To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 5 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Amanat Ullah. [74860]

I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 22 October 2002,Official Report, column 230W.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter of 19 June from the hon. Member for Torbay regarding Mrs. Shyla Selvasenthil. [75000]

I wrote to the hon. Member on 6 August 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the latest estimated cost is of the Yarlswood fire; and what proportion is anticipated to be borne by the Exchequer. [75432]

For legal reasons I am unable to comment on the costs of the Yarlswood incident and who will bear responsibility for those costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what negotiations he has had with insurers concerning insurance cover for (a) Yarlswood and (b) the proposed pilot accommodation centres for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [75430]

Officials have held discussions with Group 4 Amey Immigration Limited (GAIL) and their insurers. Tenders have yet to be issued for the proposed accommodation centres.

Detention Center Rates—1998 to 2002
Detention Centre/Unit	Non-Domestic Rates (NDR)/Contribution in lieu of Rent (CILOR)			(Account Type: P406)
	2002–03	2001–02	2000–01	1999–2000	1998–99
	£	£	£	£	£
Dover RC (Rochester)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Tinsley House	415,150.00	408,500.00	399,594.19	345,659.89	410,316.21
Manchester Airport Detention Unit	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Haslar Detention Unit	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Yarl's Wood DC	299,345.00	107,329.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Dungavel DC	83,172.00	81,780.00	10,480.04	0.00	0.00
Lindholme DC	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been directed to Leeds, broken down by each Leeds constituency. [75001]

As at the end of June 2002 the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) was supporting 1,485* asylum seekers (including dependants) in accommodation in Leeds.Some asylum seekers supported by NASS find their own accommodation and receive subsistence only support from NASS. As at the end of June 2002 there were 570* asylum seekers (including dependants) in receipt of subsistence only support in the Yorkshire and Humberside region (which includes Leeds).Figures are not currently available by constituency for those asylum seekers supported by the NASS.Statistics on the number of asylum seekers accommodated by NASS in each cluster area are available on the Home Office's Immigration and Asylum Statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on the detention of pregnant women seeking asylum; and how many pregnant women are detained while their asylum applications are considered [76280]

Pregnant women are not normally considered suitable for detention under the Immigration Acts unless there is a clear prospect of early removal from the United Kingdom and medical advice suggests no question of confinement prior to this. In addition, women in the early stages of pregnancy may be detained briefly at Oakington Reception Centre as part of the fast-track asylum process. Statistics for the number of pregnant women detained under Immigration act powers are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to ask the Home Secretary how much he has paid in non-domestic rates for each asylum detention centre in each of the last four years; and how much he will pay in 2002–03. [76545]

[holding answer 23 October]: The table outlines the expenditure paid for Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) for each Detention/Removal Centre across the Immigration Service, in each of the last four years, together with how much we will pay in Financial Year 2002–03.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to ask the Home Secretary if he will list each key performance indicator in the contract for the Dungavel asylum detention centre and the number of performance penalty points incurred for each key performance indicator by the operators of the detention centre in each year since it began operation. [76543]

[holding answer 23 October 2002]: A copy of the contract with Premier Detention Services Ltd has been placed in the Library. Schedule G "Performance Evaluation" of this contract contains all the information required.Information relating to the number of performance points incurred by each Removal Centre operator is commercially confidential and so cannot be disclosed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to ask the Home Secretary what the cost to his Department has been of monitoring private finance initiative contracts for each asylum detention centre in each of the last five years. [76544]

[holding answer 23 October 2002]: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate does not currently hold any Private Finance Initiative contracts for Removal Centres.

PQ-M 08533 HO managed websites costs
2001	Capital Costs	Running costs (ex staff)	Hosted by	State
www.policereform.gov.uk	£3,000	absorbed by Core HO	CCTA/Globix	Live
www.policecouldyou.co.uk	£15,200	absorbed by Core HO	CCTA/Globix	Live
www.secureyourmotor.gov.uk	£100,000	£8,000	CCTA/Globix	Live
www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk	£46,000	£10,800	CCGXM	Live
www.hmenterprises.gov.uk	unknown	absorbed by Core HO	CCTA/Globix	Live
www.drugs.gov.uk	£300,000	£200,000	CCTA/Globix	Live
www.sentencing-advisory-panel.gov.uk	prior to 2001	absorbed by Core HO	CCTA/Globix	Live
www.apc.gov.uk	prior to 2001	absorbed by Core HO	CCTA/Globix	Live
www.ask-the-football-fans.gov.uk	prior to 2001	absorbed by Core HO	CCTA/Globix	Live
www.fairersentencing.gov.uk	£1,200	absorbed by Core HO	CCTA/Globix	Closed
www.crimereduction.gov.uk	£83,000	£48,000	CCTA/Globix	Live
www.ppo.gov.uk	prior to 2001	absorbed by Core HO	CCTA/Globix	Live
www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk	£100,000	£15,000	CCGXM	Live
www.homeoffice.gov.uk	£50,000	75,000	CCTA/Globix	Live
	£698,400	£356,800

2002	Capital Costs	Running costs
www.policereform.gov.uk	£15,000	absorbed by Core HO	Globix/BT	Live
www.policecouldyou.co.uk	£1,683	£686	Globix/BT	Live

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the website links associated with his Department, including sites now dormant or closed, and indicating whether they are live, dormant or closed; what the start up costs were for each site listed; what the operating costs were in each year since start up for each site; which company hosted each site; what assessment takes place for each site; which company does the assessment; if he will place the assessment reports in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [75583]

