To ask the President of the Council pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) of 18 March, Official Report, column 621W, if he will give a breakdown of the travel expenses for 2002–03. [105495]

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the President of the Council if he will list the (a) funded and (b) unfunded public sector pension schemes for which his 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 he will make a statement. [104932]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether penalties will be imposed on London Underground for the delay in re-opening the Central Line. [105814]

London Underground are bearing the full costs of the closure of the Central Line, including making the necessary safety modifications to trains and of compensating customers as well as the loss of income resulting from the suspension of services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether compensation will be offered to those businesses which have lost trade as a result of the closure of the Central Line. [105815]

The Privy Council Office has one unfounded pension scheme for its staff, the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). A Full actuarial valuation was carried out at 31 March 1999. Details of the scheme can be found in the resource accounts of the Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation (www.civilservice-pensions.gov.uk).The department has no agencies or non-departmental public bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is of the cost of the construction of the Aston Clinton bypass. [106195]

The estimated cost of the construction contract for the Aston Clinton bypass is £22.1 million excluding VAT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what level of transport subsidies was allocated to bus companies by each passenger transport authority in each of the last three years. [106453]

The table shows the funding in support of bus services provided by each of the Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) areas in each of the three years to 2001–02. The figures for public transport support include subsidies allocated to bus companies but also local authority administration and technical costs. The figures are the latest available and those for 2001–02 are based on provisional estimates.

London Underground have already put in place arrangements to compensate customers who have suffered as a consequence of the withdrawal of services on the Central Line. They do not propose to compensate businesses for any related loss of trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the impact on (a) retail trades, (b) small businesses and (c) the evening economy of the closure of the Central Line. [105820]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 March 2003 to the hon. Member for the Vale of York (Miss McIntosh), Official Report, columns 412–13W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the risk of a bird strike to aircraft at the proposed Cliffe airport; [104717](2) what additional research has been commissioned since the publication of the consultation on the future development of air transport in the south-east on the risk of bird strike to aircraft at the proposed Cliffe airport; and if he will publish the results. [104718]

The SERAS study included a preliminary assessment of the risk of birds colliding with aircraft at Cliffe. Details of this work are contained in appendix four of "The North Kent Marshes Ecological Study" (phase 1 report), copies of which are available in the House Libraries.The Central Science Laboratory and British Trust for Ornithology were jointly commissioned in September 2002 to conduct further research to assess more fully this risk and identify possible mitigating measures. It is intended that the final report of this work will be published shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department issues to civil servants on how to deal with claims from organisations that the information they provide to the Department is commercially confidential. [105561]

It is not standard practice in my Department to verify claims of commercial confidentiality on receiving information from organisations, as this is normally only relevant if the question arises as to whether such information should be disclosed to another party. My Department follows the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Code, and the guidance on the operation of the Code, helps officials determine whether such information should be disclosed.The Code provides a specific exemption for a third party's commercial confidences. In deciding whether or not information should be withheld under this exemption, officials must consider whether "unwarranted disclosure would harm the competitive position of a third party". While it is ultimately up to the Department to decide in accordance with the Code whether to disclose the information, the third party whose interests may be adversely affected is normally consulted in order to inform the Department's decision. Even where the exemption prima facie applies, the information in question may still be disclosed if there is an overriding public interest in disclosure, but disclosure of commercially confidential information without consent will usually be appropriate only where the risk to public health, public safety or the environment is substantial and specific.A decision to refuse requested information may be made without consultation with the supplier of information where the case for confidentiality is obvious and overwhelming.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what crèche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost. [104303]

The Department for Transport (central) currently provides six subsidised child care places, costing approximately £26,000, covering staff in London and Hastings. This amounts to 45 per cent. of the cost of these places.The former DTLR provided 12 subsidised child care places as part of an inter-departmental nursery scheme administered by the Home Office, and the places have been split between ODPM and DfTDfT also participates in the Westminster Holiday Playscheme, which provides holiday care for children of school age. The Department subsidies 50 per cent. of the £26 per day cost of each place. The contract is with DTLR, and it is therefore not currently possible to identify DfT costs only.The review of child care (originally begun by the former DTLR) has been jointly conducted with ODPM. The Departments are separately considering recommendations in the review, but the aim is to provide an enhanced package of provisions that will benefit more staff including central Department staff outside London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport [pursuant to his answer of 6 February, Official Report column 369W], on telephone helplines, how many calls were made to each helpline charged at national and premium rate in the last year for which records are available; and what the average duration was of these calls. [105879]

