To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign. [27759]

DFID recognises that Trypanosomiasis is a major constraint to human health and to the livelihoods of poor livestock keepers throughout many parts of Africa. We have made considerable investments (over £37 million) to develop methods to control the disease in livestock and we support the World Health Organisation in its efforts to control sleeping sickness in humans.The long-term goal of the Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication (PATTEC) is to eradicate tsetse fly from the continent. It is a complex and ambitious programme that would require many billions of dollars to implement, and is founded on as yet unproven scientific and economic theory.Our analysis—shared also by the European Commission—is that it will not be possible to eradicate tsetse flies from Africa. The aims of the campaign are laudable, but we do not believe that they are achievable.Our strategy is to promote methods for controlling the tsetse fly and preventative and curative methods of treatment that can be readily implemented by poor people themselves. We have programmes of support with the Inter-African Bureau of Animal Resources of the African Union, and with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, to promote the establishment of sustainable animal health services that provide poor people with the means to control tsetse fly and the disease it carries.Where the political will for control exists, and where there are clear social benefits, a regional approach to tsetse control may be justified. Such large scale programmes would however be best handled through multilateral channels such as the EC, and not by bilateral agencies such as DFID.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the situation in Burkina Faso regarding the incidence of HIV cases; and what assistance has been provided by her Department in each of the last five years. [28621]

Burkina Faso has the second highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in west Africa, the UN estimating the adult prevalence rate as being 6.4 per cent. at the end of 1999. The Burkinabe Government are strongly committed to tackling HIV/AIDS through a comprehensive national strategy, and are working in partnership with neighbouring countries to contain the epidemic. Last month Burkina Faso hosted the 12^th International Conference on AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases in Africa.DFID does not have a substantive aid programme to Burkina Faso, and has not provided direct support for any projects linked to HIV/AIDS over the last five years. However, we fund such work indirectly through our contributions to international agencies—UNAIDS supports regional work to strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS throughout Africa, and the World bank's $500 million Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program for the Africa Region (MAP) includes $22 million for Burkina Faso to help the Government expand access, particularly for vulnerable groups, to prevention, care and treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much development aid was provided to Burkina Faso by the UK in each of the last five years. [28620]

DFID does not have a development programme in Burkina Faso. Small-scale funding has been available from the small grants scheme and the civil society challenge fund (and its forerunner). Details of DFID grants in aid and in kind are as follows:

	£
1996–97	204,000
1997–98	156,000
1998–99	305,000
1999–2000	267,000
2000–01	234,000

In addition the UK provided debt relief of £430,000 in 1997–98.The EC maintains a substantial development assistance programme to Burkina Faso. The calculated estimate of the proportion attributable to UK contributions over the years 1995–99 (the last year for which we have data) is as follows:

	£million
1995	7.4
1996	4.5
1997	5.7
1998	7.0
1999	6.3

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in each of the last four years. [27906]

The estimated cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for my Department in each of the last four financial years is:

£
	(a)	(b)
1997–98	257,247	71,185
1998–99	290,081	55,144
1999–2000	270,654	57,118
2000–01	212,114	78,308

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the situation relating to the distribution of food aid in Zimbabwe; and on what development assistance from the United Kingdom is being spent. [28434]

The prospect of food shortages in Zimbabwe has been clear for a long time. NGOs have planned ahead, including purchasing food, and have been operating supplementary feeding programmes since September 2001. DFID has committed £4 million for food and logistics support for programmes run by NGOs. We are monitoring these activities carefully and working with the NGOs and other donors to help ensure their success. We are satisfied that, at present, they are still able to work effectively.The World Food Programme is now beginning food aid operations in Zimbabwe as a part of the UN Humanitarian Assistance and Recovery Programme. WFP will transport food within Zimbabwe, and will also work through NGOs to deliver food at the community level. DFID has pledged a further £3.5 million to WFP for food and logistics support.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the value of trade credits guaranteed by the ECGD for sales of military equipment to highly indebted poor countries in each year since 1983. [25240]

I have been asked to reply.The value of ECGD cover for defence business in each of these years for countries currently classified as HIPCs (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) is as follows:

£million
Year	Value of ECGD cover
1984–85	102.8
1987–88	20.1
1988–89	49.2
Total for all years since 1983	171.2

For years not listed the total value of ECGD cover was £0.Not included in the table is cover provided by ECGD's short-term operation which was privatised in 1991. More generally ECGD's records of business supported prior to 1 April 1987 are no longer comprehensive.

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when and for what purpose Mr. John Stonborough was engaged by the House of Commons Commission; what the selection process was; and when the need for advice on media relations was identified. [27263]

Mr. Stonborough was engaged with effect from 20 December 2001 to provide the House of Commons Commission with advice on media relations generally, and on long-term information strategy. The commission chose him at its meeting on 18 December 2001. The need for a corporate approach to media matters was identified in the Braithwaite Review of Management and Services (HC745) published in July 1999. This led to the appointment of a communications adviser in the Office of the Clerk in 2000. Mr. Stonborough's engagement represents a further step in that direction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will rank local authorities in England by (a) number and (b) percentage of (i) public and (ii) private housing stock which have been abandoned. [27147]

Data on levels of abandonment are not held by my Department. Abandonment arises where a property owner simply walks away or 'abandons' a property. The owner's intentions as well as their actions are therefore relevant and it is difficult to define objectively. However, we do have data reporting low demand, which I have placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people in the constituency of Buckingham have received interest free equity loans under the Homebuy scheme; and what the total amount of funding granted is. [27775]

The number of people in Aylesbury Vale that have received interest free equity loans under the Homebuy scheme is four.

• 1999–2000: 1
• 2000–01: 1
• 2001–02: 2.

