To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the Child Support Agency's achievement against performance targets in the last five years. [45013]

Over the years 1997 to 2001 taken together, the Child Support Agency has met the majority of its targets. It is on course to meet all of its targets this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to encourage companies to retain existing final salaries pension schemes and to make them available to new employees; and if he will make a statement. [45027]

We welcome the fact that many employers continue to provide occupational pensions on a voluntary basis to their employees. Final salary and money purchase schemes can both provide good incomes in retirement as long as sufficient contributions are made. When deciding what type of scheme to offer, an employer must take into account the costs of doing so and the long-term impact on their business. The Government want to create an environment in which employers can continue to provide occupational pension schemes. We want to remove unnecessary burdens on schemes. As part of this we have announced the replacement of the Minimum Funding Requirement. We have already introduced interim changes to the MFR designed to enable it to operate more effectively. We have commissioned Alan Pickering to report in summer 2002 on ways to simplify the overall burden of regulation on schemes and will he publishing proposals later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his plans to reform the housing benefit system. [45030]

We have a comprehensive long-term strategy for reforming housing benefit and dealing with the legacy of neglect we have inherited.Work is already well under way to radically improve HB administration and bear down on fraud. Many of the key measures set out in our response to consultation on the Housing Green Paper have already been implemented. For example, we have launched comprehensive new performance standards, reformed the extended payments scheme to provide better work incentives, reformed the single room rent, and are making housing benefit easier to administer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of new deal leavers have entered sustained unsubsidised jobs. [45031]

Up to January 2002, 56 per cent. of young people leaving the new deal for known destinations entered sustained, unsubsidised jobs. In addition, research shows that an equivalent proportion of those leaving for unknown destinations also move into work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the New Deal for Lone Parents. [45045]

The New Deal for Lone Parents is a long-term investment, making a real difference to the lives of lone parents and their children. Over 300,000 lone parents have benefited from the help and support offered through the new deal, and over 130,000 of these have found work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of the Government's target group have taken out stakeholder pensions. [45032]

Comprehensive information is not yet available (and will not be until the end of the current tax year). However, early figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), based on a limited sample of information from pension providers, show that in cases where earnings of purchasers are known to providers, then the majority of them have earnings of between £10,000 and £30,000 a year. ABI figures also show that 320,000 employers have designated a stakeholder pension scheme for their workforces as at the end of February 2002; representing a compliance rate of over 85 per cent., and over 750,000 people have bought a stakeholder pension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the number of pensioners living in poverty in (a) 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [45033]

Poverty and social exclusion are complex concepts, affecting many aspects of people's lives; including their living standards, health, housing and quality of environment. The third "Opportunity for all" report sets out the Governments strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents the latest information on the indicators used to monitor progress against this strategy.The Government's first priority was to address the immediate problem of pensioner poverty today. That is why we introduced the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) in April 1999 to provide money for the poorest pensioners as quickly as possible. 2,200 pensioners in the Cotswold constituency are receiving the MIG and over 2 million pensioners nationally benefit from the MIG.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to restore the link between the basic pension and earnings. [45035]

Restoring the earnings link does nothing to help poorer pensioners. We will be spending an extra £6 billion a year in real terms on pensioners as a result of policies introduced since 1997. This includes £2.5 billion more on the poorest third of pensioners. This is three times more than an earnings link since 1998 would have given them.Increases in the basic state pension over the last two years have given single pensioners £2.10 a week more than an earnings link would have given them and £3.35 more for couples.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to develop his Department's strategy to help older people. [45036]

The Government is committed to improving the position of older people in our society. This is an issue that is relevant not only to my Department but also to others across Government.The Government's strategy is co-ordinated by a Cabinet sub-committee of Ministers from several Departments, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The strategy consists of five main strands: encouraging and enabling active aging, promoting age diversity, tackling pensioner poverty for today's and future pensioners, maintaining and supporting independence in later life and working in partnership with older people to provide better services focused on the needs of individuals.We will publish a report later this year that will show how the Government's strategy is helping to ensure that later life is a time of opportunity for older people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are receiving services from Jobcentre Plus. [45037]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the progress made in implementing the Jobcentre Plus programme. [45050]

Jobcentre Plus was launched as a national organisation on 1 April, replacing the former Employment Service and the working age functions of the Benefits Agency, and providing services to around 5 million people. The agency's business plan for 2002–03, a copy of which is available in the Library, sets out the organisation's aims and priorities for its first 12 months, including opening around a further 225 fully integrated offices by April 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of people of working age who are neither working nor registered as seeking work or as benefit claimants. [45038]

About 4.1 million people of working age are not working, registered for work or claiming benefits themselves.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in helping people with disabilities to get and keep employment. [45039]

We have introduced a wide range of measures to help people with disabilities secure work where they are ready and able to do so.We have improved the permitted work rules in incapacity benefit to make it easier for people to make the first moves into work. Over 8,200 people have already been helped into work through the new deal for disabled people pilots. Building on that success we now have a national network of job brokers from the public, private and voluntary sectors who work closely with employers, voluntary groups and health services to help people with health conditions and disabilities move into work. Later this year we are also introducing the job retention and rehabilitation pilots to test the effectiveness of making co-ordinated, earlier health and/or employment interventions to help people who become sick or disabled to stay in work.Disability employment advisers continue to provide specialist support to disabled jobseekers, and disabled employees and their employers. Disability employment advisers can draw on the expertise of occupational psychologists to help disabled people find and retain work.The roll-out of integrated Jobcentre Plus offices will provide disabled people with work-focused meetings with a personal adviser to ensure they are aware of all the help and opportunities available to them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate how many pensioners will not receive their entitlement to pension credit in this financial year. [45042]

