To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what studies his Department has conducted into the effects on the environment of the London area of the proposed introduction of congestion charging by the GLA. [39846]

[holding answer 4 March 2002]: The Government commissioned and published early in 2000 a report by an independent group of experts called Road Charging Options for London——A Technical Assessment (known as the ROCOL report). Copies are available in the library. The report covers environmental effects. It says that there could be environmental and amenity benefits from the reduced traffic volumes but much would depend on the how the benefits of reduced traffic were allocated. Emissions of CO₂ would be reduced, but there would be no significant improvement in local air quality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the private sector rail investment in the 10 year plan is expected ultimately to be on the balance sheet of Railtrack's successor. [47395]

This will be determined through the SRA's development of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and through negotiations with Network Rail and other possible bidders for Railtrack Plc on their proposed Business and Financing plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the Government's total targets for new housing in the south-east has been provided for in the strategic plans of local authorities; and what proportion remains to be allocated provisional sites. [47519]

Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9), issued in March 2001, sets out the level of housing provision to be made in the region. Housing

	1997–98 £000s	1998–99 £000s	1999–00 £000s	2000–01 £000s	2001–02 £000s	2002–03 £000s
Liverpool Health Authority1	243,040	253,814	350,296	379,504	410,236	453,913
Liverpool City Council	5,262	7,005	8,098	8,698	12,882	25,417

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the cost is to the Department of writing off the over-hanging debt for local authorities transferring their housing stock to RSLs in (a) the current year and (b) each of the past five years; and what the projected cost is in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [46363]

[holding answer 26 March 2002]: The overhanging debt payments made to date are £21 million in 1999–2000 and £256 million in 2000–01. No payments were made in 2001–02. The projected costs are £500 million in 2002–03 and £800 million in 2003–04. These are estimates and are likely to change as details of transfer proposals are finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how close the house-building industry is to meeting the Government's target of brownfield site development. [48592]

The Government's target is that by 2008, 60 per cent of additional housing should be provided on previously developed land and through conversions of existing buildings. The latest statistics (for 2000) show that achievement against target is 57 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much funding he has made available for social services and community care in Liverpool through (a) the local authority, (b) the Health Service and (c) the voluntary sector in each of the last five years; and what funding he has indicated will be made available in 2002–03. [44394]

I have been asked to reply.The table provides details of funding which the Department has made available for social services and community care to Liverpool Health Authority and Liverpool City Council, in each of the last five years and for 2002–03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many local authority children's homes there were in (a) 1990, (b) 1995 and (c) on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [43233]

I have been asked to reply.Information for the years ending 31 March 1995 and 31 March 2000, latest information available, is shown in the table. Information for 1990 is not available.

Table: Number of local authority children's homes for the years ending 31 March 1995 and 2000
England
Type of LA home	1995	2000
Maintained	741	672
Controlled	28	28
Assisted	30	21
Total Community Homes	799	721

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to law enforcement agencies in the event of a large-scale smallpox outbreak. [33336]

[holding answer 5 February 2002]: I apologise for the delay in replying. Smallpox has been eradicated world-wide and no specific guidance has been issued to law enforcement agencies. Guidance on smallpox, accessible both to public and professionals is available from the Public Health Laboratory Service.A major outbreak of non-terrorist origin would be co-ordinated at the national level through the Civil Contingencies Committee; a terrorist incident would be handled through Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (C'OBR).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and his Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available. [33198]