£
1999–2000	24,938
2000–01	24,640
2001–02	61,320
Total amount of funding granted	110,898

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people in the Buckingham constituency have benefited from the Starter Home initiative for key public workers; and what is (a) the average amount and (b) the total amount granted. [27778]

The Starter Home initiative allocations announced on 6 September 2001 included a scheme to help 272 key workers across Buckinghamshire. The grant that has been allocated to the scheme over the three years 2001–02 to 2003–04 is £6.988 million, averaging £25,199 grant, and £493 administration costs, per key worker. Separate allocations were made to other schemes to help 20 key workers in Aylesbury Vale and 70 in Milton Keynes.It is proposed that a further 40 key workers are helped in Buckinghamshire under the bidding arrangements for the Starter Home initiative equity loan scheme announced on 16 January 2002, together with a further 10 in Milton Keynes.Information on the number of key workers who have purchased homes under the Starter Home initiative scheme during this financial year will be available towards the end of April 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many homes in the Buckingham constituency were bought under (a) right to buy and (b) right to acquire in each year since their inception; and what the total revenue is generated under each scheme. [27774]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many homeless households in the constituency of Buckingham have been resident in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in each year since 1997: and what percentage of them claimed social security benefits in each year. [27770]

Information reported by Aylesbury Vale district council on the number of households resident in bed-and-breakfast hotels under statutory homelessness provision at the end of March in each year since 1997 is shown in the table. This relates to households within the local authority's area, which includes part of the Aylesbury constituency. The number of these households claiming, or in receipt of, social security benefits is not collected centrally.

Homeless households resident in bed-and-breakfast accommodation1 as at 31 March
	Aylesbury Vale DC
1997	6
1998	11
1999	8
2000	12
2001	5
1 Includes households accommodated pending completion of inquiries by the local authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many projects in the Buckingham constituency have received funding from the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund; and if he will list the beneficiaries. [27779]

Buckinghamshire received no funding from the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many council houses have been empty in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997. [27773]

The number of local authority owned dwellings reported as being vacant in each year since 1997 is as follows:

Local authority owned dwellings in Aylesbury Vale district council area as on 1 April:
	Vacant stock
2001	105
2000	131
1999	142
1998	125
1997	118

A level of vacancy is a usual feature of housing management, reflecting turnover and movement within the stock. There is likely to be some variation in the proportion of dwellings that are vacant in a local authority from one date to another during the year.Note that the Buckingham constituency is only part of Aylesbury Vale local authority area (albeit the main part) and that part of Aylesbury constituency is also covered within this area. Thus, any houses within the Aylesbury constituency may also be included in the figures in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many council houses there are in the Buckingham constituency; and how many of these are owned by the local authority. [27829]

The number of 'council' houses in the Aylesbury Vale local authority area at March 2001 is 9,621, of which 8,626 are owned by the local authority.Note that the Buckingham constituency is only part of Aylesbury Vale local authority area (albeit the main part) and that part of Aylesbury constituency is also covered within this area. Thus, any houses within the Aylesbury constituency may also be included in the figures provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) local authority and (b) private traveller sites there were in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997. [27771]

The number of local authority traveller sites that were in Aylesbury Vale local authority area in each year since 1997 are shown in the table:

January	Number of local authority sites
2001	12
2000	12
1999	2
1998	2—
1997	2—
1 Of which one closed February 1999
2 Data for the number of local authority sites in January 1998 and January 1997 is not held within the Department headquarters and is not accessible within the given time scale

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many traveller caravans and families were on (a) authorised and unauthorised sites in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997. [27772]

Figures for the number of caravans and families on authorised and unauthorised sites in the Aylesbury Vale local authority area for each year since 1997 are reported in the table.

	Caravans	Families
Total
July 2001	39	32
January 2001	28	26
July 2000	30	20
January 2000	35	31
July 1999	33	27
January 1999	35	25
July 1998	40	30
January 1998	32	25
July 1997	48	39
January 1997	37	26
Unauthorised encampments
July 2001	19	14
January 2001	8	8
July 2000	13	4
January 2000	16	15
July 1999	19	16
January 1999	9	3
July 1998	9	7
January 1998	2	1
July 1997	16	115
January 1997	8	4
Authorised sites:
Council
July 2001	5	5
January 2001	5	5
July 2000	4	4
January 2000	6	4
July 1999	3	0
January 1999	15	11
July 1998	20	12
January 1998	19	13
July 1997	21	13
January 1997	18	11
Private
July 2001	15	13
January 2001	15	13
July 2000	13	12
January 2000	13	12
July 1999	11	11
January 1999	11	11
July 1998	11	111
January 1998	11	111
July 1997	11	111
January 1997	11	111
1 Estimated figure

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effects of sand dredging on coastal erosion. [28115]

[holding answer 17 January 2002]: Careful consideration is given to all of the environmental implications of marine minerals dredging proposals that are submitted to the Secretary of State. Each proposal is subject to environmental impact assessment that includes a coastal impact study prepared by HR Wallingford. The proposed dredging will be allowed only if the Secretary of State is satisfied that there will be no unacceptable coastal impacts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when, upon the Highways Agency completing its preparatory work on the major A14 improvements, included in the preferred plan of the Cambridge to Huntingdon multi-modal study, the scheme will entered into the DTLR's targeted programme of improvements. [27737]

I have asked the Highways Agency to carry out preparatory work on the major A14 improvements included in the preferred plan of the Cambridge to Huntingdon multi-modal study with a view to an early entry to the targeted programme of improvements. This work by the Highways Agency began this month with the aim of finishing it within six months, after which a decision will be made on entry to the TPI. Subsequently, public consultation on the route would be expected within 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether, in the event of approval of the final plans for the proposed major A14 improvements arising from the Cambridge to Huntingdon multi-modal study, it is the Government's intention to utilise the resources, provided for implementing decisions arising from multi-modal studies in the Government's 10-year transport plan, to effect the A14 improvements. [27738]

I can confirm that in the event of approval of the final plans for the proposed A 14 improvements, the scheme will be funded from the resources made available under the 10-Year Plan for Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent research he has commissioned into the health and safety record of the landscaping industry; and if he will publish this research. [27884]

No recent research has been commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive into the health and safety record of the landscaping industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what new health and safety measures are planned for the construction industry, with particular regard to those businesses working within the land-based sector. [27883]

