To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will increase East Sussex Fire Brigade's SSA budget in 2002 in order to help meet the demands placed on the brigade as a result of last year's flooding. [19928]

Number of private homes sold in England, 1996–2000
Region	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
North East	36,362	42,805	43,070	45,351	47,787
North West	107,121	124,420	124,314	135,235	139,192
Yorkshire and the Humber	81,043	92,959	90,794	100,401	102,377
East Midlands	76,358	89,308	88,009	98,771	97,622
West Midlands	84,561	97,957	93,249	105,530	102,041
East	115,377	134,598	128,142	147,500	131,549
London	138,336	163,800	154,055	176,843	156,044
South East	160,247	208,967	195,148	220,832	193,964
South West	106,955	128,897	122,299	140,044	124,908
England	906,360	1,083,711	1,039,080	1,170,507	1,095,484

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the elements of the £3.5 billion needed by Railtrack plc in administration, including that sum which was due to be paid to the company by the Government over that period under previous agreements. [19798]

The sum of £3.5 billion is the Administrator's current estimate of the maximum that would probably be required to meet pre-administration debts to 31 March 2002, including allowances for contingencies.The figures are made up as follows:

	£000
Pre-administration trade creditors	1,673,498
Finance parties principal, interest and lease payments	624,084
Working capital	811,000
General contingency	170,000
Insurance premium	9,000
Estimated value of subsidiary companies	31,500
Provision for utility companies	79,000
Losses on close-out of interest rates SWAPS	118,000
Purchase of Rail Grinding train	5,000
Professional fees	50,000
Maximum total estimated funding required to 31 March 2002	3,571,082

The Government have paid Railtrack all the moneys that were legally due to the company, and these are being used to meet day-to-day running costs.

Under the provisional local government finance settlement announced on 4 December, the fire standard spending assessment for the constituent local authorities of East Sussex Fire Authority will be increased by 4 per cent. from £21.646 million to £22.503 million for 2002–03. The figure has been calculated using the funding distribution formula that applies in respect of all fire authorities in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many private homes were sold in each of the last five years, broken down by region. [18913]

According to HM Land Registry, the number of private homes sold in each of the last five years was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list (a) track, (b) signals and (c) other infrastructure, operated as part of the London Underground, which is (i) owned by Railtrack and (ii) used by mainline train operating companies; and if he will place in the Library (A) contract and (B) other documentation associated with the use and maintenance of such infrastructure. [20531]

[holding answer 4 December 2001]: This is a matter for Railtrack and London Underground. All track, station and other infrastructure related agreements are commercially confidential between the parties and it would therefore be inappropriate to place them in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the supplementary note to the original notes of his meeting with John Robinson, as sent to the Transport Sub-Committee, was drafted. [20421]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what date the supplementary note to the official minute of his meeting with the chairman of Railtrack on 25 July was (a) drafted, (b) circulated for comments and (c) agreed by him. [20377]

The information requested is exempt from disclosure under Section 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which (a) officials and (b) special advisers in his Department were consulted on the content of the supplementary note to the official minute of his meeting with the Chairman of Railtrack on 25 July. [20533]

[holding answer 4 December 2001]: The information requested is exempt from disclosure under Section 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the criteria are for paying fuel duty rebate to bus operators providing scheduled services; and in what circumstances it can be withheld. [20021]

To be eligible for the receipt of this rebate a bus service must be registered with the Traffic Commissioner as a local service. It must also meet a number of other strict criteria to ensure that it is a service available to the general public and that it stops at registered stopping places.The payment of rebate can be withheld if there is doubt that these conditions have been met or about the amount of entitlement. Examples of the latter are where an operator's estimates of FDR eligible mileage or fuel consumption appear unreasonably high in view of the operator's performance in recent years, where an operator consistently over estimates, where an operator fails to submit a certified claim form within the time allowed and if an operator fails to maintain adequate daily records of mileage run and fuel consumption.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent infrastructure analysis has taken place of (a) general practitioners, (b) police, (c) school places and (d) public transport on the Isle of Sheppey with regard to new build housing schemes. [20510]

The assessment of the need for local facilities is a matter for the local planning authority and the service providers. The Government's policies in Planning Policy Guidance note 3: Housing seek to create a more sustainable pattern of housing development and deliver accessibility to transport, health, education and other facilities. It is for the county and district councils to consider these issues and work with service providers when drawing up the development plan. The availability of services should also be taken into account when considering individual proposals for housing schemes.The Government have already announced the new bridge across the Swale making the Isle of Sheppey more accessible. We are also investing £5 million, through the Sure Start scheme, to help children in two of the most deprived areas on the Island.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps the Government have taken to reduce the delays in planning decisions concerning on-shore windfarms. [20635]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave her on 21 November 2001, Official Report, columns 285W–86W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answers of 29 October 2001, Official Report, column 479W on housing, and of 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 611W, on affordable housing, on what basis he stated that Chorley borough council considered Eaves Green unsuitable for affordable housing. [20527]

