To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to contribute to the Government's strategy to reduce crime among young people. [61229]

My Department is playing a full part in the Government's drive to tackle street crime, the vast majority of which is committed by young people. My officials are working closely with colleagues at the Youth Justice Board to develop a programme of summer activities in the 10 police areas targeted by the street crime initiative. This will provide at least 48,000 places, for children and young people aged nine to 17 at risk of offending, in quality sports and arts provision. We hope to be able to announce the exact locations of all of the individual schemes shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research she has commissioned on the role of sports and arts provision for young people in crime prevention. [61239]

There is already an increasing body of evidence that engagement in sports and arts activity can have an important role in crime reduction. However, we are keen to build on this. The comprehensive programme of Splash Extra schemes being developed jointly by my Department and the Youth Justice Board in the street crime areas will provide an important opportunity in this respect. We will ensure that the impact of these new schemes on local crime levels is evaluated as fully as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to strengthen the regional input into the development of arts, sport and tourism policies. [61230]

Steps have already been taken to restructure the Arts Council to provide a more effective structure for delivering national priorities for the arts while enhancing regional input to arts policy. The Performance and Innovation Unit is currently undertaking a review of sports policy in England and is looking at the regional dimension building on the findings of the Quinquennial review of Sport England. While the preliminary findings of a review of tourism have identified the need for the Regional Development Agencies, and in the longer term Elected Regional Assemblies, to have a stronger role in tourism development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to support the development of performing arts in rural areas. [61231]

The Arts Council's new Regional Councils are working with Local Authorities to develop the infrastructure for the performing arts in rural areas, this is in addition to support through the New Audience Programme and Lottery funding. Rural areas including Norfolk and Cornwall have also been included in Creative Partnerships, a £40 million programme to bring creative professionals, teachers and young people together to work on sustained and innovative projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress she has made in implementing the recommendations of the gambling review. [61232]

Two recommendations have already been implemented; and we are on course to implement a further six before the Recess. The majority will, however, need primary legislation. We are now working with interested parties on the preparation of a Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent meetings she has had with the Press Complaints Commission to discuss media regulation. [61233]

While my right hon. Friend has not met the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) recently, the Department continues to monitor closely the effectiveness of the newspaper industry's self regulatory system, and my Ministerial colleagues and I have no hesitation in suggesting improvements to the PCC and the industry, as and when appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure an equitable distribution of funds raised by the national lottery. [61234]

The Government would like all parts of the country to experience the positive effects of Lottery funding. Reforms introduced under the National Lottery Act 1998 and targeted programmes introduced by Lottery distributors are designed to tackle inequity. We shall seek public views on what further steps might be taken in a consultation paper to be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures her Department is taking to encourage greater co-operation between schools and community sports clubs, particularly in respect of the provision of facilities. [61235]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills, is keen to promote greater co-operation between schools and community clubs through a number of schemes and programmes that they, along with Sport England and other interested bodies, are running. These include the NOF PE and Sport Programme, where an ability to demonstrate community access to new facilities is one of the criteria that schools have to meet when bidding to LEAs for funding allocated to them by NOF, and the School Sport Co-ordinator Scheme, where Co-ordinators are responsible for—among other things—developing community outreach programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on Government plans to develop sport for young people of school age. [61236]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Department for Education and Skills are working closely with the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit on a comprehensive plan to improve access to, and the quality of, PE, school sport and club links for 5 to 16-year-olds. Key activities associated with the plan will include; the expansion of the specialist sport college network and school sport co-ordinator programme; training for primary and special school PE co-ordinators and secondary school directors of sport; further incentives to encourage extra-curricular activities; and "Step into Sport", a leadership and volunteering programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action her Department is taking to increase UK representation on international sporting bodies. [61238]

Part of UK Sport's responsibilities is to encourage and maintain UK influence within international sports federations. To support this objective they operate an international Representatives Grant Aid Programme. This programme offers financial support and advice to elect British postholders and, in addition, supports governing body delegates attending formal meetings of international sports bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on the nomination of Liverpool as European Capital of Culture. [61240]

My Department has received a number of representations about the Liverpool bid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will meet the English Tourist Council to discuss plans for the promotion of tourism along the south Dorset coast and other world heritage sites. [61241]

I am delighted that the Dorset and east Devon coast was awarded world heritage site status last December. I have no plans to meet the ETC specifically to discuss this issue. South West Tourism actively promotes south Dorset through its website, marketing campaigns and existing publications. The BTA also highlights the south Dorset coast in its Walking Britain brochure, and other BTA promotions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the director and trustees of the British museum regarding the financial support which she gives to the museum. 61242]

My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts (Baroness Blackstone) has had several discussions with British Museum trustees and officials on a number of issues including the current financial position at the Museum. Grant-in-Aid to the British Museum has increased each year since 1997–98 and in 2002–03 will amount to £36.5 million. In addition, since April 2001 the Museum has been able to recover VAT relating to its expenditure on free access, worth at least £750,000 per annum. Funding is being further reviewed in the Government's 2002 Spending Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last met the chief executive of Sport England to discuss lottery funding for sports activities. [61243]

My right hon. Friend, last met David Moffett, the Chief Executive of Sport England, on 8 May to discuss the restructuring of sport delivery. He also regularly attends the monthly interministerial sport policy meeting, the latest of which was on 16 May. The subjects discussed included Lottery funding for sports facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement about the progress being made in implementing the school sports co-ordinator programme. [61244]

