To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office who is on the (a) advisory committees on justices of the peace in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, (b) Better Regulation Task Force and (c) Civil Service Appeals Board. [85055]

Including sub-committees, there are 17 advisory Committees on justices of the peace in total in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. Copies of membership have been placed in the Libraries of the House.Details of the current membership of the Better Regulation Task Force (BRTF) is listed:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total budgets are of (a) the Social Inclusion Unit, (b) the Charter Mark and Beacon Unit, (c) Office of Public Services Reform, (d) Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, (e) Public Service Team, (f) Performance and Innovation Unit, (g) Centre for Performance and Management Studies, (h) No. 10 Policy Directorate, (i) Government Information and Communication Service, (j) Economic and Domestic Secretariat, (k) Intelligence and Security Secretariat, (l) Civil Contingencies Secretariat, (m) Ceremonial Secretariat, (n) Central Secretariat, (o) Chief Scientific Adviser, (p) European Secretariat, (q) Defence and Overseas Secretariat, (r) Regulatory Impact Unit, (s) Central Policy Group, (t) Communication Group, (u) Corporate Services, (v) Women and Equality Unit and (w) Equality Secretariat, for (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05; and if he will make a statement. [84150]

2002–03 Resource Budgets for the units shown above are as follows:

Unit	Resource budget (£ million)
Office of Public Services Reform (including the Charter Mark and Beacon Scheme)	5.2
Prime Minister's Delivery Unit	3.8
Strategy Unit (formerly the Performance and Innovation Unit)	6.5
No. 10 Policy Directorate	2.0
Government Information and Communication Service	4.0
Economic and Domestic Secretariat	1.3
Intelligence and Security Secretariat	6.0
Civil Contingencies Secretariat	6.8
Ceremonial Secretariat	0.4
Central Secretariat	3.4
Defence and Overseas Secretariat	2.1
Regulatory Impact Unit	3.1
Communication Group	2.3
Corporate Services Group	47.8
Centre for Management and Policy Studies	2.3

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) remuneration package and (b) grade is of (i) the e-Envoy and (ii) his deputy. [85064]

The e-Envoy, Mr. Andrew Pinder, is employed in SCS Pay Band 3, for which the current salary range is £87,125 to £184,500; he is eligible to receive non-consolidated bonus awards based on performance throughout the year. He is also a member of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme to which the employer and employee both contribute.His deputy, the Chief Operating Officer of the Office of the e-Envoy, Mr. Christopher Parker, is employed in SCS Pay Band 2, for which the current salary range is £70,725 to £148,625; he is eligible to receive non-consolidated bonus awards based on performance throughout the year. He is also a member of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme to which the employer and employee both contribute.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office to whom Sir David Omand reports. [85422]

Sir David Omand reports to the Prime Minister through the Secretary of the Cabinet. As Security and Intelligence Co-Ordinator he is the senior official responsible for the co-ordination of activity across Government in relation to counter-terrorism and civil contingency preparations on which he directly supports the Home Secretary as chair of the relevant Cabinet Committees. As Accounting Officer for the Cabinet Office, Sir David supports the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials, and at what levels and for what proportion of their time are working to Sir David Omand. [85423]

Year	Board of inquiry (air accident)	Boards of inquiry (equipment)	Boards of inquiry (property)	Boards of inquiry (opps efficiency)	Unit inquiry (equipment)	Unit inquiry (property)	Unit inquiry (opp eff)
1998	6	2	0	0	0	0	0
1999	12	1	0	0	2	0	0
2000	3	1	0	0	3	3	1
2001	5	0	0	1	14	3	3
2002	5	0	0	1	7	1	0
Total	31	4	0	2	26	7	4
Total boards of inquiry			37	Total unit inquiry			37

Information concerning numbers of inquiries into accidents involving Royal Navy, Army and DLO property or equipment is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Army's (a) requirement, (b) total number and

As at 2 December 2002, there were 37 Senior Civil Servants and 724 other staff working in Cabinet Office units that report directly to Sir David Omand. All figures are rounded to full time equivalents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the performance of the national strategic body for museums, libraries and archives; and if she will make a statement. [83759]

Since its establishment in April 2000, Resource, The Council for Museums, Libraries and Archives has developed closer links between each of the sectors through the creation of regional agencies, and has published a vision for regional museums which has attracted £70 million central Government funding. It has managed the implementation of the People's Network ICT infrastructure in public libraries, which attracted £120 million Lottery funding. It has worked closely with my Department to develop a strategy for the public library service to be published soon and has set up an archives task force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 1W, on accident inquiries, how many (a) boards of inquiry, (b) unit inquiries, (c) ship inquiries and (d) station inquiries have been convened in relation to accidents that have resulted in significant damage to buildings or equipment, or affected operational capability, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [85366]

The number of RAF inquiries into accidents involving property or equipment between 1998 and 2002 is detailed in the table:

The requirement for the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank is for six armoured regiments, each with a war establishment of 58 tanks, giving a total of 348 tanks. Further tanks are required for training and to maintain repair loops. The total number of Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks is 386, with holdings split between units, the British Army Training Unit Suffield, the Army Training and Recruiting Agency, trials and development, in-depth repair and storage. Units do not normally hold all 58 tanks for which they are established on a day to day basis. More typically the six armoured regiments would hold 44 tanks each.The requirement for AS90 is for six regiments, giving a total of 126 guns. Further guns are required for training and to maintain repair loops. The total number of AS90 guns is 179, with holdings split between units, the British Army Training Unit Suffield, the Army Training and Recruiting Agency, trials and development, in-depth repair and storage. Typical unit holdings are either 24 or 18 guns, but, for operations, holdings would be reorganised to allow regiments of 32 guns to be deployed.The requirement for Lynx helicopters is for 117, of which 17 will be undergoing maintenance at any one time, giving an operating fleet of 100 helicopters deployed across the United Kingdom and overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the modifications that have been made to Challenger 2 tanks and how much these modifications cost, (b) the modifications are being made to Challenger 2 tanks and how much these modifications will cost, (c) further modifications to Challenger 2 tanks that his Department plans to make and how much he estimates these will cost and (d) when he expects modifications to be complete; and if he will make a statement. [85362]

In line with the practice for all major items of equipment. Post Design Service enabling arrangements have been placed with the Design Authority (DA) (now Alvis Vickers Ltd.) since Challenger 2 entered service. In addition to maintaining the design standard, these agreements allow modifications, ranging from minor adjustments of detailed build standard to significant changes to operational capability, to be considered. This enables specific contracts to be placed to undertake any necessary modification work. In line with this approach, a number of contracts have been placed recently in respect of modifications to Challenger 2 to improve its operation in desert conditions.I am withholding the specific details, cost and timescale of the modification work under Exemption 1 (Defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans his Department has in place for taking control of civilian ships should they be required in a war effort; and if he will make a statement. [85352]

