To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost of the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was, including staff, in each Session since 1996–97. [103502]

The costs of the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, by financial year, are shown in the following table (the figures by Session are not available), and are mainly direct staffing costs. Most of the general office running costs, including accommodation and IT/IS support, are absorbed by other parts of the House administration and cannot easily be disaggregated.

Costs for financial years 1996–97 to 2001–02
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Staffing etc	149,269	222,902	230,450	267,070	228,994	294,209
Running costs	2,137	1,137	4,178	1,496	6,103	2,003
Total	151.406	224,039	234,628	268,566	235,097	296,212

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his Written Ministerial Statement, on 4 February 2003, Official Report, column l0WS, on London Underground, what amendments he proposes to ensure that the operation of London Underground's contracts is not affected when they are transferred from one body to another; whether the PPP Consortia and lenders have a veto over the transfer of London Underground and Transport for London; and if he will make a statement. [103305]

The Government's proposals for amendments to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 are contained in clause 108 of the Railways and Transport Safety Bill as amended in Standing Committee D, which is available on the House website.The Secretary of State told the House in his written statement, on 4 February 2003,

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much compensation is payable to Bombardier as a result of the lack of power for the South Central Electrostar trains. [98397]

The Strategic Rail authority is leading an industry wide project to upgrade the power supply in the southern region. Development of the project is advanced and discussions have begun on the project's financial implications for the SRA, Network Rail, train operators and other parties such as the rolling stock manufacturers. Details are still emerging, but any compensation to Bombardier is likely to be a matter between them and their client for the new trains, Go-Via.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans the team looking at the Green Paper for Children at Risk have to recommend a review of educational and social institutions designed to provide a more nurturing environment for children whose lives are fragmented; [103844](2) what plans the team looking at the Green Paper for Children at Risk have for joint training for children's professionals in the core skills needed by those who work with children; [103845](3) what plans the team looking at the Green Paper for Children at Risk have to support parents in the transition to parenthood. [103846]

The Green Paper on Children at Risk, to be published this spring, is examining the range of services available to children and young people who are at risk of educational failure, offending, victimisation and abuse, and poor health. Whilst its too early to comment on the detail of the Green Paper on Children at Risk, the role of parents, schools and children's professionals in improving the outcomes for children are at the core of the work. The Green Paper is looking at how parents can be enabled to support their children best, from preparing for parenthood, throughout the key early years and as their children grow towards adulthood.Positive experiences of schools and of after school leisure activities outside of schools, play a pivotal role in building self-esteem and enabling children to succeed, educationally, socially and in employment in later life. The Green Paper is considering how mainstream services and institutions can ensure they are positive and accessible environments for the most vulnerable children and young people.The Green Paper is also looking at ways to improve common training across the professionals who work with children and young people to ensure a shared understanding of child development and safeguarding children.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the cost to British financial institutions in the last two years from (a) stolen corporate identities and (b) hoax e-mails. [102001]

I have been asked to reply.While there have been incidents of corporate identity fraud in the UK in the last two years which have been investigated by UK law enforcement agencies, these cases have not resulted in any reported loss to the financial institutions concerned. With regards to incidences of hoax e-mails, more commonly known as advance fee or '419' fraud, once again there has been no reported financial loss to UK financial institutions. Losses have been sustained by a number of individual victims of such crime and in the years 2001 and 2002 National Criminal Intelligence Service figures detail reported losses of £19,451,000. This however is likely to be only a small percentage of losses as few victims are prepared to acknowledge their losses to Law Enforcement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax returns were reported lost or mislaid by the Inland Revenue in each of the last five years. [104103]

The Inland Revenue do not keep records of the number of tax returns reported lost or mislaid.Every year the Revenue receive and process around nine million self assessment tax returns. Over 99 per cent. of returns received by the due date (31 January) are processed by 31 March.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the recalculation of personal tax liabilities. [103915]

An individual's personal tax liability will depend on a number of factors including the income tax rates and bands and the level of personal allowances. It will also make a difference if the individual has savings or investment income that is subject to income tax.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on his Department's (a) responsibilities and (b) assets with regard to civil contingency planning; what funds are committed; what action he is taking within his Department to improve such planning; and what action he is taking in collaboration with other departments. [102625]