Since January 2001 to the present the total design and development costs for the website are £1,024,228, whilst running costs (hosting and maintenance, excluding staff costs) are £551,986 to date.Sites are assessed in-house using market intelligence, consumer feedback forms and Webtrends software, and, as of August 2002, monthly figures are submitted to the Cabinet Office.The table shows the capital and running costs for all Home Office websites, excluding the Immigration & Nationality; Passports and Crime Reduction websites.The web plays an invaluable role in providing information to the public and stakeholders across the range of Home Office responsibilities, and we are fully committed to developing our service to the public through it still further.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug treatment and testing orders have been issued in the UK since their introduction; how many have been revoked for non-compliance; and what these figures are for Kent. [75190]

[holding answer 21 October 2002]: The Drug Treatment and Testing Order was introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and rolled out to courts in England and Wales on 1 October 2000, after successfully being pilotedBetween 1 October 2000–31 July 2000 (which is the latest month for which complete figures are available) 8,071 orders have been made nationally, of which 2,369 orders have been revoked for non-compliance. This represents 29 per cent. of the total number of orders made. In Kent 196 orders have been made over the same period, of which 64 have been revoked for failure to comply; this represents 32 per cent. of total orders made in the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the case of Mr. Ebrahim Solta of Leicester who was detained at Charles Street Police Station in October [76310]

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 15 October setting out the circumstances that led to the detention of Mr. Ebrahim Sotta at Charles Street Police Station.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight of 19 September 2002, Official Report, column 40W, on what date a copy of the reply of the Chief Charity Commissioner was placed in the Library. [76537]

[holding answer 22 October 2002]: A copy of the letter from the Chief Charity Commissioner was placed in the Library on 14 October.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding has been given to agencies to provide support and assistance to victims of trafficking in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [76792]

The White Paper "Secure Borders Safe Haven", published earlier this year, set out a comprehensive approach for supporting the victims of trafficking. We will make arrangements for their protection and support by providing access to safe accommodation and services such as medical care, legal advice, and counselling. We are working with the voluntary sector to set up these arrangements and hope to set up a pilot scheme next year, which will initially run on a trial basis for a period of six months so that we can evaluate its impact.The Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are running a number of prevention projects aimed primarily at raising awareness and educating potential victims (mostly women and children) of the dangers of being trafficked. We have given £3 million for the International Labour Organisation's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) programme in the Greater Mekong region (parts of Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam). This involves a number of inter-linked interventions to raise awareness, prevent trafficking and to support community reintegration for victims of trafficking. The United Kingdom is also contributing to the European Union STOP Programme, which provides support to Member State organisations responsible for action against the trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to expand the UK and EU lists on proscribed terrorist organisations; what criteria must be met in order for someone to be added to the list; how often the list is reviewed; when the list was last updated; what discussions he has had with the (a) US Administration and (b) Governments in South East Asia and Australia regarding the proscription of terrorist groups. [76167]

[holding answer 22 October 2002]: I will be laying an Order next week for the proscription of the terrorist organisation Jeemah Islamiyah (JI).Under Part II of the Terrorism Act 2000, I have the power to recommend to Parliament the proscription of any organisation which is "concerned in terrorism", as defined in the Act, if I am satisfied that the statutory criteria are fulfilled.Under the Terrorism Act, an organisation is "concerned in terrorism" if it:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained without charge under the recent anti-terrorism legislation, and in each case (a) what access to legal advice has existed, (b) whether criminal charges are anticipated, (c) the length of time spent in custody and (d) whether bail applications have been made; and if he will make a statement [75424]

Twelve foreign nationals have so far been detained using powers in Part IV of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security (ATCS) Act 2001. Eight were detained in December 2001, one in February 2002, two in April 2002, and a further one yesterday.Of the total detained, two have voluntarily left the United Kingdom. The other 10 remain in detention.All of those detained have had access to legal advice throughout the detention period. There is no limit to the number of legal visits the detainees may receive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on passport fees. [77744]

The Privy Council has made an Order in Council, the Consular Fees (No. 2) Order 2002, which gives authority for a revision in passport fees. The revision will take effect on 21 November 2002. The fee for a standard 32 page passport will increase from £30 to £33 while the fee for a 48 page passport will remain at £40. The fee for amending an existing passport will increase from £18 to £22.50. The cost of a passport for a child will increase from £16 to £19. The additional charges for those making use of the guaranteed fast track and premium services available from the United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) counters remain unchanged at £30 and £45 respectively. The fee for a collective passport, for organised trips for schools and youth groups, will decrease from £42 to £39. The Order also increases fees for passport applications made overseas to British consular posts. These will be an increase from £49 to £54.40 for a standard 32 page passport, an increase from £60 to £65.20 for a 48 page passport, an increase from £29 to £34.70 for a child passport and an increase from £30 to £33.90 for an emergency passport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many businesses in Scotland are authorised to carry out conversion of vehicles to enable them to use liquid petroleum gas; [74971](2) what the locations are of the businesses in Scotland authorised to carry out conversion work on vehicles to enable them to use liquid petroleum gas. [74972]

The number of businesses authorised to convert vehicles for the use of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) in Scotland currently stands at twelve (12), and are located as follows:

• Perth & Kinross—1
• Moray—1
• Highland Region—1
• Edinburgh—1
• Ayrshire—1
• Aberdeenshire—1
• Scottish Border—1
• Dundee—2
• Glasgow—3

The above information is based on data from the LPGA website which was updated on 11 October 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants are available for individuals to convert vehicles to run on liquid petroleum gas. [74973]

