To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from Bedfordshire following publication of his plans 'Sustainable Communities in the East of England'. [100659]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with Bedfordshire County Council, Bedfordshire authorities, infrastructure providers and other local and regional partners, on detailed Assessments of the growth potential of the Luton and Bedford/Marston Vale areas. Both towns are key locations with the Milton Keynes and South Midlands growth area.

To ask the Deputy prime Minister what representations he has received from Bedfordshire following publication of his plans 'Sustainable Communities in the East of England'.

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with Bedfordshire County Council and Bedfordshire districts, as well as infrastructure providers, on detailed assessments of the growth potential of the Luton and Bedford/ Marston Vale areas. Both towns are key locations within the Milton Keynes and South Midlands growth area. [100657]

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made in establishing regional governance in England. [100660]

The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill had its Report and Third Reading in the House of Commons on 23 January 2003 and received its Second Reading in the other place on 24 February 2003. The Bill provides for the English regions to hold referendums about an elected assembly, and for a review of two-tier local government by the Boundary Committee before a referendum is held in a particular region.As my right hon. Friend said earlier we have invited responses by 3 March 2003 to the soundings exercise.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the local government settlement for councils in east Sussex. [100661]

I refer the hon. Member to the debate on the local government finance settlement 2003–04 which took place on 5 February 2003, Official Report, columns 353–406 and to the letter sent to the hon. Member on 3 February setting out the above-inflation grant increases for all councils in east Sussex.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from south eastern local authorities regarding the local government funding settlement. [100662]

28 authorities in the south east responded to our consultation on the local government finance settlement 2003–04. In addition, eight authorities from this region came in to see Ministers to make representations on our proposals during this consultation period. Parliament has, of course, now approved the settlement which provides an increase in Government grant of £3.8 billion overall. This is an increase of 8 per cent. representing a continued significant real terms investment in local government.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many cash incentive scheme grants were made by each local authority in London in 2001–02; and what the total value was of these grants in each case. [99171]

The number of cash incentive scheme grants made by those London borough's running schemes in 2001–02 and the total value of grants made are in the following table.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council houses have been sold in each year since 1997 in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) the UK. [99928]

Information is not available below local authority level. The available information reported by South Tyneside MBC and the other metropolitan borough councils comprising Tyne and Wear is in the following table, together with estimated number of sales in Great Britain. Information on the

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) deaths in incidents attended by firefighters at night and (b) deaths in incidents attended by firefighters during day shift hours there were in each fire brigade area in the last year for which figures are available. [100123]

The latest data available are tabled as follows. These show fires and deaths occurring in fires attended by local authority fire brigades between the following time periods; (i) 9 am and 5.59 pm (i.e. the

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assistance he will give to areas with significant housing regeneration needs which are not Pathfinder areas. [100658]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is investing billions of pounds in housing over the next three years. Local authorities through their housing strategies can use these resources, alongside those of their partners, to tackle the housing problems they face. Authorities now have the chance to make a real long lasting difference for their communities.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is aware that Redcar is an area with significant difficulties in terms of low demand housing. This was recognised in the draft regional housing strategy prepared by the North East Housing Forum and it is likely to be priority for the new regional housing board.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the current debt is in each English authority's housing revenue account; and if he will estimate the cost of debt redemption charges if the debt was cancelled. [100330]

Local authorities manage their debt corporately so there are no separate data for debt in respect of housing. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does however make estimates of national housing debt for the purposes of housing revenue account subsidy calculations. This is listed for each authority as the Mid-Year Subsidy Credit Ceiling for 2003–04 in Schedule 6 Column I of The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2003–04. This Schedule can be seen at http://www. housing.odpm.gov.uk/03hrad/fmal/index.htm.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not have detailed knowledge of the debt of each authority and so we cannot estimate the cost of debt redemption charges if debt were cancelled.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the authorities who have not (a) transferred their housing stock and (b) set up an Arms-length Management Organisation. [100333]

The local housing authorities in England that had not transferred all of their housing stock or been successful in achieving full Arms-length Management Organisation status at the end of February are listed below.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those local authorities whose housing revenue accounts are (a) in surplus and (b) in deficit, providing for each (i) the average surplus or deficit per dwelling and (ii) the number of dwellings. [100253]

The information has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the value of housing capital receipts not recycled into capital housing spend was in each of the last five years in each (a) borough and (b) district council in Shropshire. [99721]

