To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent consultation she has had with representatives from the steel industry about exports of steel. [16479]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had meetings with steel industry representatives and trade unions which represent steel industry workers, about a wide range of issues.

To ask Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will conduct a further review of the rights of people at work. [16480]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced plans at the TUC Conference to review the entire operation of the Employment Relations Act 1999 and to legislate in this Parliament if necessary. We are also consulting, or are about to, on other aspects of employment legislation, including TUPE and the introduction of new rights on discrimination at work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects of Consignia reform plans on (a) postal jobs in Wales and (b) the postal service in Wales. [16481]

Consignia's modernisation plans are an operational issue for the company.The effect of the postal service is an issue for the independent regulatory body, the Postal Services Commission, which has set standards of service for Consignia and is monitoring them closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the contribution of the regional development agencies, Government offices and the Small Business Service to the development of child care services as part of economic regeneration and enterprise development in the last 12 months. [16483]

This important matter was raised with all RDA chairmen on 4 April. DTI officials have since met with the east midlands RDA who are taking a lead on how the provision of child care might be boosted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has made an assessment of the performance of the UK tyre-building industry; and if she will make a statement. [16484]

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the performance of the UK tyre-building industry; and if she will make a statement. [16502]

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received from the UK tyre-building industry about international competition; and if she will make a statement. [16504]

The Department has received representations from a number of hon. Members and the major tyre producers in the UK. My hon. Friend the Minister for Employment and the Regions will meet a delegation from the Parliamentary Motor Tyre Group in the near future to discuss the issue further.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to improve the UK's position in the world competitiveness league table. [16485]

Improving UK competitiveness involves business, employees and consumers as well as Government. The Government have created a stable economic environment in which business can prosper, a climate for enterprise and the right framework for investment. We delivered low inflation, the lowest long-term interest rates for 35 years and consistent policies on tax and regulation. Last week I announced a series of changes to give my own Department a clear emphasis on enterprise, innovation and competition so that it is better focused on the need to close the UK's productivity gap with its competitors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution Smart awards have made to improving the productivity of manufacturing businesses. [16487]

The main aim of Smart is to stimulate technological innovation to increase the competitiveness of small and medium sized businesses, rather than to increase productivity. The independent evaluation of Smart this year found that as a result of their awards 77 per cent. of participants improved the quality of their products, services and processes, 26 per cent. reduced costs and 71 per cent. improved their market position.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in extending broadband telecommunications to rural communities. [16489]

Broadband services by one or more of ADSL, cable or wireless technologies are available to 60–60 per cent. of households in the UK. Satellite services, which potentially can offer coverage of the entire country, are beginning to become available. We have established a £30 million fund to help extend affordable broadband services to areas where they are not currently available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans she has to improve access to broadband telecommunications networks in 2002. [16508]

The Government will shortly set out their strategy for making the broadband market more extensive and competitive. Regional Development Agencies and the devolved administrations are already preparing plans for innovative projects, under the £30 million fund to extend broadband networks announced on 9 October.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent assessment she has made of prospects for manufacturing output in the north-west of England. [16490]

Officials at the Department of Trade and Industry work continuously with regional and national partners to assess the prospects for all sectors of industry. In addition, the North West Development Agency is preparing a report assessing the impact of the events of 11 September and its aftermath on the economy of the region and identifying possible remedial measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the change in the compliance cost of regulation for businesses with fewer than five employees since 1997. [16492]

The information required could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However, the Government are working to ensure that the compliance cost of regulation is kept to a minimum for both small and large businesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Post Office services in rural areas. [16493]

The Government are committed to the maintenance of a nationwide network of post offices and have placed a formal requirement on the Post Office to maintain the rural network and to prevent any avoidable closures of rural post offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the operation of the regional development agency venture capital funds. [16494]

A number of RDAs are operating, or overseeing the development of venture capital funds in their regions. These funds are designed to target particular sectors of the SME market or geographical areas within their region, for example in the West Midlands there is the Advantage Technology Fund, in the North East the North East Seed Capital Fund and in Yorkshire and the Humber the South Yorkshire Investment Fund.In addition, RDAs continue to play an important role by acting as sponsors to the development of Regional Venture Capital Funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact on the aerospace industry of the reduction in the number of passengers since 11 September. [16495]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to my hon. Friends the Members for Wythenshawe and Sale, East (Paul Goggins) and for Caerphilly (Mr. David) on 29 November 2001, Official Report, columns 1087–88.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent progress has been made in the payment of compensation for former miners and their dependants. [16496]