Over 5 million pensioners will be eligible for pension credit when it is introduced in October 2003. Those receiving pension credit stand to gain £400 a year on average.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of fraud there were in 2000–01 in income support. [45043]

It is not possible to state the exact number. We estimate, extrapolating from the results of the Area Benefit Reviews, that there were 204,000 cases of fraud in income support in 2000–01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his targets are for the reduction of benefit fraud. [45025]

We have a target to reduce losses from fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance by 25 per cent. by 2004 and by 50 per cent. by 2006. We have already achieved an 18 per cent. reduction.From this month we are beginning to use new powers in the Fraud Act 2001 that make it easier to catch fraudsters and give greater punishments to those who persistently abuse the system.Also from this month, all local authorities are now operating within the new incentive scheme, focusing on the full range of anti-fraud measures as well as customer error; 77 per cent. of local authorities have now signed up to participate in our verification framework that stops fraud from getting into the system in the first place. So far, net savings from the verification framework are estimated at about £100 million.We have introduced the Housing Benefit review to provide a continuous measure of fraud and error in Housing Benefit. This will enable us to gauge the success of the range of initiatives we have put in place to tackle Housing Benefit fraud.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much benefit fraud cost his Department in each of the last five years; and how many people have been prosecuted for benefit fraud in the last year; and what range of penalties have been imposed. [47450]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: Our latest estimate is that £2 billion is lost each year through benefit fraud in the system. Latest results show that in the 2 years to March 2001 we have reduced the level of fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance by 18 per cent. In 2000–01 we imposed 26,958 sanctions, 11,403 of which involved prosecutions and 15,555 of which were cautions or other penalties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money was paid in error owing to benefit fraud in Weston-Super-Mare in each of the last five years. [47761]

Information on the level of benefit fraud at constituency level is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help people back into work in areas of acute social deprivation. [45044]

Our policies, built on a foundation of a strong and stable economy, are helping people into work in all parts of the country. The New Deals have already helped well over 600,000 people into jobs.We have introduced Action Teams for Jobs to tackle joblessness in the most employment deprived areas in the country. They are performing well, and by the end of February had helped over 23,700 people into work. Since October 2001 we have increased the number of action teams from 40 to 63. At the same time, we expanded the Stockton action team to cover six new wards, all in my hon. Friend's constituency. This expanded team has already helped over 100 people into work.Employment Zones are helping long-term unemployed people in deprived areas into work. By the end of December, the 15 zones had helped over 20,800 people into work. We are in the process of extending the existing zones' contracts until March 2004, and are currently fully evaluating zone performance before deciding how to take the initiative further.This month we have established Jobcentre Plus which will deliver a single, integrated service to benefit claimants of working age right across the country. Jobcentre Plus will provide a responsive, work-focused service, helping people to find jobs and the support to which they are entitled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department is doing to tackle poverty among disabled people. [45046]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to tackle poverty among disabled people. [45040]

We are committed to the principle of work for those who can and security for those who are unable to work. We are promoting the rights of disabled people, making work pay and helping more disabled people to get and keep jobs.This month we have established Jobcentre Plus which will deliver a single, integrated, work-focused service to people of working age claiming benefits. Those making new or repeat claims to incapacity benefit in integrated Jobcentre Plus offices are required to attend a work-focused meeting. These meetings provide disabled people with the opportunity to discuss with their personal adviser the help, benefits and opportunities available to them, including the opportunity to participate in the New Deal programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the work of action teams for jobs. [45047]

Action Teams for Jobs are helping the most disadvantaged jobless people in the most employment deprived areas into work. They are performing well, developing innovative and individually tailored solutions to the problems people face when looking for work.By the end of February, Action Teams had helped over 23,700 jobless people into work. In the first six months of the new South Manchester Action Team, which covers my hon. Friend's constituency, the team has engaged with 304 people and already helped 51 of these move into work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to increase public awareness of the state second pension; and if he will make a statement. [45048]

The state second pension reformed the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) on 6 April 2002. It will boost the additional state pension entitlement of 14 million low and moderate earners. Additionally, for the first time two million carers and two million people whose working lives are disrupted by long-term illness or disability will also benefit as a result of the reforms in that they will be able to build up entitlement to the state second pension.Most people will benefit automatically from the state second pension without having to do anything new or different. Our publicity activity therefore focuses on the group who may not automatically start building up state second pension and may need to take appropriate action. We aim to encourage carers to check their circumstances now, We have produced a new leaflet and started a programme of activity to inform relevant groups, which includes press advertising. In addition, we included a message in the child benefit uprating letter, are revising existing leaflets, and we are sending copies of the new leaflet to advisers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the additional cost of the basic state pension would be in (a) 2010, (b) 2020, (c) 2030, (d) 2040 and (e) 2050 if the inflation rate were (i) 2 per cent. and (ii) 1.5 per cent. in one year out of every two, and (A) 2.5 per cent. or more in the other years and (B) 2.5 per cent. each year. [41195]

Additional cost to basic state pension if in one year out of every two the inflation rate were:

(i) 2 per cent.

(ii) 1.5 per cent.