Authorities are required to set aside up to 75 per cent. of housing capital receipts to be used only (unless the authority becomes debt-free) for debt redemption or paying off credit arrangements. The accumulated balance of usable receipts may then, at the authority's discretion, be used to support their capital programme. Information reported by local authorities in Shropshire on gross housing capital receipts, and the level of usable capital receipts applied to their housing capital programme, is in the following table.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the housing improvement resources provided to the London borough of Islington for each of the last five years and the projected expenditure for the financial year 2003–2004. [100272]

The housing resources, as allocated through the Housing Investment Programme, for London borough of Islington for the past five years are as follows:

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new residential dwellings were built in the borough of Northampton in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03; and how many will be built in 2003–04. [100807]

In 2001–02 935 new residential dwellings were built in the borough with 74 per cent. built on brownfield land. Based on an average over the last six years, Northampton borough council expects that there will be an average of 849 new completions per annum in 2002–03 and 2003–04.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the English authorities who have yet to submit an option appraisal for housing to his Department. [100332]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister recently announced, in "Sustainable communities: building for the future", that all authorities with housing stock would, in future, need to produce objective and rigorous option appraisals, which are to be signed-off by Government regional offices, by July 2005. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be issuing guidance to authorities about the arrangements for submitting and signing off option appraisals shortly.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been levied in fines by local authorities against (a) companies, (b) local authorities and (c) individuals, with regard to incidences of pollution, broken down by type of pollution incidence (i) in total, (ii) in each region and (iii) per fine in each year since 1995. [99256]

Local authorities' main pollution control responsibilities are under Parts I, III and IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (industrial air pollution control, statutory nuisance, and litter respectively) and the Clean Air Act 1993.With regard to Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question 190 on the order page of 21 February 2003,

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who the winners were of the Public Servant of the Year Award 2002; what the cost was of this initiative; and if he will make a statement. [99890]

I have been asked to reply.The Cabinet Office and the Office of Government Commerce are non financial sponsors of the Public Servant of the Year Awards. Any costs of the scheme are borne by CIPFA.The event is financed from the commercial sponsorship of the award ceremony by a number of leading companies. There is no cost to the public purse.CIPFA and Public Finance magazine are the organisers of the award and undertake all of the administrative arrangements. A small team in the Cabinet Office maintain regular contact with the organisers.The list of winners in 2002 are noted as follows:The Award for Innovation—sponsored by Zurich Municipal

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the payments to be made by the public works loans commissioners for overhanging debt in each of the next five years. [99398]

There is no estimate covering this period. Resources required by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to meet commitments for overhanging debt in each of the next five years will depend on future applications from the local authorities seeking to transfer their housing in any particular year.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce further legislation to assist parish councils and other landowners whose land is illegally occupied by travellers. [99780]

There are no current plans to introduce further legislation to assist parish councils and other landowners whose land is illegally occupied by travellers.Parish councils and other landowners are able to go through the civil courts for the recovery of their land under Orders 24 and 113. Parish councils can also liaise with their county council regarding the possibility of serving a Section 77 Direction under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he and his predecessors have taken to encourage the housing industry to comply with the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 and the originating European directive. [100334]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Ms Prentice) on 12 February 2003, Official Report, column 841W.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the remit is of the Women's National Commission; how many staff it has; what its total costs were in each year from 1996–97 to 2003–04 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [99899]

I have been asked to reply.The remit of the Women's National Commission is to make known to Government, by all possible means, the informed opinion of women. It is able to comment freely on government policy and inform government departments of the views of women, women's organisations and NGOs.Currently, the WNC has a total of 10 staff. These include three permanent members of staff, one on secondment until June 2004; five temporary members of staff, all of whom will leave during the year, plus one unpaid internship.The budgets for the financial years specified were:

To ask the Prime Minister what total spending on security and intelligence agencies was in each year from 1998–99 to 2004–05; and if he will make a statement. [99893]

The Security and Intelligence Agencies' combined outturns and projected budgets for each year from 1998–99 to 2003–04 can be found in the tables on page 96 of the Cabinet Office's Departmental Report (Cm 5429).The Department Report which will be published this spring will update this information and cover the period 1998–99 to 2005–06.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his diary engagements for 26 February 2003 from 1.30 pm to 7.00 pm. [100698]

[holding answer 4 March 2003]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Milton Keynes (Dr. Starkey) in the House on 26 February 2003, Official Report, column 250.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the replies he gave between 1997 and 2001 to letters from Iraqi exiles requesting the use of armed force by the United Kingdom to overthrow Saddam Hussein. [99492]

Following my speech to the Labour Party spring conference on 15 February and my monthly press conference in Downing Street on 18 February, I made available copies of letters and an e-mail that I have received from Iraqi exiles. I have placed copies in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2003 to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell, Official Report, column 257, what steps he is taking to ensure that university admissions are based on merit. [100575]

