To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will ensure that (a) the grant-maintained protection grant is maintained in 2002–03. [19981]

[holdinganswer 3 December 2001]: Bearing in mind the additional resources to be made available to local education authorities in 2002–03 as a result of the local government finance settlement to be announced on 4 December and the likelihood of a further general reduction in the amount of transitional funding payable by LEAs to former GM schools, my

Specialist schools: selection by aptitude											Percentage of:
School	LEA	Specialism	School's Status	pupils selected on aptitude	pupils with statements	Pfree school meals take-up
Archbishop Blanch	Liverpool	Technology	Voluntary aided	5.6	17.	11.7
Archbishop Temple	Lancashire	Technology	Voluntary aided	10.0	1.5	8.6
Bohunt	Hampshire	Language	Foundation	10.0	0.7	1.5
Brentwood Ursuline Convent Essex	Arts	Voluntary aided	10.0	0.1	4.1
Chaucer Technology	Kent	Technology	Foundation	Up to 100	1.8	6.1
Chestnut Grove	Wandsworth	Arts	Community	16.0	4.2	20.3
Cornwallis	Kent	Technology	Foundation	10.0	3.6	6.1
Deacon's	Peterborough, City	Technology	Foundation	15.0	1.5	13.4
George Spencer GM	Nottinghamshire	Technology	Foundation	10.0	0.7	3.5
Heathside	Surrey	Technology	Foundation	4.0	1.2	2.3
Hockerill Anglo European	Hertfordshire	Language	Foundation	10.0	0.7	3.5
Intake High	Leeds	Arts	Community	10.0	4.6	18.0
Lodge Park	Northamptonshire	Technology	Foundation	10.0	1.3	8.4
Lynn Grove VA High	Norfolk	Technology	Voluntary aided	15.0	0.7	7.9
Mill Hill County High	Barnet, LB of	Technology	Foundation	10.0	2.9	2.8
Ninestiles	Birmingham	Technology	Foundation	10.0	4.5	22.6
Oakbank	Bradford	Sports	Foundation	10.0	3.7	10.2
Oldfield	Bath and NE Somerse	Sports	Foundation	10.0	0.5	4.1
Philip Morant	Essex	Technology	Foundation	15.0	1.2	5.0
Sandwich Technology	Kent	Technology	Foundation	10.0	1.8	11.1
Small Heath	Birmingham	Technology	Foundation	10.0	0.9	32.9
St. Margaret's C of E High	Liverpool	Technology	Voluntary aided	15.0	1.4	4.6
St. Martin's	Essex	Technology	Foundation	10.0	0.7	5.1
St. Marylebone (The)	Westminster	Arts	Voluntary aided	10.0	1.7	11.5
Wye Valley (The)	Buckinghamshire	Sports	Community	10.0	4.4	6.6

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of the total of specialist schools have chosen to exercise the option to select up to 10 per cent. of pupils by aptitude for each of the last three years. [20690]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list each specialist school as at 1 September that had chosen to exercise the option to select up to 10 per cent. of pupils by aptitude together with (a) the nature of the specialism, (b) the status of the school, (c) the percentage of pupils selected, (d) the percentage of pupils with statements and (e) the percentage of pupils receiving free school meals. [20689]

The latest available information on aptitude selection is for school year 1999–2000. The following table shows the specialist schools which had selected a proportion of their pupils for that year by aptitude for a subject or subjects relevant to their specialist designation, together with the specialism of each school, the school's status, the percentage of pupils selected in each school, the percentage of pupils with statements and the percentage of all pupils receiving free school meals.

The latest available information for specialist schools which have chosen to exercise the option to select up to 10 per cent. of pupils by aptitude is for school year 1999–2000. This is the first year for which this information has been collected. Information for 2000–01 is due to be received shortly and will be available early in the new year.Of the 403 Specialist Schools operational as of September 1999, 25 schools (6.2 per cent.) selected a proportion of their pupils by aptitude for a subject or subjects relevant to their specialist designation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total expenditure was on (a) advertising, (b) polling, (c) focus groups, (d) design consultants, (e) caterers, (f) production of departmental publications and (g) photographs/photographers by her Department for each year since 1995 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; what was (A) the annual percentage increase in spending on each category and (B) spending on each category as a percentage of the total departmental running costs; and if she will make a statement. [6910]

For each year since 1995 the Department's spend on advertising, caterers, production of departmental publications and photographs/photographers is shown in the table.