In order to meet our shipping needs in any future emergency, we would plan to charter civil shipping on the world-wide market to augment the capacity that our own ships give us. Where this is not possible, we would seek to use, where appropriate, either alternative types of ships or transport resources of allied or friendly nations or, as a last resort and in specific circumstances, we would requisition British shipping. Our assessment now is that there are currently enough military-useful British flagged merchant ships and United Kingdom seafarers to meet our defence needs. In concert with the Department of Transport, we continue to keep the situation under close scrutiny.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Bowman communications system will be replaced; and if he will make a statement on the Personal Role Radio. [84851]

Bowman will provide a tactical, secure, voice and data communications system for all three Services in support of land and littoral operations from 2004, in place of the Clansman family of radios. Bowman is expected to continue in service for over 20 years.The Personal Role Radio was formally accepted into service in January 2002, two months earlier than forecast and within planned cost. This is a good example of Smart Acquisition and, as reported by the National Audit Office, the Royal Marines who used it on Exercise Saif Sareea II were delighted with its performance. It has also been used successfully in Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the employment policies of Dyn Corp in relation to its tendering for an MOD contract. [84625]

The Ministry of Defence does not routinely scrutinise the employment practices of companies tendering for MOD contracts, unless the transfer of public sector, or ex-public sector, employees out of the public sector under the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Regulations is likely to be involved. In these cases, the MOD will consider contractors' track records on previous TUPE transfers and employment relations issues as part of the general evaluation of proposals for managing staff issues, and within the framework of existing EU regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast in-service date for the Eurofighter was on 1 December (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001 and (e) 2002; and if he will make a statement. [84832]

The forecast in-service dates for the Eurofighter (now Typhoon), as published in the National Audit Office's report on the MOD's Major Projects, were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast total cost of the Eurofighter project was on 1st December (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001 and (e) 2002; and if he will make a statement. [84833]

The forecast total cost of the Eurofighter (now Typhoon), as published in the National Audit Office's report on the Ministry of Defence's Major Projects, is as follows:

	£ million
(a)	14,649
(b)	14,727
(c)	18,832
(d)	18,896
(e)	18,663

These figures exclude support costs and reflect, from 2000, the conversion of the Department's accounts from a cash to a resource basis, introducing new cost elements such as interest on capital and depreciation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what air defences the Royal Navy will have when the RN Sea Harrier is withdrawn from service; [84840](2) how much it will cost to upgrade the RAF Harrier to take over the role of the Sea Harrier when it is withdrawn from service; and what the capability shortfall is. [84839]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave on 21 May 2002 Official Report, columns 164–65W and 26 September 2002, Official Report, column 328W. In addition, I can confirm that the upgraded Sea King airborne early warning aircraft has now entered service with the Royal Navy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what it would cost to move the Hercules C13J simulators from Lyneham to Brize Norton. [85287]

I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 7 of the Code of Access to Government Information. The information is commercially sensitive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 6W, on legal services, on how many occasions in each of the past 10 years the Ministry of Defence has paid for the defence of an individual charged with a criminal offence when the offence arose as a result of actions undertaken in the course of employment; and if he will make a statement. [85368]

There has been no reason to collect these data therefore the information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government is on target to deliver the remainder of the 44 Royal Navy Merlin helicopters that are due for delivery by December 2002; what the in-service date is of those remaining aircraft; if he will outline the overall cost of the Merlin Helicopter Programme; and if he will make a statement. [85358]

All 44 of the Royal Navy Merlin Mk1 helicopters have been delivered. The final aircraft was delivered on 2 December 2002.The overall cost of the Merlin Mk1 Helicopter programme is £4.183 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of UK military bases have an independent legal officer on site; and if he will make a statement. [85367]

Independent legal officers are not provided on military sites. Personnel may make use of a range of welfare and support services separate from the chain of command or they may raise complaints, to the Defence Council if necessary. They may also obtain legal advice privately if they wish.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by ship type, the Royal Navy's (a) required operating fleet, (b) total departmental fleet and (c) actual operating fleet, of ships owned or leased by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [85353]

As of 4 December 2002, the details of Royal Navy ships, including ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, are as follows:

Type	Required operating fleet	Total dept. fleet	Actual operating fleet
Aircraft Carriers	3	3	1
Destroyers/Frigates	31	31	26
AMPHIBIOUS	3	11	20
Submarines (Trident)	4	4	3
Submarine (Fleet)	12	12	6
RFA	21	21	20
Minehunters	22	22	17
PATROL VESSELS	5	34	5
Patrol Craft	16	16	16
ANTARCTIC PATROL SHIP	1	1	1
SURVEY VESSELS	4	2	2
1Two in build.
2HMS Ocean is expected to return to Fleet Time in mid December.
3One in build.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Royal Navy vessels that are unfit for active duty; and if he will make a statement. [85357]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr. Lewis) on 27 November 2002, Official Report, columns 334–35W. This provides a list of the Royal Navy vessels currently in refit or undergoing repairs, and which are thus unavailable for active duty. In addition, HMS Nottingham will shortly arrive in the United Kingdom for repair and HMS Talent is along side awaiting the start of a planned refit in 1st quarter 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are deployed overseas; and how many were overseas on 25 December in each of the last three years. [83468]

The figures for the average number of personnel from each Service deployed on Military Tasks overseas for the quarter ending 30 September 2002, the most recent figures available, are shown in the following table. Please note that the figures do not include personnel either preparing for or recovering from deployments on Military Tasks.

Second quarter 2002–03 (July to September 2002)
	Number	Percentages of trained strength
Navy (including Royal Marines)	3,888	10.4
Army	8,783	8.6
Air Force	3,841	7.9

The figures for personnel deployed overseas on 25 December in each of the last three years is not available in the required timescale. I will write to the hon. Member with the requested information and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Tornado GR1/GR1A/GR1B/GR4/ GR4A/F3, (b) Harrier GR7/T10, (c) Jaguar GIB/ GR3/T2A, (d) Sentry, (e) Canberra, (f) Nimrod MR2/ R1, (g) C-17A Globemaster, (h) Hercules C1/C3/C4/ C5, (i) Tristar C2/K1/KC1, (j) Chinook HC2, (k) Puma, (l) Merlin, (m) Sea King, and (n) Wessex aircraft were (i) allocated to front-line units, (ii) fully serviceable, (iii) unserviceable 1 st line, (iv) unserviceable 2nd line, (v) unserviceable 3rd or 4th line, (vi) on trials, (vii) held in reserve use and (viii) undergoing upgrade on 25th November; what percentage of the fleet size this represents for each category; and if he will make a statement. [84834]

The information requested is not held centrally and will take some time to gather, collate and verify. I will write to the hon Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progess is being made in the production of the RGSR respirator for the Army; when it will be in service; what advantages it offers over other respirators; and if he will make a statement. [84852]

A decision on the award of the Assessment Phase contract for the Replacement General Service Respirator (RGSR) programme is planned for early 2003. On current plans, the equipment will enter service in the latter half of the decade. The RGSR will deliver enhanced protection levels, offer a reduced physiological burden for the user and afford improved integration with existing and future weapon systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on NATO's future relations with Russia. [85052]

