To ask the Prime Minister when he last visited Galloway and Upper Nithsdale constituency. [128013]

Regrettably, I have been unable to do so, but I hope to visit the hon. Member's constituency at some point in the future.

To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2003 to the question tabled by the right hon. Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West whether it is policy to hold regular meetings with (a) the First Minister of the Scottish Parliament and (b) the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales. [127961]

I have meetings with both First Ministers on a regular basis, both bilaterally and through the Joint Ministerial Committee.

To ask the Prime Minister what the cost was to his Department of media and voice training for Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [123129]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for the Cabinet Office gave him on 1 September, Official Report, column 693W.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise the issue of Tibet with the Chinese Government during his forthcoming visit to China. [128183]

I raised human rights with the Chinese Premier, and underlined our interest in an ongoing dialogue with China over human rights issues. I also discussed Tibet with the Chinese leadership, and welcomed recent contact between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama.

To ask the Prime Minister what his priorities will be at the World Trade Organisation's fifth Ministerial Conference in September; and if he will make a statement. [127941]

We will work for a successful outcome to the current round of world trade negotiations that benefits industrialised and developing countries alike.The recent agreement on the issue of affordable medicines for the world's poorest nations is a step in the right direction.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government spending was on HM Customs and Excise in real terms in each of the last five years. [127409]

HM Customs and Excise reported their total public spending figures in Table 1 (Total spending for HM Customs & Excise) of Appendix 3 of their Spring Department al report 2003 (Cm 5924). Actual outturn is reported for the four financial years from 1998–99 to 2001–02.No figures are available in comparable resource accounting terms for the financial year 1997–98. The actual resource outturn figure for 2002–03 will be published in Schedule 1 of the Resource Accounts in their annual report this autumn.Public spending figures can be adjusted to 2000–01 price levels by applying the Treasury's GDP deflator, as shown in the table.

£ million
Financial year	Actual public spending	Real terms spending
1998–99	897	963
1999–2000	921	965
2000–01	847	868
2001–02	1,106	1,106

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax filers submitted their self-assessment form electronically using the Inland Revenue's on-line programme in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02 and (d) 2002–03. [127073]

The Inland Revenue received the following number of returns electronically in the following years:1999–2000—The number of returns received electronically by the Inland Revenue was 309,510. All of these were received via the Electronic Lodgement Service as the Internet service was not available until 3 July 2000.2000–01—The number of returns received electronically by the Inland Revenue was 336,127. 296,837 of these were received via the Electronic Lodgement Service and 39,290 via the Internet Service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of UK tax-filers submitted their self-assessment form electronically using the Inland Revenue's on-line programme in the tax year 2002–03. [127074]

7.8 per cent. of taxpayers submitted their Self Assessment forms electronically in the tax year 2002–03. 3.71 per cent. (335,639) used the Inland Revenue's Internet service and 4.09 per cent. (370,051) used the Inland Revenue's Electronic Lodgement Service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's target for take-up of the Inland Revenue's self-assessment on-line programme by UK tax-filers was in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; what it is for the 2003–04 tax period; and how these targets were derived. [127075]

The Inland Revenue does not have specific targets for each year.

The Inland Revenue Public Service Agreement 2003–2006 posted on the Inland Revenue Internet site on 14 February 2003 sets out the targets for electronic filing.

The Inland Revenue has set a target of 25 per cent. of SA returns filed electronically by 2005–06 (i.e. 2.2 million of 8.8 million returns), including but not differentiating those filed by agents. Electronically means Filing by Internet Service (FBI) or Electronic Lodgement Service (ELS).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how HM Treasury is determining the value for money paid for the Inland Revenue's self-assessment on-line system. [127076]

Determining the value for money of an individual project is the responsibility of the department implementing it.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an evaluation of the Inland Revenue's self-assessment on-line programme will be included in the review of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise announced on 2nd July. [127077]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-superMare (Brian Cotter) on 2 July 2003, Official Report, column 270W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much HM Treasury allocated to the marketing of the Government's e-agenda for the Inland Revenue's self assessment on-line programme in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02 and (d) 2002–03; 127081]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) in January 2003, Official Report, column 1061–63W and to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) in May 2002, Official Report, column 36W that detail all Treasury departments' marketing communications spend for the period, including for Self Assessment.

The annual Self-Assessment campaign includes the promotion of the online service as part of a wider package.

The three main messages of the campaign are: file by the due deadline, file early and file online. Most advertising will carry a combination of these messages accompanied by information about the support available but broadly speaking, around a third of the campaign effort is weighted toward e-filing messages, with online (internet) advertising concentrating on this issue.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role he plans for the private sector in assisting the Government to meet its targets for take-up of the Inland Revenue self-assessment on-line programme. [127084]

The Inland Revenue has worked closely with relevant parts of the Private Sector since the SA on-line programme was introduced. The filing product was created in close consultation with the software industry and equal prominence is given to third party software products on the Inland Revenue Website.

An advertisement was published in May in "Government Opportunities" encouraging potential SA filing partners to come forward, and various joint initiatives are currently being worked on with independent software vendors, payroll companies and financial organisations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his Department is evaluating the results being achieved with regard to the percentage of UK tax-filers submitting their self-assessment form electronically using the Inland Revenue's on-line programme against the Government's pre-set targets. [127085]

The Public Service Agreement 2003–06 sets out the targets for electronic filing. The Inland Revenue has set a target of 25 per cent. of SA returns filed electronically by 2005–06, including but not differentiating those filed by agents. Electronically means Filing by Internet (FBI) or Electronic Lodgement Service (ELS).

The Inland Revenue counts the total number of returns received and how many of these have been received electronically to monitor its progress against the target.

