To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what body formally employs the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [27002]

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is an Officer of the House. Her employer is the House of Commons Commission.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what arrangements are in place for monitoring the work of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [27003]

Since the appointment of the first Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in 1995 it has been recognised that the formal appraisal arrangements for senior Officers of the House are not appropriate for the special circumstances of the post. Both Commissioners have discussed their work from time to time with the Speaker and the Clerk of the House. In addition, Standing Order No. 149 (1)(b) provides that the Committee on Standards and Privileges shall oversee the work of the Commissioner.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when (a) the Commission and (b) the Chairman last held a formal meeting with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. [25691]

The Commission has not held a formal meeting with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. The Speaker last held a meeting with the Commissioner on 14 January 2002.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will ensure that the House canteens, refreshment outlets and gift shops will

Maintained secondary schools: Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN), as at January 2001
School name	LEA name	Parliamentary constituency	Number of pupils with statements of SEN
Brierton School	Hartlepool	Hartlepool	24
Dyke House Comprehensive School	Hartlepool	Hartlepool	26
High Tunstall Comprehensive School	Hartlepool	Hartlepool	13
Manor College of Technology	Hartlepool	Hartlepool	15
The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College	Hartlepool	Hartlepool	17

[holding answer 14 January 2002]: With regard to the acceptance of euros by the House of Commons Refreshment Department, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) on 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 876W. As for the question of paying Members' salaries in euros, this is a matter for the President of the Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were paid the returners' bonus by 31 October. [24889]

None. Up to 31 December, 17 local education authorities and one non-maintained special school had submitted claims in respect of payments made to 36 teachers. The bulk of claims will not be made until later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in Kirklees metropolitan council area each month from January 1997 to December 2001 in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools. [26245]

The information is not available in the form requested.Vacancies for full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in Kirklees local authority, in January of each year from 1997, were as follows:

	Nursery and primary	Secondary
1997	1	1
1998	0	6
1999	2	1
2000	0	3
2001	5	5

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils there are with SEN statements at each of the secondary schools in (a) Teesside area and (b) the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency. [26736]

The information requested is shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in the London borough of Hillingdon local education authority at (a) January 2001, (b) September 2001 and (c) January 2002 in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools. [26943]

The numbers of full-time vacancies for teachers in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in Hillingdon in January 2001 were as follows:

	Number of vacancies
Nursery and primary	16
Secondary	30

The sample survey conducted by my Department in September 2001 did not collect vacancy data by local education authority. The results of the January 2002 survey of teacher numbers and vacancies will be published in April, in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many overseas teachers were working in the London borough of Hillingdon local education authority at December 2001 in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools, broken down by country of origin. [26944]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there are in local education authority schools in Chesham and Amersham. [27123]

My Department only collects teacher vacancies at local education authority level. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady) on 19 November 2001, Official Report, columns 59–60W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total amount of revenue funding per pupil available for children in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Staffordshire, (ii) Hertfordshire and (iii) England has been in each of the last five years. [27259]

The information requested is contained in the table.

£ per pupil
	Primary			Secondary
Cash	SSA	Grants	Total	SSA	Grants	total
Staffordshire
1997–98	1,930	30	1,970	2,530	30	2,560
1988–99	2,040	40	2,070	2,650	30	2,680
1999–2000	2,150	90	2,250	2,760	60	2,820
2000–01	2,240	250	2,490	2,880	200	3,080
2001–02	2,330	410	2,740	3,000	310	3,310
Change1	390	380	770	470	280	750

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to ensure a percentage of teacher training places are available to schools and graduates in North Staffordshire. [27380]

In allocating college-based and employment-based initial teacher training places, the Teacher Training Agency gives priority to high-quality provision. In allocating college-based places the agency also has regard wherever possible to the need for a balanced geographical distribution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are set for (a) schools and (b) graduate applicants in respect of a successful application to the Graduate Trainee Programme. [27381]

All entrants to the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) must meet the general requirements both for admission to postgraduate courses of initial teacher training laid down in my Department's Circular 4/98 and for admission to employment-based teacher training prescribed by the Education (Teachers' Qualifications and Health Standards) (England) Regulations 1999, as amended. Decisions on which applications to approve are taken by the Teacher Training Agency, which administers the programme on my Department's behalf. The criteria which the agency applies to reach those decisions are published in the booklet "How to Apply for the Graduate and Registered Teacher Programmes in England", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Ofsted inspections have been carried out in schools in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997. [27768]