Advertising
	Cash terms (£m)	Real terms (£m)	Cash terms Annual percentage increase in spending (year on year)	Real terms Annual percentage increase in spending (year on year)
1995–96 (ED)	7.7	8.6	—	—
1995–96 (DfE)	0.6	0.67	—	—
1995–96 (total)	8.3	9.27	—	—
1996–97	7.5	8.12	-9.64	-12.45
1997–98	10.0	10.53	33.33	29.66
1998–99	15.7	16.07	57.00	52.64
1999–2000	11.9	11.9	-24.20	-25.95
2000–01	>29.0	28.43	143.70	138.92

Caterers
Year	Cash terms (£k)	Real terms (£k)	Cash terms Annual percentage increase in spending (year on year)	Real terms Annual percentage increase in spending (year on year)
1995–96	—	—	—	—
1996–97	970.0	1,057.17	—	—
1997–98	852.6	897.62	-12.10	-14.53
1998–99	854.6	874.75	0.23	-2.55
1999–2000	932.9	932.90	9.16	6.65
2000–01	538.1	527.55	-42.32	-43.45

Departmental publications
	Cash terms (£m)	Real terms (£m)	Cash terms Annual percentage increase in spending (year on year)	Real terms Annual percentage increase in spending (year on year)
1995–96	—	—	—	—
1996–97	2.5	2.71	—	—
1997–98	2.1	2.21	-16.0	-18.32
1998–99	0.8	0.82	-61.90	-62.96
1999–2000	2.8	2.80	250.00	241.94
2000–01	2.3	2.25	-17.86	-19.47

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers in East Sussex were assaulted by (a) pupils and (b) parents in each year since 1997. [19930]

The Department does not hold these data. East Sussex local education authority has informed us that, since 1998, there have been a total of 427 physical assaults on teachers by pupils and parents in its schools, the majority by pupils in special schools. There were 97 assaults in 1998–99, 118 in 1999–2000 and 212 in 2000–01. This information does not separately identify who carried out the assaults.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to ensure that the amounts that local education authorities are required to transfer to learning and skills councils from April 2002 for post-16 education broadly matches the education standard spending assessment for that group for each local education authority. [17965]

[holdinganswer 26 November 2001]: Local education authorities will, from April, receive funding for their sixth form provision from the learning and skills council (LSC). Initial funding allocations will be announced by the LSC by mid-December. The deduction from each authority's education SSA will be equal to the amount received from the LSC for sixth form funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to whom members of local learning and skills councils are accountable; and how. [20695]

Local LSC	School Representatives	School Governors	LEA Representatives	Other LA Representatives
North West
Cheshire/Warrington	—	3	1 Elected	1 Official
Cumbria	—	2	2 Official	1 Elected
Lancashire	—	2	1 Elected	1 Official
Greater Manchester	—	3	—.	1 Elected
				1 Official
Greater Merseyside	1	2	1 Elected	1 Elected
West Midlands
Birmingham/Solihull	—	2	1 Official	1 Elected
Black Country	—	1	—	1 Elected
				1 Official
Coventry /Warwickshire	1	5	—	1 Elected
				1 Official
Hereford/Worcester	1	1	—	1 Elected
				1 Official

Members of local learning and skills councils (LSCs) are accountable to the Secretary of State through the LSC's National Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list those local learning and skills councils which (a) have at least one member who is a representative from the school sector and (b) have no such representative. [14558]

[holdinganswer 13 November 2001]: All 47 local learning and skills councils include representatives with relevant experience from the school sector. These include:

• three teachers; 17 headteachers;
• 36 local LSC members appointed with a local education authority (LEA) background (typically Directors of Education);
• eight local executive directors who have previous LEA officer or head teacher experience; and
• 101 local council members who are school governors.

In addition, further experience of the schools and education sectors is brought by the vast range of other local authority representation (in most cases at council leader or chief executive level).In April 2002, the LSC assumes responsibility for school sixth form funding. In recognition of this we will encourage the LSC to appoint further representatives with experience of the school sector as and when local vacancies arise.A breakdown showing which local LSCs include representation from the schools and LEA/LA sector is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in maintained schools in Buckinghamshire at the beginning of the current school term. [15770]

The information is not available for the date requested. In January 2001 there were 59 full-time teacher vacancies in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Buckinghamshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what statistics she requires London local education authorities to provide to her Department to measure the level of (a) competitive sport and (b) physical education in schools. [18505]

All local education authorities are required to submit an assessment of the standards of attainment in physical education of Key Stage 3 pupils. However, there is no statutory requirement for local education authorities to submit statistics on the level of competitive sport in schools. The Government's White Paper "Schools: Achieving Success", includes a pledge that all children have access to at least two hours a week of PE or school sport, in or after school. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's survey into good practice in physical education has included examples from a number of schools in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of letters received by her Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to (a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18580]

[holding answer 3 December 2001]: Between 20 June and 20 July 2001, the Department for Education and Skills replied to a total of 7,289 letters covering both ministerial and treat official correspondence. The Department replied as shown in the table:

	Number of replies sent	Percentage of replies sent
(a) in 15 working days and under	6,627	91
(b) in 16 to 20 working days	270	4
(c) in 21 to 30 working days	316	4
(d) in 31 working days and over	76	1
Total	7,289	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what work is being done by the Children and Young People's Unit to include young people in Whitehall policy formulation. [19055]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget is for the Children and Young Persons' Unit for (a) 2001 and (b) 2002. [19562]

I have been asked to reply.The Children and Young People's Unit is responsible for the Children's Fund for which the spending plans are £100 million in 2001–02 and £150 million in 2002–03. The budget for the Children and Young People's Unit, including the administration and support of the Children's Fund is £2.7 million in 2001–02. Its budget for 2002–03 has not yet been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils in Birmingham, Northfield left full-time education at the age of 16 years in the last three years. [19389]

[holding answer 3 December 2001]: Data on the number and percentage of students continuing in post-compulsory education at age 16 are not calculated for areas smaller than LEAs, as reliable estimates cannot be made for small areas.The percentage of 16-year-olds not participating in full-time education for Birmingham LEA, which includes the constituency of Birmingham Northfield, in the last three years for which figures are available is set out as follows:

16-year-olds not in full-time education: Birmingham LEA
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Percentage	33	32	33
Number	4,500	4,300	4.5

Participation rates by LEA are published in an annual statistical bulletin, "Participation in Education and Training by Young People Aged 16 and 17 in Each Local Area and Region, England".

