To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason and at whose expense a wooden fence is being erected adjacent to the southbound carriageway of the M1 motorway near junction 11; and what the total cost is of such work. [104582]

The wooden fence is a noise barrier that will be provided next to both carriageways of the motorway through the centre of Luton.We announced in March 1999 a new sift criteria to be used when assessing serious noise problems on existing trunk roads together with an annual ring-fenced budget to deal with locations identified.The M1 at Luton qualifies as one of the sites under the criteria. The cost of the works is met from the ring-fenced budget which is managed by the Highways Agency. The first phase of the works at Luton will cost £2.6 million. A later phase will extend the barriers on the southern and northern sides of the town. This phase is planned to be undertaken in 2004–05 and will cost a further £2 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the work of the Welsh Sub Group of the Coal Health Claims Monitoring Group chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary. [103376]

On the most recent figures I have available, in Wales we have paid £197 million under the respiratory disease scheme and £83 million under the Vibration White Finger Scheme, with full and final payments having been made to 13,762 and 8,632 claimants respectively. In Bridgend over £1.5 million has been paid out in respiratory disease payments and over £760,000 has been paid to Vibration White Finger claimants.Despite this significant and welcome progress, much remains to be done. The Government intends to keep up the pressure to get justice for our miners, their widows and their families, and I will continue to make every effort as part of this process. The Welsh Sub Group has seen the major stakeholders in the process working together in a highly constructive way, identifying real improvements to the system which have speeded up payments to miners in Wales and across the UK. It has also provided a model for similar groups across the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the impact on Wales of the work of the Advisory Board of the Performance and Innovation Unit's Energy Review in the last three years. [103368]

The Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) Energy Review had a Sponsor Minister and Advisory Group. The Wales Office was represented on this group by my ho n. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales.The PIU (now the Strategy Unit) published its energy review in February 2002. This was a key input into the development of the Government's Energy White Paper, which was published last month. The Wales Office was represented at both Ministerial and official level in the production of this key Government statement on the future of Britain's energy policy.The Energy White Paper sets out a strategic vision for the development of energy policy across the UK as a whole. It clearly has important implications for Wales, as for other parts of the UK.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry made an excellent statement to launch the White Paper on 24 February which was very clear on the implications for the UK as a whole.That said, it is clearly crucial that key players in Wales engage in the delivery of the White Paper objectives. In particular, the White Paper welcomes the development by the National Assembly for Wales of a strategic approach to energy policy as it applies in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [103595]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 22 January 2003 Official Report 334W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000: and what meetings were held on each occasion. [103598]

Since my appointment as Secretary of State for Wales in October 2002, I have visited Scotland once, in February 2003.In line with exemptions 2 and 7 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [103663]

My Department's 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 and National Assembly for Wales, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what appraisal he has made of plans to use tidal lagoons to generate electricity in (a) the Severn estuary and (b) off the north Wales coast; and if he will make a statement. [103530]

I have made no such appraisal, since such matters rest with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.However, my hon. Friend will know that I am a keen enthusiast for renewable energy. The Severn estuary barrage was one of the issues that the Government examined during its consideration of the Energy White Paper. It is hugely expensive, but there are other opportunities for utilising tidal and wave power. The Welsh coast and the Severn estuary may represent such opportunities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many formal complaints he has received about the Wales Office since April 2002. [103374]

No formal complaints have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to amend the Armed Forces Act 1955. [104716]

There is no Armed Forces Act 1955. The Army and Air Force Acts of that year and the Naval Discipline Act 1957 have a finite life, and Parliament considers their renewal every five years in the form of an Armed Forces Bill. This is also the main vehicle for amending the 1955 and 1957 Acts. The Armed Forces Act was last renewed in 2001.All the procedures covered by the Service Acts are kept under review and it is envisaged that any proposals for further change that may be considered necessary would be included in the Armed Forces Bill due for introduction in the 2005–06 session. We intend to introduce legislation to bring the three separate Acts together into one tri-Service Act, but whether it will be possible to include this in the 2005–06 Bill will depend on the availability of parliamentary time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what phase in Army training a recruit is permitted to handle weapons containing live rounds without supervision; what (a) age and (b) other restrictions limit troops' access to lethal weapons; and in what circumstances an armourer may exercise discretion to refuse the issue of a weapon to a member of Her Majesty's forces. [104898]

No recruits in initial training are allowed to handle weapons containing live rounds without supervision. As part of their training, all recruits have access to lethal weapons from the start of phase 1 training; the age limit is therefore effectively 16. However, all such recruits are fully supervised whilst handling such weapons. Within the Army, an Arms Storeman will refuse the issue of a weapon to a soldier if he or she is unaccompanied by a supervising NCO or if the weapon has not been ordered for training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to work with other European nations on the development of an unmanned aerial vehicle; and if he will make a statement. [104231]

United Kingdom unmanned aerial vehicles are being pursued through two programmes: Watchkeeper, which plans to deliver a tactical UAV in 2006; and the Future Offensive Air System (FOAS) programme within which we are assessing the feasibility of UAVs contributing to our future strike capability from about 2020 onwards. There are no plans to work with other European nations on the development of Watchkeeper, although we do share information regarding the acquisition, operation and support of UAV systems with a number of European countries. The FOAS programme plans to carry out some technology demonstration work within a six-nation collaborative European Technology Acquisition Programme comprising France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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 his Department in each year since 1997. [103713]

The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Halo Mk2 will be ready for use in war in Iraq; how the re-engineered hardware and new software for the Mk2 will improve its capability; how much the improvements have cost; whether this was within original estimates; and if he will make a statement. [104226]

