To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken to reduce the tax contribution for private child care providers. [60348]

Introducing the National Childcare Strategy shows that the Government recognise the importance of good quality affordable child care. We have encouraged and supported private child care provision.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an assessment of the progress made in improving public services through public service agreements. [60349]

Departments publish performance against their public service agreement targets in departmental reports.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new proposals he has to improve the regulation of financial services. [60351]

Since the FSA assumed its statutory powers on 1 December last year, it has been the single authority with responsibility for the regulation of the UK financial services industry, with rule-making powers. By 2004, the FSA will also assume responsibility for the regulation of mortgages and general insurance. The FSA has proposed changes to the polarisation rules that should enhance the benefits of competition and improve access to financial advice for many consumers and is working to ensure that information and disclosure to consumers of endowment mortgages and other financial products is improved.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he will ensure that bingo players benefit from the proposed extension of the betting and pools tax regime. [60352]

We will do so precisely in the way we did when reforming the betting and pools tax regimes, by working with the bingo companies to produce a new system of taxation which boosts growth, secures duty revenues, and benefits bingo players.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department has analysed the annual fund flows into the United Kingdom deriving from membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [60353]

HM Treasury officials continually monitor UK public sector receipts from the EC Budget, and an analysis is published in the annual White Paper on European Community Finances.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Treasury is doing to ensure the availability of venture capital in all parts of the UK. [60354]

The Government are committed to increasing the supply of risk capital for businesses throughout the UK. Backed by up to £80 million of Government support, regional venture capital funds will provide up to £270 million of investment in small businesses with growth potential across England. The devolved Administrations have similar public/private equity schemes. The Government have also invested £20 million in a £40 million community development venture fund focused on the most deprived wards in England.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from small business representatives about taxation. [60356]

The Government have received a number of representations from a variety of organisations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what bilateral discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding new taxes and regulations imposed on small businesses. [63083]

The Chancellor meets regularly with Cabinet colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.Since 1997 the Government have introduced numerous measures to help small business, including:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about his policy towards the cancellation of the poorest countries' debts. [60357]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on his policy towards the cancellation of debt in the world's poorest countries. [60358]

The Chancellor argued strongly for the further progress on debt that was made at the G7 meeting in Halifax, Canada, this weekend. The decision to complete the financing of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) trust fund will allow a further $1 billion (£677 million) of debt to be written off from the poorest countries' balance sheets.That will help them adjust to the impact of the world economic slow down following the tragic events of September 11 and the collapse in commodity prices.Under its 100 per cent. policy, the UK is already providing total debt relief to all eligible countries under the HIPC initiative and continues to use every opportunity to press other countries to do likewise.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what rate UK manufacturing industry productivity has changed since 1997. [60359]

UK manufacturing productivity growth has averaged 2.6 per cent. a year since 1997. The Government are aiming to deliver conditions for improved productivity performance over the long term, and to that end have introduced a range of policies to promote competition, and raise investment, innovation and skills.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the impact of the recent slow down in the eurozone economy on manufacturing industry in the south-west of England. [60374]

The Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers regularly meet with manufacturing representatives from all regions and countries of the UK, including the south-west. These discussions cover a wide range of issues and the Government value the insights gained.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the deployment of HM Customs and Excise resources in remote coastal communities. [60360]

Customs' resources, including its modern cutter fleet, are deployed flexibly around the UK coast on an intelligence-led basis to address smuggling threats. 16 people were sentenced to over 200 years in jail recently for trying to bring cocaine into the UK in yachts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many customs officers are under suspension; in which regions of the country they are employed; what reasons led to their suspension; and if he will make a statement. [61337]

[holding answer 17 June 2002]: The total number of Customs and Excise officers suspended as at 16 June 2002 is 12. Seven are employed in the north of England, three in London, and two in the south of England. All involve allegations of potential gross misconduct, which if proved may result in dismissal.It is Customs and Excise policy that suspension is normally only imposed in the most serious cases, when it is necessary and in the public interest. Suspension is always without prejudice, and does not anticipate any decision about the allegations made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Skills on his plans to give financial support to 16 to 18-year-olds in further education. [60361]

The Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with the Department for Education and Skills.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the climate change levy on those industries unable to qualify for rebates. [60362]

All of the revenue from the climate change levy is recycled back to business through NICs cuts and support for energy efficiency. While the levy package is broadly revenue neutral to business as a whole, the effects on any specific sector will depend on a number of factors, including:

The future energy consumption of firms in the sector and the use they make of levy funded energy efficiency support.