NATO and Russia have for some time sought to enhance their relationship, in recognition of their mutual security interests. The establishment of the NATO-Russia Council at the Rome Summit on 28 May 2002 saw an historic transformation of that relationship, with the 19 NATO allies now working closely together with Russia as equal partners in 20 areas of common interest, such as combating terrorism, civil emergency planning and defence reform. Encouraging progress has already been made in its first six months and it is hoped that NATO and Russia can improve and expand this level of co-operation in 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the Russian Minister of Defence. [85053]

I last met Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov, on 16 July in St. Petersburg.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the ASW Sea King Mk6 when it is taken out of service; and if he will make a statement. [85359]

The Sea King Mark 6 Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft are being replaced progressively by the Westland/Agusta EH101 Merlin Mkl aircraft. Of the original fleet of 48 Sea King Mk 6, 13 are still in active service with the Royal Navy and as yet no decision has been made about their future, 22 have been re-designated as Ground Instructional Aircraft, six are undergoing conversion to MK6c to supplement the Sea King Helicopter Commando Mk4 fleet and seven are awaiting disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal advice has been given (a) in each environmental impact assessment prepared in relation to the Sonar 2087 project and (b) in the independent legal review conducted into the global environmental impact assessment prepared in relation to the Sonar 2087 project; and if he will make a statement. [85355]

The global Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted in 2000 was the first EIA of Sonar 2087. It was carried out as part of the Assessment Phase of that project. It took account of legal advice provided by a lawyer who is an internationally recognised authority on the Law of the Sea. We also commissioned an independent review of the EIA, the legal aspects of which were conducted by a second distinguished independent legal authority. Both processes concluded that the intended operation of S2087 will comply with the relevant legislation at national, European and international level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the Sonar 2087 project; and if he will make a statement. [85356]

Some £100 million has been spent on this project up to the end of November, covering the Assessment Phase and the Demonstration, Manufacture and Support Phase to that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the quarterly cost of the strategic sealift programme is; and if he will make a statement. [83469]

The cost of strategic sealift varies according to the operational, overseas maintenance and exercise commitments of the Ministry of Defence. In the last full financial year 2001–02, the quarterly costs were approximately: £5.5 million, £10.8 million, £11.6 million and £6.2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what services have been provided under the strategic sealift (Ro-Ro) programme; what compensation arrangements exist for breaches in the PFI contract; and if he will make a statement. [83470]

The purpose of the strategic sealift programme is to provide the Ministry of Defence with roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferries for the transportation of military equipment. The PFI contract is with AWSR Shipping Ltd. The first ship, M.V. Hurst Point, has been delivered to AWSR and came into use in August.In the event of a breach, the PFI contract provides for MOD to be compensated by way of reduced payments or liquidated damages. Were there to be fundamental default, other arrangements would apply up to and including contract termination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what thermobaric weapons the British Army uses; what assessment has been made of their capability; and if he will make a statement on the extension of the technology. [84849]

There are no thermobaric weapons in service with the British Army and we have no plans to procure any. However, in view of the threat such weapons pose to our own forces (particularly when fighting in built-up areas or in caves), we are examining with industry the scope for technological advances in the area of enhanced blast explosives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the warship building industry in the UK; and what is being done to encourage competition. [84837]

The Ministry of Defence is undertaking the largest programme of new warship building for many years. This programme will create or secure several thousand jobs in United Kingdom shipyards and ancillary industries throughout the country. The MOD recognises the considerable challenge for UK shipbuilders to maintain capacity and develop the skills required for the future warship building programme, against the background of a short term dip in the volume of work and an ageing workforce. The MOD will continue to work closely with the industry but it is primarily for the shipbuilders themselves to manage any short term workload gap. The MOD order book alone cannot be expected to sustain the industry.Competition remains the bedrock of the MOD's procurement policy and has been the keystone of our strategy for warship procurement. The present competition for the future aircraft carrier is an example of this. Maintaining acompetitive environment should also be helped by the decision to share work on the Type 45 destroyer between BAE Systems Marine and Vosper Thorny croft, which has the advantage of keeping both shipbuilders involved in the Type 45 programme and potentially available to compete for future MOD and export programmes.The MOD, together with industry, will continue to review ways of making UK warship building more competitive and innovative, with the aim of enabling the shipbuilders to widen their customer base and identify other opportunities, for warship export orders in particular.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the location is of (a) HMS Ark Royal, (b) HMS Illustrious, (c) HMS Invincible and (d) HMS Ocean; and if he will make a statement. [85360]

The information is as follows:

HMS Ark Royal is the current Fleet Flagship and is alongside in Portsmouth undergoing routine maintenance prior to her next deployment in February 2003.

HMS Illustrious is in Rosyth undertaking a refit which is due to complete in early 2005.

HMS Invincible is in Rosyth undertaking a refit which is due to complete in late spring 2003.

HMS Ocean is in Devonport undertaking repairs following her Docking period in Portsmouth. She is expected to return to Fleet time this month.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to alter the affordability rules to enable authorities in areas of high housing costs to build more affordable homes. [84428]

There are no specific rules that apply to the costs of new affordable homes built by local authorities. Where an authority decides to fund additional affordable housing it will generally provide better value for money to do this through a housing association.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the maximum amount is that the abolition of 50 per cent, discount council tax on (a) second and (b) empty homes will raise; what proportion (i) billing and (ii) precepting authorities will be able to retain; how a distinction between empty and abandoned homes will be made; and what the estimated compliance costs are of these changes. [844141]

My right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) announced on 19 November 2002 that the Government intend to allow English local authorities discretion to reduce council tax discounts on second homes from 50 per cent. to a minimum of 10 per cent. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has decided not to remove the discount completely because owners need an incentive to inform the local authority that properties are second homes. Without such information, it would not be possible to identify the extra revenue which could be raised from changing the discount. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also announced that we intend to allow English local authorities to reduce or remove completely the current 50 per cent, council tax discounts on long-term empty dwellings. In either case, the billing authority may determine to change the discount in all or part of its area.Authorities where the second homes discount has been reduced will benefit from any additional council tax raised: we do not propose to reduce their revenue support grant to take account of their greater tax raising ability. If all authorities reduced the second home discounts to 10 per cent., this could potentially raise around £65 million. If all authorities removed the empty home discounts completely, this could raise a further £160 million.The benefit of the additional revenue resulting from a reduction in the second homes discount would be shared with the major precepting authorities. The proportions which would go to billing authorities and to major precepting authorities will vary from location to location, depending on the proportion of the council tax bill in an area which goes to major precepting authorities, and different authorities' decisions about how the discount should be applied. The compliance costs will depend on how individual billing authorities decide to change the discounts.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Government spent on start-up costs for the (a) National Assembly for Wales and (b) Scottish Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [83792]