The Government are well on their way to meeting their target of 1,000 School Sport Co-ordinators by 2004, with 577 currently in place, benefiting 1.26 million pupils. Another 165 Co-ordinators have been designated, making a total of 742 in post by September, and increasing the total number of pupils benefiting to 1.8 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last met the chief executive of the Tourism Alliance to discuss tourism. [61245]

My officials have been in regular discussions with the Tourism Alliance, since its formation in October 2001, on aspects of the agenda for reform of the tourism industry.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met with Digby Jones, chair of the Tourism Alliance and Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on 14 February 2002 formally to discuss tourism matters and in regard to the Tourism Alliance's paper on 'Tourism Spending Priorities', which was later published in April 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policies are to assist tourism in southern England. [61227]

Through the English Tourism Council and the Southern Tourist Board, the Government have invested in a number of programmes to promote tourism in the area. The Southern Tourist Board is receiving £554,000 of Government support this year and £10,000 from the English Tourism Council has supported a regeneration at Sandown Bay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish the terms of the agreement reached with the BBC on the provision of BBC Online services. [57935]

I am arranging for copies of the BBC Online service approval documents to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

	SCS	A(U)	A	B	HEOD	C	D
Strategy and communications	3	1	3	11	1	1	5
Education, training, arts and sport	6	3	12	21	3	26	16
Museums, galleries, libraries and heritage	4	3	12	22	2	27	30
Creative industries, media and broadcasting	4	3	11	15	2	18	16
Regions, tourism, millennium and international	4	1	19	18	1	14	10
Corporate services	4	5	9	31	2	14	18

The roles of these grades vary between directorate but the overall description of the roles are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are (a) in place and (b) under discussion in her Department in order to ensure compliance with the WEE Directive. [60743]

The WEE Directive is still in draft and should be finalised this autumn. Work on implementation planning will commence at that time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people work in the parts of her Department responsible for (a) the Royal Parks Agency, (b) strategy and communications, (c) education, training, arts and sport, (d) museums, galleries, libraries and heritage, (e) creative industries, media and broadcasting, (f) regions, tourism, millennium and international and (g) corporate services; and for each what (i) their civil service grade and (ii) their role is. [60036]

[holding answer 10 June 2002]: Set out in the following table are the number of staff by individual responsibility.The roles of these grades vary but the overall description of the roles with the Royal Parks Agency are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy in the forthcoming Communications Bill to place a duty upon (a) the Regulator, (b) Ofcom and (c) the media to promote good race relations in the performance of their functions; and if she will make a statement. [62305]

The existing regulatory bodies for communications (the Independent Television Commission, Radio Authority, Radiocommunications Agency, Oftel, the Broadcasting Standards Commission, the BBC and S4C) already have a duty under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, in respect of their public functions, to have regard to the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups. It is our intention that Ofcom should similarly be designated.The draft Communications Bill, which is currently subject to consultation, also contains provisions placing a duty on Ofcom to take appropriate steps for promoting equality of opportunity in relation to employment in broadcasting services and training and retraining for such employment; and a requirement on Ofcom to include in broadcasting licences appropriate conditions requiring licensees to make arrangements for promoting equality of opportunity, including between persons of different racial groups, in relation to employment with the licence holder.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the rules on concessionary TV licences for elderly people living in sheltered residential accommodation were last reviewed. [63587]

The last comprehensive review of the Accommodation for Residential Care concessionary television licence scheme was carried out in 1999, by the independent review panel on the future funding of the BBC. The panel recommended that the existing scheme be retained. The Government have since introduced free television licences for everyone aged 75 or over, the cost being met from public funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding is given to organisations to meet the cost of property in Carlton House Terrace. [63487]

Funding for the arts is a matter for the Arts Council of England and its regional offices. In 2002–03 London Arts will provide revenue funding of £1,021,248 to the Institute for Contemporary Arts (ICA) in the Mall which is adjacent to Carlton House Terrace. The ICA is an independent organisation which may use this money for artistic activity as well as other costs such as property.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what approval she is required to give before the BBC can (a) apply for and (b) operate a multiplex service licence. [63471]

[holding answer 20 June 2002]: Clause 2.4 of the agreement provides that

"The Corporation may, subject to the prior agreement of the Secretary of State provide multiplex facilities for digital television and sound broadcasting frequencies"

but does not require her approval for the BBC to apply for a multiplex service licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the circumstances in which her approval is required by the BBC. [63472]

[holding answer 20 June 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's approval is required under the following articles of the BBC's Charter:

• 3(b)—ancillary services
• 3(c)—commercial services
• 3(c)—commercial services
• 3(i)—transmission
• 3(u)—joint ventures, partnerships, establishing companies and acquiring shares etc
• 3(w)(ii)—borrowing limit
• 17(i)—certain borrowings
• 18(i)—the appointment of auditors
• 24(i)—directions and approvals

and under the following clauses of the agreement:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the oral answer of the Minister for Sport, of 13 May 2002. Official Report, column 493, what studies she is making of structural weaknesses, including facilities, in the provision of community sport facilities. [62102]

My Department has announced our intention to establish an England-wide database of sports facilities. Information on sports facilities in England is currently held by a variety of organisations and a single database will enable more strategic Government investment in those areas and facilities which are most important.My Department and Sport England have also been working closely together with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the revision of Planning Policy Statement 17 for Open Spaces, Sport and Recreation to ensure that we adopt a comprehensive approach to planning for these important facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the future availability of the analogue television signal. [61226]

The Government are committed to ensuring that terrestrial analogue broadcasting signals are maintained until everyone who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels can receive them in digital form and switching to digital is an affordable option. As a target indicator of affordability, 95 per cent. of consumers should have access to digital receiving equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the impact which her policies have on theatre in the regions. [61218]

From 1 April the Arts Council is investing an additional £12 million in theatre throughout England as a consequence of its extensive review of the needs of regional theatre. From 2003–04 this will increase to an additional £25 million a year. Funding for the Stanwix Theatre in Carlisle will increase from £6,000 last year to £16,000 this year and 2003–04, an increase of 167 per cent.