No staff were seconded between the Home Department and the companies identified for the periods in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to improve the care standards for non-human primates in the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Used in Scientific Puposes; and if he will make a statement. [47998]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: Standards for the housing and care of laboratory animals, including non-human primates, are currently the subject of review under the auspices of the Council of Europe. This work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2002. We will review the relevant codes of practice applicable in the United Kingdom in the light of the outcome of the Council of Europe review and any consequential changes to European directive 86/609/EEC.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many breeding establishments in Mauritius are authorised as sources of non-human primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement. [47997]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: There is currently authority for non-human primates from one breeding establishment in Mauritius to be used in programmes of work licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the target for the rate of escapes from contracted-out escorts expressed as a ratio of prisoners handled was met by March 2001. [47234]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Prison Service met this key performance indicator target in the 2000–01 year. There was one escape for every 21,649 prisoners handled during the year. This was better than the target not to exceed one per 20,000 prisoners handled.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationality applications were completed in the year to March 2001; and how many he expects to be completed in the year to March 2002. [47236]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: In the year to March 2001 94,090 nationality applications were completed, exceeding the target of 91,000.The target for the year to March 2002 remained at 91,000 and indications are that the target will again be exceeded and the final total will be higher than that achieved in the year to March 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the PSA target of a reduction in the level of reoffending by drug misusing offenders (a) was met by March 2001 and (b) has since been exceeded. [47233]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Public Service Agreement target currently is: to reduce levels of repeat offending amongst drug misusing offenders by 25 per cent by 2005 (and by 50 per cent by 2008). There is no interim target set for 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of decisions on asylum cases will have been made within two months in the year ending 31 March. [47228]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The target for the year ending 31 March 2002 is to decide and serve 60 per cent of new substantive asylum claims made in that same year within two months. The latest provisional data, published on 28 February 2002, indicate that nearly half (48 per cent) of applications received in the period April to September 2001 inclusive had initial decisions served within two months. Information on the percentage of asylum cases in the year ending 31 March 2002 with decisions made and served within two months is not yet available.The data are published in the quarterly asylum statistics. The next publication will be available from 31 May 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers were removed in the year to March 2001; and how many he expects to be removed in the year to March 2002. [47238]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The number of failed asylum seekers removed in the year to March 2001 was 8,930. The current Service Delivery Agreement target relating to the removal of failed asylum seekers from the United Kingdom is to remove 30,000 in 2001–02; 33,000 in 2002–03; and 37,000 in 2003–04. The totals include dependants.The precise number removed in March will be available in about two months.The 30,000 target for this year has always been ambitious and high risk. To enable us to reach and exceed 30,000 removals per year by 2003, we need to remove about 2,500 people per month. It is our aim to achieve this monthly total as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum decisions were made in the year to March 2001; and how many he expects to be made in the year to March 2002. [47237]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: 132,840 initial decisions were made in the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001, inclusive.Information on the number of initial decisions made in the year to 31 March 2002 is not yet available. However, in line with plans, the number of cases awaiting an initial decision has continued to fall, 71,320 initial decisions were made during the period April 2001 to December 2001, compared with 85,960 in the same period a year previously.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on the policy of detaining children who are seeking asylum of the (a) provisions of the Children Act 1989 and (b) provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998; [48280](2) what risk assessments are undertaken before a child seeking asylum is detained; [48278](3) whether the rights and needs of the child must be considered before any decision to detain a child seeking asylum is taken. [48279]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Children Act 1989 places a duty on local social services departments to provide for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. As a matter of policy and practice all those accepted as being unaccompanied asylum seeking children are referred to the local social services department. Unaccompanied asylum seeking children are not routinely detained under immigration powers. But detention may occasionally be necessary in exceptional circumstances whilst alternative arrangements for their care are made. Where detention is in such circumstances necessary, this is normally limited to overnight, with appropriate care.The decision to detain a family is always taken with due regard to Article 8 of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).Families may be detained at the Oakington Reception Centre whilst their claim for asylum is processed. In other cases a family would be detained in line with the general detention criteria, which include consideration of the likelihood of removal, evidence of previous absconding and previous history of complying with the requirements of immigration control. There is however, as in any other case, a presumption in favour of granting temporary admission or temporary release.Any case where it is proposed to detain a family will be risk-assessed by the Immigration Service. Checks are made to see if any child is on the "At Risk" register. In addition the family protection team at the local police station will be contacted. If there has been any involvement by the Social Services in any particular family case, they will also be consulted before an operation leading to the detention of children is undertaken.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) financial and (b) other criteria are to be used for measurement of the PSA target on efficiency in the criminal justice system. [47410]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The 2000 Criminal Justice System Public Service Agreement (PSA) committed the criminal justice departments in defining a measure for value for money (rather than efficiency) in the system. Work is continuing on this, but it has not yet proved possible to devise a satisfactory single measure of system-wide performance. Meanwhile, however, each component part of the system has an efficiency or value for money target, and has plans in place to meet its target.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people detained under immigration law have died in each of the past five years; and of those how many are believed to have committed suicide. [48626]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: There was one incident of a death in immigration detention in the last five years. The incident occurred in January 2000 and is believed to have been a suicide although the inquest returned an open verdict.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letter dated 18 September 2001 from the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell relating to an inquiry by Mr. C Barfield of 2 Cuddington Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey. [48211]

A reply to the hon. Member was sent on 27 March 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers there were in each year since 1997; and how many retired due to long-term illness. [47376]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The information is provided in the table.

	Officers in Post 31 March	Ill Health Retirements per Calendar Year
1997	23,058	451
1998	23,444	220
1999	23,875	199
2000	24,090	165
2001	23,777	152
2002 (to 25/03/02)	23,067	18

Figures include prison officers, senior officers and principal officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what extra security measures his Department has taken at Shoreham Port to help combat entry by illegal immigrants; [47374](2) how many illegal immigrants have been caught trying to enter this country at Shoreham Port, listed by country of origin; and how many of these have claimed political asylum since 1997. [47373]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: It is not possible to provide statistics for the total number of illegal entrants detected having entered the United Kingdom via Shoreham seaport. This is because illegal entrants are frequently detected inland and will not identify, or cannot be attributed to, any particular port of entry.Shoreham seaport does not receive any passenger vessels and so has no permanent immigration presence. However, for the purposes of immigration control the port is covered by Immigration Service staff based at Newhaven who may be deployed there should a need be identified. Remote coverage is also provided by officers from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and Sussex Police, Special Branch.The Immigration Service views very seriously any potential breach of immigration controls, as well as the risks that migrants take by seeking to enter the United Kingdom clandestinely. Whilst there is currently no evidence to suggest that Shoreham seaport is being targeted for such activity, should such information be received, it would be passed to the District Intelligence Unit at Gatwick. They would assess the risk and ensure that appropriate measures were taken to combat any threat to the integrity of the immigration control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to improve the response time to parliamentary questions. [47721]

[holding answer 9 April 2002]: In its response to the Public Administration Select Committee's Second Report of Session 2000–2001 on Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions, the Government made clear their commitment to providing prompt and accurate answers to Parliamentary Questions. This continues to be the Government's position. I am committed to improving the performance of the Home Office and am working with the Department on practical steps to achieve this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what new initiatives her Department has taken in 2001–02 to assist in achieving its Public Service Agreement targets. [47189]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: Details of new initiatives and policies designed to assist in achieving the Public Service Agreement targets for 1999–2002 were set out in my previous parliamentary answers to the hon. Member for Buckingham on 19 December (Official Report, columns 310–15W), 8 January (Official Report, columns 543–45W), and 10 January (Official Report, columns 971–72W).The main initiatives undertaken to help achieve the Public Service Agreement targets for 2001–2004 are as follows: the setting-up of Creative Partnerships in 16 deprived areas; the introduction of the School Sports Co-ordinator and Spaces for Sport and the Arts programmes; and the introduction of free access for all to national museums and galleries on 1 December 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the level of take up of digital television services has been from 1998 to the date for which the most recent figures are available. [46916]

These are the figures from December 1998 to December 2001 for digital television uptake, based on subscriber figures supplied by platform operators.