This is a matter for HM Chief Inspector of Schools and I have therefore asked Mike Tomlinson to write to the hon. Member and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 934W, on Early Years Excellence, (1) when she expects to announce the results of the assessment of the interests of Somerford Infant School; [27726](2) by what means her Department plans to follow up interest in Somerford Infant School; [27727](3) whether the further guidance issued on 5 October 1991 was sent direct to Somerford Infant School; and if she will make a statement. [27728]

The additional guidance issued on 5 October 2001 was not sent to Somerford Infant School, but to Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships, local authorities and others who received the February 2001 guidance, in response to which the school submitted its expression of interest in joining the programme.Officials provided feedback to Somerford on their proposals in June 2001, and will shortly further follow up Somerford's interest in the programme by contacting the headteacher of the school in the first instance.Following expressions of interest, the Department announces only the names of newly designated Early Excellence Centres. Such announcements are made periodically.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the funding for the national food in schools programme has been allocated; and if she will make a statement. [20501]

I have been asked to reply.The majority of funding for the food in schools programme has not yet been allocated. We are working with the Department for Education and Skills to develop proposals that cover the breadth of opportunities for food in schools. The programme will aim to bring together all food related initiatives in schools and after-school clubs to improve both health and learning, and ensure consistent information is given about health and nutrition. Following an advisory forum meeting in the summer, proposals are being put together into a series of pilot schemes that can be tested throughout the country. This includes assessing existing initiatives as well as new ones to ensure that the programme builds on and supports existing work in schools by a number of organisations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the level of contingency reserves in (a) departmental expenditure limits and (b) annually managed expenditure in (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05. [26994]

The Government's latest view of the planned DEL Reserve and the forecast AME Margin are given in tables B16 and B13 respectively of the pre-Budget report (Cm 5318), up to the final year for which public spending plans have been published (2003–04).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what statistical assessment he has made of the effect of the release of local authorities' capital receipts on the public sector borrowing requirement. [27449]

The release of local authorities' capital receipts is taken into account in the published forecasts of public borrowing.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many all-party Parliamentary groups have received funding in each of the last four years; and how much was received in each year by each group. [27478]

Four all-party parliamentary groups have received funding from the Treasury in the last four years. They are the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), the British American Parliamentary Group (BAPG) and the British-Irish Parliamentary Group (BIPG).The amount of grant in aid paid to each of the groups in each of the last four years is set out in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the criteria which his Department applies in awarding grants to all-party parliamentary groups. [27479]

There are no fixed criteria. Grants in aid for all-party parliamentary groups are financed from the Treasury's Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit, on the basis of an assessment of competing pressures.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 769W, on public services productivity, how many seminars have been held on the paper; on which dates these seminars have occurred; who attended the seminars; and if he will make a statement. [27615]

No seminars have been held on the paper.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the increase in public expenditure in real terms in each of the last three years. [27467]

The increases in total public spending (Total Managed Expenditure—TME) and Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) after inflation for each of the last three years on the previous year are given in the table. These figures are consistent with figures published in the pre-Budget report 2001.

Financial year	Percentage real increase in DEL on previous year	Percentage real increase in TME on previous year
2000–01	3.4	3.7
1999–2000	3.2	0.8
1998–99	2.8	0.2

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was lost to the Inland Revenue in each of the last 10 years as a result of tax evasion. [27926]

No such figures are available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for each local authority in East Lancashire the most recent take-up rates for working families tax credit and the last available take-up rates for family credit. [28180]

It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of take-up rates for each local authority.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in South Tyneside have benefited from the working families tax credit. [28064]

The number of recipients of working families tax credit and disabled person's tax credit in each local authority and in each constituency are shown in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses", copies of which are in the Library and on the Inland Revenue website, www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk, under "Statistics".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employers have been (a) fined and (b) prosecuted for wrongly calculating employees' entitlement to working families tax credit. [27466]

None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the proceeds were from the tax and underwriting commission in each of the last four years. [26233]