Employment levels in those sectors and the benefits received from the levy funded national insurance contribution cuts.

What use firms in that sector make of electricity generated from levy-exempt renewable sources of energy and combined heat and power.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has recently received from business organisations about the climate change levy. [60373]

As part of the normal process of contact with business, the Chancellor and the Treasury ministerial team have met a variety of business organisations and individual companies, and have heard a variety of representations on climate change levy, and on other matters.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to the national economy. [60363]

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries make a valuable contribution to the UK economy in terms of output, exports, employment and innovation. For example, the UK leads the rest of Europe in the industrial exploitation of biotechnology, and is the world's third largest direct exporter of pharmaceuticals.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the document "Modernising Annuities", with special reference to his policy on the upper age limit for turning savings into retirement income. [60364]

As the consultation document "Modernising Annuities" sets out, there are sound financial reasons for people to annuitise their retirement savings by age 75. So the Government do not propose to abolish the age 75 rule.The consultation, which ran until 5 April, was intended to stimulate discussion on annuity issues. The Government are now evaluating the outcome of the consultation before deciding how to proceed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from interested organisations on annuities. [60368]

There were 601 responses to the Government's recent consultation document "Modernising Annuities". The Government are evaluating the outcome of the consultation before deciding how to proceed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the take-up of the working families tax credit within Staffordshire, Moorlands. [60365]

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Hepburn) on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 293W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the role of international trade in the reduction of poverty in the poorest countries. [60367]

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Amber Valley (Ms Mallaber), Official Report, column 395.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on rates of duty for (a) biodiesel/bioethanol and (b) fossil gas fuels, LPG and CNG. [60369]

We shall be introducing a new, lower rate of duty on biodiesel on Royal Assent to the Finance Bill, 20 pence per litre less than the rate for ultra-low sulphur mineral diesel. We have also introduced duty incentives to encourage the production and use of road fuel gases, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and have given a commitment that duty on these fuels will be frozen in real terms until at least 2004.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration has been given to the (a) chemical marking of and (b) addition of yellow dye to UK petrol and diesel to deter the sale and use of illegal fuel. [62942]

The Government set out their strategy for tackling the misuse of marked rebated oils as road fuels in "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud", published alongside the 2001 pre-Budget report. Following consultations, action is being taken to tighten fiscal control over the distribution of rebated oils and to introduce an additional European marker for rebated gas oil and rebated kerosene. The Government have seen no evidence that marking legitimate duty paid fuel would constitute a more effective or pragmatic response to the problem.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of cross-border fuel smuggling on the Northern Ireland economy. [62644]

The Government are committed to tackling fuel duty evasion and its associated problems in Northern Ireland. Further details about road fuels fraud in Northern Ireland and the Government's activities to counter it have been published in the documents "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud" (November 2001) and the Northern Ireland Organised Crime Task Force's "Threat Assessment and Strategy" documents (May 2002). Copies of these documents have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the amount of duty lost because of smuggling between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland over the last 12 months. [62936]

Customs' most recent estimate of the total revenue loss from the use of non-UK duty paid fuels, including legitimate cross-border shopping as well as all types of fraud, is for the calendar year 2000 and is contained in "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud", published in November 2001 as part of the PBR. The Government have undertaken to update those figures annually.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average cost is of a litre of (a) unleaded petrol and (b) diesel fuel in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) the rest of the United Kingdom; and what proportion of the cost is made up of fuel duty in each case. [62639]

The Department of Trade and Industry collect information on the average pump prices of unleaded petrol and diesel on a weekly basis across the UK. However, this information is not broken down by geographical region and so it is not possible to provide average costs for Northern Ireland specifically.DTI data suggests that, as at 10 June 2002, the UK average pump price of a litre of diesel was 76.1 pence and the UK average pump price of a litre of unleaded petrol was 74.6 pence.At those prices, 60.2 per cent. of the price of a litre of diesel and 61.4 per cent. of the price of a litre of petrol is made up from fuel duty.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many motor vehicles were seized in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a result of fuel fraud, in each year since 1995. [62943]