Date	per cent TV Households which are digital
31 December 98	0.9 per cent
31 March 99	2.2 per cent
30 June 99	3.9 per cent
30 September 99	7.0 per cent
31 December 99	11.1 per cent
30 March 00	18.0 per cent
30 June 00	19.4 per cent
30 September 00	22.5 per cent
31 December 00	26.8 per cent
31 March 01	30.0 per cent
30 June 01	32.5 per cent
30 September 01	34.7 per cent
31 December 01	36.6 per cent

To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will make further information about its work available to hon. Members. [50505]

Pages on the Parliamentary Intranet, accessed through "House Administration" give information about the Commission's role, responsibilities and membership, together with contact details. The pages provide links to the Commission's Annual Reports, and to Questions answered on behalf of the Commission. We have now decided to supplement this with periodic reports on Commission business: subjects considered, decisions taken, and work in progress. The first such report, covering Commission meetings between December 2001 and March 2002, will be posted on the Intranet today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on SME industrial trends. [37652]

The last year for which figures are available (2000) shows an increase in the number of SME manufacturers.Small and Medium Sized Enterprises continue to play an important role in the UK economy accounting for over 99 per cent of businesses, 44 per cent of non-government employment and 37 per cent of turnover. They employ 12 million people and contribute £1 trillion to the economy pa.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will name the members of the group she has set up to review company auditing policy and practices, together with relevant interests or employment. [42615]

My right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have invited the Economic Secretary, HM Treasury and myself, to lead a co-ordinating group on accounting and audit issues, which will

ensure that there is a comprehensive work programme, to be undertaken by individual regulators, and avoiding unnecessary overlap;

provide a progress report by the summer, with a final report at a later stage;

commission additional work or reviews, if that is judged appropriate;

reach a view on the adequacy of the proposals, and, if appropriate, make specific recommendations.

The members of the co-ordinating group are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the group she has set up to review company auditing policy and practices will take evidence from outside Government; which organisations have been asked to give evidence to it; and whether its report will be published. [42616]

The purpose of the Group is to ensure that the accounting and audit issues raised following the collapse in the US of Enron are addressed by individual regulators in the UK In a comprehensive and coordinated way.At the first meeting of the group, it was agreed to invite comments from outside Government in relation to the group's coordinating role on the issues for audit and accountancy raised by the collapse of Enron. Further details will appear shortly on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/cld). The group will provide a progress report by the summer, with a final report at a later stage. These will be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made in reducing the administrative burden on small businesses. [46431]

The Government have put in place a number of measures to reduce the administrative burden of regulations on small businesses, including:

Announced in January 2000 that employers with 4 or fewer employees will be exempt from the requirements to provide access to stakeholder pensions and deduct pension contributions.

Announced in April 2000 an increase in the statutory audit threshold for companies from £350,000 to £1 million. This measure will relieve up to 150,000 small firms from the burden of statutory audit, saving small companies up to £180 million a year.

We have exempted small shops from the new EU unit pricing requirements.

We have exempted employers with twenty or fewer employees from the trade union recognition procedures in the Employment Relations Act.

Small Business Service has produced clear guidance on a number of complex regulations.

The Business Link Website is now attracting 80,000 alerts about regulations automatically.

A 12 weeks period between regulations being agreed users per month——and businesses can register to receive and implemented has been actioned, allowing owner managers time to adapt to the new regulations.

Assisted and supported 6000 individuals wanting to start and grow a business and helped a further 6000 with mentoring advice.

The Patrick Carter review of payroll administration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which services the United Kingdom will (a) as part of the European Union and (b) unilaterally be offering for liberalisation under the World Trade Organisation's General Agreement on Trade in Services. [47416]

The United Kingdom negotiates in the World Trade Organisation as part of the European Union. Offers of liberalisation of services will be considered in the light of requests received from other WTO Members. The Doha Ministerial Declaration set June 2002 as the date for the submission of initial requests. The Government will consult on any offer they are minded to make as part of the EU's offer. Liberalisation is, however, a matter of domestic policy choice. The current negotiations under the General Agreement on Trade in Services cannot force liberalisation where we do not wish it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department recommend people take if they are the target of unsolicited faxes. [48585]

There are safeguards for both individual and corporate subscribers who do not wish to receive unsolicited direct marketing faxes. Under the Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999, no one may send unsolicited direct marketing faxes to individual subscribers without their prior consent. These Regulations are enforced by the Information Commissioner, and any breaches should be reported to her office.Corporate subscribers have opt-out rights under the same Regulations; no-one may send unsolicited direct marketing faxes to any subscriber who has registered with the Fax Preference Service, or who has told the direct marketer concerned not to send any further faxes. The Fax Preference Service is also open to individual subscribers who may find it useful to register in order to reinforce their rights. Subscribers should report any breaches of these regulations to the Information Commissioner's Office, or to the Fax Preference Service if they have registered with it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) number and (b) total cost of television licences paid for by her Department. [48338]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: No licence is required for equipment use for official purposes. A detailed answer would involve disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and industry if she will list the number of subscriptions to (a) digital terrestrial, (b) digital satellite and (c) digital cable television held by her Department for services in any departmental building from which Ministers work, stating for each subscription its (i) cost and (i) purpose. [48339]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: No data are held centrally and providing an answer would involve disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid out each month since its inception under the Start-Up Capital Scheme for Post Offices. [47316]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: I have been informed by Post Office Limited that to the end of March 2002, applications totalling £375,431 have been approved under the Scheme and that the following amounts have been paid:

£
December 2001	13,230
January 2002	11,699
February 2002	10,365
March 2002	43,778
Total	£79.072

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will publish a consultation document on the use of section 23 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 to extend rights contained in employment legislation to individuals of a specified description. [48743]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 13 February 2002, Official Report, column 443W.