The information is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax forms have been sent to pensioners in (a) this financial year and (b) 2000–01; how many forms have been incorrectly sent; and what is the estimated cost of sending one million tax forms. [26283]

The Inland Revenue holds no details of the number of ITSA Returns sent to pensioners.The estimated cost if one million pensioner style ITSA Returns were sent is £300,000.00.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the reduction in income tax liability has been as a result of the introduction of independent taxation over the last 12 years for (a) higher rate taxpayers, (b) basic rate taxpayers and (c) the bottom 10 per cent. of earners. [26267]

It would be possible to provide an answer only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many divorced and separated partners there are where the partner in receipt of maintenance payments has an income that falls below the tax threshold and where the partner making the payments pays tax at the (a) basic rate and (b) higher rate; and what the total amount was of tax relief at present granted on maintenance payments made by separated or divorced partners at basic rates and higher rates. [26205]

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of administering the national insurance contributions system in (a) 1980, (b) 1990, (c) 2000 and (d) 2000–01 in (i) current prices and (ii) historic prices, broken down by (A) the cost of collecting contributions, (B) the cost of paying contributory benefits and pensions and (C) all other costs of recording and administering the national insurance system. [26863]

The cost incurred in administering the national insurance scheme in 1980, 1990 and 2000 is detailed in the National Insurance Fund Accounts for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.These are published in White Paper Accounts and are available from the House of Commons Library.The 2000–01 accounts are currently being audited by the National Audit Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated full year revenue effect of abolishing the upper earnings limit for employees' national insurance contributions. [26228]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 135W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many higher rate taxpayers there are in 2001–02. [26264]

I refer the hon. Member to "Inland Revenue Statistics" table 2.1, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The latest version can be accessed on the Inland Revenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/it_t01-1.htm.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in each of the last four years reported dividend income to the Inland Revenue. [26232]

The number of taxpayers who reported dividend income to the Inland Revenue, between 1997–98 and 2000–01, are shown in the table.

Number of taxpayers who reported dividend income to the Inland Revenue
	Number (millions)
1997–98	2.6
1998–99	3.0
1999–2000	3.1
2000–01	3.2

The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are consistent with the pre-Budget report 2001.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax units will be on incomes, including unearned income, in excess of (a) £30,000 (b) £50,000, (c) £75,000 and (d) £100,000 in 2001–02. [26203]

The number of taxpayers by range of total income in 2001–02 is shown in the table.

Range of total income—lower limit	Number (millions)
£30,000	2.9
£50,000	0.7
£75,000	0.2
£ 100,000	0.3

These estimates are based on the 1999–2000 Survey of Personal Incomes and are consistent with the November 2001 pre-Budget report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax units will be on income in excess of (a)£100,000, (b) £250,000, (c) £500,000 and (d) £1 million in 2001–02. [26210]

The number of taxpayers in 2001–02 with income in excess of (a) £100,000, (b)£250,000, (c) £500,000 and (d) £1 million are estimated in the table.

Income in excess of:	Number of taxpayers (thousand)
£100,000	301
£250,000	61
£500,000	18
£ 1,000,000	5

The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are consistent with the pre-Budget report 2001.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an estimate of the number of those who will pay income tax in 2001–02; and how many people paid income tax in each of the last four years. [24815]

I refer the hon. Member to Table 2.1 of Inland Revenue Statistics. The latest version can be accessed on the Inland Revenue website http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/it_t01-1.htm.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the planned expenditure on transport as a percentage of gross domestic product in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04. [26213]

In 2001–02, total transport expenditure is estimated to be 0.91 per cent. of GDP. In 2002–03, it is estimated to be 1.02 per cent. In 2003–04, it is estimated to be 1.14 per cent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by department the sums of money that have been allocated in this financial year from the contingency reserve. [26271]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 6 December 2001, Official Report, column 524W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the Government adhere to the national accounts definitions of capital and current expenditure except in respect of the treatment of depreciation; [26135](2) what the Treasury definition of capital expenditure is for the purposes of the golden rule. [26099]

