To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in the dissemination of best practice on bus services.[145876]

The Department for Transport plays an active role in disseminating good practice in the bus sector, both alone and in partnership with other stakeholders in the industry and local authorities. Recent examples include a "Good Practice Guide on rural bus service provision" and revised guidance on "Protecting Bus and Coach Crews".

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assistance his Department gives to local government in respect of formulating bids for (a) light rail and (b) other transport schemes.[145877]

We are always happy to discuss with local authorities, without prejudice, emerging proposals for light rail and other local transport schemes, and to explain what information will be required to support any bids for funding. A manual of guidance on our appraisal methodology is also available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the (a) amount of and (b) uses of revenue from speed cameras.[145878]

The latest audited figures are for the year 2000–01, in which £8.6 million of speeding fine receipts was passed to seven safety camera partnerships, and for 2001–02 in which £11.4 million was passed to 14 safety camera partnerships in England and Wales. In those two years £1.2 million and £4.3 million respectively, was returned to the Treasury.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money raised in fines from speed cameras during the last year for which records are available was spent in (a) Billericay and District, (b) Basildon and District and (c) Essex; and how that money was spent.[145792]

In 2001–02 the Essex Safety Camera Partnership claimed £3,003,763 to cover the costs of purchasing and operating cameras in their area which includes Billericay and Basildon, for which separate figures are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money was raised in fines from speed cameras in the last year for which records are available in (a) Billericay and District, (b) Basildon and District and (c) Essex.[145793]

In 2001–02 £3,524,120 in conditional offer fixed penalties was collected by the Essex Safety Camera Partnership which includes Billericay and Basildon, for which separate figures are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras (a) there are and (b) there have been in each of the last five years in (i) Billericay and District, (ii) Basildon and District and (iii) Essex[145794]

The Essex Safety Camera Partnership covers all of Essex and includes Billericay and Basildon. The number of fixed camera sites are shown in the following table.

	Fixed camera added	Total sites
Pre–1999	20	20
1999	8	28
2000	0	28
2001	28	56
2002	9	65
2003	17	82

In addition, six mobile camera units work at approximately 300 locations in Essex.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on making the wearing of seat belts on school transport compulsory.[145879]

None. The Department is however in the process of implementing EU Directive 2003/20/EU of 8 April 2003 on seat belt wearing. This requires the wearing of seat belts by passengers in buses and coaches where they are installed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the latest statistics on train punctuality.[145880]

Performance figures published by the Strategic Rail Authority on 11 December showed that year on year performance was up 0.5 per cent. to the end of September 2003. We are putting in funding to reverse the decades of under-investment and improve reliability. Early indications are that performance this autumn has been significantly better than in 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the dualling of the A303.[145881]

We are hoping to reach a decision on the route choice for the A303 improvement west of Ilminster in the spring after we have received the comments of the Regional Assembly on the Highways Agency's further work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent he proposes details of development at airports in the south-east of England under "The Future of Air Transport" White Paper should remain a matter of local determination through the planning system.[145882]

I refer the hon. Member to the Aviation White Paper which says that it is for owners and operators to bring forward airport development proposals which will need to be considered through the planning system in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's strategy for (a) increasing cycling journey numbers and (b) reducing cycling injuries and deaths.[145883]

We are improving cycling infrastructure and, having initiated the Cycling Projects Fund, we have given over £4 million for local cycling facilities and training. On the safety front, we are promoting training and measures which cyclists can take to protect themselves, such making themselves conspicuous. We are also improving training and testing for motorists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of varying levels of aviation capacity on the competitiveness of the UK's international trade.[145736]

Assessments of the impact of the growth in the aviation industry in increasing productivity growth across the economy were made by Oxford Economic Forecasting ("The Contribution of the Aviation Industry to the UK Economy", November 1999). However, the appraisal of airport development options made in the regional air transport consultation documents focus on the direct benefits to passengers of increased airport capacity. No estimates were made of wider economic benefits to the economy arising from factors such as improvements in the UK's competitiveness, but the potential effect of additional airport capacity on productivity across the economy can be gauged from the resulting increase in business passengers and air freight activity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the effects of the growth in aviation-related employment on other employment sectors.[145737]

Assessments of the contribution of aviation to employment growth in other sectors of the economy have been undertaken by Oxford Economic Forecasting ("The Contribution of the Aviation Industry to the UK Economy", November 1999) and by ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd. ("The Local and Regional Economic Impacts of the Expansion of Regional Air Services", January 2001). "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: North of England" consultation document included material from these studies on aviation-related employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority regarding possible refurbishment of Birmingham New Street Station; and if he will make a statement;[145377]

(2) what discussions he has had with Network Rail regarding possible closures of Birmingham New Street Station during peak times; and if he will make a statement.[145378]

I understand that in the short term, Network Rail is developing a plan to continue to manage passenger capacity efficiently while improving passenger circulation at Birmingham New Street. The Strategic Rail Authority and Network Rail are also working together and with local and regional stakeholders to continue the safe and efficient operation of the station, and to develop a series of station capacity and infrastructure enhancements to improve its environment. This will ensure that the predicted substantial growth in demand for rail services in the region in the medium to longer term can be addressed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in completing the Bristol/Bath to South Coast Study; and what estimate he has made of the likely completion date.[145226]

The study, which was commissioned to address the concerns of Bath and North East Somerset Council and the South West Regional Assembly over the proposed de-trunking of the A36/A46, has been further delayed because it has taken longer than anticipated for the consultants to complete the modelling and firm up their conclusions. It is now anticipated that the revised Final Reports will be cleared by the Steering Group by late January 2004. Once approved, they will be submitted to the South West Regional Assembly for comment and possibly additional brief consultation with their partners, in particular regarding the de-trunking issue which gave rise to the study being commissioned.

Following receipt of the study report and comments from the Regional Assembly, I will be in a position to make a response.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the use of satellite technology for congestion charging.[145381]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport made a statement to the House on 9 July 2003, Official Report, columns 1175–95, announcing a feasibility study into the potential for road charging in the UK, which is expected to report this summer. The Terms of Reference were published on 9 July in "Managing our Roads", which is available on my Department's website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department made of the need to widen major roads into and out of Heathrow, in the event of a third runway at Heathrow being built.[145447]

The South East and East of England Regional Air Services Study (SERAS) included an assessment of the road and rail infrastructure enhancements that would be needed to support a third runway at Heathrow. The results of this appraisal were summarised in Chapter 7 of "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East" consultation document.