[holding answer 4 December 2001]: This information was based on Chorley borough council's local plan, review (revised deposit edition, September 2000). Under policy HS5 this edition considered sites suitable for affordable housing. The Eaves Green site was excluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reasons the SRA have stopped publishing punctuality figures for track lines. [20747]

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) continue to publish detailed public performance measurement data quarterly; in their twice-yearly "OnTrack" publication, and on two other occasions to coincide with their quarterly "National Rail Trends" publication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what reasons he based his decision that it would be inappropriate to widen the M4 between junctions 3 and 4b; for what additional external factors he took into account other than the recommendation of the Planning Inspector set out in paragraph 87 of the summary of the inspector's report on Heathrow Terminal 5; and if he will make a statement. [20536]

[holding answer 4 December 2001]: The Secretary of State's decision to approve the development of Terminal 5 and the reasons for it are set out in full in his decision letter dated 20 November 2001. Paragraphs 56 and 57 of that decision letter deal with the inspector's conclusions and recommendation in respect of the M4 widening and the reasons for the Secretary of State's agreement that the draft scheme and orders relating to the M4 widening should not be made. I cannot add anything to what is said in the decision letter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether local authorities applying to run electoral pilot schemes in the May 2002 elections will be required to demonstrate how their schemes will be accessible to (a) visually impaired and (b) other disabled people before receiving approval. [19844]

[holding answer 5 December 2001]: Enabling greater access for sections of the community currently less likely to vote is one of the criteria for selecting local authorities to pilot electoral innovations in the May 2002 local elections. Local authorities will be expected to demonstrate how their proposed pilot meet this criterion, including in the case of people with a visual impairment or other disability, as part of the selection process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether his Department intends to initiate discussions with disability organisations over the accessibility of electoral pilot schemes for the May 2002 local elections to (a) visually impaired and (b) other disabled people. [19845]

[holding answer 5 December 2001]: My officials, together with representatives of the Electoral Commission, are meeting RNIB and SCOPE early in the new year to discuss, among other things, progress with the 2002 local election pilots.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the e-voting equipment to be procured by his Department for the electoral pilots in the May 2002 local elections will include an (a) screen magnification software, (b) screen reader software, (c) Braille displays and (d) other adaptive technology for visually impaired people. [19843]

[holding answer 5 December 2001]: Enabling greater access for sections of the electorate less likely to vote is one of the criteria for selecting e-voting pilots for the May 2002 local elections. Local authorities and suppliers chosen as pilots will be expected to show how they meet this criterion. At this stage the Government do not want to anticipate the outcome of these pilots about the best technology to help people with a visual impairment, but technologies such as screen magnification software and Braille displays could well feature in proposals put forward by local authorities and suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make statement on the SRA' s responsibility for providing electrical power. [21110]

Railtrack together with the electricity generating industry are responsible for the supply of electrical power to railways. The Strategic Rail Authority has a primary role in evaluating the case for new investment in railways which may include the choice of motive power.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the London Underground activities for which he is responsible; what responsibility he has for London Underground's advertising; and if he will make a statement. [21107]

Responsibility for the activities of London Underground Ltd., as a subsidiary of London Regional Transport (LRT), lies with the board of LRT. London Underground's activities support those of LRT, whose general duty is to provide or secure the provision for Greater London of public passenger transport services by railway in accordance with principles approved by the Secretary of State.The responsibilities of the Secretary of State under the LRT Act 1984 are limited. He has powers designed for specific purposes such as issuing approvals, consents, determinations and directions to LRT. He does not have power to direct LRT's day to day business.The Secretary of State has no responsibility for London Underground's own advertising.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the Deloitte and Touche report on the PPP for the London Underground's commentary on the concept of reputational externalities; and if he will make a statement. [18690]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 10 May 2001, Official Report, column 255W. Deloitte and Touche' s report is a matter for Deloitte and Touche.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what maintenance teams London Underground has dedicated to working around the clock to clean (a) buildings and (b) trains affected by graffiti; and how many staff are employed to perform these functions; [20732](2) when

The management of litter and graffiti and the conduct of the mystery shopper survey are operational matters for London Underground (LU). I understand from LU, that they have contracted NOP, an independent market research agency to conduct the mystery shopper survey on their behalf for the next couple of years. The results of the survey are collected and reported every three months. Under LU's tube modernisation plans, one of the factors which will determine the level of payments to the infrastructure companies will be their performance in keeping stations and trains clean.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 November 2001, Official Report, column 750W, on the underground environment, if he will list the equipment used to measure the factors to make up the values of QUTAS j and QUTAS k; and which factors will be the product of human judgment. [20548]