The Government's fiscal rules are defined in terms of statistics from national accounts. Performance against the golden rule is measured against the surplus on the current budget which is equal to public sector current receipts less public sector current expenditure including depreciation, all as measured in national accounts. Total managed expenditure (TME)—the Government's measure of total public expenditure—is public sector current expenditure plus capital expenditure as recorded in national accounts.At present for national accounts, ONS estimate depreciation for the whole of Government using an economic model. As part of the introduction of resource accounting, each central Government Department now calculates its own depreciation directly. ONS plan to start using this new data source for most of central Government in national accounts later this year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role he has given to Geoffrey Spence relating to PPPs; and if he will make a statement. [17674]

Geoffrey Spence's role at Partnerships UK is to provide the Treasury with a dedicated senior professional resource to advise on the development and implementation of PPPs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the changes in the national accounts resulting from the new European system of accounts which will affect general Government expenditure; [27448](2) what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in the national accounts resulting from the European system of accounts on general Government expenditure. [27446]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he proposes to the draft European Union Prospectus Directive. [27487]

The most important areas where we are proposing changes can be listed as follows:

• More appropriate definitions of "home state", "qualified investor", and "public offer";
• Clarification of the scope for private and institutional placements under the directive;
• Voluntary shelf registration and annual updating;
• More appropriate disclosure requirements for professional products, SME issued securities, and third country based issuers;
• An expanded list of exemptions; and
• A more effective passport for pan-European issuers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission independent research into the appropriateness of his Department's chosen public service agreement target. [27468]

No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance has been made available to local authorities to issue the payment of bills or services in euros; and what plans he has to review the limit set for local authorities regarding collection of their income in non-sterling. [27664]

Details of the Government's preparations for the introduction of euro cash in the euro area from 1 January 2002 are contained in the Fifth Report on Euro Preparations. There are no plans to issue additional guidance to local authorities at this stage.

To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with President Bush concerning the campaign against terrorism. [25667]

I am in regular contact with President Bush on a wide range of issues.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the projects worked upon by Lord Birt, pursuant to his recent appointment. [27534]

Lord Birt provides me and other Cabinet Ministers with long-term internal strategic analysis and policy thinking.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 819W, what qualities he identified in Lord Birt that led him to appoint him to analyse the country's transport problems. [27524]

As I said in my earlier answer, I appointed Lord Birt as unpaid strategy adviser because of his extensive experience of strategy formulation in both the public and private sectors.

To ask the Prime Minister on how many days in each month in 2001 he was out of the country other than on holiday; and on how many days he indicated to the Deputy Prime Minister that he would be abroad. [27525]

In 2001, I made the following overseas visits:

• 29 January—Germany
• 9 February—Anglo-French Summit, France
• 21-22 February—Canada
• 22-24 February—USA
• 22-24 March—European Council, Sweden
• 13 June NATO summit, Belgium
• 14-16 June—European Council, Sweden
• 20-22 July—G8 Summit, Italy
• 29 July-3 August—Jamaica, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.

For overseas visits since 11 September, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) on 14 January 2001,

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many punishment beatings, shootings and expulsions have been administered by the Provisional IRA over the last six months; and if he will make a statement. [25594]

In the period 1 July to 31 December 2001 there were 146 paramilitary style attacks. Loyalist groups were responsible for 96 of these attacks (41 assaults and 55 shootings) and Republican groups for 50 attacks (15 assaults and 35 shootings). It is not always possible to attribute these attacks to any specific groupings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the number of terrorist incidents and beatings in the last six months. [25647]

Terrorist activity during the past six months has remained at a significant level. The table provides a breakdown of the security related incidents during the last six months compared to the same period in 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Síochána. [25595]

On 13 December, the Government issued a timetable for the implementation of Patten's recommendations on north/south policing co-operation. The British and Irish Governments have been working closely together to make progress, building on the existing good co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda Síochána. The practical benefits of joint operations can be seen in a recent example of co-operation between law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border which resulted in nine people being charged with offences relating to the smuggling and laundering of fuel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to meet Sinn Fein's hon. Members to discuss the security situation. [25596]

We hold regular meetings with all the political parties in Northern Ireland in which a range of issues including security matters are discussed. Any request for a meeting from Sinn Fein will be considered like any other request received from a political party.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many investigators employed by the police ombudsman have experience in the investigation of terrorist-related crime. [25599]