Customs records of the number of vehicles seized do not disaggregate between the nature of the offences involved in each case. I regret, therefore, that this information is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated annual cost to the Treasury is from illegal use of red diesel. [62938]

Customs latest estimates of the overall revenue loss from all forms of oils fraud were set out in the document "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud" published in November 2001.Customs believe the great majority of fraud on the British mainland involves the misuse of rebated or low tax fuels supplied for non-road use, but a specific estimate of loss from red diesel alone is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the use of illegally produced fuel in the financing of paramilitary organisations. [62945]

Customs have made no such assessment. However, the Northern Ireland Organised Crime Task Force's Year Two "Threat Assessment", which was published in May 2002, contains further information on the role of serious and organised crime in oils fraud. Copies of this document have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his assessment is of the impact of house prices on the performance of the UK economy. [60370]

The impact of house prices on the UK economy was taken into account in the Government's latest assessment of UK economic developments and prospects, published in Chapter B of the Financial Statement and Budget Report, April 2002.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the borrowing powers of the National Assembly for Wales. [60371]

There are no plans to extend the borrowing powers of the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recent 12-month rise in the claimant measure of unemployment in London. [60372]

Despite rising over the past 12 months, claimant count unemployment in London has fallen by nearly 120,000 (42 per cent.) since spring 1997 and, as for the UK as a whole, remains close to the lowest levels since the 1970s. Moreover, with employment continuing to rise, increasing by 12,000 over the past year, the London labour market is stable and performing well by historical standards.The Government's new deal programmes have eased the transition from welfare to work for over 124,000 people in London and the south-east who have moved into sustainable jobs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made by the Government in meeting their poverty reduction targets for the UK. [60339]

This Government are committed to reducing child poverty by one quarter by 2004, halving it by 2010 on the road to eradicating child poverty in a generation.Central to this is the new child tax credit, which together with child benefit, will ensure that benefits for the poorest families—worth £28 a week for the first child in 1997—will be £54.25 from next April.A meeting of the Joint Ministerial Group on Poverty with the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland Administrations will take place next month to examine not just benefits but services to children.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the annual report of the Financial Services Authority to be published. [63946]

The FSA annual report is being published today. Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses. The report forms a key part of the accountability mechanism for the FSA under Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and this report is the first to assess the performance of the FSA against its statutory objectives.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the refurbishment projects that (a) are in progress and (b) will start within the next six months; and what action is being taken to ensure that these will procure certified timber. [59763]

We are awaiting full details of the procurement of timber for the refurbishment of the Treasury building from the contractors concerned, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is made available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what penalties have been paid under the strategic partnership contract with EDS as a result of recent problems with the facilities for submitting self-assessment tax returns over the internet; and if he will make a statement. [63207]

No penalties have been paid under the strategic partnership with EDS as a result of recent problems with the facilities for submitting self-assessment tax returns over the internet.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer of 27 February

Tax Year	Date	SA ITRs issued	SA ITRs received	SA ITRs processed	SA ITRs waiting to be processed
2000–01	3 March 2002	9,607,600	8,729,200	6.889,791	1,839,409
	31 March 2002	9,641,240	8,803,111	8,006,918	796,193
2001–02	14 April 2002	6,354,061	26,919	0	26,919
	5 May 2002	8,879,206	283,553	73,251	210,302
	2 June 2002	9,079,836	751,446	323,245	428,201

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer of 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 382W, on the cost of internet tax returns; and if he will make a statement. [63206]

The cost of providing self-assessment tax returns on the internet is:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is for the latest year for which information is available of (a) the percentage of children living in one parent families, (b) the number of live births per 1,000 teenage women and (c) the percentage of children born outside marriage, broken down by (i) social class, (ii) income, (iii) race and (iv) geographic location; and if he will make a statement. [62406]

[holding answer 19 June 2002]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

The statistical data requested are as detailed in the table.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to assist Bank of England officials in making an analysis of whether the five economic tests for euro membership have been met; and if he will make a statement. [63120]