The Halo Mk2 sound ranging system, procured to meet the Army's Advanced Sound Ranging Programme requirement, is deployed with British Forces in the Gulf. The Mk2 system is more capable than the Mk1 in a number of ways, including: improved accuracy in locating potential targets; a faster response time and more robust hardware. The cost of this programme was around £17 million which was within the original approval limit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK forces and which regiments have been sent to the Gulf. [104610]

[holding answer 24 March 2003]: Around 45,000 United Kingdom Servicemen and women from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force have been deployed in the Gulf and Middle East region. Statements regarding the composition of the UK Forces deployed to the region were made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 7 January 2003, Official Report, columns 23–39, 20 January 2003, Official Report, columns 34–35, 6 February 2003, Official Report, columns 455–66 and 13 March 2003, Official Report, column 20WS.The composition of the Land Forces was described in my letter D/Min(AF)/AI PQ 1093N/03/C of February 2003, in response to a written Parliamentary Question from the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin),

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are in place to enable British armed forces to provide humanitarian aid to Iraq if the situation is too insecure for civilian agencies to operate. [104875]

United Kingdom forces, as part of the coalition, will, where they are able, deliver emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq until the post-conflict security situation stabilises sufficiently for civilian agencies to deploy. Such assistance would include provision of drinking water, food, shelter, and medical supplies. Preparations for this role have taken place with the assistance of experts from the Department for International Development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels are available for maritime training; and if he will make a statement on the effect of Operation Fresco on the availability of vessels. [105128]

As at week commencing 24 March there are nine Destroyers and Frigates and one submarine programmed to undertake maritime training. This includes Operational Sea Training, Syllabus training and Weapon training.The firefighters' dispute has slightly reduced the throughput of Naval vessels through Collective Sea Training and this will result in an increased demand for collective training in 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States on the use of British forces in a peace keeping role under NATO as part of the road map for peace in the Middle East. [104668]

I have had no such discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the next stage of the Watchkeeper programme to be completed; and if he expects the programme to remain within the estimated budget. [104334]

The next stage of the Watchkeeper programme, the Systems Integration and Assurance Phase, is estimated to be completed before the end of January 2004. One of the outputs of this phase will be to refine the level of funding required to procure the Watchkeeper capability. We currently expect the programme to remain affordable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what shortfalls he has identified in the UK's radar capabilities; and what plans he has to (a) replace and (b) increase the radar capabilities. [104340]

We plan to replace existing Type 93 air defence radars with more modern equipment when they reach the end of their service lives around the middle of this decade. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the White Paper on the SDR new chapter in July last year, we are taking forward a range of enhancements to our air defence radar systems to improve our air defence capability. I am withholding details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to use HM forces to ensure the security of water reservoirs against the threat of terrorist attack. [105038]

There is no specific threat to reservoirs from terrorist. Were there to be, it would be managed by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who have policy responsibility for water supplies and the police who are responsible for public safety and security in the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence will provide support to the police should they require it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the new satellite communications radomes to enter service; if they will enter service within the Ministry of Defence's proposed timetable; and if he expects the radomes to remain within the estimated budget. [104335]

Fifteen new satellite communications radomes were delivered in January 2003 and are now in service. The cost of the radomes is within budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent increases have taken place in the UK's satcom capabilities; and what further increases he has planned. [104336]

A range of mobile and portable satcom terminal equipment has been deployed recently to improve the capacity of available communications to deployed units on operations.As regards further increases, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 February 2003,

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the shelf life of VX gas is; and what the rate is of natural degradation of VX gas where VX-stabiliser is used. [103973]

The stability of VX depends very much on its initial purity, the use of the appropriate stabilisers and the precise storage conditions utilised. Its shelf life as a chemical warfare agent can range from a few months to several tens of years. It should be noted that even partially degraded material may still pose a significant hazard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 685, on British Energy, whether any of the credit facility announced in her written statement of 7 March 2003, Official Report, column 89WS, can be used to finance the cost of installing flue gas de-sulphurisation at Eggborough Power Station. [104884]

The extended and amended credit facility is provided to British Energy on a contingency basis in respect of its working capital requirements and cash collateral for its trading activities. Specific contracts are a commercial matter for the company. Any application for drawing on the facility would be assessed on its merits subject to meeting the purposes for which funding can be made available from the credit facility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the likely economic impact on rural small businesses that are unable to access broadband in the next three years. [104837]

No such assessment has been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the economic impact of broadband access for small businesses in Suffolk. [104838]

No such assessment has been made within the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the outstanding contingent liabilities of the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and if she will make a statement. [104426]

As at the end of February 2003, ECGD had outstanding contingent liabilities of £14,576 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) negotiations on access to generic drugs for developing countries; and if she will make a statement on the Government's position on current TRIPS negotiations. [104850]

[holding answer 25 March 2003]: The Government is working, with its EU partners, towards agreement in the WTO on an effective solution to the problems faced by developing countries with no or insufficient manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical sector in making effective use of compulsory licensing under the TRIPS Agreement.Within the EU, we have taken a flexible and constructive approach to the current TRIPS negotiations and public health. Our aim has always been to find a solution that responds to the need for countries to have recourse when necessary to compulsory licensing, while not undermining the wider intellectual property framework that is essential for research into new medicines. Discussions came close to agreement late last year on the basis of a compromise text circulated before Christmas. We are working to secure agreement before the next WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancun in September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the recent Office of Fair Trading report containing proposals to abolish the control of entry regulations for pharmacies. [104240]

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of possible losses to the small business sector arising from the Office of Fair Trading report on pharmacies. [104443]