The police ombudsman has advised that 17 of the investigators employed by her office have experience in the investigation of terrorist-related crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many serving police officers in Northern Ireland will be entitled to receive the Golden Jubilee medal. [25600]

It is estimated that 9,423 police officers will have completed five years' service on 6 February 2002 and will be eligible to receive the Golden Jubilee medal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Assembly in respect of policing. [25601]

I have not held any discussions with the NI Assembly on policing, which at present remains a reserved matter.The policing situation in Northern Ireland is a tri-partite arrangement involving the Northern Ireland Policing Board, the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and myself under detailed provisions set out in the Police (NI) Act 2000.As Secretary of State, I am responsible for setting the statutory framework for policing and the long-term objectives for policing in Northern Ireland. The Policing Board, which is made up of democratically elected Assembly Members chosen by three of the parties and independents appointed by myself, has responsibility for holding the police to account and for monitoring and evaluating the service provided. The Chief Constable is responsible for the operational direction and control of the police service in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what definition he uses of the phrase parity of esteem in the Belfast agreement. [25602]

I define the phrase parity of esteem with reference to its meaning in the Belfast agreement—which is of equal respect for the identity and ethos and aspirations of both communities in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the Belfast agreement to be implemented in full. [25648]

We have already made significant progress in implementing all aspects of the Belfast agreement. However, it is neither possible, nor helpful, to speculate about when this process will be completed. The agreement itself represents a process, not an event, and the British Government will continue to work with all the parties to ensure that the implementation process continues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress with the Belfast agreement. [25653]

Much has been achieved since April 1998. Progress has been made on all elements within the Belfast agreement including human rights and equality of opportunity, normalisation, the reviews of policing and criminal justice, decommissioning and the establishment of the devolved institutions. We still have some way to go before the agreement is implemented in full and the British Government are committed to working with the political parties to ensure that progress continues on all fronts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the sale and use of fireworks in Northern Ireland. [25603]

Having become increasingly aware of the many problems associated with the misuse of fireworks, not least in public order situations, I announced on 12 October 2001 that my officials, working closely with the police, prosecuting authorities and other interested bodies, would be undertaking a review of the situation to see if these problems could be resolved by strengthening the existing law.That review should be completed within the next two months and it is my intention to produce proposals for public consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the terrorist weapons which have been decommissioned. [25604]

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports he has received from the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning on the level of arms and explosives put permanently beyond use. [25605]

The IICD reported on 23 October 2001 that it had witnessed an event, which it regarded as significant, in which the IRA had put a quantity of arms completely beyond use.Also, on 18 December 1998, the Loyalist Volunteer Force decommissioned what the IICD described as a "small but significant" consignment of weaponry.The Commission listed the arms as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date he expects the decommissioning of illegally held arms and explosives to be completed. [25608]

Future decommissioning events are a matter for the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning and the representatives of the various paramilitary organisations.Decommissioning is only one part of the Good Friday agreement of which we can now say that implementation of every aspect is under way. Full implementation of the Good Friday agreement in all its aspects is a task that will take some time to accomplish.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in decommissioning; and if he will make a statement. [25650]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Baron) today, Official Report, columns 281–82W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what use is made of national insurance numbers to combat electoral fraud. [25606]

National insurance numbers are not currently used to combat electoral fraud in Northern Ireland.I am looking carefully at the arguments which have been made for the inclusion of a person's national insurance number as one of the items of personal information required on an application to the electoral register in Northern Ireland. I am discussing with the Department for Work and Pensions how national insurance numbers might be used effectively in the electoral process and whether their use would help to combat electoral fraud.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the level of electoral fraud in Northern Ireland; and what measures are being taken to reduce it. [25646]

Following the 7 June elections, an independent research company was commissioned by the Northern Ireland Office to investigate all aspects of elections in Northern Ireland. The research findings were placed in the Library of the House on 16 October 2001.The measures contained in the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Bill will tackle electoral abuse in Northern Ireland effectively without disadvantaging honest voters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on police recruitment and retention. [25609]