In relation to compensation for respiratory disease IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have registered almost 170,000 claims to date. 54,230 individual payments have been made, amounting to £221 million. The main outstanding issues have now largely been resolved. This means that where previously only interim payments could be made, these claims can now be settled in full. Although it will take some time for the process to ramp up fully in all respects, the Department's aim is that IRISC will have made 50,000 offers by the end of next year.The Department continues to adhere to the prioritisation agreement set out in the Handling Agreement, whereby the most elderly and ill claimants are dealt with first. Widows are also being prioritised, above those by other estates. The Department aims to process the most vulnerable claims by spring 2002.In relation to compensation for vibration white finger (VWF), IRISC have registered over 130,000 claims. There have been 73,527 individual payments made, amounting to £408.9 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of nuclear power generation capacity. [16497]

Nuclear power contributes to our broad energy policy objectives of ensuring secure, diverse, sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices by providing about one quarter of UK electricity generation and helping limit carbon emissions. In common with all other energy options, nuclear's role in UK energy policy is being considered by the current performance and innovation unit energy review which is due to report to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to help manufacturing in rural areas. [16498]

Manufacturing companies in rural areas benefit from the strengthened regional support we have introduced and the wide range of policies we are pursuing to foster productivity, encourage enterprise, and raise innovation and skills.My hon. Friend the Minister responsible for small business announced on 7 November 2001 the establishment of the Development Fund for Rural Renewal. This £3 million support programme will provide funding for projects that offer support to enterprises, including manufacturing, in areas facing difficulties due to the effects of foot and mouth disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's strategy to eliminate the gender pay gap. [16500]

Earlier this year we asked Denise Kingsmill to examine and report on possible measures to improve women's employment prospects and so reduce the pay gap. We are currently considering her report, which will be published next week. It would be premature to make a statement today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received recently from manufacturing industry on the effects of the climate change levy. [16501]

The Department has received a number of representations from individual businesses, trade associations and other organisations about the climate change levy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the power of shareholders to determine directors' remuneration. [16505]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on 19 October 2001, Official Report, column 1376W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the prospects for clean coal technology. [16506]

Future coal-fired power generation will need to reduce its current levels of greenhouse gas and other emissions and to this effect the Government support a programme of research and development into cleaner coal technologies. We are also reviewing the case for a cleaner coal technology demonstration plant and are due to report our findings in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she will take to enhance the role of the regional development agencies. [16507]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is continuing the process of enhancement of the RDAs started last year with the announcement of additional funding, more spending flexibility and a stronger economic focus. Implementation culminates on 1 April 2002 when the RDAs' existing programmes are brought together into a single, broader and more flexible programme managed through testing outcome and output targets. She also announced on 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 396W, a series of changes to the structure and operation of her Department. One change will be the transfer of responsibility for some Regional Selective Assistance grants from Regional Government Offices to the RDAs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes in board membership there have been in each of the regional development agencies in the last 12 months. [18371]

[holding answer 27 November 2001]: In the 12 months to 26 November, there have been four resignations: Mike Bird resigned from the board of Advantage West Midlands and Sal Brinton, Chris Mole and Peter Dawe resigned from the board of the East of England Development Agency.I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 24 October 2001,

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to create a healthy environment for encouraging the growth of high-tech businesses. [16486]

The DTI is committed to supporting high-tech companies and is engaged in a range of activities to assist these companies reach their full growth potential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent representations her Department has received regarding the technology and engineering involved in hydrological fracturing; [7346]

My Department, as part of its Cleaner Coal Technology Programme, has funded a number of projects that included work on hydrological fracturing, although it has not commissioned specific R&D on this subject.The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has funded research into hydrogeology, including the hydrological fracturing of rock and other media. NERC's British Geological Survey (BGS) has undertaken work reviewing the use of the technology of fracturing in Coal Bed Methane production. A list of the NERC research portfolio, including grants funded through NERC's Micro to Macro programme, is listed below on Annexe 1.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the annual budget for the Office for Civil Nuclear Security; and if she has plans to increase the budget following the events of 11 September. [15581]

