To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will estimate how many tonnes of aggregate would be required for the (a) motorway widening, (b) major trunk road schemes, (c) bypasses and (d) other major local road improvement schemes implied by the Ten Year Transport Plan; [122000](2) if he will estimate how many tonnes of aggregate will be required to build the current targeted programme of improvements. [122001]

The Government do not have any such estimates. Precise solutions for delivering many of the projects in the Ten Year Plan including the Targeted Programme of Improvements are not yet defined.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what breaches of night flight noise limits under the quota count system there have been on the Heathrow flight paths since the current night flights restrictions began. [123030]

None. I wrote to my hon. Friend about this on 20 June 2003 and I have now placed a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of Stale for Transport what discussions his Department has had with international experts on International Civil Aviation Organisation noise certification; and what reasons these experts have given for the difference between locally monitored night flight noise levels and certificated noise levels in the Heathrow area. [123031]

Certification testing is carried out under strictly controlled meteorological and acoustical conditions and using defined flight path procedures. It follows that when local conditions differ so too will the noise. The extent to which currently certificated noise levels correlate with operational noise levels is one of the items being examined by a Working Group of the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The Working Group will take account of data for a large range of aircraft types that operate at night at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted (recently published in "Quota Count Validation Study: Noise Measurements and Analysis", ERCD Report 0205), as well as data from some airports in the USA and France. The UK is represented on the CAEP Steering Group and the relevant Working Group by officials from the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his decisions on the introduction of domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link; and if he will make a statement. [122525]

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) consulted earlier this year on options for domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. We await the SRA's recommendations to Ministers in the light of the responses to that consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional measures are being taken to protect plutonium MOX fuel in transit from Sellafield in pursuit of the fulfilment of the commitment made by EU member states on page 39, paragraph 5 of the presidency conclusions of the Thessaloniki European Council. [122279]

The Presidency Conclusions of the Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 include a declaration on tackling the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Government are satisfied that the risks of nuclear weapons proliferation arising from the manufacture of MOX fuel in the UK and its export to Europe and Japan is negligible. The Government's independent civil nuclear security regulator, the DfT's Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), is responsible for approving arrangements for ensuring the security of MOX fuel during transport. OCNS is satisfied that the arrangements in place for the transport of MOX fuel are amply robust to deal with any potential threats. It is not Government policy to disclose details of security measures taken in respect of civil nuclear materials beyond those already published in the Director of Civil Nuclear Security's annual reports made available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the performance targets that (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. [120905]

Key performance targets for the Department for Transport were agreed as part of the Spending Review and the latest set were published in "Spending Review 2002: Public Service Agreements 2003–06" (Cm 5571). The Department monitors progress towards the targets along with the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit and HM Treasury, and with Defra in the case of the target it shares with that Department, and progress is reported regularly.Performance targets for the Department's Agencies (the Highways Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Driving Standards Agency, Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency, the Vehicle Certification Agency, and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) are set by the Secretary of State for Transport, with the assistance of the relevant Agency and its Advisory Board. The targets are monitored through liaison meetings between each Agency and the Department for Transport, and by reports to the Advisory Board of the Agency in question. In each case, progress towards targets is audited and end-year performance is reported in each Agency's published Annual Report and Accounts, which are laid before Parliament.The Highways Agency's targets are published in its annual Business Plan, which is laid before Parliament and also published on the Agency's website. This year's targets are at: http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/ corpdocs/bus_plan/2003_2004/05. htmThese were published in a written statement on 29 April 2003,

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the need for (a) new and (b) reconditioned rolling stock for the UK railway system; and whether he estimates train companies are making the level of investment required to meet these needs. [122347]

Decisions on the purchase of new railway vehicles and the refurbishment of existing ones are primarily matters for train operators. There is nevertheless a requirement for the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to produce a strategy for passenger rolling stock against which individual decisions can be taken. A consultation draft of its rolling stock strategy was published by the SRA on 30 June 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about services between London and Warrington; and if he will make a statement. [122828]

The Authority's final West Coast Strategy, published on 16 June 2003 with the support of the Secretary of State, envisages an h hourly train service between London and Warrington. Copies have been sent to all MPs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve public transport links to Warrington. [122829]