(a) Project	(b) Dates	(c) Consultancy
1996–97—£109,000
Internal Audit Services	October 1997 to August 1998	Deloitte Touche
1997–98—£nil
1998–99—£324,000
Risk Management Systems	November 1998 to January 1999	KPMG
Efficiency Review	August-September 1998	Deloitte Touche
Recruitment of Chairman-NOF	August 1998	Capita
Recruitment of Chairman-NESTA	January 1999	Capita
Recruitment for BBC Appointments	March 1999	Capita
Royal Parks Consultancy	August 1998 to July 2001	WS Atkins
Royal Parks Consultancy	January-March 1999	WS Atkins
Royal Parks Consultancy	March 1999	WS Atkins
1999–2000—£33,000
Royal Parks Consultancy	July 1999	WS Atkins
Royal Parks Consultancy	September 1999	WS Atkins
2000–01—£106,000
Royal Parks Consultancy	July 2000	PWC
Economic Impact—Lottery	May 2000	AEA
Royal Armouries Consultancy	October 2000	PWC
2001–02—£122,000
Risk Management—QUEST	May 2001	PWC
Recruitment Advisory Services	July 2001 to February 2002	Capita
Capital of Culture advisers	February-June 2002	Kingshurst Consulting

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the future of common radio microphones used in television and film production by musicians, and on stage concerning changes to frequencies allocated to them once the switchover to digital television is completed and the sale of frequencies allocated to the broadcast of analogue television is begun; and what meetings she has held to discuss the financial and practical implications of changes in frequency allocated to such equipment. [62058]

I have been asked to reply.Wireless equipment such as radio microphones used by broadcasters, independent production companies and theatres/concert venues shares that part of the radio

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money her Department has spent on consultants in each financial year since 1997, giving (a) the project for which the consultant was employed, (b) the dates on which the consultant was employed, (c) the name of the consultant and (d) the tendering process used for hiring the consultant. [63375]

There is no central register of contracts held for procurement exercises undertaken outside of the central procurement team. Approval is required to proceed for any single tender action above £5,000.There follows a list of contracts placed by the procurement team in the relevant periods. All followed competitive tender.spectrum used also for analogue and digital television broadcasting. The Government appreciate fully the importance of the radio spectrum in underpinning this activity.The recent joint DTI/DCMS consultation process (Digital Television: The Principles for Spectrum Planning) sought views on the basis on which we should plan the use of this spectrum for digital television and other services once the analogue signals can be switched off. The responses will inform decisions about the amount of spectrum that might be dedicated to programme-making use after switchover, and also the future arrangements for the way that the programme-makers will share spectrum within digital TV networks. We will ensure, through careful planning and consultation with programme makers, minimal disruption.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will ask the Electoral Commission to consider an all-postal ballot in referendums on (a) the euro and (b) the voting system. [61210]

The role of the commission in the conduct of any national or regional referendum is set out in the Political Parties, Referendums and Elections Act 2000. The Act does not give the Commission powers to determine the type of ballot used for a referendum. As part of its contingency planning for the conduct of referendums, the Commission will be considering a range of policy and practice issues and where appropriate may make recommendations to the Government.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what discussions the Commission has had about reducing the voting age to 16 years. [61211]

The Commission has indicated to the Government that it intends to look, in due course, at the minimum voting age as part of its programme of reviewing electoral law and practice. The Commission's consideration will take account of the final recommendations from the Children and Young People's Unit, whose "Why Vote? Why Not?" project is consulting young people about measures to encourage increased participation in elections. The unit intends to publish a report later this summer.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the timetable is for reviewing the implications of the local elections in 2002. [61212]

There is no statutory obligation for the Commission to report on the operation of local elections, but the Commission will be evaluating the electoral pilot schemes held in 30 local authority areas in May 2002. The Commission will submit its evaluation reports to the Deputy Prime Minister by 2 August, and the reports will be published.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what research has been conducted into the impact of extended postal voting experiments on the secrecy of the ballot. [61214]

The Electoral Commission is currently preparing its evaluation of the postal voting pilot schemes which took place in May 2002. The evaluation, which will be published in (early) August, will consider the impact of the pilot schemes on the secrecy of the ballot. The Commission is also undertaking a wider review of the law and practice in relation to absent voting, which includes consideration of secrecy and related issues.

