is already widely accessible to employers as well as the general public by telephone (020 7008 0232/0233) and the FCO website www.fco.gov.uk.Employment legislation is a matter for the Department of Trade and Industry.

Northern Cyprus

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Turkish Government regarding recent statements by the Turkish Prime Minister, and the Foreign Minister, relating to the occupied area of northern Cyprus and EU admission. [15331]

The suggestion that Turkey might "annex" north Cyprus, in the event of Cyprus joining the EU before a settlement, is not new. While it is difficult to predict what Turkey might do if a divided island were to join the EU, we believe that the "annexation" of northern Cyprus would severely compromise Turkey's relations with the EU, and contravene her obligations under the Treaty of Guarantee. However, our aim continues to be a settlement before Cyprus joins the EU, though we stand by the Helsinki Council Conclusions that it is not a precondition for enlargement. To that end we urge all concerned to engage constructively in the current UN process.

Treaty Of Nice

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters he has received from residents of the Buckingham constituency (a) supporting and (b) opposing the Treaty of Nice. [16167]

Since January we have received and replied to 3,000 letters on the European Union. The letters have addressed a wide range of different themes related to the EU.It is not possible to provide a breakdown by constituency without incurring disproportionate cost. We do not keep records of letters from members of the public by constituency.

Entry Clearance

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the backlog of cases is for each group in (a) Islamabad, (b) Karachi, (c) Lahore, (d) Bombay, (e) New Delhi, (f) Colombo, and (g) Dhaka. [16044]

The statistics requested are as follows. The number of cases awaiting interview at the end of October is:

Post/settlement queue	Application number in queue	Length of queue (weeks)
Bombay
Q1	0	0
Q2	477	7
Q3	108	7
Q4	29	7
Colombo¹	129	13
Dhaka
Q1	533	14
Q2	3,339	14
Q3	44	16
Q4	784	39
New Delhi
Q1	41	0
Q2	41	11
Q3	152	14
Q4	69	14
¹ The visa sections in Lahore, Karachi and Colombo have a standard single queue for all settlement applications.

The three visa issuing posts in Pakistan remain open but are offering a restricted service at present. Islamabad and Karachi continue to accept applications for settlement.

Post	Non-settlement number in queue	Applications length of queue (days)
Bombay	16	0
Colombo	0	3
Dhaka	869	15
Islamabad	0	0
Karachi	0	0
Lahore	0	0
New Delhi	0	0

Poland

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken to facilitate the entry of Poland into the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [15718]

As the Prime Minister said in Warsaw in October last year,

"there are no guaranteed places. Reform is the only entry ticket. But, we want Poland, and as many others as are ready, in the EU as soon as possible".

This support is backed by practical assistance, through a bilateral Action Plan (consisting of projects to help Poland's reform: available on www.britishembassy.pl), and eight British civil servants currently seconded to the Polish government through the EU twinning scheme. We have also discussed with Polish ministers and officials progress on closing the chapters of the acquis communitaire, necessary for accession.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the parliamentary election in Poland on 23 September. [15719]

The Polish elections resulted in a governing coalition comprising the Democratic Left (SLD), Labour Union and Peasants' Party. We look forward to working closely with the new government. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have already met their new opposite numbers from Poland, and I will be meeting the new Europe Minister in the next few days.

Subcontinent

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for a future meeting between the Indian Prime Minister and the Pakistani President as a follow up to their meeting in Agra earlier this year. [16564]

During the Agra Summit, Prime Minister Vajpayee accepted President Musharraf's invitation to visit Pakistan. We understand that dates have not yet been arranged. However we hope that a further meeting will take place soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the content of his discussions on (a) nuclear safety, (b) stability in Kashmir and (c) the future make-up of a Government for Afghanistan during his meeting with (i) the Indian Prime Minister and (ii) the Pakistani President. [16565]

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has held several meetings recently with Indian and Pakistani interlocutors. The contents of these discussions are confidential under Exemption 1c of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. We continue to work with both the Indian and Pakistan Governments on a range of regional and global issues.

Afghanistan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to extend the military action in Afghanistan to other countries. [16665]

Our military action is focused on the al-Qaeda network and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Al-Qaeda

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of states other than Afghanistan in having assisted Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda; and if he will list those states. [16421]

The Government are not speculating about the involvement of anyone other than UBL and al-Qaeda in the 11 September attacks. Al-Qaeda is a network of individuals and resources concerned with terrorism and operating covertly in many countries in Central, South and South-East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and North America. There is no evidence that any states beyond Afghanistan are supporting the terrorist activities of al-Qaeda.

Eu Constitution

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government are opposed in principle to an EU constitution; and if he will make a statement. [16407]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 976W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had about the inclusion of a possible EU constitution in the forthcoming Laeken declaration on the future of Europe. [16408]

It was agreed at Nice that there should be a wide and deep debate on the future of Europe before the next IGC in 2004. The Laeken European Council in December will decide on how to take that debate forward.

Departmental Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees of (a) his Department and (b) agencies sponsored by his Department work in (i) London, (ii) areas benefiting from EU objective 1 status, (iii) areas with objective 2 status, and (iv) other areas. [16107]

[holding answer 19 November 2001]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its agency (Wiston House, Wilton park, Steyning, West Sussex), employs staff in four separate locations. The number of staff in each are as follows, listed in the four categories requested:

	Number
(i) London	2,231
(ii) EU objective 1 status	0
(iii) EU objective 2 status	0
(iv) Other
Milton Keynes	716
Croydon	136
West Sussex	61

Chechnya Murders

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has received about the involvement of Osama bin Laden in the deaths of three UK citizens in Chechnya in 1998; and if he will make a statement. [16963]

We first became aware of the allegation that bin Laden/the Taleban ordered the deaths of the four men last year, when it appeared in an official Russian publication called "Chechnya: The White Paper". A similar article appeared in the Russian newspaper "Gazeta" on 24 October 2001. To date, we have been unable to verify the story, although we have been in contact with the Russian authorities and the author of the "Gazeta" article.Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to reopen his inquiries concerning the deaths of three UK citizens in Chechnya in 1998; and if he will make a statement. [16964]

The British police have no general remit to conduct a criminal investigation into the murder of British nationals overseas. This is a matter for the local law enforcement agencies. We will continue to press the Russian authorities for details of the progress of their investigation.The Metropolitan Police Service did carry out certain inquiries in support of the Coroner's Inquest into the men's deaths. But their role was limited to providing enough information to the coroner so that he could reach a verdict as to the cause of death and judge whether it was lawful or otherwise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department took to ensure that Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice given to Granger Telecom and BT in 1998 on travel to Chechnya was passed onto three UK citizens in Chechnya; and if he will make a statement. [16965]

The FCO cannot interfere in a company's personnel operations, but we do expect UK employers to take the FCO travel advice into account when planning to send their employees overseas. FCO travel advice was first drawn to the attention of Granger Telecom in July 1998, when we first learned of their activities in Chechnya. Our advice was clear and unambiguous:

"We strongly advise against travel to the Chechen Republic…because of the unstable security situation. Visitors have been kidnapped in these areas recently".

We wrote to Granger Telecom in mid-August 1998 pointing out the dangers of working in Chechnya and handed over a copy of the travel advice during a meeting with them at the FCO on 21 August. We also reminded Granger of our travel advice by phone on 22 and 23 September 1998.

Zimbabwe

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on Zimbabwean farmers and President Mugabe's decree amending the Land Acquisition Act. [16815]

We continue to urge the Zimbabwean Government to honour its commitments, under the Abuja Agreement of 6 September, to implement a land reform programme in a fair, just and sustainable manner in the interest of all the people of Zimbabwe. We hope that the Government will engage constructively with the UNDP in pursuing such a programme, on the basis of the UNDP proposals of December 2000.

Extradition

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which have made extradition requests to the UK in respect of their nationals who are alleged members of Islamic groups who are living here. [11183]

I have been asked to reply.There are currently nine requests outstanding for the extradition of fugitives accused of involvement in Islamic terrorist activity. Six of those requests had been received before the events of 11 September. The requesting jurisdictions in these cases are as follows:

Requesting jurisdiction	Number of requests
United States of America	5
France	2
Italy	1
Algeria	1

Save in relation to the request from Algeria, none of the other fugitives involved is a national of those countries. All of them are in extradition custody.

Scotland

Island Transport

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was expended by the Government in the last three years prior to the introduction of devolution for Scotland on the maintenance of transport links between the Scottish mainland and her offshore islands. [7197]

[holding answer 15 October 2001]: Relevant information held by the Scottish Executive is in the table. Elements of this programme expenditure relate to services of benefit to remote mainland areas. It is not practical to disaggregate the recorded expenditure in order to provide figures for support to services linking the islands and the mainland. Footnotes have been provided to give guidance on the figures supplied for each programme.

£ million
Programme	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
P&O Ferries/tariff Rebate Subside¹	8.674	11.533	14.289
Piers and Harbours Grants²	2.901	1.434	1.613
Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries³	13.646	20.178	23.450
Lifeline Air Services⁴	0.210	0.346	0.365
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited⁵	7.180	7.000	6.179
Skye Bridge⁶	0.096	0.284	0.732
¹ Spending subsidies scheduled passenger and accompanied car services to Orkney and Shetland. Tariff Rebate Subsidy is paid to eligible shipping operators carrying specified goods. The scheme aims to reduce the cost of imports and exports in the island and seaboard areas of the Highlands and Islands.
² Grant payments to local authorities, CalMac and Independent Harbour Trusts schemes to support the development and upgrading of piers and harbours.
³ Deficit grant, capital grants, loans and repayments to CalMac to maintain affordable sea links to the island communities, to protect fares and levels of service.
⁴ Subsidy scheme supports and safeguards lifeline passenger air services between Glasgow and Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra.
⁵ Deficit grant, capital grant, loans and repayments to HIAL to deliver safe, affordable, efficient and cost-effective airport services at HIAL's 10 airports across the Highlands and Islands.
⁶ Payments under PH contract agreement with Skye Bridge Limited, and associated costs. Figures include payments following introduction of frequent user toll discount scheme from January 1998.

Skye Bridge

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if she will publish the full details of the agreement between the Government and the Bank of America in relation to the Skye bridge; [6645](2) if the figure quoted in the assignation statement in relation to the A87 Toll Order for the construction of the Skye bridge was index-linked; and if the full cost of the Skye bridge has been met. [6622]

Issues related to the Skye bridge project are a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive.

Fair Trade

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her Department's policy is in relation to departmental spending for supplies concerning the purchase of fair trade goods [15213]

[holding answer 16 November 20011: My Department takes opportunities to promote fair trade products but has very limited requirements for goods which are subject to fair trade schemes. Departmental procurement seeks best value for money, in the interest of the taxpayer.

London Allowances

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will estimate the total value of London weightings and London living allowances for her Department; and if she will make a statement. [6806]

Staff of my Department in London, below senior civil service level, receive a London pay supplement. The value of the supplements at 1 April 2001 was £65,000.

Departmental Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will estimate total staff costs for her Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if she will make a statement. [6805]

The total civil service staff costs for my Department in the current financial year are estimated to be £2.1 million in Scotland and £1.1 million in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [6808]

A breakdown of Scotland Office staff numbers by grade and location, at 1 April 2000, is shown in the tables together with the average salary for each grade.

Number of staff by grade level and region
Full-time equivalent
	Government Office Region
Level	London	Scotland	Total
SCS	4	5	9
G6/7	5	17	22
SEO/HEO	6	7	13
EO	4	1	5
AO-AA	19	14	33
Others	1	3	4
Total	39	47	86

Percentage of staff by grade level and region
Level	London	Scotland	Total
SCS	4.7	5.8	10.5
G6/7	5.8	19.8	25.6
SEO/HEO	7.0	8.1	15.1
EO	4.7	1.2	5.8
AO-AA	22.1	16.3	38.4
Others grades	1.2	3.5	4.7
Total	45	55	100

£
Grade level	Average salary
SCS	65,459
G6/7	35,133
SEO/HEO	22,440
EO	20,319
AO-AA	15,719
Others	29,761

Fuel Prices (Rural Scotland)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment she has made of the impact of the level of fuel prices on the economy of rural Scotland. [7066]

In November 2000, the Scotland Office published a survey, commissioned from independent consultants, of the cost of motoring in Scotland as compared with other parts of Europe. The survey looked at the total cost of motoring in 15 European countries. It concluded that the overall cost of motoring in rural Scotland is similar to the UK's average, and significantly less than some of our European neighbours. Fuel costs have declined since then.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last discussed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the impact of fuel taxes on the economy of rural Scotland. [7065]

I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a wide range of issues, including the state of the Scottish economy.The Chancellor, in his Budget of 2001, announced a package of measures to encourage cleaner transport, including reductions to the main road fuels. The Budget also included the abolition of VED on agricultural vehicles. The package will benefit up to 20,000 agricultural businesses in Scotland and, taken together, represents the equivalent of a 4p per litre cut in fuel duty to motorists and a 7p per litre duty cut to hauliers.These changes have brought significant benefit to the people of Scotland, which I am sure have been especially welcome to rural communities.

Scotland Week

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which organisations she met during her participation in Scotland Week in Brussels. [16560]

I took part in two Scotland Week events during my visit to Brussels in October, a fashion show at HM Ambassador's residence to promote Harris Tweed, and a seminar on the Future of Europe. At the Harris Tweed promotion event I spoke to a large gathering of people, and met representatives of the following organisations who each contributed towards sponsoring the event: Scotland Europa, Western Isles Enterprise, The Harris Tweed Authority and Western Isles Council.Representatives of many organisations, both Scottish and others, were present at the Future of Europe seminar, at which I also gave a speech. I met representatives of those organising the event, Scotland Europa and the Scottish Executive. I also held other meetings in relation to Government duties.

Proceeds Of Crime Bill

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will give an undertaking that the confiscation provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Bill in so far as they relate to Scotland will not be implemented until the views of the Scottish Parliament have been obtained. [16810]

No. We will continue to liaise closely with Scottish Executive Ministers and officials. It will be for Scottish Ministers to decide whether they wish to obtain further views from the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with the Home Office regarding putting before the Scottish Parliament the changes proposed in confiscation provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Bill in so far as they relate to Scotland. [16809]

None. This is a matter for the Scottish Executive to consider.

Health

Smallpox Vaccine

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to ensure that every United Kingdom citizen has access to a vaccine against smallpox to protect against possible bio-terrorist attack; and if additional stocks will need to be purchased to achieve this level of coverage. [13144]

There is no specific threat of a smallpox attack against the United Kingdom. There are strategic supplies of vaccines and antibiotics for use as appropriate to the incident; and we have got substantial stocks of smallpox vaccine which could be rapidly deployed to contain an outbreak.The UK policy on future smallpox vaccine manufacture is currently under development. The Department is pursuing other sources of vaccine supply at the Swiss Serum Centre which holds stocks of vaccine left over from the World Health Organisation's eradication programme and is also working closely with the Ministry of Defence in determining the UK's vaccine needs. We are also in discussions with the United States of America and other Governments about stocks of vaccine.

Hospital Trusts (Rating System)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the usefulness of the star rating system for hospital trusts; and if he will make a statement. [14042]

Performance ratings for acute non-specialist national health service trusts were published on 25 September. This is the first time that hospital trusts have been publicly classified according to their performance, with more freedom and rewards for the best and more help for the poorest. This approach is a decisive break with the past.In the trusts that were awarded no stars, action plans are being drawn up and implemented. These will improve the areas of significant under performance and bring them up to the standard the public and patients have the right to expect.

Overseas Doctors

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many doctors since 1 May 1999 have been entitled to participate in induction courses for overseas doctors; and how many have done so; [15326](2) what proportion of overseas doctors working on the wards in UK hospitals have participated in induction courses at the latest available date. [15327]

We expect all doctors, whether from abroad or the United Kingdom, to get the induction they need from their national health service employers when they take up post. We do not hold information centrally on the number of doctors who have participated in local induction.

In addition to the induction offered by NHS trusts to their employees, the Department is actively promoting good induction practice by funding an induction scheme for doctors from outside the UK. This is run via postgraduate deaneries in association with NHS professionals. Postgraduate deaneries ran a formal pilot of the induction courses in 1999, and we began funding the scheme in 2000. So far approximately 600 foreign doctors have been taken through the overseas doctors induction scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he intends to take to change the residence requirements for funding of GP training for overseas doctors; and if he will make a statement. [13852]

[holding answer 12 November 2001]: We have today changed these requirements. Overseas doctors are now eligible for National Health Service funding for general practitioner training.This move will support our drive to increase GP numbers. We know that there are overseas doctors—some currently working in the United Kingdom—who are keen to train for a career in general practice. Out-of-date restrictions have previously excluded such doctors from NHS funding. We have now removed these restrictions and are taking immediate steps to recruit more doctors into GP training.

Health Funding (Essex)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide new resources for (a) Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals and (b) the Havering Primary Care NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement. [14801]

Barking and Havering Health Authority, which is served by Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals National Health Service Trust, received an initial £24 million (8.56 per cent.) increase in allocation in 2001–02.