The Government have said that they will complete an assessment of the five tests within two years of the start of this Parliament. It is clear that the assessment will be a Government assessment and that the work will be undertaken by the Treasury. Once the assessment is complete, the Government will publish the conclusions and the report.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consultation exercises the Treasury has launched in each year since 1997. [59403]

Details of HM Treasury consultation papers released since 2000, including their opening and closing dates, are available on the Treasury's website (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk).Since 1997, the Treasury has issued 79 consultations on its website. The totals by year were:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public appointments he has made since 7 June 2001. [62188]

The Chancellor announced on 1 June 2002 that Laurel Powers-Freeling had been appointed to the Court of the Bank of England and that Bridget Blow, Sir Howard Davies, Sir Ian Gibson and Kathleen O'Donovan had been reappointed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of full-time workers in (a) Scotland, (b) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland and (c) Great Britain earned gross pay (i) including and (ii) excluding overtime less than (A) £302.12 per week, (B)£277.24 per week, (C) £203.85 per week and (D) £155.39 per week who were (1) male manual (2) male non-manual, (3) male, (4) female manual, (5) female non-manual, (6) female, (7) manual and (8) non-manual workers; [62914](2) what the average weekly earnings based on gross pay

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

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was collected in taxation from motorists in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [62674]

Details of revenues collected from excise duties on road fuels, and from vehicle excise duty, are published annually in the Financial Statement and Budget Report (FSBR). A collated series of annual duty receipts from road fuels is included in HM Customs "Hydrocarbon Oils Factsheet", a copy of which is available from the House of Commons Library.Details of income tax on benefits in kind relating to company cars and free fuel are given on the Inland Revenue's website.Data are not available on the total VAT from the purchase of road fuels, nor on the VAT raised on the purchase of all motor vehicles.Information regarding insurance premium tax on motor insurance premiums is not available, as Customs and Excise do not require insurers to identify the specific types of insurance policies on which insurance premium tax is paid.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has asked that products which offer an alternative to natural resources be considered in the 2003 EU review of products qualifying for reduced VAT; and if he will make a statement. [62905]

The UK intends to play a full and active part in the forthcoming review of the EU's VAT reduced rate provisions. The Government are considering carefully the merits of changes to the existing list of products to which a reduced rate may be applied, and will be making representations, as appropriate, in due course.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce VAT on domestic repair and maintenance. [63051]

A reduced rate of VAT on domestic repair and maintenance would be a major change to the VAT base. Such a change would require careful consideration of all social, environmental and economic effects.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 246W, on unpaid advisers, if he will list the steps that were taken to ensure that no conflicts of interest arose as a result of this appointment. [62969]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Prime Minister on 19 June 2002, Official Report, column 332W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are in receipt of (a) the working families tax credit and (b) the disabled persons tax credit in (i) the Edinburgh, West constituency, (ii) the City of Edinburgh local authority area, (iii) Scotland and (iv) the UK; and what percentage these figures represent of the estimated numbers of the people who are eligible for the credits in these respective areas. [63193]

For the numbers in receipt of the tax credits. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Hepburn) on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 293W.No reliable estimate of the take-up rate of the working families' tax credit can be attempted until the Family Resources Survey for 2000–01 is analysed; and no reliable estimates can be made below the national level, or for the disabled person's tax credit.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the annual savings to the Exchequer which would result from lower debt interest costs if United Kingdom interest rates were (a) 0.5 per cent., (b) 0.75 per cent., (c) 1 per cent., (d) 2 per cent. and (e) 3 per cent. lower across the yield curve for (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03, (iii) 2003–4, (iv) 2004–05, (v) 2005–06 and (vi) 2006–07. [63210]

Each percentage point reduction, across all years, in short and long term interest rates, would lead to savings in debt interest payments of approximately £0.6 billion in 2002–03 and £0.8 billion in 2003–04. No projections have been published for years beyond 2003–04.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families are receiving children's tax credit in the London borough of Wandsworth. [63589]

Information about the children's tax credit (CTC) is not available by local authority. However, the number of families who are eligible for the CTC in London is estimated to be 475,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the children's tax credit on Luton. [60336]