The budget for the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) is approximately £1.5 million in the current year. The measures which need to be taken following the events of 11 September, including nuclear security, are currently under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact on the competitiveness of the nuclear power industry of additional security requirements since 11 September. [16893]

No such assessment has been undertaken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce monitoring of the incidence of workplace bullying. [18486]

Bullying and harassment have no place in today's work environment and are unacceptable whenever they occur. The Government strongly condemn such behaviour and believe employees should be able to work without fear of encountering bullying from their employers or anyone else.The adoption of best employment relations practice should help create a culture where bullying becomes unacceptable. We have established the Partnership Fund which provides support for organisations wishing to develop policies to tackle bullying in the workplace. The Department is also working closely with the Health and Safety Executive on the development of management standards. The first step is to undertake research to establish the real extent of the problem and how it manifests itself in the workplace.There is a range of legislative measures in place designed to protect employees from the worst offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) organisations, (b) interest groups, (c) individuals and (d) community forums have been consulted in relation to the bid put forward to the regional development agency by Lancaster city council for an economic development zone. [18252]

[holding answer 26 November 2001]: Lancaster's bid is endorsed by the Lancaster and Morecambe Local Strategic Partnership. If accepted, the EDZ strategy will be implemented through an Action Plan Partnership based on the existing broadly-based Lancaster Single Regeneration Budget Board. Steps have been taken to ensure key partners are fully involved and informed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives the Export Control Office is taking to reduce the processing time of licence applications. [17427]

[holding answer 27 November 2001]: The Government recognise that the system for processing export licence applications requires continuous improvement if we are to deliver a more efficient and effective system for export licensing which is accountable, transparent and customer focused. I have introduced "time-lines" to track cases. The Export Control Organisation (ECO) has taken a number of initiatives to reduce the time taken to process individual export licence applications. These include:

building productive customer relationships, including setting up a joint CBI/ECO working group to work with exporters to address issues of concern, including delays in processing export licence applications;

enhancing IT systems to ensure they deliver further business process improvements. It is planned that this will lead to, amongst other things, standard individual export licence applications being accepted over the internet next year;

establishing more effective partnerships with other Government Departments. Departments involved in the licensing process have agreed in principle to a Service Level Agreement, which we hope to finalise shortly. This will ensure that Departments work better together and focus more sharply on outputs; and

establishing new structures which allow us to continually review and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the decision making process. There are regular meetings between officials in all Departments involved in the export licensing process to identify ways of improving the export licensing system, as well as to discuss particular licence applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons Mr. Hugh Morgan Williams has been removed from the board of One North East; and if a representative of the North East CBI is to be appointed in his place. [18370]

[holding answer 27 November 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 24 October 2001, Official Report, column 250W, which announced the decision to implement a rolling programme of board appointments. To achieve this it was necessary for some effective RDA board members to make way for new appointees. Hugh Morgan Williams will not be reappointed to the board of One North East when his appointment term ends in December 2001. The decision not to reappoint Hugh Morgan Williams was no reflection on his performance and I hope he will feel able to continue his involvement in the regeneration of the North East.New appointments under the rolling programme will be announced shortly. These appointments are being made in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Board members are appointed as individuals and not as representatives of organisations. They are appointed on merit and for the skills and expertise that they can offer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on sustainable development in relation to arms purchasing. [18671]

[holding answer 28 November 2001]: Under the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria the Government are currently obliged to take into account whether or not a proposed arms export would seriously undermine the economy or seriously hamper the sustainable development of the recipient country. Under clause 8 of the Export Control Bill, these criteria would be treated as published guidance that the Government must have regard to in making licensing decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what controls there are to ensure that British arms manufacturers who manufacture arms abroad are regulated properly. [18670]

[holding answer 28 November 2001]: Controls already apply to the export of goods or technology required for the development, production or use of military equipment and other equipment subject to export control. Such controls would apply to exports intended for use in overseas production. The Export Control Bill would add to the range of controls available to Government by providing the power to control the electronic transfer of military technology currently only applicable for dual-use items. The Government are consulting EU partners about including an explicit reference to overseas production in the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures contained in the Export Controls Bill will control the activities of British brokers in supplying arms if they make a deal outside of the United Kingdom. [18669]