The Government have established the Strategic Forum for Construction to bring about industry consensus on future strategy and policy and has asked the chairman, Sir John Egan, to tackle the industry's health and safety performance as a key priority for action. The Health and Safety Commission has also initiated a Construction Priority Programme to focus its resources on the industry and the Health and Safety Executive is planning to publish a discussion document in the spring to ask the industry's views on a wide range of issues that affect health and safety.The Constructors' Liaison Group, the umbrella body for the British Association of Landscape Industries, committed itself to adopting targets for certificated competence in health and safety of the work force, encouraging members to support the Construction Skills Certification Scheme and similar schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the public register holding information on genetically modified organisms will be reopened. [29351]

The public register holding information on the contained use of genetically modified organisms will be reopened on or around 11 February and will contain all information except for that excluded in the interests of national security.Under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 the Competent Authority—the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in England, the Scottish Ministers and HSE in Scotland—is required to maintain a public register, and is firmly committed to a policy of openness and transparency. The register contains information on all notified premises and activities.Following the activities of 11 September, HSE, on behalf of the Competent Authority, took the decision to temporarily withhold public access to the register because of the security risk.Yesterday I signed the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 which will allow the Secretary of State to exclude information from the register in the interests of national security.A meeting of the Technical Sub-Committee of the Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification and invited experts will consider the list of pathogens already compiled for schedule 5 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and whether any additional genetically modified pathogens should be excluded from the register.HSE acting on behalf of, and with the agreement of, the other members of the Competent Authority, will then review and sift the entries on the register and will reopen the register on or around 11 February. In the meantime HSE has arranged to make the information available to enquirers on a case-by-case basis.Following the reopening of the register a system of regular review will be put in place to consider those items excluded from the register, with the aim of keeping to a minimum information which has to be excluded in the interests of national security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the environmental benefits of using financial incentives to encourage commuter traffic to shift from using cars to motorcycles; and if he will make a statement. [26731]

I have been asked to reply.The Government believe there are some environmental benefits associated with commuting by motorcycle rather than car. These are outlined in the interim report published by the Advisory Group on Motorcycling in April last year. A copy is available in the House Library.The Government are also currently undertaking a consultation exercise asking for views on how VED for motorcycles can better reflect environmental impacts. The closing date for responses is 8 February.

To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment she has made of HM CPS inspectorate's report on inspection of the CPS in North Yorkshire; and if she will make a statement. [27682]

The HMCPSI report on North Yorkshire was published on 4 December 2001. The Attorney-General and I have considered the report and are pleased to note the positive picture that it presents.The report identifies clear improvements since the last inspection of North Yorkshire in 1998. Inspectors found that the area had a very good sense of corporate identity supported by good communication, with an experienced, stable and committed staff and strong leadership. Good systems are in placed for monitoring and reporting on casework performance. The quality of the lawyers' decision-making is sound and cases are progressed well with on-going reviews. Some aspects of casework still require improvement but work is in hand to bring about the necessary improvements. The report commented positively on the quality of management of the area, standards of advocacy, relationships with other criminal justice agencies and the involvement of staff in community and specialist groups across the county.Plans have already been agreed to tackle those areas highlighted in the report where further improvements are necessary and action will be taken to ensure even better performance in the future.

To ask the Solicitor-General what action she takes to prevent the use of inappropriate lesser charges by the Crown Prosecution Service. [28415]

When considering any allegation, Crown Prosecutors are guided by statutory provisions and the Code for Crown Prosecutors. It is the duty of Crown Prosecutors to make sure that the right person is prosecuted for the right offence. In doing so, they must always act in the interests of justice and not solely for the purpose of obtaining a conviction.The code further advises that Crown Prosecutors should select charges which reflect the seriousness of the offending, give the court adequate sentencing powers and enable the case to be presented in a clear and simple way. This means that Crown Prosecutors may not always continue with the most serious charge where there is a choice.There are two stages in the decision to prosecute. The first stage is the evidential test. If the case does not pass the evidential test, it must not go ahead. If the case does meet the evidential test, Crown Prosecutors must decide if a prosecution is needed in the public interest.In addition to statutory provisions and the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the Crown Prosecution Service, Crown Prosecutors are guided by charging standards, nationally agreed with the police for a range of offences, including offences of violence. The charging standards for assaults were designed to ensure consistency in the charging and prosecuting of offences involving violence.CPS Essex has moved to a Criminal Justice Unit and Trial Unit structure. This move, together with the Narey reforms have meant that prosecutors are involved at a far earlier stage of the process and are able to provide advice.

To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases, by category of offence, have been discontinued in the Essex Crown Prosecution Service in the last year for which records are available. [28420]

The Crown Prosecution Service does not record offences discontinued or dropped by offence category. However, in the year October 2000 to September 2001, CPS Essex finalised 27,942 defendant cases, in the magistrates and Crown courts, out of which cases against 3,163 defendants were discontinued. This represents 11.3 per cent. of the total casework, against a national average for discontinue of 13.1 per cent.

To ask the Solicitor-General what the target staffing level is of the Crown Prosecution Service in Essex; and what the actual level is. [28421]

The staffing level for the Essex area of the Crown Prosecution Service on 1 April last year was 106.2 posts, comprising 37.6 prosecutor posts, and 68.6 administrative posts. The Government have made substantial extra resources available to the Crown Prosecution Service, a 23 per cent. increase in real terms, which has enabled it to recruit significant numbers of extra staff.Currently the Essex area has 115 staff in post, comprising 42 prosecutors and 73 administrative staff. This level of staffing meets the area's current needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Advanced Short—Range Air-to-Air Missile to enter service; and if he will make a statement. [29350]

The Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) will enter service with the Royal Air Force later this month. The delivery of the first batch of missiles marks the successful agreement between the Ministry of Defence and the missile manufacturer MBDA. By working constructively together, we have agreed a clear and robust route map to achieve the full operational capability required of the missile. Tornado F3 will be the first of our aircraft to be fitted with ASRAAM. The missile will also be one of Eurofighter' s principal weapons. ASRAAM will provide a major advance in our short-range air-to-air combat capability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on disbursement of the UK Conflict Prevention Fund. [26669]