Net present costs of private finance initiatives versus public sector comparator option
NHS Trust	PFI (£000)	Public (£000)	Savings in net present value terms (£000)	Difference (Percentage)
Calderdale Healthcare	1,341,787	1,362,155	20,368	1.5
Bromley Hospitals	1,166,326	1,179,431	13,105	1.11
Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals	193,170	198,203	5,033	2.54
Greenwich Healthcare	1,409,522	1,427,202	17,680	1.24
Worcester Acute Hospital	1,095,465	1,098,331	2,866	0.26
South Durham Healthcare	672,230	675,190	2,960	0.44
South Tees Acute Hospitals	210,796	226,995	16,199	7.14
Swindon and Marlborough	1,313,831	1,323,329	9,498	0.72
Hereford Hospitals	689,250	693,700	4,450	0.64
Dartford and Gravesham¹	938,800	943,900	5,000	0.54
Norfolk and Norwich	1,642,278	1,681,834	39,556	2.35
South Buckinghamshire	161,685	169,243	7,558	4.47
North Durham Healthcare	177,037	180,910	3,873	2.14
Carlisle Hospitals	167,045	172,903	5,858	3.39
South Manchester University Hospitals	2,124,000	2,126,000	2,000	0.09
West Middlesex University Hospitals	1,082,900	1,088,000	5,100	0.47
University College London Hospitals	423,300	435,200	11,900	2.73
Dudley Group of Hospitals	1,829,382	1,834,901	5,519	0.30
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals	240,600	241,613	1,013	0.42

The health authority has also received the following in-year allocations:

£1.1 million to support NHS Plan implementation
£0.2 million for HIV/AIDS services
£0.3 million modernisation fund for dentists
£0.3 million for winter preparations
£0.4 million for primary care practice based incentive scheme
£0.3 million to address long waiting times.

Recent announcements have allocated the following additional funding:

£50 million nationally to support the development of the emergency care strategy, of which Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust is receiving £0.8 million.

£50 million nationally to tackle occupancy, cancelled operations and accident and emergency delays of which Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust is receiving £0.5 million.

Havering Primary Care Trust will take on more responsibility for commissioning services in the future and will be allocated the resources to do so. From 2003–04, subject to legislation, revenue allocations will go directly to PCTs instead of through health authorities.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the expected saving to public funds from the private finance initiative schemes in (a) Carlisle, (b) Dartford and Gravesham and (c) South Buckinghamshire; [15256](2) what the anticipated saving is to public funds from the 100 PFI hospital schemes provided for in the NHS plan by 2010; [15247](3) if he will make a statement on the anticipated savings to public funds from the private finance initiative schemes due to become operational in 2001. [15257]

The table shows a list of all major private finance initiative contracts which have reached financial close since May 1997 listing net present costs of private finance versus public sector comparator option. The projected savings on each scheme over the lifetime of the contracts are in column 4 and are presented in net present value terms.

Net present costs of private finance initiatives versus public sector comparator option
NHS Trust	PFI (£000)	Public (£000)	Savings in net present value terms (£000)	Difference (Percentage)
St. George's Hospitals	565,565	565,768	203	0.04
King's Healthcare	2,952,700	2,959,800	7,100	0.24
West Berkshire Priority Care	273,245	282,228	8,983	3.18
Leeds Community and Mental Health Services²	420,800	431,700	10,900	2.52
Total projected savings	—	—	223,000,000	—
¹ At financial close in July 1997 the figures for the PSC and PFI were 922,600 and 943,900 respectively, producing a projected saving of £21,300.000. An error in the PSC was uncovered by the NAO during the course of the work for their report on this scheme in 1999. As a result the projected saving was revised downwards to £5.1 million.
² Figures only taken as at FBC

Notes:

The table does not allow direct comparisons between the difference schemes. Investment appraisal conventions allow different approaches to counting costs. For example, provided the conventions are consistently applied in each appraisal, costs common to both alternatives can be either included or excluded and differences in costs can be scored rather than actual costs.

The table includes the expected savings on the schemes at Carlisle, Dartford and Gravesham and South Buckinghamshire. Greenwich, North Durham, Calderdale, South Manchester and Norfolk and Norwich all became operational in 2001. No further major schemes are scheduled to open in 2001.

The 23 major schemes in the table contribute to the target of over 100 new PFI hospital schemes by 2010 in the NHS plan. The target comprises a minimum of 64 major hospital schemes (capital value over £20 million) and a minimum of 36 medium-sized hospital schemes (capital value £10–£20 million), of which 17 have already reached financial close. Information on the projected savings of medium-sized hospital schemes is not held centrally.

Value for money in PFI is assessed on a case by case basis upon presentation of the full business case (FBC). None of the other 60 major and medium-sized hospital schemes comprising the NHS plan target have yet to reach this stage so it is not possible to anticipate the savings to public funds for these schemes.

The total projected savings in net present value terms to the national health service and the taxpayer for these first 23 major PFI schemes to reach financial close is £223,000,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance he has issued to those hospital trusts making strategic outhouse case bids for PFIs; and what scoring criteria will be used to measure (a) value for money, (b) existing social need, (c) existing medical service shortfalls, (d) innovation and (e) other factors; [15863](2) which initial PFI offers to acute trusts made in the last three years were

(a) in response to a comprehensive and costed strategic outline case or plan and (b) following a general plan; [15849]

(3) which acute trusts have indicated an intention to complete a strategic outline cost for a PFI investment in the current year; [15848]

(4) how many PH offers have been agreed between his Department and acute trusts in each of the last three years. [15850]

The most recent guidance for the preparation of strategic outline cases (SOCs) was issued to the national health service last year. The purpose of the SOC is to provide Ministers (advised by the Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group (CPAG)) with the necessary information to assess the national priority of major capital investment schemes with a capital value of £20 million or over.The guidance states that Ministers have made it clear that the main criterion by which schemes are prioritised is health service need, but that other factors such as deliverability and affordability are also important.Under the private finance initiative procurement process, initial offers by bidders are made in response to the invitation to negotiate which an NHS trust sends to bidders selected from those who responded to the Official Journal of the European Community notice. All major schemes which are prioritised on the basis of the SOC then have to prepare an outline business case (OBC) which identifies and develops a fully costed preferred option for the proposed scheme. It is at this OBC stage that the final decision is taken on whether to test for private finance; the assessment will take into account a number of value for money factors. If approved to proceed under the PFI route, the NHS trust will first place a contract notice in OJEC which potential bidders will respond to.The decision to develop an SOC must be supported and agreed to by all the key local stakeholders, principally the Department of Health regional office, health authorities and primary care trusts. Local authorities and regional offices of Government/Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions will also need to be aware if major construction works are envisaged. Only following such agreement will the Department of Health be formally notified and a decision taken on the best way of taking it forward. No such notifications have been received to date in the current year.SOCs for major capital projects are normally accepted in specific rounds by CPAG, which advises Ministers on each scheme's viability. Ministers can consider cases outside of specific prioritisation rounds where there is an urgent need. The eventual treatment of such cases will depend on the progress and priority of those schemes already approved to commence their procurements, and the number of schemes waiting to go to tender, so as to ensure optimal value for money.

The following major acute PFI schemes have reached financial close (signed contracts) and started construction in the past three years:

1999:

Hereford
Worcester
Barnet and Chase Farm
Swindon and Marlborough
King's Healthcare
South Tees
South Durham

2000:

Hull and East Yorkshire
St George's
University College London Hospital

2001:

West Middlesex
Dudley.

Personal Injury Cases

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has estimated the potential cost to the NHS of the Lord Chancellor's decision to reduce the discount rate to 2.5 per cent. for damages in personal injury cases. [15475]

The Lord Chancellor's Department is carrying out a full assessment of the impact of the new discount rate, which is being prepared and will be published in due course.

Waiting Lists

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in (a) rank and (b) alphabetical order of NHS trust in each region the (i) proportion and (ii) number of patients waiting (A) over 12 months and (B) over 18 months or more for in-patient treatment (1) at the latest available date, (2) in March 1997 and (3) in June 1997. [16805]

The number and proportion of patients waiting over 12 and 18 months at March 1997, June 1997 and September 2001 have been placed in the Library.In line with the NHS plan, in-patient waiting times will fall on a staged basis from 18 months now through to 15,12, nine and down to six months by 2005. As a first step towards this, the maximum waiting time for an in-patient appointment will be 15 months by the end of March 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients there were on in-patient waiting lists waiting over 12 months for the quarter ended (a) March 1997 and (b) September 2001; [16403](2) if he will list the percentage of patients on in-patient waiting lists waiting over 12 months for the quarter ended

(a) March 1997 and (b) September 2001. [16402]

The information requested is shown in the table.

March 1997

September 2001

Number of patients waiting over 12 months

30,245

43,873

Percentage of total waiting list

2.67

4.29

Note:

Figures are health authority based and are sourced from the QF01 waiting times return.

National Institute For Clinical Excellence

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the balance in the work programme of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence between (a) technology appraisals and (b) treatment guidelines. [15968]

[holding answer 20 November 2001]: The work programme of the National Institute is set by Health Ministers in England and Wales. The Department and National Assembly for Wales have also approved the institute's current business plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out for each technology appraisal undertaken by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence the (a) final recommendation and (b) cost effectiveness as measured in terms of QALYs. [15967]

[holding answer 20 November 2001]: Details of each completed appraisal can be found on the National Institute's website at www.nice.org.uk. The final appraisal determination contains the estimated cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) for those cases where the National Institute of Clinical Excellence has quoted a specific figure. The Institute's judgments are based on a range of factors which include available information on cost per QALY.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to undertake a review of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. [15965]

[holding answer 20 November 2001]: The report of the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry makes some far-reaching recommendations on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). We are considering how these will affect any review of NICE's work. We expect to make an announcement shortly.

National Blood Service

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which experts from outside the National Blood Service Appropriate Use of Blood Working Group is consulting. [16347]

[holding answer 20 November 2001]: The Appropriate Use of Blood Working Group has experts from outside the National Blood Service as members. They are:

Dr. Paula Bolton-Maggs: Consultant haematologist, Alder Hey Hospital
Carol Cantwell: Chief biomedical scientist, St. Mary's Hospital, London
Jan Gordon: Transfusion nurse, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Charles McCollum: Professor of surgery, Manchester
Prof. Paul McMaster: Hepatobiliary and transplant surgeon, Birmingham
Dr. Dafydd Thomas: Consultant, Morriston Hospital
John Thompson: Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Blood Use (Overseas Hospitals)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had about the use of blood and blood transfusions for NHS patients who take up treatment in overseas hospitals with Ministers from those countries. [16349]

[holding answer 20 November 2001]: The Department recognises that commissioning care overseas raises a number of particular issues, including the use of blood and blood transfusions. The three pilot sites currently working to send patients to mainland Europe are discussing these issues with potential providers.

Relenza

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many health authorities in the north-west region have drawn up patient group directions for Relenza; [16290](2) what advice he has given to health authorities on drawing up patient group directions for Relenza and other drugs. [16291]

[holding answer 21 November 2001]: The information requested is not collected centrally.Health Service Circular 2000/026 containing guidance on Patient Group Directions was issued to the national health service (England) on 9 August 2000. Additional guidance on the supply and administration of Relenza was issued on 21 November 2000.

Nhs (It Policy)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 26 October 2001, Official Report, column 423W, on IT policy in the NHS, if he will place a copy of the CISCO E-Compliant Network study in the Library. [16816]

A copy of the report has now been placed in the Library.

Nursing And Midwifery Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the representations he has received on the proposal to leave health visitors out of the title of the Nursing and Midwifery Council; [16298](2) what the legislative timetable is for the introduction of the Nursing and Midwifery Council; [16299](3) if he will define the roles of

(a) health visitors and (b) community practitioners. [16300]

The Nursing and Midwifery Order to establish the new Nursing and Midwifery Council was laid before Parliament on 15 November, together with a report on the consultation. Copies are available in the Vote Office. The Orders will be considered in Standing Committee on 26 November and in the House of Lords shortly. The legislation contains a number of safeguards for health visiting. There will be a separate part of the register, protection of the professional title, and equal representation with nurses and midwives on the council. The future role of health visitors will be a matter for the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Tilt Report

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of the recommendations of the Tilt report concerning security at special hospitals and the amount of money so far spent on implementation by his Department. [16621]

The report of the review of security at the high security hospitals (the Tilt report) was published on 22 May 2000. All the recommendations in the report were accepted by the Government and the implementation process is on-going. Central funding for 2000–01 and 2001–02 is set out in the table:

£ million
	Current expenditure	Capital expenditure
2000–01	1.0	3.0
2001–02	5.0	38.0

£1 million of current expenditure funding was provided in 2000–01 to meet some of the costs of implementation arising in that year. The £5 million for current expenditure for 2001–02 has been provided specifically in response to the recommendation that additional funding should be made available to facilitate the movement out of the hospitals of patients no longer needing high security care. Other current expenditure for 2001–02 arising from Tilt report recommendations has been met by the health authority commissioners of the services out of the overall expenditure allocations available to them. The capital expenditure relates to improvements to the physical security of the high security hospitals, particularly the upgrading of perimeter security that Sir Richard Tilt saw as being necessary in the interests of maintaining public safety.

Mental Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the occupancy rate of beds is in acute mental health wards in each London hospital in respect of (a) detained patients and (b) voluntary patients. [16624]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 5 November 2001, Official Report, columns 101–02W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the mapping of local mental health services; and if he will publish the results. [16622]

The results of the comprehensive mapping of mental health services conducted in autumn 2000 were made available to local implementation teams (LIT) in January 2001 and have been available on a Durham University website in July 2001. This contains all data supplied by each LIT for the 2000 Mapping. The database will remain available to LITs for their continued use for local planning and monitoring purposes.

As part of the comprehensive review process between April and October 2001 the Mapping has been updated to provide a picture of service provision as of 30 September 2001. Reports based on analysis and summary of the data in the form of tables and maps will be available by the end of January 2002.

The data provided by the Mapping 2001 will be published in the form of an atlas and will also be available to the public on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/servicemapping/index.htm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to commission the development of a tool kit to support mental health services in promoting mental health for people from ethnic minority communities; and if he will make a statement on (a) the work so far and (b) the cost. [17089]

Work on developing the tool kit will be taken forward under the auspices of the National Institute for Mental Health in its 2002–03 work programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what age mental health services users are transferred from adolescent to adult services. [16612]

This is an area in which local practice varies quite widely at present.The National Service Framework for Mental Health specified that local arrangements (including service protocols) should be in place to ensure clarity in the handling of referrals of young people in the borderline ages (for example, 16 to 21 years) to ensure that no young person's mental health needs remain unmet.Earlier this year, Ministers announced that child and adolescent mental health services will form part of the planned Children's National Service Framework, alongside maternity and hospital and social services for children. The Children's National Service Framework will be based on key NHS Plan values including the integration of services, partnership working and breaking down professional barriers. The question of unifying transfer ages between services will be fully considered in the context of developing standards and good practice guidance for this new and important service framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) medium and (b) low secure beds there are for mental health patients. [16611]

Returns indicate that at April 2001, the latest date for which information is currently available, there were 2,231 medium secure beds and 1,353 other secure beds for mental health patients.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average annual cost is per patient to the NHS of a person with a diagnosis of severe mental illness. [17221]

People with severe mental illness may access a range of National Health Service services at various times and in no predictable way and it is not possible from the information held centrally to disaggregate the costs of different services to enable the calculation of an average annual cost to the NHS per severely mentally ill patient.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place, and what changes are planned, to ensure that mental health-related calls to NHS Direct are handled in such a way that those contemplating suicide receive the treatment they need. [17223]

NHS Direct nurse advisers use formalised computer based clinical assessment systems to enable them to offer appropriate support and advice to callers who may be contemplating suicide. In addition they receive specific training to assist them in undertaking a risk assessment which includes the assessment of potential deliberate self-harm. Links have been made and protocols are in place to enable nurse advisers to refer callers to local specialist mental health crisis services and to appropriate mental health helplines.

Student Nurses

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student nurses received (a) hardship loans and (b) NHS hardship grants in each of the last three years, and how many have been made in the current year. [17219]

The hardship loans that student nurses in receipt of the means tested national health service bursary are eligible to apply for, are funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) through the allocations made to higher education institutions by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. NHS education and training commissioners (work force development confederations) are required to allocate funds for the purpose of providing NHS hardship grants for students experiencing financial difficulties and who have exhausted all other sources of support.The Department does not routinely monitor take-up of either form of hardship support. However, evidence from the DfES 1998–99 student income and expenditure survey indicated around 2 per cent. of NHS students claiming access/hardship support. These data are supported by information the Department gathered during 1999, which reported a total of 105 payments of NHS hardship grants (that is to say payments to fewer than 1 per cent. of eligible students).

Nhs-Funded Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for the review of student funding policy in relation to NHS-funded students. [17220]

On 3 October my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Department for Education and Skills announced plans for a fundamental review of DfES student support arrangements. The new arrangements will be introduced from autumn 2003 at the earliest. The Department will be working with DfES to ensure that the needs of health professional students are taken fully into account in the design of the new arrangements, and will consider carefully what implications the changes have for the support which the national health service provides directly through the NHS bursary scheme.

National Health Service Reform And Health Care Professions Bill

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to table amendments to the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Bill; and if he will make a statement. [16623]

At this stage, as with any Bill of this size and complexity, there may be a need for some minor or consequential amendments. The scrutiny of the Bill during its passage may highlight areas where improvements could be made, and where an amendment might therefore be required.

Patient Priority

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department gives to clinicians for the purposes of determining the priority of patients to be treated. [14281]

We have made it clear that patients must be treated according to their clinical need and priority. In July 1997 an Executive Letter (EL (97) 42) was issued to the national health service about access to secondary care services. It stated that

"clinical priority must be the main determinant of when patients are seen as outpatients or admitted as inpatients."