To ask the Minister for Women what plans she has to make representations to the Department for Work and Pensions to secure a review of the operation and level of payment of bereavement allowance. [31276]

[holding answer 29 January 2002]: I have no plans at present to make representations to the Department for Work and Pensions in order to secure a review of the operation and level of bereavement allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gulf war veterans have been diagnosed as suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and how many of those diagnosed have subsequently died. [32331]

[holding answer 12 February 2002]: In the United Kingdom, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is classified as motor neurone disease (MND). As at 22 March 2002, the Ministry of Defence's Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit was aware of four of the 53,462 members of the United Kingdom armed forces identified as having deployed to a state in the Gulf region at some time between 1 September 1990 and 30 June 1991 who have been diagnosed as suffering from MND. We do not however hold complete morbidity data for all veterans of the Gulf conflict so it is possible that MND may have been diagnosed in other veterans without our knowledge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many high explosive bombs the RAF purchased in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02. [43395]

No high explosive bombs were purchased by the RAF during these years. Although some purchases to support training and development were made during this time, these were not classified as high explosive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many special advisers there were at 10 Downing Street; and what their salaries were in each of the last five years. [47058]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: Two Special Advisers were in post on 9 April 2002. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 10 April 2002 (Official Report, column 11W) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure has been incurred on the maintenance of the parish church at Imber for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [48624]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: Although the parish church of St Giles at Imber is the property of Salisbury Diocese, the Ministry of Defence has always voluntarily maintained the building in a wind and weatherproof condition and has incurred the following expenditure in each of the last five years:

Year	Amount £
1997	Details not available
1998	1,256.49
1999	2,747.15
2000	Nil
2001	158.63

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many days in each of the past five years the roads on Imber Ranges and in Imber village have been open to the public. [48539]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The metalled roads from Gore Cross to Warminster via Imber, and Heytesbury to Bratton via Imber are open for up to 50 days annually depending on operational training commitments. In each of the last five years these roads were open as follows:

Year	Number of Days
1997	21
1998	23
1999	26
2000	25
2001	24

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if (a) UK, (b) EU and (c) foreign defence contractors will be considered as strategic partners of QinetiQ. [47645]

I refer the hon Member to the announcement I made in the House on 6 March 2002, (Official Report, columns 313–14W). We have always made it clear that we will not consider any defence manufacturers as strategic partners of QinetiQ, nor any parties which would pose a risk to the defence and security interests of the United Kingdom. However, a large number of organisations which provide a wide range of services to Ministry of Defence could be regarded as defence contractors. As long as they do not fall into either of the two categories above, they will not be excluded from the QinetiQ transaction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a transcript of his interview on the Jonathan Dimbleby programme on 24 March. [47664]

The Ministry of Defence does not routinely hold full transcripts of interviews given by Ministers on radio or television programmes. I suggest that the hon. Member approaches LWT if he requires a full transcript of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's interview on the Jonathan Dimbleby programme broadcast on ITV on 24 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly regarding apprentice training at Aberporth, Ceredigion. [47754]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: I have had no discussions with the First Minister for Wales about apprentice training at Aberporth. I wrote to him however on 25 March explaining the situation once the decision had been taken. There was no previous correspondence on the issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he met representatives of the Learning and Skills Council for Wales to discuss apprentice training at Aberporth, Ceredigion. [47755]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: I have had no discussions on apprentice training at Aberporth with representatives of the Learning and Skills Council for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel have retired from (a) the Military Police and (b) the MoD police in each of the last five years. [15166]

Pursuant to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend Adam Ingram of 8 January 2002, (Official Report, column 556W). The number of MOD Police retirements during Financial Year 1999–2000, should read 25, not 24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been employed by his Department in each of the last three years under (a) the New Deal for Young People, (b) the New Deal for the Over 50s and (c) the New Deal for Lone Parents; and at what cost, listed by category, to public funds. [44916]

In the last three years the NIO (and its agencies) have employed seven people under the New Deal for Young People, one under the New Deal for Over 50s and no-one under the New Deal for Lone Parents.Of the seven employed under the New Deal for Young People six were recruited in 1999 and one in 2000.The one person employed under the New deal for Over 50s was recruited in 1999.New dealers are recruited to the NIO on a subsidised basis and take up existing vacancies. Therefore extra costs are limited to the subsidy and any additional training and development which may be needed. The cost of the latter cannot be readily identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the procurement transactions were made with the Government procurement card by 31 March 2001. [45990]

No procurement transactions using the Government Procurement Card were made by the Northern Ireland Office by the 31 March 2001. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has however commenced a pilot scheme since that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (i) how many political parties in Northern Ireland have informed him that they (a) support and (b) oppose an amnesty for all terrorist-related offences committed in Northern Ireland before 10 April 1998; and if he will list them; [44323](2) what representations he has received from individuals and organisations in Northern Ireland in support of a general amnesty for all terrorist-related offences before 10 April 1998; and if he will list them. [44324]