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local education authorities are receiving funds for a music service; and how many schools have benefited from the music service in each local education authority. [19616]

[holding answer 30 November 2001]: All 150 local education authorities in England are receiving funds for a music service through the Music Standards Fund.The Department for Education and Skills has not up to now collected information on how many schools benefit from the music service in each authority. We do, however, plan to ask music services for more information about the provision they offer in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the schemes administered by (a) her Department and (b) its agencies where funds are allocated by a competitive bidding process; and what was the amount of money allocated to each scheme. [19735]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the estimate previously supplied by her Department that 40 school playing fields per month were sold during the period 1979 to 1997; what recent representations she has received expressing concern over the (a) use and (b) accuracy of these estimated figures; and if she will make a statement. [19836]

[holding answer 30 November 2001]: Public concern about the loss of school playing fields led directly to the introduction in October 1998 of section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Prior to October 1998, the Government had no means of knowing precisely how many school playing fields were being sold. Before section 77 was introduced, only grant-maintained schools were required to seek consent from the Secretary of State before selling land, including areas of their playing fields. Local authorities and other schools that owned their own playing fields were free to sell without restriction.Our best estimate is that an average of 40 playing fields a month were sold in this way before October 1998. This estimate is based on the number of playing field disposals at grant-maintained schools between April 1996, when the then Conservative Government further encouraged the disposal of playing fields by relaxing the Local Authority Capital Finance Regulations which governed the use of sale proceeds, and 1 October 1998, when section 77 took effect. During this 30-month period, some 64 grant-maintained schools were given approval to dispose of areas of playing field, which is an average of over two a month. Using the proportion of grant-maintained schools at that time compared with the number of other schools, we estimate the total number of playing field disposals each month to have been around 40.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what basis is used to determine the funding made available to local education authorities for new pupil places. [19942]

[holding answer 3 December 2001]: Capital support for new pupil places is allocated to local education authorities (LEAs) where the forecast growth in pupil numbers in an area exceeds the assessed physical capacity of local schools to accommodate them. Once the number of pupil places needed is established, funding is allocated using a per pupil amount which reflects the average cost of new accommodation. Funding support is normally provided to LEAs in the form of basic credit approvals. Detailed guidance to LEAs on submitting requests for new pupil places is sent to them annually in the "Guide for the Schools Capital Allocation Round and PFI Credits" document, copies of which are lodged in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what mechanism she operates to record approvals given to local education authorities for capital expenditure; [19941](2) what information her Department holds on approvals to local education authorities for capital expenditure. [19943]

[holding answer 3 December 2001]: The Government have, as far as possible, moved away from centrally directed, bureaucratic bidding processes. We have moved towards needs related formulaic allocations to schools and local education authorities (LEAs) based on pupil numbers and survey-based assessments of building needs. It is the Government's view that, on balance and with the right safeguards, detailed decisions about capital priorities across a local area are best taken by LEAs working with their schools. In line with this, Asset Management Plans (AMPs) have been introduced by LEAs, giving them a clear and systematic view of the needs of their schools estate, based on surveys of all school buildings. LEAs and schools then prioritise these needs in a rigorous, consultative and transparent way against the formulaic capital support provided to them. This means that most detailed information on how schools capital is invested is held by LEAs and schools.Central Government retains some central support for capital funded through bid based initiatives such as the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and the Targeted Capital Fund (TCF). Guidance on submitting PFI and TCF bids is sent to LEAs annually in the "Guide for the Schools Capital Allocation Round and PFI Credits" document, copies of which are lodged in the Library, together with copies of announcements of allocations to LEAs and schools made by the Department. Details of announcements of major capital allocations are also sent to each Member of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools will have been allocated money in the period from May 1997 to March 2002 for repairs. [19944]

[holding answer 3 December 2001]: Every maintained school in England has been allocated money for repairs in this period. This Government made available £1.3 billion of New Deal for Schools capital from the Windfall Tax from 1997–98 until 2001–02, to help address the backlog of urgent repairs in schools that we inherited after years of under-funding. 17,000 schools are benefiting from this investment.In 2000–01, Devolved formula capital for schools was introduced, giving, for the first time, every school in England a capital budget to enable them to address directly the needs of their buildings. This funding is nearly £300 million this year and will rise to £600 million by 2003–04, when a typical primary school will receive almost £20,000 a year, and a typical secondary school will receive almost £66,000 a year.In addition to this, many schools are benefiting from repairs and improvements supported by formulaic capital allocations by central Government to local education authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 27 November 2001, Official Report, column 773W, on new schools, what the value was of capital expenditure on (a) expanding new schools, (b) replacing schools and (c) repairing schools in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (v) 2001. [19946]