Since then, additional forms of guidance from the Department on waiting list management and clinical priority have been given to the NHS. "Getting Patients Treated—The Waiting List Action Team Handbook" was issued to all NHS trust chief executives in August 1999 and advises on the order in which patients should be treated.Recently, the NHS was instructed to use guidance drawn up by the NHS Modernisation Agency called the "Primary Targeting Lists Approach" to assist them in treating patients within the shorter maximum waiting times targets for 2001–02. The guidance states that patients with greatest clinical priority must be treated first and gives NHS organisations the practical advice to treat patients in the right order within the maximum waiting times targets.The guidance can be found at the following websites:

Name of guidance issued	Website address
Executive Letter 1997–42	www.doh.gov.uk/publications.comh.html
Getting Patients Treated—The Waiting List Action Team Handbook	www.doh.gov.uk/wtaction team.htm
Primary Targeting Lists Approach	www.modennhs.nhs.uk/npat/documents

Environment, Food And Rural Affairs

Animal Welfare

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she intends the slaughter provisions in the Animal Welfare Bill to apply to pet animals. [12412]

[holding answer 5 November 2001]: The slaughter provisions in the Animal Health Act and Bill with respect to foot and mouth disease do not apply to animals which are not susceptible to this disease such as horses, cats and dogs.Existing provisions in the Animal Health Act 1981 make no distinction between foot and mouth disease-susceptible animals kept as pets and those kept for any other reason. The same approach is taken in the new slaughter provisions under the Animal Health Bill.Equally, the Bill will not change the current position on exemptions from slaughter, which is that there is specific provision in veterinary instructions for proportionate exceptions at local level based on local veterinary judgment, including where susceptible animals are kept as pets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will propose amendments to the Animal Health Bill to cover failures by (a) DEFRA officials, (b) army personnel and (c) veterinary surgeons to respect her Department's bio-security rules. [15648]

No. I am aware of the allegations that biosecurity measures were breached by DEFRA officials and others. All such allegations were treated with the utmost seriousness and were investigated. Most cases were found either to be groundless or to be lacking in sufficient detail to enable a thorough investigation. All staff working for DEFRA already have to follow strict biosecurity guidelines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made in implementing the recommendation in the Performance and Innovation Unit report on animal welfare and the WTO. [16085]

The Government have ensured that the issue of animal welfare is firmly on the WTO negotiating agenda and an integral part of the European Union's comprehensive negotiating proposal.

Pcsu Industrial Action

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the dispute between her Department and the Public and Commercial Services Union; and if she will make a statement. [16587]

The industrial action that is currently taking place by the Public and Commercial Services union in the former MAFF part of DEFRA risks affecting payment arrangements to farmers this winter. We are doing our best to take corrective action, taking account of the needs of our customers, the taxpayer and long term working relations in the Department. Our aim is to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible.

Public Transport (Rural Areas)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to fund public transport interchanges at train and bus stations in rural areas. [16585]

Many local authorities have plans for new and improved public transport interchanges as part of the strategies contained in their local transport plans. Last December, the Government announced a significant increase in local transport capital funding on 14 December 2000, Official Report, columns 200–02, with £8.4 billion being provided over the five years from 2001–02. Innovative bus schemes in rural areas can also seek central government funding from the Rural Bus Challenge Fund. Promoters of interchanges at rail stations may also apply for Rail Passenger Partnership funding.

Rural Local Authorities

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities in England and Wales she classifies as rural. [16583]

The following list of districts/unitary authorities have been classified as rural by the Countryside Agency for their 1999, 2000 and 2001 State of the Countryside Reports:

North East

Durham county: Teesdale, Wear Valley
Northumberland: Alnwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Castle Morpeth, Tynedale

North West

Cheshire county: Chester, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Vale Royal
Cumbria: Allerdale, Copeland, Eden, South Lakeland
Lancashire county: Lancaster, Pendle, Ribble Valley, Wyre

Yorkshire and The Humber

East Riding of Yorkshire UA
North Lincolnshire UA
Craven, Hambleton. Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale. Scarborough, Selby

East Midlands

Rutland UA
Derbyshire county: Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, South Derbyshire
Leicestershire county: Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire
Lincolnshire: Boston, East Lindsey, North Kesteven, South Holland, South Kesteven, West Lindsey
Northamptonshire: Daventry, East Northamptonshire, South Northamptonshire
Nottinghamshire county: Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood, Rushcliffe

West Midlands

County of Herefordshire UA
Shropshire county: Bridgnorth, North Shropshire, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Atcham, South Shropshire
Staffordshire county: East Staffordshire, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands
Warwickshire: North Warwickshire, Stratford-upon-Avon
Worcestershire county: Malvern Hills, Wychavon

East

Bedfordshire county: Mid Bedfordshire, South Bedfordshire
Cambridgeshire county: East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdonshire, South Cambridgeshire
Essex county: Braintree, Maldon, Tendring, Uttlesford

Hertfordshire: East Hertfordshire
Norfolk: Breckland, Broadland, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk, North Norfolk, South Norfolk
Suffolk: Babergh, Forest Heath, Mid Suffolk, St. Edmundsbury, Suffolk Coastal, Waveney

South East

Isle of Wight UA
West Berkshire UA (Newbury)
Buckinghamshire county: Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern. Wycombe
East Sussex county: Lewes, Rother, Wealden
Hampshire county: East Hampshire, New Forest, Test Valley, Winchester
Kent county: Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Thanet, Tonbridge and Mailing, Tunbridge Wells
Oxfordshire: Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire
Surrey: Tandridge, Waverley
West Sussex: Arun, Chichester, Horsham, Mid Sussex

South West

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly: Caradon, Carrick, Kerner, North Cornwall, Penwith, Restormel, Isles of Scilly
Devon county: East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, West Devon
Dorset county: East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset
Gloucestershire: Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Stroud, Tewkesbury
Somerset: Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Taunton Deane, West Somerset
Wiltshire county: Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury, West Wiltshire.

Rural Employment

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of people between 16 and 60 years old in rural areas in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001 were active in (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) seasonal work. [16586]

The percentage of people aged 16 and over in rural areas in England in full-time and part-time employment was as follows:

Percentage
Year	Full-time	Part-time
1996	73.11	28.02
1997	73.58	26.96
1998	73.49	27.31
1999	73.44	27.67
2000	72.99	27.79
2001	73.13	28.16

Reliable information on seasonal employment is not readily available.

Farm Birds

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the population of farm birds in rural areas in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001. [16580]

In 1970 the baseline index for 25 farmland bird species was 100.

(a) 1996—60.276

(b) 1997—57.294

(c) 1998—56.351

(d) 1999—58.902

(e) 2000—figures due to be published in December

(f) 2001—figures not currently available

Source:

Quality of Life Counts headline indicators.

Countryside Visits

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the level of spending by visitors to the countryside in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001. [16589]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of people who visited the countryside in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998. (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001. [15897]

The "United Kingdom Day Visitors Survey" shows the level of spending to be:

(a) 1996—£6.7 billion

(b) 1997—no survey carried out

(c) 1998—£8.4 billion

(d) 1999—no survey carried out

(e) 2000—no survey carried out

(f) 2001—no survey carried out

The Countryside Agency is working on plans for a further survey in 2002.

Ozone

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the levels of ozone in rural areas in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001. [16538]

Average number of days per site in rural areas on which pollution levels were above national air quality standards.

	Number
1996	41
1997	42
1998	29
1999	48
2000	25
2001	¹—
¹ Information not currently available

Source:

Quality of Life Counts headline indicators

Rural Crime

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of people in rural areas claimed to feel safe from crime in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001. [16541]

The figures show that more people in rural areas feel safe from crime. The proportion (percentage) of adults in rural areas surveyed in the British Crime Survey not worried about crime by type.

	1996	2000	2001
Burglary	85	87	90
Mugging	87	89	91
Physical attack	95	88	91
Rape	75	86	89
Insults or pestering	n/a	94	95
Theft of a car¹	82	86	89
Theft from a car¹	85	89	90
¹ Vehicle owners only

Note:

Figures are not available for 1997, 1998 and 1999

Agriculture

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed in agriculture in the United Kingdom in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000, and (f) 2001; and what proportion were (a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) seasonal. [16536]

The latest information available for the United Kingdom is from the June 2000 Agricultural Census. Results for 2001 will be available later this year. The labour questions were changed in 1998 in England and Wales to allow more detailed information on full/part time and paid/unpaid labour to be collected. The available information is shown in the table:

United Kingdom
Thousand head
	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Total workers	245.7	242.9	245.2	229.6	204.4
Salaried managers¹	7.8	7.8	12.1	13.8	11.1
Full-time	n/a	n/a	9.9	10.9	9.3
Part-time	n/a	n/a	2.3	3.0	1.9
Regular workers	156.4	154.2	154.6	143.8	128.9
Full-time	101.8	100.1	100.5	94.1	83.8
Part-time	54.6	54.1	54.1	49.7	45.2
Casual/gang	81.5	80.9	78.4	72.0	64.4
¹ From 1998 all farmers managing holdings for limited companies were asked to classify themselves as salaried managers.

Notes:

1. In 1998 fundamental changes were introduced to the labour questions in England and Wales. It appears that this change may have led to the recording of additional labour not previously included in the census returns. The change in questions has also led to a redistribution of labour between the various categories, most notably for salaried managers. Caution is therefore advised when comparing the 1997 and 1998 results.

2. Figures exclude school children but include trainees employed under an official youth training scheme and paid at Agricultural Wages Board rates or above.

3. Includes minor holdings.

4. Totals may not agree with components due to rounding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) subsidies paid to agriculture, (b) environmental costs of agriculture and (c) contribution of agriculture to GDP in each of the last five years; and what estimate she has made of the projected contribution of agriculture to GDP in each of the next five years expressed as a percentage of total GDP. [12292]

[holding answer 2 November 2001]: Total public expenditure on agriculture in the financial year 2000–01 is estimated to have been £3,182 million^1.Estimates of the total value of the impact of agriculture on the environment are not currently produced by my Department.Two recent academic studies have made estimates of the environmental costs of agriculture:

Pretty, J., Brett, C., Gee, D., Hine, R., Mason, C., Morison, J., Raven, H., Rayment, M. and van der Bijl, G. (2000), an assessment of the external costs of UK agriculture, "Agricultural Systems", forthcoming.

Hartridge, O., Pearce, D., "Is UK Agriculture Sustainable? Environmentally Adjusted Economic Accounts for UK Agriculture". Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environmental: University College, London.

Agriculture's share of national gross value added at basic prices (formerly GDP) in each of the last five years is given in the following table.

Percentage
	Agriculture's share of national gross value added
1996	1.5
1997	1.2
1998	1.0
1999	0.9
2000	0.8

Estimates of the projected contribution of agriculture to GDP in future years are not produced by my Department.

The decline since 1996 is partly due to the rise in sterling against the Euro (which has affected agriculture more than many other sectors) weak world commodity markets and the effects of BSE. However, it also reflects a long term downward trend which results from underlying trends in demand—because as standards of living rise, consumers spend a smaller share of their family budget on food—and also from underlying trends in technology—which mean that prices for agricultural commodities have tended to rise less quickly than general inflation. These trends can be expected to continue, to some degree, in the future.

¹ Source:

Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2000 Table 9.1

Rural Bus Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of rural bus services ran over the weekend in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000 and (f) 2001. [16540]

The following information is available from the Countryside Agency's rural services survey:

Percentage of parishes with a bus service
	1997	2000
A 6 days a week bus service	35	31
A 7 days a week bus service	25	36
6/7 day service	60	67

Note:

Data not available for 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2001

Percentage of settlements with a bus service
	2000
A 6 days a week bus service	27
A 7 days a week bus service	24
6/7 day service	51

Note:

Data not available for 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001

Source:

RDC and Countryside Agency

The data come from the rural services survey series which is undertaken triennially. For 2000 data were collected on both a parish basis (historical administrative boundaries) and settlement basis (areas where people live) where the sample size increased from around 6,000 to 14,000.

Agrimonetary Compensation

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funds are available from the (a) EU and (b) UK Government to compensate agriculture in Britain for losses caused by the weakness of the euro; and how much has been paid, by categories, in each of the last three periods for which figures are available. [15403]

Payments of agrimonetary compensation are partially funded by the EU budget and partly from the UK Exchequer. The following table lists the amounts of compensation that became available from 1999 to 2001. Payments are shown against the year in which the compensation became available although payments are made in up to three annual instalments. It was compulsory for member states to pay the EU element of the compensation which became available in 1999. All subsequent compensation payments are optional.

£ million
Compensation	1999	2000	2001	Total
Available from the EU	396	226	183	805
Available from the UK	132	226	183	541
Total available	529	451	366	1,346
Paid by the EU	396	127	56	578
Paid by the UK	0	19	56	74
Total Paid	396	145	111	652

Foot And Mouth

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which countries have used inoculation as a preventive tool in trying to combat foot and mouth disease breakdowns over the last five years; [8545](2) if she will list the countries that inoculate all their animals against foot and mouth disease breakdowns. [8544]

[holding answer 18 October 2001]: These questions can be fully answered only at disproportionate cost. However, the website of the Office International des Epizootics www.oie.int/eng/en—index.htm provides a very detailed range of statistics regarding the control measures employed by its member countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department has identified the origins of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [15625]

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: The current epidemic has been caused by a specific strain of the foot and mouth virus (PanAsian Strain O) which has occurred in a number of countries around the world. The precise means of the introduction of the virus into Great Britain is unknown and the subject of continuing investigations, but is more likely to have been introduced in illegally imported meat or meat products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans and resources were established within MAFF to deal with foot and mouth disease before the outbreak this year. [15370]

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: Prior to the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease, MAFF had contingency plans for dealing with outbreaks of serious animal disease which included detailed operational instructions for use by the state veterinary service. The general contingency plan for foot and mouth was updated and submitted to the European Commission in July 2000. MAFF regularly held local emergency exercises in co-operation with the police, supervised by the divisional veterinary manager. Animal health offices were required to regularly update their local contingency plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which office in her Department is responsible for co-ordinating policy on foot and mouth; and how many civil servants are working in this policy area. [15373]

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: The co-ordination of foot and mouth policy is the responsibility of the DEFRA ministerial team. Day-to-day responsibility for foot and mouth eradication policy lies with Jim Scudamore as chief veterinary officer and director general of animal health and welfare in DEFRA. The CVO is closely supported in this work area by the veterinary director and the director of animal health.The directorate general includes veterinary and administrative staff engaged in an extremely wide rang of FMD related duties, and works closely with other teams inside DEFRA, notably the joint co-ordination centre (JCC) which reports to Mark Addison, director general operations and service delivery.The number of officials, at all levels, within Jim Scudamore's team in headquarters who work full time in the exotic diseases veterinary team and the foot and mouth division is 47.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what instructions have been issued by her Department to the chairmen of the foot and mouth disease inquiries (a) to concentrate on the handling of future animal disease outbreaks and (b) to exclude the handling of the outbreak from their inquiries and final reports; and if she will make a statement. [16659]

On 9 August 2001 the Prime Minister announced two independent inquiries and a policy commission into the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.The "Lessons Learned" inquiry is to make recommendations for the way in which the Government should handle any future major animal disease outbreak in the light of the lessons identified from the handling of the 2001 FMD outbreak in Great Britain. The Royal Society has been asked to review scientific questions relating to the transmission, prevention and control of epidemic outbreaks of infectious diseases in livestock in Great Britain. The Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food will advise on how to create a sustainable, competitive and diverse farming and food sector.No specific instructions have been issued to the chairmen of the two inquiries and the Policy Commission beyond the terms of reference.

Appeal Mechanism (Farmers)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will establish an independent appeal system for farmers in disagreement with her Department over the processing, interpretation or assessment of applications for financial support and other statutory services and procedures. [16400]

A consultation paper was issued in December 2000 on the introduction of an independent appeals procedure for farmers wishing to contest decisions to reduce or withhold payments under IACS (Integrated Administration and Control System) subsidy schemes in England. We announced on 15 May that we would work with industry to introduce new arrangements as soon as we can. Since then. DEFRA officials including the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) have been working on the details of the procedure prior to further consultation with the industry. The RPA is also working on parallel procedures for non-IACS schemes. In addition to this new procedure a senior DEFRA official acts as the Department's Impartial Complaints Adjudicator to investigate complaints about standards of service provided by the Department.

Fishing

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of progress in management of fishing effort in the Irish Sea. [15869]

Management of the Irish Sea focuses on setting TACs in line with scientific advice, enhanced technical conservation measures and, in 2000 and 2001, a prohibition on demersal fishing so as to allow the maximum number of cod to spawn.The European Commission is currently preparing a proposal to the Council of Ministers for a Regulation establishing the long-term framework for recovery plans. An element of this proposal is expected to involve a significant reduction in fishing effort.

Coastal Protection

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in her discussions with the Environment Agency on coastal protection, what definition she has used for the phrase, Coastal Squeeze. [15812]

In the context of coastal defence, the term "coastal squeeze" is taken to refer to the process whereby, in the face of rising sea levels, an area of intertidal habitat, such as saltmarsh, mudflat or saline lagoon is prevented from migrating landwards owing to the presence of a hard boundary such as a sea defence.(This description is set out at page 17 of Flood and Coastal Defence Project Appraisal Guidance, Volume 5, Environmental Appraisal (FCDPAG5)).