Warrington received a total of £6.7 million for integrated transport measures as part of the 2003–04 transport settlement. Warrington's Local Transport Plan contains a public transport strategy. This sets out short, medium and long term action plans which cover developing accessibility and best value criteria for supporting bus services which cannot be provided commercially; introducing bus quality partnerships, including bus quality corridors, real time passenger information, bus priority and variable message sign strategy; implementing park and ride strategies, and working with the private sector to achieve the construction of a new bus interchange adjacent to the main shopping centre. This year's annual progress report is due with the Department in July 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions London Underground has given drivers on wearing protective masks; for what reasons; and if he will make a statement. [121888]

London Underground tell me that they have asked train drivers not to wear dust masks because all research to date has shown that there are no known health risks arising from tunnel dust. The same situation is found on all other underground systems around the world.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue Business Support Teams there are; what areas the teams serve; and if he will make a statement. [122823]

There are 66 Business Support Teams covering the whole of the United Kingdom. Each team is made up of a number of Business Advisers who are located in one or more sites across each Area Management Unit. The Teams provide education mainly around payroll administration, but also cover aspects of self-employment, self-assessment and the construction industry.The Chancellor is today announcing a major review of our organisations dealing with tax policy and administration.The review will report to Treasury Ministers and be chaired by Gus O'Donnell, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, working closely with the revenue departments and their Chairmen.The Chancellor is asking that the work he completed in time to announce initial conclusions and any next steps in this year's Pre-Budget Report.The remit for the review will be to examine the best organisational arrangements for delivering the Government's tax objectives, both now and into the future. The review will also consider the case for changes in the law, where necessary, to allow the full benefits of particular arrangements to be realised and pay particular attention to the need to ensure the continued effectiveness of the core business of revenue collection and administration.Specific points the review will cover will include:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken by Government Departments and Agencies that have removed retentions to ensure that their first line contractors do not demand retentions from their supply chain. [122146]

Information on Government Departments and Agencies retentions practices is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Departments and Agencies (a) have removed retentions from their construction contracts and (b) intend to remove retentions from such contracts within the next 12 months; and what the total value was of work procured by these Departments and Agencies in the last 12 months. [122206]

Information on all Government Departments and Agencies retentions practices is not held centrally and could be only obtained at disproportionate cost. However a Supplementary Memorandum by the Department of Trade and Industry setting out practices of some central Government Departments and Agencies in respect of retentions was provided to the Trade and Industry Select Committee in November 2002. This memorandum is available on the select committee website at http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmtrdind/ 127/127ap34.htm

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are made in his Department to allow staff to access counselling services. [111947]

All managers and staff have access to welfare services which include counselling services. These services include in-house counsellors and access to specialist external services where appropriate.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Crown Estate has spent on (a) public relations and (b) corporate hospitality in each year since 1985. [118617]

Since 1996 the Crown Estate has spent the following sums on internal and external communications, including public affairs, the production of corporate literature, control of The Crown Estate brand and their internet and intranet websites:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of producing the Crown Estate's annual report for each year since 1985. [118619]

The information from 1997 onwards is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he would put in place following a decision to implement a discretionary fiscal policy to stabilise the economy to prevent the ratchet effect on wages and prices described in the Treasury document Fiscal Stabilisation and EMU. [121549]

In the event of EMU entry, one of the Government's fiscal policy objectives would be to support the ECB in its objective of price stability. This would ensure that wage and price expectations in the UK were firmly anchored by the ECB's price stability objective. In addition, the Government will continue to work on enhancing the flexibility of UK labour, product and capital markets to ensure high and stable levels of employment and low unemployment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the funding system for Foundation Hospitals in England will have on the funding criteria for assessing the payments under the Barnett formula. [122381]

The funding system for Foundations Hospitals will have no implications for the calculation of public expenditure allocations made under the Barnett formula.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to review the sentencing guidelines for those involved in the illegal trade of animals and animal products; [122659](2) how many

HM Customs and Excise is responsible for enforcement of the restrictions on import and export from or to countries outside the EU on goods covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and EU Regulations made to implement the Convention. They are not responsible for the enforcement of controls on trade within the UK or EU. Sentencing guidelines are a matter for the Lord Chancellor's Department. Since 1993, Customs have mounted 12 prosecutions relating to the illegal importation or exportation of endangered species resulting in 18 convictions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has met the Mayor of London in official meetings at the Department in each of the past three years. [122144]