The DfT sponsored PowerShift programme, administered by the Energy Saving Trust's TransportEnergy team provides grants towards the conversion of vehicles to run on LPG. These grants are available for vehicles up to five years old for which good quality LPG conversions are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets her Department has for the number of vehicles to be converted to run on liquid petroleum gas by the end of the current financial year. [74970]

The government has not set a target on the number of vehicles to be converted to use LPG. However it is working with the energy and transport industries, to promote, and raise the awareness of alternative fuels—in particular LPG.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many vehicles have been converted to use liquid petroleum gas in each of the last two years. [74974]

The numbers of new and converted vehicles on the road using liquid petroleum gas has doubled since 1999 as confirmed by the table below:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the number of businesses in Scotland able to carry out conversions to allow vehicles to run on liquid petroleum gas. [74969]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. MacDougall) on 7 May 2002, Official Report, columns 6–7W, in which I explained the incentives and the encouragement this department is offering to retailers on the sale of LPG.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been received by HM Government in respect of safety and security concerns expressed in regard to the shipment of rejected plutonium MOX fuel from Japan to Sellafield; and what the cost is of the security provisions in place to protect the nuclear cargo [75457]

Representations have been received by our Diplomatic Missions overseas and by the Department from hon. Members, their constituents, non-government organisations and others over safety and security over the return transport of MOX fuel to the UK from Takahama in Japan.Costs of compliance with regulatory nuclear security requirements are borne by the company. Details of those costs are a matter for BNFL.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many petro-chemical and biotechnology plants in the United Kingdom have the technical capacity for dual civil/military use. [75836]

Petro-chemical plants in the United Kingdom are designed to process crude oil for the production of fuels, lubricants and other hydrocarbon chemicals. Although such facilities, given access to the appropriate raw materials, could potentially he used for the production of chemical weapons or their precursors, in the UK their only dual civil/military use is for the production of fuels, lubricants etc. which are required for normal military as well as civil purposes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects the 5 per cent. target of renewable energy contribution to electricity supplies to be reached; and if she will make a statement. [75125]

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 15 October 2002, Official Report, column 672W, to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of electricity was generated from renewable resources in 2001; and if she will make a statement. [75124]

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 15 October, Official Report, columns 671–672W, to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans her Department has to include industrial kitchen equipment within the EU WEEE directives and restrictions on use of substances covering electrical and electronic equipment; and if she will make a statement; [75133](2) which EU member states have included industrial kitchen equipment within the current EU WEEE directives and restrictions on the use of substances; and if she will make a statement. [75134]

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the Restriction on the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical equipment (ROHS) Directive completed the conciliation process on 11 October. Following legal checking and translation the final texts should be presented to the European Parliament and Council for approval around the end of this year.The scope of these Directives is very wide. To fall within the scope electrical and electronic equipment must rely on either an AC current of up to 1000 volts or a DC current of up to 1500 volts to operate correctly. It must also fall within one of the ten broad categories the WEEE Directive outlines. These categories apply to equipment intended for use by the consumer or for professional use. On this basis it is likely that at least some industrial kitchen equipment will fall within the scope of the Directives. Detailed guidance on scope can start to be developed once the final text is available and we have consulted business further. The Department will also monitor closely developments in other member States to help ensure a consistent application of the Directives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the 10 most successful commercial applications of research programmes funded by the European Union's first five framework programmes for research and development. [74915]

Business, large and small, competes fiercely to take part in EU Framework programmes and derive wider benefits from participation: for example in increasing research skills, helping to access international collaboration, alliances or markets, sharing project risks and costs, or helping to develop key industry standards.However, the research carried out in the EU Framework Programmes focuses primarily on longer term pre-competitive, collaborative research rather than leading directly to commercial products.The UK is strongly encouraging the Commission in its work to develop better ways to track and assess the impact of the Framework programmes. However, successful commercial applications often depend on bringing together a number of technological innovations from different sources (which might include, among other sources, elements drawn from the wide range of outputs from successive Framework Programmes) with the aim of meeting a particular user need. Under these circumstances, it is very difficult to compile a restrictive, ranked list of commercial successes.Nevertheless, it is possible to give some general examples where Framework programmes have contributed significantly to subsequent successful commercial applications: for example, underpinning development of GSM telephony (mobile phones), production of new generations of microchips, competitiveness of European Aerospace industry, improved energy technologies, and a much-improved understanding of life sciences and global climate change.The Commission provides details of all projects funded under FP4 and FP5 on its website www.CORDIS.lu together with a range of technology brokering services to assist with the further exploitation of EU funded research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many women pensioners the National Coal Board are waiting for their equal pay status to be reflected in their pensions; and what percentage of women pensioners this represents. [74902]

None. Neither the DTI nor the two British Coal pension schemes, the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, are aware of any current cases where women pensioners are waiting for equal pay status to be reflected in their pensions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what statutory minimums of service BT is obliged to abide by in standard telephone line provision. [76159]

The Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) requires BT to provide telephony services including the ability to make and receive national and international calls and calls employing facsimile or voice band data at a minimum of 2400bit/s at any place in the licensed area. The EC Directive on Universal Service and Users' Rights, due to be implemented in mid 2003, requires the connection to permit functional Internet access. Oftel will consult on the implementation of its provisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the impact of the judgment of the European Court of Justice in Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbHv. Kohpharma GmbH. [76306]