The White Paper, "The Future of Air Transport", recognised that the further expansion of Heathrow will place pressure on already congested road and rail networks. It stated that the Government have no plans for further motorway widening in this area beyond that which we announced in our response to the Thames Valley and Orbit multi-modal studies in July 2003, and that the solution would need to be based on improvements to public transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the thickness was of the invert of the North Downs Tunnel approved by the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996; and what change there has been in the specification.[145977]

The Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996 contains no specifications of the tunnel lining thickness. The specifications relating to such details in the North Downs Tunnel were first drawn up later. The tunnel has a concrete lining with a relatively flat invert and reinforced concrete base slab, which supports the ballasted track. The concrete is about 1 metre thick in the invert and the average ballast thickness is 600 mm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received from the Strategic Rail Authority concerning the ability of railway stations to conform to the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.[145089]

The SRA is considering how best to prioritise a programme of works to meet the accessibility requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and will be consulting on draft criteria this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the Strategic Rail Authority will be liable for prosecution if railways do not have disabled access by the required date in 2004.[145403]

With effect from 1 October 2004, providers of services will be under new duties to take reasonable steps to ensure that a disabled person can make use of a service, pursuant to section 21(2)(a)-(c) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Section 19(2)(b) of the Act defines a provider of services as being a person concerned with the provision in the United Kingdom of services to the public or a section of the public. Interpretation is a matter for the courts, but the Strategic Rail Authority's assessment is that the section 21 duties will apply to train operating companies that lease stations, and to Network Rail in respect of the stations it operates itself.

The SRA is working with the rail industry and disabled people to ensure a more accessible transport network, with the greatest possible choice for disabled people within the available resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has recently issued to local authorities on the number of road crossings to help people who are (a) disabled and (b) partially sighted; and if he will make a statement.[145379]

Local Transport Notes 1/95 and 2/95 cover the general assessment and design of road crossings, respectively. The latter includes guidance on installing audible and tactile signals to help disabled pedestrians at signalled crossings. In addition, we have issued specific guidance on meeting the needs of disabled people, including blind and partially sighted people, in "Guidance on the Use of Tactile Surfaces" (1999) and "Inclusive Mobility" (2002).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths he estimates have resulted from delay caused by speed humps and traffic calming preventing the emergency services reaching emergency incidents since 2000.[145822]

The Department has received no evidence that speed humps cause additional deaths.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of planned future house building on the transport infrastructure of South Bedfordshire.[145873]

The London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Study took account of the likely scale of growth that is now proposed in the Milton Keynes South Midlands draft strategy. Following the multi-modal study we were able to add three major schemes which serve South Bedfordshire to the Targeted Programme of Improvements.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been allocated this financial year to the Government Information and Communication Service.[145861]

Mr. Speaker, the budget for the Government Information and Communication Service Centre in the Cabinet Office for the current financial year is £2,458,395.

Members of the GICS as a whole are employed and their work funded by individual Departments. The overall figures are not collected centrally.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many personnel are working on the better regulation brief in the department.[145862]

The Regulatory Impact Unit leads on the better regulation agenda in my Department. The unit had 58 full-time equivalent staff as at December 2003.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of internet users have transacted with a government department online in each year since 1997; and what steps are being taken to increase this proportion.[146132]

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) measures the use of e-government services on a quarterly basis. Currently 8 per cent. of internet users claim to have transacted with government online, where transaction is defined as submitting a form, making a payment or booking an appointment. Many more visit web sites for information—50 per cent. of the internet population. These figures are based on a question recently added to the ONS Omnibus Survey and data exists for 2003 only.

To improve the take-up of online services the Cabinet Office is working with departments to ensure that online services become more focussed around customer needs rather than following the structure of government. An enhanced customer offering for the delivery of electronic services will also be piloted which will present, service information in a consistent useable way clustered around topics and audience groups.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he will respond to the correspondence to his Department containing the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Trust's Legacy Project study.[144453]

I have written to the organisation concerned today.

I responded to the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Trust on 30 December 2003.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government take to ensure that people appointed to public bodies are representative of the society that they serve.[145863]

This Government want boards of public bodies to be representative of society as a whole. On 17 December, we published Delivering Diversity in Public Appointments 2003. This outlines the Government's commitment to achieving greater diversity in public appointments. It includes action plans for individual Departments, together with targets to be achieved by 2006.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list vacancies for posts on public bodies which have been advertised since 2001, indicating in such case the number of (a) posts, (b) applicants, (c) persons interviewed and (d) appointments made.[145277]

This information is not held centrally. Individual departments are responsible for making appointments to their own public bodies.

The Government is committed to ensuring greater access to public appointments. A new public appointments vacancy web-site (www.publicappts-vacs.gov.uk) was launched by my Department on 27 March 2003. This provides information about current and forthcoming vacancies, helping people to find details of the appointments that are of most interest to them.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list all regional (a) advisory non-departmental public bodies, (b) executive non-departmental public bodies and (c) other autonomous public bodies, identifying those which are related to health, broken down by region; if he will indicate those which have been created since 1 May 1997; and if he will list those bodies which have been (i) abolished since 1 May 1997 and (ii) abolished but whose functions have been transferred to other public bodies.[145955]

Information about non-departmental public bodies is contained in "Public Bodies 2003", and previous years' editions, copies of which are available in the House Libraries, and on the Cabinet Office website at http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/agenciespublicbodies/publicbodies/index.shtm

The information is not broken down to regional level, nor are creation or abolition dates of bodies separately identified. This level of detail could be provided only at disproportionate expense. Public bodies related to health are primarily listed in the entry for the Department of Health, though some public bodies attached to other Departments (e.g. the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) also deal with health-related issues.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 11 November from the hon. Member for Walsall, North concerning the statement by members of the Royal Commission on Long Term Care.[144854]

I have done so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of his policies on the constituency of Regent's Park and Kensington, North since 1997.[145421]

Over the past five years, the Government have built a platform of economic stability and sound management of public finances, delivering benefits across the UK, including in London and the constituency of Regent's Park and Kensington North.

The UK is now enjoying the longest period of sustained low inflation since the 1960s, with long-term interest rates around their lowest levels since that time. Since spring 1997, employment has increased by almost 1.7 million, and public investment increases, including the biggest ever sustained growth in the history of the NHS, are tackling the legacy of under-investment in public services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of (a) provision for young, single, working adults on low incomes and (b) incentives for those aged under 25 to move off benefits into employment.[144534]

To help young people move off benefits and into employment, the Government have introduced the New Deal for Young People, increased financial incentives to work through the National Minimum Wage and the reduction in the starting rate of income tax from 20 per cent. to 10 per cent. and improved opportunities to participate in training and education, for example through the Modern Apprenticeships scheme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many forward contracts have been granted to individuals and corporations (a) domiciled and (b) non-domiciled in the UK.[142719]

The Inland Revenue have identified 17 cases where forward contracts have been granted. In two instances the agreements related to individuals or companies domiciled in the UK; the other 15 cases related to individuals or companies non-domiciled in the UK.