[holding answer 11 January 2002]: Policy on the disbursement of the pooled budgets for conflict prevention is determined jointly by the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, working together with the Cabinet Office and the Treasury.The aim of the pooled budgets is to reduce the number of people whose lives are affected by violent conflict and the potential sources of future conflict. Strategies to achieve this are planned and reviewed through two sub-committees of the Cabinet Office Defence and Overseas Policy Committee, one for sub-Saharan Africa, the other for the rest of the world.The strategy for sub-Saharan Africa includes, for example, assisting with building indigenous peacekeeping capacity, as well as conflict resolution and security sector reform in Sierra Leone. Strategies for the rest of the world include regional strategies in the Balkans, central and eastern Europe, South Asia and the middle east, and functional strategies like assisting UN peacekeeping reform and controlling small arms and light weapons.The budgets also contribute to the additional costs of the UK's support to peacekeeping and peace-enforcement operations. In 2001–02 these have included commitments in Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Iraqi no-fly zones. Conflict prevention priorities and strategies are reviewed annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of flying hours were lost at (a) Lyneham and (b) Brize Norton in each of the last five years on account of (i) ice, (ii) fog and (iii) wind. [26625]

Flying hours are not generally lost due to bad weather, as postponed flights will usually take place on a subsequent occasion. However weather conditions at RAF stations are assessed on an approximately hourly basis. Table 1 shows the percentage of occasions where weather conditions were assessed as 'red', ie the most severe conditions in terms of visibility and cloud cover. Table 2 shows the percentage of occasions when gusts of over 30 knots were registered. Not all flights are necessarily postponed in these conditions.

Table 1
	RAF Brize Norton	RAF Lyneham
1997	3.96	4.71
1998	1.72	2.52
1999	1.36	2.29
2000	1.46	2.32
2001	2.34	3.01
Average	2.17	2.97

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate how many aircraft movements take place on an annual basis at (a) RAF Lyneham and (b) RAF Brize Norton; and how many of them were (i) in daylight and (ii) at night. [26626]

The number of aircraft movements undertaken at RAF Lyneham was approximately 36,000 during 2001 and at RAF Brize Norton 33,000. About 9 per cent. of these movements were undertaken at night.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the support of wind turbine deployers seeking planning consent in consultative statements issued by Defence Estates of district councils as part of the planning consent issue process. [27274]

The Ministry of Defence has a policy to assess each wind farm proposal on a case-by-case basis. We have an agreement with the wind energy industry that enables Defence Estates Safeguarding section to receive details of wind farms from individual companies some time prior to them applying for formal planning permission.If the developer subsequently proceeds to seek formal planning permission from the local planning authority (LPA) and the site lies outside a formally safeguarded area then there is no statutory obligation on the authority to consult Defence Estates although most do so. In cases where the MOD does object to a proposal and the developer continues with the project then Defence Estates would seek to be formally consulted by the local authority.As with all planning application consultations, Defence Estates Safeguarding strives to meet the response deadlines imposed by the planning process. Where we are unable to meet the deadline because the assessment is still being undertaken the LPA are advised to wait for our reply before consent is given. This action ensures that development does not occur that will either cause a safety hazard to military activity or interfere with the ability to train effectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Antonov cargo planes are on charter to the RAF; how long those charters will last and what their total cost is; for what reason chartering Antonov is necessary; what assessment he has made of the possibility of using C-17s; and if he will make a statement about RAF transport requirements. [28182]

[holding answer 17 January 2002]: Eleven Antonov aircraft sorties have been flown to date in support of UK force deployments to Afghanistan. Six further sorties have been contracted. £4 million has been spent to date.The nature of airfields available in Afghanistan, together with the threat presented by surface-to-air missiles (SAM) had limited the RAF to the use of Hercules transport aircraft, which are fitted with a defensive aids suite. While the Hercules is a versatile and capable aircraft, the Antonov has a far greater payload, and has enabled the more rapid deployment of equipment, since the company operating the Antonovs has not restricted their use, even with the SAM threat.A review of the threat to aircraft, and the re-opening of Kabul International airport, is likely to mean that use of the RAF's C-17 aircraft will soon be possible. However, the demanding timetable for the operation in Afghanistan is likely to mean that further Antonov charter will be required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria he is using in the review of berthing capacity at Her Majesty's naval bases. [27897]

The aim of the study into berthing capacity at Her Majesty's naval bases is to define the future policy for base porting and the required waterfront infrastructure to support maritime and joint operations. The criteria that will be used for the study include the following:

(a) Any current base porting and waterfront infrastructure limitations that constrain the support of maritime and joint operations.

(b) The waterfront infrastructure capacity required to support future maritime and joint operations. Taking into account that the next generation of warships including, the future aircraft carriers, Type 45 Destroyers, amphibious ships and ASTUTE class submarines are all significantly larger than their predecessors.

(c) Apart from the larger dimensions of future vessels, a number of other considerations need to be taken into account, including increased use of naval harbours by commercial operators, the implications for personnel, the delivery of operational sea training, the need to accommodate visiting vessels from NATO and other nations, conventional weapons handling safety regulations, environmental impact and future berthing policy for Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels. A large number of longer-term factors, including the consequences of various initiatives such as the Navy's TOPMAST project (Tomorrow's Personnel Management System), warship support Modernisation, contractor logistic support and reliability centred maintenance will require further detailed consideration during the course of the work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will decide the outcome of his Department's review of berthing capacities at Her Majesty's naval bases. [27896]

The study into berthing capacity at Her Majesty's naval bases is due in the summer of 2002. Decisions on base porting will be informed by this study.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to the armed forces pension scheme of providing pensions, at a rate of one half the serving members' pension, to widows and widowers of personnel who retired before 1 April 1973. [27193]

The Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) increased the rate of widows' and widowers' pension from one third of the members pension to one half, from 31 March 1973. Individuals serving on or after this date were provided with the opportunity to make additional contributions so as to qualify former service for the half rate of widows' pension. On this basis, it would be difficult, in equity, to extend the half rate pension to widows whose husbands had left the service before that date and who had not, as a result, contributed financially towards the improvement. It has also been the long-standing policy of successive Governments that discretionary changes to improve the benefits offered by public service pension schemes should be implemented for future service only.We do not know exactly how many people would be affected by such a change, but we estimate the cost for the Armed Forces Pension Scheme to be £25–30 million per year. The cost would be substantially higher if the improvement were extended to other public service pension schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme of entitling servicemen and women who retired before 31 March 1973 to buy-in to the scheme's improved benefits in respect of providing widows and widowers a full half pension. [27194]