The Department for Transport has 134 Helplines of which 66 are charged at national rate and three at premium rate. A table detailing calls made to each national and premium rate helpline between January and December 2002, together with the average call duration where known has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the members of the working group referred to in the Government's response to the Ninth Report of the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Committee, HC557 Session 2001–02, on Road Traffic Speed. [106402]

The rural road hierarchy working group consisted of representatives of this Department, Babtie Ross Silcock consultants, the Highways Agency, Scottish Executive, Scots (Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland), National Assembly for Wales, CSS (County Surveyors Society), Countryside Agency, Slower Speeds Initiative, Motorists Forum, ACPO and IHT (Institute of Highways and Transportation).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on the past and future undertaking of funding for rail freight through (a) Freight Small Schemes Fund, (b) incremental output statements for freight, (c) freight facilities grant and (d) track access charges; and if he will make a statement; [104503](2) if he will list the Strategic Rail Authority Freight Small Schemes Fund schemes

Ministers and officials in my Department meet regularly with the Strategic Rail Authority about a wide range of issues and receive representations from time to time about the funding of rail freightThe SRA's Strategic Plan sets out its proposals to introduce a new Company Neutral Revenue Support scheme later this year. It is also revising its rates for calculating freight grant awards (Sensitive Lorry Miles). The Freight Small Schemes fund is used internally by the Strategic Rail Authority to fund development work and is not available as a source of funding for outside bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings he (a) has had and (b) plans with members of York council on the Rail Passenger Scheme proposed for new stations at Haxby and Strensall. [104496]

None. However, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Transport has exchanged correspondence with City of York council about the North East York Rail Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he estimates there will be a new railway station in Peterborough. [105806]

There are currently no plans for a new railway station at Peterborough.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission demonstration projects on rural road speed management. [106401]

The Department has no immediate plans to commission any demonstration projects on rural road speed management.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on signage for local destinations from trunk roads in urban areas. [106199]

The overall policy is to provide drivers with sufficient information to reach their intended destination safely and efficiently, but not more information than they can readily absorb or which would require the use of excessively large and environmentally intrusive signs. Local transport note 1/94, based on the results of research into the assimilation of information on directional signs, recommends a maximum of six destinations on any one sign on an all-purpose road, which may include a mixture of primary, non-primary and local destinations. The Highways Agency would normally consult the local traffic authority on traffic management priorities for signing local destinations from the trunk road, to ensure that there will be continuity of signing on the local road network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of air travel from Stansted airport was accounted for by (a) residents of the south east of England, (b) residents of other parts of the UK and (c) overseas residents, in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [106218]

[holding answer 1 April 2003]:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the noise preferential routes for Stansted airport under the option of three additional runways as outlined in The Future of Air Transport in the South were determined. [106502]

No noise preferential routes have been determined for any of the possible additional runways in the consultation document. Aircraft arrival and departure routes were developed for various airport locations to assist with the modelling of noise exposure and local air quality, so that the relative impacts of the many runway development options could be compared.Routes to and from new runways in all the airport options were derived in essentially the same manner. Routes to and from existing runways were left unchanged wherever practical, and routes for new runways were based on the existing airspace structure of airways, waypoints, holding areas etc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcome was of the Transport Council held on 27–28 March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [106359]

The transport segment of the Transport, Energy and Telecommunications Council was held in Brussels on 27–28 March. I represented the United Kingdom.The Council reached a general approach on a proposal to further accelerate the phase-out of single hull tankers and to ban the carriage of heavy grades of oil in such ships sailing to and from EU ports. The regulation will apply to all ships calling at or leaving Community ports and to all ships carrying Community flags anywhere in the world. The final date for phase-out of single-hull tankers is 2010, with an exemption until 2015 for certain vessels under specified conditions. A presidency compromise date of 2008 was agreed for the coming into effect of a ban on carriage of heavy oil intankers below 5000 tons deadweight. The definition of heavy oils was agreed as those having a density at 15°C higher than 900kg/m

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the working time directive on the transport industry; and if he will make a statement. [106408]

Transport workers will be subject to the original working time directive (93/104/EC), as amended by 2000/34/EC, by August 2003. The Department of Trade and Industry published a draft impact assessment on 31 October 2002 along with a consultation document covering all the sectors excluded from the original Directive. This draft will now be revisited following comments received from the consultation exercise that closed on 31 January.My Department has recently consulted on implementing a separate directive on the working time of mobile workers in the aviation sector (2000/79/EC) and will be finalising its cost assessment based on the responses we received on our consultation. We will also consult both sides of industry on the likely impact of the directive for mobile workers in the road transport sector (2002/15/EC). A draft regulatory impact assessment will be published later this year, alongside a formal consultation document on our proposals.