[holding answer 28 November 2001]: Clause 4 of the Export Control Bill would provide the Secretary of State with powers to make orders in connection with trade controls, commonly referred to as trafficking and brokering. This power would allow such controls to be imposed on acts carried out abroad by a United Kingdom person or by a person acting under the control of a United Kingdom person. As set out in the dummy orders relating to the Bill, which were made available to Parliament in October, the Government propose to introduce controls on trafficking and brokering by United Kingdom persons overseas of equipment whose export has been banned because of evidence of its use in torture and long-range missiles, and trafficking and brokering by such persons to any destination subject to a UN, EU, OSCE or UK arms embargo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will review the (a) operations and (b) procedures in the Government Office for the North West. [18964]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has recently carried out a review of the business support functions of the whole Department, including those services provided via the Government Offices. On 22 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced key changes to be made to the role of the Government Offices. A review of the Government Office for the North West's performance during the first half of the 2001–02 financial year, against outcomes set in the Department of Trade and Industry's Business Plan, is under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) advice and (b) support the Government Office for the North West can provide to businesses on management buyouts. [18962]

The Government Office for the North West and partners, including the Small Business Service and the North West Development Agency, provide general advice to businesses on a wide range of issues. Where a company is situated in an Assisted Area, the Government Office may be able to offer direct financial support for the management buyout.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason no file was held at the Government Office for the North West on the closure of Thomas Witter in Chorley. [18961]

The Government Office for the North West holds files where companies seek financial assistance or some other substantive relationship. No such approach has been received from Thomas Witter Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the role of the Government Office for the North West is in helping businesses that have been taken into administration. [18960]

The role the Government Office for the North West is to provide advice and support to local companies, whatever their situation, or to direct them to the most appropriate sources of advice and support. Provision of financial assistance depends on a number of factors including the size of the company concerned, the nature of its business and its location.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the quality of the operation of the Government Office for the North West; and if she will make a statement on the future of the Government Office for the North West. [18925]

A review of the Government Office for the North West's performance during the first half of the 2001–02 financial year, against outcomes set in the Department of Trade and Industry's Business Plan, is under way. On 22 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary' of State for Trade and Industry announced key changes that will be made to the DTI, including changes to the role of the Government Offices. There will continue to be a need for a strong DTI presence in the Government Office, but with a greater emphasis on influencing the whole range of government activity in the regions and on playing a stronger role in helping to shape policy and strategy centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role the Government Office for the North West played in relation to Thomas Witter; and what procedures will be in place for staff at the Government Office for the North West to deal with the case of Thomas Witter. [18963]

Government Office officials brought the case of Thomas Witter Ltd. to the attention of the North West Development Agency, who agreed to consider whether support might be available from the intervention fund. Staff at the Government Office for the North West will continue to follow the correct procedures in dealing with this case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the (a) financial and (b) employment situation in the British aluminium industry. [17654]

With greater consolidation in the world aluminium industry over the last two years, rationalisation is inevitable. In response to the downturn in world aluminium markets major global players, notably Alcan and Alcoa (which both own plant in the UK), have brought forward plans for restructuring their respective global operations. Along with other countries, the UK will be affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the total amounts of grant aid available in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 for the installation of domestic solar water heating systems, together with (i) the name of each local project responsible for administering this budget, (ii) the targets set in these financial years for each local project and (iii) their budget allocation. [16632]

There are no grants available for the installation of solar water heating systems from central Government at present, though professionally installed systems have benefited from a reduced rate (5 per cent.) of VAT since April 2000. Government do not maintain a register of the number of systems installed and neither does the trade association, though it is probably somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 systems a year.There are various incentives and grants available from individual local authorities and organisations and from some utilities. Some useful examples can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website www.practicalhelp.org.uk or on the website of the trade association www.solartradeassociation.org.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the total amount of grant aid available in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02, for the installation of photovoltaic panels and roofing together with (i) the name of each local project responsible for administering the budget, (ii) the targets set in both of these financial years and (iii) their budget allocation. [16634]