To ask the right hon. member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what discussions he has had about preparations the Electoral Commission is making for a referendum on adoption of the euro. [61215]

In accordance with its statutory obligations, the Electoral Commission has begun to draw up contingency plans for the conduct of national and regional referendums. In February this year, the Speaker's Committee approved plans for the recruitment of a small team of staff and funding for consultancy on IT issues. The Commission's main objectives for this stream of work are set out in their Corporate Plan 2002–03 to 2006–07. Detailed project plans are in the process of being drawn up.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Commissioners plan to meet representatives of the National Heritage Lottery Fund to discuss the funding of cathedral restoration; and if he will make a statement. [61213]

No. The funding of cathedral repairs is a matter for individual cathedrals and for the body that represents them, the Association of English Cathedrals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department will spend the match-funded money raised from the introduction of modulation under the New Direction in Agriculture package before the end of the present spending round. [60383]

EC Regulations stipulate that the money raised from modulation has to be spent within three years of being raised. The first receipts were raised in July 2001; between then and the end of April 2002 nearly £28 million has been collected in England, and nearly £9 million has been spent. Modulation funds are used to secure valuable public benefits through agri-environment schemes, in particular the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and the Environmentally Sensitive Areas scheme. Receipts will be used progressively as new agreements under the schemes are signed, and as old agreements come forward for renewal. I am confident that the funds will be spent before the deadline.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to bring forward new policy measures to address the problems faced by British farmers as a result of the expiry of the agrimonetary system. [61544]

We acknowledge the problems facing British agriculture at the moment. We believe that sustainable agriculture can be achieved by encouraging a more market-oriented sector with reduced dependence on production-linked support. This is our aim for the forthcoming mid-term review of the CAP. Also, following publication of the report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, the Government are working with a range of stakeholders to chart a way ahead by developing a strategy for sustainable food and farming in England, by the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to guard against the risk of sudden oak death in the United Kingdom. [61602]

[holding answer 19 June 2002]: "Phytophthora ramorum"—the causative organism of sudden oak death—is not established in the United Kingdom, but has recently been detected on plants of viburnum and rhododendron in a targeted survey by the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate. Research is in progress to establish whether the "Phytophthora ramorum" found in the United Kingdom exhibits the same pathogenicity as that causing such serious damage in the USA and whether European tree species are susceptible to either the European or North American isolates. This work is being carried out by the Central Science Laboratory and the Forestry Commission Research Agency.Possible Community-wide measures are being considered and there has already been an exchange of information and some additional survey work by member states. In the meantime, on the basis of a pest risk assessment, precautionary measures have been introduced to prevent susceptible material being imported into the United Kingdom from affected areas of the USA and to allow plant health inspectors to track commercial movements of host plants of any origin. Current controls on imported oak wood from the USA are also being extended to include wood derived from all host trees originating in affected areas. Further information is available on the Forestry Commission and DEFRA websites at http://forestry.gov.uk/planthealth and http:// defraweb/planth/ph.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to implement the Government's commitment in the Rural White Paper to protect the countryside for its own sake. [63501]

The Government set out measures for protecting the countryside in chapters 9 and 10 of the Rural White Paper "Our Countryside: the future—A fair deal for rural England". In December 2002, I reported our progress on implementing the Rural White Paper in "England's Rural Future". My answer to my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) of 12 December 2001, Official Report, column 920W, announced publication of this document.An explanation of how all the commitments in the Rural White Paper are being taken forward is set out in the Rural White Paper Implementation Plan which is on the Department's website at: http://defraweb/wildlife/ wildlife-countryside/index.htm. This plan will be amended from time to time to ensure it is up to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what costs have been incurred by the Rural Payments Agency as a result of the extra information required of farmers in Section 1, No. 5, of the Beef Special Premium Scheme 2002. [63628]

When a Beef Special Premium Form is received at the Rural Payments Agency, the contents on the form are entered on to the RPA computer system by staff keying in the information shown. When Section 1 question 5 consists simply of one line of text, the time taken may be measured in seconds. Where more information is received, clearly, the time taken will be longer. However, the main cost to the RPA arises from cases where Section 1.5 is not completed appropriately, that is, information given is not clear, or is evidently incomplete. It is the processing of the cases which led the RPA to re-examine the wording of Section 1.5. It is not possible to calculate accurately the cost of dealing with these.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have fully completed Section 1, No. 5, on the Beef Special Premium Scheme 2002 claim form; and how many have not complied and are stating only the holding address. [63627]

All Beef Special Premium Scheme 2002 claim forms where the only anomaly concerns the completion of Section 1, question 5 are being accepted and lodged with the Rural Payments Agency.To date, the Rural Payments Agency has received just under 39,000 Beef Special Premium Scheme 2002 claims. It estimates that the current proportion of the forms having either no, or incomplete, information entered at Section 1, question 5 is 35 per cent. The agency will seek the additional information from producers where required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the need for the changes that the Rural Payments Agency have made to Section 1, No. 5 of the Beef Special Premium Scheme 2002. [63626]

Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EC) No.2419/2001, which came into effect on 1 January 2002, requires that a livestock aid application shall contain where applicable, an undertaking by the farmer to keep claimed animals on his holding during the retention period and information on the location or locations where the animals will be held including the period or periods concerned. This requirement has not changed from the relevant previous regulation.For operational reasons, the level of detail and the method of collecting it was changed for scheme year 2002. Following representations from industry representatives the Rural Payments Agency is currently reviewing Section 1, No. 5 of the Beef Special Premium Scheme 2002 form.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to offer continuous advice to farmers for improvements to their countryside stewardship schemes. [63625]