This is a matter for London Underground. I understand that QATAS j and QATAS k represent scores for different aspects of the passenger environment on the underground. The attributes included in QATAS j are measured by Mystery Shopper Surveys. The attributes included in QATAS k include public address audibility, ride quality, in-car noise, train lighting and in-car heating and ventilation. London Underground intends that these should be measured by physical tests, using the appropriate equipment for measuring these attributes. Initially, however, they too will be tested using mystery shopping techniques.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 November 2001, Official Report, column 750W, on the underground environment, what are the (a) values and (b) limits of the letters applied to the weights which are in turn applied to London Underground to calculate a weighted average. [20547]

This is a matter for London Underground. The letters referred to represent different attributes of the passenger environment of the underground. Where these attributes are measured by Mystery Shopper Surveys then they are scored out of 10. Where they are measured by physical tests, the attributes are given a score between 0 and 100. The weights applied to these attributes are calculated by London Underground according to the importance given by passengers to the attribute and the station or train on which the attribute is being measured. A higher weight is given to busier stations and trains on more heavily used lines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list by region for each of the next 10 years the planned change in electrical power available to power electric train units. [21109]

No specific figures are available. This will depend on progress with development of infrastructure within the 10 year plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he list by region for each of the last 10 years the electrical power available to power electric train units. [21108]

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

To ask the Secretary. of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, (1) pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2001, Official Report, columns 1094–95W, on rate relief (village businesses), what was the (a) total number and (b) proportion of sole village pubs and petrol stations of a rateable value of £9,000 or less that have received rate relief since April, [20942](2) pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2001,

These figures are not kept centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what date the most recent head count of rough sleepers took place; and what requests were made by her Department to shelter providers to extend the nights in shelter over the period of the head count. [21224]

The street count figures were placed in the Library of the House on 3 December 2001 and show the dates that street counts took place. Local authorities in partnership with local charities organised the latest round of street counts in England, which took place from 19 September 2001 to 29 November 2001.The results announced on 3 December confirm the success of the Government's strategy in reducing rough sleeping by more than two-thirds ahead of time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what consideration he has given to the future pension costs of English fire authorities; if he will list the total costs for the three financial years up to 2000–01; and what he estimates those costs to be in each of the three succeeding years. [20907]

Total net expenditure under the firefighters' pension scheme is as follows:

	£million
1998–99	214.5
1999–2000	221.6
2000–01	1249.9
1Provisional

In its report for the period 2001–02 to 2003–04 the local authorities' Fire Service Expenditure Forecasting Group provided the following estimates of pensions expenditure under the Central/local Partnership process.

	£million
2001–02	275
2002–03	302
2003–04	332

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will list those local authorities that have failed to sell assets at best value within the last 10 years; and what discussions his Department and its predecessor have had with them on this subject; [20789](2) what discussions he has had with

The Department does not maintain a central record of those local authorities that have sold assets at less than the best consideration reasonably obtainable. Local authorities do, however, have discretionary powers under Part VII of the Local Government Act 1972 to dispose of land at an undervalue with the Secretary of State's consent. The Secretary of State has issued general consents for particular classes of disposals of land, for less than the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained, without needing specific ministerial consent.The Department issued revised general disposal consents in December 1998 following consultation with interested bodies including the Local Government Association.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the National Association of Local Councils on the subject of developing partnerships; and whether this includes new funding arrangements. [20906]

My Department works closely with the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) on a number of issues including: best value, quality parishes, accounting and audit regulations and a national training strategy for town and parish councils.Discussions have covered financial assistance for NALC, such as the recent research project on the development of Performance Indicators for town and parish councils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the National Association of Local Councils on the question of restoring a share of the uniform business rate to (a) parish and (b) town councils. [20905]

We have had no discussions with the National Association of Local Councils on this issue. Parish and town councils have never had a share of the revenue from the national non-domestic rate—or uniform business rate—since its introduction in 1990. Their main source of funding is the council tax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what financial help his Department is giving to local authorities who grant (a) mandatory and (b) discretionary rate relief to community and amateur sports clubs. [20944]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced on 30 November 2001 Official Report, column 1150W, that Community Amateur Sports Clubs may now apply for charitable status. The Charity Commission has said that they will now recognise the following activities as charitable purposes: the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation by the provision of facilities for the playing of a particular sport; and the advancement of the physical education of young people not undergoing formal education. Those community sports clubs which meet the criteria for charitable status can benefit from mandatory rate relief of 80 per cent., which is already available for all premises used wholly or mainly for charitable purposes and is fully funded by central Government. Local authorities have discretion to increase the amount of rate relief to 100 per cent. in these cases, with central Government meeting 25 per cent. of the cost of this element of rate relief.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the UK's membership of the Galileo global satellite navigation system. [21223]