Expenditure by the former Welsh Office on preparations for the National Assembly for Wales was £2.7 million. This includes the costs of the current interim Assembly building, the new building and the costs of staff directly attributed to the preparations for the Assembly. There were additional staff costs across the Welsh Office associated with the preparations for the Assembly but these are not separately identifiable.Expenditure by the former Scottish Office on preparations for the Scottish Parliament was £13.4 million. These figures relate to costs for the current interim Parliament building, the new building (including purchase of the site) and those staff costs that can be directly attributed to preparations for the Scottish Parliament. There were other staff costs associated with preparations for the Parliament or on devolution generally involving staff working across most areas of the Scottish Office, but this expenditure was not recorded separately.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the projected expenditure is for each of the next five years on disabled facilities grants; and what has been spent to date in this financial year in disabled facilities grants; [84565](2) what plans he has for legislation to simplify the way in which grant aid for disabled adaptations are managed; [84566](3) what has been spent on disabled facilities grants in each of the last 10 years; [84564](4) what the average waiting time between assessment and completion in each local authority has been in 2001–02 for householders requesting disabled adaptations in their homes; [84563](5) how many households are waiting for adaptation grants to meet their disability needs in each local authority. [84562]

The Government meets 60 per cent, of the total cost of local authority expenditure on Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), with the remaining 40 per cent, being met from elsewhere in local authorities budgets. The Government has, as of 15 November 2002, paid local housing authorities £66.5 million in the financial year 2002–03 in respect of their expenditure on DFGs. My right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, is currently considering the allocation of funding for the three years to 2005–06, and the Government's contribution towards projected local authority expenditure on DFGs will be announced at the turn of the year.The Government has no plans to further amend the legislation on the provision of housing adaptations for the disabled. The Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England & Wales) Order 2002 came into force on 18 July 2002, and provides English and Welsh local housing authorities with wide discretionary powers to provide assistance for the repair, improvement or adaptations of housing. This power can be used to provide additional financial help to a disabled person over and above any mandatory entitlement to a DFG.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department of Health are jointly preparing comprehensive guidance to local authorities on best practice in the organisation and delivery of a housing adaptations service for disabled people. This guidance will be issued in draft for consultation very shortly.Total Disabled Facilities Grants payments made by English local authorities over the last 10 years are:

Year	£ million
1992–93	64.96
1993–94	74.91
1994–95	90.53
1995–96	97.53
1996–97	99.75
1997–98	100.41
1998–99	107.10
1999–2000	116.42
2000–01	130.70
2001–02	145.10

The Government does not collect data either on the average waiting time for DFG, or the number of households waiting for such a grant.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many unoccupied domestic properties there are in the UK; and how many are in the ownership of local authorities. [82725]

The total number of vacant dwellings in England at 1 April 2001 (latest available data) was 755,100. Of those vacant dwellings, 80,300 were in the ownership of local authorities.Many of these vacant dwellings are transitional vacants (eg they may be in the process of being bought or sold). The breakdown below shows numbers of vacant dwellings by tenure and the number of dwellings that have been vacant for more than six months at 1 April 2001.

	Total dwellings vacant at 1 April 2001	of which: vacant for more than six months
Local authority	80,300	31,500
Registered Social Landlord	41,300	14,900
'Other' public sector	10,900	1—
'Other' private sector	622,600	310,200
Total	755,100	1—
1Not collected.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) teachers and (b) further education college lecturers have benefited from the starter home initiative for key workers; and if he will make a statement on policy towards further education lecturers. [85428]

The funding available to assist teachers into home ownership under the Starter Home Initiative is targeted at teachers in schools ie the Secondary School sector. To date over 700 teachers have purchased homes under the Initiative that they would otherwise have been unable to afford.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises that other key workers, including further education lecturers, need to be able to find affordable homes within a reasonable distance of their work place. Our wider housing policies to increase the supply of affordable homes in areas where demand is high will benefit other groups of key workers. In addition the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be looking at ways to extend our existing programmes for affordable housing through greater partnership with employers and with public and private sector landlords.Early in the new year my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will set out in his Communities Plan a long term programme of action for housing and sustainable communities. This will address affordable housing issues, including key worker housing.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for designing bathrooms with level access showers as part of the Homes for Life programme. [84561]

Part M of the Building Regulations was amended in 1999 to require reasonable provision for access for disabled people to visit friends and family in new homes. All new homes built in England and Wales on the basis of building control applications submitted after 25 October 1999 have had to comply with the new requirements. Currently, these do not require the installation of showers with level access. The various Parts of the Building Regulations are however kept under review.Some social housing funding authorities require, in addition, compliance with the Lifetime Homes standards promoted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which is a charitable organisation. The Lifetime Homes programme aims to produce homes that are suitable for fully independent living by disabled people, and principally by wheelchair users. The Lifetime Homes Standard however only calls for drainage provision to enable a shower to be fitted in the future.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish his Department's review of the Index of Multiple Deprivation; and if he will make a statement. [85680]

The project to update the Indices of Deprivation 2000 is being conducted in three stages. The Stage One Consultation Report has recently been published. Stage Two will result in a blueprint setting out detailed proposals for updating the indicators and domains while Stage Three will result in the updated Index. It is expected that the final updated index would be published in summer 2003.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the amount of spending per head by each all-purpose local authority in the current financial year. [85624]

The spending per head for each all-purpose local authority in the year 2002–03 has been set out in a table and placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what research has been undertaken to examine the effects of clawback on the sale of assets in the new towns; [85243](2) what research has been undertaken to examine the extra costs of housing renewal and regeneration in new towns subject to simultaneous ageing; [85242](3) what research has been undertaken to ascertain the extra costs falling upon local authorities from new towns designed on the Radburn principle. [85241]

In its response to the recent Select Committee report on New Towns, the Government undertook that, subject to Office of the Deputy Prime Minister funding, a review would be undertaken. This would examine a number of aspects of the New Towns, which would include all the issues mentioned by my hon. Friend. The review would involve consultation with the relevant local authorities.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning appeals for developments with densities greater than the local planning authority considered reasonable have been allowed in each of the last three years. [84465]

Information on planning appeals in the form requested is not available. The table sets out for the last three years the number of allowed appeals for residential development where 'over-development' was recorded as an issue. Over-development encompasses a number of amenity concerns arising from the proposed layout.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whether he requires the documents By Design and By Design: Better Places to Live to be material considerations in the planning system; [85187](2) what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the guidance in

By Design and By Design: Better Places to Live are guides to better practice supporting Government policy on urban design and housing set out in Planning Policy Guidance Notes 1 and 3. They should be taken into account in preparing development plans and planning applications and may also be material to decisions on individual planning applications and appeals. My right, hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister is a statutory consultee in the preparation of development plans and can make objections when there are conflicts with national guidance which do not appear to be justified by local circumstances. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister also has powers of intervention to direct that plan proposals should be modified before adoption.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many special advisers were employed in his Department in (a) May and (b) November. [83419]

At the end of May 2002 when the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created, the Office employed three full-time equivalent special advisers. In November 2002 the Office employed 2.8 full-time equivalent special advisers.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been paid to Charnwood borough council in SSA grant to compensate for student houses in multi- occupancy in the present financial year. [85027]

The present SSA formula for Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services contains three housing deprivation indicators but none relates specifically to students. In addition, local authorities are compensated through revenue support grant for council tax income lost from properties that are exempt from council tax because they are occupied only by students.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of Beacon schools in raising school standards; what guidance he gives on the circumstances in which it is appropriate to close a beacon school and whom the authorities should consult; and how many beacon schools have been closed. [85551]