[holding answer 3 December 2001]: We do not hold information in the form requested. Much capital support is allocated to local education authorities and schools on a formulaic basis, so that records on how it is allocated to specific categories of spend will be held locally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made in implementing "All our Futures: Creativity, Culture, Education". [19953]

The report of the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education "All our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education", published in 1999, contained 59 detailed recommendations. Since then we have made considerable progress in addressing the report's recommendations.The last national curriculum review introduced greater flexibility, which allowed teachers the freedom to incorporate more creativity into their planning and teaching. As a result of the review, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has established two projects, one on Creativity and one on the Arts, to produce guidance for schools on how to promote pupils' creativity and how the Arts can contribute to pupils' creative and cultural development.This year, the Department's White Paper "Schools: achieving success" reinforced our commitment that all pupils should have access to a broad and balanced education which includes opportunities for creativity and self-expression. This includes our proposals to support schools to provide "education with character" and our commitment that there should be more opportunities for children to learn music, PE, sports and a modern foreign language. We are also supporting the continued development of Creative Partnerships between schools and arts organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 27 November 2001, Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, how many child care places were (a) taken up and (b) remained vacant in (i) Cornwall, (ii) Devon, (iii) Durham and (iv) Lincolnshire in 2000–01; and what plans she has to extend the child care places scheme to other rural counties. [20030]

[holding answer 3 December 2001]: The Department for Education and Skills has responsibility for the development of child care places in England through the National Childcare Strategy. The strategy is carried forward at a local level by Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships (EYDCPs) that have been established in every local education authority area in England. All rural areas are covered.We do not currently hold information on the take-up of places. EYDCPs are now gathering this information and will be submitting it to the Department in spring 2002 along with their Implementation Plans for 2002–03.We are making £22 million available from April 2002 to support the delivery of Sure Start type services aimed at young children and families in rural areas and small pockets of disadvantage. This will build on neighbourhood nurseries and bring child care, health and family support services to a further 7,500 children in England. Thirty-four local authority areas have been invited to develop these smaller scale programmes. A list of the areas and associated guidance has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 27 November 2001, Official Report, columns 859–60W, on the rural White Paper, which schools have received support from the Small Schools Fund. [20034]

[holding answer 3 December 2001]: The Small Schools Fund is allocated to LEAs on a formula basis. Levels of funding are determined by the number of primary and special schools in the authority that have 200 or fewer pupils; and the number of secondary schools that have 600 or fewer pupils. The fund is worth £80 million per year in total. LEAs may set lower (but not higher) thresholds for allocation at local level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what involvement her Department had in the proposal by Age Concern England to develop its transage action grandparent mentoring project in 2000–01. [20553]

None. The Department contributed towards the cost of a feasibility study in 1997–98 and made a further contribution to a pilot programme in 1998–99. No further requests for funding were received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government are taking to increase the safety of school buses; and what guidelines are given to schools with regard to bus and minibus safety in schools. [20634]

From 1 October this year, all new buses, coaches and minibuses have to be fitted with seat belts. This change will make all bus and minibus travel in new vehicles safer.Home to school transport is the responsibility of local education authorities. They must monitor the condition of vehicles used for transporting pupils from home to school, and report any safety defects to the Vehicle Inspectorate. Schools are responsible for arranging travel on educational visits, and we published good practice guidance in 1998 that advised that it is not normally appropriate to use buses without seat belts on long journeys. Supplementary advice on educational visits will be made available later this school term.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much VAT was paid by further education colleges in England in each year from 1995–96. [20740]

Information on VAT paid by further education colleges in England was not recorded centrally by the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC), so is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the results of pilot studies into financial support for further education college students in England. [20741]

The only form of financial assistance for students in further education currently being piloted is the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), which is available in 56 local education authorities. The allowance is payable to eligible young people not just in colleges but also in school sixth forms.The pilots are being evaluated over a three-year period and this work is on-going. The first reports were published in March this year and the next report is due for publication early in 2002.Early findings from the evaluation show that EMA appears to have raised participation in education. The statistical analysis estimates an average gain in participation in pilot areas compared with control areas, among EMA eligible young people, of around 5 percentage points.Although we do not yet have figures on attainment, the qualitative aspect of the evaluation has found some evidence of a positive effect on young people's performance and commitment to study.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what change in funding (a) sixth form colleges and (b) further education colleges in England would receive for 16 to 19-year-old provision if funded at the level of sixth forms in schools. [20743]

It is not possible to estimate reliably what change in funding would result if sixth form colleges and other FE colleges were to be funded at the level of school sixth forms. Comparable funding figures to do this are not available.The latest estimate of the average delegated funding per sixth form student in schools per year for 2001–02 is £3,330, and the total funding per full time equivalent (FIE) student in FE sector colleges per year for 2001–02 is £3,660. However, the FE unit funding figure includes total public funding allocated for further education, while the schools' figure is based only on delegated funds and excludes other funding the school receives centrally from LEAs which impacts on post-16 students. The figures therefore cannot be used to make comparisons. Also, separate figures for sixth form colleges and tertiary colleges are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the estimated final cost to her Department of ending the education action zone scheme; and if she will make a statement. [20830]