The achievement of the target will be assessed and reported annually and subject to validation by the Inland Revenue's Internal Audit Office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the actual per-return cost to HM Treasury was of the Inland Revenue's self assessment on-line in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02 and (d) 2002–03 with regard to electronic tax filing; and what the projected cost is for the 2003–04 tax year. [127086]

The Inland Revenue's on-line service for Self-Assessment Tax Returns went live in 2000–01 (on 3rd July 2000).The "per return" costs were:

	£ per return
2000–01	187.83
2001–02	105.93
2002–03	33.13

The projected "per return" cost for 2003–04 is £16.35 per return.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library an estimate of the impact on the level of income of a transfer of all changes in the total level of taxation since 1997 to income tax, broken down by households with annual incomes of up to (a) £30,000, (b) £50,000, (c) £75,000 and (d) above £75,000. [127059]

There are many ways in which income tax increments or decrements equivalent to changes in current receipts since 1997 could be represented. These include raising or lowering one or more of the income tax allowances, increasing or reducing one or more of the tax rates or the size of an income band to which that rate applies and introducing new lower or higher rate bands or allowances. The impact on households with very different annual incomes would very much depend on which approach was adopted.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made in the review of the business rating system as it applies to communications infrastructure. [126021]

I have been asked to reply.Representatives from industry, DTI, ODPM, Oftel and the Valuation Office Agency have met. The Department will now set in motion procedures to appoint a person or persons to carry out further analysis.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of the Department's policies have been screened for their environmental impact since June 2001; how many environmental appraisals have been conducted, and on what policy issues; and what information has been published about these screenings and appraisals. [124708]

All Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's policies are screened for their impacts in a range of areas, including environmental impacts.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has to date published no free-standing environmental appraisals of its policies.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Minister will determine the appeal by Sunderland Football Club against the refusal by the local planning authority to permit development of its training centre. [127087]

Sunderland Association Football Club have applied for planning permission for an indoor training barn, student hostel, groundsman's store and perimeter fencing at Whitburn Moor, Cleadon. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has recovered for his own determination four related appeals made by Sunderland AFC against refusal of planning permission and one further application for planning permission which was called-in by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister to be considered at the same time as the appeals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the ethnic make-up is of the new Afghan National Army. [127135]

We do not receive detailed breakdowns of personnel who have passed through the US-led Afghan National Army training programme. But indications from earlier this year were that about half of those trained were Tajiks, around a quarter Pashtuns and the remainder split fairly evenly between Uzbeks and Hazaras.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is being done to promote the rights of (a) women and (b) children in the new constitution of Afghanistan. [127136]

The Afghan Constitutional Commission was convened on 25 April. Its 35 members (including 7 women) are tasked with providing a draft constitution, overseeing preparations for a Constitutional Loya Jirga later this year which will adopt it, and ensuring that the public are informed of—and involved in——the process. The UK has given £500,000 to support a UN-led process of popular consultation to ensure that as many Afghans as possible are able to engage in public debate. The Commission has also met with the Ministry for Women's Affairs, a number of women's NGOs, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and other civil society groups to discuss how to incorporate women's and children's rights into the draft constitution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken to reduce the level of violence in Afghanistan. [127137]

Coalition operations against extremist elements in Afghanistan are ongoing, especially in the south. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) continues to help maintain security in Kabul. Four Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) have deployed to regional centres to help extend the authority of central government, improve the security environment and facilitate reconstruction. These include the UK PRT in Mazar-e Sharif, which is helping to reduce tensions between rival regional commanders. Efforts to establish a new, multi-ethnic Afghan National Army and reform the police are continuing. The UK is helping train Afghan NCOs and developing a police crime scene investigation capability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions since 1997 when Ministers from his Department have accompanied British firms on visits overseas to promote export marketing and sales, indicating the name of the Minister and the country visited in each case. [128407]

Information on such visits is not recorded centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Governments of (i) Thailand, (ii) China, (iii) Japan and (iv) Vietnam and (b) the United Nations regarding the arrest and detention of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. [126764]

We take advantage of regular bilateral and multilateral contacts with all Asian nations, including Thailand, China Japan and Vietnam to press for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, national reconciliation and an improvement in Burma's human rights record. From my discussions at the Asia-Europe (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bali in July it was clear that Burma's international isolation is growing. We are also in discussion with the appropriate bodies of the UN on how to take these matters forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the Government to protect (a) child workers, (b) sexually exploited children and (c) child victims of trafficking in (i) Africa, (ii) Asia, (iii) the Pacific, (iv) Latin America, (v) the Caribbean and (vi) the Middle East. [128394]

The Government are committed to the promotion and protection of child rights worldwide. We urge all countries to ratify and implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which sets the standard for guaranteeing children's rights and contains specific provisions on child labour, trafficking and protection from sexual abuse. The FCO's Human Rights Project Fund is currently funding over £450,000 worth of practical projects with local NGOs to tackle these and other child rights issues. Details are available at www.fco.gov.uk/hum an rights.In addition, the Department for International Development provides substantial financial and technical assistance to the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour. This campaign aims to achieve universal ratification and implementation of ILO Conventions 138 on Minimum Age for Employment and 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, which include trafficking and prostitution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had and intends to have with the Chinese Government regarding (a) the occupation of and (b) human rights abuses in Tibet. [128186]

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about Tibet with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on 25 June and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Tibet with the Chinese leadership during his recent visit to China.We remain concerned about the human rights situation in Tibet and continue to urge China to enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives. We have welcomed the recent visits to China by representatives of the Dalai Lama.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 14 July 2003, Official Report, columns 47–48W, how many meetings were attended by his Department's Ministers to promote the export of British defence equipment with officials from (a) Chile, (b) India, (c) Singapore, (d) Czech Republic, (e) Slovakia and (J) Tanzania in (i) 2002 and (ii) 2003; what equipment was discussed; and if he will make a statement. [127657]