I have received no representations regarding the impact of the judgment of the European Court of Justice in Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH v. Kohpharma GmbH (Case C-433/00). The judgment was delivered on 19 September 2002, and deals with questions regarding the interpretation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2309/93.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to publish her Department's analysis of the responses to the energy review consultation document. [76397]

The Government has recently completed its consultation on energy policy. It proposes to take the responses to the consultation into account in its work leading to a White Paper in the New Year.Reports on a series of seminars and conferences associated with the consultation are being published on the DTI's web site.The results of consulting the general public through focus groups, deliberative workshops and the questionnaire made available at the Tomorrow's World Live road show were published on 10 October. The questionnaire was also made available on the DTI's web site. The results of these responses will be published shortly.We have received over 2000 written responses to the consultation document. We expect to publish a summary of these responses shortly on the DTI's web site along with the individual responses that are already being published there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings she has held with British Energy since September. [76132]

My Department holds regular meetings with British Energy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decisions have been taken regarding future financial support for British Energy and other energy companies; and what return taxpayers will receive on moneys given to British Energy. [75023]

[holding answer 21 October 2002]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 15 October, Official Report, column 666W on the recent support for British Energy. No decisions have been taken and no commitments given on British Energy's long term future at this time.The circumstances in relation to other energy companies do not raise the same issues. The Government's overriding priority for nuclear safety in relation to BE does not apply.The Government has taken security over British Energy's assets for the credit facility agreement in the interests of the taxepayer. Full details of the agreement are commercially confidential unless and until it is made public by British Energy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many country specific enterprise initiative schemes there are; and if she will list them and their budgets. [75860]

British Trade International has a number of country specific Trade Development schemes designed to help British businesses export for the first time or access certain new markets. The schemes are listed below together with the total budget allocation in Financial Year 2002–2003.

1.	Export Explorer: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden.	£500,000
2.	Export USA	£145,000
3.	Export Canada	£15,000
4.	First Timers Programme: Brazil	£70,000
5.	Enterprise Initiative: India	£20,000
6.	Cuba Trade Development Programme	£30,000
7.	Thailand British Business Mentoring Scheme	£1,500
8.	UK-South Africa SME Partnership Programme	£93,000

In addition, British Trade International also conducts campaigns to raise British exporters' awareness of opportunities in particular markets. There is a budget of £669,000 available in Financial Year 2002–2003 to support campaigns in the following markets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how frequently Trade Partners UK updates its website. [75865]

The Trade Partners UK website has approximately 16,000 pages of information and advice. The website is updated on a daily basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the regional venture capital funds have been established. [76825]

Currently seven of the nine Regional Venture Capital Funds are now operational and available to make investments into SME's with growth potential in the English regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the national oil emergency stock is above the level required by international obligations; and if she will make a statement. [75177]

[holding answer 21 October 2002]: At 31 August 2002 the UK provisionally had stocks equivalent to 76 days consumption of petroleum products, which is above the stock level of 67 ½ days worth of consumption of oil products that the UK is obliged to hold at any one time in accordance with EU legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans her Department has to compile figures for broadband connections broken down by individual constituencies. [76910]

The Department has no plans for compiling figures for broadband connections broken down into individual constituencies.Information on broadband availability is depicted on a map of the UK and is available in the UK Online Annual Report (http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/oee/oee.nsf/sections/reports-anrep20011-images/$file/fig01.pdf).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to end the age differential in the operation of the national minimum wage. [76913]

National minimum wage rates are set by Government following recommendations from the independent Low Pay Commission. The Commission has been asked to produce a Fourth Report on the minimum wage by February 2003 and we will carefully consider any recommendations that they make on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small business closures there were in each year since 1997 in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK. [76859]

VAT de-registrations are the only official measure of business closures. Business de-registrations are not available by size of business and there is no requirement for small businesses to supply the information separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was allocated to small firms throughout the United Kingdom using the Research and Development tax credit in financial years (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [75119]

I have been asked to reply.For companies claiming the R&D tax credit for small or medium sized companies in 2000/01, the cost to the Exchequer was £75 million. Figures are not yet available for 2001/02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her plans to introduce (a) enhanced maternity rights, (b) new paternity rights and (c) rights for adoptive parents. [77828]

I have today laid before Parliament three draft affirmative Statutory Instruments which:

amend existing regulations to extend current rights to maternity leave; provide for new rights to paternity and adoption leave; and establish the rates of statutory adoption pay and statutory paternity pay.

These regulations, subject to their approval by both Houses, will be followed by negative Statutory Instruments setting the other details of the new statutory adoption and paternity pay regimes.These new regulations give detailed effect to provisions set out in broad terms in the Employment Act 2002, which received Royal Assent in July. The measures have been developed as a result of extensive public consultation over recent times, and are designed to provide significantly improved choices for working parents, to help them balance their work and family lives, without imposing undue burdens and administrative complexity on business.A Regulatory Impact assessment has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the non-military uses of uranium for which the metal is used in the United Kingdom. [75835]

I am advised that in the UK uranium ore is used to produce fuel for nuclear reactors. In its depleted form its main non-military applications are:

transportable shielded containers for radioactive sources;

aircraft counterbalance weights;

piling equipment (civil engineering); and

radiation shielding (hospitals, universities etc)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the world's e-commerce is estimated to be conducted in (a) Britain and (b) the European Union. [75729]

[holding answer 23 October 2002]: Reliable global e-commerce statistics that would allow a comparison between the UK and global levels of e-commerce value are not available.E-commerce figures for the UK (excluding the financial sector) have just been released by ONS and show a good increase on previous figures:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he last had bilateral meetings with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Transport, to discuss regional co-ordination of rural policy. [63078]