I refer the hon. Member to the statement my hon. Friend the Home Secretary made on civil contingencies on 3 March 2003, Official Report, column 72WS, as part of the debates on the approval of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 Order 2003 and the Intelligence and Security Committee report on the Bali bombing. The statement refers to the Lead Government Department Paper which Cabinet Office placed in the Library of the House on 23 July 2002 and which sets out the role of the lead Government Departments in planning for and managing crises.The Civil Contingencies Secretariat, a part of the Cabinet Office, supports the Home Secretary in co-ordinating the work to enhance civil contingency planning.Its current objectives are to:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by the Cabinet Office in each year since 1997. [103710]

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion. [103622]

Since joining the Cabinet Office in June 2002 I have not visited Scotland on Cabinet Office business, but my right hon. Friend the Lord Macdonald of Tradeston had one official Cabinet Office business trip in 2001 and one in 2002.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make ministerial announcements in April; and whether officers in Government Departments are permitted to collate briefings for Ministers for election campaign debates. [103668]

Departmental business during the campaign period preceding elections to the Scottish Parliament, will be conducted in accordance with the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in UK Departments in respect of elections to the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and English local authorities, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.Copies were placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time. [102055]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which agency will have responsibility for enforcing the EU's proposed rules on the compulsory marking of hen eggs; what resources the Government plans to make available for the enforcement duties; and if she will make a statement. [103760]

In England and Wales, responsibility for enforcing rules on the compulsory marking of hens eggs will fall principally to this Department's Egg Marketing Inspectorate although local authority trading standards officers will be responsible for enforcement at retail level.This work will form part of the normal enforcement of egg marketing legislation, and as such, no additional resources have been allocated to it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 25 February 2003, Official Report, column 455W, on egg marking, what assessment she has made of he impact of the new rules for marking on the eggs sold at Women's Institute markets. [103741]

The principal purpose of the new rules on egg marking is to improve consumer information and to provide greater traceability, for example in the event of a possible food borne disease outbreak. This need applies irrespective of the outlet. Where eggs are from a clearly identifiable producer and are sold direct to the final consumer in a WI market, they do not necessarily have to be marked. Otherwise, the normal egg marketing rules will apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what figures she collates on traffic flows in national parks. [103909]

None, but the Department for Transport collects such information on motorways, 'A' roads and many 'B' roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with other EU member states on the involvement of (a) Canada, (b) Russia, (c) Ukraine and (d) other countries in the European Security and Defence Policy; and if he will make a statement. [103869]

Initial principles for the participation of Canada, Russia, Ukraine and other interested states in the European Security and Defence Policy were agreed at the Nice European Council in December 2000, and arrangements subsequently set out in letters to the countries concerned. They have not been the subject of recent ministerial discussion. Canada may participate in EU operations which use NATO assets and capabilities, if she so chooses, and we expect her to take part in the forthcoming EU operation in the Republic of Macedonia on this basis. Canada may also take part in EU operations without recourse to NATO assets and capabilities, if invited by the Council. These arrangements mirror those for European non-EU NATO Allies. Russia, Ukraine and other interested countries may be invited to participate in EU-led operations on a case-by-case basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the predicted cost of the repairs being carried out on HMS Nottingham is; when it will be ready for service; and if he will make a statement. [104225]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 February 2003 Official Report, column 177W, to the hon. Member for Cornwall, South East (Mr. Breed).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to release departmental papers from 1975–76 concerning Indonesia, East Timor and the Balebo killings. [103922]

We are not aware of any Ministry of Defence files dealing specifically with this subject. However, two general files have been identified covering wider events from that time. These will be made available to researchers in the Public Record Office in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Act, 1958 and 1967.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when requests were received from the United States for additional infantry for possible military action against Iraq; whether they have been agreed to; and if he will make a statement. [104000]