The Galileo global satellite navigation system is a joint initiative by the European Community and the European Space Agency and the UK participates through its membership of both organisations. But the UK has a number of concerns about the project, including its costs and how these could be funded through a viable public-private partnership, and the benefits that the system would provide to users. A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the European Commission published only on 22 November reinforces these concerns.The Transport Council at its meeting on 7 December is scheduled to consider the release of Community funds and the establishment of a Joint Undertaking to manage and procure the development and validation phase of Galileo. We will seek a deferment of the decisions on the basis that further work as highlighted by the study should be carried out.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will ask the Civil Aviation Authority whether there has been an increase in (a) air traffic using and (b) night flights in the corridor four miles either side of Detling Beacon in Kent since 11 September. [20412]

The Civil Aviation Authority has advised that it is not aware of any increase in either air traffic users or night flights in the corridor four miles either side of the Detling Beacon since 11 September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many local councillors there are in each unitary authority with a population of less than 100,000. [20545]

There are two unitary authorities in England with an estimated population of less than 100,000— Rutland and Hartlepool with 20 and 47 councillors respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the applicable community charge or council tax charged by each unitary authority with a population of less than 100,000 (i) in the year immediately preceding their creation and (ii) in the following year. [20544]

The information is given in the tables.

Hartlepool borough council—unitary status created April 1996
	1995–96	1996–97
	Average band D council tax:
	The year before creation (£)	The following year Percentage (£)	Percentage change
Hartlepool1	155	791	—
Cleveland county council	558	—	—
Cleveland police authority	45	46	—
Total area council tax2	759	837	10.3

Rutland county council—unitary status created April 1997
	1996–97	1997–98
	Average band D council tax:
	The year before creation	The following year Percentage	Percentage change
Rutland1	103	741	—
Leicestershire county council	483	—	—
Leicestershire police authority	45	52	—
Total area council tax2	632	793	25.5
1Figures are not on a like-for-like basis because each authority did not have responsibility for upper tier functions, such as education or social services, before reorganisation took place
2Figures rounded to the nearest pound

The other English unitary authorities created during local government reorganisation have a population of over 100,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will resign. [20953]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the condition of the lining of the Millennium Dome; and what the estimated cost is of cleaning the lining. [21364]

I understand from English Partnerships, who assumed ownership of the dome from 1 July 2001, that the roof of the dome is in good condition. There are three small holes in the internal lining, which do not need repairing. However, English Partnerships, will of course keep under review all matters relating to management and maintenance of their assets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what dates (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have visited (i) the Millennium Dome and (ii) the site surrounding the Dome since 1 July. [21363]

I visited the Greenwich Peninsula, including the dome, on 10 September 2001, as part of my visit to the Greenwich Millennium Village. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions, has also frequently visited the Greenwich Peninsula, but not the dome, since 1 July 2001, as a constituency MP and as a private individual. No other DTLR minister has visited the dome or the Greenwich Peninsula recently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which of the unsuccessful bidders for the Millennium Dome have had (a) any and (b) all of their costs reimbursed; and if he will publish the names of each such bidder together with the amount of their reimbursement. [21365]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to use the Millennium Dome over the Christmas period; and if he will open it as a refuge for the homeless. [20247]

While the process of securing a long-term sustainable use is continuing, English Partnerships is following up expressions of interest it has received about possible events at the dome. The first of these will be the Ministry of Sound event on new year's eve. As preparation works will be under way in advance of this event, it will not be possible to accommodate any other uses during this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of how many primary schools in England are on roads with speed limits in excess of 30 miles per hour. [17446]

I have been asked to reply.The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many available fire appliances are (a) less than one, (b) between one and three, (c) between three and five and (d) over five years old; and if he will make a statement; [20615](2) how many fire appliances have been in road accidents while on operational duty in

The number of fire appliances available in fire brigades in England and Wales at 31 March 2001 are shown in the following table. The pumps provide fire cover as required by the Fire Services Act 1947. Special appliances include hydraulic platforms, turntable ladders, foam tenders, emergency tenders, control units, hose laying lorries, chemical incident units and fire boats.The cost of determining the age of each appliance would be disproportionate but a brigade would expect to replace appliances over 12 to 15 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of levels of indiscipline in (a) state primary and (b) state secondary schools since the abolition of corporal punishment. [13396]