All education action zones will complete their agreed full statutory term. Each education action zone (EAZ) will need to make arrangements to dispose of any assets and to meet any employment liabilities in accordance with guidance issued by the Department for Education and Skills in the EAZ handbook.The costs will vary from zone to zone depending on individual circumstances and liabilities. All costs will be met from within the existing education action zone programme budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the impact of the climate change levy on carbon dioxide emissions (a) to date and (b) over the next five years. [15503]

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: I have been asked to reply.The climate change levy has only been operational since April and no assessment of delivered emissions reduction has yet been undertaken. However, the climate change levy package is forecast to deliver reductions in CO

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to include policies to combat fuel poverty in her Department's aims and objectives. [8299]

[holding answer 15 October 2001]: My Department gives high priority to policies to tackle fuel poverty as part of our provisional objective of promoting more sustainable management and use of natural resources including energy.The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy was published on 21 November. This set out the Government's goal to seek an end to the problem of fuel poverty, with the first target to ensure that by 2010, no vulnerable household—older people, families, disabled and long-term sick—need risk ill health due to a cold home.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she received from the National Farmers' Union regarding the choice of Lord Haskins to conduct a study of rural recovery, prior to his appointment. [10613]

[holding answer 26 October 2001]: The suggestion that my noble Friend Lord Haskins should conduct the study was first made by the NFU in Cumbria to my hon. Friend the Member for Workington (Tony Cunningham) who passed this view to the Prime Minister. Subsequently, NFU representatives confirmed to the Prime Minister that they would welcome the appointment of Lord Haskins to this role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for each country where foot and mouth disease exists (a) what regions are affected, (b) what is the amount of (i) sheep meat, (ii) beef, (iii) pig meat and (iv) other meat products imported directly to the UK since the first outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom this year and (c) what additional bio-security measures have been implemented to check imports from that country since February. [19246]

Listed are the countries that are affected with foot and mouth disease and from which European Community legislation would normally permit imports of meat of foot and mouth disease (FMD) susceptible species. Community legislation permits imports from regions not affected by FMD and these regions may change if the disease status of individual countries improves or deteriorates. Foot and mouth disease exists in other countries but they are not listed here as imports of meat are not permitted from those countries.Table B shows the tonnage of bovine and ovine meat imported into the UK between February 2001 and September 2001. There were no recorded imports of porcine meat or meat of any other FMD susceptible species from the countries listed during that period.Adequate measures are already in place to control legally presented imports of meat and meat products. All meat imported into the UK from third countries must enter at designated UK Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where it is subject to veterinary checks, to establish that the products meet EU import conditions. Consignments that do not meet appropriate import requirements are rejected.When outbreaks of foot and mouth disease occur in third countries, safeguard measures are taken banning the importation of all FMD susceptible meat from the entire country. Once the situation stabilises and sufficient guarantees provided, restrictions are lifted accordingly. All enforcement authorities are kept informed of the situation.Where outbreaks of FMD occur in other EU countries, restrictions on the export of products of FMD susceptible species from that country are put in place in accordance with Community legislation. Port health authorities and local authorities are requested to undertake checks at port of entry and at premises of destination to ensure that products not eligible for trade are detected.Countries currently affected by foot and mouth disease and regionalised in accordance with Community legislation.Argentina: Imports banned from the whole country.Botswana: Imports banned from the whole country except from designated zones which do not necessarily follow any distinct administrative area and are only described as 'veterinary disease control zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 18'.Brazil—imports banned from the whole country except the states of Parana, minas Gerais (but not the regional delegations of Oliveira, Passos, São Goncalo de Sapucai, Setelagoas and Bambui), São Paulo, Espirito Santo, Mato Grosso do Sul (except for the municipalities of Sonora, Aquidauana, Bodoquena, Bonito, Caracol, Coxim, Jardim, Ladario, Miranda, Pedro Gomes, Porto Murtinho, Rio Negro, Rio Verde of Mato Grosso and Corumba), Santa Catarina Goias and the regional units of Cuiaba (except for the municipalities of San Antonio de Leverger, Nossa Senhora do Livramento, Pocone and Barã de Melagaco), Caceres (except for the municipality of Caceres), Lucan do Rio Verde, Rondonopolis (except for the municipality of Itiquiora), Barra do Garças and the Barra do Bugres in Mato Grosso.Namibia: Imports banned from the whole country except the area south of the cordon fences which extend from Palgrave Point in the west to Gam in the east.Swaziland: Imports banned from the whole country except the area west of the 'red line' fences which extend northwards from the river Usutu to the frontier with South Africa west of Nkalashane and excluding the designated veterinary foot and mouth surveillance and vaccination control areas.South Africa: Imports are banned from the following regions—the part of the foot and mouth disease control area situated in the veterinary regions of Mpumlanga and northern provinces, in the district of Ingwavuma of the veterinary regions of Natal and in the border area with Botswana east of longitude 28°, and the district of Camperdown, in the province of Kwazulu-Natal.Uruguay: Imports banned from the whole country. From 1 November 2001 import restrictions on de-boned and matured meat have been lifted. Prior to that date imports of certain categories of meat were permitted if they had been produced before specified dates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates between 1 December 2000 and 20 February (a) MAFF officials and (b) trading standards officers visited Burnside Farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall: what the purpose of the visits was; and what reports they submitted. [18876]