[holding answer 20 March 2003]: I have not received any requests from the United States for additional infantry. However, I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement on 13 March 2003, Official Report, column 20WS, in which I announced the deployment of the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment and 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer). Respectively, these will provide additional infantry and medical capability to Headquarters 1 (UK) Armoured Division, so that it can respond to a range of potential tasks and circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action the Government will take to ensure that those soldiers, sailors and airmen who have not been able to undertake the work and practice necessary to achieve Operational Performance Statement while covering for the fire strike and therefore will not reach their next promotion level and an increased pay band, do not lose out; and if he will make a statement. [102611]

Every effort is being made to ensure that personnel who covered for the fire strike will not be disadvantaged.For the Navy, deferral or cancellation of planned training due to Op. FRESCO is recognised as an exigency of service and such delays in individuals' promotion will be considered on a case by case basis. However, the position of individuals who have been withdrawn from career training courses whilst in attendance and have suffered a delay in their promotion as a result, has been recognised as unique. On return to normal duty and on completion of outstanding training, such individuals will be entitled to have their effective date of promotion backdated to the day that they would have been promoted but for Op. FRESCO.For the Army, Op. FRESCO is also seen as an operational commitment under the terms of Military Aid to the Civil Administration (MACA). Soldiers deployed on operations will receive due credit for the operational experience gained and selection for both promotion and development training will be addressed on a case by case basis. Where individuals have been removed from career courses to participate in the operation, qualifications and benefits will be back-dated to the conclusion of the original course once the training has been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many modularised transportable surgical facilities have been procured for the Armed Forces. [103978]

A total of four Modular Transportable Surgical Facility systems have been purchased.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is in place for specialist agencies to provide assistance and support to child victims of trafficking. [103405]

We expect that the provision of assistance and support to child victims of trafficking will be secured by local statutory services in response to identified needs, whether provided directly or through specialist agencies. The relevant statutory agencies include the immigration service, the police, social services and health, which have a responsibility to safeguard vulnerable children and to prevent and detect crimes against them.Child victims of trafficking are likely to be in need of welfare services and in many cases, protection under the Children Act 1989. Social services have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of these children following an assessment of their circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much funding has been made available in 2002–03 for care homes in (a) the London Borough of Havering, (b) each of the other London boroughs and (c) each administrative area for health care in the United Kingdom; [101976](2) if he will make a statement on care home funding in the London Borough of Havering. [101978]

In 2002–03, the Revenue Support Grant for the London Borough of Havering made provision for an increase in funding for social services of 5.2 per cent., compared with a national average increase of 4.9 per cent. This represented an increase from £38,514,000 in 2001–02 to £39,890,000 in 2002–03. Councils have discretion to decide their spending priorities and are not required to spend exactly these amounts on social care. It is therefore for each council to decide how much to spend on care homes. In addition, in 2002–03 Havering received a Building Capacity Grant of –1,173,000 which is more than double the amount they received in the previous year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 11 March 2003, Official Report, column 232W, on care homes, how many letters he has sent to care homes regarding the failure to pass on the free nursing care contribution. [103513]

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member on 26 March 2002, Official Report, columns 935–36W, in which I made it clear that four providers had been written to about this. Health authorities and primary care trusts will also have written to providers on this subject

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) hearing aid users and (b) digital hearing aid users there were in (i) the Jarrow constituency. (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) Tyne and Wear and (iv) the UK on 1 February. [99929]

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf estimates that there are 1.8 million people currently using hearing aids in England. Information is not collected centrally on numbers of people using analogue or digital hearing aids in England or in the localised areas specified. Information related to Wales and Scotland is a matter for the devolved administrations. Whilst the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to promote therapies for people with lymphoedema. [104154]

There is currently no cure but, with appropriate treatment, lymphoedema can be very well managed in the national health service. These treatments consist of a combination of skin care, exercise, massage and compression garments or bandaging. In a few cases it is possible to help surgically, for example by transplanting lymph vessels.The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recently updated the Improving Outcomes in Breast Cancer Guidance, and that guidance made some recommendations about lymphoedema. The guidance recommends that cancer networks should agree guidelines for identification and management of lymphoedema and that a lymphoedema service, staffed by nurses and physiotherapists who have experience in dealing with this problem, should be available for all patients who experience arm swelling or discomfort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet MENCAP to discuss progress in implementation of the White Paper, "Valuing People", through Local Learning Disability Partnership Boards. [103474]