Ministers in the Cabinet have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues to discuss a wide range of issues. As with previous Administrations it is not this Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to ensure that training backlogs owing to unavailability of aircraft are cleared. [69994]

Training priorities are matched to operational requirements. In the approach to, or during operations, aircrew training is refocused to reinforce critical skills. Subsequently, tactical air training reverts to normal patterns, and support to exercises resumes. Those Field Training Exercises cancelled as a result of non-availability of air transport will, in some cases, have been refocused and other means of meeting the training requirement explored. This being the case, there is no backlog as such.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the monitoring selection of sponsored resource will operate; what guidelines his Department have produced to monitor their performance; and if he will make a statement. [76494]

Sponsored Reserves are selected for their specialist skills by their civilian employer. However, in order to enlist as a Sponsored Reserve, they must meet appropriate entry criteria for the Reserve Force they are volunteering to enter into, taking account of the operational environment in which they are likely to work. The entry criteria are laid down by the appropriate Single Service. Once enlisted as a Sponsored Reserve, the civilian employer remains responsible for maintaining the individual's specialist skills, but the relevant Single Service trains and monitors each Sponsored Reserve in the military skills he or she will need on operations as a serviceman or woman. Having been called out for operations, the performance of a Sponsored Reserve is monitored by the relevant Single Service in the same way as for any other Reservist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the specification for marinised carrier-based F35 aircraft will differ from that for land-based aircraft; and what the cost of marinisation will be. [75954]

We have selected the Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) to meet our Future Joint Combat Aircraft (FJCA) requirement. The STOVL variant of JSF was designed from the outset to be able to operate in the maritime environment. Under current plans the United Kingdom will be able to deploy any aircraft from within the FJCA fleet to the new carriers, as all STOVL JSF are intended to be equally capable of sea or land deployment.The unit cost of the Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) variant of JSF, which is under development to meet primarily the requirements of the United States Air Force, may prove cheaper than STOVL. As this aircraft is not capable of operating from aircraft carriers, it was not considered as a solution to the FJCA requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments he has made in previous financial years in respect of the design, development and manufacture of the F35 aircraft. [75950]

The assessment phase of the Future Joint Combat Aircraft (FJCA) programme (formerly known as Future Carrier Borne Aircraft) began in November 1996 and finished in October 2001. During the phase we spent some £127 million in resource terms, with the competing Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) prime contractors (Lockheed Martin and Boeing). In addition approximately £8 million was spent during Financial Year 2001–2002 as part of the current System Development and Demonstration phase, which began in November 2001.The year-by-year break down of expenditure is as follows:

Year	Figure £M
1996–1997	9
1997–1998	47
1998–1999	34
1999–2000	21
2000–2001	16
2001–2002	8

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors are taken into consideration in the assessment of the requirement of the numbers of Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. [76368]

Our current planning assumption is that up to 150 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) will be required to meet our through life Future Joint Combat Aircraft requirement. However, no final decision on numbers has yet been taken and detailed work is currently ongoing.The decision will take into account a wide variety of factors including: the number of pilots required to man the aircraft on operations; the number of peace time flying hours required to train and maintain those pilots at combat ready status; expected rates of attrition; and the expected airframe life of JSF.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Future Rapid Effect System will enter service with the armed forces. [76367]

No decision has yet been made on the in service date for the Future Rapid Effect System.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy ships have been recalled from sea so that crew members can be trained in firefighting duties in the last 12 months. [76357]

No Royal Navy ships have had to be recalled from sea so that crew members can be trained in firefighting duties. However, the planned activities of the Fleet's ships have inevitably had to be re-prioritised due to the need to train and deploy personnel in anticipation of the Fire Brigades Union strike.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many personnel from each service have been trained in firefighting duties in each of the past six months; [76356](2)which Fire Service roles service personnel will take on should they be required to cover firemen's duties in the event of a national firemen's strike; [76374](3)if he will make a statement on the nature and duration of firefighting training being undertaken by service personnel. [76377]

Armed Forces personnel will provide emergency fire and rescue cover during the fire brigades dispute. Whilst this cover cannot replace in full the service provided by professional firefighters, it will be designed to ensure that the loss of life which may be occasioned by the dispute is minimised, drawing on the proven effectiveness and dedication of the Armed Forces in serving the public. Cover will be provided by 827 Green Goddess crews, 331 Specialist Breathing Apparatus Rescue Teams, and 59 Rescue Equipment Support Teams.About 3,000 RN personnel, 7,700 Army personnel and 2,300 RAF personnel have been trained to provide this front line emergency cover. The training lasts up to five weeks, depending on the skill and role of the individual. Information on the monthly breakdown of these figures is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.The specialist teams will have all the skills required to use breathing apparatus necessary for fire rescue and the use of cutting equipment required to free people from damaged buildings and vehicles. Green Goddess crews are being trained to control fires from outside the building. Other training includes specialist driver training, first aid training and specialist equipment maintenance training.A further 6,500 personnel from all three services will be engaged in administrative, security, command and control and other duties drawing on normal Armed Forces skills and training. A total of more than 19,000 Armed Forces personnel will therefore be engaged in providing emergency cover during a strike.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which Royal Air Force squadrons personnel will be taken in the event of armed forces personnel taking on national firefighting duties. [76373]