[holding answer 24 March 2003]: The Government is committed to ensuring all sectors are responsive to consumer needs, getting rid of unnecessary regulations that inhibit innovation. The Enterprise Act will strengthen the role of the competition authorities in tackling markets that do not work well for consumers and business. The OFT report provided a useful analysis of the market impact of the current control of entry regulations on consumers and competition and highlights the need for the present regime governing pharmacies to be updated. We have already taken steps to open up the pharmacy market by allowing for mail order and internet pharmacies. At the same time, the Government wants to see an increased role for community pharmacists in providing services to NHS patients and we are currently developing a new contractual framework to make that happen.The Government needs to take into account wider policy objectives in responding to the OFT report. It argues for abolition of entry controls on the grounds that there would be consequent benefits for consumers in terms of reduced prices, improved quality of services and better access. We strongly support these objectives. We want to improve access and choice (including improving out-of-hours access for NHS patients) so that more NHS patients can use the skills of community pharmacists, who are trained clinicians, for advice, information and services. The OFT report also noted that in a more competitive environment problems could arise through the possible effect of deregulation on the ability of patients in some areas to access high quality pharmacy services, and that these problems could be addressed through targeted measures. It was not in the OFT's remit to examine how mechanisms such as the Essential Small Pharmacies Scheme could be developed to address a more competitive environment, and we therefore propose to examine these issues further before reaching a final decision on a balanced package which most effectively promotes competition, new entry and increased choice alongside our wider social and health objectives.We therefore favour change to open up the market and improve quality and access without diminishing the crucial role that pharmacies play, especially in poorer and rural areas. The Government intends to come forward with proposals before the summer recess and will publish a progress report at the end of June. All changes will then be the subject of a full consultation.The OFT report raises particular issues for the devolved administrations and they are making their own announcements today regarding their responses to the OFT recommendations.The OFT's work on this area has taken forward our understanding of the impact on quality, innovation and consumer choice of the existing entry controls. Their regulatory challenge function is an important one. We look forward to receiving further reports on markets where regulation may be distorting competition.As part of our work moving forward we will consider the impact of any changes on all sectors of the pharmacy market, including small businesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to require all proposals by the Post Office for branch closures which are opposed by Postwatch to be referred to Ministers before a final decision is taken. [104848]

[holding answer 25 March 2003]: Decisions on post office closures and relocations are an operational matter for the company. It would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene in determining individual closures. That has been the policy of successive Governments since 1969 when the Post Office was established as a statutory public corporation.In accordance with the existing Code of Practice on Post Office Closures and Relocations—agreed between Postwatch and Post Office Ltd—Postwatch are consulted on every post office closure proposal before a decision can be made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will require the Post Office to comply with the request of Postwatch to publish the full plans for the future of post office outlets in Christchurch and Plymouth. [104849]

[holding answer 25 March 2003]: There is no predetermined list or arithmetical formula being used to determine how many offices will close in any given area.In accordance with the existing Code of Practice on Post Office Closures and Relocations—agreed between Postwatch and Post Office Ltd—Postwatch are consulted on every post office closure proposal before a decision can be made. It is for Post Office Ltd and Postwatch to consider whether any wider background information relevant to closure proposals under the urban reinvention programme could be provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of batteries were recycled in each year since 1997. [104547]

At present precise data demonstrating a yearly percentage of batteries recycled in the UK is unavailable, although it is estimated that approximately 90 per cent. of automotive batteries, 25 per cent. of nickel cadmium industrial batteries, 90 per cent. of lead acid industrial batteries and less than 1 per cent. of household batteries are recycled.There is data available on the tonnages on batteries collected for recycling by local authorities, as reported in the Department's Annual Municipal Waste Management Survey (MWMS). However, the percentage of batteries recycled cannot be measured, as the tonnages of disposed batteries are unknown.It should be noted that MWMS has only reported on batteries that surveyed Local Authorities collect for recycling, and it is known that there is a considerable amount of private recycling undertaken, especially car batteries, that is not recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the environmental consequences of the disposal of batteries. [104548]

No specific assessment has been undertaken in the UK on the environmental consequences of battery disposal. However, the European Commission recently published a consultation document, on the proposed Batteries Directive, stating that 'batteries were an important source of emissions of heavy metals which cause environmental damage.'A Government study (November 2000) 'Analysis of the Environmental Impact and Financial Costs of a Possible New European Directive on Batteries' concluded that as collection and recycling rates increase, heavy metals in batteries are progressively diverted from the municipal waste stream, thus preventing leaching of hazardous substances into the environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions have been held between her Department and the Treasury regarding the impact of duty on the use of biofuels. [103960]

The reduction in the duty rate for biodiesel, introduced last July, has already brought forward production from recycled vegetable oil. Around 100 filling stations in the UK are already retailing biodiesel. The Government have also indicated they will reduce the duty rate for bioethanol and that they intend to announce the implementation date in the Budget. We continue to have discussions with the Treasury about these matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's (a) responsibilities and (b) assets with regard to civil contingency planning; what funds are committed; what action she is taking within her Department to improve such planning; and what action she is taking in collaboration with other departments. [102626]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grades in the Civil Service in her Department are allowed to travel by air (a) first class and (b) business class at public expense when on official duties. [104972]

An individual's entitlement to a particular class of travel is currently denoted by their grade and the length of the given flight. However, in keeping with the Civil Service Management Code, staff must use the most efficient and economic means of travel taking into account any management benefit or the needs of staff with disabilities. Within this framework the main entitlements are:Directors and above: may travel first class if the journey is over 2.5 hours where there is no business class available. All other journeys should be undertaken at business class.Other staff: may travel business class for journeys over 2.5 hours. For journeys under 2.5 hours individuals should travel economy class.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with North Norfolk District Council about coastal erosion and coastal defence. [103777]

The Department's Regional Engineer at Lincoln has discussions with North Norfolk District Council as and when required about the Council's plans for flood and coastal Defence works and studies, and other local coastal issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost of her Department's website was in the last 12 months; and how many hits it received in the same period. [104189]