As such a change would be on a "buy-in" basis, we would expect the cost of extending the half rate pensions to pre-1973 widows and widowers to be covered by contributions. The Ministry of Defence would incur administration costs but these would be relatively small. However, such changes have been ruled out by the long-standing policy of successive Governments that scheme improvements should not be retrospective.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the status is of the proposed UN military staff college for the training of peace keepers; and if he will propose using the Scottish Centre for Nonviolence as its location. [26683]

[holding answer 11 January 2002]: The UK's approach to providing support to UN training is through a flexible programme of training aimed at enhancing multinational co-operation and interoperability, and strengthening the integrated civil-military approach to peace support operations. This is achieved through conferences, seminars and workshops, expanding places on, or reorientating, existing courses and the development of bespoke UN courses. This is being carried out very successfully throughout locations within the UK and abroad. While a dedicated UN military staff college remains a possibility, we are not currently pursuing the establishment of one.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the accuracy of bombs dropped on Afghanistan with batteries produced by Eagle-Picher; and if he will make a statement. [27258]

Eagle-Picher batteries are used in US munitions, and this is therefore a matter for them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that waterproof helmet-fitted radios are made available for Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Squadron winchmen. [28096]

Subject to a satisfactory outcome of current trials, a helmet-radio assembly for RAF Search and Rescue winchmen will come into service this summer. A fully integrated and waterproof helmet-radio is scheduled to be introduced next year. This will permit full radio and intercom voice communications between the helicopter crew and the winchman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many winchmen serve with the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Squadron. [28095]

There are currently 49 Search and Rescue winchmen within the Royal Air Force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with its counterparts in Washington concerning US plans to convert two of its fleet of Trident submarines to conventional use. [28259]

We have not taken part in any discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the cost to its budget since 1 May 1997 of fraud; and if she will make a statement. [27288]

The available information is given in the table:

£
	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
DCMS1	1,909	0	0	0
Royal Parks Agency	0	0	0	0
Historic Royal Palaces Agency2	13,600	—	—	—
Non-departmental Public Bodies	152,183	178,894	1,978	23,272
1 Net of amounts recovered
2 Historic Royal Palaces Agency became an non-departmental public body on 1 April 1998

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many full-length feature films the Film Council has financially supported in each year since its creation; what the total income for each of those films is; what estimate the Film Council has made of each film's total audience; and if she will make a statement. [27754]

The Film Council has directly or indirectly financially supported a total of 58 feature length films to date since its creation. Of these, 15 were directly funded from the Film Council Lottery funds which became operational in October 2000. The remainder were funded through the pre-existing Lottery film franchises or through the interim arrangements with the film production activities of its predecessor bodies—the Arts Council of England (through Lottery funding) and British Screen Ltd. (through grant in aid funding).The total cash received by the Film Council to 31 December 2001 against the 58 titles is £2,091,739. A film is normally expected to generate income over several years and the income received to date against these titles is therefore only a small part of the expected return on investment.The Film Council does not produce estimates of total audience for individual films. A film's earning potential spans a number of international markets or countries and a range of media platforms (including cinema, video, DVD, and television) and it is therefore unrealistic to attempt to estimate total audience.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money the Film Council received from lottery funds in the last financial year; what amount the Film Council allocated in the last financial year; what amount the Film Council allocated and paid out in the last financial year; and if she will make a statement. [27753]

The Film Council was allocated £31.474 million in income from the National Lottery Distribution Fund during the 2000–01 financial year. The Film Council allocated £33.82 million of lottery funding to projects and paid out £20.003 million in the same year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list those items valued at more than £50 which have been stolen or lost from her Department in each of the last four years. [27993]

Items stolen from the Department over the last four years are as follows: a laptop computer (1998), three personal computer base units and one personal computer monitor (2001). As required each incident was reported immediately on discovery as a security breach.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by her Department in each of the last four years. [27970]

The Department has needed to relocate some divisions during the last four years and refurbishment has been necessary in those cases in preference to higher rental costs for property offered by developers. In 1999 the Government Art Collection was rehoused at a cost of £144,000. In 2000 the cost of moving towards a single roof solution for the Department was £615,000 and improving facilities in 2000 and 2001 was at a cost of £375,000 and £648,000 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the cost in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 of the (i) Integrated Enquiry Service, (ii) Shared Fraud Hotline, (iii) local authority departmental information teams and (iv) overpayment recoveries in respect of housing benefit. [19009]

These initiatives made up the housing benefit improvement programme, the purpose of which was to contribute to improving housing benefit and council tax benefit administration. During the life of the programme, strong links were established with local authority managers and staff that will continue to develop as the recommendations from the programme are taken forward. These relationships have contributed to a greater understanding of the local authority information requirements, and the introduction of a standard set of procedures that will help deliver improvements to the recovery of housing benefit and council tax benefit overpayments.The information on costs is in the table:

Housing benefit improvement programme expenditure
		£
	2000–011	2001–02
Integrated Enquiry Service	557,000	2309,000
Shared Fraud Hotline	78,000	257,000
Local Authority/Benefits Agency Information Flow Project	24,000	0
Housing Benefit Overpayment Recovery Project	64,000	2819,000
1 Outturn
2 Forecast

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research the Government have conducted on the health impact on mental health service users of the implementation of his Department's benefits policies. [20231]

A major goal of the Government are to help those people who are sick or disabled who can work to do so, while providing security for those who cannot work. This group includes people with mental health problems, whether they use mental health services or not. The Department for Work and Pensions consults with service users to ensure that relevant research informs new ideas and policy implementation.The Office for National Statistics published a report on the Psychiatric Morbidity of Adults carried out on behalf of the Department of Health on 18 December. The main aim of the survey was to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among adults aged 16 to 74 living in private households in Great Britain. The survey report also examines the use of services associated with mental disorder and considers the characteristics—including economic activity—of people with mental disorder.A longitudinal follow up to that survey is planned for 2002 and aims to estimate the duration of mental health problems. The study will also involve some follow-up work on use of services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will commission and publish an independent report on the reasons for the level of sickness absence in his Department. [26999]