Staff from DEFRA's Rural Development Service operate a programme of visits to farmers with land under Countryside Stewardship Scheme agreement to advise them on technical aspects of management. However, provision of this advice is resource intensive and any decision to increase these advisory visits would need to balance the increase in resource costs against any increased environmental value for money which might result.Advice on preparing new or upgraded applications to the scheme is available from various organisations including the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, local wildlife trusts, and National Park authorities in the relevant areas.All aspects of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme are currently under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she will review the Countryside Stewardship Scheme; [63623](2) what plans she has to change the 10 year timeframe of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. [63624]

Countryside Stewardship is currently being reviewed as part of a wider review of English agri-environment schemes. An initial public consultation exercise, inviting views on a number of strategic questions, closed on 27 May 2002. 119 responses have been received and are now being analysed. The results from this consultation exercise will be used to help develop a revised framework for English agri-environment schemes, working closely with stakeholders. Any changes to the schemes will need to be submitted to the European Commission as a proposed modification to the England Rural Development Programme.All aspects of the current Countryside Stewardship Scheme are under consideration in this review, including the length of agreements.

To ask the Solicitor-General (1) what steps have been taken by each CPS authority to progress the Glidewell recommendations for reorganizing its work into functional units collocated with police units; and where and when this collocation has been achieved; [60223](2) if she will make a statement on variations in the pace of progress between CPS areas noted by HMCPSI. [60211]

It has been assumed that the question regarding the pace of progress refers to the establishment of criminal justice units and trial units.All chief crown prosecutors and chief constables have submitted joint plans detailing their strategy to implement the Glidewell recommendations. These plans were reviewed by a joint CPS/police working group to ensure that they followed the agreed model for joint administration. The model aims to reduce duplication and delay; focus freed up resources towards the more serious casework; and improve the service to victims and witnesses. CPS areas and their police partners regularly review their plans, actively seeking opportunities to maximise use of the combined police/CPS buildings and provide regular updates to the centre as and when their plans have progressed.All CPS areas not yet collocated have reorganised their front line operations into discrete units to deal separately with Crown court and magistrates court work, in order to deliver at least some of the benefits envisaged by Glidewell.As at 31 March 2002, there were 42 collocated criminal justice units established in 20 areas and 54 trial units in 32 areas. The schedule shows the location and date of establishment of these units.The pace with which areas have progressed the Glidewell recommendations has largely been influenced by the availability of either suitable CPS or police buildings.

Criminal justice units
Area/location	Date established
Avon and Somerset
Bristol	June 2000
Taunton	June 2000
Bedfordshire	—
Cambridgeshire
Huntingdon	January 2002
Parkside	December 2001
Thorpe Wood	January 2002
Cheshire
Crewe	March 2001
Cleveland
Middlesbrough	October 2000
Hartlepool	February 2002
Cumbria	—
Derbyshire	—
Devon and Cornwall	—
Dorset	—
Durham	—
Dyfed Powys	—

Criminal justice units
Area/location	Date established
Essex
Colchester	September 2000
Harlow	December 2000
Southend	November 2000
Lalndon	March 2001
Gloucestershire
Gloucester	April 2001
Greater Manchester	—
Gwent	—
Hampshire
Basingstoke	June 2001
Aldershot	March 2001
Isle of Wight	October 2000
Portsmouth	April 2001
Portswood	July 2001
Hertfordshire
St. Albans	April 2001
Watford	April 2001
Hertford	January 2002
Humberside
Grimsby	April 2001
Scunthorpe	April 2001
Hull	June 2001
Kent
Folkestone	January 2001
Maidstone	January 2001
Canterbury	July 2001
Chatham	July 2001
Lancashire
Preston	March 2001
Leicestershire	—
Lincolnshire
Skegness	June 2001
Merseyside	—
Metropolitan and City
Bishopsgate	September 2001
Norfolk	—
Northamptonshire
Weston Favell	October 2001
Northumbria	—
North Wales
Caenarfon	April 2001
Colwyn Bay	January 2002
North Yorkshire	—
Nottinghamshire	—
South Wales
Rumney	January 2002
South Yorkshire
Barnsley	May 2000
Doncaster	November 2001
Staffordshire	—
Suffolk	—
Surrey	—
Sussex	—
Thames Valley	—
Warwickshire	—
West Mercia	—
West Midlands
Brierly Hill	March 2001
Halesowen	March 2001
West Bromich	November 2001
West Yorkshire
Halifax	October 2000
Wiltshire	—

Trial units
Area/location	Date established
Avon and Somerset
Bristol	June 2000
Bedfordshire
Luton	October 1999
Cambridgeshire
Huntingdon	January 2002
Cheshire
Chester	March 2001
Warrington	March 2001
Cleveland
Middlesbrough	October 2000
Cumbria	—
Derbyshire
Derby	October 2000
Devon and Cornwall
Exeter	December 2000
Plymouth	December 2000
Truro	December 2001
Dorset	—
Durham
Durham	March 2001
Dyfed Powys
Carmathan	March 2002
Essex
Chelmsford	March 2001
Gloucestershire
Gloucester	October 2001
Greater Manchester	—
Gwent
Newport	January 2001
Hampshire
Isle of Wight	October 2000
Eastleigh	April 2001
Portsmouth	April 2001
Hertfordshire
St. Albans	January 2002
Humberside
Grimsby	April 2001
Hull	March 2001
Kent
Maidstone	January 2001
Canterbury	January 2001
Lancashire
Preston	May 2001
Burnley	May 2001
Leicestershire	—
Lincolnshire
Lincoln	January 2001
Merseyside
Liverpool	December 2000
Crosby	December 2000
Metropolitan and City
Old Bailey	February 2001
Harrow/Isleworth	March 2002
Snarsbrook	March 2002
Southwark/Middlesex	March 2002
ILCC/Youth	March 2002
Blackfrairs/Woolwich	March 2002
Wood Green	March 2002
Kingston	March 2002
Croydon	March 2002
Norfolk
Norwich	June 2001