Corporal punishment was abolished in state schools in 1987 and we have no plans to reintroduce it. Data on levels of indiscipline are not available on a consistent basis since 1987, so it is not possible to give an assessment of how levels of discipline have changed since then.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children there were in classes of 30 or more, by year group, in each of the last five years. [20181]

The following is the information:

Number of pupils in classes of 30 or more, by year group, in maintained primary and secondary schools
		Maintained primary1
	2001	2000	1999	1998
Reception	102,892	113,773	147,223	163,243
Year group 1	111,542	134,987	152,845	189,117
Year group 2	111,793	146,357	191,460	217,346
Year group 3	195,681	224,968	228,135	216,348
Year group 4	222,042	226,862	212,128	197,954
Year group 5	213,879	201,652	188,442	192,969
Year group 6	192,371	186,438	196,775	175,773
Year group 7	4,357	987	1,472	3—
Mixed	320,592	374,445	419,725	482,822

		Maintained secondary
	20011	20002	19992	19982	19972
Year group 5	8,423	3—	3—	3—	3—
Year group 6	8,837	3—	3—	3—	3—
Year group 7	131,250	3—	3—	3—	3—
Year group 8	163,879	3—	3—	3—	3—
Year group 9	146,462	3—	3—	3—	3—
Year group 10	73,741	3—	3—	3—	3—
Year group 11	65,838	3—	3—	3—	3—
Year group 12	1,299	3—	3—	3—	3—
Year group 13	485	3—	3—	3—	3—
Mixed	28,489	3—	3—	3—	3—
Aged under 14	3—	427,000	399,939	355,465	317,647
Aged 14 and 15	3—	133,596	124,759	115,926	104,866
Aged 16 plus	3—	2,566	1,974	2,419	2,219

(a) New sixth forms
Year/name of school	LEA	LSC area	Average point score per student based on 2001 A/AS/AGNVQ results
2001
Kesgrave High School	Suffolk	Suffolk	n/a
2000
Hamstead Hall School	Birmingham	Birmingham and Solihull	16.6
The Axe Valley Community College	Devon	Devon and Cornwall	n/a
St. Edwards RC/CofE VA School	Poole	Bournemouth/Dorset/Poole	15.2
1999
The Compton High School and Sports College	Ealing	London West	4.7
Filsham Valley School	East Sussex	Sussex	10.3

	(b) Closed sixth forms
Name of school	LEA	LSC area
2001
St. Edmunds Catholic School	Portsmouth	Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Normanton Freeston Voluntary Controlled High School	Wakefield	West Yorkshire
The Petersfield School	Hampshire	Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Hull Trinity House School	Kingston upon Hull	Humberside

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the right of hon. Members to make representations to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator about constituency issues. [20773]

The role of the Schools Adjudicator is to decide on LEA school organisation plans, and individual school proposals and admission arrangements, where it has not been possible to reach agreement locally and there has been a statutory objection. Adjudicators must consider each case on its merits, taking into account all the information available to them and the views expressed by all interested parties. Hon. Members do not have statutory objection rights but are free to make representations to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator on cases under consideration, in the same way as any member of the public with a local interest. Decisions of the Schools Adjudicator are binding on the parties concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools (a) opened a new sixth form and (b) closed their sixth form in each of the last three years; in which learning and skills councils area they are located; and what the average A level points score was of each school listed under (a). [18380]

Proposals have been approved for the following schools to open new, or close existing, sixth forms during the past three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria she has established for the distribution of the Learning and Skills Council's standards fund in 2002–03.[19617]

[holding answer 5 December 2001]: The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for setting the criteria for distribution of its standards fund. The council will publish the criteria to post-16 providers in time for the 2002–03 financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance is available to schools wishing to establish links with other schools in the (a) European Union and (b) Commonwealth. [20867]

[holding answer 5 December 2001]: The Department for Education and Skills provides assistance for schools to establish links with schools in the EU, Commonwealth and worldwide through its funding of organisations such as the British Council. Programmes include practical help with finding a school as well as a range of assistance to help with the cost of visiting the partner school.Increasingly, school links are being made by utilising information and communication technology. For instance, schools seeking partner schools anywhere in the world can consult the Windows on the World website on the

Arm	Liability1	Strength	Deficit	Percentage
Officers
Royal Armoured, Corps/Household, Cavalry Regiment	861	823	-38	-4.4
Royal Artillery	1,062	1,028	-34	-3.2
Royal Engineers	1,139	1,112	-27	-2.4
Infantry	2,766	2,795	+29	+1.0
Army Air Corps2	459	411	-48	-10.5
Soldiers
Royal Armoured, Corps/Household, Cavalry Regiment	5,011	4,916	-95	-1.9
Royal Artillery	7,439	6,923	-516	-6.9
Royal Engineers	7,662	7,401	-261	-3.4
Infantry	23,971	22,561	-1,410	-5.9
Army Air Corps2	1,309	1,324	+ 15	+1.1
1 Liability figures quoted are In-Year.
2 Pilot shortfalls in the AAC are made up by attachees from other Arms and Services. At any one time there are approximately 100 attachees, which are not reflected in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on undermanning in the Army's combat arms. [20631]