RAF manpower is being drawn from the following squadrons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33, 37, 39, 41, 47, 51, 54, 56, 70, 99, 101, 120, 201, 202, 203, 206, 216 and 2623, as well as from ground based Air Defence Headquarters and the Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Regiment. Manpower will also be drawn from units at Cranwell, Digby, Cosford, Brampton, Wyton, Henlow, Uxbridge, Innsworth, Halton, St. Athan, Sealand, Valley, Shawbury and Linton-on-Ouse.In common with all Armed Forces personnel deployed on firefighting duties, RAF personnel will only provide emergency cover, designed to reduce the loss of life which may be occasioned by the strike.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what flying operations will be affected if RAF personnel have to cover firemen's duties in the event of the national firemen's strike. [76375]

The expected reduction in fire cover at RAF stations will result in some loss of flying hours. A prolonged strike will also have some impact on engineering support, which will adversely affect aircraft serviceability and also lead to some loss of flying hours.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to call up reservists in the event of a national firemen's strike. [76378]

Reserves may be used on a voluntary basis in supporting roles during the strike. None have been called upon to provide front line cover.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men have had their post-operational tour leave cancelled as a consequence of preparing to train for firefighting duties. [76668]

In order to train for emergency firefighting duties, nearly a thousand personnel who have recently returned from the Balkans have had some or all of their post-operational tour leave delayed. It is intended that all post-operational tour leave will be taken as soon as these troops can be released. In the meantime, some leave is being taken as opportunities arise, within the constraints of preparations for firefighting duties, and the Ministry of Defence is actively pursuing options in order to reduce the impact to a minimum. Depending upon the duration of strike action, further personnel may also be affected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision will be made, and in what locations, for emergency fire services in rural Dorset in the event of a strike by firemen. [76862]

Emergency cover in Dorset, as in the rest of the country, will consist of a number of elements including Green Goddess crews, breathing apparatus teams, rescue teams (equipped with specialist equipment) and the police. The provision of Ministry of Defence emergency fire cover has been planned in consultation with the Chief Fire Officer and local police to minimise call-out response times and maximise the availability of the range of firefighting capabilities.Three temporary fire stations will be located in Dorset itself, at Weymouth, Poole and Bournemouth. The operational control centre, based at Winfrith, will be responsible for co-ordinating emergency response in the quickest time possible, either through the deployment of assets based in Dorset or by requesting assistance from other operational areas.The Ministry of Defence's emergency cover will not replicate the fire fighting capabilities of the Fire Service, but will minimise as far as possible the danger to human life. Service personnel will provide basic fire and rescue cover.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on levels of Challenger II spares; and what surge capacity exists in event of conflict. [76352]

Challenger II was purchased with an initial spares package and sufficient repairables to cover planned activity and anticipated operations. These holdings are supplemented by further purchases as and when required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what systems will take over the capabilities previously to be provided by the TRACER system. [76365]

These capabilities—the Land Commander's Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) requirements—will be met principally by a combination of the WATCHKEEPER Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and manned ground reconnaissance. We expect the latter to be provided by the ISTAR variant of the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES). Arrangements have been put in place to utilise key technologies developed in the TRACER programme in new programmes such as FRES.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the ISD is of ASTOR. [76364]

There has been no change in the approved In Service Date of September 2005, as reported in the National Audit Office's Major Projects Report 2001. The ASTOR programme is currently on course to meet this ISD.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which operations and deployments the AMRAAM missile has been equipped to (a) Tornado F3 and (b) Sea Harrier aircraft. [76344]

To date, the Tornado F3 has not been equipped with the AMRAAM missile on operations.The Sea Harrier is equipped with the AMRAAM missile on Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, patrolling the no-fly zone over southern Iraq. The aircraft was also equipped with the AMRAAM missile during Operation DELIBERATE FORCE (Kosovo) and Operation DENY FLIGHT (Bosnia) between 1995 and 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current ISD of the A400M. [76363]

The current In Service Date (ISD) for the A400M is 2010. However, as the Contract has not yet been activated, we will continue to keep the ISD under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether representatives from the Brazilian (a) Government and (b) armed forces have visited onboard HMS Fearless in the past year. [76347]

A team of five Brazilian Naval Officers visited HMS Fearless on 18, 19 and 20 June 2002. I am not aware of any Brazilian Government visitors to the ship during the past year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to purchase 232 Eurofighter aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [76369]

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 10 July this year Official Report column 878W, there has been no change in the Government's commitment to the Eurofighter project, which has now been re-designated Typhoon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the programme to maximise the effectiveness of AMRAAM equipped Tornado F3 aircraft; how much this will cost; and when he expects the work to be completed. [76343]

Work is continuing on the AMRAAM Optimisation Programme which will optimise the effectiveness of the missile system on Tornado F3. The programme is expected to cost under £30 million and is on course to achieve In Service Date at the end of this month. Work on the programme, which will comprise a number of incremental capability enhancements, is due to complete on schedule in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the in-service date is of the Nimrod MRA4; and if he will make a statement. [76380]

The contractual in-service date for the Nimrod MRA4 is March 2005, though risk analysis suggests the date will be later in 2005. BAE SYSTEMS have recently acknowledged a delay in the programme for the first flight of Nimrod MRA4. The consequences of first flight slippage on ISD and potential mitigation action are being urgently examined by the Ministry of Defence and the Company. The results of this work will be available at the end of the year. It would therefore be premature to speculate on the impact of this slippage on the in-service date for the MRA4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Apache helicopters are held in storage. [76353]

The Ministry of Defence has 11 Apache helicopters, maintained and supported in an operationally available condition, in storage at RAF Shawbury.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sea trials have taken place in respect of the Apache helicopter operating from aircraft carriers and helicopter carriers. [76346]