Flood Defences (Suffolk)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on sea and river defences in Suffolk between and including the rivers Blyth and Stour in each of the last 10 years. [15835]

The Environment Agency does not have information readily available on this basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to protect Suffolk environmentally sensitive areas from flooding due to bad weather. [15833]

Operational management of flood and coastal erosion risk in England is a matter for local operating authorities—the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and internal drainage boards. I understand the Norfolk and Suffolk Flood Defence Committee of the EA is currently planning to undertake some 17 work projects or studies with a view to alleviating flood risk in areas that include environmental sites of European importance (Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Ramsar sites) in Suffolk which are at risk of flooding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the shingle bank that protects the Alde and Ore estuary will be recharged. [15814]

I understand that, subject to the completion of an Appropriate Assessment as required by the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994, the Environment Agency plan to begin to recharge this shingle bank in April to May 2002. However the Agency have an agreement with English Nature that emergency works can be carried out if these become necessary in the meantime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual cost is of shingle bank recharge between and including the rivers Blyth and Stour estuaries; and what the cost is of recharging the shingle banks that protect the Alde and Ore estuary. [15813]

I understand from the Environment Agency that the average annual costs of shingle recharge/movement on the following areas is:

	£000 per annum
Slaughden (Alde-Ore Estuary)	30
Easton Broad (North of Southwold)	10
Dunwich-Walberswick	15
Total	55

There is not shingle recharge/movement on the River Stour.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the loss of habitat in environmentally sensitive areas of Suffolk as a result of breached sea and river defences in the last 10 years. [15834]

Operational management of flood and coastal erosion risk in England, including environmentally sensitive areas, is a matter for local operating authorities. I understand that the Environment Agency, the main flood defence operating authority, has not abandoned any sea or river defences in Suffolk in the last 10 years.

Pig Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2001, Official Report, columns 976–77, if she will make a statement on the operation of the pig industry restructuring support scheme, indicating (a) the total taken up, (b) the purposes for which the fund was used, (c) the amount left from the scheme unused and (d) what plans she has to use the unused sum. [17152]

The Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme (PIRS) is a Government funded scheme, introduced as part of the Action Plan for Farming, designed to offer short-term assistance to pig producers. Its aim is to help pig producers reduce breeding capacity, reduce costs, overcome any competitive disadvantage and restore long term viability; PIRS consists of two elements—outgoers and ongoers.Partly as a response to the outbreak of FMD, there were two outgoers schemes, both of which are now closed for applications. Under these schemes, a total of 937 bids were accepted, covering 150,000 sow places, at a cost of £16 million. In terms of the number of sow places removed from the herd and of the value for money, outgoers was extremely successful.For ongoers, there were a total of 712 applications in the UK and £21.8 million has been offered to the successful applicants—at an average of £31,000 per applicant. 99 per cent. of all applications were successful; a good indication that the scheme was both straightforward and flexible.On finance; all but £3 million of the £66 million allocated to PIRS was used to fund pig specific operations and schemes, even though PIRS itself was under subscribed. The unspent £3 million was re-allocated to a business recovery scheme from which pig producers could benefit.

Rural Task Force

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the conclusions of the Rural Task Force. [16529]

We are currently considering all the conclusions of the Rural Task Force's report. Several of the recommendations have been acted upon, not least through the provision of an additional £24 million to extend the work of the Business Recovery Fund announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 18 October.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date it was planned for the Rural Task Force to be wound up. [16528]

There has never been a fixed date for the Rural Task Force to be wound up: it will remain in being for as long as there is a need, and for as long as it can make a useful contribution towards kick-starting the rural economy following foot and mouth disease. The Task Force met last week and members made excellent and practical contributions from a variety of perspectives on ways in which the recovery of the rural economy can be assisted.

Prawn Quotas

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has held with the European Commission regarding prawn quotas. [16285]

[holding answer 20 November 2001]: The Government requested the Commission, by letter of 20 July 2001, to bring forward a proposal to restore the 10 per cent. cut that the EU made in the Total Allowable Catches for nephrops in the Irish sea, the North sea and west of Scotland in order to protect stocks of cod and hake. It is our contention that these cuts are not needed for reasons related to the state of the nephrops stocks and make no significant contribution to the protection of cod and hake.The Commission has not so far seen fit to grant our request, despite having declared last December that it would bring forward proposals if such a case were demonstrated.We are continuing to pursue this matter, including through, in the last few days, representation of the case to Commission officials by a delegation of officials from all the Fisheries Departments in the United Kingdom. I have now taken this up myself directly with Commissioner Fischler as a matter of urgency and am currently awaiting his response.

Special Advisers And Press Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [6901]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 340W.

Movement Of Livestock

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the unavailability of Welsh medium forms for use by local authorities in Wales at the commencement of the autumn movement of livestock scheme. [12545]

The Department has provided a standard template for forms to be used in connection with the livestock movement scheme. Local authorities may translate this into Welsh and I understand that a number may have now done so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the National Beef Association and other farming organisations on her Department's proposal to make permanent the 20-day standstill on cattle and sheep movements on farms; and if she will make a statement. [16034]

The Department received comments from the National Beef Association and a number of other representative industry associations on the proposals for a 20-day standstill. The Government are reviewing their proposals in the light of responses to the consultation exercise and we are carrying out full veterinary and economic risk assessments. It has been decided to make this issue part of a total approach to future disease control, which will also include biosecurity, animal identification and licensing. In the meantime, current movement licensing controls will continue.

Bse

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of those cattle tested for BSE are (a) fallen stock, (b) casualty animals and (c) over 30 months old; and what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the results in indicating the present level of BSE in the national herd. [16042]

Of the cattle tested in active surveillance this year up to 9 November the proportions are as follows:

Cattle tested for BSE	Percentage
Fallen Stock	40.1
Casualty Animals	58.2
Over 30 months old	98.6

The Government's testing programme is continuously adjusted on the basis of scientific advice and to comply with EU legislation. Its recent significant expansion will give us a more accurate picture of the level of BSE infectivity in the national herd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the number of cattle tested for BSE in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; what plans her Department has to increase the number of cattle tested annually for BSE; and what assessment she has made of the level of testing for BSE in (a) France and (b) Germany. [16041]

The following table lists the number of cattle tested for BSE in each of last 10 years for which figures are available.

	Passive surveillance	Active surveillance
1991	29,237	—
1992	43,591	—
1993	41,642	—
1994	29,151	—
1995	17,382	—
1996	10,274	—
1997	5,346	—
1998	4,055	—
1999	2,853	3,951
2000	1,784	12,595
2001¹	1,090	54,253
¹ As at 19 November

The Government's active surveillance programme has recently been stepped up so that testing of over 350,000 cattle per year will be carried out. These include all fallen stock over 24 months of age, all casualty animals over 24 months of age, all casualty animals over 24 months of age, all cattle born between 1 August 1996 and 31 July 1997 which are slaughtered under the over-thirty-months scheme and a sample of 50,000 other animals over the age of 30 months.Passive surveillance will continue as before though numbers of cattle showing clinical signs suspicious of BSE are in decline.The current level of testing in France and Germany, as in the UK, is determined by EU legislation. Unlike the UK, the EU member states are now required to test all cattle over 30 months of age intended for human consumption—only meat from those with negative results is allowed to enter the food chain. The Food Standards Agency considers, however, that the UK's over-thirty-month-rule provides stronger protection.

Poultry Farms

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on the planning guidance currently issued to local authorities relating to the siting of new generation mobile chicken units on poultry farms. [16040]

We have had no recent discussions with DTLR on this subject. Guidance on temporary structures used for agriculture, including mobile poultry units, is contained within PPG7, Annexe C, paragraph 11.DEFRA contributes to both national and regional planning guidance on a range of aspects. Through Government Offices, DEFRA provides technical advice to local planning authorities. This includes advice on giving farmers flexibility to adapt to changing animal welfare legislation. In doing so, local authorities are enabled to take due account of these aspects when they prepare their local development plans and assess individual planning applications.

Farm Assurance Schemes

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further steps her Department plans to take to promote public awareness of the red tractor symbol and related farm food assurance schemes. [16038]

The Government support the development of assurance schemes and the red tractor logo. We are grant aiding the development of assured food standards which was set up to act as an umbrella body for assurance schemes and licence the use of the red tractor logo.

Rural Payments Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) efficiency and (b) promptness of the tasks carried out by the Rural Payments Agency; and if she will make a statement. [15810]

Following the launch of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) as an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16 October 2001, the House was informed of the agency's Performance Targets on 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1247W. These cover a range of targets that reflect the efficiency and promptness of tasks undertaken by RPA. Copies of its Framework Document, Corporate Plan and Business Plan were placed in the Library of the House on 15 November 2001.An Ownership Board was appointed, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Department. Other members include three independents and representatives of the devolved Administrations.Within the objective of providing strategic direction and oversight to RPA, one of the four primary roles of the Ownership Board is to monitor regularly on behalf of the Secretary of State, the devolved Administrations and competent authority the performance of RPA against its targets.

Home Department

Scottish Devolution

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his 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. [13824]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 8 November 2001, Official Report, column 748W.

Osama Bin Laden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the extent of support for Osama bin Laden by (a) organised groups and (b) individuals within the United Kingdom. [13677]

The estimate of support for Osama bin Laden by organised groups and individuals in the United Kingdom is an operational matter for the security service and the police, who attach a high priority to monitoring and countering any possible activities in the country by foreign extremists. Any credible information is fully investigated. An investigation which yields evidence that organisations or individuals are supporting terrorism will result in the appropriate action being taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has collated on the extent to which the views and values of Osama bin Laden have been promoted in public within the United Kingdom since 1997. [16410]

The police and security forces closely monitor the activities of those who seek to promote the views of proscribed organisations. As head of al-Qaeda, an organisation proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000, the views of Osama bin Laden, or those who advocate support for this organisation, fall into this category. The Metropolitan police are investigating a number of possible breaches of the provisions of the Terrorist Act 2000 as well as allegedly racially-inflammatory comments made after the terrorist attacks in the United States. Osama bin Laden's views have in any case, of course, long been in the public domain, and particularly since the events of 11 September.The Government have proposed new laws on incitement to religious hatred which specifically address those who seek to stir up hatred against members of religious groups. No individual or group can be considered exempt from prosecution under these laws.

Immigration Applications

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applications received by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are sent by recorded delivery; if those sent by recorded delivery are dealt with more expeditiously than those delivered by other means; and if he will make a statement. [17161]

About 90 per cent. of all immigration applications are posted by registered/recorded delivery.Applications sent by registered/recorded delivery are not dealt with more expeditiously than those delivered by ordinary post. New applications are normally considered in order of receipt irrespective of the method of posting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is of keeping a person in an immigration detention establishment in England and Wales. [14941]

The average annual cost of detaining a person in an Immigration Service Detention Centre is currently £27,006.

Extremist Groups

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the activities and statements of Abu Abdullah of the Mosque of Piety, Leicester; and if he will make a statement; [14974]

(2) what assessment he has made of the activities of Ayadi Chafiq bin Muhammed; and if he will make a statement:, [14972]

(3) what assessment he has made of links between Al Massad and bin Laden, al-Qaeda and the Taliban; and if he will make a statement; [14973]

(4) what assessment he has made of the activities of Omar Al-Bayoumi (aka Abu Imard); and if he will make a statement; [14976]

(5) what assessment he has made of the activities in the United Kingdom of the Al Massad organisation; and if he will make a statement. [14975]

The police and the Security Service monitor closely the activities of all foreign extremists and organisations within the United Kingdom. Any credible information is fully investigated. An investigation which yields evidence that organisations or individuals are supporting terrorism will result in the appropriate action being taken.

Hirst V United Kingdom

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government will introduce legislation to comply with the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in Hirst v. United Kingdom. [15675]

There are no plans to introduce new legislation as there is nothing in the judgment to require this. Existing domestic legislation provides a flexible framework within which successive Parole Board reviews can be held so that the period between reviews in each case is decided on its merits, compatibly with Article 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Appropriate guidance has already been issued following the earlier European Court of Human Rights judgment in the case of Oldham.Further training will be provided to ensure that relevant Prison Service staff and Parole Board members are aware that the timing of reviews should be geared to the particular circumstances of each case, subject to the statutory maximum interval of two years which must only be set where this is justified in the individual circumstances.

Women Prisoners (Mother And Baby Units)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if women received into (a) Holloway and (b) Brock Hill prisons are advised that they may apply for a place in a mother and baby unit. [15671]

A process is in place to enable all women, sentenced or unsentenced, who are pregnant or have a child aged under 18 months to make an informed choice about applying for a place in a mother and baby unit.Governors in all women's prisons must ensure that the reception process identifies all eligible women and provides them with the prisoners' handbook "All About Mother and Baby Units".Governors in all women's prisons must appoint a named liaison officer who is responsible for providing the woman with any information she requires as well as assisting her with the application process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women who already had babies and were sentenced or remanded to (a) Holloway and (b) Brock Hill prisons applied for a place in a mother and baby unit. [15670]

The information requested is not available centrally. Computer systems have recently been installed in each of the four mother and baby units and these will record that sort of information and transmit it to a central point. The staff concerned are being trained in its use and some inputting of new cases has begun.

Appointments

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appointments he has made to public bodies since 7 June; and how many are in his gift. [15482]

Information about numbers of ministerial appointments to public bodies is included in the Cabinet Office's annual report, "Public Bodies". Copies of this are placed in the Library and the report is published on the Cabinet Office's internet website. The next edition of "Public Bodies", which will include number of appointments at 31 March 2001, will be published around the end of the year.Between 7 June and 31 October 2001 my Department made 179 appointments to public bodies. The total number of appointments that are the responsibility of my Department is 2,516.

Ghb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recommendation of the Drug Advisory Council with regard to the classification of GHB. [16272]

At its meeting on 8 November, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD recommended that gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB) should be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a Class C drug. I have accepted their recommendation in principle, subject to the normal consultation with interested professional bodies.

Deportation (National Security)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people his Department has sought to have deported from the United Kingdom on national security grounds, broken down by the country to which they are being deported; and if he will indicate the proportion of those successfully deported in the last 12 months. [15872]

There have been no deportations from the United Kingdom on the ground of national security in the past 12 months. However, 25 individuals have been excluded from entering the United Kingdom on the ground that their presence here would not be conductive to the public good on national security grounds. The Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Bill contains provision for suspected terrorists to be arrested and detained indefinitely if they cannot be sent back to their own country or to a safe third country.

Anti-Terrorism, Crime And Security Bill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his intention that belief in (a) the teachings of Osama bin Laden, (b) Muslim fundamentalism and (c) the Reverend Moon are religious beliefs for the purposes of Part 5 of the Anti-Terrorism. Crime and Security Bill. [16664]

It is not necessary in the context of this legislation to define religion or religious beliefs. This is a matter which can be left to the courts to interpret in the wider context of the criminal behaviour being considered. We have therefore not sought to compile a list of `acceptable' religious beliefs to the exclusion of others. It is a matter of deciding, where a criminal offence has been committed against a person or group, whether the perpetrator's hatred of that person or group was a principal or aggravating factor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the scope of the expression "particular circumstances" in clause 109 7(b) of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill. [16418]

Sub-clause (7) of clause 109 of the Anti-terrorism, Security and Crime Bill sets out the circumstances in which the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) enabling power conferred by clause 109 can be used to create a criminal offence with a penalty of more than two years' imprisonment. The expression "particular circumstances" in sub-clause (7)(b) covers the situation where the European Union Justice and Home Affairs obligation makes a distinction between 'aggravated' and `non-aggravated' versions of an offence and, for example, provides for a minimum/maximum sentence for the `aggravated' version of the offence but does not specify a penalty level for the basic offence. Sub-clause (7)(b) will enable implementing regulations in this situation to apply the minimum/maximum sentence provided for the `aggravated' offence to all versions of the offence. The courts will then be able to take the particular circumstances of each case into account when sentencing. This mechanism ensures we can transpose European Union obligations in a way which takes full account of sentencing structures in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will prepare a register of the religious beliefs to which part 5 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill applies. [16417]

The Government will not be preparing such a register, as the Bill does not seek to define religion or religious belief. In this part of the Bill "religious hatred" means "hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief or lack of religious belief'. This is an inclusive definition, and therefore does not require a list of "acceptable" religious beliefs to be drawn up. The Government do not want to make value judgments about the nature of a particular religion. The Bill reflects the fact that what is to be considered is whether a criminal offence has been committed against a person because of, or aggravated by, the perpetrator's hatred for their religion or belief.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to transport companies concerning proposals in the new anti-terrorism legislation on the collection and retention of passenger and freight information. [16884]

No formal guidance has been issued. However, the Home Office will shortly be issuing to carriers and other interested bodies a consultation paper about the types of information about passengers and goods to be collected.

Criminal Offences

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal offences punishable with imprisonment in excess of two years have been created by statutory instrument in each of the last 10 years. [16223]

[holding answer 19 November 2001]: Records indicate that of all the existing offences punishable with imprisonment of more than two years, none were created by statutory instrument.

Special Hospitals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been transferred to NHS mental health facilities on temporary licence since 13 July 2000; and if he will make a statement about his policy. [16610]

Information about the number of prisoners transferred to national health service mental health facilities on temporary licence is not collected centrally but we would expect there to be few, if any, such cases. Our objective is to ensure that prisoners who are so severely mentally disordered that they require in-patient treatment in hospital are diagnosed, assessed and transferred as quickly as possible. Some 750 prisoners a year are transferred from prison to hospital by direction of the Home Secretary under sections 47 and 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983. It is the usual practice for such transfers to take place with an escort of either prison or hospital staff.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter of 14 May from the hon. Member for Aylesbury to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate about his constituent Mr. D. M., reference M1002217. [16817]

My officials wrote to the hon. Member on 20 November. I am sorry he did not receive an earlier response.