By building partnerships, Beacon schools have been supporting other schools to raise overall standards of pupil attainment and to close the gap between the best and lower performing schools. Independent evaluation has shown benefits of Beacon activity in terms of improved practice and raised standards through professional development. In the case of Beacon schools, as with all schools, the Department takes the view that closure is a matter for local public consultation and decision-making. The Department does not have a role in this process. So far, three Beacon schools have been closed as a result of local reorganisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to provide assistance to schools to help them ensure that their course materials are accessible to disabled students in the next year. [84294]

[holding answer 2 December 2002]: Schools and local education authorities are required to plan strategically to increase progressively over time the accessibility of schools to disabled pupils. This includes increasing access to schools premises and facilities, to the curriculum and to written information in alternative formats—including Braille and audio-tape. The first accessibility plans must be in place by April 2003 and will run for a period of three years.Funding is available to local education authorities through the Schools Access Initiative to make schools more accessible to children with disabilities and special educational needs. £70 million is available this year. This will increase to £100 million a year for the next financial years 2003–04 to 2005–06.Improving access to schools for disabled pupils is an integral part of local education authority planning and asset management and funds for improving school access are part of a much larger block of funds for capital expenditure of some £8.5 billion, which we are making available over the period 2001–02 to 2003–04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the schools in the top 10 per cent, of those with the greatest number of children who receive free school meals. [84567]

[holding answer 2 December 2002]: The information requested cannot be provided as it is the Department's current policy not to publish figures about individual schools without their prior agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has done on the effects of mixed-age teaching in primary schools. [85556]

The Department is not currently undertaking research on this subject. Previous research has shown that there are a number of positive benefits for primary school pupils in mixed-age classes. These include the opportunity to form wider friendships and for younger pupils to learn from their contemporaries, more individualised teaching, and the opportunity for pupils with differing ability to provide intellectual stimulation for each other. The research does not find positive effects for attainment. However, there appears to be no negative impact on pupil attainment of what is known as vertical grouping. Teachers tend to be more negative about mixed-age classes, believing them to create more work and complicate classroom management.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have received free tuition to study national vocational qualifications in (a) plumbing, (b) bricklaying, (c) bridge to construction (or intermediate construction award), (d) painting and decorating and (e) wood occupations, in each year since the establishment of the courses. [83766]

The question asks about free tuition on NVQ courses. The information available does not discriminate between those who get full and partial fee remission. The following figures therefore include both.In 2000–01 in further education sector colleges in England, tuition fees were waived (fully or partially) for:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many tutors were employed in further education colleges teaching national vocational qualifications in (a) plumbing, (b) bricklaying, (c) bridge to construction (or intermediate construction award), (d) painting and decorating and (e) wood occupations, in each year since the establishment of the courses; [83767](2) how many tutors were recruited to teach national vocational qualifications in

Information on tutors in FE teaching national vocational qualifications is available only for broad subject levels.In 2000–01 there were 3,623 tutors teaching construction in FE colleges in England.Information on the recruitment of tutors in FE, their retention and average length of time in employment is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how much was available in each prison for education courses in each year since 1995 at current prices; and what the percentage increase was in each year; [84554](2) what percentage of the prison population were engaged in education courses in each prison in each year since 1995; and how much funding has been provided per head of population of each prison for education courses in each year since 1995. [84555]

[holding answer 2 December 2002]: The information available has been provided in the form of a table, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received concerning the closure of schools in South Shields; and if he will place these in the Library. [85553]

The Secretary of State and his Department have received 16 letters from Headteachers, School Governors, parents and members of the public about South Tyneside local education authority's proposals for the reorganisation of primary education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children who truanted from school in 2001–02 gained one or more GCSEs. [85348]

[holding answer 4 December 2002]: The only available source of data on the GCSE attainment of young people who truanted from school is the Youth Cohort Study (YCS).The latest data available from the YCS are for people who took their GCSEs in the summer of 1999. This shows that of those who occasionally truanted during year 11,95 per cent, reported gaining at least one GCSE, of those who persistently truanted during year 11, 79 per cent, reported gaining at least one GCSE.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the nitrofuran antibiotic furazolidone is banned for use in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [85005]

[holding answer 3 December 2002]: Furazolidone is included in Annex IV of Council Directive 2377/90EC, so its administration to food-producing animals is banned, both in the UK, and in the European Community. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) run two surveillance schemes for residues of veterinary medicines and banned substances in UK-produced and imported produce. These are overseen by the independent Veterinary Residues Committee (VRC).In 2001, the VMD analysed 453 samples of bovine, pig and sheep kidney; and 58 samples of eggs for furazolidone under their statutory surveillance programme for UK produce. A further 86 samples of animal feed were analysed for nitrofurans. All samples were free of detectable residues of these compounds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the role of auction marts in increased bio-security. [84167]

Livestock auction markets have an important role in the marketing of farm animals between the various stages of production. However, markets do pose a risk of disease spread through mixing and dispersal of animals during market operations. The Department has sought to mitigate this risk through rules on bio-security at markets, and controls over the movement of animals to and from market premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evaluation is being relied upon by her Department in respect of the possible link between badgers and the spread of bovine tuberculosis; and if she will make a statement. [84239]

[holding answer 3 December 2002]: A badger culling field trial is being carried out as part of DEFRA's extensive bovine tuberculosis (TB) research programme. The trial was designed by the Independent Scientific Group for Cattle TB (ISG) to evaluate what role, if any, badgers play in the transmission of bovine TB to cattle and whether badger culling is an effective or sustainable bovine TB control mechanism. It will provide epidemiological data on the occurrence and prevalence of TB in badgers, its relationship to population density and social group size and the spatial relationship between TB-infected badgers and TB breakdowns in cattle herds.The ISG advise that it is too early for a full analysis of results. It is a basic rule for scientific trials that results are not published prematurely. It has however been possible to complete a preliminary analysis of the risk factors associated with cattle TB, and this is set out in the ISG's Third Report, available in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has held with her EU counterparts on proposals to introduce legislation concerning climate change; and if she will make a statement. [84646]

I have regular discussions with my EU counterparts on climate change issues.Last year we agreed Council conclusions on the European Commission's communication on the European Climate Change Programme. More recently we have discussed the European Commission's proposal for a Directive to establish a Community greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme. I will be discussing this again at the Environment Council on 9 and 10 December.We are also discussing with the commission the preparation of legislation on reducing emissions of fluorinated gases (hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride) that also fall under the Kyoto Protocol.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) schemes and (b) bodies her Department contributes funding to which are concerned with climate change. [85484]

The main schemes for which my Department provides funding are the UK Emissions Trading Scheme the New Home Energy Efficiency scheme (or Warm Front) and the Community Energy Programme. The main bodies for which my Department provides funding are the Carbon Trust, the Energy Saving Trust, the Hadley Centre, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (core budget and trust funds), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Greentie and the OECD Annex 1 expert group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of the sector associations party to a Climate Change Levy umbrella agreement have supplied her with information specified in Schedule 3 of those agreements; what the dates were of each supply; and which of those sector associations have supplied her with information specified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 of those agreements. [82871]