In this tax year families with children in Luton are up to £529 better off, and if they have a new baby, up to £1,049 better off as a result of the children's tax credit.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) on how many occasions his (a) Chief of Staff, (b) Director of Communications and Strategy and (c) other members of his office travelled abroad on official business between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost; [58732]

In the period 31 March 2001 to 31 March 2002, my Chief of Staff, my Director of Communications and Strategy and other members of my office have travelled overseas on official business, including accompanying me on official visits, on 93 occasions.The costs of all officials who accompanied me on overseas visits are included in the detailed list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas and information on expenditure by all Ministers on travel overseas. The list for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 will be published as soon as possible.The average cost of all other official travel was approximately £1,516 per visit.All visits have been made in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Civil Service Management Code. These arrangements follow the practice of successive Administrations.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith), of 22 May 2002, Official Report, column 319W, on electronic databases, if he will list the categories under which information is held in the electronic databases, including the general information database. [61565]

The parliamentary section database contains the text of oral and written parliamentary questions tabled to the Prime Minister, the answers given, and the name of the MP, their party and constituency taken from the list of Members on the House of Commons website.The general information database contains policy briefing, public material which includes the Prime Minister's answers to parliamentary questions, speeches, articles and No. 10 press notices and a virtual Library with links to publicly available electronic reference sources.

To ask the Prime Minister what information is held by his Office on each hon. Member in relation to (a) personal relationships, both current and past, (b) financial status and dealings, (c) connections with companies and interest groups, (d) connections with Governments and (e) published works; and what information was held in January. [61817]

My Office has access to published reference sources, as well as to the information about hon. Members made publicly available by the House authorities, for the purpose of parliamentary business.

To ask the Prime Minister what changes have been made in the composition of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union. [63957]

My hon. Friend the Member for Reading, East (Jane Griffiths) has been appointed as a substitute Member in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Janet Anderson).

To ask the Prime Minister on what day the hon. Member for Swindon, North offered his resignation as Parliamentary Secretary in the Lord Chancellor's Department; and on what day the hon. Member for Swindon, North was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Home Office. [62421]

The hon. Member for Swindon, North offered his resignation as Parliamentary Secretary in the Lord Chancellor's Department on 29 May. He was appointed as an unpaid Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Home Office on 31 May.He will be responsible for driving forward progress on delivering efficient and effective IT across the civil and criminal justice systems and identifying and driving forward the reform to business processes and working practices required, alongside IT investment, to deliver a modern and joined-up criminal justice system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions have been brought under the Trading Schemes Act 1996; and how many have been successful. [62431]

No prosecutions have been brought by the Department under the Trading Schemes Act 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the estimate of the draw down of European structural funds. [60341]

£million
Area	Committed grant	Committed grant as percentage of total allocation	Grant paid	Grant paid as percentage of total allocation
Objective 1
South Yorkshire	226.35	31.92	59.05	8.33
Merseyside	184.5	21.86	93.8	11.11
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly	96.3	30.95	26.09	8.39
West Wales and the Valleys	320.2	28.1	89.0	7.8
Objective 2
North-east	8.02	1.8	0.22	0.05
North-west	212.82	42.1	0.55	0.11
Yorkshire and Humberside	63.24	19.5	2.66	0.82
East England	3.29	3.4	0	0
East Midlands	20.69	8.8	0.54	0.23
West Midlands	30.82	5.8	0.04	0.01
London	33.24	20.5	1.90	1.17
South-east	7.33	32.8	0	0
South-west	19.22	16.2	2.24	1.89
East Wales1,2	1.70	3.4	0.19	0.38
East of Scotland	50.31	32.9	5.67	3.71
South of Scotland	218.83	42.0	32.54	5.66
Western Scotland	42.13	14.3	1.95	0.66
1The East Wales figures apply solely to the objective 2 programme and do not include figures from the associated transitional objective 2 and 5b programme.
2As at 31 March 2002
3To 31 December 2001

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people aged (a) between 18 and 21 and (b) over 21 years are receiving the national minimum wage; and if she will make a statement. [63369]

Around 1.5 million low paid workers were entitled to higher minimum rates of pay when the rates were increased to £4.10 an hour for workers aged 22 and over and £3.50 for those aged 18 to 21 on 1 October 2001. Around one in 15 of the beneficiaries are people aged 18 to 21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many families are in receipt of the national minimum wage in the Portsmouth, South constituency; and if she will make a statement. [63372]

Estimates for beneficiaries of the national minimum wage by parliamentary constituency are not available.