Drug Misuse

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's 10-year strategy for tackling the misuse of drugs. [17084](2) what progress is being made towards the targets for reducing the use of class A drugs set out in the 10-year plan for tackling the misuse of drugs; and if he will make a statement. [17086]

We are currently reviewing progress against all the Drugs Strategy targets as part of the work for the 2002 Spending Review, to ensure that we still have the right balance and focus. We know we need to focus even more on Class A drugs. That is why the Home Secretary announced to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 23 October 2001 that he would be seeking advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on their assessment reclassifying cannabis from Class B to Class C.Addressing substance misuse among young people is a key priority in delivering the Strategy. We are developing our policy and approach in a number of areas such as in improving the planning and co-ordination of the delivery of services for young people through "Young People's Substance Misuse Plans". We will also be introducing an innovative public awareness campaign on drugs aimed at young people. We have also introduced a range of measures across the whole Strategy. For example, we have provided £1 million as a starter fund for a pilot project to help police target regional drug traffickers with a view to a national roll-out of the scheme; we have agreed a further roll-out of drug testing programmes; and a series of measures, in partnership with the Department of Health, to minimise the harm drug cause.

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the planned timetable is for the implementation of smart cards for asylum seekers. [16052]

The target dates for the Application Registration Card (ARC) project are: Cards issued to new applicants at Croydon by the end of January 2002; Card issue is to commence at remote sites by the end of March 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of asylum seekers who have remained in the United Kingdom after their claims have been rejected in each of the last five years. [17087]

There is no official estimate of the number of failed asylum seekers who remain in the United Kingdom for the period requested. No Government have ever been able to give reliable estimates of this nature.However, we are currently in the process of commissioning a study that will consider the methods available for generating such an estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the (a) scope and (b) nature of advice and help for asylum seekers that will operate at (a) induction centres and (b) accommodation centres. [17081]

With regard to legal advice and assistance, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 29 October 2001, Official Report, column 642, and to a reply given by me on 5 November 2001, Official Report, column 80W.We have also given a commitment to provide education and health facilities at accommodation centres, though the full range of services is yet to be settled. Details will be in the White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure the provision of legal advice for asylum seekers at induction centres. [17083]

I refer the hon. Member to replies given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 642, and by myself on 5 November 2001, Official Report, column 80W. Full details of the plans will be included in the forthcoming White Paper on asylum and immigration. It is envisaged that this will be issued in January 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long asylum seekers will remain at (a) induction centres and (b) accommodation centres. [17082]

Asylum seekers will remain in induction centres for a few days while a number of the present National Asylum Support Services (NASS) functions, as well as initial asylum processes, are undertaken.Asylum seekers will remain at accommodation centres for the duration of the asylum process. We expect accommodation centres to result in faster processing of asylum cases.

Work And Pensions

Scottish Devolution

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his 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. [13829]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Mrs. Liddell) on 14 November 2001, Official Report, column 748W.

Call Centre Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the cost of the improved telephone call centre services referred to on page five of his Department's report 2000. [14094]

Over the last year and a half we have introduced a new telephone-based service for our employer customers—Employer Direct. Eleven Employer Direct sites are now operational throughout the UK. The sites will be gradually linked together to enable employers anywhere in Great Britain to use a single telephone number for notifying their vacancies to Jobcentres, providing instantaneous display on our Jobpoints and Employment Service managed internet sites. We expect the service to be completed and formally launched towards the end of the financial year.Employer Direct is part of the overall investment in modernisation and service improvement by the Employment Service. The different elements are all interdependent and it is not therefore possible to separate the cost of Employer Direct. The modernization programme is being delivered under an eight-year contract, the first phase of which is costing £470 millions over the first five years.

One Pilot Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the cost of the launch of the ONE service in pilot areas. [14096]

The total cost of the development, implementation and live running of the 12 ONE pilots to the end of March 2000 was £31,116,755.

New Deal (Buckingham)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on (a) the number of participants in the New Deal for Young People from the Buckingham constituency in the last 12 months, (b) the destinations of people leaving the scheme and (c) the cost involved. [14217]

The information as is available is in the tables. Estimates of the cost of the programme are not available at constituency level.

New deal for young people
Month	Participants in the Buckingham constituency
August 2000	10
September 2000	9
October 2000	10
November 2000	9
December 2000	12
January 2001	15
February 2001	13
March 2001	14
April 2001	14
May 2001	12
June 2001	11
July 2001	10
August 2001	6

Note:

Figures are for the end of the month, and are the latest available.

Source:

New Deal Evaluation Database

Destination on leaving the new deal for young people
	Number of clients
Unsubsidised employment	44
Other benefits	5
Other known destinations	14
Not known	32
Total leavers	95

Note:

Figures are cumulative to the end of August 2001.

Source:

New Deal Evaluation Database

Disabled People

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people have found regular consistent employment under the Government's New Deal for Disabled People since its inception, broken down by nation and region in the UK; and what percentage the Scottish number represents of the total number of disabled people in Scotland. [16779]

We believe that disabled people should be provided with the same opportunities as everyone else to find out about moving into work and to help themselves to become, and remain, more independent. Since July we have been establishing a national network of job brokers to provide support and services to people on incapacity benefits who want to work.During the first pilot phase of the New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP), up to June 2001, 8,242 people in the pilot areas were helped into work, 978 of whom were in Scotland.As at May 2001, there were 356,800 people of working age claiming one or more key sickness or disability benefits in Scotland. They will all have the opportunity to benefit from the wide range of innovative approaches delivered through NDDP job brokers that are helping people on benefits move into work.

Pensions

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensions were paid to (a) married couples, (b) single males and (c) single females; and what was the cost of their payment (i) in each of the last 10 years and (ii) in 1980. [16822]

Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Year	Males (millions)	Females (millions)	Total cost (£ billions)
1980–81	3.2	5.9	25.6
1991–92	3.6	6.7	32.1
1992–93	3.6	6.7	32.5
1993–94	3.6	6.7	33.5
1994–95	3.7	6.8	33.6
1995–96	3.8	6.8	34.1
1996–97	3.9	6.9	35.3
1997–98	3.9	6.9	36.0
1998–99	4.0	6.9	37.1
1999–2000	4.1	7.0	38.5
2000–01	4.1	7.0	38.8

Notes:

1. The figures for 'Total Cost' are approximate

2. All figures in 2001–02 price terms

Source:

Pension Strategy Computer System

Acquired Brain Injury

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking in conjunction with the Department of Health to improve employment prospects for those who have an acquired brain injury. [16821]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent meetings he has had with the Department of Health regarding the provision of rehabilitation services for people with acquired brain injury. [17258]

Departmental officials consulted the Department of Health as part of a process to produce an improved framework for brain injury rehabilitation services for the Employment Service's Work Preparation programme. Following consultations with providers of brain injury Work Preparation services and officials in the Department of Health, the delivery of these services will incorporate changes which should result in significant benefits for those who use them. The improvements include:

Being clearer about the scope of Work Preparation delivered by the Employment Service, compared with other forms of rehabilitation, some of which are contracted with the Department of Health.

Greater individualisation of provision based on comprehensive assessments of clients' needs.

The Employment Service has also taken into account views on the average length of the Work Preparation programme and lengthened this as a result. By introducing the national framework, the Employment Service will now deliver consistent brain injury Work Preparation programmes throughout Great Britain, which are clear in their scope. We expect these new arrangements to improve employment prospects for those who have acquired brain injury.

Benefit Fraud

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit fraud have been detected and how many successful prosecutions have been brought in each year since 1997. [7676]

We are working in partnership with local authorities to drive up standards across the board and tackle fraud and error. Over half of local authorities have begun to operate the verification framework, making thorough checks on all housing benefit claimants before payments are made.Information is not available separately for housing benefit and council tax benefit. The number of fraudulent cases and prosecutions reported by local authorities is in the table:

Year	Number of cases where fraud was established and a weekly benefit saving was claimed¹	Number of successful prosecutions¹
1997–98	220,000	700
1998–99	160,000	800
1999–2000	120,000	860
2000–01	100,000	1,100
¹ Data are not available for all 409 local authorities. The total for Great Britain includes estimates for local authorities that have not responded. These estimates are based on historical and regional data. This type of estimate is standard practice in reporting totals where there have been non-respondents.

Note:

The figures have been rounded to two significant figures.

Schlumbergersema

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the duration is of the contracts for the supply of medical services by SchlumbergerSema; and if he will make a statement. [18142]

The Government are committed to giving speedy and efficient support for people with disabilities and those who are unable to work. It also wants to help people to work wherever possible. The creation of Jobcentre Plus to bring together help with benefits and employment and the national extension of the New Deal for Disabled People are some of the improvements the Government are making to achieve that. It is also important that the processes to assess people's entitlement to benefit and capability for work are timely and effective.The contracts signed on 20 February 1998, provided for the supply of medical services to support benefit administration for a period of five years, from 1 September 1998 to 31 August 2003 with the option of an extension up to a further two years.SEMA were taken over by Schlumberger in Spring 2001. New managers have been installed and we have been working with them to improve both current performance and service delivery in the future.Performance in key areas has improved. In particular there has been a significant increase in the number of incapacity benefit examinations performed and the percentage of medical reports which fail to meet the required standards is now well within the target set in the Government response to the Social Security Select Committee report.For the future, the company is committed to an improvement plan increasing the number of doctors used on this contract, introducing evidence based medicine (the application of accepted protocols) on an IT platform, and taking part in pilot schemes to reduce the numbers of people failing to attend for examination and the gathering of better quality medical evidence.The Government believe that an extension to the contract offers the best opportunity to make the service improvements we all want to see and are seeking to agree detailed conditions which is expected to be finalised shortly. The agreement to extend the contract would be subject to confirmation by 31 May 2002.

Education And Skills

Further Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for increasing funding to further education colleges; and if she will make a statement. [14639]

The Government plan to continue their substantial investment in further education. This year total further education funding via the Learning and Skills Council is up by £527 million compared with 2000–01, a 12 per cent. real terms increase. This brings the planned total to £4,029 million.

Next year we plan a further 3 per cent. in real terms rise. These are resources to meet our ambitious aims for the learning and skills agenda and confirms the importance of FE in delivering it.

10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of the quality of teaching in further education. [14640]

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the quality of teaching in further education. [14651]

Since the Learning and Skills Act 2000, Ofsted and Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) inspect Further Education colleges under the common inspection framework. Each inspection includes an assessment of teaching quality. The first five college inspections under the new regime were published in the summer, when 16 per cent. of lessons observed were judged to be less than satisfactory. These are the only inspections published to date and might well not be representative.

35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is taking to increase participation in further education. [14665]

This year we have allocated the Learning and Skills Council an additional £527 million to fund increased participation in further education and raise standards and achievement, a 12 per cent. increase in real terms. Colleges are central to our plans to develop a coherent phase of education for 14 to 19-year-olds. For adult learners, colleges contribute to raising skill levels, improving basic skills, boosting employability and widening access. We have asked the Learning and Skills Council to examine the potential for FE to deliver further growth in adult participation in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations she has received on the recruitment of further education lecturers in England; how many vacancies exist in further education colleges in England; and if she will make a statement. [17294]

Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have received recent official representations on this matter. We have both met with the Association of Colleges recently and my right hon. Friend spoke at the Association's Conference earlier this week. My hon. Friend the Minister for Lifelong Learning met with the Association for College Management earlier this month and is due to meet with the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education in December.The Department does not collect information on vacancies centrally, as further education colleges are independent corporations. However, I understand from a recent survey by the Association of Colleges that there are 3,000 teaching vacancies in general further education colleges.Work is under way to ensure that the further education sector benefits from similar recruitment initiatives to those already proposed for schools, such as "Golden Hellos" and the write off of student loans.

Citizenship

12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what preparations remain to be completed prior to the introduction of citizenship as a curriculum subject. [14642]

Detailed guidance for Citizenship for 11–14 year olds has been circulated to all secondary schools; a new website including an on-line training package for teachers was launched in October; nine regional training events for teachers took place this spring. The first cohort of Citizenship PGCE students started their courses in September; and OFSTED inspection guidance for secondary schools will be published next year.Guidance for 14–16 year olds will also be published in summer 2002. This will be followed soon after by guidance for primary schools. Guidance on assessment in primary schools will be published in summer 2002. Awarding bodies are also developing specifications for the new GCSE (short course) in Citizenship Studies for teaching to start in September 2002.We will, of course, monitor any additional support schools may need following the introduction of Citizenship next September.

Research Assessment Exercise

13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to review the working of the research assessment exercise. [14643]

The distribution of funds to support research in universities and colleges is a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the other UK funding councils.

Individual Learning Accounts

14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will reinstate individual learning accounts. [14644]

Individual learning accounts (ILAs) in England will not be reinstated in their present form. However, the Government remain committed to support those who find a lack of money a barrier to returning to education, learning or training. We are developing future plans which build on the successful elements of the ILA programme.

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received on the ending of individual learning accounts. [14656]

Following the announcement of the withdrawal of the individual learning accounts programme in England, we have received representations from hon. Members, individual learning account holders and individual learning account registered learning providers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to introduce a new scheme to replace individual learning accounts; when she plans to introduce it; and if she will make a statement. [17298]

Individual learning accounts (ILAs) will not be reinstated in their present form. We are developing future plans which build on the successful elements of the ILA programme. I hope to announce more details on the process for developing a further scheme in due course.

Area Cost Adjustment

15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions she has had about the area cost adjustment. [14645]

My right hon. Friend has discussions about various aspects of the current and future funding formula for local education authorities from time to time.

Higher Education (Participation)

16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to increase participation in higher education. [14646]

Our programmes to raise standards in schools and colleges will have a major impact on increasing participation. Our new Aim Higher advertising campaign, together with the Excellence Challenge programme, will encourage more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter HE. We are also encouraging Higher Education Institutions to introduce a range of measures to enable more people to participate in higher education including part-time learning and access programmes for mature students.

Teacher Recruitment

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent action she has taken to increase teacher recruitment. [14647]

Better rewards, status and working conditions have already helped to deliver more teachers in maintained schools in England than at any time since 1984. We have pledged to secure at least a further 10,000 by 2006. In addition, training bursaries and Golden Hellos have reversed an eight-year decline in recruitment to initial teacher training. This year, numbers of trainees have risen for the second year in a row, to their highest level since 1994/95.

Nursery Places (Lancashire)

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase the number of nursery places available in Lancashire. [14648]

Already all four year olds in Lancashire are able to access a free part-time nursery education place. In the near future, we will be announcing to all local authorities in England, details of the specific funding we will be making available, to increase the number of free nursery education places available for three year olds in their areas.

Pupil Attainment (Secondary Education)

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to improve the attainment of pupils in the early years of secondary education. [14649]

Our plans to transform secondary education include a major programme to help schools improve the attainment of all 11 to 14-year-olds. The key stage 3 strategy sets high expectations and challenging targets. It aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom by investing in teachers' professional development. Expenditure on the strategy will be £489 million to 2003–04.

Gcse Results

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the latest set of GCSE results. [14652]

The statistics published by the Department on 20 November show that 50.0 per cent. of 15-year-olds gained at least five top grades this year. We have, therefore, met the Government's target—for 50 per cent. of 15-year-olds to achieve five GCSE grades A^*-C by 2002—a year early. This is a result of pupils working hard, and of the first class support they receive from teachers. There are many new policies to tackle underachievement in schools and these are feeding through now into more candidates achieving better GCSEs.

Maintenance Grants

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will restore maintenance grants to attract students to universities from less well-off backgrounds. [14653]

Options for attracting students from lower income families into higher education are being considered as part of the student support review my right hon. Friend announced in October. As part of the Excellence Challenge programme, funding has already been set aside for up to 25,000 Opportunity Bursaries worth £2,000 each for students from less well-off backgrounds over the next three years. In 2001–02 we have also improved grant provision for lone parents and students with dependants with a new child care grant of 85 per cent. of the actual costs during term time and the short vacations and a travel, books and equipment grant. This is in addition to increasing significantly disabled students allowances and hardship grants during the last four years.

Competitive Team Sports

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to increase competitive team sports in schools. [14654]

Competitive games are a compulsory part of the National Curriculum for Physical Education for pupils aged between five and 14, and are one of the options for pupils aged 14 to 16. The Government's White Paper "School—Achieving Success" includes a pledge that all children will receive two hours of physical education and school sport a week, within and outside the curriculum. We are currently consulting on how best this can be delivered. We have established over 370 school sports co-ordinators to assist families of primary and secondary schools to deliver after-school competitive sports.

Learning And Skills Council

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has given to learning and skills councils on the financial support of post-16 education in schools. [14655]

We have guaranteed that school sixth form funding will be maintained in real terms, uprated for inflation, provided that numbers do not fall.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the operating costs of the Learning and Skills Council in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [17296]

The original budgets for the administration costs of the Learning and Skills Council were set some time ago as £188 million for 2001–2 and £193 million for 2002–3. While the council may wish us to consider an increase in their budget we will ensure that annual administration costs will remain at least £50 million lower than the relevant administration costs of its predecessor bodies.

Class Sizes (Key Stage 1)

27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress she has made with implementing the Government's class size policy for key stage 1. [14657]

On 15 November we announced that 99.5 per cent. of infants are now in classes of 30 or fewer. This is excellent news and means that, apart from permitted exceptions, now just 0.1 per cent. of the 63,000 infant classes have extra children.