We have no plans to publish an independent report on the reasons for absence in the Department.The Cabinet Office already commissions and publishes an independent annual report covering all Government Departments; "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". This report includes details of the causes of absenteeism in my Department.The report for the year 2000, will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to respond to the consultation on the impact of NETA on small generators. [26601]

The Government are analysing and considering responses to their consultation carefully. The Department of Trade and Industry will be issuing a response shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 17 December 2001, Official Report, column 473W, on departmental expenditure, what estimate she has made of the savings produced by refinancing; over what period of time she expects these to be realised and under which vote; and if she will make a statement. [26080]

The refinancing programme to date is estimated to generate £75 million of savings. The majority of the savings will be realised over the next five years, but will continue until 2018.The relevant vote is the Export Credits Guarantee Department Request for Resources 1.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations (a) she and (b) her Department has received on allowing former miners, who were sacked in the 1980s, access to their pension funds. [27606]

None. All former British Coal miners when reaching pensionable age, whether dismissed or not, have access to the pension benefits they have accrued while in employment.I announced on 11 December 2001,

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) multinational companies with bases in Scotland and (b) Scottish companies had published environmental reports by 31 December 2001. [27272]

While the Government are keen to encourage companies to report, it is not mandatory to do so. There is, therefore, no central register of which companies report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total level was of Government financial support to the renewable energy sector in each year between 1980 and 1990 broken down by (a) research grants, (b) non-fossil fuel levy and (c) other sources. [27456]

Main Government financial support for the renewable energy sector between 1980 and 1990 was in the form of research grants from the then Department of Energy's New and Renewable Energy Research and Development Programme. Programme spend was as follows:

£ million
1980–81	11.1
1981–82	17.3
1982–83	14.1
1983–84	11.3
1984–85	14.1
1985–86	12.7
1986–87	11.6
1987–88	14.3
1988–89	15.3
1989–90	17.2
1990–91	20.4

During these years, the Government may also have funded some other relevant research projects managed by the research councils, but to identify these projects now would be difficult and would involve disproportionate cost.The Non Fossil Fuel Obligation and the Fossil Fuel Levy supporting it were introduced in financial year 1990–91. In 1990–91, levy support for renewable energy was £6.1 million. I am not aware of funding for renewable energy from other Government sources from 1980 to 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the projects and institutions benefiting from the Lottery money announced by the Government in March 2001 for research into renewable energy projects. [25888]

[holding answer 15 January 2002]: Funding from the Lottery is being directed especially towards the development of the offshore wind energy and energy crops industries. The offshore wind energy scheme is now open for applications and we are presently working up the details of the energy crops scheme. No funds have yet been awarded under either scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much she has allocated for grant aid to farmers in siting small scale wind power generators on their land; and how much has been issued under this grant scheme to date; [27277](2) what steps are being taken in support of farmers in the siting of wind turbines as a vehicle for agricultural diversification. [27276]

The Government believe that the financial incentive provided by the Renewables Obligation and exemption from the climate change levy will be sufficient to bring forward new onshore wind projects without the requirement for further financial support from Government.The Renewables Obligation will succeed the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO). Between 1990 and 1998 302 wind projects were awarded NFFO contracts, of which 74 had commissioned by 30 September 2001. The Electricity from Non-Fossil Fuel Sources (Locational Flexibility) Order 2001 which was made in December will enable a number of those projects which have yet to commission to come forward and a number of these are likely to be on agricultural land.I was pleased to launch on 28 August 2001 an innovative new service, operated by National Wind Power Ltd., to help farmers and landowners to develop small wind energy projects typically comprising one, two or three turbines. The WindWorks package has been developed to provide farmers with the financial rewards associated with ownership of a wind energy project while avoiding exposure of farmers and landowners to new financial risks at a time when great uncertainty exists in the farming industry and rural economy. More detail on WindWorks can be found at: http://www.natwindpower.co.uk/windworks/index.htm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she has taken to help intermittent suppliers adversely affected by NETA. [25894]

[holding answer 15 January 2002]: On 1 November 2001 I published a consultation document in response to Ofgem's reports on NETA and its impact on smaller generators, including intermittent generators. Consultation closed on 1 December and follow-up work to analyse responses and take appropriate action is now under way. On 20 December I announced the formation of a working group to look at obstacles to consolidation under NETA, and to report to DTI by 31 January 2002. Many of the issues raised and considered in the consultation document, and by the working group, apply to the demand side, including intermittent suppliers. The Government will be publishing a response to their consultation shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the ability of the UK's intermediate and high level nuclear waste storage facilities to withstand terrorist attack. [25891]

[holding answer 15 January 2002]: The UK's civil nuclear sites apply stringent security measures regulated by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), the security regulator. The security regulator works closely with the Health and Safety Executive, the safety regulator, which provides advice on the safety implications of events, including external hazards such as plane crashes, at nuclear installations. Security and safety precautions at nuclear sites are kept under regular review. Both regulators are reviewing all relevant precautions in the light of the terrorist attacks in the USA on 11 September 2001. It is not Government policy to disclose details of security measures taken at civil nuclear sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) annual cost of maintaining the nuclear waste storage facilities at Sellafield and Dounreay and (b) the forecast for the annual running and maintenance costs over the next 50 years.

[holding answer 15 January 2002]: I am advised by UKAEA and BNFL that the current total annual cost of maintaining radioactive waste storage facilities at Dounreay is £12 million, and at Sellafield is £50 million, while the forecast total running and maintenance cost of radioactive waste storage facilities over the next 50 years at Dounreay is £450 million and at Sellafield is £1,100 million.All figures are at 2001–02 money values and include overheads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who represented her Department at the Energy Charter Conference session on 17 December 2001. [27889]

Officials of the Department of Trade and Industry represented the United Kingdom at this meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with BAE concerning the future of the plant at Broughton. [28658]

Airbus UK owns the plant at Broughton and another site at Filton, where all the wings for Airbus aircraft are developed and manufactured. The Department remains in close touch with the company and with BAE Systems, which is a 20 per cent. shareholder in the Airbus company. UK work on Airbus programmes, including at Broughton, was covered in recent discussions between BAE Systems and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and also in discussions which I had recently with Airbus UK and Airbus in Toulouse.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of each public expenditure programme was cash-limited in each of the years from 1992–93 to 2001–02. [26273]

Information on the cash limits and total spending for each Department is available in the following documents.