It is not Government practice to make private discussions or submissions a matter of public record. It would of course be open to the hon. Member to seek the views of the political parties in Northern Ireland directly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those people subject to extradition proceedings in connection with scheduled offences committed in Northern Ireland before 10 April 1998; and for what offences extradition is being sought. [44335]

There are currently no people subject to extradition proceedings in connection with scheduled offences committed in Northern Ireland before 10 April 1998. In addition, the Attorney General informs me that there are currently no people subject to the Backing of Warrants arrangements with the Republic of Ireland in connection with scheduled offences committed in Northern Ireland before 10 April 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those items valued at less than £50 each which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years. [34221]

As there are no records kept centrally of items valued at less than £50 each, either stolen or lost from the Northern Ireland Office, I could only answer this question at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people have been employed by his Department in each of the last three years under (a) the New Deal for Young People, (b) the New Deal for the Over 50s and (c) the New Deal for Lone Parents; and at what cost, listed by category, to public funds. [44914]

The attached table gives the numbers employed by my Department and its agencies under the New Deal Programme for (a) Young People; (b) the Over 50s; and (c) Lone parents.New Deal recruits take up existing vacancies so extra costs to public funds are limited to the subsidy, where appropriate, and any additional training and development which may be needed. The cost of the latter cannot be readily identified.

New Deal——Lord Chancellor's Department
Year	No Employed	Scheme
1999	0	Young People
2000	5	Young People
2001	19	Young People
2001	1	Over 50

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people employed by his Department under the New Deal for Young People in each of the last four years have subsequently (a) found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks and (b) returned to jobseekers' allowance or other benefits. [45085]

Information is not held centrally on the number of New Dealers who have found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks or who have returned to jobseekers' allowance or other benefits. However, New Dealers who have left my Department will have acquired skills making them more marketable for employment.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what assessment he has made of the policy of the Legal Services Commission in supporting actions to enforce illegal agreements; and if he will make a statement; [48065](2) whether it is his Department's policy that the Legal Services Commission should grant funding to individuals seeking to enforce illegal agreements; and if he will make a statement. [48066]

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) would not grant public funding to an applicant seeking to enforce an agreement that was clearly illegal from the contents of the application for funding. Where the legality of an agreement is the issue, funding could only be granted if the type of case fell within the scope of the Commission's Funding Code and the prospects of the applicant succeeding in the case were sufficient to satisfy the rigorous requirements of the Code.Applications for civil legal aid funding are considered under the Commission's Funding Code. The Code sets out the criteria for deciding whether to fund or continue to fund services. The Code has been approved by the Lord Chancellor and by each House of Parliament.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what organisations his Department supports under its Marriage and Relationship Support programme. [47610]

The Marriage and Relationship Support (MARS) Branch of the Lord Chancellor's Department provides primary support to MARS organisations through its annual grant programme. The grant for the financial year 2001–02 was £4.5 million, and for 2002–03 it is £5 million.As well as financial support, MARS officials also offer advice, guidance and information to all providers of MARS services, whether funding recipients or not.Information on the organisations that have received, or are to receive funding for the financial years April 2001-March 2002 and April 2002-March 2003 and the amounts awarded is in the tables.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what sums have been paid out in each of the last 10 financial years to solicitors acting for Mr. Malcolm Robert Ross in litigation related to Mr. Ross's bankruptcy and involving disputes with Stonewood Securities Limited and its shareholders; and what sums have been received back from other parties to the litigation in costs recovery; [48064](2) if he will request a report from the Legal Services Commission on the handling of the request for funding by Mr. Malcolm Robert Ross. [48067]

I have requested a report from the Legal Services Commission (LSC). According to their records, Mr. Ross has been granted a number of civil legal aid certificates. These cases relate either to Mr Ross's bankruptcy or involve disputes with Stonewood Securities Limited. One case has been concluded; the others are ongoing. As all the certificates are material to ongoing litigation, the LSC cannot provide details of payments made to the solicitors in connection with the closed case.In respect of the ongoing litigation, the Commission has not yet received final bills from the solicitors involved and so, in any event, is not in a position to provide information about sums paid out. Normally, only when the actions have been concluded and the solicitor's bills assessed would meaningful figures be available on the costs of the proceedings. If the cases are successful, an order for costs in the individual's favour could be made and the Commission reimbursed.Most of the certificates predate the implementation of the Access to Justice Act 1999 which significantly reduced the scope for funding cases which arise out of the carrying on of a business.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much revenue the Public Record Office has received from pre-payment revenues for the Public Record Office on-line-service; and how much has been refunded. [48678]

QinetiQ Ltd has received a total to date of £278,019 from pre-payment vouchers. The refunds requested and paid by the Public Record Office and QinetiQ is £1,287.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the 1901 Census on-line in-house facilities will be reinstated at designated service centres; and when the full 1901 Census Internet Service will resume. [48679]

QinetiQ Ltd, is continuing to work on the technical enhancements. Once configuring of the technical enhancements is complete, rigorous testing will be undertaken on all aspects of the system. These enhancements are intended to make the site sufficiently robust to permit general Internet access, and are being done with a sense of urgency. However, the most important consideration is to ensure that the service is re-launched successfully. The system will again be made available to designated service centres as part of the general re-introduction of the site. General on-line searches will be available as soon as practicable following testing and availability at the service centres.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps the Government are taking to end child abuse deaths; and if he will make a statement. [45883]