The Inland Revenue no longer make these agreements.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the increase in forecast growth he estimates results from increases in public spending for each of the next three years.[145162]

Table A4, on page 182 of pre-Budget report 2003 (Cm 6042), presents information on the contributions to forecast GDP growth from expenditure components, including government spending, between 2003 and 2006.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional revenue has been secured from investigations under the IR35 regulation (a) in total and (b) for each year since its implementation. [145747]

Establishing whether or not the intermediaries legislation applies is undertaken as part of the Inland Revenue's Employer Compliance Review programme. As such it is not possible with any accuracy to isolate data relating solely to this legislation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the (a) administration and (b) employment costs arising from pursuing investigations under IR35 regulation.[145748]

There is no data held on administration and employment costs relating solely to this legislation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations under the IR35 regulation have (a) been initiated, (b) resulted in additional revenue and (c) been concluded without securing additional revenue.[145749]

Establishing whether or not the intermediaries legislation applies is undertaken as part of the Inland Revenue's Employer Compliance Review programme. As such it is not possible with any accuracy to isolate data relating solely to this legislation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bottles of (a) whisky and (b) other spirits were seized by Customs and Excise in the last 12 months because duty had not been paid.[145973]

The information is not available in the format requested. HM Customs and Excise central records collate the volume of spirit seized but do not distinguish the specific type of spirit.

Details of the volume of spirits seized for this period will be included in HM Customs and Excise Annual Report and Accounts for 2003–04.

Details of spirits seizures in the period 2001–02 are given in Appendix C of the HM Customs and Excise Annual Report 2002–03 (HC 52).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful prosecutions there have been for evading duty on (a) whisky and (b) other spirits in the last 12 months.[145974]

The information is not available in the format requested. HM Customs and Excise central records collate the number of successful and unsuccessful prosecutions which involve spirits duty fraud but do not distinguish the specific type of spirit for which a prosecution is brought.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received regarding the effect of the Tetra communications system on terrestrial television reception; from which areas representations have been received; and if she will make a statement.[144670]

[holding answer 18 December 2003]: Ofcom is aware of instances of interference to domestic installations from Airwave radio base stations. Airwave is the new police/public safety radio communications system currently being rolled out across the country. In all the instances so far investigated the consumers own masthead aerial amplifier, used to boost weak signals has had a pass-band wide enough to boost the television signal and, inadvertently, the unwanted radiocommunications signal.

Testing has shown that the Tetra transmitters were operating correctly and within their designated licence parameters. In most cases a suitable filter fitted between the masthead amplifier and the TV aerial will resolve the interference and affected residents have been advised to have such filters fitted to their TV installations. As a goodwill gesture Airwave has arranged for filters to be fitted to the affected television installations in certain circumstances. The problem however is with the TV aerial amplifiers or the aerial system. Consumers should take problems up with their suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what the total costs of BNFL's business operations in the United States were in each of the last five years;[142133]

(2)what the total revenue generated by BNFL as a result of business activities in the United States was in each of the last five years;[142134]

(3)how many business contracts BNFL has agreed in the United States in each of the last five years. [142135]

BNFL operates in several sectors in the US, principally environmental clean-up through its subsidiary BNFL Inc and fuel manufacture and reactor services through its subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Company. In BNFL's annual report and accounts, Note 2 identifies the sales and profit for the group arising from America (North and South combined). In 2002–03 the total sales arising from America were £747 million, and the profit before tax and exceptional items was £59 million.

Following is a table that shows BNFL's sales and profit figures going back five years (for North and South America combined):

£ million
	Sales	Profit
2002–03	747	59
2001–02	830	(11)
2000–01	945	(27)
1999–2000	73	(7)
1998–99	74	n/a
Note:
Drawn from Annual Report & Accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many statutory inspections of business premises took place in each of the last five years.[145231]

There is no central database for inspections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many statutory inspections carrying a right to entry onto business premises were carried out in each year since 1997.[145232]

There is no central database for inspections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the carbon reduction targets outlined in the Energy White Paper, what Government support is being given to research and development into (a) low carbon technologies and (b) lightweight vehicle design initiatives; and how much of that Government support has gone to companies conducting such research in (i) Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East and (ii) the north east.[144770]

Pursuant to the carbon reduction targets in the Energy White Paper, the Government is supporting research into low carbon and carbon-free energy generation through my Department's Renewable Energy Programme and through the Research Councils. There are no projects currently being supported under the Renewable Energy Programme in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland East, area. There are, however 14 projects and I recently completed project that are receiving or have received funding in the north east region as a whole. This amounts to total funding of over £6.5 million and has been provided for projects including Solar PV Field Trials and the Stingray Tidal Stream Energy Device.

A New and Renewable Energy Centre (NAREC) has been set up by One North East in Blyth, Northumberland, to promote renewable energy in the north east. This is one of five centres of excellence designed to encourage the development of new technologies originating from the region's research base.

The Government are also pursuing its carbon reduction targets through research into energy efficiency, and has accepted the recommendation of the Chief Scientific Adviser in his Energy Research Report that this should be a priority area for investment. An inter-departmental group, on which the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust are represented, is coordinating work in this field.

In 2002, the Carbon Trust established the Low Carbon Innovation Programme to accelerate the development of new and emerging low carbon and energy efficient technologies in the UK, by investing in research, demonstration and development projects and leveraging in further funding.

As stated in the Government's Powering Future Vehicles Strategy, the Government supports research and development for the encouragement of low carbon vehicles through a number of initiatives including the New Vehicle Technology Fund (NVTF) and Foresight Vehicle programmes. At present, of the 20 projects that are being supported through NVTF, none is based in the north east, although the programme is open to all regions.