Combat arms are those which are trained and equipped to be in contact with the enemy and those who provide direct offensive and combat support. Manning in these arms as at 1 November is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department has in place to assist school students researching defence topics. [21302]

It is important that young people—the voters and taxpayers of tomorrow—should have an understanding of defence. In addition, defence has much to offer the curriculum. The Ministry of Defence produces a wide range of publications which are available to assist school students in their research, or to inform members of the public who wish to find out more about defence. These include a series of leaflets on various aspects of defence activity, a new series of leaflets describing the impact of defence activity in each region of the country, and a series of booklets including one—Defence Matters—that is tailored specifically for students and has been sent to schools across the country. All our publications are available on demand and can also be found on the MOD website together with a wide range of other material about defence.In addition, each of the services has a student presentation team or teams, which visit schools and colleges across the country, and we are currently in the process of appointing a schools adviser who will develop a range of defence related material that can be used to help deliver the curriculum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) establishment strength, (b) actual strength

Scottish regiments as at 1 November 2001
	Establishment	Strength	Percentage
Scots Dragoon Guards	590	498	-15.6
One Scots Guards	620	687	+10.8
One Royal Scots	620	512	-17.4
One Royal Highland Fusiliers	620	544	-12.3
One Kings Own Scottish Borderers	620	642	+3.5
One Black Watch	741	640	-13.6
One Highlanders	667	1614	-7.9
One Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders	620	593	-4.4
1 Includes 108 personnel in the Gurkha Reinforcement Company (GRC).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the defence budget was spent in Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available (a) in actual terms and (b) as a percentage of the total defence budget. [21358]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of

The establishment and actual strengths and level of undermanning in percentage terms for each of the Scottish regiments listed is shown in the table.We recognise the need to maximise recruiting levels across the Army as whole. The Army launched a major recruiting campaign in autumn 2000 aimed at targeting a more diverse and well-qualified audience as well as encouraging those who have already expressed an interest in the Army as a career to make the commitment. We are also aiming at reducing the number of recruits withdrawing during training by combining Phase I and Phase II Infantry Training.As part of the overall recruiting campaign, the Army appointed a Glasgow recruiting company, Search, to manage all the Army's recruitment in the Glasgow area for an initial one-year trial period from the beginning of April 2001. Search will undertake promotional and marketing activity to highlight the many different career opportunities available in the Army with the aim of boosting the numbers of young people choosing the Army as a career.Retention levels among soldiers have held steady over the last 12 months or so. However, we are not relaxing our efforts in this area and have introduced several Operational welfare initiatives including: Guaranteed Post Operational tour leave, electronic blueys and 20 minutes free telephone call per week for personnel on Operations. We also recognise the importance of providing soldiers and their families a decent standard of accommodation and have several projects in hand to effect improvements to current housing stock.State for Defence on 15 October 2001,

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of RAF flying hours accrued for Operation Veritas. [18404]

As of 3 December, the RAF had accrued over 2,600 flying hours during Operation Veritas. Approximately 1,100 of these flying hours related to reconnaissance missions and almost 1,500 to air to air refuelling flights. Hours accrued during other RAF missions, primarily resupply flights from the UK, are not included in this figure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the exclusion of Polish pilots from the Battle of Britain war memorial at Dover; and if he will make a statement. [20993]

The Ministry of Defence has received no representations about the exclusion of Polish pilots from the Battle of Britain war memorial at Dover.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been carried out in the Defence Aviation Repair Agency which recommends the closure of (a) Fleetlands, (b) St Athans and (c) Sealand in Flintshire. [20915]

No studies have been carried out that recommend the closure of any of the DARA sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if C-17s have the capacity to drop cargo by parachute. [20392]

The C-17 aircraft is capable of dropping cargo by parachute and it is used in this role by the United States Air Force. However, the UK does not currently envisage using the aircraft in this role and has not sought the clearances necessary to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if paratroop insertion for C-17s is possible. [20394]

The C-17 aircraft is capable of dropping paratroops and it is used in this role by the United States Air Force. However, the UK does not currently envisage using the aircraft in this role, and has not sought the clearances necessary to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying hours are permitted per annum for C-17s. [20393]

Our lease contract for the RAF's four C-17s does not restrict flying hours. However, the contracted support package is based on an assumed annual fleet usage rate of 3,000 hours. Additional flying hours will give rise to an additional charge for the associated support