Teaching Vacancies

28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent meetings she has had with the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers to discuss the number of teacher vacancies in secondary schools. [14658]

I last met representatives of NASUWT on 31 October 2001. A range of issues was discussed, including the terms of teachers' employment, but the number of teacher vacancies was not specifically raised by NASUWT.

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there are in secondary schools; and if she will make a statement. [14650]

Information on the number of teacher vacancies in local education authorities is collected once a year in January as part of the annual census of teachers and vacancies. In January 2001, local education authorities recorded 2,586 vacancies in secondary schools.

Education And Business Links

29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to provide closer links between further and higher education establishments and business. [14659]

The Government recognise the importance of enhancing links between further and higher education institutions and business. We are investing £100 million over the next three years to create a national network of Centres of Vocational Excellence in Further Education. Centres will enable colleges to develop their links with employer networks and to focus specialist vocational provision on meeting the skills needs of employers at local, regional, national and sectoral level. In doing so they will secure active employer/college engagement to underpin, develop and strengthen innovative and flexible approaches to meeting current and future skills. We are also making available £25 million towards establishing New Technology Institutes (NT1s) in each region from autumn 2002. NT1s, involving colleges, universities and the private sector, will increase the supply of people with skills in information and communications technology and provide support to local businesses on new technology and innovative business practices. A core feature of the new Foundation Degree, which is being introduced from this autumn, is that employers are actively involved in the design and subsequent review of programmes along with higher and further education institutions, national training organisations and other professional bodies. The Higher Education Innovation Fund provides funding to help higher education institutions make organisational and structural arrangements to enhance their interaction with business. Almost £80 million has been allocated to a wide range of institutions for the most recent round of projects, which will take place over the next three years.

Excellence In Cities

30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of changes in standards of achievement in excellence in cities areas. [14660]

There are strong indications that the extra support for city schools—not least learning mentors, learning support units and enhanced opportunities for gifted and talented children—is making an impact on children's attainment, on inclusion, and on allowing teachers in those schools to concentrate on teaching. This year's performance tables show that, overall, the 750 secondary schools in Excellence in Cities areas, where the programme has been in place for at least a year, continue to show faster than average improvements in terms of the percentage of pupils achieving 5 or more GCSE/GNVQ results at A^*-C.

Teaching Expertise

31.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to ensure that teachers in secondary schools do not teach a subject in which they have no expertise. [14661]

This is a matter for head teachers.

Pupil Funding

32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken to reduce the disparity in funding per pupil between local education authorities. [14662]

Advanced Skills Teachers

33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the work of advanced skills teachers. [14663]

The Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) route is designed to recognise and reward excellent teachers who wish to remain in the classroom rather than go into management. ASTs have an important role in helping to raise standards. They typically spend 80 per cent. of their time teaching in the usual way and 20 per cent. helping teachers in neighbouring schools. This can involve a wide range of activities such as coaching individual teachers or advising them on their professional development, giving demonstration lessons or holding workshops on particular aspects of teaching such as classroom management. Some have led specific projects within their own school or LEA, for example on provision for the gifted and talented children or techniques to overcome low achievement by boys. Many ASTs have produced or updated schemes of work and developed new teaching materials to help less experienced colleagues.

Education Authority Funding

34.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to improve funding of the lowest-funded education authorities. [14664]

We are currently working up proposals for a reformed system of school and LEA funding for introduction in 2003–04. We aim to create a simpler, more transparent and fairer formula that reflects fairly, on the basis of up to date evidence, the needs of authorities in different parts of the country. We do not want there to be disparities in the formula which are not justified by the education needs of children.In the meantime we have been making significant increases in funding overall. Since 1997 Swindon's Education Standard Spending Assessment (ESS) has increased by an average of over 6 per cent. each year. On top of that Swindon's Standards Fund grant has increased from under £1 million in 1997 to over £4 million this year. Also we have introduced the School Standards Grant, which goes straight to schools: this year Swindon's schools have received £2.4 million. In 2002–03 ESS overall will increase by over £1.3 billion or 6 per cent.; direct grants to schools will increase by 2.75 per cent.; and Standards Fund grant will increase by £85.6 million.

Learning Support Units

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many learning support units have been established in schools; and if she will make a statement. [14631]

There are approximately 1,090 learning support units in schools in England. We plan to increase this total further as independent evaluation of LSUs shows that they improve behaviour and cut exclusions. Phase 3 of Excellence in Cities and the Excellence Cluster programme should provide another 140 LSUs and up to 50 more are being set up this term outside the Excellence in Cities programme.

Special Advisers And Press Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [6909]

For the number of special advisers employed, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 340W.For the number of press officers employed, we are unable to provide information dating back to 1992 without incurring disproportionate costs but information from 1996–97 to 1998–99 is available from appendix 10 of the Sixth Report from the Select Committee on Public Administration entitled the Government Information and Communication Service, published on 29 July 1998. www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmpubadm/770/77002. htm. Information for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 for full-time and part-time press officers is in the table.

Grade	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
AIO¹	2	3	2
IO¹	11	6	10
SIO¹	9	13	9
S10²	1	1	I
G7¹	3	3	4
G7²	—	1	1
SCSI-9¹	2	2	2
Contract staff	0	0	0
Total	28	29	³29
¹ Full-time
² Part-time
³ The staffing figures for 2001–02 include the transfer of G7x1, SIOx 1 and 10x3 to the Department for Work and Pensions as part of the machinery of government changes following the general election.

Departmental Co-Ordination

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what mechanisms and procedures are in place to ensure there is effective co-ordination between her Department and the National Assembly for Wales. [14472]

The Department for Education and Skills is working with the Assembly to finalise a concordat, which we hope to publish shortly. This records how we already co-operate and builds on the principles set out in the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. The concordat gives assurance to both parties that working relationships will continue to be conducted in an agreed and helpful manner.A recent example of effective co-ordination was the publication by the National Assembly for Wales of its paving document for Wales, "The Learning Country", alongside the White Paper "Schools: Achieving Success" published by Department for Education and Skills this autumn.

Trailblazer Sector Skills Councils

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will place in the Library a list of organisations invited to submit expressions of interest in becoming Trailblazer sector skills councils. [16946]

I wrote to all Chairs and Chief Executives of National Training Organisations (NTOs) and to Trade Associations on 2 November inviting expressions of interest in becoming a trailblazer Sector Skills Council. Lists of organisations to which the letter was sent have been placed in the Library.

Advertising

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department has spent in real terms on advertising campaigns to promote training and education policy in each of the last 15 years. [16098]

[holding answer 19 November 2001]: The Department's spend on advertising, for each of the last 15 years, is set out in the tables. Within the totals for the Employment Department and Department for Education and Employment there was advertising to promote employment and employability policies, as well as training and education policy. It is not possible to disaggregate this without disproportionate cost.Prior to 1991–92 the Employment Department agencies (Manpower Services Commission, Training Commission and Training Agency) spent their own publicity budgets. From 1991–92 these were held centrally by the Employment Department. However, because of the way the information is held in our records the figures for the former Employment Department from 1992–93 to 1995–96 do not include expenditure by agencies. The Department for Education and Department for Education and Employment figures also do not include expenditure by agencies and NDPBs.Real term expenditure is calculated using 1999–2000 base year prices.

Employment Department
£ million
Year	Employment department¹	Employment department agencies	Expenditure of Employment department and its agencies	Real terms total
1986–87	12.3	22.8	35.1	59.83
1987–88	4.1	24.3	28.5	46.13
1988–89	4.4	18.1	22.5	34.11
1989–90	1.8	14.8	16.6	23.48
1990–91	7.1	9.9	17.0	22.3
¹ Excluding agencies

Employment Department
£ million
Year	Original figures	Real terms
1991–92	9.2	11.37
1992–93	3.2	3.83
1993–94	7.3	8.51
1994–95	6.5	7.47
1995–96	7.7	8.6

Department for Education
Year	Original figures	Real terms
1986–87	0.8	1.36
1987–88	0.4	0.65
1988–89	0.7	1.06
1989–90	0.3	0.42
1990–91	2.4	3.15
1991–92	2.6	3.21
1992–93	0.7	0.84
1993–94	1.4	1.63
1994–95	0.1	0.11
1995–96	0.6	0.67

Department for Education and Employment
Year	Original figures	Real terms
1996–97	7.5	8.12
1997–98	10.0	10.53
1998–99	15.7	16.07
1999–2000	11.9	11.9
2000–01	29.0	28.43

Specialist schools in specified local education authorities—as at 20 November 2001
LEA	Name	Specialism	Character	Designated September
Medway	Chatham Grammar School for Boys	Language	Community	2000
Medway	Chatham Grammar School for Girls	Technology	Foundation	1994
Medway	Rainham School for Girls	Technology	Community	1996
Medway	Thomas Aveling School (The)	Technology	Foundation	2001
Somerset	Bucklers Mead Community School	Technology	Community	1996
Somerset	Court Fields Community School	Technology	Community	1998
Somerset	Crispin School	Technology	Community	1999
Somerset	Heathfield Community School	Arts	Community	1997
Somerset	Kings of Wessex Community School (The)	Technology	Voluntary Controlled	2001
Somerset	Kingsmead Community School	Language	Community	2000
Somerset	Ladymead Community School	Technology	Community	1998
Somerset	Whitstone Community School	Technology	Community	2000
Islington, LB of	Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School	Language	Community	2000
Islington, LB of	Mount Carmel RC Girls' School	Technology	Voluntary Aided	2000
Plymouth, city of	Eggbuckland Community College	Technology	Community	1996
Plymouth, city of	Estover Community College	Arts	Community	1999
Plymouth, city of	Hele's School	Language	Community	2000
Plymouth, city of	Lipson Community College	Arts	Community	1999
Plymouth, city of	Parkside Comprehensive School	Technology	Community	2001
Plymouth, city of	Tamarside Community College	Technology	Community	2000
Wiltshire	George Ward School	Technology	Community	1997
Wiltshire	John Bentley School (The)	Language	Foundation	2000
Wiltshire	Kingdown Community School	Sports	Community	2000
Wiltshire	Matravers School	Arts	Foundation	2001
Wiltshire	St. Augustine's Catholic College	Technology	Voluntary Aided	1998
Wiltshire	St. Edmunds Girl's School	Sports	Voluntary Controlled	2000
Wiltshire	St. John's School and Community College	Technology	Foundation	1998
Wiltshire	St. Laurence School	Arts	Voluntary Controlled	2000
Wiltshire	Wyverm College (prey Highbury School)	Technology	Foundation	1994
Isle of Wight	Carisbrooke High School	Sports	Community	2001
Isle of Wight	Ryde High School	Language	Community	2000
Tower Hamlets, LB of	Bethnal Green High School	Technology	Community	1996

Key Skills

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason the addendum to key skills guidance issued in September by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to ease the assessment burdens associated with key skills was changed. [16195]

Following publication of the final draft of the addendum on the QCA website, the generally favourable feedback also suggested that there was a potential contradiction in one short paragraph. This dealt with the collection of evidence for the Application of Number key skills qualification, at one level only (level 2). The QCA therefore removed that paragraph and is discussing with awarding bodies the best way to ensure that this causes minimum disruption.

Specialist Schools And Colleges

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) name, (b) character, (c) date of designation, (d) agreed targets for each year within the period of designation and (e) unmet targets to date are of each designated specialist school or college in (i) Medway, (ii) Somerset, (iii) Islington, (iv) Plymouth, (v) Wiltshire, (vi) Isle of Wight, (vii) Tower Hamlets, (viii) Redbridge, (ix) Waltham Forest and (x) Ealing. [16735]

[holding answer 20 November 2001]: The information on the names of specialist schools, their character and the year in which they were designated as specialist schools in each of the named authorities is given in the following table. Information on the targets agreed with each school and targets which have not been met could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Specialist schools in specified local education authorities—as at 20 November 2001
LEA	Name	Specialism	Character	Designated September
Tower Hamlets, LB of	Central Foundation Girl's School	Arts	Voluntary Controlled	2001
Tower Hamlets, LB of	Sir John Cass's Foundation Redcoat School (The)	Language	Voluntary Aided	2000
Tower Hamlets, LB of	St. Paul's Way Community School	Arts	Community	1998
Redbridge	King Solomon High School	Technology	Voluntary Aided	1995
Redbridge	Loxford School of Science and Technology	Technology	Community	1996
Redbridge	Seven Kings High School	Technology	Community	2001
Redbridge	Valentines High School	Technology	Community	2001
Redbridge	Woodbridge High School	Language	Community	2000
Waltham Forest, LB of	Connaught School for Girls	Language	Community	2001
Waltham Forest, LB of	Highams Park School	Technology	Voluntary Aided	1997
Waltham Forest, LB of	Holy Family College (The)	Technology	Voluntary Aided	2000
Ealing, LB of	Brentside High School	Arts	Foundation	2001
Ealing, LB of	Cardinal Wiseman RC High School	Technology	Voluntary Aided	1995
Ealing, LB of	Compton High School and Sports College (The)	Sports	Community	2000
Ealing, LB of	Featherstone High School	Sports	Community	1999
Ealing, LB of	Greenford High School	Language	Foundation	2001

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) name, (b) character, (c) date of designation, (d) agreed targets for each year within the period of designation and (e) unmet targets to date are of each designated specialist school and college in (i) Kent, (ii) Barnet, (iii) Hampshire, (iv) Bromley, (v) Brent, (vi) Gloucestershire, (vii) West Sussex, (viii) Buckinghamshire, (ix) South Gloucestershire, (x) Devon, (xi) Surrey and (xii) Torbay. [16736]

Specialist schools in specified local education authorities As at 20 November 2001
LEA—Name	Specialism	Character	Designated September
Kent:
Angley School	Sports	Foundation	2000
Chaucer Technology School	Technology	Foundation	1996
Cornwallis School	Technology	Foundation	1994
Dartford Grammar School	Language	Foundation	1995
Dartford West High School for Girls	Technology	Community	1997
Hartsdown School	Technology	Community	1997
Hayesbrook School (The)	Sports	Foundation	2001
Hillview School for Girls	Arts	Foundation	2001
Holmesdale Community School	Technology	Community	2001
Hugh Christie Technology College	Technology	Foundation	1994
Saint George's C of E School	Language	Voluntary aided	1999
Sandwich Technology School	Technology	Foundation	1996
Weald of Kent Grammar School	Language	Community	1999
London Borough of Barnet:
Hendon School	Language	Foundation	1995
Mill Hill County High School	Technology	Foundation	1994
Whitefield School	Sports	Community	1999
Hampshire:
Applemore Technology School	Technology	Foundation	1994
Bohunt School	Language	Foundation	1996
Mountbatten School (The)	Language	Community	2000
Romsey School (The)	Language	Community	2000
Thornden School	Arts	Community	2000
Wildern School	Arts	Community	2001
Wyvern Community School (The)	Technology	Community	2000
London Borough of Bromley:
Bullers Wood School	Language	Foundation	1996
Charles Darwin School	Arts	Foundation	2001
Kemnal Technology College	Technology	Foundation	1994
Langley Park School for Girls	Technology	Foundation	1996
Ravens Wood School for Boys	Technology	Foundation	1994

The information on the names of specialist schools, their character and the year in which they were designated as specialist schools in each of the named authorities is given in the table. Information on the targets agreed with each school and targets which have not been met could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Specialist schools in specified local education authorities As at 20 November 2001
LEA—Name	Specialism	Character	Designated September
London Borough of Brent:
Claremont High School	Arts	Foundation	2001
Convent of J & M High	Language	Voluntary aided	1996
John Kelly Boys Community School	Technology	Foundation	1994
John Kelly Girls Community School	Technology	Foundation	1994
Gloucestershire:
Archway School	Technology	Community	2001
Balcarras School	Technology	Foundation	1998
Central Tech College (Saintbridge)	Technology	Foundation	1994
Chipping Campden School	Technology	Foundation	2000
Chosen Hill School	Technology	Foundation	1997
Cirencester Deer Park School	Technology	Foundation	1995
Cleeve School	Technology	Community	1997
Dene Magna Community School	Technology	Foundation	1999
Katharine Lady Berkeleys	Language	Voluntary aided	1996
Pate's Grammar School	Language	Voluntary aided	2001
Sir Thomas Rich's School	Language	Community	2000
St. Benedict's Catholic High School	Sports	Voluntary aided	1999
Tewkesbury School	Technology	Foundation	1999
West Sussex:
Angmering School	Sports	Community	2000
Bishop Luffa School	Technology	Voluntary aided	1997
Davison C of E School for Girls	Technology	Voluntary controlled	1998
Hazelwick School	Technology	Community	1998
Imberhorne School	Language	Community	1997
Millais School	Language	Community	1996
Steyning Grammar School	Technology	Voluntary controlled	1997
Weald School, The	Technology	Community	1998
Buckinghamshire:
Aylesbury Grammar School	Technology	Voluntary controlled	1997
Aylesbury High School	Language	Community	2001
Beaconsfield High School	Technology	Foundation	1997
Dr. Challoner's High School	Sports	Community	2001
John Hampden Grammar School	Technology	Community	2001
Princes Risborough School	Technology	Community	2001
Royal Grammar School (The)	Language	Foundation	1996
Sir William Ramsey School	Arts	Community	2000
Wye Valley School (The)	Sports	Community	1998
South Gloucestershire:
Downend Comprehensive School	Technology	Community	1999
Ridings High School	Technology	Community	1998
Sir Bernard Lovell School	Language	Community	1996
Devon:
Ivybridge Community College	Sports	Community	1997
Knowles Hill School	Technology	Foundation	2000
Queen Elizabeth's Community College	Technology	Community	1998
South Dartmoor Community College	Sports	Community	1997
Tavistock College	Language	Community	1996
West Exe Technology College	Technology	Community	1996
Surrey:
All Hallows Catholic School	Technology	Voluntary aided	1995
Ashcombe School	Language	Community	1998
Collingwood College	Technology	Foundation	1994
George Abbot School	Arts	Community	2001
Glyn Technology School	Technology	Foundation	1994
Heathside School	Technology	Foundation	1995
Magna Carta School (The)	Technology	Community	2001
St. John Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School	Language	Voluntary aided	1997
St. Paul Roman Catholic College	Technology	Voluntary aided	1996
St. Peter's Catholic Comprehensive School	Technology	Voluntary aided	2000
Tomlinscote School	Language	Community	1996
Warwick School (The)	Technology	Community	1998
Torbay:
Torquay Boys' Grammar	Language	Foundation	1996

Teacher Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is taking to train teachers to challenge stereotypes in the classroom; and if she will make a statement. [16863]

I have asked the Teacher Training Agency to consult on a revised set of requirements for initial teacher training, which include the need for trainees to demonstrate the ability to work in an inclusive way, respond to the needs of all children whatever their background, and challenge stereotypes. The revised requirements are due to take effect from September 2002.