To ask the Prime Minister whether he raised the awarding of post-war reconstruction contracts to Halliburton during his visit to President Bush on 26 and 27 March 2003. [106430]

I had discussions with President Bush on a range of issues relating to the conflict in Iraq, including the post-Saddam Administration and reconstruction of Iraq, which should be endorsed in a UN Security Council Resolution. Specific contracts were not discussed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the rules are for payment of the national minimum wage to (a) 16 to 17-year-olds in employment, (b) 16 to 17-year-olds in employment but exercising the right to time off for study, (c) 16 to 17year-olds on publicly funded modern apprenticeships and (d) 18 to 24-year-olds on publicly funded modern apprenticeships. [106656]

All 16 to 17-year-olds and apprentices aged 18 are exempt from the national minimum wage. Apprentices aged 19 to 25 (inclusive) are exempt from the minimum wage during the first 12 months of their apprenticeship and entitled to receive at least the rate of minimum wage appropriate to their age thereafter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent estimate she has made of the number of (a) people and (b) households in the Buckingham constituency that are in fuel poverty. [106377]

The Government published "The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy 1st Annual Progress Report" on 4 March 2003. This showed that the number of households in fuel poverty in the UK is estimated to have fallen from about 5.5 million in 1996 to about 3 million in 2001.The most recently available information on fuel poverty in the South East is set out. Figures are not available centrally for individual constituencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) total number of staff and (b) number of inspection staff employed by the National Weights and Measures Laboratory was in each year since 1997. [100211]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to reply on my behalf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the Financial Reporting Council's decision to restrict consultation on the Higgs Review of the role and effectiveness of non-executive directors to fatal flaws and specific drafting matters during formulation of the revised combined Code by the FRC. [105876]

Derek Higgs consulted extensively during the course of his review. I understand that the FRC Chairman, Sir Bryan Nicholson, has made it clear that the FRC is happy to receive comments on any matters related to the proposed revisions to the Combined Code and that all such responses will be considered carefully.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a total audit and cost estimate of all Britain's nuclear waste liabilities has been completed. [105592]

The government White Paper Managing the Nuclear Legacy—A strategy for action estimated the cost of dealing with the UK's civil public sector liabilities to be £48 billion (undiscounted) as at March 2002.As part of the process of preparing the ground for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) the Liabilities Management Unit within DTI is acquiring a detailed knowledge of BNFL and UKAEA liabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated total cost of storing Britain's nuclear waste will be each year once a single storage sight has been agreed. [105594]

The cost of storing Britain's nuclear waste in future will depend on the long-term management strategy we adopt. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said in her letter to you dated 29 July 2002 that the Government and the devolved administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would set up a new independent body to recommend a long term strategy for managing UK radioactive waste. This process will indicate whether any new waste facilities or sites are needed. DEFRA has now advertised for a Chair and Members of this new Committee on Radioactive Waste Management. Applications are due by 2 May 2003. My right hon. Friend hopes to receive its recommendations by 2006 or sooner.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the issue of the OFT's access to information on past convictions of applicants for consumer credit licences from the Police National Computer; and if she will make a statement. [102786]

We have had no representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the research undertaken (a) by and (b) on behalf of the Office of Fair Trading for its recent report on entry controls for pharmacies. [105446]

[holding answer 31 March 2003]: When the OFT published their report on pharmacy entry controls on 17 January, they also published supporting evidence in Annexes A-I (Volume 2) and Annexes J-0 (Volume 3).

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) names and (b) political affiliations are of the panel appointed by the Energy Saving Trust to assess her Department's Solar PV Major Demonstration Programme Stream 2 applications. [106030]

[holding answer 31 March 2003]: The panel represents a broad cross-sector of interests and experience to enable detailed assessment of all of the elements of bids to the programme. The Department has not published the names of the panel members to ensure that they are not lobbied by applicants. I are not aware of their political affiliations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the minutes of the meetings of the panel appointed by the Energy Saving Trust to assess her Department's Solar PV Major Demonstration Programme Stream 2 applications. [106031]

[holding answer 31 March 2003]: The Department already publishes a list of the winning proposals and provides a summary of comments made at the panel meetings to all applicants. There are a number of issues of commercial confidentiality discussed at the meetings which we would not want to publish. To do so may inhibit specific proposals coming forward to the programme. The Department and its agents also provide a significant amount of information on the Major Demonstration Programme outside the panel meeting process to installers and the general public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the panel appointed by the Energy Saving Trust to assess her Department's solar PV Major Demonstration Programme Stream 2 applications will provide written feedback to unsuccessful applicants. [106062]