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the operation of the C-17s is constrained by the Health and Safety regulations; and if he will make a statement. [20395]

C-17 aircraft have been in service with the United States Air Force for several years. Nevertheless, prior to the aircraft entering service with the Royal Air Force, the Ministry of Defence contracted an independent safety assessor to undertake a risk-based safety analysis in relation to UK Health and Safety legislation. This analysis contributed to the overall safety case on the basis of which the aircraft was cleared for operational service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what dense metals are used in the hard-target penetrators of the (a) GBU-24, (b) GBU-32 (upgraded), (c) GBU-37, (d) AGM-86D, (e) AGM-65G, (f) AGM-154C and (g) M220-TOW weapons systems. [20340]

Only two of the weapons listed—a variant of the GBU-24 and a variant of the AGM-65—are in service with UK armed forces. Neither use depleted uranium or any other "dense metal" in their warheads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what dense metals (a) are and (b) have been used in the (i) development, (ii) testing and (iii) operational use of the BEe/RO BROACH MWS warhead systems. [20333]

The only dense metal contained in the BROACH MWS is a tungsten-based alloy. No other dense metal is or has been used in its development or testing. The BROACH MWS is not forecast to enter service before August 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many armed forces personnel have been treated in the independent health care sector at his Department's expense in each of the last eight years; and if he will make a statement; [18431](2) how much has been spent on treatments in the independent health care sector by his Department in each of the last eight years. [18432]

Information is not readily available for the costs and numbers of personnel treated in the independent health care sector for the period of the last eight years. However, a series of initiatives undertaken in 2000 and 2001 have covered in total some 2,600 personnel at a cost of £4.7 million. These figures include investigations and out-patient appointments as well as treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the time scale for ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; and what plans the Government have for the deployment of under-18s after its ratification. [19534]

Officials in both the Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office are actively working on ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, and we aim to ratify as soon as possible. We hope this will be in early 2002. The UK made a statement on signature of the Optional Protocol in September 2000 clarifying its understanding of the obligation on states (Article 1) to take all feasible measures to prevent the direct participation in hostilities of personnel under 18 years of age. The current work is aimed at finalising the detailed administrative guidelines for the armed forces which will give form to that commitment. Meanwhile, we take great care of the types of duty on which personnel under the age of 18 may be employed and ensure that none are deployed unless fully trained.No service personnel under the age of 17 are deployed on operations. No personnel under the age of 18 carry out operational patrols in Northern Ireland, although 17-year-olds can be based in the Province. Also, under-18s are not deployed as aircrew or in submarines and, in line with UN policy, we do not deploy personnel under the age of 18 on UN peacekeeping operations.The UK believes that, if it is widely ratified and its provisions properly implemented, the Protocol will represent a major step towards preventing the exposure of children, sometimes as young as seven or eight, to appalling danger and brutality, often by forceable recruitment into non-government forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment of key point defence he has made since 11 September; what the outcome was (a) in Scotland and (b) in the rest of the UK; and what assessment he has made of the resources available in the UK to guard key points in the event of an emergency; [20887](2) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of volunteer reserves in Scotland to undertake key point defence. [20888]

The security and defence of key points within the UK is a matter for the police. Should the threat warrant additional security, beyond that which a particular constabulary are able to provide, they can call on assistance from other police forces across the country and, ultimately, from the armed forces. Under current arrangements, regular service personnel would be used to augment the police. Arrangements for mutual aid between police forces and for military support to the police are the same throughout the UK.All counter terrorist contingency plans, including those relating to key points in the UK as a whole, are being reviewed to ensure they remain robust and relevant in the light of the terrorist attacks of 11 September. As part of work on the New Chapter of the Strategic Defence Review, consideration is being given to a possible increased role for the armed forces including the Territorial and Reserve Forces, in homeland security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the value of liabilities owed by his Department arising from radiological contamination at or arising from (a) nuclear submarine bases and berths, (b) nuclear weapons manufacture, (c) nuclear weapons design and developments, (d) military nuclear materials production and processing, (e) radioactive waste conditioning and storage, (f) nuclear weapons explosive testing within the United Kingdom and abroad and (g) nuclear propulsion reactor research, development and manufacture. [19882]

As at 31 March 2001, the Ministry of Defence's nuclear liabilities amounted to £3,574,809,000 (representing the liabilities discounted at 6 per cent. and expressed in 2000–01 money values) or £16,039,639,000 (undiscounted) mainly arising from the areas noted. A more detailed breakdown is not available in the form requested.Provision for liabilities and charges is included in the MOD's annual Departmental Resource Account. The Account for 2000–01 will shortly be published and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications British military personnel located in Afghanistan have had with the US Marines based near Kandahar. [20241]