[holding answer 28 November 2001]: MAFF staff and Trading Standards Officers together visited Burnside Farm, Heddon-on-the-Wall on 22 December 2000 and 24 January 2001. Each of these visits was on welfare grounds and a report was produced on each occasion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if (a) departmental officials, (b) persons acting on behalf of her Department and (c) military personnel involved in handling issues relating to foot and mouth disease were invited to sign a copy of the Official Secrets Act; and if she will make a statement. [18029]

[holding answer 26 November 2001]: All civil servants, members of the armed forces, and those acting on behalf of the Department, are bound by the provisions of the Official Secrets Act and owe a duty of confidentiality to the Crown. There is therefore no requirement for such persons to sign a copy of the Official Secrets Act for work relating to foot and mouth disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she has received the report, "Observations on the Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak in Cumbria 2001", by a former member of the Veterinary Investigation Service; and if she will make a statement. [11738]

[holding answer 1 November 2001]: I am aware of the report prepared by Mr. Richardson, a former employee, in which he compares the working methods adopted in dealing with the outbreak in 1967 and 2001.The recommendations of the Northumberland Committee have been taken into account, as appropriate during the current outbreak. Inevitably, conditions have changed here and in Europe since the Northumberland Committee's report, and the outbreak is clearly different in nature and extent to the 1967–68 outbreak. These differences have been fully documented in a report undertaken by the Cabinet Office which is available on the DEFRA website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/ about/current/comparisons/1967a.asp. More generally, issues raised in Mr. Richardson' s report should be looked at by the independent inquiries established by the Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the evidence in her possession of cases where resistance by farmers to culling during the foot and mouth outbreak exacerbated the spread of the disease. [15520]

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: I refer to the comments I made during the Second Reading debate on the Animal Health Bill on 12 November 200], Official Report, columns 577–78.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animal blood tests have to be completed before Devon can be declared free of foot and mouth disease; and when she expects them to be completed. [17334]

[holding answer 23 November 2001]: Sampling in Devon was completed in the week beginning 12 November but test results were awaited from three premises, involving 426 blood samples, in the week beginning 19 November. All the laboratory results have now been received and Devon was classed as foot and mouth disease free from 27 November. Contrary to the local press reports, no samples were lost and the programme was completed on schedule.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals have been slaughtered, broken down by region, as a result of the welfare slaughter programme. [16056]

The Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme was opened on 22 March 2001, to deal with severe welfare problems arising from the foot and mouth disease movement restrictions that cannot be dealt with by any other means. As at 21 November, the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme had slaughtered and made payment on a total of 1,625,652 animals since it opened. Of these, 945,554 came from England (58.2 per cent.), 108,748 came from Scotland (6.7 per cent.) and 571,350 came from Wales (35.1 per cent.). The Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme does not operate in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to amend regulations relating to the protection of hedgerows. [15515]

[holding answer 16 November 2001]: We are reviewing the hedgerows protection system, including the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, in the light of developments such as the results of the Countryside Survey 2000 and the recommendations of the group responsible for the review of the regulations. We are holding meetings with stakeholders and expect to issue a consultation paper on our proposals early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) (a) for what reasons and (b) on what date her Department introduced new rules regulating the issuing of movement licences by trading standards officers for cattle direct to slaughter for human consumption; if she will list the administrative changes introduced; and what steps her Department took to inform (i) farmers and (ii) the agriculture industry of the administrative changes prior to their introduction; [16657](2)

The latest revision of the rules for the movement of foot and mouth disease susceptible livestock to slaughter was introduced on 11 November. The changes brought the rules of movement to slaughter into line with those of other livestock movements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to fund Professor Ebringer' s research into the auto-immune theory of BSE beyond 31 December. [17633]

[holding answer 23 November 2001]: My Department has already contributed significant funding towards Professor Ebringer's research. Currently, there are no plans to provide further support to this work once the present studies have concluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the morale of staff within her Department. [17638]

[holding answer 23 November 2001]: Despite the pressures of dealing with foot and mouth disease and the current industrial action being taken by Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members in the Department, the morale of staff within the Department is good. Staff in DEFRA are committed to delivering high quality services to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many departmental staff of the same grade of job are being paid different levels of salary. [17804]

[holding answer 23 November 2001]: There are 9,079 ex-MAFF staff in DEFRA who are employed under the same pay arrangements and conditions of employment. Variations in individual levels of pay of staff doing work of equal value do occur because of a number of factors, but principally because pay is linked to performance. Staff of the same grade or equivalent, however, are normally paid salaries within their pay range minima and maxima.636 ex-Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions staff joined DEFRA when it was created on 8 June. These staff will retain the pay and terms and conditions of employment of their former department until common terms and conditions of employment are established following negotiations with the trade unions.In addition, there is a small number of staff who have reserved rights to some historical terms and conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the total value of the retail organic market comprised UK farmgate sales in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement. [18202]