The Chancellor regularly meets representatives of a wide range of organisations.In common with previous Administrations, it is not this Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his staff retired on medical grounds due to mental health problems in the last year. [111954]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 24 June, Official Report, column 662W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the average length of lease for a small business in his calculations for stamp duty land tax in the Finance Bill. [122498]

The estimates of additional revenue from the reform of the rental element of lease duty announced in Budget 2003 are based on the distribution of lease lengths for non-residential new leases from the Survey of Property Transactions, and not merely on the average length of non-residential new leases. Transactions entered into by many small businesses are expected to be exempt from the rental element of Lease Duty under the proposed reform, which includes a £150,000 threshold.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in preparing the document accompanying the announcement on the euro, what estimates he has made of (a) the proportion of mortgages with fixed rates, (b) the level of mortgage debt and (c) the level of housing market volatility in the United States of America. [122499]

The EMU study Housing, consumption and EMU notes particular features of the US housing market. These issues will be considered further as part of the Miles Review announced in Budget 2003.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value of applications made to the Crown Estate's Research Committee for research proposals was in each year since 1997. [119728]

The Crown Estate Fish Farming Research Committee was established in 2001 to ensure that the allocation of The Crown Estate's reinvestment budget was both fair and transparent. Support is given to those applications that have most relevance to The Crown Estate and its customers and which, in the view of the committee, will be of greatest long-term benefit and value to the sustainable development of the industry.Committee representation includes industry, Government, regulators, NGOs and an independent vice chairman. The committee first met in January 2002.The Crown Estate has allocated £600,000 to the research committee for the first three years of its operation, from 2002–03 to 2004–05. The Crown Estate's contribution each year resulted in significant matching funding being awarded by a range of funding partners.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the turnover of each Government agency operating in a trading fund model in the most recent year for which figures are available was accounted for by (a) services provided to Government and to Government agencies, (b) services provided directly to private sector customers and (c) services provided through value-added resellers. [121073]

Details of the analysis of the turnover of trading funds into the categories requested are not held centrally. The table shows information taken from the publicly available annual reports and accounts of trading funds for 2001–02, the latest available. The accounts do not always analyse turnover into the categories requested and further information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to enhance the accountability of the regulator powers for amending value added tax rates. [121539]

The Government published some options for reform in the Treasury discussion paper "Fiscal Stabilisation and EMU" on 9 June, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking in concert with other Government Departments to reduce agricultural barriers within the EU before the WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun in September 2003. [121287]

On 26 June 2003 the Agriculture Council reached agreement on reform of the CAP, which sets a new course for agriculture in Europe. It will reduce agricultural trade barriers, and puts the EU in a strong position to negotiate a successful outcome at the next round of WTO talks in Cancun in September 2003.The reform proposals enable decoupling of farm subsidies from production, removing the perverse incentives to over-produce. The deal enables the EU to exceed the domestic support targets that have been proposed in the WTO negotiations, reducing the distortions in world markets which the CAP has caused, and paving the way for a successful conclusion to the Doha trade round.In addition to the direct involvement in the negotiations of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, as well as other colleagues in Government, played a pivotal role in the agreement by lobbying their European colleagues on the importance of such reform.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps her Department is taking to encourage a wider take-up of warm front grants by pensioners; [120751](2) what measures her Department is taking to provide for better targeting of warm front grants towards those in fuel poverty. [120752]

Warm Front is delivered through two Scheme Managers who have responsibility for marketing the scheme to eligible groups, including pensioners. The Scheme Managers work with a range of groups to reach older people who may be eligible for assistance through Warm Front. These include local community groups, national agencies and charities, Primary Care Trusts as well as targeted mailing of households.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual dioxin emissions produced by (a) on-farm drum incinerators, (b) on-farm carcass incinerators and (c) waste oil burners were in each year since 1998. [122701]

[holding answer 30 June 2003]: UK emission estimates are contained in the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory and are published annually. Full NAEI data is available at the NAEI website www.naei.org.uk. UK dioxin emissions were estimated at 1,184 grammes (international toxic equivalent, I-TEQ) in 1990, and to have reduced from 424 grammes in 1998 to 357 grammes in 2001, the latest date for which data are available. The NAEI does not contain data at the level of detail requested. As regards on-farm drum incinerators, the total emissions from all small-scale waste burning are estimated at 50g per year I-TEQ, but this figure includes both agricultural and non-agricultural waste burning and is subject to considerable uncertainty. The total emissions from all small animal carcase incinerators are estimated at 0.25g per year I-TEQ. These figures have all remained constant between 1998 and 2001. There are no data on emissions from waste oil burners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations have been received on the issue of fallen stock collection from (a) individuals and (b) organisations in Wales. [121721]