British forces in Afghanistan are in regular contact with the US Marines based near Kandahar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of desert-proofing equipment used by the UK military in Oman; and if he will make a statement. [12399]

The vast majority of the UK military equipment deployed to Oman for Exercise Saif Sareea required no modification in order to operate in the climatic conditions encountered during the exercise. Although individual units may, at modest cost, have taken measures to prepare equipment for the exercise, a decision was taken not to fully desertise all major items of equipment. An example of individual unit measures was the fitting of sand filters and protective blade strips to RN helicopters, the costs of which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deployment of the SA80 MK II rifle in the Army. [20632]

The main deployment of the SA80 A2 rifle is due to take place between early 2002 and mid 2006. However some weapons have already been issued to elements of two UK based Brigades on standby for Operation Veritas. The Service Shooting Teams have also received rifles as part of an early deployment programme and have successfully used them in international competitions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work is to be undertaken under the programme for upgraded early warning radar support in the UK, allocated to the US ballistic missile defence organisation in their 2002 fiscal year budget. [20523]

We have received no request from the United States for the use of facilities in the UK for missile defence purposes. The US ballistic missile defence organisation's 2002 fiscal year budget is a matter for them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the dispersal of (a) brigade and (b) divisional permanent headquarters. [20886]

The Strategy for the Army (SFTA), a copy of which is in the Library of the House, stated that the Army should be based progressively in the UK over time, becoming more regionally focused, whenever opportunities present themselves. Decisions on the future basing of Army units will be made against this background.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the cost of placing the order for four new roll-on, roll-off transport ships for the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement. [18814]

[holding answer 5 December 2001]: Negotiations continue to finalise a 25-year private finance initiative contract for the Department's strategic sealift with AWSR as the preferred bidder. This will cover the operation, support, maintenance, and crewing of up to six roll on/roll off ferries to be available for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to use at varying periods of notice. It is estimated that routinely the MOD will require only four of the six vessels and when not being used by the Department they will be available to the owners, AWSR, for commercial purposes. The total value of the contract is estimated to be worth around £950 million with some 85 per cent. being spent within the UK. The cost of the ship-build element will be contained within the overall strategic sealift service contract. We hope to be in a position to complete negotiations shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the Eurofighter and (b) the Joint Strike Fighter and when they will be in service. [21621]

Both Eurofighter and the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will be essential components of the UK fast jet inventory. They will complement each other. Eurofighter is optimised for the air superiority role, while JSF is primarily a strike aircraft, with a secondary air defence role. The current forecast in service dates for Eurofighter and JSF are 2002 and 2012 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will announce details of the overseas trade fairs, seminars and outward missions programme to be supported by British Trade International from 1 April 2002. [21322]

Details of a £21.7 million British Trade International programme of support for participating in overseas trade fairs, seminars and outward missions, in the form of supported groups, will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Organisations that bid for support are being informed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance she has given to trading standards officers in local authorities throughout the United Kingdom to ensure that fireworks comply with British Standard 7144. [21474]

We have made it a requirement under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1977 that fireworks must comply with BS7114. In addition, we have issued guidance to trading standard officers and others through our firework safety toolkit on the requirements of the 1997 regulations including the importance of BS7114.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) advice and (b) support was provided to Thomas Whitter Ltd. by the Government office for the north-west after the company was taken into administration. [20874]

No advice or support has been sought by or given to Thomas Witter Ltd. by the Government office for the north-west.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decisions were taken by the north-west development agency in relation to support for Thomas Whitter Ltd. following the actions taken by the Government office for the north-west. [20873]

No decisions have been taken by the north-west development agency about support to Thomas Witter Ltd. The agency has been in contact with the company, but the company does not feel that the agency can do anything to help. The agency remains willing to discuss support should that position change.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 29 November 2001, Official Report, column 1047W, on the Government office for the north-west, what (a) support and (b) advice the Government office for the north-west provides to companies in non-assisted areas on management buy-outs. [20877]

The Government office for the north-west can provide advice on a range of issues associated with management buy-outs, either directly or indirectly, by referring the company to one of its partner organisations, such as the Small Business Service or the north-west development agency. The Government office cannot provide direct financial support to companies in non-assisted areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what files the Government office for the north-west holds on concerns raised by hon. Members on behalf of local companies. [20876]

The Government office for the north-west holds files where concerns raised by hon. Members have led to some substantive action being taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the criteria for companies to receive (a) advice and (b) support from the Government office for the north-west when placed in administration. [20875]

Any company may seek advice from the Government office for the north-west, regardless of its situation. A company may be eligible for financial support from the Government office if it is located in an assisted area and is investing in capital expenditure. This can apply to a company in administration where the legal entity of the company changes.