The Department has funded two rounds of the Domestic PV Systems Field Trial in 2000 and 2001, together supporting some 32 projects (over 500 homes) for the budget of £5.4 million. In addition, a Call for Proposals for the Large-Scale Building—Integrated PV Field Trial for Public Buildings is currently open. This should see around 15 projects on schools, hospitals etc. being supported for the budget of £3 million, and the results should be known by the end of February 2002.The names of the nine project teams from the first round of the Domestic Field Trial will be included in a newsletter being prepared by the Building Research Establishment, and a copy will be sent to my hon. Friend and copies placed in the Libraries of the House. Summaries of the 23 successful projects from the second round are attached to the press release of 22 October on the DTI website, www.dti.gov.uk. No targets were set for these financial years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if the Government have (a) transferred and (b) approved the transfer of controlled goods to (i) the Northern Alliance, (ii) its component factions and (iii) other non-state actors operating in Afghanistan since 11 September; [18215](2) what plans the Government have to facilitate the delivery of controlled goods to

I have been asked to reply.The Government are involved in military operations in self-defence against international terrorists within Afghanistan. Information and plans about these operations are extremely sensitive, and it would not be in the public interest for them to be disclosed. In my opinion, exemptions la) and b) (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information apply here.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funds are available from (a) the Treasury and (b) the EU for the subsidising of public service orders. [18728]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the new rates of war pensions and allowances proposed from April 2002. [19996]

The information requested is set out in the table. The Annual uprating of war pensions and allowances for 2002 will take place from the week beginning 8 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the properties at RAF Halton which his Department (a) has disposed of in the last five years, (b) classifies as surplus to requirements and (c) plans to classify as surplus to requirements. [17644]

[holding answer 26 November 2001]: Three minor disposals of garden or amenity land of minimal value have been made over the past five years. In addition, 12 properties were transferred permanently to Annington Homes Ltd. (AHL) as part of the sale of the Married Quarters Estate in November 1996 with a further 82 properties following on 1 June 2001.Halton Hospital plus an area adjoining the south-west corner known as The Old Pumping Station at Warneford Avenue (0.4ha) has been classified as surplus to requirements. A further 57 properties are likely to be handed back to AHL in March 2002.Halton House officers' mess may become surplus in due course. However, the ongoing Defence Training Review includes RAF Halton and it is too early to say what the outcome will be. There are no plans to declare any further family quarters at Halton surplus to requirements in the foreseeable future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Defence Estates has set a target date for the disposal of the site of the Princess Mary Hospital, RAF Halton. [17646]

[holding answer 26 November 2001]: We anticipate that the site will be sold in March 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when and where elements of the Civil Affairs Group have been deployed on operations; and what the number of personnel involved was. [18870]

[holding answer 28 November 2001]: The Civil Affairs Group was formed initially in 1997. The numbers of Civil Affairs Group personnel deployed on operations, and the locations and dates of those deployments are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to deploy elements of the Civil Affairs Group to Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [18871]

[holding answer 28 November 2001]: The situation in Afghanistan continues to be fluid and our forces remain well balanced to respond to events as they unfold. A core force package, including a detachment from the Civil Affairs Group, is maintained at very high readiness to deploy if required. Personnel from the Civil Affairs Group are already involved in planning and liaison tasks outside Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the advice as to their qualification on nationality grounds offered in the War Pensions Agency's leaflet 12 to potential claimants of the ex-gratia payment for British groups who were held prisoner by the Japanese during World War Two conforms to current guidance. [17149]

Yes. The War Pensions Agency Leaflet No. 12 lists among the potential claimants for the ex-gratia payment "surviving British civilians who were interned by the Japanese in the Far East during the Second World War". A separate War Pensions Agency note explaining the requirement to confirm a bloodline to the United Kingdom and how this can be done, is sent out with each claim form.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes of role his Department has assessed to be required for the proposed EU rapid reaction force in consequence of the 11 September attacks. [18257]

There are no plans for a standing EU rapid reaction force.While the capabilities being developed under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) can also play an important role in any military response to international terrorism, the scope of ESDP should remain firmly focused on crisis-management tasks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the armed forces compulsory drug testing programme; and if he will make a statement. [18412]

Our policy is that drug misuse is incompatible with service in the armed forces. The use of random compulsory drug testing of staff sends a clear message to service personnel about this policy. In addition, it provides a means of measuring the level of drug misuse in the services, and whether the misuse of a particular drug, or class of drugs, is on the increase or is in decline. It is also an important means with which to assess and audit the effectiveness of the education programmes run by each of the services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 373W, on the Territorial Army, for what reason the decision was taken to re-tender for the national advertising contract. [18842]