The Department has received a number of such representations, although this is an issue for which responsibility is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the predicted unit-cost is of (a) collection and (b) disposal of fallen stock under the new scheme for farmers in Ogmore. [121722]

No decision has yet been taken on whether a scheme for fallen stock will proceed, or if so on what basis. Industry estimates of the costs of collection and disposal under a national scheme have been made but these are average costs put together on an aggregated basis for the UK as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which facilities will serve the farmers of (i) Bridgend and (ii) Ogmore constituencies for (a) collection and (b) disposal of fallen stock. [121723]

The Fallen Stock helpline on 0845 8507070 can give advice to farmers on what collection services exist in their area. Disposal will then be a commercial matter to be arranged between the collector of the fallen stock and disposal outlets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what part (a) CEFAS, (b) her Department and (c) other British fisheries experts played in the EU research report issued in the week beginning 16 June 2003; and what account was taken of the impact of de-commissioning and days at sea limitation on fish stocks. [121719]

I take it my hon. Friend is referring to the response that the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has made to the request from the European Commission for a mid-year evaluation of recovery plans and management measures for cod. The ICES response was included in the report of the May meeting of the Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM), and was in part based on an earlier meeting of an EU Expert Group, which met in Brussels a few weeks previously. ACFM comprises a scientist from each member country of ICES (the current UK member is from Fisheries Research Services, Aberdeen, but a CEFAS observer was also present in another capacity). The EU Expert Group comprised a wide range of European experts including scientists from CEFAS, and industry representatives also attended on the first and last days. Defra officials are not involved in these scientific meetings.ICES evaluated in particular the regulatory measures being adopted for cod in 2003 (relating to gear, TACs and restrictions on fishing effort). ICES was unable to cover in its evaluation the effects of effort restrictions and of decommissioning in 2003 at the level of individual fleets, due to lack of appropriate data. However, it noted that the effort limitations are expected to benefit the stock by reducing discards and by helping to reduce the amount of illegal, unreported or undeclared landings.It should be noted that the 2003 assessment of the North Sea cod will not be carried out until September 2003, and that ICES' definitive 2003 advice on this and the latest Irish Sea and West of Scotland cod assessments will not be settled until the October meeting of ACFM.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent consultations she has had with (a) the Scottish Fishing Federation, (b) representatives from the Scottish fishing industry and (c) Scottish stakeholders on the protection of the Darwin Mounds. [121647]

The Department is in regular contact with the Scottish Executive, who consult the relevant Scottish interests on all live fishing matters, and my predecessor at this Department recently responded to correspondence on this subject from the Scottish Fishermen's Federation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to use the emergency powers available under the new Common Fisheries Policy framework regulation, (EC) No. 2371, in relation to the protection of the Darwin Mounds. [121649]

We are pursuing with the European Commission the most effective means for the protection of Darwin Mounds. The emergency powers available to the UK under the new Common Fisheries Policy Framework Regulation, (EC) No. 2371/02 are not a practicable means of protection for the Darwin Mounds as the threat to the area would not meet the necessary criteria of being both serious and unforeseen. In addition, such measures could be imposed only for three months. Emergency powers are available to the Commission where the threat is serious, can be put in place for six months, renewable for a further six months and would allow time for more permanent protection to be developed and put in place. We are therefore pressing the Commission to use these powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to designate the Darwin Mounds as a Special Area of Conservation. [121650]

In parallel with consultations on Regulations that will transpose the Habitats Directive offshore, formal consultations on proposals to designate the Darwin Mounds will take place over the summer. The consultations will be supported by data already provided by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Subject to the conclusion of those consultations, the site will be proposed to the European Commission later this year, once enabling legislation is in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has undertaken into the damage done to the Darwin Mounds in the last three years. [121651]

The last surveys of the area were performed by Southampton Oceanographic Centre in 1999 as part of the AFEN project, and in 2000 for DTI. These surveys, however, concentrated on identifying the mounds and providing information on their extent and biology. Information on damage to the Darwin Mounds was obtained from sidescan surveys taken during the 1999 survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) cetaceans and (b) small whales she estimates were caught in fishing nets in each of the last 10 years. [122657]