The Defra website (www.defra.gov.uk) is hosted internally. Annual operating costs for hosting the site over the last 12 months were £297,000.Staff costs for the central team responsible for updating and maintaining the content of the site for the last 12 months were £326,000.Figures for web traffic on www.defra.gov.uk are given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how her Department proposes to implement the European Directive on the energy performance of buildings with reference to domestic properties; what guidance will be issued to private and social landlords on complying with the requirements of the directive; and what contribution the directive will make to achieving the Government's objective of ending fuel poverty by 2016. [99619]

I have been asked to reply.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends that where homes are marketed for sale with a home information pack, the Directive will be implemented by requiring that the pack includes an energy report that complies with the requirements for an energy performance certificate. We are considering what legal instruments and guidance are required to ensure that private and social landlords comply with the Directive. Improving the energy performance of our housing stock will complement the activities already under way to tackle fuel poverty and make a positive contribution to our objective of ending fuel poverty by 2016.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the position she adopted in respect of GMOs at the meeting of the Environment Council on 4 March, with particular reference to separation distances. [103826]

[holding answer 19 March 2003]: The Government agrees with the European Commission that there is a need to address at Community level the issue of co-existence between GM and non-GM crops, including the possible use of separation distances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department provides for Envirowise. [105051]

In the current financial year the Department is providing £2.7 million towards the Envirowise programme, which promotes advice and best practice to business to prevent waste, reduce pollution and make the most effective use of resources. The programme is jointly sponsored with the Department of Trade and Industry: total funding for the current financial year is £5.4 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Minister has responsibility for genetically modified food products. [103084]

Within Defra Lord Whitty is the Minister responsible for sustainable farming and the food industry. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the responsible UK authority for evaluating GM foods and food products derived from GMOs under the relevant European Union legislation. The FSA are accountable to Parliament through health ministers and to the Devolved Administrations.My responsibilities relate to the environmental aspects of the deliberate release of GM organisms into the environment, including licensing of GMOs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the percentage of (a) plastic and (b) glass bottles which have contained mineral water which have been recycled in each year since 1992. [99274]

The information requested is not held by the Department at present. However, we have contacted the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of Nirex. [104005]

The long-term future of Nirex will be settled as part of the process of making decisions on managing the UK's radioactive waste and the wider nuclear legacy. We are discussing with colleagues how these issues, including the future status of Nirex or a successor organisation, can be best determined.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what developments have taken place towards the creation of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management; what steps have been made to engage stakeholders in the preparatory process: and whether the terms of reference for the Committee have been finalised; [104006](2) what criteria were used in choosing those invited to the meeting held in Manchester in March to discuss the way forward for the new Committee on Radioactive Waste Management; which consultants were used to organise the meeting; and whether the consultants were chosen by competitive tender. [104007]

We shall be advertising in the press from today to seek applications from people willing to serve on the new Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), which will be responsible for delivering recommendations to UK Government and the devolved administrations on the best means of managing the UK's radioactive wastes over the longer term under the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" programme. CoRWM's terms of reference have been finalised and are as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking (a) to reduce waste arisings and (b) to facilitate the re-use of such arisings from the (i) agriculture, (ii) mining and quarrying, (iii) commercial and (iv) demolition and construction sectors. [104546]

Government are taking a number of steps aimed at reducing waste arisings and increasing re-use.In agriculture, we have set up the Agricultural Waste Stakeholders' Forum to inform the development of the Regulations for applying the Waste Framework Directive to agricultural waste. The Forum's terms of reference include identifying and encouraging opportunities to reduce the production of agricultural waste and are available at http://www.defra.qov.uk/environment/waste/aqforum/index.htmRe-use of construction and demolition waste, and some types of mineral waste that can be substituted for newly won aggregates, will be encouraged through exemption from the Aggregates Levy which was introduced on 1 April 2002 at a rate of £1.60 per tonne for virgin aggregates. The Levy also encourages economy of use and less waste of aggregates at construction sites. Some funding from the Levy has also been set aside to fund projects which aim to minimise the demand for primary aggregates.On commercial waste, Defra jointly with DTI, funds the Envirowise programme which provides free independent help and advice on environmental issues, resource efficiency and sustainable business solutions to UK companies. Waste minimisation and effective resource management are central to its aims. It is based on the principle that good environmental sense makes good business sense, and that companies can save money through resource efficiencies. Launched in 1994, Envirowise delivers its messages principally via a freephone national Helpline; On-site Resource Efficiency visits to small and medium sized enterprises by a Helpline advisor; training events; a website; and the dissemination of case studies and good practice guides. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) also includes removing the barriers to waste minimisation and re-use as part of its mission.The Strategy Unit's report 'Waste Not, Want Not' made a number of recommendations on waste minimisation and re-use. The government is considering its response to these recommendations, which it aims to publish around the time of the Budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many named day written questions were tabled to the Department between 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003; how many that received a holding answer were given a substantive answer (a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days later; and what procedures the Department has in place to monitor performance on answering (i) parliamentary questions and (ii) ministerial letters. [99433]

The information on Named Day questions for the period 15 October 2002 to 24 February 2003 is as follows.

To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the situation in Iraq. [104865]

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House on 24 March, and the answers I gave at Prime Minister's Questions today.

To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his statement of 18 March 2003, Official Report, columns 761–62, on the information provided by Hussein Kamal on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, if he will place in the Library the text of the interview. [104714]

Following his defection, Hussein Kamal was interviewed by UNSCOM and by a number of other agencies. Details concerning the interviews were made available to us on a confidential basis. The UK was not provided with transcripts of the interviews.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps the Government has taken to (a) minimise environmental damage and (b) enable the repair of environmental damage caused by the war in Iraq. [104841]

One of the Government's military campaign objectives is to secure the economic infrastructure of Iraq from sabotage and wilful destruction by the Iraqi regime. The securing of the southern oilfields so early in the military campaign is a significant achievement, preventing Saddam from repeating the environmental pollution he caused in 1991.