I have met representatives of MENCAP on several occasions since the publication of the White Paper "Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" (Cm 5086) in March 2001 and have discussed a range of issues. I welcome MENCAP's very positive contribution to the implementation of the White Paper, for example through the current chief executive's membership of the Learning Disability Task Force and their management of the learning disability telephone Helpline. I look forward to meeting MENCAP's new chief executive when she has taken up her post and to working with her as we continue to implement "Valuing People". I should be happy to include the role of Learning Disability Partnership Boards in our discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when mental health service improvements announced in the national service framework for mental health and the NHS plan in respect of (a) crisis teams, (b) assertive outreach programmes, (c) home treatment, (d) early intervention in psychosis and (e) primary care mental health teams will be launched in Salisbury. [103080]

[holding answer 18 March 2003]: A mental health national service framework (NSF) was published in September 1999 which spells out national standards for mental health, what they aim to achieve, how they should be developed and delivered and how to measure performance in every part of the country. It concentrates on the mental health needs of working age adults, and covers health promotion, assessment and diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and care, encompassing primary and secondary care and the roles of partner agencies.Work to develop mental health services is ongoing. In order to improve local services the local primary care trust has committed, in its three year local delivery plan, to increased investment in mental health, including investment in services for older people and dementia provision.The Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership National Health Service Trust has advised of specific mental health services in place as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial package the former chief executive of North Cumbria Acute Trust received following his resignation. [103054]

The former chief executive of the North Cumbria Acute National Health Service Trust has received no financial package following his resignation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget is for prison health care services; and what the total funding allocation to primary care trusts is for 2003–04 for the cost of taking over prison health care services. [103385]

There has not, historically, been a separate budget for health care within overall prison service expenditure. A recent survey of prison establishments established that the full-year revenue cost of health care in English prisons in 2002–03 was around £113 million, excluding privately run prisons.The Department will assume overall financial responsibility for prison health services from April 2003. However, the Government do not plan to devolve full financial responsibility for these services to primary care trusts (PCTs) until April 2006. Until then, the majority of funding for prison health services will be passed back to the prison service to secure services as now. Allocations to PCTs for 2003–04 take account of existing national health service responsibilities for securing secondary care services for prisoners, along with the development of mental health in-reach teams under the NHS Plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget provision has been made for the screening of prison inmates for Hepatitis C. [103387]

Prisoners in England and Wales are not routinely screened for Hepatitis C, although individuals may ask to be tested for evidence of the infection. Allocations made to primary care trusts include provision for the costs of such services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which prisons condoms are available to prisoners (a) through the prison doctor, (b) through the prison shop and (c) from other sources; and if he will make a statement. [102470]

This information is not available centrally. Prison doctors have been advised that they can make condoms available to individual prisoners on application where, in their clinical judgment, there is a risk of infection from HIV.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people suffering from reflex sympathetic dystrophy in the United Kingdom. [103569]

The Department does not collect statistics on the incidence of individual conditions so we are unable to offer an estimate of the number of people suffering from reflex sympathetic dystrophy in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the operational responsibilities are of the Security Service in Northern Ireland; to whom the Security Service is accountable for its operations and activities in Northern Ireland; and what role Her Majesty's Government has in directing the operational activities of the Security Service in Northern Ireland. [103414]

The functions of the Security Service are set out in the Security Service Act 1989 as amended by the Security Service Act 1996.Under the 1989 Act, the Director General of the Security Service controls its operations. While the Security Service acts ordinarily under the authority of the Home Secretary, it will report to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for its operations there.The hon. Member will be aware that it is the longstanding policy of successive Governments not to comment in any way on the operational activities of the Security Service. Such information is outside of the scope of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many traffic wardens were employed in each year since 1997. [102254]

The total number of traffic wardens employed by police authorities in England and Wales for the last three years are given in the following table:

	Traffic warden strength
1999–2000	2,801
2000–01	2,538
2001–02	2,280

Figures for the years prior to 1999–2000 are not recorded centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government progress in persuading non-EU countries to host British asylum application processing centres. [104239]