Information on the full extent of cetacean and small whale casualties caused by fishing is not available.The Natural History Museum, Institute of Zoology and the Scottish Agricultural College, under contract to Defra, carry out post-mortem examinations on a sample of cetaceans and small whale casualties which occur on the UK coasts. Of the 949 post mortems carried out in England and Wales on cetaceans between September 1990 and December 2002 inclusive, 389 casualties were attributable to entanglement in fishing gear. Within Scotland, there have only been 14 cases of by-catch diagnosed in stranded cetaceans between 1992–2002.Of the 75 post mortems carried out in England, Wales and Scotland on small whales since September 1990, 14 were due to entanglement in fishing gear.Since 2000 the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), under contract to Defra, has carried out a number of surveys to estimate the level of small cetacean by-catch in UK fisheries. These surveys recorded for the offshore bass fishery 53 common dolphins caught in 116 hauls in 2001 and eight common dolphins caught in 66 hauls in 2002. However, by-catch information from other member states whose vessels operate in this fishery and elsewhere in UK waters is not available so it is not possible to produce reliable estimates of dolphin by-catch deaths within the UK 200-mile limit. It is for this reason that we have been pressing the Commission for urgent action to widen observer coverage of EU fisheries and to bring forward proposals for positive action to reduce by-catch.Defra, along with the devolved Administrations, issued a consultation document in March this year outlining a UK by-catch response strategy. This sets out the extent of our knowledge of by-catch in UK waters and makes proposals for action to address the by-catch problem. The document has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department takes to ensure that safety regulations for employees of operators at landfill and hazardous waste sites are adhered to. [122726]

[holding answer 30 June 2003]: The Environment Agency does not regulate health and safety at work. The appropriate regulator is the Health and Safety Executive and its sponsor is the Department for Work and Pensions.

:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department takes to ensure that the activities conducted by operators at landfill and hazardous waste sites do not pose any risk to public health. [122727]

[holding answer 30 June 2003]: The Environment Agency regulates activities conducted by operators at landfill and hazardous waste sites to minimise the damage to the environment and risk to human health.Permit applications include site-specific risk assessments, which are reviewed by the Agency as part of the permitting process. On-site activities are then considered as part of routine site inspections to ensure compliance with the relevant permit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department takes to ensure that waste deposited at a landfill and hazardous waste site does not pose any risk to local water supplies. [122728]

[holding answer 30 June 2003]: The Environment Agency regulates landfills and hazardous waste sites to minimise the damage 10 the environment and risk to human health.The Agency assesses permit applications, which would include a site-specific risk assessment to provide for this requirement. Where appropriate, the application will include an assessment of the risk to local water supplies and detail the protection measures proposed to manage the risk to an acceptable level. The protection measures are subsequently assessed during routine site inspections and monitoring by Agency staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will make a decision on the future of Horticulture Research International Efford; and if she will make a statement. [121743]

We are currently considering the future of HRI Efford and plan to make an announcement very soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent assessment her Department has made of the operation of regulations on live animal tranport in (a) the UK and (b) the EU; [122650](2) what recent discussions she has had with EU colleagues on live animal transport and associated standards. [122651]

The welfare of animals during transport in the EU is governed by directive 91/628/EEC (as amended) and implemented in Great Britain by the Welfare of Animal (Transport) Order 1997. We carried out a limited review of the Order in 1999 to fit in with proposals expected from the European Commission to update and improve directive. Since then, the UK and other member states have repeatedly urged the Commission to bring forward their proposals and I am pleased that Commissioner Byrne has announced that he intends to publish them before the end of July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help is available from central Government for the support for local food chains. [121570]

[holding answer 26 June 2003]: We recognise the benefits that local food can bring and are keen to encourage the development of sustainable local food chains. Funding under the England Rural Development Programme has been used to support a range of local food chain related initiatives, including the establishment of farmers' markets and other direct sales outlets, the development of local branding initiatives and the formation of collaborative groups to market produce. We will continue to deploy our various funding schemes to encourage a flourishing local food sector. This activity will complement the measures at a regional level which the Regional Development Agencies will be implementing as part of their wider food and drink strategies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Department has made of whether the UK will conform to EU limits for nitrogen dioxide levels in 2010. [122135]