£ billion
	2 per cent. inflation	1.5 per cent. inflation
2010	0.4	0.8
2020	1.5	3.05
2030	3.2	6.55
2040	5	10.5
2050	6.55	13.85

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people he expects to contract back into SERPS/the state second pension over the next 10 years from (a) personal pension schemes and (b) final salary occupational pension schemes. [44684]

No such estimate has been made. The decision to contract out of SERPS/state second pension is a matter of personal choice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the future of the basic state pension. [45910]

The Government believe that the basic retirement pension should remain the essential foundation of income in retirement.We increased rates last April by £5 a week for single people and £8 a week for couples and from April 2002 there will be further increases of £3 a week for single people and £4.80 for couples. In future, the state pension will rise by at least 2.5 per cent, or the September rate of RPI, whichever is the higher.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many area-based city of Westminster poverty initiatives are administered by his Department. [45049]

The Department believes that employment is the best way out of poverty and our Welfare to Work initiatives are helping people move into work in all parts of the country. The new deals have already helped over 600,000 people into jobs, including over 700 in the hon. Member's constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend the winter heating allowance to people with disabilities. [45015]

We are mindful of the needs of people with disabilities, that is why the Government have taken steps to provide help towards the extra costs that people with disabilities may have, through Disability Living Allowance and the disability premiums in income-related benefits. This could include heating costs. Most people over 60, including many who are disabled, are entitled to winter fuel payments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to introduce legislative proposals to tackle age discrimination. [45028]

Ageist employment practices are bad for employers, older workers and society. The cost of the fall in employment of the over 50s is estimated to be in the range of £16 billion to £31 billion per year in lost gross domestic product. The Department for Work and Pensions is promoting the business case for non-ageist employment practices to all employers and individuals across Great Britain through our Age Positive campaign.The introduction of the employment-related age discrimination legislation, and the consultations on its development, are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. It is proposed that age discrimination legislation will be introduced in 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people who have benefited from his Department's legislation on pension-sharing after divorce; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of this legislation. [32622]

I have been asked to reply.My Department has been monitoring pension sharing orders made by the courts. Our records show that 367 such orders have been made since December 2000. My Department is currently evaluating the effectiveness of this legislation as it applies to divorce proceedings. I hope to be able to announce the results of this in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 420W, what the cost of refurbishing each ministerial private office was in each year since May 1997. [37896]

Since May 1997 no refurbishment work has been carried out in ministerial private office outside of the routine programme of maintenance, repair and renewal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons high travel to work costs as a ground of variation have been abolished; and what factors underlay setting the judgment rate at 8 per cent. [44432]

We believe that support for children must come first. None the less we recognise that there are many calls on the finances of non-resident parents. The standard percentage rates for child support maintenance in the new scheme reflect those other demands. Any attempt to reflect the specific costs of each person would lead to the reintroduction of an overly complex scheme.The judgment rate is the statutory interest rate. It is set in England and Wales by the Lord Chancellor and in Scotland by the Lord President of the Court of Session.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the pensions awareness advertising campaign. [46461]

The Government are committed to ensuring people are properly informed in order to make decisions about saving for their retirement and the "Pensions Education" publicity campaign is a major part of this strategy. Results so far are encouraging——since the campaign started in January 2001 it has provoked more than 1.1 million responses and almost 1.4 million information guides have been sent out. Changing attitudes towards planning for retirement will inevitably take time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of Spanish presidency proposals for an EU wide pension fund solvency test; what impact he estimates such a test would have on UK final salary pension schemes; and if he will make a statement. [48554]

The issue of EU level solvency requirements for pension funds is being considered as part of the proposed directive on occupational pension schemes. Any impact on UK schemes would depend on the details of the requirements. We are working to ensure that the final version of the directive is consistent with UK pension arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Daventry on 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 617W, if he can now publish the findings of his literature and good practice reviews on vocational rehabilitation; and what progress has been made in developing conjunction with the Department of Health and national strategy for vocational rehabilitation. [48295]

The report "Employment Programmes for Disabled People: Lessons from Research Evaluations" was published on 30 January 2002 as Report No. 90 in the departmental in-house report series. A copy is available in the Library.Ministers from this Department and the Department of Health intend to meet in the near future to discuss possible arrangements for joint working on vocational rehabilitation.

Table 1: Cash terms
	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Budgets (£ million)
CCG Budget	97.0	98.0	98.0	100.0	103.0	108.0
Loans Budget	370.0	402.7	436.7	494.0	516.6	518.0
Contingency Reserve	0.5	0.5	0.5	2.0	1.0	1.0
In-year allocation to loans budget (£ million)	0	2.2	21.2	30.6	31.1	n/a
Outturn (£)
CCG expenditure	96,499,000	97,774,000	98,139,000	99,978,000	n/a	n/a
Loans expenditure	366,225,000	404,364,000	457,784,000	501,150,000	n/a	n/a

Table 2: Real terms (at 2001–02 prices)
	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Budgets (£ million)
CCG Budget	106.6	104.7	102.3	102.5	103.0
Loans Budget	406.5	430.4	455.9	506.4	516.6
Contingency Reserve	0.5	0.5	0.5	2.1	1.0
In-year allocation to loans budget (£ million)	0	2.4	22.1	31.4	31.4
Outturn (£)
CCG expenditure	106,010,000	104,489,000	102,443,000	102.443,000	n/a
Loans expenditure	402,320,000	432,134,000	477,859,000	513.679,000	n/a

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Benefit Office employees recruited within the last 12 months have been over 55. [48706]

The Department of Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security (DSS) and parts of the Department for Education and Employment. The vast majority of Benefit paying employees were employed by the DSS, therefore the data supplied below has been taken from their legacy systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to delay the introduction of the post office card account. [47423]

The implementation of the card account is a matter for the Post Office. They hope to have accounts available from 2003 and have recently signed contracts with DWP, IR and NISSA to make these accounts available from this date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what has been the (a) budget and (b) outturn of (i) the community care grant budget and (ii) the loans budget, in (1) cash and (2) real terms in each year since 1997. [48642]

The available information is in the tables:There have been 277 people over the age of 55 recruited into benefit paying offices between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether those entitled to disability living allowance lower rate mobility component, but not the care component, who are also in receipt of disability premium in income support, will lose the latter entitlement if no longer eligible for the lower rate mobility component; and how many people are in receipt of the disability premium in income support solely as a result of entitlement to lower rate mobility component of DLA. [48640]

People receiving disability living allowance qualify for the disability premium within income support regardless of whether they receive the higher, middle or lower rate of either the care or mobility component, as any of these elements allows entitlement to the disability premium.Information on the number of people in receipt of the disability premium in income support solely as a result of being entitled to the lower rate mobility component of disability living allowance is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for Social Fund loans have been (a) refused, (b) fully awarded and (c) partially awarded yearly since 1997. [48644]

The available information is in the tables.