To ask the Solicitor-General, pursuant to her answer of 17 March 2003, Official Report, columns 515–16, on Iraq, whether the Attorney-General provided the information contained in paragraphs 1 to 7 on his legal note on "Iraq: Legal Basis for the Use of Force", to the United Kingdom Ambassador to the United Nations in advance of Sir Jeremy Greenstock's remarks to the United Nations Security Council on UNSC Resolution 1441 (2002) on 8 November 2002. [104715]

There is a longstanding convention observed by successive Government that the fact of and substance of advice which the Law Officers may have given to Government is not publicly disclosed. This enables the Government, like everyone else, to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence. The Attorney General gave a written answer on 17 March in the House of Lords which set out his view of the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq. However, the convention against disclosure of Law Officers' advice still applies in relation to advice which the Law Officers give within Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the use of NGOs to distribute British aid in the reconstruction of Iraq. [104781]

The humanitarian strategy for Iraq is firstly to ensure that the military are able to provide support in the areas they occupy then, as quickly as possible, to ensure that, the UN system returns and that Oil for Food is re-established.The reinstatement of Oil for Food is crucial since 16 million Iraqis rely on it. The traditional role of NGOs in post-conflict situations is to help deliver emergency services at community level using supplies provided by the UN system. There are strong Iraqi organisations delivering services for the Oil for Food programme. International NGOs will have a role to play but obviously it is better to employ Iraqi organisations wherever possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on humanitarian relief for Iraq. [104782]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her contingency plans to work with UK and international NGOs to help relieve the humanitarian situation in Iraq. [104786]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Iraq. [104787]

I refer hon. Members to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) earlier today (PQ 104781).A daily situation report on the humanitarian situation will be placed in the Libraries of the House every weekday.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what estimates her Department has made with the (a) Ministry of Defence, (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (c) Treasury on the possible costs of humanitarian assistance in the event of conflict in Iraq; [104354](2) what additional contingency funds and expertise her Department has been granted to support the direct delivery of impartial humanitarian assistance by the international humanitarian community; [104357](3) what proportion of the humanitarian response needed for Iraq in the event of any conflict she estimates will be covered by the sums provided by her Department to the

There are too many possible scenarios to make a reliable estimate of the cost of humanitarian assistance in Iraq. For this reason it is also difficult at this stage to estimate the proportion of needs which will be met by the UK. We expect a UN Inter-Agency Appeal to be launched very shortly. This will include a breakdown of costs anticipated by the UN.My Department has thus far committed £50 million and earmarked a further £40 million for humanitarian assistance in Iraq. This has been drawn from DFID budgets and the DFID contingency reserve. Funds from existing spending DFID programmes will not be diverted to fund our assistance to Iraq.Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Defence on how military strategy can minimise and mitigate the risks of conflict to the Iraqi people; [104355](2) what advice her Department has given the Ministry of Defence and the armed forces on how best to discharge their humanitarian responsibilities under the

My Department has been in close discussion with the Ministry of Defence over many months working to minimise the humanitarian impact of any conflict; both to minimise the risks to the Iraqi population and the infrastructure on which they depend, and to ensure that UK forces meet their obligations under the Hague and Geneva conventions governing armed conflict. We have seconded two humanitarian specialists to work with the armed forces (UK 1 Division) and to advise on relief activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what additional funding her Department has allocated for the use of military quick impact projects in the period immediately after conflict in Iraq. [104358]

My Department has not allocated funds for military quick impact projects in Iraq. The Ministry of Defence has received £30 million from HM Treasury to help the UK military provide relief as part of its obligations under the Geneva and Hague conventions.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what responsibilities the military will have for the initial deli very of humanitarian assistance in the event of conflict with Iraq. [104359]

Humanitarian agencies cannot operate until a permissive security environment has been established. In the interim, the military will have responsibility to deliver humanitarian assistance in the territory they occupy in accordance with the Geneva and Hague conventions.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whom her Department has seconded as full time Civil-Military Humanitarian Adviser to the Headquarters of UK 1 Division in Kuwait. [104360]

We have seconded two humanitarian advisors to UK 1 division in Kuwait. For security reasons, it would be inappropriate to divulge their names (see exemption 1 (Security) of the Ministerial Code of Practice).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what advice her Department has given the National Component Headquarters in Qatar on the humanitarian consequences of an Iraq conflict. [104361]

DFID has been reviewing and advising on military plans to address humanitarian needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what secondments her Department is making to support the UN Joint Logistic Centre in the event of war with Iraq. [104364]

DFID has received a request for an individual to join the UN Joint Logistics centre (UNJLC). We are working with the World Food Programme and the UNJLC to provide an individual at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which governments (1) her Department has made representations on contingency planning for the event of war in Iraq; [104366](2) what funding her Department will provide to the UN Office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in the event of war in Iraq. [104365]

We are in discussion with many partners on the planning of humanitarian assistance. It is essential that international plans are co-ordinated. This is the role of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). We have provided £150,000 to support their Iraq co-ordination centre in Cyprus and have seconded a member of staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which (a) governments and (b) international organisations her Department expects will contribute immediate humanitarian assistance in Iraq in the event of war. [104367]

DFID has committed £50 million to support preparations by humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organisations in Iraq and the region. We have set aside a further £40 million for the immediate humanitarian response and will consider further assistance as needs are identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what effort her Department is making with (a) international financial institutions and (b) the international community to ensure that there is a suitable UN mandate in place to provide legal authority for the reconstruction effort in Iraq in the event of conflict. [104368]