Trial units
Area/location	Date established
Northamptonshire	—
Northumbna
Newcastle	June 2001
North Wales
Wrexham	March 2001
Colwyn Bay	January 2002
North Yorkshire	—
Nottinghamshire
Nottingham	May 2000
South Wales	—
South Yorkshire
Sheffield	December 2001
Staffordshire
Stafford	October 2000
Newcastle under Lyme	October 2000
Suffolk
Ipswich	April 2000
Surrey
Guildford	April 2000
Sussex	—
Thames Valley
Abindon, Reading and Aylesbury	April 2001
Warwickshire	—
West Mercia	—
West Midlands
Birmingham	January 2001
Coventry	April 2001
Wolverhampton	January 2001
West Yorkshire
Leeds	October 2000
Bradford	October 2000
Wiltshire
Wiltshire	September 1999

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Technical Adaptation Committee on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical physical and biological agents at work 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 he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55230]

I have been asked to reply.No committee with the name given and covering chemical, physical and biological agents is known to exist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what improvements in frequency of tube services will be delivered in each of the first seven years of the PPP contracts for each of the three consortia; [56216]

[holding answer 14 May 20021]: I have been asked to reply.The modernisation plans for London Underground require contractors to meet performance specifications. The contracts do not specify the details of each individual project. Instead, the performance regime has been designed to deliver faster, more reliable and more pleasant journeys for passengers, as quickly as possible.The specifications include demanding targets for improvements in Journey Time Capability (JTC), an outcome measure which reflects passengers' experiences of a range of factors affecting how quickly they can travel through the underground system.Improvements in JTC through line upgrades, as specified in the current contracts, are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) contracts and (b) technical support contracts were (i) awarded and (ii) used by the Health and Safety Executive as part of their investigation into the derailment at Potters Bar in May; and if he will make a statement. [58651]

I have been asked to reply.In addition to all the work undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) internal laboratory, HSE engaged the following contractors to support their investigations of the Potters Bar rail crash:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) contracts and (b) technical support contracts were (i) awarded and (ii) used by the Health and Safety Executive as part of their investigation into the derailmentat

Contractor	Research
Trimac Ltd	Specialist photographic support
AEA Technology Rail	Assistance with investigation including on-site derailment investigation, track profile measurements and examination of vehicles
AEA Consultancy	Advice on non-destructive testing
Serco Rail-test	Practical non-destructive testing of rails
Sheffield Testing Labs.	Chemical analysis of steel samples, and machine and tensile test of rails

However, it should be noted that providing an exhaustive list of contractors would entail disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what The investigation continues and further contracts may be let. However, it should be noted that providing an exhaustive list of all contractors would entail disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) contracts and (b) technical support contracts were (i) awarded and (ii) used by the Health and Safety Executive as part of their investigation into the Southall rail crash in September 1997; and if he will make a statement. [58648]

I have been asked to reply.Providing details of contracts let to support the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) investigation of the Southall rail crash would entail disproportionate cost because the methods of record keeping have changed since the Southall crash.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) contracts and (b) technical support contracts were (i) awarded and (ii) used by the Health and Safety Executive as part of their investigation into the Ladbroke Grove rail crash in October 1999; and if he will make a statement. [58649]

I have been asked to reply.In addition to all the work undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) internal laboratory, HSE engaged the following contractors to support their investigations of the Ladbroke Grove rail crash:at Hatfield in October 2000; and if he will make a statement. [58650]

I have been asked to reply.In addition to all the work undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) internal laboratory, HSE engaged the following contractors to support their investigations of the Hatfield derailment:

I have been asked to reply.The information is as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what representations he has received from (a) the Health and Safety Commission, (b) the Health and Safety Executive, (c) Railtrack, (d) train operating companies and (e) others regarding (i) trespass, (ii) vandalism and (iii) informed vandalism on railway lines; and if he will make a statement; [58197](2) what discussions he has had with

[holding answer 22 June 2002]: I have been asked to reply.The Government are pleased that all sections of the rail industry have come together in the National Route Crime Group to examine and promote ways of tackling trespass and vandalism on the railways. The group includes passenger and freight train operators, Railtrack, Railway Safety, the Health and Safety Executive, British Transport police, trade unions, infrastructure contractors, the Rail Passengers Council and the Strategic Rail Authority. The Government will continue to remain in touch with these organisations on their efforts to reduce the incidence of trespass and vandalism on the railways.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the land that his Department (a) is offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size. [59060]

I have been asked to reply.I have placed in the Libraries of the House a spreadsheet listing the land, which the Department's Highways Agency is

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what dates he has (a) met, (b) written to and (c) communicated with the chair of the Health and Safety Commission in the last 12 months; what the subject was of each communication; and if he will make a statement. [60000]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many computers were replaced in his Department in each of the past three years; how the replaced units were disposed of and by which companies; and at what cost. [60748]