I have been asked to reply. We are committed to reducing the number of deaths of children through abuse and neglect. That is why over the last few years we have introduced new legislation, new guidance, new structures and new policy initiatives to make children safer and to ensure that there is a proper focus on children at the very heart of Government. These measures include:

The Care Standards Act 2000 to improve the inspection and regulation of children's care services, and the Protection of Children Act 1999 which makes it much more difficult for unsuitable people to work with children:

Revised core interagency child protection guidance: Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999) and the new Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and Their Families (2000);

New guidance focusing on Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution (2000) and a National Plan for Safeguarding Children from Commercial Sexual Exploitation (2001);

A Minister for Young People. John Denham, and a new Cabinet Committee focusing on Children and Young People's issues;

The first ever national Children's Rights Director for England——Roger Morgan——to act as a powerful champion for some of the most vulnerable children in our country;

The establishment of the Children and Young People's Unit, which is responsible for ensuring the coherence of Government policies that affect all children and young people under 19; and

Radical new initiatives such as the £885 million Quality Protects programme, Sure Start and Connexions.

In addition, the Department will shortly be publishing the first of a series of biennial overview reports drawing out the key findings of a sample of serious case reviews following child deaths or other cases of serious abuse in recent years. These reports will draw out common themes and trends and their implications for policy and practice. We will disseminate these findings widely to enable practitioners and managers to learn from them. It will be important for professionals to consider how their own practice might be developed or improved as a result of these findings to help prevent avoidable injuries to, and deaths of, children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by his Department in each of the last four years. [38919]

In-house canteen services are provided by an external contractor. Staff pay for their own refreshments, although the FCO has provided a subsidy to the contractor as follows:

Financial Year	Amount Paid
1997–98	£210,696.31
1998–99	£132,604.26
1999–2000	£99,275.37
2000–01	£200,433.96
2001–02	£179,000.00 (Forecast only)

The information requested on part

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many special advisers there were in his Department; and what their salaries were in each of the last five years. [46959]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: Two. I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 11W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made since 18 March to the (a) Israeli Government and (b) US Administration about Yasser Arafat's attendance at and return from the forthcoming Arab Summit in Beirut. [46645]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: In the months leading up to the Arab League Summit in Beirut, we repeatedly called on the Israeli government to release the restrictions on Arafat's freedom of movement. We were also in close contact with our US colleagues who were working to achieve the same goal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the report by the International Monetary Fund on 19 March. [48309]

We welcome the report, which recognises progress that Gibraltar has made in the regulation and supervision of its developing financial services industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the legal basis of his claim that the integration of Gibraltar into the UK would contravene the Treaty of Utrecht. [47565]

I did not say that the integration of Gibraltar into the UK would contravene the Treaty of Utrecht. I said that it was not this Government's policy to integrate Gibraltar. I reminded the Committee that the Treaty of Utrecht gave Spain first refusal in the event that Britain ever relinquished sovereignty over Gibraltar; and that the position of Gibraltar was therefore different from that of Ceuta and Melilla.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risk of food being stored in ineffective refrigeration systems because refurbishment has been delayed because of the inability to recycle redundant refrigerators. [25722]

There is no reason why refurbishment should be delayed. ineffective refrigeration systems can already be disposed of in the UK via mobile fridge recycling plant or high temperature incineration, they can be exported for recycling in other Member States, or they are stored pending treatment in the UK. There is sufficient capacity in the UK to store waste refrigeration equipment for up to one year. The risk of food being stored in ineffective systems for this reason is therefore negligible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the proportion of waste sent to landfill which could be converted to biofuel through the an aerobic digestion process; and if she will make a statement. [37702]

We have not carried out such an assessment. Experience has shown that although anaerobic digestion is an appropriate treatment for a wide range of biodegradable wastes there are doubts about its commercial viability.The Government support the development of anaerobic digestion through mechanisms such as eligibility for the Renewable Obligation Certificates. The waste management industry is reviewing the role of anaerobic digestion, along with other treatment options, to achieve the reduction in the biodegradable content of MSW sent to landfill as required by the Landfill Directive.In these circumstances it is considered to be premature to make a realistic assessment of the quantities of wastes that will be treated by this option.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Government Departments participated in the waste strategy summit. [46791]

The Waste Summit was held on 21 November 2001 and was hosted by the Secretary of State. Government officials who attended represented the Departments for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Trade and Industry and Transport, Local Government and the Regions and Her Majesty's Treasury. Other officials represented No. 10's Policy Unit, the Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit and the Devolved Administrations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the action she took in response to the formal notice and the reasoned opinion on UK compliance with EU law relating to the (a) Drinking Water Directive, (b) Hazardous Waste Directive, and (c) Waste Framework Directive. [40647]

Cabinet Office rules require that details of relations between the Commission and Member States on inspection proceedings are confidential. However, I can confirm that the Government is dealing with the points made by the Commission in its letters of formal notice and reasoned opinions addressed to the United Kingdom in relation to the implementation of the three Directives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to permit the spreading of organic manure on light to sandy soils in August, September and October under licence under the regulations contained in the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone Directive; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of (a) cover crops and (b) catch crops in reducing nitrate leaching during autumn and winter months. [46388]