I visited New York and Washington on 19–20 March to meet the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World bank and the US Administration to try to ensure that proper preparations are being made for reconstruction in Iraq. My officials are also in regular contact with these and other partners.A UN mandate for the reconstruction effort is a precondition for the engagement of the World bank, the International Monetary Fund and many countries. Their engagement is key to the reforms that are needed to move the economy forward and to secure an agreement on debt rescheduling and a reparations strategy that will enable the Iraqi economy to recover and grow. I held detailed talks last week with officials of the UN and the US Administration about how that might be achieved and I am hopeful that we will soon make progress in line with the agreements reached between the Prime Minister and President Bush in the Azores.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many metric tonnes of food her Department estimates will be needed by the end of March for the Iraqi population; and how many metric tonnes of food she estimates will be available by the end of March. [104369]

WFP has positioned sufficient supplies to feed two million people for one month. This is intended to cover the initial phase of the ongoing conflict, during which WFP will support refugees and the malnourished and vulnerable inside Iraq. WFP believes that most Iraqis1 food reserves will last up to six weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what preparations her Department has made to allow non-governmental organisations safe access to endangered populations in Iraq in the event of conflict. [104370]

Humanitarian agencies cannot operate until a permissive security environment has been established. The military will discharge their humanitarian obligations under the Geneva and Hague conventions in order to provide relief in the interim. Once the situation allows, NGOs will need to undertake their own security assessments before engaging.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with EU member states concerning collective involvement in the reconstruction of post-war Iraq. [104376]

The first step is to secure a strong UN mandate for reconstruction. The European Council on 20 and 21 March agreed that the UN Security Council should give the UN such a mandate for post-conflict Iraq and make sure that the new Iraqi administration is one that is representative, respects the human rights of the Iraqi people, and allows the people of Iraq to live in peace internally and with their neighbours.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department intends to take in order to ensure that food distribution in post-war Iraq remains apolitical. [104378]

The UK is committed to humanitarian assistance being provided by civilian agencies wherever possible, on the basis of need, and not as part of a military strategy. We are supporting the role of UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in co-ordinating humanitarian assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if she will make a statement on the nomination of an Iraqi national to administer Iraq's aid programme, with special reference to the oil for food programme; [104379](2) what representations she has received concerning the protection of food supplies to Iraq in the event of discontinuation of the UN Oil for Food programme during military action in Iraq; [104381](3) whether a relief programme will come under the Prime Minister's plans for an oil revenue trust fund for the Iraqi people; [104383](4) what representations she has received concerning the expansion of the Oil for Food programme to pay for reconstruction costs in Iraq; [104389](5) what the current total volume is of unspent oil revenues in the escrow account of the UN Oil for Food programme; and what representations she has received concerning its distribution in the coming months; [104393](6) what steps she plans and is taking to ensure that there is a satisfactory level of independent auditing of Iraq's Oil for Food programme in the aftermath of conflict; 1104386)(7) what evaluation she has made of the impact of the suspension of the UN Oil for Food programme on civilians' food needs in Iraq; [104380](8) what steps are being taken by her Department to ensure the protection of food supplies to Iraq in the event of discontinuation of the UN Oil for Food programme during military action in Iraq. [104382]

60 per cent. of the people of Iraq—around 16 million people—are currently dependent on the UN Oil for Food programme (OFF).

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has and steps she is taking to ensure that Iraq does not develop a long-term dependency on aid. [104384]

Iraq is an oil rich country. It has the resources to ensure it does not become aid dependant. It will however need support to reform its economy to create an enabling environment to encourage economic growth.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what: representations she has received concerning the return of external investors to Iraq after the end of any military campaign. [104385]

I have had discussions with the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World bank and the US Administration to try to ensure that proper preparations are being ma de for reconstruction in Iraq. A UN mandate will be required to provide legal authority for the reconstruction effort, and to make possible the engagement of the International Financial Institutions and the wider international community. The Government are holding discussions with others to ensure such a mandate is put in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what measures her Department will take to publish audited accounts in relation to the administration of aid funds in post-war Iraq; [104387](2) what steps her Department intends to take to monitor the activities of the aid community in post-war Iraq. [104377]

Use of DFID funds in post-war Iraq will be subject to usual Government audit procedures.The monitoring of international assistance to post-conflict Iraq will initially be the responsibility of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). We have provided £150,000 to support their Iraq co-ordination centre in Cyprus and have seconded a member of staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with HM Treasury concerning Britain's financial burden in Iraq in the event that war-related infrastructure damage causes a significant reduction in oil revenue. [104388]

I am in on-going discussions with HM Treasury. It is presently too soon to say with any certainty what the cost of humanitarian and reconstruction work will be.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from the non-governmental organisations regarding her Department's assistance with the provision of humanitarian relief in post conflict Iraq. [104390]

My Department is in regular discussion with NGOs both in London and in the countries surrounding Iraq. We have received a substantial number of applications for NGO funding. We are urgently assessing these and will be making decisions on them shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs concerning the co-ordination of the military and humanitarian strategy in the event of military action in Iraq. [104391]

My Department has been in close discussion with the Ministry of Defence for many months to minimise the humanitarian impact of any conflict; both to minimise the risks to the Iraqi population and the infrastructure on which they depend, and to ensure that UK forces meet their obligations under the Hague and Geneva conventions governing armed conflict. We have seconded two humanitarian specialists to work with the armed forces (UK 1 Division) and to advise on relief activities.We are also working in close collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth office on relevant issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the protection of Iraqi oil production facilities in the event of military action in Iraq. [104392]

My Department has been in close contact with the Ministry of Defence to seek to minimise the impact of conflict on the infrastructure on which the people of Iraq depend.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how much her Department has allocated for the agricultural reconstruction of post-war Iraq, broken down by type of activity; [104660](2) what estimate she has made of the total value of the Iraqi economy given over to agriculture in