The Foresight Vehicle LINK programme supports technology transfer through collaborative R&D, aiming to raise the innovation performance of the automotive industry in the UK. The programme includes a wide portfolio of projects, valued in excess of £100 million. We do not keep separate records for each thematic group under the programme, but included in this funding is light-weighting and engine control which help reduce CO₂ emissions and alternative propulsion systems. DTI has committed £12.4 million to this programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been allocated to fund the Grant for Investigating an Innovative Idea pilot scheme.[145492]

£2 million has been allocated for financial year 2003–04. £1 million has been allocated for financial year 2004–05 with a further £2 million being sought to supplement this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to increase international collaboration in dealing with spam.[146134]

Spam is widely recognised to be a global problem and the UK is active in discussions on international cooperation to tackle cross-border spam, both multilaterally (for example, at the World Summit on the Information Society and in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) and bilaterally with the USA and other national governments. Proposals now being explored include cooperation between national enforcement agencies and the development of common international guidelines for governments and for business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the proportion of (a) e-mails and (b) unwanted junk e-mails received in the UK that are sent from within the UK.[146135]

The Government do not have an estimate of the total proportion of e-mails received here that are sent from within and outside the UK. Industry estimates suggest that between 80 and 90 per cent. of unwanted junk e-mails received here come from outside the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the role of, and funding given to, Fuel Cells UK.[144772]

The role of Fuel Cells UK is to act as an umbrella body for the emerging UK fuel cells industry. My Department is providing pump-priming funding for a two year period for Fuel Cells UK to undertake a series of activities which will help to develop the UK fuel cell industry and to establish Fuel Cells UK as a potential trade association. Fuel Cells UK was launched on 7 May 2003 and key activities to date have included the development of a UK Fuel Cell Vision, the preparation of an industry capability guide, and representation on standards work through the BSI. Proposed future activities include the preparation of an academic research capability guide, and the development of a UK Fuel Cells Roadmap.

Funding to date by DTI since the start of this project has totalled £68,585.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions she has had with Ofgem concerning the decision by the Financial Services Authority to join in its inquiry into wholesale gas prices; if she will publish the minutes of the meetings; and if she will make a statement;[146078]

(2) what discussions she has had with the Financial Services Authority concerning its decision to join Ofgem in its inquiry into wholesale gas prices; if she will publish the minutes of any such meetings; and if she will make a statement.[146082]

None. This was a matter for Ofgem and the Financial Services Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulations her Department has (a) removed and (b) reformed in each of the last five years.[146121]

Figures can only be obtained by a manual sift of all regulations and Statutory Instruments in force from 1997 onwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money was paid into the buy-out fund by electricity suppliers as a result of failing to present renewables obligation certificates to Ofgem, in each year since the scheme began.[146130]

The Renewables Obligation has only been operating since 1 April 2002 and therefore data is only available for the first period of the obligation, i.e. financial year 2002-03. For this period, payments into the buy-out by electricity suppliers totalled £78,853,260 for England and Wales, and £11,210,730 for Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inspectors are employed by Government Departments and agencies to carry out statutory inspections of small business premises. [145230]

There is no central database containing this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the costs to small businesses resulting from the recent strike by postal workers.[145259]

I have made no such estimate. Strike action, whether official or unofficial, is damaging and inconvenient to businesses that rely on Royal Mail's services. Royal Mail had in place contingency arrangements that attempted to minimise the impact on businesses of all sizes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council held on 15 December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.[144901]

Anne Lambert, Deputy Permanent Representative to the European Union, represented the UK at the EU Energy Council in Brussels on 15 December.

The Council considered several matters of interest to the United Kingdom. Chief among these were the directive on gas security of supply and a proposed directive on energy efficiency standards for energy using products.

The Presidency introduced a short debate on a proposal on eco-design requirements for energy using products, which will set common EU energy efficiency standards for Energy Using Products (EuP), and is intended to make environmental improvements in areas that market forces cannot not handle. Describing it as a framework directive with a flexible approach, which took account of the characteristics of each sector, the Commission said that it wished to use the proposal to encourage industry to agree sectoral voluntary agreements. The Commission commended an integrated rather than thematic or sectoral approach, but rejected the idea of a priority product list as likely to trigger lengthy debates with industry on what should be included or excluded.

Member states broadly welcomed the proposal and its general approach of setting selection criteria but leaving the detailed product selection to a Regulatory Committee, but many saw more clarification on the detail as needed. Most supported an integrated approach and rejected the notion of a priority product list, though some MS asked the Commission to list the kind of products expected to be covered by the instrument. The UK suggested that the Commission develop a consultation strategy to identify the product categories. Others urged that the directive sets out clearly the criteria to be applied to product selection and emphasised the need to assess the impact on competitiveness, in particular the potential adverse impact on SMEs.

Following withdrawal of reserves by the UK and others, a general approach was agreed on the Presidency text for the proposed gas security of supply directive which sets minimum European security of supply standards and requires member states to define and publish non-discriminatory and transparent national security of supply policies compatible with the internal market. It establishes a Gas Coordination Group, outlines an approach to dealing with a major supply disruption at Community level, puts in place reporting and monitoring requirements, and provides for Commission intervention in the case of a perceived insufficiency of supplies to meet long-term gas demand. The Commission's agreement to the text, including a legal base of Article 100 EC was subject to a new Recital stating that security of supply obligations should not impede the functioning of the internal market nor impose unreasonable and disproportionate burdens.

The Commission presented a package of proposals on energy security: a Regulation on access to gas network in the internal market which mirrors a similar electricity Regulation adopted earlier this year as part of the internal market package; a directive on security of electricity supply and infrastructure investment, mirroring the gas measures agreed earlier; and a directive on energy end-use efficiency and energy services, which sets an energy efficiency savings target.

In lunchtime discussion on security of supply, the Commission argued that the need for action was underlined by forecasts showing the EU's need for 700 MW of extra weekly capacity by 2012 and given the 6–7 year time lag needed for building new capacity. The UK and most other member states argued against market intervention, stating that Governments and regulators were not responsible for investment in capacity or networks, and that the key need was for a stable investment framework. Drawing attention to our domestic evidence of the market working and sending investment signals, the UK emphasised that the Directive should not interfere with effective liberalisation and that we would not support any measures to control prices. Some member states supported the Commission's ideas, arguing the need for reinforced co-operation between transmission operators and regulators and for further reflection on the cause of recent price increases, which some consumers blamed on liberalisation, and for new impetus on interconnection.

In a short exchange on cost of compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, the Commission argued that the EU needs to embrace technology to combat climate change and for all options to be explored including nuclear. The Commission also said there was a need for the EU and its MS to re-assess the EU position in the light of Russia's failure to ratify the Kyoto Treaty.

Council Conclusions on Energy in a Wider Europe were adopted.

The Presidency, with Greece and the Commission, reported on the Euro-Med Ministerial conference in Rome on 1-2 December. With 38 participating countries, involving industry participation from the oil, gas and electricity sectors and with the objective of implementing the conclusions of the Athens ministerial in May 2003, the event had been a success.