Under clause 6.5 of the umbrella agreements, sector associations are not required to submit information specified in either Part 1 or Part 2 of Schedule 3 for the first target period until 31 January 2003, extended by agreement to 17 February. No such information has yet been supplied by sector associations, though data has been received for the single company agreement under paragraph 47 of Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to support the working of the international market in coffee. [83627]

The UK is a member, through the EU, of the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), a United Nations body established to, among other things, "achieve a reasonable balance between world supply and demand on a basis which will assure adequate supplies of coffee at fair prices to consumers and markets for coffee at remunerative prices to producers … to facilitate the expansion and transparency of international trade in coffee".A major plank of the organisation's current activity is a Coffee Quality Improvement Programme. Introduced on 1 October 2002, it requires exports of unprocessed coffee from member countries to comply with minimum quality standards. This should have a positive effect upon supply and demand and, in turn, producer prices. Discussions are also under way within the organisation about how exports of processed coffee should be dealt with.The Government are also helping coffee growers to diversify, through our development programme, and promoting foreign investment and good regulatory frameworks in coffee-growing countries.In a wider context, on the WTO front, we are committed to further liberalisation of markets, including significant improvements in market access and special and differential treatment for developing countries. This should also benefit coffee growers.We are seeking to expand the trade opportunities of commodity-dependent countries through, for example, cutting import tariffs to reduce the negative impact of the Common Agricultural Policy.

:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what corrections to energy efficiency targets resulting from correction to baseline data she has discussed with sector associations; if she will specify the provisions of the umbrella agreements and underlying agreements under which such corrections are permitted; and what discussions or correspondence she has had with such associations concerning failure to meet such targets. [82869]

The Secretary of State has discussed several variations to energy efficiency targets resulting from corrections to baseline data with sector associations. Further to my answer of 7 November, the agreements are to be varied to provide for corrections to targets resulting from corrections to baseline data. The text of the variation has not yet been agreed. The Secretary of State has yet to receive information from the sector associations about the performance of the facilities covered by the agreements during the first target period. Accordingly the Secretary of State is not yet in a position to ascertain whether there has been any failure to meet such targets.

:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the cost to egg producers of a ban on the use of enriched laying cages in England; what plans she has to provide financial assistance to egg producers in the event of such a ban; and if she will make a statement. [84513]

A partial regulatory impact assessment was included in the public consultation about a possible ban on enriched cages and is being considered again in the light of responses received. The CAP regime for this sector is a light one and no grants are currently available.

Average farm size in hectares by region and farm type—England 2001
Region	Farm type Cereals	General cropping	Horticulture	Specialist pigs	Specialist poultry
North East	154.8	217.7	8.5	14.5	45.2
North West	101.6	75.7	5.7	10.2	22.0
Merseyside	63.4	86.0	6.7	9.0	1.2
Yorkshire and Humberside	103.0	159.9	6.7	21.0	11.9
East Midlands	138.1	150.8	7.6	12.9	8.0
West Midlands	103.0	140.0	12.4	13.4	11.3
East of England	129.8	153.1	8.8	14.2	9.5
Greater London	99.9	81.2	5.5	24.4	13.8
South East	174.5	152.1	16.7	25.2	11.1
South West	135.5	100.1	9.2	15.4	11.9
England	131.9	145.3	10.5	16.6	13.2
	Mixed pigs and poultry	Dairy—LFA	Dairy—Lowland	Specialist sheep—SDA	Specialist beef—SDA
North East	20.6	70.1	81.9	213.3	67.4
North West	12.2	82.7	76.6	108.2	37.7
Merseyside	0.0	0.0	105.1	0.0	0.0
Yorkshire and Humberside	22.6	84.1	72.0	115.2	35.4
East Midlands	37.8	77.4	79.5	126.8	45.4
West Midlands	3.7	57.0	78.5	39.7	33.6
East of England	15.4	0.0	75.6	0.0	0.0
Greater London	0.0	0.0	117.5	0.0	0.0
South East	3.5	0.0	109.0	0.0	0.0
South West	8.1	75.2	88.9	60.1	60.2
England	15.2	77.0	84.4	116.7	44.1
	Mixed cattle and sheep—SDA	Cattle and sheep—DA	Cattle and sheep (Lowland)	Mixed	Other types
North East	198.1	74.5	56.2	165.7	17.5
North West	109.1	40.5	28.3	55.7	18.0
Merseyside	0.0	0.0	40.1	57.7	8.3
Yorkshire and Humberside	109.9	50.3	24.7	83.4	9.7
East Midlands	72.8	42.9	28.4	109.9	6.5
West Midlands	86.7	26.1	28.2	98.0	7.4
East of England	0.0	0.0	26.6	102.0	8.8
Greater London	0.0	0.0	30.5	81.1	13.6
South East	0.0	0 0	33.4	140.7	11.4
South West	120.2	43.9	33.2	101.9	8.5
England	125.6	42.1	31.0	105.1	10.3

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on a proposed ban on the use of enriched egg laying cages in England. [84508]

The Department has received over 1,000 responses to the public consultation from the general public, industry and animal welfare organisations.

:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average size of farm is, broken down by (a) category and (b) region. [81146]

[holding answer 20 November 2002]: The information given is shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what United Kingdom legislation will restrict the number of days at sea for fishing vessels capturing and landing cod from 1 January 2003; whether amendments to legislation are necessary to achieve Government objectives; and if she will make a statement. [85508]

[holding answer 4 December 2002]: No decision has been made as to the means by which any limit on days at sea required by EU legislation would be implemented in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many qualified valuers were paid (a) per day and (b) per valuation during the foot and mouth outbreak. [84165]

During the foot and mouth outbreak, qualified valuers were paid on a per day basis, not on a per valuation basis. Therefore, the Department does not have a record of the number of valuers broken down into these two categories. There are a number of legal disputes with valuers who are claiming on a per valuation basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government are doing to control the sale of endangered animal parts for eastern herbal medicines. [85386]

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which regulates trade in endangered species of animals and plants, is strictly implemented in the UK under both European and National legislation. Medicines derived from species listed in the Appendices to the Convention need an import permit issued by my Department before they can enter the country. Permits will not normally be issued for products containing the most endangered species, which are listed on the Convention's Appendix I. As a result any products that are derived from, or even claim to be derived from, Appendix I specimens taken from the wild will not normally be allowed on sale in the UK.CITES is actively enforced in the UK by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the Police who work together with my Department, other Government Departments and certain non-governmental organisations in the Government's Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime. My Department produces general guidance on the Convention and maintains a dedicated website on CITES implementation in the UK. We have also worked with the enforcement agencies to produce specialist material including leaflets, posters and videos aimed directly at Britain's Chinese speaking community. We are also currently funding, with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), research into the use of alternatives to replace certain endangered species contained in traditional medicines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will end the moratorium imposed on Horticulture Research International regarding scientific staff; and if she will make a statement. [84136]

Horticulture Research International (HRI) is in a loss-making situation. Following discussions with Defra, HRI agreed to introduce a moratorium on staff recruitment to help contain its operating costs. HRI will fill vacant posts by external recruitment only where such posts are essential to its business and where it has been unable to fill them through internal redeployment.The Department considers that this is a financially responsible course of action. The moratorium will be reviewed in due course in the light of HRI's financial situation and the decisions which the Department expects to take shortly about the future of the organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of the relative number of (a) beef, (b) dairy and (c) sheep sales being concluded (i) through a registered auction mart and (ii) by private farm-to-farm sale in each of the last three years. [84166]

The available data are shown in the table. Livestock markets were disrupted by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001, and the last three years for which data are available are 1998–2000. They include livestock sold for slaughter and farm-to-farm sales through markets. No data are available within my Department for Northern Ireland, for the split between beef and dairy cattle, or for private farm-to-farm sales.