My Department does not keep data on the Iraqi agriculture in the form requested. The latest Economist Intelligence Unit Iraq Country Profile has useful background on the Iraqi economy and agricultural sector.It is too soon to allocate funds for the post-war reconstruction of Iraqi agriculture. The first priority is to secure a UN mandate which will be required to provide legal authority for the reconstruction effort, and to make possible the engagement of the International Financial Institutions and the wider international community. The Government is holding ongoing discussions with key partners to ensure such a mandate is put in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how much foodstuff is available for relief work in Iraq by (a) the UK, (b) the EU, (c) the US and (d) other states, broken down by type; and what proportion of those foodstuffs are derived from genetically modified materials, broken down by type; [104713](2) what

The UK, EU, US and others are supporting the humanitarian effort through their partners: UN agencies, the Red Cross movement, NGOs and others. DFID has so far committed £8 million to the World Food. DFID believes that food aid recipients should make their own decisions about acceptance of genetically modified materials.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the number of Iraqi civilians likely to die from hunger and disease as a result of military conflict. [104371]

There are a number of possible humanitarian scenarios. The UN is currently planning on a 'medium case' scenario. This assumes severe disruption to critical infrastructure and the Iraqi Government's capacity to deliver basic food and relief. Disruption to fuel and power supplies could shut down water and sewage treatment plants. Up to half the population could be without access to potable water and up to 10 million people may require food assistance during and immediately after conflict.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether costs incurred by the United Kingdom in providing emergency, reconstruction and other forms of aid in post-conflict Iraq will be met by diverting funds from existing spending programmes within the budget of the Department for International Development. [104681]

Funds from existing spending DFID programmes will not be diverted to fund our assistance to Iraq.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the UN co-ordinator for Eritrea regarding food shortages. [104783]

Eritrea has requested food aid for 60 per cent. of its population. Many donors fear this is larger than need and could damage agricultural production. We haw provided £3.35 million towards the appeal and are monitoring the situation closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's health priorities are within their development aid policies. [104784]

Our paper "Better Health for Poor People" sets out our strategy.DFID's four main priorities are:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of aid operations in Afghanistan. [104785]

The Afghanistan Transitional Administration has just hosted the first Afghanistan Development Forum in Kabul, to present its budget to donors for the next three years. The collective assessment of the Administration and donors there was that tremendous progress has been made since the fall of the Taliban in November 2001 but that great challenges remain. 2003 will be a critical year for Afghanistan—improving security beyond Kabul, extending the writ of the central Administration, increasing domestic revenue collection, agreeing a new constitution, preparing for elections, stimulating private sector growth, creating sustainable livelihoods and providing essential services for people, reintegrating more returning refugees and disarming, demobilising and reintegrating militias. To achieve this, Afghanistan will require very effective international support. Donors and the Administration agreed at the Development Forum that this meant that donors must focus their aid on the priorities set out by the Administration in their budget. This assistance should be channelled through a blend of the most effective instruments, reflecting the limited absorptive capacity of each of them: direct funding of the Government through multi-donor trust funds, funding of UN programmes, and direct funding of NGOs and private sector contractors.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what overseas aid projects she is supporting in Zimbabwe in the forthcoming financial year. [104788]

DFID's current feeding programmes for Zimbabwe extend until June 2003. It is already evident that the crisis in food production will persist for a third year, as the structural causes of agricultural decline have not been addressed. Detailed assessments and the plans of the Zimbabwe government arc awaited; from there we will develop specific programmes. We expect to maintain support for humanitarian needs for a further year along similar lines to our activities during the last year, working with the UN and non-governmental agencies.DFID's on-going £26 million programme of support to help address HIV/AIDS and to increase access to health care for vulnerable people in Zimbabwe also continues until 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to use the international finance facility to meet the millennium development goals. [104789]

The Chancellor and I have launched proposals for an international finance facility, designed specifically to help meet the internationally agreed millennium development goals. We are working with international partners, the business community and civil society to develop this proposal and to build support.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reasons aid to Bangladesh decreased between 2000–01 and 2001–02; and whether it will be increased to the 2000–01 level in 2003–04. [104643]

Total DFID expenditure in Bangladesh in 2001–02 was reported as £62 million. However an additional £10 million which was spent in that year will be included in the figures for 2002–03 due to changes in DFID's end of year accounting procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost was of (a) the in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by the Department in 2002. [104255]

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what crèche facilities are provided by her Department; and at what cost. [104291]

My Department does not provide crèche facilities. We do provide holiday playschemes for staff in our offices in London and East Kilbride. The costs of the holiday playschemes are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by her Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in the last 12 months, broken down by title, purpose, date and cost. [104286]

This information is not held centrally and it would incur a disproportionate cost to provide it.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to increase the effectiveness of the targeting at poverty reduction of EU development assistance. [104573]

In 2003–04 I expect my Department to spend over £1 billion on EC development assistance, which, with some exceptions, under performs both in effectiveness and targeting on poverty reduction. The Commission spent only 43 per cent. of its official development assistance in 2001 in low-income countries and although an improvement from 38 per cent. in the previous year. The Government's aim is to ensure the Commission seeks to spend 70 per cent. of the development budget in low-income countries by 2006.We have been working since 1997 to improve the effectiveness and poverty focus of EC development assistance. We welcome the positive steps that were taken by the Commission to reform the management of external assistance and are pressing the EC to continue and deepen the reforms. Prioritisation needs radical overhaul. Allocation decisions too often reflect the political consensus by the Council of Ministers and European Parliament to maintain spending at historical levels in middle-income regions, which reflect domestic or foreign policy considerations. We want to see the pledge, explicit in the EC's Development Policy Statement of November 2000, to focus on poverty reduction reflected in annual decisions over resource transfers.We will continue to push for basing allocations on developmental needs of the poorest countries through all the channels available to us including the annual budget negotiations, the revision of the Asia and Latin America Regulation, the mid-term review of MEDA and the country strategy paper process which determines individual allocations. We have had some initial success eg in 2002 securing additional €100 million from the EC's External Actions Budget for Asia and a commitment of €1 billion for the rehabilitation of Afghanistan.In the longer term the discussions of the Convention debate on the Future of Europe and forthcoming debates on the EU budget ceilings for the period 2007–13 offer opportunities to reinforce the poverty efforts of the EC's external actions. I believe the EC should focus efforts on where they will be effective and can add value in their impact on economic growth and poverty reduction. Otherwise the EC should cut back its activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the (a) funded and (b) un-funded public sector pension schemes for which her Department, its agencies and its non-departmental public bodies are responsible; when the last actuarial valuation was of each scheme; what the value was of the assets at the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; what deficit is disclosed by the last actuarial valuation of each scheme; and if she will make a statement. [104928]