We are still developing our ideas on how we want to advance new international approaches to asylum processing and protection. While there has been media speculation of possible locations for transit processing centres we have not started discussions with any country on the potential as host for such centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hand-held chemical agent monitors are available in each police force. [102517]

The ability of police forces to respond to a terrorist incident involving the use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials is being strengthened through the increased provision of specialist police training and equipment. Home Office funding is being made available to meet the full running and equipment costs involved. It would not be appropriate, on security grounds, to give more specific information regarding the CBRN detection capability in each police force.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress made to update the national civil defence and anti-terrorist emergency plans. [100077]

I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statements I made on 3 March 2003, Official Report, column 72WS, and 20 March 2003, Official Report, column 51WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 28 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Nariman Rauf Salih. [103745]

I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 20 March 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 4 February regarding a constituent, ref 3664/3. [104350]

My noble Friend Lord Filkin wrote to my hon. Friend on 19 March 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget he has allocated to efforts to tackle distraction burglary in the financial years (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04. [102733]

In 2002–03, we will have spent nearly £328,000 centrally on work to combat distraction burglary, including funding for a project targeting distraction burglary in Leeds, and the work of Distraction Burglary Task Force.Crime Reduction funding for 2003–04 has mainly been distributed directly to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships to use to tackle local priorities. There is no central Home Office budget dedicated to distraction burglary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress against the National Distraction Burglary Task Force's action plan. [102734]

The National Distraction Burglary Task Force drew up a two year action plan in 2000. It set out a wide range of activities which reflect the Task Force's aim, which is

"To tackle distraction burglary and thereby improve the quality of life of vulnerable communities through a co-ordinated national partnership initiative within England and Wales".

That action plan was substantially completed in 2002.The Task Force held 11 regional conferences which were well attended and positively received. The report on the conferences has been published and sent to those who attended, others who work with the elderly and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.The Task Force has also produced a range of materials to raise awareness of the issue of distraction burglary among a range of organisations, and to disseminate good practice. Nearly 7,000 toolkits, comprising a copy of a Good Practice Guide, two videos and samples of useful items for making homes more secure were produced for use by those working with the elderly and vulnerable. A leaflet highlighting the message "Stop … Chain … Check" has been produced and a series of newsletters for practitioners has been published.Funding has been provided for two substantial research projects on distraction burglary. These are investigating key factors that affect vulnerability and the ability to resist attempted offences. We hope to publish the report of this research in May 2003.From April 2003, offences deemed to be distraction burglary will be included in the recorded crime series; incorporated as a sub-heading within the Burglary Dwelling category.Although the original action plan has been substantially completed, work to reduce distraction burglary is continuing and the Task Force has set up three sub-groups, to consider Communications, Prevention and Partnership. They will look at ways to develop key actions, such as offering advice and training, liaising with utility companies, police forces and others in order to improve the prevention and detection of this crime, and ways of further developing the existing guidance and materials.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to create a new, separate classification of distraction burglary for the purposes of recording crime statistics. [102735]

With effect from 1 April 2003, we will be collecting centrally from police forces numbers of offences of distraction burglary. These will be recorded as a sub-group of the domestic burglary category and published in the recorded crime statistics.The definition of distraction burglary we have agreed is:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported incidents of distraction burglary there were in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the number of incidents of distraction burglary that go unreported each year. [103736]

In 2002–03, we will have spent nearly £328,000 centrally on work to combat distraction burglary, including funding for a project targeting distraction burglary in Leeds, and the work of Distraction Burglary Task Force.Crime reduction funding for 2003–04 has mainly been distributed directly to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships to use to tackle local priorities. There is no central Home Office budget dedicated to distraction burglary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals made from outside the UK were successful in each of the last three years for (a) asylum, (b) tourist visas, (c) work permits and (d) British citizenship. [102445]