Many of the occasions during which Ministers discuss UK-origin defence equipment with representatives of foreign governments do not form part of formal meetings. It is not therefore possible to provide figures about the number of meetings concerned. Disclosure of the types of equipment concerned may infringe on commercial confidentiality or provide sensitive information on the defence procurement strategies of foreign countries. I am withholding this information under exemptions 1 and 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the envisaged primacy given to European legislation over UK legislation in the draft European Constitution will override the authority of the European Communities Act 1972. 127390]

The principle of the primacy of Community law has been central to the operation of the EU since its earliest days. This principle prevents countries from going back on obligations they have made to one another. It is an integral part of the obligations of our EU membership—as it is for all Member States. It is already enshrined in UK law by Section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions have been given to his officials in Dubai in connection with the forthcoming release of Mr. George Atkinson from prison; whether Mr. Atkinson will be met by Foreign Office officials on his release; who will be responsible for booking his return flight to the UK and ensuring that he has the necessary travel documents; and on what date he expects Mr.Atkinson to be released. [127877]

Mr. Atkinson was released from prison on 1 September and was deported to the UK. Officials at our Embassy in Dubai were in touch with the prison authorities to ensure that the necessary arrangements for Mr. Atkinson's return to the UK were in place. Our Vice Consul met Mr. Atkinson at Dubai airport and accompanied him throughout the deportation process to his flight.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made a request to the US Administration for the repatriation of British detainees held in Camp Delta, to face, if the evidence justifies, trial in the UK. [127174]

We are pressing the US authorities to move forward with the process of determining the future of the British detainees at Guantanamo Bay. We have discussed, and are discussing, a range of options with the US, including the possibility of repatriation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the Indonesian Government to withdraw all non-West Papuan troops and Brimob special forces from West Papua. [127175]

The Indonesian Government are within their territorial rights to deploy Indonesian troops and police throughout their country to counter any aggressive external and internal threats. However, we have stressed to the Indonesian Government that any action undertaken in respect to their territorial rights must respect human rights and be in accordance with international law.There are a number of areas in Indonesia where the levels of violence raise issues, including Papua. The origins of such conflicts vary and are complex: some are inter-ethnic or inter-religious while others may have economic causes. Our message to the Indonesian Government is clear and consistent: long-term stability can only be achieved through political negotiation and consultation within Indonesia. Together with our European partners, we are in regular, top-level dialogue with the Indonesian Government, and urge them to maintain law and order and promote reconciliation in order to ensure the territorial integrity of Indonesia.We are implementing a strategy to tackle the causes of conflict and are working with EU and other partners to help Indonesia build capacity to analyse and respond effectively to outbreaks of violence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government take to monitor the end-use of the dual-use equipment that was licensed for export to Iran during 2000, including toxic chemicals; and if he will make a statement. [127829]

The Government issued 3 export licences in 2000 for the proposed export of toxic chemical precursors to Iran for use in the oil industry. All were assessed rigorously against the consolidated criteria, which take account of the risk of diversion to undesirable end-users.

Our overseas posts have standing instructions to report on any allegation of misuse of UK-origin equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of regulations and orders made by the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. [127594]

I refer my hon. Friend to the website www.cpa-iraq.org/regulations where all the Coalition Provisional Authority Orders and Regulations are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received letters sent to him on (a) 6 and (b) 9 July by solicitors representing Mr. Moazzam Begg. [127139]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office received two letters dated 6 July and 9 July from Mr. Begg's solicitors. My hon. Friend the Minister for Europe replied to the letter dated 9 July on 21 August. A substantive response to the 6 July letter will be sent shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with US officials concerning the possibility of Mr. Moazzam Begg and Mr. Feroz Abbasi stranding trial in a US civil court; and if he will make a statement. [127171]

Mr. Begg and Mr. Abbasi have been designated as eligible to stand trial before a Military Commission, but have not yet been charged.The Attorney-General has recently held a number of rounds of talks with the US Administration. His objective has been to ensure that the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay, if prosecuted, are assured of fair trials that meet generally recognised principles, wherever those trials take place, and to make clear our opposition to the death penalty. We are discussing a number of options with the US Government. Further talks are planned for the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals there are for an EU peacekeeping force to be deployed to Transdniestria in Moldova. [127875]

There are currently no proposals for an EU peacekeeping force to be deployed to Transdniestria in Moldova. The EU is working to support the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's efforts to reach a constitutional settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Morocco concerning recent court judgements affecting the peoples of the Western Sahara. [123463]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave him on 9 July 2003, Official Report, column 820W, 11 July 2003 Official Report, column 1056W and 14 July 2003, Official Report, column 51W.Officials in Rabat have raised concerns over court judgments affecting the peoples of the Western Sahara with the Moroccan Government. We continue to monitor the situation in Western Sahara and raise specific cases with the relevant authorities where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women have died in each of the last 10 years as a direct result of unsafe abortions; and what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of deaths caused by unsafe abortions. [128401]

Maternal deaths associated with termination of pregnancy that were reported to the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths for the period 1991 to 1999, are shown in the table. The data for 2000 to 2002 are not yet available.The Abortion Act 1967 requires a pregnancy to be terminated by a registered medical practitioner. The General Medical Council's (GMC) Duties of a doctor include making the care of the patient the first concern, keeping professional knowledge and skills up to date and recognising the limits of professional competence. Where there is evidence that a doctor is not fit to practise, the GMC is able to suspend or erase a doctor from the register or place conditions on their registration, As part of each hospital's clinical governance framework, all adverse events, including deaths, are investigated and lessons learned, and any appropriate action taken. In addition, the Commission for Health Improvement and the National Care Standards Commission monitor patient care in the National Health Service and independent sector respectively.