The following table shows the funded and un-funded public sector pension schemes managed by the Department of International Development. The Overseas Service Pensions Scheme 1985 is the only funded pension scheme. The last actuarial valuation of the 1985 Scheme was carried out as at 30 September 2001. The market value of the Scheme's assets at that time was £13.17 million. The valuation showed a surplus of £1.8 million. The un-funded schemes are exempt from the formal valuations required by the Pensions Act 1995 and subsequent regulations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written statement of 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 5WS, on the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, whether the Scheme in Northern Ireland will remain unaltered following the coming budget. [103908]

As the 2002 pre Budget report made clear, from April 2003, around two thirds of the funding currently going through the landfill tax credit scheme will be allocated to additional public spending on sustainable waste management; the devolved administrations will have responsibility for spending within their countries. The PBR also set out that the remaining third will continue to be made available through a UK-wide reformed tax credit scheme, focusing on local community environmental projects. Our plans for reform of this successor tax credit scheme will be set out on a Budget timetable. My written statement of 3 February set out transition funding arrangements for waste management and recycling projects in England. The Devolved administrations are, as my statement made clear, responsible for their own transition arrangements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the aggregates levy on (a) companies in the extraction industries, (b) the environment in the vicinity of quarries and (c) the quantity of recycled building materials being used. [104544]

The aggregates levy has only been operational since 1 April 2002. Although Customs and Excise, who have responsibility for administering the levy, are monitoring its economic and environmental impacts, it is too early for an assessment to be made. Customs' monitoring takes account of data from specific research as well as information from business organisations, individual companies and environmental organisations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has that will affect the disposition of customs staff presently based in Devon and Cornwall; and if he will make a statement. [104872]

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 6 March about Customs business plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06. For Customs to achieve their agreed public commitments on drugs, tobacco and VAT, they will deploy their resources differently by refocusing them in ways to produce the highest impact and outcomes.In the Falmouth area, Customs are proposing a shift from fixed-location staffing to more flexible deployment in teams which will tackle fraud and smuggling in Falmouth and more widely across the south.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has and what steps he has taken since 2001 to provide finance for public programmes that aim to raise awareness of domestic abuse and to provide services for those victims. [97742]

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) on 17 March 2003,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 19 March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [104559]

I attended the ECOFIN meeting on 19 March in my capacity as Chair of the Code of Conduct Group. The UK Permanent Representative and Jon Cunliffe represented the UK.ECOFIN considered the tax package and all member states but one reached political agreement on the text of the Savings Directive, the text of the Interest and Royalties Directive and the results of the Code of Conduct Group. ECOFIN reaffirmed their commitment formally to adopt the tax package as soon as possible.At ECOFIN all delegations except Austria reached political agreement or the taxation of energy, based on proposals for an energy products directive put to the council to the 11 December 2002 ECOFIN meeting. At an informal Finance Ministers meeting on 20 March in the margins of the European Council, Austria agreed to lift their reservation. ECOFIN will adopt the energy products directive once consultation with the European Parliament and with accession countries has been completed. The energy products directive will, from 1 January 2004, increase the existing Community minimum rates of duty on oils (with a second increase in the minimum rate of duty on diesel from 1 January 2010), and provide a Community framework, with minimum rates of duty, for the taxation of other energy products: electricity, natural gas, coal and other solid fuels.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assumptions were made concerning when the current economic cycle will end when making the conclusions of paragraph 2.54 of the pre-Budget report 2002; [105324](2) when he expects that the current economic cycle will end. [105350]

As set out in paragraph B6 of the pre-Budget report November 2002 (Cm5664), the current economic cycle is projected to end in 2005–06.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the most recent discussion between government officials and representatives of Gibraltar take place. [104796]

I have been asked to reply.Officials in a number of Government Departments have regular discussions with representatives of Gibraltar.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the (a) value, (b) percentage and (c) numbers of national insurance contributions that were received by the Inland Revenue but remained unrecorded on an individual's national insurance record, in each of the last 10 years; [102603](2) what assessment he has made of the number of occasions in each of the last 10 years where national insurance contributions were deducted by employers and passed to the Government but not allocated to individual national insurance records; and if he will make a statement. [102608]

The Inland Revenue estimate that around 50 million end of year contribution returns are received each year. Around 4 per cent. of these contain incomplete or incorrect identifying details and cannot be allocated to an individual national insurance account without further information. Most of these non-matching items have no or little impact on people's benefit entitlements. The Inland Revenue works with employers to trace and match contributions, concentrating on cases where they are likely to have a significant impact on entitlement. Information about the value of these and number of contributions received but which remain unrecorded on individual's national insurance records for each of the last 10 years would be available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reasonable assumptions are referred to in paragraph 2.67 of the pre-Budget report 2002, on which the judgment that the public finances are sustainable in the longer term was based. [105329]

The assumptions are presented in Chapter 5 of the Long-term Public Finance Report, which was published alongside the pre-Budget report in November 2002.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many errors in the repayment of student loans have been lodged with the Inland Revenue Department by (a) members of the public and (b) hon. Members in each of the last three years. [105206]