The Commission briefed on the Energy Charter Treaty, the EU/Russia dialogue and relations with South East Europe. On the Energy Charter, given that Russia had not yet ratified and was still creating difficulties over the transit protocol, the Commission said that the EU and others needed to consider how to take things forward. In contrast, the Commission argued, progress had been made in the EU/Russia dialogue, e.g. investment increases in Russia by EU companies, and resolution of the problem of destination clauses (which prevent on-selling of Russian gas by the initial importing MS). The Commission defended itself against accusations of lack of transparency in the EU/Russia energy dialogue.

In a presentation on the International Partnership for Hydrogen, the Commission saw hydrogen as important as an environmentally friendly energy source and with transport potential, and urged international cooperation as essential in order to achieve the technological breakthrough needed to take forward its development.

Reporting on the joint informal Environment and Energy Council held at Montecatini in July 2003, the Presidency pointed to its success as a forum for bringing together environmental, energy, economic, market and other related topics as having been confirmed by the recent COP9 conclusions. Finally, Greece gave a report on the Ministerial Conference on the South-East European energy market in Athens on 8 December. An MoU had been agreed covering gas and electricity, to which the EU was a signatory.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with representatives from the European Commission on removing companion animals from the Veterinary Prescribing Cascade.[146099]

I have been asked to reply.

Proposals to change the prescribing cascade have been discussed during the current review of European medicines legislation but none of these included removing companion animals from the prescribing cascade. The Common Position of the Council of Ministers at the end of the first reading adopted a proposal to separate the provisions of the cascade for food producing animals from those for companion animals so that a less restrictive regime would apply to medicines for companion animals as there are no consumer health considerations. The UK supported these amendments.

The European Parliament adopted a compromise text for amendments in the second reading stage on 17 December 2003. This is expected to be considered for adoption by the Council of Ministers in January 2004. The compromise text did not make any changes to the Common Position in respect of the prescribing cascade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of prescriptions for treating animals issued by veterinary surgeons were for generic drugs in each of the last five years for which records exist.[146103]

I have been asked to reply.

The Government does not collect information on prescriptions issued by veterinary surgeons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate on the proposed review of the prescribing categories of veterinary drugs, including prescription only medicines.[146104]

I have been asked to reply.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is a Defra Agency and so reports to me. The legal classification of a veterinary medicinal product is based on the perceived risks of the product when it is authorised. Products which have a greater risk, require prior diagnosis or are difficult to administer are made prescription only medicines. The Government have accepted that the legal classification of products should be reviewed automatically as proposed by the Competition Commission. Such reviews will allow reports on the use of products to be taken into account when considering whether the legal classification should be changed.

This review is one of a number of changes proposed by the Report of the Independent Review of Dispensing by Veterinary Surgeons of Prescription only Medicines (the Marsh Report) in 2001, the 2003 Report from the Competition Commission into the cost of prescription only medicines, and the Review of European medicines legislation. When the European review has concluded, the VMD will consult interested parties on implementing all of the agreed changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the recommendations of the Competition Commission on prescription only medicines with reference to the European review of the prescribing of veterinary medicines.[146105]

I have been asked to reply.

The Government's formal response to the Competition Commission's report on prescription only medicines was published on 9 July 2003. There were two recommendations relating to the European Review of veterinary medicines legislation.

For Recommendation 8, the Government agreed to keep in mind the importance of retaining the existing rights of member states to control their channels of distribution and supply of veterinary medicines during the negotiations on Review 2001 and has firmly followed that principle throughout.

The Government said that Recommendation 9 on establishing new distribution categories for veterinary medicinal products would be considered in the light of the outcome of the European Review of medicines legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact on wildlife of wind turbines.[145002]

Studies of the impact of wind farms on wildlife, in particular birds, suggests that there is only a small risk of bird strikes from the operation of wind turbines which have been properly sited.

Under the normal planning regime and for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 or the Transport and Works Act 1992 wind farm developers are required to consider all environmental aspects of wind energy projects and produce an Environmental Impact Assessment. These assessments are available to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of respondents to the last assessed Royal Navy/Royal Marine Continuous Attitude Survey responded (a) yes and (b) no to (i) question 26 and (ii) question 27; and if he will make a statement.[143621]

The information requested is drawn from the May 2003 edition of the Continuous Attitude Survey.

I should point out that questions 26 and 27 in the September 2002 survey relating to the reporting of incidents of unwelcome behaviour and satisfaction with the reporting process, have been replaced by questions 30 and 31 in the current survey.

Royal Navy

Q30. Do you know where to get information about the RN/RM complaints procedure for unfair treatment, discrimination, harassment or bullying?

	Royal Navy		Royal Marines
	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Yes	691	74.70	43	52.40
No	98	10.60	23	28.00
Unsure	127	13.70	15	18.30
Total	916	99	81	99

Q31. Satisfied/Dissatisfied with complaints procedure.

		Percentage
	Objectivity and fairness with which your complaint was handled	Time taken to resolve your complaint
Royal Navy
Very satisfied	0.90	0.50
Satisfied	1.40	1.30
Neither	4.90	5
Dissatisfied	1.50	1.90
Very dissatisfied	2.60	2.30
N/A	88.70	89
Royal Marines
Very satisfied	0.00	0.00
Satisfied	1.20	1.20
Neither	1.20	3.70
Dissatisfied	1.20	1.20
Very dissatisfied	2.40	0.00
N/A	93.90	93.90

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of respondents to the last assessed Royal Navy/Royal Marine Continuous Attitude Survey mentioned (a) privatisation and contractualisation and (b) privatisation in their answers to Question 32; and if he will make a statement.[143623]

Question 32 in the September 2002 Continuous Attitude Survey is asked at Question 35 in the May 2003 survey, the last assessed survey.

There were no responses to this question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior civil servants in his Department are disabled, expressed in (a) numbers and (b) as a percentage of whole-time equivalents. [144981]

As there are less than five members of the senior civil service in the Department with a disability, the actual number is not published in order to protect the privacy of the individual in line with Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for his Department.[143983]

The Home Office has lead responsibility for developing the national identity cards scheme. The introduction of the scheme is a long-term undertaking and there are ongoing discussions which the Ministry of Defence will contribute to.

Our assessment has indicated that the proposals for the introduction of compulsory identity cards would benefit the Ministry of Defence by aiding the identification of individuals who have a relationship with the Department, but who are not direct employees. Examples include potential new recruits, past employees, members of the Reserve Forces, job applicants, visitors and contractors.

We have also considered the needs of foreign nationals serving in the armed forces. Their current military ID is not universally accepted outside of the Department, so there would be benefit in providing them with a United Kingdom ID card under the foreign residents scheme, recognising their status as members of the UK Armed Forces.