Maternal deaths associated with termination of pregnancy; United Kingdom 1991–99
Triennium	Number of deaths from termination of preganancy1	Number of these asssociated with substandard care1
1997–99	2	0
1994–96	1	1
1991–93	5	3

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the proposed new pay system for NHS employees, under "Agenda for Change". [124345]

"Agenda for Change" has been negotiated over the past four years by staff and management representatives working in partnership. Following the conclusion of the union consultation exercise, agreement was reached through the Central Negotiating Group, which includes the four United Kingdom Health Departments, unions and employer representatives, to move to the next phase of testing "Agenda for Change" in early implemented sites. This commenced in June 2003 in 12 sites identified in England, which were selected in partnership with the unions. This phase will provide the opportunity to address any concerns that might arise, through the Central Negotiating Group and when formed, the new National Health Service staff council, with a view to national implementation in October 2004. These sites are being supported by the Modernisation Agency and will develop effective models of implementation for the breadth of organisations represented. All the nationally recognised staff organisations will be represented on the proposed NHS Staff Council.We anticipate that NHS Foundation Trusts will begin the "Agenda for Change" implementation process in April 2004 and that all staff in NHS Foundation Trusts will be guaranteed the opportunity of moving to the new pay system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on alcohol advertising. [127722]

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, in close collaboration with other Government departments, including the Department of Health, is currently developing the national alcohol harm reduction strategy. The Strategy Unit is due to publish an interim analysis of the harms associated with alcohol misuse later this year. The final report, which will set out the cross-Governmental alcohol harm reduction strategy, is planned for publication later this year.As part of this project, the Strategy Unit and the Sponsor Minister, the Minister for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community, my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears), have had ongoing discussions with all relevant stakeholders. The final report will consider a wide variety of issues concerning alcohol misuse, including alcohol advertising.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will make a statement on the Government's policy on community pharmacies. [127622]

I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on Thursday 17 July 2003, Official Report, columns 76–79WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of operation care complainants have brought compensation claims in each of the last five years. [128632]

This information is not collected centrally by the Department of Health. The information that is requested can only be supplied at disproportionate cost to the request.The present situation is that National Health Service complaints and clinical negligence claims are handled separately. Once a patient who has made a complaint indicates that they are seeking legal action linked to the complaint, then the complaint is halted until the case is resolved through litigation, withdrawn or settlement reached with the trust or NHS Litigation Authority.However, a review of the way clinical negligence claims and complaints are handled in the NHS is currently under way. The recently published Chief Medical Officer's report, "Making Amends", sets out a number of recommendations to reform the way clinical negligence cases are handled in the NHS, including the removal of the rule which requires a complaint to be halted pending resolution of a claim to encourage closer alignment between the claims and complaints.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by (a) ministers and (b) Departmental special advisers on food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for entertainment purposes since March 2002. [127475]

I refer the hon. Member to the response given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on Monday 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 673W. The total amount spent by the Department of Health on hospitality in 2002–03 is £125,000.Departmental information systems do not classify expenditure by Ministers, special advisers or other employment category, nor do information systems provide a detailed breakdown of food and drink.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 8 July 2003, Official Report, column 776W, on the Food Supplement Directive, if he will make it his policy to add nutrients to the list of permitted ingredients included in dossiers submitted to the European Food Safety Authority; and if he will make a statement. [128556]

The lists of permitted vitamins and minerals and their sources in annexes I and II to the directive remain open pending safety assessments for additional substances. Dossiers of information supporting safety may be submitted to the European Food Safety for assessment. In the case of amendments to the permitted lists in the directive, Schedules 1 or 2 to The Food Supplements Regulations (England) 2003 will be amended accordingly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 11 July, Official Report, column 1041W, on natural supplements, what plans he has to press for changes in the regulations to ensure that the maximum permitted levels of nutrients in supplements are set on the basis of safety and not nutritional need; what assessment he has made of the impact of this issue to the British specialist food industry; and if he will make a statement. [128516]

While the Food Supplements Directive sets out principles for setting maximum limits for vitamins and minerals in food supplements, no such limits have yet been set. The principles in Article 5 of the directive state that maximum levels should be set based on scientific risk assessment and intake from dietary sources other than food supplements as well as taking account of reference nutrient intakes. The Government continues to argue for maximum permitted limits for vitamins and minerals in food supplements to be set on the basis of thorough risk assessments and will continue to press this view strongly at every opportunity.

During negotiations on the Directive and when drafting the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, the Food Standards Agency consulted with a wide range of stakeholders. The potential impacts of the Regulations on the specialist food industry are summarised in the Regulatory Impact Assessment accompanying the Regulations, which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what compensation is paid to GPs who lose their right to dispense; 127629]

(2) what plans he has to reform regulations that permit the removal of the right to dispense from a GP. [127630]

General practitioners do not normally receive compensation if they are no longer required to dispense National Health Service prescriptions. Primary care trusts can make transitional arrangements to ensure an orderly winding-down of such dispensing services.

The Government has no plans to change the conditions under which certain GPs can dispense NHS prescriptions. However, in our response to the Health Select Committee Fifth Report, The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK (Cm 5896) on 17 July 2003, we said that we would invite medical and pharmacy representative bodies to look again at existing proposals to reform the rules governing rural NHS dispensing.

We are setting up an advisory group to advise on how best to implement a series of changes we are proposing to current NHS dispensing rules. We published further details on 29 August 2003 in Proposals to Reform and Modernise the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992. A copy has been placed in the Library. We will also ask the group to consider the results of the representative bodies' consideration of their proposals for reforming the rules governing rural NHS dispensing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people suffered a hip fracture (a) recorded as a first episode and (b) recorded as a second episode in each of the last five years; and what the cost was in each case. [124309]

Table one shows the number of hip fractures, which were recorded as a first and second episode in each of the last five years. Table two shows the average cost of the procedure, taken from the Published National Schedule of Reference Costs. Data are available from 2000. The cost excludes any elements of critical care services that might have been be used by a patient.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations have been received by his Department from (a) the Medical Protection Society and (b) the Royal College of Ophthalmologists on (i) guidance for and (ii) regulation of individuals involved in the provision of laser eye surgery. [128676]

The Department of Health has not received any representations from either the Medical Protection Society or the Royal College of Ophthalmologists concerning guidance and regulation in the provision of laser eye surgery. We are, however, aware that there are concerns regarding laser surgery.