A number of assessments of the attainability of the EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide have been carried out. Defra commissioned the independent scientific Air Quality Expert Group in July 2002 to undertake an overall assessment of the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in the UK in both 2005 and 2010. The Group considered all the available studies. A draft report for comment was published on 19 May 2003 (www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/aqeg/). Copies of the draft report on "Nitrogen Dioxide in the United Kingdom" have been placed in the House of Commons Library. The report concluded that, on the basis of the best current projections, in 2010 between 3 and 13 per cent, of the area of London are likely not to conform to the EU annual average limit value of 40 micrograms per metre cubed at background locations. The range reflects the span in outputs between the different models used. The report concludes that the rest of England is likely to conform to the EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide at background concentrations. The report further concludes that around 23 per cent, of the major built-up road length in London and 5 per cent, in the rest of England are likely to be above the EU annual average limit value of 40 micrograms per metre cubed in 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the three most common welfare problems affecting sheep were in 2002; and what estimate she has made of how many sheep in the UK suffer from lameness at any given time. [122317]

The three most common welfare problems in sheep in order of prevalence are lameness, sheep scab and internal parasites.The results of a postal survey carried out by the Royal Veterinary College in 1997 suggest that there are approximately three million cases of lameness in sheep each year in Great Britain. The incidence of lameness has not significantly changed since the survey was undertaken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many outbreaks of TB were recorded in red deer in (a) Devon and (b) Somerset in each of the last six years; and what action her Department has taken, and is planning to take, to eradicate TB. [120449]

There is no routine surveillance of TB in deer. However, there is a requirement under the Tuberculosis (Deer) Order 1989 for any deer, alive or dead, suspected of having TB to be reported to the appropriate Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM).The following table gives (i) the number of laboratory examinations carried out on red deer suspected of having TB and (ii) the number of cases where bovine TB was confirmed in red deer in

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the Government plan to encourage the establishment of whale sanctuaries in the (a) Pacific and (b) South Atlantic. [121020]

Within the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the establishment of Whale Sanctuaries requires a ¾ majority of those contracting Governments present and voting. The UK provided strong support to proposals in respect of both the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary and the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary. Through FCO we lobbied both range states and others who oppose these sanctuaries, but have so far been unable to secure the ¾ majority necessary for their adoption. Our efforts will continue, should similar proposals be submitted to the IWC next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's assessment is of the impact of scientific whaling on the world's population of whales, by type. [122656]

It is not possible for the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to assess the impact of scientific whaling on the world's population of whales by type because population estimates exist for only two of the whale species targeted by Japan—Southern Hemisphere and North Pacific minke whales. However, the IWC is undertaking a major review of the former as the 1992 estimate is not considered reliable. No reliable stock estimates exist for the other whales killed under Japan's research programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in which subjects animal welfare features in the National Curriculum at (a) primary and (b) secondary school level. [122663]

Pupils in primary and secondary schools learn about animal welfare issues including understanding about the responsibility of humans to care for animals, through Citizenship education and Science. The non-statutory framework for Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship for primary schools was introduced in September 2000 and Citizenship became part of the statutory National Curriculum for 11 to 16-year-olds in September 2002. Guidance from QCA on teaching Citizenship includes units, "How the law protects animals—a local-to global study" and "Animals and Us", which support learning about animal welfare. The teaching of living things such as animals and plants is a central part of the curriculum framework for Science throughout Key Stages 1 to 4. Pupils are taught about living things in their environment which includes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new classroom assistants were appointed in the UK in the 2002–03 academic year in (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) special needs schools. [122007]

Information on new appointments is not collected centrally. The table below shows the numbers of teaching assistants in service in January for the last two years and the increase in numbers between 2002 and 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list by project the consultancies (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies have used on e-Government projects since 1 January 2001. [115229]

The principal consultancies used by the Department for Education and Skills since 1 January 2001 on e-Government projects in support of its e-business strategy are as follows. The list does not include consultancies on internal ICT projects, consultancies in support of specific services, or those used by non-departmental public bodies, as gathering this information would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets his Department has for improving energy efficiency; and how he intends to achieve these targets. [116644]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of state for Environment, Food and rural Affairs on 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 580W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the proportion is of ethnic minority pupils in (a) school sixth forms, (b) independent schools, (c) sixth form colleges, (d) general further education colleges and (e) universities. [121277]

[holding answer 26 June 2003]: The latest available information is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average GCSE results for ethnic minority students progressing into (a) school sixth-forms, (b) independent schools, (c) sixth-form colleges and (d) general further education colleges were in the last 12 months. [121280]