The Ministry of Defence has not yet conducted sea trials in respect of the Apache Helicopter operating from aircraft carriers or helicopter carriers. We are planning to conduct appropriate trials on HMS Ocean in March 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Primary Casualty Receiving Ship capability will enter service. [76360]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 September 2002, Official Report column 325W, to the hon. Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent to Veterans Agency customers informing them of their options for receiving benefit from April 2003. [76107]

I am making arrangements to place in the Library of the House a copy of the letter sent to Veterans Agency customers, informing them of their options for receiving benefit from April 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of scrambling an RAF aircraft following the breach of the air exclusion zone around Sellafield in August by a light aircraft; and what provisions exist to recharge BNFL for this security action. [75883]

Air Defence of the United Kingdom is a core Ministry of Defence task and there is no provision for charging others for this activity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the decision to bomb command-and-control posts in Iraq was a joint decision of the US and UK Governments; and if he will make a statement. [76240]

Coalition aircraft conduct patrols of the Iraqi no fly zones in support of UN SCR 688, which demanded an end to Saddam's repression of his own people. The aircrew conducting those patrols are regularly subjected to sustained attacks from Iraqi integrated air defences. The United States and United Kingdom government are in agreement that the coalition pilots facing such threats should be allowed to respond in self defence against legitimate targets within the Iraqi Integrated Air Defence System posing a direct threat to them, as is permitted under international law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the ASRAAM missile is not to be equipped to Harrier (a) GR7 and (b) GR9 variants. [76345]

We are currently upgrading our Harrier GR7 fleet to GR9. Shortly before such a major upgrade, it was not considered cost effective to carry out such substantial modifications.Consideration was given to equipping the Harrier GR9 with ASRAAM as part of the upgrade programme. However, as the Harrier GR fleet is already equipped with the Sidewinder AIM9-L for defensive purposes, and the purpose of the GR9 upgrade is to improve offensive capability, it was concluded that fitting of ASRAAM would not represent the best use of Ministry of Defence resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department (a) has and (b) has had a policy of trying to alter the number of members of the Armed Forces within specific age groups; and if he will make a statement; [76165](2)what annual targets he sets for the establishment strength of the Armed Forces with specific targets for different age brackets; and if he will make a statement; [76164](3)what recruitment and retention targets his Department sets for specific age brackets within the Armed Forces; and if he will make a statement. [76163]

[holding answer 22 October 2002]: The Armed Forces do not set recruitment or retention targets based on, or related to, specific age brackets other than specifying minimum and maximum age limits (and waivers may be obtainable for the latter category in certain instances).The annual targets prepared by the Armed Forces are based on detailed calculations of the numbers required to deliver military capability, in accordance with the Government's defence policy. Each Service prepares detailed manpower plans to provide the numbers and skills it requires in each branch and trade group.Detailed manpower planning by the Principal Personnel Officer in each Service aims to sustain military capability, and at the same time provide careers for their people that will satisfy personal aspirations and withstand competition in the labour market place. It has not always been possible to maintain ideal career structures in all parts of the Services through the rapid changes which took place in the last decade, and past failures to achieve recruiting and retention targets can create imbalances that last a generation. Occasionally the Services have to resort to targeted retention incentives in order to sustain operational capability, and length of service can be a factor in the targeting process. Before taking this course we carefully assess the impact of such incentives on all the people who may be directly or. indirectly affected.The Ministry of Defence has not, and has never had, a policy aimed at trying to alter the number of members of the Armed Forces within specific age groups, although previous policies may have had this incidental effect. Our policies in relation to recruitment, career management and resettlement are based on the principle of maintaining sustainable experience profiles within each branch of the Armed Services. We see this principle as fundamental to operational effectiveness, and to attracting and retaining the people we need to deliver it.Currently, the Naval Service has a Three-Tier Commission for officers and RN ratings and RM other ranks serve on a time to serve basis ie 22 years. In the Army both officers and soldiers now serve on a Length of Service based career structure. For the RAF with the exception of a retirement age of 55, most control/exit points are linked to length of service and rank, not age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 37W, on RAF training (1) how many additional instructors will be required to meet the tasks transferred from RAF Church Fenton; [76575](2) how many qualified flying instructors and ground instructors there are in the university air squadrons; [76576](3) how many staff at RAF Church Fenton will be subject to Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) legislation as a result of transferring the Joint Elementary Training School tasks to the university air squadrons; [76577](4) whether the cost effectiveness has been assessed of transferring the duties of the Joint Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Church Fenton to the university air squadrons. [76578]

No additional instructors will be required when the tasks are transferred from RAF Church Fenton as the Qualified Flying Instructors at the University Air Squadrons will absorb the task.The total number of qualified flying instructors at the University Air Squadrons is 69. However, the additional duties of the Squadron Commanders and Chief Flying Instructors reduce the available flying training time to the equivalent of 50. There are currently no ground instructors at the University Air Squadrons.No staff at RAF Church Fenton will be subject to Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) legislation. It is expected that their task will be absorbed into the existing arrangements for the University Air Squadrons. This means the task will be done in a different manner and location rather than simply transferring to another contractor.Contract negotiations are still underway. The actual savings will not be known until they are complete, but significant annual savings are anticipated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether membership of the Indian National Liberation Army disqualifies former Far East prisoners of war from eligibility under the Ex Gratia Payment Scheme announced on 7 November 2000. [77534]