Throughput through livestock auction markets in Great Britain
	1998	1999	2000
Cattle (including dairy)	2,455	2,483	2,422
Calves	523	454	436
Sheep	17,060	17,564	17,596
Total	20,038	20,501	20,454

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs why the Government did not ban meat imports from South Africa between September 2000 and January 2001. [83895]

On 21 September 2000 the European Commission was notified of limited outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in sixteen provinces of Kwa-Zulu Natal. The South African authorities took effective action by imposing their own export ban on meat from the infected areas. At the time the Government was content with this situation as meat from the area could not be exported.On 17 November the Commission amended Community legislation to formally prohibit the import of fresh meat from the affected areas. This reflected the self-imposed South African ban. Prior to this the Commission had not taken any action. Records show that after 21 September 2000 there were no imports of meat from South Africa into the United Kingdom.On 20 December 2000 the Commission reported that there had been no change in the disease situation. In view of this we reviewed our action and issued a Declaration under Regulation 35 of the Products of Animal Origin (Importer and Export) Regulations 1996 on 5 January 2001 prohibiting all fresh meat of FMD susceptible species from the whole of South Africa unless it was produced before 15 September 2000. A note explaining the situation was sent to trade interests on 8 January, as was a letter to all Border Inspection Posts at ports and airports. Scotland and Northern Ireland took similar action shortly afterwards.Since then the Government has followed a policy of issuing such a Declaration whenever a suspension of imports is necessary, even in advance of Community action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02. [84800]

:Since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government has also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002 Official Report 1374 75W. The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total remuneration is of the Chairman of the Parrett Catchment Project. [84648]

The Parrett Catchment Project is an independent body. As advised in my reply to the Member's previous question, no salary is paid by the project to the Chairman. I understand that he is currently entitled to a fee of £150 per day for his work on the project.Up to June 2001, I am advised that the Chairman received no fees or expenses from the Project.From June 2001 to the end of June 2002, I understand that he was paid £3,000 in fees, a £1,000 honorarium for extra-contractual work on the successful Intereg 3 bid for EU funds, and £724 in expenses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact upon business of the ban on pigswill; and what compensation her Department is providing to pigswill producers to compensate them for losses brought about by the ban. [85082]

In March 2001 during the Foot and Mouth outbreak, the proposal to ban swill feeding was the subject of a full public consultation and Regulatory Impact Assessment. A copy of the Regulatory Impact Assessment which accompanied the Animal By Products (Amendment) Order 2002 (S.I. 2001 No. 1704) is available in the Library of the House.The Government does not intend to compensate pig farmers for changes to the feed material available for their livestock following the introduction of the ban on swill feeding. However the Government is providing free business advice to those affected by the ban.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning the application of the 20-day standstill period where the designated 20 days are exceeded relating to farm to farm sales; and if she will make a statement. [84510]

We receive many varied representations about different aspects of the 20-day standstill rule. The current movement rules, including the standstill, apply to animals sold from farm to farm as well as to other types of movements.

:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning the practicality of the exemption to the 20-day standstill rule granted to farmers in the form of a DEFRA licence for specialised calf rearing units; and if she will make a statement. [84509]

We receive many varied representations on all aspects of the 20-day standstill rule. The movement of calves under 30-days-old with full passports does not trigger a 20-day standstill on specialist calf rearing units which have been approved by the Divisional Veterinary Manager. Specialist calf rearing units do not require a licence.

:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 21 November 2002, Official Report, column 300W, what measures she is taking to (a) identify veterinary practices and surgeries operating without being registered by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and (b) ensure that (i) non-registered veterinary practices and surgeons and (ii) others are not involved in working with animals. [84821]

[holding answer 4 December 2002]: The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is obliged under the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners Registration Regulations to maintain and publish a register of all veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK. However, under the Regulations, the RCVS only have jurisdiction over individual registered veterinary surgeons. Should the RCVS be informed of, or identify, individuals practising while unregistered it is a matter for the police or local trading standards agencies to prosecute under Section 19 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.The regulations do not require or give the RCVS powers to compel members to provide practice details, although many do so on a voluntary basis. This information is maintained on a database and is published on the RCVS website under 'Find-a-Vet'. This is annually printed as a publication, "the Directory of Veterinary Practices" and is available to the public. The Directory and 'Find-a-Vet' link individual veterinary surgeons to practices and provide comprehensive information on the species they treat and any specialist services they offer.The RCVS continually monitors various advertising and other information media to identify practices not listed in the Directory. Once identified they are contacted and asked if they wish to be listed.It is the responsibility of practices to check that prospective employees possess relevant qualifications and in the case of veterinarians that they are registered with the RCVS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the formulation of a universal set of standards for use by the African Union for the peer review mechanism of the New Partnership for Africa's Development. [84629]

The NEPAD Steering Committee has tasked its Secretariat to develop detailed criteria and indicators for measuring performance on political and economic governance. These will be considered at the next meeting of the NEPAD Implementation Committee in February 2003. We understand that the process of the peer review mechanism will draw on expertise from both UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union, but the NEPAD Secretariat will have the key role in making sure the process gets started.Pending the ultimate integration of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) with the African Union, the Implementation Committee has recommended that the specialist commission, units or organs of the AU responsible for democracy, political and human rights, be tasked to conduct technical assessments for the APRM.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether G8 funding for the New Partnership for Africa's Development is conditional on the inclusion of the peer review mechanism. [84630]

The G8 response to the NEPAD initiative is set out in the G8 Action Plan for Africa, which was placed in the House Libraries on 1 July this year.As NEPAD is a political agreement between African leaders, not a funding mechanism, G8 countries will not be funding NEPAD directly. The G8 is committed to establishing enhanced partnerships with African countries whose performance reflects the NEPAD commitments. The peer review mechanism will inform our considerations of eligibility for enhanced partnerships. Each G8 member will make their own assessments. The bulk of UK bilateral assistance to Africa will flow to enhanced partnership countries, providing sustained and predictable levels of support to those countries best able to use it. Poor performers and those in conflict, will not be neglected, but the nature of the engagement will differ.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of the peer review mechanism within the New Partnership for Africa's Development. [84644]

There has been welcome progress on NEPAD's African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), an African-owned and led initiative. At the 3 November NEPAD Implementation Committee meeting in Abuja, African leaders developed an agreement on a comprehensive, voluntary, peer review mechanism covering political, economic and corporate governance. We welcome the decision of 12 members of the Implementation Committee plus Uganda to sign a Declaration of Intent to submit to the peer review process.The NEPAD Secretariat has been tasked with finalising the accession process (by January) and developing the indicators for measuring performance in time for the next Implementation Committee meeting in February. Review of the first countries should start in April 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 19 November 2002, Official Report, columns 44–50W, whether discussions have taken place in the last two years between British Government officials and (a) Andrew Smith and (b) other representatives of Avient Air in Zimbabwe on matters other than the sale of military equipment. [82998]