[holding answer 26 June 2003]: The average GCSE point score for a young person from an ethnic minority background entering a school sixth form is 52. The score is 52 for independent schools, 44 for sixth-form colleges and 34 for general further education colleges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what requirement there is for local education authorities to carry out job evaluations on non-teaching staff; what the purpose of such evaluations is; and if he will make a statement; [121762](2) what estimate he has made of the number of staff

[holding answer 26 June 2003]: Most local authorities, including Gloucestershire, are party to the national agreement on pay and conditions of local government staff (commonly known as the Single Status Agreement), which was negotiated by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services in 1997. The agreement commits authorities to carrying out grading reviews in accordance with equal pay legislation. This is consistent with broader government policy, which is to encourage employers to carry out pay reviews to help ensure that they meet their obligations under the legislation.The pay of school support staff is determined at local level: the Government believe that this is the best way of ensuring a flexible system that can respond to local needs and circumstances. My Department does not hold information on the impact of job evaluations on pay either nationally or in individual local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many additional students he estimates will gain a Level 3 qualification in each of the years 2003–04 to 2009–10. [120969]

The Department does not produce projections of the number of people in the total population holding level 3 qualifications.As reported in "The Level of Highest Qualification Held by Young People and Adults: England 2002", the proportions attaining level 3 in Autumn 2002 were:

19-year-olds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has received regarding the compulsory teaching of one modern language between the ages of 14 and 16. [121752]

Through our Green Paper '14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards' we consulted extensively on our proposals to create more choice and flexibility at Key Stage 4. Through our Language Learning pamphlet we also consulted on our aspirations for the future of language learning in this country. The overall response to the consultations endorsed our view that schools should no longer be required to teach modern foreign languages to all pupils but that schools should be required to ensure that any pupil wishing to study a modern foreign language should be able to do so.The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority are currently consulting on the detailed proposals for the implementation of this curriculum change and the other proposed changes to the curriculum at Key Stage 4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make an assessment of whether the acquisition of a modern foreign language is (a) a generic and (b) a specialist skill. [121800]

While we have made no formal assessment on this issue, we consider that the acquisition of a modern foreign language can be both a generic and a specialist skill, depending on a number of factors, including the age of the student, the reasons for learning a language and the level of competence required.We have asked the 14–19 working group chaired by Mike Tomlinson to consider the appropriate balance between generic and specialist skills in learning programmes for this age group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he plans to take in response to the recent Ofsted report concerning the quality of school PE lessons; and if he will make a statement. [122301]

The Government welcome Ofsted's report on phases one and two of the School Sport Co-ordinator partnerships. The report shows good progress in the early years of the programme: the profile of physical education (PE) and school sport has been raised; the majority of partnerships have made substantial progress; and out of hours sports activities have been widened and increased. The report will help us ensure that the expansion of the network of partnerships, to include 75 per cent, of schools in England by 2006, builds on best practice and delivers lasting benefits for children.An additional £459 million is being invested over three years (from April 2003) to deliver a national PE, School Sport and Club Links strategy. The aim—a joint Department for Education and Skills and Department for Culture, Media and Sport PSA target—is to have increased the percentage of five to 16-years olds who spend a minimum of two hours a week on high quality PE and school sport, within and beyond the curriculum, to 75 per cent, by 2006.The School Sport Co-ordinator programme is just one element of our strategy and focuses on enhancing links between schools and their local communities and increasing the quality and quantity of out of school hours sports opportunities and competitive school sport. We will raise the quality of PE teaching by delivering a professional development programme for teachers and others. This will be piloted later this year and then rolled out to all schools from April 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many schools were involved in the Growing Schools programme in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03, broken down by region; [122825](2) pursuant to his answer of 18 June 2003,

My Department has received a number of representations concerning rural and countryside education. Between September 2001 and March 2003, around 225 schools and 40 partner organisations were involved in "Growing Schools", a programme which aims to encourage and inspire all schools to use the 'outdoor classroom' as a context for learning. The Department has not collected information on a regional basis.Partners selected to be involved in 'the outdoor classroom' will vary, depending on the local area, whether urban or rural. It is for schools to determine what sort of activities will meet the needs of their pupils. In some areas, for example, schools involve pupils directly in planning and implementing projects to develop their school grounds as a learning resource. In others, a school might link with a city farm, field study centre or community allotment.