In accordance with normal practice the national advertising contract for the Territorial Army and Regular Army is subject to regular review. The Army Training and Recruiting Agency's recruiting authorities, in conjunction with the Central Office of Information, reviewed the current contract and concluded that there was a need to refresh the current advertising campaign and that this was best achieved by a process of re-tendering.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what talks have taken place with the Spanish Government on their refusal to permit British military aircraft to fly over their airspace to Gibraltar; and what reason has been given by the Spanish Government for refusing to permit British military aircraft to fly through Spanish air space en route to Gibraltar. [19139]

There have been no recent discussions with Spain about restrictions on British military aircraft flying through Spanish air space.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people (a) joined and (b) left the Army in each month between 1 May and 1 September. [16468]

The number of people joining and leaving the Army in each of the months between May and September is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions he gave to joint chiefs of staff not to proceed with exercise Saif Sareea 2; and if he will make a statement. [19375]

None. The Ministry of Defence regularly reviews its forward programme and re-evaluates all commitments in the defence plan to ensure that they represent good value for money. Given its scale and importance, Exercise Saif Sareea 2 was kept under particularly careful review to ensure that it met this criteria and the armed forces training requirements. In the early part of 2000 a number of options for the exercise were investigated as part of this process. The review confirmed the importance of carrying out an exercise on this scale and at this distance from the UK. Recent events have proved this to be the case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the (a) number and (b) nature of the casualties sustained among British armed forces in Afghanistan. [19082]

I can confirm that four service personnel were wounded on operations in Afghanistan, one seriously. They are all now back in the UK receiving treatment.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to further e-democracy. [20086]

I have asked my right hon. Friend the President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons to chair a new Cabinet Committee on e-democracy. The composition and terms of reference of the new committee are:

To ask the Prime Minister if he (a) instructed or (b) agreed to the Cabinet secretary signing the pledge to British Muslims; and if he will make a statement. [15120]

The secretary of the Cabinet signed the pledge as head of the home civil service because he thought it particularly important at this time to reassure Muslims and those of different faiths within the civil service through a positive statement of this kind. Diversity is an important part of the agenda for the reform of the civil service. He believed it to be a non-controversial statement put forward by a well-established organisation affiliated to the Muslim Council of Britain and he understood that it had the support of all the main political parties. He did not act under instruction.

To ask the Prime Minister when he was invited by the Islamic Society of Britain to sign their pledge to British Muslims; when a text for the pledge was first communicated to him; when he agreed to sign; and whether the text first communicated to him was that which was signed on his behalf. [15121]

It is not our practice to give details on such matters. The Deputy Prime Minister signed it on the Government's behalf and all three main political parties were represented at the launch of the pledge.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the pledges signed by (a) the holder of the office of Cabinet secretary and (b) himself since 1 May 1997. [15119]

No record of pledges is kept. I signed a variety of expressions of support, as previous Prime Ministers have done before me.Successive secretaries of the Cabinet, as head of the home civil service, have made public commitments to the continued reform of the civil service and to particular aspects of it.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to issue a Suez medal for service between 1951 and 1954. [18177]

The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals which advises Her Majesty the Queen on the issue of such medals has not made any recommendation on this issue. But I am sure it will consider any representations the hon. Member may wish to make on this matter.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to the United Nations Security Council to establish an international criminal tribunal to try the perpetrators of the attacks on 11 September; and if he will make a statement. [18851]

International criminal courts or tribunals are not a substitute for national jurisdictions, and never have been. They are there to take action against individuals who have committed crimes for which a relevant national jurisdiction is unable or unwilling to take action. That does not apply in this case. The United States has every justification to try those responsible for the attacks in its own country.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will request from the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning the inventory of the weapons decommissioned by the IRA. [18861]

On 23 October the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning reported that it had witnessed a quantity of IRA arms being put beyond use. It confirmed the material in question includes arms, ammunition and explosives.However, in the interest of furthering the decommissioning process, the Commission declined to provide further details. We all must respect the Commission's own judgment on how best to proceed to fulfill its mandate, the decommissioning of all paramilitary arms.I look forward to further progress on the arms issue alongside the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and the long-term stability of the Northern Ireland political institutions.