Social fund
Thousands
Year	Total number of awards	Partial awards included in previous column	Refusals
Budgeting loans
1997–98	916	319	494
1998–99	935	315	442
1999–2000	1,017	533	647
2000–01	1,145	661	531
Crisis loans
1997–98	803	628	230
1998–99	866	690	247
1999–2000	939	746	336
2000–01	930	746	342

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) capital and (b) revenue underspend in his Department is expected to be in the financial year 2001–02. [47795]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Ministry of Defence's estimated outturn figures for 2001–02 will be published in the Budget report on 17 April 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what overseas facilities are run by the British Army's Training Estates Division; and in which countries the facilities are located; [47617](2) which military and security forces have received training within the British Army's Training Estates Division overseas facilities since 2 May 1997; which countries were involved; what types of training were provided; and how many personnel were trained; [47616](3) what human rights criteria are used to assess which military and security personnel are eligible to receive training within the British Army's Training Estates Division overseas facilities. [47618]

The Army Estates's Division is responsible for managing UK training areas only. Part of the Army's Land Warfare Centre (LWC) (formerly Training Support Command (Land)) has responsibility for the conduct of some overseas training. The LWC conducts training at four overseas facilities. These are in Germany, Canada, Belize and Kenya. In addition, the Field Army maintains a facility in Brunei, though this is not part of the LWC training estate. I should point out that the arrangements under which we use these facilities are different in every country and we are not responsible for the "running" of all the facilities in question.Since 1997 large numbers of British units have trained at these facilities but details are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Foreign military personnel on attachment to British units and foreign observers have also participated in British exercises, but once again, details are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.The LWC does offer jungle warfare training to members of foreign forces at its facilities in Belize. Since 1997 a total of 18 students have participated in this training, 12 from the Netherlands and six from the Ukraine.In terms of formed foreign units that use the overseas facilities, certain NATO countries are permitted to conduct training at the facilities that the LWC operate in Germany under arrangements contained within the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). This agreement in itself authorises the UK to manage facilities which are owned by the German Federal Government. In summary, the countries whose forces are permitted to train at these UK managed facilities are Belgium, Canada, France, the Netherlands, the USA and of course Germany itself. Since 1997, the formed foreign units that have trained here are Bundeswehr Units (31 Airborne Brigade, 313 Infantry Parachute Battalion, 272 Airborne Attack Defence Battalion, Seven Armoured Recognisance Battalion, 270 Airborne Supplies Company); German Specialist Units (GSG and SEK (German Civil Police Special Operations)); Belgian Units (two (BE) Commando Battalion, Regiment Beveijing——five Linie, Regiment De Chasseurs Ardennais and one BE Parachute); Dutch Units (108 Company (Special Forces) and HQ 11 Air

Mobile Brigade); United States Units (75

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many uniformed staff were on duty in the village of Imber on Sunday on 31 March; for what purpose; and what equipment they used. [48625]

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: On 31 March, four uniformed Land Wardens were on duty in Imber in order to ensure the safety of members of the general public. All the Land Wardens drive quarter tonne Land Rovers with radio communication equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons have been discharged from the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) Royal Air Force for medical reasons in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [46667]

There have been 10,067 medical discharges from the Naval Services (Royal Navy and Royal Marines), the Army and the Royal Air Force between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 2001. These are broken down by service and year in the table.

Year	Army	Navy	RAF	Total
1996	1,189	339	200	1,728
1997	1,067	354	223	1,644
1998	1,060	448	155	1,663
1999	1,099	456	189	1,744
2000	1,023	484	201	1,708
2001	973	413	194	1,580
Total	6,411	2,494	1,162	10,067

Further information on medical discharges can be found in the National Statistics publication entitled "Medical Discharges in the Armed Forces 2001" which was published on 27 March 2002. This publication can be found on the world wide web at http://www.dasa.mod.uk/medstats/discharge/ns——initframe.htm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel have been deployed working on UN missions in each of the last five years; what the missions are; how many personnel have been involved in each mission; what the cost has been to the MOD; and if he will make a statement. [46674]

The Ministry of Defence does not hold information centrally in the form requested and this could he provided only at disproportionate cost. I can, however, provide details of involvement by service personnel in current UN missions, these details being a snapshot only, as numbers vary during the course of a year. The details, including estimated costs for financial year 2001–02, are set out in the table. Costs for UN missions are reimbursed to the MOD from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who in turn are allocated funds from the Global Conflict Prevention Fund.