Laser eye surgery in England is regulated by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). Providers of laser eye surgery are required to be registered with the NCSC and to comply with national minimum standards set by them. Providers must keep records for the NCSC of each surgical procedure undertaken, including accidents or adverse events. They are also subject to annual inspections by the NCSC.

The NCSC is currently monitoring development in the area of laser eye surgery and should any evidence emerge that further regulation of this procedure is required, it would be considered in order to further protect service users.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received on the need for a Mental Incapacity Bill; and if he will make a statement; 128316]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposals in the draft Mental Incapacity Bill on the lives of (a) people with dementia and (b) their carers; and if he will make a statement. [128317]

A draft Mental Incapacity Bill was published by the Department for Constitutional Affairs on 27 June. It is currently subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament. Letters received in the Department of Health about the draft Bill are being fed into the scrutiny process.

The need for a Bill on Mental Incapacity was raised by many who responded to consultation on the draft Mental Health Bill, which was published in June 2002. The draft Mental Incapacity Bill aims to provide a better decision-making framework for people who are unable to make some decisions for themselves and those that care for them. The Department of Health is working closely with colleagues in the Department for Constitutional Affairs to make sure that the Bill addresses the needs of all vulnerable adults, including people with dementia and those who look after them, whether informal carers or professionals in health or social care services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when over tae past two years Mr. David Kelly has met Mr. Andrew Gilligan of the BBC. [126330]

[holding answer 17 July 2003]: I have been asked to reply.

My hon. Friend will understand why it was not possible to answer this question on the day named. These matters are now being addressed by Lord Hutton's inquiry.

The information requested has been passed to the inquiry. Lord Hutton will publish his report in due course. I am therefore withholding the information under Exemption 4a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what average length of time patients in each health authority had to wait for radiotherapy cancer treatment in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [127522]

Information on waiting times for radiotherapy is not collected centrally. However, the NHS Cancer Plan sets out maximum waiting time targets for first definitive cancer treatment, which includes radiotherapy when it is the first treatment. From December 2001, there is a one month maximum wait from diagnosis to first treatment for breast cancer and a one month wait from urgent general practitioner referral to first treatment for children's cancers, testicular cancer and acute leukaemia. From 2002 there is a maximum two-month wait from urgent referral to treatment for breast cancer. By 2005 there will be a maximum two months from urgent referral to treatment and a maximum one-month wait from diagnosis to first treatment for all cancers.

In order to tackle radiotherapy waiting times, we have increased the number of radiographers in post by 9.2 per cent. and numbers in training by 55 per cent. since 1977. We are making better use of existing staff by establishing new roles for radiographers, which

Elective Finished In-Year Admissions, Waiting List and Booked Cases: Finished Consultant Episodes—NHS Hospitals England. 1997–98 to 2001–02
Length of time patient waited	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
More than 3 months	1,134,491	1,307,371	1,147,551	1,133,824	1,155,138
More than 6 months	601,994	723,520	592,752	587,714	604,109
More than 9 months	356,778	445,320	349,472	343,787	354,641
More than 12 months	183,506	245,884	189,565	186,096	188,023

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to improve procedures for answering written parliamentary questions by his Department since 1st April 2002. [127490]

Significant changes have been made to these procedures within the Department since 1 April 2002. The parliamentary section responsible for overseeing them has been substantially reorganised and a new database has been introduced to help drive and

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have waited more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months and (d) 12 months for elective admissions in each year since 1997. [112978]

:The table shows the length of time a patient waited for an elective finished in-year admission from 1997–98 to 2001–02, which is the latest year for which figures are available.monitor the process. This was immediately made available to all departmental staff; its predecessor having been solely for use by the parliamentary section. It records each stage of the answering procedure, provides a transparent means of checking precisely where a question is in the process and helps to identify and clear blockages in the system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had to ensure that sufficient hotel accommodation will be available for visitors to the capital, should the Olympic Games be held in London in 2012. [128653]

The assessment of the cost and benefit implications of bidding for and staging the Olympics and Paralympic Games in London in 2012 undertaken by Arup in May 2003 estimated the average daily room requirement during an Olympic Games as between 80,000 and 145,000. Drawing on London Tourist Board figures, Arup also projected up to 200,000 rooms in hotels/guest houses as potentially available within International Olympic Committee (IOC) visitor travel time requirements of one hour.

Detailed information on accommodation is required by the IOC for the applicant city questionnaire, and London 2012 Ltd., the company set up to prepare the Olympic bid, will be undertaking further work to verify and refine these figures over the coming months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the total cost of a London Olympic Games; and how it is proposed that it will be financed, broken down by source in each year. [128086]

The consultants Arup estimated the costs of a London Olympics at £3.6 billion with expected revenues of £2.5 billion. This implied a net public subsidy of £1.1 billion. The Government and the Mayor have agreed a funding package of up to £2.375 billion, allowing a generous contingency, including up to £1.5 billion from the lottery and up to £625 million from a London Olympics Council Tax. As is explained in the Memorandum of Understanding, which was included in the Government response to the Select Committee Report, "A London Olympic Bid for 2012" (HC 268), ref. Cm 5867:

"The flow of funds will depend on the organisations that are nominated to deliver various aspects of the Games. These details have not yet been fully worked up. Because rises or falls in one sector of Olympic cost may be offset in another sector it is not possible to completely earmark particular strands of funding to discrete objects. Within that, the broad intention is that Lottery funding should be primarily directed to sports investment, Olympic facilities and event staging and that money raised from the Olympic precept should address capital requirements of the Games including transport infrastructure."