[holding answer 31 March 2003]: Yes. It is already the Department's policy that all bidders receive written feedback on their applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs are expected to be created in England and Wales by the (a) construction and (b) operation of the Robin Rigg windfarm in the Solway Firth. [105807]

While it is too early in the project's development for contracts to have been awarded for the Robin Rigg project, it is my understanding that such a project is likely to involve the creation of around 100 jobs during construction and 10 during operation. The location of the jobs will depend on the contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate the Government have made of the costs to (a) the haulage industry and (b) the UK economy of implementation of the Working Time Directive. [106411]

The Department of Trade and Industry published a consultation document containing a draft impact assessment on 31 October 2002. According to this, the original cost of implementing the Working Time Directive was £2.4 billion. Included in this was the cost of applying the Horizontal Amending Directive (2000/34/EC), which will extend working time law to the transport sector from 1 August 2003. This was estimated at £100 million per annum; it was not possible to break this down further into individual transport sectors. This figure will be revisited following comments received from the consultation exercise that closed on 31 January 2003.The Department for Transport will consult both sides of industry on the likely impact of the directive for mobile workers in the road transport sector (2002/15/EC). A draft regulatory impact assessment will be published later this year, alongside a formal consultation document on their proposals.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review the powers of county councils. [106166]

We are streamlining the role of county and district councils in relation to planning. Otherwise we have no plans to specifically amend the powers of every county council.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the operation of the code of conduct for parish councils. [106167]

The Model Code of Conduct has applied to all parish councillors since 5 May last year, and the vast majority are meeting its requirements.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the availability of affordable housing in Somerset. [106168]

The Communities Plan announced by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 5 February sets out the key challenges facing Somerset and the South West region. It provides a clear and coherent summary of the way the Government's policies will address these. The new responsibilities of the Regional Housing Board will be crucial in delivering more effective housing and planning policies in Somerset.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the responses that have been received in respect of his proposals for regional referendums. [106169]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is still receiving responses about the level of interest in each English region in holding a referendum on an elected regional assembly. To date we have received about 5,000 responses. We will announce our decisions after the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill has received Royal Assent.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition he uses of the term new localism. [106170]

New localism embraces the enhanced role that we wish to see for local councils in leading their communities, engaging more fully in innovation, taking more responsibility for their own decisions and using greater freedom to shape services to meet local needs.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the New Towns. [106171]

Officials have met the New Town Special Interest Group on a number of occasions to discuss the implications of our developing sustainable communities agenda. The most recent, with the Group Secretariat, was on 27 January.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the number of responses received to, and how much support there was for, the Government's proposal for a referendum on a regional assembly for the East of England. [106172]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has so far received approximately 5,000 responses to our soundings exercise about the level of interest in each English region in holding a referendum about an elected regional assembly. We have identified just over 200 responses from the East of England.We will announce our decisions after the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill has received Royal Assent.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from organisations representing disabled people in connection with the consultation on the establishment of a single equality body. [106173]

We received nearly 300 written responses to the consultation on the future of Great Britain's equality institutions that finished last month. These included a significant number of contributions from groups representing disabled people. During the consultation period I also met several groups with particular needs, such as people with learning difficulties, to hear their views in person.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will rank each local authority in England by the percentage of total expenditure raised by council tax in 2001–02. [106505]

The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons the spouses of servicemen deployed overseas cannot claim the sole occupier discount for council tax. [106519]

A full council tax bill assumes that at least two adults have their sole or main residence in a dwelling. There is a 25 per cent. discount for a dwelling that is the sole or main residence of only one person. Service personnel are treated in the same way as anyone else who is working away from home when determining their sole or main residence. When a person is employed overseas, the dwelling in which their spouse lives remains the main residence unless it can be shown that there has been a change of sole or main residence. A single person discount will not therefore apply.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) genuine and (b) malicious false alarm emergency calls were received in Buckingham in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002. [105707]

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue attended 1,650 genuine false alarm calls and 468 malicious false alarm in 2001–02 (the latest year for which data are available). Data for 2002 are not yet held centrally.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the average number of days lost through sickness absence was per firefighter at each station in Buckinghamshire in 2002; [105709](2) how many firefighters based in Buckinghamshire were on long term sick leave in 2002. [105708]

Information about sick absences at each fire station and the number of firefighters on long-term (more than 28 days) sick leave is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. On the basis of the annual return for 2001–02, the following information about the numbers of shift/days lost to sickness by regular firefighters in Buckinghamshire is available and tabled.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire related deaths in dwellings in Buckinghamshire there were in 2002. [105713]