Two recruitment competitions have now been launched for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which together have attracted over 12,000 applicants, of whom over 36 per cent. were Catholic. Recruitment competitions to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which were held on an approximately annual basis attracted on average 3,000 applicants; the highest proportion of Catholic applicants in any single competition was 22.3 per cent.During the period January to December 2000, 208 Regular and 166 Full-Time Reserve officers left the RUC under natural wastage.The voluntary severance came into operation in January 2001 and in the period January to December 2001, a total of 1,069 Regular officers and 129 Full-Time Reserve officers left under the terms of the scheme. In the same period, a further 149 Regular and 166 Full-Time Reserve officers left under natural wastage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve will receive priority in applying for full-time employment in the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [25651]

All those who apply to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland are required to achieve a fixed standard of merit when tested in nine separate policing competencies. Candidates are thereafter selected on a 50 per cent. Catholic, 50 per cent. non-Catholic basis. No priority is given to members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve or any other police service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to date is of the Saville inquiry. [25652]

The cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry to the Northern Ireland Office, as at 7 January 2002, is £52 million. This does not include costs to other Departments such as the Ministry of Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to tackle the financing of terrorist crime in Northern Ireland. [25654]

The Government's strategy for tackling terrorist crime in Northern Ireland is two-fold. First, the police must have available to them robust legislative powers. The Terrorism Act 2000 contains a number of financial provisions for seeking information and restraining assets. These powers were supplemented by the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, passed in the wake of the events on 11 September.Second, in September 2000, the Government established an Organised Crime Taskforce for Northern Ireland. The taskforce brings together the agencies operating in Northern Ireland to agree crime types for concerted multi-agency action. The taskforce has published an assessment of the threat to Northern Ireland society from serious and organised crime, which assesses that approximately half of the organised crime gangs in Northern Ireland have links with the paramilitaries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the sources of (a) political and (b) financial support for the Real IRA. [25656]

A clear distinction needs to be made between the expression of political attitudes, opinions and beliefs and the actual commission or instigation of terrorist crime. The Real IRA remains a proscribed organisation. The Government believe that the Real IRA and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement are inextricably linked. However, on the basis of the evidence currently available, the Government assess that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement is not concerned in terrorism.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Bangladesh regarding the policy towards people trafficking. [24269]

On 3 December 2001, our high commissioner in Dhaka encouraged the Bangladeshi Home Minister to pursue Bangladeshi signature of the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime and its associated protocols on human trafficking and people smuggling. We raise wider human rights concerns with the Bangladesh authorities on a regular basis. When Home Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed human rights with the then Bangladeshi Home Minister during a visit to Dhaka in September 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have been murdered abroad in each year since 1995; in which countries; and in how many cases the perpetrator has been brought to justice. [25882]

The table gives details of where and how many British nationals were murdered overseas since 1996 when we started collating this data. The cost of producing the information requested about the number of perpetrators brought to justice would be disproportionate.

Murders of British nationals overseas: 1996–2001
Country	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	20001
Angola	1	—	3	1	—	—
Antigua and Barbuda	—	1	1	—	1	—
Argentina	—	—	—	—	1	—
Australia	5	3	2	1	—	—
Austria	1	—	—	—	—	1
Bahamas	—	2	1	—	—	—
Bahrain	—	1	—	—	—	—
Bangladesh	1	—	—	—	2	—
Belgium	2	—	—	—	—	—
Belize	1	—	1	—	1	—
Botswana	1	—	—	—	—	—
Brazil	1	—	—	—	—	—
Cambodia	1	—	—	—	—	—
Canada	—	1	—	1	1	—
China	1	1	1	—	—	—
Colombia	—	—	3	—	—	—
Comoros	7	—	—	—	—	—
Congo	—	1	—	—	—	—
Cyprus	—	—	—	—	2	—
Czech Republic	—	1	—	—	—	1
Denmark	1	—	—	—	1	—
Egypt	—	7	—	—	—	—
France	1	1	1	4	1	3
Germany	1	—	—	2	2	1
Gibraltar	1	—	—	—	—	—
Greece	1	—	3	—	—	—
Guatemala	—	1	—	—	—	—
Guyana	1	—	—	—	—	—
Honduras	1	—	—	—	—	—
India	2	1	1	1	2	2
Indonesia	—	—	1	—	—	—
Iraq	—	1	—	—	—	—