Under provisions of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 which came into force on 7 November 2002, a claimant whose asylum or human rights claim has been refused and certified as "clearly unfounded" may not appeal that refusal until they are outside the United Kingdom. No such appeals had been lodged as at end December 2002 (the latest date for which data are available). However, for the small number of such cases for which appeals have since been received and determined, none has been successful.Prior to 7 November, no asylum applicants were required to appeal from outside the United Kingdom.There is no statutory right of appeal against a refusal to grant tourist visas or British nationality.The number of successful non-statutory appeals made outside the United Kingdom for work permits in each of the last three years is as follows: 753 in 2000; 937 in 2001; and 2,123 in 2002. The issue of a work permit does riot guarantee the issue of a visa and/or entry to the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the (a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (iii) economy class. [103584]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.I also refer to the answer provided to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 11 March 2003,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the on-the-spot fines pilot project in North Wales. [103398]

North Wales is one of five police forces piloting penalty notices for disorder in four police force areas. The pilot in North Wales commenced on 2 September in its central division. Up to 5 January 100 penalty notices had been issued with 53 paid and only one request for a court hearing. 23 penalty notices were within the 21 day payment period with no recorded outcome. North Wales police have welcomed this new option for dealing with low-level disorderly offending and are now extending the pilot forcewide.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 24 February, ref 97598, what the role of his Department is in determining policy and guidelines relating to the deployment of police forces. [100063]

Under the Police Act 1996, a police force is under the control and direction of its chief officer. Operational decisions, including the deployment of officers, are a matter for the chief officer of police.The Police Reform Act 2002 provides for the publication of an annual National Policing Plan which sets out the Home Secretary's strategic priorities for the police service and the targets and indicators by which police performance will be measured. Chief officers and police authorities are then required to have regard to the National Policing Plan when preparing their own three-year strategic plan.From time to time the Home Secretary may also issue regulations requiring all forces to adopt particular procedures and practices in the interests of promoting efficiency and effectiveness. The Home Secretary may for the same reasons issue codes of practice on any function of chief officers and to which a chief officer shall have regard. The Home Secretary may issue guidance to the police on specific aspects of policing. Codes of practice are drafted by Centrex (the Central Police Training and Development Authority) after consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities. The Home Secretary shall also seek the advice of Centrex (who will again consult) in drafting regulations.The Home Secretary may also direct that an action plan be drawn up where inadequate performance is identified by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary in a force or part of a force.The National Centre for Policing Excellence (NCPE) has been established within Centrex specifically to advance the professional capacity of the police. It will develop and disseminate knowledge to improve effective policing practice and will focus on priority issues affecting public confidence and risk, including those required by the Home Secretary for incorporation into regulations and codes of practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has withdrawn from the National Assembly for Wales police provision to fund centrally managed initiatives. [102762]

A number of specific grants and central initiatives are financed from the overall provisions for police grant and for revenue support grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and from the Welsh Assembly Government. The share contributed by the National Assembly for 2003–04 is £21.26 million. It is based on the Welsh police authorities' share of Total Assumed Spending for police authorities in England and Wales.Welsh police authorities will receive £355 million in general grant in 2003–04, an increase of 3.6 per cent. over the provision for 2002–03. In addition, they are expected to receive in specific grants sums at least equivalent to the National Assembly contribution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community support officers have been recruited by each police authority in England and Wales, in the last year for which figures are available. [103394]

Police forces were first invited to bid for funds for Community Support Officers (CSOs) on 31 July 2002. 27 forces made successful bids. The table sets out the numbers of CSOs recruited up to 17 March in 26 of these forces. Avon and Somerset have not, as yet, employed any CSOs although they hope to have 12 in place shortly.

	Numbers recruited by 17 March 2003
Metropolitan	422
Metropolitan (funded by Transport for London)	83
Greater Manchester	160
Lancashire	72
Merseyside	41 (two part-timers)
Cleveland	40
West Yorkshire	36
Surrey	36
Lincolnshire	32
Gwent	30
Leicestershire	28
Sussex	22
Devon and Cornwall	20

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will encourage rail operating companies to extend the free travel on trains available to regular police officers to members of the Special Constabulary. [99643]

The Special Constabulary has a vital role to play in reducing crime and providing reassurance to the public. We welcome any contribution that the rail operating companies, and the wider business community, can make to support the work of the Special Constabulary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has (a) to alter and (b) to withdraw the subsistence allowance for special constables; [99648](2) what the rates of payments made to special constables are for