Out-Of-School Provision

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of youth provision outside school hours; and if she will make a statement. [16874]

The Government have recognised that out-of-school hours provision has a key role to play in developing young people and raising their attainment. A number of initiatives are now in place. Since autumn 2000, a number of assessments have been made of this provision.In June 2001 we published the report of the "Study Support National Evaluation and Development Programme"—which showed that participation in voluntary out of school hours learning has a positive effect on the academic attainment, attitudes and school attendance of secondary school pupils.A number of pilot projects have been funded through the Department's Partners for Study Support grant scheme, for example, Cleveland Arts and Stockton Adult Education Service will work in partnership with a primary and secondary school to produce a digital film including live footage, animation, digital special effects, a sound track, creative writing and interviews by residents of the Billingham area. Middlesbrough Evening Gazette and East Cleveland Education Action Zone will work in partnership with schools to give 35 gifted and talented children in years six and nine the opportunity to experience the world of work and the opportunity to produce a real newspaper. Middlesbrough LEA are also a partner LEA with the University of the First Age National Project.A second evaluation of the "Playing for Success" (PfS) out of school hours study support initiative published in September 2001 has found significant gains in literacy, numeracy and information and communications technology skills among children taking part. Thirty eight of the top football clubs, including Middlesbrough FC, have so far built PfS centres within their stadiums and other sports are beginning to take part.The pilot summer activities for 16-year-olds programme was evaluated in autumn 2000. The evaluation provided clear indicators of what worked well and what did not, and these findings have been fed into the design of the second phase pilots. The second phase pilots are currently being evaluated. Middlesbrough ran a small-scale pilot in 2000—a small group of year 11 leavers were taken on a one week residential in the Lake District where they took part in a variety of adventure activities. Middlesbrough were also involved in the Tees Valley summer activities pilot in 2001.The National Youth Agency carries out an annual audit of England's Local Authority Youth Services on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills, and in July 2001 published a report "England's Local Authority Youth Services—The Basic Facts 1999–2000". In October 2001, following the "Transforming Youth Work" consultation on the future of the Youth Service, we announced a new vision for the Service. Full guidance on the role of the Youth Service and its relationship with the Connexions Service is to be published by the end of the year, with a draft specification for a new look youth service to be issued in the new year, and in January we will help new Connexions partnerships by publishing case studies of successful Youth Service links with Connexions.

Female School Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she has taken to encourage female school students to study subjects likely to lead to high earning power. [16967]

All pupils are required to study the National Curriculum from 5 to 16, which together with other elements of the broader school curriculum, prepares pupils of both genders for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. Teachers and other staff in schools offer information and advice on future options as part of their role under the Education Act 1996 to prepare pupils for adult life. The primary role of giving advice and guidance to young people considering learning options from 14 to 19 and beyond, including their implications for employment, falls to Connexions and careers services.The Connexions service works with young people between 13 and 19 in and out of schools and subsumes the role of the Careers service. Both the Connexions and Careers services provide support to young people by working to overcome any barriers to full achievement and provide comprehensive and impartial information, advice and guidance on learning and career options from age 14. Their staff are required to maintain a full and up-to-date appreciation of how to provide services in ways which challenge stereotyping and promote equality of opportunity, and which engender this awareness in their clients.An Equal Opportunities Commission Research Report "Gender Equality and the Careers Service" was published in 1999. It gave case studies of good practice and made recommendations for the enhancement of the work of Careers services in this field.

Young People (Communication Skills)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the material produced by the (a) Children's Society's, Ask Us project and (b) Triangle and National Society for Protection of Cruelty to Children Two Way Street project concerning young people's communications skills and involvement in policy making. [16968]

The materials from these projects are an important contribution to our work to support Government Departments in implementing the principles in "Learning to Listen: Core Principles for the Involvement of Children and Young People". As "Learning to Listen" makes clear, Government Departments have made a commitment to provide more opportunities for all children and young people to get involved in the design and delivery of policies and services relevant to them. Making sure disabled and other children in need are effectively involved in this work is a key priority. The Ask Us and Two Way Street materials are being included in the resource index which will accompany the "Learning to Listen" guidance (which will shortly be available over the internet at www.cypu.gov.uk).Yesterday I launched consultation on the Government's new strategy for children and young people, in our consultation document: "Building a Strategy for Children and Young People". I would welcome input from the projects in the consultation.Both the "Building a Strategy" and the "Learning to Listen" documents are available in the Library.

Teaching Reforms

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to continue funding the reforms to the teaching profession after the initial two year period. [17133]

The special grant for threshold pay is already putting over £400 million per annum into the salaries of nearly 200,000 teachers. A new special grant will provide £250 million more for performance pay progression over the next two financial years. Special grants are for fixed periods. But the Government have always accepted that a new pay structure providing additional rewards for effective teachers means a substantial and permanent increase in the cost of teachers' pay. So our financial planning will continue to take account of that.

Deputy Prime Minister

Ministerial Interests

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Ministers in his Department have submitted lists of interests to the Permanent Secretary, pursuant to paragraph 115 of the Ministerial Code. [16867]

All Ministers in this Department have complied with the requirements of paragraph 115 of the Ministerial Code.

Civil Service

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to relax regulations prohibiting members of the senior civil service from holding public office. [16881]

There are no plans to relax the restrictions relating to the involvement of members of the senior civil service in political activities. The rules are set out in the Civil Service Management Code and specify that members of the Senior Civil Service are not allowed to take part in national political activities. They may take part in national political activities. They may take part in local political activities with the permission of their Department or agency. Civil servants are prohibited from election to Parliament by way of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975.

Business Co-Ordination Unit

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many small and medium-sized enterprises, by region, have been assisted in meeting Government Ministers through the work of the Business Co-ordination Unit; what percentage of those meetings resulted from invitations originally refused by ministerial offices; and what information he has collated on meetings between each departmental Minister and SMEs in the last 12 months. [14884]

1. Over the last 12 months the BCU has arranged 211 ministerial visits. A "visit" can be a bilateral, larger meeting, discussion group, seminar or conference involving SMEs. The number of SMEs attending these events can vary in number from one (for bilateral) to 500 (for conferences).2. The BCU does not keep records specifically on the number of SMEs it has arranged ministerial meetings with. The following information has been estimated based on the original invitation paperwork received from the event organisers.

Regions	Number of visits	Number of SMEs attended	Number of visits from declined invitations	Number of SMEs from declined invitations
London	49	1,683	15	910
East Midlands	37	914	8	466
East	9	53	1	10
South West	16	139	2	30
South East	32	1,020	5	820
North West	12	493	2	120
North East	5	600	5	350
West Midlands	33	622	6	285
Yorkshire and Humber	16	434	5	270
Wales	1	20	0	0
Scotland	1	20	0	0
Total	211	5,998	49 (23%)	3,261 (54%)

3. The majority of declined invitations tend to be for large conferences, which explains why 23 per cent. of declined invitations represents over 54 per cent. of SMEs met.4. The BCU does not collate or retain information exchanged at meetings between Ministers and SMEs; any relevant points made by SMEs are immediately relayed back to the appropriate Department for further consideration.

Treasury

Nirs2

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place legal advice on the position of the NIRS2 contract in the Library. [16723]

It would be inappropriate to place the legal advice in the Library in accordance with Exclusion 4 (Information covered by legal professional privilege) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Railtrack

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average loss to save as you earn schemes invested in Railtrack by employees of Railtrack since October. [16026]

I have been asked to reply.This is an internal company scheme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Local Government, Transport and the Regions regarding the bid for Railtrack from WestLB. [17742]

Treasury Ministers have discussions with colleagues in other Departments on a range of subjects on a regular basis.

Eu Fraud And Waste

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response the Government have made to the EU Court of Auditors' report of 12 November on fraud and waste. [16814]

The Government are carefully considering the Court of Auditors' Annual Report and Statement of Assurance for the financial year 2000 and will send its detailed comments to the Commission by 20 December as part of the normal follow-up procedure, ensuring that both Houses receive an advance copy. The Government will also contribute fully to Council discussions leading to the recommendation on whether to give discharge to the Commission for the year 2000 budget at the March 2002 ECOFIN meeting.

Share Dealings

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with EU Finance Ministers in relation to the impact of respective national taxes on share dealings on the development of the single market in financial services. [15919]

The Chancellor discusses a wide range of issues with other European Finance Ministers, but he has had no recent discussions with them on the issue of national taxes on share dealings, which are of course a matter for national Governments.

Aggregates Levy

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the time scale needed by the mining and quarrying industry, after the aggregates levy legislation is enacted, to put in place the necessary financial and information systems to operate the levy; [16302](2) if he will postpone implementation of the aggregates tax to take account of significant problems caused to

(a) the quarry industry and (b) the rural economy. [16303]

The aggregates levy was pre-announced by two years in order to give business time to adjust. The primary legislation was enacted in the Finance Act 2000. A full Regulatory Impact Assessment has been published by HM Customs and Excise and is available from their website.The aggregates levy will come into effect on 1 April 2002.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what areas of the aggregates levy legislation remain to be prepared; and when the process will be completed. [16301]

Secondary legislation is still to be laid but will be implemented ahead of the introduction of the aggregates levy.

Psychiatric Illness

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will receive the results of the repeat psychiatric morbidity survey conducted in 2000; and if he will publish the report. [17093]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Oliver Heald, dated 22 November 2001:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the results of the repeat psychiatric morbidity survey conducted in 2000 (17093).

A First Release of data from the survey entitled "Psychiatric morbidity among adults, 2000" was published by the Office for National Statistics on 9 July 2001 and is available on the National Statistics website (www.statistics.gov.uk).

The main report of the survey will be published on December 18th, 2001 and will be obtainable from The Stationery Office. A copy will also be placed in the House of Commons library. This will provide an overview of the main survey findings. A summary report will also be published and will be made available on the National Statistics website together with the Technical Report of the survey. A series of shorter reports focusing in more detail on a range of topics has also been commissioned by the Department of Health for publication over the next year.

Suicide Statistics

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the proportion of young men who commit suicide who are black or from ethnic minorities. [17088]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Oliver Heald, dated 22 November 2001:

As National Statistician I have been asked to answer your question on what assessment has been made of the proportion of young men who commit suicide who are black or from ethnic minorities (17088)

Ethnicity is not recorded at death registration. Information collected at death registration relates to country of birth. However, country of birth would not detect the generations who are black or from ethnic minorities that were born in the UK, or those members of the white ethnic group that were born in other countries. Therefore suicide figures for ethnic groups are not available.

Prime Minister

Special Advisers And Press Officers

To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers were employed (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) on a contract basis by his Department in each year since 1992. [6941]

For information about special advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office gave to him on 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 340W.Information about the number of press officers working in the Number 10 Press Office from 1998 onwards is given in the table.

	Number of press officers
1998¹	8
1999¹	8
2000¹	9
2001¹	8
¹ 31 March

Information requested for the earlier years can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Freedom Of Information Act

To ask the Prime Minister what recommendations he has made with regard to the timetable on which the rights of access in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will come fully into force; and if he will place a copy of these recommendations in the Library. [14834]

Paragraph 16 of the Ministerial Code makes clear that the internal process through which a decision has been made should not be disclosed. Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information applies.

World Summit On Sustainable Development

To ask the Prime Minister what the composition and terms of reference are of the new Cabinet Committee on the preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. [18143]

I have asked my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister to chair a new Cabinet Committee on sustainable development in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September 2002. The composition and terms of reference of the new committee are:

Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development (MISC18) Composition

The Deputy Prime Minister (Chair)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary of State for International Development
Secretary of State Trade and Industry
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

Invited to attend

Minister of the Environment, Northern Ireland Executive
Minister of the Environment, Scottish Executive
Minister of the Environment, Welsh Assembly

Terms of Reference

"To develop, co-ordinate and deliver the Government's strategy for the World Summit on sustainable development in September 2002".

Government Information

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to bring forward prospects to increase the powers of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration with respect to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. [16869]

None.

Ministerial Code

To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he had prior to revising the Ministerial Code in July. [16868]

The Ministerial Code is my guidance to my Ministers on how they should act and arrange their affairs in order to uphold the highest standards. I decide the content of the Ministerial Code.

Lord Chancellor's Department

Public Service Agreements

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress in meeting the public service agreement target of reducing in real terms the unit cost of an asylum appeal. [14994]

The public service agreement target is to reduce in real terms the unit cost of asylum appeal by an average of 3 per cent. per annum. This year's target figure, which excludes accommodation and overheads, is £1,025. Performance against target is properly reported upon at the year end, but current performance indicates that this target will be achieved.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on (a) the criteria for assessment of and (b) progress towards meeting the public service agreement target of an improvement in the proportion of training which contributes to improvements in job performance. [14985]

Staff training is regularly evaluated in all parts of LCD—including the Court Service. This includes an assessment by individuals and managers of how the training contributed to job performance. There are no general criteria for this assessment. The individual and manager consider whether the training met the training objectives for that individual, which vary from case to case.In 2000–01, evaluation showed that training contributed to an improvement in performance in 92 per cent. of trainees in LCD and 99 per cent. of trainees in the Court Service. The difference between the two figures is not regarded as significant, and probably arises from variations in the training events attended, some of which are necessarily more general and therefore less amenable to very specific training objectives.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress in meeting the Public Service Agreement target for the reduction of sickness absence in (a) the Public Trust Office and (b) the Court Service. [14988]

The average number of working days' sick absence per member of staff for this financial year (April 2001 to September 2001) in: (a) the Public Guardianship Office, is 9.2 days against a PSA target of 10.2 days; and (b) the Court Service, is 11.4 days against the PSA target of 8.1 days.Although the figure is higher than the target for the Court Service, it masks a reduction in the actual number of days of sick absence per month from 9,211 days in April to 7,625 days in September.A great deal of work has been undertaken in the Court Service to raise awareness of the targets and of the need to manage attendance in accordance with the best practice policies. It will however take time for this increased activity to improve attendance to have an impact on the average figures

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on performance in (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 against the Public Service Agreement target of maintaining the average unit cost per court case constraint in real terms in Northern Ireland. [14916]

The Northern Ireland Court Service's average unit costs, as defined by the terms set out in the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review, have increased as a consequence of the implementation of an extensive modernisation programme in line with the Government modernisation agenda and the one-off costs associated with the Omagh inquest. This unit of measurement for measuring the Northern Ireland Court Service's performance was not carried forward into the SR2000 period.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress in meeting the Public Service Agreement target for the extension of the work of the Special Investigations Unit to criminal cases. [14989]

Since June 1999 the work of the Special Investigations Unit has included investigations into the financial circumstances of individuals applying for or receiving publicly funded representation in criminal proceedings.Since April of this year, the higher criminal courts have been able to order the defendant to pay back some or all of the costs of their defence at the end of a case, usually following conviction. SIU is responsible for carrying out means assessments to inform the making of such orders when the court refers them to the Commission.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress in meeting the Public Service Agreement target of halving the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders. [14995]

This PSA target reflects the Government's Youth Justice Pledge. In 1996, dealing with a persistent young offender took an average of 142 days but figures published by my Department show that by June 2001 this had been cut to 70 days. This breakthrough was achieved through effective joint working by all the criminal justice agencies. We have now met or exceeded our target in three consecutive months: in July 2000 the figure was 71 days and in August this year the figure was 66 days.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress in meeting the Public Service Agreement target of increasing the proportion of (a) victims, (b) witnesses and (c) jurors who regard their experience in the criminal justice system as acceptable. [14997]

The 2000 British Crime Survey showed that 58 per cent. of victims were satisfied with their experience in the criminal justice system. The results of the 2001 British Crime Survey are awaited. The Witness Satisfaction Survey 2000, which was the first national survey of witnesses, showed that 75 per cent. of witnesses were very or fairly satisfied with the treatment they received. A similar survey next year will show whether the proportion of satisfied witnesses has increased. The first juror satisfaction survey, conducted in January 2000, showed that 95 per cent. of jurors were satisfied or very satisfied with their treatment by the courts. A differently constituted survey, carried out in February 2001, showed that 82 per cent. of jurors were satisfied or very satisfied. The original survey will be re-run in early 2002 to allow an accurate assessment of performance against the PSA target.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the public service agreements which apply to magistrates courts. [15035]

The public service agreements and service delivery agreements for Magistrates Courts Committees are set out. Other statutory performance targets and ministerial expectations supplement the PSA targets:

To reduce the average waiting time for witnesses in the magistrates courts to one hour or less by March 2002 and the unnecessary attendance of witnesses in the magistrates courts by 10 per cent. over the SR2000 period

To improve the standard by which the CJS meets the rights of defendants by achieving by 2004 100 per cent. of targets in a basket of measures as defined in the CJS Business Plan

To reduce the time taken from first listing in the magistrates courts to sentence or other disposal for all offenders by March 2004

To deal with 80 per cent. of youth court cases within their time targets

Halving from 142 to 71 days by March 2002 the time taken from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders and maintaining that level thereafter

To reduce courtroom over capacity by 10 per cent. by March 2002

In order to improve compliance with monetary orders and the speed and effectiveness of the arrangements for bringing offenders who fail to comply with community sentences back before the courts, the lead responsibility for the execution of warrants transferred from the police to the magistrates courts in April 2001. Baseline data are being collected during the first year of operation and targets will be set for April 2002.