The information requested is not held centrally, or in a format which permits ready answer to the questions, and could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have a policy of not considering applications for employment by persons over a particular age. [59459]

[holding answer 10 June 2002]: My Department, including its agencies, follows the Civil Service Management Code. In line with that code, all applications for employment from persons below the age of 65 are considered equally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since June 2001, stating in each case the (a) number of respondents and (b) percentage of those specifically consulted who responded. [60146]

[holding answer 10 June 2002]: According to central records the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions issued 70 consultation documents between 1 June 2001 and 29 May 2002. I have placed a full list in the Library. The Department does not, however, keep central records of the numbers of responses received to each consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by his Department on (a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002. [60918]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 13 June 2002, Official Report, column 1402W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the (a) cost and (b) saving from the pursuit of the Department's Public Service Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced. [61050]

The Department's Public Service Agreement sets out the key outcomes it is committed to deliver with the resources provided, and its Service Delivery Agreement sets out the key steps towards delivery of those targets. Every year the Department publishes performance against its targets—including on value for money and the resources it has used, in its departmental report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) cost and (b) saving has been from the Department's pursuit of Service Delivery Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced. [61635]

The Department's Public Service Agreement sets out the key outcomes it is committed to deliver with the resources provided, and its Service Delivery Agreement sets out the key steps towards delivery of those targets. Every year the Department publishes performance against its targets—including on value for money and the resources it has used, in its departmental report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 had been spent by 31 May; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [61007]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Boateng) on 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 130W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many regulations which cause additional burdens for small businesses have been introduced in the field of health and safety in the last three years. [61143]

During the period June 1999 to June 2002, 55 statutory instruments containing regulations relating to health and safety have been introduced. Not all of these will affect all firms, of whatever size; much depends on the nature of the business and the risks it creates. Some new legislation may indeed reduce burdens on small firms by simplifying existing legal requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department intend to take to reduce administrative burdens in the field of health and safety for small businesses; and if he will make a statement. [61142]

HSE has long recognised the special needs of smaller businesses and the importance of ensuring that administrative requirements placed on them in the field of health and safety are kept to the minimum, while ensuring that they recognise and act on their duties to protect the safety and health of their own workers and others.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to monitor and improve awareness of pregnancy complications among women at work. [58251]

[holding answer 13 June 2002]: The Health and Safety Executive published "New and Expectant Mothers at Work—A guide for employer" in 1995. The guide highlights the hazards and risks in relation to chemical, biological and physical agents, and working conditions and advises employers of possible pregnancy complications. A revised version is due to be launched in autumn 2002. To support this, HSE is planning to produce two additional leaflets—one for new and expectant mothers who work and the other for their health professionals.Health Promotion England has also published, on behalf of the Department of Health, the "Pregnancy Book" that is given (free) to all first time mothers. The book provides comprehensive guidance and information to women for a healthy pregnancy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information is held by his Department 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 was held in January 2002. [61826]

Ministers and officials in the Department have 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 Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of British companies which have in place policies on rehabilitation for employees injured at work. [58053]

[holding answer 13 June 2002]: Although HSE has recently commissioned two surveys which have addressed rehabilitation at work in varying ways, neither asked whether a company has a policy on rehabilitation specifically for employees injured at work.One of these surveys has suggested that: approximately 25 per cent. of employers surveyed knew how to access rehabilitation support.Emerging findings from the other suggest that: 1,759 of the 4,950 companies surveyed provide rehabilitation programmes after illness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations and outside bodies which were in receipt of grant in 1997–98 are no longer; what the annual saving is (a) individually and (b) in aggregate; which organisations and outside bodies which were not in receipt of grant in 1997–98 now are; and what the annual cost is (i) individually and (ii) in aggregate. [62046]

The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were involved in road accidents while riving within one year of receiving their driving licence in each year since 1995. [62946]

Information on the length of time for which drivers have held a licence is not collected as part of national road accident statistics. However, we do know from research that as many as one in five newly qualified drivers have some sort of accident in the first year of driving.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in the last 12 months the requirement to engage in a competitive tendering process has been waived by his Department due to national security obligations under paragraph 6(h) of the supply regulations. [62823]

There have been no occasions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received since 29 October 1999 from the Health and Safety Commission on its proposed Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking at Work; and when he intends to approve the Code of Practice. [62849]

The chair of the Health and Safety Commission wrote on 5 October 2000 to the Minister with responsibility for health and safety advising about the commission's decision to favour the introduction of an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP). The Government are giving careful consideration to the commission's proposals. As part of this process, the commission has been asked to consider further both the implications of an ACoP on the hospitality sector and small businesses generally, and the role the Public Places Charter could play. I have not yet been formally asked to give consent for the introduction of an ACoP as this work is still in hand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Health and Safety Executive revised the regulatory impact assessment which was contained in the Health and Safety Commission consultative document, "Proposals for an Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking at Work"; and if he will publish it. [62848]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) partially revised the draft regulatory impact assessment (RIA) in August 2000. It would be inappropriate to publish this version because the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has been requested to carry out further work on the proposals that it underpins.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Health and Safety Executive revised the draft Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking which was consulted on in the Health and Safety Commission consultative document, proposals for an Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking at Work; and if he will publish it. [62847]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) partially revised the text of the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) in August 2000. It would be inappropriate to publish this version of the ACoP because the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has been requested to carry out further work on the proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a summary of responses to the Health and Safety Commission consultative document, proposals for an Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking at Work. [62846]