We are not intending to replace the military ID card (or its equivalent for civilian employees) with the national ID card since our own ID card is used as a means for controlling access to MOD premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps need to be taken to enable the number of civilian casualties killed by British forces in Iraq since the end of the conflict to be ascertained.[141675]

All casualties witnessed by UK forces are reported, but it is not always possible to determine accurately the number of casualties that occur during a particular incident. For example, in some incidents, Iraqi injured and/or dead may have been taken away by their compatriots before UK Forces could investigate. In other incidents, UK forces have been forced to withdraw from situations before an accurate assessment of the number of casualties could be made. In such incidents we have no reliable means of ascertaining the number of casualties and there are no practical steps we could take to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has examined on the alleged shooting of a demonstrator by British forces in Basra on (a)4 October and (b) 9 August.[141678]

I am aware of allegations of an incident during a demonstration on 9 August but no civilian casualties were reported.

On 4 October, on the periphery of a demonstration, British soldiers killed an Iraqi gunman in self-defence. His automatic weapon and ammunition were recovered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has examined on the alleged deaths of Iraqi civilians in British custody on (a) 13 and (b) 18 May.[141679]

There are investigations underway of alleged deaths of Iraqis while in custody but I am not aware of any involving deaths which occurred on 13 or 18 May 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines have been issued to UK military personnel in relation to the use of force in non-combat situations in Southern Iraq.[141682]

The Rules Of Engagement issued to UK forces in Iraq govern all use of force. Rules of Engagement are confidential and withheld in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the likely future levels of the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Air Force presence in the Iraq theatre.[143731]

We keep force levels under constant review but there are no current plans to alter the major Royal Navy or RAF assets deployed to Operation Telic. I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 30W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding is provided to Territorial Army personnel returning from service in the Gulf.[145762]

Territorial Army personnel returning from the Gulf continue to receive their pay and allowances which apply until no longer required in whole-time Army service, or until the expiration of any paid leave granted (which immediately follows whole-time Army service). On demobilisation, a travel warrant is provided for the journey home. TA personnel may be entitled to receive certain pension payments under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme or as defined within the Army Pensions Warrant 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training days Territorial Army personnel underwent in advance of deployment to the Gulf.[145765]

Territorial Army (TA) personnel deployed to the Gulf have been designated 'Fit For Role', which requires a minimum of 27 days training in the preceding 12 months. In addition, before deployment, they will have attended the Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre for a five day period of intensive revision of their Individual Training Directives (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical, First Aid, Shooting, Fitness and Recognition) and also received series of theatre specific briefings at the Reinforcement Holding Unit. Thereafter, TA personnel posted to regular units would train with them.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received on the risk of dependency resulting from recent increases in funding to developing countries to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic.[145436]

I have received no representations on this matter. However, all DFID programmes, including those aimed at helping to combat the scourge of HIV/AIDS, seek to achieve long term sustainability rather than build dependency. The UK's Call for Action on HIV/AIDS, launched on 1 December last year. has at its core an objective for each country to have one national HIV/AIDS Strategy, one national AIDS Commission and one way to monitor and report progress—rather than having parallel, and less sustainable, systems and structures driven by the needs of donors.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to ensure that HIV/AIDS policies take into account the particular needs of orphans and vulnerable children.[146160]

The UK Government are committed to intensifying the response to HIV/AIDS, including responding to the growing number of orphans and children made vulnerable by AIDS (OVCs).

DFID is supporting the efforts of UNICEF and UNAIDS to produce a strategic framework on OVCs. Key elements of this framework include:

Treatment programmes to prolong the lives of parents;

Free access to education;

Enhanced support to the families and communities caring for OVCs.

Meeting the needs of orphans is a complex issue requiring a comprehensive response. DFID is gaining experience in the most effective ways of developing integrated, cross-sectoral programmes of support for orphans and their carers. For example, in Malawi social protection measures for families affected by HIV/AIDS are integrated into Malawi's Poverty Reduction Strategy. These measures include targeted nutrition and welfare transfers, legislation on inheritance and the introduction of less intensive crops to affected households.

In addition, in several countries in Southern Africa where there has been drought DFID is supporting a school-feeding programme (implemented by the World Food Programme). The programme is deliberately designed to keep children, including OVCs, at school and learning for the future. In South Africa DFID works closely with the Department of Social Development to ensure that children (and parents) can access the grants they are entitled to. We are also starting work with the Church of the Province of Southern Africa to reduce stigma, improve home-based care and care for OVCs. In Zimbabwe, DFID is providing support for OVCs and child-headed households through its NGO feeding programme.

Meeting the needs of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS is a challenge that DFID is determined to address effectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 15 December, Official Report, column 719W, when he expects to make a decision on whether the Indigenous People's Demonstration Project will be affected by the reallocation of money for middle income countries.[145615]

DFID will continue to support the Indigenous Peoples' Demonstration Project in Brazil until at least early 2006. Expenditure over the next two years will, however, have to be reduced in view of the reduction in funds available for the region. This is consistent with the approach being taken with all other DFID projects in Latin American Middle Income Countries scheduled to continue into 2005/06 and beyond, which are either being ended prematurely or reduced in scale. A decision on whether to extend into 2006/07 will be taken in the second half of 2005 in the light of the project's progress and DFID's regional priorities. We expect that the project will have had a significant impact by early 2006 with over half of the originally envisaged training and institutional strengthening support provided by that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are in place to ensure that reconstruction funds in Iraq are administered in a way that secures value for money.[145282]

Regular DFID procedures to ensure value for money are being applied in the management of our assistance to Iraq.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the allocated reconstruction budget for Iraq has been spent on contracted expatriate employees; and what estimate has been made of future expenditure in this regard.[145283]

To date, DFID has disbursed approximately £8.5 million on the provision of international staff on projects which we are undertaking, directly and through commercial companies, in Iraq. We estimate that the total expenditure on international staff working on already-approved projects will amount to approximately £26.4 million. Further projects may be approved in the future.

These figures include the costs of travel, subsistence, training, communications, insurance and additional security measures, as well as salaries.

The figures do not include the costs of international staff employed by United Nations bodies, nor of NGOs working on activities funded by DFID.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his statement of 15 December, Official Report, column 1319, if he will place in the Library details of the reconstruction projects that have been launched in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the (a) purpose and (b) costs of each project funded by the UK.[145641]

An updated list of DFID humanitarian and reconstruction funding in Iraq, giving the purpose and cost of each allocation, will be placed in the Library of the House this week. Regular updates on DFID's programme in Iraq can be found at: http://www. dfid.gov.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with overseas home affairs ministers about the illegal importation of meat products into the UK.[142150]

I have been asked to reply.