The Action Programme measures required by the Nitrates Directive 1991 which apply in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) detail closed periods prohibiting the application of manures containing a higher proportion of available nitrogen (slurries, poultry manures and liquid digested sewage sludges) on to sandy or shallow soils which are more prone to nitrate leaching. Relaxation of these measures would entail a high risk of increased nitrate leaching so there are no plans to allow exemptions under licence.The Action Programme measures take account of information produced by the Government funded research programme on nitrates and experiences gained during operation of the Nitrate Sensitive Areas Scheme. For further information about cover and catch crops please refer to MAFF Booklet PB3578 "The Pilot Nitrate Sensitive Areas Scheme: Final Report" available from DEFRA publications (08459 556000).Cover crops and also catch crops, used late in the year, can help to reduce nitrate loss compared with both uncropped land and land sown with autumn sown cereals. This benefit is recognised in the Action Programme measures with the shorter closed period for manure applications for land sown with a cover crop before 1 October and not removed before 1 December of the same year.Advice on using cover or catch crops to reduce nitrate leaching in fields that would otherwise be bare over the autumn and winter months is also given in the DEFRA Booklet PB5505 "Guidelines for Farmers in NVZs".

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 28 January, Official Report, columns 92–3W, which FTSE companies reported upon their environmental impacts; which mentioned environmental issues; and which did not submit an environmental response to the Government. [46263]

Since my answer of 28 January we have been reviewing the response to the Prime Minister's challenge to FTSE350 companies to report on their environmental performance.Not all companies have yet published their reports for 2001, but at present we estimate 76 of the top 350 companies have produced a stand alone environmental report, including quantified environmental performance data, or otherwise published this information.A further 88 have also taken at least one step towards meeting the Prime Minister's challenge such as publishing an environmental policy or environmental performance targets. We are writing to FTSE350 companies to check our estimates and will make the final tally public as soon as possible.A list of FTSE 350 companies with our latest estimates of their respective reporting performance has been made available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role her Department has played in discussions relating to the UNECE Water and Industrial Accidents Conventions. [46555]

These Conventions were adopted in 1992 and the UK is a signatory to both of them. My department has been involved in discussions in the past year on a possible liability protocol under both Conventions in a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe working group.The protocol would provide compensation for damage to transboundary waters from accidents covered by the industrial accidents Convention. The aim is for the protocol to he adopted at the conference of European Environment Ministers next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken in response to the LRTAP Protocols on (a) heavy metals, (b) persistent organic pollutants and (c) abatement of acidification, eutrophication and ground level ozone. [46567]

Since becoming Party to the 1979 Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) the UK has worked at an international level to abate transboundary air pollutants. The UK is preparing to ratify these three Protocols.I issued a consultation paper on 20 March 2002 outlining the steps necessary to ratify the 1998 Protocol on Heavy Metals; comments are invited by 12 June 2002 I have arranged for a copy of the consultation paper to be placed in the Library. The consultation paper sets out a draft strategy for the UK to meet its commitments under the Protocol. The main requirements are the reduction of annual emissions to air of cadmium, lead and mercury to below 1990 levels. We already meet these requirement!, as annual emissions in the UK in 1999 were 30 per cent, or less, of 1990 levels for the three metals. Subject to the results of the consultation exercise, I hope to ratify the Protocol by the end of 2002.The Department is also looking at what measures need to be in place for the UK to ratify the 1998 Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants, although the basic obligation to reduce emissions of POPs below their 1990 levels has already been achieved.The UK signed the Protocol to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground level ozone (the "Gothenburg Protocol") in December 1999. The main requirement of the Protocol is to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds and ammonia to meet individual national ceilings from 2010. The Protocol covers the same four pollutants as the European Union National Emission Ceilings Directive, adopted last November, and ratification of the Protocol and and implementation of the Directive will be done jointly. I hope to issue a consultation paper later in the year on our proposals. Projections suggest that the UK is on course to meet the emission ceilings from 2010. Subject to consultations I hope that the UK will be able to ratify the Gothenburg Protocol by the end of 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of removing pesticide and fertiliser contamination from water in water catchment and other areas that affect drinking water supplies was in (a) areas of standard farming procedures and (b) areas where farming is carried out to Soil Association organic standards in the last year for which figures are available. [46638]

The Environment Agency, which is responsible for monitoring ground and surface waters for pesticides, does not distinguish between compounds used in conventional and organic farming. Similarly, the costs to water companies of treatment to remove traces of pesticides before water can be put into supply are not quantified and apportioned according to the different farming methods, which may vary within any single water catchment area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which EU member states have been notified of the action taken by the National Assembly for Wales under the safeguard clause of the EU Deliberate Release Directive in respect of GM maize being grown in the UK; and when they were informed. [46640]

The European Commission was informed of the action taken by the Assembly on 13 July 2001, as required under Directive 90/220/EEC. At the same time, copies of the notification were sent to the Permanent Representations of all other Member States.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the European Commission to respond to the action taken by the National Assembly of Wales under the safeguard clause of the EU Deliberate Release Directive in respect of GM maize being grown in the United Kingdom. [46639]

It is not known when the Commission will respond.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of the biodiversity action plans for species and habitats at risk have been implemented. [46749]

There are 391 species action plans and 45 habitat action plans. All are being implemented in partnership with a wide range of statutory, voluntary and private sector organisations. A progress report on implementation was made in "Sustaining the variety of life: 5 years of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan", published in March 2001. The report can be viewed on www.ukbap.org.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will respond to the University of Brighton report on water based sports and recreation. [47971]

The report was published in December, since when a number of discussions have taken place. Recently officials met British Waterways, the Countryside Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency and Sport England as the other sponsors of the research along with other interested Government Departments. Last month I met representatives of the British Canoe Union with my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas). In the light of these and other discussions we are considering what action to take in the light of the report's findings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2002, Official Report, column 1032W, when she expects to publish the consultation paper on the closure or diversion of rights of way. [47612]