£ million
Mission	Country	Number of UK personnel	Cost
UNOMIG	Georgia	7	0.5
UNAMSIL	Sierra Leone	22	2
MONUC	D. R. Congo	6	0.6
UNIFICYP	Cyprus	112	15.9
UNIKOM	Kuwait	226	1
UNTAET	East Timor	3382	0.4
1 UNIFICYP headquarters
2 British headquarters
3 Roulement regiment

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what personnel in (a) Royal Navy, (b) Army and (c) RAF have been involved in deployments to the Falkland Islands in the last five years; how many of those deployments have been for six months; what the total cost has been to the MOD for the Falkland Islands garrison in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [46666](2) what

Information regarding the number of deployments undertaken by UK regular forces is not available in the format requested.As regards lengths of tours, tours in Bosnia, Kosovo and the Falkland Islands are considered as operational deployments. In the main, Royal Air Force operational deployments are four months in duration, whereas Army and Navy operational deployments are usually for six months. There are exceptions, however, such as those posts identified as continuity posts that require a deployment of 12 months duration. For service personnel posted to Cyprus and Gibraltar, which are garrison deployments, a tour length of 24 months is the norm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 552W, on senior armed forces, how many officers there are of the rank of General and equivalent or above for each service; what steps the Ministry of Defence takes to ensure that its objective of reflecting the diversity of British society is monitored and implemented; and if he will make a statement on how the Government plan to ensure that senior officers are drawn from the whole range of society. [48701]

There are 12 officers of the rank of full General or equivalent and above currently appointed in the armed forces (Naval Service five; Army four; RAF three). The armed forces are committed to creating an organisational culture that welcomes diversity in which all have equal opportunity and encouragement to realise their full potential, regardless of race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or social/educational background. Promotion in the armed forces is based on merit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received on instances of information on the identities of British soldiers or former soldiers who may be called upon to testify to the Saville Inquiry falling into unauthorised hands; and if he will make a statement. [47059]

[holding answer 11 April 2002]: I understand that the names of 76 soldiers (some of whom are deceased) have been disclosed in advertently by the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, mainly in historical documents passed by the inquiry to the interested parties. Two names have been disclosed inadvertently by the team of lawyers representing the majority of soldiers. The name of one soldier has been compromised as a result of a security breach in the Treasury Solicitor's Department; this is the subject of a continuing investigation.Many soldiers' names have become publicly associated with Bloody Sunday. Senior officers were not granted anonymity in 1972, while other soldiers have made statements or given interviews in which they name themselves or colleagues.The soldiers whose names have been compromised have been, or will be, provided with security advice and additional protective measures where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has recently reviewed the security arrangements for the handling of information relating to British soldiers and former soldiers by Treasury Counsel and others concerned with the Saville Inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [47125]

[holding answer 11 April 2002]: Security arrangements in Government Departments, and for those acting on their behalf, are reviewed regularly.The Bloody Sunday Inquiry is independent of government and its security arrangements are a matter for the inquiry itself. My understanding is that in safeguarding sensitive or personal information the inquiry aims to follows normal public sector procedures and standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what establishment strength of the Army was set under the Strategic Defence Review. [49746]

The Strategic Defence Review did not set a figure for the size of the Army. A decision was made, however, to increase the Army's manpower requirement by some 3,300 posts to reflect the inclusion of a sixth deployable brigade and a second line of communication. It remains our intention to man the Army to achieve this, although the overall manpower requirement is dynamic and subject to continuing review in light of evolving doctrine, new technology and equipment and possible changes to the operating environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings in terms of equipment acquisition will be made from the decision to purchase 18 Nimrod MRA4s. [49764]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 February 2002, Official Report, columns 1452–53W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer), on the basis of current assumptions, savings in support costs are likely to be some £360 million over the in-service life of the aircraft. The savings in procurement costs arising from the current contract have yet to be finally negotiated with BAE Systems and its principal suppliers, and is a commercial in confidence matter between the relevant parties. However, as my announcement made clear, we are working closely with BAE Systems to maximise the benefits brought about by this decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates talks (a) have been and (b) will be held between his Department and the lawyers representing Kenyan tribespeople who have been injured as a result of unexploded British Army ordnance. [48934]

Meetings between the Ministry of Defence and the lawyers representing Kenyan tribespeople were held on 28 November 2001, 11 January and 8 April 2002. One further meeting has been planned for end of June before mediation talks are held over the period 17 to 19 July 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the policy of the Government are on liability for death and injury caused by unexploded ordnance left behind after British military exercises in Kenya; and if he will make a statement. [49795]

When compensation claims are submitted, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation we do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Vetting Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [49905]

The Defence Vetting Agency is the largest government organisation carrying out national security checks on people to allow them to be employed in jobs involving access to sensitive information or assets. These jobs range throughout the Ministry of Defence and armed services, a number of other Government Departments, and defence contractor companies. This year will see the Agency emerge from a challenging modernisation and rationalisation programme that started soon after it was created in 1997. The completion of the programme will create a much more responsive, integrated organisation, able to exploit the capabilities of modern information technology to the benefit of its customers. The chief executive has been set the following key targets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Naval Manning Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [49906]

The key targets that have been set for the chief executive of the Naval Manning Agency for the financial year 2002–03 are as listed. The targets build upon progress made by the agency since it formed on 1 July 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Royal Air Force's total inventory of Harrier GR7s is; and how many are operationally available. [43632]

[holding answer 15 March 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 March 2002, Official Report, column 552W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2002, Official Report, column 450W to the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen), when he will place a letter in the Library detailing his Department's contracts for which Israeli companies are bidding as (a) prime contractors and (b) teaming partners; and in the case of the latter, with which companies they are teamed. [49793]

I replied to the hon. Member today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects HMS Albion to be fully operational; what refit would be necessary to keep HMS Fearless in operation for one more year; how much it would cost; whether he has considered recommissioning HMS Intrepid; whether he foresees any need for CPD capability in the next 12 months; and what contingency plans he has in place. [46971]