There were five fire-related deaths in dwellings attended by Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue in 2001–02. Data for 2002 are not yet held centrally.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement in relation to the Iraq crisis on the basis of his policy on the firefighters' strike and the safety of the public. [104870]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister made a written ministerial statement concerning the firefighters' dispute and emergency fire cover on the 25 March 2003. He announced that the armed forces personnel deployed on firefighting duties have been stood down on the grounds that no further strike dates will be announced before the Fire Brigades Union re-called conference on 15 April. The Fire Brigades Union would then be required to give seven days notice of any further strike.The armed forces role during strike periods has been and will continue to be to provide emergency cover, thus seeking to save lives and ensuring that essential services are maintained. Emergency cover will, as far as possible, be maintained for as long as strikes continue and balanced with other demands on military resources, such as current military action in Iraq.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to publish his review of the IND 2000; and if he will make a statement. [103029]

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement given on 24 March 2003, Official Report, column 4 WS.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will issue guidance and advice to local authorities on changes in the rules on part-time employees in the Local Government Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [105224]

Regulatory changes are envisaged to give part-time employees backdated membership where they were unlawfully denied access to the scheme. This follows the House of Lords' judgement and reference to the European Court of Justice and subsequent test case hearings by the Employment Tribunal. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is discussing with representatives of local authority employers and trade unions the form and content of these changes and in due course, will issue advice and guidance to all the interested parties.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what projects (a) are being funded and (b) will be funded in the next year in the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency as a result of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. [106575]

There are no projects currently being funded in the East Worthing and Shoreham area under the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund as it is not in one of the 88 eligible areas. There will also be no funding available to this area under the Fund for the 2003–04 financial year.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what statutory powers regional assemblies can act in regional matters. [105519]

The voluntary regional chambers, which all now call themselves regional assemblies, do not have any statutory powers. However, the Government has designated the chamber in each region, under section 8 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, as a representative regional body. They work with the Regional Development Agency, commenting on its Regional Economic Strategy and scrutinising the delivery of that strategy.Five of eight regional assemblies already act as Regional Planning Bodies, and it is the Government's intention to extend this to the remaining three. The Government also supports the role of the assemblies in promoting the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of their region.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people in the Buckingham constituency have purchased houses under the Starter Home Initiative. [106021]

As at the end of February 2003, 39 key workers in Buckinghamshire have been helped to purchase houses under the Starter Home Initiative. Figures broken down by local authority are shown in the table.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) planning and (b) other restrictions apply to utility companies seeking to lay pipes under bridges. [105526]

Statutory undertakers have certain permitted development rights set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (SI 1995/418) ("the GPDO") that enable them to carry out development for the purposes of their undertaking without the need to make a planning application. Parts 15, 16 and 17 of Schedule 2 (development by the Environment Agency, sewerage undertakers and statutory undertakers) are likely to be relevant. These permissions generally do not permit the installation of pipes above ground, and they are subject to exceptions and conditions. Any development that goes beyond what is permitted by the GPDO requires planning permission. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of specific restrictions that apply to the laying of pipes under bridges. Under the New Roads and Street Works Act there is a notification procedure between the statutory undertaker and the highways authority that deals with proposed works under the bridges.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria HM Treasury used to define administration costs as set out in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses; and if he will make a statement. [105204]

Table 5.1 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses sets out gross spending on administration by those central government departments which are subject to administration cost controls.Administration cost controls apply to all central government departments except the Ministry of Defence, the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Forestry Commission. Most Executive Agencies are included in the regime, but trading funds and most non-departmental public bodies are excluded. Administration cost controls cover the costs of all central government administration other than the costs of some direct frontline service activities and support activities that are directly associated with these.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the annual cost of in-service death benefits if they were extended to unmarried partners, in accordance with the definitions for the new Civil Service Pension Scheme, but with those costs borne by the Exchequer rather than by the members of the scheme, for (a) the financial year 2003–04 and (b) each of the 10 subsequent years at 2003–04 prices for (i) the whole of the public sector, (ii) the Teachers' Pensions Scheme, (iii) the NHS Pension Scheme, (iv) the Local Government Pension Scheme, (v) the Firemen's Pension Scheme, (vi) the Police Pension Scheme and (vii) the Armed Forces Pension Scheme; [105361](2) what estimate he has made of the costs arising from the future service of current members if in-service death benefits were extended to unmarried partners, in accordance with the definitions for the new Civil Service Pension but with those costs borne by the Exchequer rather than by the members of the scheme, at 2003–04 prices for

The costs to public service pension schemes of making changes to benefits for future service are normally assessed by estimating the percentage points of pay which would need to be added to contribution rates on an on-going basis from the date of the change to cover the long run costs which the change would impose on the scheme. The Government's policy