Revised allowances for special constables were set out in Home Office Circular No. 64/89, payable with effect from 11 September 1989.The Circular set the boot allowance at an annual rate of £30, payable in arrears. A refreshment allowance for a special constable incurring expenditure to obtain a meal was set at the same rate as that approved for payment to regular constables under Regulation 58 of the Police Regulations 1987, as amended.We are currently reviewing Home Office Circular No. 64/89.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of police resources is allocated to traffic policing (a) in the UK and (b) broken down by region; [102860](2) how many dedicated traffic police officers there have been in each year since 1991, broken down by region and nation; and what percentage of the total number of police officers these figures represent, broken down by region and nation; [102861]

The following tables give the readily available information in respect of England and Wales. This covers the three years since 1999, in which year the definition of 'traffic officer' used by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary changed. The definition is now

"staff who are predominantly employed on motor-cycles or in patrol vehicles for the policing of traffic and motorway related duties".

This definition excludes those engaged in accident investigation, vehicle examination or radar duties. Policing in Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland respectively.The importance given to traffic policing should not be measured solely by the number of dedicated traffic officers, and does not depend on increases or decreases in the number of such officers. The adoption of an intelligence-led approach to traffic policing, its integration with other core activities, the increased use of cameras and other technology, and the more effective use of police resources can lead to a reduction in dedicated traffic officers without a reduction in traffic-related targets or enforcement levels.The importance of roads policing is recognised in the National Policing Plan. This sets out that forces and local authorities should include in their local policing plans targeted and intelligence-led strategies for reducing deaths and injuries on the roads and achieving a safe environment for all road users.Officials are in regular contact with the head of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Road Policing Business Area and his colleagues.

	Traffic police officers
Region and nation	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Cleveland	68	63	67
Durham	116	113	113
Northumbria	158	158	178
North East Region Total	342	334	358
Cheshire	196	187	194
Cumbria	119	111	108
Greater Manchester	433	423	421
Lancashire	220	217	220
Merseyside	185	130	126
North West Region Total	1,153	1,068	1,069
Humberside	155	145	136
North Yorkshire	96	129	140
South Yorkshire	196	206	208
West Yorkshire	323	326	336
Yorkshire and Humberside Total	770	806	820
Derbyshire	139	136	140
Leicestershire	87	95	86
Lincolnshire	93	88	98
Northamptonshire	52	52	61
Nottinghamshire	167	175	111
East Midland Region Total	538	546	496
Staffordshire	188	35	34
Warwickshire	102	96	95
West Mercia	278	322	325
West Midlands	394	380	385
West Midlands Region Total	962	833	839
Bedfordshire	73	69	69
Cambridgeshire	93	86	78
Essex	245	249	254

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision under the Terrorism Act 2000 he is using to prevent people from protesting at RAF Fairford. [103483]

[holding answer 18 March 2003]: The Terrorism Act 2000 is not being applied in the prevention of protests at RAF Fairford. Powers under this legislation are applied solely for the prevention and investigation of acts of terrorism.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections. [103605]

The rules relating to Special Advisers' political activities are set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Further guidance in respect of elections for the Scottish Parliament is set out at paragraph 13 of the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in United Kingdom Departments, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.The reasons for a Special Adviser's resignation are a private matter between the Department and Adviser, and are therefore exempt from disclosure under paragraph 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans Ministers in the Department have to (a) visit Scotland on official business, (b) announce public appointments and (c) make ministerial announcements in April. [103660]

All business undertaken by the Home Office during the campaign period preceding elections to the Scottish Parliament will be conducted in accordance with the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in United Kingdom Departments in respect of elections to the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.