To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with the joint chiefs of the defence staff regarding (a) possible cancellation of and (b) reduction in the scope of exercise Saif Sareea 2. [19376]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to change the powers of the Rail Regulator. [15502]

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: We intend to streamline the existing structure while still recognising that there will be a continued need for some form of independent economic regulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what track access charges have been paid by Eurostar for use of tracks (a) between Waterloo and the Channel Tunnel, (b) within the Channel Tunnel, (c) on French rail lines and (d) on Belgian rail lines, for each year since the commencement of operations. [15950]

The Track Access Charges for Eurostar services are commercially sensitive and cannot therefore be made public.Track Access Charges in France and Belgium are not paid by Eurostar (UK) Ltd. but are dealt with by their business partners, SNCF and SNCB.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people owned a car in the Buckingham constituency in the last year for which information is available. [17846]

The Department has no information on the number of people owning cars in the Buckingham constituency. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency record shows that the number of currently licensed cars registered to keepers in the Buckingham constituency at December 2000 was 44,899.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) council and (b) Registered Social Landlord (RSL) properties there are where the target rents are below current rents at current prices; and how many and what percentage of (i) council and (ii) RSL properties there are in each English region where the target rent is at or below current rents at current prices. [17824]

The information is not currently available. Social landlords will only have completed their property valuations and calculated their target rents under the reforms around the end of this calendar year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the number and percentage of (a) council and (b) RSL rents scheduled to fall as a result of his policy to restructure rents in (i) England and (ii) each region. [17825]

The information is not available in the form requested. In particular, the figures critically depend on assumptions about what would have happened to rents in the absence of restructuring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which phases of the infrastructure upgrades on the East Coast Line have so far been (a) started and on what date and (b) completed and on what date; on what dates the subsequent phases of the upgrades are due (i) to start and (ii) to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [17790]

[holding answer 23 November 2001]: Phase 1 of the project, which commenced in 1999, provides capacity improvements to the Leeds Station area and is expected to be completed by 2004–05. The Strategic Rail Authority is continuing to take forward project development work on the upgrade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has set a deadline for concluding (a) the sale and (b) a lease of (i) the Millennium Dome and (ii) the site of the Millennium Dome. [18069]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 16 November 2001, Official Report, column 906W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what offers have been made (a) to purchase and (b) to lease (i) the Millennium Dome and (ii) the site of the Millennium Dome since 1 January. [18070]

While the process to secure a long-term use of the Dome continues, it would not be appropriate to publish such information, which is commercially confidential. To reveal any of these details would undermine on-going discussions, would not be conducive to a successful conclusion and would be against the public interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many houses were built by the 10 largest housing associations in each of the last three years; how many are projected for next financial year; and what grant was payable to each association in each of those years. [18351]

[holding answer 27 November 2001]: (a) Based on information supplied by the Housing Corporation, the number of self-contained units built by the 10 largest housing associations in each of the last three years are as shown in the following three tables. Also shown is the total grant allocated to the housing association during each year for building purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many households in council and RSL properties will not have reached their target rents by 2012–13. [18625]

The information is not available. In particular, rate of increase of actual council and RSL rents over the next 10 years will depend, among other things, on the outcome of future spending reviews (for council rents) and periodic reviews by the Housing Corporation (for RSL rents).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what calculations his Department has made as to the additional costs incurred as a result of increased security measures at United Kingdom airports since 11 September by (a) United Kingdom airports, (b) airlines and (c) other service providers. [18451]

Following informal contacts between my Department and the aviation industry we estimate that the extra security measures introduced since 11 September will have cost the aviation industry about £50 million by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to assist (a) United Kingdom airports and (b) airlines in respect of additional costs incurred as a result of increased security measures at United Kingdom airports. [18452]

We are considering whether emergency aid should be paid to the UK aviation industry to compensate for the events of 11 September, and we will take the guidelines on state aid issued by the European Commission and endorsed by the EU Transport Council fully into account in any decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people owned a car in the constituency of Arundel and South Downs in the last year for which figures are available. [18311]

The Department has no information on the number of people owning cars in the Arundel and South Downs constituency. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency record shows that the number of currently licensed cars registered to keepers in the Arundel and South Downs constituency at December 2000 was 47,966.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of non-secure lettings made by local authorities by region in each of the years 1997–98 to 2000–01 were (a) introductory tenancies and (b) lettings made to discharge their duties to homeless households under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996. [18300]

Information on the number of lettings made by local authorities to discharge their duties to homeless households under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 is not available centrally.The table gives the available information on