Year	Spending plans		Final cash limits and DELs
1992–93	Cm 1920	Tables 3.3 and B1	Cm 2273	Tables 1 and 2
1993–94	Cm 2219	Tables 3.3 and B1	Cm 2617	Tables 1 and 2
1994–95	Cm 2519	Tables 2.1 and 2.2	Cm 2903	Tables 2 and 3
1995–96	Cm 2821	Tables 2.1 and 2.2	Cm 3318	Tables 2 and 3
1996–97	Cm 3201	Tables 2.1 and 2.2	Cm 3696	Tables 2 and 3
1997–98	Cm 3601	Tables 1.1 and 1.2	Cm 3988	Tables 2 and 3
1998–99	Cm 3901	Tables 1.1 and 1.2	Cm 4416	Tables 2 and 3
1999–2000	Cm 4201	Tables 1.2 and 1.3	Cm 4812	Table 1
2000–01	Cm 4601	Tables 1.2 and 1.3	Cm 5243	Table 1
2001–02	Cm 5101	Tables 1.1 and 1.2	HC 391	Table 1.41
1 Latest position

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the gross domestic product he expects public expenditure to constitute in 2006–07.

Firm spending plans for 2006–07 will be set out in a future Spending Review. Paragraph B20 of the pre-Budget report (Cm 5318) explains the assumptions made in the Government's current fiscal projections.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the percentage change in upper tax income per income decile as a consequence of announced changes to direct and indirect taxation over the period 2002–03 to 2004–05. [26330]

There will be a reduction in income tax for a relatively small number of higher rate taxpayers with the increase in the children's tax credit to up to £20 a week for families in the year of a child's birth from April 2002. Apart from this, announced tax changes over the period 2002–02 to 2001–05 will have no impact on higher rate taxpayers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much in real terms the average annual tax payments of a person with no allowance and reliefs other than the single person's allowance earning (a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £50,000 and (e) £100,000 has changed since 1997–98. [26214]

The reduction in tax at 1997–98 prices for a taxpayer claiming only the personal allowance and earning the specified levels in 1997–98 and 2000–01 are shown in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy (a) to record the reasons for manual adjustments made by HM Customs and Excise to their modelled forecasts for alcohol receipts and (b) to make public those reasons. [26411]

Under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it would be inappropriate to publish internal discussion and advice leading to the published alcohol revenue forecasts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of the publication and distribution of the 2001 pre-Budget report. [27438]

The net cost of printing and distributing the 2001 PBR was £56,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which other countries in the European Union have introduced an aggregates levy; what discussions he has had with the finance Ministers of the European Union regarding a common aggregate levy; what the level of aggregates levy proposed in each of the countries of the European Union is; whether aggregates imported into the UK from other countries (a) in and (b) outside the European Union will be subject to the aggregate levy; what tonnage of aggregates has been imported into the United Kingdom from (i) the European Union and (ii) countries outside the European Union in each of the last five years; and whether added value aggregates products from outside the United Kingdom will be subject to the aggregate levy. [26775]

[holding answer 14 January 2002]: The aggregates levy is designed to address the environmental effects of aggregate extraction in the UK and the rate was set to reflect these costs following independent research. Aggregate taxes in other EU member states are a matter for the individual states themselves. The known current position in the member states can be summarised as follows:

• Denmark—0,67 euro/m³
• France—0.1 euro/tonne
• Spain—no national tax hut potential for regional taxation
• Italy—regional taxation, typically 2 to 5 per cent. of value
• Sweden—0.6 euro/tonne on sand and gravel only
• Austria—regional tax of approximately 0.15 euro/tonne
• Greece—2 per cent. of value
• Netherlands—in the process of introducing a tax.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to simplify business taxation. [27465]

A number of measures to simplify business taxation were contained in the Budget and pre-Budget reports, published in March 2001 and November respectively. Both these documents are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of PFI contracts made by his Department where an amount in excess of 90 per cent. of the capital value of the asset is recouped by the lessor out of the capital element of lease payments over the lifetime of the contract concerned; and if he will make a statement. [27697]

No such estimate has been made. The existing PFI contracts in the Departments are for the provision of a service in return for a unitary payment, the payment of which is dependent on satisfactory performance. The unitary payment is not broken down into constituent parts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the impact of the public pay review bodies' recommendations will be on the public spending limits of 2001–07. [27921]

Public spending plans are settled in the spending reviews, and are not amended by reference to the recommendations of the pay review bodies. It is normal practice for Departments to accommodate pay awards within public spending limits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is towards introducing reduced rates of VAT on organisations covered by category 14 of annexe H to the Sixth Directive.

[holding answer 17 January 2002]: Not-for-profit welfare services provided by charities are already VAT exempt.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by Department the total amount allocated to tackling problems relating to drugs in each of the last 10 years. [27452]

I have been asked to reply.Information on resources is not available in the form requested.The Government have made available substantial resources for directly tackling the problem of drug misuse. A breakdown of funding allocated for the years 1995 to 2004 is as follows.The first United Kingdom drugs strategy, "Tackling Drugs Together", was launched in May 1995 and allocated £8.8 million over three years to Drug Action Teams, £5.9 million on schools drug education for 1995–96, and £1 million in the same year for services to young people at an early stage of drug misuse.For the present strategy "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain", the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review settlement provided an additional £217 million of resources for three years. The Spending Review 2000 (SR 2000) and the Budget 2001 provided further resources bringing total expenditure under the drugs strategy to nearly £1 billion by 2003–04—see Table A.Furthermore, SR 2000 also supported a range of related programmes—see Table B—and following the Budget 2001, some additional investment was made, particularly to help Communities tackle drug misuse—see Table C.