On current plans, HMS Albion will be available for operational tasking early in 2003, and she is expected to be fully operational by mid 2003. HMS Fearless would have needed to undergo and assisted maintenance period at an estimated cost of about £1.5 million to allow her to continue in service for a year beyond her decommissioning date. The assisted maintenance period represented the minimum package of work required to keep HMS Fearless in service. Given the age of the vessel, the possibility of additional unplanned repair during this period could not be ruled out. The cost of re-commissioning HMS Intrepid, the sister ship of HMS Fearless, which last put to sea in 1994, would greatly exceed the cost of HMS Fearless's foregone assisted maintenance period. It would not therefore make financial sense to re-commission HMS Intrepid.The requirement for a docking and heavy lift capability needs to be considered in the prevailing operational context at any particular time. Our assessment is that until HMS Albion enters service, the circumstances in which it is most likely that the UK wold be involved in an operation requiring a dedicated amphibious assault capability would be where we were acting as part of a coalition force. In such a scenario, depending on the requirements of the operation, a docking and heavy lift capability could be provided from within the forces of our coalition partners to enhance the UK's specialist amphibious capabilities of HMS Ocean and the five landing ships logistic. HMS Ocean is available for amphibious force tasking until October this year when she is due, on current plans, to commence a docking period before she again becomes available for tasking early in 2003. However until HMS Albion enters service, the amphibious assault capability will, if operational imperatives dictate, be filled in part by other platforms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 326W, on strategic lift transport ships, what the date is for the keel lay of HMS 'Beach Head'; and when she is to be delivered. [47391]

I assume that the question refers to the answer that appeared on 6 March 2002, Official Report, columns 325–26W. I refer the hon. Member to my pursuant answer of 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 32W. The delivery date is 30 April 2003. Beachy Head will be a commercial ship with the designation motor vessel (my) not HMS.

To ask the President of the Council what representations he has received on the exemption of hon. Members from the proposed congestion charge for vehicles entering central London. [48799]

I am aware that this is a matter of some concern for Members, but I have received no direct representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the policy of the Government is on an amnesty for those convicted of terrorist offences. [44402]

At the talks at Weston Park last summer, both the Irish and UK Governments recognised that there is an issue to be addressed, with the completion of the early release scheme, about supporters of organisations now on ceasefire against whom there are outstanding prosecutions, and in some cases extradition proceedings, for offences committed before 10 April 1998. Such people would, if convicted, stand to benefit from the early release scheme. The Governments accept that it would be a natural development of the scheme for such prosecutions not to be pursued. Consideration continues of the best way to discharge this commitment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 16 November 2001, Official Report, column 938W, if he will name the judge who has been appointed to investigate the cases of Chief Superintendent Breen, Superintendent Buchanan, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson and Billy Wright; and if he will make a statement. [35229]

The Government stand by the commitment made at Weston Park to appoint a judge of international standing to investigate allegations of collusion in the cases of the murders of Chief Superintendent Breen and Superintendent Buchanan, Pat Finucane, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, Robert Hamill, Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright. It is intended that the investigation of each individual case will begin no later than April 2002 unless this is clearly prejudicial to a forthcoming prosecution at that time. The British and Irish Governments will make an announcement as soon as an appointment is made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people convicted of scheduled offences committed before 10 April 1998 are in prison in Northern Ireland. [44325]

There are 11 such prisoners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland of those people who remain in prison for scheduled offences committed before 10 April 1998 how many belong to (a) Republican groups and (b) Loyalist groups. [44330]

In total there are 11 such prisoners. Information is held for management purposes in relation to the perceived affiliation of prisoners: nine are or were at one time perceived to be associated with Loyalist groups and two with Republican groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners have been released from prison in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act; and of those how many belong to (a) Republican groups and (b) Loyalist groups. [44329]

As at 15 March 2002, 445 individuals had been released from prison under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act. Information is held, for management purposes, in relation to the perceived paramilitary association of prisoners. 240 individuals were perceived to be associated with Republican groups, 193 were perceived to be associated with Loyalist groups and 12 had no perceived association.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by his Department in each of the last 24 months; and if he will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases. [33234]

My Department does not hold centrally or separately the number of television sets purchased. Officials, when purchasing television sets follow general guidance and procedures for all procurement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what proportion of the staff of his Department are (a) job sharing, (b) term working and (c) engaged in another form of flexible working. [42417]

Information is not held in the format requested.The number of people job sharing in the Department is 25, and there are a further 10 in the Northern Ireland Prison Service. This is 2 per cent. of the staff in post.The number of people engaged in part-time working in the Department is 116, and there are a further 27 in the Northern Ireland Prison Service. This is 8 per cent. of the staff in post.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff have been employed by his Department in each of the last 10 years. [42464]

Full time equivalent staff numbers in the Northern Ireland Office, for the last 10 years, including civil servants, special advisers and Prison Governor and uniformed Prison Officer grades are as follows:

	Staff numbers
1991–92	5,752
1992–93	5,683
1993–94	5,747
1994–95	5,705
1995–96	4,779
1996–97	4,590
1997–98	4,446
1998–99	4,232
1999–2000	3,929
2000–01	3,306

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the public service agreement targets which have been revised and those which have been introduced since the publication of the 2001 departmental report. [43255]

I can confirm that none of my Department's existing PSA targets have been revised and no new targets introduced for the public service agreement since the publication of the 2001 departmental report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what creche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost. [44862]

Although the Northern Ireland Office does not provide creche facilities for its staff, it does provide assistance with the cost of child care to staff with pre-school aged children. In the last financial year the Department and its agencies have assisted 154 staff at a total cost of £114,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the (a) financial costs and (b) benefits to his Department of the Parental Leave Directive. [42481]

The information is as follows:

(a) There are no financial costs as parental leave is unpaid.