I have set high priority on implementing the measures in the CROW Act to enable the closure or diversion of rights of way where this is needed for crime prevention but I also want to make sure that the processes are kept as straightforward as possible. The same applies for the provisions in relation to locations where the safety of school pupils is the issue. With this in mind, I am currently refining our proposals and intend to issue a consultation paper very soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2002 to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith), Official Report, column 372W, on CERRIE, what the terms of reference are for the Consultative Exercise on Radiation Risk from Internal Emitters, including the responsibilities of individual members of the Committee, what reports are to be placed in the public domain from the proceedings of CERRIE; and what guidelines individual members of CERRIE have been given on (a) disclosing proceedings and (b) publishing material subsequently that relate to CERRIE. [47527]

The Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters (CERRIE) is a working group of the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). CERRIE has been given the remit

"To consider the present risk models for radiation and health that apply to exposure to radiation from internal radionuclides in the light of recent studies and any further research that might be needed".

CERRIE will prepare a report for COMARE, which will be published. COMARE will then advise Ministers on the need for changes to the existing risk models and for further work. Each of the members of CERRIE has been appointed because of their knowledge and experience of the issues under discussion. They have joint responsibility to evaluate thoroughly the existing evidence and make recommendations, in line with the Committee's remit.In order to facilitate the free flow of views during Committee meetings, CERRIE has decided that its work would be best carried out under the "Chatham House Rule". This approach will allow ideas/information raised in meetings to be discussed outside them, but the anonymity of their authors would be retained so that they will not be inhibited from developing and changing their views later on. In order to be transparent about their discussions, CERRIE are preparing their own website which will include, among other things, summary minutes of their meetings. During and after the period of the Committee's deliberations and preparation of its report, members will be free to publish technical papers that they have prepared to inform the Committee, but the views expressed in them should be clearly attributable to the individual and should not imply that they reflect the views of the Committee collectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions the Government will have with the administration in the United States of America regarding the need to ratify the Kyoto protocol on climate change. [47047]

The UK Government maintain regular contact on climate change with the US Administration, both at ministerial and official levels. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs held discussions on climate change with a range of representatives of the Administration in Washington in December and intends to do so again when the visits Washington in April. Other Government Ministers take every opportunity to raise the issue with our American counterparts.The UK Government firmly believes that the Kyoto Protocol remains the best way to take forward international action on climate change and will continue to emphasise this point in discussions with the US Administration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps her Department has taken to promote the implementation of Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration; [46563](2) if she will make a statement on action taken by her Department with regards to

Whilst not formally revoked, the ECE Sofia Guidelines are effectively superseded by the Aarhus Convention. The Aarhus Convention is the primary vehicle for the promotion of Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration. The Government strongly support this Convention and signed the treaty when it opened for signature in 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the implementation of the Children and Young People's Unit Core Principles for Government will be evaluated. [46328]

Departments will be encouraged to develop an evaluation strategy as part of their implementation of the Core Principles over the coming year. The Unit will monitor action across Government, including on evaluation and will publish reports on the progress made. The Unit will be in an excellent position to identify and disseminate: (a) real innovation in how Departments consult and engage with children and young people in the formulation and delivery of their policies, and (b) mainstreaming strategies through which engaging children and young people becomes part of Central Government's wider work in consulting with the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school playing fields were sold in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02; and what acreage this involved. [44447]

In the financial year April 2000 to March 2001, the Department approved 38 applications to sell areas of school playing field larger than a small sports pitch for the under 10s, that is greater than 2,000m². The total area involved was 540,000m², or about 131 acres. Of this total, 40 acres were at closed or closing school sites.In the financial year from April 2001 to date, the Department has approved 18 applications to sell areas larger than a school sports pitch for the under 10s. The total area involved amounts to some 280,000m

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what planned expenditure on higher education was in 1996–97 and each of the subsequent five financial years; and what the total outturn spending on higher education was in each of those years excluding proceeds of tuition fees. [45256]

Publicly planned expenditure for higher education in England is set out in the annual Grant letter issued to the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The data set used in calculating the out-turn for public and student contributions to fees differ from that used in calculating publicly planned expenditure on fees. The tuition fee data for planned expenditure are for all students, including students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, at English HE institutions, while for out-turn the figures are based on students from England at English HE institutions. The two sets of data are not therefore directly comparable. The figures, excluding all planned tuition fee income, are:

	Publicly planned expenditure excluding fees1	Out-turn excluding fees2
1996–97	3646	3678
1997–98	3702	3743
1998–99	3757	3791
1999–2000	4422	4423
2000–2001	4643	4811
1Figures reflect Grant Letter announcements and include ear-marked capital, allocations for access and widening participation paid via institutions, HE expenditure for the British Academy and directly funded DfES small programmes. They exclude public and student contributions to tuition fees and funds paid to students for their maintenance support.
2The differences between planned and actual expenditure are explained in part by the different coverage used for tuition fees and by in year adjustments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many representations she has received from schools which will lose sixth-form funding as a result of the transition to Learning and Skills Council funding; [45406](2) how many schools have sixth-forms which will receive a lower budget after the transition to Learning and Skills Council funding. [45407]

My right hon. Friend has received representations from a number of headteachers, deputy headteachers and chairs of school governors. However, through our Real Terms Guarantee, we are ensuring that no school sixth form can lose compared with its 2000–01 funding levels, provided pupil numbers are maintained. For sixth forms that are reducing in size, the guarantee will be maintained but at a proportionately reduced level.