[holding answer 25 November 2002]: Further investigation has revealed that there have been a number of discussions in the last two years between Andrew Smith and British Government officials in London and Freetown concerning Mr. Smith's interest in a civil aviation contract in Sierra Leone. Mr. Smith has also made representations to officials following the publication of the UN Panel Report on the DRC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000 between British Government officials and (i) Mr. Andrew Smith and (ii) other representatives of Avient Air in (A) Zimbabwe and (B)the UK with regard to (1) sales of military equipment, (2) military operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and (3) other matters. [83034]

[holding answer 25 November 2002]: British High Commission officials in Zimbabwe had contact with Mr. Smith on a number of occasions between 1998 and 2000, including at social events. British officials did not at any time encourage, support or promote Mr. Smith's activities in the DRC.I have instructed officials to continue investigations into contacts between Mr. Smith and Government officials and I will write if I have any further information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the Bonn conference he attended on 2 December with regard to progress in Afghanistan, with particular reference to (a) extending the ISAF effort outside of Kabul and (b) the progress of the restoration of women's rights; and if he will make a statement. [85623]

The participants at the Bonn conference reviewed the achievements of the past year; agreed on the text of a communiqué highlighting areas where further progress is needed; welcomed the intention of Afghanistan and neighbouring states to meet in Kabul on 22 December to decide on a declaration of good neighbourly relations; and welcomed the signing, by President Karzai, of a decree on principles governing the establishment of the Afghan National Army (ANA). The participants discussed the importance of pressing ahead with ANA reform and demobilisation in accordance with the agreed principles in order to improve the security situation throughout the country.The participants agreed that the strengthening of the national independent Human Rights Commission's capacity for the monitoring of human rights implementation and investigations into human rights violations was fundamental. The participants also noted the importance of the development of a new constitution and the preparation for free and fair elections to select a broad-based, gender-sensitive, multi-ethnic and fully representative government. The UK will continue to work closely with the Afghan Transitional Administration and the rest of the international community to ensure women's full and active participation in civil, political, economic, social and cultural life throughout Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with European colleagues on financial assistance to states to assist them in implementing programmes to protect minors against cruelty and exploitation. [83241]

The issue arises frequently in discussions among European colleagues.The EU has been actively engaged in the development of a comprehensive policy to fight violence against and the sexual exploitation of children, including child pornography and child sex tourism. The EU Daphne Programme, now with a budget of €20 million, has allowed for the implementation of around 100 projects dealing with the protection of children from all forms of violence: trafficking, child pornography and the internet, commercial sexual exploitation, and missing children.The STOP II Programme was adopted in 2001 giving special attention to efforts to assist victims and to prevent trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children. This programme focuses on candidate countries and also provides for co-operation with third countries and international organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the impact which the EC regulations implementing the Kimberley Process of diamond certification will have on conflict diamond trading in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [84631]

The DRC is a participant in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. When that scheme comes into effect in January 2003, all exports of rough diamonds from the DRC will have to be accompanied by the appropriate Kimberley Process certificate. The EU regulation prohibits imports into the Community of rough diamonds not accompanied by a certificate.Our expectation is that the implementation of this scheme will curb the circulation of so-called 'conflict diamonds' in legitimate markets.The Government of the DRC is making positive steps to put in place legislative and administrative procedures to implement the scheme. The EU and some of the other participants in the Kimberley Process are prepared to assist the DRC with their implementation plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) sunset and (b) territoriality provisions are contained within the EC regulations implementing the Kimberley Process of diamond certification. [84632]

The draft EC regulation on implementing the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme contains a review clause requiring the Commission to report to the Council on the implementation of the regulation and on its possible repeal in the event that the Kimberley Process Scheme comes to an end.The scope of the regulation covers Community territory, including airspace and aircraft, and vessels under a member state's jurisdiction. Outside the Community territory, it also applies to any national of a member state and to any legal person, entity or body, which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a member state.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's decision to increase military assistance to Ethiopia. [84981]

The Ethiopian Government has asked the United Kingdom to provide training for the police and security forces to assist in the democratisation process and in promoting respect for human rights. There will be a UK joint Ministry of Defence/DFID/ Foreign and Commonwealth Office scoping mission to Ethiopia in early 2003 to examine with the Government

Recipient	Financial year	Cost (£)	Description
Afghanistan	FY 2002–03	1.412 million	Hard and soft top jeeps, trucks, communication
Afghan National Army, and ISAF/Afghan Police and Military controls at Kabul entry points	(to date)		equipment, security equipment including spotlights, radio, metal detectors
Nepal	FY 2001–02	285,818	Land Rovers spares and maintenance training, communications equipment
Royal Nepalese Army	FY 2002–03	3,099,347	Communications equipment, binoculars, compasses, Swiftscopes, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment, two transport helicopters
Belize	FY 2001–02	169,555	Aircraft parts and freight costs, Land Rovers and spares, radio equipment
Belize Defence Force	FY 2002–03	127,259	Uniforms, mess kits, tents, hammocks, radio equipment
Macedonia	FY 2001–02	282,500	EOD equipment, body armour, global positioning system, mine detector sets, flares
Macedonian authorities		75,000	Four fork-lift trucks
Uruguay	FY 2001–02	27,014	Three NERA satellite phones and airtime

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Indian authorities on the case of Ian Stillman. [85169]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has raised Mr. Stillman's case with the Government of India on six occasions this year. Recently he raised it with the Indian Deputy Prime Minister, L. K. Advani, on 21 August 2002 and the Indian Foreign Minister on 31 October 2002. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister, and I, have also raised Mr. Stillman's case with the Indian Government. Most recently the Prime Minister wrote to Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee on 4 November expressing the hope that Mr. Stillman would be released soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what military equipment has been purchased with funds from the Global Conflict Prevention Pool in each year since the programme's inception, indicating in each case the amount spent and the end uses. [82241]

The Global Conflict Prevention Pool began operating in FY 2001–02. Its purpose is to improve the effectiveness of the UK's contribution to conflict prevention in areas other than sub-Saharan Africa, which is covered by the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool. The Global Pool covers the direct conflict prevention activities of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence, where a joint approach adds value.Its programme budget for FY 2001–02 was £ 60 million and for FY 2002–03 it was £100 million.Details of military equipment purchased with Global Pool programme funding since its inception are as follows:The Indian Government have offered to consider a clemency plea from Mr. Stillman sympathetically. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met members of Mr. Stillman's family to discuss next steps in the case on 19 November 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to open the visa centre in Jallander, Punjab, India. [84901]

We hope to open a visa application centre in Jallander early in 2003. We also hope to open a network of such centres across India to bring UK visa services nearer to our customers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Ministers have visited India since 1 January 2001; and which Department they were from. [84902]