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the total change in money available to existing good causes as a result of the establishment of special Olympic lottery games. [128087]

Preliminary estimates provided by Camelot, and assessed by the National Lottery Commission, suggest that any reduction of income to the existing good causes from Olympic lottery games would be small—approximately 4 per cent. for the remainder of the Camelot licence period (until 2009). Each game will be subject to approval by the NLC, and in designing the games, Camelot will seek to minimise the effect on the core lottery games.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she next plans to meet representatives of the Greek Government to discuss the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece. [127841]

The Government has no such plans. We have advised the Greek Government that the Parthenon Sculptures are a matter for the Trustees of the British Museum. The museum is independent of government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what percentage of schoolchildren in the UK participate in a minimum of two hours of physical exercise at school each week; 128580]

(2) what steps she is taking to promote participation in sports by schoolchildren (a) during games lessons and (b) after school. 128581]

The Government is investing more than £1 billion in England to transform physical education and school sport. This funding will help deliver an ambitious Public Service Agreement target, shared by DCMS and DfES, to increase the percentage of school children who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high-quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. by 2006. Currently, about a third of schools provide this entitlement at Key Stage 1, two fifths at Key Stage 2 and a third at each of Key Stages 3 and 4.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether tourism in the UK has grown as an industry in each of the last 10 years; how many people are employed in tourism in the UK; and what percentage of GDP is accounted for by the tourism industry. [128577]

The available data on annual expenditure by domestic and foreign tourists in the UK over the last 10 years are shown in the table.

Annual expenditure by domestic and foreign tourists in the UK for each of the last 10 years
£ million
	Expenditure by foreign tourists in the UK	Expenditure by UK tourists in the UK	Total expenditure by tourists in the UK
1993	9,487	1—	1—
1994	9,786	1—	1—
1995	11,763	20,072	31,835
1996	12,290	22,041	34,331
1997	12,244	24,137	36,381
1998	12,671	22,814	35,485
1999	12,498	25,635	38,133
2000	12,805	26,133	38,938
2001	11,306	26,094	37,400
2002	11,859	26,699	38,558
1 Not available

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if the Lord Chancellor will draft a written constitution for the United Kingdom. [128476]

There are no plans to draft an overarching codified constitution for the United Kingdom.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if the Secretary of State will make it his policy for the proposed Supreme Court to sit outside London when considering devolution issues. [128477]

As my hon. Friend is aware, we are currently consulting on the role that the Supreme Court will have in considering devolution issues. In parallel, we are also looking at where the court should be accommodated and whether it should have the power to sit outside London when considering devolution issues.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the priorities within the Department?s modernisation programme for ensuring better service delivery in the courts. [128470]

The primary purpose of the departmental change agenda is to improve delivery to the public by the Court Service and the other agencies of the Department. This purpose underpins our plans for a unified court administration and the constitutional reforms announced in June.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the need to provide access to legal aid to victims of domestic violence. [127278]

Domestic violence proceedings are a high priority for the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Legal Services Commission (LSC). The LSC's funding code criteria allow such cases to be funded more widely than most other family and non-family areas. This gives the victim of domestic violence the means to secure various remedies against the other party. The latest available figure for expenditure on domestic violence (civil representation) for the financial year 2002 to 2003 is £53.4 million.The LSC has Regional Legal Services Committees who are tasked with assessing legal need regionally on an on-going basis. The Yorkshire and Humberside Committee have undertaken a project with the aim of developing good practice in identifying and addressing the legal advice needs of victims of domestic violence in the context of the Community Legal Service (CLS). The Legal Service Regional Committee's Periodic Survey of Justiciable Problems are publishing a research report in the next issue of the Family Law Journal which addresses the issue of legal need in domestic violence cases and examines the strategy needed to encourage victims to seek remedies.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the draft Gender Recognition Bill. [128466]

As Lord Filkin announced on 11 July this year the Government have published the draft Gender Recognition Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Human Rights. On 17 July the Joint Committee issued a call for evidence to be submitted to it by 11 September. The Government looks forward to receiving the report of the Joint Committee and to introducing the Bill to Parliament as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost was to the Lord Chancellor?s Department of media and voice training for Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [123117]

The cost to my Department (including the former Lord Chancellor?s Department) of media and voice training for Ministers and officials in each year since 1997 was as follows:

Year	£
1997–98	1—
1998–99	0
1999–2000	1,762.50
2000–01	2,625
2001–02	0
2002–03	0
2003–04	20
1 Figures not available
2 To date

Figures for 1997–98 are not readily available because communications group accounts were not kept separately from the then LCD corporate services accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost of setting and marking AS-level examinations in all subjects was in each year between 2000 and 2003. [128551]

The answer can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the level of higher education funding in Wales was in present day prices in each year since 1979. [124672]

I have been asked to reply.The following table provides figures on Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) funding by financial year from 1993–94 to 1998–99.HEFCW assumed responsibility for funding HE in Wales in April 1993, and figures prior to 1993 are not available on a comparable basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of lessons recorded as set by ability in (a) Year 7, (b) Year 8, (c) Year 9, (d) Year 10 and (e) Year 11 in each state secondary school in West Sussex were inspected by Ofsted between 1995 and 2002. [128614]

This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the (a) foreign and (b) UK visits he has made since 1 April; what the cost was to public funds of each trip; whom he met; and what gifts were received. [126886]

The Government publishes the overall costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits overseas by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 on an annual basis. The list for the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 was published by the Prime Minister on 16 July 2003, Official Report, column 482W. The next list for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 will be published at the end of the financial year.In respect of gifts received, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 14 March 2003,

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish the per pupil funding for each maintained school for (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04. [127930]

The available information has been placed in the Library of the House. The Information is as provided by local education authorities in their section 52 budget statements. The amount a school receives is dependant on a range of allocation factors including; the fair funding formula, Standards Fund, Standards Grant, and local formulae which operates within the individual local education authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many war disability pensioners suffering from a wholly psychiatric disorder lost their incapacity benefit in each year from 1995 to 2002. [127952]

The available information is in the table.