The most recent data available indicate that in 2000–01 the retail market for organic produce was worth around £800 million. Around 30 per cent. of the retail market was supplied by domestic production. Farmgate returns to UK organic producers over the same period are estimated to have been a little in excess of £100 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many cases in each of the last three years food imports have been (a) impounded and (b) destroyed; what type of foodstuff was involved; what the point of entry was; and what the resultant legal or other outcomes were. [18363]

[holding answer 27 November 2001]: I have placed tables detailing this information in the Library of the House.Figures breaking down rejected consignments by port and product are available only for the period July 2000 to June 2001. Information in this format is not available for previous years. Details of the number of consignments by product rejected at UK ports have been provided for the period July 1998 to June 2001. Information on illegal imports seized is available from April 2001; information is not held centrally prior to that date. Rejected and seized consignments are either destroyed or re-exported outside of the EU. Information on the outcome of each rejected or seized consignment is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will extend the deadline for the Electricity for Enterprise grant scheme for those areas affected by foot and mouth disease which has prevented work going ahead. [19000]

The Government have been negotiating with the European Commission for an extension to the Objective 5b programme since the outbreak of foot and mouth. If our request is granted this would enable the completion of projects such as 'Electricity for Enterprise'. We are hopeful that a favourable decision will be forthcoming shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in implementing the recommendations accepted by MAFF in its response to the Eighth report from the Agriculture Select Committee, Session 1998–99 on sea fishing. [19278]

I have been pleased to provide the Agriculture Select Committee on a number of occasions with updates to the Government response to the Committee's 1999 Report on Sea Fishing. Most recently, I provided oral evidence to the Committee on 9 May 2001 on issues covered in the report. The transcript of this evidence has been published in the Agriculture Committee, Session 2000–01, Sea Fishing, (HC 404).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department made towards establishing a long-term sea fishing strategy for (a) the United Kingdom and (b) England. [19279]

The sea fish industry itself must be fully involved in the establishment of a long-term strategy; and I therefore welcome the work which is being undertaken by the Fish Industry Forum to contribute towards a strategy. It will also be necessary to take account of the results of the current review of the Common Fisheries Policy due for completion by the end of next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the budget requirements of sea fisheries committees which seek to fulfil their full range of statutory duties. [19277]

The sea fisheries committees are funded by their sponsoring local authorities which nominate half the membership of each committee. The need for additional budgetary provision is a matter for each committee and its local authority membership.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in the (a) Scottish Executive and (b) Welsh Assembly with regard to (i) temporary tie-up schemes for fishing boats engaged in the hunt for pressure stock, (ii) the future of decommissioning schemes, (iii) the future of the European Common Fisheries policy, (iv) the allocation of total allowable catches and (v) controls on the landing of black fish. [19280]

This Department has regular contact with the other Fisheries Departments in the UK, both at ministerial and official level, on a wide range of fisheries issues including those cited by the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with colleagues in other Government Departments on (a) the level of illegal meat imports to the UK and (b) the effectiveness of controls and enforcement measures at (i) ports, (ii) airports and (iii) elsewhere to tackle illegal meat imports; and what assessment she has made of the need for further action. [19284]

Department for Education, Food and Rural Affairs Ministers regularly have discussions with ministerial colleagues and officials in many parts of Government. In line with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information details of such confidential discussions are not normally disclosed.Departmental officials are leading an interdepartmental review aimed at co-ordinating action across Government to ensure that rules on imports of all products of animal origin are enforced effectively and efficiently. In carrying out this task they meet regularly with colleagues in other Government Departments and responsible enforcement authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what her estimates are for the total landings of blackfish in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Wales, (d) England and (e) the UK in each of the last 10 years for which records are available, by (i) gross tonnage and (ii) value; [19281](2) what estimate she has made of the total landings of blackfish

As explained in the answer to the hon. Member on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 626W, this Department does not make estimates of the levels of blackfish. The landing of undeclared fish is an illegal activity and meaningful estimates of the extent to which it occurs cannot readily be made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the bids for funding submitted under round three of the Agricultural Development Scheme, broken down by region, stating the value of each bid. [18874]

[holding answer 28 November 2001]: We regard bids for competitive grant schemes such as the Agriculture Development Scheme as commercially confidential. As for previous rounds of the Agriculture Development Scheme, we shall publish a list of the successful bids when we announce the outcome next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 23 November 2001, Official Report, column 514W, on scientific research, what quality assessment is undertaken by her Department into the work of contractors, and through them sub-contractors, commissioned by her Department. [19304]