To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement regarding the proportion of her ministerial time she gives to her Women's Portfolio duties. [99037]

To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on the proportion of her ministerial time she spends on women's portfolio duties. [103779]

With women making up about half the workforce, setting up a third of new business start-ups and making the majority of decisions as consumers, my roles as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister for Women are inextricably linked. I do not therefore see the two as separate roles to which time should be specifically allocated or recorded.My hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) also works on women and equality issues as part of her ministerial portfolio.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the implications of the forthcoming change of leadership in the transitional Government of Burundi; and what plans she has to provide (a) financial and (b) political support to enable the deployment of observers and peacekeeping troops to Burundi. [103081]

I have been asked to reply.With the international community we remain committed to supporting the Arusha process and the transitional government institutions. We have given extensive support to South African Vice President Zuma and his facilitation team. We and our EU partners have committed €1.23 million to finance the African Union Observer Mission in Burundi. We now stand ready to assist financially the deployment of the African Mission, which is central to the success of the 2 December ceasefire. It is important that there is a smooth hand over of power in the Transitional National Government of Burundi. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government are doing to promote peace in Burundi. [103104]

I have been asked to reply.The UK continues to monitor the situation in Burundi closely. With the international community, we remain committed to supporting the Arusha process and the transitional government institutions. We have given extensive support to South African Vice President Zuma and his facilitation team. We and EU partners have committed €1.23 million to finance the African Union Observer Mission in Burundi. We stand ready to assist financially the deployment of the African Mission, which is central to the success of the 2 December ceasefire.

Asked the Secretary of State for International Development, what additional support is the UK Government providing to humanitarian agencies to help their preparedness and for immediate humanitarian response following conflict in Iraq. [104954]

I have committed £20 million to support contingency preparations by the UN humanitarian agencies, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and

	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
DWP	—	—	—	—	260	335
DSS	291	311	270	411	—	—
Benefits Agency (BA)	60	42	48	—	—	—
Contributions Agency (CA)	50	10	3	—	—	—
Child Support Agency (CSA)	10	4	—	—	—	—

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks he conducts against benefit fraud by members of his staff. [101554]

The Department for Work and Pensions adopts a robust approach to detection, prevention and deterrence of internal fraud. Local Security Specialists assess risks over a number of key areas and provide managers with assurance on the state of internal security. Management control systems are in place to deter and detect, which includes computer generated random checks on selected accesses by staff of the benefit system. In the event of internal fraud being suspected, specially trained staff are in place to investigate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each (a) year and (b) quarter from 1995–96 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [92475]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 27 February 2002, and the answer given to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Pete Wishart) on 17 June 2002.The Department of Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001. This involved the amalgamation of parts of the Department for Education and Employment (including the Employment Service) with the Department of Social Security. In April 2000, the BA and CSA Press Offices merged with the DSS team, and consequently from that date all Press Releases were categorised as DSS.It is not possible to dis-aggregate those press releases issued by DfEE relating solely to employment issues in the period requested. However, the press releases issued by the former DSS and the DWP are as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome was of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council held on 6 March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [102212]

I represented the UK at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (ESPHCA) Council in Brussels on 6 March 2003, together with my hon. Friend the Minister for Employment Relations, Industry and the Regions.The main business of this Council was a discussion on the proposed Directive on working conditions for temporary workers and the preparation of the Spring European Council, to take place on 21 March.On the former, following lunchtime discussion, the Presidency concluded that the dossier was not ready for agreement at this point. The UK declared its readiness to reach agreement on a directive, but one with considerably more flexibility than the current draft, and joined the consensus for aiming for political agreement in June.On the latter, the Council adopted without amendment the Joint Employment Report 2002 and its contribution to the Spring Council, "Key messages on the future of the Employment Strategy". In a public debate, member states were in broad agreement on the priorities for the revised Employment Guidelines outlined in the paper: the Guidelines should be fewer in number, focused on outputs rather than inputs, and linked closely to the Lisbon employment rate targets.The debate also revealed broad support for the idea of an Employment Task Force, as proposed by the UK, France and Germany. The Council agreed that the Task Force should be a one-off, independent analysis of the measures required to improve Europe's employment performance in the short term. The Task Force should complement the revised Employment Strategy, without creating any new processes.Council approved Joint Reports from the Commission and the Council on adequate and sustainable pensions, and on the future of health care and care for the elderly. It noted the opinion of the Social Protection Committee on the Commission's Synthesis Report and agreed a key issues paper on social protection to be sent to the Spring Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Wales under the age of 60 retired early due to ill health in each of the last five years, broken down by county. [102755]