A brief summary of responses was included in the press release issued by the Health and Safety Commission on 5 September 2000. Individual responses, subject to respondents' requests for confidentiality, are available for inspection at Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Information Centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the oral statement of 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 586, what the number and/or column reference was of the written parliamentary question from the week of 18 to 24 March, to which the then Secretary of State refers to with regard to letters of comfort. [62294]

[holding answer 17 June 2002]: My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, was referring to the draft comfort letters for the London Underground that were reported to Parliament using the minute procedure on 20 March 2002. The minute was placed in the Libraries of the House and reported to the Transport Select Committee and to the Public Accounts Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of his guidance for officials on answering parliamentary questions. [62575]

Answers to parliamentary questions are drafted in accordance with "Guidance to Officials on Drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions" issued by the Cabinet Office. In addition, guidance is issued to officials within the Department on deadlines and format for the different types of parliamentary questions. A copy of that guidance (which will be updated to reflect the recent machinery of government changes) has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses he has received to the consultation document on, Introducing a More Structured Approach to Learning to Drive, broken down by category of respondents. [63110]

The Department has received over 300 responses to this consultation document. These have come from a wide range of interests including driving instructors and their trade associations, road safety and road user groups, other organisations and individuals with an interest in the issues raised in the document. Responses are still being received and they have not yet been broken down into categories.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the Government have made on the environmental benefits of a tax on aviation kerosene; and what plans he has to work towards an international agreement to impose such a duty. [63634]

Our assessment is that a tax on aviation kerosene would have worthwhile environmental benefits in reducing climate change impacts from aircraft emissions but only if it were imposed internationally. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) concluded at its assembly last October that alternative measures such as an open emissions trading scheme or an emissions charge could be equally if not more environmentally beneficial than such a tax. The UK is currently assisting ICAO in following up these possibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has finalised agreement with the Strategic Rail Authority to introduce a standard three hour journey time between London and Plymouth. [63641]

refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27 February 2002, Official Report, column 1369W. This is not a matter that requires my agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what consultation took place with Humber Pilots Limited on the time spent to complete an act of pilotage for the DTLR document, "The New Humber Pilotage Service"; and what the outcome of this consultation was; [62996](2) what the source of the statistic was that new very large ships pilots on the Humber have already done over 100 very large ships each on the DTLR document, "The New Humber Pilotage Service" (paragraph 3.21). [62997]

[holding answer 21 June 2002]: The information was obtained from detailed individual records maintained by the competent harbour authority, Associated British Ports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Humber pilot in charge of the Stena Gothica on 2 April was authorised by Associated British Ports. [63620]

[holding answer 21 June 2002]: This incident is currently the subject of an investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. All the pilots now working on the Humber have been authorised (or in some cases re-authorised) by the competent harbour authority on or after 12 December 2001, when the former pilots went on strike.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what percentage of Associated British Ports' new Humber pilots have an unlimited Foreign Going Master's Certificate or Class 1; [62998](2) what percentage of new Humber pilots have a United Kingdom/European Union Certificate of Competency. [62999]

[holding answer 21 June 2002]: This is a matter for the competent harbour authority which has the statutory responsibility for deciding what qualifications are required from applicants for authorisation. There is no rule requiring any particular seafaring qualification and practice varies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the speed limit on motorways. [64212]

There are no plans to increase the speed limit on motorways.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each consultation exercise being carried out by his Department, including the start date, the date by which responses had to be returned and the expected date for reporting on the consultation. [63789]

[holding answer 21 June 2002]: According to central records the Department is currently carrying out nine consultation exercises. A full list of these consultation exercises, including start dates and dates by which responses must be returned, has been placed in the Library. Reports on consultations are published once all of the responses have been received, and the issues they raise, have been considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) discussions have taken place and (b) assessment he has made of the role of developing an asset register of Railtrack upon delay attribution; and if he will make a statement. [64147]

None. There is no direct correlation between the development of an asset register and the process of delay attribution. The register will contain information on the condition, capability and capacity of Railtrack's assets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail workers have been injured while working on rail lines, in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [60392]

The numbers of workers injured while working on rail lines in each year since 1997 is as follows:

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
Major injuries	6	3	3	2
Minor injuries	18	7	12	4

The Railway Group Safety Plan for 2001–02 sets out a number of detailed targets for reducing risks to railway staff working on Railtrack's infrastructure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to introduce legislation requiring rail network companies to introduce a specific type of safety mechanism onto rolling stock over a certain age; and if he will make a statement. [63695]

There is no safety legislation relating specifically to the age of rolling stock. The Railway Safety Regulations 1999 require a form of automatic train protection where reasonably practical, for example the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS), to be fitted on all trains and key signals throughout the rail network by the end of 2003.Under the same regulations all Mark 1 rolling stock must be fitted with a safety modification (to prevent overriding in the event of two Mark 1 carriages colliding in an accident) by the end of 2002, in order to remain in service until the end of 2004 when they will finally be withdrawn from service. An exemption from the regulations can only be granted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE is currently conducting a public consultation on an application for exemption to fit the safety modification received from the three Mark 1 train operating companies, South West Trains, Connex South Eastern and South Central. The HSE is expected to make a decision in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what internal investigations have been launched by his Department and by its predecessor into grey market share trading in Railtrack shares before the Network Rail bid was announced on 25 March. [63788]