[holding answer 29 November 2001]: In deciding whether to let contracts, one of the aspects considered by scientists in the Department is the need for suitable and relevant quality assurance in relation to the project or projects proposed. As indicated in the reply of 23 November 2001, Official Report, column 514W, the need for contractors and their sub-contractors to meet quality standards schemes appropriate to the science projects is evaluated. However, there are substantial and wider aspects to assessing and assuring the quality of science we commission. Chief among these are the processes of prior peer review, by national and international experts in the field, of many proposals put to us; the advice of independent expert committees and advisory bodies; the work of interdepartmental committees; the detailed departmental monitoring of all science projects in progress, including formal review on their quality, progress, outputs and direction; and the growing programme of ex post facto evaluations of the impact of programmes of work. In monitoring and evaluation, the Department is again assisted by external and independent scientific input. Finally, the overall scientific quality of the work of most of our individual contractors—such as our own agencies, the institutes of the Research Councils and the universities—is assisted by independently run science audits or the audits provided through processes such as the DIES Research Assessment Exercise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the policy of managed retreat in maintaining coastal flood defences during the winter months. [19543]

Managed realignment (occasionally referred to as managed retreat) is one of the options which operating authorities are encouraged to consider when considering long-term options for coastal defence. It is only appropriate in specific circumstances where people or major assets are not at risk. In such circumstances it can have a range of benefits including the achievement of more secure and sustainable defences and the creation of additional areas of inter-tidal habitats. No specific study has been made since only a small number of sites for the implementation of managed realignment has been identified.The Department has recently approved grant for a major realignment scheme on the Humber where land has been purchased by the Environment Agency to create compensatory inter-tidal habitat for areas that will be lost due to flood defence works elsewhere in the estuary. A series of major studies are continuing to establish the possibility of realignment of defences at other sites in the Humber to relieve the pressures on flood defences that will increase as sea levels rise. Further managed realignment schemes are currently planned for the Wash, Norfolk and in Essex.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the total unallocated funds within her departmental expenditure limit (a) at the start of the financial year and (b) to date; and what was the month seven forecast on outturn underspend against her departmental expenditure limit in (i) real and (ii) percentage terms. [19440]

The former Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food Departmental Annual Report for 2000–01 (Cm5113) contains the Departmental Unallocated Provision (DUP) set for the present financial year in Table 6.1 of Annex 1. The creation of DEFRA did not alter this figure, although £7.308 million was transferred directly to the Food Standards Agency from the DUP at the time of the Summer Supplementary Estimate. There has been no draw-down of the Department's remaining DUP to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Community vessels, by nationality, received Community grants for modernisation while flying non-EU flags of convenience in the last year for which figures are available. [19579]

EU rules state that Community grants for modernisation are available only for vessels on the Community fishing vessel register.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on the phasing out of farrowing crates for sows; and if she will make a statement. [19764]

We have, for a number of years, funded research directly or indirectly related to the welfare of the sow and her piglets, from farrowing to weaning. A key issue which has emerged from this research is that changes in farrowing systems to improve sow welfare can frequently have an adverse effect on the welfare of the piglets. As a result, we are not yet able unreservedly to recommend free-farrowing systems for widespread commercial adoption. Our research, and that of others, continues to seek a solution to this problem. Our aim is to reach a position where it is possible to avoid the close-confinement of all sows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a

Subsidies paid to UK farmers:1996–2000
	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Total subsidies (£ million)	3,081	2,810	2,703	2,751	2,592
of which:
Production related subsidies1	2,996	2,707	2,571	2,585	2,399
Agri-environment schemes	85	103	132	166	193
Number of UK holdings (thousand) 2	234	238	238	240	233
Average per holding (£)3
Total subsidies	13,149	11,824	11,360	11,481	11,111
of which:
Production related subsidies1	12,787	11,390	10,805	10,788	10,285
Agri-environment schemes	362	434	555	693	826
1 Excludes public expenditure on indirect support eg intervention						2 Excludes minor holdings for GB. For NI all active holdings are included. The trends in the series have been affected by register improvements over this period						1 Calculated by dividing by the number of UK holdings (excluding minor holdings in GB and inactive holdings in NI)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the (a) total level of CAP spending in Europe, (b) level of CAP spending in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) other EU member states by different scheme and (c) proportion statement on the Government's long-term strategy to deal with tuberculosis; and how much she is planning to spend in each of the next three years on this. [19801]

The Government's projected expenditure on TB for the years 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 was published at Annexe A of the Reply by the Government to the First Report from the Agriculture Committee, Session 2000–01 (HC 92) and I refer the hon. Gentleman to that publication.Future spending plans (for 2004–05) will not be finalised until the 2002 Spending Review has concluded next summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to require all livestock farmers to be licensed; and if she will make a statement. [19604]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Congleton (Mrs. Winterton) on 27 November 2001, Official Report, column 857W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) total and (b) average levels of subsidies to farmers were for (i) production and (ii) agri-environmental schemes in (1) 1996, (2) 1997, (3) 1998, (4) 1999, (5) 2000 and (6) 2001. [19233]

[holding answer 30 November 2001]: The level of production related to subsidies and agrienvironmental subsidies is given in the following table. Note that the estimates of the average per holding will mask a wide variation across holdings.Figures for 2001 are not yet available and will be published in mid-March.of CAP spending funded by (A) the United Kingdom and (B) other EU member states in each of the last 10 years.[19236]

[holding answer 30 November 2001]: The level of CAP spending in Europe in the last 10 years is presented in the table.