The latest assessment for the core 2000–06 structural funds programmes is set out in the table.The objective 1 regions are on course to avoid decommitment. As the first decommitment date for objective 2 regions is 31 December 2003, it is too early to say whether the n+2 targets will be met. However we have instigated a regular monitoring procedure to ensure that there is ample warning of any potential problem.Objectives 1 and 2 in Scotland and Wales are matters respectively for the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales. However, I understand that the relevant figures have been provided by these Administrations.Around 100,000 people in the south-east stood to benefit from the October 2001 increase in the national minimum wage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions her Department has had with the Department for International Development about reviewing criterion 8 of the consolidated criteria against which the Government assesses licence applications to export arms and dual-use equipment. [62669]

[holding answer 19 June 2002]: As announced by my noble Friend the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 4 March 2002 in another place, Official Report, column 73, the Cabinet Office is currently leading a discussion on how criterion 8 of the consolidated criteria—the sustainable development criterion—can most effectively be applied in assessing relevant export licence applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what responsibility she has for setting Government policy with regard to the independence of the economic regulators of the privatised utilities. [62303]

[holding answer 17 June 2002]: The composition, role, duties and responsibilities of the sectoral regulators are set out in the relevant primary legislation. The legislation typically ascribes certain duties and functions to the Secretary of State including, for example, the making of appointments to the regulatory bodies. The Department deals with the regulators for the gas, electricity, telecommunications, and postal services sectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what checks are made to ensure organisations funded through UK online give access to people with a disability. [62307]

I have been asked to reply.People with disabilities were identified as one of main target groups for UK online centres and disabled access in centres was an important measure in the assessment process. This was carried through in the monitoring checks that the regional Government Offices (GOs) administer to ensure centres comply with contractual and legal obligations. The number of monitoring checks by the GOs will vary in relation to the individual centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the need to review the tax system in regard to national insurance contributions lost owing to false self-employment claims on CIS4 tax certificates; and if she will make a statement. [63098]

I have been asked to reply.I would like to clarify the relationship between the CIS and employment status. The CIS sets out how payments to self-employed sub-contractors should be treated.As in all industries, whether a worker is categorised as employed or self-employed depends entirely on the terms and conditions under which they are engaged. The fact that a worker is registered under the CIS and is in possession of a certificate or registration card does not of itself confer self-employed status on that individual. It is entirely possible for workers to be employed on one contract, and self-employed on another.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to address organised avoidance of national insurance payments through false claims on CIS4 tax certificates; and if she will make a statement. [63103]

I have been asked to reply.The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) sets out how payments to self-employed sub-contractors should be treated. It is anti-tax evasion legislation and it has successfully identified workers who had previously not declared their earnings to the Inland Revenue.Where a person works as a sub-contractor on a contract to which the CIS applies, they must register with the Inland Revenue. Where a sub-contractor does not qualify for a certificate allowing him/her to be paid gross, they will receive a CIS4 registration card. They will then be paid for work done after a deduction on account of tax and national insurance.The tax and national insurance rules, which distinguish the employed from the self-employed, are intended to apply to all workers. As part of its compliance strategy the Inland Revenue's local employer compliance review teams consider employment status issues when undertaking reviews to ensure employers and contractors comply with their tax and national insurance obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what impact the use of illegally produced fuel is having on competitiveness within the UK haulage industry. [62948]

I have been asked to reply.As part of Customs' consultation on proposals for tackling oils fraud, the industry was invited to comment upon, and quantify, the impact on competitiveness resulting from the unfair advantage gained by those misusing rebated fuel. Although the responses clearly indicated an impact, no quantification was provided. Copies of the consultation document "Tackling the misuse of rebated fuels: Proposals for an approval scheme for distributors" and the response "Oils Fraud Strategy: Summary of Consultation Responses and Regulatory Impact Assessment" have been placed in the House Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on Specialist Products is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [61716]