During the Second World War, the Japanese recruited a considerable number of servicemen from Far Eastern countries who they had taken Prisoner of War, to serve alongside them in the Indian National Liberation Army.The Ex Gratia Payment Scheme was established to recognise the circumstances of the captivity of those taken prisoner by the Japanese. Anyone who would otherwise be eligible under the Ex Gratia Payment Scheme but who joined the Indian National Liberation Army had removed themselves from that captivity which the Ex Gratia Payment Scheme recognises. Their inclusion in the scheme would not be compatible with its purpose and therefore those Prisoners of War who joined the Indian National Liberation Army are not entitled to any payment under the Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the fatalities at the Deepcut Army Barracks. [76908]

The deaths of Privates Sean Benton, Cheryl James, Geoff Gray and James Collinson at Deepcut remain subject to ongoing investigations by the Surrey Police, who are keeping the families informed of developments. The Ministry of Defence has given full co-operation to the police in the course of their enquiries, which will not be complete until the New Year. The MOD is unable to discuss the specific circumstances surrounding the deaths whilst the police investigations continue.

Date	Ship	Value	Type
May 1999	HMS Marlborough	£1 billion +	Cocaine
17 November 1999	HMS Northumberland	£135 million	Cocaine
July 2001	HMS Coventry	£80 million	Cocaine
21 July 2002	HMS Newcastle	£1.5 million	Marijuana
22 July 2002	HMS Newcastle	£42 million	Cocaine
5 Sept 2002	HMS Grafton	£7.5 million	Marijuana
7 Oct 2002	HMS Grafton	£65 million	Cocaine

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what systems are in place for monitoring (a) use and (b) onward sales of arms components sold abroad by UK companies. [76532]

I have been asked to reply.The Government focuses its efforts on assessment of potential end-use at the export licensing stage, including where needed through checks made by our Posts

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what vaccination programmes were undertaken for UK armed forces in the build up to the Gulf War; and if he will make a statement. [76290]

The Ministry of Defence paper: "Implementation of the Immunisation Programme Against Biological Warfare Agents for UK Forces During the Gulf Conflict 1990–1991" dated 20 January 2000, provides the information requested. A copy of the paper is in the Library of the House. It is also on the Internet at: www/mod.uk/issues/gulfwar/info/medical/bwa.htm and available from the Ministry of Defence's Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit (Freephone 0800 169 1645).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which departmental Minister represented Her Majesty's Government at the 60 anniversary commemoration of the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt. [76669]

I did. In addition to this, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces and I also attended the Commemoration in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list drug seizures made by Royal Navy vessels since 1997; where the seizures took place; what the value of each seizure was; and if he will make a statement. [76289]

The Royal Navy vessel regularly deployed to the Caribbean conducts counter-narcotics patrols, working in conjunction with HM Customs and Excise, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and national authorities in the region. Whilst there were no interdictions in 1997 and 1998, there have been a number of successful operations in the Caribbean since then. These are as follows:overseas. Carrying out effective risk assessment on end-users before making the export licensing decision is the surest way of preventing arms from falling into the wrong hands.As set out in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 8 July,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the leaders of (a) Slovakia, (b) the Czech Republic and (c) Poland concerning their applications for EU membership. [75698]

[holding answer 24 October 2002]: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has met leaders from these countries on a number of occasions. For example he attended the Barcelona European Council earlier this year, to which Heads of Government from all the candidate countries were invited.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on c-procurement in Government purchasing. [75728]

[holding answer 23 October 2002]: The Office of Government Commerce has successfully completed all its pilot e-Procurement projects. As a result valuable information has been gained about the practicalities and potential that e-Procurement offers. The Office of Government Commerce is currently developing its strategy to further deploy e-Procurement across government departments and agencies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the schemes and initiatives sponsored by his Department and its agencies which are not the subject of national roll out, showing (a) the authorities or areas covered by the scheme and (b) the budget of the scheme in the last year for which information is available. [75675]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are used to separate errors in tax returns from deliberate late payments; and what interest rates are applied to these different categories. [75147]

No distinction is made between the categories for the purposes of interest rates.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what interest rate is paid on sums collected in taxes in error and in advance. [75148]

If the Inland Revenue issues a request for tax which is found later not to be due, the money is repaid with interest. The rate of interest depends upon the type of tax. For income tax and capital gains tax the rate is 2.5 per cent. For corporation tax and inheritance tax it is 3 per cent.Money paid in error or in advance of tax becoming due generally does not attract interest.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon what criteria the interest rates for the late payment of taxes are determined. [75149]

The criteria are contained in regulations which were laid before the House on 28 July 1989 (SI 1989 No. 1297) These regulations set down formulae for the calculation of interest rates. The basis of the formulae is the average of the base lending rates of 6 major banks.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the operation of vulture funds; and if he will make a statement. [76278]

Following requests from UK and other G7 partners, the IMF and the World Bank have comprehensively addressed the issue of creditor litigation in their report on the status of implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. The report looks at vulture funds and other debt brokers purchasing debt in the secondary market and seeking recovery through litigation.10 HIPCs responded that they were facing litigation on credits held by commercial creditors and the governments of Iraq and Burundi.Some countries are burdened with several cases-for example Uganda is facing 6 cases of litigation and Sierra Leone five cases. A copy of the full Report is available on the IMF website at: http://www.worldbank.org/hipc/ progress-to-date/Final—Full—Revised—Status—of—Implementation.pdfAt the Annual meeting the UK continued to press for the establishment of technical assistance to help countries being sued by creditors.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received concerning the change in the number of final salary pension schemes; and if he will make a statement. [76686]

I receive representations on a wide range of pensions issues. We will publish a Green Paper on pensions later this year.