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the benefit of joint industry and Government initiatives, including Commercial Awareness Training for HM Customs and Excise officers in targeting illegal imports. [106036]

Commercial Awareness Training for Customs and Excise staff is designed to ensure that

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress with achieving transparency in respect of the European working groups for which his Department is responsible. [105735]

The Government has long been committed to greater openness in the ED Institutions. This was a key theme of the UK Presidencies in 1992 and 1998. Making it easier to gain access to non-sensitive documents is crucial to this. The Government welcomed Regulation 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents. As a result, more documents are released to the public, while genuinely sensitive documents are given the protection they need.Much of the Council's work takes place in preparatory bodies, including working groups. Published reports on the work under consideration by the Economic Policy Committee, and its various working groups are available on the committee's website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/ economy_finance/epc_en.htm. The items currently under consideration by the Economic and Financial Committee are those to be discussed in the coming months by the ECOFIN Council, when they are subject to normal parliamentary scrutiny.Other bodies such as the High Level Tax Group, the Financial Services Committee and the Budget Committee report to the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) and the Economic and Financial Committee and their outputs go through the ECOFIN Council.Accountability and transparency of council business to Parliament are ensured by the scrutiny process, to which the Government is also firmly committed.We strongly supported the measures agreed at the Seville European Council to make the Council more open when in legislating mode. We remain committed to increasing transparency. For the first time at ECOFIN, there was a televised session for the final stages of reaching political agreement on a legislative procedure—the Prospectus Directive in November 2002. The Future of Europe Convention is also looking at ways to make the EU more open.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what request he has received for additional funding from the Ministry of Defence further to his commitment of £1.7 billion to meet the costs of military action in Iraq; [105679](2) what contingencies HM Treasury has put in place to fund the current conflict in Iraq; [105680](3) what research he has commissioned and what assessment his Department has made as to the cost of British involvement in Iraq for

A contingency reserve of £1.75 billion was set aside to meet the cost of security and military preparations. Now that UK armed forces are in action in Iraq the Chancellor has announced a further £1.25 billion to increase the special reserves to £3 billion, to be drawn on as necessary. It is too early to make an assessment of the final costs of our involvement in Iraq. The Treasury does not estimate costs for such operations in the manner requested.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with (a) other European states, (b) the United States of America and (c) other coalition countries about the funding of the current conflict with Iraq. [105688]

The Government have been in discussions with European states, the United States of America and other coalition countries on a wide range of issues regarding the present situation in Iraq.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Treasury has spent on consultations regarding changes to the Landfill Tax Credit scheme. [105759]

The information is not available in the format requested. HM Treasury and Defra published a joint consultation on the Landfill Tax Credit scheme last year. A number of officials in both Departments worked on the consultation which generated 700 responses. These were all given careful consideration in assessing policy options and informing the Government's decisions.The document was made available on both HM Treasury and Defra websites, and the cost of publishing the consultation was minimal.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of differences between the pension projection basis provided by the Financial Services Authority and the Department for Work and Pensions (a) to new businesses and (b) in annual forecasts. [105904]

I understand that the Financial Services Authority (FSA) have undertaken an analysis of the pension projection basis set by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for Statutory Money Purchase Illustrations (SMPIs).Following consultation in April 2002, the FSA decided that the assumptions, including mortality rates, annuity interest rates, and other data, used by firms to compile point of sale projections should be amended to bring them into line with the DWP basis.SMPIs will be in real value terms, while projections at the point of sale, which are governed by FSA rules, are in monetary terms, although firms have the option to show real value figures. The FSA are currently consulting on a new disclosure regime. This proposes SMPI based projections should be mandatory at the point of sale.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what heading of public expenditure in departmental accounts the management of PFI and PPP contracts is defined. [105205]

To the extent that government departments incur costs in the management of PFI and PPP contracts, these would be included within the heading of 'Administration costs' and charged to the department's Operating Cost Statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has undertaken regulatory impact assessments on (a) changes to stamp duty levels, (b) capital gains tax taper relief, (c) changes to charities taxation in the Finance Act 2000 and (d) changes to the VAT regime for energy saving goods in the Finance Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [105211]

A regulatory impact assessment (RIA) has been required since August 1998 where proposals for legislative changes may have more than a negligible impact on the compliance costs of business, charities or voluntary bodies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of income tax due that is collected per self-assessment tax payer, in the latest year for which figures are available. [104759]