Incapacity Benefit (IB) claims ceasing where a War Pension had been payable due to a psychiatric disorder
1 Sep 1998 to 31 Aug 1999	—
1 Sep 1999 to 31 Aug 2000	200
1 Sep 2000 to 31 Aug 2001	100
1 Sep 2001 to 31 Aug 2002	100

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what proposals he has to recognise British Sign Language as a language; and if he will make a statement on its use by those who are hard of hearing; [128249](2) what proposals he has to increase the amount of British Sign Language/English interpreters; and what funding is available to train language tutors. [128250]

I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 41WS, in which the Government recognise British Sign Language (BSL) as a language in its own right. We have made available an additional £1 million for a discrete programme of initiatives to support the statement and have said that among our priorities is increasing opportunities for people to learn BSL to a professional level. We have established a British Sign Language working group to consider priorities for allocating the additional funding and will receive their recommendations in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Government will publish the Draft Disability Bill. [127743]

I refer the right hon. Member to the Written Statement given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 12–13WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what use is made of medical reports when assessing an application for disability living allowance; and what other evidence is required to secure a grant of disability living allowance. [128105]

Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance is based on the care needs and assistance with mobility that a person requires as a result of an illness or disability rather than the diagnosis of that illness or disability. To support the information provided by the customer on the claim form, it is often necessary for the Department to obtain additional evidence from people involved in the care of the person with the illness or disability. It is for the decision maker to determine what additional evidence is necessary to enable them to decide the claim.

Incapacity benefit (IB) claims ceasing following a personal capability assessment (PCA), number of appeals cleared by The Appeals Service and number found in favour of the appellant in each of the last five years
	1 March 2000 to 28 February 2001	1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002	1 March 2002 to 28 February 2003
IB claims ceasing following a PCA1	86,400	91,900	106,600
Appeals cleared	34,060	30,785	37,845
Appeals found in favour of appellant (percentage)	13,965(41)	13,100(42.6)	17,535 (46.3)
Percentage found in favour of appellant	41	42.6	46.3
1 IB figures have been updated to include late notifications of IB ceasing and are subject to change. The most recent quarters include fewer late notifications and will be subject to significant change in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were claiming jobseeker"s allowance in (a) Somerset and (b) Taunton Deane at the end of each fiscal quarter since January 2000. [127824]

The information is in the table:

Number of people claiming Jobseeker"s Allowance
Month	Taunton Deane Local Authority Area	County of Somerset
January 2000	1,308	6,398
April 2000	1,173	5,447
July 2000	1,077	5,046
October 2000	954	4,651
January 2001	996	5,153
April 2001	979	4,836
July 2001	899	4,335

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of appeals against refusal of incapacity benefit were settled in favour of the claimant in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [127056]

Information on IB appeals is only available from 2000.The available information is in the table.There are a number of reasons for decisions being overturned at appeal; for example, additional evidence may be given to a tribunal that was not available to the decision maker. The Department is currently working on a number of initiatives to improve liaison with the Appeals Service and gain a better understanding of these issues.

Number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance
Month	Taunton Deane Local Authority Area	County of Somerset
October 2001	752	3,853
January 2002	782	4,533
April 2002	793	4,082
July 2002	734	3,731
October 2002	693	3,641
January 2003	822	4,393
April 2003	784	4,037
July 2003	762	3,785

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the draft Mental Health Bill on the services his Department provides for people with mental health needs. [126004]

The draft Mental Health Bill will break the automatic link between compulsory treatment and detention, allowing patients to be treated in the setting most appropriate to them. Treatment in the community will provide a positive alternative for the many patients who do not want or need to be detained in hospital and an opportunity to minimise the disruption to their lives.Jobcentre Plus services are designed to meet the needs of disabled people, including those with mental health problems. The reform will allow more people with complex mental health problems to access Jobcentre Plus services. Officials are considering the implications for the training of front line Jobcentre Plus staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners received an income from (a) state and (b) private pension schemes in each year between 1992 and 2002; and if he will make a statement. [128549]

Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is given in Table 8 (state pension) and Table 14 (private pensions) of The Pensioners" Incomes Series 2001/2 a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the number of low income earners to have taken up stakeholder pensions since their inception. [128555]

The information requested is not available. Such information as is available is as follows. The 2001/02 Family Resources Survey showed that some 20 per cent. of stakeholder pension sales were to working individuals earning less than £10,000 a year, and that the majority of sales (55 per cent.) were to people earning between £10,000 and £29,999 a year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the size of the garrison in Afghanistan. [127161]

We shall continue to deploy around 400 troops in Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 17 July 2003, Official Report, column 477W whether the United Kingdom has further plans to contribute to the payment of Afghan National Army salaries. [128526]

The £5 million made available through the United Nations" Trust Fund for Afghanistan to pay the salaries of the Afghan National Army is intended for use over the current financial year. We are considering whether to make any further contributions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase the number of escorts when the new supercarriers are commissioned. [127253]

There are no plans to increase the number of Royal Navy destroyers and frigates when the new aircraft carriers are brought into service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost of the new aircraft carriers is; what the estimated cost was in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the procurement status of the carriers. [128074]