(b) The benefits include meeting staff needs, raising staff morale and ensuring the retention of experienced and trained staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in each of the last four years. [35020]

Details of the Department's (including it's agencies) total expenditure on the use of external consultants in each of the last four financial years are:

• 1998–99: £254,080
• 1999–2000: £486,622
• 2000–01: £361,971
• 2001–02: £1,955,910 (to date. There is substantial increase in this financial year due to numerous new IT projects).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what events (a) he is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. [33252]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 59W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, the amount spent (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad by (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) its non-departmental public bodies on (1) providing mobile telephone equipment, including handsets and other associated equipment, (2) telephone calls made using such equipment and (3) telephone calls made using privately owned mobile telephones but subsequently reclaimed by (x) Ministers and (y) staff. [34395]

Details of the Department's (including it's agencies, but excluding NDPBs as we do not have access to breakdown of their expenditure) total expenditure on mobile telephones and calls in each of the last five financial years are:

£
	Line rental	Call charges	Mobiles and equipment	Total
1997–98	36,498	38,293	14,275	89,065
1998–99	33,882	69,224	4,431	107,537
1999–2000	43,175	45,519	5,652	94,346
2000–01	64,297	29,172	3,314	96,783
2001–02	49,457	22,726	2.587	174,770
1 To 31 January 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the target time will be in 2002–03 for (a) Ministers to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) officials in his Department to reply to letters received directly from members of the public. [44947]

The target time in 2002–03 for Ministers to reply to letters from hon. Members is 10 working days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on energy costs incurred by his Department in each of the last 10 years. [42445]

Financial information for the years prior to 1996–97 is not readily available.Details of the Department's (including its agencies, but excluding NDPBs) total expenditure on energy costs for the last six years are:

Year	£
1996–97	3,156,147
1997–98	2,981,720
1998–99	2,616,093
1999–2000	2,684,527
2000–01	2,762,408
2001–02	12,762,408
1 To end February 2002. Total year estimate £2.259,857

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many special advisers there were in his Department; and what their salaries were in each of the last five years. [46940]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 11W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the last two years applications for visitors' entry clearances have been given on the basis of the constituency hon. Members where the sponsor resides giving their word that the person would leave the UK at the end of the time permitted. [48798]

We do not keep records of the reasons behind the issue of entry clearance; it is granted where the applicant meets the requirements of the immigration rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the Hazards of Nuclear Materials Transported from Europe to Japan by (a) CARICOM, (b) the Rio Group and (c) the Pacific Island Forum in the last 12 months. [49494]

The Secretary of State received a representation from CARICOM on the movement of nuclear waste through the Caribbean sea while at the UK-Caribbean Forum in Guyana (3–5 April 2002). The Rio Group Heads of State and Government expressed their concern about the risks related to the transit of radioactive materials in the Santiago Declaration of 17 August 2001. We have not received a representation on this from the Pacific Island Forum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision will be made on offering the people of Gibraltar a referendum on their future; who will write the referendum question; in what way the UK Government will be bound by the decision of Gibraltarians; what the UK Government policy will be on a referendum for the people of Gibraltar; if he will publish the full text of the Anglo-Spanish accord on the issue of Gibraltar; and whether the referendum question will be put before Parliament for approval before it is put to the people of Gibraltar. [47964]

No decisions have been made on the timing or modalities of any referendum other than because it could trigger primary legislation in the UK. HMG will expect to oversee the organisation and timing of any such referendum in consultation with the Government of Gibraltar. The Government have also made clear that any proposals affecting the sovereignty of Gibraltar will be put to the people of Gibraltar and implemented only if they approve them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) pursuant to his answer of 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 689W, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Kelvin (Mr. Galloway), what changes have been made to the evaluation of end-use undertakings issued by the Israeli Government with reference to Israel's assurances on 29 November 2000 on the use of UK originated equipment and systems; and if he will make a statement; [46418](2) pursuant to his answer of 11 March 2002,

The written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Kelvin (Mr. Galloway) on 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 689W, informed Parliament of information that had come to light about UK-supplied equipment licensed for export under a previous Administration and a different export control regime being used in the occupied territories. I undertook to inform my hon. Friend and the House of the response from the Israeli Government to our request for an explanation.Following parallel action taken in London——on 12 March——and by our embassy in Tel Aviv——on 13 March——the Israeli Foreign Ministry formally responded on 26 March.The Israeli Foreign Ministry has said that the assurances given on 29 November 2000 were in good faith, and offered an explanation based on operational need about the use of the armoured personnel carriers in the occupied territories. They did not however accept that this was a breach of the assurances given and they have not committed to stop using the armoured personnel carriers in the occupied territories. In the light of this response we will (a) continue to assess export licence applications for the proposed export of controlled goods to Israel on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria; but (b) in so doing, we will no longer take the Israeli assurances given on 29 November 2000 into account.We also have questions about other possible breaches of the assurances with regard to equipment supplied under previous Administrations, which we are taking up with the Israeli authorities. I will report the results of our inquiries to the House once they are complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made to the advice given to travellers to Israel since the outbreak of recent fighting; and what further changes to this advice are planned. [49040]

All travel advice notices are kept under constant review and updated to reflect the latest security situation.Since the most recent invasion of the occupied territories on 28–29 March, the travel advice for Israel and the Palestinian Authority has been updated twice to reflect the developments in the security situation and the risks to British nationals in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.Our key message

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence Her Majesty's Government have that Iraq (a) has provided and (b) is planning to provide (i) information and (ii) materials for weapons of mass destruction to the al-Qaeda network. [49484]

As we have previously made clear, we have no evidence of links between the Iraqi regime and al-Qaeda. But we are keeping an open mind about Iraqi connections to al-Qaeda and are investigating all reports of links.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions his Department has taken in relation to Zimbabwe since the inauguration of Robert Mugabe as President in March. [48786]