The Inland Revenue's accounting year for tax runs to the end of October each year.In the account year to the end of October 2002, the Revenue collected £23.2 billion out of £24.5 billion self-assessment income tax due. On average, that amounts to collecting £94.7 per cent. of the tax due for each self-assessment taxpayer who has sent in a return. Further amounts will have been collected after the end of the accounting period.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has set a date for the publication of the Office of National Statistics survey on smoking behaviour and attitudes. [106650]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the taxability of employers' contributions to the write-off of student debt in (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector. [105306]

An employee is taxable on the amount of student debt which his employer pays on his behalf. The tax rules are the same for employees and employers generally, whether in the public or private sector.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the delay in processing claims for the working tax credit; how many claims (a) have been submitted and (b) are awaiting processing; and if he will make a statement. [105217]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 24 March 2003, Official Report, column 65W, on tax credits, how many forms have been processed; how many awards of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit have been calculated from forms received; and how many awards he expects to have been calculated in time for the launch of the new tax credits in April. [105673]

[holding answers 27 and 28 March 2003]: There is a single form covering claims to both working tax credit and child tax credit. By 28 February 2003, over 3 million claims had been received (including 334,000 on-line). Where people have claimed in good time, they have answered all the questions on the form and there are no outstanding queries they should have their award set up in time for their first payment in April.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 7 February, Official Report column 483W, on telephone helplines, how many calls were made to helplines charged at national rate in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by each telephone number; and what the average duration of the calls was. [105898]

The information in respect of the Office for National Statistics is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals are estimated to be eligible in 2003–04 for (a) pension credit, (b) housing benefit, (c) council tax benefit, (d) child tax credit, (e) working tax credit, (f) income support and (g) income-based jobseeker's allowance. [95236]

Six million families in the United Kingdom are expected to benefit from the new tax credits in 2003–04. However, information on the number of individuals eligible for working tax credit and child tax credit is not available.The number of individuals estimated to be eligible for pension credit is 4.9 million (3.8 million pensioner households). We have set a PSA target to ensure that at least 3 million households are in receipt of pension credit by 2006. We expect to have made good progress towards this target by October 2004, when we aim to have 2.8 million households in receipt of pension credit.The available information on existing benefits is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate for 2000–01 (a) income support take-up, (b) minimum income guarantee take-up, (c) housing benefit take-up and (d) council tax benefit take-up, broken down by region. [106611]

The information requested is not available. The processes involved in producing take-up statistics are complex and national estimates cannot be routinely disaggregated by region.The latest take-up statistics covering income related benefits are contained in the DWP report "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2000/2001", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has set a target for the number of benefit transactions currently paid in cash to be paid (a) into a current account, (b) into a basic bank account and (c) into a Post Office card account. [105179]

No target has been set for each individual account option: current bank account, basic bank account, and the Post Office card account. Customers will be supplied with information which clearly sets out their account options and will enable them to choose the account that best meets their needs and circumstances. The take-up of each account option will be dependant on a variety of factors, including the number of people receiving a benefit or pension and customers' behaviour.The Post Office card account is now up and running and the main banks are making their basic bank accounts available at Post Office branches. Universal banking services has, therefore, been introduced as planned and on time. This represents a very considerable effort and achievement by the Post Office, banks and other parties concerned.In line with sound principles for managing risks when introducing major projects, we will be increasing the numbers of Post Office card accounts very gradually so that we can ensure the new systems are robust. I will provide the House with regular updates on progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to identify the number of people in the East Riding of Yorkshire who are of a pensionable age who are not accessing benefits to which they are entitled. [105196]

We want as many pensioners as possible to take up their entitlement in the East Riding of Yorkshire and across the country. The creation of The Pension Service provides an ideal opportunity to further encourage pensioners to take up their entitlements. We now have a Pension Service local service active throughout England, Scotland and Wales meeting customers in their local community. Not only are our customers being encouraged to claim when they ring their pension centre but local service teams run both appointment and drop in surgeries giving advice and actively encouraging take-up of entitlements.There is a local service team of 18 staff covering the East Riding of Yorkshire area, dealing with both pensioners and pre-pensioners. The team is currently establishing services in partnership with local organisations. Some examples of this activity include:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were claiming (a) unemployment-related and (b) sickness-related benefits in each (i) local authority and (ii) parliamentary constituency in Wales in January. [105245]

For the latest available information on the number of people claiming sickness related benefits I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 February 2003, Official Report, columns 491–92W.Information of the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in January is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the population in Scotland were in receipt of means tested benefits in (a) 1997 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available. [103021]

The information is in the tables.The latest data available for all income related benefits is May 2001. Please note that figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of children in poverty in Portsmouth, South in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [97276]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of children in poverty in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire in each year since 1997. [96709]