All MCCs to produce annual reports for 2000–01 by 1 September 2001

100 per cent. of magistrates courts have a charter in place that meets specified standards by March 2002

All MCCs to apply in full the (regulated) performance standards covering the management assurance programme (MAP) and services to disabled court users.

LCD and magistrates courts will also contribute towards the Criminal Justice System PSAs:

to secure a minimum 5 percentage point improvement in the level of satisfaction of users of the justice system by 2004, including that of victim and witnesses with their treatment in the criminal justice system, and

to improve the level of confidence in the criminal justice system by 31 March 2004, including improving that of ethnic minority communities.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the Public Service Agreement target for the proportion of (a) witnesses and (b) victims giving evidence on the day that they are called in magistrates courts. [15005]

In support of the Public Service Agreement (as part of the common targets for Criminal Justice System agencies) the LCD Service Delivery Agreement targets are to reduce the average waiting time for witnesses in the magistrates courts to one hour or less by March 2002 and reduce the unnecessary attendance of witnesses in the magistrates courts by 10 per cent. over the SR2000 period. In the survey conducted in June 2001 in magistrates courts in England and Wales the average waiting time was one hour 22 minutes and the proportion of witnesses expected to attend who attended but did not give evidence was 51 per cent. Figures concerning victims are not recorded separately.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress in meeting the Public Service Agreement target of increasing the (a) number and (b) proportion of young offenders fast tracked. [14996]

The Lord Chancellor's Department's Departmental Report (the Government's Expenditure Plans 2000–01 to 2001–02) Cm 4606, presented to Parliament in April 2000 referred to an Output Performance Analysis Measure of increasing the number and proportion of young offenders fast tracked. That was in support of the Public Service Agreement target of halving the arrest to sentence time for PYOs from 142 to 71 days. That target reflected the Government's Youth Justice Pledge. Figures published by my Department show that we have now met or exceeded the target of 71 days in three consecutive months: June 2001 (70 days), July 2001 (71 days) and August 2001 (66 days).

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the baseline for the Public Service Agreement target of reducing in real terms the unit cost of cases in the Crown court. [15002]

The unit cost of cases in the Crown court was originally measured under the cash accounting system. The Court Service has recently moved to accruals accounting, and a new baseline has been set as a result. Performance against this figure will be reported as part of the 2001–02 accounts production process.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the (a) baseline for and (b) redress for the failure to achieve the Public Service Agreement target in 1999–2000 of reducing the unit cost of an item of originating process in the civil courts. [14945]

The target in 1999–2000 was £118 per item of county court originating process, and the figure achieved was £137 (16 per cent. greater than target). By way of context, the unit cost measure of performance was withdrawn as a Court Service PSA target after 1999–2000 because of its limitations as a measure of efficiency, mainly because the organisation's costs are fixed and the main driver of the unit cost figure is the relatively volatile level of demand for the service.The reason for the under achievement is that in 1999–2000 the Court Service successfully implemented a radically different way of delivering civil justice. An assessment was made of the likely full impact on its costs and the behaviour of court users. In the event the costs of the Court Service were 6 per cent. higher than anticipated but the main cause of the increased unit cost was a 10 per cent. reduction in the level of activity. This was mainly due to court users and their advisers adjusting their activities to meet the new procedures, given the limited value of the unit cost measure, and the unique circumstances, it was accepted in the Department's review of the Court Service's performance during 1999–2000 that there had been a technical rather than substantive failure in this area.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the reason for the non-specification in the 2001 departmental report of performance indicators for the Public Service Agreement target for the percentage of non-publicly funded expenditure spent on court service headquarters and corporate services group in the Lord Chancellor's Department headquarters. [14984]

This target is associated with the two preceding it in the departmental report. Like them it proved to be ambiguous and has been replaced by a series of targets which can more readily capture the Department's efficiency and value for money programme.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what further resources were (a) sought and (b) obtained to enable the achievement of the Public Service Agreement target on the commencement of Crown Court cases. [14998]

As part of the SR2000 settlement, a criminal justice unallocated reserve of £525 million was established to cover the three years of the spending review. Total funding of £10 million was sought and obtained to increase Crown Court sittings in 2001–02 from 93,000 to 100,000 days.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress towards meeting the Public Service Agreement target for the cost of publicly funded criminal defence services by March 2002. [14999]

The Department is on track to achieve stability in the cost of legally aided criminal defence services through a number of measures which will aim to control cost:

(a) From 2 October 2000, firms were required to have a criminal category franchise in order to undertake Legal Services Commission funded criminal defence work in areas funded by the Commission ie magistrates' court work, advice and assistance and duty solicitor (criminal) work;

(b) all magistrates' court work, advice and assistance and duty solicitor (criminal) work has been contracted since the CDS was introduced on 2 April 2001;

(d) from April 2001 the Commission has had the authority to require Very High Cost Criminal Cases (VHCCCs) meeting the relevant criteria ie cases predicted to last more than 25 days if they proceeded to trial, or to have total defence costs of more than £150,000, to proceed by way of an Individual Case Contract (ICC) only. The intention was that by April 2002, all new very high cost cases would proceed by way of an ICC with the Commission. The LSC set up a Criminal Higher Cost Cases (CHCC) unit, with the aim of taking on some VHCCCs this year and all VHCCCs from 1 April next year. To date, 57 VHCCCs have been signed. The Commission has decided, having consulted the Department, that not all cases should be brought within the scheme from that date. The new contract arrangements aim to deliver significant benefits in ensuring that these cases are managed effectively and that the cost of them is controlled. However, implementing the regime for all cases from April would bring forward a significant amount of expenditure and it is necessary to manage this over a longer period of time by phasing the full introduction of the new arrangements. Phasing the introduction in this way will also give the Commission and the profession more time to further develop the new approach and apply the lessons already learned;

(e) the Crown court graduated fee scheme was extended on 29 October 2001 to cover trials up to 25 days;

(f) since 29 October 2001, both prosecution and defence advocates have been paid within the same fee structure for all Crown court trials lasting up to 25 days. Rates for an extended and unified scheme for cracked trials and guilty pleas will be introduced when the results of additional modelling and research are available;

(g) the new regulations which came into force on 1 September 2001, control more tightly the circumstances where Queen's Counsel or more than one advocate might be allowed for the defence in Crown court cases. There has been a reduction in the use of Queen's Counsel (whether alone or with a junior) of some 50 per cent.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress towards meeting the Public Service Agreement target for the reduction of courtroom over-capacity by March 2002. [15003]

Good progress is being made towards achieving the Public Service Agreement target. We are reducing over-capacity by a combination of measures. These include using surplus capacity for coroners courts, asylum and other tribunal work; reducing the number of buildings in the same city/town by facilitating joint usage of courtrooms across the estate (Crown, county and magistrates); and disposing of those courts surplus to requirements.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the failure to achieve the Public Service Agreement target for the average cost of an act of advice and assistance in criminal cases. [15001]

As of 31 December 2000 actual achievement was £74 against a published target of £71. The main reason why the target was not achieved was because solicitors were spending, on average, more time advising their clients than in previous years.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which Public Service Agreement targets for 2001 to 2004 support the Government's objectives in relation to family law. [15115]

The Lord Chancellor's Department has as its fifth strategic objective:

"To improve the lives of children and help build and sustain strong families through providing a legal and procedural framework to sustain family relationships, and, when they do break down, to resolve disputes with the least distress to those affected, especially the most vulnerable".

This objective is supported by Public Service Agreement target 8:

"To increase continued contact between children and the non-resident parent after a family breakdown, where this is in the best interests of the child".

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress towards meeting the Public Service Agreement target for the use of (a) BACS to achieve value for money in the payment of invoices and (b) electronic commerce. [14990]

In October 2001 the Department achieved 57 per cent. of expenditure payments by BACS. This performance excludes any payments which have been made locally by the Courts. The use of BACS continues to be monitored by the Department on a monthly basis.The Department monitors the percentage volume of low level transactions with a view to achieving the e-commerce target. For the last two quarters the Department achieved the following performance:

January to March 2001: 24.8 per cent.
April to June 2001: 35.6 per cent.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress in meeting the Public Service Agreement target for the proportion of ministerial and other departmental correspondence answered within the target deadline. [14986]

The Department is making good progress against its PSA targets on correspondence. For the first six months of the target period (April to October 2001) the Department exceeded its target of replying to 80 per cent. of public correspondence within 15 working days, achieving a figure of 85 per cent. For ministerial correspondence over the same period, 77 per cent. of responses were made within the 20 working day target, with on-going efforts being made to meet the 85 per cent. PSA target by the end of the period.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the series of targets which have replaced the Public Service Agreement target of (a) three per cent. annual efficiency gains and (h) a reduction in support costs as a proportion of running costs. [14993]

The full range of the Department's current Public Service Agreement targets and Service Delivery Agreement targets is published on the Department's website. A large number of the targets are relevant to the improvement of Departmental efficiency. In particular, Service Delivery Agreement targets 46–53 demonstrate our commitment to improving value for money.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the Public Service Agreement target of contracting for civil and family legal services solely with quality-assured providers setting out the (a) costs and (b) savings entailed. [15007]

From 1 April 2001, all legal help and representation in publicly funded civil and family work has been placed under contract with quality assured providers. On 1 November 2001, there were 4,972 contracts with solicitors' firms and 381 contracts with not-for-profit organisations. As of 31 December 2000, the average cost per civil bill adjusted for changes in case mix decreased from a published target of £2,151 to an actual achievement of £2,069.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the failure to achieve the Public Service Agreement target for the average cost of the duty solicitor scheme per person assisted. [15000]

As of 31 December 2000 actual achievement was £150 against a published target of £142. Achievement of the target was mainly affected by the Narey reforms to speed up disposal of cases in the magistrates courts. These reforms have resulted in an increase in cases dealt with under the Court Duty Solicitor Scheme instead of a full legal aid order.The average cost of "Narey" representation was higher than the historical average for duty solicitor work.

Energy Savings

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the savings were in (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01 from energy efficiency in her Department. [14922]

The latest figures for 1998–99 were placed in the Libraries of both Houses in response to a question from the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 12 December 2000. Those for 1999–2000 will be included in Part 2 of the Third Annual Report on Greening Government due to be published on 27 November. The figures for 2000–01 are not yet available.

Mediation

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the (a) cost and (b) savings in 2000–01 of the pilot scheme at Leeds combined court offering mediation to all parties in defended cases. [15032]

The pilot scheme based at Leeds combined court was managed in a way that was cost neutral for the Court Service. The evaluation of the scheme, undertaken by Leeds Metropolitan university, found that most parties that responded to the survey thought that the mediation had saved them money on the total potential costs of resolving the dispute. However, take-up of the scheme was low, with only 15 mediation appointments taking place between 1 July 2000 and 31 August 2001.

Criminal Justice Strategy Committees

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost is in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 of the Area Criminal Justice Strategy Committees. [15034]

The total cost of the 42 Area Criminal Justice Strategy Committees in the financial year 2000–01 was approximately £366,000. This comprises the salary costs of the National Co-ordinator, nine full-time equivalent Area Co-ordinator posts and their travel expenses. In addition, six Regional Conferences were held during the year for members of the Area Committees.In the current financial year, the cost is approximately £1.4 million which includes the salaries and expenses mentioned, local conferences arranged by the Area Committees, and £1 million which was earmarked for the Area Committees from the Criminal Justice Reserve for projects aimed at improving joined-up working among the local criminal justice agencies.

Circuits For Part 51 Work

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what additional resources, referred to on page 10 of the departmental report 2001, have been directed to the circuits for Part 51 work. [14982]

An additional £1 million was allocated to the circuits during the 2000–01 financial year to deal with Part 51 work.

Absence

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost was in 2000–01 of absence through sickness in her Department. [15030]

The salary cost of sickness absence in the Lord Chancellor's Department (including the Court Service and the Public Guardianship Office) for 2000–01 is estimated as £8,757,000. This is based on the average number of working days lost through sick absence per person per annum, as a percentage of total working days per annum, multiplied by the total salary bill.

Resource Accounts

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will publish the unqualified audit opinion that was obtained on her Department's 1999–2000 resource accounts. [14923]

The Lord Chancellor's Department's 1999–2000 resource accounts received a qualified audit opinion. The Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to the House of Commons is reproduced in the Lord Chancellor's Department Resource Accounts 1999–2000, which was published in March 2001 by the Stationery Office (Cm 5056).

"Criminal Justice Working Together"

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what savings have been achieved in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 as a result of her Department's response to the National Audit Office report, "Criminal Justice Working Together". [14926]

The National Audit Office report made a number of recommendations on joint working which we welcomed. My Department, in co-operation with the Home Office and Crown Prosecution Service, is pursuing a programme to implement those recommendations and others to improve joint working in the Criminal Justice process. Information is not specifically collected on savings arising from the individual recommendations in the NAO report.

Capital Grants

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much her Department gave in capital grants to the private sector in (a) 1998–99 (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01 and (d) 2001–02; and if he will specify the purposes for which they were made. [14927]

The Department did not make any capital grants to the private sector in any of those years.

Unallocated Reserve

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the initiatives funded from the unallocated reserve established for that purpose. [14991]

No reserve has been specifically created for initiatives in my Department. For 2001–02, my Department received £39.49 million from the Criminal Justice System Reserve to cover a number of criminal justice initiatives including increased workload and improving timeliness in the courts, better service to victims and witnesses and improving fine enforcement. In addition a further £1 million has been allocated for service to victims in 2002–03.Allocations from the Reserve require the joint agreement of the Home Secretary, Lord Chancellor and Attorney-General prior to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury releasing the money from the Reserve. Further allocations for 2002–03 and 2003–04 are being considered.

Cost Recovery

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress towards his Department's objective of achieving full cost recovery in the civil courts. [14928]

The Lord Chancellor announced in another place on 19 November 1998' that charging for civil court fees should not prevent access to justice; that protection should be provided for litigants of modest means; but litigants should not expect the taxpayer to pay for court services if they could afford to do so themselves. My Department is currently working on a major programme to establish the right balance between those principals in order to achieve its objective of full cost recovery in the civil courts.

¹ Written answer in response to a question [HL 3925] from Lord Burlison.

Dispute Resolution Methods

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many copies of her Department's information booklet on dispute resolution methods were issued in 2000–01; and what the cost was of its publication. [15033]

During the period 2000–01 the booklets were supplied on a demand-led basis, when requested by local courts and advice agencies and some individuals. Although no detailed record of the numbers supplied in this period was kept, the information that is held shows that the total number for the year would have been in excess of 10,000. The booklets were produced using my Department's internal printing services. We estimate the cost of producing 10,000 copies of the booklet was £2,650.00.

Volume 375: debated on Thursday 22 November 2001

Written Answers To Questions

Defence

Overseas Entertainment

"Rapid Effects"

Raf Bases

Raf Lyneham

Helicopters

Warship Deployment (Caribbean)

Hms Cromer

Racial Discrimination

Medical Downgrading

Hercules Aircraft

Defence Medical Services

Territorial Army

Military Exercises

Combat Effectiveness

Somme Battlefields

Air-To-Air Refuelling

Tactical Air Transport

Absence

Reservists

C-17S

F35

Afghanistan

Ss Somali

Mod Police

Nato

Osama Bin Laden

Transport; Local Government And The Regions

Train Operating Companies

Rail Freight

London Underground

Standards Board For England

Rail Services (Scotland)

Route Management Strategies

Roads (Surrey)

Urban Bus Challenge

Gner

Railtrack

Railways (Consultants)

Aviation Industry

Evergreen Hedges

Health And Safety Laboratory

Birmingham Northern Relief Road

Local And Regional Airports (Security)

Dibden Bay

Gas Explosion (Newton Heath)

Trade And Industry

Consignia

Nuclear Industry

Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station

Miners' Compensation

Miners' Pension Schemes

Fuel Cells

Renewable Energy

Departmental Review

Northern Ireland

Plastic Baton Round

Abortion

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Departmental Events

Culture, Media And Sport

Heritage Lottery Fund

Ageism

English Tourism Council

Film Council

Press Complaints Commission

Television Licences (Residential Homes)

Sports Administration

Public Accounts Commission

National Audit Office

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Fco Advice

Northern Cyprus

Treaty Of Nice

Entry Clearance

Poland

Subcontinent