We have made general approaches through our diplomatic posts overseas to the governments of other countries, to promote awareness of our import rules on meat and animal products. Defra Ministers have also raised these matters in bilateral contacts with visiting ministers from overseas governments.

Since 11 April 2003, when Her Majesty's Customs and Excise took over responsibility for illegal imports publicity overseas, they have made contact with a number of embassies and high commissions. So far Nigeria, Ghana, India, USA, Thailand and Kenya have agreed to assist us with these issues in their countries.

We will all continue to work with our posts and embassies abroad to raise awareness of our import rules abroad.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has provided to (a) Bermuda, (b) British Virgin Islands and (c) Cayman Islands in the past year; and if he will make a statement.[145786]

We do not now provide direct development assistance to any of them. In the financial year 2002–03, however, we spent nearly £90,000 in the closing stages of British Virgin islands' graduation from receipt of direct DFID support. This was mainly provision of advice on airport development and scholarships for overseas study. Both British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands benefit indirectly from our regional support for Caribbean overseas territories, in areas such as environmental protection and disaster planning.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid the UK has provided to Uzbekistan since 2001; and for what purposes.[145755]

The figures for UK bilateral assistance to Uzbekistan are: 2000–01—£484,000; 2001–02—£397,000; 2002–03—£491,000. Our bilateral support has focused on the development of primary health care: training doctors in general practice; and strengthening civil society and community based organisations.

Additionally, the UK's attributed share of multilateral assistance to Uzbekistan in calendar year 2001 (the most recent year for which figures are available) was £1.6 million broken down by EC £0.9 million, UN £0.3 million and £0.4 million other.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the operation of the Barnett Formula has, since its introduction, (a) narrowed, (b) widened and (c) maintained relative per capita spending between Scotland and England; and if he will make a statement.[144666]

[holding answer 17 December 2003]: Information on identifiable spending on services by country is published in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (the latest version is Cm 5901). Identifiable spending covers both devolved and reserved spending. Analysis of trends in Scottish spending is also contained in the Scottish Executive's annual publication Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes have been made to the coverage of the block grant arrangements since 1979.[144664]

[holding answer 11 December 2003]: The arrangements for funding the Scottish Parliament are set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, which was first published by the Treasury in 1999. Revised Statements were published in 2000 and 2002. Information on the operation of the Barnett formula prior to 1999 is contained in the second report of the Treasury Committee for 1997–98, on the Barnett formula.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums of money were (a) added to and (b) subtracted from the Scottish Consolidated Fund in each year since 1999.[144665]

[holding answer 17 December 2003]: The operation of the Scottish Consolidated Fund is a matter for the Scottish Executive. Details of grant paid to the Scottish Executive are published in main and supplementary Scotland Office estimates, and in Scotland Office Department Reports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the costs that would fall on (a) the Government and (b) business if the Scottish Parliament voted to use its powers to vary the basic rate of income tax as specified in Section 72 of the Scotland Act 1998.[144667]

[holding answer 17 December 2003]: The use of the tax varying powers, and related costs, are matters for the Scottish Executive. Scottish Executive Ministers have made it clear that they do not intend to use the tax varying powers during the course of this Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement as to whether the 82 points referred to by Mr. Berlusconi as having been agreed to at the Brussels Summit were agreed; and whether they will be reopened.[145497]

[holding answer 5 January 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) today (UIN 145406).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in his Department.[146010]

At September 2003, eight FCO staff in the senior management structure declared themselves to have a disability. This represents 1.7 per cent. of all staff at this level. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is on target to meet the 3 per cent. target agreed with the Cabinet Office for 2005. Staff advisory and support groups have been established and a diversity manager is in place to develop and implement policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter to him dated 10 November 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to M. Sam.[145960]

I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1107W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the safety of asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo who are returned to their homeland after being refused asylum in the UK. [143661]

The most recent information on the treatment of returned failed asylum seekers, as well as on other issues that most commonly arise in connection with asylum applications made by asylum seekers from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is contained in the Home Office Country Report on DRC that was published at the end of October. A copy of the Report can be found on the Home Office internet site at: http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?Pageld=172

There is no objective evidence to support allegations of either systematic or arbitrary detention or ill treatment of returnees. The British ambassador in Kinshasa has seen no evidence that local human rights organisations have concerns about the safety of returns. Other EU countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands have also found no evidence that returnees face any ill treatment. The situation in DRC—including the treatment of returnees—is kept under review in consultation with the UNHCR and other EU countries. UNHCR's position is that they do not object in principle to enforced removals to Kinshasa of failed asylum seekers who have been found, following a full and fair asylum determination process, not to be in need of international protection.

If an asylum application is refused, the applicant has a right of appeal to the independent appellate authorities against that decision. If following any appeal the applicant has still not established a need for international protection, then we consider it reasonable to expect an individual in that position to leave voluntarily. If they do not, we believe it entirely proper for us to take the appropriate enforcement action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of staff employed within his Department are over 55 years of age; and what (a) number and (b) percentage of staff recruited over the last 12 months are over 55 years of age.[145932]

At 1 June 2003. 9.76 per cent. of all FCO UK-based staff were over 55 years of age: 16 (2.8 per cent.) UK-based staff with a length of service of less than one year were over 55 years of age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the breakdown of negotiations for the European Constitution; when the next EU summit is scheduled to take place; and what items will be on the agenda.[146224]

The Intergovernmental Conference was close to consensus on the majority of issues relating to the draft Constitutional Treaty for the EU, although final agreement was not reached. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said to the House on 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 1321 "In time an agreement will be necessary to allow enlargement to work effectively". Until then, the business of the European Union will continue as normal under the existing Treaties. The Irish Presidency has undertaken to report on the way forward to the European Council at its meeting scheduled for 25–26 March 2004. The full agenda for that meeting has not yet been finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral statement of the Prime Minister of 15 December 2003, Official Report, columns 1319–36, on the European Council, if he will list the points in the proposed European Constitution where consensus was close at the Brussels meeting of the European Council on 12 and 13 December; and if he will list the remaining points of disagreement.[145406]

Proposals published by the Italian Presidency on 9 December 2003 (and placed in the Library of the House) covered a wide range of separate issues of concern to one or more EU member states. In respect of most. though not all of these, the outcome was satisfactory for the United Kingdom, including on energy, and the "passerelle" clause and modalities for future revisions of Title III of Part Ill of the Treaty.

In his summing up at the 1GC on Saturday 13 December 2003. Mr. Berlusconi did not list each of the individual points on which there was near consensus, but did say that they included unanimity for taxation, criminal justice, own resources decisions and social security.