The Advisory Committee on Specialist Products is a consultative committee of the European Commission. Its purpose is to facilitate consultation with social and occupational groups with an interest in the EU regimes for wine-growing, spirit drinks, olives and derived products, beekeeping, hops and tobacco. It is not attended by officials of Her Majesty's Government and does not give rise to costs to the UK public funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on Arable Crops is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [61720]

The Advisory Committee on Arable Crops is a consultative committee of the European Commission. Its purpose is to facilitate consultation with social and occupational groups with an interest in the EU regimes for arable crops. It is not attended by officials of Her Majesty's Government and does not give rise to costs to UK public funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Scientific Committee on Plants is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [61694]

The mandate for the Scientific Committee on Plants is as follows:

"Scientific and technical questions relating to plants intended for human or animal consumption, production or processing of non-food products as regards characteristics liable to affect human or animal health or the environment, including the use of pesticides".

The SCP is particularly concerned with scientific evaluation relating to genetically modified organisms and pesticides.The committee has met seven times since the beginning of June 2001.Experts from the UK are currently Prof. Anthony R. Hardy (chairman), Central Science Laboratory; Prof. Howard V. Davies, Scottish Crop Research Institute; and Dr. Tom Sherratt (University of Durham). There are also a number of expert working groups under the SCP to which ad hoc experts are invited to contribute as appropriate.The UK does not contribute directly to the costs of the SCP. I have no information on the annual cost of the committee to the European Commission.The items currently under the SCP's consideration can be viewed on its website at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scp/index-en.html.The committee is currently accountable through the European Commission (administered by the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General) through to the European Council and Parliament. Regulation 178/2002 established the European Food Safety Authority and later this year this committee's responsibilities will be transferred to two new panels (the Panel on Plant Health, Plant Production Products and their Residues, and the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms) operating within the authority. Members of the new panels will remain to be appointed in an independent role and for their individual expertise.The SCP's agendas and outcome of its discussions (opinions and minutes) are available on its website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on Fruit, Vegetables and Flowers is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [61717]

The Advisory Committee on Fruit, Vegetables and Flowers is a consultative committee of the European Commission. Its purpose is to facilitate consultation with social and occupational groups with an interest in the EU regimes for fruit, vegetables and flowers. It is not attended by officials of Her Majesty's Government and does not give rise to costs to UK public funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Scientific Committee on Designations of Origin, Geographical Indications and Certificates of Specific Character is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [61723]

The mandate of the Scientific Committee Designations of Origin, Geographical Indications and Certificates of Specific Character is set out in Commission Decision 95/53/EEC. The committee exists to provide expert advice to assist the European Commission in its consideration of applications concerning the registration of designations of origin, geographical indications and certificates of specific character.There is no UK representation on the Scientific Committee. While one member of the current committee is British, he does not sit as a UK national, but is, like all the members, a qualified expert with a legal or agricultural background. The commission pays the travel and lodging costs of members. The Scientific Committee has met four times over the last 12-month period although in some previous years it has met more frequently than this. Items currently under its consideration are 'Galician mussels', `traditional grass-fed red poll beef' and an Italian milk product from the Apennines.Regarding transparency and accountability, the commission, together with member states, is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on the Protection of Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [61706]

I have been asked to reply.Article 22 (3) of European Directive 86/609/EEC (on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes) provides for the commission to establish

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons she did not attend the World Food Summit in Rome; and if she will make a statement. [62085]

[holding answer 17 June 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) represented this Department at the World Food Summit. Although the summit was primarily concerned with international development issues which go beyond DEFRA's responsibilities, my right hon. Friend's attendance reflects the importance we attach to the role of trade and rural development in alleviating poverty and hunger.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent by her Department on research into (a) all forms of farming and (b) local-based farming initiatives in the developing world in each of the last 10 years. [62084]

[holding answer 17 June 2002]: (a) The Department's total research and development expenditure spent in this area for each of the last 10 years is as follows:

£million
Expenditure
1991–92	87.7
1992–93	95.0
1993–94	97.0
1994–95	99.2
1995–96	102.6
1996–97	99.9
1997–98	98.8
1998–99	101.7
1999–2000	97.3
2000–01	107.0
2001–021	—
1Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a record of the priority scores given to each countryside stewardship scheme approved in the past five years. [62323]