[holding answer 4 March 2003]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for North West Norfolk, (Mr. Bellingham) at Prime Minister's Questions today.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the costs of the Cabinet Office were in each year from 1998–99 to 2004–05 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [99895]

The costs of the Cabinet Office for each year from 1998–99 to 2003–04 can be found in the tables in the departmental report (Cm 5429) from page 89.The departmental report which will be published in spring will update this information and cover the period 1998–99 to 2005–06.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) civil servants and (b) senior civil servants were dismissed for poor performance in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [100591]

The figures for the numbers of staff who were dismissed from the civil service in the last 10 years are shown in the following table. These figures are based on headcount, permanent staff in all Departments. The data presented are for all dismissals. We do not hold separate records for poor performance as the reason for dismissal.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with representatives from local government about widening the civil service fast-stream programme to cover local government; and if he will make a statement. [100592]

Last year officials from my Department met representatives of the Local Government Employers Organisation under the auspices of the Public Sector Employment Forum and its recruitment sub-group. They discussed graduate and fast stream recruitment but there are no plans for the civil service scheme to cover local government. The Local Government Employers Organisation launched the inaugural recruitment campaign for their National Graduate Development Programme in March 2002. The first cohort of graduates joined the programme in September 2002.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many Asian employees there have been in the senior civil service, broken down by Department, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [100593]

Declaration of ethnicity in the civil service is voluntary, so any numbers obtained may be an understatement of the true position.For the senior civil service, the total number of staff in post of known Asian ethnic origin for each of the last five years is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the increased level of policing at UK airports; and whether the airports will meet the full cost of the additional policing. [98653]

As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department explained in his statement to the House on 13 February, an enhanced level of security was put in place in London on 11 February, this being most visible at Heathrow Airport. This was in response to a heightening of the threat to the UK from international terrorism.The increase in policing at Heathrow and at other UK airports has been part of the response to this threat. The appropriate level of the additional policing is a matter for the operational judgement of Chief Officers of Police, in consultation as necessary. Where an airport has been designated under s26(3) of the Aviation Security Act 1982 policing costs are met by airport operators.Since September 11, police forces have been able to bid for additional funding for various counter terrorist activities, including the protection of vulnerable sites such as airports. Given the nature of the funding, publicity is not being given to the activities it covers or what has been allocated to individual forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the A36 (Wylye Valley Relief Road) Scheme has been delayed; and if he will make a statement. [100576]

The Wylye Valley Relief Road was recommendation as part of the Salisbury Transport Study which was included in Wiltshire county council's Local Transport Plan in July 2000. Wiltshire county council stated in their Annual Progress Report that `Work is continuing on developing the route options and assessing potential impacts so that a preferred Route can be adopted'. The Bristol Bath to South Coast Study which is looking at the future of the A36 will report later this year and will give an indication of what further improvements are desirable on the route. I do not consider that this study has delayed this scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Northampton South constituency, the effects on Northampton of his Department's policies and actions since June 2001. [100810]

Over the last three years my Department has allocated almost £37 million to Northamptonshire county council for the implementation of the Northamptonshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) (£11.866 million in 2001–02, £11.645 million in 2002–03, and £13.395 million for 2003–04). Such plans are an essential element of the Government's integrated transport policy, as set out in "Transport 2010—the 10-Year Plan", published in July 2000, and provide the delivery mechanism for a longer-term programme of local transport improvement and modernisation across the whole country.Under the LTP system, funding is provided for a wide range of transport related activity, including the construction of major new road schemes, road and bridge maintenance, and the delivery of smaller integrated transport projects. While the local transport authorities, in this case Northamptonshire county council, are, quite rightly, allowed a good deal of flexibility on implementation of specific projects, they are required to submit Annual Progress Report (APRs), which include full details of the work undertaken and projects delivered in the previous year. Unfortunately, as the APR is a county-wide document, the information is not generally provided on a constituency or specific town or city basis and is reported on the financial year cycle. The following details for the 2001–02 period (April 2001-March 2002) are, however, worthy of note and provide a good example of the achievements being made:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in each year since 1997. [100457]

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost of investment is in the East London Extension; and if he will make a statement on its progress. [100271]

The business case for the project is being considered by Ministers. I hope a decision will be announced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated date is for the handover of responsibility for the London Underground to Transport for London; and if he will make a statement. [100996]

I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made to the House on 4 February 2003, Official Report, column 10WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under franchise agreements, how many passengers the underground train operating companies have agreed to carry on each of their route groups; how many passengers in each group would constitute overcrowding; and if he will make a statement. [101000]