EU Foreign Ministers will consider further action on Zimbabwe at the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 15 April. I will give a substantive reply after the meeting. We also have been in close touch with the Commonwealth Secretariat and individual members of the Commonwealth. The right hon. Member will be aware that, following the election, the Commonwealth "Troika" decided upon the suspension of Zimbabwe from the Councils of the Commonwealth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the leaders of countries bordering Zimbabwe since the elections in that country last month; and what the results of those talks were. [48785]

Ministers and officials continue to be in close touch with key countries in the region and with other international partners about the situation in Zimbabwe.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list those individuals who have had sanctions imposed on them by the European Union and the United States as a result of political violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe; [48790](2) if he will list the occasions on which those individuals against whom targeted sanction have been imposed by the European Union have visited the EU since the 2000 parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe, broken down by

On 18 February 2002 the European Union imposed a travel ban (and assets freeze) on the following 20 senior members of the Government of Zimbabwe:

• President Robert Gabriel Mugabe
• Cabinet Secretary Charles Utete
• Parliamentary Speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa
• Home Affairs Minister John Nkomo
• Security Minister Nicholas Goche
• Youth Minister Elliot Manyika
• Information Minister Jonathan Moyo
• Information Minister's Permanent Secretary and Spokesman George Charamba
• Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa
• Agricultural Minister Joseph Made
• Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo
• Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge
• Senior Secretary MFA Willard Chiwewe
• General Vitalis Zvinavashe (CDS)
• Lieutenant General Constantine Chiwenga (army)
• Air Marshal Perence Shin (air force)
• Commissioner Augustine Chihuri (police)
• Brigadier Elisha Muzonzini (intelligence)
• Prisons chief Paradzai Zimondi
• Defence Minister Sidney Sekeramayi.

None of the above mentioned Zimbabweans have attempted to visit the European Union since imposition of the travel ban on 18 February.We have no access to records of other EU member states. All were entitled to visit the UK prior to 18 February, as Zimbabweans are not required to obtain visas to travel to the UK. No consolidated record will be available for any such visits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received concerning (a) food shortages, (b) politically motivated murders, (c) suppression of the media and (d) political intimidation and oppression in Zimbabwe since the elections. [48787]

We and the Department for International Development receive regular reports from a variety of governmental, non-governmental, media and other sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 611W, on civil servants, if he will list the type of information held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's manpower system, whether it provides information on the type of school that staff attended; and what steps his Department takes to ensure that its stated objective of reflecting the diversity of British society is monitored and implemented. [48698]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's manpower system holds data on personal details, which include marital status, gender, date of birth, number of children, home address, next of kin. Other data held include entry and leaving details, promotion details, staff whereabouts and history, previous Foreign and Commonwealth Office service, appraisal history, skills details, language details, qualification details, employment details and training course details. Historical information on the type of school staff attended is held only in some cases, hence the data are incomplete. The recruitment section monitors ethnicity, gender and disability statistics at each stage of the recruitment process. Since 1995, the recruitment section records have identified the type of school attended for those candidates at policy and operational entry points who successfully gain entrance to the diplomatic service. Before 1995, recruitment data on the type of school were collected only on policy entrants. These figures are published annually in the departmental report. A copy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office diversity strategy has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-diplomatic service appointments he has made since 7 June 2001. [46226]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 210W.The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has made nine appointments to FCO non-departmental public bodies since 7 June 2001. As well as those included in my answer of 4 December 2001, three appointments have been made to Wilton Park Academic Council (the new appointment of Mr. David Heath MP, and the reappointment of Lady Suzanne Warner and Mr. Nik Gowing).There have also been a number of non-diplomatic service appointments made by several departments within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, records of which are not held centrally. These would include members of home civil service staff, 225 having taken up their appointment through open competition, 14 through transfer from other Government Departments; and five reinstated staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the companies from which his Department has obtained timber and wood products and the total spent with each firm over the last five years. [43406]

Detailed information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, it is FCO policy to buy timber and wood products from sustainable and legal sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to increase the provision of overseas aid to Egypt; and if she will make a statement. [48778]

We have no plans to increase direct development assistance to Egypt. The country already receives high levels of assistance from the EC of which the UK contribution was £17.5 million in 1999. Our bilateral allocations to Egypt are £4 million and £3.5 million in 2002–03 and 2003–04 respectively. New commitments will be focused on improving the effectiveness of EC assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much overseas aid has been provided by her Department to Egypt in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [48777]

Since 1997 my Department has provided the following amounts of direct assistance to Egypt:

	£000
1996–97	6,229
1997–98	7,246
1998–99	4,947
1999–2000	3,546
2000–01	2,661

We also provide significant indirect assistance via multilateral institutions in particular the EC. In 1999 our share of the EC programme was £17.5 million

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the Andhra Pradesh Government on ensuring that the impact on food security for the population of Andhra Pradesh of strategies developed under the Government's Vision 2020 strategy is taken into account; and if she will make a statement. [48764]

Enhanced livelihood security for the poor is one of the five priorities for DFID support for Andhra Pradesh. We are in on-going dialogue with the Departments of the Government of Andhra Pradesh responsible for policy in the areas of agriculture production and productivity of natural resources. We are providing £45.4 million for the Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Project which seeks to help 1.5 million people, directly or indirectly, by reducing poverty and vulnerability to drought through land rehabilitation, productive and sustainable farming methods, social mobilisation, employment and non-land based income generation. All these elements have an important contribution to make in enhancing the food security of the poor.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the Andhra Pradesh Government regarding the consolidation of farms and the impact of the reduction in number of farms on the population of Andhra Pradesh; and if she will make a statement. [48765]