Poverty is a complex and multidimensional problem that affects many aspects of people's lives. We published "Opportunity for all—Fourth Annual Report" (CM 5598) in September 2002, which contains information on a range of indicators of poverty for children and young people. Unfortunately, not all indicators can be broken down to the constituency level due to sample size limitations.We expect to publish the preliminary conclusions of our consultation on Measuring Child Poverty in spring 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the implementation of the new Child Support Agency maintenance legislation. [105089]

We began operating the new child support scheme for new cases from 3 March. We intend to report to Parliament of progress when information on trends is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total value of benefits paid to retirees in civil servant retirement plans was in each of the last 10 years. [105220]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many retirees there are in public employee (civil servant) retirement plans. [105221]

I have been asked to reply.The number of members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice), of 3 March 2003, Official Report, columns 878–79W, and 4 March 2003, Official Report, columns 895–96W, on filestores, for what reason the (a) number of staff employed in the Department's filestores and (b) the cost of those stores has increased since 1998–99, with particular reference to the rises prior to the Department's name change. [104535]

In the answers I gave earlier I explained that separate figures for staffing and costs for most filestores are not available for some or all of the years in the table. The available information included data from just 13 filestores in 1997–98, rising to 62 filestores in 2001–02. The figures for each year are therefore not comparable and there is no evidence that staffing numbers or costs have increased.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he intends to ensure that hard-to-reach pensioners, in particular those being cared for at home by a family member, will receive information to help them to take up the benefits of the Pension Credit. [105817]

As part of the Pension Credit take up campaign which will be running from April 2003 to June 2004, a specially designed direct mail pack will be issued to carers of pensioners. Targeted Press and TV advertising will also be used to ensure carers are notified of Pension Credit. This is to ensure that everyone aged 60 and over will have the necessary information and support in order to consider an application.The Pension Service local service managers will work with partner organisations to advise pensioners about their entitlement. We hope to make full use of local business/community publicity and communications opportunities for Pension Credit to raise and maintain awareness of Pension Credit among pensioners, carers, friends and family.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what help he will give those pensioners who (a) feel discouraged from filling in the form and (b) have literacy problems to apply for Pension Credit. [105818]

People applying for Pension Credit will be encouraged to apply by telephone. In this way staff at dedicated Pension Credit telephone centres will complete the application form for the customer. This telephone service will be backed up by The Pension Service local service, for those customers who are unable to conduct their business by telephone. Local services are also working with their local partner organisations to reach those vulnerable customers who might not take-up their entitlements.To support the organisation and ensure that we are prepared and equipped to handle the extra work, we have been recruiting the additional staff needed throughout The Pension Service (telephone service, pension centres and local service), so that we can handle the telephone calls and are able to process the applications.Targeted Press and TV advertising will also be used to ensure pensioners, carers, family and friends are aware of Pension Credit. This is to ensure that everyone aged 60 and over will have the necessary information and support in order to consider an application.For people with hearing and language difficulties, we will have a text-phone and will be producing large print, Braille, audio and translated versions of Pension Credit general information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many suspected cases of (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit fraud there were in the financial year 2001–02; how many of these led to a prosecution; and how many of these prosecutions were successful. [88203]

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of the 2003–04 Education Formula Spending Share funding each local education authority is passported directly to its schools. [105575]

The Education Formula Spending Share is divided into two main funding blocks: one for Schools and one for LEAs. Earlier this spring, the Department carried out an exercise to obtain information on how much of the increase in schools funding had been passported into the Schools budget, which covers all provision for pupils including under-fives education and provision for pupils with special educational needs outside the maintained sector. 124 authorities passed on the increase in funding in full or more. A further six did so when allowance is made for the fact that they are affected by the ceiling for increases in revenue support grant. The remaining authorities did not passport in full. Following intervention by the Secretary of State in two authorities, the amount of funding being passported to their Schools Budgets was increased.The division of the Schools Budget between the Individual Schools Budget and centrally retained items is a decision for local education authorities, after consultation with their schools forum. Local education authorities have until 31 March 2003 to submit their actual budgets to the Department for 2003–04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates he has made of how many schools will achieve the target of 85 per cent. of children attaining level 4 at Key Stage Two by 2004. [102294]

There is no Public Service Agreement (PSA) target for the number of individual schools achieving 85 per cent. The Spending Review 2000 set a target to increase the percentage of children who achieve level 4 in each of the Key Stage 2 English and maths tests to 85 per cent. This PSA has been rolled forward as part of Spending Review 2002, with a view to sustaining this level of performance to 2006. In the 2002 tests, 75 per cent. of pupils nationally achieved level 4 or above in English and 73 per cent. did so in mathematics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the guidance he gives on how teachers should assist children with enuresis. [105809]