Under the PPP, London Underground will continue to be responsible for running the trains, working the signals and operating the stations. London Underground will also have responsibility for all aspects of safety. The public sector will remain responsible for the safe operation of a unified network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what arrangements are being planned for compensation of Central Line passengers; who will qualify; how much money he estimates is involved; and if he will make a statement; [101001]

The administration of customer refunds under London Underground's Customer Charter is an operational matter for London Underground. However, I understand from London Underground that they have actively contacted the season ticket holders they have been able to identify that have been directly affected by the closure, that they have written to all stakeholders (including MPs) and have put up posters across their network advising how those entitled to claim can go about it. London Underground have also included a comprehensive section on their website (www.thetube.com) and have used other media to spread this message. London Underground's Customer Service Centre has recruited extra staff in order to deal with the large volume of calls they have been receiving.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2003, Official Report, column 140W, on London Underground, what the information provided to him by London Underground was relating to (a) the standard of maintenance and safety of the London Underground track and (b) the standard of the rolling stock used; when he expects to receive the reports of the inquiries of (i) the Health and Safety Executive and (ii) London Underground; and if he will make a statement. [101021]

The interim report of London Underground's investigation into the derailment at Chancery Lane, published on 21 February, confirmed that the derailment was caused by a motor falling from the train, and that the ongoing investigation will examine the relevance or otherwise of the maintenance of the rolling stock and the underlying causes leading to the failure of the traction motor mountings. London Underground expects to complete most parts of the investigation by the end of March but cannot yet say with confidence when the technical investigation will be complete.The independent Health and Safety Executive is conducting its own investigation into the causes of the derailment. HSE will take as long as it needs to complete its investigations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the insurance policy relevant to the recent accident at Chancery Lane on the Central Line; what it covers; how much he estimates the claim by London Underground will amount to; and if he will make a statement. [101024]

London Underground inform me that the loss adjuster appointed to investigate their property damage claim has indicated that the insured loss (for reinstatement or replacement of assets damaged in the incident) will not exceed £3 million. Of this, some £2 million is self-insured by London Underground and the remaining £1 million will be covered by their own Guernsey based insurance company (London Transport Insurance Guernsey). No claim will be made against external insurers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times since 2001 he has taken flights on departmental duties in the UK; how many of these were (a) charter flights, (b) first or club class and (c) by helicopter; and who accompanied him on each trip. [95388]

The Department was formed on 29 May 2002. Since its formation, the Secretary of State has taken three flights on departmental duties in the UK: none was on (a) a charter flight; one was (b) club class, travelling with two officials from my Department; and two were on (c) helicopters—once to fly over the route of the M6 toll road, the other on a helicopter operated by the Marine and Coastguard Agency for which the Secretary of State is responsible.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 Transport if he will make a statement on rail concessions for the elderly. [100460]

The national Senior Railcard is available to people aged 60 years and over. This costs £18 per year and offers one-third off most rail fares. The schemes is run by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), and all train operating companies are required to participate. Also, train operators are required by the SRA to participate in any local authority's concessionary travel scheme providing that there is no net loss to the train operator or to its budget. In London, the Freedom Pass also allows free rail travel for the elderly on the heavy rail network in the Greater London area. This scheme is funded by the local authorities and train operating companies are required to participate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Rail Research UK. [100228]

Rail Research UK has been established by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as a interdisciplinary centre for rail systems research. The £7 million centre involves twelve research groups from seven UK universities.It aims to broaden the scope of rail research, to promote innovation, to strengthen the science base and to focus longer term research to help and achieve a safer and more reliable railway while reducing the impact on the environment. Rail Research UK was officially launched on 25 February 2003 and becomes operational from April 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department gives to rail companies regarding the issuing of reduced price tickets. [100459]

About 44 per cent. fares are regulated. It is for train operators to decide other fares levels taking account of competition and market demand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the gritting of back roads in Lancashire during the winter. [100611]

There is currently no statutory duty obliging highway authorities in England to grit roads in order to prevent ice from forming. We shall, however, introduce such a duty at a suitable legislative opportunity.In the absence of a statutory duty, we do, nevertheless, expect local highway authorities to grit their roads in accordance with the Code of Practice for highway maintenance "Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance", which was published in July 2001 by the Institution of Highways and Transportation. The Code recommends that a hierarchy of roads be established for winter maintenance treatment, in regular consultation with the local community. Back roads would not normally feature highly in these hierarchies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from rail user groups regarding the proposed reduction in train services on commuter routes in the South East. [100656]