He did not, however, suggest that this was an exclusive list, and we had already made clear that there were some other outstanding issues on which we would require satisfaction before we could agree any draft Treaty on behalf of Her Majesty's Government. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also made clear at the IGC, as he did in his Statement on 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 132, that nothing was agreed until everything was agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what targets have been set for (a) processing entry clearance applications at British posts overseas for (i) permanent settlement and (ii) temporary purposes, (b) the dispatch of explanatory statements where an appeal against refusal is lodged and (c) the retention of explanatory statements by the Home Office before dispatch to the Immigration Appellate Authority; and how those targets have been met over the last 12 months for which figures are available.[144621]

I can confirm that the following targets have been set:

90 per cent. of entry clearance issuing posts to interview settlement entry clearance applicants within a set target time. The target time is 12 weeks except for New Delhi, Bombay, Dhaka and Islamabad; separate targets, currently nine months apply for these posts due to the high number of settlement applications received. The latest performance measurements, covering the period 1 April to 31 October 2003, indicate that 98.4 per cent. of posts have met their target.

90 per cent. of straightforward non-settlement entry clearance applications to be decided within 24 hours. The latest performance measurement against this target, covering the period 1 April to 31 October 2003. is 91.7 per cent.

90 per cent. of posts to make a decision within 10 working days on non-settlement applications requiring an interview. The latest performance measurement against this target, covering the same period, is 88.0 per cent.

For settlement applications UKvisas' Best Practice gives a target of three months between the receipt of an appeal by the post abroad and its dispatch to the Appeals Processing Centre of the Home Office. For all non-settlement applications the target is one month. Figures for performance against these targets are done on a post-by-post basis and technical problems has meant that the figures are unreliable.

I understand that there are no targets set by the Home Office for the processing of entry clearance appeals once received by the Appeals Processing Centre. The processing of all appeals is dictated by the capacity of the Immigration Appellate Authority which is able to accept 7,100 cases per month. Ministerial priority states that 6,000 of these must be asylum cases, if these are available. This has been the case until October 2003. Significantly more entry clearance cases have been sent since then and this is set to continue over the next few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the average time taken in the last 12 months was between the lodging of an appeal in Pakistan against the refusal of entry clearance for settlement and the completion of processing by UKvisas.[145393]

Appeals against the refusal of entry clearance for settlement are processed in the UK by the Appeals Processing Centre of the Home Office. The current average time between receipt of an appeal at our high commission in Islamabad and its dispatch to the appeals processing centre is approximately four months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long he estimates that it will take for UKvisas to process the backlog of appeals in Pakistan against the refusal of entry clearance for settlement.[145394]

Appeals against the refusal of entry clearance for settlement are processed in the UK by the appeals processing centre of the Home Office. Our high commission in Islamabad estimates that the average time between receipt of an appeal and its despatch to the appeals processing centre will be reduced to three months, in line with UK visas best practice guidelines for the processing of appeals, by the end of January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the earliest date of an appeal in Pakistan against the refusal of entry clearance for settlement which has yet to be processed is.[145397]

The earliest date of an appeal against the refusal of entry clearance for settlement from our high commission in Islamabad awaiting despatch to the appeals processing centre of the Home Office is 15 August 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterparts on US policy on production of anthrax.[145739]

There have been no recent discussions between my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and his US counterpart regarding production of anthrax.

The United States is a state party to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). Under Article X of the convention, a state party is permitted to keep and produce quantities of bacteriological agents for peaceful purposes such as in the production of vaccines.

In 1969, President Richard Nixon put an end to the United States' offensive Biological Weapons programme.

The US has stated that it only produces small quantities of anthrax for research to develop defensive systems to detect deadly spores in the air and to decontaminate areas in the event of a biological attack.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 16 December 2003, Official Report, column 798W, what the nature was of his conversation with the Russian ambassador regarding the Yukos Affair.[146008]

My conversation with the Russian ambassador ranged over a number of issues but I took the opportunity to raise the "Yukos affair". I expressed the importance we attach to the continuation of the successful reform process in Russia, in which the UK has a significant interest.

I stressed that it is important that foreign investor confidence should be maintained and that Russia continues to be seen as offering an environment in which investors can do business, where the law is applied impartially and with respect for due process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of how much was spent by (a) agricultural and (b) horticultural producers on agrochemicals in each of the past six years for which figures are available.[146090]

There are no figures available that specifically identify spending by agricultural and horticultural producers on agrochemicals.

However the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) does receive annual figures of overall turnover of all sales of approved pesticides as a part of its calculation of the pesticide levy to help fund the regulatory process. These cover sales of agricultural, horticultural, amateur, forestry and amenity pesticides.

The overall value of UK sales of approved products that have been declared to PSD are as follows:

	£ million
1998	591
1999	572
2000	484
2001	439
2002	446
2003	448

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) BAE systems and (b) other manufacturers regarding the timetable for implementation of new aircraft technology which would reduce detrimental effects on air quality. [143824]

Defra has not had any discussions with BAE Systems or other aircraft technology manufacturers.

There is a continuous dialogue between the Government and industry on action to reduce emissions impacts. Two current fora stand out:

Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team—this Department of Trade and Industry sponsored initiative has adopted the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe targets for improvements in fuel efficiency and oxides of nitrogen emissions by 2020; and

Greener by Design—an industry initiated group looking at innovative solutions to aviation environmental problems. It reported in February 2002 and is now entering a phase of work promoting a range of actions, including technological solutions, to reduce emissions.

The Government also engage with UK industry and the wider manufacturing sector through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) pushing for action to reduce emissions. ICAO action is focused upon shorter term technology improvements through increases in the stringency of emissions standards and establishing longer term technology goals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the company commissioned by her Department to conduct the air quality study around Heathrow has previously conducted studies and research for airlines.[143825]

Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC) has not previously conducted studies or research for airlines. CERC has previously conducted studies involving airport emissions for local authorities and for BAA plc; a Dublin airport study is ongoing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether interim findings from the study on air quality in the Heathrow area commissioned by her Department have been incorporated in discussions on the proposal for a third runway at Heathrow.[143826]

Interim findings from the study are not yet available and so have not been incorporated in discussions on airport capacity at Heathrow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the report on air quality around Heathrow from Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd. will be discussed with the Department for Transport after its publication.[143827]

The Department for Transport will be kept informed of progress of the research and the report will be discussed with the Department before and after its publication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to use the proposed Animal Welfare Bill to update the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963; and if she will make a statement.[146173]

Yes. The Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 is one of a number of pieces of legislation relating to captive and domestic animals that my department is looking to revise and consolidate under the proposed Animal Welfare Bill.