The method by which the Department estimates the costs for equipment projects has changed since 1998 as a result of the adoption of resource accounting and budgeting in 1999. In 1998, the estimated cost based on a STOVL design was around £2 billion, based or. 1998–99 constant prices (which excluded inflation). The estimated procurement cost of the future aircraft carriers using the innovative, adaptable design is around £3 billion at resource outturn prices (which includes compound inflation). The CVF Programme is still in the Assessment Phase and we expect to award the Demonstration and Manufacture contract in Spring 2004 as planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying hours have been accumulated by RAF C17 aircraft; and how many were expected. [127117]

From June 2001, when the C17 was first available for tasking, to 31 July 2003, 11,540 hours have been flown. The original planned flying task for the aircraft was 3,000 hours per year for the seven years of the lease. From 1 April 2003, this was increased to 4,000 hours per year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual running cost is of P2000 class coastal training craft. [127119]

The annual running cost of the 16 P2000 class craft in financial year 2002–03 was £5.835 million. These figures include the cost of capital and depreciation. In addition the annual average maintenance cost for the P2000 fleet is £1.873 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 11 July 2003, Official Report, column 1030W how many cases of self-harm overdoses there were at each Army barracks in each year since 1995. [127070]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 11 July 2003, Official Report, column 1030W what assessment he has made of the reasons for self-harm incidents at Deepcut barracks since 1995; what measures are being taken to prevent further incidents; and if he will make a statement. [127071]

There are no discernible trends to the number of self-harm overdose incidents at Deepcut, although in most cases the decision to overdose appears to have been taken on the spur of the moment. Causes identified include homesickness, depression and boredom.A number of measures are in place in an effort to prevent self-harm incidents. As in all Army training establishments, the permanent staff at Deepcut are trained to be on the alert for signs of depression, altered behaviour and other possible indicators of self-harm; new recruits receive education on substance misuse and are encouraged to focus on themes such as looking out for each other and team cohesion. Details of helplines for a number of welfare organisations, including the Samaritans; the Army Welfare Service; and a Confidential Support Line, provided by the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association Forces Help, are promulgated widely throughout the barracks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service personnel of officer rank, (b) service personnel of other ranks, (c) industrial civilian personnel and (d) non-industrial civilian personnel were employed by (i) the United Kingdom Defence Standardisation team in each year since its inception and (ii) the Directorate of Standardisation in each year from its inception to its re-organisation in 1999; how many of these were employed in Scotland; what the total manning costs were for each category in each year; what the manning costs were for Scotland in each year; and if he will make a statement. [128037]

The Directorate of Standardisation (DStan) was formed in the mid 1960s and since then has gone through a number of reorganisations and change of location. As a consequence many of the historical records no longer exist.What is known is that in 1978 the complement was 121 Civilian non-industrial staff and 2 Service personnel of officer rank, all working in London. Since then there has not been any industrial or non-officer service personnel within the organisation.In August 1983 the majority of DStan staff (83) were dispersed to Glasgow (Montrose House) with 8 posts remaining in London. In late 1986 DStan moved to the newly opened Kentigern House in Glasgow and a further three posts were transferred to Glasgow. In the years from 1996 to 2003, the total number of Dstan staff has varied between 35 and 40, between 30 and 33 of whom have worked in Scotland. More detailed, though not exhaustive, records are available from 1989 and are summarised in the following table.

Year	Total Staff	Scotland	Elsewhere	Non Industrial	Service	Approximate Costs (£ million) Scotland/Total
1989	78	73	5	77	1	Not known
1990	78	73	5	77	1	Not known
1991	76	73	3	75	1	Not known
1992	57	54	3	56	1	Not known
1993	52	51	1	52	0	Not known
1994	50	48	2	50	0	Not known
1995	51	49	2	51	0	Not known
1996	35	33	2	35	0	Not known
1997	35	30	5	35	0	0.70/0.82
1998	36	31	5	36	0	0.85/0.99
1999	36	31	5	36	0	0.90/1.04
2000	38	31	7	38	0	0.89/1.09
2001	38	31	7	38	0	0.95/1.16
2002	38	32	6	38	0	0.99/1.18
2003	40	33	7	39	1	1.13/1.37

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Defence Training Review Rationalisation Programme began; [127249](2) what the earliest date is on which decisions on the Defence Training Review can result in the implementation of a major relocation of service police; 127236](3) when the first major relocation from the Defence Training Review Rationalisation programme will be completed. [127250]

The intention to review defence education and individual training was announced by my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Robertson, the then Defence Secretary on 22 July 1999, Official Report, columns 614–15W, and the outcome of that review which included the recommendation for the rationalisation programme was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 27 March 2001, Official Report, columns 547–48W.The Ministry of Defence is currently engaging with industry to determine the most appropriate and cost effective locations for the Defence Training Establishments within the rationalisation programme. The earliest that any decisions on the locations of training units will be made is December 2004. It is anticipated that contracts with the successful bidders will be signed in 2005 and any relocations will take place after that date. Opportunities for early implementation will however be kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average operating cost of (a) batch 3 type 22, (b) type 23 and (c) type 42 destroyers were in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [127274]

The actual cost of operating various types of frigates and destroyers will vary considerably from year to year, dependent on the tasking and maintenance undertaken during that period. Average annual operating costs, based on historic costs over the last two full financial years are given in the table. The figures include manpower, maintenance, fuel, stores and other costs (such as harbour dues), but exclude depreciation and cost of capital.

£ million
	Financial Year
	2001–02	2002–03
(a) Batch 3 Type 22 Frigate	11.9	13.1
(b) Type 23 Frigate	10.3	10.3
(c) Type 42 Destroyer	13.0	13.5

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for HMS Bridport. [127275]

HMS Bridport is being held in extended readiness at Faslane.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria his Department used to decide which documents to disclose to the Hutton inquiry. [128603]