Table A: 2000 Spending Review—resources directly allocated for tackling drug abuses (by main aim of the national anti-drugs strategy)1
	2000–012	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Drug treatment3	234	328	377	401
Protecting young people	63	90	97	120
Safeguarding communities	45	79	81	95
Reducing availability4	353	373	376	380
Total	695	870	931	996
1 Excludes devolved spending
2 Estimates of baseline spend in Departmental Expenditure Limits
3 Comprises mainstream spending by the Department of Health, local authorities and the pooled National Treatment Agency (NTA) budget. Excludes additional Prison Service treatment spend, brigaded under Communities
4 UK spend for 2001–02 to 2003–04 includes the anti-drugs share of the £90 million approved for combating organised crime

Table B: 2000 Spending Review—new resources provided for related programmes1
	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Criminal Justice System	1,420	2,290	2,720
Neighbourhood Renewal Fund	200	300	400
Children's Fund	100	150	200
Connexions2	77	177	3—
1 Excludes devolved spending
2 This was added to existing provision for the careers service. Funding will continue to go to the careers service in areas where Connexions is not yet running
3 Provision for 2003–04 will be announced in due course

Table C: Budget 2001—new resources for anti-drugs measures1
	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Strengthening communities	50	70	100
Extending drug testing in the CJS	0	20	30
Providing more help to find jobs	5	15	20
Strengthening DATs	5	5	5
Expanding Positive Futures	2	3	2—
1 Excludes devolved spending
2 Provision to be decided in the light of other sources of funding

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) how much is invested annually into household energy efficiency and (b) how this money is spent. [25625]

The Government estimate that during 2000 (the most recent year for which figures are available) the total investment in household energy efficiency measures was approximately £250 million (excluding double glazing). The breakdown for the major items of this expenditure is:

£million
Loft insulation	90
Cavity wall insulation	70
Lighting	50
Draught proofing	20
Condensing boilers1	10
Tank insulation	5
1 This figure includes only the fraction of the total cost of the boiler assumed to represent the additional cost of the increased energy efficiency.

Although installing double glazing in homes does increase the energy efficiency of the building it is rare that double glazing is installed for energy efficiency reasons alone. Hence, expenditure on double glazing is excluded from the figures. However, the Government estimate that the energy efficiency component of double glazing installations totals some £500 million p.a.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will install heating equipment at the house of Mrs. Anita Farrow of Ashburton, a constituent; and if she will make a statement on the reason for the delay. [24955]

[holding answer 9 January 2002]: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), now marketed as The Warm Front Team, is administered in south-west England by the Eaga Partnership Ltd. Eaga advise that contractors are due to complete the work on Mrs. Farrow's property by the end of this month.The delay was mainly due to the original heating contractor declining to carry out the work after having agreed to do so. It took some time to locate an alternative contractor and resolve a shortage of suitable heating equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what sources of (a) Government and (b) EU funding are available to (i) farmers, (ii) rural villages, (iii) rural businesses, (iv) local authorities, (v) parish councils and (vi) rural voluntary organisations to help regenerate rural economies. [27257]

Many Government and European Union programmes contribute to the rural agenda.Through the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and the Countryside Agency we support the market towns programme which is intended to regenerate some 120 small rural towns as well as a range of support measures to rural businesses via the rural development programme and redundant building grant scheme.Through the Countryside Agency we support the Vital Villages programme which includes community service grants to support projects to maintain or introduce services which are local priorities; parish transport grants for small scale projects to meet local needs; parish plans grants to help 1,000 parishes draw up their own town or village plans to set out local needs and aspirations.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for the following programmes which involve funding from the Government and from the European Community:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she proposes an early ratification of the Kyoto protocol by the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [27837]

[holding answer 16 January 2002]: For legal and presentational reasons, the UK will ratify the Kyoto protocol at the same time as the European Community and other member states. At the European Council on 31 October 2001, the EU stressed

"the Community's and its member states' resolve to complete their ratification procedures in time for timely ratification with a view to entry into force of the Kyoto protocol by the World Summit on Sustainable Development"

in 2002.The first step in the process is for the EC to ratify the protocol through the adoption of a Council Decision that will include further clarification on the arrangements for implementing the agreement between the EC and its member states in 1998 on sharing out the EC's-8 percent. target. A Council Decision dealing with these issues is currently under discussion and is expected to be adopted at the next Environment Council on 4 March 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administration costs of the Student Loans Company were in 2000–01; and what she expects them to be in 2001–02. [21299]

The Student Loans Company's provisional outturn of administration costs in 2000–01 was £47.5 million (cash). The final figure will be included in the company's 2000–01 annual report which is expected to be published in mid-December 2002. Copies of this document will be placed in the Libraries of both of the Houses of Parliament.The planned administration expenditure for 2001–02 is £55 million.Both of these figures are provided on a UK basis, and include funding from the private sector to cover the administration of the two sold loan portfolios.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administration costs of the Higher Education Funding Council for England were in 2000–01; and what she expects them to be in 2001–02. [21291]

Provision for the administrative costs of the Higher Education Funding Council for England is £14.6 million in 2001–02 and £14.9 million in 2002–03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administration costs of the Further Education Funding Council were in 2000–01; and what she expects them to be in 2001–01. [21292]

We do not yet have final expenditure details for the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) in 2000–01. Latest planned funding for the FEFC for administration was £27.4 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administration costs of the Teacher Training Agency were in 2000–01; and what she expects them to be in 2001–02. [21297]

The administration costs of the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) in 2000–01, as published in the agency's annual financial statements, were £7.392 million. The TTA's current forecast administration costs for 2001–02 are around £7.85 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administration costs of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority were in 2000–01; and what she expects them to be in 2001–02. [21300]

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority incurred administration costs in 2000–01 of £25,600,000, and expects to spend £28 million in 2001–02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administration costs of Investors in People were in 2000–01; and what she expects them to be in 2001–02. [21301]

In this financial year, Investors in People UK will receive grant in aid of £1.617 million. Up to 75 per cent. of this is used for running costs—e.g. staff/premises costs; the remainder is used to fund the development of the standard. In addition to this, the company has also received additional funding of £1.6 million from the Department for marketing purposes. Last year, IiP UK generated additional income of £3.7 million from their own operations, which was used to carry out development, quality assurance, and advice and guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the full report of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority into the claims of Mr. Jeffrey Robinson about exam standards. [24887]